kenny weir

Thanks - I enjoyed reading that. I read just about all Kerouac's stuff a long time ago. I doubt I could do so again. But as that piece points out, the influence is huge - so that many of the books and, more particularly in my case, magazine articles etc we read are direct descendents. I've always been a little bemused by Kerouac's bitterness towards the whole hippie/counter culture thing. There's plenty to be cynical about in those scenes, of course, but his antagonism often seemed tinged with sour grapes or something. But that piece puts On The Road et al in a specific time and place that, indeed, does make any connection seem pretty spurious. Apart from one person - Cassady. Nevertheless, keeping those shaky ties alive, the Dead site has a recent story about a 50th birthday party for OTR attended by Bob Weir, Dennis McNally and other dignitaries ... http://www.dead.net/features/dead-world-ro...jack-and-ratdog

I thought it was a good read, as far as it went. Not for a minute did I think it told the whole story or anything like it.

I saw them on the first reunion tour. They sucked.

Wallabies AND Wales didn't look all that impressive. Canada shoulda done better against Fiji. They just didn't have the confidence to make another, final pass through the backs, ignoring the overlap and certain tries at least a couple of times. I didn't see Ireland/Georgia, but reports seems to back up my comments about the prowess of at least a few of the minnows.

I plead guilty to the charge, for my defence paying 25 $ for a game that we pretty sure know the result before the game is played ain't my cup of tea. Van - my comments weren't directed at you, brother. I'm relaxed about it all - the real action's a few weeks away. But as I say above, I've been pleasantly surpised by the spirited nature of the supposedly one-sided games I've seen so far. I also expect the TV coverage here in Australia - and no doubt NZ - is far superior to most other places. Here we've got all games on pay and Aussies on free to air as well.

Haven't seen England yet, but on face value the scoreline against the US was none too flattering. I've already heard and read a lot of whining about lopsided contests and scorelines ... obviously coming from people who haven't actually watched the games. I have - and can only say to the likes of Georgia, the US, Canada - bravo! Yes, some of the scores look bad but they don't tell the whole story. In the matches I've seen, it's not so much that the minnows are unable to match it with the stronger sides but that THEY ARE UNABLE TO DO SO FOR THE FULL 80 MINUTES. So with Canada against Wales and Georgia against Argentina, the contests, defence and brutal committment was amazing for most of the first half. after that, they - no surprise - ran out of puff. So in that sense at least, it seems the gap is closing. Whether it will get close to closing completely is another matter ...

One commentator I heard last night put up a pretty good way of looking at the tournament - the early stages are really a rugby "festival"; the tournament starts with the quarters; these guys () minnows only rarely get a chance to match themselves against the ABs, Wallabies, Boks and so on; enjoy it befort the serious stuff starts. Actually, I've enjoyed some of the matches and been reasonably impressed with the ability and zeal of some of the minnows to make a go of it for at least a half against far superior opposition. And not just kicking the odd penalty either, but scoring tries. Go Canada, Samoa et al ... !!!!

I've just had a quick read of our Wallabies story for tomorrow's paper - the gist of it being that now NZ, Aust, SA and Franch can all end up on the same side of the draw for the next round.

Seldom if ever have my sports prognostications been so accurate. Blimey. I haven't studied the draw, but from what I've heard on the radio on the way to work this morning, France must now beat Ireland and then will face NZ in the quarters.

I still like Soulive's first album, Turn It Out, on Velour and before they gots to BN. Was playing it a couple of days ago, in fact. I'm tempted to slam their, ahem, progress since then - including their latest, which sounds like the stuff you heard them doing. But it would be pointless, coz it's not so much that I consider it rubbish, more that it's something that simply doesn't interest me.

As a Kiwi born and bred, who has followed the game all my life, I'm happy to admit that ... the rules go over my head, too!n It's very technical in regards to breakdown -play, scrums and so on. Still, it can be beautiful. My fear for the all Blacks is that they may have peaked too soon. They were playing out of their skins about a year and a half ago. I'll be cheering for them unless they're playing the Aussies. And cheering for anyone who plays the South Africans. And for the Welsh; in some ways I regard them as our blood brothers in rugby. And for the Wallabies. But - bottom line - I want the All Blacks to cream everyone they face. And I mean completely obliterate. And I like the fact that the Italians and Argentines seem on the cusp of major country status, which could make for some upsets. I'm suprised and glad the World Cup has finally rolled around. It seems to have been on the way in terms of speculation for years and years. A plus for us: Many of the broadcast times are quite Aussie friendly.

Our A-League season kicked off last night, with Central Coast Mariners downing Sydney United 1-0. My side, Melbourne Victory, take on league debutants the Wellington Phoenix in NZ tomorrow and I'm pumped. THIS is why I gots pay TV, baby! Even better, I have next week off so can go to the first home game - normally I'd be working on a Saturday night. Doing what you ask? Normally sub-editing the Melbourne Victory coverage for my rag. Go Victory! What with that all plus EPL and lotsa rugby league, I'm a happy camper/couch potato. Hell, I'm even open to turning my time and mind to MLS - but it'd be nice if we got some games THAT DIDN'T FEATURE THE MOTHER-FREAKING LA GALAXY. Sheesh. Like there's only one team in your league. Pukesville.

Ok here's another Oz beer ad: http://www.harvested.com.au/ (click on Ted TV for the full ad) It's been going around, but only spasmodically, for about a year. Not much comment, but some bafflement. I like it, coz it's so, um, silly I guess. And here's some cool ones (!) for Toohey's Blue: http://www.visit4info.com/details.cfm?adid=30447 http://www.visit4info.com/details.cfm?adid=18580 http://www.visit4info.com/details.cfm?adid=25640

Yep. But personally I'd prefer Whipping Post.

Despite the fact i've lived here for 20 years, I'm actually a kiwi. A flightless bird. Story of my life.

Thanks guys - been on joyful scool holiday duty for a couple of weeks and watching the Socceroos fumble through the early stages of thge Asian Cup. Am just now grappling with a return to work in bleakest winter and getting to grips with the various scandals du jours here ("Jarrett like Hitler, says first Muslim in Congress" he he) and elsewhere. And ... maybe later today pulling the birthday trigger on Chu Berry.

(sorry haven't got time right now to clean this up) SOC: Henry move to Barcelona couldprompt transfer spinoff Soccer HenrySpin-off By Robert Millward LONDON, June 22 AP - Thierry Henry'sseemingly imminent move from Arsenal toBarcelona could prompt a spree oftransfers across Europe. With Henry in town to joinRonaldinho, Lionel Messi and SamuelEto'o in one of the greateststrikeforces ever assembled, Barca islikely to let some quality players go. If striker Eidur Gudjohnsen isreleased, he reportedly is keen on areturn to the English Premier League.Having had spells with Bolton andChelsea, the Icelandic forward wouldadjust quickly to the English leagueand clubs such as Liverpool, ManchesterUnited and Newcastle might beinterested. Argentina forward Javier Saviola isout of contract at Camp Nou andreportedly is unhappy that he doesn'tget many starts. He spent two seasonson loan at Monaco and Sevilla havingjoined Barca from River Plate in 2001.Henry's arrival would mean ever fewerchances of starting for Barca and hecould move to another Spanish club orreturn to his homeland. Despite beating Barcelona to theSpanish league title with a late surge,Real Madrid also might react to theHenry arrival into Spanish soccer byattracting some big stars. DavidBeckham is on his way to Major LeagueSoccer with the Los Angeles Galaxy andthe club has said farewell to other``galacticos'' - Ronaldo, ZinedineZidane, Luis Figo and Roberto Carlos. Henry's arrival at Barcelona willstrengthen the club's chances ofwinning back the Spanish league andEuropean Champions League titles andMadrid will need to respond. Madridpresident Ramon Calderon says he wantsto pry Brazil's Kaka from ChampionsLeague winner AC Milan. Calderon also told reporters onFriday that there could be sweepingchanges at the Bernabeu from coachFabio Capello down. If Capello doesn't stay, Calderonsays Madrid could go for Arsenal'sArsene Wenger, PSV Eindhoven's RonaldKoeman or former Denmark national teamregular Michael Laudrup as areplacement and that would mean bigchanges to the playing personnel. With a reported STG16 million($A37.74 million) to spend if the saleof Henry is completed, Wenger wouldhave funds to replace the Frenchman. The Gunners owners have thereputation of not spending big andrelying on young, homegrown playersinstead, and Wenger has a team ofemerging prospects who are the envy ofhis rivals. But Henry is considered irreplaceableand Wenger likely will spend some ofthe fee on recruiting a forward who cansatisfy Gunners fans who are unhappythat it finished fourth in the PremierLeague in the past two seasons andfailed to win a title last term. AP mw

Nope. Never.

The label's name was/is Black Patti, and they're 78s (as you say some of the time), not LPs (as you say the rest of the time!). Two sources of tall tales and true of collectors, lucking out and/or "door knocking" through the south in the '50s and '60s are in the booklet that comes with the Yazoo double CD The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of and various essays and footnotes in Revenant's Charley Patton behemouth.

No it won't. But that IS what I was quoted. After previous hassles with them, I'm well beyond trying to sort out what the price would be. Amazon is easier, cheaper and hassle-free. Which ain't a good look for the band.

Yup I got sucked in big time by the Bolton/Ellington review! Good job, Ken, although I reckon you were aided by the fact that Bolton doing such an album would hardly surprise.

Another query: In terms of the book, how broad will your defintion of R 'n' R be? Just rock 'n' roll? Or rock, country rock, garage rock, prog rock, pshychedelia and so on?

So I go to the Dead Store to pre-order the new Vault release, clicking through the various stages to ka-ching when up flashes the following shipping price to Australia: "UPS Worldwide Expedited - Shipping Cost: $78.20." Hello? Does the phrase "Get Fucked" mean anything to you? Given I had a heap of problems from them on my last order, I can only conclude that the Dead out-sourcing its merchandising is a debacle. Amazon here I come.

With only two more discs to go 'til I've worked my way through all 36 at least one, I have ... Another Question for Allen: I love the way certain tunes keep on popping up! Brilliant! Georgia On My Mind, Stardust, I've Found A New Baby, There'll Be Some Changes Made, Way Down Yonder In New Orleans, Alexander;s ragtime Band, Sweet Georgia Brown, Nice Work If You can get It and so on. Was it your intention to do that when you started compiling the project, based on those tunes? Or did it just of start happening and gain momentum?

He he. Maybe one of our resident Bastard mimickers can do the job for us.