From: owner-fegmaniax-digest@smoe.org (fegmaniax-digest) To: fegmaniax-digest@smoe.org Subject: fegmaniax-digest V16 #393 Reply-To: fegmaniax@smoe.org Sender: owner-fegmaniax-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-fegmaniax-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk fegmaniax-digest Sunday, November 11 2007 Volume 16 : Number 393 Today's Subjects: ----------------- Re: stuff (nice) to buy [Tom Clark ] in ur seit ["michael wells" ] Re: Oh my... [Michael Sweeney ] RE: Shank Hall 11-2-07 ["michael wells" ] RE: just wonderin' ... [Michael Sweeney ] Re: in ur seit [Eleanore Adams ] RE: just wonderin' ... [Benjamin Lukoff ] a rather Robynesque t-shirt concept... [2fs ] RE: just wonderin' ... [Michael Sweeney ] Reap [Jeff Dwarf ] Re: in ur seit [Steve Schiavo ] Robyn's covers (missed thread off-ramp) [Michael Sweeney ] Re: just wonderin' ... [Rex ] Re: Robyn's covers (missed thread off-ramp) [Rex ] Re: Robyn's covers (missed thread off-ramp) [lep ] Re: fegmaniax-digest V16 #392 [grutness@slingshot.co.nz] Radiohead covering Smiths (0% RH) ["m swedene" ] RE: Robyn's covers (missed thread off-ramp) [Michael Sweeney Subject: Re: stuff (nice) to buy On Nov 9, 2007, at 7:15 PM, lep wrote: > hi fegs, > > this is probably old news by now, but just in case. > > from the yep roc newsletter: > > for the guys/traditionalists: > http://store.yeproc.com/product.php?item_id=12957 > > for the modern gals: > http://store.yeproc.com/product.php?item_id=12958 > > one for every other day of your eight-day week. Cool! Are they selling these at the current gigs? - -tc ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 9 Nov 2007 22:19:05 -0800 From: "michael wells" Subject: in ur seit It was only a matter of time. Modify your favorite website instantly at: http://lolinator.com/ Fegmania.org doesn't turn out too bad! Michael ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Nov 2007 04:30:41 +0000 From: Michael Sweeney Subject: Re: Oh my... Jeff said: >On 11/8/07, Rex wrote:>>>> Robyn is trying to give me a gydget for my myspace page. Is that a good>> thing?> >I would think a Robyn Hitchcock concert-notification "wydget" would be morelike, several days beforehand, some sort of crab scuttles across yourscreen. Gradually, the number and density of crabs increase...until yourscreen is totally covered with crustaceans. Clicking on a crab brings up theconcert dates in the form of an undulating series of orange cones that spellout the date and venue. Clicking on one part of the cone (and you have tofigure out which part) will take you an online purchasing site (cunninglydisguised as a trolley bus full of corpses) - clicking on the other partunleashes a chorus of demonic laughter that turns your screen black forfifteen seconds...after which, your screen returns to normal - except thewords, in Robyn's script, saying STILL NOT SURE YOU WANT TO BUY TICKETS TOMY SHOW, EH? in a vaguely threatening dark-green hue.< ...Not sure this could possibly be improved upon. Perhaps only with the addition of a semi-random trilobite... Michael "OK, and the trilobite would be wearing a polka-dot shirt...and -- PERFECT!" Sweeney _________________________________________________________________ Peek-a-boo FREE Tricks & Treats for You! http://www.reallivemoms.com?ocid=TXT_TAGHM&loc=us ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 9 Nov 2007 22:43:36 -0800 From: "michael wells" Subject: RE: Shank Hall 11-2-07 Jfs: > Was the other Chicago Mike (Wells) there too? I didn't make the trip this time, life interfering and whatnot. Actually I'm not sure I know anyone who made the short trek up, and after seeing the setlist/report, I'm actually kind of glad. Not that missing a Robyn show is ever good, but it's getting harder to justify traveling when they start coming up short and rambling. Been fortunate that recent Chicago shows have been stellar, and I've gotten to hear most of the songs I'll ever want him to sing (except 'Furry Green Atom Bowl' and I don't think that's coming any time soon). > I would think a Robyn Hitchcock concert-notification "wydget" would be more like Funny! But probably too organized and threatening. Remember we're dealing with a "Soft Boy" here. Tom on shirts: > Cool! Are they selling these at the current gigs? If they are, be wary of the size. I see only XL, and that's probably the euro interpretation of XL and not the tarpaulin-sized ones needed for our America-sized chests and tummies. I came back from France with a couple of XL rugby t-shirts which now, after one careful washing, fit my 8-year old son. Hey Robyn: how about throwing us a bone here, and upping the size and quality of the t-shirts? I'll pay the extra. Michael ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Nov 2007 05:04:28 +0000 From: Michael Sweeney Subject: RE: just wonderin' ... Benjamin Lukoff wrote: >BTW I hear the descendents of Standard oil maintain at least one stationbranded "Standard" in their territories to preserve the trademark.Supposedly there's a Chevron in Bellevue, Washington, with a Standard signon it. Anyone ever seen one of these?