WFMU's Beware of the Blog

SFL Mid-Season Review

The Summer Fun List is one of DJ Kelly’s more genius ideas: Sometime in late spring you make a list of all the fun things you want to do during the upcoming summer, so that the whole season doesn’t fly past without your having done anything fun at all. (This is especially useful for former Midwestern Protestants such as myself, who tend to forget that “fun” is not the same thing as “evil.” Or maybe it is, and that’s why it feels so jolly. But I don’t wanna get all philosophical about it now.) A few weeks ago I was feeling pretty unhappy about something and I drew a big X across the Summer Fun List page and wrote “KILL MYSELF” instead, but I’m sort of over that now, so I figured I’d take another look. Plus, it finally got sunny for three days in a row, and it’s starting to feel a little bit like summer at last. Here’s what’s on my SFL this year:

UConn Puppet Museum
Rosendale (more bees?)
Fireworks
Yankees game
Bruno
Musical Saw Festival
Book Arts Lounge and/or Class
Bacon Retrospective (& other art)

So far, this has not been a particularly successful SFL season. I used to try to go to one Yankees game a year, but now that tickets cost more than I make in a month, I won’t be doing that. And because of Global Economic Change, there weren’t any 4th of July fireworks anywhere near where I live: All the usual displays were canceled. So Sluggo and I went up on a hill near our house and looked down the Hudson toward New York City and saw just the tippy-top of the Macy’s fireworks—we wouldn’t see anything for two or three minutes, and then there’d be a little puff of red light, and then nothing for another couple of minutes, and then some silvery sparkles. Even though I tried as hard as I could, I wasn’t able to convince myself that it was actually “fun.” And I have been SO looking forward to this year’s Musical Saw Festival on Saturday, July 18. I went last year, and it was truly fantastic. I heard Satie’s “Gymnopedie” performed by a musical saw and the Trinity handbell choir, and I am not kidding when I say that it was life-changing. Seriously. It was great, and weird, and great-and-weird, and I have been looking forward to going again for a whole year—and I have an unavoidable conflict that day and can’t go. But you should. It’s in Astoria, it costs only $10, and this year they’re going to try to break the Guinness World Record for “largest musical saw ensemble.” This is a musical event I sincerely recommend for any WFMU Listener, so add it to your Summer Fun List and go.

That’s the disappointments so far, but there’s been some surprise fun, too. Sluggo and I got invited to cocktails at the penthouse residence of an ambassador to the U.N., which was clearly some kind of mistake but we went anyway and had a very nice time. We also went to the “Agitprop!” Book Arts Lounge at the Center for Book Arts, where we talked about Russian constructivist advertising art with polymath poet Mr. Jeremy James Thompson and letterpressed some little flyers that say “Money is No Object.” I got to take the “Brown Bag Bindery” class, too, and built my own piercing cradle, sewing frame, and finishing press. Sylvia Alotta, the teacher, used to be an industrial designer for GM, and has come up with the most beautiful, functional, simple designs for binding equipment. She is my new hero, and almost makes me want to move to Chicago just so I could study with her there. (*Almost.*) Now I’m looking forward to the “Embroidered Bindings” Book Arts Lounge on August 14. Maybe I’ll see you there.

My friend Miss Manytitles has arranged for me to attend a free screening of Bruno with her this week, but the movie I’m really looking forward to seeing is ROBOGEISHA. Here's the trailer, so you will want to see it too. OMG, I have to see it! My Grammy Carlton used to say, “The world is so full of a number of things, I’m sure we should all be as happy as kings,” and when there are movies like Robogeisha in the world, I think she was right.

Thanks for reading my blogpost this time, and may God bless.

Highlights from Wildwood, N.J. - 1994

Oneida, live at Primavera Sound Festival, Barcelona Spain (mp3s)

WFMU dropped anchor on the shores of the Mediterranean last month at the invitation of Barcelona's stunning Primavera Sound Festival, where we joined 80,000 of our new best friends in an ecstatic celebration of music, good livin', good eatin', and futball victory.  We're still a bit dazzled and sorting the spoils, but it looks like we had a fabulous radio weekend, broadcasting more than 20 excellent band sets and meeting many new friends from all over the world.  We've just added streaming archives of many of the sets, and a bunch of mp3s for download as well. It fills my breast with great honor to offer this fresh batch of Barcelona mp3s from our hometown faves and longtime bruhs Oneida!

