Smokey cars good in the long run?

I have this idea.

I saw a truck spewing smoke on my way up to Maine this past 4th of July. The smoke was so bad, you couldn't see past the truck, at all. A real driving hazard.

Anyway, I just realized a few things.

Cars and trucks (and buses, planes, jets, internal combustion engines...) spew out an incredible volume of gases (as opposed to liquids or solids, not gasoline. OK, gasoline gasses...). If people could see how much they create, perhaps they would drive less.

So, my idea is, create some sort of additive so that cars (trucks, etc) emit visible NON-TOXIC smoke. People will see how much they are polluting. Yes, it would be a driving hazard and harsh medicine but very dramatic. And that's what it takes to really get the point across that there is an incredible volume of toxic gases we emit but don't see. And since we don't see this, we don't think it is that bad of a problem. It's an invisible killer.

Now, what can be put in a car's gas tank that would make the exhaust smoke? I guess there are hobby kits out there.

Whadya think? Anybody want to pick up and run with this idea?

Road songs

Your tax dollars at work. (Thanks FMU)
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/infrastructure/roadsong.htm

Amory Lovins for Energy Secretary (or President!)

Amory Lovins shows us how to handle our energy future. One of the wisest voices out there.
7/15/08

See also his first appearance on Charlie Rose on 11/28/06, when I first heard him:

Cafe Tacuba on ACL tonight (in the NYC area)

Check out WLIW, Ch 21, tonight (midnight, Saturday night (actually
Sunday morning, 12/29)) for Austin City Limits. Cafe Tacuba is on.
(It's a repeat.) This is one of the best concerts I've seen on tv. At
one point the lead singer teeters on the edge of the stage, falls off
the stage, a girl in the audience immediately starts dancing with him
and pulls him back up onto the stage. They dance some more. During
the B part of the music, she bends him over her knee and kisses him,
one of the funniest live concert moments I've ever seen. A great
show. Great sound. Turn it up! (I hope you have your tv set up to
play through your stereo. It will sound great, as all ACL shows do.)

Blues Traveller is on first.

I now have a cell phone

I got my first cell phone a few days ago. I signed up for the AAA
plan with Consumer Cellular which charges $10/month and .25 cents a
minute. I don't use the phone much so it seemed like a good deal.

I got the phone a few days ago, having only ordered it on Friday of
last week so it came fast. It was alot smaller than I was expecting.
It is a Nokia 1600. It doesn't have a camera. I'm not paying for text
service but for some reason it says I have some text messages sent
and received (That has since been resolved. I erased the message
counter but the customer service lady, a nice girl, didn't know why
it had happened.) I have called them three times and I think I
bewildered two customer service agents who answered. One woman had no
idea what I was talking about when I asked her about the musical note
icon that appears when the screen dims. Both were patient and helpful
though the other guy I talked to seemed to be frustrated that I
wasn't up to speed on how this cell phone worked. (I have plenty of
computer experience so can get what I need out of geeks but I have
very little knowledge about how to use a cell phone.)

I have made a few calls. The first was to my sister who uses a
portable phone through an internet connection. It broke up a couple
of times but I don't know if it was due to her portable phone, the
internet connection or my phone.

I have noticed I get both two bars and four bars for reception while
sitting in the same chair. I looked up the cell phone reception on
MobileMedia's cell phone coverage page
(http://www.cellreception.com/coverage/) and some people have
commented that my area does get poor reception sometimes.

I am not impressed with the voice quality. (It's also hard to hear
sometimes. And totally inconvenient to adjust the volume while in a
call. That's BAD design.) I am not sure I want to put up with these
limitations. I also don't like having the keypad on the phone. Often
enough you have to hit keys while listening to a menu. Using a phone
that has the keypad on the base unit is much easier. I haven't found
any Bluetooth desk phones that I, in theory, could use with this
phone (if it had Bluetooth, which it doesn't.) That would be a good
accessory. Inventors, listen up.

