Past Diatribes

Maybe someday all three of us will meet at some convention and become fast friends, sharing fries and the other eight yards. But as of now, I consider them a couple of skank-ass non-Halpster bastards.

There is one other famous Halpin that is worthy of your attention, though.

I’ve recently discovered Dominic Halpin, an English feller who’s fled down under and formed himself---of all things--- a swing band. Mack the Knife? Besame Mucho? Now THAT’S alternative.

I remember years ago, late one night when I was driving home after a long day slaving for The Rat, this magnificent energy suddenly flashed over the radio. These were the days that The Squirrel Nut Zippers smashed onto the scene, reminding America that before all the electric amps you needed yourself a Big Band if you wanted to play LOUD, and I was hooked. Am feeling the same way about this long-long lost Aussie cousin, now. Maybe it’s because I’m older, but his grooves are sounding damn fine to these ex-DJ ears. Definitely recommended. Download his tracks. Buy his album. See him in concert and buy the poster, while you’re there.

OK, on the subject: other music. Free music, even! Last installment, two thumbs up were flashed for the ever-fun Agent Felix. This month, let me turn you on to Face First. Like Agent Felix, they’re young enough that I coulda given them detention, back in my schoolteacher days. Kids, who never heard half the bands they’re bringing back to mind! They’re bringing some classics to mind, sure enough, and what’s better, what’s key: they’re making them new again. Horn sections blaring, reggae rhythms, bad-ass 80’s metal guitars: it’s all come together in a fusion that is pure fun, and clever with the lyrics. Hell, they have one Casey Cassum-ready song called "You Skank (The First Step To Selling Out)," and another that (get this) paraphrases the Tom Hanks movie Big as skillfully as any summation since Phil Oaks’ "The Ballad of Tom Joad." Download some Face First off of mp3.com, and join the elect few who share such higher delights.

...Yes, I know I have busted protocol, this installment. Music and other mayhem usually comes after the latest news as to whether the house and the job and the cat are doing well. Rest assured, all is well in Mickland.

What’s new? Two new jobs.

           

Worked for six months at a biometrics software house called Daon. You know the scanners, in movies, where the secret agent’s eyeball is scanned, a light beeps green, and the bank vault opens? Biometrics is that technology. Learned a great deal, at that company, before the contract expired. Now I’m starting a new job on Monday (also in the security field) with Symantec- the giant corporation that brings you Norton Antivirus and many other fine products. More importantly, the contract is bringing me safely through to 2003--- which will, God willing, be a more welcoming time for humble software developers and the dreams they need dough for.

What dreams? Travel. We managed to get ourselves around Eastern Europe, this summer, in the eternal quest for budget thrills, good beer and honest taxi drivers. Domestically, we bought a barbecue grill, over the summer, and invited many friends over to chow down on many a good steak. Gone, though, are the long evenings with candle lanterns in the back garden. Night has the upper hand: it wrestles light farther and farther backwards across the sky.

So--- what do you think of the new look and feel for the site? Got rid of a couple things, augmented other features that have been needing it for quite a while. The Random Page feature of the Dublin guide actually works, now, for one. Coming soon are a bulletin board for DFAs in Ireland, and those who wish they were. Visit soon, visit often.

Peace

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