The Ecq Review

Burning CDs

March 2, 2017 by rurugby Leave a Comment

I have so, so many on iTunes.

Sometimes, I wonder why.

It’s actually a lot easier today in a lot of ways to just use Spotify or something on your mobile devices.

It’s probably why a lot of young people aren’t buying CDs at all.

Which makes me sad in some ways.

I grew up in the 80s during a time when young people, especially young men bought a ton of stuff. CDs, books, LPs, stuff.

I feel like in the digital age of Kindle and Spotify, it’s probably a lot easier to move.

All those books and music and comics and … really adds up.

But, although I liked my Samsung CD burner it wasn’t very durable. Died after a couple years. And I’m not burning nearly as many CDs these days.

I got a new one today and burned the American Idiot Broadway soundtrack and a Bruce Springsteen bonus record from Born to Run. Also the last 2 CDs from a Bo Diddley compilation that was the last thing my old CD burner got through before stopping working at all.

Interestingly, the one in my old laptop was very durable.

But, internal CD-Rs aren’t even part of computers anymore in the cloud age.

And, I feel like I could use a little CD player. If nothing else to play along with for the bass and guitar lessons in my Hal Leonard books.

Do you still burn and buy CDs?

Star Fluxx

February 3, 2017 by rurugby Leave a Comment

We used to play Fluxx a lot, but we haven’t recently.

I even had a session at SnowCon, a gaming convention in Orono, Maine a few years ago with all the Fluxxes we had.

It’s a fun game.

Starts with one draw, one play and gets more complicated.

There are a bunch of different versions. Fluxx, Eco Fluxx, Zombie Fluxx, Monty Python Fluxx and even Stoner Fluxx (the weakest I’ve played) and Cthulhu Fluxx (which I have not played). I have also not played Oz Fluxx and a few others.

Each one has a theme this one was kind of Space/Star Trek.

Lots of the Keepers (you win with keepers for goal which keep changing) in this version had extra rules which was fun.

Like with Captain you could steal other’s keepers like Doctor and Engineer.

There are also creepers that can cause you to lose the game or win with some conditions.

Fun stuff, but we won’t ever play it as much as we do Dominion.

I would give Star Fluxx like ***. I think Zombie Fluxx and regular Fluxx are better. And I am just not into Fluxx as much as I used to be.

I think Dominion and Splendor are going to stay our main games, but I got this a while back and it was nice to open it tonight.

Learning to Read Music

January 27, 2017 by rurugby Leave a Comment

Since my bass lesson last Wednesday, I have been practicing less. Because I am intimidated by the bass and treble clef and reading music.

But today after work, I gained some courage and finally started the Hal Leonard Guitar Method Complete Edition I got for Christmas in 2015. I also have the Hal Leonard Bass Method Complete Edition I got this Christmas.

They really intimated me, because I find learning music scary.

I am not sure why.

It just starts with 5 lines and 4 notes between the lines. It’s really not that much.

I know what whole, quarter, half and eight notes are.

I can do it.

Ad spending that 90 minutes going on the guitar through the first 4 higher guitar strings is great practice. As was writing the notes down on a piece of paper to look at them.

I find I remember things better when I write them down.

It’s a start of a wider world.

I also missed playing with my guitar as I have been concentrating on bass.

I definitely think it will take me a while to figure out the notes in pacing enough to count time. But I think I will get there.

I also think I might want to try some guitar lessons with bass. Although I wonder if that is too much.

Music makes life richer. As I listen to the absolutely fabulous Bo Diddley on my iTunes.

Celebrity Detox ***1/2

January 23, 2017 by rurugby Leave a Comment

I flew through Rosie O’Donnell’s book “Celebrity Detox.” I read 90% of it yesterday and finished it today.

She decided to decline fifty million dollars and quit her talk show.

She wanted to spend time with family.

She knew she had enough, and needed balance.

And she even started a business with cruises for gay families.

The book talks a lot about her experiences in a year working for “The View.”

I understand very well now why she isn’t in the public spotlight.

And hearing her side of her ridiculousness with Donald Trump, makes me wonder even more if he can be an effective president.

To be all up in a tizzy from a six minute segment on the View, which I found through the magic of YouTube is so incredibly sad. I have no idea how someone who gets all riled up from this can deal with the challenges of being President of the United States.

It’s a very good book, a super fast read and I am so happy Rosie O’Donnell found balance in her life. May we all learn to have enough.

Listening to the Radio

January 15, 2017 by rurugby Leave a Comment

I just realized tonight after starting a really good show called “Antique Blues” on WPKN Bridgeport, CT 89.5 FM that I wanted to keep listening. And I honestly don’t know where the radio is. I had no idea they have been involved with WPKN for 40+ years and all the music is from their personal collection.

