Stu News and Photos

Missing Nich

2011-08-28T10:50:00.000-07:00

Everybody's asking me how it feels, the pain/sadness of missing Nich. I didn't want to give any of you a half-hearted answer, But there's a bunch of you and I didn't want to pay even a single one of you short shrift. I feel, sincerely, that you, my parents, my sisters, my brothers, my dear, dear friends are all owed my best on this one. So here is my answer to your question, "How do you feel about Nich leaving home?"

Here's the short, and emotionally candid answer:

I swear to almighty Flying Spaghetti Monster that I feel fantastic. Yeah, I miss him. I get wistful. I was picking out my morning music and as I browsed the cds, I thought of him and I got the mildest feeling of sadness.

But it's got to be similar to the sadness engineers feel when they last touch something that's going into space. Like when Tom Kelly (You know how we got to the Moon? Well, Tom Kelly was the NASA Program Manager for that there vehicle what brung 'em up there). Anyway, it must feel the way Tom Kelly said goodbye to the Eagle, the Lunar Module (LEM), before it left Earth. Sure, he was bummed that he'd never get to touch it again, but holy cow, it was gonna land on the Moon!

I have a similar sense. Yes, Nich is gone. Not forever, but not in any way the same. It's permanent. This is a separation, a clear crossing of a clear line. It's almost palpable.

But he's going to experience arguably the lengthiest period of unmitigated joy in the average human lifespan. Sure, there are sweeter moments, watching your kids being more, staring at your bride, et cetera. But nothing comes close to college. It's like the greatest summer camp. And I love him and his happiness is my happiness and knowing that his heart is full blinds me to even the slightest pain.

As they say on Reddit, AMA (Ask Me Anything

Chicken Burritos For You And For Me

2011-07-07T07:55:00.000-07:00

Nich came back from Hawaii yesterday (soccer tournament - he went with his dad and his sister - they had a great time). He asked if I would make dinner for him, and for his girlfriend. When I inquired as to the ethnicity he preferred (of the food), he chose Mexican.

Now I've never really cooked Mexican before. Polish/Jewish, Chinese, Italian, Cajun, Irish, sure, no problem. And I've made my share of quesadillas, but they are so easy they almost don't count. We live in Southern California, so when you want to eat Mexican, just step outside and there's ten fantastic Mexican restaurants in walking distance. So I've never dug in and prepared a real traditional Mexican entree before. I realized Nich wanted a homemade meal and I realized I wanted to do my best by him and his girlfriend, who is a terrific human being.

I did some scanning through my cookbooks, surfed the web a bit, and narrowed my options. Needed something simple, as I didn't want the wheels to fall off the wagon. I can cook more complicated dishes, but I was nervous about Nich's friend, this was to be the first meal for her at our house. Screwing up was just not an option. The answer: Burritos!

I started out with a recipe I found on the net, but then I changed it so severely that I figured I'd write it down and share it with y'all. It's a very simple dish and I'd assert it's a fine way to explore the cuisine of The United Mexican States. Give it a try as it stands, or with your own variations. Wait, what's that Yoda? "Do or Do Not, there is no Try."

Chicken Burritos, à la Supermarket

Ingredients:

Go to the market and pick up:

1 rotisserie chicken
1 container of pico de gallo, fresh (canned if you have to)
1 can Summer Crisp or Shoepeg corn
1 bundle of green onions
1 pack of flour tortillas
1 carton/can of chicken broth
2 packs of microwave Spanish rice (Uncle Ben's Ready Rice is the best, hands down)
1 bag of shredded cheese (pick your favorite, last night I used 3-Cheddar)
1 container dried garlic (if you don't already have at home)
1 container chili powder
1 container cumin
1 container cayenne pepper

Process:

Deconstruct and shred the chicken, putting just the meat into a large container.
Wash and slice the green onions.
Open the can of corn and drain it.
Microwave both packs of rice.

Get out your biggest, most favorite frying pan. I use my 5-quart Calphalon pan. In the words of Mr. Ferris Bueller, If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up.

Get a medium flame going under the pan and put in some butter or oil. Saute the onions until they just turn soft. As they are cooking, toss in a liberal amount of the dried garlic (a teaspoon or two, your taste should guide you). If you want to go to the trouble of using fresh garlic, be my guest, but the taste of the garlic is not a focus in these burritos.

As soon as the onions go soft, toss in the chicken. After a moment, stir in the pico de gallo. Let that sit for a minute or two, then sprinkle in a solid tablespoon of chili powder. stirring and sprinkling, to coat all the chicken. Let it sit for another moment or two.