< You are correct, sir. I have seen Standards semi-recently (Elgin, IL; and the even-older red, white, and blue "American" brand on a certain corner in Chicago not more than 10, 15 years ago) AND, in my semi-secret-earning identity as a marketing-communications-writer, I've recounted the story in print before about preserving the old trademarks / brands (as much for PREVENTING another entity from trying to re-activate / claim them as keeping them in the potential quiver). ...And the whole "Amoco fuels at BP" cluster-frack is just a combo of semi-stupid market research ("Amoco" tested high as a fuel name; "BP" -- at the time -- meant absolutely nothing in most of the US) and semi-scared reluctance to pull a trigger on a complete, no-attachments-to-the-past re-branding. Somewhere in Southern Ohio / Clooney territory in KY, I'm sure there's a "SOHIO" station or two soldiering on for very little reason... Michael "Has some good McDonald's stories, too" Sweeney _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live Hotmail and Microsoft Office Outlook  together at last. Get it now. http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook/HA102225181033.aspx?pid=CL100626971 033 ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 9 Nov 2007 21:40:47 -0800 From: Eleanore Adams Subject: Re: in ur seit wow, thiz iz thu best ting eva!!!! elenorz On Nov 9, 2007, at 10:19 PM, michael wells wrote: > It was only a matter of time. Modify your favorite website > instantly at: > http://lolinator.com/ > > > > Fegmania.org doesn't turn out too bad! > > > > Michael ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 9 Nov 2007 22:06:13 -0800 (PST) From: Benjamin Lukoff Subject: RE: just wonderin' ... On Sat, 10 Nov 2007, Michael Sweeney wrote: > Michael "Has some good McDonald's stories, too" Sweeney do tell ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Nov 2007 00:00:09 -0600 From: 2fs Subject: a rather Robynesque t-shirt concept... - -- ...Jeff Norman The Architectural Dance Society http://spanghew.blogspot.com ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Nov 2007 07:43:39 +0000 From: Michael Sweeney Subject: RE: just wonderin' ... Benjamin Lukoff wrote:> On Sat, 10 Nov 2007, Michael Sweeney wrote:> > > Michael "Has some good McDonald's stories, too" Sweeney> > do tell ...Oh, they're more on the goofy / ironic side, rather than the "evil corporate overlord" side...(although, after doing 3 books on franchising, I DID find them to be the most attempted-controlling corporate entity I ever dealt with besides Disney)... Like: The actual McDonald brothers (who started the chain in SoCal before selling to Kroc) were named Mac and Dick...so the signature double-deck sandwich was perhaps one sibling away from being named the "Big Dick." Or: When the brothers sold out to Kroc (originally their shake-mixer salesman; good eye, Ray), they held him up for $2.3 mil (which he was very hard-pressed to come up with in the early '60s), so they could each clear a mil after taxes...but had they just held onto some equity and let Kroc run things, they woulda been each worth about 9 figures in a decade or less...and much more than $1 bil by about the 1980s....and, perhaps my most out-there McD's "theory" (which my "author" rejected at the time I ghosted his first book ('87), but which time has -- IMHO -- only continued to solidify and prove): At a consumer level (and, I suppose, at the franchisee level), McD's is a restaurant chain, a hamburger store...but, at the corporate level, McD's is a real estate mogul. I'm not sure what the company-owned / franchisee-owned split is these days (traditionally, it was about 1/4 company, 3/4 franchisee...but I'd suspect it more like 1/8 (or even less) company-owned these days; those were used as "example" stores and as a bulwark to implement comp.-wide menu changes, etc.)