Chalkhills Digest Volume 3, Issue 44
Date: Tuesday, 26 November 1996

          Chalkhills Digest, Volume 3, Number 44

                Tuesday, 26 November 1996

Today's Topics:

                          WHOA!
                         video's
                      Holeee Moleee
                     My eyes hurt...
                 how sweet to be an idiot
                    chromatic bulldogs
            RE: 16  Chalkhills Digests---Pt.1
                 Political circus peanuts
                   Dukes on the radio!
                    Re: Peter Blegvad
    Dukes influences and Chalkhills musical knowledge
   I guess this means you like me, you really like me!
     If Toys are quarreling amongst themselves.......
                      My 2 Pfennige
          We have enough for a basketball team!
                           hate
                  Goodbye Humanosauruses
              Nick Heyward.. HC 100.. Seven
            Chalkhills T shirts still extant?
                         Re: Kiwi
                       XTZenophobia
                Exclamation marks ahoy!!!
                      Let's get real

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The views expressed herein are those of the individual authors.

The blood is running down the gutter.

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

Date: Mon, 25 Nov 1996 20:22:53 -0600 (CST)
From: "Jeffrey with 2 f's Jeffrey" <jenor@csd.uwm.edu>
Subject: WHOA!
Message-ID: <Pine.OSF.3.91.961125201910.5663B-100000@alpha1.csd.uwm.edu>

> From: jhackney@facstaff.wisc.edu (John M. Hackney)
>
>         I think that it's pathetic for you to suggest that foreigners make
> such remarks about America out of jealousy!  As a U.S. citizen, you make me
> gag with embarrassment!

You know, I completely disagree with what Amanda said - but I think the
sort of personal attacks indulged in by Mr. Hackney above are completely
out of line. First, Amanda's already said she posted in a bad mood,
without much forethought; second, give her a break - she's only 18 (I
think she said). I don't want to condescend, but let's just put it this
way: if knowledge is, in part, a function of experience (which I'd say it
is), an 18-year-old can be excused a bit more of its lack than someone
with more time and experience to become aware of the world outside their
window.

It doesn't really matter...someone's going to come along and move it
anyway....

--Jeff

Jeffrey J. Norman        <jenor@csd.uwm.edu>   <http://www.uwm.edu/~jenor/>
Dept. of English & Comp. Lit.            University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
::SCENE 1: tall men in white push red vacuum cleaners, surrounded by     ::
::short men in black with short mustaches and pushbrooms                 ::

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

From: MSDONATI@aol.com
Date: Mon, 25 Nov 1996 22:15:19 -0500
Message-ID: <961125221519_141996503@emout05.mail.aol.com>
Subject: video's

Video-hillians...

I am interested in obtaining any videos of the boys that I can.  Anyone that
would be interested in helping out a fellow Chalkhillian that is down on his
video-luck, please email me at msdonati@aol.com.

Thanks!!!

We now return you to your "normal" programming......

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

Message-ID: <329A6B35.5846@sirus.com>
Date: Mon, 25 Nov 1996 23:00:23 -0500
From: Peter Dresslar <pdresslar@sirus.com>
Subject: Holeee Moleee

Hi everyone.

It's been a small while since I've posted here, and some of you will
remember my last post which was kind of a joke. (Okay, a really really
long joke) I got a *lot* of email from people on that one, mostly happy
and good, and for those of you who were so kind, thanks. I would have
posted sooner, but I sold my modem.

Anyway, the subject of this message refers to the way I felt when I read
3-41 and 3-42. I haven't read 3-35-40 but I can guess that it has pretty
much been guerilla ideology. And there is lots of swearing. Usually this
group is much more tame and I am sorry to see it so engaged in anger. I
am not certain what on Earth the words "Republican" and "Democrat" have
to do with the word XTC.

I guess my earlier post was an attempt to instill some silliness where
there was needed some. I fear now that I've *started* a few arguments.

By the way, capitals are shouting, and you are hurting my ears.

=====

Now on to XTC stuff; when's the Michigan party?

Yours,
Peter Dresslar
Holland MI USA

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

Date: Mon, 25 Nov 96 17:56:36 PST
From: "Sean Robison" <sean_robison@studio.disney.com>
Message-Id: <9610258489.AA848987189@ccmsmtp2.wds.disney.com>
Subject: My eyes hurt...

     I just got back from vacation... to find 11 Chalkhills had accumulated
     in my mailbox in just 10 days. I JUST finished reading all of them and
     I'm sporting a good case of eye-strain (well worth it, though).

     Having done that, I'm gonna toss in my usual chunk of change.

     1. Misheard lyrics - the two I goofed up on: "I've been shooting up
     sparks" somehow became "I'm shooting up snot" and "Sweep me like dirt
     underneath your cape" magically transformed into "Sweep me like turds
     underneath your cape"... well, both convey the same sentiment...

