^^^ And for fucks sake don't let him near google. If he finds out Florence has a machine we'll be wasting another 20 billion making a bigger and better more beautiful machine.
— JΞSŦΞR ✪ ΔCŦUΔL³³º¹ (@th3j35t3r) September 9, 2018
So here’s a bit of Florence + The Machine.
Everybody in North and South Carolina stay safe!
Open thread!
Mary G
Grifters all the way down:
debbie
@Mary G:
That’s like two Ben Carson dinette sets!
O/T because I forgot to ask earlier: A friend at work applied for a position in a different department. HR called back for a few additional questions, one of which was to ask if she’d ever made any political donations. She’s heard from a few people that the company has recently started asking this question in interviews. Is this even legal?
The Dangerman
Italy? Please. Italy doesn’t have oil.
Unless you are talking Olive Oil. For the love of all decency, don’t mention Extra Virgin to Trump.
randy khan
@Mary G:
*sigh*
There’s plenty of grift in this Administration, but I’m pretty sure “Nikki Haley’s Manhattan apartment” is the longstanding official residence of the U.N. Ambassador.
Adam L Silverman
@Mary G: The apartment is a legit expense. It is probably a long term lease held by the US State Department for the Ambassador to the UN. The curtains should’ve been replaced from the GSA storehouse.
NotMax
However shall certain folks there cope when the rain quenches their tiki torches? //
As for music (repeating from below), Hold On – Hurricane Smith.
??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??
Did Bruce Springsteen’s career peter out in the early 90s? The reason I ask is because of I saw this In Living Color skit “Career Aid” that was a parody of “We are the World” and mocked a lot of artists that had been in that song and they’d lost their stardom by that point (early 90s).
Apparently, Bruce Springsteen was in it too in the very back. Wasn’t the Boss pretty much always famous?
randy khan
@randy khan:
A little searching reveals that she actually is in a different place than the old residence (in the Waldorf-Astoria, which recently was bought by a Chinese company, so, yeah, we should have moved out), but it’s actually cheaper, even at $58k/month.
Brachiator
Don’t know if Adam has seen or noted anything about this CNN story that recently popped up.
Courage.
The Board made McRaven a non person.
The war against ourselves continues.
Mary G
??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??
@Brachiator:
Why would they do such a thing? It’s an independent advisory committee that doesn’t have to kowtow to the president. Perhaps the remaining members should get some harassing phone calls/emails about what un-American fascists they are…
Just a suggestion.
Adam L Silverman
@Mary G: @randy khan: Just read the article. The residence is a long term lease with an option to buy that was entered into by the Obama Administration in 2016 when a PRC backed Chinese company bought the Waldorf Astoria, which is where the Ambassador and the Deputy Chief of Mission had traditionally lived, in suites. A decision was made to move them out because of security, including intel collection concerns, given the new ownership of the Waldorf Astoria.
Again, as I said in comment #5, the expense for the curtains is the real issue. But it also depends on whether these were budgeted for replacement way back. And, it is important to remember, that money for refurbishments and building reconstructions and purchases come out of different pots of money than for personnel and programs. Which is always a huge problems when there are budget cuts, because decision makers can’t just move the money around to make up the shortfall. This is also why moving the money around from FEMA and the Coast Guard and nuclear energy monitoring to ICE raises a red flag. That money just can’t be reallocated without Congress signing off.
NotMax
@Adam L. Silverman
Omnes Omnibus
I love “Ship to Wreck.”
The Dangerman
@??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??:
In the late 80’s, Bruce got bored and went solo for a while (although, if memory serves, a couple of E Streeters went along for the ride). It went over about as well as New Coke.
Always famous? Yes. Always commercially successful? His solo career didn’t do all that well.
HumboldtBlue
Sometimes it’s Florence.
Sometimes it’s Jolene.
The hurr-keen/.
Omnes Omnibus
@Omnes Omnibus: Also her stuff needs to be listened to LOUD,
Mary G
Brachiator
@The Dangerman:
I thought that Popeye had Olive Oyl. I don’t know if she was extra virgin, but she was refined.
