Sunday, June 29, 2008

"Shoo Bee Doo Wop"

I'm on my Fabulous 4 kick again. This song is forkin' awesome, and it is done live with overdubs , of course, but it's one of the heaviest songs ever.

Written by John Lennon, who wanted to clarify the group's position on the changing world. Circa the "Flower Power Era." When bombs and napalm and civil unrest were exploding all over da world.

I could be wrong-won't be the first time and certainly not the last-but methinks the video debuted on the old "Smothas ( Smothers ) Brothas Show."

It's one of me favorite songs from the Fab 4. If you've never seen it, here it is for your viewing pleasure. Unfortunately, the person who posted it has "embedding disabled by request" so....

We'd all love to see the plan, v.c.

P.S. The Stone Temple Pilots covered it back in '01 for a John Lennon tribute. Included here as well.


Saturday, June 28, 2008

"Just Discovered This on Utube!"

Ain't utube grand? To coin a phrase, eh? This is some classic shit from yesteryear. Pardon my french, s'il vous plait.

"Live in Toronto" 1970. Eric Clapton, Klaus Voorman, and John and Yoko.

I had this l.p. but don't think u can even buy it anymore.

Friday, June 27, 2008

"My Generation"

It's 4:12 in the morning and I ain't sleepy. I just worked an arduous 10 hour shift in the food biz, so I should be exhausted and ready for beddy-bye. For some unknown reason, I am writing this tale whilst munching on fresh cherries from the Piggly Wiggly.

I am also perusing videos via utube. Whoever invented this phenomena should be rewarded handsomely cos it's the coolest thing since VHS and cd's. And bvd's, er,-that,too-dvd's. Here's one from "bitd" that's an excellent one.



It reminds me of Kent State-4 dead in Ohio-; Vietnam-the Tet Offensive; and my arrival into adulthood from teenagerdumb, er, teenagerdom.

I was getting a haircut the other day and had on my Paul Mac t shirt. The barber, a young lad in his 20's, told me how he dug Paul Mac and away we went.

I told him I had seen Sir Paul and had the honor and privilege of being on row 6 right in front of the stage. Circa 1991. How I had seen the Fab 4 in '65.

I told him-when he mentioned Steppenwolf-that I had seen them a couple of times. I didn't mention seeing an old friend-Randy Foster-who was in attendance at one of the shows and who was high on animal tranquilizer. Was our generation that forked up that we resorted to insane shit like that?

I told my barber that the "heavy metal" genre came from the song, er, "Born to be Wild."


I like smoking lightning;
Heavy metal thunder.

( For the uninformed )


He was impressed when I told him I had seen Rod Stewart and Faces in concert. But not the Vanilla Fudge, who he had no inkling as to who or what this was.

ZZ Top; Marshall Tucker Band-the loudest concert I have ever been to. I like loud music, but my gawd. The decibles these dudes generated was akin to a nuclear bomb exploding. Can't you see-yes, but now I can't hear-what that woman's been doing to me.

I told him I had seen George Harrison, but can't remember telling him I was so stoned and drunk that I, yes, yours truly, passed out and missed the end of the concert.

As he snipped and clipped, I regaled in stories of yesteryear. My exploits, if you will. I did forget to tell him that v.c. had seen Neil Young a few times. But it can wait till my next date with him-only your hairdresser knows for sure, eh?

Pecking away I am beginning to get sleepy. The ten hour shifts-which ravage my body-are finally kicking in.

See me, feel me, hear me, v.c.

P.S. Went to the Piggle Wiggly later, and the two checkout girls went ga ga over the shirt.

"My favorite Fab 4 album is 'The White Album,'" she said.

"Mine, too," I said.

"My favorite song is Julia. And that's my name."

"I'm v.c. and do you ( know you're talking to Mr. Trivia )? Do you know who 'Julia" was?"

"No."

"John Lennon's mother. And 'ocean child calls me' was Yoko Ono."

