Jade Warrior (album)

Jade Warrior (album) was released in 1971 as one of the earlier albums of the psychedelic progressive rock movement. It is the first Wikibloogia in four days that is not directly related to Japan. Though, the album cover is Asian-themed, with Asian writing, and Asian-style mountains and sailboat, so I'm not out of the woods yet.

Jade Warrior was also the name of the band. Jade is a stone. I think it's green.


Jade animals.
Photo: markb120 via Flickr (CC)

The Dear Hunter

The Dear Hunter is a band (not to be confused with the movie The Deer Hunter). The band originated as a side project for a musician named Casey Crescenzo when he was a member of another band called The Receiving End of Sirens.

Sometimes I wish the cast of The Deer Hunter would form a band. Robert Deniro would play guitar. Christopher Walken on vocals. That other guy on drums. Meryl Streep on bass.


Like many, she found The Deer Hunter hard to watch.
Photo: Eric Bégin via Flickr (CC)

Out of Tune (band)

Out of Tune (band) is a Polish indie rock band. Their name is being ironic. At least I assume it is. I assume they are mostly in tune. Music that's out of tune is grating on the brain. No one really knows why. At least I don't think they do. There's something about human brains that was made to like certain combinations of rhythms and sounds, but not others.

There must be a purpose behind this, but hell if I know what it is. Hell if anyone does.


This man is out of tune.
Photo: Arty Smokes via Flickr (CC)

The Visible Men

The Visible Men is a band from Oregon that formed in 2002. It seems this band is either disbanded or on hiatus. They are not visible men at the moment.

Tonight is Christmas Eve. This means that Santa Claus is coming to town. Some people don't think Santa Claus is really a visible man. I don't know anyone who has actually seen the real Santa Claus in person. I only know people who have seen people pretending to be Santa Claus.

And then there's Jesus. There is also great debate about whether Jesus is a visible man. Some claim to have seen him in times of need or in a piece of toast. Tomorrow is his birthday. I know that a lot of people will be celebrating. But mostly I wonder how Jesus himself will celebrate.


A collection of visible men.
Photo: freeparking via Flickr (CC)

La Mano Ajena

La Mano Ajena is a Chilean band. Their music combines many different styles. Here's a video for their song "Wewo": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfK--JKESO0. You might listen to it while you read on.

La Mano Ajena formed in 2002. Last month they opened for Gogol Bordello at a concert in Chile.

I speak a little Spanish, and with some help from a translator I found on the internet, I have decided that La Mano Ajena means Other People's Hand.

You can learn a lot from other people's hands. Where they've been, where they're going. Whether their hands smell.


Other people's sand hand.
Photo: hanaan via Flickr (CC)

Tilt (band)

Tilt (band) was a punk band from northern California. They formed in 1992, the same year that Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers were born. They disbanded once and for all in 2001, the same year that Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers turned nine.

Tilt is more than just a band. It is also a sloping position. My apartment is tilted. My street is tilted. My brain is tilted. You're tilted. I'm tilted. Miley Cyrus is tilted. Everyone is tilted. Everything is tilted. The Jonas Brothers are tilted. Tilt is tilted.

Everybody remain tilted.


Ground's tilted.
Photo: oobrien via Flickr (CC)

Fast Crew

Fast Crew is a hip hop group from New Zealand. Please watch their video now: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkwRRH_LV54.

I love New Zealand. New Zealand is one of those countries that pretty much everyone loves. There are some countries that people don't love as much. People don't like North Korea as much. Or Canada.

But New Zealand. People love it. Russell Crowe is from there, I think. He was good in L.A. Confidential. That was a good movie. New Zealand is famous for its sheep and kiwifruit.

I have a question though. Was there once a Zealand?


This sheep is sad because his wife was turned into a bush.
Photo: Travelling Pooh via Flickr (CC)

Ballad of the Irish Horse (album)

Ballad of the Irish Horse (album) is an album released by The Chieftains in 1986. The Chieftains are an Irish group who sing traditional Irish music.

At first I thought "the Irish Horse" was slang for something dirty. But now I think they just mean an Irish horse.


Nostril of the Irish horse.
Photo: Iguana Jo via Flickr (CC)

Chasing Time (compilation album)

Chasing Time (compilation album) was a compilation album released by the '80s progressive metal band Fates Warning. I don't think I know this band.

Fates Warning has inspired me to write a poem. You can read it while you listen to your favorite Fates Warning song. Below is my poem. It's called "Chasing Time (compilation album)".

Chasing Time (compilation album)
We're not chasing time.
Time's chasing us.
But time is slow.
And we are fast.
We will take a big lead.
But then we will take a nap. And time will win the race.
Slow and steady.

Adam Shonkoff


Chevy Chasing Time (compilation album)
Photo: Alan Light via Flickr (CC)

Grateful Dead Download Series Volume 3

Grateful Dead Download Series Volume 3 was a live digital download of a Grateful Dead concert, the third in a series. The live performance was recorded on October 26, 1971 at the University of Rochester in New York and released in 2005 as a bunch of ones and zeroes.

Who would've thought?


Housefly dead.
Photo: Samyra Serin via Flickr (CC)

Run-D.M.C.

Run-D.M.C. was some sort of hip hop group from New York.

Their cover of Ray Parker Jr.'s "Ghostbusters" was on the soundtrack to Ghostbusters II.


Run-DMC inspired an entire generation of hip hop artists.
Photo: Jake G via Flickr (CC)

Dicta License

Dicta License is a Filipino rock/rap/grunge band in the vein of Rage Against the Machine. You can now listen to a Dicta License song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuzI_yOb6vQ

The guitarist for Dicta License is named Boogie Romero. This is an awesome name for a guitarist. It makes me think of former Red Sox shortstop Ed Romero. But Ed Romero wasn't Filipino. He was from Puerto Rico.

Ed Romero played for the Red Sox from 1986 to 1989. I wish we'd all called him Boogie Romero.


Boogie Board Romero.
Photo: sombraala via Flickr (CC)

Still Life (Annie Haslam album)

Still Life (Annie Haslam album) was a solo album from Annie Haslam, who had previously been the vocalist in the 1970s English prog rock band Renaissance. Still Life was released in 1985. According to Wikipedia, the album sold well. I'm glad for it.

Here's a video of the title track. It's good for relaxing and being contemplative and wondering what life might be like if you lived near a majestic mountain or by a reflective body of water or in a canoe. Still. That's what life would be like. It would be a still life. Now I get it. I just had to think it through.

But there are many other ways to live the still life. Sitting alongside a bowl of fruit. Or sleeping. Sleeping is still life. Or sitting in a chair without moving. Still life. Waiting at a traffic light too. Or staring at clouds. Or at a person with a deformity. Or at someone you love. These are all ways to live the still life.

And in the end, we die. And death is the ultimate still life.

Or is it?


Chicken wings still life.
Photo: thatcanadiangirl via Flickr (CC)

Don't Waste Your Time

Don't Waste Your Time is a Kelly Clarkson song. As you read on, you can listen to it.

I think this Wikipedia article was written by an Australian. There are a number of references to Australian CD releases and airplay on Australian radio. But more importantly, this Wikipedia article taught me a word I didn't know before: eventuate. ("A CD single did not eventuate.")

Great word. I had to look it up to make sure it was really a word, and it is. Even if it had not been a real word, I would have respected the writer for using it. The purpose of language, after all, is to communicate ideas. And there's no better way to do that than by using words that aren't real but sound like they might be.

As for "Don't Waste Your Time", I think that's great advice from Kelly Clarkson. Then again, I am wasting my time by writing this. And you're wasting your time reading it. And Kelly Clarkson is wasting her time singing songs. Everybody's wasting their time doing whatever they're doing. Maybe we should waste our time after all. I'm gonna go get a burrito.


Kelly Clarkson tries to get her mouth unstuck from a microphone.
Photo: kwalk628 via Flickr (CC)

Symphony No. 1 (Enescu)

Symphony No. 1 (Enescu) is a symphony that was composed in 1905 by a Romanian named George Enescu. But Wikipedia never comes right out and clearly states that. Wikipedia sort of jumps right into the middle of a thought, as if we had already been talking about it. Sometimes I feel like Wikipedia has me confused with someone else.

Anyway, take a listen.

Soothing, yes? I like classical music, but I don't listen to it as much as I should. Of course, there are a lot of things I like that I don't listen to as much as I should. Like the sound of ocean waves. Or the call of the loon. Or John Tesh's live performance of the 1990s opening theme song from the NBA on NBC.


After getting stuck in the future, George went a little crazy.
Photo: Carlos Lorenzo via Flickr (CC)

Dragonball Evolution: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Dragonball Evolution: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is self-explanatory. Dragonball is a famous anime franchise about dragons and balls.

My favorite song title on the soundtrack is "I Dream of Chi Chi." When I was a youth, I would sometimes come home from school and eat ramen soup while watching "I Dream of Jeannie." I was captivated by the mysticism of the show and the length of the noodles.


Not-particularly-enthusiastic Dragonball fans.
Photo: mikemol via Flickr (CC)

Ronald Naldi

Ronald Naldi is an American lyric tenor who can sing over 100 operatic roles in 6 languages.

Ronald is apparently famous. He has sung alongside Pavarotti and has performed at important places all over the world. He is also the only American lyric tenor whose last four letters of his first name are the first four letters of his last name.


Phantom of the lego opera.
Photo: plums_deify via Flickr (CC)

Bird in Flight / Tribal Look

Bird in Flight / Tribal Look was a song from 1980 by Toyah. It was released as a single, published by Sweet 'n Sour Songs Ltd.

I like sweet 'n sour chicken, as Chinese food. However, it's not my favorite dish. I prefer chicken with vegetables, beef and broccoli, and pan-fried noodles (with assorted meats). To start I'll have pan-fried dumplings and a bowl of wonton soup.


Inspired Toyah in 1980.
Photo: Queen Roly via Flickr (CC)

Jennie Bomb

Jennie Bomb is the second album from the Swedish all-girl rock band called Sahara Hotnights.

I like Sweden. I've never been there, but I have worked several years for a Swedish educational travel company and have bought a lot of affordable furniture from a Swedish homegoods company.


Down in front.
Photo: Majsan of Sweden via Flickr (CC)

Habeas Corpus (Living Things album)

Habeas Corpus (Living Things album) is the second album from the band Living Things. Outside the music industry, habeas corpus is a writ. A writ is a legal action. The purpose of habeas corpus is to safeguard citizens from being unfairly and illegally detained. I like habeas corpus.

Habeas corpus can be literally translated from the Latin as "have the body." If you don't have the body, you can't be a living thing and you can't buy Habeas Corpus, the second album from the band Living Things.


Habeas corpus is a touchy subject.
Photo: takomabibelot via Flickr (CC)