Apologies to Steve Earle

Last year, I wrote this about Steve Earle and his political speechifying from the concert stage. I argued that his song lyrics make his political statements more effectively than his sometimes irksome between-song commentary, which at a show I saw last year even included a reference to the Financial Times op-ed page (to be fair, apparently Bruce Springsteen has been making references to writs of habeas corpus on his current tour).

Anyway, I'm here to say, "sorry Steve."

I think Earle's new album, "Washington Square Serenade," is among his best work ever. It's like John Dos Passos set to music.

One of the songs, "Down Here Below," is a classic. And "Steve's Hammer (for Pete)" sounds as if it is a direct response to my complaints about Steve's political harping.

As long as he keeps making music like this, he can bitch all he wants from the concert stage and grow his Taliban beard as long as he wants, I'll be right there with him...

Here's Steve playing the fantastic opening track to the album, "Tennessee Blues":



And here's a short promo film in which he talks about making a record with ProTools, name-checks Lou Dobbs of all people, and plays a couple of incredible songs. His wife, Allison Moorer, is there, too, looking eerily like a young Holly Near.

Cracklin' Rosie

It's been an eventful month. For updates on our little Rosalind, go here.

Essential Reading

If you're not reading Wonkette, you should be. Its attitude is exactly right for today's political scene.

Here's a classic recent post on the current (and incredibly boring) political crisis here in Belgium.

The site's current editor is leaving. Hope his replacements don't screw it up.

The Art of Cartooning

The Onion has been running editorial cartoons, or at least a great parody of an idiot editorial cartoonist. The guy is a total reactionary--a nice replacement for the late, lamented Ed Anger.

Plus, I love the little nod to Tom Toles in the bottom corner...

More Specific Details on How to Build a Laser Gun

Sigh. A shocking number of you out there, all over the world, are still trying to figure out how to build a laser gun. Thanks, at least, for keeping my traffic numbers respectable, but come on. Why on earth do you need one?

Oh well, if you really want to know, the full scoop on laser-construction can be found by clicking here. Good luck, Buck Rogers!

Watch This Space!

Hi there, I haven't been posting since starting my new job with the Wall Street Journal Europe, where I am now deputy editor of the Weekend Journal. I plan to begin re-posting soon...

Meantime, some fun viewing: