Coming Soon

The Psychotic Hour, International Podcast Sensation™, is nearing completion of the first shows for its new season.

Notables such as Arms Akimbo, Thompson's Gazelle and Miss Anne Thrope join special guests Simone Denny, Wayne Mitchell and Lorne Wise, as well as Judth Bauer, Chris Gobeil, Chris Hand, Paula Hughes, Andrew McLelland, Dagmar Morgan, Alan Rhodes, Morgan St. Clair, Paul Ward, Erika White, Mack Wyman

and Mike Wyman

The first new show will be broadcast in January, so stay tuned.

For a Job Well Done

"Couldn't have done better myself"

Nixon vs. Bush

Smith, that's right, George Smith.

Oh alright Mr. Smith, you can go now.

Iraqi security forces captured the most wanted terrorist suspect in the country last year, but released him because they didn't know who he was, the Iraqi deputy minister of interior said Thursday. A U.S. official could not confirm the report, but said he would not dismiss it. "It is plausible," he said. Abu Musab al-Zarqawi -- the al Qaeda in Iraq leader -- has a $25 million bounty on his head, and is accused of being behind many insurgency bombings and kidnappings.

Who is in charge?

Recent Viewing

On Friday, watched "The Fantastic 4". Yawn. Guess you have to be a teenage boy, a fan of the comic book.

Humm, then why did the film makers find 10,000 ways of undressing the Flame...interesting.

Speaking of undressing, I then tried on Sunday to watch "The Passion of the Christ". Some find this uplifting? Whatever, when it got 10 minutes into the beatings, I bailed.

Christianity can be a wacky religion. Wack wack wack.

Shame on Ford

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) - Ford Motor Co. faced sharp criticism from gay and lesbian advocacy groups for agreeing to stop advertising in gay-themed publications in the face of a boycott by the conservative American Family Association, according to a report Tuesday.

"We reserve the right to advertise our brands and products wherever we think it makes business sense,"

Isn't that what you said when you were selling parts to the Nazis?

It's not hard to see the seething hatred in the now removed American Family Association's Ford Boycott Pledge page. Even Ford could see that, couldn't they?

"If one looks for the company which has done the most to affirm and promote the homosexual lifestyle, he would be hard-pressed to find a company which has done more than Ford Motor Company. While this is hardly known to the general population, it is well known by numerous homosexual organizations. In fact, the Human Rights Campaign (a national homosexual organization whose goal is homosexual marriage) gave Ford a 100% corporate rating.

Ford makes not only Ford, but also Lincoln, Mercury, Mazda, Volvo, Jaguar, and Land Rover.

From redefining family to include homosexual marriage, to giving hundreds of thousands of dollars to support homosexual groups and their agenda, to forcing managers to attend diversity training on how to promote the acceptance of homosexuality, to sponsoring a “commitment (marriage) ceremony”, to sponsoring Gay Pride Parades, Ford leads the way.

The goal of every homosexual organization supported by Ford is to get homosexual marriage legalized. The information below provides just a glimpse of how broad Ford’s support for the homosexual movement is."

Fuck you Ford, and your so called family values.

Hockey Night in Canada

Dolores Claman (left) and Liz Tansey

While out tonight at an Irish bar here in Toronto, to meet up with local songtrist Liz Tansey and friends, I had the pleasure to meet the woman who wrote the theme to Hockey Night in Canada

You have to be Canadian to understand the impact Dolores Claman has had on our culture. I don't even watch hockey, but that theme is as familiar to me as anything.

The evening did have its frightening aspects though, such as ELO played on acoustic guitars by the bar band.

The Psychotic Hour

I have been very busy recently, with a new drawing series, and production in full swing on The Psychotic Hour's new season.

You can get all the latest (like you care) here. There are previews, and even rare images of Tph in action.

Scary.

Rome XII

I kid you not. This series' last shot was of Tweedle Dumb and his ex slave Dumbette walking hand in hand *into the sunset*

The writers must really think we care about their fictionalized creations as they intersperse shots of their wacky going ons with the assassination of Caesar, like it's all the same.

