Chalkhills Digest Volume 5, Issue 349
Date: Thursday, 23 December 1999
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 5, Number 349
Thursday, 23 December 1999
Today's Topics:
make that 12
Talk Hills?
an early present
Iggerant Yank asks about British titles
Re: Blur
Walk on my knees with ashes sprinkled over my head
Blur Single
Schmifference Of Opinion
Favorite Film of Milleniumn/All-Time/Whatever
99 / 90's
Desert Island XTC
A Bit More This 'n' That...
The "real" millenium
Re: American Beauty, Millennium
Re: Year One
Over Rusty CDs
Dropping names
Re: Schmillennial Bullsh*t
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message-Id: <v03007800b485f33c9dce@[165.121.65.56]> Date: Tue, 21 Dec 1999 22:19:09 -0500 From: Mitch Friedman <mitchf@mindspring.com> Subject: make that 12 Woops, I made a little mistake. There are 12 songs on AV2. I forgot to include "Some Lovely (My Brown Guitar)".
------------------------------
Message-ID: <19991222040200.7124.qmail@www0x.netaddress.usa.net>
Date: 21 Dec 99 20:02:00 PST
From: vee tube <veetube@netscape.net>
Subject: Talk Hills?
"No one here available right now"
Hey! Haven't you humanapods figured out
that electrons can flow through space?!
(and I'm not even going to bring time
into this)
And if you put those funny
looking 'Skin Flaps' of yours up to the
airwaves, You might even hear people talking
about...
1.Dugs
2.Abortion
3.Gays/les's
4.God
5.Death Penalty
6.White Pride
7...Etc...
..............It's called 'Talk Radio'
Winky 'BoB' says, "Pick Up On It!"
But one thing you can't do is repeat this
message and insert XTC between #'s 1 and 7.
"And to all a good night!"
}---:)
------------------------------ Message-Id: <3.0.2.32.19991222002920.0070e104@mail.interlog.com> Date: Wed, 22 Dec 1999 00:29:20 -0500 From: David Oh <davidoh@interlog.com> Subject: an early present i bought myself a christmas pres'nt it wasn't wrapped, it wasn't sent i just wanted to cheer myself on this cold and windy northern day all he would say was "it was really painful" all he would say - hey! ---------- well, i tried to make it xtc related! didn't quite succeed, though, did i? anyroad, today i got another tattoo (that makes 5!). xtc content? well, i used something from an xtc album cover as the basis of the artwork. i've always thought it would be really funny to have a bar-code tattooed on my body, so i finally did it. maybe it's just my twisted (sick?) sense of humour, but i think it's hilarious! it's between my shoulder blades, just below the collar line - in other words, it is hidden by a shirt. what did i use as the basis of the artwork, you might ask? no, you didn't ask? well, too bad, 'cause i've gotta tell! i copied the bar-code from my favourite xtc album, "oranges & lemons". well, it's from the virgin release, so it might be different from other bar-codes from around the world. also, due to the medium (ink, needles and skin), it had to be modified slightly to make it work properly, but i insisted that it be as close as possible. i've always wanted to have the uffington horse tattooed somewhere on my person, so maybe i'll do that next. does anyone else have tattoos? does anyone else have an xtc related tattoo? ---------- anyroad, i'm going away for the next few days (it _is_ the christmas season) and then i have a guest arriving from hannover, germany, on boxing day for a fortnight, so i'm gonna be very busy for the next little while. i'll be monitoring my email, but i probably won't have time to contribute (why did the wind suddenly pick up? did everyone just breathe out at the same time?). therefore, i want to wish each and everyone of you all the best for this holiday season, however you may celebrate. may you party in safety, in health and in the love of your family and friends. see you in the year 2000! and long live chalkhills! peace & xtc, davidoh
------------------------------
Message-ID: <19991222060853.8817.qmail@web119.yahoomail.com>
Date: Tue, 21 Dec 1999 22:08:53 -0800 (PST)
From: Ryan Anthony <hamsterranch@yahoo.com>
Subject: Iggerant Yank asks about British titles
As a Yank and a republican, I'm not the greatest
authority on British titles of honor, so I held back,
confident that at least one knowledgable person would
correct the erroneous claim that all four Beatles had
been knighted in the 1960s.
