The Prairie Dog

I wanted to add this to the UMFM post, but the CD wouldn't rip and I couldn't find the moop3. Here's the song that I couldn't find in the vortex of this Nexus of computering. Thanks to The Wiz for finding his copy.

Dialog was one of the finest radio dj's on UMFM, and one of the nicest co-workers I ever had the pleasure of stacking cd's and talking about music with. He was the one who put a teenage me onto Diamond D and the Psychotic Neurotics Stunts Blunts and Hip Hop. A gentle, laid back, mellow, badass rap tastemaker, beatmaker and rhymesayer.



Here's a song of his, that illustrates why you should support college radio and the people who make it happen.

Dialog - The Prairie Dog



There's more information at THE UMFM WEBSITE



All images are taken from Grilling It associate Frank Kimono's award winning film Ou Est Maurice, about a dog, made in the prairie. You would be watching it right now, but I couldn't find a copy online and Franek and Peterson are in Montreal right now making counterfeit Rolexes in a script club.

UMFM (U Might Find Me)

Our editor was netchatting with the Station Manager of UMFM Jared (because we're fucking famous!), and Jared made Grilling It aware of a fudning predicament. First, a few grafs about UMFM.

UMFM is the best radio station in Winnipeg. When I'm in Winnipeg it's where you might find me. In fact, it was where I got my start in radio, but more importantly than that: IT IS THE HOME OF EXCELLENT PROGRAMMING.

After all, you can't take all your music tips from blogs and sites named after farming implements. I could start a blog tomorrow called crosby-skillz-cash-and-sprung.blogspot.com, but it's hard to beat an hour of fresh songs that are selected and delivered by volunteer (read, passionate) dj's.

In addition, they facilitate events and festivals in a city where people routinely claim: "There's fuck-all going on."

UMFM is severely underfunded and are asking for the support of Winnipeggers to help them in their plea for a chance to get that dough. The U of M is flush with cash, thanks to my and The Wiz's parking tickets during our undergradz.



Sidebar: The dude on the left in the photo above is Lil' Stevie Fletch who was president of the University when I schooled there. He gave me the brush re: parking fees and will forever be in my beef book. I don't care how many dying governments he is seated in the cabinet of. Charleswood/St. James/Assiniboia was Glen Murray's job. You will be found out someday Fletcher. Your charade will end.

There's more information at THE UMFM WEBSITE
Oh yeah, and don't forget to tune in to 101.5 FM, Monday's at 5PM CST for The Crumbs Show, featuring nonsense from yours truly, when I'm not working. They put the "You" in University Talk Improvised News Radio Comedy News.

Get The Sadness

Dj Eleven made a piece for all of us who spend wintertime, squinting at swans through rising fog, hating transit purgatory, soaking up sunsets or kicking logs on crackling fires (or tripping out to Hendrix posters in dorm/hospital/bedrooms). It's one of those mixes that doesn't work too hard for your attention, yet you wind up saying "ohhhh yeah..." and "woooo" while listening.

It's brought to us by Krudmart.

Dj Eleven Winter Sadness 2

Bill Withers - Hope She’ll Be Happier
The Ordells - Sippin’ a Cup of Coffee
William Bell - Everybody Loves A Winner
Sam Cooke - Trouble Blues
Sleepy Brown - Curse On You
Demarco - Fallen Soldier (DJ Eleven remix)
Ann Peebles - Trouble Heartaches & Sadness
Ying Yang Twins - Wind
The Notorious BIG - Suicidal Thoughts
Tom Jones - Motherless Child
The Clash - Straight To Hell
Lost Boyz - Renee
Marvin Gaye - I Wish It Would Rain
Mayer Hawthorne - Just Ain’t Gonna Work Out
J-Boogie’s Dubtronic Science feat. Zumbi - For Your Love
Bobby Womack - Nobody Wants You When You’re Down And Out (Nobody’s Safe Chump)
Bill Withers - Better Off Dead
The Smiths - Death Of A Disco Dancer
Kanye West - Coldest Winter
Al Green - Strong As Death (Sweet As Love)
Isley Brothers - Ain’t I Been Good to You Pt. 2
UGK - One Day



Because I have to...I...Can't...Stop...Myself...

