kramarama

Tucker & Django

2008-11-11T12:29:00.002-05:00

So it's come to this... I'm now posting pet photos on my blog.

Actually this is a good photo of Django (the Pomeranian) and his buddy Tucker. They hang out, they wrestle, they like each other.

I'm also testing how images post to my blog using an iPhone, but that's not nearly as interesting.

Blogging by iPhone

2008-11-06T00:47:00.003-05:00

I think I finally figured out how to blog to kramarama from my iPhone. If this posts, we'll know for sure.

Maverick™...

2008-10-02T22:23:00.002-04:00

Is it Maverick™ or Maverick® ?

TAD at NoLibs Spring Music Fest

2008-05-12T21:00:00.005-04:00

That's right... yet again, Trained Attack Dogs will be playing a show where we dress neat and play sloppy! And this time, we're sort of out of practice, so expect us to look really snappy.

Ultimately, the day will be saved by our friends Tracy Stanton and Kurt Wunder of the 700 Club, backing our asses up with saxophone and trumpet (actually, we're really excited about them joining in)!

So, come on out Saturday, May 31st, to Liberty Lands Park (N. 3rd & Poplar Streets) for a day of music & fun at the Northern Liberties Spring Music Fest... stick around until 9pm, when we close the place down to the amusement - or horror - of the crowd (with any luck, both!)

Awesome...

2008-04-16T07:53:00.000-04:00

Actor Tim Robbins gave the Keynote presentation at the NAB Show (National Association of Broadcasters), addressing journalists and media executives.

Initially he stated he would not give his planned speech, as it was apparently too controversial and at odds with the NAB Show planners. He then changed his mind and gave the speech, at which point NAB ordered all cameras turned off.

But they forgot the audio recorders...

You can hear the last six minutes of his speech here:

http://adage.com/article?article_id=126431

Essentially, he asks the broadcast media to grow a pair.

Trained Attack Dogs @ The North Star Bar this Saturday

2008-03-24T12:30:00.002-04:00

It's a Benefit show, Saturday March 29th, at the North Star Bar (27th and Poplar Streets, Phila PA) for
Andrea Collins-Smith (http://www.punkrockmommy.org).

The line-up is:

• Deadspot
• Trained Attack Dogs
• Throttle
• Dominance
• The Heels (ex-Pagan Babies)

Tickets are $10, and I'm told there will even be door prizes!

We might even play something from the Nazis Ate Grannys Gladiolas tape... (see last post)

Oh My Freakin' Gosh!

2008-02-22T17:57:00.012-05:00

Maybe you saw our sticker on the side of a SEPTA bus, and went and bought your copy for $3 from Zipperhead, or Chaos Records, or The Record Exchange on South Street...

Or maybe you bought it from us at a show for $2... or maybe you worked at a radio station or a fanzine or club where we sent you a copy and it ended up in your collection... Maybe you "borrowed" a copy from your friend or brother or sister... Maybe we just liked you and gave you one.

Somehow, there were hundreds and hundreds of this little demo cassette floating around in 1987.

Well, we still like you.

You asked for it, and you got it: Here, for the first time in 20 years is Trained Attack Dogs' original demo tape, Nazis Ate Grannys Gladiolas, for your free downloading pleasure. And this time, it's even cheaper than the first time you bought it.

Alpha Plan Z
White Castle
Religious Experience / TV Poison
Psychotic Surfers of La Mirada
Rock n' Roll Baby
Town With No Name

Of course, in true punk-rock fashion, the original master tape is missing... so I tracked down the best cassette I could find, and that's what's presented here. IF I ever find the original mixdown I'll repost better versions - but for now, enjoy!

Note: Todd Yoder was the performing drummer for Trained Attack Dogs at the time of this release, however the actual drummer for this recording is Bob Nichol.

Who is visiting me?

2008-02-19T20:13:00.001-05:00

我的网站收到许多来访的中国人民。我不知道这种情况的原因。如果你是一个中国人，请你解释一下吗？你是否会觉得我的网站有意思吗？我将使用" Google "的翻译，你的回答。谢谢。

我的網站收到許多來訪的中國人民。我不知道這種情況的原因。如果你是一個中國人，請你解釋一下嗎？你是否會覺得我的網站有意思嗎？我將使用" Google "的翻譯，你的回答。謝謝。

내 웹사이트를받습니다 중국 인민으로부터 많은 사람들이 방문합니다. 이유는 잘 모르겠지만 이것합니다. 중국의 경우에는 사람, 설명해 주시겠습니까? 너 내 사이트를 찾는 재미? 나는 사용됩니다 "구글"을 번역에 대답을합니다. 감사합니다.

自分のウェブサイトからの訪問数多くの中国の人々を受け取る。私は、この理由を知っているのだ。中国の人の場合は、説明していただけますか？ご自分のサイトを見つける面白いですか？私が使って" google "との回答を翻訳しています。ありがとうございます。

24 Years Behind Schedule...

2008-02-04T16:39:00.000-05:00

... the police state is finally getting off the ground.

Your birthmark is not your birthmark, it's a government identifier for tracking your activity.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/02/04/fbi.biometrics/index.html

Nobody should find any of this creepy or intrusive, right?