Mnemosyne
Florence Welch also seems to be a nice person. There were some viral videos of her visiting and singing for a teenage fan who was in hospice and couldn’t get to the concert.
Yeah, I said “hospice,” not hospital.
Omnes Omnibus
@HumboldtBlue: Wow. Thank you.
Adam L Silverman
@Brachiator: I had not, but that doesn’t surprise me. However, if he’s resigned from the board, then it’s standard operating procedure to remove him from the list of members portion of the website.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@The Dangerman: commercially he definitely peaked with Born in the USA and the subsequent tour, but he did win an Oscar for Streets of Philadelphia, and was considered “brave” for writing the song.
If he wins a Tony for this Broadway show, and why not?, maybe he’ll get an EGOT. How could he get an Emmy?
NotMax
Budget? We don’t need no es-stinking budget.
??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??
@The Dangerman:
Oh? I didn’t know that. Nobody explained that in the YouTube comments, so that’s why I asked. Who did Bruce think he was? Phil Collins?
Mnemosyne
@??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??:
As you grow older, grasshopper, you will discover that fame ebbs and flows. People who are famous for one TV show or movie or album vanish for a while and then come back again. Very few people stay at the same level of fame forever, which Kim Kardashian has already discovered.
Mary G
Cuomo may have won, but many of his henchpeople didn’t.
Omnes Omnibus
@??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??: Delete your account.
Adam L Silverman
@NotMax: Yep. My initial worry was they had stuck her in Trump World Tower. The Saudis have an entire floor for their mission and the ambassador’s residence. And there’s one other UN mission there as well.
Adam L Silverman
@Omnes Omnibus: It’s a favorite. Both of these, Ship to Wreck and Queen of Peace, are my two favorite songs from that album.
Brachiator
@Adam L Silverman:
Yeah, this is actually reasonable. I couldn’t go back and edit my post to note this possibility.
And the main thing is that I respect his resignation.
??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??
@NotMax:
I fucking hate these people. It’s like they’re made of teflon and are bulletproof. They always seem to find workarounds to get what they want and avoid the consequences they deserve, just like Trump
Suzanne
@Mary G:
I was talking about this at work today. All of us have heard this kind of bullshyt from our clients.
I can’t believe we elected a developer. GOD.
The Dangerman
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
…and well deserved. I think some of his solo stuff is great (Ghost of Tom Joad is way underrated), just didn’t go over all that well commercially. And i was kinda wrong, only 1 E Streeter went along to his “solo” days (the pianist), unless you count Patty, who wasn’t his wife for a while during that time.
Wasn’t Neil Young up for the Oscar for that movie, too? Fine film.
As for Emmy … hmmm … well, if Big Bang Theory can get Stephen Hawking for multiple shows, some other show could get Bruce, I suppose …
Adam L Silverman
@Brachiator: I never met him, but my understanding is he’s quite well regarded.
FlipYrWhig
@Mary G: Can you imagine, in any professional capacity, latching onto Stephen Miller, or anyone who looked or acted like Stephen Miller? I don’t care what the enterprise is, that guy is NOT an asset, with the possible exception of incubating xenomorphs.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@The Dangerman: Undercover Boss?
Jay
@debbie:
No.
Amir Khalid
@??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??:
Reposting my reply:
No. What makes you think that? Bruce broke up the E Street Band after the Amnesty International tour, then married the backing vocalist (Patti Scialfa, a woefully underrated singer/songwriter in her own right) and started a family. But he was still touring and recording the whole time.
@The Dangerman:
Human Touch and Lucky Town both went platinum, eventually, although there were grumbles that they weren’t much different from his E Street Band stuff. But the quality of his songwriting and live performance never faltered in the 1990s. And The Ghost of Tom Joad is some of his best work.
