M. (hristine

Yep. From Wikipedia: "Vampire Weekend is an indie rock band from New York City signed to XL Recordings. Despite the band members' occasionally preppy style, they are influenced by both African popular music and Western Classical Music. They describe their genre of music as "Upper West Side Soweto", performing such songs as "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa," which references Congolese soukous music." From their MySpace: The name of this band is Vampire Weekend. We are specialists in the following styles: "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa", "Upper West Side Soweto", "Campus", and "Oxford Comma Riddim."

I am not going to disrespect any of y'all's musical taste. This is a charming enough album, and the band has some chops. I listen to a great deal of African based music, soukous in particular. A few people have successfully translated soukous to be palatable to western tastes. Talking Heads/David Byrne did it. Paul Simon did it. And Joe Strummer did it by shaman magic. The thing that is true about soul music is it loses it's root power when it is intellectualized. This album is music filtered through the intellect. IMHO the soul got left in the filter. And so, even though I like the style

I don't think it's fair to expect the president to have to pay the full rent for the Whitehouse. Christ he/she only spends a couple nights a month there at most! Especially the cable bill. And gas prices being what they are? Forget about it.

Captain, my captain.

I would say it publicly as well.

Uh, here's a little $650 billion dollar difference: The deficit was resolved under President Bill Clinton, when the U.S. budget showed a $236 billion dollar surplus. Last year's budget deficit was $413 billion.

I KNOW! Fucking grown up bankers making me pay my mortgage whether I sleep here or not! Fuckers.

If by "mean" you mean "behaves like a grown up" then yes.

Perhaps the owner of the house should rent out to a roommate who sees that the owner of the house doesn't want to hear a bunch of whining from a roommate that doesn't want to uphold their half of the agreement. Somebody needs to grow up.

Awww Edie, thanks so much for sharing your story with us. This part of the human journey is so precious. What a gift to share in the passage of those we love. Best wishes to you, Scott and Jakie. And especially for Scott's mother. After so many years together it must feel like part of her has gone missing. Love you guys.

Wombs for rent, organs for sale.

Birthday greetings to one of the brightest minds on this board, and an exceptionally nice guy as well. Happy birthday Loki, I hope you enjoy a terrific coming year.

Happy birthday sweet sister. I hope your day and coming year are fabulous. The legend.

"VC gestalt"

Yay Lammy! Happy birthday to you! Here's hoping your 41st year is filled with all the good stuff. To your health and happiness!

Happy day to one of the best old boys around here. You make me laugh every day. I hope your birthday is terrific Neil, and that you get as much as you want.

Really been digging the hell out of this album the last couple of days: Very sad news.

Happy Christmas VC peeps! "How Tweedy Sees Us"

I so loved Joe's Christmas card that his friends received the week he died. His widow Lucinda Mellor has recently discovered a "treasure trove" of cartoons and memorabilia in suitcases. I have a feeling this could be good...Strummer Art. *blows kisses to the sky*

Sad with you guys, Edie. Love to all of you, Jakey especially.

I hope you have a stellar day, and a terrific year Kyle. Thanks for keeping VC afloat. I appreciate all you do.

Man, I feel old. It was me playing his records for Bethanydear when she been a kid. (though it was just his first few albums, the second part of his carreer slipped deeply into Velveeta territory.)

I love these stories! Since they were teenagers, my former husband and his brother exchanged "The Green Rubber Knife". The irony of the object was the insult, but the clever disguise of the wrapping the coup de gras. The joke has passed down the generations, with many more unwitting recipients now in the family. Sometimes Chrismases are skipped, just to lull the younger ones into complacency. Even though I'm not a married part of the family, every year I am regaled with the hilarity of the current year's story.

Huh. solace is being ornery.