being poor was not such a drag in hindsight

The last title was from Luna's "Into the Fold"

More white people covering Hip Hop. This time the wonderful Ben Fold doing Dr Dre. Thanks Helper Monkey. Love it.

and more from Helper Monkey.

Why happy couples are so annoying
By Bob Strauss

Few things in the world spread as much misery as a happy, smiling, well-adjusted pair of newly minted lovebirds. Wherever you go — shopping malls, restaurants, target ranges — you're likely to run into this evil breed, grinning, giggling and holding hands like a pair of lovestruck teenagers. What is it about a happy couple that provokes such rage and despair in its unintentional victims? We could spend all day on this, but for convenience's sake here's a short list of the top five irksome offenses:
1. Cute nicknames
"What are you thinking about, Itsy-Poo?" "Just how much I love you, Frumkins." Listening to a happy couple is like being trapped on the set of H.R. Pufnstuf. Even worse than these insipid monikers is the incessant baby talk — "Ooh, are we a wittle upset today, lamby-kins?" — which, if nothing else, confirms the widespread impression that newfound love causes your I.Q. to drop by at least 50 points.
2. Public displays of affection
It'll be summer soon, so brace yourself for all those smug, magazine-gorgeous happy couples who won't be satisfied until they've recreated that famous beach scene in From Here to Eternity, with as big an audience as possible. If it's any consolation (and it's not much, I admit), the only reason these folks indulge in such blatant PDA is because, deep down, they're insecure about themselves and about each other. As if that matters.
3. Finishing each other's sentences
"You know, this appetizer reminds me of...""...that delicious ceviche we had down on Cape Cod! Oh, Frumkins!" If you're looking for a way to kill an evening, try staking out a happy couple near you and participating in this mind-reading routine (expressing your thoughts out loud is, of course, optional). "Didn't that waitress look just like...""...that friend of yours I hit on after our last date? Oh, Inky-Doodles!"
4. Utter condescension
He's smart and good-looking; she's smarter and even better-looking. So, naturally, they want to set you up with their dumb, unattractive friend, and can't understand why you should be the slightest bit ungrateful. This "we didn't settle, but we expect you to" act is only slightly better than the related "Gosh, how can you stand being single?" routine, as sure an incitement to happy couple homicide as ever was invented.
5. Even more utter self-absorption
A happy couple could cruise by a twenty-vehicle interstate pileup involving a bus full of nuns and a Girl Scout troop, and all the gal will say is something like, "you see the orange-yellow upholstery in that car? That's what I had in mind, only a little less summery." But don't despair: science has proven that "Happy Couplehood" has only a six-month duration (a year, tops), so they'll be immersed in the unpleasantness of everyday existence soon enough, just like the rest of us.

I like thanks again Inky-Doddles--I mean Helper Monkey

and why not more HM. A few MP3s of the "lost" Apple CD. and one last item from the Monkey that is a Helper: Review of Kings of Leon and Jeff Tweedy of Wilco.

I was at The Kings Of Leon show Friday at The Metro. I am now conviced the best time to see a band is on the cusp of a new album...just before they break out big and you have to pay $30+ and see them in 3K+ seat venues. These guys range in age from 18-23 but play like twice that age. They bring a fierce garage southern boogie that has matured since thier first album. I highly suggest seeing them if you get a chance.

While that was going on Tweedy was across town doing a charity gig at The Vic...he also played last night and here is a review of that show from a message board I was on...sounds like quite a good time....

"Pat Sansone and John Stirratt from the Autumn Defense opened (keyboard/guitar and bass, respectively, as well as both being members of Wilco) opened with a beautiful acoustic set. Great harmonies with each one switching between acoustic guitar, acoustic bass, or piano. The brief one hour set was over quickly. The stage was then sparsely rearranged with a microphone and a stool on an Oriental rug before Jeff Tweedy made his appearance.
He played seventeen songs, a large majority of which are considered extremely rare and old (including a great many from his Uncle Tupelo days). He was right on all night, his singing, his playing, wow, such emotion in a single performer I have not seen in quite some time. After those first seventeen, he broke for encore number one, which opened with Gun, an Uncle Tupelo favorite of mine. He would go on to play five more, break and then return for the second encore during which only one song was played.
However, after he left the stage none of the house lights had been turned on. Odd. The audience was electric by this point with everyone trying to figure out what was going on. Suddenly, drums appear, keyboards are shuffled out...fucking WILCO is going to end the show! Holy shit! Glenn Kotche comes out first on a complete stripped down kit and starts playing a groove during which Tweedy comes out while they play a duet, following that Jeff and Glenn are joined by Mike and Pat both on keys and play the obscure the Family Gardener afterwhich John joins the band and Wilco minus guitarist Nels Cline (who the band tried calling on his cell phone during the show to tell him he was missing a gig--pretty funny, actually) will end the night.
The band goes to play eight more songs (ten in total!) with Tweedy occasionally setting his acoustic aside to just sing leaving some of the songs sans guitar completely. It was quite incredible to see a totally stripped down version of Wilco with no electric guitar or feedback. I left the show utterly breathless.
Now, I've seen a lot of live music, but last night was one of those rare magical shows where you get so much more than you bargained. The Vic still reigns as one of the best, if not my favorite, venues in Chicago. The audience was one of the most respectful I've ever seen, remaining dead silent during songs and singing the background vocals to certain songs much to Jeff's surprise (he commented on how happy it made it at one point). I paid a paltry twenty six dollars for my ticket and I left the show feeling like a rich man.
Here's the setlist if anyone is a fan and would like to see it...may be slightly inaccurate (it was stolen from viachicago.org). Get this show on a torrent at ALL COSTS."
Jeff Tweedy Vic Theatre 3/5/05
Someone Else's Song
Remember the Mountain Bed
I Am Trying To Break Your Heart
Airline to Heaven
(Was I) In Your Dreams
Wait Up
Black Eye
Radio King
Chinese Apple
Bob Dylans 49th Beard
Someday Some Morning Sometime
Blasting Fonda
Someday Soon
Nothing'severgonnastandinmyway(again)
Summer Teeth
ELT
I Can't Keep From Talking
Encore 1
Gun
We've Been Had
Candyfloss
Henry & The H-Bombs
Acuff Rose
I'm The Man Who Loves You
Encore 2
Misunderstood
Encore 3 - Wilco without Nels
Not For The Season (Jeff and Glenn only)
The Family Gardener (Jeff, Glenn, Mike and Pat only)
How To Fight Loneliness
John Wesley Harding
Political Science
Hummingbird
Late Greats
Passenger Side
California Stars
I Shall Be Released

Wow. I need a copy. Please. Someone help me out. Thanks again HM.

Peace Off
Bro

this is added on--I am sure you wouldn't mind.

Spiderman's Greatest Bible Stories.

Bored with your mailbox. Some ideas here.

Find out what your future job will be and I will finish with one more from HelperMonkey. FAQs about Guinness.

That is it again and I still want a bootleg of that show. Please someone help.
Peace Off
Bro