The sad, crazy adventures of Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys

[LeeVanCleef]

LOL! As you may guess, Robert Anton Wilson is a major player in my United States of Paranoia book, so as you were reading him, I was reading about him! The author, more or less, labeled him as conspiracist as ironist; someone who didn't really believe much of what they were writing, but was having some fun with it anyway, much like the guys behind the Church of the Sub-Genius.
Man, I'm trying to think of the last sci-fi series I read that didn't begin with "Star" and end in either "Trek" or "Wars"... and that was quite a while ago for those two! For some reason, I've never been much of a series fan, or at least never found one I could sink my teeth into. I think the problem with so many sci-fi series is that they go on long after they've run out of fresh ideas. One sci-fi book I've really been enjoying is a "homebrew" ebook someone posted of every Hugo-award winning short story since the '50s. What I've read so far (not surprisingly) is more or less a compendium of "future" Twilight Zone episodes. "It's a Good Life", where Billy Mumy is sending everyone out to the cornfield is a tad bit more violent than the TV episode! Anyway, they're good readin' and easy to put down when something else catches one's eye... since the books are pretty mammoth! I'm gonna post them here because... why not? Hope everyone likes 'em as much as I do.

Yeah, it's pretty amazing how many great open-source programs there are. I used to use Nero a lot to recode larger mp3 files to smaller ones (there's just no reason to have a 320kbps mp3 of a scratchy country blues record from the '30s. Lowering the sound quality won't hurt that at all!), but I found a freeware recoder much faster and much more intuitive. But, for me, there's everything else that usenet offers... mainly TV and movies. On those rare occasions that I have to watch "live" TV and it has commercials, it drives me up a wall! Next highest on my list is my addiction to audiobooks. Then comes books and comics and music. So, as you can see, it's easy to make Usenet a worthwhile hobby!

Speaking of comics, anyone else read the new Flash Gordon series from Dynamite Comics? These folks are doing a fine job of raiding the closet for the pulp stars of yesteryear... they've also got a comic teaming Doc Savage with The Shadow. I'm not saying these comics are the next The Watchmen, but they're better than anything I've read from the DC/Marvel sausage factories in the last few years. Great stories, great art... what more is there to ask for?

 

[Isaac Sauvage]

marvel-- that's for wiping up #1.
DC------ that's for wiping up #2.
dynamite needs for BD in its life.

roger, cape canaveral.

 

[sleepy]

We were discussing digitizing newspapers, magazines and books for download from libraries in 1960. At least I was. But there was the issue of payment for the daily paper or the current magazine issues to deal with. My idea was, when home computers became affordable, to call the library through the computer over the phone line, request a book or publication by text, leave the message as an electronic letter or note to respond to later if the librarian was busy, search other library data indexes on a network if the book wasn't available locally, or if digitized. simply download it and read it on a video screen or print it on a digitally-modified teletype or a computer-coupled electronic typewriter.
And, people could also send instant letters by computer over phone lines, based on the library queue idea for requesting a book.
And then edit the message by manipulating the text as an interactive image in memory buffer before sending it or finalizing it, using a pointer device in a walnut shell with rotating potentiometers and select buttons that would control an arrow on the screen and the text under the arrow, or by highlighting the text with the arrow and button, to manipulate, copy and paste, or erase, typos, alphabet letters, words and whole paragraphs and pages.

I can't prove it now. Anybody could say that shit since it already exists. But not in 1960.

 

[sleepy]

And Wow! The "Talking Rings" that told the story of Books when they were spun like a Top in the film, "The Time Machine" may have been a reference to telephone rings and rotary dialers and telephone delivery of digital books EDIT: Or digital audio. But by that time, I had suggested using push buttons that controlled discreet oscillators generating a frequency for each number, to eliminate the rotary magneto pulse phone. And a digital switchboard to deal with many computers.

RRRINGG

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[Isaac Sauvage]

btw just a random find. has queen been mentioned yet? okay, now it has..

 

[sleepy]

Queen? In reference to what?
They're a tough act without Freddie for a front man.

 

[Isaac Sauvage]

coold be

 

[sleepy]

The character of "Johnny Fontane" vs. Charles Manson.
The incident with Charles looking for a recording contract via Dennis was in '68
The Godfather novel was published in March '69.

Is it possible?

 

[LeeVanCleef]

Uh, no. The story is based on Sinatra. Frank's career in the early '50s was that of... well, what I'm assuming Justin Bieber's career will be in about 4 years. He was a washed-up teen idol whose voice wasn't ringing as clear as that bell was in the '40s. But Frank read the bestseller From Here to Eternity and knew he could play the part of Maggio. No one in Hollywood wanted him to play Maggio any more than they'll want Bieber to play Indiana Jones when he's cast in 2019. That is where the question of "what was done to get Sinatra... far from a proven actor... a part that would win him an Oscar?" To be honest, I've never read anything to substantiate any organized-crime involvement, so that was a legendary (almost urban-legendary at this point) fanciful turn taken by author Mario Puzo. If any one person carries the most responsibility outside of Sinatra's tenacity it would be his then red-hot (in more ways than one!) girlfriend Ava Gardner, who may have used her clout to pull a few strings.

Who else is in that movie with Frank? He's the MP that beats Frank to death. Scary-looking fucker. I hope not everyone in Baltimore ends up looking like him in the near future.

 

[sleepy]

Of course. But I was thinking more along the lines of, well maybe Charlie reminded Puzo of something.

 

[sleepy]

And that is because, in Hollywood, there is a grapevine of information flowing that is separate from the press, or barely referred to by the press. Like a back page report of an incident at the Wilson house.

There is also something called a "Do Not Work For" list which makes the rounds.