Blah Blah Blah

I will miss Caesar (Ciaran Hinds), the rest is just epic silliness.

Rome XI

You know, I've given up expecting great things from this series. It is not being producted by top of the line talent (at least where story and script are concerned), so I guess you either have to live with that or change the channel.

What "The Godfather" did in two hours, this series is still attempting to do in eleven (and counting).

Lots of blood in this one though.

Rome X

"I don't want my chariot stopped by giant turds" says Caesar

And who can blame him?

Unfortunately, Caesar's progress is constantly beginning interrupted by some big ones...the writers.

Why can't Rome make up its mind which story it wants to tell. I find when if follows the historical record (however loosely), it can be interesting, even fun to watch.

When it inserts its own plot lines other than than, such as The Tweedles, it is dumb and unbelievable.

Consider Tweedle Dumb.

"I'm a solider, not a murderer."

Buzzz. Sorry. Thank you for playing.

Call me old fashion, but are viewers really sympathetic to this character? He's a thug, but we are to care that he's been rejected by his old army unit and his slave, all in the same day.

Got what he deserved if you ask me. But no, the writers are setting up some sort of artificial tension between him and Tweedle Dee. Ooooo, the suspense!

They are not giving Ciaran Hinds enough screen time if you ask me. I would pay to see a movie version of the Last Days of Caesar staring Mr Hinds.

I leave a movie version of the Tweedles to those who miss Jim Carrey.

Discorama

She's back, the Disco Bimbo Slut. The Madonna we knew and loved.

I am even now hearing "Confessions on a Dance Floor" for the first time (of course the song "Hung Up" has been around for weeks).

Hooky as hell.

Song 4, wow. Song 5, Wow.

Abba, Pink Floyd, Donna Summers...wtf?

6..7..mellower, with a hint of Kraftwerk.

Humm, after that is just sort of fades out into strangeness.

Tracks 1-5, great, after that so so.

1001 Madonna butts

Gaydom must surely be aflutter today with the release of Madonna's video for "Hung Up".

Madonna subtly and tastefully prepares herself for a night of dancing, while her musical spell causes younger and better dancers to gyrate to the latest trends.

Later, under the cover of darkness, Madonna attempts to blend in with the 20 somethings, only later to appear playing video games.

The video lights up most when she is not in the shot.

Did I mention her ass?

The Lost Emperor

Brian Malin, an amateur treasure hunter in Oxfordshire, England has found a coin depicting an until now unknown Roman emperor.

Domitianus, known from Roman sources only as a rebel, now seems to have declared himself emperor for a few short months in A.D. 271.

Based in a area in southwestern Germany, he probably never saw Britain or even Rome, but the coin (one of 2 known, the other discovered in 1900, long thought to be a fake. It is now known to be genuine) ended up in a horde buried in Britain sometime in the 290's.

What else has been lost?

From a concerned reader

Hello

Feel that I must write to protest the fact that you are attempting to pass yourself off as Alan Rhodes.

Have known Mr. Rhodes for a number of years, going back to the days before we had silver highlights in our hair and you, sir, are no Alan Rhodes.

Anyone familiar with his eccentric and original spelling can see at a glance that the drivel you have posted has none of the characteristic letter selections that Mr. Rhodes has delighted friends and admirers with for over 4 decades now.

Should you continue to pass yourself off as Mr. Rhodes I will have no option but to post some of his recent scripts along with a linguistic and semantic analysis.

Be advised.

Rome IX

"You look like laundry"

With that line making me lol, I must say that Rome this evening wasn't too bad.

Ok, so it did jump, with no explanation, back to Rome, leaving the Cleopatra story line strangely forgotten. But look, puppets. Oh and, Octavian is back and stranger than ever.

And that's just the beginning.

The episode is filled with a wealth of detail concerning everyday life, which I found myself watching, sometimes ignoring the lesser threads of the plot lines.

There are many, to be sure. The writing here is more believable, and seems to portray all levels of Roman society as a kind of Mafia power struggle (which of you spotted the Godfather reference?).

Best moment: Caesar's surprise arrival at Tweedle Dee's house. I can buy this particular instance of "good luck" in the series, for at least it follows from earlier episodes.