"I love your t shirt."

"Yeah, thanks."

And like this foray: bye bye.


Monday, June 23, 2008

standard 12 bar blues but FUC*** AMAZING solo @ 2:48!!!

One of my fav tunes from Chicago when they were Chicago Transit Authority. From utube of course.

P.S. The title of 2 nite's foray into the infantile is a direct comment off utube. Go figga, mon trigga.

"Take Care, George"

 
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"George Carlin-Dead at 71"

George Carlin died-I guess a few minutes ago-today. He was 71.

I didn't like him in the 70's but grew to love him afterwards. Comedians have a natural way of picking up on human foibles ( how 'bout that for the word of the day ).

Part of his charm was contorting his face. The last show I saw of him was not too long ago on HBO. He was 70 or 71 and had gone the way of an old fart. He just didn't have the pizazz or energy anymore, but he was still good for a septegenarian or whatever they call a person in his/her seventies.

I'll miss the forker. And watch some of his old shows. The older one gets the more the stars and celebrities of yesteryear get hooked by the Grim Reaper. Inevitable, eh?

So I salute you, George. And hope you're in a better place. Hopefully Heaven. Take it ez, you once old fart of 71, v.c.

Saturday, June 21, 2008

"Another 'Who'd a Thunk It?'"

A Virginia man lost 80 lbs. eating at Mickey D's.

Another in a long series of "Who'd a Thunk It?"

Oxymoron, eh? v.c.

P.S. To regale the moment, here is one of Kitty's fav songs from back in the day.


P.S.S. The song reminds me of playing Pac Man ( my fav ); Donkey Kong; Space Invaders; and the like. Woca woca.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

 
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"Bogie and Ilsa"

They don't make 'em like this anymore. The movies today-for the most part-suck. Talking about the last few years. Not anything around that gets me excited. The Hulk? Naw. I've seen the previews. Too much computer generated b.s. Indiana Jones?-well maybe.

Speaking of old skool. Here's a tune from yesteryear. And one of my favorites from "The Eagles." It is not "Hotel California," not "Dem, er, Dos Shoes," nor is it "Victim of Luv," nor "Take it Ez."

What is it then? The answer lies below.

Selah, v.c.

Monday, June 16, 2008

Thursday, July 27, 2006- 10,000 and Counting

My blog was heading towards 10,000 hits on July 27, 06. I forget what happened, but I soon lost my counter. And kept writing without one. But G.P. did make the 10,000 mark at some point-a paltry sum when compared to the hootster. So my new counter-stage left-is inaccurate. Just for the record....eh?

Thursday, July 27, 2006
"Man of A [Ten]Thousand Faces"or "When Will v.c. [ yours truly ] Hit The Magic Number? Query Submitted by the Lone Stranger [ Pictruandtru ]


Apologies to Lon "Werewolf" Chaney!

It has been well-chronicled throughout the ages how yours truly has no earthly idea who in the H.ell [ W.hole ] is pictruandtru. He and I or me and him go way back, yet he remains an enigma.

My other friend, who goes by the unlikely name of hootsbuddy, is known to me, and he is the scoundrel who turned me on to blogorama.

"Cat, [ yours truly ] this blogging business is liberating. You can write about anything and everything; there are no restrictions to content," he wrote and /or told me one fateful day circa 2004.

And the rest is history. Thanks to the hootster [ affectionate nickname coined by....yers truly ] Golden Pond became my embryonic initiation into blogdom. And so far the results have been less than overwhelming. My poor l'il blog is on target to reach a meager 10,000 hits in the next few weeks, while the hootster is about to hit 40,000. ( editor's note: Perhaps he already has. As of this writing, who the fork knows? )

So in reply to me buddy's query,[ ergo, pictruandtru ] G.P. has 9800 and change hits. But if you want to make me feel better about all this, start hitting away. Let's get v.c.'s G.P., his labour of love, up to 10,000. Soon! Or with a quickness as we used to lament at Rowdy High, circa back in the day.