It is as I thought: In the hierarchy of titles,
"Member of the British Empire," which is what the
Fabsters collected in 1965, is pretty close to the
bottom.
Lemmesee if I have it right. The titles, in ascending
order: Bloody Sodding Bastard, Old Fart, Old Chap,
Jolly Good Fellow, Stout Fellow, Member of the British
Empire, Knight (several varieties), Baronet ...
entering the peerage now ... Baron, Viscount, Earl
(Count), Marquess, and finally, overlapping with
royalty, Duke.
All I know about the knighthoods I learned from *Yes,
Minister* and *Yes, Prime Minister* -- first you get
your CMG ("Call Me God"), then your KCMG ("Kindly Call
Me God"), and finally, your GCMB ("God Calls Me God").
And there are baths and thistles and garters mixed in
somehow.
Which one did Sir Pablo get for all his silly love
songs?
Would some stout fellow kindly set it all straight?
By the way, I'm delighted to hear that George Martin,
the greatest of the Fifth Beatles, has been knighted.
Token XTC content: Which will we see first: Sir Andy
Partridge, or Bangladesh winning the America's Cup?
Ryan Anthony
------------------------------ Message-ID: <386087D8.AD7@yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 22 Dec 1999 00:12:08 -0800 From: Rich Bunnell <taosterman@yahoo.com> Subject: Re: Blur > Thirdly, Blur fucking rule. Three fat cheers for all > the sensible people who have invested in their back > catalogue - and don't forget "Modern Life Is Rubbish", > a much neglected classic - and if "It Could Be You" > isn't "Respectable Street" fifteen years later then > I'll eat my cat. Oh, and when you've finished with > Blur, buy some Cardiacs albums!!!! I definitely recommend Blur and especially "Modern Life Is Rubbish"-- I'd never thought of that one as "neglected." Maybe in the UK it was neglected compared to the other albums, and it also has the problem of being "the one that came before Parklife," but though the songwriting isn't as varied as on the two wild Britpop albums which followed it, it's a really consistent, rocking album. Whenever anyone insults Blur their main adjective is "derivative" which really annoys me. Sure, they sound like the Kinks a lot but isn't sounding like the Kinks sort of a good thing? And it's not like all artists who don't have very much original inspiration suck-- David Bowie is living proof of that; he rarely innovated in whatever musical direction he sought but he did a great number of those directions very, very well. I like to look at Blur the same way, even if lately they've been dipping into artyness which seems a bit forced (though the "13" album has greatly grown on me in the past few months after my initial "Ehh..."). * ---------------------------------------------- Rich Bunnell or "Taoster Man"--No, it's not a typo http://members.xoom.com/taoster/ * ----------------------------------------------
------------------------------ Message-Id: <3.0.5.32.19991222095134.007d7860@192.168.1.1> Date: Wed, 22 Dec 1999 09:51:34 +0100 From: Giovanni Giusti <giovanni@delizia.com> Subject: Walk on my knees with ashes sprinkled over my head you know, my very uninformed Beatle-knight remark. I guess I just blew that. Ah well, I hope you'll eventually forget. Giovanni "penitential" Giusti
------------------------------ From: Simon_Auger@mandg.co.uk Message-ID: <0025684F.0032CE95.00@mailgate.mandg.co.uk> Date: Wed, 22 Dec 1999 09:19:57 +0000 Subject: Blur Single Harry asked if anyone knew about a new Blur single. The latest I know of was that 'No Distance Left to Run' was due to be released as a single sometime in December, however, to date, I haven't noticed it on the shelves of any of the local music emporia. Mind you, with the average lifespan of a single these days, it's quite possible that I just missed it. On an XTC note, I notice that the latest edition of Mojo, rates Apple Venus Vol 1 as their 7th best release of the year. Other personal highlights were Supergrass's eponymous third album rated 3rd and Tom Waits' Mule Variations rated 1st. Now, either I have suddenly become hip and trendy in my musical tastes again, or, Mojo is aiming itself at rapidly aging, boring old farts like me, I'll leave it up to you to decide. Hope Y'all have a good Christmas, see you all in Y2K for AV2. Simon
------------------------------
Message-ID: <4782AD6ADDBDD2119B570008C75DD5C1BD45FF@mgmtm02.parliament.uk>
From: Lawson Dominic <LawsonD@parliament.uk>
Subject: Schmifference Of Opinion
Date: Wed, 22 Dec 1999 11:13:05 -0000
>>however, it's all just differences of opinion... who is right, who is
wrong? it doesn't really matter, does it?