ONEIDA live at Primavera Sound Festival, May 30th 2009 (mp3s)

Spanish Jam / Each One Teach One  ||  All Arounder  ||  Sheets of Easter

This was Oneida in a beautiful and psychotic dream: surrounded by gigantic weird paranoia-inducing ads for sunglasses, with the skyline of Barcelona behind the band and the Mediterranean Sea behind the audience, plus a killer light show.  This was a one-off edition of the band, as core member Fat Bobby couldn't make it.  In his temporary stead was founding member Papa Crazee, who some years back amicably departed Oneida to form the equally excellent Oakley Hall.  A truly glorious evening.  

• Pics from the festival at the WFMU flickr group here.
• Archives and playlists from WFMU's Primavera Sound festival broadcasts here.
• Some of Oneida's past visits to WFMU here, here, and here.

WFMU Streaming 19 Sets from Primavera Sound, Some Downloads

WFMU's three day stand at Barcelona's Primavera festival is now a memory, but we've just put up 19 streaming/archived sets here! So far, we're archiving Spectrum, the Vaselines, Magik Markers, Jesus Lizard, Dead Meadow, Wooden Shjips, Ponytail, the Bats, Throwing Muses, Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti, Saint Etienne, Crystal Stilts, Vivian Girls, Dan Deacon Ensemble, Deerhunter, th' Faith Healers, Jeremy Jay, Oneida, Fucked Up, with more to come. A few of these sets are also available as downloads via the Free Music Archive. Check WFMU for future updates, and if you want to scope out some glamorous pictures from the station's European (working) Vacation, check out our Flickr page.We had an amazing time (and saw more sunrises over consecutive nights than many of us have since who knows when); severe thanks to Jaime Casas, and also to Florence Thiébaud and everyone at Primavera, the bands and production people for being so gracious and accomodating, the labels who helped a hand, and the 5AM ravers who passed out at our tent and didn't break any of our broadcast gear. Was great to meet many of our overseas friends and listeners too!

ISSUE Project Room: NYC Soundwalks 6/7/09

ISSUE Project Room, Brooklyn's progressive non-profit performance space, has put together the most interesting walk-a-thon we've ever heard:

 On the afternoon of Sunday June 7, a group of visionary artists will lead sonic excursions throughout New York as part of a rare live sonic arts experiment — the ISSUE Project Room Soundwalk-a-thon — a fundraiser and collective public inquiry into the connection between urban space and our collective sonic imaginations.

You can sign up to...
* Bang a Gong for Issue with Swans co-founder and WFMU's favorite drummer, Jonathan Kane.
* Walk through the Brooklyn Botanical Garden contemplating the simulated sound of tinnitus with Anthony Coleman.
* Explore the sounds of Gowanus with Marc Ribot.
* Join a game of urban "telephone" -- the Tin Can Telewalk -- led by Marie Evelyn and WFMU DJ Kurt Gottschalk

There are 20 options to choose from, but you don't just have to pick one! You can experience them all in the disruptive We would like to run past all your walkers, opposite their direction, while screaming songs walk led by friends of the station Flaming Fire. And if you won't be able to attend, you can pledge your support to those who can.

...Speaking of ISSUE Project Room, have you heard their recent contributions to the Free Music Archive? Here's a recent highlight from James Blackshaw, live at ISSUE Project Room on March 7, 2009 excerpt (MP3)

Check out IPR on the Free Music Archive for Meg Baird's set from that night, along with IPR-curated audio from Elliott Sharp, Arthur's Landing, Stars Like Fleas, Carlos Giffoni & Okkyung Lee, Alex Waterman, Arthur Doyle, Teeth Mountain, and much more.      (photo via Urban Zen Sound Meditation and Labyrinth Walk  led by Eric A. Dah)

Motor/Mouth: Scott Williams

Motor/Mouth is an ongoing series about WFMU staffers and their vehicles. Say "Hello!" to Scott Williams (Thursdays, Noon - 3 PM Eastern time), WFMU's Volunteer Director. PSA Director and leader of the Hoof & Mouth Sinfonia.

1st car: Dad's old '84 Buick Skyhawk, 2-tone (brown & tan). Uber dadcar. This is the car with which I hit an off-duty cop on his way home from the caterer's to his daughter's first birthday party. Sausage-and-pepper grease all over his Malibu interior. My 17 years of inexperience left not a finger on his sympathies and he threw every book at his disposal at me. Fortunately the judge recognized the cop was on a vengeance kick and came up with a plan to keep me outta the pokey. Years later, I left this car parked, disabled, in a place I shouldn't have. Some authority mercifully removed it and didn't trouble me with the details.