So I tried my TuneIn app that didn’t want to work well and then I use Alexa and used it’s TuneIn link and played it on there, which worked great. It makes me realize I should probably do that more to hear shows I like that WMPG’s Evenin’ Sun show in Portland, Maine 90.9 FM with lots of blues from 5-7pm.

But, I mainly listen to the radio in the car. I love the randomness of WPKN, my wife Lanna prefers more stations she knows well. She doesn’t like talk and story programs but I do.

And I definitely remember listening with the clock radio to WFAN 660 am NYC and the Schmoozer late night sometimes talking about sports. So many frequent callers on the line. It was very pleasant.

I also remember my dad loving jazz on the radio. He listened a lot going between jobs doing lawn care. He was very upset when Temple University radio went from all jazz, to classical and jazz. Although we did have WBGO 88.3 one of the best jazz stations in the country out of Newark, NJ.

I also remember Eddie Davis did the morning show at the local pop station in Princeton, NJ 97.5 WPST? That was fun as we share the same name. One of my high school classmates works there now.

And I also grew to love Princeton NJ’s electric college station 103.3, I don’t remember the call sign right now. I love the randomness of independent and college radio.

What are some of your favorite stations and shows?

Moscow 2042 ***1/2

January 13, 2017 by rurugby Leave a Comment

This one took me a long time to read. Partially because I waited until it was almost out of renewals to really get into it.

It’s so bizarre, weird and fascinating.

Written by Soviet exile Vladimir Voinovich in 1986, about taking a time machine 60 years into the future from Munich, Germany in 1982 to Moscow in 2042.

I don’t want to give away much, but he goes to an incredibly bizarre future of communism.

Where all secondary matter is primary matter, i.e. it’s all shit.

I’m glad the Soviet Union collapsed, it was a totally bizarre system. It’s awfully strange that a former KGB officer Vladimir Putin has become the new autocrat of Russia.

This novel was compared as being a parody of George Orwell’s 1984 in the dust jacket, but it’s something else entirely.

Earth is a very silly place. Good read if slow. I am curious how is reads in it’s original Russian.

2016: A Reading Year in Review

December 30, 2016 by rurugby 1 Comment

I thought since in 2017 in about 29 hours I would do a year end review of reading.

This week I finished two books, the outstanding and hilarious “The Importance of Being Ernest” by Ernest Cline **** and the good, if unneeded end to Colleen Hoover’s Slammed Series “This Girl.” ***

I am up to 73 books on Goodreads for the year, and I have probably re-read another dozen books or so, so let’s call it around 85.

Another neat picture, I wish I knew how to embed this. Includes my five star books highlighted.

Here are the five star Goodreads books I have read in 2016

1. The Painted Word by Tom Wolfe (re-read/essay):

I flew through this again for the fourth time or so on the train ride to NYC.

Then I went to the Museum of Modern Art and saw some of the art the critics loved so much.

I think some of it isn’t as lionized as it once was.

And I do happen to like abstract expressionism. I’m surprised how little sold.

I will say the 1960s floor of MOMA wasn’t close to as impressive as the 1890-1959 floor.

A book I really enjoy and I do think critics to a great extent did help create a lot of art. True in poetry in the post World War II era too I think. I’m glad poetry got spoken word to get out of overthought poetry by professors.

2. The Importance of Being Ernest by Ernest Cline (poetry):

I just flew through this one. I read most of it while laughing uproariously at a Chinese Buffet for Christmas with my family. So much fun and something I probably should have bought a while ago. I’ve loved “Geek Porn Auteur” and “Dance Monkeys Dance” for a long time and loved him novel “Ready Player One.”

He’s also part of the power poetry couple of geeky goofery with maybe my favorite modern poet the hilarious and awesome Cristin O’Keefe Aptowicz. I know he has moved on to novels but would love some more geeky poems. Great Christmas present!

3. How Poetry Saved My Life: A Hustler’s Memoir by Amber Dawn (poetry/memoir):

Beautiful, honest, raw writing. I think there are so many more great tales of sex workers out there.

I will admit to liking the prose more than the poetry but just outstanding. And amazingly honest.

… I feel like I should say more about this one. Great memoir can be magic.

4. The Whore of Akron: One Man’s Search for the Soul of LeBron James by Scott Raab (memoir/sports):

Amazing, crazy, profane book.

This goes into being Jewish, from Cleveland, addiction, madness and the odd loyalty of being a die hard sports fan.