     2. In defence of "Nonsuch" - sonically and musically (am I being
     redundant?) it's a wonderful album. Sure, lyrically, it's pretty weak
     overall, but I get lost in such lush musical sounds like "Smartest
     Monkeys", "Books Are Burning", "Crocodile", etc...

     3. Amanda vs. Doc Botany (maybe this should be the follow up TMBG's
     song "XTC vs. Adam Ant") - while I disagree with some of Amanda's (or
     AMANDA - hey, the caps show a positive self image...) political views,
     it's unfair to be slammed in the manner that Doc Botany did. Everybody
     is entitled to their views on every aspect of life and also entitled
     to air them... AND, everyone else has the right to disagree or agree.
     HOWEVER, there's a nice way to disagree and a WRONG way... it's one
     thing to say "Amanda, I disagree with you..." as opposed to saying
     "Amanda, you third grade mall rat who is the person who really shot
     Kennedy...". The latter response makes YOU, the writer, look like the
     uneducated third grade mall rat. One of the wonderful aspects of this
     list is the well spoken, well educated people participating on it.
     Don't spoil it. As my mom would say "If you can't say something nice,
     don't say it at all."

     4. Loud songs - All of "Oranges & Lemons" - mebbe 'cuz it's my
     favorite XTC of all time :)

     5. Pronunciations - i'm in the X-T-C camp.

     6. Band logo shirts - I came across my old High School graduating
     class photo and noticed one of the girls in the very front row was
     sporting an XTC sweatshirt!

     7. Go2 - it's a great album. "Mecchanic Dancing" gets me doing the
     "Steering Wheel Percussion" instantly.

     That's it for this time...

     Sean Robison

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

Date: Tue, 26 Nov 1996 00:56:13 -0600 (CST)
From: "Jeffrey with 2 f's Jeffrey" <jenor@csd.uwm.edu>
Subject: how sweet to be an idiot
Message-ID: <Pine.OSF.3.91.961126004747.5908D-100000@alpha1.csd.uwm.edu>

On Mon, 25 Nov 1996  musicvil@idir.net (John Yuelkenbeck) wrote:

> Does anybody else think the music theorists don't have a clue as to what
> they are talking about, but are just being pedantic to impress us? As an
> English Major (who HAS graduated!), I liken in to those fellow students
> that rambled on about the great use of form or structure within certain
> poems. That's cool enough, and that knowledge can certainly enhance the
> pleasure derived from the poem, but I always felt that these people often
> couldn't appreciate the work from a non-technical, gut level instinct form
> of appreciation. I prefer a combo of each, I suppose. I like the final

Speaking of dissing Americans, you must be one, no? We (yes, I'm another)
just love putting down anything we don't understand. I'm not a
high-powered music theorist, but it so happens that I know enough that
when I hear an Fmaj7, I *know* in a "gut level instinct" that it's a maj7
chord. It's rather like once you know how to read, it's impossible to see
a word (like "word") and *not* read it. So it's not really a choice, you
see.

What I don't understand - unless my provocation above nails it - is why
the hostility?  ("Don't have a clue" & "pedantic" are insults in my book -
which I'm sure some of you wish were burning...) So others have a mode of
understanding not available to you - if you don't play guitar, Andy
Partridge could tell you a thing or two about doing so. Do you think he's
just trying to impress you?  Probably not.

Just because someone describes something as a "non-tertian harmony"
doesn't mean they can't be jumping around the room to it at the same
time. (Well, nearly the same time).

Oh yeah: re the subject line - that's (a) not directed at you personally,
but at the all-too-common American habit I mentioned (I'm an English
teacher - ! - so I run into it all the time), and (b) a reference to
(QUIZTIME!) a musician mentioned in this forum not too long ago. Name is...?

--Jeff

Jeffrey J. Norman        <jenor@csd.uwm.edu>   <http://www.uwm.edu/~jenor/>
Dept. of English & Comp. Lit.            University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
::does "anal retentive" have a hyphen?:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

np: _Offbeat_ compilation

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

Date: Tue, 26 Nov 1996 00:59:59 -0600 (CST)
From: "Jeffrey with 2 f's Jeffrey" <jenor@csd.uwm.edu>
Subject: chromatic bulldogs
Message-ID: <Pine.OSF.3.91.961126005740.5908E-100000@alpha1.csd.uwm.edu>

Good lord I'm turning JHBish...

Re Michael Kearns' elaboration of "Hey Bulldog"'s bridge and "Washaway":
"Collideascope" is another one that does this chromatic trick (as does,
of course, "Blackberry Way," nearest source for the Dukes' track - along
w/ "I'm Only Sleeping").