I do see how people can be absorbed by the buttons on their phones.
You do spend a lot of time looking at them. These are really small. Too small. They are backlit too but the lighting isn't uniform. Bad design.

More later.

Impeachment

There are 35 articles of impeachment being offered. Constitutional
scholars have said many have merit yet the Democrats are refusing to
allow it to proceed.

What would happen if Bush were impeached? Dems fear a backlash but
wouldn't doing the right thing be more powerful?

I say impeach. He certainly deserves it. Much more so than Clinton
whose only offense was lying about having sex. Sending people to war
under false circumstances, and other offenses, certainly justifies
impeachment. I'd say it demands it. If we don't impeach him what kind
of country do we have?

And If we impeach, what will happen then? I don't know but feel that
not impeaching is unacceptable.

Does anybody care? Then we get what we deserve.

Report abuse of handicapped parking and tags!

Do you get mad when you see someone perfectly able park in a handicapped spot? Now you can do something about it.

There's this website where you can report people who might be abusing handicapped parking or placards. If you see something that looks wrong, write the info down (license plate number, time of day, location, handicapped parking tag number if you can see it). Then, when you're home go to this website and fill out their simple form. They will send a monthly report to each state's DMV. The DMV will determine if there is abuse and contact and possibly fine the person if so. You don't have to and shouldn't confront anyone. This is a great way to bring to justice people who abuse this important resource for handicapped people. People who need the parking are not punished.

For more info and to report people you suspect of abuse, here: http://www.handicappedfraud.org/

Jazz Fest video on AT&T, Sun 5/4

(The slate at the end of yesterday's webcast says they start at 1 pm but they don't, thankfully.)

I tune in at 1:54 NY time and they are showing the crowd at some stage. Can't tell who is on stage, some jazz. No lower third to ID this.

This is the Salvador Santana Band. They're not supposed to be on till 4... (They are actually on live I guess.) stupid rap, latin

2:03 NY time. Screen fades to black then they go to intro to Porter Batiste Stoltz. Good.

Audio still ahead of the video. No phasing to speak of.

Now this is some nice music!

- Heavy delta slide blues. Meet Me In The Morning? (Chicago blues) (some 16k!)

2:13 PM Alejandro Escovedo

Right on time. Too short for Porter Batiste Stoltz but I love Alejandro's music. Good lyrics and heartfelt tunes.

- eh

- Nice, typical Alejandro stuff. Cello is a tough instrument to sell in the rock world. Great shot of Alejandro and fiddler trading licks.

- Sweet intro. Sister La Soul, Brother La Soul?

- Another sweet intro. waltz? real slow. Now a different tune, tempo. Familiar. From Lives (Songs?) of the Fathers? (That "opera" he did.) A haunting tune, lovely. Rosalie. What Alejandro does best.

- song from his earlier band, Sensitive Boy.

- Nice intro. (It's going on after 2:40 so I'm glad it's continuing.) Heavy. Makes No Sense, Makes Perfect Sense... Nice.

- More! High pitched squeal of feedback. 'Real as an animal...' (Iggy Pop)

- 'All I ever wanted was a 4 piece band...' 'I'm the last drink of water from the Salton Sea...'

- Well alright, another one. This song ended up on Bush's top 10 iPod songs. Dedicated to Joe Strummer... Dumpstaphunk up next? What happened to Papa Grows Funk? I Like It Better When She Walks Away. Quint gives him a hug.

3:00 PM Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk (live)
- We catch the first tune after it started. Boring. Show Me How To Funk Like You

- another... For whatever reason I don't get into though the beat is good. Some nice camera work. .... shake your bitty booty... Good music to make lunch by. ... I'm getting into it as time goes on.

- Shake It Off. Sax is low in the mix.

3:37 Now they play the Salvador Santana Band. What happened to Bonerama?
Too latin for me w/ rap. ... Evil Ways (Art Neville up next. The schedule is all f'd up.)

4 pm. They do a piece on the fest.

Art Neville on now. (is that the Dumpstaphunk gtr-ist?)

