Repost : A Prairie Home Companion Snobbery
A Prairie Home Companion: It’s My Show
6/14/06
So, my anti-NPR, pro-Country Music little sister came home for dinner the other night and declared she wanted to see "that new Lindsey Lohan movie with all the actors in it."
Hmph.
I was livid.
"You mean 'A Prairie Home Companion'?" I asked.
"Yeah, that one."
"Do you even know what Prairie Home Companion IS?"
"A movie."
"No. It's not a 'movie.' It's a SHOW on NPR. And you can't just go see the movie because Lindsey Lohan's in it. You don't even know. I know. I have been listening to Prairie Home for years. YEARS. And you just decide you're going to see the movie. Whatever. What-ever. You can't just go see my show without knowing what it is. You can't. That's just, just wrong. Oh God. This means little teeny-boppers all over are going to be seeing my show. This is so wrong. Whatever. What-ever."
My mother cocked her head to the side and looked at me funny. "Are you serious?"
I took a few breaths and thought about it.
"Yes."
Later that night, we heard David Edelstein on Fresh Air (an NPR program, obviously) review of PHC The Movie. He called PHC elistism masked as folksie humor.
Ding ding ding!!! You win a prize for unveiling my truth.
At least I admit my problem.
Update on Ciara Durkin
Updated on Ciara Durkin: feature length article from the Boston Globe
(See all Ciara Durkin entries here.)
I meant to post this the other day, but it's been a month of whatever-ness so I forgot. Anyway, below is a link to an in-depth article from the Boston Globe about Ciara Durkin. It's a thorough follow up:
"A Death Shrouded by War, Mystery" from Boston.com
I wrote t NPR and suggested it as a story for them, too. I urge you to contact other news outlets as well, if you are as unsettled as I am about this incident.
http://www.npr.org/about/pitch/story.html
(See all Ciara Durkin entries here.)
I meant to post this the other day, but it's been a month of whatever-ness so I forgot. Anyway, below is a link to an in-depth article from the Boston Globe about Ciara Durkin. It's a thorough follow up:
"A Death Shrouded by War, Mystery" from Boston.com
I wrote t NPR and suggested it as a story for them, too. I urge you to contact other news outlets as well, if you are as unsettled as I am about this incident.
http://www.npr.org/about/pitch/story.html
And Again - Diversions: Survey Says...
1. What are you listening to right now?
Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmare
2. What song makes you sad?
American Woman by Grand Funk Railroad
*I meant "We're an American Band" please click on the link above to see the full story.
3. What is the most annoying song in the world?
"This Is Our Country" by John Mellencamp
4. Your all time favorite band?
Musician: Tori Amos
5. Your newly discovered band is?
Grizzly Bear - esp. their remake of "He HIt Me and It Felt Like a Kiss" Haunting, as they say.
6. Best female voice?
Depends on your mood or your type of best: quirky and pretty - Feist; soulful and striking - Billie Holiday; all around perfect and rich - Kathleen Battle, Kiri Te Kanawa, etc. etc.
7. Best male voice?
Rocker - Chris Cornell; range -Ben Harper ; soul - Otis Redding; classic - Pavarotti?
8. Music type you find yourself listening to most?
alt/ indie rock, soul, 60/70/80s dance
9. What do you listen to, to hype you up?
Stevie Wonder dance music; Michael Jackson
10. What do you listen to when you want to calm down?
Tori, Gillian Welch, Jolie Holland
11. Last gig/concert you went to?
Tori at the Orpheum
12. Band you find yourself listening to the most right now?
Jolie Holland and Feist
13. Most hated band?
Motley Crue
14. Song that makes you think?
He Hit Me
15. Band that you think the world should love as much as you do?
Jolie Holland
16. Coolest music video?
Haven't the slightest clue. Do people even make videos any more?
17. Music video with the most babe watch?
All of them
18. What do you play/would you play in the bedroom to spice things up?
Otis Redding, Etta James
19. Ever been in a mosh pit?
yes
20. Are you in a band?
no
21. Ever dated a musician?
O lord yes. A few...and any is too many.
22. Do you wish yourself that you were a musician?
I was a musician and I didn't like it as a full time thing. So no.
23. Best chick band you know of?
The Be Good Tanyas
24. Last song that you heard on the radio/cd...etc...?
I don't remember
25. What do you think of Classical music?
'Salright
26. What do you think of Country music?
I love bluegrass. Other than that, no.
27. What do you think of Death metal?
blech
28. Last BIG band that you saw live?
James Taylor (big concert)
29. Are you a groupie?
no
30. Do you listen to music in foreign languages?
Oui, en francais. Je l'adore.