--Jeff

Jeffrey J. Norman        <jenor@csd.uwm.edu>   <http://www.uwm.edu/~jenor/>
Dept. of English & Comp. Lit.            University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
::I play the guitar. Sometimes I play the fool::::::::::::::::John Lennon::

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

Message-ID: <329A998A.4F38@earthlink.net>
Date: Mon, 25 Nov 1996 23:17:30 -0800
From: Herne <herne@earthlink.net>
Subject: RE: 16  Chalkhills Digests---Pt.1

In the past day or so I waded through the 16 Chalkhills digests that I
had backlogged...here are some comments on recent threads...Part One.

1.)Jeff Lynne (sp?)---neither good nor evil in my book but I was rather
fond of the Full Moon fever stuff.  As for ruining the Beatles new
songs...nah he just made them sound like mellow Harrison solo
material.

2.)Beatles and XTC---obviously not off topic as so many feel compelled
to draw parallels.  I remember a review of English Settlement in my
hometown Free paper which referred to it as XTC's "white album."  As for
so many postings recently on this list...well DUH...it is new and fresh
on everybody's mind...after all for a band that broke up 26 years
ago they put out more albums in the past year than XTC has in the
past decade practically... but hey it'll die down just like the Clinton
thread on the Elvis Costello list around Election day.  (But boy did
that one go on forever...And speaking of which...

3.)Politics---In my first post to the list I pointed out that I found
several of andy's political songs to be some his weaker ones lyrically
and then I segued into a mild rant about how I am annoyed by English
musicians who criticise American politics.  Several of our foreign
Listers pointed out that it was impossible to not be affected by
american culture and politics no matter where in the world one is.
Seemingly an obvious point but a healthy reminder for me that no matter
how much I know I am always half-informed about the world until I can
actually go out and explore it.  As far as political songs go I guess
like anything else it's in the execution.

Whereas Here Comes President Kill Again seems a little too preachy it
bothers me more than Reign of Blows because I find it less catchy I
guess...or too obvious.

But then again obvious isn't always bad.  Most of the Clash's political
songs...or all their songs for that matter...weren't the slightest bit
subtle but I loved many of them.

It could be also whenever I crash into that whiny liberal thing I tend
to get annoyed...like with U2's Bullet the Blue Sky.  I'm a centrist and
extremists bother me...well I'm drifting...better leave this one for
now.

4.)Officer Blue/Strange tails---back when I was searching the world for
XTC anything I got the Respectable Street single and discovered these
two nuggets on the b-side.  I've always liked them both.  Once again a
sucker for that Drums and Wires/Go 2ish period.  and speaking of
which...

5.)GO 2---add me to the list of Go 2 fans.  No time to go into my
passion for it at this time but let's just say it's been on my mind a
lot lately...I haven't actually been playing it...too busy with TMBG's
Factory Showroom/SuzanneVega's Nine Objects of Desire and Rhino's  DIY
U.K. Punk Vol.2: this Is the Modern World...what a great comp. this is
by the way.  I love that Soft Boys song "(I want to be An) Angloise
Lamp".  That and other obscurities from Alternative TV and such.  A
great time.

6.)Drums and Wireless and Testimonial Dinner---I have listened to both
of them once each and I suppose I agree with those who believe that they
offer nothing really new but that's just the first pass.  I never knew
XTC played so many BBC sessions.  I thought after they stopped touring
they didn't do anything like that.  What a surprise.  Will have to
return to Wireless when time permits...but Another Satellite live...just
isn't the same.

7.)Chalkhills the book---agree with AMANDA on that one but to fill in
the blanks I can always go back to all my old issues of the Little
Express which are much more thorough on that period.  If I can find them
that is.

8.)Saturday Night Live---I was there watching during the Golden Age but
you know what...It still sucked after Weekend Update even then.  It's
easy to forget when all you can see are 1/2 hour re-runs that breeze by
showing all of the best parts.  I gave up on modern SNL after Dana
Carvey left.  You just felt it slip away.  But it will come back...it
always does.

9.)Paul and Linda...I'm probably the only one on Earth who doesn't mind
Linda.  I guess I'm strangely partial to dissonant off key female
singers harmonizing with males...like Exene and John Doe for example.
I'm strangely partial to Wings material...especially Band On the Run and
oddly enough...Back to the Egg.  I saw him on the Flowers in the Dirt
tour in 1989 and was probably more thrilled to hear Jet than
Yesterday...and before you flame me on this one...With people like Macca
live you just don't want to hear some of those tired old radio hits.  I
would have traded Hey Jude in for For No One or Fixing a Hole.
I could go on forever about that show but hey...look at the time...

10.)What XTC should one play loudly?  All of it I suppose.  But there
doesn't seem to be much need to turn up many of the tunes as they seem
to be loud no matter what the volume.  Train Running Low and No thugs in
Our House are simply thundering and perhaps even hazardous to your
health when played loudly.