Parting is such sweet sorrow, v.c.

P.S. I recently received this nice comment from one of my readers via e mail. It read:

You are CLASSIC, v.c. . . .what a mind. . .I hope someone "discovers" you . . .as you're the most original person I've ever read . . .WOW! signed Shirley. Location: Beautiful Hawaii!

P.S.S. Yes, it is well-chronicled how I am a legend in my own mind. Alas, to be or not to be-that is the question! Apologies to the Bard!

December 26, 2004

Sunday, December 26, 2004

Acid Reflux Rears Its Ugly Head
Acid reflux is the scourge of the new millineum. Maybe it's the jalapenos, the pizzas, the spicy cajun dishes, the enchiladas, the refried beans that we, as Americans, tend to overindulge in. Everyone I know has the dreaded disease. And it doesn't matter if you're a member of a red state, blue state, zombie state, or state your name, either someone in your family now has acid reflux or will one day be afflicted.

Even celebrities are not immune to acid reflux. Their millions- Shirley, in Swiss bank accounts- will only help to make them comfortable when the dreaded A.R. knocks on their door.

Take Ashlee Simpson, for example, newcomer to the music scene, who fled Saturday Night Live's stage Oct. 24 after a prerecorded vocal track began playing while she wasn't holding up a microphone. Simpson blamed the incident on a bout with acid reflux: "It was something I had never done and I didn't want to do," she told PEOPLE of lip-synching. "(But) my voice wasn't strong enough."

And even Paris Hilton, sexy starlet, has known the wrath of A.R. Her X-rated sex tape "One Night in Paris" hit video stores earlier this year. To promote her new project, Paris was recently photographed lacking certain undergarments. Another victim of A.R.

Brittney Spears marriage to hometown pal, Jason Alexander, lasted 55 hours. Yes, one of the parties had A.R., causing a hasty annulment to wedded bliss.

What was Anna Nicole Smith's excuse for slurring her words, stumbling offstage and generally being loopy at the Nov. 14 American Music Awards? If you guessed A.R., you are one who catches on quickly. Intelligence is your forte, and you may want to consider joining the elite organization known as Mensa. A rep for Ms. Smith, 37, who was boasting a newly svelte figure, denied rumors that drugs or alcohol were to blame. Not wanting to cite the true reason.

And moving forward, two months after she was released from prison, Mary Kay Letourneau was planning a walk down the aisle – with the former student she was convicted of raping more than seven years ago. Letourneau, who's 42, announced her engagement to Vili Fualaau on Larry King Live on Oct. 11. The ex-schoolteacher, who first had sex with Fualaau eight years ago when he was 13 and has two children by him, said she's been "blessed" and shares "a deep spiritual oneness" with him. During her prison stay, Ms. Letourneau contracted A.R. It is not known at this time if Vili has been affected or even knows of his wife's malady.

And pop stars: Elton John unleashed his inner diva in September, calling the Taiwanese media "rude, vile pigs" after photographers greeted him at the Taipei airport with a wall of flashbulbs. The following month, John directed his ire at Madonna. At London's Q Awards, the singer accused Madge of lip-synching on her Re-Invention tour. "Anyone who lip-synchs in public onstage when you pay 75 pounds ($134) to see them should be shot," he said. Madonna's spokeswoman denied the allegation saying "I heard Elton has A.R. I hope he seeks treatment."

And in sports: The sports world took a beating in November when it was revealed that the New York Yankees' $120 million-earning first baseman Jason Giambi (right) had admitted to using antacids for at least three seasons. The revelation came out of a federal investigation of the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative (BALCO), and included doping accusations against San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds (who says his drug use was unwitting) and five-time Olympic track medalist Marion Jones (who denied using illegal performance-enhancing drugs.
Maalox and Pepto-Abysmal are reportedly seeking legal action against the three.

