text:
Yacht Crock
Love (of music) means never having to say you're sorry for liking The Doobie Brothers.
Lately I've been seriously irked. Okay, I'm irked most days, but if there's one thing that is guaranteed to get to me, it's people who'll only like something if they can slather it in a thick, sticky coating of
rich creamery butter irony.
You know, those types who'll go to hipster indie nightclubs and dance fervently to Sean Paul or Britney Spears or The Style Council, but would sooner melt into a puddle of shame than actually own anything by them.
The latest target of my ire, then, is this hilarious "new" way to make it okay to listen to deeply uncool music without ramifications with regards to your indie cred: yacht rock.
If you're unfamiliar with the term, let's play catch-up: though it's been in use here and there for some time, Yacht Rock has been popularised by the online TV series of the same name, a satirical look at the late-'70s soft rock scene populated by Kenny Loggins, Steely Dan, The Doobie Brothers and a few notable others. Eventually, the show became such a runaway hit that yacht rock references have made their way into the mainstream including popping up as Triple J station promos and more than a few newspaper articles.
The show itself, like most Internet phenomena, is rich with in-jokey humour and so-bad-it's-good dodgy production values (fake moustaches and outlandish wigs abound), and is sometimes quite funny (Daryl Hall is almost always silent while John Oates speaks his mind freely and aggressively), though as a bastardisation of a musical scene, Big Train's Chaka Khan versus The Bee Gees trumps it effortlessly.
What bothers me is not the 'comedy' series, but the way making a massive joke of the whole scene means many of the subtleties and intricacies of many of these songs are glossed over in the pursuit of "smooth tunes". It's glib (to borrow a term from Tom Cruise) and conveniently allows these songs to continue to be shrugged off as daggy, "classic" or overproduced, and means the passion infused in many of these songs slips by.
You see, I'll freely admit that some of my favourite songs and artists happen to fall under the yacht rock banner, and I resent that this chucklesome trend is legitimising them through irony and focusing on the choices more obviously open to satirisation while forgetting the real highlights.
Picking on What A Fool Believes (which is still an excellent pop song) means you miss out on Minute By Minute, a beautifully bittersweet slow jam that more than explains Michael McDonald's ubiquity during that period in music: because he's really, really good. His impassioned outburst before the final chorus and key-change is sublime, especially since the last thing he's doing by that point is "holding on"; as a portrait of a man shrugging off his repeated brutalisation by love with a casual self-deprecation and tough-guy charm, the song is especially affecting. "You think I'm your fool, you may just be right" - sigh.
By the same token, focusing your attention on Steely Dan's late-'70s/early-'80s output (even if Aja did end up on Classic Albums) means conveniently skipping '72's Can't Buy A Thrill and its stone-cold killers, Do It Again and Reeling In The Years.
Both tracks showcase Donald Fagen and Walter Becker's exceptional attention to studio detail, but Reeling In The Years (which also happens to be my favourite song), with its shimmery guitar solo (reportedly Jimmy Page's favourite of all time) provided by Elliot Randall, breaks my heart every time. It's an indefinable, alchemistic appeal - no doubt helped by Fagen and Becker's finicky studio work - and, of course, unfairly tainted by its 'classic hits'/golden oldies links.
There's an intense mistrust of session musicians within rock snobbism and yacht rock - i.e. the period in music populated largely by "studio bands" and cross-pollinated by various session players - is just another way to express it in a passive aggressive manner; the reality is that people like Steve Lukather and Jeff Porcaro were exceptional musicians no matter what angle you look at it from and they've contributed to more #1 songs than most indie snobs could dream of (not that I'm keeping score here). And the last thing it is is "smooth".
There are many more examples of yacht rock's missing of the point (Christopher Cross' okaaaay Sailing - though obviously it's conveniently titled when it comes to the yacht rock tag - versus the excellent Ride Like The Wind; Toto's Rosanna versus Hold The Line), but in all cases the same is true: the yacht rock in-joke helps to ease any qualms you might have about playing Minute By Minute (the album) at your party so that you can sip your champagne without your guests collapsing in paroxysms of embarrassment.
In the end, it all feels like a different way of saying "guilty pleasure", which is music fandom's greatest cop-out. And "guilty pleasure" is another way of saying "I'm too weak-willed to be able to name and claim a great tune, regardless of its cool-value, simply because it's great."
It doesn't have to be funny, it doesn't have to be embarrassing, it doesn't have to be "smooth", just love it. The secret is in open-mindedness - yes, there is "bad" music out there, but no genre (except for perhaps hard house) holds the patent when it comes to creating badness.
Rock snobs like to trumpet about the lack of quality in the Top 40 and poppers like to trash "classical shit" and rock'n'roll (and who can forget "Disco Sucks"), but there is bad music being made available in every section of the record store. The trick is to open your ears to everything - regardless of genre, prejudice, or what you are told is "good" or "cool" or, worse, "worthy" - and deciding what you like and don't like.
And then, once you've decided what you like, own it. No laughing, no teasing, no yachts. Just great music.
- Clem Bastow
- More from Noise Pollution
- More SMH Blogs
Why on earth would you feel guilty about liking Cream or the Doors, Elliott? Sure, the influence of the Doors is probably slightly overrated, but Cream? Come on, they are bona fide classic. Classic enough for their albums to be re-released on that scourge of the modern era - the overpriced CD jam-packed with extraneous gumph.
- Posted by: Igomi Watabi on February 5, 2007 1:32 PM
First off, let me tell you that I own most of the lp's on vinyl of the artists in Yacht Rock, not in an ironic way, I just like the music. But Yacht Rock is hilarious and I love it, also it will probably convert more people to liking the music, it's just a bit of fun, thats what comedy is! If something is funny its funny, simple. The smooth music tag is genius, I know say it all the time and has actually made me want to discover more artists and their records. Koko r.i.p and long live Yacht Rock!
- Posted by: gary malby on February 4, 2007 9:30 PM
I think you are full of shit, Michael McDonald is a great artist, as well as Loggins and monst of the other "Yacht Rock" artists, but I don't understand why you take it so personally when someone makes fun of them. These people aren't telling you not to like them, nor are they telling you that your insight is wrong and their vision of "Smooth Music" is the proper way to interperet these artists. To me it sounds like you are just trying to justify your own liking of their music, which if you were confident in yourself you wouldn't have to do. Yacht Rock is hilarious, but at the same time I still love to listen to these artists. Oh and just so you know I'm 18 and i get all of the reasons why you like this music, just as testimony that this internet series isn't ruining peoples vision of the music.
Uh, no. - CB
- Posted by: Tyler J on February 2, 2007 4:19 AM
Yacht Rock not total genius?!! You failed to catch the wind in your sails that has taken me on a sail through the forgotten greatness of Really Smooth Music!
I too have bought several albums of the smooth variety - most of these guys were amazing musicians that did slightly more with their talent than most who inhabit todays charts.
The most important thing is - how much funnier are episodes of Yacht Rock (made with no budget) than most things you see on TV which cost megabucks in comparison? The cheapness of costumes etc are obviously part of the charm - but if you have talent you will use resources at your disposal - which J.D. Ryznar does. He has immense talent - probably a genius. If only he had a fraction of the money available to shows which do humour & jokes by comittee and produce show after show of safe comedy...
So, hoist the sail, catch the wind and set off on your voyage towards yacht rock - and you also will feel the raw power of Really Smooth Music.
No - CB
- Posted by: Andrew on January 24, 2007 8:53 AM
Oh dear, I was waiting for a topic like this to come up. For a year now I have been influenced largely by my father's music tastes, I enjoy everything from Derek and the Dominos, to The Doors and even Lou Reed. I enjoy every album I own and there rarely goes by a week that I don't listen to all of them.
My guilt (or embarrassment) however, is the hard rock genre. It was only six months ago that I commented to my brother on how the band Air was too heavy for me, after which he teased me relentlessly for the rest of the week. It was only a few months later that I discovered Cream and The Doors. God only knows what he would say if he found that out. Suffice to say I am feeling a bit guilty about liking them now.
- Posted by: Elliot on January 21, 2007 9:13 PM
It strikes me that there is nothing particularly "ironic" about the Yacht Rock show. Yeah, those guys make the trappings of that genre funny (f'n hilarious, actually), but its called SATIRE -- do you think that "Rock and Roll Dad," Pete Bagge's hilarious skewering of both Murry and Brian Wilson, was based on a hatred of the Beach Boys? Or perhaps an unrestrained, unironic love of same with an appreciation for the silliness inherent therein?
C'mon. All rock is silly, even the really "cool" stuff like the Stooges and the MC5. Its all up for a good skewering now and again. That said: I'm about 99.9% sure that J.D. Ryznar and Hunter Stair and the other Yacht Rock guys are as in love with that music as you are, and as unrepentently, too.
Hell, I credit that series with making me actually download that first Mike McDonald record and Christopher Cross' album and a couple Dan albums I didn't have, and love the hell out of 'em. No guilt entailed. Music is music.
I think if you asked 'em, the Yacht Rock boys would say the same thing.
- Posted by: Jon on January 19, 2007 4:11 AM
I just read this article. Man, I wish I hadn�t. It�s a hell of thing.
Say it�s summer, late in the day, maybe the sun is setting - you're standing around with a group of friends having something to drink (maybe a champagne, maybe even a pina colada) and someone puts on �Sailing� � the spiritual centrepiece of Cross� work � and you start to float off into a good place. Everyone is liking this song because it�s smooth. Nobody is thinking �this is so trendy and ironic�. Then some jerk pipes up with something about �guilty pleasures� and �you can�t listen to this because it reflects a lack of open-mindedness� and �Run Like The Wind is a better song� and �shimmery guitar solo blah blah Jimmy Page�s favourite blah blah� and you think to yourself, man, who is this old rock snob carrying on about our lack of authenticity. She just messed up my whole good place. Hell of a thing.
You tell me, question mark - CB
- Posted by: Luke on January 18, 2007 3:00 PM
I was in my late teens/early 20s when this music was current. All my desparately hip friends were into punk, but I had the soft spot for the Californian studio stuff.
I have to say my opinions haven't changed nearly 30 years later. Gang of Four are still unlistenable and The Clash over-rated (bar London Calling).
I'm not sure about Christopher Cross and Toto (I have to draw the line somewhere), but Steely Dan, Hall and Oates and America ('Ventura Highway' - the best summer song ever IMHO) were all great.
If anybody is curious about this music and wants a good compilation, pick up the double-CD set soundtrack to 'That '70s Show', which has a lot of the songs in Clem's article.
I especially like the white soul of Ambrosia (Holding onto Yesterday) and Player (Baby Come Back).
Slap that disc on, put your white jeans and deck shoes on, pour yourself a spritzer and it's 1978 all over again!
- Posted by: The Colonel on January 18, 2007 12:42 PM
i will never get tired of simpsons reference
- Posted by: jamie benet ramsay on January 17, 2007 9:22 PM
I think you will find that the yacht rock genre is not about finding an excuse to listen to the doobie brothers, christopher cross, kenny loggins, or toto, but rather an enjoyment of a particular type of their songs that could be classified as smooth music.
I love smooth music, not to mention the corresponding 80's yachty get-up. Yacht rock is a philosophy as well as a music genre. It is about smooth, but it is also about picturing yourself on a yacht in the carribean, when in fact you are at your desk at work.
As an aside, i would also like to mention that Christopher Cross's seminal track "sailing" is probably the song that is played on the escelator to heaven.
Keep the fire
- Posted by: Yoni on January 17, 2007 1:30 PM
lizzy, for some reason "when you're gone" by Brian Adams and Sporty Spice really reminds me a lot of "Stumblin' In" by Suzi Quattro and that guy from Smokie. Cool
- Posted by: Igomi Watabi on January 16, 2007 8:40 PM
You just don't get Yacht Rock. It's not all about bagging on all your favorite songs, it's celebrating them.
U R focusing too much on your peception that the main purpose of YR is to make fun of this music when, one of the main focuses is to use this music to tell the untold story of how these songs came to be...it's creative...it's funny!
I think all these people that have read your article, but have not watched any of the episodes of Yacht Rock on Channel101.com or on Youtube are only getting your view on what Yacht Rock is.
They should check it out them selves.
Stay Smooth-
No thanks - CB
- Posted by: cleaver on January 16, 2007 4:06 AM
I love that song by Bryan Adams and Sporty Spice. And I don't care who knows. I also like Boston's "More than a Feelin'", and I'm so damn cool I fart snow!
- Posted by: lizzy on January 15, 2007 7:41 PM
So Clem, if you're not 35+ then what are ya? 40+? ;)
Rofflecopter! I'm 24 - CB
- Posted by: MJC on January 12, 2007 9:14 PM
Anonymous Posted by: at January 12, 2007 2:58 PM
I can listen to something like Countdown To Ecstasy and still love the studio craft, musicianship and songwriting genius of Becker & Fagen as much as I ever did - while at the same time finding the perfection, the polish and the fussy instrumental soloing a little claustrophobic and soulless.
Soulless? You are saying Larry Carlton's solo on Kid Charlemange is soulless? His influences comes from Coltrane, BB King, R&B is full of soul.
Dude, you are ageing so quickly.
- Posted by: LeoA on January 12, 2007 4:59 PM
Well doomsday you just proved you're a rock snob by your slamming of one John Lennon for suggesting Reminiscing was a decent song.
Sorry Speckled Jim, I disagree the Style Council had some great songs - "Speak Like A Child", "Long Hot Summer" and basically everything on the first two albums - Weller is/was brilliant. At their show in Sydney in 1985 I had to laugh at the guys behind me yelling for "Entertainment...." when it was so obvious that he was never going to play The Jam's "That's Entertainment" - nothing against The Jam mind you.
Sorry "anonymous" I have never been able to see the good side to disco and I refuse to like it just because it might be cool to like it as so many others do - Steely Dan on the other hand......have always been good!!
- Posted by: Phil on January 12, 2007 4:16 PM
Great article.
Another thing I love is the renaming/restyling/repackaging.
'West Coast' becomes 'Yacht Rock'
'Glam metal' became 'Hair metal'
in a less ridiculing way 'Jazz/Rock fusion' becomes 'Acid Jazz' - it probably has another name now that I'm not up with - I'm 35+ after all :)
Musical artists are also a great barometer on the whole ironic music thing. REM doing Lou Gramm and Travis doing Britney are two things that come to mind where they've had to actually come out and say 'we're not being ironic!' - we love it.'
I've played in midi duos to cooler than thou original bands and I've always had broad tastes but I also think my iPod has really made it easy to dig alot of different stuff quickly and easily. I think this is happening to alot of people
Irony has it's place but not in my appreciation of music I guess.
- Posted by: Joe on January 12, 2007 4:15 PM
Ahh 70's and 80's pop rock
all those great bands that weren't hard enough to be in the vein of Priest, KISS and Sabbath in the 70's or Maiden, Twisyed Sister and Van Halen in the 80's but really didn't want to be art rockers like Jethro Tull or electronic like the New Romantics
Unfrotuantely most are stuck in the doldrums of the soft rock singles collections that are put out nowadays and get bundled into the "guilty pleasure category".
The albums themselves is what made a lot of these bands, in that they could put out decent whole albums that complemented the singles and drew you in
There were exceptions - take Rupert Holmes for example. His Escape (the Pina Colada song) is often listed as a guilty pleasure however the rest of his album "Partners in Crime" is a weird mix of songs essentially about sexual depravity
However what happens when the guilty pleasure band gets older?
Some implode spectacularly - Toto (the Pocaro gardening accident/overdose)
Some get falsly accused of rape - Paul "cappucino kid" Weller
and some start massive world tours and release new albums - The Eagles/Fleetwood Mac
So much for type-casting music
- Posted by: Ric on January 12, 2007 3:52 PM
I love my music, I don't care what others think. One time I asked a colleague if he's got a copy (yeah I know it's bad, copyright etc) of Guns n Roses album, and he said to me "I didn't know you're into GnR, because the type of people who likes GnR are bikies and the likes". I said "I like all types of music, barring rap".
Yacht rock? Uncool? Genius rock I'd say. The 70's and 80's musicians are the best. They collaborated on the best albums of alltime and influences the current rock, pop (and possibly indie) artists. Pull out the "good albums" in your collection made in the 90s and possibly beyond and look the the musicians and producers, you'll be suprise that one or two are from the 70s and 80s.
What can I say about "What a Fool Believes", one of the best pop songs and hard to play too, let alone for a singer to sing. Damn, it took as a while to do the chorus to the verse transition, not many songs have that kind of progression. Nowadays, you hear a three chord songs, its crap.
- Posted by: LeoA on January 12, 2007 3:42 PM
Posted by: dean at January 12, 2007 1:30 PM
Big Country! Ah yes, Big Country in concert....it was the very first video I ever bought.....loved their music but mostly because I fancied the lead singer bigtime....now what was his name?
- Posted by: chelley on January 12, 2007 3:39 PM
Many years ago I saw a cartoon somewhere, where a bloke was breaking up with his girlfriend because "when I met you I was looking for someone who's record collection complemented mine, not duplicated it"
- Posted by: Igomi Watabi on January 12, 2007 3:34 PM
Fine writing here, keep it up my man. Plus you must believe your intent in stating Style Council in the same sentence as Britney and Sean Paul is to provoke a response.
I want to party with these post-ers, what a joyful bunch of people!
- Posted by: Benjamin in Hong Kong on January 12, 2007 3:06 PM
Clem, for someone allergic to irony, you certainly come across as an ironic figure.
If great music is great music, and we should all just enjoy it, free from embarrassment or self-consciousness, then how come you're so touchy about people poking fun at the Doobie Bros? Surely the smirking rock snobs can't hurt you. If they want to laugh at heritage FM classics, why does that somehow threaten your enjoyment of Toto or Christopher Cross? If the genius of your favourite artists is so transcendent, why are you so defensive about them?
Amyway, the whole "guilty pleasure" thing isn't just about being ironic or trendy. Unlike you, some people find that their musical tastes actually change over time, and that can result in strange ambiguities. Ironies, even.
Take Steely Dan for example: I used to love 'em - as well as the Doobie Bros, Eagles etc - and I thought that the whole 70s west coast studio thing represented the apex of musical excellence.
Then punk grabbed me by the throat and threw me onto a whole new set of tracks which took me far, far away from my earlier heroes.
Now, many years later, I've begun to go back to some of that slick classic rock stuff, and you know what? I find that my attitude to it is deeply ambivalent. I can listen to something like Countdown To Ecstasy and still love the studio craft, musicianship and songwriting genius of Becker & Fagen as much as I ever did - while at the same time finding the perfection, the polish and the fussy instrumental soloing a little claustrophobic and soulless. Hey presto: ironic appreciation.
Same thing with disco: hated it when it was around the first time, thought it was cheesy and campy and melodramatic. Now (having discovered dancing since 1975) I find that some of it is brilliant pop, funky as shit, while STILL finding it cheesy & campy & melodramatic. I love it, and I think it's naff. Ironic, no?
Your problem, Clem, is that in spite of your huffing & puffing about musical credibility, you're actually rather embarrassed by your own musical taste, which is why the whole yacht rock thing gets on your tits. You KNOW there's something slightly retarded about the fact that your idea of a great tune hasn't changed in thirty-five years. Which is fine, if it gets you out there & exploring some new musical terrain. The tragedy is that it seems to be turning you into a grumpy reactionary, for all your talk of open-mindedness.
No, actually, you're wrong. I'm not embarrassed by any of it. And I might take you a little more seriously if you'd add a name, email address or any other identifying mark to your comment. Ps, if you think I'm 35+, you might want to do some more research - CB
- Posted by: Anonymous on January 12, 2007 2:58 PM
I was an indie kid (and still am, just ageing somewhat)and I love both the Style Council and The Jam. I was introduced to the Style Council first, being an 80s child, but am just as big a fan of The Jam.
- Posted by: Georgia on January 12, 2007 2:56 PM
The Style Council is the embodiment of cool. TSC unlike most 80's artists have the stood the test of time.
Take a listen at tracks like
"Have you ever had it blue ?", "Long Hot summer" or "Paris match" before you label TSC as uncool (if you can)
Paul Weller is and always will be the Modfather.
- Posted by: Phillip S on January 12, 2007 2:52 PM
Umm, I think you'll find that indie fans had little disdain for The Style Council.
Have you met an indie kid recently? - CB
I'm afraid that The Jam is not what today's indie kids are listening to.
- Posted by: Torc on January 12, 2007 2:47 PM
I'm glad that you mentioned that the Style Council had the Jam's Lead singer/heart. I love the Jam (so that makes me cool now!) I always used to listen to 'Walls come tumbling down' when I would finish uni exams- Always uplifting.
- Posted by: iain on January 12, 2007 2:33 PM
"I love them. Ask an indie tool, however, and I'm sure they'll give you plenty of answers; you know, it's better to like The Jam - CB"
This is exactly the kind of generalisation that you accuse 'rock snobs' of. Is an 'indie tool' the same thing as a rock snob? Clem, I have a lot of respect for your musical *genre* knowledge (facts, figures, history etc), but I'm curious to know how extensive your actual music (composition, performance, theory and application, etc) knowledge is. Yacht rock is often labelled 'smooth' because, from a performance and listening point of view, it was deemed 'easy (listening)' - there are no risky or dramatic sounds or unpredictable dynamic elements. Sure, compositionally a lot of these artists took risks by incoporating jazz/fusion elements into song formats intended for popular consumption via radio, but sonically? Not really. The ironic view of yacht rock, I think, is more a gentle prod at the way many of these artists packaged themselves aesthetically, and as a relic of its time. No one can deny the influence of an album like Aja; it's also kind of fun to conceive of songwriters who named themselves after a fictional vibrator taking themselves so damn *seriously*!
It's a bit silly to attack those who use irony in their writing/creativity when your own work relies upon it.
Also, Jimmy Page lauding a solo that you also share a love of doesn't make it good (off the top of my head, I can think of dozens that are better, but then a redundant discussion over the unresolvable variable of taste might ensue) - it just sounds some kind of attempt at basking in reflected glory. John Lennon once said that Reminiscing (yes, by our own LRB)was the greatest ballad ever written. Well... even someone who's actually given a lot to the corpus can be wrong.
- Posted by: doomsday on January 12, 2007 2:21 PM
Couldn't agree more.
- Posted by: Stu on January 12, 2007 2:20 PM
WTF is this 'yacht rock' and 'guilty pleasure' bullshit?
If you really want something to be guilty about, why not confess a fondness for Auschwitz memorabilia, Nazi barbed wire, original Khmer Rouge arrest warrants, or listening to interrogation recordings of Chinese dissidents. Tell your friends that you're an annual subscriber to a teencam site. Go the whole hog for shock value. None of this "I love Toto but it's my ironic widdle secret" nonsense.
The culture of cool is like capitalism - it has ways of consuming and co-opting everything. (except maybe Polka - forever the true outsiders music! =))
'Yacht rock' just sounds like a way of marketing old stuff to young, "jaded", "ironic" listeners. Look for the new section at HMV.
What ever happened to thinking for yourself?
As the man once said, "Gospel, rhythm & blues, jazz - all those are just labels! We know that music is music!"
- Posted by: Dana on January 12, 2007 2:12 PM
Posted by: cruella at January 12, 2007 1:01 PM
Ooh - Jamican holiday- 10cc...Classic! Though I thought 'Not in love' was a better track....
Posted by: Phil at January 12, 2007 1:00 PM
Phil, The only Lynard Skynard track people know is Sweet Home Alabama and even then, most of the time they wouldn't have a clue who wrote it (My brother is a true Skynard fan,though all of their stuff I've heard is great.)
- Posted by: chelley on January 12, 2007 2:04 PM
See now, I have to disagree. I have never liked the Style Council (and that extends to a loathing of Lacoste polo shirts). Now that is not for elitest reasons as I don't like The Jam either. During the 80s, I was strictly a New Romantics kind of a girl favouring Duran Duran, the Thompson Twins, Howard Jones et al. I still have, in my collection, a 12" picture disk extended version of the Reflex!!!!
Then, when I went to uni, my tastes changed and I (gasp) got into big hair rock ... hee hee ... you know what I mean, Motley Crue, Poison, and best of all, Bon Jovi! I was branded so uncool by my brothers who were elitest (and still are, because I still love Bon Jovi, the new stuff, well, rocks!). While I listened to 2MMM back in the 80s and 90s, they listened to 2JJJ.
Ah well, to each his own.
Actually, my record (CD) collection is quite varied which I love. My husband is a musician and we are instilling in our kids a love of all sorts of music (although I draw the line at death metal, gangsta rap, hip hop)
- Posted by: CP on January 12, 2007 1:52 PM
Stone cold classics (don't even bother arguing, 'cos you're wrong)
Stay With Me Til Dawn - Judie Tzuke
Everybody's Gotta Learn Sometime - The Korgis
Cry - Godley & Creme
Pilot Of The Airwaves - Charlie Dore
Can We Still Be Friends - Todd Rundgren
I was only a small boy when these songs came out, but I still listen to them today and marvel at the audacity and the brilliant (snow fuelled) production values!
- Posted by: Rikard on January 12, 2007 1:49 PM
No offense Clem, but can we get at least one other person to co-author this blog? It's extremely lacking in variety.
- Posted by: Anonymous on January 12, 2007 1:46 PM
I listen to what I like, and simply steer clear of what I don't.
Musical enjoyment is kind of black and white for me, I love a wide range of genres.
but I can't stand that whole "so bad-it's good" thing. If something is bad, IT'S BAD! Just throwing terms like 'kitch' & 'ironic' isn't enough to cover up the fact that you don't have the balls to admit you enjoy music any sensible human being would think is total shit.
- Posted by: Jayne on January 12, 2007 1:45 PM
I must have been to hundreds of concerts over the years, everything from stadium rock to classical chamber music. I reckon the highlight of the lot was a gig last year at Taronga Zoo, with a covers band (good, too) doing "Jesus is just alright with me" - my all time favourite Doobies number (is that tautology?)
Pretty scary to see a mosh-pit full of 50-somethings shaking their booty, but damn it was FUN.
Style Council "Big Boss Groove" is my pick of their catalogue.
Tears for Fears "Everybody wants to rule the world" gets my vote as the best pop song.
- Posted by: ST on January 12, 2007 1:45 PM
Who cares about cool? All music is for pleasure and I don't judge anyone on their musical tastes. I'm a musical whore and love everything from opera, classical, jazz to soft rock, hard rock, metal ... you name it! So peoples, don't worry what some moron with his head stuck up his ass thinks ... if you enjoy the music be proud to admit it.
- Posted by: muzzy on January 12, 2007 1:36 PM
I defy anyone to refrain from winding their window down, pumping their fist in the air and singing at the top of their lungs whenever REO Speedwagon's "Keep On Loving You" comes on the dial.
But there's nothing redeeming about The Style Council, people. It was Weller's ultimate shark jump.
- Posted by: Speckled Jim on January 12, 2007 1:33 PM
Pop has always been a dirty word to some music fans. I've always been a sucker for a well-structured pop song, and while I'm fond of the Doobies, etc, my preference is for British pop, Electric Light Orchestra in particular. Jeff Lynne is a genius! But I'll also throw in 10cc, City Boy, Pilot, Sad Cafe, Alan Parsons Project, etc.
- Posted by: MegaKay on January 12, 2007 1:32 PM
there is no art - there is just what you like and what you don't like.
throughout my childhood my mother always had radio station 2CH playing, so i have all the easy listening songs imprinted in my brain. some of which i now can't stand but others i quite like. i honestly cannot be f**ked trying to decide whether i like them in an ironic way or if i like them because they are good in their own right. i like them because i like them and bugger off anyone who says that i shouldn't.
- Posted by: boof on January 12, 2007 1:31 PM
Why does music have to come down to whats cool or uncool? Who has a right to judge? This article definitely isn't controversial as most of the people mentioned are amazing song writers.
In music you have to decide on what YOU genuinely like listening to - don't be dictated by image or what the next generation says. If you do you will miss out on all the musical treats out there that you may never discover.
- Posted by: mick on January 12, 2007 1:30 PM
Yup The Style Council are uber Cool!! Paul Weller is a genius..
Got me thinking of other bands of the 80's like Big Country, Pre Fab Sprout, Echo and the Bunnymen, The Stranglers, Simple Minds, Joy Division, Erasure, Yazoo, Alison Moyet, New Order and Depeche Mode.... music has never sounded so good!!!!
- Posted by: dean on January 12, 2007 1:30 PM
I've been brought up listening to a whole heap of music from different genres and I just don't understand how people can be so narrow-minded when it comes to what other people prefer listening to.
Music expresses a lot of emotions that not a lot of people can...
- Posted by: PFV on January 12, 2007 1:28 PM
Style Council are very cool, but then so is Hall and Oats, Toto....etc
Don't be a knob who's a snob..
- Posted by: yep on January 12, 2007 1:28 PM
Yeah I grew up on this stuff. Doobie's, Christopher Cross. I could be considered an Indie snob but I love this stuff genuinely with no sense of irony. You can love Christopher Cross and TV on the Radio at the same time.
Probably my favourite three favourites would be Toto's "Africa", Christopher Cross's "Arthur's theme (Best that you can do)" and "Escape (The Pina Colada Song)" by Rupert Holmes.
"If you get caught between the moon and New York City..."
- Posted by: Alex on January 12, 2007 1:24 PM
The elitist attitude not only adopted by fans but also by some artists has annoyed me for many a year. Many bands used to profess their disdain for mainstream rock/pop and claim they were above that and wouldn't sell their for soul for anything ie until an agent came along, signed them up and they got a hit single etc. Perhaps if some of them had tried earlier they wouldn't have needed to envisage "blowing up the pokies". Somehow bands like U2 have always been allowed to be liked by both the ultra cool independent types and the daggy types who'll be glued to Idol every night it's on. Myself, my musical tastes range as far apart as Slade to Il Divo and perhaps Shannon Noll to Andrea Bocelli or Edith Piaf to Kylie or Nana Mouskouri to Celine Dion. The wider your taste, the easier you are to please - how profound;o)
- Posted by: Steve on January 12, 2007 1:23 PM
"Lately I've been seriously irked. Okay, I'm irked most days, but if there's one thing that is guaranteed to get to me, it's people who'll only like something if they can slather it in a thick, sticky coating of rich creamery butter irony.
You know, those types who'll go to hipster indie nightclubs and dance fervently to Sean Paul or Britney Spears or The Style Council, but would sooner melt into a puddle of shame than actually own anything by them."
I've noticed this at Purple Sneakers in the last twelve months. The problem is though they seem to be overdoing it. I've had nights there we're my friends and I thought we were at Retro rather than an "indie" club.
I like some golden oldies but Deborah Gibson sucked from the get go, time hasn't changed anything.
- Posted by: Anonymous on January 12, 2007 1:22 PM
I have the Style Council box set. It isn't possible for Paul Weller to be uncool.
- Posted by: mmm on January 12, 2007 1:19 PM
Does anyone think Foreigner would fit in the yacht rock spectrum?? this music is haunting me , especially at the local supermarket yesterday it was , "i wanna know what love is" AAGGHH.Special woolies yacht rock
music to buy your supplies for that yachting weekend maybe? whatever..devestating to aural faculties...If you have a jet ski as well as the yacht, as we see those celebs sometimes have when they are on the yacht holidays at St Barts, do thay listen to "Hot Blooded"?..mm and it makes me wonder..ohhohhohhh..et al.
- Posted by: cruella on January 12, 2007 1:18 PM
I am also a true Style Council fan and have never been embarrassed to say so even to all my indie mad and dance friends. I can't believe they have dropped off the cool radar. Long Hot Summer is still one of the best songs and quite appropriate for this time of year.
and Paul Weller has never gone out of flavour. He's like David Bowie - forever cool.
I don't think anyone should judge anyone else's musical tastes.
If you like it and it makes you happy, even it is yacht rock - who should begrudge you...
- Posted by: SusiQ on January 12, 2007 1:16 PM
Great article - particularly the last paragraph. My father was big into music and I have to say that its shaped my taste in music. On Sunday mornings my Dad would play alot of classical music or brass bands playing swing. I was the only kid in music class in High School who could hum along to all the classics the teacher would play (Mozart, Bach etc - didn't know who the composer were at the time but knew the tunes) and it did earn me some interesting looks from the other kids in the class. I don't have much 70's sutff but some of the songs mentioned in the article by Steely Dan in particular are brilliant. My musical teeth were mostly cut on the sounds from the 80's - particularly the new romantics. So while I'm a bit of a popster, my musical taste is wide and varied. While I would find it difficult to sit through a whole opera, I absolutely adore some of the more popular aria's. There are some piano and violin concerto's that are simply amazing and yes, I have a "Bond" CD (their mix of classic with other musical sounds from places like Persia is pretty darn good). Basically, if its good music, I'll listen too it (and in most cases buy it) - everything from Frank and Deano to Glenn Miller to Neil Diamond, Brian Adams and John Mellencamp to the sounds of the new romantics (Spandu and Duran) to Kylie, Madonna, Robbie to some of the chill-out stuff. Its simple really - if you like the music and it brings you enjoyment who cares what anyone else thinks.
- Posted by: AJ on January 12, 2007 1:08 PM
Steely Dan - the greatest boy band ever.
Yeah I know. Laugh. Their music is incredibly haunting (Peg) and fantastic to listen to (Hey Nineteen). Stacks of pleasure for everyone. Wham were also great in their day and still a good listen.
- Posted by: Barb Dwyer on January 12, 2007 1:07 PM
I'll throw something else into the mix. The music you might dance to when out at a club is not the same music you have at home because your 'home music' is for listening, not dancing to. That's why people will got out and have a great time dancing to Britney yet not possess a CD by the girl.
Its just different music for different occasions. But I agree that you need to be prepared to have a go at listening to everything.
Some years ago I heard an interview with John Lydon (aka Johnny Rotten) when he was asked what he thought of people who liked Kylie Minogue. His response was along the lines of: "I don't care what people like as long as they have the opportunity to listen to different types of music. What I object to is when people decide they like Kylie without having listened to anyone else." He also took a swipe at radio stations for not giving people the opportunity to hear a broad range of music.
- Posted by: annie on January 12, 2007 1:06 PM
I'll throw something else into the mix. The music you might dance to when out at a club is not the same music you have at home because your 'home music' is for listening, not dancing to. That's why people will got out and have a great time dancing to Britney yet not possess a CD by the girl.
Its just different music for different occasions. But I agree that you need to be prepared to have a go at listening to everything.
Some years ago I heard an interview with John Lydon (aka Johnny Rotten) when he was asked what he thought of people who liked Kylie Minogue. His response was along the lines of: "I don't care what people like as long as they have the opportunity to listen to different types of music. What I object to is when people decide they like Kylie without having listened to anyone else." He also took a swipe at radio stations for not giving people the opportunity to hear a broad range of music.
- Posted by: annie on January 12, 2007 1:06 PM
yes this is too good!!I envision myself lying back in the "summer breeze, makes you feel fine"..on board a white sailed 22 ft wonder!!! dreaming of mick and keif in their halcyon days..white satin suits, fedoras, hawiian shirts, listening to "hey negrita" from Black and Blue, "Sway" and "moonlight mile " from Goats Head Soup..etc
also that song by i think 10cc jamiacan holiday.."i don't like cricket !!oh no ..i love it.."
yes Friday fantasy..this is too funny!i know real 50 something year olds that live this way!!Nudists from Darwin NT!!so appropriate, you never want to go on one of their yacht parties aye!! Great subject and great posits from other punters!!
- Posted by: cruella on January 12, 2007 1:01 PM
Paul Weller has never ever, ever, ever been uncool. he warms the cockles of my heart in all his fey glory. dang it i got drunk last week and danced around my lounge room to him...again...and that is a happy time.
- Posted by: gb on January 12, 2007 1:01 PM
So much truth in both the article and the comments about the arbiters of what's considered "cool" music. While Triple J have been great in many respects for new artists or artists that commercial radio wouldn't touch with a barge pole in many respects they also assume that if it sells it couldn't possibly be any good, but even then it doesn't apply to all artists that sell.
A case in point is their 2005 list of over 500 albums released that year to vote for your top 10 and somehow not finding a spot for Springsteen's "Devils and Dust". Now I could have voted for something outside the list, but really what's the point.
In mentioning Lynard Skynard Chelley, I wonder if they became "cool" after the Drive-By Truckers released "Southern Rock Opera"? And Amanda I'm also sick of having to defend country music because people refuse to see past the bland stuff from Nashville, which incidentally isn't all bland anyway.
LC you sum it up perfectly...."The TRUE alternative ... is liking what you like and refusing to apologise for it to anyone."
- Posted by: Phil on January 12, 2007 1:00 PM
Umm, I think you'll find that indie fans had little disdain for The Style Council.
Have you met an indie kid recently? - CB
- Posted by: Torc on January 12, 2007 1:00 PM
I love the Style Council, and yes I still listen to their songs from the early 80's. I also love the Cure & have "burdened' their songs onto my young 20something nephews & nieces who think that era of music is cool and best of all, think I'm rather hip and groovey.
- Posted by: 40something80's tragic on January 12, 2007 12:59 PM
Chicago are cool. Listen to the changes in If you Leave me now or Hard to Say and tell me that Pete Cetera is anything other than a pop genius.
Every Genius ever in every field of endeavour is cool.
- Posted by: Jimmy V on January 12, 2007 12:57 PM
I wanna see the show now.
They're freely available on YouTube, austin - CB
- Posted by: austin on January 12, 2007 12:51 PM
I agree I don't see anything wrong with having the following artists in my collection:
greenday, blink 182, powderfinger, peter murray, alex lloyd, pet shop boys, cyndi lauper, howard jones, robbie williams, dean martin, henry mancini, spandau ballet and human league to name but a few examples.
As you can probably guess my guilty secrets all start circa 1983. There is just music, some you like some you don't.
I always thought that there was something wonderful in the movie reservoir dogs when the song stuck in the middle with you came on. The pictures on the screen were just awful, but you look around the cinema and see so many heads bobbing in time to a great song. A brilliant piece of music used very well.
- Posted by: Jarrod on January 12, 2007 12:49 PM
What's wrong with the Style Council? They did some great songs.
I love them. Ask an indie tool, however, and I'm sure they'll give you plenty of answers; you know, it's better to like The Jam - CB
- Posted by: Fats on January 12, 2007 12:47 PM
Steady on, The Style Council were cool and I don't know how they get lumped in with Toto etc. Sure some of Paul Wellers haircuts and jumpers haven't stood the test of time but they were releasing quality single after quality single between 1983-85. It did all end poorly but "Shout to the top" has to be one of the best Brit pop songs of all time.
Music is personal and if you like yacht rock well, good on you, but there is no way that Styx or Foreigner or Chicago will ever be cool.
- Posted by: rf on January 12, 2007 12:36 PM
Love the article. BTW when did Style Council become uncool? I've always had an eclectic musical taste. It's all about personal taste. I don't like Nutbush, but will always dance to it, same for macarena, bus stop etc. However, I nearly died when I found a copy of Nutbush in the partner's CD collection. But redemption was close at hand - My 6 year old daughter announced that we were way cool 'cause we own it and got friends around to listen to it. So there - what goes around comes around.
- Posted by: Soozie on January 12, 2007 12:31 PM
I Love Michael Jackson. Yes I do and I know secretly most people do too. Why do I always have to defend myself as a fan? (Don't answer that)
No for real, MJ has produced some of the most brilliant pop/R&B music in the last 40 years. Always creative, always innovative. At the moment people react as if he is a 'guilty pleasure' - get over it and enyjoy the music.
Don't roll your eyes, or I'll get Bubbles the Chimp and Elizabeth Taylor to beat you down.
- Posted by: Jenkins on January 12, 2007 11:39 AM
I adore one of the least cool bands in history - Hanson. Yes, the forever MMMBop-referenced brothers are still producing and releasing music. They have an active online fanbase and fan club, which I am a member of.
I have to admit that as a musician I've found it difficult to bring it up that I'm a fanson. I'll usually treat the issue rather lightheartedly to prevent any credibility going out the window. Ironically, Hanson are releasing music with real integrity, missing from much of the current music industry, and have even become independent after splitting with Island Def Jam over creative differences.
I love all kinds of music - Hanson is just one band of many artists that I love including the oldies like Crosby Stills & Nash, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Hendrix, Randy Newman, Annie Lennox etc etc etc. Music is all about having fun and relating after all, there's no point being a snob about it.
- Posted by: violin_fanson on January 12, 2007 11:27 AM
There's parallels here in the way I feel about Bollywood moveis (helped by having an Indian wife). Part of the current popularity in Bollywood moveis is the ability to take the piss out of them.
As with "yacht rock" this ignores the subtleties and passions of even the most overblown of the genre and dismisses the masterpieces
- Posted by: Igomi Watabi on January 12, 2007 11:11 AM
Couldn't agree more about Michael McDonald. He has the best male voice probably ever. "I keep forgettin I'm not in love anymore", and "On my own" with Patti Labelle showcase his vocals brilliantly.
Unashamed fan of Yacht Rock here!
- Posted by: dean on January 12, 2007 11:08 AM
Amen Clem.
I used to be part of the punk scene ... and always found it amusing to watch the expressions on peoples faces when I said that I owned not only Take That CD's ... but also the videos of their live shows (of course, this is not considered so awful these days because it means I was on the front line of the Robbie Williams fan base).
I hate elitism.
I agree ... I've said since I was a teenager ...
The TRUE alternative ... is liking what you like and refusing to apologise for it to anyone.
Yes I like Take That (with NO irony. It's pretty much THE best pop music produced in the 1990s).
I'm also fond of country music.
I love going to the opera.
A few years ago I remember copping slack ... at the Marilyn Manson concert because I was too 'normal' (read, skinny) and then a week later at the Christina Aguilera concert because I was too 'strange' (read, fat).
- Posted by: LC on January 12, 2007 10:47 AM
Wow, great article.
Nothing annoys me more than musical snobbery...... These snobs are so fearful of liking something uncool (probably uncool of me to use uncool, but there you go), they spend their whole time slagging everything off. This leaves them with a very small window of 'cool' things to like.
I grew up on my brothers and sisters taste in music and much of it was 'yacht rock......Everything from Steely Dan, Doobie Bros,Lynard Skynard (who are now cool, but certainly derided and spoke of mockingly in the 80's & 90's)...Cosby Stills Nash & Young, Fleetwood Mac, Alice Cooper, The Police and so on
They hold as much value for me as the music of my era (80's), Talking Heads, U2, New Order etc....
- Posted by: Chelley on January 12, 2007 10:40 AM
Heh, interesting label this, yacht rock. There's no shame associated with coveting Steely Dan. SD were responsible for my (novice)interest in Jazz, actually.
I can relate to the dancing-to-something-you-despise cachet. It's called socialising. Wearing your musical heart on your sleeve in a social setting yields negative externalities. As much as I eschew slots and labels, music for me falls into 5 categories:
- Music that you love, treasure and support, and will certainly part with your money by purchasing it or attending gigs/performances.
- Music that you hear in passing but are not annoyed by it, yet not exactly willing to spend money on it.
- Music you despise but, for purely social reasons, choose to get into the moment at a club with your mates that have bad taste, or just being nice to your partner.
- Music you simply cannot stand and would rather slide down a razor blade and land in a pool of alcohol before having anything to do with it.
- Guilty pleasures. (This one is kind of self-explanatory.)
Some people may also add the 'I can't believe I bought that CD' category. I'm not ashamed of anything I own so that's a bit of a moot one for me.
- Posted by: MJC on January 12, 2007 9:29 AM
Yeah "guilty pleasure" is a least favourite term of mine. There are no guilty pleasures in music, just pleasures and stuff you don't like.
But then as a country music fan having the defend an entire genre from ignorant snarking is a regular occurance.
- Posted by: Amanda on January 12, 2007 6:21 AM