Coming up in Part Two:

Questions 4 XTC, Crowded Island, Dear God, The Police and Sting and XTC,
Off Topic Posts and a love letter to AMANDA.

Till later,

Herne

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

Message-Id: <199611260730.HAA36726@mule0.mindspring.com>
Date: Tue, 26 Nov 1996 02:29:53 -0500
From: Jason NeSmith <jnesmith@atl.mindspring.com>
Subject: Political circus peanuts

Eric Muller remarked:
>Uh, if I'm not mistaken, there are reasons for the presence of the US military
>in Germany that have nothing to do with that Big Bad Russian Bear.  If memory
>serves, Germany caused the odd problem here and there for her neighbors, and
>indeed, many of her own citizens, from time to time this century.

You're not mistaken.  However, that was fifty years ago.  We can
chalk the whole nasty episode up to "bad chemicals"--as Kurt Vonnegut would say.
As an American who lived in Germany in the late eighties, we surely overstayed
our welcome.  The modern day German Nazis are no more a threat to non-aryans
than their American counterparts.
plink-plink.  (two cents spent)

AMANDA was seen to have said:
>I've been flamed too many times for voicing my opinions.

I have a good friend on both the EC and John Hiatt lists, and both of those
lists
have been ravaged by political arguments.  It's okay to say what you feel,
but we all need to be CAREFUL that what we're saying won't result in unwanted
backlash.  This list is world-wide, and while some of us are licking our wounds
others are bored shitless.  It's not censoring yourself to change the tone of
what you're saying.  Just read it over once before hitting *send*.  Hey, maybe
you'll catch a few typo's! ; )

In XTC news, I've been singing one verse from "Dear Madam Barnum" all
day today.  What a superbly written song that is.  There are millions of pop
songs with clown/circus themes, but none that say "If I'm not the sole fool
who pulls his trousers down..." Even if I didn't already love AP's songs and
this was the first one I'd ever heard I would know right away that this was
a master songwriter.

That's all for everyone, that's all fo me.

Jason nummer drei.
wubba wubba wubba, Orange Hat
How's your hand? Orange Hat
hevvy rotation on the Brain: Stevie Wonder "Race Babbling"

www.mindspting.com/~jnesmith
We're all made of Jello, Orange Hat

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

Date: Tue, 26 Nov 1996 10:42:06 -0500 (EST)
From: Allan Hislop <Allan_Hislop_at_UKCDEE01@ccmail.bms.com>
Subject: Dukes on the radio!
Message-id: <9610268490.AA849016861@ccgate0.bms.com>

     Bloody Hell,

     I don't believe it.

     First, I'm off for one Friday and the following Monday, and I find SIX
     Chalkhills.
     I've read 2, but then had to do some work - and I'm glad I did.

     I work in a lab with a radio continually tuned to Radio 1 ("UK's
     biggest and best radio station") and at 10.25 Tuesday 26th Nov 1996,
     Braniac's Daughter was played!
     It was part of DJ Simon Mayo's show called "Missionary position" where
     people are asked to pick their private and personal record choice.

     Chips From The Chocolate Fireball was recommended by a Robert Atkins
     (I think), and Braniac's Daughter chosen by him for airplay.
     No mention of XTC, and I think Simon Mayo may have been a little
     bemused by who the devil The Dukes Of Stratosphear were.

     Just thought that you might be interested.

     Allan

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

Message-Id: <9611261310.AA04654@firewall.vum.be>
Date: Tue, 26 Nov 1996 14:16:56 +0100
From: Tim De Cock <tim@vum.be>
Subject: Re: Peter Blegvad

(first ever mail to chalkhills, better think of a good opening line!)

Hi!

David McGuinness wrote, in #3-42:

<Ah at last!  Peter Blegvad is a genius.  Get 'King Strut and other Stories'
<- there's only 3 tracks produced by Partridge, but it's still better than
<'The Naked Shakespeare'.  I normally hate singer-songwriters, but this guy
<is something special.  Haven't heard the new one yet though ('Just Woke
<Up').

Well, I have, and it's just a stitch short of the brilliance of "King Strut"
(Blegvad's best album, I must agree) largely on account of the
low-budget-underproducing. "Just Woke Up" features some great songs, not all
of which are new unfortunately - but then again I really like his reworking
of "Meet The Rain". "Heaven In Hell's Despite" (co-written with
Mr. Partridge) is a worthy follow-up to the absolute gem that is "Gold" on
KS.

So, all you Chalkhillians who want to check out Peter Blegvad: go
for "King Strut" first. "Just Woke Up" and "Downtime" are excellent
runner-ups. "Knights like this" I find rather bombastically produced
(but that too has its charms) and "Naked Shakespeare" a bit uneven in
songwriting qualities, but you'll grow to love these albums if "King
Strut" moves you. (I know they were a disappointment to me at first.)