Yes, acid reflux knows no boundaries. Rock stars, sports heroes, cause celebre's, and even movie stars have fallen victim. Even ordinary citizens like you and me. It has reached epidemic proportions. A.R., the scourge of the new millineum.

Farewell and adieu, v.c.

P.S. Hopefully, you, the readers will never know the heartbreak of psoriasis, er, acid reflux.



Posted by vietnamcatfish at 11:14 PM 2 comments Links to this post


"Acid Reflux Rears Its Ugly Head"
2 Comments - Show Original Post
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Anonymous said...
Yukity, yuk, yuk, yuk, Acid Reflux. Good journalism there CatMan. I see your counter tipped 1000. Congratulations!

You know your a fisherman when;
You call your boat Bonnie and you call your wife Skeeter.

6:17 PM


Hoots said...
Ditto, here.
Ready for this? Our new grandchild, born in October, was out of sorts and wouldn't eat. His mom took him to the doc. The nurse practicioner diagnosed the problem: reflux!
He had a bunch of regularly scheduled immunizations and is all better now. Go figure.

5:04 AM


P.S.

Thursday, June 12, 2008

"More From the Exciting World of Foodbizdom And The World In Which We, Er, Live"

INQUIRE AT RESTAURANTS

Ketchup and cooked sauces are not affected by the outbreak. And several restaurants are not serving tomatoes — on Monday, McDonald's said it had stopped serving sliced tomatoes in its U.S. restaurants.

As most of you know:

A salmonella outbreak linked to raw tomatoes serves as a reminder to take extra care with summer fruits and vegetables.

My favorite line from the article:

Wash your hands with soap and water thoroughly before handling food, says Blakeslee. Wash your hands if you come in contact with pet feces, use the bathroom or change a baby's diaper.

I would never have thought to wash my hands after changing a baby's diaper, so yours truly is passing it on in hopes of saving you and your loved ones from a heartbreak of foodborne illness or the like.


You say tomato and I say tomahto, v.c.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

"Synchronicity"

Up at the top of [ one's ] blog is a search engine and search I did for "synchronicity" on my blog, aka Golden Pond. And found this delightful piece from yesteryear. May 14, 2006 to be exact. It was only two years ago and counting, but it seems like a million years to me. Here it is:

The catfish ( yours truly ) has been in a slump, if you will. Hits to the web site have been few and far between. And I can understand why. It doesn't take an Einstein to figure out the reason for the malaise.

Point blank. The views and opinions espoused on "Golden Pond" do not reflect the consensus of the general populace. Most denizens of the world could give a fork if George "Superman" Reeves killed himself or not; it was only 40 some odd years ago. Ancient history. Kaput, fini.' [ to coin a phrase )

And most readers of blogs could give a rat's ass when it comes to listening to a few songs from the fabulous 4. It was almost 40 years ago when the band decided they had had enough and decided to call it quits.

And most folks have no fond recollections when it comes to film noirs from the 50's. 50 years ago and counting. What synchronicity, eh? No one remembers "The Leech Woman" or "Homicidal," which both scared the beezeesus out of me back in the day.

So it stands to reason that "Golden Pond" has limits. But to those who meander this way I owe a debt of gratitude. Thanks for your support and patronage.

Farewell and adieu, v.c.


P.S. In the following video [ ain't youtube grand? ] William Castle advises audience members they could leave the theater and receive a full refund if they were too frightened to see the climax of the ending.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

"Dear Cat" and "The Empire Strikes Back"

Okay, so you want to write a blog, eh? Well everybody and his mom wants to write one, too. And every day a zillion more people begin a labor of love. Well ain't that a hoot? So you start your little blog, and before you know it, some dickhead is writing you with what they think is constructive criticism. Constructive, my ass. I delete the negative ones the minute I receive them, so you, the reader, won't have to contend with the negativity, which would certainly impact your day. Because there has been a steady stream of dickheads writing to me lately, I would like to share their slanderous/libelous thoughts with you, the viewing public, so you can see what a blog writer has to condend with on a daily basis. Altho quite perverted and mean-spirited [ except for the last one, which is my favorite ] they are being revealed for the first time "On Golden Pond" and are submitted for your perusal and approval:

