Made me unhappy yesterday...and I am still unhappy about it today. "IT" being the COMPLETE AND UTTER BEATDOWN of the LA Lakers by Dallas yesterday, knocking the Lakers out in the second-round of the playoffs. For the first time in 3 years, the Lakers will not be in the NBA Championship Finals. But, you know, it wasn't losing that hurt...you can't win EVERY year. No, it was the WAY they lost and the way they lost their cool and lack of class(such as Bynum's cheapshot foul). Getting blown out by 30+ points? Where was the Lakers pride? Watching the game yesterday, I felt bewildered, dismayed, ANGRY...then finally ASHAMED AND EMBARRASSED. What a way for Phil Jackson to go out. And yesterday is just another reason why, no matter how many championships Kobe wins, the Kobe-era teams will never surpass the Magic Johnson Showtime teams in Laker fans hearts. OK, I realize that getting upset about a basketball team looks inconsequential in light of all the floods, tornadoes, sickness and death that surrounds us. But the thread asks what made you unhappy...and that's what made me unhappy. If that makes me frivolous in your eyes, so be it. There is a silver lining in all this. With all the Laker-haters out there, the Lakers getting swept out of the playoffs means a lot of people are HAPPY today.

When I first read this yesterday in the Daily Telegraph(a British paper), I thought it had to be a hoax, but apparently these two douchebags are serious...UN-FUCKING-BELIEVABLE! What a couple of ass-clowns. Read below... Dutch men attempt to report Barack Obama Two Dutch men have attempted to report Barack Obama for the "murder" of Osama bin Laden at their local police station. By Bruno Waterfield, Daily Telegraph May 4, 2011 Ruud Snoeren and Terry Flohr accused the American President of "perpetrating" a crime by ordering the special forces raid that led to bin Laden's death on Sunday. Police in the Dutch city of Tilburg refused to accept the case and referred the men to an international war crimes court based in The Hague. "We are very angry," said, Mr Snoeren, 30, a lawyer. "There is a murderer who has admitted the deed on television and who dumped the evidence at sea. And the whole world is celebrating.' The pair denied that they were not defending bin Laden and insisted that the al-Qaeda leader should have been captured to be put on trial. Dutch police officers recorded the complaint but told the men the issue was outside their jurisdiction. "We have had a conversation and registered it. It is not that we do not take the case seriously, but this is not something for Tilburg police," said a spokesman. "We are not going to commit police resources on this." The men were told by officers to contact the International Criminal Court in The Hague. "We are going to consider it," said Mr Flohr, 29, a student.

I'm listening to the Feb. 16 1975, St. Louis show that I picked up at the last swap meet. It's Godfatherrecords "Rock Saint Louis Roll" and it's the soundboard that surfaced recently. To my ears, it sounds a little better than Empress Valley's "St. Louis Blues". I'm halfway through Dazed and Confused right now, and performance-wise, it's an average Feb 75 show. Not as good as the New York/Nassau shows earlier, or even Baton Rouge. Which is just further proof how full-of-crap that Stephen Davis "LZ 75" book is, for in it he praises the St. Louis show while saying the St. Valentine's Day show was boring. Ha! St. Valentine's smokes St. Louis in almost every way.

Goddammit! The LA Lakers are down 0-2 in their series against Dallas, after losing the first two games at HOME! And Ron Artest will most likely be suspended for game 3, after his punk move last night. The three-peat is in serious jeopardy. To top it off, the team I most wanted the Lakers to face in the Finals, Boston Celtics, are also down 0-2 against Miami. I DO NOT want Miami winning the championship. Suddenly, the Lakers and Celtics look old and tired. At least Boston is going home for the next two games; Lakers gotta go to Dallas, where I bet Izzoso will be cheering with glee. Truth to tell, it's time we got some new blood...it's good for the NBA in the long run. Chicago w/ Derrick Rose, OKC w/ Durantula, Atlanta Hawks, Memphis, all these young fresh teams are fun to watch. Just don't let it be Miami...not after the way they went about it last summer with all that "The Decision" garbage.

Seriously, how do you and your girlfriend communicate? With flash cards? You asking someone else to be coherent is absurd because coherency is about as rare in your posts as virgins at a Girls Gone Wild party at Lake Havasu.