After you've caught your breath and come to the realization that this is going to taste pretty good, add maybe a quarter cup of chicken broth. This is just to keep things moist, but not swimmy. Then stir in the corn.

Can you start to smell the goodness? Right!?!

Sprinkle in a dash of cumin and then a dash of cayenne pepper. How much cayenne is up to you - some folks dig spicy and some don't.

Lastly, stir in the instant rice. Once everything is good and mixed, lower the flame and let it steep. Let all those flavors infuse the chicken.

As soon as you put your spoon down, heat the oven to 375°. Then get out a lasagna-sized baking dish. Then open the tortillas and the shredded cheese and get ready to fold some burritos.

When the oven temp hits 375, transfer the chicken mixture from the pan into a bowl. Get a big plate for burrito folding and a big spoon. Take a tortilla, put it on the plate. Put one heaping spoonful of the chicken mix onto the tortilla, off-center. Grab a healthy pinch of shredded cheese and sprinkle it on top of the chicken, then fold up the burrito. Not sure how to fold a burrito? Go to YouTube and do a search for Fold Burrito. There are a bunch of videos that all show essentially the same technique.

Once the burrito is folded, put it into the ungreased lasagna pan. When you've got enough burritos in there, cover the dish with foil and pop into the oven for 8 minutes or so. Then remove and serve.

There's lots you can do to adjust this recipe, from changing the meat to to adding chopped jalapeño to covering the burritos with cheese before covering with foil. Have fun with it, and don't stop believing in yourself.

"Mary Don't Take Me On No Bad Trip" by Fugi

2011-06-10T18:23:00.000-07:00

You do not know this song.

"Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" by The Four Lads

2011-03-28T08:08:00.000-07:00

On this day in 1930, Constantinople formally became Istanbul, per the Turkish Postal Service Law.

"Dream" by The Pied Pipers

2011-03-24T10:39:00.001-07:00

For my folks:

Amateur Video Of Anchovy Mass-Death

2011-03-08T17:02:00.000-08:00

I found this video on YouTube - It contains footage of the mass-death of the anchovies at King Harbor in Redondo Beach. This is about 2 miles from my front door. Wait until the second half of the video for an awesome view underwater. Eerie and Creepy and Heavy-Duty, I tell you what.

Yes, March 2nd Is My Birthday

2011-03-01T09:09:00.000-08:00

It's true, I was born on March 2nd. And yes, it's true, I look fabulous, thank you. What's that? You want to get me a present? Well aren't you the sweetest thing. How about making a big pitch for Forever Parenting? Ask folks on your blogs and Facebook and Twitter feeds to read it. Push them to subscribe. Or not, I also like chocolate and flowers and postcards from small-town America.

Meanwhile, here's the great Kenny Burrell, with his smooth take on Nat King Cole's, "Gee, Baby, Ain't I Good To You?" Recorded in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey on April 06-07, 1963, this record is a lovely excuse to sit back and think of your first kiss.

"Getting Better" by Cheap Trick

2011-02-26T16:39:00.001-08:00

You're An Oratorical Snob

2011-02-24T22:03:00.000-08:00

"Words, when spoken out loud for the sake of performance, are music. They have rhythm and pitch and timbre and volume. These are the properties of music and music has the ability to find us and move us and lift us up in ways that literal meaning can't."

-President Josiah Bartlet, from "The West Wing"

The Great Margie Anderson

2011-02-24T14:19:00.001-08:00

"Just For Money" by Paul Hardcastle

2011-02-20T20:13:00.000-08:00

This was a favorite tune back in college. Sir Laurence Oliver and Bob Hoskins and the groundbreaking audio production crafting of Paul Hardcastle:

Bill Frisell

2011-02-19T08:24:00.000-08:00

I've been a fan of Bill Frisell since college. He's magical. Over the past week, I've been on a real tear, listening to his entire discography. I now feel compelled to spread the word. Go to GrooveShark and give a real listen to any of his albums. Maybe start with East/West or The Intercontinentals or Unspeakable or The Willies.

What's That? You Want To Help?

2011-02-17T08:14:00.000-08:00

Hey, thanks to all the lovely folks who asked what they could do to support Forever Parenting. You are the sweetest friends a guy could hope for.

So, here's some stuff you can do: If you have a blog, put our link in your blogroll. Write a review on your blog (you don't even have to be nice, I'll take any press I can get!) - If you're on The FaceBook, mention us in your feed. Follow us on The Twitter - @4everParenting - and retweet our tweets. Also, go visit the site and comment on the articles/essays. And eat more fiber.

Want to do even more? Find us a sponsor, 'cause maintenance ain't free! :¬o

Thanks for the love! ♥

Forever Parenting!

