OK. That "Summer Schedule" Starts Right Now.

Photo of t-shirt found in Lovely Teenaged Daughter's laundry last night courtesy of: The Waist High Collection

Summer Schedule? Waist High Readers Have The Reunion Committee To Thank.

TOP FIFTEEN REASONS WAIST HIGH IS SWITCHING TO HER "SUMMER SCHEDULE" (code for "TAKING A SMALL BREAK"):

(All 15 reasons removed by author.)

Happy Birthday Martin Gore.

The driving creative force behind Depeche Mode, composer and keyboardist Martin Gore was born in Basildon, England in 1961. As a teen he joined French Look, a duo featuring schoolmate Vince Clarke. With the subsequent additions of keyboardist Andrew Fletcher and singer David Gahan, the group re-christened itself Composition of Sound, followed soon by Depeche Mode.

Depeche Mode's 1981 debut Speak and Spell was a major British hit, its success spurred by the smash single "Just Can't Get Enough," but following the album's release, principal songwriter Clarke abruptly exited to form Yazoo with singer Alison Moyet.

In Clarke's absence, Gore grabbed the songwriting reins, and while 1982's A Broken Frame deviated only slightly from Depeche Mode's earlier work, his ominous songs grew more assured and sophisticated. With the addition of Alan Wilder as a permanent replacement for Clark, the band released Construction Time Again in 1983.

Some Great Reward, issued the following year, was Depeche Mode's artistic and commercial breakthrough, as Gore's dark, kinky preoccupations with spiritual doubt ("Blasphemous Rumours") and psycho-sexual manipulation ("Master and Servant") came to the fore. The single "People Are People" was a major hit on both sides of the Atlantic, and typified the music's turn toward more industrial textures.

1986's Black Celebration continued the trend towards grim melancholy, and further established the group as a major commercial force.

1990 saw the release of Violator, which spawned the hits "Enjoy the Silence," "Policy of Truth," and "Personal Jesus," Warner Brothers' biggest selling 12" up until that point.

The band's first studio record since 2001's Exciter, Playing the Angel is due out on October 17 and will be preceded by the single, "Precious." On the new record, Dave Gahan is sharing songwriting credits with Gore for the very first time.

"As fans in America wait for news about on sale dates for Depeche Mode's upcoming six week, 25 date U.S. trek launching in late October, the news from overseas about ticket demand there is staggering. In fact, over 350,000 tickets for the iconic band's Winter 2006 European Tour have sold in little over a week, seven months before the first show commences." (filter-mag.com)

"When I write love songs, people think they're really soppy -- but I see love as a consolation for the boredom of life."
-- Martin Gore

Biography material directly quoted from: music.yahoo.com

Happy Friday!

Ass.

Life, summed up in 9 verses:

Life is all about ass;
you're either covering it,
laughing it off,
kicking it,
kissing it,
busting it,
trying to get a piece of it,
behaving like one,
or living with one!

Material: flowerinthedale.blogspot.com
Most excellent photo courtesy: saraphina.com

Just A Bit Of Pacific Northwest Animal News.

Gopher wipes out entire power grid.

From Clackamas Oregon comes
YOU COULD SAY IT WAS ALMOST A CASE OF FRIED CHICKEN --

A Clackamas County sheriff's deputy rescued a hen Tuesday that had been left unattended without any water in a hot, locked pickup truck that was parked in the sun and had the windows rolled up. The vehicle was parked outside the Village Place Apartments at 9020 SE Scottstree Way in Clackamas, said detective Wendi Babst with the Clackamas Co. Sheriff's Office. A passerby called authorities and the responding deputy tried to find the owner of the truck, but was unable to.

After consulting a veterinarian who confirmed that a bird left in a heated vehicle was at immediate risk of death, the deputy opened the truck door with the help of a locksmith. The hen was taken to Clackamas County Dog Control as a temporary measure until it can be taken to a bird rescue organization or sanctuary. When located, the owner of the bird could face animal neglect charges, Babst said. (kgw.com)

Oh, and Washington state wants to finally outlaw beastiality after "police say a man died of internal bleeding July second after having sex with a horse."