But back to Octavian.

"You fucked your sister, you little pervert."

Can't say I like what they are doing to Octavian. The madness they are trying to portray in the Imperial family is one generation too early.

But then, we wouldn't get the lesbian/sister/brother action if we waited until Rome season II...

Good ending though, shocking, unpleasant.

Sulu

Uncovering one of Hollywood's best kept secrets, George Takei has *finally* admitted to begin gay.

See, there was a gay presence on Star Trek...other than Q and Harry Kim.

Good for him, it is about time (come on Tom, get off the couch and do the right thing)

Don't let those nasty hetrosexuals have their way too often.

They breed you know.

The Madness Begins Again

The Psychotic Hour, the World's Favorite Podcast™ is beginning to record its new season beginning tomorrow in Montreal. A week later a second session will take place here in Toronto.

We know a certain fjord in Norway.

NBA Player Dress Code

This is too funny. Who are they kidding?

1. General Policy: Business Casual

Players are required to wear Business Casual attire whenever they are engaged in team or league business.

"Business Casual" attire means

• A long or short-sleeved dress shirt (collared or turtleneck), and/or a sweater.
  
• Dress slacks, khaki pants, or dress jeans.
  
• Appropriate shoes and socks, including dress shoes, dress boots, or other presentable shoes, but not including sneakers, sandals, flip-flops, or work boots.

2. Exceptions to Business Casual

There are the following exceptions to the general policy of Business Casual attire:

a. Players In Attendance At Games But Not In Uniform

Players who are in attendance at games but not in uniform are required to wear the following additional items when seated on the bench or in the stands during the game:

• Sport Coat
  
• Dress shoes or boots, and socks

b. Players Leaving the Arena

Players leaving the arena may wear either Business Casual attire or neat warm-up suits issued by their teams.

c. Special Events or Appearances

Teams can make exceptions to the Business Casual policy for special events or player appearances where other attire is appropriate -- e.g., participation in a basketball clinic.

3. Excluded Items

The following is a list of items that players are not allowed to wear at any time while on team or league business:

• Sleeveless shirts
  
• Shorts
  
• T-shirts, jerseys, or sports apparel (unless appropriate for the event (e.g., a basketball clinic), team-identified, and approved by the team)
  
• Headgear of any kind while a player is sitting on the bench or in the stands at a game, during media interviews, or during a team or league event or appearance (unless appropriate for the event or appearance, team-identified, and approved by the team)
  
• Chains, pendants, or medallions worn over the player's clothes
  
• Sunglasses while indoors
  
• Headphones (other than on the team bus or plane, or in the team locker room)

A True Hero

Rosa Parks

Batman Begins

Hang your head in shame.

Batman Begins.

It sounds like a threat. There will be more of them?

I didn't see this film in the theatre, but on DVD last Friday with 2 friends. We kept exchanging glances as this over-serious collection of junk paraded before us. "Are they serious?" "Did he really just say that?" "Can you make out what's happening in the fight scenes?"

The poster itself should have warned us. So serious, so profound.

Myth is dead. Or is it just in a new form? Batman as the Hero, Batman as the Archetype.

It's just a fucking comic book.

Chomsky named top intellectual

Noam Chomsky, the American linguistics expert and US foreign policy critic, was named the world's top public intellectual, according to a new British magazine poll released.

The Psychotic Hour, The World's Favorite Radio Show™, once threw him out of a studio. Here's how!

Andrew McLelland from Tph: "Did you guys kick Noam Chomsky out of the studio at Concordia? Was I there? Was I sober?"

Chris Gobeil from Tph: "Actually it was just me who kicked him out. You hadn't arrived yet, but as I recall you were mildly outraged when you arrived and I told you I'd kicked Noam Chomsky out of the studio mere minutes before. ["You threw out Noam Chomsky!?" I believe was the exact quote.] I'm sure you didn't really believe me.

The story is this student was interviewing him and wanted to record the interview. The supply room at CRSG was locked so she couldn't get a portable, the radio station studio was in use so she came into our studio and asked if she could use it for an interview. This gnomish little man was trailing around after her looking sheepish. When I said we were busy using the studio and would be recording all evening she said "but this is Noam Chomsky!" I replied "well, we're The Psychotic Hour!"