TaMara (HFG)
Why are we picking on Bruce Springsteen? Seriously, he’s always been socially conscious, using his fame (and yes, he’s pretty much been famous since Born To Run) to help everyone he could, including food drives at every concert during the Born in the USA tours. He’s has had a sold out show on broadway that has been extended, and whoever said his solo stuff went nowhere probably should listen to or read his biography. He wasn’t necessarily doing it for stadium sellout crowds, it was about his growth and artistic needs. When you’ve sold out stadiums, you actually get to do that stuff without worry about making the big $$. Now get off my lawn.
NotMax
@Mnemosyne
Then there are those with the talent and the smarts to wade through the maze of show business by recognizing it is a business and operating with that as first principle.
There’s a quite pleasant and entertaining documentary about Sophie Tucker on Amazon Prime, someone who did just that and whose successful career lasted as long as she did. The full anecdote about J. Edgar Hoover and one of her dresses is worth the viewing all on its own. trailer
??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??
@Omnes Omnibus:
I’ll do one better:
Phil Collins (Genesis)>Phil Collins (solo)
Also, Huey Lewis>Bruce Springsteen
Patricia Kayden
@Mary G: $58,000 per month? For one apartment? WTH?!
Adam L Silverman
@TaMara (HFG): We got here because Goku has decided to waive his youth in all the rest of our faces.
Omnes Omnibus
@??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??: You are an idiot.
Amir Khalid
@??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??:
Them’s fightin’ words, mister.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@TaMara (HFG): Hey! Only one person compared him to Phil Collins!
and I’ll defend Phil Collins: he doesn’t seem to take himself too seriously.
??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??
@Amir Khalid:
I wasn’t super familiar with the history and was curious. Apparently, the writers of the In Living Color “Career Aid” skit thought Springsteen was a washed-up has been in 93/94 with the likes Yoko Ono, Ray Charles, Cyndi Lauper, etc.
TaMara (HFG)
@Adam L Silverman: I. Just. Can’t. with this. I love Huey Lewis as much as anyone…but that’s like comparing Madonna to Etta James.
NotMax
@Patricia Kayden
Reportedly a ~5900 square foot, five bedroom penthouse. The previous digs at the Waldorf-Astoria ran to over $150,000 per month.
??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??
@Omnes Omnibus: @Amir Khalid:
I never said Springsteen is bad. “Santa Clause is Coming to Town” is one of my favorite Christmas songs. I just like some of Huey’s stuff better. His version of the “Boys are Back” is fantastic.
Adam L Silverman
@Patricia Kayden: It’s Manhattan, its the penthouse, and it’s two blocks from the UN.
The Dangerman
@TaMara (HFG):
…and I tried it in the early ’90s and it didn’t work; the public didn’t like it. (Bruce Springsteen, Hall of Fame Speech)
Jim, Foolish Literalist
Mr Silvio Dante would like to offer you a ride to the airport….
Meet me in a Land of Hope and Dreams (9 minutes)
HumboldtBlue
@Omnes Omnibus:
You’re welcome.
I’m so captured by that arrangement.
It’s such a tingler.
Adam L Silverman
@??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??:
??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??
@??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??:
Since I can’t edit:
My original point, aside from some light-hearted trolling of Omnes, is that Collins had a successful solo career for a time, IIRC. I was also joking with this too.
Duane
Good grief. Are we apocalypsing now? I look in here and it fire and hurricanes. What next? Gonna go get my extinguishers and raft out.
Omnes Omnibus
@??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??: Golly, no one knew that.
The Dangerman
@??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??:
True, if only because PC is an excellent drummer (he backed up Eric Clapton at a show I saw a long time ago).
Genesis is also way underrated (Peter Gabriel in or out).
??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??
@Omnes Omnibus:
You’ll have to be more specific
Omnes Omnibus
@??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??: Really?
M. Bouffant
@Amir Khalid: They are both awful. Springsteen doing a Broadway show is final proof of music critic R. Meltzer’s idea that Springsteen was merely a Broadway simulacrum of rock’n’roll.