This Is Where I Take The Whole "Shunned From The Reunion Committee" In Stride.

Portland Oregon resident Waist High (The owner of the largest collection of West High School photographs in the world, and the creator of a website NAMED AFTER WEST HIGH SCHOOL) after finding out that she had not been invited to the West High School Class of 1986 reunion committee's first meeting on Aug. 7:

"WHAT THE FU**!"

Person on the Class of 1986 reunion committee who lives in Bakersfield that answered the question: "You don't even live in town!"

Current temperature in Portland Oregon? 81
Current temperature in Bakersfield California? 107

I'll get over it.

Photo courtesy: kptv.com

You Can Take The Boy Out Of Fresno.

But you can't get him to post.

Waist High would like to now publicly call out the "deadbeat ass" of Fresyes, my onetime favorite blog. Every. Single. Day. I. Go. To. The. Site.

Photo courtesy of: Hoover alum Brian via tearusapart.com/fresyes

"I Let The Melody Shine."

With two weeks gone since Live 8, one of the most exciting events to happen in the life of Waist High, I would like to say: about "Bittersweet Symphony," Chris Martin could be right about it being "the best song ever written."

About the reader who since Live 8 sends Waist High an amazing, long lost 1980s song every day, sometimes extended versions, you are keeping me healthy.

About MTV, I hope they have now learned that the music is what's important.

About the person who put me in a chokehold and tried to put my head in a urinal this evening, you might very well be the reason that listening to Gordon Lightfoot sing "If You Could Read My Mind" at Live 8 Toronto. Nevermind.

About Gordon Lightfoot singing "If You Could Read My Mind" at Live 8 Toronto, I would like to answer Karen Johns of ltvnews.com's question:

"Was I the only one who got a tingle up my spine when Gordon Lightfoot started into the opening bars of 'If You Could Read My Mind'? There was this somewhat frail, lone figure with only his guitar as accompanyment enrapturing the hushed crowd with his clear beautiful voice and his poetic lyrics."

No. You. Were. Not.

Photos courtesy: Live 8 via news.yahoo

Have You Heard About The Website...

created by a person who not only owns the largest collection of West High School photographs in the world, but who also proudly displays her West High School Class of 1986 tassel in her bathroom?

If you have not heard about this website, please see the below post and then call your local police because a crime has been committed.

Photo courtesy of: The Waist High Collection

Have You Heard About The Website...

whose creator keeps twigs, plucked from trees at West High School in Bakersfield California, in an old bottle in her home in Oregon? If you have not, see the below post and then do Waist High a favor and go to your back porch and scream at the top of your lungs, "IT'S AN OUTRAGE!" in your best Johnny Cochran voice.

Photo courtesy of: The Waist High Collection

Have You Heard About The Website...

that is the same color as the walls at West High School in Bakersfield California?

Photo courtesy of: The Waist High Collection

THE COLOR OF MY WEBSITE IS THE COLOR OF THE WALLS AT THE SCHOOL FOR GOD'S SAKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Photo of Waist High immediately after her 3 mile run today, in a typical running outfit, courtesy of The Waist High Collection, the largest collection of West High School photographs in the world.

If you thought that the owner of the largest collection of West High School photographs in the world would be invited to be on the West High School Class of 1986 reunion committee, who is meeting for the first time Aug. 7, you would be wrong.

If you happen to think that the creator of a website NAMED AFTER WEST HIGH SCHOOL would be invited to be on the West High School Class of 1986 reunion committee, you would also be wrong.

Happy Birthday Trevor Horn.

In 1979, after forming Camera Club with Thomas Dolby and Geoff Downes, Horn and Downes split to form The Buggles, whose video for the song "Video Killed The Radio Star" was the first video played on MTV.

Horn co-founded the band Art of Noise in 1983, and was one of the most commercially successful producers of the 1980s, producing Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas," ABC's Lexicon of Love, Yes' 90125, and Frankie Goes To Hollywood's Welcome to the Pleasuredome.

No small thing, Trevor was also "one of the originators of the 12 inch remix." (peoplesound.com)

Happy Birthday Ian Curtis.