...but the truth is that the Oak Brook Empire owns almost all of the actual store sites (nearly 100% in the US; less in foreign markets, due to various area franchising arrangements and government / trade necessities or national laws), and collects lease / rent payments from franchisees (which almost always greatly outstrips the franchising percentage on sales they also collect). Since those leases are relatively fixed costs (some were based on sales-driven minimums (not sure of the structure these days)), corporate-wide promotions (such as "2 (whatever sandwich) for $3" or "49-cent hamburgers / 59-cent cheeseburgers" are things that continue to boost the McD's image (and drive foot traffic, keeping outlets viable) without necessarily helping a franchisee's bottom line (franchisees used to howl about those events; they at least have managed to almost completely squelch the promotion / use of McD coupons, except for new products or new outlets). At the individual outlet level, they want to maintain the brand and sell as many burgers as they can (which Oak Brook collects royalties on); but at Oak Brook, they want to keep the overall brand healthy so they can continue collecting rent over and above the pennies-per-burger they are also getting. At the time of the first book I did ('87), they were already the largest coporate owner of real estate in the world (outstripping Sears at that point). I cannot imagine that Wal-Mart has caught them since (and, after a Herculean late-'80s-through-'90s push, there are now more Subways than McD's...but many are smaller, co-opped (w/gas stations, etc.), and not owned by Subway corporate)... McD's would rather be seen as a place for "Food, Folks, and Fun" (as the slogan used to go)...but the "It" that they are really "Lovin'" these days is the rent they are pulling in... Michael "Bonus fast food / franchising trivia: Subway was co-founded by a (different) Peter Buck; he was a doctor and supplied the money (which is why Subway's corporate parent is / was called 'Doctors Associates' -- think it still might say that in small print on their napkins, wrappers, etc.)" Sweeney _________________________________________________________________ Help yourself to FREE treats served up daily at the Messenger Cafi. Stop by today. http://www.cafemessenger.com/info/info_sweetstuff2.html?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_OctWLt agline ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Nov 2007 04:41:32 -0800 (PST) From: Jeff Dwarf Subject: Reap Norman Mailer http://www.yahoo.com/s/135781/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071110/ap_on_en_ot/obit_mailer "I'm not tempted to write a song about George W. Bush. I couldn't figure out what sort of song I would write. That's the problem: I don't want to satirize George Bush and his puppeteers, I want to vaporize them." -- Tom Lehrer "The eyes are the groin of the head." -- Dwight Schrute . Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Nov 2007 07:37:32 -0600 From: Steve Schiavo Subject: Re: in ur seit On Nov 10, 2007, at 12:19 AM, michael wells wrote: > It was only a matter of time. Modify your favorite website > instantly at: > http://lolinator.com And I was thinking it had something to do with Kodomo no Jikan. - - Steve __________ I can't resist an anime that includes a small, cute, violence prone girl with a scythe. - John ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Nov 2007 15:39:15 +0000 From: Michael Sweeney Subject: Robyn's covers (missed thread off-ramp) Jeff wrote (about a week ago): >On another subject entirely (well, not really): some of us here havecomplained that Our Man's covers have become a yea bit predictable oflate...it occurred to me, what more-or-less contemporary stuff has helistened to and expressed admiration for? I know the Gillian Welch/DaveRawlings stuff fits that category - and the Decemberists maybe? Has he evercovered any of that?< ...and then all the Richard Thompson / Tom Verlaine / Django Reinhardt (? - j/k) collaboration stuff swerved off, but I kept thinking about the whole covers thing. In my RH-concert-going career, except for the goofy ("Kung Fu Fighting") and the sing-alongs ("Rock the Boat," a Bee-Gees cover -- maybe "Jive Talking"?), the covers have mostly come from 5 artists: John Lennon, Bob Dylan, Lou Reed / VU, Bryan Ferry / Roxy, and Syd / Pink Floyd... Since 3 of these are among my top all-time faves, 1 is just below, and the last is someone I came to appreciate through Robyn (my pre-Robyn Floyd experience was more "Animals," "WYWH," and "The Wall"), that's just fine with me. And since I consider Robyn a still very contemporary artist (not saying that Jeff implied otherwise), the nostalgia thing of him continuing to cover HIS influences is also just fine with me. In fact, I can probably think of a whole passle of JL, BD, LR, BF, and SB songs that I would yet LIKE to hear Robyn cover live: "Idiot Wind," "Lily, Rosemary, and the Jack of Hearts" (think of the tangential stories that could be spun from THAT one), "Nobody Loves You When You're Down and Out," "How Do You Sleep?," "Street Hassle" (or portions thereof), anything off the under-appreciated "Mamouna" set (aka "Avalon II"), etc. ...or how 'bout a nice jangle-along of "Walking on Sunshine," hmm? Michael "By my count, he's already done 'Caroline...' 