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Showing posts from 2013

On Van Halen...and Dave vs Sammy

A short time ago, conversation among friends turned to Van Halen (no idea why). We were discussing the band, their history, and the eighties. One friend turned to me and said "they (the band) are so over-rated..." "Over rated?", I replied. "Are you kidding me?!?" 1978 was a bad year for rock. The pop charts were filled with disco , and while Led Zep had just released "In Through the Out Door", Ozzy was getting into a tizzy with Black Sabbath. Rock/metal music was still a late-60's/early-70's-attitude, a ponderous mix of old blues and heavy guitar riffs. It seemed - to me, at least - as if metal and rock was quickly on its way to the "classic" radio stations. Out of this mess exploded the band Van Halen. When they hit the charts they were a sharp lightning bolt in a sky of disappointing music, a distinct turning point from 70's metal to 80's rock. Eddie Van Halen's refreshing guitar sound was nothing like we...

Things to Do at the Durham Fair...

Eat. Race your lawnmower (yes, they're "lawn tractors". I'm sure the  grounds are manicured well. and quickly.) Eat. Visit an elephant.      Eat. Ride a Ferris Wheel.   Paint your face (and catch a few ZZZZZ.....) Catch a concert. Or two. Or Three.   Eat. Check out some arts and crafts. (They had beer competition...but no beer sales. Boo.)   Visit some animals (and pretend that know which are the good ones...)   Burr, it's getting cold in here!   Chew your cuds... Hatch...   ...and grow.     Drag some things around... Learn about history...  ...and, um, whatever this guy's doing. See some pretty cool old farm equipment... ...and dream about the next vacation. Get your picture taken on a tractor. See some really cool birds of prey... ...