Born in 1956, Ian Curtis formed Stiff Kittens in 1976 with Peter Hook and Bernard Sumner. Stiff Kittens became Warsaw became Joy Division.

Two top ten albums, Closer and Still soon followed, but "Love Will Tear Us Apart," first performed on a 1979 Peel session, was to be the band's first and only appearance in the singles chart during their lifetime. On May 18, 1980, Ian Curtis, recently diagnosed with epilepsy, was found hanged in his kitchen. Though the remaining members of Joy Division were to re-emerge as New Order, the haunting "Love Will Tear Us Apart" will forever remain a monument to Ian Curtis' tragic talent.

The film Control, based on the book Touching From A Distance, written by Curtis' widow Deborah, goes into production in July and will be directed by Anton Corbijn. Rights for the book had been among the most sought after in the world.

Representing. Vol. 5.

Photo courtesy of: The Waist High Collection

Isn't 108 Considered "Hotternshit"?

From Bake Town, who is forever ripping on Portland, comes:
The five-day forecast is as follows:

Tues - 105
Wed - 108
Thurs - 106
Fri - 105
Sat - 105

Burr. It's kind of cold here, I think I will go turn up the heater.

Happy Birthday Peter Murphy.

Peter Murphy's initial foray into the music world was as the front man for the influential post punk band Bauhaus. Their style was unique and contemporary and their live shows that combined stark reality with theatrics are now legendary. Their dramatic look, electrifying performances and unique sound blossomed into a lifestyle and set the standard for the endless number of clones who followed in their wake.

With their own particular mystique and stark brooding music, it was inevitable that Bauhaus would be classified as the vanguard of goth fashion, a totally misleading confinement, ignoring their humor, experimentation and pure rock and roll energy. Much of their sound was indeed dark, distinct and intense, and they released a distinguished body of work in a brief career that managed to reflect an era that has now proved timeless.

After the breakup of Bauhaus, Peter Murphy recorded an experimental and haunting album The Waking Hour with Mick Karn (former bassist of new romantic glam band Japan), using the name Dali's Car. It was a short lived pairing that he used as a springboard to jump headfirst into his solo career and since then has never looked back.

Material quoted directly from: Elizabeth MMK Dameron via petermurphy.info
Photo courtesy: jwhitephoto.com

"Maybe Living In Portland Ain't So Great After All."

As I read Bake Town's desperate cry for help I tried to keep in mind that she was posting from 100+ degree weather as I was safe in the comfort of a 64 degree Portland summer day.

Happy Birthday Neil Tennant.

Born in 1954, the former Marvel Comics editor met Chris Lowe in an electronics shop in 1981, and The Pet Shop Boys were formed.

"The most successful duo in U.K. chart history," The Pet Shop Boys have "amassed over thirty top twenty hit singles and twelve hit albums."

Material: bbc.co.uk

Now. Was That So Hard?

Waist High would like to say a heartfelt "Thank You" to MTV for rebroadcasting Live 8 today INTERRUPTION FREE. It was much appreciated. And although we are so very glad that you saw the error of your ways, you must be reminded again, that you fucked up real bad.

To wit: Just one week after Live 8, included under the definition of "MTV" in Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, sits this:

"MTV drew heavy criticism for it's coverage of Live 8, the multinational concert of musical artists which raised awareness for African debt relief. The broadcast of the music was limited, as the network cut to it's on air personalities, celebrity interviews, and commercials in the middle of live acts. The pinnacle of this was cutting to commercial during Pink Floyd's performance in London, which was bassist Roger Waters' first performance with the rest of the band since 1981. MTV VJ's came onscreen to talk during the first guitar solo in 'Comfortably Numb,' then cut back for a few seconds before cutting to a commercial."

Picture me holding out my hands like a scale MTV. On one side we have Roger Waters and Dave Gilmour on stage together for the first time since 1981 performing "Breathe," "Money," "Wish You Were Here," and "Comfortably Numb."

On the other side we have vacant, annoying, 23 year old VJ's babbling on and on about nothing important, relevant, or intelligent.

Happy Birthday Jim Kerr.

