By the Vince Guaraldi Trio, here’s the real deal:

Sunday: Went to a rainy matinee screening of Slumdog Millionaire. Talk about dichotomies; sweet/bitter, tender/brutal, beautiful/ugly, funny/sad, rich/humble, heartwarming/heartbreaking – a veritable rainbow’s range of emotional color all condensed into 2½ hours of inspired filmmaking. My favorite (this year) since In Bruges. Two more words: see it.

Monday: Went to see Franz Ferdinand. Truth be told it was pouring cats and dogs and I’d have just as soon been home in my p.j.’s and fuzzy slippers (okay, truth be told I don’t really have fuzzy slippers) with a good book and the sound of the rain on the roof. But as it turned out, after enduring the opening band we finally had the pleasure of enjoying Franz Ferdinand. They rocked the roof off, and were well worth the wait. It was their last show before heading home for Christmas so that may have made it especially special.

Tuesday: Basic – pizza, beer, friends and laughs. Thanks.

Tonight: P.J.’s, holiday cards, and TV to see who’s get’s kicked off the cooking island for the crappiest kickshaw.

In keeping with what seems to be my theme of the week, here’s some Darts of Pleasure. Hope you enjoy. That’s all, thanks for checking in and know that this too, whatever it is, shall pass.

oh geez - sorry about the ad.

Read the big sky show story here.

Okay, here’s something for you to listen to, too. A little live Neil fits the bill just beautifully.

How could I not…

On October 8, Blagojevich told a person described only as “Individual A” that he was willing to make $8 million available for Children’s Memorial Hospital, but “I want to get [Hospital Executive 1] for 50.”

Individual A felt that Blagojevich was talking about a $50,000 campaign contribution from the hospital’s chief executive officer and that the $8 million referred to a recent commitment by Blagojevich to secure state funds via “some type of pediatric care reimbursement.”

“Intercepted phone conversations between Rod Blagojevich and others indicate that Rod Blagojevich is contemplating rescinding his commitment of state funds to benefit Children’s Memorial Hospital because Hospital Executive 1 has not made a recent campaign contribution,” the affidavit says.

Shameless, selfish, devious devil.

The song’s a lot prettier than the guy (who’s in serious need of a new ‘do, anyhoo). By Longwave off their newly released CD, Secrets are Sinister. Indeed.

read the short AP version here
read the long criminal complaint here

Did I mention that today, December 9, is also International Anti-Corruption Day? How perfectly apropos.

Got me thinking about The Strokes, and the next time around, and ended up at Someday. Go figure.

Click here to sign a petition to re-open Prop 8 for California.
Click here to visit the Vote No on 8 site.

One of my oft-used mantras is that the only true constant in life is change, and I fully embrace movement and evolution, lest our spectacular planet become spectacularly boring, yes? MBE will live on, just sans Nic. And so onward we go - with all the best to Jason Bentley in his assumption of the helm.

Hard to select one song to bid farewell (he’ll still host a Sunday evening show, anyhoo). This being a “thanks for the memories” inspired post, I thought I’d go with this hopeful little ditty by Travis, from their 2003 CD 12 Memories. Travis was introduced to the U.S. by Harcourt, and provided the last artist interview of his tenure as Music Director. So now, without further ado, “Love Will Come Through”… may it come through for you.

And in keeping with my meager attempt at tradition, something new, too. “Something Anything”, that is, from Travis’ recently released Ode to J Smith.  Hope you enjoy.

And now, Never:

Did I mention that he’s like, 70? For those of you who may not be familiar with his glory, panty-garnering nights of yore, have a look-see at this 1964 video and give me your best argument if you’ve any doubt that this Welshman earned his knighthood if by merely serving as his own one-man, finger snapping, hand-clapping band. Brutal.