the frig blig

If I were a genetic engineer dabbling in DNA I would definitely want to attempt mixing chromosomes of dogs and cats.

Of course it would not be easy, but if the resulting creatures lived and were able to reproduce, I would quickly patent them and begin marketing them to pet-lovers as super-pets, containing all the best and none of the worst qualities of each species.

This would certainly confuse many people, especially cat lovers who despise dogs and dog lovers who despise cats.

But it would appeal to the exotic pet crowd, and would eventually grow a legitimacy and constituency of its own.

The first person/company to successfully enter this market will make history, and a killing.

You heard it here first!

I like Doc Searls’s post about Daniel Schorr’s death:


Sad news

He was 93. We should all live so long, and well.

Rocked out with The Tripwires at the Sunset Tavern in Ballard last night. Opening were Orange Peel, a young pop band from San Francisco, and Spanish for 100, energetic rockers with an insanely hot lead guitar cat.

The Tripwires did not disappoint. They encored with a cover of ‘Crawling From the Wreckage’ — sweet! I never realized before how much the Tripwires sound resembles a hard, tight, hook-laden Rockpile.

I was mad at former President Bush when he spent billions of dollars to kill people (in Iraq).

And today folks are mad at President Obama for spending billions of dollars to help people (in America).

Go figure.

The mission of the Secret Service, l learned in grade school, is protecting the President of the U.S. from bodily harm. Lately I’ve been wondering if the agency might have another hidden mission: protecting the President from non-vetted communications from the public (the ‘unwashed masses’). Keep him insulated, as it were, from contact with ordinary people.

[If my keyboard had a key to type the equivalence rather than equals sign, sigh…]

Much has been written by musicians over the past several weeks about the influence Alex Chilton had on their various careers etc.

I myself was never a fan, since I didn’t particularly care for ‘The Letter’ (AC’s big hit). I may have even seen AC once in the 1980s in Tallahassee. If I did, I wasn’t impressed.

But all the recent attention motivated me to download the third Big Star album ‘Third/Sister Lovers’, which I have been listening to on the Metro 16 on my way to work.

And now I hear what I missed. This morning during ‘Nature Boy’ I felt a similarity between AC and Syd Barrett. In the way they approach songwriting; their actual music, voices and styles are not overtly similar.

Who knew? Apparently lots of people, I’m just late to the club.

BAD.

GOOD.

During a recent trip to Vancouver BC (no, I didn’t attend the winter Olympics) I saw posters for a concert by Canadian band Pointed Sticks. The blurb said they were an old punk rock band who had released a new recording in 2009 after a multi-year hiatus. I liked the album art and title — ‘Three Lefts Make a Right’.

Hard to find in the U.S., so I downloaded the MP3s from Amazon.

Long story short — don’t waste your time. I’d call it a cross between lukewarm Green Day and The Carpenters. These sticks are more like wet noodles.

While the musicianship is competent, the words are saccharine. If this band got a better songwriter perhaps they’d be more interesting.

You have been warned.

> > —– Original Message —–
> > From: capt.charlesdjacoby@gmail.com
> > To: undisclosed-recipients
> > Sent: Monday, November 30, 2009 1:40 AM
> >
> > Hello ,
> >
> > I am hoping as well that we can work together on a better and higher
> > platform. I am a war veteran with the United Nations troop in
> > Afghanistan, on war against terrorism.. I served in the 1st Armored
> > Division in Baghdad Iraq.
> >
> > Based on the United States legislative and executive decision for
> > military action in Iraq, I am among the soldiers that have
> > criticized the U.S. policy on Iraq. Based on this, I have been court
> > martial and found innocent as I have a strong opinion towards peace
> > in Iraq. I will need this car for my purposes as I will be
> > relocating to Europe because of some security reasons and this is
> > why I contacted you so that we can put head together towards my
> > plan to invest in Europe. As a result of this,it will be important
> > for me to reveal to you that I have in my possession the sum of
> > $26.2 million USD. which I got from crude oil deal in Iraq. I have
> > been deployed to Afghanistan but I have this box in Iraq and as soon
> > as I hear from you of your reassurance to assist me then I will
> > communicate for the delivery with the help of a red cross cargo jet.
> >
> > I have this money stored somewhere very safe in our camp in Fallujah
> > Iraq waiting for a moment like this to put the money in good use and
> > now that I have been moved to Afghanistan I want the box moved
> > without delay.. I have a very profitable investment plans on hand.
> > Instead of allowing this terrorists to get the money and spend it on
> > purchasing arms from Russia, it is better channeled to saving the
> > world. I cannot move this money to the United states because I will
> > be in Europe for about 3years, so I need someone I could trust. If
> > you accept, I will transfer the money to Europe where you will be
> > the beneficiary because I am a currently settling some scores with
> > the pentagon so I cannot be parading such an amount so I need to
> > present someone as the beneficiary.. I am an American and an
> > intelligence officer for that so I have a 100% authentic means of
> > transferring the money through diplomatic courier service. I just
> > need your acceptance and all is done.
> >
> > Please if you are interested in this transaction I will give to you
> > the complete details you need for us to carry out this transaction
> > successfully. I decided to find someone that is real and not
> > imaginary and that is why I went to a secured site where I can be
> > sure that the person is real. I believe I can trust you. Right now i
> > am very careful with the way i communicate so as to reduce any kind
> > of risk until this money is finally in your custody. i shall be
> > communicating to you through email and would also give you a call
> > when it is necessary so as to inform you on any important
> > information. I want you to be brave as i have everything under
> > control. I have every proof of this fund in my possession to show
> > you that everything is authentic.
> >
> > I can brief you on further inquiry when I am in a secured place . I
> > am writing from a fresh email account so if you are not interested
> > do not reply to this email and please delete this message, if no
> > response after 3days I will then search for someone else. I am doing
> > this on trust,so i would want you to put aside any act of greed or
> > the thought of cheating as we have a lot to gain in this business
> > relationship. 26.2 million USD is a lot of money which is the dream
> > of anyone. I am in Afghanistan right now and need to secure this
> > money and send it to you if we reach a proper agreement.
> >
> > I wait for your contact details so we can go on. In less than 5 days
> > the fund should have been delivered to you and I will come over for
> > my money. I will give to you 30% of the sum and 70% is for me. I
> > hope I am been fair on this deal.
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > Capt. Charles David Jacoby

Somewhere in the Pacific Northwest…