After that they left, with Noam Chomsky still looking slightly embarrassed about it all.

Brush-offs with greatness, I guess...

What we should have done was had him to a character on the show in return for studio time....but he never returns our calls now.

Is Uncle Sam mad at us again?

Boldy on CNN.com

Canada 'among worst polluters'

That is terrible, but who is the U.S. to say so.

Buried in the story is this:

European countries such as Sweden, Switzerland, Denmark and Germany ranked at the top of the environmental list, while Canada, Belgium and the United States were at the bottom.

The story is filled with graphic detail on just how terrible Canada is.

Just call me X.

#5 with a Bullet

Simone Denny's new single "Cliché" is now #5 on Billboard 'Hot Dance Club Play' this week.

Simone hasn't changed a bit...oh except for the red carpet...and the grapes darling

Never let children play with adult toys

Child as in movie director Martin Campbell.

In a move that has dumb written all over it, the director of the upcoming James Bond film has said Bond will be a non smoker.

"Ian Fleming’s spy was a 70-a-day smoker but as an iconic hero for a PG-12 film in the 21st century, 'it’s not quite the right thing', the film’s director, Martin Campbell, said yesterday."

Guess the mega violence and power sex is ok for kids. Oh wait, this is aimed at an adult audience...isn't it?

Rome VIII

Good. Finally. Caesar in action. Caesar taking charge. Caesar taking a stand.

He arrives in Egypt and makes straight for the court of Ptolemy, hoping to meet his old friend (and now enemy) Pompey Magnus. Unfortunately, the Egyptians are ahead of him.

People by the combined cast of Dune, Name of the Rose and Different Strokes, the court sequences do portray the decadence of the Ptolemaic period, when one isn't giggling at the hairstyles.

Then just when the episode looked hopeful, true to form, our solider heros are sent suspiciously close to another main character...

Faithfully following 21 centuries of Augustan propaganda, Cleopatra is portrayed as a punk haired crack whore on tour. All is well though as she kicks the habit only, between floods, to get knocked up by...

Goodevening Ladies.

Good God, what kind of audience is this stuff being written for? Last week I commented that the Tweedles seemed to be at the center of all the great events.

This week they outdid themselves, and both Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb are very much at the center of things, Dumb seemingly repeatedly so.

The series does come to life here and there when it adheres however roughly to history. When the writers try to give us characters that they think we will relate to, it just gets dumb.

So now after eight episodes, I must say Rome is not hotter than Vulcan's dick.

Oh look, lesbians. And where the hell is Octavian?

The Psychotic Hour

The World's Favorite Radio Show™ is now available in handy Podcast size.

To kick off the new season, The Psychotic Hour will be hold a massive one day marathon recording event in early November.

A Splendid Time is Guaranteed for All

Jugglers, acrobats and clowns. Whores, beggars and thieves. International singing sensations, financial bigwigs, punch and pie.

...and Mike Wyman.

Madonna

I have just heard the newest Madonna single "Hung Up", the radio edit.

It's shameless.

A shameless recreation of her 80's sound that is.

Good song. 7 out of 10. The Chickens are Delighted

Microsoft Corp. and Yahoo Inc.

Oh goody!

"Microsoft Corp. and Yahoo Inc. are preparing to link together their free instant messaging services as they take on entrenched messaging leader AOL and market newcomer Google Inc., a source close to the companies says,"

Because you know, less choice is best for consumers.

"A Microsoft spokeswoman and a Yahoo spokeswoman declined to comment on the alliance."

Bet it will be the only IM service available in China.

Smash This

At a time when Asia has been devastated by a massive earthquake, some bozos here in Toronto are raising money...

"The Plan
After we collect $400 in donations, we will take that money to a local Apple Store. We will purchase the iPod, open it right inside the store, and destroy it right on the spot. The whole thing will be shot on film, and displayed on this site. This is only a social experiment, for the entertainment of the donors, and visitors of this site."