- We miss the beginning of this tune. The difference between these guys and say, Salvador Santana Band. These guys aren't trying so hard to impress. They're getting more out of less.

- old song (for him). forgettable 50s tune.

They cut out of that and go to the host.

Santana (Carlos) as they are starting up a tune or ending one. Some sort of classical-based tune. Then chaos. This will win them over. Carlos directing the chaos with his hands. Drummer goes nuts then into a nice beat. Jingo! Nice. Dual maraca players with two bright yellow maracas in each hand! This is live. Conga player with black hair flowing in the wind. Carlos continues to be one my favorite rock dinosaur gtr players. Ever since Caravanserai.

- "new" singer. Saw him on Later? His vocals get left out at one point... And again.

- Wow, this is a flashback! The old Tower of Power/San Francisco horn sound. Can't remember the name of this, Sing It Round? Somebody's out of the mix.

- Another blast from the past. I'm sure others are having flashbacks too. Another familiar tune in there. And another. And now into a blues tune. A big smile as he finishes up a hot riff. Very nice.

- Familiar but with more noise.

- I Ain't Got Nobody (That I Can Depend On). I hope everyone's drugs are kicking in about now. Yeah! The crowd loves it! "We are the continuation of their voices... We are the opposite of George Bush... The power of love... unity, harmony, compassion... gentleness."

- Dedicates this next tune to the women because "nothing happens unless the women are happy." Naima (John Coltrane) Trumpet solo. Nice closeup of organ player. This could be any jazz band... Nice!

- latin hip hop... Maria, Maria... mama chola... something mambo

- unknown latin/Cuban/Mexican? tune. Good direction, they hit the horns just when needed. Nice shot of Carlos. Yeah!

- Black Magic Woman. (w/ Hendrix's Third Stone From The Sun?) thrown in there) Nice

- Right into Oye Como Va. (Never Go Back To Georgia! thrown in there. I think I've heard him do that before.) Organ is a little low in the mix. Hard to hear it's solo. Prince's Love Bizarre thrown in for one second. This is called blowing the roof off the sucker! Crowd loves it.

- IDs the band. "Your purpose is to create a masterpiece of joy in your life... Heal people in this world"... Video part of the stream is being jerky. Probably lots of viewers. Audio is fine. Unknown song... coño.... We hear the Woodstock chant after they're done! lol

- (tune played at Woodstock, Soul Sacrifice?) Nice mix!! Timbale player using his elbows. Kid on timbales! Then to silence as the tune would normally crescendo. Carlos plays solo at the head of the stage. Then he brings it back up again into a heavy metal riff. Then to (?). Then to a church choir, as they pray. Then into another tune. Peace! Indeed. Carlos shakes the hands of the stage mix engineers as he goes off.

5:59 pm Vaucresson Sausage Co spot. Crawfish sausage! This guy can sing too.

Bonerama! The host previewed this by saying 'see some of the local entertainers or some such.' That's kinda what Jazz Fest should be about, isn't it? Sound problem. Can't hear the CD being used as backup. Elvis... The National Anthem. Done straight. Mostly.

- Crosstown Traffic. Craig has his reneworleans sticker on his horn.

- Hang up the phone and drive... This trying to be "heavy" with these power chords is tiresome.

- new: Hard Times. The dancing girls sure don't hurt! (Fan dancers wearing too much clothing.) The AT&T feed is loving it!

- Nice effect on this funky intro. Is this on their first album? Shake It Down? Shake my rugelator... Craig's singing is pretty weak. (Always?) Papa Grows Funk coming up next.

That's it for them. Not so great. Now wee see some scenes form the fest.

6:27 PM Papa Grows Funk
Nice outfit on the gtr-ist. Video still jerky, might be worse.

6:43 PM They cutaway from Gros and we see the host.

Neville Brothers. Quint intro. Live. AT&T director did the right thing, came in at the right time. Thank you.