Learning To Speak Chinese Eyes

I put my sister's Ipod on random, and BOOM! Fast beat, acoustic guitar, Sweet Suga Lo rapping his face off, Trick Daddy addressing the truth in adlibs, a song with a course literally about what I was watching happen as I was listening.

TRICK DADDY feat CEE LO GREEN - Dro In Da Wind

Told you we'd be back strong. Now czech out this crazy wind house:



PS: Here's a video fron Warren Zevon's heartbreaking album, The Wind (see what I've done there) that features an ipod (two doubles) and is awesome.

Music videos can be very low budget if you pick great shots, cut with restraint and don't feature the artist in ten different locations. Up-and-coming starts of R&B, this is how it can be done...

A Good Awww (fence)

Quick, Sunday night, just some exhibits for your weekjump Mondaze...



"I Hate Mondays"

Exhibit Eh: I told you I was ripping my CD's. Canadian 90's rec-room rawk. I didn't even know what speed was when I bought this CD*. I didn't even drink coffee.

PURE - Anna Is A Speed Freak

Exhibit Bee: I have it on good authority from the Winnipeg Office that this is the funniest bad movie ever. They have seen all of the movies, so I am currently procuring a copy. Do the same, then we can have a Q & A.



Exhibit See: YARN BOMBING. Prolly old hat for the Graf and Craft heads, but I was feeling it (it felt soft).



Keep touching.

PS:

*This episode had mildly de-mystified speed

Vantasy Isle Brain Bubble

It's misting lightly, I'm chilling out in an old record store in the Pacific Northwest, wearing a thick flannel shirt and a beard - listening to Nirvana (and I like to sings along, and I like to shoot my gun, but I don't know what it means.) When I was twelve, this was a dream of mine, but adolescent caucasians can't grow beards.

I recently remembered how beautiful this song is and want to share it with you.

NIRVANA - Jesus Doesn't Want Me For A Sunbeam

I'm not going to get sentimental, I swear, but I remember all the elements of where I was when Kurt Cobain blew his head off (wipes nose on sleeve, "Lithium" comes on, smiles, prepares to headbang). Sentiment is so early 2000's.


(so that's how they got that "Seattle" sound)

Teen1: Oh, here comes that cannonball guy. He's cool.
Teen2: Are you being sarcastic, dude?
Teen1: I don't even know anymore.

Here's the Breeder's "Cannonball" video. Maybe the best video ever, or like, you know, whatever.



One final thing, the link is fixed for the Nick Catchdubs and Mr. Ducker 90's mixtape. So seriously, go in, one of the best start to finish listens of 2008...and it has movie clips mixed in...

Nick Catchdubs and Mr. Ducker - Radio Friendly Unit Shifter

I'm gonna get back to living like this:



PS:

Apparently you can stream the entire Homerpalooza episode. We live in the future:





Ok, peace, I'm off to possibly book the London Symphony Orchestra.

Space Cat Bajillionaire

Hey gang. How you doin? How's your Mama doin? How's your Papa doin? There's heavy dumps of journalism gathering out here at GI hq. The offices are getting an overhaul. Although we can't afford a secretary, the recession-proof budget has allowed for Opium scented incence, Chinese fieldworker hats and rubber ducks - the den vibe is strong and the piles of files are being filed in time.



Choices are being made about what documents to shred and which to keep. "Does this CD-R need it's cushy pocketed slip apartment, or should it live immortal as 320 Mp3's? (until the electro-magnetic pulse wipes out all the hard drives in a split second, cool it down, the globe still has that New Obama smell, does it make sense to dust off reminder of plausible collapse?)" These are the questions. It's a heady atmosphere, but the luddites on the cutting edge of something are learning the words to the new songs and making all the tackles in the backfield.



I had to pause the tooling to call your attention to a blog I forgot about, but that has been a pal through procrastination this morning. Cowboyz 'n" Poodles blue ribbon-outlaw-turned-Sherriff caliber online music journalism and original recipe first purse journalism.