Assholes

Update

When I asked in a email "How about raising money for Asian Earthquake Relief?" I received this response:

"Because I don't care"

Rome VII

On tonight's exciting episode of Rome.

"Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale, a tale of a fateful ship..."

Well, after pissing off Neptune with some crack about cocksucking, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb find themselves shipwrecked on the island of Plotus Deviceia. After what seemed like only 20 minutes they make a raft out of old audience members and end up washed up on shore not ten feet from one of the main characters, and their sworn enemy.

Whatthefuckadkfadla.

After a sandwich they feel much better, but must have been suffering from the sun as Tweedle Dee lets his enemy go.

"That was a bit excessive"

Cut to Caesar, who also has a touch of the sun stroke as he is accepting ex-enemies back as if nothing has happened.

This is almost believable. But when the Tweedles arrive in camp with news that they (Dee) let Pompeii go, Caesar is first angry but when he realizes that they have been guided by a higher power (the writer or writers), and always seem to be there during the most important events.

Caesar's faith in miracles is restored.

There was other nonsense about matronly lesbians, and where the hell was Octavian, but...

Pompeii's final fate did have a certain power, but I half expected the Tweedles to be there disguised as Egyptian soldiers.

Zoom

Simone Denny and Cliche continue their rise up the Billboard charts, with no small thanks to DJ Chester Wong of becauseimatter.com, and his "Dirty Dragon Mix".

Ignore any PR bullshit coming out of NYC. They had nothing to do with it.

simonedenny.com

Death Comes in Threes

Bob Devner, Don Adams and now Stately Wayne Manor.

It is too much to take.

Oh no

Yoko Ono has a reputation for truly awful music, but few now know where that reputation comes from.

Recent resurrections of her work, such as "Walking on Thin Ice", only hint at the horror.

No, to understand you must go to the source. John. Yoko. Heroin.

Beware and be warned.

Cambridge 1969

Someone at Bell then gave approval

In a move of humbleness and deep sensitivity, Boeing and its joint-venture partner Bell Helicopter have run this ad.

In case you can't read the tag line it says "It descends from the heavens. Ironically it unleashes hell" The ad also stated: "Consider it a gift from above."

Boeing and Bell officials agreed that the ad — touting the capabilities of the vertical-lift Osprey aircraft — was ill-conceived and should never have been published.

"We consider the ad offensive, regret its publication and apologize to those who, like us, are dismayed with its contents," said Mary Foerster, a vice president of communication's for Boeing's military side.

Mike Cox, a Bell vice president, said the ad was developed by TM Advertising of Irving, Texas, and then initially released for publication by his company.

"The bottom line is that the [Bell] people who approved this didn't have authority to approve it," Cox said.

Sorry but I don't buy it. Somebody liked it, somebody approved it. It is now an embarrassment because of "an outcry from the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Washington, D.C.-based Islamic civil-liberties group. The building depicted in the ad has an Arabic sign that translates as "Muhammad Mosque," according to the council.

TM officials yesterday declined to comment on their ad.

Rome VI

Tonight's episode of Rome may of contained mainstream television's largest penis...ever.

That is, if it was real of course.

Other than that, most of the hour was spent with our two solider friends, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb. While Dumb is helping the future emperor meet young prostitutes of unknown origin, Dee has finally melted his wife only to be shipped to Greece in the final moments.

While Dumb is almost a likable character (other than the murderer bit), Dee just frowns and looks troubled constantly.

The second half hour...let me see...oh yes, Marcus had a dilemma.

I can only hope the story gets going next week, as all the forces are in Greece, ready to fight.

Come on you two, fight for real

Caesar was hardly seen this week, and heard only in a voice over.

All and all, a bridge episode.

Now, get on your hands and knees...

When Geeks Rule...

..."Voyager" is called the best Star Trek, but I degress.

No, it's worse.

The astronomers who claim to have discovered the 10th planet in the Earth's solar system have made another intriguing announcement: it has a moon.

Ah, great, but...

[Michael Brown of the California Institute of Technology] labeled the object a planet and nicknamed it Xena after the lead character in the former TV series "Xena: Warrior Princess."

but, but, for over 2,000 years we have names planets after the Gods...