For that extra XTC-content: anybody else who is as wild as I am
about the "Peter Blegvad/rhymes with eggbed"-jingle Mr. Partridge
wrote and sang on the promotional CD "Peter Who?" It pops up at
least once a week in my head: twenty seconds in heaven! (Quite a
treat if you're a resident of Belgium, like me.)

Tim De Cock
(Go ahead, chuckle about my last name, you Anglo-Sexons!) [sic] + :-)

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

Message-ID: <D5A6D72F01291300@ametsoc.org>
Date: Tue, 26 Nov 96 10:15:00 -0500
From: dgershmn <dgershmn@ametsoc.org>
Organization: AMS
Subject: Dukes influences and Chalkhills musical knowledge

Dale Leopold asked:
>Has anyone put together a definitive list of the various & sundry bands
>that the Dukes paid homage to? Is it in the FAQ (and if not, I hereby so
>move)?  While some (Smile-era Beach Boys, Cheese & Onions-vintage
>Rutles--you know which ones I mean) practically announce themselves with
>a gold-embossed card, others are a little more obscure.  Here's a few
>I've either uncovered or imagined...

One other not on your list is "Bike Ride to the Moon"...it's a dead-on take
of the song "Bike" by Syd Barrett-era Pink Floyd. Has anyone else heard this
song ("Bike," that is)? I was just amazed at how good a replication of it
the Dukes carried off.

>While we're on the subject, has anyone else noticed how "Dear God"
>resembles the Lovin Spoonful's "Summer in the City"?

Never noticed it, but it IS pretty interesting to note the similarity: "Dear
God, summer in the city, back of my neck feeling you can make it better down
here..."  :)

On bands sounding like XTC (as someone mentioned in regards to being misled
by the comparisons), there is a very little-known band that I bought a
couple of albums by back in the mid-'80s because of their similarity (I
thought at the time) to XTC. Has anyone ever heard of The Pressure Boys?
They were produced by Mitch Easter and came off sounding like a ska version
of "Drums and Wires" XTC, complete with a lead singer trying to sound like
Andy. In retrospect, listening to their albums now, they sound extremely
dated and don't hold up very well at all. Don't know what I was thinking...

And speaking of other bands in general, I'm constantly amazed how people can
mention ANY band or musician on this list, no matter how obscure, and almost
without fail, someone else has heard of them and even knows quite a bit
about them. With that in mind, I'm interested to know who's heard of the
abovementioned band, but I also just want to toss out another name to test
my theory that at least two of us have heard of anyone mentioned on this
list. Here it is: The Primitons (not to be confused with "The Primitives").
I've got a couple albums by them...they're a band that should have been big
who released a couple of great albums in the mid-'80s. They sound a bit like
Miracle Legion crossed with the Plimsouls, if that means anything. So go
ahead, prove me right...someone's heard of them, right?

So tired of waiting till your boat goes down,

Dave Gershman

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

Date: Tue, 26 Nov 1996 09:15:27 -0600 (CST)
From: AMANDA OWENS <ACOEA@jazz.ucc.uno.edu>
Subject: I guess this means you like me, you really like me!
Message-id: <01ICAOLY1TN68ZI639@jazz.ucc.uno.edu>

Wow, and I thought the whole fuck thing was emancipating......but enough of
that To everyone who wrote me personally, thanks for the encouragement, and
thanks for the hoping that my little nephew feels better. He's the best thing
I have right now and I don't want to lose him.

Now, onto the XTC stuff.....and yet more misheard lyrics. I glanced back over
the lyrics and found that I misheard other things, such as.....

You make me go dizzy, I'm weak amnesiac (Ten Feet Tall)
Kiss your ass on the cheek (That is the Way)

Later to all,
Amanda

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

From: PPumpkinH@aol.com
Date: Tue, 26 Nov 96 08:51:13 CST
Message-Id: <9610268490.AA849028440@in2.mcmail.vanderbilt.edu>
Subject: If Toys are quarreling amongst themselves.......

 

  Hey, Chalk - Grumpies,

        You know, (Insert Background theme music - Any anthem of your
  choice now ) I see enough bitching and bickering and pettiness in
  the real world around me. I see it between countries that can't get
  along, I see it on the news, I see it on C.O.P.S. when all the white
  trash are pulled screaming and shirtless from their ramshackle
  houses, and I see it in countless poison political ads.

        DO NOT and I repeat DO NOT turn Chalkhills into a place where
  the ugly little twisted seeds of hatred are sown.

        We are here together as a group because above all else, We
  have something GREAT in common. That is the appreciation of a band
  that is held dear in our hearts, XTC.

