Music To Wrap Up The Weekend: Sallie Ford And The Sound Outside

I Love Pop Music

My New Comfort Anthem

Oh hey, Kelly Hogan has an album out. And if you're in Phoenix, maybe you'd like to use my extra ticket to see her on August 13th at The Crescent Ballroom? They were only a fiver, so I bought an extra to treat a friend. "Golden" has turned into my new hopeful anthem. Kelly Hogan wrote it for Neko Case years ago before Case made it big, and it's just so filled with faith and love at her friend's greatness and potential. I listen to it on repeat and pretend Hogan is singing it to me.

Her whole album is wonderful. If I had to make a comparison, it reminds me of Dusty in Memphis. Hogan's got the same emotional phrasing, the ability to handle complex lyrical narratives, and the whole album has beautiful soul and pop touches.

Babushkas!

My day went to shit before noon, but was redeemed by my discovery that it's Eurovision 2012 week. Unlike the Olympics, this is a crazy international competitive spectacle I can get behind! And Russia is being represented by the Buranovskiye Babushki from Udmurta.



If only the giant oven behind them spit out some pumpernickel as the babas were shuffling along. Apparently the oven is referenced in the lyrics, hence its presence. Because otherwise? Wow, Russian drugs must be really good.

Don't Drop The Soap, O'Brien!

Oh my. Remember my link to the Downton Abbey paper dolls? Someone's been very clever.

Looking For A Protest Song?

After an incredibly depressing and insulting winter of attacks on women's rights, I've been feeling low. Then I picked out a Loretta Lynn compilation from the country CDs this week, and listened to this rallying cry.

I had forgotten how earthy and pointed this song is. First, there's the extended chicken metaphor ("tearin' down your brooder house," "set this chicken your last time,""this chicken's done tore up her nest"). Then there's the threat of quid pro quo adultery. But what really makes you take notice is and go wow is that the song's narrator pitches the birth control pill as something that benefits both her and her husband. Controlled fertility leads to a happier marriage.

The message this song manages to get forth in under 3 minutes that is so often forgotten in today's political climate--men and women like sex, sex between men and women lead to expensive, life-sucking babies that need lots of care, and birth control benefits both men and women.

It's really clear that this winter's war on women isn't about small government, or women's health, or morality. It's about controlling women and keeping them poor and popping out babies. Handmaid's Tale is just around the corner.

And yes, I realize that I live in a fucking corrupt state with a Legislature firmly in ALEC's pocket, that has in the past few weeks 1) severely limited access to medical abortion in the name of "health,"
2) declared women as pregnant 2 weeks before conception* (I am scheming a way to use this to get $4 unlimited Mother's Day mimosas at The Vig**) and 3) cut all state funding to Planned Parenthood. Believe me, the only thing keeping me here are the kidlets at this point.

*Yeah, so I predicted this happening when the CDC released those guidelines a few years back calling for all women of childbearing age to be treated as pre-pregnant. This is just a natural extension of treating all women as if birthing is our mission and only use.

**I can't decide what's the better line--"It's 2 weeks before conception, and this is Arizona--I'm already a mother!" or "I loved my baby so much I gave her up for adoption--to Canadians, so she could always have healthcare!" (breaking down into sobs)

If It's Monday, It Is Time For Cat Links

Procatinator Cat gifs on a loop paired with random songs. I can't explain my fascination for this other than there is so much catchy music in the world that I have not heard. "Mooove bitch get out the way get out the way bitch....(something about child support)..."

Non-Stop Nyan Cat. How can I explain this? I can't because I still don't understand the Nyan Cat meme. But watching an animated nyan cat with an obnoxious tune makes me want to dance around the coffee table. And it will make you dance too. Or do jumping jacks.

French cat videos. Maybe all cats are secretly speaking French.

And from New Orleans, where the bars host cats Or at least one cat who is just all around the French Quarter. Handsome devil.



By adopting two rescue cats and wearing a sweatshirt with a cat on it—albeit ironically—you have activated the powerful birth-control system that is Catrecil. But will I have to tell my boss that Catrecil is my contraceptive of choice here in AZ? What if Catrecil goes against my employer's religious convictions?

Even in the 1870s, people loved cute kitties with witty captions.

The actor is handsome, the kitten adorable, but the margarita recipe is disgusting. I won't buy the tequila, but I do now want to adopt a kitten. Advertising fail?

Molly Boyle wrote a beautiful piece in The Hairpin about how trauma caused a fixation on murder ballads.

The comments are filled with great recommendations of tunes and video, but these two escaped notice.






Confidential to Cookbook: Kristen Hersh's album of murder ballads is referenced--do you happen to have a copy of that?

How About Blackjack?

If cats could gamble in Vegas, I might go.

A Little Something For The Mondays

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

And if things still aren't better, here's a cat and a monkey playing tag.

Music Break

Get ready for New Year's with this sultry early version of "Tainted Love."

Crazy Cat Lady Links

I am an unrepentant crazy cat lady. My biological clock has sort of gone off--but I don't want babies. I want kittens!

Need a gift for your own crazy cat lady? Try Crazy Cat Lady board game or the Crazy Cat Lady Action Figure (No, you don't get half off the Nancy Pearl figure with purchase of both. Sorry.)

I got these from the hilarious blog Animals Behaving Badly

Take a look at this Advent calendar featuring darling shelter kitties. I cannot believe that both Hampton and Naomi have not been scooped up and adopted. I would take either of them in an instant.

And did you see this amazing video of a cat doing yoga with its owner?

Arizona Is Crazy In A Fun Way

Cats in cactus.

Snow is also falling in higher valley elevations. It's been about 55 degrees this week, so I am cold!

May Your Thanksgiving Be Better Than This

I Want To Work There!

Proof My Sister Is Beautiful, Witty and Charming

She was the best at comedy night that night--she killed.

Let Me Share An Earworm

You'll thank me later. Really.

I Don't Think It's THe Party Hit Of The Summer, But It Sure Is Catchy

Boom! And a Bear Comes Out from David Malki ! on Vimeo.

Melissa Clark Redeems Herself, But Is Not Fully Forgiven

So my sister Dusie and I have conflicting food philosophies. She thinks my cooking is too fancy, and doesn't understand why I use new recipes all the time. I think she does excellent comfort food, but it tastes too much like the food we grew up with, ie overcooked and too plain for my tastes.

She is also an intuitive baker, which freaks me out.

I posted this video on Facebook of Melissa Clark making a garlic and herb paste for prime rib and challenged Dusie to consider doing more than just salt and pepper on the roast this year. She took me up on it.

Dear heavens. It was so good. We made some changes--we had to make the paste by hand since my sister doesn't have a food processor and neither of us has a mortar and pestle. 121 degrees is way, way too rare for meat, so we cooked longer and it got to about 140 degrees, which gave us well done edges and lovely rare pieces in the middle for me and my mom (the rest of the family likes their meat more well done). I got to use my electric carving knife to slice it all up.

My sister has had this longing for a family cooking experience, in which we all hang out in the kitchen and help and keep her company, and we finally managed it this year. Friday we had turkey (again, brined!) and I spent an hour hand cutting brussels sprouts and also helped her prepare the beast rub. Then on Saturday we did the roast together and I confessed that I was actually nervous--Clark is still on my list as unreliable, and even if it smelled great. I had my reputation on the line. But it was great, the hit of a wonderful Christmas.

I Caught The Spirit, Finally!