Nutcracker War

William-effing-Shatner

The Keers are reduced to talking about funny videos.
http://www.gawker.com/news/movies/william-shatner-returns-to-awards-hosting-elton-john-is-standing-by-149063.php

Discuss!

For Left Coast Elite

I know, you're asking, "what could be better than Haight meets Helsiniki?" How about Akron goes A Capella? Here's some teutonic fellows covering the Devo classic "Mongoloid", again courtesy of WFMU.

An a capella take on the Devo classic courtesy of a German vocal group who also include in their repertoire Mudhoney, the Cure, and International Noise Conspiracy.

http://archive.wfmu.org:5555/archive/BL/BL_Popchor_Berlin_-_Mongoloid.mp3

Enjoy!

Finns represent!

Since we’re not allowed to talk about politics, how about music? Here’s some heavy (and I mean HEAVY) Finnish rock from WFMU’s On the Download:

From the album "Apollo" (1970). Apollo were a gutsy Finnish rock act very much of their time, formed by members of the popular 60s group Topmost. The album is evenly split between Beefheart-style screwy blues guitar numbers, and Aphrodite's Child-esque string-soaked prog ballads.
http://blogfiles.wfmu.org/WB/Apollo_-_Symboli.mp3

http://blogfiles.wfmu.org/WB/Apollo_-_Laulu_Ystavalle.mp3

Another great discovery in early 70s Finnish rock, Haikara were more progressive and complex than Apollo, with inventive song structures that sometimes incorporated Scandinavian folk themes. Essential for fans of Arbete och Fritid and Panta Rei
http://blogfiles.wfmu.org/WB/Haikara_-_Luoja_Kutsuu.mp3

Hockey with a Flyer!

Alexander's hockey team the Pottstown Penguins got to skate and learn from an ex Philadelphia Flyer! Bob "The Hound" Kelly of the 1974 & 75 Stanley Cup Champions the Philadelphia Flyers spent time coaching and hanging out with the kids during their practice.

Link to Pictures

I know what Alexander is getting

Handyman, check out these new Legos!I don't know if you can bear to share them with your son.

Trenches full of poets

Driving home today, my iPod—on shuffle—played Billy Bragg’s All You Fascists followed by The Clash’s Spanish Bombs. I took it as a sign that 2006 will be a good one, politically. So I’m helping start off the year with a local politics post.

The New Jersey legislature has a great website, where you can keep up on your legislators and any bills going through the assembly or senate. I’m digging it.

On January 13, 2004 John Rooney, proposed a bill to make English the official language of the state.  I’m not sure what status that would provide English. I’ll have to keep an eye on this one. Although it looks like it’s not particularly popular. He introduced the same bill in 1998, 2000, and 2002 and it never went anywhere.

There are also some odd ones in there. For example, in the same session, Connie Myers introduced a bill allowing parents to request the library record of their minor children:

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
    Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
 
An Act concerning access to certain library records and amending P.L.1985, c.172.

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
 
    1. Section 1 of P.L.1985, c.172 (C.18A:73-43.1) is amended to read as follows:
    1. For the purposes of this act:
    a. "Library" means a library maintained by any State or local governmental agency, school, college, or industrial, commercial or other special group, association or agency, whether public or private.
    b. "Library record" means any document or record, however maintained, the primary purpose of which is to provide for control of the circulation or other public use of library materials.
    c. "Minor" means a person 16 years of age or less.
(cf: P.L.1985, c.172, s.1)
 
    2. Section 2 of P.L.1985, c.172 (C.18A:73-43.2) is amended to read as follows:
    2. Library records which contain the names or other personally identifying details regarding the users of libraries are confidential and shall not be disclosed except in the following circumstances:
    a. The records are necessary for the proper operation of the library;
    b. Disclosure is requested by the user; [or]
    c. Disclosure is required pursuant to a subpena issued by a court or court order; or
    d. Disclosure of the library record of a minor is requested by a parent or guardian upon presentation by a parent or guardian of a valid form of identification which identifies the parent or guardian as so named on the library record of a minor.
(cf: P.L.1985, c.172, s.2)
 
    3. This act shall take effect on the first weekday of the fourth month following enactment.
 
I’m not sure why Ms. Myers felt New Jersey needed this bill. I sent her an email asking her about it, but I don’t think she’ll respond. She is retiring from the legislature, so I doubt this law will get through.

There is, of course, a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. And one supporting the “fundamental right of parents to direct the upbringing and education of their children” sponsored by Gerald Cardinale and Anthony Bucco. Those two seem like a winning team.

On the plus side, New Jersey is getting a new slogan. Too bad Kris’s entry, “New Jersey, Love It or Leave It,” didn’t make the cut.

Happy New Year