I’ve not spoken about music yet, other than a quick blurb about my feelings on corporate radio, but at some point I’ll get to talking about it. And when I do I’ll touch on Michael Knott. Until then, to commemorate the death of one of Hollywood’s oddest residents and one of Knott’s greatest characters, I ‘ve posted the lyrics to ‘John Barrymore Jr.’.

Thanksgiving Memories

This year most of my family left town for the Holiday, so it ended up being just my parents and I. We went up to Pigeon Forge (think Vegas, only no gambling, sex, or booze and a lot tackier) to eat. Out first attempt at what I am sure would have been a delightful meal was foiled by a lack of reservations. Out second choice was a buffet style place.

Now I’d been to a Thanksgiving dinner at a buffet resturant before, and it really wasn’t all that crowded. But this place was packed. You waited in line to get in, and then had to get into a longer line to get food. What was most dissapointing, however, was the lack of TURKEY! I got lucky and managed to get the very last portion of what we have to assume was their last bird. It was maybe one o’clock. We left around two, all three of us dissapointed and far from ‘Thanksgiving Full’.

After lunch we went and saw The Incredibles, the new Pixar flick. It was good, but not nearly up to the level of comedy we’ve come to expect from Pixar Studios. All in all, it was an enjoyable day.

I had to work on Friday, so my knowledge of what occured at the malls and retail stores is mostly second hand. On the way to work Friday morning Hallerin Hilton Hill was talking about the crowds. He’d sent one of his people out for batteries at Best Buy and didn’t see him for over two hours. Another of his crew was sent to Khols (or rather went for a family member who couldn’t make it) and said she was in line (that’s IN LINE) to check out for over an hour.

Although working on the day after Thanksgiving sucks, I’m sort of glad I got to miss the madness. We’ve all heard stories about where this leads. The old ladies fighting over Cabbage Patch dolls, the lady biting the kid for the Furby. Insanity.

Christmas has always been about shopping, at least in it’s modern form. From the time we’re little children we’re asked what we want for Christmas, and those who were lucky would actually get it. (I remember one Christmas very vivadly where I recieved more G.I. Joe merchandise than I’d ever dreamed possible.)

As for Thanksgiving, I’m scared it’s too far gone. We may have to let Wal-Mark have it. But there are other holidays that are being moved in on, and it’s not too late to stop them.

Check back for more information on the threats your favorite minor holiday may be under.

Just a few sites that offer good clean (well, usually clean) fun.? These are the sites that I check every week.

Adult Swim: Some of the best cartoons on television can be found on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim block.? Check out the site, check out the shows.? Let’s get those ratings up people!

Anyone who knows me knows I have a problem with commercial radio. I’ve pretty much managed to purge myself of all corporate radio, save my guilty pleasure of talk radio. It’s not always been easy. When I lived in Florida the only real choice for Americana was WMNF who’d rather talk politics than play music.

Now that I’m back in the good ol’ hills of Tennessee I’m blessed with WDVX for my beloved Americana, Bluegrass, Gospel, and Country, and WUTK for the rest.

My friends in Lexington are mourning the loss of their indy station, as I’m sure many others are across the country. The media giants such as Clear Channel are buying up every station they can, along with any other media outlet they can get their hands on.

Salon.com has some articals on what corporate radio is doing in America if you interested. And if you’re not, that’s okay too. But do yourself a favor and give indy radio in your town a listen, you may be surprised at what you hear.