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He focuses on the surface texture with the (ra) scale (which is how smooth or rough the head surface is), with this knowledge he can match the head with the correct gasket. Also, the valve job is another essential part of ensuring the head has the proper flow, sealing, spring pressure, seat pressure, combustion chamber size, and the angles on the seats are all to spec. Charlie over sees and checks the quality of everything before it goes out the door to make sure that you are getting the quality you ask of us.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Getty Images
The NFL's compensation committee finalized commissioner Roger Goodell's contract yesterday, and they hope they turned the page on the ugly chapter of Cowboys owner Jerry Jones' opposition to it.
So while they still anticipate hearing proposals from Jones at next week's owners meeting, they're hoping they can move forward now — after Jones made threats including suing the league.
Falcons owner Arthur Blank told Peter King of TheMMQB.com that it was "disappointing" that Jones chose to air all the dirty laundry.
"What many owners said in the past few days was they wanted to get on with the business of the league, and there are a lot of issues very important right now that must be addressed," Blank said. "Now we'll get to focus on the real issues. The important thing is, the owners have confidence in Roger, and they wanted him to continue. There was no doubt about that."
Apparently there was some, even though Jones was part of the unanimous vote to authorize the committee chaired by Blank to do the deal.
Issues such as television ratings, attendance, and players not standing for the anthem are on that list of things Blank wants to work on moving forward.
Blank said he spoke to Jones twice in the last few days, saying Jones "understands the contract and how we got here."
"One thing that's come out of this that's very good, I believe, is the fact that owners are going to have a much more open line of communication with Roger now," Blank said. "At every owners' meeting now, we're going to have an owners-only session, and then an owners session with Roger, with everyone else out of the room. The owners asked for that contact, and it's a reasonable thing to ask. We're going to do it."
When they go into that room, it's practically guaranteed that one of the first and loudest voices will belong to Jones.