Next: '81 Dodge Colt, gained for a buck at an estate sale. This fucker looked like the "B.O.B." robot from that "Black Hole" movie. I left it running while I ran into a donut shop in Lodi, NJ. Valuable lesson imparted by teenaged menace who took the opportunity I presented him (along with a small CD collection). The car was found in Newark, NJ several days later, completely totalled. The towing company and tow-yard each tried to extort a good chunk of change from me. I didn't fall for that shit.

And then: '78 Buick Skylark. This is the car I drove to my sweet new WFMU volunteering gig in the mid-90s; the one whose insurance policy I let lapse; the one that thus robbed me of my driver's license for awhile, offering far greater rewards than I realized at the time.

Then I bought a car with my girlfriend. 1989 VW Golf, beat to hell, purchased with cash at a White Castle parking lot in Journal Square. Man, I miss that car - what were we thinking, driving it non-stop to Tennessee in a rain-&-sleetstorm?? Well, my girlfriend became my wife, and I've still got her, and baby makes three; and now we've added another VW Golf to the family. This one's green, of 1995 vintage. We've had it for almost 4 years and hope it'll stick around awhile.

Motor/Mouth: Chris T.

Motor/Mouth is an ongoing series about WFMU staffers and their vehicles. This installment is about my current car.

Chris T. (NIghtmare Lounge / Aerial View / Communication Breakdown Archives)

Main form of transportation: 1983 Mercedes 300D

Mileage: Approx. 224,000

Where did you get it? On eBay. It was in a town near Cherry Hill, NJ. It took three buses to get there from Hoboken.

What made you pick it? I first read about the Mercedes 240 Diesel in either the Village Voice or the New York Press (I don't remember which). The article described the 240D as being a bullet-roof city car. I also borrowed a friend's 300D and liked it. I picked my particular car because it was in great shape, had never been in an accident and was $3,000.

How long have you owned it? 6 years.

How much longer will you keep it? It's all about the corrosion. Rust never sleeps.

Favorite thing about it: The sunroof.

Least favorite thing about it: Since the accident, water gets in the passenger footwell. The A/C doesn't work (though I think the new auxiliary fan, yet to be installed, should fix that) and the driver's seat should be rebuilt. The foam is shot..

Rate your satisfaction level from 1 (least) – 10: 8.

What is your dream form of transportation? Friggin' flying car. An auto-gyro. Failing that, I want: diesel engine; 4-wheel drive; convertible top; automatic transmission (I like a car that shifts itself).

Anything else you’d like to mention: About six months after I bought this car I was in accident while on the way to WFMU to do "Aerial View". An 18 year-old girl, with her father in the passenger seat, turned left in front of me by the Target store in Jersey City. She miscalculated how far away I was and I hit her rear bumper with my right fender. I eventually got her insurance company to pay for everything but it was a RPITA (real pain in the ass). More pictures after the jump.

Motor/Mouth: Debbie D.

Motor/Mouth is a bi-weekly series featuring WFMU staff and their rides. This installment puts Debbie D. (Debbie Does WFMU) behind the wheel.

Main form of transportation: 1999 Ford Ranger.

Mileage: 79.236.

Where did you get it? Macon, GA.

What made you pick it? It had been repossessed and was affordable.

How long have you owned it? 9 years.

How much longer will you keep it? Until it has some major repair job needed.

Favorite thing about it: I can hook up my ipod to the radio.

Least favorite thing about it: It has a busted window on the camper top.

Rate your satisfaction level from 1 (least) – 10 (most): 10.

What is your dream form of transportation? Ferry.

Anything else you’d like to mention: A few years ago, Rex and Coco and Spazz and I drove out to the Chiller Convention in Jersey. I got ticketed for having Rex and Dave riding in the back without seatbelts.

Debbie's Favorite Truck Driving Songs (from the bottom up):

Jim & Jesse Diesel On My Trail
Dave Dudley I Got Lost
Ray King Big Wheel
Russ Meyers Up
Doyle O'Dell Diesel Smoke, Dangerous Curves
Del Reeves Girl On The Billboard
Dick Curless Chick Inspector
Hylo Brown Truck Drivin' Man
Red Sovine Woman Behind The Man Behind The Wheel
Kitty Wells My Big Truck Drivin' Man
Merle Haggard White Line Fever
Red Simpson I'm a Truck
Kay Adams Little Pink Mack