But the newly discovered moon, nicknamed Gabrielle after Xena's faithful traveling sidekick in the TV series, likely will not quell the debate over what exactly is a planet and whether Pluto should keep its status.

So not only are these TechnoGeeks trying to name planets after television stars, they are also attempting to unseat a present planet as well.

Dangerous for planets, as Xena and Gabrielle were never very certain about their spin.

At least there is a glimmer of hope.

The International Astronomical Union, a group of scientists responsible for naming planets, is deciding on formal names for Xena and Gabrielle.

Good. Here's hoping they come up with something noble, like Kirk and Spock.

Told ya so

Simone Denny's new single "Cliché" is now #20 on Billboard 'Hot Dance Club Play' this week.

Way to go Simone.

This upward tread will continue.

He made me an offer I couldn't refuse

I recently came across 15 Sinatra songs (that fell magically from the sky, ok?), and I have to admit, most of them are excellent.

For someone of my generation, Sinatra epitomized all that was not cool, an unpleasant left over from the time of Swing.

Now, old Frank may not have been the nicest of people, and the original "Ocean's Eleven" still makes me cringe, but in these recording from what seems to be from the 1940's & 50's, his reputation is completely understandable.

He has a phrasing that weaves in and out of the musical arrangement, and he is not afraid to stand back and let his excellent orchestras come to the fore.

Gad, socks & sandals, here I come.

Fuck you Yahoo

Has a nice ring to it, doesn't it? Let's all say it again. Fuck you Yahoo. Fuck you Yahoo. Fuck you Yahoo.

I enjoyed that.

And I can still say it (for now) without any knock at the door (yet), though this post may go into a database somewhere, for (future) reference.

Just look at those happy smiling faces! They should be happy, they are getting rich.

I'm sick of the West's dance around China.

Just because they have a huge standing army and nuclear weapons, the potential to become a major world market...and the best lips in Europe.

Sheesh.

Seems our old friend Yahoo has been accused of being "a police informant for the Chinese regime", following allegations that information supplied by the company helped jail a journalist.

This follows reports that Microsoft had aided the Chinese government in repression as well.

"Human rights watchdog Privacy International has called for a worldwide consumer boycott of Yahoo.

"A boycott would send a clear message to Yahoo shareholders and other companies which cheerfully sacrifice human rights in return for a cut of the Chinese market," said Privacy International director Simon Davies.

That's very nice, but are they kidding? No one will do a thing, least of all Yahoo and Microsoft.

" Yahoo has recently made its commitment to the Chinese market clear, buying a $1bn stake in China's second largest e-tailer Alibaba."

My shock knows no bounds. Hope that billion doesn't influence Yahoo.

" Microsoft is yet to respond...for comment on the issues it faces in China."

Would you believe...

...we'll miss him..by that much.

RIP Don Adams

Rome V

Yee-awwwn.

Having to refresh everyone at the top of the show with scenes from earlier episodes, Rome doesn't going until six minutes after the hour.

Because of its episodic nature, it again went from event to event with no highs, no lows.

More domestic goings on.

Who's in who's bed? Who's writing all the (anatomically correct) graffiti? Does Octavian really paint the best toe nails?

Last week Atia is worried about his masculinity, and this week she is congratulating him because she thought he was sleeping with Caesar (for political reasons of course).

The portrait they paint of Octavian is strange, a pale little boy who enjoys torture and beating men to death. Why is he helping Pullo torture and kill Lucius's wife's lover?

So for me, I have no characters to root for. Comparing "Rome" again to "I Claudius", very early on in IC, Liva was brought out as a main focus of the first half of the series, and she was fun to watch.

Here, no character is close her. I knew Liva, and Atia you are no Liva.

I stepped from the room near the end of the episode, and suddenly Lucius is in some temple being painted with blood, looking very grim.

What the hell happened?

Anyway. Best line: "I'm a solider, not a peace keeper."

I wish the show was more focused on the political struggle. Ciaran Hinds (Caesar) is a fine actor, and it is fun to watch emotions play across his stretched, arrogant face.

