Nerd Hoops And Thoughts Of My Father

After the Illini's solid victory tonight near the purifying waters of Lake Minnetonka (featuring a near triple-double by James Augustine), it is time for the Nerd-western Wildcats to do their home state a favor and play like they have a pair Wednesday night against upstart Ohio State. A Wildcat victory tomorrow would mean that the Illini would have a shot at a third straight Big Ten title if the Orange and Blue could claw a win against the schizophrenic Spartans in East Lansing this Saturday. I'll most likely be in Champaign this Saturday . . . and if all the aforementioned hoops prerequisites are realized, I just might stay in Cham-bana, enroll my self in the Speech Comm major, and do another 4 years worshipping BAM (Bruce [Weber] All Mighty) and the sick recruits we have in-coming.

Also; Tonight I got home from class, had a big dinner prepared with friends, watched the game, had some beers, and fell asleep on the couch watching a TiVo-ed episode of Scrubs at about 10:30. My dad used to come home from work, eat a big dinner prepared by his family, watch some sports (usually the Cubs or Bulls), have a beer or two, and then fall asleep on the couch watching a VHS-ed recording of golf or Bassmasters. As I get older, now a ripe 24.75, I find more and more that I'm becoming like my father. Today (as I played a quick midday 9 with Mike) I was noticing that I putt like him; with a slight forward press before the backstroke and a newly acquired penchant for keeping my head down long after the stroke is finished.

As I approach a true adult life (that inches closer each day), I hope to discover that not only have I acquired the simpler characteristics of my dad's personae (passing out on the couch and an effective putting game), but also that I begin to exhibit his more meaningful qualities, hopefully buried somewhere in my DNA, waiting to emerge when I most need them. Thanks Pop.

Now if you could just help me tighten up my long irons we'd really be on the right track . . .

If Music Was Aged Wisconsin White Cheddar...

I'd be 300 lbs and on the brink of a coronary... (and don't confuse my love for Cheddar as a love for Wisconsin, Illinois' biggest sate park. Apart from cheese, Lake Geneva, and Dusty Smith, Wisconsin has little to offer. I wonder where it would rank in mjs' list of hated states).

Back to the purposes of this entry; Inspired by the reccomendations of friends, MTV2's Subterranean, and a rash of upcoming shows (including 4 nights at South By Southwest), I have been acquiring music with the enthusiasm of a young Dinner seeking out Cheeze Whiz. (I was quite 'husky' (as my 7th Grade English teacher put it) as a child). This has been a most prolific last couple of weeks, and nearly everything is hitting. I have so much to listen to, it at times feels overwhelming (not unlike battling a huge pile of cheezy nachos). But, I should not complain for this is a great problem to have.

So here are some of the tracks currently in heavy heavy rotation on the dPod. If you have the capacity to acquire any of these songs or the albums on which they appear, please do so we can talk about them and laugh about all the people who listen to Fall Out Boy and Hawthorne Heights.

Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins (pictured below) - "Rise Up With Fists!!" and "Handle With Care" and Rilo Kiley - "It's A Hit"
Destroyer - "Painter In Your Pocket"
Arctic Monkeys - "When The Sun Goes Down"
Sound Team - "Don't Turn Away"
Seu Jorge - "Team Zizzou"
The Cribs - "Hey Scenesters!"
We Are Scientists - "The Great Escape"
Cat Power - "Living Proof"
Editors - "Munich" (kind of an Interpol rip, but it's still good).
Elbow - "Great Expectations"
The Sun - "Lost At Home"
Death Cab For Cutie - "Stable Song" (Plans just won't go away).
The Magic Numbers - "Long Legs" and Mornings Eleven"
The Boy Least Likely To - "Hugging My Grudge"
Hard-Fi - "Tied Up Too Tight"
The Subways - "Mary"
Pinback - "Syracuse"
John Vanderslice (pictured)- "Exodus Damage"

Just as I sought out more cheese as a young lad, I seek out music now. What are YOU listening to?..

Make A Three Come Out of Two

To my dear friends Rod and Britt who are reaching the home stretch of a nine month time period known as pregnancy. Here's to them, sweet parents to be...


"Baby Song" by Colin Meloy (as transcribed by me, Dinner)




















My darling what wonder have we wrought here?
Its weird and its wonderful Dear.
An ankle, an earlobe, an elbow bone;
Its weird how it wonderful grows.