Serene Roots of Korean Free Jazz

I've been working on a feature length article about Korean free music that should appear this June in Wire magazine and wanted to share some of the bounty for you WFMU folk.  Top left is a solo performance by Kang Tae Hwan.  Kang Tae Hwan was improvising as early as the '70s, one of Korea's first free players.  The only Occidental Kang Tae Hwan release is 2003's Love Time, out on the VHF label.  Some things can be ordered straight from Korea though; check this page out (click on Korea Collection). Also, Inconstant Sol blog posted a mega limited Kang Tae Hwan record here. On the whole, however, none of the early masters have left many recorded testaments of their greatness.  Alfred Harth (by his own rights an incredible saxophonist, having performed in Otomo Yoshihide's New Jazz Orchestra as well as in Cassiber with Chris Cutler back in the day) has lived in Seoul since 2001 and has collaborated with many Korean masters, has told me that this is the result of the spirit of their improvisation, which is not directed toward preservation, just toward playing in the moment. You can sense some of that sentiment in the Kang Tae Hwan clip on the top left.  The playing just blows me away, it's so meditative and perfect.  I could listen for hours.  There are more Kang Tae Hwan solo clips here.  On the right is another Kang Tae Hwan performance with Lauren Newton (singer), Miyeon (piano), and Je Chun Park (percussion).  Miyeon and Je Chun Park are two other very important Korean free jazz players, with releases as far back as 1987.

On the bottom left is a recent performance in Seoul with Alfred Harth, Joe Foster, Choi Joonyoung, Jin Sangtae and Jeong Youp Shin.  All these performers are part of the Relay circle of improvisers in Seoul.  At bottom right you'll find more fruit of the relay circuit, a duo by Kevin Parks and Jin Sangtae in a Dotolim performance, more of which you can find here.  I won't give the full report on all these incredible performers for the obvious reasons, but look for the Wire article in June if you haven't already spent all your money pledging to WFMU...

Motor / Mouth: Keili

Motor/Mouth is a bi-weekly series featuring WFMU staff and their rides. This week we focus on Keili of Beastin' the Airwaves!

Beastin' The Airwaves! with Keili is All Things All Ages/DIY.

Main form of transportation: SUBWAY (F Train), Converse All Stars, Honda Minivan (nicknamed "The MomVan" by WFMUers)

Favorite thing about it: Subway: People-watching/studying subway etiquette. Converse: The abuse I inflict on them only makes them better: more comfortable, better looking.

Least favorite thing about it: Subway: Fearing the doors closing on me. Fearing other people. The Smells. Converse: They have holes in the sides that let in water and snow. Canvas also absorbs a lot of water and coldness.

Rate your satisfaction level from 1 – 10: 7 for both.

What is your dream form of transportation? Teleportation - as long as I didn't come out mutated on the other side.

Anything else you’d like to mention: I like Unicorns. If I can't teleport, I would like to ride bareback on a Unicorn with a beautiful rainbow mane waving in the breeze.

Motor/Mouth: Billy Jam

Motor/Mouth is a bi-weekly series featuring WFMU staff and their rides.

This week we meet Billy Jam of Put The Needle On The Record, Fridays, 3 - 6 PM.:

Main form of transportation: Mass transit. MTA trains, and to lesser degree MTA buses and PATH train.

Favorite thing about it: Reliability, predictable low-cost (compared to car), and fact it runs 24/7, and that it forces you to not be lazy (unlike having a car at your constant disposal).

Least favorite thing about it: It can't fit a hundred people in it.

Rate your satisfaction level from 1 – 10: 8.

What is your dream form of transportation? That "beam me up" travel transporter thing they have on Star Trek.

Anything else you’d like to mention: Carrying records on public transit (as I do now on WFMU taking MTA & PATH) versus previously always having a car (in Cali at the radio stations I DJ'ed on) ultimately changes the nature of one's radio show since records are too damn heavy to lug around on public transit.

It's Why We Say Gesundheit

I am minding my own business, sitting at Gate 62 in LAX ready to fly back to the east coast. In the morning, I will hit the ground running, as I'm going to be hosting Cheetah Chrome with very special guests The Blackhearts on my program the next day on very little sleep. My mind is jammed with my "to-do" list; my hopes of catching some shuteye on the plane, what records I need to pull and notes I need for my program, what the weather will be like when I get back --and other annoyances. THEN I become absolutely, and completely 100% present to what I see walking past me at Gate 62...

