I really need to reinstall Movable Type. I was unable to post this all day, and it only now managed to get through after I got home from the radio thing. FWIW, if you want to leave a comment, just email to ptomek [AT] kc.rr.com and I'll try to post it. One of these days (soon!) I’ll finally reinstall MT and comments will work again. Anyway…

1) Howard Iceberg will be on KKFI community radio tonight, co-hosting Barry Lee’s Signal To Noise program. Several of us who regularly record with Howard will play a few songs live between 8:00 and 9:00. In addition, Barry will play tracks from Howard’s upcoming CD (recorded in my studio). It’s all about the Apocalypse Meow benefit for Abby Henderson of The Gaslights. Abby is seriously ill and a bunch of bands are playing a benefit for her, Saturday November 8 at Davey’s Uptown and Sunday the 9th at the Record Bar. Details and schedule are at the Apocalypse Meow site. Proceeds from the CD, Howard’s first in five years, will go to Abby’s benefit.

2) I will sit in with Howard and Chad Rex at the benefit on Saturday, playing a little light percussion. We go on at 10:30, though you know schedules can change at the last moment in these kinds of things.

3) Although I’m as sick of Sarah Palin and jokes about Sarah Palin as everyone else, this song continues to make me laugh. Via Palined.com.

4) On a more serious note, This American Life ran a couple of episodes explaining the nature, details, and causes of the current economic crisis. Brilliantly reported by Alex Blumberg and Adam Davidson. The first show aired September 5, 2008: The Giant Pool of Money. From October 3, 2008: Another Frightening Show About the Economy. Blumberg and Davidson continue to collaborate on the subject at a free daily podcast and blog called Planet Money. This is by far the best explanation of how this mess happened I have seen or heard anywhere.

5) This is going back a few months, but it’s not like it’s gotten out of date or anything. A July 28 New Yorker article by David Samuels—Dr. Kush: How medical marijuana is transforming the pot industry. Whatever your position on medical marijuana, alternative lifestyles, a life of crime, or any number of other topics, this article will blow your mind. It is long—I just counted 26 screens on my monitor—but seriously, it will blow your mind.

6) Before I forget, Hidden Pictures is headlining at The Brick this coming Friday. We have played half a dozen shows now and it’s starting to feel like a real band. We have about a dozen originals plus covers of a Howard Iceberg tune and a Kathleen Edwards song, and plan to start recording an album soon. In the meantime, Richard and Michelle’s pre-rhythm section CD is available on e-Music.