My latest music genre of choice is Nerdcore Hiphop. It all started a couple of years ago when I found the Mighty Stephen Hawking’s gansta rap. And then late last year I ran across MC Chris, one of the creative forces behind the often wonderful, always bizarre Sealab 2021. But what I’ve been listening to over and over again the last week or so is MC Frontalot, the master of the genre. He’s done a duet with Kompressor and one is on the way with MC Hawking. This guy is where it’s at.

Self Portrait in South Park

Have you heard of Dammit Dolls? There’s a poem that goes with these dolls, written at the site. Go ahead and take a look. I’ll wait. OK. A dear friend is making me one of these, but with one minor difference. You see, I have a very stong Daoist outlook on things, and that prevents me from getting upset and yelling “DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT!” So mine’s going to be a Balance Boy with its own poem: Whenever things don’t look so well… And you want to hit the wall and yell… Here’s a little balance boy To remind you what to do. Just grasp him firmly by the legs And think about your talents And as he looks back out at you Yell, “Balance! Balance! Balance!”

Newsflash! Good old lovable Brak is a guest on Atlanta radio station 99x for the next hour or so. You can watch or listen on-line here. Oh my. He’s brought the uke, and has launched into a medly of “Punk Rock Girl” (Dead Milkmen), “Girlfriend in a Coma” (The Smiths), and “Vacation” (The Go-Gos). He’s taking phone calls.

The Milwaukee Youth Center Choir is a vocal group of unwanted orphan children, culled from the streets of Wisconsin and taught to sing through a strict regimen of malnutrition and beatings.

Kompressor (Instruments: SYNTH, CRUSH, FEAR, DEATH) does not dance, but he is an instructor for the children. His children’s songs, available for download here alongside his other music describing his upcoming world domination, is what you might expect if Trent Reznor were to appear on Sesame Street. If you enjoy the music, you may also want to watch a few videos he’s made available. Actually, after watching them, it looks like Kompressor does dance.

At 6pm yesterday evening, the thermometer on the back porch read 108 degrees. I’m willing to give it a few degrees of innacuracy, but it was still too darned hot.

Croquet mallets versus softball bats -- only one will survive!

A Betty Bowers type has written an amusing letter to the editor of our local newspaper.

In typical Eric style, I let a major event in a family member’s life go by unmentioned (cf. “I’m a bad family member.”). My youngest sister graduated college a week ago today, after seven years (or so) of classes, a marriage, and two and a third children. She can now teach teens our language, literature, and the art of drama. Many, many congratulations, Lauryl! Remember, if you ever need a break from teaching, you can always come help weed carrots.