Heavy Wah, Rubber Duck Squeaks and Manic Guitar Slidage from 佐藤行衛

Although he originally hails from Japan, Sato Yukie (you know, 佐藤行衛) has been a crucial figure in a small but tight knit circle of Seoul experimentalists.  For one, he organizes one of the few regular experimental showcases in town, Bulgasari.  He also happens to be Seoul's finest exporter of whacked out noise.  His improvisations usually involve an electric guitar played with chopsticks, a rotating cast of rubber ducks, light up guns and anything else with a cheap speaker to feed through his pickups.  All this crowds a few dozen pedals and electronic devices.  The result comes out something like a zany retelling of Kagel's Acoustica plus updated electronics, psyched out wah and tape speed manipulation.

Sato Yukie - Yeoboseyo

The above track is a 2000 recording from the "Solo 1977-2000" CD on the now defunct Jabrec label.  The phone call which ends the recording was actually unplanned.  Yukie "was practicing acoustic guitar at home, and suddenly somebody called me. So I picked up the phone and said hallo!  In 2000 we had no place to play noise/experimental music in Seoul, so I usually played at home."  His earlier recordings from this CD reveal Yukie's roots in harsh noise and his unusually early fascination with experimental improvisation.  Yukie has continued to perfect his act in the live setting (often at Seoul's experimental venue Yogiga) with more visual elements added.  Below is a portion of a live set recorded in the Netherlands last year.  More clips from the same show and other shows can be found here.

Motor/Mouth: Andrew Cohen

Motor/Mouth is a bi-weekly series all about WFMU staffer's rides, whether motorized or non, private vehicle or public transportation, new and fuel-efficient or old and ready for the junk heap: everyone's got to get to the station one way or another.

We kick things off with Andy Cohen, co-host of Shut Up, Weirdo, Fridays at 6 PM (a time-slot I remember well!):

Main form of transportation: 2007 Toyota Prius, 23K miles, purchased Sep. 2007 at Toyota of Caldwell.

What made you pick it? Good mileage (duh!). Didn't make rattling sounds like previous car ('94 Saturn SL1). Was much less expensive than first-choice car (Lexus ES350), but still had a cool high-tech vibe that made up for the lack of leather seats and burled wood.

Your nickname for it: "The car," as in "Hey, I'm taking the car to the store. You want anything? Really? Nothing? You sure? Well tell me now, because I don't want to have to make two trips like last time … Right, got it. Hey, aren't we low on milk, too? Well, check then. I'll get that, too. Skim, right? OK. Bye." (We just have one car.)

How much longer will you keep it? About 10 years.

Favorite thing about it: Ridiculous amount of leg room in the back seat. It's like a Lincoln Town Car back there, but still has the same overall length (i.e., easy to park) as our old Saturn. Also: Driving in near-silent electric mode, a.k.a. stealth-ninja mode, which frequently startles peds who don't look first before jaywalking. And it's cool to not be pointlessly burning gas when you stuck at a long light or in creepy-crawly traffic.

Least favorite thing about it: I wish it was two inches wider. I wish I could see better out the back window and didn't need the supercool dashboard video screen that works as a display for the rear-mounted back-up video camera.

Rate your satisfaction level from 1 – 10: Oh, hard 8.

What is your dream form of transportation? Magical luxury-appointed limo-bus that shows up when you want it and takes you nonstop to your destination quickly and quietly at minimal expense. I'd go for that.

Jack Mello's Highlights of 2008

(all listen links point to real audio archives)

1) Songs of the Summer:

Matias Aguayo – Minimal (DJ Kosi Maxi version) (Kompakt) | listen

Wiley – “Wearing My Rolex” (Asylum) | watch

 

 

 

2) Play that (UK) Funky Music:

Marcus Nasty & Mac 10, October 1 Rinse | set

Geeneus – Volumes: One (Rinse)

Crazy Cousinz – Bongo Jam (Bongo) | listen

Paleface feat. Kyla – Do You Mind (Crazy Cousinz mix) (Maximum Bass)

DJ NG feat. Katy B. & Versatile – Tell Me (Data) | watch

 

3) Stepper’s Delight/Wonky Wonders:

Various – Soundboy’s Gravestone Gets Desecrated by Vandals, 2cd comp. (Skull Disco) | listen

Dusk & Blackdown, October 2 Rinse | set

Ikonika – Please b/w Simulacrum (Hyperdub) | watch

Darkstar – Need You b/w Squeeze My Lime (Hyperdub) | watch

Joker – Stuck in the System (Earwax) | watch

 

4) Lo-fi Avant-Dance/Weirdhouse:

Theo Parrish – Sound Sculptures, Vol. 1 2cd (Sound Signature) | watch

Syclops – I’ve Got My Eye on You (DFA) | listen

 

 

5) Mood Music:

Swod – Sekunden (City Centre Offices) | watch

Jacaszek – Treny (Miasma) | watch

TAM – s/t (Variz) | info

 

 

6) Getting married, way cool honeymoon in Portugal!