'Lisa...' and 'Candy...' - -- still a few more of Lou's '[Blank] Says' songs to go" Sweeney _________________________________________________________________ Boo! Scare away worms, viruses and so much more! Try Windows Live OneCare! http://onecare.live.com/standard/en-us/purchase/trial.aspx?s_cid=wl_hotmailne ws ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Nov 2007 08:29:43 -0800 (GMT-08:00) From: kevin Subject: Re: Robyn's covers (missed thread off-ramp) >...or how 'bout a nice jangle-along of "Walking on Sunshine," hmm? I could go for "All Through the Night" (Lou), "Please Crawl Out Your Window" (Bob), "Grey Lagoons" (Roxy - actual seafood reference in that one), "Fixing a Hole" (that's actually McCartney tho, isn't it?) and just for a change-up how 'bout "Frankenstein" by the NY Dolls? ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Nov 2007 10:48:56 -0600 From: 2fs Subject: Re: Robyn's covers (missed thread off-ramp) On 11/10/07, kevin wrote: > > >...or how 'bout a nice jangle-along of "Walking on Sunshine," hmm? > > I could go for "All Through the Night" (Lou), "Please Crawl Out Your > Window" (Bob), "Grey Lagoons" (Roxy - actual seafood reference in that one), > "Fixing a Hole" (that's actually McCartney tho, isn't it?) and just for a > change-up how 'bout "Frankenstein" by the NY Dolls? Of course, he did cover "Fixing a Hole" at the Sgt. Pepper MSF benefit - but I don't know if it's made it into his regular setlists. He's also covered a handful of Bowie songs...and one Wire song ("I Am the Fly" on that "Naff Songs" MSF thing). Not exactly contemporary to now - but contemporary to him (okay, Bowie's older - but more recent generation than Beatles/Dylan/Syd/VU). - -- ...Jeff Norman The Architectural Dance Society http://spanghew.blogspot.com ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Nov 2007 10:15:40 -0800 (GMT-08:00) From: kevin Subject: Re: Robyn's covers (missed thread off-ramp) Of course, he did cover "Fixing a Hole" at the Sgt. Pepper MSF benefit - but I don't know if it's made it into his regular setlists. He's also covered a handful of Bowie songs...and one Wire song ("I Am the Fly" on that "Naff Songs" MSF thing). Not exactly contemporary to now - but contemporary to him (okay, Bowie's older - but more recent generation than Beatles/Dylan/Syd/VU). Speaking of which, anyone know if any of RH's MSF events are out there in an audible format? ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Nov 2007 10:11:51 -0800 From: "michael wells" Subject: RE: in ur seit > wow, thiz iz thu best ting eva!!!! It si s teh fun1!!! Apparently they were well prepared for running it on itself ;) Also, my wife's company www.spray.com turns out quite well ("pulsejet nozzlez"!). I recently changed jobs, and now have the interesting experience of reading their interpretation of what I did on the employment websites as they try to lure the next guy in. Weird. Of course it's made to be an idyllic opportunity; trust me guys - if the situation was that good, I wouldn't have left! Michael ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Nov 2007 12:25:51 -0800 From: Rex Subject: Re: just wonderin' ... On 11/9/07, Michael Sweeney wrote: > Michael "Bonus fast food / franchising trivia: Subway was co-founded by a > (different) Peter Buck; So Tom, what kind of service do you tend to get at Subway? - -Rex ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Nov 2007 12:29:02 -0800 From: Rex Subject: Re: Robyn's covers (missed thread off-ramp) On 11/10/07, 2fs wrote: > On 11/10/07, kevin wrote: > He's also covered a handful of Bowie songs...and one Wire song ("I Am the > Fly" on that "Naff Songs" MSF thing). Not exactly contemporary to now - but > contemporary to him (okay, Bowie's older - but more recent generation than > Beatles/Dylan/Syd/VU). Also, Hendrix, Roxy, and Byrds covers (three on the last count, depending on how you parse the songwriting credits) have made it to disc, off the top of my head... - -Rex ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Nov 2007 15:32:51 -0500 From: lep Subject: Re: Robyn's covers (missed thread off-ramp) kevin says: > Speaking of which, anyone know if any of RH's MSF events are out > there in an audible format? there are two on archive.org (at least that i noticed - there may be others): http://www.archive.org/search.php?query=robyn%20hitchcock%203%20kings others have been put up on dime. the white album benefit and the naff hits are the two that i can