text:
You make it look so easy...
So natural..
But it's not...
I've tried over and over..failing miserably every time.
I've been told "Practice makes perfect" and found that it's not always applicable. Nope.. Not always.
Like how French braiding seems effortless yet leaves me in a tassel of hair knots.
Or how playing the piano is merely a flow of fingers across the keys... Yet I can barely pull off a tune.
How simple it is to balance yourself on a skateboard..
Fix a computer glitch.. Heal a broken heart..
How everyone laughs at your punch line.. Is in awe of your impeccable taste.. Your undying devotion to life.
It's not easy what you do..
Though it may seem a second nature to you... You should know that you are special.. So very very special.
I wonder...
if I close my eyes and wish really really hard..
Could I do it too?
Saturday, 2 July 2011
If I wish really.. really hard.. Will it come true?
You make it look so easy...
Posted by Hanan at 02:06
4 comments:
- Dentographer said...
Beautiful!!! Been a while for ur concise and eloquent posts!
- Saturday, 02 July, 2011
- Hanan said...
Why thank you!
I'm glad you enjoyed this post at least =)
- Sunday, 03 July, 2011
- Hope said...
lovely words
very lovely
some times all we can do is wish for things to happen =]
so keep on wishing, your wish may come true one day
- Thursday, 07 July, 2011
- Hanan said...
Thank you for your sweet comment..
wishing is a comfort indeed.
- Thursday, 14 July, 2011