2011-02-16T06:27:00.000-08:00

GNMParents has become Forever Parenting, a streamlined version of the same parenting community blog you've shown your love all these years. I've worked hard to shape Forever Parenting into something worthy of your eyes. The color palette is Leslie's. The database and server management is Kevin's. The writers are still the writers, though there's a few new and a few departed. So, nu, go give it a taste, what could be bad?

John Doe & Kathleen Edwards

2011-02-15T08:01:00.000-08:00

*hat-tip to Dave Mark

"Buttercup" by Lucinda Williams

2011-02-15T05:53:00.000-08:00

Brand new Lucinda Williams, for those who need six strings to hold up their broken heart.

The Healing Power Of Film

2011-02-13T09:06:00.000-08:00

Everyone has a few things that drive their passions, external "things" that draws their obsession, their ardor. Maybe you're into sports or music or ballet or knitting or electronics or woodworking or deep-sea diving. These things have a purpose, and that purpose is to heal. To wash away our sins, to medicate our souls, to heal us. To make us whole.

For me, it's cinema. The movies make me whole.

But why? What about the movies makes me feel the way I do?

I am in the middle of my latest rewatching of P. T. Anderson's Punch Drunk Love. It stars Adam Sandler and Emily Watson, who fall in love in front of our eyes. This is both painful and joyous, as they stumble over each other, emotions wreaking havoc. Like any real-life horror, I am torn, wanting to shield my eyes, and yet equally desirous of a wide-angle lens with which to take in every possible view. This film is one of those perfect films in that regard, one of the best awkward romance movies in the history of film.

And as I watch it, as I see Adam Sandler's character in the act of choosing to make a horrible mistake, I yearn to stop the action and run up to him and say, "No, don't, stop, come back!" And yet I can't. I am enfeebled, forced to watch helplessly as he screws up yet again.

He reminds me of me.

I think of my past at times, whether it's convenient or not. And some times I think of choices I've made, choices that were not in my best interest. Bone-headed, dim-bulbed choices. Dreadful choices. And there's that frustration, like popcorn husk in my teeth, as I ache to go back and fix it, to stop myself and make a different choice.

And I know that I can't, which makes it worse.

So what's this healing of which I speak? This is that moment, the moment in the film when we turn a corner and the good thing happens. The moment in the film when we see a glimpse of the great wide awesome, the wonderful world of It's All Working Out For The Best. And for films that carry this message, repeated viewing is so very nurturing, because we know that all the wrong turns and stumbles will bring them to this rapture, where Everything Works Out For The Best.

And as we watch, we identify with the main character, and we have a vicarious few hours, as we become them, and we get the great ending, where we get everything we want, where we win.

For me, the healing is when I realize that I too get everything I want, that in the end, I win. I have a wife that is the one I've been waiting for, the one the guy gets at the end of every truly great romance. And I know that if I'd made different choices, I might have missed out on this. So I know that each of my choices was, in fact, the right one, the perfect one, the choice that led me further on the path towards meeting Mrs. Right.

That's what the film Punch Drunk Love does for me. It gives me that healing satisfaction of having made all the right choices. Even if they didn't seem like terrific choices in the moment, they got me here. And that's a feeling worth having.

Basso, Valdambrini, Piana, Sellani, Cuppini e Azzolini

2011-02-11T17:33:00.000-08:00

Gary Moore, "Don't Believe A Word"

2011-02-07T08:22:00.000-08:00

This is for Sully, a true mensch.

Hunter S. Thompson: The Crazy Never Die

2011-02-06T07:59:00.000-08:00

This goes out to my mother, who tirelessly enables people who are mentally ill, and to Ronald Reagan, who didn't see them as people at all.

Part 1

As I Watch History Unfold, I Think Of Hunter

2011-02-05T20:58:00.000-08:00

"San Francisco in the middle sixties was a very special time and place to be a part of. Maybe it meant something. Maybe not, in the long run, but no explanation, no mix of words or music or memories can touch that sense of knowing that you were there and alive in that corner of time and the world. Whatever it meant. There was madness in any direction, at any hour. If not across the Bay, then up the Golden Gate or down 101 to Los Altos or La Honda. You could strike sparks anywhere. There was a fantastic universal sense that whatever we were doing was right, that we were winning. And that, I think, was the handle - that sense of inevitable victory over the forces of Old and Evil. Not in any mean or military sense; we didn't need that. Our energy would simply prevail. There was no point in fighting - on our side or theirs. We had all the momentum; we were riding the crest of a high and beautiful wave. So now, less than five years later, you can go up on a steep hill in Las Vegas and look West, and with the right kind of eyes you can almost see the high-water mark - the place where the wave finally broke and rolled back." -Hunter S. Thompson, "Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas: A Savage Journey To The Heart Of The American Dream," 1972

"Together" by The Intruders

2011-02-03T08:33:00.000-08:00

Are you into Philly Soul? The Intruders, in large part, invented the sound.