Simple Minds frontman.

Simple Minds, who formed in 1978, grew out of Scotland punk group Johnny and the Self-Abusers.

The name Simple Minds was taken from a line in the David Bowie track "Jean Genie."

New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84) became their first chart album in the U.S., followed by Sparkle In The Rain in 1984, and Once Upon A Time in 1985. Once Upon A Time went gold and reached the U.S. Top Ten.

Black and White 050505 will be released Sept. 13, and some are saying it is their best album since New Gold Dream.

Happy Birthday Marc Almond.

Singer, songwriter and performer.

With Dave Ball, he established the first successful British electronic duo Soft Cell. Soft Cell had a string of international hits, the most successful having been their multi million selling version of the northern soul song "Tainted Love." Their record Memorabilia was the first techno record ever and set the pace for a whole musical movement.

Material courtesy: eastcentralone.com

Happy Birthday Kate Garner.

Of Haysi Fantayzee fame.

Rule One: Don't Interrupt Dave Gilmour's Guitar Solo On "Comfortably Numb."

Did you hear about the station that is going to rebroadcast Live 8 tomorrow?

MTV Tries To Make Up For Bad Live 8 Coverage

It may be too little, too late but MTV is trying to make up for its flawed performance on the Live 8 concerts.

Acknowledging it blew last weekend's coverage, MTV and sister channel VH1 will air 10 straight hours of musical performances pulled from the Live 8 shows on Saturday starting at 10 a.m. ET/PT. VH1 will carry the special from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. MTV will pick it up from 3 to 8 p.m.

And here's the most interesting news: the special reprise of the Live 8 shows will run without commercials.

It's the television equivalent of a mulligan in golf.

The MTV coverage of Live 8 was sharply criticized by viewers and TV writers for cutting off many performances for commercial breaks or for the inane comments of MTV/VH1 personalities. (The failure to give sufficient airtime to Pink Floyd's reunion performance was the biggest single complaint.)

Compared to AOL's online videocast, it was really lame, which MTV executives all but admitted. In a statement Thursday, MTV Networks Music Group President Van Toffler said: "At MTV and VH1, we're in a constant and candid dialogue with our audience. In the wake of our coverage last Saturday, our viewers have resoundingly told us online they want to see full performances from their favorite artists."

Friday, July 08, 2005
Charlie McCollum

MTV Will Rebroadcast Live 8

Material courtesy: blogs.mercurynews.com

Everybody, Meet James Reed. Wait, I Meant Meet MTV Sucks.

PINKED OUT
Pink Floyd fan seeks revenge after Live 8
BY MIKE MILIARD

Sex Pistols frontman Johnny Rotten used to wear a ripped Pink Floyd T-shirt with I HATE scrawled angrily above the band's name. It was the quintessence of punk: a DIY way to tell the world that, uh, he hated Pink Floyd.

But lots of people love Pink Floyd. In fact, one man loves Pink Floyd so much that he's willing to go far beyond taking a Sharpie to his favorite shirt to make it known how deep his passions run. He's willing to change his name, legally and permanently, to MTV Sucks.

Some explanation is in order. It all began during the cable station's marathon coverage of Bob Geldof's Live 8 concerts last Saturday. In London, history, of a sort, was being made, as aging curmudgeon Roger Waters joined his Pink Floyd bandmates David Gilmour, Nick Mason, and Rick Wright on stage for the first time since 1981. This was momentous stuff. (Even if the band members didn't necessarily think so. "Like sleeping with the ex-wife," Gilmour described it.)

Then it happened. Right at the orgasmic apex of the wicked awesome guitar outro to Floyd's laser-show classic "Comfortably Numb," MTV cut to commercial. Minds were boggled. The Floyd reunion had been the highlight of the Live 8, arguably even overshadowing the African poverty that Geldof was trying to call attention to. This was an outrage. This would not stand. So one viewer did what any true Pink Floyd fan would do in such a situation. He logged on to eBay.