Here's a sample:

I know this is very inconsequential ultimately but it hits a nerve: I have been obsessed with how Twilight's giant abstinence metaphor and the totally crazy-making sexual tension in the movie (where they don't even kiss until 3/4 of the way in) has a ridiculous hold on this country, and how I feel like, even though Obama won, the puritans may be winning this round of the culture wars. ABSTINENCE? NO CURSING? WHAT ELSE IS LEFT? PROHIBITION?

NICK LOWE & HIS COWBOY OUTFIT - (Hope To God) I'm Right



PS: From the youtube comments...

"KEITHDANIELS (2 years ago)
I can make a poodle within six seconds. (Not standard dog) I'm going to try to beat the world record in mid December 2006 "

PSS: I looked forever for the clip from Down By Law when Roberto Begnini is singing "I seeee by your haut-fit that you...are a cow-boy!" After I get my equipment set up, I'll be able to proivde such juice from my own files.

Bart The Bear

Anyone who checks in here - even monthly - will be aware the The Simpsons is our favourite. The editorial staff of Grilling It (one dude) is in the post-post-post phase of quoting the program as a means of conversation, good taste shakedowns and freaking out fakes.

The collected episodes of The Simpsons are the finest work of art and entertainment ever produced by human beings. I will debate in defense of that statement any time, any where, before or after a belt of scotch (regardless of time), and my brifcase is not filled with shredded newspaper.

I've people who were born in the 1990's argue with me, that in their opinion South Park is better than The Simpsons. Kids start with drugs way too young these days. They'll grow up.

Speaking of growing up, the frozen in fourth grade Bartdude has been put on T-Shirts by Mishka, a company that make streetwear worth paying ridiculous prices for. The fail to winner ratio for "making streetwear worth the price" is about the same as "hilarious animated half-hour show for everyone."

You can read the full history of Bootleg Black Bart's evolution at the Mishka Bloglin.

Since I want you to finish this first, here's a few images as a teaser:











Bin Laden Weed is my favourite Three 6 Mafia song too! I have been marketed to! Next thing you know I'll be skateboarding with some cool kids dressed like Blossom.

The Slate's assessment of The Simpsons.

Damn.



Now I've gotta go dig up the bootleg Bart T-Shirt that I made in grade four.

Precedent Barack Who's Sane Obama

"I will fight for your right to be weird-just as I know you will fight for mine.

We may be weird, Bubba, but we are not as weird as George Bush. He is like a dying yellow dog with broken teeth and slits for eyes and nothing else to say. The evil brute is finished. He will flap around on the hook for a while-just another leader of the free world turned into a mass of foul jelly...he long ago peddled the remains of his wretched ass to a band of God-spewing religious Nazis and stupid hate mongers..."

-Hunter Stockton Thompson, September 28th, 1992



Barack was measured, strong and finished with a building fire. Walking out to a live crowd of millions, he had the "I am ready to do the serious work now" look that he's been carrying since October. The whole world is pumped. The sky is still blue, but change is ineveitable. It will be comforting not to hate my neighbouring government on principle. I am sick of that neighbour's bush clippings landing on my driveway.

Politics is still a game of secrets and deception. Obama will be dealing with larger sums and costs of lives, knowledge, money and safety than we can fathom, but today - it feels like we have a momentary reprieve from the bullshit. Unless you're talking about Canadian politics.

SAM COOKE - A Change Is Gonna Come

T.I. - Big Shit Poppin (Do It)

BIG TUNE

If Tracy Chapman's "Baby Can I Hold You" wasn't awesome enough...



Enter Luciano Pavarotti, stage right. Playing the other side of the phone to Chapman's dormant volcano of longing, regret, and pragmatism of the heart. BOOMING.

It's Warm Again

I could prattle on and on about the virtues of Phil Collins ability to put his ego aside, while investing so much of himself in his songs. But RRR in the (204) just took the bait and months of mobile phone service are riding on the second half of this American rules Football match. So, put the kids to bed...