I am a Philadelphia sports fan, and the Phillies winning a World Series made me happy, but I am happy that I am not this connected to sports.

It would just be so exhausting. Wonderful, crazy gonzo writing that isn’t everyone with lots of sexual references.

And the Decision really was one of the most bizarre and ridiculous sports shows ever.

I’m glad LeBron came back to Cleveland in 2004 and finally got the city a championship in 2016 from a 3-1 comeback.

I also highly recommend the ESPN #30For30 documentary “Believeland” which does include Scott Raab. The city really desperately needed a championship after all that heartbreak.

5. Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Definitely processing.

Race and whiteness themselves are strange concepts.

How is being white better?

Why does America think of itself as so exceptional?

Why do we allow such racist policing?

I really hope things get saner and better in our country. It has to happen. Things are bad now. But thete is so much wealth, and so many people want to make the world better. Powerful book.

… After Donald Trump is elected, I worry about these themes and questions even more.

6. MiXED NUTS or What I’ve Learned Practicing Psychotherapy by Rick Cormier

We need more therapists like Rick Cormier. Giving, humorous, and always trying to help their patients anyway they can.

I also gave it to my friend who is a new LCSW and a therapist and she was very impressed.

I love how grounded and relatable the stories are. Like the person with two clocks with rotating minutes who had to stop between the first and second clock every minute. Simple solution? Take one clock out of the room. Or using practicing deep breathing and lists to help people with panic attacks. Or that hypnosis can help people with their fears.

I will admit I have bipolar disorder and I haven’t found many therapists or psychiatrists I would like. Some are just their for diagnosis. A lot of therapists fall into the “well what do you think?” trap. I think I would like Rick Cormier.

Outstanding book.

.. He is a friend I knew from drum circles a bit in Maine and a heck of a nice guy and I am sure great therapist.

7. Love the Dog by Sharon Creech (not my first read/Children’s/Poetry):

Such a sweet little book. It’s not the first time I’ve read it.

Would love to see more book written with poems like this.

The only other author I can think of that does it is Ellen Hopkins.

8. Real Artists Have Day Jobs: (And Other Awesome Things They Don’t Teach You in School) by Sara Benincasa (Self-Help/Hilarious):

An absolutely fabulous book I expect to come bsck to again and again.

Great chapters about radical overconfidence, asking for exactly what you want, to stop apologizing, doing things anyway despite what you are bad at.

Making art like a kid. realizing artists have day jobs and are still artists etc.

I definitely need to get rid of stuff, be more confident and go for more things

The world needs more strong, hilarious women and we can all use the quote she uses from Sarah Hagl, “Lord, give me the confidence of a mediocre white man.”

… I have also gone through this again at least in pieces. Wonderful read.

And my book of the year goes to:

9. Madness: A Bipolar Life by Marya Hornbacher (memoir/mental illness)

Brilliant book but very hard to read for me.

I have bipolar disorder as well and this brought me back to manias in the past.

It also makes me very happy for my relative stability. I didn’t have bulimia, alcoholism or workaholicism.

And I have been to the hospital three times, not many, many times.

All blessings to those living with major mental illness.

… Nothing has come close to me for what it feels like to be manic. Such a visceral book.

And besides re-reading “The Painted Word” and “Love That Dog” and putting them in my Goodreads for the year (neither was in it already) other five star re-reads include: “A Man Without A Country” by Kurt Vonnegut which I have re-read every year since I have bought it maybe 6-7 years ago. This review includes some quotes. My most read book this year the graphic novel “Daytripper” which I finally bought this year. The excellent graphic novel and the Ku Klux Klan and the blues “BB Wolf and the Three LPs” by JD Arnold.

It’s been a good year of reading. Two things that helped were having a patio table to read outside and just bring books outside and let the cellphone stay inside. And getting reading glasses, it makes a huge difference to just have +0.50 on my prescription so I can read the small print better, my guess is this goes up over the years. I am only 42 now.

“The Witches of Commack, Maine” ***

December 10, 2016 by rurugby Leave a Comment

A very enjoyable and extremely readable book by Robin Merrill that I flew through today, including while with butterflies at Magic Wings in Deerfield, MA today.

But, as a pagan, I have big, big problems with the book.

We aren’t in a war with Jesus, or working with demons.

Most pagans I know are cool, spiritual people. In fact, a lot of them including some teachers like Jesus a lot.

There is nothing evil about Wicca or being a witch, of a lover of nature or trees.