If you're not guilty of anything, you shouldn't be concerned right?

And your data will never ever be confused with somebody else's, right?

Here's your assignment: Watch Brazil - have a little chuckle, then mull it over for a few days.

Just in! Entertainment News

2007-09-25T23:33:00.000-04:00

Britney! Paris! Lindsay! Justin! OJ! All News! All the Time!

Drunken Astronauts...

2007-07-31T19:11:00.000-04:00

... a recent new story covers the emerging scandal of "drunken astronauts" flying into space. Apparently over the years, some NASA astronauts had consumed alcohol within 12 hours of their launch time.

Of note, none of the stories detail what the blood alcohol content of the astronauts were, what NASA considers to be a high or inappropriate BAC for an astronaut in flight, or if the incidents involved any of those piloting the craft.

Firstly, let me say that anybody who is either brave or crazy enough to strap their butt to a 10-story tall, 535,000 gallon liquid hydrogen bomb in the midst of a controlled explosion deserves a drink the night before. Note well, these people are not truck drivers or even airline pilots - they are ASTRONAUTS with highly specialized training. There are 6,600,000,000 people on earth, only 460 have ever gone into space - that is less than a billionth of 1%.

Secondly, while routine, space travel is not safe, let me repeat, not safe - it truly falls into the category of risky behavior. Aside from "tippin' the bottle", an even greater risk is posed by dropping foam panels, birds, space debris, computer failure, mechanical failure, etc. Again, when your heiney is plastered into the back of your seat while going 7 miles a second (that's 25,000 mph to you and me), there's not much anyone can do that hasn't already been programmed by Mission Control until they reach orbit.

So, c'mon News Media... lighten up! Aside from the OMG factor, there are bigger fish to fry than Astronauts who had a drink the night before they flew. Iraq may be getting old, but it still qualifies as much more news worthy.

I sort of feel obliged...

2007-07-17T21:05:00.000-04:00

... to demonstrate I'm still alive. So, here you go.

By the way, I just turned 45 last week - a limpy greying geezer to some my friends, a veritable baby to others. Nancy, her sister Barbara, and our friends George and Zeb went out to Marigold Kitchen (at the corner of 45th & Larchwood) to celebrate - we had a good time and a dee-lish dinner. Marigold is the crew from the adventurous & short-lived Salt Restaurant (which we never got a chance to visit), so the food was very eclectic and tasty.

The other cool thing about Marigold Kitchen is that I used to live a few yards away on Larchwood Avenue. The address numbers that I drew on the front of my old house with Prismacolor pencils in 1987 are still there and as bright as ever. Being in the restaurant was nostalgic since I'd dined there back when it was a meatloaf and mashed potatoes place (yes - people tell the wait staff that all the time, with EXACTLY those words) - and it also had the same layout of my old house... those West Philly Victorians are really grand.

Anyway, a good time was had by all - I received brandy snifters and single malt scotch (Glenfiddich) as presents, so I made out well!

Again, In Case You Ever Wondered...

2007-06-15T16:33:00.000-04:00

Live from the North Pole

http://www.arctic.noaa.gov/gallery_np.html

No, really, NOAA sets up a webcam each year at the North Pole.

They have to do it yearly because the North Pole is in the middle of the Arctic Ocean, and the ice moves over time - so there can never be a permanent marker installed.

I got to thinking about this when a friend from Thailand was talking about the difference between taking a cheaper flight (with a lay-over in Japan), versus a non-stop flight to visit her parents. She said the non-stop flight few over the North Pole! (The pilots even pointed out the blinking red light there).

I fired up Google Earth and sure enough going over the North Pole is the most direct route.

I had always assumed you would fly from NY to Los Angeles, to Japan, to Thailand. Maybe that was the Cold-War route, back when American craft couldn't fly over Russia.

The blinking red light at the pole must be the yearly NOAA installation. Not that any of this is earth-shaking... again, just interesting, in case you ever wondered.

In Case You Ever Wondered...

2007-04-25T17:59:00.000-04:00

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Wild-Animals-705/animal-fights.htm

I was originally curious about a pit bull vs. a wolf, but the idea of a rhino vs. a hippo is apparently quite thought provoking.

Why...

2007-04-15T01:55:00.000-04:00

... are the tail lights on new cars as bright as the headlights on old cars?

Sure, I understand the value of LED's - they last longer - but come on! That raw light blasting into my eyes at a traffic light is burning-out my retinas. Put some sort of refracting or diffusing lens over those things to lessen the blow. There should be a set limit on lumens (the light equivalent of decibels) on both headlights and tail lights. The car companies are manufacturing these things with way too much brightness, and I'm not surprised if it's contributing to accidents.

(Sound of me stepping off soap-box, applause.)

Uh oh...

2007-04-15T01:53:00.000-04:00

I think my Mom found my blog... no more cursing!

Respects & Props for Rick D...

2007-04-10T11:06:00.000-04:00

People familiar with the Philly music scene have no doubt heard of Rick "D" Dobrowolski's passing on April 7th. Rick was the co-owner of the Tritone Bar on South Street in Philadelphia.