This Saturday, May 7 - PRINCE @ The LA Forum Part of a month-long plus residency Prince is playing to help raise funds to maintain the Forum. It's my friend's birthday and about 5 of us are going, including his son, who we've taken to see Page & the Black Crowes, Bob Dylan, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Lilith Fair, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Bruce Springsteen and more. Now the kid can add another legend to his list.

:lol: Ummm, Steve...does that look like Liz is doubting Osama is dead? I'm telling you, you're confusing Liz's posts with cate's. This just in...Osama bin Laden is STILL dead.

Oh yeah, now I remember why I stopped posting on any political threads in the Ramble On forum...because of garbage like this. Seriously, I have no idea how old you are, blackfire, but if this is really how you see things, then maybe the terrorists have already won. I'm not even going to waste my breath(or at least, my typing fingers) rebutting your silly points, as it's obvious that it wouldn't do any good. Well, that's a little unfair, isn't it Steve? It wasn't even Liz that was questioning Osama's death; it was cate. And why does this have to be a Lib vs. Con thing; I think of myself as liberal and have no problem with the death of Osama. Anyway, the main reason I came back to this thread was to post an article that parallels the excellent one you posted earlier; it was on page 3 of today's Los Angeles Times. Al Qaeda loses sway in Arab world In the revolutions in the Middle East and North Africa, Arabs have found new ways to change their circumstances without waging a 'holy war.' By Jeffrey Fleishman, Los Angeles Times Reporting from Cairo— The austere image of a tall, turbaned man battling the West from a cave inspired young Islamist warriors for years. But when Osama bin Laden died, his virulent brand of jihad had been all but extinguished by the "Arab Spring" that found more potent and peaceful ways to reshape the world. Al Qaeda-inspired militants still roam the mountains of Yemen and along the dangerous coast of Somalia. For many Arabs, though, Bin Laden's appeal had waned in the lexicon of Facebook and Twitter; he had become akin to an oldies rock 'n' roll act, an antiquated icon in a new era of revolution. The pro-democracy movements that overthrew the autocratic regimes in Tunisia and Egypt accomplished in weeks what militants couldn't in decades. Radical and ultraconservative Muslims temper their screeds these days to speak to a Middle East and North Africa that crave jobs and freedoms over religious extremism and "holy war" that have led to promises of paradise but few earthly rewards. "Many of us never really understood what exactly is jihad," said Nader Hazem, a 27-year-old engineer in Cairo. "Blowing ourselves up anywhere there is an infidel? And what will it lead to? What will Islam gain if Bin Laden is successful with every attack against Western targets he plans?" That is not to suggest that Bin Laden's philosophy has lost all resonance. The cafe bombing that killed 16 people in Morocco last week is testament to the stunning brutality that can rip through a city street. Before NATO airstrikes against Moammar Kadafi's forces last month, a Libyan rebel said that if the West didn't help, he and others might turn to Al Qaeda as a last resort. Weeks later, with French jets and U.S. missiles streaking the sky, it was American flags, not posters of Bin Laden, that fluttered during Friday prayers in the rebel capital of Benghazi. The Arab world has changed much since Sept. 11, 2001, when many across the Mideast cheered as the World Trade Center towers collapsed. The U.S.-led invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq spurred thousands more young Muslim men toward Al Qaeda training camps in the rugged terrain of Pakistan. But years of jihad proved bloody, fruitless and, in a large sense, counterproductive. Suicide bombers in Baghdad targeted not only infidels but also fellow Muslims, leading to disillusionment and the gradual erosion of Bin Laden's mystique. "We are so glad to hear that news," said Sheik Muhammed Hayis from Iraq's Anbar province, once a stronghold of Al Qaeda disciples. "All orphans, widows and people who suffered that butcher should be happy now.... The killing of Bin Laden is victory for all humanity, not only for Americans." Col. Raad Ali, who helped lead the Sunni fight against the Al Qaeda affiliate in west Baghdad in 2007, said the group's religious extremism and indiscriminate killing cost it support not long after its fighters had been welcomed. "At the beginning, they talked about very different things, about liberation and freedom and kicking out the Americans and said, 'We will help you,' " Ali said. "Many Iraqis believed them, but after a while Iraqis discovered this was a lie. And they discovered they [Qaeda] were big killers. The group killed thousands of