I do think a lot of pagans are seekers of spirituality so that is true. But, I have met very, very few pagans who tried to convert people. It’s of course part of Christian tradition. A part which led to horrible atrocities around the world with conversion of the native peoples of the Americas, Africa and around the world. The horrible things that people who were Christian have done for Christ in history are legion. If you are beating native people or torturing them to convert them, the savage person is the abuser.

But, again a very enjoyable book. And I am planning to continue reading Robin Merrill’s work. I have loved her poetry for a long time and really enjoyed “Shelter”. I actually flew through this one faster, I am planning to read “Daniel”, the sequel to “Shelter” next.

Westworld (Season 1) ****

December 5, 2016 by rurugby Leave a Comment

Amazing, rich, ambitious television from HBO.

Doesn’t always go where I expect.

And incredibly cinematic with fabulous acting.

I do wish sometimes I didn’t fear spoilers so much, I have a lot more to say.

I also think it’s a show like a lot of good rich shows since maybe “The Wire” that does very well from streaming and seeing the whole show.

There was a whole lot of times I was extraordinarily surprised on the show.

Will be very curious to see season 2 which rumor has won’t come out until 2018.

One of many televisions shows which far surprass anything I saw in the movies this year including: BrainDead (CBS/Amazon Prime) ****, Season 1 of Mr. Robot (USA/Amazon Prime) ****, season 2 was good but not as strong ***1/2, Stranger Things **** (Netflix), and Luke Cage (Netflix) ****. I also really enjoyed the second season of Mozart in the Jungle ***1/2 (Amazon Prime), Last Chance U ***1/2 (Netflix) and quite a number of documentaries.

I didn’t see much in the movie theater this year, partially because the experience is getting more annoying all the time. I liked Doctor Strange ***, I thought Captain America: Civil War was okay but overblown and in parts (like the ending) really ridiculous **1/2, and am in a big minority about Deadpool ** which I didn’t really like. I guess maybe because I enjoyed the Deadpool and Cable graphic novels so much. I can’t even think of anything else I saw at the movies this year besides the Marvel Universe. And that is honestly getting old to me. I will see Star Wars soon but usually I let my wife see things herself.

Watching YouTube music on the TV

December 4, 2016 by rurugby Leave a Comment

I watched a little sports ball after work today. A bit of football and swimming, also some 60s songs on PBS. Anything to get baby boomers to pledge. Also the music I grew up with.

And then I turned on YouTube and listened to some really great blues and internetted in the comfy chair.

The first amazing song included: From the American Folk and Blues Festival, 1962-1969. Copyright, 2004 Reelin in the years, LLC and Experience Hendrix, LLC
Intro by: T Bone Walker, Helen Humes (vocal), Sonny Terry (Harmonica), Brownie (Kazoo) McGhee (Vocal & Guitar), Willie Dixon (Vocal & Bass), T-Bone Walker (Vocal & Guitar), Memphis Slim (Vocal & Piano), Jump Jackson (Drums)

Then came ‪Muddy Waters, Memphis Slim, Willy Dixon, Otis Spann et al – Bye Bye Blues

Then so many blues men and women in a Grammy tribute:

Then a guitar summit at the Apollo: B.B. King, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Albert Collins & Buddy Guy/ “Sweet Little Angel”, “Let The Good Times Roll” – Apollo Theater 1993 Part 2

Then yet more blues guitar gods .. “Sweet Home Chicago” (Buddy Guy, Eric Clapton, Johnny Winter, Robert Cray, Hubert Sumlin…)

Then BB King and Eric Clapton having fun:

All just YouTube autoplaying. Pretty awesome.

Then BB King with Slash, Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi:

This makes me wish I got out to the Checkerboard Lounge when I was at the University of Chicago, sometimes a 21 year old drinking age is no good. Muddy Waters & The Rolling Stones – Baby Please Don’t Go – Live At Checkerboard Lounge

This They Might Be Giants cover of “Tubthumbing” by Chuwbumba makes me realize what a kareoake song this would be:

Although GWAR is way better at this: “Carry On My Wayward Son”

Then I moved on the silliness of GWAR covers which I have heard before. Both “Carry On Wayward Song” and the GwAR cover of Pet Shop Boys: “West End Girls” are great. :

This Munich show by Michael Jackson of “Smooth Criminal” makes you remember what an incredible dancer and performer he was:

And I just love Miley Cyrus and Flaming Lips (featuring Moby) – Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds Music Video (warning NSFW nudity) and wonderfully weird:

This one is not music but thoughtful, makes me wonder if I should log off the Facebooks of the world, they are amazing at timesuck:

And last there was this incredible, hard hitting cover of “The Ghost of Tom Joad” by Rage Against the Machine with a introduction from the amazing movie “Network”.

And other some awesomeness too.

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