Memories Of WPIX, Channel 11, NYC

2011-02-02T23:57:00.001-08:00

"He Ain't Got No Rhythm" by The Ritz Brothers

2011-02-02T11:03:00.000-08:00

"Chinatown" by Destroyer

2011-02-02T08:21:00.000-08:00

This album is currently my pick for best of 2010. "Chinatown" is the first track. Give it a chance.

Egypt Is Why I Am Happy

2011-01-30T12:12:00.000-08:00

I'm not someone who is prone to happiness. So this morning, when I found myself in a seemingly innocent state of relative bliss, I did what I always do, I questioned it. I asked myself, "Why am I so happy, so relaxed?" And the answer came back, "Egypt."

I find myself deeply encouraged by the popular revolution in Egypt. Regardless of how it all plays out in the end, the citizens have passed a point of no return. There is now a virus spread amongst each and every one of them. The entire population shares a common thought: Freedom is possible. - Imagine that, imagine the moment when that happened, when each Egyptian citizen was able to look into each other's eyes and see hope shining back. Hope in the future of their every day existence. Not just for a special moment of privacy or camaraderie, but a future where they can walk to the nearest street corner and say what they feel, where they can be unabashedly emotionally honest. Isn't that a dream for all of us?

So, for the moment, I am pausing to reflect on that, to let it sit in my belly like a glass of Napoleon brandy.

"It Might As Well Be Spring" by Ike Quebec

2011-01-24T18:32:00.000-08:00

"Diamond Dave" by The Bird And The Bee

2011-01-18T17:43:00.000-08:00

President Johnson Orders Pants

2011-01-17T15:12:00.000-08:00

Put This On: LBJ Buys Pants from Put This On on Vimeo.

January 17, 2011

by Jesse

In 1964, Lyndon Johnson needed pants, so he called the Haggar clothing company and asked for some. The call was recorded (like all White House calls at the time), and has since become the stuff of legend. Johnson’s anatomically specific directions to Mr. Haggar are some of the most intimate words we’ve ever heard from the mouth of a President.

We at Put This On took the historic original audio and gave it to animator Tawd Dorenfeld, who created this majestic fantasia of bungholiana.

Enjoy this special treat from Put This On: LBJ Orders Pants. Then share it with a friend who loves pants.

http://www.putthison.com

http://www.polymorphproductions.com/

Spem In Alium by Thomas Tallis

2011-01-13T13:56:00.000-08:00

Ancient Piety by AutoStar

2011-01-10T20:04:00.001-08:00

This is a full track from our album, RetroFitting The Future. You get to listen to it for free. Isn't that neat?Ancient Piety by stumark

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-24T08:16:00.001-08:00

We're Dry Like A White Wine. Wait, What?!?

2010-12-22T09:13:00.000-08:00

Thanks for all the cards and letters asking if we're surviving the rain. We're all great, totally dry inside our snug bug rug. We go out when we need to, and sometimes just 'cause we want to. I think the biggest thing is the phenomenon of constant rain. Very interesting, and it'll be a little sad when it ends.

Meanwhile, happiest of holidays to you who have a holiday approaching. Enjoy each other, all of you, enjoy each smile and each laugh.

Comments

2010-12-07T11:21:00.001-08:00

A few of you would like to comment on my blog entries, but can only do so if I allow anonymous commenting. Unfortunately, I can't keep anonymous comments open, because it allows spammers to track their filth into my nice, clean blog.

So, what to do? If you want to comment, simply create a Google account for yourself. It's easy. Just select one of the blog entries, look for the comments area, and then look closer for the sign-up link for a Google account. Clicking on that link will take you to a sign-up page, where you will find a process that is painless.

Good luck, and may the schwartz be with you.

An Inexplicable, Yet Intoxicating "Let It Be"

2010-12-05T15:27:00.000-08:00

An Inexplicable, Yet Intoxicating "We Are The World"

2010-12-05T15:25:00.000-08:00

"These Vagabond Shoes" - A Short Film Starring Kevin Bacon - Directed By Scarlett Johansson

2010-12-05T08:03:00.000-08:00

My Latke Recipe - Pure Potato Pancake Pleasure

2010-12-03T08:34:00.000-08:00

My mother makes the best potato pancakes in the world (this has been verified by NASA and Condé Nast). Friends still ask for the recipe, so here's my version. A bow of respect to my mom, as this recipe is 90% hers - I make slight tweaks to the ingredients and technique, so if you make these and you find them as delightful as I do, full credit goes to my mother, who is one o' the greats.