think offhand (there was a thread on this a few months back; jeff 2fs started a roll call on the MSF shows and i think the count was 7.) if are interested in the ones that haven't been put up on archive.org, send me an e-mail offlist. as ever, lauren -- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "People with opinions just go around bothering one another." - The Buddha ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Nov 2007 15:50:29 -0500 From: lep Subject: Re: Robyn's covers (missed thread off-ramp) Rex says: > Also, Hendrix, Roxy, and Byrds covers (three on the last count, > depending on how you parse the songwriting credits) have made it to > disc, off the top of my head... re: covers that already exist, for the non-DIY folks, there's the asking tree: http://www.jh3.com/robyn/base/songs.asp as ever, lauren - -- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "People with opinions just go around bothering one another." - The Buddha ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 11 Nov 2007 12:26:31 +1300 From: grutness@slingshot.co.nz Subject: Re: fegmaniax-digest V16 #392 >Kevin: > >You definitely wanna do that. Opportunity may never come again. By >next year fuel could be insanely expensive and foreign nationals might >not be allowed into the country. And besides, think of all the fans who >won't get to see the boy at all...do it for the gipper, dood. > >I would love to live 90 minutes drive from three Robyn shows! My next >vehicle is going to be a hybrid, or maybe a turbo diesel. > >Michael B. I'm still bummed that I couldn't make it to the only gig Robyn's ever given within 90 minutes *flight* of where I live (3 days drive in my old diesel, plus a ferry crossing - equivalent distance of San Francisco to Seattle). Go, be merry, live it up, dude. James - -- James Dignan, Dunedin, New Zealand -.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.- =-.-=-.-=-.- You talk to me as if from a distance .-=-.-=-.-=-. -=-. And I reply with impressions chosen from another time .-=- .-=-.-=-.-=-.-=- (Brian Eno - "By this River") -.-=-.-=-.-=-.-= ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Nov 2007 20:46:31 -0500 From: "m swedene" Subject: Radiohead covering Smiths (0% RH) For those of you who missed the show on their website, Radiohead covered the Smith's "Headmaster Ritual" and some other stuff... http://www.sendspace.com/file/xzdjat enjoy! Mike ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 11 Nov 2007 08:01:58 +0000 From: Michael Sweeney Subject: RE: Robyn's covers (missed thread off-ramp) Kev said:> I could go for "All Through the Night" (Lou), "Please Crawl Out Your Window" (Bob), "Grey Lagoons" (Roxy - actual seafood reference in that one), "Fixing a Hole" (that's actually McCartney tho, isn't it?) and just for a change-up how 'bout "Frankenstein" by the NY Dolls?< Nice ones -- here's a few more I'd love to hear Robyn tackle: Lennon -- "In My Life" (I know: but such a nice melody, too), "John Sinclair" (yep, silly...but I still love this song and the slide riff), "I Found Out," "Oh My Love;" Dylan: "Hurricane," "Absolutely Sweet Marie" (wouldn't be surprised to hear he had done this...but I haven't heard it), "Baby, Let Me Follow You Down" (I know -- not an original, but a V3 jam on this? now, that would be fun), "I'd Have You Anytime" (I believe this song has nearly every guitar chord extant in it at least once...plus bonus George H. content; luv to hear Robyn cover more GH), "The Groom's Still Waiting at the Altar" (another one that'd have to be a band jam); Lou: "Sunday Morning," "I Heard Her Call My Name" (I picture that one on solo electric), all of "Berlin" (cuz I know he could do it and I'm a freak and I never made it to Europe to see Lou do it and...), "Women" (solo electric, again), "New Sensations" (pretty goofy, but a good narrative to riff on), and "Metal Machine Music" (side 3, I would think...) (j/k! - a cookie for those who made it this far...) (BTW, that Bee Gees sing-along cover I referenced before...that was "Stayin' Alive," not "Jive Talking," right? Think so -- at Schuba's the other year...) Michael "After 'Let Me Roll it,' maybe some more Macca covers, too (like 'Letting Go' (good key changes), 'The Note You Never Wrote' (tricky / fun chord changes), or 'Back Seat of My Car') (no, wait: 'Every Night' acoustic -- that's it!)" Sweeney _________________________________________________________________ Climb to the top of the charts! Play Star Shuffle: the word scramble challenge with star power. http://club.live.com/star_shuffle.aspx?icid=starshuffle_wlmailtextlink_oct ------------------------------ End of fegmaniax-digest V16 #393 ********************************