Bateman, take over. (WARNING the youtube below eventually turns into soft pornography)

For The Wicked (Not For The Rest)

I'm in a sweatsuit watching sports and placing high-stakes-friendship-on-the-line-bets/threats from secure telephone uplinks. Here's a tune that got me through a commercial break.

CUTTY RANKS - Dutty Six Pack

"I love those little green monsters, but they're all over my room"
-The Wiz

Too Soon?



Hit refresh:

Best of 2000 &...Later

2008 top 10 coming soon. The holiday is over now. Who want's to read a top 10 list by someone who has it compiled in September? I can't even think about last year until this year. By definition. Until a week ago, last year WAS this year.

Enjoy The New Yorker's most popular photos of 2008.

They are laugh-out-loud-wryly-on-the-inside funny.



I know a bookmark is asking too much, sweet reader, but try to remember that you were here. Next time, we'll have some music.

Planning

Oh what? We did! I better blog again.

What's next?

Oh oh.

Almost Forgot

Gulp

What with Frost Nixon mania sweeping the globe, this is called for.

Mark Felt aka Deep Throat has died. Here's the article I wrote for Kimono.ca (also, RIP) upon his emergence from anonimity in June 2005 (in June 2005, when stacking double entendres until they tip over was my idea of "comic genius").



Deep Throat Swallows Pride, Spits Out Identity

By Cookie Blankman
Washington Correspondent

The glistening truth behind the identity of Nixon squealer "Deep Throat" splattered against the faces of a nation this week, as mouths hung agape; waiting for more. As a top-level member of the FBI brass, W. Mark Felt; couldn't resist his righteous snitching as Nixon peeked under the paper of freedom's Christmas presents. Felt's emergence proves that any other claims to Deep Throathood are spoofs.

As quickly as Deep Throat had once again come into the headlines, with a gulp, we closed our eyes, and he was gone. A spokesperson for JISM, The Journal of Incognito Snitches Monthly, reported that although Deep Throat has now been wiped away from the realm of mystery, he has left a crust on our culture and a bad taste in the mouths of corrupt, paranoid, mean-spirited heads of state everywhere. He stated: " you see men and see women everyday all with secrets, the amazing thing about Deep Throat is that it took little stroking before he sucked a presidential office into the tube of truth."

A salty, white, opaque old man, Felt liberally discharged this information, ending a decade old mystery. He needed to let the years fluff by so that he could stand erect and burst with joy that he was the seed that fertilized the egg of the Watergate investigation that hatched with an impeached Nixon.

Autobiographical documentary fans can gobble up Mr. Felt's eponymous film at a variety of Internet web sites.



Here's the saucy video for Claude VonStroke's song "Deep Throat"



While we're in danceland...here's the perfect stocking stuffer for the party animal on your holiday gift designation (no Xmas-o) list.

Like Your Car Or Cow, If You Have One (don't)

I'm home safe at the lodge after a victorious Eastern expedition (report to come).

Currently being snowed in.

Fireplaces to stoke, wings baking...

We'll talk.

Neiling

I saw Neil Young & Wilco tonight. The things I said most often were "Holy fuck," "HUGE!" (also) "Wow!"

Neil Young - A Day In A Life [Werchter 2008]
by rooroo

PS:

Wilco kicked it off with an "easy rockers" set, heavy on new material. Exactly what Neil used to do, way back in the 95-2007 era.

I wanted it to sound like this, but it didn't.

WE MADE IT

Big Smoke*

I'm on my way to Tahranna for a bit. I hear they have computers there, so this blog should still be cool.

Big Smoker friends of Grilling It, we will drink, make stuff, eat mexican, laugh, filmgo, wear coats, be pretty/handsome, merrymake, chill the "f" out and yes...gossip:



This represents my attitude, as I pack gifts and wrap bowls.

DONALD FAGEN - New Frontier



*Not to be confused with "Big Tobacco"

Out To Lunch

The Canadian government is EATING ITSELF.

PUBLIC ENEMY - Shut Em Down (Pete Rock Remix)

You didn't know it was for dinner, but we've ordered a pizza parliament.



Venice is literally sinking.

Bring on the weird.