Trained Attack Dogs had just played a show at the Tritone the Saturday before, which was a heck of a lot of fun, and afterward we were joking with Rick as we packed up our gear. As the first TAD appearance in years, we started the set with a tribute to friends who were no longer with us, and had no idea we would be counting another within a few days. Rick was in a good mood, looking like a guy enjoying what he did.

Many people have already written more eloquently than me about Rick's bio, his contributions to the Philly music scene, his funny wit. I first really remember Rick from Stalin's Daughter, when TAD played a show at Temple's Mitten Hall with them in 1986. A staple at Revival, Rick kept branching out into promotion and records, his Upstairs at Nicks and Firenze shows steadily building his cred. I didn't initially understand his obsession with Bob and Barbara's Lounge, except that he thought it was the best bar ever. When he opened up the Tritone right across the street from B&B, I was impressed, especially at the breadth of music he booked into the place over the years.

Nancy & I send our condolences, and TAD sends our condolences to Rick's family, to his Mother, to Susan, Doug & Lilly, to Linda, John & Audrey, and to all his friends.

Rick, I hope Heaven has a decent bar - and if not, I hope that you'll open one!

Rich, White Frat Boys Suck...

2007-03-14T18:18:00.000-04:00

Summary: W's grandfather may have dug up Geronimo's head as a prank. Ah, to be young, foolish and elitist. And above the law.

Do the right thing, George. Give it back.

Déjà Vu... Deux...

2007-02-16T21:03:00.000-05:00

The TriTone show got a mention in the Philly City Paper:

http://www.citypaper.net/articles/2007/02/08/icepack

Guess we gotta do it now!

Everybody wants the damn baby...

2007-02-09T18:39:00.000-05:00

Anna Nicole Smith has passed away - something I feel saddened by (no, really) because the woman has always been an underdog. The media & pundits were downright mean to her on many occasions, but she always kept her head held high, and kept a good attitude. I actually felt very bad for her months ago, when her 20 year old son died in the hospital room right after she gave birth to her daughter, Dannielynn.

Which brings me to my next thought - everybody wants that baby!

Guys are lining up to take paternity tests, which is usually the opposite of what happens when there is a question of fatherhood: her lawyer, her ex-boyfriend, Zsa Zsa Gabor's husband. I'm betting more will surface.

Why?

Because the baby could be worth millions as the heir to Anna's former husband, J. Howard Marshall II, (depending on how it plays out in court). Am I cynical enough to think this is the prime motivator? You bet'cha!

I just hope that along the way, people remember the kid is a human being, not a potential windfall.

OK, it's a Little Like Déjà Vu...

2007-01-23T23:37:00.000-05:00

... a reconstituted Trained Attack Dogs featuring Michael Moseley (drummer from the SheMales!) will be playing a short set at the TriTone (15th & South Streets) on Saturday, March 31st as part of a Benefit for New Orleans put together by Joey Throttle.

A number of bands are slated for the show including a version of Throttle featuring Chuck Treece (I'm told), but they won't be called Throttle or play any Throttle songs.

Thank you, Mrs Hamilton!

2006-11-16T18:15:00.000-05:00

It's not often that I blur the line between personal and work matters on this site, but as both an alum and an employee of UArts, I'd like to express my gratitude to Mrs. Dorrance Hamilton - it was announced today that she is donating $25 Million to The University of the Arts endowment fund.

Dear Mrs. Hamilton, Thank you!

Note to self...

2006-10-19T13:04:00.000-04:00

Politely decline invitiations from Steve Wynn to visit the Art Museum.

Yes, it's true...

2006-10-14T17:20:00.000-04:00

... after 18 years of hemming, hawing, avoiding the topic, and saying "that'll be a cold day in hell", Keith Souder, John Manhardt and I will get together to play a rare short set of Trained Attack Dogs songs at Johnny Brenda's on Sunday, November 12th, as part of the No Libs Variety Show. I say rare, because I haven't even heard it yet, but it should be a lot of fun!

Icky...

2006-10-02T19:43:00.000-04:00

Snickers' recent advertising campaign is based upon the combination of 2 different words to construct a new adjective that describes their "indescribably good" candy bar.

Phrases like "Hungerectomy" or "Nougatocity"... Ok, cute.

But I posit that "Satisfectellent" is really bad.

I get that it's supposed to connote "Satisfaction & Excellent", but it doesn't work - primarily because of the FECT smack dab in the middle of the word.

Say it to yourself: "Sat-is-FEC-tel-lent"... the syllable that is naturally stressed is FECT.

Let's talk about FECT. What does FECT connote?

How about "defect"? Or "infect"? Or "feces"?

These are not things I want in my brown gooey candy bar.
These are not things I want entering my mouth.

Shouldn't this have been "Satisfexellence" instead of "Satisfectellent"?

It's wrong on so many counts. "Satisfaction" is not "Satisfection"... "Excellent" is not "Ectellent". If they were trying to suggest "Intellect" somewhere in there, they sure missed the boat.

I'm sorry, but I love the English language right down to the syllable.
What are these ad people thinking? Whatever it is, it's sure icky.