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Yankees Win!!!!

The New York Yankees have won their 27th World Championship.


The following column appeared on October 28th at PolitickerNJ.com.
The piece draws some interesting comparisons between the two cities (New York and Philadelphia) and also successfully predicts the outcome.

Tale of the Tape: Why the New York Yankees will win the World Series.

By Joey Novick

The last time the New York Yankees played the Philadelphia Phillies in the World Series, "The House That Ruth Built" was a mere-twentysomething, no stadiums had corporate names, and the Yankees beat the Phillies 4-0.

In the ensuing 60 years, much has happened.

So, let’s compare New York and Philadelphia in nine random categories, and see which town measures up.

PHILADELPHIA VS. NEW YORK

RIVER:
Delaware vs. Hudson

Philly: Named for an Indian tribe who was already in America.
NY: Named for a Dutch explorer who came from hundreds of miles away.

Edge: New York

FOOD:
Cheese Steak & Cream Cheese vs. Hot Dog & Cheese Cake

Nathan’s New York hot dogs known world wide; and cream cheese is key ingredient in Cheese Cake. Cheese steak tougher to eat at a ball park, but you only need one.

Edge: TOSS UP

FAMOUS COMEDIANS who are Black, Jewish and Chubby:
Bill Cosby, David Brenner, Curly Joe DeRita vs.
Jerry Seinfeld, Eddie Murphy, Jackie Gleason

Edge: Slight edge to New York by a “Bang zoom to the Moon, Alice.” DeRita was one of the fake Curly’s, not even a real Stooge.

New Year’s Eve Host:
Dick Clark vs. Guy Lombardo

Dick Clark’s Rockin’ Eve vs. Lombardo’s band called the “Royal Canadians”? Not even an American. No contest.

Edge: Philadelphia

Airports named after famous people:
Philadelphia International Airport vs. LaGuardia Airport and JFK Airport.

Philly could not find a famous dead guy to name their airport after? What about Franklin? You name everything else after him.
NY: A mayor and a president trumps “international”.

Edge: New York

Patriotic Symbol:
Liberty Bell vs. Statue of Liberty

NY: On display in the Harbor, welcomes the tired, the poor and the wretched refuse yearning to breath free.
Philly: Keeps it locked up, and besides, it has a crack in it. Spend a couple of bucks, fix that thing.

Edge: New York

Signers of Declaration of Independence:
Ben Franklin vs. Lewis Morris, Francis Lewis, Philip Livingston, William Floyd

The inventor of electricity had time to fly a kite, invent the pot belly stove, and then still kick back with hot 18th century chicks.
NY: Who are these four guys?

Edge: Philadelphia

Team Symbol:
Big Red “P” vs. The Yankee Pinstripes.

NY: Copied worldwide.
Philly: A big red “P”. Yeah, like that’s creative.

Edge: New York

Bridge Connected to New Jersey:
Ben Franklin Bridge vs. Outerbridge Crossing

Philly: Named for you know who.
NY: “Outerbridge Crossing”, named for Eugenius Harvey Outerbridge. Who is this guy?

Edge: Philadelphia

Tale of the Tape: New York 5, Philadelphia 3. One tie.

Edge: New York

My prediction: Yankees in 6.

Pass The Popcorn Please has a related post, a short film (about 1 min.), that satirizes those fans that jump on a winning team's bandwagon.

My prediction, I predict this victory will stimulate the sale of Yankee merchandise.

Mule-oween

Gov't Mule - 10.31.2009 - Tower Theatre - Upper Darby, PA

This Halloween Gov't Mule played a set of Rolling Stones covers.

Under My Thumb
Monkey Man
Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo *
Can't You Hear Me Knockin'
Angie
Ventilator Blues *
Shattered* (with Matt Abts on Lead Vocal, Danny on Bass & Jorgen on Drums)
Wild Horses
Slave *
Gimmie Shelter *
Play With Fire
Paint It Black
Bitch *
Brown Sugar *

Notes:
entire set and encore with Jackie Greene
* with Steve Elson on Sax

Here's a clip from the show, in which drummer Matt Abts does his best Jagger strut:


watch in better quality (much better sound)

Keith Noel Emerson

British keyboard player and composer Keith Emerson was born 65 years ago today. Keith is best known for his work with progressive rock supergroup Emerson, Lake and Palmer.
Emerson grew up in the seaside resort of Worthing, West Sussex, England. As a child, he learned western classical music, from which he derived a lot of inspiration to create his own style, combining classical music, jazz, and rock themes.
Emerson became intrigued with the Hammond organ after hearing jazz organist Jack McDuff perform "Rock Candy" and it subsequently became his instrument of choice



The song in preceding video, "Knife Edge", is based on Sinfonietta by Leoš Janáček.Keith Emerson has recorded many pieces based on other composers' works (a list rivaled only by Jimmy Page).

Bonus: here's a link to view ELP Live at California Jam 1974 (53 min.)

RIP Norton Buffalo

Blues harmonica virtuoso Norton Buffalo died Friday October 30th, following a brief battle with lung cancer.
Buffalo had been posting updates on his fight with the illness on his website, including information that the cancer was at an advanced stage and had spread to his brain.

Norton Buffalo played rock for years with the Steve Miller Band in the 70s, but had the ability to play many genres, with an emphasis on blues, rock and honky tonk. He toured this summer with Steve Miller and had many plans in the works when he learned he was sick.
Norton was 58 years old.

One Fast Move or I'm Gone: Kerouac's Big Sur

One Fast Move or I’m Gone: Kerouac’s Big Sur, is a new album featuring original songs composed and performed by Jay Farrar of Son Volt and Uncle Tupelo fame, and Benjamin Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie.The album, with lyrics based on the prose of Jack Kerouac’s landmark 1962 novel , was released on October 20 along with a feature-length documentary of the same title in which both Gibbard and Farrar appear.
Gibbard and Farrar, having never previously met, discovered a mutual kinship in their passion for Kerouac’s work while recording several songs for the documentary, produced by Kerouac Films.

Big Sur, is an evocative account of a time in Jack’s life when he’d “come undone,” both emotionally and spiritually. He escapes to a cabin in Big Sur to confront his inner demons and find a modicum of peace by the sea.

Gibbard stayed in the original cabin Kerouac wrote about, to compose songs for his band’s 2008 Grammy-nominated album, Narrow Stairs. For many years, Jay Farrar’s songwriting has been inspired and influenced by Kerouac’s compositional style.

The film features appearances by writers, poets, actors and musicians including, Tom Waits, Patti Smith, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, and Sam Shepard. The album and film was released on October 20, the day before the 40th anniversary of Kerouac's death.

Listen to the complete album or stream their concert from Washington D.C. on 10/27, courtesy of NPR.

Benjamin Gibbard and Jay Farrar's also performed live on KCRW's "Morning Becomes Eclectic" last Friday, October 23rd, you can watch and listen to the session on the KCRW website.

Is She Really 70?

Rock singer/artist Grace Slick who performed with The Great Society, Jefferson Airplane, Jefferson Starship and Starship is 70 today. Slick figured prominently in the 1960s-era psychedelic rock scene and was known for her witty lyrics and powerful vocals.