text:
Author: Ellie Saxx
Genre: Erotica
Published: 2012
Education, my dear reader, is the key to everything. It will lift you up, empower you in your career, and allow you to pursue those mental avenues that leave you feeling intellectually stimulated and challenged. To an extent I think that we've all, at some point, either taken part in, or been witness to, the size vs girth argument that has plagued men for years. This fascination and preoccupation with size and girth, however, leaves little room for considering what we as individuals would do if placed in a situation where we were being unexpectedly bukkaked by a single man. With this in mind I bravely read Ellie Saxx's treatise The Man Who Came Too Much to see if it could shed any light on these previously unexplored avenues of thought.
The Plot
Chet Flood is a man with a unique problem (or talent, depending your personal proclivities): of average length and girth and testicles he himself describes as being the size of small lemons, he is nevertheless able to fill entire mason jars with the semen from a single ejaculation. This confused him as a teenager and later left him with visible bruising at the hands of some blonde female who really did give it the old college try, but sadly just wasn't quite able to keep up.
As Chet comes to realise that he's gay he also learns that men are perhaps more open-minded and willing when it comes to what he can offer in the boudoir. But love, while truly a many-splendoured thing, also takes a long time to find. Chet has to wade his way through several lovers (while the lovers wade their way through something else entirely) that treat him as either a fetish or something that will go viral on Pornhub before he meets Rodney, who takes him just as he is.
And the only way to describe the way Rodney takes it is with superhuman capability. I personally don't know of anyone who would forego the oxygen they need to live (not in a serious way, anyway) for the dick they happen to find themselves on the other end of, but here you have it. I salute you Rodney for your ability to make industrial vacuum cleaners seem underpowered, and wish you and Chet nothing but the best for the future.
The Writing Style
Surprisingly competent.
The whole pamphlet (totalling 19 pages) is written from a first-person perspective, which isn't the easiest thing to pull off. In this genre it's also something incredibly rare to see people attempt, let alone master. Given the limitations of her subject matter, Ellie Sax has done a very good job here.
Whilst not necessarily a critique, anyone who reads this looking for a fetish story isn't going to walk away feeling very satisfied. The Man Who Came Too Much is actually fairly sedate erotica with a slightly saltier ending and those of you in a kinkier mood would do best to look elsewhere.
The Feelings
Sticky and concerned.
Far be it for me to judge any person for what they deem to be sexually attractive or what they like to do/have done to them in the bedroom. That being said, I couldn't help but feel that someone should give Chet some loving advice. Like go see a doctor. Eat less protein. Stop storing your baby juice in mason jars – that shit isn't gonna keep. Again, not to judge, but I sure as shit wouldn't put the milk and cheese in the fridge next to enormous containers of someone's sperm.
If nothing else at least Chet's helping the economy out. I can't begin to imagine what his pineapple budget must be, but some farmers will be able to comfortably set up trust funds for their great-grandchildren if this book is anything to go by.
My Final Rating: 3 / 10
Buy The Man Who Came Too Much at Amazon.com


text:
Monday, April 7, 2014
F is for... Christine Feehan
Christine Feehan writes paranormal romance, and I'm not quite sure how many books she has available--all I know is that you can't really throw a rock in a bookstore without hitting one of them. She has the Dark Series, Ghost Walkers, Drake Sisters, Sisters of the Heart, Leopard Series, and several single-title books, along with Christmas stories. With so many books, you should be able to find something you enjoy!
What other F authors do you like reading?
18 comments:
She's one I still need to try. I've heard so many good things and have been picking them up when I see them just haven't found the time. One day though :)ReplyDelete
Hmm my favorite F authors... Lori Foster is top there for both contemp and romantic suspense. She was one of the first I read and after dozens of books of hers I've only disliked one (and it's one pretty much everyone disliked). Then two newish authors I've enjoyed Judi Fennell (contemp) and Tawna Fenske (contemp but spicy)
Happy A to Z-ing!
herding cats & burning soup.Replies
I like Lori Foster's earlier contemporary books. I suspect we didn't enjoy the same book :)Delete
Haven't read Judi Fennell or Tawna Fenske--off to add them to my list!
She's on my list! Just haven't gotten to her yet. Sebastian Faulks is a big love of mine. Something about his voice captivated me from the start.ReplyDeleteReplies
He's another one I haven't tried yet--thanks for the recommendation!Delete
Another wonderful one to check out. Your know how to fix my time stopper, right? (Because I'm seriously going to need it after this month of wonderful reading suggestions.)ReplyDeleteReplies
You and me both! I need Hermionie's time turner!Delete
Oooh, I'll have to check her out! When this challenge is over I'll have a great reading list thanks to you :DReplyDelete
Oooh! Someone to add to the list. ;-)ReplyDeleteReplies
Hope you like her!Delete
Quite a prolific author. I will have to look into her.ReplyDelete
Brandon Ax: Writer's StormReplies
There's a little something for everyone in her collection!Delete
Lol, I love the idea if not being able to throw a rock in a bookstore without hitting one of her books!ReplyDeleteReplies
Seriously, the next time you're in a bookstore, look at the number of titles by her on the shelf. It's considerable!Delete
I've read her books too, they're great! :)ReplyDelete
I've not heard of read anything of hers before but am very intrigued to read some of her books now thanks for sharing.ReplyDelete


