orbis quintus

Okay, so he really was only 1.8 meters tall, but that’s still impressive, especially since this seems unusual for 6,000 years ago in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. It seems that this new skeleton was found in the ongoing excavation of the Neolithic site in Gongyuan Village.

I’ve been keeping an eye on the story of the obelisk being returned from Italy to Aksum (aka Axum,) Ethiopia, but that sort of thing is not what i like to post about. However, when the story took a great turn, and a new site was discovered, i’m all into that.

“Underground chambers and arcades have been found in the vicinity of the original location of the obelisk,” declaed Elizabeth Wangari of UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre and Jim Williams, of the Organization’s Culture Sector, who took part in the mission. Geo-radar and electrotomographic prospection – the most advanced technologies for underground observation – revealed the existence of several vast funerary chambers under the site’s parking ground which was built in 1963.”

The images are being processed in Naples, Italy. the site is believed to be preChristian, which puts it at least before 325 AD.

Largehearted Boy finds out.

(I’m still irritated with myself for not going to see him play at the Red Star.)

Before there was the Dukes of Stratosphear, there was the Naz Nomad & the Nightmares.

I had read of this record, but forgot it existed until Damien had me download it from him. Apparently he used to own the thing, as he used to scream, “Give Daddy the knife!” at all of his own shows, scaring the hell out of some impressionable kids who thought that he was psychically controlling them.

The Damned pulled out some costumes slightly different from their usual ones, and turned into a garage cover band. A good description is on Head Heritage.

(i know the mp3s are a little warbling, but so it goes…)

Naz Nomad & the Nightmares “She Lied” A cover of Boston’s Rockin’ Ramrods.

Naz Nomad & the Nightmares “I Can’t Stand This Love, Goodbye” This is a cover of the Others, as found on the first volume of the Pebbles compilation. Strangely, the best info i could find on the Others has been from a KISS website:

Prior to joining The Van Goghs, Peter Shepley had been in a band called “The Others”, while at the University of Rhode Island. One of the most popular bands in the area at the time the band was comprised of Peter, Mike Brand, John Costa on bass, Mike Patalano on drums, and Jim DeStout on guitar. Jim’s father would act as the band’s unofficial press agent. The band would record and release three singles: “I Can’t Stand This Love (Goodbye)” b/w “Until I Heard It From You” (RCA Victor 47-8669) which would be released in September 1965; “Lonely Street” b/w “I Remember (The First Time I Saw You)” (RCA Victor 47-8776) released in December 1965; and “My Friend The Wizard” b/w “Morning” (Jubilee 45-5550) released in April 1967. However, bassist John Costa would leave the band in late-1965, following the recording of the band’s first single, and was replaced by Bob Johnson. Johnson would be the only member of the band not studying at the University of Rhode Island, being a student at Brown Univerisity.

I knew this was a defining trait of the character of the Bush administration from Day One, but take note of the statement issued by the White House when questioned as to why only Bush supporters are allowed to attend international conferences:

“We wanted people who would represent the Administration positively, and–call us nutty–it seemed like those who wanted to kick this Administration out of town last November would have some difficulty doing that.”

Take note. It’s not about who accurately represents the American people, but who represents the Bush administration. This is not something that started because of the 2004 election though. That’s bullshit. This started in 2000. Every single action they have taken has been under the assumption of what’s best for the Bush administration is what’s best for America. Fuck the people. This is one of the most spiteful and sefish administrations in American history, winner takes everything.

The Republicans might be waking up to this too, because once the Democrats are thoroughly purged, it will be revealed that it’s not about Republican or conservative ideology, but about how much one wants to kiss Bush’s pasty white ass.

However, now that they are pulling this on corporations and not just regular private citizens…… hmmmm….

Happy birthday to Mesa Selimovic.

On KLSU’s Kitchen Sink on Saturday, i heard a song that i was sure was Jennifer Gentle, but i didn’t recognize. I wrote to one of the hosts, and she answered that her cohost said it was from the first album. It’s been driving me crazy, as i actually have the first album, but never listened to it as thoroughly as i should.

What i didn’t realize is that it wasn’t from the first album after all, but the second one, which i haven’t listened to as much as i should either, but just happened to be missing the one song that Zach played. I’ve already posted songs from the band, and rather like them, but i heard just the right song at just the right time to force me to pay attention to them again, and devote more time to my listening.

Funny Creatures Lane is my current favorite album by these guys, like an autistic Dukes of Stratosphear, becoming savants of channeling one particular branch of British psychedelia in note-perfect freshness.

Jennifer Gentle “Floating Fraulein” Still obsessed with Barrett era Pink Floyd. This was the missing song that snared me back into going back to this band instead of going on another fruitless quest to find yet another magic band that i’ve never heard before. Dreamy, gossamer lullaby.

Jennifer Gentle “My Memories Book” Ah, the crashing clockwork of mushroom gnomes in a tinny cacophony!