"THIS WAS AN ACT OF PURE PROFITEERING AND ABJECT STUPIDITY," fulminated 45-year-old Clearwater, Florida, resident James Reed (a Floyd fan since age 12) on the auction site. So offended was Reed by this "SHEER MORONIC, DIMWITTED MOVE," that he promised, if bidding surpassed $3000, to change his name. And he wasn't just blowing smoke. Everything, Social Security card, driver's license, would bear the name MTV Sucks. "IF THE PRICE IS RIGHT I WILL ALSO TATTOO THAT SH!T ON MY A$$."

Reached by phone in Florida, Reed says he hasn't decided exactly what that price is yet. But he's not doing this for money. He's doing it to protest a "stupid, stupid thing to do" to "the greatest rock-and-roll band ever."

It's fitting, in a way. The members of Pink Floyd may each be millionaires many times over, but the pursuit of filthy lucre has never been their bag, man. Just listen to anti capitalist AOR anthems like "Money" and "Have a Cigar." The starting bid last Saturday was one shiny penny, but by press time the page had received more than 8000 hits, and there had been 45 bids, jacking the latest offer to $100. (Bidding ends Saturday, July 9, at 9:16 pm EST.)

Reed doesn't think he'll hit his mark of $3000. But if someone ponies up the cash, he will change his name.

"If somebody pays it, I'll do it," Reed says. "A deal is a deal. What would my life be like? I guess we'd find out."

Maybe it wouldn't be so bad. As Reed writes on the site, if worse comes to worse, "you can just call me Em."

Courtesy: bostonphoenix.com

Blog For 44 More Years? Sure. Suck In My Double Chin Every Time I Take A Picture? Not So Sure.

The details of Waist High's "Calculated Health Span" Report would not only bore you, but would make you vomit so I shall not bother. You will be happy to know however, that you could possibly enjoy this fine web site until the year 2049 because Waist High's CALCULATED HEALTH SPAN is 81.5 years.

Healthspan Calculator

Have a good weekend.
Photo courtesy of: The Waist High Collection

Alright, maybe one detail:

Alcohol, consumed in the amount that you have indicated, can be toxic to your liver and your nervous system. For some, amounts such as this could mean you are addicted to alcohol.

Having a problem with alcohol will shorten your health span and will certainly decrease your quality of life. Seeking assistance and treatment is critical.

Representing. Brooklyn.

Waist High, the annoying little blog that could, pauses now to give a shout out to her gift giving fans on the east coast.

Hello Red Hook!

Open Letter To The Television Station That Cut Away From The Reunited After 20 Years Pink Floyd Performing "Comfortably Numb."

(With a little help from people who can write worth a damn)

Dear Station That Cuts Away From The Reunited After 20 Years Pink Floyd performing "Comfortably Numb" on Live 8:

Were you aware that "The legendary band reformed especially for the gig after more than 20 years of hostility"? DID YOU KNOW THAT?

It did not seem like you did because you: "broadcast eight hours of footage but inexplicably kept leaving midsong to go to a commercial or, worse, to some bubbly VJ blathering on about how cool the event was. Abrupt exits ruined a dozen tunes, including such rock classics as The Who's 'Won't Get Fooled Again' and a reunited Pink Floyd performing 'Comfortably Numb.'"

Judging by CD and album sales since last Saturday, I think people wanted to see Pink Floyd and not your completely annoying and vacant beyond belief VJ's.

To wit: Pink Floyd "have seen their album sales rocket by an astonishing 1,300% since Saturday."

Even Richard Roeper said that he "can't recall a more infuriating viewing experience" and commented that your coverage of Live 8 "was the most incompetent telecast of a live event" he had ever witnessed.

I support The Rabbi Report statement, "Fuck You. How DARE you!"
You "interrupted 'Comfortably Numb' so that the asshole VJ's could tell us how cool Pink Floyd are and then cut to a commercial before the song was over!"

Your "infuriating, inane, VJ heavy program was an utter travesty. It aired more ads and meaningless interviews than performances." You "routinely cut away from crucial sets, often only to remind us what an incredible event we were (not) witnessing."

You suck,
Waist High

The views and opinions expressed in this page are strictly those of the page author.