        You have never heard hatefilled songs coming from this
  elequent band. Racism, Bigotry, Jingoism are all subjects that are
  railed AGAINST in their music and I call on anyone to deny that.
  In fact, through their songs, one can see how utterly ignorant and
  just plain silly all those 'isms are.

        What if any of those guys WERE lurking. Would'nt they just
  shake their heads in disgust at the current state of affairs on
  the OFFICIAL mailing list? Are We the kind of fans anyone would
  want. Not that I am saying We should do whatever XTC sings about, I
  mean, that would be missing the point too. All I am saying is there
  is a message to the music that We now are forgetting.

        Let's knuckle down and try to leave the hate to the ignorants,
  ( To the non-members of the Clever-Club for Cheryl ) and Death Metal
  Mailing Lists. Let Chalkhills be an Oasis in a dry and relentless
  world. Of course, it doesn't have to include only XTC content
  because in a way, everything will relate. If I tell the members of
  this mailer about a band that brings me joy, I do it for you, to
  bring you joy that I have found because I figure, anyone who likes
  XTC enough to contibute to this mailer is a friend and has some
  taste. If you don't like that band, I don't want to know why you
  don't like it. A simple "eh, it's not for me." would suffice. Or
  better yet, NO reponse at all. Pettiness is saying "that band sucks
  and this is why!" That's no way to be human.

        I am sorry I had to rant like this but I can not stand all
  the picking going on lately. That last Chalkhills was the straw that
  deflated this camel's hump. I come here to share fun, not hate and I
  like this mailing list too much to let it be "Lord of the Flies"d to
  death.

  Piggy in the middle,

  Jason Phelan

  PPumpkinH@aol.com

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

Date: Tue, 26 Nov 1996 17:26:09 +0100 (CET)
From: James Isaacs <jisaacs1@aixterm1.urz.uni-heidelberg.de>
Subject: My 2 Pfennige
Message-Id: <Pine.A32.3.91.961126171136.46995B-100000@aixterm3.urz.uni-heidelberg.de>

As many have stated in this forum, this forum itself is in exitsence to
discuss all things XTC.  I have seen good times and bad times here, and
any times tempers have flared it has been over matters such as Todd
Rundgren, Dear God, or Colin's songwriting.  Since we all are under the
umbrella here, that is all fine and good.  We have the common sense and
respect for others that allow us to hold civil discourses over
such topics, as well as others at least related in some way to the lads.
At the very least, the right to disagree is one we all hold dear, as it
is  something that intellectual and free thinking folks such as
ourselves often do.
Being an XTC fan is a hard and thankless role, but we are rewarded with
the blessings that are few and far between these days, a new album, but I
wouldn't trade my love for this band for any other.
So, when I read a tirade that issue 41 contained, it makes me very
angry.  In my eyes, it goes against every single thing this list, and the
participants of this list, stand for, in regards to honesty, respect, and
fair play.  If it could be taken as sarcasm, that would be a different
afffair.  However, after reading it, and I have read it several times, I
am at a loss to find the humor.  It did nothing but malign and belittle a
participant on this list, and that apparently is what it was designed to do

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

Date: Tue, 26 Nov 1996 17:28:32 +0100 (CET)
From: James Isaacs <jisaacs1@aixterm1.urz.uni-heidelberg.de>
Subject: We have enough for a basketball team!
Message-Id: <Pine.A32.3.91.961126172650.46995C-100000@aixterm3.urz.uni-heidelberg.de>

The Go 2 Hellers, a name I just thought of, is nw at 5.  Anyone want to
play a game of basketball?  I must warn, I cheat-I play wonky keyboards
during the opposition's free throws!
Barry isn't all that bad,
James

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

Message-ID: <329B1B65.7695@mci.com>
Date: Tue, 26 Nov 1996 09:31:33 -0700
From: "Jeffrey Langr" <Jeffrey.Langr@MCI.Com>
Organization: MCI
Subject: hate

Hee hee!

Loving all the political crap in here... which is relevant I think in
that XTC has written some pointed songs in the light.  Most of the XTC
blatantly political songs haven't been all that great in stating any
more than what Andy thinks is the obvious, but Generals & Majors and
Cuba sure kick ass.

I think everyone has done a fairly good job in expressing their
political opinions except for the one or two immature posts which talked
about "gagging" with embarrassment and retching.

The whole point I'm getting from Amanda's posts, is that she shows some
patriotic pride -- how AWFUL for her to do so!

It gets real old to have to listen to incessant whining about how the US
sucks -- it's a rather simplistic, tedious worldview.  And Mr. Hackney,
if you think that Reagan and Bush are evil and you think Clinton (the
next Nixon???) is not evil, then you are more naive than I thought.  If
one is evil, they're all evil.  Oh and it's so nice to see such hatred
espoused on Chalkhills, Hackney.  Andy Partridge would be proud of you.