31. What famous musician would you like to make sweet love to!?
Ben Harper
32. Worst concert moment?
When the couple was basically having sex right next to my mom and sister and I at the James Taylor concert at Great Woods or whatever it's called now
33. Funny concert moment?
Same as the worst one
34. Sad concert moment?
Barons of Suburbia
35. Best local act you can think of?
No idea
36. If you were a musical instrument what would you be?
Violin
37. Do you listen to the radio?
Not commercial radio
38. Do you watch music TV?
No. Is there music television anymore?
39. Do you follow the music charts, like the top 40?
Oh heavens no
40. Have you meet any famous musicians?
No, but some semi famous ones. This summer I met the Del McCoury band.
41. Are any of your friends/family/etc. musicians?
Ys, lots from high school and college and a bunch in Lewiston
42. Song that best describes your feelings right now?
Springtime Can Kill You
43. Song that describes your life?
She's a Maniac
44. Do you know the names of all the band members that you listen to?
No
45. Does a musician’s physical attractiveness play a part?
No
46. What famous musician do you want to marry?
Ben Harper already is my phantom husband
47. Favourite movie soundtrack?
O Brother
48. Any musician hates?
Just crap pop things like Jessica Simpson and Britney Spears
49. What do your parents listen to?
My dad like Led Zeppelin, Willlie Nelson and Grand Funk Railroad
My mom likes Van Morrison, James Taylor and pretty voice people
Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmare
2. What song makes you sad?
American Woman by Grand Funk Railroad
*I meant "We're an American Band" please click on the link above to see the full story.
3. What is the most annoying song in the world?
"This Is Our Country" by John Mellencamp
4. Your all time favorite band?
Musician: Tori Amos
5. Your newly discovered band is?
Grizzly Bear - esp. their remake of "He HIt Me and It Felt Like a Kiss" Haunting, as they say.
6. Best female voice?
Depends on your mood or your type of best: quirky and pretty - Feist; soulful and striking - Billie Holiday; all around perfect and rich - Kathleen Battle, Kiri Te Kanawa, etc. etc.
7. Best male voice?
Rocker - Chris Cornell; range -Ben Harper ; soul - Otis Redding; classic - Pavarotti?
8. Music type you find yourself listening to most?
alt/ indie rock, soul, 60/70/80s dance
9. What do you listen to, to hype you up?
Stevie Wonder dance music; Michael Jackson
10. What do you listen to when you want to calm down?
Tori, Gillian Welch, Jolie Holland
11. Last gig/concert you went to?
Tori at the Orpheum
12. Band you find yourself listening to the most right now?
Jolie Holland and Feist
13. Most hated band?
Motley Crue
14. Song that makes you think?
He Hit Me
15. Band that you think the world should love as much as you do?
Jolie Holland
16. Coolest music video?
Haven't the slightest clue. Do people even make videos any more?
17. Music video with the most babe watch?
All of them
18. What do you play/would you play in the bedroom to spice things up?
Otis Redding, Etta James
19. Ever been in a mosh pit?
yes
20. Are you in a band?
no
21. Ever dated a musician?
O lord yes. A few...and any is too many.
22. Do you wish yourself that you were a musician?
I was a musician and I didn't like it as a full time thing. So no.
23. Best chick band you know of?
The Be Good Tanyas
24. Last song that you heard on the radio/cd...etc...?
I don't remember
25. What do you think of Classical music?
'Salright
26. What do you think of Country music?
I love bluegrass. Other than that, no.
27. What do you think of Death metal?
blech
28. Last BIG band that you saw live?
James Taylor (big concert)
29. Are you a groupie?
no
30. Do you listen to music in foreign languages?
Oui, en francais. Je l'adore.
31. What famous musician would you like to make sweet love to!?
Ben Harper
32. Worst concert moment?
When the couple was basically having sex right next to my mom and sister and I at the James Taylor concert at Great Woods or whatever it's called now
33. Funny concert moment?
Same as the worst one
34. Sad concert moment?
Barons of Suburbia
35. Best local act you can think of?
No idea
36. If you were a musical instrument what would you be?
Violin
37. Do you listen to the radio?
Not commercial radio
38. Do you watch music TV?
No. Is there music television anymore?
39. Do you follow the music charts, like the top 40?
Oh heavens no
40. Have you meet any famous musicians?
No, but some semi famous ones. This summer I met the Del McCoury band.