Amir Khalid
@??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??:
Comedy skits aren’t written to be accurate, they’re written to be funny.
@TaMara (HFG):
The Rising was an album America really needed to hear after after September 11. The chorus from Into The Fire moved me to tears, and still does:
May your strength give us strength
May your faith give us faith
May your hope give us hope
May your love bring us love
Plus, Huey Lewis would agree with you about comparing him to Springsteen.
Amir Khalid
@Amir Khalid:
Damn. That was supposed to be italics, not bold, and now I can’t fix it.
Amir Khalid
@M. Bouffant:
This Meltzer person had a bad idea.
??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??
@The Dangerman:
Gabriel made some good songs.
I’ve always thought Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s Liverpool album was underrated. “Warriors of the Wasteland” was the best song off it.
Not much has changed unfortunately since then.
Mnemosyne
If you’d like to read some very funny invective about how much men in Hollywood suck, Cole linked to this guy’s Medium column on his Twitter feed:
https://medium.com/@mikeredmond/norm-macdonald-olivia-munn-jon-hamm-batman-bd625e1ce517
TaMara (HFG)
@M. Bouffant: I’ve noticed that most of the critics who disparaged Springsteen were doing so because he was Bruce Fucking Springsteen….and they were not.
??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??
@??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??:
Adding to the lyrics:
Your job is gold, do as you’re told
They pay you less then run for Congress
TaMara (HFG)
@Adam L Silverman: This is beyond awesome. Well, except that whole ‘who is she’ crack.
Adam L Silverman
@Amir Khalid: I can.
Adam L Silverman
@TaMara (HFG): I just grabbed the first tweet that had the GIF embedded.
Amir Khalid
@Adam L Silverman:
Much obliged.
The Dangerman
@??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??:
Underrated albums would be a fun thread; since I already nominated Springsteen upstairs, I’ll add Neil Young’s Freedom, although having one song on there twice is kinda cheating.
Neil actually cost me a bundle once; only ticket I ever got was listening to NY (Rust Never Sleeps, I think) while out in the middle of fucking nowhere in Eastern Oregon (that may be redundant).
Amir Khalid
@TaMara (HFG):
My guess is that cow orker knew of no actors by that first name except for Carey Mulligan, and so assumed …
??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??
@Adam L Silverman:
You can’t make me leave! But honestly, consider who you’re talking to. Just because I wasn’t around doesn’t mean I’m not familiar with the pop culture of the past. In fact, I’d say with pride that know more about useless trivia from the past than I know about useless pop culture trivia from the present
NotMax
Site is a tad balky at the moment.
It’s the ragga-fragga stackpath crap. Again.
Mnemosyne
@The Dangerman:
Underrated albums? I think it’s better appreciated now, but I remember all the kool kids hated Elvis Costello’s King of America when it was forst released.
Calouste
@??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??: I’ve heard “USA for Africa” referred to as “USA for Bruce Springsteen” in Europe, where Springsteen wasn’t well known at the time.
The Pale Scot
Adam, have you read the novel “2020 Commission’s Report”?
Adam L Silverman
@The Pale Scot: I have not yet done so. I’ve already got a 10 book non-fiction backlog. Most of which is work related.
TaMara (HFG)
@Adam L Silverman: You probably know this, but it’s from His Girl Friday. One of my faves.
Amir Khalid
@??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??:
What you’ve been saying about Bruce reveals that you are not.
Adam L Silverman
@TaMara (HFG): I knew which movie it was from. Your file indicated it is one of your faves. Remind me to note that excellent information collection in someone’s annual performance review.
??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??
@Omnes Omnibus:
Yes.
James E Powell
@The Dangerman:
What are you talking about? Springsteen’s entire career has been his solo career.
??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??
@Amir Khalid:
I’ll respond with a question; does anyone know everything?
Major Major Major Major
@Amir Khalid: which is probably why he is asking questions.
@The Pale Scot: @Adam L Silverman: I think I saw on twitter that Cheryl got a copy too, I look forward to both your reports.