Flame away.  ;-)

Jeff

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

Date: 26 NOV 96 13:35:53 DST
From: PCulnane@dca.gov.au
Subject: Goodbye Humanosauruses
Message-ID: <0000zvrlnphl.0000yeomesgu@dca.gov.au>

Hello friends,
This will be my last post for some time.  I'm reluctant to unsubscribe to
Chalkhills, but it's necessary because:
a) changes in my job situation, and indeed my lifestyle, mean that I just
don't have the time to even read 'em anymore;
b) even if I did have time, the content of recent Chalkhills, by and large,
just doesn't interest me anymore...I share the view of my good friend Dom
Van Abbe who opines to the effect that the subject threads of late have
gotten way off the point, and long-winded to boot.

Please don't get me wrong, you're welcome to use the digest as your forum,
the common linkage being, of course, that we all love XtC.  I think I'd just
prefer to get my XtC-related news from the Chalkhills homepage and other
outlets such as magazines for the time being.

I'd just like to acknowledge a few of many friends I've made thru this forum,
and thank the following for the fun contact I've had with you:  Lee Beddows,
Andy Cuthbert, John Clark, Peter Fitzpatrick, James Dignan, Bob Glazer, Scott
Taylor, Simon Knight, Scott Haefner, Ira Lieman, Keathe Wright, Becki
diGregorio, Tim Kendrick, Andre deKoening and of course the aforementioned
Dom.  Some others too whose names escape me just now.

I'm happy to say that I keep up a steady correspondence with many of these
people, and intend getting in touch individually with you before Christmas.
Above-named may feel free to E me privately anytime at:
PCulnane@dca.gov.au

Thanx also to the 56 respondents who helped with my petition to get Virgin
to release a video version of Fossil Fuels.  Still no word on this, but
Detective Beddows in UK is workin' on it, I'm assured.

John Relph must have the patience of Job - well done John!

And finally, where would we be without Messrs Gregory, Moulding and Partridge?
 I'm a long-term XtC enthusiast and will continue to be into the next
millenium.  Mere words are inadequate to express how much pleasure this band
has given me, ever since I first heard "Are Your Receiving Me" all those years
ago....

Wishing you all the compliments of the season and all "The Good Things" in
1997!

Love & Peace
PAUL CULNANE aka P@ul-of-Oz

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

Date: Tue, 26 Nov 96 17:51:57 0
From: Paul Stratford <Paul_Stratford@surrart.ac.uk>
Organization: Surrey Institute
Subject: Nick Heyward.. HC 100.. Seven
Message-ID: <235108.ensmtp@surrart.ac.uk>

Thanks to Chris Coolidge I suddenly thought...

Nick Heyward.... Haircut 100...  Does anyone know
how/why Favourite Shirt (I think it was) ended up in Seven?

Hey, way off XTC topic but why not?

Paul Stratford
IT Technician
Surrey Institute of Art and Design

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

Date: Tue, 26 Nov 96 17:52:12 0
From: Paul Stratford <Paul_Stratford@surrart.ac.uk>
Organization: Surrey Institute
Subject: Chalkhills T shirts still extant?
Message-ID: <235161.ensmtp@surrart.ac.uk>

Are the Chalkhills T-shirts still available? Searched through the Web page
but couldn't see anything.

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

Message-Id: <v01540b02aec0f502ce89@[199.171.191.73]>
Date: Tue, 26 Nov 1996 12:33:20 -0700
From: gondola@deltanet.com (E.B.)
Subject: Re: Kiwi

>From: james.dignan@stonebow.otago.ac.nz (James Dignan)
>
>Amanda, you need to sit down and listen to some more New Zealand music! :)

I think EVERYONE in America needs to sit down and listen to some more New
Zealand music!  :)

EB (yes, in America)

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

Date: Tue, 26 Nov 1996 12:19:27 -0400 (EDT)
From: "John E. Daley" <John_E.._Daley.ZIFF-DAVIS@mail2.zd.com>
Subject: XTZenophobia
Message-id: <9611262346.AA4349@mail2.zd.com>

Ah, a chance for a meaty posting on things political! I love flames, gimme dem!

Hackney sez:

>-such as our
>incredible consumption of natural resources and waste of energy, our
>generation of pollutants that affect the entire planet, our disemmination of
>a culture that is at times, "uh", a little dysfunctional.

I, for one, am very glad that I live in the Most Chosen Nation on Earth.  I
make no apologies for the fact that the USA is a superpower and throws its
weight around accordingly, I think it's great, and if you don't like it, you
can making whoopie off.  Don't be so foolish to think that other countries
wouldn't do the same if they had the chance.  Witness the vast amount of
ecological destruction that is being wreaked in India and China right now in
their drive for 'modernization'.