- Indians on stage! Wild Tchopitoulas

- Meet De Boys On The Battlefront (gonna stomp some rump) Nice to see them dancing with the crowd behind them. Big Chief Jim Robinson? singing the verses.

- Fire On The Bayou

- Bass starts out. Must have put voodoo on me...

- Long Time Coming beautifully sung by Aaron. Nice!

- Tipitina! Yeah.

- latin beginning... Beasme Mucho, jeez. Nicely done though.

- Tell It Like It Is sung by Aaron. I hear women screaming in the background as this starts! Very nice.

- Carlos Santana comes onstage. Did I see the drummer just lose a drum stick? Had a new one in a second. That's My Blood Down There.

- Ain't No Use To Cut You Loose. Carlos is igniting the band!

- Brother Jake. Nice.

- Yellow Moon. Nice duet w/ gtr-ist

- Brother John Is Gone/Iko Iko (8pm NY time)

- Mean Willie Green starts out on the drums. unknown song/ When You Go To New Orleans? Nice dancing on stage! "Shake what your mama gave ya." " We all Nevilles", Quint after listing all the Neville family members on stage.

- Amazing Grace? Yes. (Sung by Aaron, of course.) One Love! Yes!!! w/ People Get Ready.

- Big Chief. w/ Trombone Shorty on trumpet... Killer drum solo.

Nice ending from Quint.

Stream hasn't gone out today! Video is jerky but it didn't stop. Audio good with a few exceptions. (This is SO much better than listening to WWOZ!!)

Jazz Fest video on AT&T, Sat 5/3

Overall: Stream audio is well mixed but two problems: audio is slightly out of sync with video, ahead of it! and phasing got bad towards the end. Video is freeze-framing here and there but it's so much better to see this stuff. And they've thrown in some features, my favorite being watching the second line with the New Wave Brass Band. They even added some acts that weren't on their schedule: Widespread Panic and Jimmy Buffett who was recorded that day!

Saturday, 5/4
AT&T webcast in the order they appeared (times are NY time)

Roddie Romero and the Hub City All-Stars! The audio on this is overmodulated. The stream stops. On restart I miss most of his set. Probably a buffering problem.

A piece on Muses.

Susan Cowsill
This is on 2:41 NY time. River Of Love.

Theresa Andersson Group!
Looking hot as usual.

Kim Carson
White trash. Another cover - Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here. Nice.

Jon Cleary!
- Tipitina, done with all the latin influences heard before.
- Zulu Strut
- It's All Over Now
- typical R&B played well but awfully repetitive.
- nice drum intro! nice gtr solo. What We Got, No Different Than What You Got. Good funk groove.

Good mixes so far w/ AT&T. Sounds good other than that one spot where it was distorting. Well directed and cameras are doing a good job.

Dr John! (everyone getting wet)
- Right Place, Wrong Time. Nice shot of keyboard and crowd! Very nostalgic for the pics of Jazz Fest I've seen from the 70s, black and white...
- Keep That Music Simple, funny.
- 'Let's get Shannon McNally's ass up here and do one of them Bobby Charles tunes.' lol. You can lose everything and you still have music. A song for the hurricane survivors. 'Give it up for her ass'.
- song about murders in New Orleans. Say What? Jab at Bush! Yea! "There's a whole lotta shit to be answered for." Hear, hear.
- I'm Qualified, comparing rich vs poor.

Voice of The Wetlands All-stars!
Quint intros them wearing an LSU shirt. LSU sucks! Sorry, I couldn't help myself. All stars indeed. The cream of the crop. Don't Let The Water Wash Us Away.
- Louisiana Sunshine. Another song to help people rebuild their lives. Disco beat?

Stream stops and restarts at beginning.

I get it to work again but I miss the next song.

They don't edit out the between-song wait.

- Dedicates this song to the people who are trying to move back to New Orleans. Sung by Jumpin' Johnny Sansonne. 'Insurance man nothing more than a big ball buster.' Good to hear these songs about how hard it's been. (AT&T has the wrong lower third up as Johnny sings. It's not Dr John playing anymore...) Bush and Haliburton and Blanco. Good song.