Doesn't it? Oh. Bugger. I'll get my coat.
>>i apologize to all those chalkers who are sick of this ongoing debate and
especially to you, mr. relphs, who provided us with this forum to discuss
the music of xtc and have to watch it degenerate into the shit-hole that it
sometimes sinks into
Sorry David, but two things. One - buttlicker!!!! Two - shit-hole? Are you
serious? Ah, I get it......who is right, who is wrong? It doesn't really
matter, does it? Perfect.
>>ok? i've got a
topic - what about the music of xtc!
No, we've been discussing that for years. Anything else? (Seriously though,
get a grip! The vast majority of posts have been about XTC, whether linked
tenuously or not, and it's just misleading and silly to pretend otherwise.)
>>so, to you and all of the teens who love xtc, read this list and
appreciate
good music in general, i say bravo!
Again, sorry David, but that has to be one of the most patronizing things I
think I've ever read. If there are any teenagers reading this, for fuck's
sake don't pay any attention to ANY OF US. That's your job.
>>Careful; your ultra-liberal bias is showing. Name-calling is the last
resort of a poor debater.
No, talking bollocks is the last resort of a poor debater. Name-calling is
the first resort of a justifiably angry liberal. What exactly is so good
about gun-slinging psychos, anti-drug freaks and religious nuts that we have
to keep leaping to their defence every time they say something stupid,
inaccurate or (in most cases) deranged? Freedom of speech is one thing, but
a nutter is a nutter, innit? Don't you people read XTC's lyrics? Apolitical
they might be, on the whole at least, but it doesn't take a genius to work
out that a liberal, humanist outlook prevails 99% of the time ("do what you
will but harm none" being the mere tip of the iceberg).
>>Otherwise, all the solutions posted so far amount to little more than band
aids.
Oh good, I can be smug then. You won't get any solutions from me, that's for
sure.
>>How about a XTC Desert Island Disc? We already have the title track (my
choice) If you had to pick one song what would it be?
One? Are you joking? Oh, you're not. Fair enough........erm..........tricky
this........how about 3?
Firstly, "That Wave", for the oh-my-gawd-here-comes-the-rain guitar solo.
Ideal for the onset of desert island melancholy.
Secondly, "Complicated Game", for the crushing depression and existential
angst which would inevitably kick in when I realised that I couldn't check
up on the football results.
Thirdly, and probably most importantly, "Travels In Nihilon", for that final
journey up the spiral staircase which leads to my arse, where, somewhat
inevitably, I would spend the rest of my days. A cheering thought.
Dom.
