Them Crooked Vultures

A couple of weeks back Them Crooked Vultures appeared on SNL. To probably no one's surprise they fell victim to that show's never ending difficulties mixing loud rock bands. The result was a mushy mix with buried vocals. It wasn't terrible, but it could have been better.

A week later they appeared on another TV show that, like SNL, has been on the air for 35 years: PBS's Austin City Limits. Unlike SNL, this show has always been focused on music. Big difference in the final product.

John Paul Jones provides several "what the hell?" moments in this-from crazy instruments to holding down a tricky bass line with his feet while playing keyboards. I wonder what else he has done?

Grohl reminds everybody what a kick ass drummer he is while Josh Homme just does his thing. And he does it well. Nice to see perenial side man Alain Johannes getting to shine as well.

Anyway, take a look. The link is to the entire episode.

Austin City Limits

Health Care Reform that works

Obviously health care reform is one of the biggest issues that this nation is struggling to deal with. Generalized resistance to change combined with powerful interests protecting the bottom line for their stockholders has turned the debate into a festival of monumental hyperbole. For example-the previous sentence. Anyway....

Here is a fine example of a country finding an effective way to reduce costs and improve health outcomes. Norway decide to fight infections by reducing the use of anti-biotics. And it worked!

The problem is, I don't see an approach like this working in the good old U.S of A. I imagine that a host of pressures would interfere. The big pharm companies certainly would not be too keen on a health care approach that involved using less of their product. An American with a cough coupled with the oh too common expectation of a quick fix would more than likely resent being told "Yep, you are sick. Go home and wait it out". Instead they would demand to be given a marginally effective (for their case) antibiotic that might provide a slightly quicker recovery. I could also see the fear of lawyers circling, begging for a reason to sue, would cause more arguments against this approach.


Anyway, give the article a read
Norway is cool

Back in the day....

George getting airborne in 2002.

What the sign should say

A billboard near Wyoming MN has a picture of Bush with the phrase "Miss me yet?" on it. Of course it has gone viral with all sorts of alterations. I liked this one.

In a perfect world...

SNL hits one out of the park

Racing DOWN Alp D'huez-off road

Megavalanch-a mass start downhill mountain bike race that starts at the top of Alp D'huez at 11,000 feet and descends to 2000 feet. Craziness.

Giant object spotted in air over Lake Phalen

Just A Cool Cat snapped some cool pix of a ginormous kite floating over Lake Phalen in St Paul. Pretty cool.