Sunnis and Shiites." The decline in Bin Laden's allure has been dramatic. A survey done by the Pew Research Center's Global Attitudes Project found that in 2003 Bin Laden had the support of 56% of Jordanians. By this year, that figure had dropped to 13%. Over the same years in Indonesia, those numbers fell from 59% to 26%. And in Turkey, which ranks high in anti-American attitudes, confidence in Bin Laden fell from 15% to 3%. Yet some predict Bin Laden's death at the hands of U.S. special forces will bring a wave of reprisals. It has "left a wound. It has dealt a blow to our morale and has amplified the feeling of oppression," said Sheik bin Salem Shahhal, the son of the man recognized as the founder of the religiously ultraconservative Salafist movement in Lebanon. "But this has only made Islamic Salafist movements even more intent on seeking revenge." Ismail Haniyeh, the prime minister of the Hamas government in the Gaza Strip, was quoted by Reuters as saying: "We condemn the assassination and the killing of an Arab holy warrior. We regard this as a continuation of the American policy based on oppression and the shedding of Muslim and Arab blood." Al Qaeda's attacks have been visceral and cinematic, providing fleeting release for pent-up rage but doing little to heal the Arab world's larger problems of poverty, political repression and corruption. It wasn't a terrorist plot that brought down Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak; it was hundreds of thousands of peaceful protesters from across society demanding better lives. The concern for moderates in the region, however, is that the Arab Spring may be hijacked by extremist voices. Salafists in Egypt and other countries are finding political parties to advance their religious agendas. The conservative wing of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood supports Hamas, which considers Bin Laden a martyr. What is unfolding is an intense competition between pro-democracy secularists and fundamentalist Islamists to shape a new generation of political thought. Bin Laden and Al Qaeda forced both moderate and extremist Muslims to examine harsh strands of Islam and their influences on government and society. This debate is far from over, but Washington and Europe, as well as religious moderates in Cairo and liberals in Tunis, are hoping for a renaissance that will make the region more tolerant, democratically inclined and open to the West. Hatred of the West filtered through his fiery vision of the Koran was Bin Laden's cachet for years. After generations of colonialism and the failed dream of Arab nationalism, the Middle East had sought a hero against what it regarded as a soulless West that co-opted Arab leaders, denied Palestinians a homeland and siphoned away oil. "Bin Laden was someone that we unintentionally supported over the years," said Abdel Rahman el Nemr, a 30-year-old communications engineer in Cairo. "It was a mental thing. Despite disagreeing with many of his extreme thoughts and his practicing and inciting violence against non-Muslims, millions of Muslims all over the world, including myself, sometimes regarded him as a symbol of fighting against American and Western tyranny." But that, say many Arabs, was yesterday. "All the rhetoric that Bin Laden and his allies were using against Arab governments no longer applies," said Riad Kahwaji, an analyst and director of the Institute for Near East and Gulf Military Analysis, a privately funded think tank based in Beirut and Dubai, United Arab Emirates. "That's why we see the Salafists talk about participation and the Muslim Brotherhood [in Egypt] modifying its agenda and meeting the seculars halfway." Bin Laden's violence against innocents brought stereotypes and discrimination against Muslims that may take years to overcome. "He actually harmed Islam more than anyone else," said Amal Kamal Din, an Egyptian dentist. "He always spoke of Western injustice toward Islam while everything he did helped increase and justify this injustice against us." Some Muslims were in disbelief of his death Monday, saying Bin Laden had once again slipped away, tricking the West. Others were confused. For so long he had loomed large, a graying warrior with a rifle and combat fatigues, winding along mountain paths, a conspiracy theorist's dream. "His death doesn't really mean anything to me," said Hazem, the Cairo engineer. "I've always regarded him as a terrorist who was made a scarecrow by the U.S and the West to make the whole world fear Islam and pursue their certain interests in the Middle East." Photos: Osama bin Laden's death jeffrey.fleishman@latimes.com Times staff writers Borzou Daragahi in Beirut and Ned Parker and Salar Jaff in Cairo, Amro Hassan of The Times' Cairo bureau, and special correspondents Roula Hajjar in Beirut and Alsanosi Ahmed in Khartoum, Sudan, contributed to this report. Copyright © 2011, Los Angeles Times