------------------------------ From: skybar80@juno.com Date: Wed, 22 Dec 1999 06:19:59 -0500 Subject: Favorite Film of Milleniumn/All-Time/Whatever Message-ID: <19991222.062005.-97463.0.skybar80@juno.com> Hiyas. I'm pretty much a lurker, but I thought I'd quickly jump onto that movie topic before it goes bye-bye. My pick for the best film of all time is Elias E. Merhige's hypnotizing 1989 film, Begotten. Now, in order to describe the film, I will have to spoil it. But don't worry. Spoilers for this film aren't exactly spoilers becasue it's so hard to describe what's going on here. It's almost 80 mins long, and begins with someone who is identified in the credits as God Killing Himself. For about 5 or so mins, he disembowels himself with a straight razor until he finally dies...then this goddess (described in the credits as Mother Earth) sort of does a peek-a-boo entrance from behind the God's chair. She spins around for a minute and then she impregantes herself with the sperm of the dead God. She gives birth to this Jesus-ish guy (identified in the credits as Son of Earth---Flesh on Bone) who basically spends the whole movie convulsing. A Druid-type cult stumbles upon this manchild and apparently they're collecting the blood he vomits for 10 mins...it's a very mud-like blood...hard to describe. Anyway, Mother Earth tries to leave with the manchild anfd the tribe rapes her with their weird-looking weapons and then they mutilate the two. They bury the remains, and from them flowers arise. It's very odd. And that's why it's my pick! If you have a stomach for some surreal stuff, by all means check it out. You can buy it from places like Amazon.com, and I think Blockbuster might have it (which I find to be odd!). Personally, I don't find it as "disturbing" as others claim they have, but it certainly does not skimp on the weirdness! Oh how I await the arrival of AV2! I'm pretty much keeping myself occupied by listening to D&W a lot, as well as Silkworm's Firewater (fucking amazing album, BTW!). ----Kenster
------------------------------ Message-ID: <000701bf4c76$3b6219c0$29a0a8c0@sigta> From: "Chris Clarke" <cclarke@sigta.co.uk> Subject: 99 / 90's Date: Wed, 22 Dec 1999 12:15:17 -0000 Brief, as the boss has circulated a memo regarding modem use and its attendant evils. Albums of 1999 - I only bought two new albums this year, so here they are in order: 1. 'The Fragile' - Nine Inch Nails 2. 'Apple Venus I' - XTC Albums of the '90s - In no particular order 1. 'Copper Blue' - Sugar 2. 'Nonsuch' - XTC 3. 'Loveless' - My Bloody Valentine 4. 'The Last Temptation of Reid' - Lard 5. 'This Is Hardcore' - Pulp 6. 'Sound of White Noise' - Anthrax 7. 'This Leaden Pall' - Half Man, Half Biscuit 8. 'Seamonsters' - The Wedding Present 9. 'Fin de Siecle' (check sp. :->) - Divine Comedy 10. 'De La Soul Is Dead' - De La Soul OK, that's it, thanks for your indulgence and a very merry Christmas from sunny Worthing to each and every one of you See you on the other side Love, chris2
------------------------------ Message-Id: <C1D2BBBA6310D2118B5500805FA7AF3F01DFDCFE@xch-mes-04.msc.az.boeing.com> From: "Johnson, Tom" <tom.johnson@boeing.com> Subject: Desert Island XTC Date: Wed, 22 Dec 1999 06:36:11 -0700 My end of the drug debate is over. We all had some interesting points, we all had some points of contention, and in the end, we all failed to convince anyone else that our view was the correct one. That's the way things go. So, onto more interesting, and on-topic, topics: >How about a XTC Desert Island Disc? We already have the title track (my >choice) If you had to pick one song what would it be? Well, right now, I'd have to say The Meeting Place, because that's running through my head and has been for about 2 hours now. I could also easily argue for: Garden of Earthly Delights River Of Orchids Easter Theater I Can't Own Her Greenman and, well, dozens of others . . . happy to be on-topic again, Tom
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 22 Dec 1999 12:52:03 -0500 From: Dorothy Spirito <spiritod@techmail.gdc.com> Subject: A Bit More This 'n' That... Message-ID: <Pine.SOL.4.00.9912221239390.409-100000@esun2028> Re: Mitch reporting that Andy likes TMBG's "Birdhouse in Your Soul", from the album Flood: yesyesyesyesyes! I *love* that song. Re: Dom getting high and mighty over being corrected about when the millenium actually begins: Oh, c'mon, Dom; take it. If the shoe were on the other foot, and this were a pedantic point regarding, oh, heavy metal, you'd've jumped in to correct the other guy. Let the pedants have their small pleasure. It's certainly within your right to say, "But I want to celebrate the new millenium NOW!" Me, I'm planning to celebrate for an entire YEAR. Ring out the old; ring in the new. After all, there'll be lots of newly-polished-and-released XTC to enjoy!!! Re: Y2K: I hope the whole thing's a bust. Anticlimactic. I hope nothing major happens, and we all have a good laugh and congratulate ourselves for averting disaster. Regards, --Dorothy.
