LAmom

DEPRESSION SONG

I've always loved this old song, and now it seems timely again.

If I ever get a job again,
I will never be a snob again;
I'll live within my means, carry a dollar in my jeans,
If I ever get a job again.

If I ever get a break again,
Brother, what I'll do to steak again!
No turning out the light bidding my appetite good night,
If I ever get a break again.

I'll get two rooms and a kitchenette,
Furnished comfortably;
With two rooms and a kitchenette,
I'll get a sweet somebody to move in with me!

If I ever get a job again,
I know that two hearts will throb again,
She told me with her eyes we'll be rehearsing lullabies,
If I ever get a job again.

If I ever get a job again,
I will never be a snob again!
I'm through with stocks and bonds, I'd rather spend it all on blondes,
If I ever get a job again!

If I ever get my pay again,
I'll save it for a rainy day again,
But let me tell you, bud, I'm gonna save up for a flood,
If I ever get my pay again.

I'll get two suits and an overcoat,
Like a millionaire!
Just two suits and an overcoat,
And then when things get better, I'll buy underwear!

If I ever get a job again,
With my old friends I'll hobnob again,
What great fun it will be saying, "Just have one more on me!"
If I ever get a job again.

GHOSTS

Jonathan at The Gridbook Blog writes eloquently about the images of beauty and vitality that we can see on film, preserved images of people who have long ago stopped looking the way they looked then.

This very same thought has been on my mind through this Christmas season.  During Christmas, we hear in the air all around us the voices of the dead.  They're still instantly recognized and they still feel personal, even though the owners of the voices are long gone.  Bing Crosby, Karen Carpenter, sounding so vibrant and alive, walking with you through the mall, visiting you in your bedroom.  The ghosts of holidays past.

MY CAR'S NOT FILTHY, IT'S AN ART PROJECT WAITING TO HAPPEN

Very cool.  This guy in Texas turns his dirty car into works of art.  One commenter at the site said, "very reminiscent of the transient nature of the Buddhist sand madalas."

CALIFORNIANS SPEAK OUT FOR INTERNET FREEDOM

From BoingBoing:

Diane Feinstein constituents - say no to banning MP3 streaming!
A Pledgebank campaign is looking for constituents of California Senator Diane Feinstein to sign on to vote against her if she keeps on supporting the PERFORM act, which will ban MP3 streaming and mandate DRM for Internet audio. Link

I'm passing this along for anyone who is interested in signing the pledge.  But I feel like it would be a bit dishonest for me to sign it myself since I am already determined to vote against Feinstein.  She sealed her fate with me when she signed on to the Iraq War resolution.

MY HUMBLE CONTRIBUTION TO THE ENGRISH LANGUAGE

Right by our supermarket in Lynwood, there's a little gift stand where they sell the finest in imported toys, including every kid's favorite hero, Spaderman.

CHECK OUT THESE SIZZLING HOTTIES!

Yes, I know that title might get me some of the wrong kind of Google traffic.  I don't mind a bit.

A group of feminist activists have started a campaign called The REAL hot 100.  It's envisioned as a response to the standards for female excellence espoused by Maxim Magazine's annual Hot 100 list.

The REAL hot 100 are young women who are smart, savvy, and actively trying to make the world a better place. They contradict the popular notion that sex appeal is all young women have to offer.

The REAL hot 100 also highlights the important -- but often overlooked -- work young women are doing. Are you a younger woman who is REALLY hot? Do you know a younger woman who is REALLY hot? Submit a nomination today!

WHICH MUPPET AM I?

You are Kermit the Frog.

You are reliable, responsible and caring.  And you
have a habit of waving your arms about
maniacally.

FAVORITE EXPRESSIONS: "Hi ho!" "Yaaay!" and
"Sheesh!"

FAVORITE MOVIE: "How Green Was My Mother"

LAST BOOK READ: "Surfin' the Webfoot: A Frog's Guide to the
Internet"

HOBBIES: Sitting in the swamp playing banjo.

QUOTE: "Hmm, my banjo is wet."

What Muppet are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

NAPPTURAL

I've been "napptural" for 20 years now, but I had never heard the word before a few weeks ago.  Here's an informal definition that I lifted from somebody else's blog:

Napptural is a black woman who proudly wears her hair in it's natural curly, coily, or woolly state.

I've been spending an inordinate amount of time now at the newest addition to my list of links: www.nappturality.com, a site for black people who embrace their "nappy" hair.  There are some awesome hairstyles on there that I'll soon be trying, and I'm loving being a part of a whole community of women who are proud of their natural glory, since napptural women often feel very alone in their choices.

For all of us, and especially for women, our appearance plays a big part in how we are judged by others.  Making counter-cultural decisions about what we think is beautiful and how we want to look is not encouraged by mainstream society.  For black women, this becomes a huge issue.  Believing that you look great just the way God made you is very liberating.

For anyone out there who is unclear about what the heck I'm talking about, the continuation of this post explains from the very beginning what it is that the vast majority of black women in America do to their hair, and what it means to be a part of the minority that doesn't.

MUSIC MEME

I got it from Dave.  Here's how you play.  At Music Outfitters, you enter your high school graduation year in their search engine box. Then select "The top 100 hits" of that year.  Display the list and put the songs you like in boldface, strike through the songs you hate, and underline your favorite song.

