I could never get the Ouija Board to work. Childhood sleepovers and Halloween were meant for summoning the dead - usually someone's grandma or after 1994, Kurt Cobain - but I must not be a good vessel for spirits. I was just laughing to myself thinking about pulling the board out again and who I would try to talk to this time around, now that I'm older and wiser.
The list isn't much different, really. Family and friends who have passed on still top the list (including my most recent dog), but the celeb list is a bit different. I wonder what Abraham Lincoln would say about this (endless) election cycle? Would Julia Child give me tips to roast the perfect chicken? The questions are different now.
How about you? If you could conjure a spirit, whose would it be?
And just because, here's my favorite childhood pet - a bearded collie named Winston.
It's Halloween! We can't let the day go by without re-watching the classic It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. I haven't watched this in years... maybe you haven't either.
For you dog lovers like me out there, this story should warm your heart. Since 1997, The University of Washington's Center for Conservation Biology's "Conservation Canines" program has given a new lease on life to rescue dogs in the area.
There are dogs, like people, who are more difficult to handle due to obsessive personality traits. Unfortunately, people give up on keeping these kinds of animals as pets and they end up in shelters. Thanks to the Conservation Canine program, those animals who have a particularly focused personality can put their talents to good use - to track down endangered species using their noses.
Whether on land or in the water, the dogs seem to enjoy what they do (who wouldn't want to play outside all day?) and get a second chance to have purpose and be loved. Not to mention, help keep other species alive.
Yesterday, we got the news that CBS has greenlighted a sitcom called Smells Like Teen Spirit. Awful. Today, rumors swirl about a Broadway musical based "on the Nirvana catalogue, based on her life and Kurt Cobain’s." That quote is from Love's manager, Sam Lufti, of testifying-against-Britney-Spears-fame. He mentioned the project while at his trial against Britney Spears today... he's suing her for breach of contract, libel and millions of dollars. He must love nutty female singers.
Lufti retracted the comments, saying it was just an idea, but nothing was coming of it. Love's reps also have no comment.
I hate to give more attention to an attention-seeker like Ann Coulter, but there is an open letter floating around the internet that is beautiful and I wanted to share it.
For those who don't know what she did this time, Ms. Coulter tweeted a classless comment after the debate Monday night in which she called the President the r-word. Even though I think she is ignorant and obnoxious, Ms. Coulter has a right to her words and speech. However, I am firmly against the r-word and cannot believe she "went there."
The following is an open letter to Ann Coulter from a "global messenger" at Special Olympics. It's poignant and written with more class than Coulter deserves. I'd be lying if I said I didn't tear up a bit.
Big Bird with First Lady Patricia Nixon... more costume ideas!
It's not shocking, but thanks to Mitt Romney's comments in presidential debate #1, Big Bird costumes are all the rage for Halloween 2012. According to CNN, this is the most popular Big Bird costumes have been ever. I wonder how many slutty Big Birds we'll see. (I laughed out loud just thinking about what that would entail... jeez.) Good luck getting an official Big Bird costume now, though. The company with the official license was not ready for the onslaught and are low on supply.
If you need a group costume, maybe you can go as "Debate Memes:" Big Bird, binders of women, and horses and bayonets. Topical, funny, and not too difficult to pull off.
Do you still don a costume for Halloween, whether to answer the door for trick-or-treaters or go out to celebrate?
With the final debate last night, certain topics are back in circulation today. Here's John Oliver reminiscing about when he heard Osama bin Laden had been killed.
Seattle's recycling program is the best of any place I've lived, but in case you're looking for a place to recycle #5 plastic containers exclusively, now the Gimme 5 program is at local Whole Foods stores. Since #5 plastics are made with different chemicals, they are more expensive to recycle. One company, Preserve, is making it easier to recycle those yogurt, hummus and butter tubs. Now at local Whole Foods, you can bring your clean, dry #5 plastics to the Gimme 5 recycle bin, where they will be sent to the recycling center in upstate New York.
Longing for a getaway, but don't want to think out of the box too much for the vacation of a lifetime? NBC has compiled the top 10 places Americans visit internationally, and given tips about what's worth seeing in each place. Handy, if you're like me and already planning a temporary escape from the Seattle gloom.
10. Nassau, Bahamas
9. Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
8. Barcelona, Spain
7. Montego Bay, Jamaica
6. Rome, Italy
5. Toronto, Canada
4. Paris, France
3. San Juan, Puerto Rico
2. London, England
1. Cancun, Mexico
OK, London might not be the best destination for gloom-avoidance, but at least there are some beachy options!
Today in 1990, a band called Mookie Blaylock took the stage at The Off-Ramp for their first live performance. To mark the day, here's a YouTube video of the show... it's a little hazy, but hey, so are our memories at this point.
Looking for something fun and different to do with the kids this weekend? Bring your daughters, nieces, and friends to GirlFest, sponsored by the Girl Scouts of Western Washington. The phrase "girl power" may be past its prime, but the idea is more important than ever. Even though I don't have kids of my own yet, I know there are plenty of parents out there fighting the good fight to educate and inspire their daughters to take on the world.
GirlFest offers young women the chance to talk to professionals in different fields, from newscasters to scientists. There will be a rock climbing wall, ideas for volunteer projects, classes on cuisine... quite the smattering of topics. Plus, a concert... with a boy band. I guess you can empower young women all you want, but but at the end of the day, you can't take away the love of boy bands.
It's been a big year for Neil Young. He's finished two studio albums - Americana features covers of American folk songs, while Psychedelic Pill is full of originals. It's out October 30th. Not to mention, Neil Young and Crazy Horse are on tour now - don't miss the Key Arena show on November 10th.