L85NJGT
Nebraska was his first solo album.
If one were to remove the Boss persona, the E Street Band, and judge his career strictly as a songwriter, he has made a significant contribution to the American songbook.
Amir Khalid
@Major Major Major Major:
I know that. I’m just indulging in the oldster sport of giving young’uns grief for not knowing oldster culture.
??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??
Speaking of Phil Collins, I really liked his cover of Groovy Kind of Love. Much better than the original but that’s probably due to my own personal tastes. I grew up listening to the synthpop-type stuff and have always really liked the sound which is why I like modern Synthwave now.
Major Major Major Major
@Amir Khalid: fair!
Amir Khalid
@L85NJGT:
See James E Powell‘s comment #87. That aside, I agree with you 100%.
Major Major Major Major
So there was a coyote in my neighborhood today. Wild!
??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??
@M. Bouffant:
I’m sorry, did you say Huey Lewis is terrible? Listen to Small World, Doing it All for My Baby, and Stuck with You. Then get back to me.
Adam L Silverman
@Major Major Major Major: I’m unlikely to get to it for months. It was written by a friend/colleague of Cheryl’s.
??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??
@Major Major Major Major:
Was there a drum circle of protest after it was captured by animal control?
Amir Khalid
@Calouste:
What I remember about that song is that it came out on CBS Records, even though many illustrious participants were not on that label, and everyone who got to take a solo was a CBS artist.
HumboldtBlue
And now for something completely different.
Major Major Major Major
@??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??: you’re thinking of Berkeley.
Waynski
The Boss lives about ten miles away from me in Colt’s Neck, NJ. There are some occasional sightings (never by me or spousal unit). Most of the folks around here are “meh” about Bruce. They’re tired of his music (still much played – by visitors – on the bar jukebox) and he does nothing for local charities (although, he may donate anonymously, but that usually would get around, if he did, dunno). Still like the old stuff though. Born to Run is a great album. Plus, Rosalita.
mapaghimagsik
@Amir Khalid: Helen Keller agrees that Huey > Bruce
James E Powell
@L85NJGT:
“Solo album” is a term that is used to describe the work of an artist who once recorded as a member of a band. Springsteen never recorded as a member of a band.
??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??
@Major Major Major Major:
I was channeling a conservative’s sense of humor and they think all of California is basically a bunch of hippies drumming in a circle outside Monsonto’s HQ. That, and icky gay people doing…things.
HumboldtBlue
There’s always A-Ha for those disappointed by Bruce.
FlipYrWhig
@Waynski: I never, ever, ever thought I’d come across Colts Neck on Balloon Juice. I have many friends from there and grew up one town over.
Duane
@NotMax: If this site quits being balky, I won’t know what to do. Another apocalypse sign. If the Cubs win the series, get out of town.
L85NJGT
@James E Powell:
First album not recorded with the E Street Band.
@??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??:
Are California conservatives still white guys in khakis, blue blazers and loafers?
NotMax
Cut up potatoes along with some eggs to be hard boiled for making potato salad done in the Instant Pot – 5 minutes cooking time at pressure.
Mirabile dictu.
The Dangerman
@James E Powell:
OK, fair enough, he was solo with a backing band, most famously, the E Street Band, but my first point was regarding the late 80’s, when he broke up the E Street Band and went “solo” (seems to me that’s what he called that era, but it’s getting late and not gonna look it up).
??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??
@HumboldtBlue:
Awesome cover! I can’t separate that “80s” sound at certain points, despite the band’s best efforts.
A-Ha had a sort of sequel to “Take on Me” called “The Sun Always Shines on TV”. I highly recommend listening to the 12″ extended mix version. It has more somber, mature sound than “Take on Me” which fits with the title.
It’s a fantastic title which I personally take as a commentary on fiction in general, especially the bulk of the TV programming on at the time this song came out. That the “good guys” would always win in the end just in time for the end of the show. Reality is much less rosy than that, because in our reality, the “bad guys”, however they are defined, can and do win.