Material quoted directly from: sky.com, whas11.com, timesargus.com, and timesdispatch.com
Photo courtesy: Live 8 via sky.com

"Bakersfield? My Goodness, This Is Really Quite A Place."

The two cities I love...

Portland Oregon makes the cover of Outside Magazine's August issue "Where to Live Now." Hey kids, did you know that Portland has 34 microbreweries in the metropolitan area?

Waist High hometown Bakersfield California, where "no large city in California has grown at a faster rate," gets praise in the L.A. Times' "Bakersfield Comes Into Full Bloom."

Bakersfield material inspired by: the vacationing in Bakersfield Amy Langfield
Photo courtesy of: The Waist High Collection

I'll Show You Carlos Santana. Right Up Your...

"So have you had, like, plastic surgery?" is only the greatest compliment disguised as a question EVER if the person that asked you was a 21 year old female who LITERALLY could not believe that you were 37 and had a 16 year old daughter that drives a Volvo station wagon.

The MILF comment?
I told her I hear that all the time.

The "You dress so cute for your age. Look at you, with your Carlos Santana shoes" comment, I could have done without.

The Views And Opinions Expressed In This Page Are Strictly Those Of The Page Author.

As one of the nation's eminent 1980s music scholars, Waist High has no doubt been asked, "What do you think of the show Hit Me Baby One More Time?," the show that has humiliated no less than two of my all time favorite bands by showcasing just one of the members and calling them the band, all the while reducing the band to "one hit wonders."

Abomination \A*bom`i*na"tion\, n.
The feeling of extreme disgust and hatred; abhorrence; detestation; loathing; that which is abominable; anything hateful, wicked, or shamefully vile; an object or state that excites disgust and hatred; a hateful or shameful vice; pollution.

Abominable Snow Monster courtesy of: the classic 1964 television special Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer

Happy Birthday Vince Clarke.

Depeche Mode, Yazoo, and Erasure founder. Driving force "behind the rise and continued vitality of the synth pop movement, his work proving an enormous influence on the subsequent emergence of electronica."

Photo by: Dirk Lindner via erasureinfo.com
Quote: icebergradio.com

"Everything That's Rock 'n' Roll Is Ever Meant To Be Is Happening Now."

If you did not get chills today, you are dead. Musically and otherwise.

Friend of Waist High Pratt audio blogs from Live 8 Philadelphia.

"Playing with it's classic lineup for the first time in more than 20 years, Pink Floyd dazzled the crowd of approximately 200,000 people at the London edition of Live 8. The group performed 'Breathe,' 'Money,' 'Wish You Were Here,' and 'Comfortably Numb.'" (billboard.com)

Bob Geldof photo courtesy: telegraph.co.uk
Birhan Woldu/Bob Geldof photo courtesy: thesun.co.uk
Pink Floyd photo courtesy: telegraph.co.uk

Makes Cents To Me...

Last week The Oregonian asked it's readers to give their suggestions to what "should be on the state quarter instead of Crater Lake: Tonya Harding throwing a hubcap; Bob Packwood with a box of wine on one side and Neil Goldschmidt on the other; a Trailblazer smoking a doobie; Bud Clark exposing himself to art; or Bigfoot."

With nearly all precincts reporting, "Sasquatch led with 29% of the vote, followed closely by Tonya Harding throwing a hubcap (25%). A Trailblazer smoking a doobie pulled in 13% of the vote."

The ill bred Waist High agrees with others that the coin should show "a Trailblazer smoking a doobie while Bigfoot looks on from the bushes."

Photo courtesy: Robert Bateman via galleryone.com

"You'll See Your Problems Multiplied, If You Continually Decide, To Faithfully Pursue, The Policy Of Truth..."

Of the handy tips from Can You Be Fired for Blogging? Waist High has decided that she is NEVER EVER going to use this one: "Ask about the company blogging policy before you start, even if you are doing it anonymously."

Never.

Attention Music Lovers...

I'll bet you didn't know that Ernie's "Rubber Duckie" went to #16 on the Billboard pop chart in 1970. Have a look for yourself at the Sesame Street Discography courtesy of laweekly.com.

Photo of Bert Convy: discovered while searching for Bert +rubber duckie