- Ain't Gonna Lose No More. (We Gonna Fight). A Mardi Gras Indian is on stage in pink. (Monk Boudreaux) Saving our wetlands in Iraq, we want our money back! Alright!

- Hold Em Joe? chant. The rain is coming down! They cut it short.

The subdudes!
.... What an honor to play after the Dixie Chicks, I mean Dixie Cups.
They are subdued. I always thought the name was more 'sub dudes' but it sure applies to their music now and then. Subdued. Subdued dudes? Sub ub ub...

- Lord you got to help me now... late at night. (ED problems?)

- '1972, the hippies came and rearranged our minds'! Love is a beautiful thing. A familiar tune. 'Leave the mud people alone.' (That's the year I came down there too.) Nice to hear this again.

Now they show a tent where Strum Sticks are sold. A non-musical host.

Zac Brown (on ahead of schedule)
- generic, boring country.
- hard rock w/fiddle and organ, then reggae. Who Knows. Into ska w/ fiddle then Allman Bros. Gtr and fiddle trading licks.
- 'right cheer', cracker for "right here." Whoa, an Irish riff?
- Opening for Etta James that night at the HOB. Talk about a mismatch. Another generic country tune. Just As Free As We'llo Ever Be. Then into Van Morrison's Into The Mystic. Funny, I was thinking he sounded similar to Van, except for the lyrics, phrasing, band, and talent. Then back into his song. "Though we don't have a lot of money, all we need is love." He's from GA.
- Lists his favorite things: ' cold beer on a Friday night, a pair of jeans that fit just right' All country cliches. Next! And he loves his mama. Give me a break. Thanks the soldiers for dying so he doesn't have to sacrifice. (Expletive edited out.)

Irma Thomas! (and the Professionals)
- It's Raining? I miss this.
- Ruler Of My Heart. Sounds like she's going to play the hits. Nothing wrong with that. Thanks the out-of-towners.
- unknown song. The horn players have got their little dance routine with Irma.
- If You Want It, Come And Get It...
- Soul Survivor
- Time Is On My Side
- I Just Got Over! complete w/ second line audience participation. And Iko Iko and Hey Pocky Way and then back into I Just Got Over. Thanks the audience for helping out the city again.

Stream stops then restarts back at the Voice of the Wetlands.

Wayne Toups! (long set)
Starts early. OK
- nice
- Leap Of Faith (hear some phasing throughout AT&T webcast)
- slow dance song
- some song about a train
- from a soundtrack...
- unknown song with bad audio problem (kind of like an echo/phasing problem)
- song in French, nice and long.
- unknown song
- another. Some nice jams. The Allman Brothers Blue Skies - ending.
- ending tune, phasing is bad at points. Phasing continues after tune ends.

Not on the schedule but it appeared anyway:
Widespread Panic, phasing is bad at times. It's adding it's own rhythm track.
Not much to this music. Gets better. "Sewing machine" is an important lyric, important enough to be repeated three times? This at least has a harder edge than whatever I'd heard Phish do.

Tim McGraw - which I could not watch. Awful stuff.

piece on soft shell crabs!

piece on second lining with the New Wave Brass Band!

(rec today!) Jimmy Buffet (w/ Sonny Landreth? Allen Toussaint comes in)
Is this a little lagniappe?
I am no Jimmy Buffett fan these days. I did like his Why Don't We Get Drunk And Screw days though. This stuff is music perfectly safe for an elevator near you.

- One Particular Harbor
- Ilo Ferreira, more elevator music
- fins song
- Ralph MacDonald on percussion! Brings Allen Toussaint on to do Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans. That was a jazz Fest moment? Pretty pitiful.

Looking forward to tomorrow.

Jazz Fest (from LAST WEEKEND) on AT&T

Also, AT&T will webcast video as well, on Saturday and Sunday of
some of LAST WEEK'S shows. Starts at 2 pm EST. Should be EXCELLENT!!