-------------------

Latkes

Ingredients and Tools

A whole mess of paper towels
1 decent-sized blender
1 large mixing bowl
1 spatula
8 good-sized Russet potatoes
1 large onion (your choice on variety)
Matzo meal - you'll need about a cup for each batch
Canola oil (enough to fry this batch, maybe half a cup or so)
Salt
Pepper
4 Eggs

First I'll do a brief on the recipe and then the details:

To make the latkes, scrub, peel, and cut up potatoes. Cut up onion into chunks. Add a little oil, the eggs, the 'taters, and the onion to the blender and blend on low setting. Once it is blended, pour the mush into a big bowl, add the matzo meal. Then get your biggest frying pan, add enough canola oil so that there is about a quarter-inch of oil. Get it good and hot, then spoon in the mixture. Wait until the sides get brown, flip 'em over, wait 30-40 seconds, pull 'em out onto paper towels, let 'em cool for as long as you can stand it, then shove 'em in your eating hole.

Ok, now the full thing:

Prep

Get out a large mixing bowl that you will use for the final container of the potato mush. Set it aside.

Get out a large lasagna-style baking dish (for keeping the latkes warm in the oven). Put in a few layers of paper towels and put it near the stove, if not on one of the empty burners.

Get out your biggest frying pan. Higher sides are better, because their will be spatter from the hot oil. Deal with the pain of the burns, the taste will make up for them. Set the pan on the stove.

Get out the ingredients and a large spoon (larger than a standard tablespoon, but not huge)

Get out your biggest blender. Plug it in.

Scrub the potatoes.

Peel the potatoes, though no need to be overly-clean. Getting most of the skin off is the idea.

Cut potatoes in half, lengthwise, then half again, lengthwise. Line up the four long strips and cut them into one-inch chunks or so. Don't sweat it, it's just to make it easier to put into the top of the blender.

Peel and cut the onion into quarters.

Grab the oil and put about a teaspoon into the blender. Follow it with the eggs (yolks and whites), and start blending on a low setting.

Add potatoes and onion chunks.

Add salt and pepper (your choice on how much)

Wait until the largest chunk you see is the size of a pea. No need to liquefy this stuff, just get it goopy.

Take the goopy potato mixture and pour it into the large mixing bowl.

Slowly add one cup of matzo meal. Stir as you add.

When that's done, put about a quarter-cup of canola oil into your frying pan and get it good and hot. Make sure that there's about a quarter-inch of oil in the pan - don't have any exposed bottom surface.

Take your bowl of potato goop and bring it to the stove. When you think the oil is hot, drop in a tiny bit of potato goop. If it sizzles nice and fast, the oil is ready.

Take your bigger-than-a-tablespoon spoon and get a healthy amount of potato goop. Slowly add it into the hot oil, moving your spoon as you go, so you get an oval-shaped layer of goop cooking.

Do that again, maybe do three the first run.

Watch the edges. When they get brown, take your spatula and flip them. The tops should look decently cooked. Then count to 30 or so, flip them again, make sure they look cooked, then take 'em out and put 'em on the paper towels.

After they've drained a bit, put 'em on a plate and eat 'em, or put 'em onto a baking sheet. If you're making this whole batch, when you get 'em all on the baking sheet, you can pop 'em in the oven and set it to warm, so that they stay fresh for when you are ready to serve.

Lastly, think of taste - they're great by themselves, but some folks love them with applesauce or sour cream or whatever.

Enjoy!

-----------------------------

Tips/Suggestions

If you have the patience, cook them one at a time. This will keep the oil temperature optimally heated. The hotter the oil, the perfecter the pancake.

For a crispier pancake, drain off some of the water from the potato goop. Certainly you can add more matzo meal, but then you get less potato taste. Instead, take the just-blended potato goop to the sink and drain it gently with a big spoon, as you would a can of tuna.

Russet potatoes are traditional, and arguably the best-tasting, but if you're up for variety, try Yukon Gold. Actually, try any kind of potato. There are some 5,000 different varieties, and there's no wrong type of fried potato. "I love starch. Starchy, starch, starch. Here it goes down, down into my belly."

Don't fear experimentation. Add more onion to the mix. Add a clove of garlic. Add cumin or turmeric or cardamom. Remember, it's all in the name of science.