text:
This sub-activity has been cancelled.
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This camp is perfect for teens with a love for design or technology. The fast-paced, high-energy environment will immerse campers in the world of web design through lessons on Javascript, CSS, and HTML. Campers will walk away with basic programming skills and websites that they designed and built. Collaboration skills and programming techniques will be integrated throughout the camp.
1235 Central Park Drive East
Carmel, IN
317.848.7275 | InTrac: 711


text:
All images (c) 1969 by David C. Cook and Rob Ketcherside.
Thanks to Rob Ketcherside from Seattle, U.S.A. for letting me have these nice and sharp pictures for the 3D modelling and for allowing to present them here. These images were taken by his Grandfather David C. Cook in 1969, they can also be found on Flickr.


text:
What is a learnership
What is a learnership?
A Learnership is a work-based approach to learning and gaining a qualification. It includes structured work experience (practical) and structured institutional learning (theory).
Criteria, as set out in the Skills Development Act, indicate that a learnership must:
- include a structured learning component;
- include practical work experience;
- lead to a qualification and;
- relate to an occupation.
Why learnerships were established
The Skills Development Act, as amended, and the Skills Development Levies Act are designed to implement structures and processes that will transform skills development in South Africa. Historically, education and training provision did not always link the theory to the practice required in an occupation.
Learnerships are intended to address the gap between education and training provision and the needs of the labour market.
Learnerships seek to address the following labour market issues:
- the decline in levels of employment in South Africa;
- the unequal distribution of income;
- unequal access to education and training, and employment opportunities;
- the effects of race, gender and geographical location on advancement and;
- skills shortages.
The importance of learnerships
Learnerships in Fasset's sector:
- provide a programme which is outcomes-based;
- allow the learner access to a working environment (practical) that is pertinent to the theory;
- allow the learner to experience and understand the workplace dynamics;
- allow assessment to occur at various stages, based on the learners' competence (learner centred) and;
- the qualification gained is recognised both nationally and in many instances is benchmarked against international standards.
Participating in a learnership
It is important to make an informed decision about which learnership to embark upon. Learners should:
- Plan their career path;
- Identify the learnership that supports the chosen career path;
- Gather as much information as possible about the learnership;
- Enquire about the applicable criteria for entering the learnership and
- Find an employer willing to provide practical work experience.
- What are Qualification Assessment Specifications – QAS
- (no title)
- Occupation Qualification elearning criteria set by the QCTO
- QCTO List of Acronyms
- EISA – External Integrated Summative Assessment
- EISA – External Integrated Summative Assessment
- SkillsJobs Education news update
- SETA Accredited progrrammes through elearning or distance learning
- Public Administration NQF 5
- Public Administration NQF 4
- 50060 National Certificate: Public Administration NQF 5
- Project Management NQF 4 course


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15,036 Likes 1,304 Dislikes
Billy's truck isn't working so of course she blames my kids for messing with it. Things got worse when my kids and their friends left a bunch of toys and balls in her yard. Fyi- to those of you who think my kids leave things in her yard on purpose, you're wrong, I get after them all the time, they've been doing a good job at keeping billy's yard clean and keeping billy's rocks in her yard but sometimes the other neighborhood kids come over and forget to pick up after themselves.


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|Panel Size
|21.5" Widescreen IPS
|1920 x 1080
|Contrast Ratio
|1000:1 (Native)50M:1 (Dynamic)
|Response Time
|2ms (GtG)
|D-Sub (VGA), HDMI x1, MHL/HDMI x1
|Power Consumption
|21W (max)15W (Conserve)
|VESA Mount
|Yes 100 x 100
|499 x 388 x 164mm (w/ stand)499 x 312 x 41mm (without stand)
|2.9kg with Stand
|2 x 1.5W
|2 Years Class II Panel means occasional pixel defects are allowed. The ViewSonic VX2263Smhl-W is a 22? (21.5" viewable) Full HD multimedia display with HDMI and MHL / HDMI connectivity to connect with various high definition devices and mobile devices. Featuring SuperClear IPS technology, 178 degrees wide viewing angle and 95% sRGB colour coverage delivers phenomenal colour performance. ClearMotiv ultra-fast 2ms GTG response times, ViewMode and dual speakers ensures best audio and video quality for movie and gaming. Featuring Flicker-Free and Blue Light Filter eye-care technology, ECO mode, a premium frameless bezel in glossy white finish and VESA-compliant design, VX2263SMHL-W makes a great addition to any home and office.
SuperClear IPS Image Enhancement Technology with 95% sRGB coverage and wide viewing angles
SuperClear Image Enhancement Technology delivers the best colour performance and extends display viewing angles to 178 degrees both horizontally and vertically. Experience accurate and vivid colours with consistent levels of brightness whether looking at the screen from above, below, the front, or the sideÔÇöwith no colour distortion or decay.
ClearMotivÔäó II ultra-fast 2ms response times for blur-free action
ViewSonics exclusive ClearMotiv II imaging technology delivers ultra-fast 2 millisecond liquid crystal response times, creating smooth images without streaking, blurring or ghosting. This blazing-fast response time is perfect for the most graphic-intense gaming needs, and just as great for watching sports or action movies.
MHL functionality for easy connection to mobile devices
Integrated with Mobile High-Definition Link (MHL), the VX2263Smhl-W enables users to connect compatible mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, directly to the monitor. This allows digital content from mobile devices to be viewed in stunning Full HD resolution on the larger screen of the VX2263Smhl-W, while also simultaneously charging the batteries of their mobile device.
Dual HDMI Inputs for Diverse Full HD Connectivity
HDMI is the highest, future-proof video standard, guaranteed for true digital picture clarity. Equipped with two sets of HDMI inputs, the VX2263Smhl-W display allows you to connect to a variety of HD devices including gaming consoles, Blu-ray players, laptop PCs, digital cameras, and many others for the ultimate true high-definition experience.
Dual integrated stereo speakers
The ViewSonic VX2263Smhl-W has two integrated 2W stereo speakers for enhanced multimedia performance with crystal-clear stereo sound.
Full HD 1080p for Superior Pixel Performance
The ViewSonic VX2263Smhl-W features Full HD 1920x1080 resolution for amazing clarity and detail whether it be while gaming or enjoying the latest in multimedia entertainment. A 16:9 widescreen ratio shows more images than conventional 5:4 screen and minimizes eye fatigue.
Sleek Frameless Bezel Design
The distinctive and stylish ViewSonics VX2263Smhl-W fuses a frameless bezel design into a stylish white glossy design, making it a great addition to your home. In addition, the frameless design provides a seamless multi-screen viewing experience.
Game Mode for Higher Visibility in Dark Scenes
With just the press of a button, gain a competitive edge when playing your favourite video games. Game Mode provides enhanced visibility and detail by highlighting dark scenes without over-exposing the bright areas. This lets you see your opponentsÔÇ™ every move, even in the darkest scenes of a video game.
Better color accuracy with color management
ViewSonics built-in colour management system maintains strict standards for colour temperature and white balance correction to ensure the most accurate white level for image rendering. Different OSD colour settings (Bluish, Cool, Native, Warm) allow you to match different colour temperature settings and create a more comfortable working environment - wherever you are. Calibrated to be 100% consistent from screen-to-screen, each monitor displays the exact same colours and sRGB settings as your original HD-device source images.
The ViewSonic VX2263Smhl-W features a 100 x 100mm VESA-mountable design that allows you to mount the display on a monitor stand or on a wall, depending on your specific needs. You can easily detach the base by unscrewing four screws and then mounting the display on its new stand or wall mount.
Eco-mode conserves more energy and cuts costs
ViewSonics proprietary Eco-mode energy-saving feature is built into all LED displays, offering "Optimize (75%)" or "Conserve (50%)" settings that save up to 25% of electricity costs. In low ambient light, Eco-mode adjusts brightness and improves visibility, while reducing eye fatigue. With Eco-mode, the lifespan of the LED backlighting is also greatly increased.


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river island dress
primark necklace
jules + james watch
wallis jacket
b&m cream candle lantern
b&m jewellery hanger
john lewis basket
As of right now, I am currently in Manchester! I wrote this post last night so I wouldn't go a day without blogging. I'm away down just for one night though to see Justin Bieber (my best friend is his biggest fan, going down for her company!) however I was hoping to take my SLR with me for the trip, but because I'm only there for a night (getting the bus back up to Glasgow after the concert) I'm sure the security at Manchester Arena will just confiscate it. I will try to take as many photos as I can though! I bought these sunnies the other day as it is starting to get sunny again, and I can never see whilst driving!
My bits n' bobs are just homeware. I have nothing for all my jewellery so I bought this hanger that I will pin up tonight to keep it all on as well as belts and scarves. I bought two of these lanterns to display on my windowsill so it will look pretty at night with my candles in. Finally, my mum actually bought this for me for all my make-up - as I only have a white make-up bag that is covered in eyeshadows, bronzing powders, eyebrow powders, nail varnish, etc and is very dirty (who decided to make a make-up bag pristine white?!)
I shall blog about my trip when I get home on Friday night!
bloglovin / instagram: xamycb


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Breast Reduction
We all come in different shapes and sizes. This also applies to the various parts of our bodies. With women this is especially so with their breasts. While many women are happy and content with the size and shape of their breasts, for some, large breasts can not only be an uncomfortable problem, they can also be an aesthetic issue.
This same dilemma can also apply to some males, especially if they are overweight. This can be a source of great embarrassment. The condition can also become worse with age.
Whether you're male or female and you feel you have a problem with particularly large breasts, you can contact North Shore Cosmetic to arrange a consultation.
Please note: 'Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.'


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Liam Hemworth Chats With Brother Luke in Cover Feature For #legend
Liam Hemsworth lounges on the cover of #legend magazine, now on newsstands in Hong Kong.
The 26-year-old actor was interviewed by his brother Luke for his feature in the mag's first ever issue. Check it.
On handling global fame: "You lose a lot of your anonymity. And I think that's obviously something, if you are going to be successful in this business, that you are going to have to deal with one day."
On working with Hollywood's best: "I would love to work with Ben Stiller and I think he is a really great director, an amazing director, and he would be great to work with."
On acting alongside Angelababy in Independence Day Resurgence: "For starters, I love the name, it's a great name. She is very sweet."
FYI: Liam is wearing a Tailor Vintage shirt.
For more from Liam, please visit #legend.
Posted to: Liam Hemsworth, Magazine


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Robert X. Cringely, the person not the trademark, reports that SBC is considering following up on a patent which claims to be the original concept of having a static element linked to dynamic content. Um, I suppose that isn't explcitly what a hyperlink is, but I can't believe there isn't prior art…
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This a no brainer Mark you noob
It turns out you have to setup everything the right way or your service will crash like a dominos champion display.
This week Victus Media's search and personalized ad tool was either dysfunctional or down. I had been happily hosting the plugin here for a few weeks so people could explore and try out our service. We had some major overhauls in data and function and have learned a little about stability. But every minute the server was down or the database empty I imagined a lost potential user. If you think about up time in this way, it really hurts to have your site down (like a kick in the groin). I want nothing more than for users to sample our site and think, "whoa!", and this week that wasn't close to happening.
While I was wrestling with wubi/ubuntu and finally virtualbox (darn tiny Linux window) our server was effectively dead to the outside world. We have hashed out a solution for future problems, and me having a mirror of our server environment running locally should help identify and resolve some issues before they make it to our live server. So far I've been chasing a good mirror of our server code (lead tech Tyler is always busy) and had some issues doing that in windows with rails. We need to do more testing on concurrent users as well as improving functionality. Later on we can work on a redundant server backup that kicks in if we have any load or technical issues.
Site Stability
Any user feedback design methodology depends on usage to drive design decisions. Without usage, new functional elements have little rationale for being developed beyond instincts and hunches. While design doesn't require outside direction initially, it surely benefits from the knowledge gained from user habits, and expectations. If 99/100 new visitors all love a particular element, you would be wise to maintain and even expand that function, as long as it doesn't break what users like about it.
User Trust and Bug Smashing
The best way to gain user and customer trust is to be reliable. If your service can stand up to a dedicated denial of service attack (beyond Google spiders ;)), with only mild delays then you're in the golden zone.
If normal usage breaks your system, then you have to react fast to squash any bugs. The greater the number of users for your service, the larger the test base. A divergent set of browsers, systems and expectations all work in unison to transform a concept into a sturdy and resilient product.
The quicker you can move your service from flakey to trustworthy, the sooner you can expand.


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Learn more about our exciting upcoming events!
ELSC Nervous Club: Nori Jacoby
Title of talk: "Finger-tapping, rhythm and working memory: the cognitive correlates of sensorimotor synchronization."
Speaker: Nori Jacoby
Monday, April 28 2014 at 16:00, at ELSC: Silverman Bldg., 3rd Wing, 6th Floor, Edmond J. Safra Campus
Sensorimotor synchronization, the temporal coordination of a rhythmic movement with an external rhythm, is studied experimentally by tapping experiments (Repp 2005) in which subjects are required to finger tap in synchrony with an auditory stimuli. Using data collected from tapping experiments together with a general cognitive battery, we show that the limited capacity of short-term information processing in the brain (working memory), often associated with the manipulation of discrete items such as digits and letters, also constrains the accuracy of sensorimotor synchronization.
Subjects (N=56) performed a battery of cognitive and sensory tasks, and two-step tapping experiments. We found high positive inter-subject correlations between successful performance in the tapping experiment (decreased tapping variance) and working memory related tasks, the highest correlation (r > 0.6) to an N-back auditory task, in which subjects are required to report whether the current tone matches a tone N-steps earlier (N is changed adaptively).
We interpret this surprising finding by suggesting a computational model, in which analog sensory information is coded through a limited capacity channel. The proposed model generalizes models proposed in the sensorimotor synchronization literature (e.g Mates 1994, Schulze et al. 2005) and consistent with models proposed for other sensory tasks (Sims et al. 2012, Raviv et al. 2013).
The model separates the effect of coding current noisy sensory information (input channel) from the effect of recent history (memory channel), showing that the former constitutes the main bottleneck for subjects with low working memory.


text: I've noticed that in my mail.app and spell check (via right-click) in Safari no longer functions. I use this ALL THE TIME and the only major change to my system that may remotely have effected this would have been the update from 10.4.5 to 10.4.6. Has anyone else seen this? I certainly have all the necessary settings correct, so I'm stumped. Appologies if this has already been covered. I searched and googled and came up with nothing.


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It's up to your Web browser to make using the Internet easy and enjoyable -- it's arguably the most important piece of software you use. As the Internet becomes more integral to daily life, the browser you use is of great importance to software companies too. That's why every major browser developer is working on new versions of their product.
Fortunately, they've all released early versions of their work -- that's betas to you -- for us to poke around and play with, so we can suggest fixes and improvements that could be made before the final version is released to the general public.
No competition here, Firefox for me please. At least, it does not force me to restart it and is consistent.
Running FireFox 3 beta 4 right now, it's working just great. Found a few little problems with beta 3 but they seem to of already been sorted out.
On my PC firefox Vs. IE, firefox is always much quicker and more stable.
Go on Mozilla, make a complete OS....
I use a few. I have IE on my PC, Safari on my iPhone, and Opera when I'm messing around on the Wii internet. Go Wiicade ^^
I've used all of them except IE8 for a while now. But I honestly think IE8's far to Alpha to compare to the others, so...
It really depends on your browsing habits. Safari's is, by far, the most lightweight. That's refreshing in light of Firefox and IE in particular. It's a great browser when browsing is what you want to do. I only use something like Firefox when I'm developing for the web, since the development plugins are fab. Safari's also the fastest of the bunch. It's weakness is extensions. Which leads me to Firefox.
Firefox's original purpose was to be extremely lightweight by default (I've used it since it was Firebird, around the .7 release) and allow users to add as much or as little as they want via extensions. Now it's nothing like that design and it's sad that it's made so many compromises. I'm glad that they've fixed the memory leaks, but I hope they aim for something much lighter in 4.0. Otherwise, there's a lot to like in Firefox. The gui in this version is a massive improvement (particularly for non-windows platforms, though it's still a bit weird on OS X), and the rendering engine is much faster. Speed is king, of course.
Opera's a great browser. It's more lightweight than Firefox, though not as light as Safari, just as fast as Firefox and has a lot of nice things in the user interface. I don't particularly like the asthetic, but otherwise it's a perfect work browser. Opera does, despite people's perception, have a ton of extensions available.
It's fab that there's finally some choice on the browser front, particularly for Windows. For other platforms there's a far more fierce competition, but hopefully Windows will continue to grow into a sublime browser market.