Saturday Line-Up
Roddie Romero & The Hub City All Stars!
Zac Brown
Wayne Toups!
Jon Cleary!
Dr. John!
Voice of the Wetlands All Stars featuring Tab Benoit, Dr. Cyril Neville (Dr? lol), Dr. John and others!
the subdudes!
Theresa Andersson!
Susan Cowsill!
Kim Carson
Irma Thomas!
Tim McGraw
Jimmy Buffett
Widespread Panic


Sunday Line-Up
Salvador Santana Band
Alejandro Escovedo!!
Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk
Porter Batiste Stoltz!
Papa Grows Funk!
Art Neville!
The Neville Brothers!

See
http://attblueroom.com/music/New-Orleans-Jazz-and-Heritage-Festival/more-informa\
tion.php
for more info.

New Orleans soundmap!

Just found this on the WWOZ page, a soundmap for the city I love. Fantastic.

New Orleans mon amour.

New Orleans Jazz Fest

Jazz Fest is coming up! (4/25 -4/27 & 5/1 - 5/4). I won't be there but there are plenty of bands I'd want to see. WWOZ will (hopefully) be broadcasting taped performances from the 25th-27th. AT&T will supposedly air video of some on 5/3 & 5/4.
see http://attblueroom.com/music/New-Orleans-Jazz-and-Heritage-Festival/more-information.php

On Monday, 4/28, WWOZ will have their annual Piano Night, always a treat.
I'm looking forward to:
Marcia Ball, Eddie Bo, John Boutte, Jon Cleary, Casandra Faulconer?, John Gros, Joe Krown, Ronald Markham, Shannon Powell, David Torkanowsky

Here's who I would want to see at Jazz Fest. Most I am familiar with. Some I am only curious about since they have interesting names.

I will post more on all this when it starts happening.


Friday, April 25
Buckwheat Zydeco, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Burning Spear, Ozomatli, Tab Benoit, Anders Osborne, Big Sam’s Funky Nation, Terence Simien & Zydeco Experience, Leo Nocentelli’s “Rare Gathering” feat. Bernie Worrell, The Iguanas, The New Orleans Nightcrawlers, Twangorama, Bruce Daigrepont Cajun Band, Zydepunks, Zion Trinity, Bonsoir Catin...

Saturday, April 26
The Count Basie Orchestra, Jon Cleary & the Absolute Monster Gentlemen, Wayne Toups & Zydecajun, Walter “Wolfman” Washington & the Roadmasters, Harlem Blues and Jazz Band, NewBirth Brass Band, Rosie Ledet & the Zydeco Playboys, Eddie Bo, Big Chief Peppy & the Golden Arrows, The Original Last Straws, Young Tuxedo Brass Band, Nine Times and Single Men SAPCs, The Electrifying Crown Seekers, Golden Comanche and Chief Iron Horse & the Black Seminole Mardi Gras Indians, The RRAAMS Drum and Dance, Lady Jetsetters...

Sunday, April 27
Irma Thomas, Al Green, Elvis Costello and Allen Toussaint, Cassandra Wilson, Delbert McClinton, Del McCoury, Pete Fountain, Hot 8 Brass Band, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux & the Golden Eagles, BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet, Dolemite, Jo “Cool” Davis, Mamadou Diabate of Mali, Jambalaya, Willis Prudhomme & Zydeco Express, Wilberforce University Choir, Midnite Disturbers, Lars Edegran’s New Orleans Ragtime Orchestra, Furious Five, Carrollton Hunters and Flaming Arrows Mardi Gras Indians, AsheSon, N’Fungola Sibo West African Dance Company, Percussion Inc., Percussion Inc., Ninth Ward Navajo and Cherokee Hunters Mardi Gras Indians...

