Thursday, December 25, 2008

An Iconic Merry Christmas from Harrogate

A Very Waits Christmas

A Twofer. "Silent Night" followed by "Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis" and then back to "Silent Night." Good stuff. As with most Waits, especially good in the late night hour.


Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Wednesday (that's right, Wednesday!) Musical Tribute

When Harrogate reflects on the relationship between the following glorious drinking song, and the TRS Board Members, his thoughts turn naturally to Paperweight first, because Harrogate knows DAMN WELL that Paperweight has loved this song for a long time, even though he and Harrogate have never spoken of it.

But the song certainly casts a broad net. Chances are high that this song has a special place in the hearts of p-duck and m, for example. And perhaps even if you caught him in the right mood, Roof Almighty would admit that this is indeed the "perfect country-western song."




"Well I was drunk the day my mom got out of prison;
And I went to pick her up in the rain.
But before I could get to the station in my pickup truck,
She got run over by a damned ole train!

And I'll hang around as long as you will let me;
I never minded standin' in the rain.
And you don't have to call me 'Darlin,' Darlin:
You never even called me
(I wonder why you don't call me),
Why don't you ever call me by my name?"

List, list, O list

Brief let me be.

Sleeping within my orchard, my custom always of the afternoon, upon my secure hour thy uncle stole, with juice of cursed hebenon in a vial, and in the porches of my ears did pour the leperous distilment; whose effect holds such an enmity with blood of man that swift as quicksilver it courses through the natural gates and alleys of the body, and with a sudden vigour doth posset and curd, like eager droppings into milk, the thin and wholesome blood: so did it mine; and a most instant tetter bark'd about, most lazar-like, with vile and loathsome crust, all my smooth body.

Thus was I, sleeping, by a brother's hand of life, of crown, of queen, at once dispatch'd: cut off even in the blossoms of my sin, unhousel'd, disappointed, unanel'd, no reckoning made, but sent to my account with all my imperfections on my head:

O, horrible! O, horrible! most horrible!

If thou hast nature in thee, bear it not; let not the royal bed of Denmark be a couch for luxury and damned incest.

But, howsoever thou pursuest this act, taint not thy mind, nor let thy soul contrive against thy mother aught: leave her to heaven and to those thorns that in her bosom lodge, to prick and sting her.

Fare thee well at once! The glow-worm shows the matin to be near, and 'gins to pale his uneffectual fire:
Adieu, adieu!

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Tuesday, December 23rd

Happy Festivus. In the spirit of the holiday, let us air our grievances....

Seriously. It is today.

Seriously, seriously. There is even a book about the holiday: Festivus: The Holiday for the Rest of Us.

Monday Musical Tribute

This is perhaps Harrogate's favorite Christmas Song. And this version is up there with the best of em. It just makes Harrogate so freakin' happy to watch this. So very, very happy. He suspects it will make YOU happy, too.



But. If you want the Real Deal. Nat King Cole. Nuff Said.

Monday, December 22, 2008

I worry that the Situation is dying on us.



Goddammit, you bitch! You never backed away from anything in your life! Now fight!
Fight!



Fight! Right now! Do it! Fight goddammit! Fight! Fight! Fiiiiight!







Monday Night Waits

Megs, here is a side of Waits we did not explore when you guys were down here in Texastown. But you need to get to know this side of him. And do not worry, CDs will come, at least one of which will allow you to explore the side of which Harrogate speaks.

Tip of the Hat to Roof Almighty, who feels this is a song that deserves to be taken seriously.

Is She Being Ironic?

An in interview, Sarah Palin told Human Events (via CNN) that she regrets she did not "seize the opportunity" to speak more to the American through the media. This quote seems priceless:
“I was not allowed to do very many interviews, and the interviews that I did were not necessarily those I would have chosen. But I was so thankful to have the opportunity to run with John McCain that I was not going to argue with the strategy decisions that some of his people were making regarding the media contacts.

“But if I would have been in charge, I would have wanted to speak to more reporters because that’s how you get your message out to the electorate.


Palin's rhetoric style downplays any conception of irony. Her calling for more interviews is quite odd since in her interviews she did quite poorly (see here) and is quite hostile to the media and the first amendment.

Yet, her ignorance of irony on one level works to her advantage as she negates McCain's handlers by praising McCain.... "I did not come to bury McCain, but to praise him..."

Only four more years till she runs a campaign on her own....

I don't know what side to take in the forthcoming...

RACE WAR!!