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as of 1:15 am this morning... the sickness has begun.
it started with me throwing up the LIQUIGEL vitamin that i take... fish oil. I thought I was going to die. haha!!! I can't even SMELL that thing when I take it, much less taste it. SICK!
Today is bad too. i just stomached some soup...we'll see how long it stays down.
on a happier note.. our first doctor's appointment is tomorrow morning!!!!!!!!!! we're so excited...and nervous!! say a prayer for us :)


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From the start of Christianity, there had been stormy debate about the nature of Christ's divinity and his humanity. Early Christians were bitterly divided over whether he was all human, all divine or a bit of both. Some thought he started out human but was then "adopted" into the Godhead. Others thought he was divine but inferior to God the Father. And on top of this confusion was the question of Mary. Mother of Christ? Mother of God? Virgin or not?
The idea of a holy person being born of a divine father and earthly mother went right back into Egyptian mythology and was nothing particularly new. But the concept was a difficult one to grasp and Christians certainly wrestled with the mechanics down to a minute level.
Here is a statue from 1300 made in the Rhine valley. It has two little doors and when closed shows the Virgin Mary with the child Jesus and a dove representing the Holy Spirit. But when it opens, there seated in majesty is God the Father within the body of Mary. I can't help feeling that this image throws up more questions and dilemmas about the concept of the virgin birth.
Related articles
- Why It's Time to Rethink Christmas (dianerivers.me)
- Christmas: God became Meat (garriblog.wordpress.com)


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It had been a lot of years since I regularly made use of the Aberdeen train station when a friend of my daughter's was scheduled to visit and had taken the train from New England.
Back when I made use of the train a few times a year, the MARC commuter rail system was in the planning phases, then in its infancy. One of the old train station buildings, as I recall, had been converted for use by a dry cleaner. The station itself was a mess, with two revolting features: the so-called Concrete Monster pedestrian bridge that linked the two sides of the track and the tunnel under the track that also linked the two sides, but which wasn't, and still isn't, handicapped compliant.
In those days, the Concrete Monster pedestrian bridge had a function beyond being a link for people whose rides were on one side of the tracks, but who boarded or disembarked on the other. It was also a gathering place for an assortment of loiterers, drug dealers and other menacing looking characters who you'd think would have something better to do with their time than lean against the chain link fence in a stairway to a pedestrian bridge.


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23 years after Jordan and Ted blow off Jeff's genitals with a firecracker, their dads are kidnapped and the boys are given 24 hours to sleep with 10 women or else... their dads will die.
Genre: Action
Actor: Jordan Kessler Ted Beck Dave Shalansky Florence C.M. Klein
Director: Ted Beck Jordan Kessler
Country: USA
Release: 28 Apr 2015
Duration: 100 min
Quality: HD
Rating: 1.5
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Copyright © 2017. All Rights Reserved. Free Movies Online Without Downloading or Registration, and watch TV shows online for free in HD quality.


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Childhood obesity has become a major issue recently. We hear about diet and exercise, that we should avoid processed foods, and that children should spend more time playing and less time in front of the TV or computer.
But in today's fast-paced world, people feel there is no time for a home cooked meal or figuring out how to get their children to eat healthier food. It just seems easier to grab a value meal at the local fast food chain on the way home, or get whatever sweet snacks kids will eat when grocery shopping. The reality is, getting children to start eating healthy food should start with parents making changes.
Most children are natural mimics
They want to act like their parents and other adults. So if you give them an apple or carrot sticks as a treat but then eat some processed candy bar, they will want the bar and claim not to like the healthier snack. The first step will be to limit the amount of processed "junk food" in the house and rarely buy more. Focus on fresh fruits and vegetables. Some of the best snacks come straight from the produce section of grocery stores. Oranges, broccoli florets with a little homemade dip, celery sticks, sliced tomatoes, and grapes are just a few of the fast and easy snacks available most of the year in most stores.
They are Hands on
Children tend to be very hands on. You could try growing a small garden. Try taking them to "you pick" farms to help pick fruits like strawberries during the spring and summer. Another idea may be to take them to local farmers' markets. Here, children can see what produce looks like when allowed to ripen fully and without having a thick layer of wax or other artificial preservatives around it. They can observe you and other adults tasting fruits and vegetables, can enjoy the adventure of going to the market in the morning, and help you pick out things that taste good. This also allows you to support local growers who tend to use more natural growing methods than commercial suppliers that grocery stores use.
Always incorporate natural produce
In addition to incorporating more natural produce in snacks, try using some with meals. Even if you are too busy to cook a meal from scratch every night, try and incorporate more natural ingredients into your routine. Include salads with dinner. A simple tossed salad can be put together in minutes and can be full of fresh vegetables, nuts, beans, fruits or many other natural foods. Also, mix up a homemade dressing rather than use the processed bottles from the store. Just mix 1 part of vinegar with 2 to 4 parts of a natural and healthy oil, like extra virgin olive oil, and a few spices and you have a vinegarette. Let children toss the salad or, at least, add things to the bowl to give them the hands-on experience to make them feel like they helped make it too.
It's important to have children to eat more natural, whole foods. Many people realize that but simply feel they do not have the time to do anything about it. In reality, eating healthy food is about making a series of smaller changes starting with your habits. Eat healthy fruits and vegetables, stop buying processed food, get the children involved, and use whole foods in meals and those children that used to hate everything green may start requesting it.


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USER EDITORtabyathe
After getting in a bar fight at his bachelor party, Rick ends up with a butterfly bandage over his left eye, but in the close up shots of Rick during the wedding scenes, the bandage is gone, then re-appears on wide shots.
The spelling of the last name of Lance LeGault's character in the onscreen credits ("Green") differs from the spelling on his name badge ("Greene").
When Magnum and Susan are trapped in the warehouse, when Magnum becomes frustrated and tries to force down the door, watch carefully to see the door move very slightly.
In the final scene, we see Laura's gravestone in New York City, but there are palm trees visible in the background.
This episode contradicts Magnum's age. In previous episodes (such as the fourth season's "Letter To A Duchess", originally broadcast in November 1983), he was said to be 38 years old, which means that here he should have been at least 41 years old. Dates elsewhere in the series suggest that he should be at least 43 in this episode.
Rick is an orphan. At the beginning of this story, there is a recount of the day of his parents' funeral, and of how Ice Pick came to look over him from a young age. Rick's younger sister Wendy, then eight years old, is briefly seen as well (but the role is uncredited and the actress has no dialogue).
When Magnum and Carol are sitting in the Ferrari, as they wait to tail Judge Kearns from his house, in the overhead shot from behind the Ferrari, Magnum is seen be running his hand through his hair, and Carol with her hands by her side. Yet on the following shot, side on, Magnum has both hands holding the newspaper, while Carol has one hand holding onto the hat she is wearing.
In the scene where Rick and Magnum tell Ice Pick of their concerns about Grace, in close-ups, Ice Pick leans forward onto his desk; yet in the long shots, he is sitting back.
Rick mentioned in season four's "Luther Gillis: File #521" that he and T.C. have no children, yet here T.C. suddenly has children.
On the closing credits, the episode's additonal cast and their characters are listed all in lower case, but on Bill Couch's credit as Nick Sutherland, the 'S' in Sutherland is in uppercase.
When this episode was originally aired it had a hanging ending that was concluded in the Murder, She Wrote episode "Magnum on Ice" which aired later in the evening. The original episode ended with Magnum being arrested by the police for seemingly murdering Paul Mayfield and the words "To Be Continued" flashed across the screen.
When the episode aired in syndication the ending was reedited with new footage. A scene between Magnum and Jessica that provided a link to the later Murder, She Wrote episode was cut. The gun fight between Magnum and Mayfield was re-edited so that Magnum is defending himself from Mayfield and the police never arrive. Then there is a completely new scene between Magnum and Higgins in the Guest House. The new scene quickly ties up all the loose ends, including what happened to Rick and T.C. (which is never explained in the original episode). The syndicated episode ends with Magnum lying down on his couch reading one of Jessica's books titled The Umbrella Murders.
When Higgins challenged Magnum as to who the man that claims to be Robin Masters is, Magnum suspects that Higgins hired, "...some little guy with a voice like Orson Welles," an in-joke to the series as the voice of Robin Masters was provided by Orson Welles.
As Magnum looks out of the top of the lift, there is a noticeable change in film quality on the shot of the rat.
The name of Lance LeGault's character is once again misspelled in the on-screen credits as Buck Green. His name badge clearly spells out his last name as Greene.
The Ripper has newspaper cuttings of some of Magnum's previous exploits. These include: 'Thomas Magnum Honored by Cat Fans' – harking back to the sixth season's "Photo Play", where Magnum received a pet lover's award after saving a cat from the tidal pool 'Clever Canine Leads Private Eye to Casebreaking Clue', which wasn't an actual episode, though we do see a shot of Magnum following the supposedly smart dog 'Local P.I. Nabs Suspect After High Speed Chase' – again not from an actual episode, but footage of a supposed previous adventure of Magnum's that we see several times in this episode 'Magnum and Kobata Lead King Kamehameha Club To Senior Swim Finals' – an event that we hear more about in this episode 'Local Investigator Solves Psychic's Murder Riddle' – the fourth season episode "Fragments". After the Ripper taunts him about leaving Philippe for dead in Vietnam, Magnum experiences flashbacks to his confrontation with the character, otherwise known as "La Bull", in the Pilot.
Maggie appears with her hair down when she comes to the guest house to help Magnum with his taxes. It is only one of a few episodes in which we see Maggie out of uniform.
Don Luis Mongueo is the third (and final) of Higgins' unusual half-brothers to be introduced. The first was Elmo Ziller in "The Elmo Ziller Story" and the second Father Paddy McGuiness in "Faith and Begorrah". There's also another sibling though never seen but mentioned, Su Ling.
Ice Pick's real name is Francis Hofstedder.
Despite visual clues in previous episodes, this is the first time Magnum actually states that he was a Navy SEAL.
When Magnum is talking to Stephen Parker at the Koho Bar, T.C.'s van drives past in one of the close up shots of Parker.
failed crime, gunfights, high stake situations, for men, undercover cops