And it was only me and you
That made this three come out of two.

My darling what wonder have we wrought here?
Its weird and its wonderful Dear.
Dooooooo hoo, dooooooo hoo.

I'm tumblin' in Dublin and the next thing you know,
A weird and a wonderful show.
All tendons and ribcage and beating hearts;
A weird and a wonderful start.

And it was only me and you
That made this three come out of two.

My darling what wonder have we wrought here?
Its weird and its wonderful Dear.
Its weird.
But mostly wonderful . . . Dear.

MORE-isson And Eddie Sutton

A.M. Report - 2.18.2006- His beloved Zags trailing the clawless Loyola Marymount Lions by 4 at the half, Morrison comes out and dumps in 37 points in the second half and leads his team to another victory. He finished with 44 points and 8 three pointers, both career highs. He was 14 for 20 from the field. That's damn near 75%. Oh, and he was 8 for 13 from downtown. Not too shabby. The win ensured at least a share of the West Coast Conference regular season championship for Gonzaga's sixth straight season. This kid is simply amazing. Like I've said before, I can't wait to see what he can do in the big dance and in the NBA.

Another college hoops related note; While waiting to watch the Illini take care of buisiness at home against Mike Davis' - er, I'm sorry - the coachless Hoosiers (Weber's Illini now 41-2 at Assembly Hall), Boner, JB, and I watched the unranked Oklahoma State Cowboys destroy the sixth ranked Texas longhorns. Eariler this week, OSU Coach Eddie Sutton (pictured above) drove drunk at nearly three times the legal limit, got into a collision with another motorist, and sent that motorist to the hospital. In what the sports media dubbed an "inspired" showing by the Oklahoma State fans attending the game against Texas, the Cowboy faithful donned orange shirts with Sutton's face, adorned themselves with orange ribbons in his honor, and held signs of support.

I ask; Who is wearing a shirt or a ribbion for the injured motorist? Who, of the Cowboy faithful, gives any thought or support to the real victim of this needless crime? If this were a coach without the incredible track record of a coach like Sutton, he would be fired and villified for his actions. Since when did winning nearly 800 college hoops games absolve someone of wrongdoing? Eddie Sutton's signature is prominently emblazoned on OSU's home court. Earlier this year, Paige Laurie Arena, in Columbia, Missouri was renamed because it was discovered that the individual for whom the stadium was named (a 22 year old Wal-Mart heiress) cheated her way through undergrad at USC. Will the acloholic, tortious, drunk driving Sutton's name be removed from OSU's hardwood? Somehow I doubt it...

I Dreamed I was Dying As I So Often Do...

And when I awoke I was sure it was true
I ran to the window; threw my head to the sky
And said whoever is up there, please don't let me die...

Last night I, along with a group of compatriots, attended a musical performance by the Montreal indie-electro-pop group Stars. The show was pretty solid; as good as it could have been given the uber-crappy atmosphere. Stars performed at The Gargoyle, which is, for all intensive purposes, the basement of the Washington University student center. And this means no beer, no smoking, no air conditioning, and apparently no deodorant. It smelled like Bo Jackson in there. Architecturally, The Gargoyle reminds me of every high school basement house party I went to in Elgin. Rafters, cement floors, low ceilings, etc… Acoustically, The Gargoyle is a mess. Wilco would sound sub-par in this Wash U cave. Well, maybe not Wilco, but you know what I’m trying to say.

Murphy’s Law was in full effect last night. It was brutally hot, the drum mics went out, Amy Millan (who also lends her gentle vocals to Arts & Crafts labelmates Broken Social Scene) could barely be heard because of a bad amp, and at one point the Gargoyle lost all the lights. The opening band, The Elected were apparently pulled over on the road before the show and ticketed for smoking the pot. (Interesting side note, The Elected frontman Blake Sennett (also the of the band Rilo Kiley) was a child actor appearing in such primo roles as the tiny bully, Jimmy “The Rat,” on Boy Meets World, and a starring role on Nickelodeon’s Salute Your Shorts… you know… Camp Anawanna. Back then he was known as Blake Soper. I guess Sennett rocks harder than Soper).

AND the average age of the crowd was probably 14. There were so many children there, I was amazed. Kids were making out everywhere and yelling things like “You Rock” and “Fuckin’ A.” I couldn’t have possibly imagined that so many people would be at the show, let alone so many on-the-brink-of-pubescent teens. Then I remembered the O.C. factor. Sure enough, Stars single “Your Ex-Lover is Dead” is featured on Music from the O.C. Volume 5. Thank you, Seth Cohen.

