My man Ken Layne says in his latest episode of “Desert Oracle Radio” that he got the idea for his podcast from (wait for it) Tom Waits.
Somehow this fails to surprise me. Mr. Waits casts a wide loop. Wasn’t that long ago that people thought he was Leon Redbone. Turns out he was Ken Layne. Frank Zappa was Leon Redbone.
Not really.
Here’s Ken Layne:
One of the initial inspirations for this radio show was a Tom Waits interview I read in an alt-weekly newspaper three decades ago.
So Tom Waits has these bits that he’s doing for the press tour so the reporters aren’t too annoying. They can’t keep up because he’s just rolling out these little stories, tall tales, routines. And one of them went something like this. He says, and I’m quoting incorrectly for memory:
‘Oh, I’ve got a radio show now, out in the desert, in a little desert town, it’s called ‘Strange and Unusual Facts.’ And then he’d say some oddball factoid about lemurs or the height of Big Ben or how many legs a centipede has, which is variable, turns out. Then, Tom Waits tells the music writer for the alt-weekly, ‘It’s a small station and the signal doesn’t get far, but people are enjoying the show, and, in fact, a number of people are moving to this desert town just to hear it.’
That always sort of stuck with me. Because somewhere up ahead would be this radio show in the little desert town of Joshua Tree.
And you know what? I’ve had a number of people tell me in person, to my face, that they moved here because of this radio show.
So, Tom, if you’re out there tonight, thanks for the idea.
I’ve taken a few ideas from Tom Waits myself, not all of them good. Never went with the soul patch, though. That was Frank Zappa. Or was it Leon Redbone?
Mad Blog Media 
A nice Seagull and fedora. What more do we need?
Well … a new president would be nice. Also, a new Congress. And some fresh thinking on the Supreme Court.
But for today, right this minute, I’ll settle for getting that downed aviator back.
Well, the aviator has been rescued. Good!
The Tao says, “If you want to get rid of something, you must first allow it to expand.” That sumbitch has expanded enough! I think the congress will have a quick change of mind when the repugs all realize that their re-election depends on getting rid of the orange trash. As in right now.
As for me, the Martin 00-28, which is still in the shop after 6 months, is history. If you remember that guitar needed a neck reset, like guitar open heart surgery, right from the factory. Traded it for a 2019 Taylor 517e Builder’s Edition that was New Old Stock. Rainbow Guitars had discounted to $2200 to quickly sell it. I got it for $2100. It is sweet. No more Martins for me. In my advanced decrepitude, probably no more guitars period.
https://www.taylorguitars.com/guitars/acoustic/builders-edition-517e
Oooo, dat’s purdy. I still think about a GS Mini now and then. But Taylor says they don’t have a local dealer anymore.
Well if you get the GS-Mini itch bad, and just have to scratch it, I would recommend Sweetwater or direct from Taylor. That Martin would have never passed Sweetwater’s pre-shipment inspection process. I have never had a bad Taylor, at any price. And, the mahogany GS-Mini I had was easy to play and sounded great! Punches way above its weight. Eye Candy coming.
https://www.taylorguitars.com/guitars/acoustic/gs-mini-mahogany
Here’s what’s really sad. My adult kids have been doing a lot of traveling outside the US despite my unasked for advice. But they admit they take measures to hide that they are American. One is likely moving to South America. I wish it were Canada but that’s no longer easy. Internationally, the stereotype of Americans is horrible and will remain so (as stereotypes do) for many years.
As for Mr. Waits-“what is he BUILDING in there?”
It is sad. “The Ugly American” returns to hideous life 68 years after it was first published.
I have friends who travel abroad. Some of them are brown and I wonder whether they get better treatment from the countries they’re visiting than from the one they’re leaving.
Remember the good old days when you didn’t need a passport to visit Mexico or Canada? I still don’t have a passport so I’m stuck here in the Benighted States. Can’t be much longer before I need one to go to the grocery.
And as for Mr. Waits:
Patrick
Do you play ??? I’ve just started learning and already have 4 in my collection. I’ve surpassed my bike count. Michele is not happy
Make It a Great Day,
Michael
+1-971-570-1960
Michael, I do play, occasionally and entirely without skill. I tried a lot of instruments as a sprout — piano, flute, piccolo, oboe, bassoon (that was fun), and guitar. Still have my seventh-grade Boosey & Hawkes flute, a few tin whistles, and two guitars, an Art & Lutherie Roadhouse and a Seagull Entourage Mini Jumbo (the one pictured).
I prefer the Roadhouse, which is a parlor-size guitar. But I don’t play either worth a damn. Two dislocated digits on the left hand don’t help.
I like fiddling with them, though. But I’ve got more time in on the flute, so much so that I’ve considered springing for a new one. Holy hell, do they ever cost a ton, though.
The Roadhouse.
Michael, three chords and a capo! What’s in the collection so far?
My geetars
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Rickenfaker 360 semi-hollow 6-string electric
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Tele-faker Thinline 6-string electric
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Hohner HW 640 6-string acoustic
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Mitchell 120 series 12-string acoustic
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Nice collection. If you want to try a Tayor, I would recommend a GS Mini or an Academy 12e. Made in their Tecate, MX plant, and they keep the price right by keeping the bling down. But, the quality is excellent and they are easy to play with short scales a light gauge strings. I wish I hadn’t sold my GS Mini. If I started traveling more, I would get another. Also, haunting your local music store might turn up some good bargains on used guitars. I have a 2008 Taylor GC8, a 2019 512ce, and 2008 SB1 electric that I bought used from my local shop.
Respect the president? Respect the office? Yea, right. Easter morning message from cheeto benito.
“Open the fucking strait you crazy bastards or you’ll be living in hell. Just watch.”
Classy and respectful, heh you hosers?
Wonder what the Industrial Christianity segment of War Piggy’s base thinks about him going all George “Seven Words” Carlin on Easter Sunday?
No need to wonder laddie. Many a human has been killed by those that believe what I do not. So they likely believe any spittle that foams out of Adolph tRumps pie hole.
Onward Christian soldiers!
Marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus
Going on before.
Christ, the royal Master,
Leads against the foe;
Forward into battle,
See, His banners go!
Ayuh, Brother Pagan … some folks can swallow anything, and with gusto, too, after the priest pours the special sauce over it.
Count me in to your group Patrick and Herb. “When the last priest is hung from the entrails of the last king.” Or something like that.
There’s a variety of variations on that theme, most credited to Frenchman Denis Diderot. My personal fave is:
Yea, kings first. And, wanna be kings.
This particular wanna-be king would probably be into it. He’s getting loonier with every passing day.