------------------------------ Message-ID: <001c01bf4ca8$f7c89e40$3cfb31d4@woodlouse> From: "Richard Benjamin" <rickyb@woodlouse.icom-web.com> Subject: The "real" millenium Date: Wed, 22 Dec 1999 18:16:58 -0000 Mark Strijbos said: >And, along the same lines, the very first decade ended in the year >10. So I'm very sorry, but the current decade really won't end before >December 31st 2000. And I am in full agreement, but the point being missed is that it gives all the entrepreneurs a chance to sell their "real" millennium products next year!!! So that's alright then :-) XTC content? - aren't XTC brilliant!!!! Ricky B ;-) www.woodlouse.icom-web.com
------------------------------ From: WillJ4comm@aol.com Message-ID: <0.79004e6e.25926ac7@aol.com> Date: Wed, 22 Dec 1999 12:56:23 EST Subject: Re: American Beauty, Millennium Drew wrote: << Never mind. I just wiped out a longish review of the movie that really doesn't belong here. And maybe you DO have to be an American to "get" the film -- though I doubt it >> Thanks for the post, Drew. First off, it all belongs here when it comes to opinions about movies, music, etc. Everyone here has something valid to contribute one way or another. And secondly, I AM American, and it wasn't a matter of "getting" it (it was very, very easy to get) it was that what there was to "get" didn't amount to a hill of beans to me. But then, it may be brilliant for other eyes -- we're all in different places, so it happens all the time, and doesn't discount either viewpoint. Second point re: the millennium: the 1999-2000 change is big, and will have major effects. Not because there's some cosmic, otherworldly significance to it, but because WE as people are assigning importance to it (myself included). Just you watch, 2000 and beyond will be a new time, to be sure. Unless it isn't. Best, Will
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 22 Dec 1999 10:39:34 -0800 (PST) From: "J. Brown" <ringostr@u.washington.edu> Subject: Re: Year One Message-ID: <Pine.A41.4.10.9912221026030.68720-100000@dante18.u.washington.edu> > From: "Mark Strijbos" <mmello@knoware.nl> > Date: Tue, 21 Dec 1999 01:48:08 +0100 > Subject: The Peanut Butter Conspiracy Is Spreading > Message-Id: <19991221004612.D8ABEA6CE7@mail.knoware.nl> > So, when did the first century start? exactly, the year 1. There never was a year one! (unless you use the french reveloution callendar) what we considewr year 1AD was considered 30th year of the Reign of Emperor Augustus or something ;-). The current numbering scheme wasnt established in the 6th century AD. and has no real relevance on anything especially since scholars now believe that christ was born in 4 BC. Any way beople aren't really celebrating the next millenium but they are rather celebrating the fact that the number 2 will be at the beginning of every year number for the the next thousand years. Which in a tangiable way is far cooler than an counting pedantics. It makes just as much sense to celebrate 2001 or 2000 as it does to celebrate the millenium between 801 and 1800! So get the stick out of yer ass. plus if we only had 8 fingers none of this would matter! > And thus it ended in the year 100, making the year 101 the first year > of the second century and 1901 the first year of this, the 20th, > century. I won't say it's easy to grasp but it _is_ true, honest! > > 1st 1-100 > 2nd 101-200 > 3rd 201-300 > [...] > 19th 1801-1900 > 20th 1901-2000 > > And, along the same lines, the very first decade ended in the year > 10. So i'm very sorry, but the current decade really won't end before > December 31st 2000. No this is a case where perception is reality there is nothing empirical here. 1918-1917 is a decade. 1990-1999 is a decade. No if you wanna dtalk about the 3rd decade of the 20th century ok then i'm with you! but when beople say the 1990's they mean all the years with 199something.