Despite all of these troublesome elements, the music was good, and that’s what we came for. Playing an impressive amount of songs from older albums Heart and Nightsongs, Stars performed for over 90 minutes, sprinkling in all of the choice hits from Set Yourself on Fire. Lead singer Torquil Campbell chatted with the crowd with the popular topics of love, death, and Dick Cheney. He kept saying, “It’s all up to you. It’s all up to you.” Because of the crowded space in which the performance took place, I had to stretch to see bassist and Wildboy Chris Pontius look-a-like Evan Cranly (who also plays for Broken Social Scene), who seemed to be thoroughly enjoying himself a little while sweating a lot. I did, however, have a clear view to the beautiful violinist (whose name I cannot pin down) who I watched for 90% of the show. If you should happen to read this, nameless blonde violinist girl, MARRY ME.
So, all in all, it was another good concert in a string of good concerts to come. Coming up, Destroyer, Art Brut, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Secret Machines, The New Pornographers, The Boy Least Likely To, The Magic Numbers, and Belle & Sebastian (all at South By Southwest), Wilco, Death Cab, Eagles of Death Metal, and The Strokes. I’ll try and give you more reviews as the concerts pass. I hope you all have wonderful weekends. Until Monday…

Dazed and Confused For So Long

I have been awake for about 15 minutes now today and I decided to flip on CNN (mistake number one) to catch up on what our country believes is newsworthy. Rather than feeling more in touch with the happenings of the nation, I have just become bewildered.

1) Why has Dick Cheney not yet said anything publicly about the guy he shot-gunnned while hunting, esecially in light of the news that the Whittington's condition is worsening (he is back in intensive care)? Are they waiting for this guy to croak? AND how could Cheney possibly confuse a grown man's face with a small, portly, brownish, terrestrial fowl? Should people this confused be allowed to handle weapons? I've just learned that Dick "Annie Oakley" Cheney will speak sometime today on the shooting. This announcement comes, curiously, immediately after Whittington was upgraded to "stable" condition...

2) With a big win over Michigan State, Iowa stands in good position to take the Big Ten regular season. The Cock-eyes have only 2 games left in the next two weeks. Seemingly, the only potential remaining loss is a road game on the 25th at Assembly Hall in Champaign. Iowa? Really? If the Illini can win out (5 games in the next 2 weeks) this game against Iowa could be HUGE! Iowa can't win the Big Ten, they just can't...





3) Today President Bush is in Ohio to talk about healthare? He will speak at the corporate HQ of the biggest proponent of health concerns . . . . . . . .WENDY'S! I know this really doesn't mean much, but there is something weird about talking about healthcare at a place that serves the 1000 calorie / 60 fat grams Classic Triple with Cheese. AND Bush plans to discuss a healthcare plan that somehow involves untilization of earnings to be dumped into savings accounts to contribute to healthcare costs. What percentace of Wendy's employees have ANY disposable income to speak of? I'm jussayin... (Sidenote: why can't Wendy's bring back the Superbar?)

4) More pictures of the torture and sexual humiliation of prisoners at Abu Ghraib have surfaced. Excellent. Go ahead and chalk this up as another speed bump in the processes of improving our image abroad.

5) 6 million American pet owners celebrate the birthdays of their pets. I wonder how this number stacks up with Americans who throw themselves their own birthday parties?..

And two things in the "news" gave me much delight:


1) Conan O'Brien vists Finland because he appears to be the identical twin of the icy nation's President, who is a woman. Check out this picture!!!!









2) A Massachusetts regulatory board has ruled that Wal Mart must carry the morning after pill affectionately known as "Plan B." Now the corporate boehemith that once banned Nirvana's In Utero, is being forced to stock pills that lessen the probability of pregnancy by preventing the egg's implantaion In Utero. Wal-Wart's real beef? The Uterus.

Death Cab For My Morning Jacket

During my six hour break from classes today (wedged between the tedious detail of Uniform Commercial Code Article 2 and the tiresome doldrums of Pre-Trial), I watched the latest edition of PBS's Austin City Limits, featuring a split session with Death Cab For Cutie and My Morning Jacket. 2 things crossed my mind as I watched.