Thursday, May 1
Randy Newman, Tower of Power, Deacon John, Luther Kent & Trickbag, Porter- Batiste-Stoltz, Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys, C.J. Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band, Kirk Joseph’s Backyard Groove, Creole Zydeco Farmers, Walter Payton & Filé Gumbo, Hot Club of New Orleans, Topsy Chapman’s Tribute to Dinah Washington, New Orleans Rhythm Conspiracy, Panorama Jazz Band, Mighty Chariots of Fire, Joe Torregano, Billy Iuso & the Restless Natives, The Melody Clouds, TBC Brass Band, Small Souljas Brass Band, The Golden Wings, Red Hawk and Geronimo Hunters Mardi Gras Indians, Culu Children’s Traditional African Dance Company...

Friday, May 2
Art Neville, Stevie Wonder, Richard Thompson, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Ave., Marva Wright & the BMWs, Papa Grows Funk, Sunpie’s Tribute to Clifton Chenier, Zigaboo Modeliste, Bonerama, John Boutté, Soul Rebels, Coco Robicheaux & Spiritland, Theryl “Houseman” DeClouet, Chubby Carrier & the Bayou Swamp Band, Bluerunners, Wanda Rouzan, Ann Savoy’s Sleepless Knights, Butch Thompson, New Wave Brass Band, Tuba Woodshed, Belton Richard & the Musical Aces, Lyle Henderson & Emmanuel, Pinettes Brass Band, D.L. Menard & the Louisiana Aces, New Orleans Mardi Gras Rhythm Indian Section,

Saturday, May 3
Marcia Ball, Steel Pulse, Bobby McFerrin and Chick Corea, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Henry Butler (only if he doesn't sing), Aaron Neville’s Gospel Soul, John Mooney & Bluesiana, the subdudes, New Leviathan Oriental Foxtrot Orchestra, Savoy Center of Eunice Saturday Cajun Jam, Charmaine Neville, The Dixie Cups, Nathan & the Zydeco Cha-Chas, James Andrews, Dr. Michael White & the Original Liberty Jazz Band, Geno Delafose & French Rockin’ Boogie, Pine Leaf Boys, Treme Brass Band, Don Vappie & the Creole Jazz Serenaders, Feufollet, Pinstripe Brass Band, Storyville Stompers Brass Band, Young Guardians of the Flame, Westbank Steppers, Valley of the Silent Men and Pigeon Town Steppers SAPCs, Golden Blade and Wild Tchoupitoulas Mardi Gras Indians…

Sunday, May 4
The Neville Brothers, Santana, The Radiators, Rebirth Brass Band, Sonny Landreth, Snooks Eaglin, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Tribute to Mahalia Jackson feat. Irma Thomas, Goldman Thibodeaux & the Lawtell Playboys, Lost Bayou Ramblers, New Orleans Spiritualettes, Zulu Male Ensemble, Tribute to Tuba Fats, Highsteppers Brass Band, Black Eagles, Hardhead Hunters and Apache Hunters Mardi Gras Indians, Lady Rollers and CTC Steppers SAPCs, Young Traditional New Orleans Brass Band, Young Magnolias and Black Feathers Mardi Gras Indians, Original Prince of Wales and the Original New Orleans Lady Buckjumpers SAPCs, Tornado Brass Band...

Stopping feeding the birds

I am having a hard time stopping feeding the birds. I have a suet
feeder. (I don't feed them year-round because the fallen seed will
attract rats.) The suet ran out today and hearing what seemed to be
some plaintive cries, I gave in and put some more out. I know they
can survive without it but it just seemed that some were upset that
my supply wasn't there, their songs sounding just a little bit
worried/upset.

Things are greening up slowly here and I've started to see some moths
at night, so insects are becoming available for the birds and I guess
seed and other goodies are available all year-round. Still, I don't
want to disappoint them. I will miss their songs when I stop feeding
them since most will move away.

watching things I can't do anything about... painful

I watched as the kids in my backyard explored the woods. Last time
they did this they poked sticks at a pair of ducks that were nesting
there. Today, I saw them gather around where they hide but they
weren't making movements like they were doing anything bad to them so
I didn't speak up.

Later I saw a rabbit run away as they approached. The wildlife here
really has a hard time.