Dear Cat, I really enjoy reading your dysfunctional column. Honestly, I think it's a bunch of doq squeeze. No one is interested in old movies, old rock bands whose stars are now in their sixties and can't get it up without prescription drugs, and silly stories, which I believe you refer to as "forays into the infantile." How cute! Why don't you grow up and get a life? And quit wasting our time with "Golden Pond." Here's hoping the Producers of said flick, or my heroine, Jane Fonda, will sue the shit out of you. There are plagiarism laws you know. Signed: Norman Thayer

Dear Cat, I thought you said you were an independent in your profile stage right. But your blog is far to the right in my veritable opinion. Those pictures you reprinted the other day [ Fark.com ] made fun of the next President of the U.S., Ms. Hillary Clinton. How dare you poke fun at her. She is definitely the best candidate for 2008. And wouldn't it be great if she chose John Kerry for a running mate? Signed: Alas, Not a Heinz Ketchup Fortunate Son

Dear Cat: Pure drivel. My five year old can write better. Even his pet Iguana could compose more eloquent prose just by dropping Dino on the typewriter keys. Pure hogwash. If you're not too old-and methinks you are even tho' it's unclear with your childish prattle-why don't you take a few writing courses, so the drivel you produce would be a bit more intelligible? And don't get me started on your grammar, syntax, and style. Hemmingway you ain't. Signed: Your English Lit Teacher Circa 1971

Dear Cat: If you were working for me, I would have fired your sorry ass long before now. Just like that fine eating establishment known as Piccadilly Cafeteria, where "the dilly is back," which canned you cos you weren't cuttin' the mustard. So you gave thirty years of your worthless life to that grand organization. What'd you want? A medal? It makes me ill when Corporate America gets bad press just because they let go of the dead weight. It's the market place, stupid. The company must cut back to survive and to put more money in the pockets of the CEO, so he/she/it can have a nice retirement fund when he/sheit retires. Boo hoo! Do you think you're the first person who ever got fired? Signed: Trump

P.S. If you introduced carrot souffle to cafeteriadom, as you claim, then I'm "The Donald."

Dear Cat: I enjoy old movies just like you do. And my favorite band of all time is "The Beatles." I saw them live circa 1965. My wife's name is Kitty. And my kids are named Catlain and Charlie. We have two pets, a dog and a cat. Penny Lane and Neil Diamond, respectively. And I went to "Rowdy High School" and attended "Truck U. University" back in the day, same as you. I love urban slang and synchronicity. Shawl is. I saw "The Vanilla Fudge" at the City Auditorium back in the 60's, and I loved going to the Central Adult Theatre to further my fledgling career in the cinema. I didn't really care that the actresses were nude and showed their boobs and sometimes a wisp of pubic hair. It was all about the art and honing my craft. I also think you have the best blog in the Universe; it even outdistances hootsbuddy's place by a pubic hair, er, by a nose hair. I live on Pon Jovi and love every "foray into the infantile" you've ever concocted. Signed: Dirty Harry

P.S. I disagree with that dickhead professor of yours [ circa 1971 ]who gave you a bad mark in Lit 102. You are better than Hemmingway, Dante, Fitzgerald, Dickens combined. Can't wait for the next foray


P.S. This column was written in 2006 and is a response to anonymous' reply to my last foray entitled "1985." Yes, when the Bard, er, Borde became the CEO, all joy in Mudville soon dissipated. Does anyone know what the boy is doing now, he of the glazed eyes.

P.S.S. And who was the mystery challenger who signed in? Anonymously!