1) I recently went to Nashville, TN to see Death Cab. While pulling into the city with which I have developed (along with Memphis) an intense infatuation, my trip-mates and I were listening to Plans. "Crooked Teeth," DC4C's current single, was playing as we crossed the Cumberland River, and I made a comment that "Crooked Teeth" was probly my least favorite track on the record. To this comment, trip-mate Amber took great offense, claiming that it was possibly her favorite of the 11 offerings on Plans.

Promoting the new single, DC4C played "Crooked Teeth" to close out the 30 minutes allotted to the televised portion of their performance on Austin City Limits. The rendition was solid, and while I still think it is the weakest track on Plans, followed closely by "Soul Meets Body," Ben Gibbard poured out a lyric that I had not really noticed before, much to my delight. Immediatly prior to the short but grinding bridge, Gibbard whines: "My head is weak, my heart always speaks, before I know what it will say." This line really shook me, and I think hit close to home for one reason or another. I think its brilliant when something like that happens; when you're listening to a record or a performance that you've heard many many times, and a piece you've never before wrapped your mind around jumps up and flicks you on the forehead. Its like getting another song for free.

2) The My Morning Jacket half of the program was simply incredible. With the exception of a stirring rendition of "Golden," (from It Still Moves) all of the songs performed were from the fantastic latest release, Z. The passion and conviction with which the band performs is embodied in the strained facial expressions and physical dynamism of bearded frontman Jim James. Having not seen My Morning Jacket in person, I'm not sure if they were just putting out for the historic venue or the PBS cameras, but I have a feeling this is the kind of performance to which fans of these Louisville natives are accustomed. The renditions of "Gideon" and the eight minute plus "Dondante" were particularly memorable. I now severely regret missing My Morning Jacket when they came through St. Louis last November.

If you have the means to check this episode of Austin City Limits sometime on PBS, sit back, pour yourself a beer, and rock out.

I Wish I Knew How To Quit You, Adam Morrison

Last night, Wooden Award candidate Adam Morrison dropped 34 points on a stingy Stanford squad to carry the Zags to their 36^th straight victory at the McCarthey Athletic Center (known also as The Kennel). Morrison torched Stanford in the final three minutes, scoring 12 of his 34 and hitting a key three pointer to put the Zags in the drivers’ seat to finish the game.

Readers of the Parkdale blog know of how keen I am on Adam Morrison. With his flowing locks, striped socks, and killer J, Adam Morrison is my pick for college hoops player of the year. I know there is much basketball yet to be played, but it seems like most analysts have whittled down the field to Morrison and J.J. Redick, and I’m on the Morrison train all the way. (Not to mention he does it all while coping with diabetes, often checking his blood sugar on the bench). Though I respect Redick’s on court talents, he writes horrible poetry, and that is enough of a reason for me to despise him. Oh yeah, he play for Duke and Duke hoops = Satan's minions.

With Morrison leading the Zags (along with a nice game from J.P. Batsista), the 36th win at the Kennel puts his team more than 15 games ahead of the next closest home winning streak. While statistically impressive, AND while I love Gonzaga, I'm not especially impressed with the streak. I mean, who do they really ever play up there in Spokane? With such woeful inter-conference foes as Santa Clara and Loyola Marymount, this win over Stanford (an odd non-conference game in the middle of the conference season) was especially huge because it was over a real team and a real program with some semblance of a tradition. Morrison came up big on 10 for 18 shooting, and he seems to be readying his team for a Final Four run. And with chants like "Brooookeback Mountian" directed at opposing players, the Kennel Club seem to be developing a swagger that matches the confidence of the players on the court. I'm excited to watch the Zags' NCAA Tournament develop and to see them play some stiff competition after a regular season of cream puff pushovers.

So here's to you, once again Adam Morrison and Gonzaga. May you met the Fighting Illini in the championship game this year...

No Scrubs for 2.5 weeks ?!?!

In just a few short hours, the opening ceremonies of the 2006 Winter Olympics will air in the United States, and I must say, I’m excited for the games to begin. At the opening ceremonies, we will be able to see what kind of ridiculous outfits the Americans will wear (I seem to remember cowboy hats and berets being donned by our nation’s best in the past) and we can softly giggle at the tiny nation who offers up only one Olympian.