Jack's Playlists

Other WFMU DJ Year End lists for 2008 can be found here.

Gories vs. Oblivians

Dream bill 2009.  2 shows.  Memphis and Detroit.  2 weeks in Europe, but who can afford that?  Watch the Goner Records message board for dates.  My money's on the Oblivians.

Oblivians  - Jim Cole (mp3)

Oblivians - Guitar Shop Asshole

Oblivans -She's A Hole

Oblivians - Bad Man

Gories - Hey Hey We're The Gories

Gories - Early In The Morning

Gories - Nitroglycerine

Gories - Baby Say Unh

Oblivians live at the Atomic Cafe, Athens G.A. 1996

Japanese Group Sounds

Yuji Koseki and The Peanuts - Mothra's Song (mp3)

Cougars - J & A

Spiders - Little Robby

The Carnabeats - Chu Chu Chu

The Mops - I'm A Mops

The Dynamites - Tunnei Tengoku

The Jaguars - Dancing Lonely Night

Outkast - Everything's Alright

Bunny - Hey Chance

Jimmy Takeuchi & The Exciters - Diamond Head

Dunny Lida And Paradise King - Surf City

Terry & The Blue Jeans - Squad Car

Noraebangers, Vol. 1

I myself am usually too embarrassed to do karaoke. The last time I saw karaoke in a bowling alley in Santa Fe, my friend pulled me out by the arm, too pained to even sit in the same room as a 40 year old mustachioed Mexican singing 'She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy' in front of 5 other people. So I really think these Koreans have got it right with their Noraebang idea - a bunch of friends rent a private room together, drink too much soda beer (as Scott would say) and slaughter the classics without slaughtering the audience. These places are on like every other block too, people just love this shit here. Apparently some Noraebangs let you record, since my friend Ben found this tape on the street. It's simply labeled "sound" and WOW, it's a gem. Sounds like it was just a girl and a guy in the room, and the only thing worse than their singing is the quality of this grit covered tape. Actually, I take that back, the songs themselves are worse too. I mean, I would find these songs campy enough by themselves and what's better is this guy is SO feeling it and totally hogs the mic. I like to think that he is trying to impress this girl with his vocal prowess. I also like to think she found someone better real soon. Oh yeah, I almost forgot to mention that at some point a friend showed up to rap. PERFECT. To add to the glory, the tape hisses, slows down, cuts out and generally adds appeal for your average ironically disposed noise geek.

Tape Cuts In | Awwwwwww Yeeeeeeaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh | Ooooooooo....Alright | This Is My Jam | Rap Cameo | No, I Mean THIS IS MY JAM | Another Crappy Song | Rap Cameo | Tape Craps Out | Tape Overdrives | Dude Tries To Rap and Decides To Sing a Ballad Instead | An Emotional Moment | Her Special Moment In The Sun

Taxi Ride through Lima

A few months ago I visited Peru, and decided to hit the record button during a taxi ride through Lima. Windows rolled down, radio on, a little beep-beep here and there, and the miraculous sounds of a 2-horsepower Daewoo Tico's modest suspension courageously battling the chewed up city streets (and even a few curbs).

Taxi Ride in Lima (MP3)

On the right is a photo of roadside ads landscaped onto the embankment of the main highway in Lima. Clever marketing.

Thank You, Drive Thru!

Today, the second of two recent "drive through" incidents occurred for me, so I must vent, or at least confess, and I'll start with going back to memory a bit. Years and years and years ago, I had friends who worked in a Burger King located on a secondary highway in NJ, that had a drive thru. I remember that the driveway of it was sort of convoluted, as you had to travel around the entire building to get to the window because of a funny curb/lane thing that had been put in to "guide" drivers. Seeing people hop the curb happened often, but even more chuckle inducing would be when a driver intent on getting their Whooper with extra pickles would drive right into these poles that stood about 3 feet high, about 9 inches wide, metal shelled, filled with cement, and surrounded the place for, ah safety - ouch!...chuckle chuckle. While we stood in the back eating from a GIANT barrel of pickles, we would watch corner panel after corner panel fold like accordions against those bright yellow poles.