Saturday, June 07, 2008

"1985"

As a teenager I had to read "1984" by George Orwell. Good stuff. The denizens of the said novel were taking all kinds of pills-or maybe that was "Brave New World." And I read "Lord of the Flies;" and "Animal Farm." Damn, I forgot that yours truly read so many of the classics.

No wonder my mind was confused as a pubescent denizen of this world. These books were heavy-duty. And at the time seemed like pure fantasy. I read "The Caine Mutiny," too, by Herman Wouk. One of my favorites. And the movie was well-done, as well, with Humphrey Bogart as Captain Queeg, the war-weary veteran who buckles under the stresses of command.

Bogie was good in just about every thing he's ever done. He was short-not the "leading man" type-but he had something. Charisma? Tough guy? And the dames loved him.

What got me on this subject was popping in the olde "homemade" c.d. ( made a coppola moons ago ) courtesy of "Ares," on my way home from the job this a.m.. "1985" from Macca was one of the selections and one of me all time favs. ( saying fav is akin to saying "spot on." I must repeat-unequivocably-that I will never say "spot on" for love or money. It is what it is!" And I did hear some sports announcer say it on the telly recently, and I wanted to barf and/or hurl. )

And I got to thinking that it was clever of the songwriter to pen a tune about Orwell's 1984. A year later.


No One Left Alive In 1985, Will Ever Do
She May Be Right
She May Be Fine
She May Get Love But She Won't Get Mine
'Cos I Got You.


Most people-I would dare say-have never read the classics. Not that that's a bad thing. It's probably a good thing. And people still talk like dumb asses. And use double negatives. My sister is a good example of this. She uses them frequently. It's ok by me if people use them, but to me it generates a red flag that maybe you ain't as smart as you think you are.

For the most part, I think we're all kind of dumb-yes, even Mr. Somewhat Grammar ( yours truly ) heads the list. In fact, the poster boy of dumb if you will.

So what's the point of this foray? Hell if I know.

I enjoyed listening to my "homemade c.d." There were tunes from "Foreigner;" the "Rolling Stones;" Neil Young;" even Babs Streisand. Who'd a thunk it? And believe it or not-no Fab 4 tunes.

The foray ends, v.c.


P.S. I Didn't Think I Never Dreamed
That I Would Be Around To See It All Come True
Woh I Oh I
Well I Just Can't Get Enough Of That Sweet Stuff
My little lady gets behind!


Wednesday, June 04, 2008

"No Words"

I guess this columnist should write something about history being made, via the Barrack Obama freight train, but this aforementioned columnist will leave it to others. Those of us who grew up in the 50's and 60's can realize the significance more than the generation x'ers and the rest.

But be it as it may, I head back to the 70's and a song from Paul MAC and Wings. When he and Linda and Denny Laine went to Lagos, Nigeria to record a new l.p. [ long-playing ] which resulted in "Band on the Run."

Critically acclaimed when it was released, and hailed as an album worthy of an ex-Beatle. Up unto that point, Paul had disappointed the world with subpar efforts. Not me, of course, but maybe a tad.

I perused youtube this week and found an obscure tune from B.O.T.R. I was humming it all day at work. Ah, memories. Hadn't heard the tune in years.

So without further adieu, here it is.

And who will win the upcoming election? Only the Shadow knows, and he ain't saying.

History in the making, v.c.


P.S. Interesting backdrop to the recording:

While there, both the McCartneys were mugged at knifepoint, were accosted in the studio by legendary musician Fela Kuti for fear that Paul was plagiarizing African music (fears which McCartney quickly assuaged by playing Kuti the recorded music), and were persuaded to record at Ginger Baker's studio in Lagos (where he lived at the time) by Baker himself once he heard that the McCartneys were in town. During this time, only the recording of the ensuing album's backing tracks, which generally featured Paul on lead guitar, keyboards, synthesizers, bass and drums and Denny on rhythm guitar, keyboards and bass, took place, as Emerick came to realize that EMI Lagos lacked such basic features as high-end vocal microphones.


"Pretty Clever"

 
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