BUT, when I see that lone Olympian from a tiny nation I always imagine how incredible that man or woman must feel. This year, keep an eye on Andrei Drygin, downhill skier from Tajikistan, Dachhiri Sherpa, cross country skier from Nepal, and Mathieu Razanakolona, downhill skier from Madagascar. (A skier from Madagascar? I was under the impression that, in Madagascar, there was jungle, lemurs, sloths, and civil war. Who has time to ski? Is there snow in Madagascar?) These Olympians, among others, will walk alone tonight representing their entire nation, and I will be rooting for them the next couple of weeks.

I usually am a Summer Olympics guy, but this year I’m pumped for the Winter Games. Among the events I’m most excited to see are speed skating, and all of the ice tube type sports, one person luge, two person luge, two person bobsled, four person bobsled, and the skeleton. Skeleton, if you don’t know, is basically face fist luge. That is pretty rad if you ask me. And is “skeleton” the best name for a sport ever? I say yes. Oh, and the ski jump and that event where the skiers shoot guns at targets (reminds me of James Bond). I’m not really into the X-treme sports, and I don’t know why. I tend to dislike anything characterized as “extreme,” I think enduring more than 10 years of the X Games on ESPN2 (remember when it was The Deuce) did me in on the extreme sports. But perhaps this year will be the year I get extreme. I’m going to make an effort to open my mind up to the more novel, extreme sports events. I DO like that Shaun White, the red headed phenom (pictured above right) snowboarder. Maybe I’ll check him out.

While I’m not a very patriotic or nationalistic person, I root for the Americans whenever possible. I also like to find a few non-Americans to follow through the games, just to mix it up. I can’t wait to find out who they are…

Also keep a watch for this year’s hottest Olympians, Sasha Cohen (Figure Skating USA (pictured left)), Gretchen Bleiler (Snowboarding USA), Torah Bright (Snowboarding Australia), Anni Friessinger (Speed Skating Austria), and Lindsey Kildow (Skiing USA).

So get ready for some Wintery fun. It is cold in St. Louis, it is cold in Chicago, and it is cold in Torino. I don’t mind the weather, I’ve got scarves and caps and sweaters….

Musical Quasi-Guilty Pleasures

Chuck Klosterman once wrote that there is no such thing as a guilty pleasure. Now, I'm going to paraphrase, but he essentially argued that 'guilty pleasure' was a term utilized by those too ashamed to admit they like something that they "shouldn't" enjoy; that saying something is a guilty pleasure was a cop out for those not secure enough in his or her affinity to a particular musical artist or song. While I'm not sure I buy this (I think that admitting something is a guilty pleasure is just another way of saying you like it, kind of like how the Eskimos have 30 ways to say "snow") I will reluctantly accept it because Klosterman speaks much truth. BUT, for the purposes of this blog entry, guilty pleasures exist and so do quasi-guilty pleasures.

For example, I have a guilty pleasure and her name is Kelly Clarkson. That’s right, Miss Independent. JB will back me up on this one if you want to debate. I characterize her as a guilty pleasure because, given my disposition to shun popular music, the sight or sound of KC should induce a gastro-intestinal condition. On the contrary, within the first notes of "Since You've Been Gone," I suffer another ailment; heart palpitations. Oh, and Kel, congrats on the Grammy’s. Way to get that hardware girl.

Anywho, I would like to introduce my current, quasi-guilty pleasure; Hard-Fi's "Hard to Beat." I put this song in the quasi-guilty pleasure category because there is no real reason why I shouldn't love this band. Largely unheard of stateside, this band is well on its way to massive status in the UK and down under. While the video for the single "Cash Machine" has been airing on MTV2's Subterranean, the album has not yet been released in the US. I have come into possession of this record through, ahem, means not to be discussed in this posting, and pursuant to the recommendation of a friend who resides in the land of 'roos and great whites.

The reason why "Hard to Beat" has guilty pleasure undertones is that it contains a rather predictable dancey -type beat and borderline laughable lyrics including such gems as: "Turn up the thermostat, I wanna see you sweat . . . Come on lets dance, we gotta take a chance . . . You know I love ya, just wanna touch ya." It also has certain pop-driven tendencies that usually make me shudder, but this time make me want to dance.

So in essence, I should like the band, but perhaps be a bit more discerning regarding the song itself. This song is equal parts Franz Ferdinand and Kylie Minogue. Translation: the song is pure unadulterated fun, and sometimes that is all one wants in a song. "Hard to Beat" delivers in this respect, if for no other reason, and that is OK. Hard-Fi's "Hard to Beat" is rocky dance music (where I would describe Franz Ferdinand as dancey rock music).