Kevin Bacon's #1 Fan

2010-12-03T08:05:00.000-08:00

Don't Ask, Don't Tell

2010-12-03T07:09:00.000-08:00

A Wish For Joy On This Thanksgiving

2010-11-24T07:22:00.000-08:00

It's Wednesday, early morning, and I am thinking, of life and what's been lived. I'm thinking of simple things and easy things and things that made me smile.

I went shopping with my daughter, just she and I, to the local grocer, to pick out her favorite foods and drinks and snacks and such. Since she was extending herself by willingly doing a Ralph's run (ugh), I dressed up. That means I changed from my sweatpants into my good black jeans and out of my Crocs and into my dressy black Sketchers. It made her smile, and that's a sight that rivals sun-showers.

As we rolled on through the isles, I marveled at how far science has come, as measured by the ever-increasing quality of microwave meals. As I hit full-stride as a bachelor, a quarter of my meals were based around microwave foods and food products (what's a food product? Think "Kraft American Pasteurized Prepared Cheese Product"). Most of those heat-n-eat items were fair, certainly edible, but very few actually tasted good enough to provide joy. This was middle-class survival eating. But today? We have some really toothsome opportunities in the freezer. For example, Stouffer's makes a Philly cheesesteak that's pretty darned good, certainly good enough to doctor up into a lunchtime smile. It takes maybe two minutes to heat, comes out brown and toasty, and I can add mozzarella and freshly-ground black pepper and ketchup and it's better than delivery. I dig that. Good for America, I says.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the Lone Ranger considered what had befallen his... Oh, wait, this is a post about... What was I saying?

Smiling, that's right. Joy. Simple pleasures. Tiny moments of divinity and delight. For the moment, this is my life, day to day. There are larger issues, hills yet to climb, but as that is, so is this: I can smile while I climb, and they don't charge extra for it neither. I can smile as I study economic news, I can mutter witty remarks as I troll for coupons, I can play with the cat while I'm pulling clothes out of the hamper.

And I can turn any food moment into a cooking moment. Whether I'm heating a frozen meal in a skillet or reheating pasta in the oven, out come the spices and open goes the fridge door and I'm spinning straw into gold. That is bliss, turning leftovers into something more. Or cooking for someone else, or for the whole family, that is bliss as well. It's like painting. It's messy, it involves tools. It enables my inner craftsman. That is joy.

I wish for you a similar joy. I wish for you a simple smile.

Mike Glazier On The View!

2010-11-15T07:05:00.000-08:00

As many of you know, I've been friends with Mike Glazier since 1st grade. You may also know that he's now an audio engineer in New York City, working for "The View" on ABC.

But did you know he's gonna be in front of the camera this week?

That's right, national tv, Mike Glazier, playin' guitar and singin' and smilin'.

Here's the story: The producers at The View had an idea for a segment, a contest, "Behind The Scenes." They held auditions, open to the crew who work backstage. Mike won one of five spots, where they will feature him as they go to break - about 45 seconds of him doing his thing. If enough people vote for him, he wins a bigger segment on the show (not sure what that will look like.)

So go vote for him! - http://theview.abc.go.com/poll/views-backstage-talent-contest-vote-now - Vote Early, Vote Often!

And thanks, by the way.

Watergate Question:What If The Transcripts Were Withheld?

2010-11-12T14:30:00.000-08:00

I'm studying Richard Nixon ('cause everyone needs a hobby), specifically the run-up to The Presidency and his years as President, and I have a question, open to the floor:

During the end of April, 1974, Richard Nixon's staff, under his direction, are piecing together edited transcripts of the Oval Office tapes. During that week, the transcripts are being reviewed by the press secretary's office, as a support mechanism for the editing as well as to better their preparation for the upcoming feeding frenzy, an inevitable event once the transcripts went public.

One of the deputies assigned to review the transcripts was Frank Gannon. Mr. Gannon was concerned that the transcripts had no commontary, and would therefore be devastating to the administration, as they would be misunderstood. He talked over with his boss, Ron Ziegler, and soon sat in White House Counsel St. Clair's office, reviewing each page of commentary, as soon as it came off of St. Clair's typewriter. Eventually Gannon had read enough and the two had a discussion about the upcoming release. In that meeting, they both agreed that, as they saw it, the transcripts showed President Nixon as being innocent of the charges being discussed by the Judiciary Committee.

But what if they saw it differently? I'm not sure if the smoking gun transcript was apparent to either of them, so maybe they were indeed pure of heart and honestly felt that the Nixon could avoid the hangman's noose. But what if they both saw it the other way? What if they went to Haig (the new chief of staff) and convinced him that the transcripts shouldn't be released and that President Nixon should, at all costs, claim executive privilege? What if they immediately burned the transcripts and locked the tapes away, and no one leaked? Would it have made any difference?

