Tag: Translator

Here is another installation of the irregular series about obscure (now), mostly British bands that had a real influence on music, and connexions with other, better known bands.  This one has to do with a performer who is associated with more other bands than usual.

Arthur Brown (actual surname Wilton) was born on 19420624 in Yorkshire.  Thus, he will be 68 years old later this month.  Unless I missed the news, he is still with us.  At last glance he is living in Texas and became a counselor after getting out of music for the most part.

I have been keeping up with some interest with the situation in the Gulf.  All attempts to staunch the flow of oil from the damaged riser from the well have failed, and as we speak, another attempt is being tried, cutting off the riser to find unbent metal and essentially pushing a straw with a cork on it into the interior of the riser.

That might work, but I suspect that the pressure from the methane dissolved in the oil will make it difficult.  Perhaps if a pair of flanges could be welded onto the riser and the pipe, and then bolted down to secure them, it might work.

First, The Geek apologizes for missing last week.  He had a throbbing headache brought on by allergies and felt neither like writing nor sitting to answer comments.  I am much recovered tonight.

This topic was suggested by Eldest Son who is a lurker here.  It turns out that he has an acquaintance who will not eat food cooked or warmed in a microwave oven, ostensibly because of that person’s belief that the food somehow has dangerous radiation remaining in it, or that the food has somehow been activated into radioactivity by the microwaves.

The Quicksilver Messenger Service (hence referred to as QMS because I type slowly) was one the psychedelic bands from San Fransisco that formed in the 1960s.  The history of them is sort of obscure, because few documented sources are available, but there is some information available.

Like many bands, particularly American ones, at the time, their lineup changed often.  The origin is sort of obscure, but as best as can be pieced together it was the brainchild of the following musicians.

Folks at Docudharma get a preview, since only one post a day is allowed at Kos.  I like you, and wanted to let you see it sooner.

The Minerals and Mining Service (MMS) has been outed as not only corrupt, but most probably criminal as well.  This is the branch of government that is supposed to regulate mining drilling for energy, but its influence actually goes much further.

This agency has been, until a few days ago, responsible for regulating the extraction of ores, energy, and many other things from United States controlled property.  Unfortunately, it is worse than useless.

Mungo Jerry was a sensation starting in 1970 because of its signature song, In the Summertime.  Now days, that is the only memory that most folks have about them.  This is unfortunate, because they actually were quite excellent.

Their initial LP, self named, is a classic, and I have it both in vinyl and on eight track.  That is right, I still have lots of eight track tapes, including Lord Sutch and Heavy Friends Hands of Jack the Ripper.  I used to have that one on vinyl, but a “friend” stole it from me.

Vegetarianism is a lifestyle that many people adopt for their food choices.  Let me post this disclaimer:  I am not personally a vegetarian, but I have no quarrel with those who are.  The only concern that I have is that some folks are not versed properly in how to get a complete diet as vegetarians, and this essay is directed toward them.

It is quite possible to have an extremely healthy diet as a vegetarian, but it takes some effort and knowledge.  There are a couple of nutritional “holes” in a vegetarian diet that need to be filled by proper choice of plant products, and this is not always evident.

Last week we discussed the Deepwater Horizon blowout and the resultant huge oil spill, and will continue the discussion tonight.  By the way, the title of this piece represents the official NOAA estimate of the release.  Some estimates are as much as five to ten times this amount, but the NOAA estimate one is the official one, so we will use it.

It really makes little difference, because even the official estimate is huge.  Since this happened on 20100420, with the rig sinking and presumably destroying the riser on 20100422, at the official rate for the 18 days now 3.7 million gallons have been released.

Leader of the Teabag Movement.  He has eclipsed damned old Limbaugh and even Hannity as the moon baying leader of the Right.

Interestingly, he is an addict, just like damned old Limbaugh, but he flaunts it.  At least his addiction was to a legal substance, unlike damned old Limbaugh.

But, after his rhetoric, there are several threads that connect him with Peter Townshend’s seminal work (and I think the best of Mr. Townshend’ life, the very second rock opera, Tommy.  (The very first one was also by Townshend, A Quick one While He’s Away)

The explosion of the BP oil platform in the Gulf on 20100420 will certainly be amongst the worst, if not the worst, oil release into the environment in United States history.  Already at over 2.6 million gallons of oil split, there is no plan to contain the gushing until it will exceed the Exxon Valdez incident decades ago.

I have in intention of speculating on the cause of the explosion at this point, because a proper investigation has yet to be completed.  As attractive as is might be to blame Halliburton, there is, in my opinion, a dire dearth of information to blame anyone at this point.  Investigations will uncover the facts.  This incident is too big and too well publicized not to have sunlight.  However, I do intend to voice my thoughts about events prior to the explosion that were not done that should have been, and actions (or lack thereof) after the explosion for good or ill.

People try to make us drill,

Just to try to get a gill.

The things they do look awful bad

I hope it stops before it gets more mad.