Quick digression: Kylie Minogue is another guilty pleasure of mine. Perhaps it is her undeniable beauty that makes me love her music. Who knows? But, one thing about Kylie that is not a guilty pleasure, rather an unrestrained pleasure is her video for "Come Into My World." It is directed by Michel Gondry (director of feature film Eternal Sunshine...), and is, in a word: brilliant. Check it out here. Give it chance, seriously. Kylie, I love you.

So back to my point, I have listened to "Hard to Beat" about a fa-fillion times today and it is not losing its aural luster. One can almost hear the club remixes that are no doubt already pounding in the London discos. I wish I was there to hear it. Like I said, the track is crazy fun, and that alone can occasionally make a song incredibly likable. So "Hard to Beat" is a quasi-guilty pleasure of mine, that I'm not at all ashamed to say is a pleasure to listen to. Take that Klosterman.

What are your guilty pleasures? Or should I say, what affection for a song or artist is a love that dare not speak its name?

Oh! Your Hair Is Beautiful

Have you ever been asked the question; If you could choose any year as your year of birth, what would the year be and why?

My choice, and the choices of others with whom I have discussed this question, ultimately boils down to music. For example, dear friend Boshua Jowlin has said 1951, beacuse that puts him at the first Woodstock at age 18.

My choice is 1965. That makes me 15 in 1980 and carries me through my formative years in the Eighties. I love the Eighties, and not in that VH1 crack hit love sort of way. My love affair with the Eighties is deeper and more nuanced than the glut of Octaldecadeology espoused by the celebrity network.

And when I say Eighties, I don't mean Bon Jovi or Def Leppard. I don't mean Toni Basil or Paula Abdul. What I mean when I say I love the Eighties is that I love Blondie, Duran Duran, New Order, The Talking Heads, The Cars, Devo, et al.

I guess you could say that I am a fan of what may or may not be considered "New Wave" Eighties music. The kind of music that make you want to be weird just for the sake of being weird. The kind of music that kind of makes you want to spazz out, but in a good way. The kind of music that makes you want to dance and worship keyboards, synthesizers, and simple (yet evocative) guitar rhythms. My affinity for this genre laid the foundation for my excitement for bands like The Strokes, The Killers, Franz Ferdinand, and others of this quasi-new-wave indie-rock revival that has been bursting the last few years.

So as the Eighties sound begins to creep back to today's music, I'm looking back to the alt-nerds who first experimented with keyboards and synths. I am now on a quest to build the the ultimate Eighties playlist for the dPod, and while the restriction on what I have currently compiled is not limited solely to "New Wave" music, I want to focus on that genre and songs that fit somwhere near it. Essentially, this means no "Hair Metal" or overly cheesy pop ballads. Although some of the latter group is ok. I have an unrestrained passion for The Oufield's "Your Love." Josie's on a VA-CA-tion far A-WAY!!!

So here is what I have so far... A-Ha "Take On Me," A Flock of Seagulls "I Ran," Bad English "I Melt With You," Blondie "Atomic" "Call Me" and "Heart of Glass," The Cars "Best Friend's Girl" and "You Might Think I'm Crazy," Dead or Alive "You Spin Me Round," Devo "Whip It," Duran Duran "Girls on Film" and "Rio," Eurythmics "Sweet Dreams," Falco "Rock Me Amadeus," The Fixx "One Thing Leads to Another," Frankie Goes to Hollywood "Relax," Gary Newman "Cars," Human League "Don't You Want Me," Kajagoogoo "Too Shy," Men With Out Hats "The Safety Dance," Naked Eyes "Always Something There To Remind Me," New Order "Blue Monday" "Temptation" and "Bizarre Love Triangle," OMD "If You Leave," The Outfield "Your Love," Soft Cell "Tainted Love," Talking Heads "Once In A Lifetime" and "And She Was," Tears For Fears "Head Over Heels," and Thomas Dolby "She Blinded Me With Science."

These are the songs that survived my conversion from CD's to the dPod, and many were lost in the transfer. I realize that this list is incomplete and limited. But, I feel as if it is a solid foundation on which to build a phenomonal New-Wave-ish mix of rad Eighties music. I'm setting out to do this over the next few weeks and I need YOUR help. Please help me out and post comments regarding songs that you think should (or should not) be on my list.

Adios and welcome to Disposable Dixie Cup Drinker.