Here's my list for 1979 (NOTE: I was an accelerated student and graduated high school at the age of 14, so I'm not quite as old as this list makes me look):

        1. My Sharona, The Knack
        2. Bad Girls, Donna Summer
        3. Le Freak, Chic
        4. Da Ya Think I'm Sexy, Rod Stewart
        5. Reunited, Peaches and Herb
        6. I Will Survive, Gloria Gaynor
        7. Hot Stuff, Donna Summer
        8. Y.M.C.A., Village People
        9. Ring My Bell, Anita Ward
        10. Sad Eyes, Robert John
        11. Too Much Heaven, Bee Gees
        12. MacArthur Park, Donna Summer
        13. When You're In Love With A Beautiful Woman, Dr. Hook
        14. Makin' It, David Naughton
        15. Fire, Pointer Sisters
        16. Tragedy, Bee Gees
        17. A Little More Love, Olivia Newton-John
        18. Heart Of Glass, Blondie
        19. What A Fool Believes, Doobie Brothers
        20. Good Times, Chic
        21. You Don't Bring Me Flowers, Barbra Streisand and Neil Diamond
        22. Knock On Wood, Amii Stewart
        23. Stumblin' In, Suzi Quatro and Chris Norman
        24. Lead Me On, Maxine Nightingale
        25. Shake Your Body, Jacksons
        26. Don't Cry Out Loud, Melissa Manchester
        27. The Logical Song, Supertramp
        28. My Life, Billy Joel
        29. Just When I Needed You Most, Randy Vanwarmer
        30. You Can't Change That, Raydio
        31. Shake Your Groove Thing, Peaches and Herb
        32. I'll Never Love This Way Again, Dionne Warwick
        33. Love You Inside Out, Bee Gees
        34. I Want You To Want Me, Cheap Trick
        35. The Main Event (Fight), Barbra Streisand
        36. Mama Can't Buy You Love, Elton John
        37. I Was Made For Dancin', Leif Garrett
        38. After The Love Has Gone, Earth, Wind and Fire
        39. Heaven Knows, Donna Summer and Brooklyn Dreams
        40. The Gambler, Kenny Rogers
        41. Lotta Love, Nicolette Larson
        42. Lady, Little River Band
        43. Heaven Must Have Sent You, Bonnie Pointer
        44. Hold The Line, Toto
        45. He's The Greatest Dancer, Sister Sledge
        46. Sharing The Night Together, Dr. Hook
        47. She Believes In Me, Kenny Rogers
        48. In The Navy, Village People
        49. Music Box Dancer, Frank Mills
        50. The Devil Went Down To Georgia, Charlie Daniels Band
        51. Gold, John Stewart
        52. Goodnight Tonight, Wings
        53. We Are Family, Sister Sledge
        54. Rock 'N' Roll Fantasy, Bad Company
        55. Every 1's A Winner, Hot Chocolate
        56. Take Me Home, Cher
        57. Boogie Wonderland, Earth, Wind and Fire
        58. (Our Love) Don't Throw It All Away, Andy Gibb
        59. What You Won't Do For Love, Bobby Caldwell
        60. New York Groove, Ace Frehley
        61. Sultans Of Swing, Dire Straits
        62. I Want Your Love, Chic
        63. Chuck E's In Love, Rickie Lee Jones
        64. I Love The Night Life, Alicia Bridges
        65. Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now, McFadden and Whitehead
        66. Lonesome Loser, Little River Band
        67. Renegade, Styx
        68. Love Is The Answer, England Dan and John Ford Coley
        69. Got To Be Real, Cheryl Lynn
        70. Born To Be Alive, Patrick Hernandez
        71. Shine A Little Love, Electric Light Orchestra
        72. I Just Fall In Love Again, Anne Murray
        73. Shake It, Ian Matthews
        74. I Was Made For Lovin' You, Kiss
        75. I Just Wanna Stop, Gino Vannelli
        76. Disco Nights, G.Q.
        77. Ooh Baby Baby, Linda Ronstadt
        78. September, Earth, Wind and Fire
        79. Time Passages, Al Stewart
        80. Rise, Herb Alpert
        81. Don't Bring Me Down, Electric Light Orchestra
        82. Promises, Eric Clapton
        83. Get Used To It, Roger Voudouris
        84. How Much I Feel, Ambrosia
        85. Suspicions, Eddie Rabbitt
        86. You Take My Breath Away, Rex Smith
        87. How You Gonna See Me Now, Alice Cooper
        88. Double Vision, Foreigner
        89. Every Time I Think Of You, Babys
        90. I Got My Mind Made Up, Instant Funk
        91. Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough, Michael Jackson
        92. Bad Case Of Lovin' You, Robert Palmer
        93. Somewhere In The Night, Barry Manilow
        94. We've Got Tonite, Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band
        95. Dance The Night Away, Van Halen
        96. Dancing Shoes, Nigel Olsson
        97. The Boss, Diana Ross
        98. Sail On, Commodores
        99. I Do Love You, G.Q.
        100. Strange Way, Firefall

I only liked 5 songs?  Maybe I used too tough a grading scale, but I was looking for songs that went beyond just the general concept that I enjoy hearing any music that isn't significantly bad.  And there are some songs on the list that I either never heard or don't remember.  Any songs that are stricken out are songs that I remember and can't stand.

One other note: Song #15, Fire by the Pointer Sisters, isn't really that terrible.  It's just such a letdown compared to the kind of music I used to hear the Pointer Sisters perform when I was little.

BILLY JOE DAY

My recuperation is going well.  Still some chest congestion, but I think I'll live.  And what's the first thing I come back to tell you?  That's it's Billy Joe Day!

Well, I've got some reading to catch up on (I presume that you all have still been writing while I've been gone!).  I'm sure you'll hear more from me before the end of the day.