They are painting the house in front of me. Yesterday they brought in
a dumpster and today they tore apart the brick front porch that was
falling apart. In the process of bringing in the dumpster, they ran
over some daffodils that are popping up all over the front yard. I
tried digging a few of them out today but the soil is so thick with
roots and rocks it broke a fork tool. I was able to transfer at least
two shoots with bulbs and have planted them by the other rescued
plants. Maybe others will survive... I took some pics.

Yesterday I moved some plants that the painter stepped on. They were
about to bloom. I also moved the Tulips that were doing the best
they ever had since they had gotten run over by the dumpster
delivery. They are now back with the rescued plants but won't bloom
this year, I shouldn't think.

Today, miraculously the painter DIDN'T run over the hyacinths that
are blooming for the first time (without getting run over) in the six
years I have lived here. I put up a marker so people will know they
are there but that may have to get taken down.

wmode="transparent" align="middle" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" />

Having to kill ants again

I'm feeling bad about having to kill ants again.

When I find them in the bathroom or the kitchen, I might wash them
down the drain. If I was an ant, I can only imagine the terror of one
second everything being fine and the next, I am cold, underwater and
being sucked down into a dark hole that I cannot escape out of.
Imagine this hole as a place where another world exists. It is almost
another dimension. If you're big enough, you're fine; you don't go
down the hole. If you are small, you can and there's no way out. Sort
of like as if a black hole existed on earth. One second you're fine,
the next, you're being sucked into something you can't escape and
that will kill you.

Horrific.

And I see few alternatives. I do escort some of them outside but I
can't do that for all of them. I just have to be hard-hearted or more
apt, cold-blooded and murder them. Not something I like to do.

I kill animals inadvertently all the time. We all do. (Very small
ones. None too big, thank you....) When you walk on the grass you
kill some bugs. Driving, you see bugs splattered on your windshield.
I have avoided killing larger animals. I don't like knowingly killing
anything that I can avoid killing.

This is one of the prices we pay for modern life. We live. They die.
Don't think about it. Move on... Still, I feel a little pain in my
heart every time I do it. I am aware of it. I have to get to the
point, as I know I will, that I don't feel bad about it. That's the
same as knowing that people are dying but not doing anything about
it. A rationalization. It's what made it possible for people to do
nothing while the Nazi's killed the Jews, albeit on a lessor scale.
It's ok to kill ants. It's not ok to kill people. Or, it's ok to kill
ants and it's ok to kill people. We do make these distinctions. The
ants lose. (And too many people die before the killing is stopped.)

another sign of spring

Ah, spring. The birds are singing, the woodchuck is out and about,
the air has promise.

And the motorcycles are out. Illegally loud. Annoying. Whatever steps
my local government has done about this, if any, are inadequate. Loud
noise really lowers the quality of life. I wish something was being
done about this.

And soon to be heard, loud car stereos. I would think it would be
easy to station cops anywhere and have them ticket offenders. That
would help but I don't think anyone does that.

1st ant seen

I just saw the first ant, a small black one, inside my house on the kitchen table at 8:35 pm. I put him/her outside in the 30 degree weather to fend for him/herself.

Will they be as bad they were last year?

My first sign of spring!

P3050025, originally uploaded by Lipwak.

Daffodil shoots are popping out in my back yard. Last year these shoots didn't turn up until about 5 weeks later!

I've also heard some unusual bird songs recently. I couldn't tell you who they are but that is a sure sign of spring too.

on Prairie Home Companion tonight

"Deer will roost"? Wild turkeys, which you were talking about earlier
(in fairly horrific terms which surprised me) might but I don't think
deer do.

And...

"Lyme's disease"? Is that what they call it in Minnesota? Here in NY
we call it Lyme disease after Lyme and Old Lyme, CT where it got its
name.

Earlier he had a skit that decried the abuses of language. Ironic
that he did just that a little later on.

Best bit on today's show: The Spring Warning System. 'Had Spring been
arriving, you would have been told. It hasn't.'