>I feel that citizens of other countries have the perfect
>right to criticize the U.S. whenever they feel like it

And of course, Americans have the perfect right to criticize other countries
as well.  Well, that's assuming that they are important enough to care
about, which usually they're not, unless they have oil, in which case we
express our criticism in the guise of Stealth fighters and the 101st
Airborne.

>I think that it's pathetic for you to suggest that foreigners make
>such remarks about America out of jealousy!

Come now, there may be a bit of truth in such a statement. After all, look
at all the cool stuff we Americans have! Muscle cars, cheap gasoline, Jack
Daniels, handguns, the Playboy channel, California giant redwoods, M1A1
Abrams tanks, Doritos, and the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders!!! They got any of
that stuff in France? No way, baby. America ROCKS!

>The only positive thing I can see in your posting relates to the
>fact that, with opinions and limited intellects like yours out there, we can
>at least be assured that Andy has good material for inspired song-writing.

This is the only intelligent thing you've said in your post. And it's quite
correct.  We should all be _thankful_ that America is such a behemoth, the
better to give our Swindonian lads easy fodder to wax eloquently about!  I
know I am.

Oh, Todd Bernhardt, it was John F. Kennedy who committed the United
States to sending combat troops in Vietnam, not Eisenhower.
Ike sent advisors to train ARVN troops and the CIA was involved,
but JFK had 3,200 troops in country by Dec 1961. (no doubt in order not
to appear 'soft' on communism).

Lastly, regarding Reagan and Bush's ( or Johnson or Truman) 'evilness'...
Politicians are no more evil than the people that put them there.

That's why I'm glad we've got Colin, Andy, and Dave to remind us that we're
all Scarecrow People...

JonnyX
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/5797/

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

Date: Tue, 26 Nov 1996 09:27 +0930
From: "VanAbbe, Dominic" <dominic.vanabbe@faulding.com.au>
Subject: Exclamation marks ahoy!!!
Message-id: <01ICC2K4M4K200HKSD@faulding.com.au>

Kris Markman spaketh,

>And I can't help thinking that the non-Americans on this list must be
>terribly bored with all this political crap.  I know I am, and I'm a US
>citizen.

Right on, brother/sister (?)!!!  Bored absa-bloody-lutely shitless would be
the appropriate expression!!!  AMANDA's right- it *IS* her "GODDAMN RIGHT"
to express her political views.  But this probably ain't the forum for it,
and neither is it the forum for vitriolic, plain fucking *IGNORANT* personal
attacks (yer know who yer are!!!)

Ciao, Dom

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

Message-Id: <2.2.16.19961126223827.33478422@cic-mail.lanl.gov>
Date: Tue, 26 Nov 1996 15:38:27 -0700
From: DeWitt Henderson <dewitth@lanl.gov>
Subject: Let's get real

I want to apologize to Amanda for over-congratulating Mr. Hackney
on his blast at her, because a couple of people questioned me, and
I realized that while I agreed with his general views, I also
agreed with people who said it was just a little too attack-dog-ish.

I agree that we can disagree in this list, but it's fairly out of
line to get into big personal attacks.  The vast majority of us have
never met each other, don't know that much about each other, vary
wildly in ages, religions, etc.  We like the band, XTC, which often
leads to some similar likes/dislikes, but not necessarily.

*However, "jes"'s response was just as venemous as Mr. Hackney's original.
I'm surprised - you're the person who was vehemently against the "f"
word, if I remember correctly.  Your attack was just as one-sided,
emotional, and logic-less as you purported Mr. Hackney's to be.  So
let's practice what we preach, here, and maintain a little civility.

One last note on all this political crap, and let's try to forget about
it.  We get into these highly divisive things between liberals and
conservatives, but how often do people stop and realize that those 2
labels don't fit that many people.  It's a long continuum from one end
to the other of the political spectrum.  To slap a huge sticker on
someone and begin ranting is fairly laughable, and never leads to any
understanding, education, compromise, or whatever.  Just more division.

**OK, back to sort-of-XTC-content**

I loaned my Andy Partridge demos tape to a guy at a local CD store,
who supposedly was an XTC fan.  He's had it a week, hasn't even
listened to it yet, and it's still at home!  Go figure...

- RIO from Italy, apologizing for his English - hey, don't apologize,
your English is probably 1,000 times better than most of our Italian! :^)

On George, the 'quiet Beatle' - what about the self-titled effort,
from '79, I believe?  "Not Guilty", "Blow Away", etc.  I like it, and
I think it's one of the stronger efforts after "All Things Must Pass"
and "Cloud Nine".

* ----------------------------------
| DeWitt Henderson               |
| Los Alamos National Laboratory |
| CIC-13   MS P223               |
| Los Alamos, NM 87544           |
| 505/665-0720                   |
* ----------------------------------

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

End of Chalkhills Digest #3-44
******************************

Go back to Volume 3.

26 November 1996 / Feedback