On one hand, at best, this approach would have only prevented the first article of impeachment. It's possible that the second article of impeachment, about the abuse of the IRS, would have passed, and certainly the third, the "failed without lawful cause or excuse to produce papers and things," article would have passed. So maybe the point is moot.

But on the other hand, what if the administration was successful in squashing the tape of June 23, 1972, the smoking gun? Would that have been enough to stop the avalanche short of burying President Nixon? Could it have ended in a less damaging manner, in censure? And if so, what then? What would have been the effect on history? Not just American history, but the history of the Presidency, of the power and effect of The Office Of The President Of The United States?

Again, all opinions welcome.

Check out music from Michael Glazier

2010-11-11T08:41:00.001-08:00

"Norwegian Wood" by Milton Nascimento (1975)

2010-10-12T12:59:00.000-07:00

Editing/Writing Lessons Via Skype - 30 Minutes for $15

2010-10-09T08:46:00.000-07:00

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Martin and Lewis at Copacabana 1955

2010-10-08T07:39:00.000-07:00

"Untitled 3" by Sigur Ros

2010-10-07T16:20:00.000-07:00

"Glycerine" by Bush

2010-10-06T16:20:00.000-07:00

"Song 2" by Blur

2010-10-05T16:20:00.000-07:00

"Planet Claire" by The B-52s

2010-10-04T16:20:00.000-07:00

"My Turn" by P.M. Dawn

2010-10-03T16:20:00.000-07:00

"7" by Prince

2010-10-02T16:20:00.000-07:00

"Mashed Potatoes" by Brak

2010-10-01T16:20:00.000-07:00

"Grunion Run" by Frank Zappa

2010-09-30T16:20:00.000-07:00

In 1963, Frank Zappa was hanging out at his friend's recording studio. The friend was Paul Buff, and Paul was making a decent living recording local bands. At one point, Paul wrote an instrumental, called Tijuana Surf, and asked Frank to come up with a b-side. "Grunion Run" was born, stamped on the flip-side of "Tijuana Surf," and exported to Mexico, where it became a hit record. For about 17 weeks, "Tijuana Surf" held the #1 spot on the charts, and Frank earned a small amount of pride and recognition for having the b-side. This was, for Frank, one of those moments.

Check out Frank on the solo. Pretty badass for 1963.

"Driva Man" by Max Roach

2010-09-29T16:20:00.000-07:00

"The Tennessee Waltz" by Ewan and Jerry

2010-09-28T16:20:00.000-07:00

"The Tennessee Waltz" by Spike Jones

2010-09-27T16:20:00.000-07:00

"The Guns Of Brixton" by Nouvelle Vague"

2010-09-26T16:20:00.001-07:00

"Rio" by Mike Nesmith

2010-09-25T16:20:00.000-07:00

"Swinging Safari" by Bert Kaempfert

2010-09-24T16:20:00.000-07:00

"Midnight Jam" by Joe and the Mescaleros

2010-09-23T16:20:00.000-07:00

"Lu Bene Mio" by Matteo Salvatore

2010-09-22T16:20:00.000-07:00

"When You're Smiling" & "Oh Marie" by Louis Prima

2010-09-21T16:20:00.000-07:00

Whassa matta, Sam? You can't play in Italian?

(and, for those who are curious, that's Keely Smith, and yes, she always looks like that. It was part of the act.)

"fool In Love" & "Work Out Fine" by Tina Turner

2010-09-20T16:20:00.000-07:00

"Sunken Garden" by Human Mesh Dance

2010-09-19T16:20:00.000-07:00

Erwin Schrödinger

2010-09-18T20:26:00.000-07:00

"E.P.L. (Femme Machine)" by Drum Komputer

2010-09-18T16:20:00.000-07:00

"And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda"by The Pogues

2010-09-17T11:21:00.000-07:00

When I was a young man I carried my pack
And I lived the free life of a rover
From the Murrays green basin to the dusty outback
I waltzed my Matilda all over

Then in nineteen fifteen my country said Son
It's time to stop rambling 'cause there's work to be done
So they gave me a tin hat and they gave me a gun
And they sent me away to the war

And the band played Waltzing Matilda
As we sailed away from the quay
And amidst all the tears and the shouts and the cheers
We sailed off to Gallipoli

How well I remember that terrible day
How the blood stained the sand and the water
And how in that hell that they called Suvla Bay
We were butchered like lambs at the slaughter

Johnny Turk he was ready, he primed himself well
He chased us with bullets, he rained us with shells
And in five minutes flat he'd blown us all to hell
Nearly blew us right back to Australia