Here's the first video from his new album Psychedelic Pill is "Ramada Inn." The video fits the album's name, as it is a little trippy.
Elton John in a signature rhinestone jacket in March of 2012. Photo credit to Rock Cousteau.
It's not hard to love Elton John... now I have more reason. I just love this story.
John hosted his AIDS Foundation's New York fundraiser on Monday night in a rather un-Elton outfit - a nice black suit. He joked to the audience that he was sorry to not be more dressed up. He said he left his favorite rhinestone jackets in L.A., and asked his housekeeper to send one for the event. Meanwhile, the next day he received an email from a staffer that read, “There is no jacket designed by 'Ryan Stone' in the cupboard.”
True or not, it made me chuckle. Plus, if you're a member of Elton John's staff, don't you think you'd be programmed to know "rhinestone" in any accent? It's the little stuff.
Don't miss out on Celebration Day, the Led Zeppelin concert film from their 2007 London reunion show. It plays tonight and tomorrow at Cinerama in downtown Seattle.
This Janis Joplin biopic, Janis Joplin: Get It While You Can, has been trying to get off the ground for a while, but it seems things are finally coming together, with production slated to start early next year. Amy Adams, of The Fighter and Doubt fame, is expected to play the lead role, with Precious director Lee Daniels most likely taking the reins behind the camera.
The film has secured rights to 21 of Joplin's songs, so at least we'll get to hear her music unlike the new Jimi Hendrix biopic that does not have the Hendrix family's authorization...
We're pretty excited around here for the release of Live From The Mountain Music Lounge Volume 18: The Essential Collection! It hits Fred Meyer shelves on Friday, November 9th. You can get all the details here. Fifteen tracks recorded in the Carter Subaru Mountain Music Lounge in one place for your listening pleasure.
The really cool thing about our Live From... CD series, though, is that a portion of the proceeds benefits The Wilderness Society. You've helped give over $1.5 million to The Wilderness Society thanks to your CD purchases those the years. Volume 18 is no different - each CD purchased helps them with their goal of keeping our wildlands protected, restored and preserved.
So November 9th, buy Live From The Mountain Music Lounge Volume 18... not only will you get great music, you'll also help to protect our wild spaces. Consider it your 1THING for the day.
Melissa Etheridge has put her name behind the campaign to legalize marijuana in Colorado. She is urging voters to vote yes on the proposition through her experience with breast cancer and the benefits she received from marijuana. The video is below and Rolling Stone has more.
Bill Clinton? Barack Obama? Amazon's Jeff Bezos? All among the top 49 Most Influential Men of 2012, according to a poll on AskMen.com. But the #1 most influential man... is fictional: James Bond. Yes, no matter the actor, these men say the spy character influences them the most. I wondered why so many people order their martinis shaken, not stirred...
I don't know who actually participated in this poll, but President Obama came in at #11! The top 10 is an interesting list, but maybe a more interesting study on how we define "influential."
1. James Bond
2. Usain Bolt
3. Bill Clinton
4. Seth MacFarlane
5. Joseph Gordon-Levitt
6. Jimmy Kimmel
7. SpaceX Founder Elon Musk
8. Hip-Hop artist Frank Ocean
9. Instagram founders Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger
10. Ryan Gosling
Ever wanted to give someone that special gift of having their birthday wishes blasted out over Facebook by a rock star? Now you can. For $250, Stephan Jenkins, frontman for Third Eye Blind, will use the band's Facebook page to give a public celebratory message to you, a friend, whomever.
Got a special birthday or anniversary coming up? Let me help you celebrate with a shout-out on Facebook. Could be for you, a friend or a family member. Tell me about the occasion and the recipient and I’ll craft a memorable post for the whole world, or at least all of Facebook, to see.
A portion of the proceeds benefit Tipping Point Community, which helps the impoverished in Jenkins' home, the Bay Area.
I know I'm a day behind on this, but after a week of vacation, it's taken some time to catch up on the DVR'd shows. On Monday night, Pete Townshend sat down with John Stewart. He gave some thoughtful answers and was generally charming. I'm interested to read his new autobiography that came out this week.
Come On
Not Fade Away
It’s All Over Now
Little Red Rooster
The Last Time
(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction
Time Is On My Side
Get Off Of My Cloud
Heart Of Stone
19th Nervous Breakdown
As Tears Go By
Paint It, Black
Under My Thumb
Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing In The Shadow?
Ruby Tuesday
Let’s Spend The Night Together
We Love You
CD 2
Jumpin’ Jack Flash
Honky Tonk Women
Sympathy For The Devil
You Can’t Always Get What You Want
Gimme Shelter
Street Fighting Man
Wild Horses
She’s A Rainbow
Brown Sugar
Happy
Tumbling Dice
Angie
Rocks Off
Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)
It’s Only Rock ‘N’ Roll
Fool To Cry
CD 3
Miss You
Respectable
Beast Of Burden
Emotional Rescue
Start Me Up
Waiting On A Friend
Undercover Of The Night
She Was Hot
Streets Of Love
Harlem Shuffle
Mixed Emotions
Highwire
Love Is Strong
Anybody Seen My Baby?
Don’t Stop
Doom And Gloom
One More Shot
The air is getting crisper, the sun is setting earlier, and the candy at the grocery stores is black, orange and purple. It must be Halloween season. We've got some great tips on The Mountain's 1THING blog for ways to keep Halloween green, on top of black/orange/purple. From costume ideas to composting, there are more ways to stay green this fall than you might think!