------------------------------ From: JStrole@aol.com Message-ID: <0.afcae75b.259276f1@aol.com> Date: Wed, 22 Dec 1999 13:48:17 EST Subject: Over Rusty CDs << okay, I'm sorry, where would one find the "PDO" stamp? I don't *think* I have any of those versions, although I have three Virgin releases from the mid-eighties; the catalog numbers begin CDV... This may have been explained before, but, alas, I fell asleep in class. >> Usually on the area that would be the inner groove of a record, around the center of the hole. Another way you can tell is that your CD will start to turn an orange-like color because it is actually rusting. I believe this is happening to my "Big Express." The problem as explained to me is that the plastic around the aluminum is seperated and air gets in and rusts your CDs. Have a Happy/Merry whatever. Harry
------------------------------ Message-ID: <38611D1F.153ECFCE@erols.com> Date: Wed, 22 Dec 1999 13:49:03 -0500 From: Todd and Jennifer Bernhardt <toddjenn@erols.com> Subject: Dropping names Hi: About VH-1's "The List," Simon (Curtiss) asked: > >Well, the show is a joke. Another example that is going around: they > >asked Jason Falkner to drop Andy Partridge from his three favorite > >songwriters list because the producers had never heard of him. Could be > >true. > > - anyone know if this really happened? It's very sad (as in 'you sad gits') > if it's true. Sad if true indeed. But the burning question in my mind is, did Falkner cave? I'd have to think twice before buying his next album, if he did. Okay, well, I'd buy it, but I'd hate myself in the morning. --Todd P.S. Somebody told me the other day that all four members of the Beatles were knighted in the 1960s. Does anyone know which year this happened? I also heard that the keyboard player for Deep Purple is an actual Lord. Cool.
------------------------------ Message-ID: <3860E9DA.159F@bhip.infi.net> Date: Wed, 22 Dec 1999 15:10:22 +0000 From: Brian <mattone@bhip.infi.net> Subject: Re: Schmillennial Bullsh*t Tschalkgerz! >Thanks to all you ever-so clever people for pointing out that the new millennium begins next year rather than in a couple of weeks time. How very educational and yet, at the same time, how utterly pathetic. Get a life! Yes, if you're going to split numerical hairs, the 21st century doesn't really kick in until 2001 but (and it's a huge but) who gives a monkey's anus??? The vast majority of people will be celebrating the transition from the 1900s to a period where years begin with 2 and not 1. Is this so bad?< If we're talking about when the millenium starts, it is. If you enjoy epitomizing the lackluster educational awareness in this world, then you are a victim of the dumbing down of our society that is now in full swing. Carl Sagan was absolutely correct. Every little extra bit of 'because-it-really-doesn't-matter' nonconformity to reality adds to the mountain of it that already exists in this world, epitomized further by the flagrant espousing of pseudo-reality conventions like astrology, faith healers and direct belief that UFOs are from other planets. >Are we all appalling fuckwits for not getting it right?< Not MY words... > No, we're normal and perfectly entitled to treat Dec 31st 1999 as the eve of a new millennium.< Only if you enjoy being wrong. It's certainly not against the law to be dumb. >Any religious or historical significance that you may attach to the event is irrelevant anyway - the numbers are wholly arbitrary and are brought to you courtesy of our Lord Jesus H Corbett - and by the time 2001 comes along there will be very few people who can still be arsed to get excited.< My advantage in all this stupidity is the fact that I may be able to capitalize two years in a row on 'millenium fever' when it comes to charging the big bucks for my services as a caricature artist at the big bashes that will ensue. Other than that, it's laziness. >Naturally there will be a few self-appointed guardians of the "truth", with their snooty noses pointing skyward, mocking the foolish prematurity of the overwhelming majority of sentient beings, but hey, why let a few twats get you down?< You said it yourself - "foolish prematurity". Why label as such it if it isn't wrong, huh? >Enjoy your party next year, pseudo-intellectual midgets that you are, and don't you dare join in this month's festivities. After all, it's not really the new millennium yet, is it? Christ on a bike! The things people get smug about.....< Gee, sorry... I'm already booked to make a buck this year. And since I've been laid off as a Christmas present AGAIN this year, I will gladly do it, and thumb my pseudi-intellectual nose at you. >As I say, pathetic.< Yep. -Brian Matthews
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #5-349 *******************************
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