And the band played Waltzing Matilda
As we stopped to bury our slain
And we buried ours and the Turks buried theirs
Then we started all over again

Now those who were living did there best to survive
In that mad world of blood, death and fire
And for seven long weeks I kept myself alive
While around me the corpses piled higher

Then a big Turkish shell knocked me arse over tit
And when I woke up in my hospital bed
And saw what it had done, Christ, I wished I was dead
Never knew there were worse things than dying

For no more I'll go waltzing Matilda
All around the green bush is so far and near
For to hump tent and pegs, a man needs two legs
No more waltzing Matilda for me

So they collected the cripples, the wounded, the maimed
And they shipped us back home to Australia
The legless, the armless, the blind, and insane
Those proud wounded heroes of Suvla

And as our ship pulled into Circular Quay
I looked at the place where me legs used to be
And thank Christ there was nobody waiting for me
To grieve and to mourn and to pity

And the band played Waltzing Matilda
As they carried us down the gangway
But nobody cheered, they just stood and stared
Then they turned their faces away

And now every April I sit on my porch
And I watch the parade pass before me
And I see my old comrades, how proudly they march
Reliving that dreams of past glory

I see the old men march slowly, all bent, stiff and sore
The forgotten heroes from a forgotten war
And the young people ask me, "What are they marching for?"
And I ask myself the same question

And the band plays Waltzing Matilda
And the old men still answer the call
But year after year their numbers get fewer
Some day no one will march there at all

Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda
Who'll go a waltzing Matilda with me

"Just To Walk That Little Girl Home" by Mink DeVille

2010-09-16T16:20:00.001-07:00

"Devil Got My Woman" by Skip James

2010-09-15T16:20:00.000-07:00

Edwin Newman, 1919 - 2010

2010-09-15T09:08:00.000-07:00

Frank Zappa's "G-Spot Tornado" by Vika Yermolyeva

2010-09-14T16:20:00.000-07:00

"Think" by Lyn Collins

2010-09-13T16:20:00.000-07:00

Our New Kitty

2010-09-12T16:20:00.001-07:00

"Steal My Sunshine" by Len

2010-09-11T16:20:00.000-07:00

"I Love You" by The Climax Blues Band

2010-09-10T16:20:00.000-07:00

"Hey" by The Pixies

2010-09-09T16:20:00.000-07:00

"That's How Strong My Love Is" by Otis Redding

2010-09-08T16:20:00.000-07:00

Cats Are Bad-Ass, Just Sayin'

2010-09-07T17:07:00.000-07:00

Maurice Ravel's "Boléro" Conducted by Frank Zappa

2010-09-07T16:20:00.000-07:00

"The Rain Song" by Led Zeppelin

2010-09-06T16:20:00.000-07:00

Happy Labor Day - I Need A Goddamn Job

2010-09-06T08:28:00.000-07:00

"It's Time To Get Laid" by Kate & Bill

2010-09-05T16:20:00.000-07:00

"Out The Door" by Kate Micucci

2010-09-04T16:20:00.000-07:00

"Honky Tonk Woman" by Taj Mahal

2010-09-03T16:20:00.000-07:00

"The Alphabet Of Nations" by TMBG Puppets

2010-09-02T19:52:00.000-07:00

For The New School Year: "Albania!"

2010-09-02T16:20:00.000-07:00

"Red Beans And Rice" by Spearhead

2010-09-01T16:20:00.002-07:00

"My Heart Belongs To Daddy" by Marilyn Monroe

2010-08-31T16:20:00.000-07:00

Glenn Beck's "Restoring Honor" Rally - Interviews With Participants

2010-08-31T11:06:00.000-07:00

"I Love Paris" by Ella Fitzgerald

2010-08-30T15:08:00.000-07:00

David Cross For America Online

2010-08-30T07:35:00.001-07:00

"Miss Otis Regrets" By Kirsty MacColl

2010-08-29T16:20:00.000-07:00

"The Black Page #1" by Polygon Head

2010-08-28T17:29:00.000-07:00

"Sparklin' Brown Eyes" by Wanda Jackson

2010-08-28T16:20:00.000-07:00

The Inchworm Song

2010-08-28T11:13:00.000-07:00

To follow the Fibonacci conversation, my brother reminded me of this wonderfully sweet song, composed by the great Frank Loesser:

"Fibonacci Numbers" by Ken Nordine

2010-08-27T16:20:00.000-07:00

"Workin' On The WPA" by Bob Dorough

2010-08-26T16:20:00.000-07:00

David Cross Talks About McDonald's

2010-08-26T07:53:00.000-07:00