41. Are any of your friends/family/etc. musicians?
Ys, lots from high school and college and a bunch in Lewiston
42. Song that best describes your feelings right now?
Springtime Can Kill You
43. Song that describes your life?
She's a Maniac
44. Do you know the names of all the band members that you listen to?
No
45. Does a musician’s physical attractiveness play a part?
No
46. What famous musician do you want to marry?
Ben Harper already is my phantom husband
47. Favourite movie soundtrack?
O Brother
48. Any musician hates?
Just crap pop things like Jessica Simpson and Britney Spears
49. What do your parents listen to?
My dad like Led Zeppelin, Willlie Nelson and Grand Funk Railroad
My mom likes Van Morrison, James Taylor and pretty voice people
Go Ask Alice
To combat all that time I spent watching "America's Next Top Model" and other bullsh1t shows, I watched a little C-SPAN Book TV today. Here is what was featured:
Alice: Alice Roosevelt Longworth, from White House Princess to Washington Power Broker
Stacy Cordery was at the Politics and Prose bookstore talking about her book and taking some very smart questions from a rather astute audience. Although, what would one expect from people who went to a bookstore called "Politics and Prose" to hear about book about the daughter of a president. Imagine, though, if some gum chewing idiot girl were to get up and say, "Um, [chomp, chomp, chomp], like, she was, like, kind of a f*cking rebel, huh? Totally. But whatev. That's hot."
That wouldn't happen on C-SPAN.
So, who was Alice Roosevelt Longworth? From what I learned in the 45 minutes I spent watching the talk today, she was a behind the scenes political ... hmm ... political person? Not a good enough noun but it will have to do. She was also very independent - a given with the last name Roosevelt. She read everything, knew everything, talked to everyone, etc. etc. and was known for her "erudite conversations."
Here is the C-SPAN link, though I think you might have to pay to view the episode.
Alice: Alice Roosevelt Longworth, from White House Princess to Washington Power Broker
Stacy Cordery was at the Politics and Prose bookstore talking about her book and taking some very smart questions from a rather astute audience. Although, what would one expect from people who went to a bookstore called "Politics and Prose" to hear about book about the daughter of a president. Imagine, though, if some gum chewing idiot girl were to get up and say, "Um, [chomp, chomp, chomp], like, she was, like, kind of a f*cking rebel, huh? Totally. But whatev. That's hot."
That wouldn't happen on C-SPAN.
So, who was Alice Roosevelt Longworth? From what I learned in the 45 minutes I spent watching the talk today, she was a behind the scenes political ... hmm ... political person? Not a good enough noun but it will have to do. She was also very independent - a given with the last name Roosevelt. She read everything, knew everything, talked to everyone, etc. etc. and was known for her "erudite conversations."
Here is the C-SPAN link, though I think you might have to pay to view the episode.
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Another One Bites The Dust: Erickson's Graham House
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 12. 3.07
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/12/another_one_bit.phpIf you've gotta have a traditional monster house in Vancouver, you can't let history or genius get in the way. It was Arthur Erickson's breakthrough house in 1963, a stunning multi-storey wood-and-glass house that descends in levels. People are fighting to save it (architecture students are threatening to chain themselves to it) but the wimpy gutless excuse for a city planner Stephen Mikicich says "In the end, this is private property we're talking about,so we're really looking to encourage conservation by the tools that are available to us. " How about making some new tools that work?
Heritage West Vancouver president Carolanne Reynolds isn't ready to give up the fight, either.
"I really can't understand why a person with a piece of art like that wouldn't feel motivated to make it look its best and have the prestige of being in a house that's internationally known," she said. ::Province
It is time for Canada to develop preservation laws with teeth, and to ban demolition.
Erickson says "The David Graham house in 1963 launched my reputation as the architect you went to when you had an impossible site."
From Erickson's site:
The site for the house was a rock cliff dropping forty feet from the arrival level down a sheer cliff to a rock bench over the sea. The solution to this difficult site was the creation of a multi-storey house descending the slope in levels.
The formal idea of the piling up of hovering beams was the basis of the composition. These enclose the major living areas, which step down the embankment for four storeys from the carport to the bluff over the sea below. Each area opens onto a roof terrace over the living quarters below, so that there is maximum access to sunlight and view. Because of the ruggedness of the site, the outside living areas are confined almost entirely to the roof areas of the house itself.
A texture difference is achieved between the walls and box beams by using flat siding on the beams and a deep board and batten on the walls. The house is treated with a simple oil finish and the only other materials used in conjunction with the wood are used brick and a Welsh quarry tile.
This follow up comment by "gnoble" illuminates what the article could not: