Weird crow incident
Monday, May 28 2001
Posted by brockp
Crows seem to be one species who have not only survived mankind's attempts at wiping out any trace of wilderness in the world but thrived on the conditions we've created. Think about it. They get easy left over fries and roadkill, numerous dumpsters to raid for carrion, have plenty of telephone poles upon which to perch, and seem to have the perfect attitude for driving a cab in downtown NYC.

I bring it up because this past week I had a strange brush (literally) with one and have to wonder what the heck the crow was up to.

So I was walking down the sidewalk on Quebec St. just past East 1st Ave. I'd just dropped off a cargo van at the rental place where the company I work for has an account when I heard a rustle of feathers and a wind blowing by my head, and felt something brush the hair by my ear. I turned and looked up and there was a big raven alighting on a pole above me and squawking. "Hmm," I thought. "That was pretty odd..."

So I paused and then resumed walking where I was walking (back to my van, hoping it hadn't been stolen overnight). A few paces later I heard a rustle rustle flap flap and the wings brushed my hair again ! I looked up and there was the same crow squawking at me and landing back on another pole. I began to wonder if there was something on the back of my hoodie which he was trying to grab or whatever. Nothing. A plain old green hoodie. Nothing shiny. No food. Hmmm.

I stared back at him and then turned to keep walking but turned suddenly back after a couple of steps. He was mid-flight between the second pole and me and coming straight at my back. He swooped up when I turned, catching him at whatever he (she ?) was up to, squawking some more, obviously pissed that I nabbed him red-handed (or feathered, I should say...)

What do you make of it ?

Holy bandnames !!
Saturday, May 5 2001
Posted by brockp

Here's a trivial blog for 2:20 am. I just clipped the following listings from a musician's contact site in LA:

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11/24/00 - Change Of Heart: Denver based, working now doing mostly classic rock & R&B

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11/24/00 - Murphy`s Law: Trad to new country, booked wkends in Houston, opened for Asleep at the Wheel

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Just imagine Ian Blurton doing classic rock and R&B in Denver...Or Murphy's Law suddenly veering from NY hardcore to Trad - new country.

I'm not joking, these two were listed one after another. It kind of reminds me of when I discovered a Celtic fiddle band named the Doughboys.

Here's another one:
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11/21/00 - Lawrence Welk Orchestra: Canada tour from Feb 7 to March 8, based in Branson, MO

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Too bad that one's filled. Just imagine playing in the Lawrence Welk Orchestra !! How about this one:
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11/3/00 - Frankie Valli & the 4 Seasons: Replacing some members for future shows, playing all the old hits