Will I get to Rome VI?...yes...damn damn damn.

Long Ago

Where are they now?

I only have two

Whimper.

Read all about it

And another thing...

Those ringtones.

I am surrounded by them. Screeching hawks, hidious midis of fragmentary classic themes, Avril fucking Lavigne.

Make it stop!

"I have no taste."

"Really?"

"Yes, call me and see!"

Enough of this infliction of your audio errors on me.

Now I'm off to play some Jethro Tull. There be trannies to crush.

Something about this bugs me

Artists erect giant pink bunny on mountain

Italy, home to the Roman Empire and the Renaissance, have outdone themselves.

"An enormous pink bunny has been erected on an Italian mountainside where it will stay for the next 20 years.

...the bunny is not just for walking around - they are expecting hikers to climb its 20 foot sides and relax on its belly.

The giant rabbit is expected to remain on the mountain side until 2025".

Hummm, what about a giant wooden badger?

You big Superstar you

A big congratulations to Simone Denny, and her new song "Cliché" entering the Billboard 'Hot Dance Club Play' at #33.

It will go up. Count on it.

Visit simonedenny.com for all the latest.

You should have done that 'Fish Heads' remix Simone...

;)

Lord of the Earth

Hardly.

Look, no Russia, no Africa, no Antarctica.

This won't do. No, it won't do at all.

Rome IV

Episode IV of Rome was aired this evening, and though is is not perfect, I am beginning to enjoy the series.

The ancient Rome recreated here is at once more dingy and more brightly coloured than the standard Hollywood version we are used to. Walls both inside and out are brightly painted, yet the streets are narrow and dark. Rich woman sport vivid fabrics and multicoloured wings (the source of this information is unknown to me. Though a student of that period, I was unaware of the punk streak in the Roman aristocracy. Perhaps it's just HBO fucking with me.

So viewers have also noticed a possible anachronism in the poetry reading, as it seems Virgil was quoted. Fine, expect at this period it hadn't been written yet...).

Earlier in the day and friend and I were joking that there had not been much male nudity so far. This oversight was quickly taken care of in the person of Marcus Antonius and the bath/interview scene.



The major drawback is the lack of any kind of arch in the episodes. There is no climax, no rousing endings. Things just happen, and the episodes vary in length accordingly (this and the rather pointless domestic storyline. North American audiences seem to need so called "real people" to identify with, thought I think I know where they might be going with the married soldier, Lucius Vorenus).

News is there is another season coming, but at this pace, the Ides of March won't be coming it the end of this season.

Fucking Brilliant

French aids ad. Ummm, tanline.

If it saves lives, more dick I say!

Turn it off

The Americans are out of their minds.

They have no idea, either do they care.

I have been more focused on American affairs this year, reading blogs, following events on cable news network, reading editorials. I was trying to understand a world power that would elect a President such as GWB.

They are out of their minds. All of them (or at the very least the ones that elected him a *second* time).

Never since the Romans has a country been so convinced of their own right to do what they want in the world.

One would almost think there is no escape.

But then a wonderful can happen. You can, if not get them to shut up, at least turn their incessant whining way down.

Just don't listen. Turn off Fox, stop reading frenzied blogs, ignore pseudo-christians promoting hatred.

Hear that....silence....the silence of a truly civilized country.

Canada

Hehe

The civilized human comes in many forms, and we didn't have to invade anyone.

Kiss Me, You Fool!

Executed Chinese prisoners skinned for collagen treatment

Yes, "Skin from prisoners executed in China is being used to develop cosmetic collagen treatments aimed at the European market, according to The Guardian.

The newspaper says that agents from a China-based company claim the skin, which is taken from prisoners after they have been shot, is being used to develop the collagen for anti-aging treatments such as wrinkle and lip-filling injections."

But, everything is ok because "Company reps reportedly described the practice to undercover reporters as "traditional" and nothing to "make such a big fuss about".

"A lot of the research is still carried out in the traditional manner using skin from the executed prisoner and aborted foetus."

At least they are thoughtful about it all as "The Chinese authorities maintain that any organs harvested from the bodies of executed prisoners are only taken with the consent of the prisoner and his or her family."

Too bad their lives weren't taken with the same consideration.

Media Whore

and how.

Here it is gentle reader, the semi official publicity photo for my website rhodesinternational.com

The Fall of Rome

HBO's Rome continues, and it has become the usual mix of high politics and low domestic goings on.

In this week's exciting episode, Julius Caesar marches on Rome, and our stern solider friend learns his wife has had a baby by another man, and that all woman have a clitoris (here appearing under the technical Latin term "button").

Thank you, domina.

L.S.D.

I've been visiting more and more audioblogs recently, finding rare and wonderful music.

Now, I don't have that large a collection of rare music, but I can offer this little gem, the opening of a 1966 recording called "LSD - A Documentary Report on the Current Psychedelic Drug Controversy".

Legend has it it is none other than Dick Clark narrating, though I can find no proof of this.



Enjoy

gadji beri bimba

glandridi laula lonni cadori

I've been editing together some of The Psychotic Hour's sound experiments for permanent display in the iTunes podcast listings.

gadjama gramma berida bimbala glandri galassassa laulitalomini

It's all be done before.

gadji beri bin blassa glassala laula lonni cadorsu sassala bim

Stoned Again

A Bigger Bang.

Who would have thought. The Rolling Stones have released a good album. Thank goodness some things sometimes never change.

Since the Stones lost the plot with "Goat's Head Soup", their albums have been hit and miss affairs. For every "Some Girls" there was a "Dirty Work" [which btw is the last time their photo graced the cover of a release].

Also, the waits between releases have increased. It's been eight years since the last, and that's longer that some careers.

To knowing ears, one hears echos and shadows of their long career in every song, but all sound remarkably fresh, if not innovative.

There is something reassuring in still having Stones albums released, an event I have followed since "Sticky Fingers", zipper and all.

A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall

MSNBC reporter Keith Olbermann has said "[the U.S. government] has just proved it can not protect its citizens from a biological weapon called...standing water".

The Bush & Co. must follow the same path as they did after 911.

1) Identify the Enemy

Clearly this was not the work a human agency. This was an act of God. One does not question the work of God, nor respond quickly to help the victims of God's wrath.

so

2) Seem to take action

Because it was an intelligently designed act of God, it was right and proper that it has happened. Not problem there.

No, the problem arises out of soft hearted Liberal types, making such a fuss on the airwaves, making it appear the government's lack of action was a bad thing and not what it truly was, a profound expression of faith.

Watch in the next few days as Bush Co. does everything it can to make it seem as if all are to blame but themselves.

They've done it before.

Update

Damn that was fast.

Bush to lead inquiry into Katrina

George Bush, you are a criminal

The is a piece from Fox News making the rounds, and ironically is it the most devastating piece against Bush and his government I have even seen.

May he be tossed from office.

Fucking Do Something

Who's your Daddy now?

From the WTF Department.

Buffing Up The Image Of George Washington
Mt. Vernon Creates A Toothsome Teen

America's obsession with youth continues with this story, where "for the first time, it's possible to see what the teenage Washington probably looked like, and though at this stage he is nude and hairless".

Perfect.

"...it turns out George Washington may have been kind of hot"

Oh, but..."though the figure is being created nude, there are certain parts that are not being, shall we say, reimagined"

Damn Americans, always ruining everyone else's fun.

But why stop there? What about Teenage Iron Lady Margaret (was she hot?) or Baby JFK (oh he'll be fine in the backseat)..

are you psychotic?

I think I will go with these two for The Psychotic Hour talent posters.

Civis romanus sum

HBO's Rome premiered last night, and I give it a cautious thumbs up so far.

I am a fan of the old "I Claudius" series, and this latest offering makes it look tame indeed (but none the less brilliant).

'Rome" sure looks right for the most part, except that Octavius (Augustus) looks too much like Doogie Houser at the moment, and I'm not sure he travelled to Gaul at a young age, it may have been Spain..but who has time to consult their Seutonious.

I'm not sure how far along in history this first 12 episodes take us, but if it goes to season 2 we might have Caligula and Nero to look forward to.

A fire is such a pretty thing.