Amir Khalid
@James E Powell:
Which is why Bruce was indicted into thr Rock’n’Roll Hall of Fame in 1999, and the E Street Band had to wait until 2014.
??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??
@L85NJGT:
Aren’t they everywhere? Only now with tiki torches, shouting about “Blood and Soil”?
NotMax
@Amir Khalid
Freudian typo?
;)
L85NJGT
@The Dangerman:
I’m not sure how being a band member makes much of a difference. Most rock, and or roll bands boil down to a writer arranger and some players.
Amir Khalid
@NotMax:
I saw it too late to fix. I remember when you could fix it yourself, and not have to depend on a frontpager.
HumboldtBlue
@Amir Khalid:
Nah, you’ve condemned him.
Obama is now your enemy.
The Dangerman
@L85NJGT:
Me, neither. And Wikipedia kinda agrees with me. It calls Ghost of Tom Joad Springsteen’s second solo album (I assume Nebraska was his first; I don’t have a copy of that one and, honestly, I’m not sure I’ve ever listened to it). So, was he solo when he was backed by the E Street Band? In the end, who gives a rats butt…
Waynski
@FlipYrWhig: What town? I’m in the Borough of Atlantic Highlands in Middletown. I actually grew up in Westchester, NY, then lived in NYC where we’d catch the boat to Sandy Hook (beach, not CT). I got laid off and my wife got her salary cut and sent to work at home, so we couldn’t afford our place in the city anymore, so I just said, “eff it, let’s go to the beach.” I work freelance now. It’s funny, one of the first friends I made grew up here and he told me that when people give him grief about living in NJ, which he loves, he said that he always replies, “It’s horrible. Don’t come here. I only stay for my family.”
Beach, pool, golf, I can see the Manhattan skyline and jump the ferry to be there in 40-50 minutes. It’s horrible. Don’t come here… Just kidding. Jackals are welcome anytime.
Redshift
@NotMax:
As was noted at the attempted Charlottesville “anniversary” rally in DC, would-be tough guy Nazis melt in the rain.
Amir Khalid
@L85NJGT:
It makes a difference. Is the artist of record the frontman, as with Bruce and the E Street Band, or the whole band, as with Led Zeppelin? There is not always such a sharp distinction between the two. The Rolling Stones have for decades recorded and toured with a bass player, Darryl Jones, who is not formally a member of the band.
Redshift
@FlipYrWhig:
Except, apparently, if the enterprise is a white supremacist operation like the current White House.
Amir Khalid
@James E Powell:
Well yeah, if you exclude The Castiles and Steel Mill.
low-tech cyclist
It’s been over three years since “Ship to Wreck” was on the airwaves, and I can still listen to it over and over again. Florence Welch is one hell of an amazing singer, and a damned good songwriter too.
And when she talks, she’s got that beautiful Scottish accent…who, me, have a crush? Whatever gave you that idea?
low-tech cyclist
Oh, and Florence (the hurricane) could go right through Florence, SC tomorrow. Lived there for a couple of years in the early 1990s.
Florence could actually manage the trifecta of places my wife and I lived in SC: Florence, Columbia, and the small town of Clinton. (Clinton’s about halfway between Columbia and the Greenville/Spartanburg area.)
Barney
Florence’s Sad Song – by Eric Thompson (Emma’s dad) – apposite lyric “shall we ever see the sun again?”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGaoZuBlItk
the antibob
The universe agrees. Florence is a force of nature. See also: “Various Storms and Saints,” “Hurricane Drunk…” every F+M song.
J R in WV
@Goku(akaAmerikanBaka):
Ok, stop right there. You can dis Yoko Ono all you want. Ray Charles was and is untouchable as a musician and performer. Cyndi Lauper, I dunno, not a fan, not an icon of musicianship to me.
But Ray Charles, that’s a different story. Don’t speak of that of which you know nothing!!
FlipYrWhig
@Waynski: Hi Waynski! Marlboro, just off Rt. 79.