Saw this episode, went out and bought the CD the next day

The first time

For the last 28 years on his last taping before Christmas, David Letterman has had Darlene Love on as his musical guest and she has performed Christmas (Baby Please Come Home). This was from the first year, 1986.



Letterman is retiring next year and tomorrow night will be the last time Love will perform the song on television, so she claims.

It is a yearly tradition that will be missed. Is Jay Thomas going to throw a meatball on the studio tree?

Bring out the Berke Breathed icons

In a world in which I was asked to produce records or be the guy who makes the 12" remixes, the opening horn riff of this song would have been exploited to death.



Or at least used one extra riff during the song. It really grabs you, and it would not have hurt to bring it in one more time.

But what the hell do I know? I'm just a guy who has his bad poetry put on youtube, thanks for reading.

Discoveries and stuff

Last night we went to the Wexner Center to see a screening of Where are my Children, a 1916 message film. It's a film that preaches a very pro birth control and an equally passionate anti-abortion stance. Thing is, in 1916, available birth control was condoms, if available, and the horrid movement of eugenics. Of course abstinence is always an option.

The plot involves a district attorney, who is trying to prosecute a man for selling birth control information and his wife, who, to keep her social life intact, seems to go to the abortion doctor as much as the grocery store. There's tension, some interesting special effects that call Ally McBeal's dancing baby to mind. It's a 96 year old film that still holds up very well.

The film was directed by Lois Weber, a very prolific director of the silent era who operated her own studio before women had the right to vote. Sadly, most of her films are considered lost. I hope to see more of her work, if I can find it.

Accompanying the film live was local musician Derek DiCenzo, who I recognized as being one of Jandek's band when he came though a few years back. Had a chance to briefly talk to him about that amazing experience and how hard it was to play to a very heavily plotted film.

The imitable Guy Maddin came to town to introduce this film. He's been to the Wexner Center six times now, always good to have him here.

Had to miss the second feature, Little Man, What Now? which looked fascinating, but we had to meet an old college friend who was in town on business.

It's always a bit awkward to meet with someone who had not seen in over twenty years, but when you glimpse into each others lives on Facebook you can find something to talk about.

Today on Facebook one of my friends posted this video.



You ever become an instant fan? I did. What really jazzed me up is I found out they're opening for The Who, and we're already going to see them here in February.



These guys are good.

While posting these videos another person in the thread mentioned another band called The Heavy. Did not realize I was familiar with one of their songs already.



Really cool to discover two new bands in the last weeks of the year.

This one deserves exposure

I'm not overly familiar with his music. His new record, Rebirth, is as pistol hot as Cliff's drummer. He worked with Rancid's Tim Armstrong. Don't miss this.

Top Ten Places the Wisconsin Democrats May Be

10) Going to Cairo to walk like Egyptians
9) Looking for Jimmy Hoffa
8) Touring with Phish
7) Finding the real killers for O.J.
6) Searching for the jobs the GOP promised
5) Going on a road trip to gather enough Kleenex for John Boehner
4) Taking advantage of clearance sales at Borders
3) Coming to Ohio after pooling enough cash to pay for John Kasich's traffic ticket
2) With Curveball finding the weapons of mass destruction
1) Hiking the Appalachian Trail

The Busy Month Begins

Spent a good part of yesterday at the Nisonger Center, which went well. N. was on his best behavior and he showed the doctors and observers what he was all about. What's ahead is a bit of waiting, some good referrals, and hoping the insurance is good enough.

Weirdness out of the world of David Letterman, seems someone has been blackmailing him. A CBS news producer threatened to write a book and screenplay saying that Letterman was sleeping with members of his staff unless the talk show host gave him two million dollars. Letterman went on his show and admitted that he had done so.



What is it about Letterman that stalkers, kidnappers and blackmailers seem to orbit around him? This didn't happen to Carson did it?

In the middle of Nick Hornby's new book, Juliet, Naked. Liking it a lot so far, he's back to music geekery as the subject matter. His smack at middle aged men who regret staying up late listening to downloaded music hit a bit close to home though!

Five days until we leave for IWPS!