 

[sleepy]

And a bit of useless inscrutable trivia.
The initials are J.F. = F.S. played by A.M.
Around here, anybody who is not "a made man" is often referred to as "a Jaybird",
so, "Jay Face" is not too far off.

 

[LeeVanCleef]

Here's what I'm gonna guess is the most informed review of Brian Wilson's new album, based on about 10 seconds listening to almost all the album samples:

meh

Pretty much all slow-tempo and at least two numbers that sounded exactly the same during my lightning review. I guess it's fine music for old people, unless the "old people" you've gotten used to listening to are Bruce Springsteen and Tom Russell... then it makes Brian sound pretty darn sleepy. But don't take my word for it!

http://www.allmusic.com/album/no-pi...tter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2015-04-07

 

[Isaac Sauvage]

thanks, bill.

some of the tracks sound alright... altho brian's voice has jumped the shark that jumped the shark at this point.

the gal from "she & him" (on the island) has a super voice, and suggests to me that brian would be much better off leaving the leads to others... maybe sticking to collaboration, too. (whatever happened to the wondermints?)


note: tablet's been dead lately... definitely cramps my posting game.

 

[LeeVanCleef]

You think this is a game, junior? Is that a quote from a movie, or am I just imagining that? The She in She & Him is the "adorkable" Zooey Deschannel. No, really.

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EDIT: Who the fuck is doing the whistling? That's absolutely all I took away from watching that video.

 

[sleepy]

Now don't blame me. I listened to "Tell Me Why" the other day, changed two chords in the verse and like it better.

Brian's not arranging with his signature undertows, starting whole or half note arpeggios from downscale and working upscale. Like he used to.

Does anybody here enjoy 90's metal/death metal? I'm only asking.

 

[Isaac Sauvage]

yeah well, i've lost track of who i've boinked across life.

problem, mi amor...?

 

[LeeVanCleef]

LOL! You one Rico Suave!
In answer to your question, Arne: no.

 

[sleepy]

I'm getting old, and I have to ask. What do you think the appeal is for it?
Now, I know. I went through this with the old folks when I was a kid, but I think it's different now. There are a handful of those tunes that I like, the ones that made the cut and sold gadzillions, but not most of them.
Pssst. I'm asking it over here instead of over there. But I might digress...

 

[sleepy]

Did I say too much?

Y'know. Somebody over there posted a bunch of metal links, including one specific satanic death metal band with an infamous name, and I haven't the heart to tell him that the band's keyboardist-songwriter wrote those "nice Love Boat-type" demo songs for Yamaha PSR keyboards in the 90's-2000's, before Yamaha later started using copyright hit tunes like "La Vida Loca" and classics.
Ask me how it all blends.

 

[GSGregg]

I don't know who whistled, but that video sidetracked me onto a 2008 six-part hour called "Dennis Wilson: The Real Beach Boy" that I found interesting, and on the off-chance that one of you broadcast / music / Graumann's Chinese alumni haven't seen it.....

Could be just the thing to lead into Love and Mercy in.....when is it, June?

 

[sleepy]

I don't know about Manhattan Beach being within walking distance of Hawthorne, Ca.
Looks to me like maybe 4-5 miles or so. Is that a walking distance?

https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&...oHwDw&ved=0CBQQ8gEoADAA&output=classic&dg=brw

More likely, they took the RTD (Rapid Transit District Bus), paying 50 cents each for the Student Fare, as long as they had their Student I.D. Cards to show the driver!

Else, they more likely took the bus East to that McDonalds in Downey, Ca. Ever been to that McDonalds?

 

[GSGregg]

I don't know about Manhattan Beach being within walking distance of Hawthorne, Ca.
Looks to me like maybe 4-5 miles or so. Is that a walking distance?

It is if you want to get away from your prick old man badly enough.

There had to be a burger joint closer than DOWney, wooden ya think? That looks like 12-15 miles ENE from Manhattan's pier.

My beach time, what there was of it, was spent to the south (Huntington, Newport, Balboa,).....among other reasons, the air was cleaner than what was encountered driving west through L.A. proper. Took a while to get there, though; in the days before the 605 Freeway, we had to take Rosemead / Lakewood Blvd into Long Beach before swinging SE via Pacific Coast Hwy.

 

[sleepy]

My Grandma looked like Murry in drag. She had something to do with the studios, though she never let on.

The Boys probably hitched a ride!

And I would have taken Sepulveda Blvd., but if I was headed for Zuma, it would have been Coldwater Canyon to Ventura Blvd. or Ventura freeway to Old Topanga Rd., Mulholland Hwy and then Kanan Dune Rd.

And if I was going to Santa Monica, it would be Coldwater Canyon or Laurel Canyon to Highland at Hollywood, then La Cienega to Santa Monica Blvd.
And if Venice Beach, then La Cienega to Venice Blvd., past K-RTH FM to the sea and the street performers.

Either Venice or down Santa Monica Blvd. around 8 in the morning. That's where I was humming my "Funky Town" in '79 while getting away from my folks and their bitches.
Unknown to most folks, "Funky Town" has a very different meaning. It's all about getting away from the Murrys and their goody-goody "Funky Towns" while driving to my ideal "Funky Town" by the sea, back when I could. I guess the folks know Lipps....also.

 

[sleepy]

Man, I hated Louis Nowell. Remember him? He was central to outlawing clothing-optional beaches in Los Angeles, and he also went after the vendors and the street performers on the boardwalks and piers. But his council district was in The Valley. To everyone else reading this, that was 10 miles inland. He did not serve the constituents of the beach areas. He was a dreary draconian Catholic serving the northeast desert lands of Pacoima and Sun Valley, Ca.

Louis R. Nowell fought viciously for "a family-friendly Los Angeles, to make Every Square Inch of L.A. a mandate of that philosophy. . For the kids". Goody-goody.