Methinks you posted this in the wrong thread; maybe you meant to post it in the "Articles about Led Zeppelin" thread. You have an article dated May 2, 2011, referencing ANOTHER article dated May 5, 1990, about an event that happened on April 28, 1990. And as usual for Rolling Stone, it's full of malarkey. The writer forgets that the band played at the Atlantic Records 40th Birthday concert in 1988, so no, Jason Bonham's wedding was NOT the first time in five years that they had got together. And, really Stacey, a "catalyst for the band's biggest reunion to date"? Noun 1. catalyst - (chemistry) a substance that initiates or accelerates a chemical reaction without itself being affected 2. catalyst - something that causes an important event to happen; "the invasion acted as a catalyst to unite the country" Yeah, it took ONLY 17 years for them to get together again for the Ahmet Ertegun Memorial Tribute concert. Not quite what I'd call a "catalyst"; hell, Robert Plant had reinvented himself several times over in that span from 1990 to 2007. Anyway, I think its best for the purity of this thread to keep it simple; just post about events that happened on the day that they occurred...like Deborah J has been doing all this time. Any articles and such should be posted in the "articles" section.

Don't you mean "Ding-dong! The witch is dead!"? Or is "the bastard" a Kiwi variation of the phrase? Now that there has been confirmation of a DNA match, it looks like Osama bin Laden is not only merely dead, he's really most sincerely dead! "DING-DONG THE WITCH IS DEAD!", indeed. I'm not particularly religious so I have no problem celebrating bin Laden's death. I've worked with battered and abused women and children and there are some people in this world beyond redeeming. No amount of prayer or counseling is gonna change them. As for the chance for repercussions, I understand the qualms a few of you have expressed, but there were repercussions having him alive, too. If given the choice between having him dead or alive, I'll take dead anyday. And if there are any reprisals, so be it. We can deal with them. There was terrorism before bin Laden and there will be terrorism after bin Laden. I'm sure most people understand we still have to be vigilant and aware. But every day Osama bin Laden remained free, it was like he and his supporters were laughing at us. The big, powerful, technologically superior United States couldn't find one little old man hiding in a cave. Well now they know that, even though it may take a little time, the United States gets their man. And, with bin Laden's death, and some of the other high-level al Queida deaths, maybe, just maybe it is them that are feeling a little unsure and afraid. Oh sure, eventually someone will take Osama bin Laden's place as the figurehead and the "face" of terror. But I don't think there will be too many eager applicants rushing to fill his shoes, knowing that HE will be next in the U.S.'s crosshairs. And if for no other reason, it was worth killing bin Laden just to give justice and closure to the families of the victims of Sept. 11...nay, to families of all the victims of bin Laden's terrorist plots around the world. The world is a better place with bin Laden dead. BIG CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NAVY SEALS, and everyone else involved with the planning and execution of this VSO. As a fellow vet, I'm so proud and I SALUTE you! I've never trusted Pakistan, so it's about time we kept them in the dark. If they had known about this mission, no doubt they would've alerted bin Laden. You don't hide as long as bin Laden did wthout OFFICIAL help. But the U.S. got him. Today is a good day.

Now that I've notched two more Robert Plant concerts on my belt(on the spur of the moment I decided to road trip up to Santa Barbara to see him again after the Greek show in LA), my next two shows will be this weekend. Saturday April 30: Explosions in the Sky @ Hollywood Forever Cemetery There's something awesome about seeing a concert in a cemetery. Sunday May 1: Mudhoney, Adolescents, and White Flag @ the Echo

Wake Up! Time to Die - Pop Will Eat Itself

:lol: Thanks for posting that spidersandsnakes...I had forgotten about them being on Johnny's show. WOW! That totally made my morning. Shame about the video-audio synching problem.

^ ^ ^ Me neither. Catchy is catchy...even if it is in service to a TV show. Last Train to Clarksville, Stepping Stone still sound great to this day. And the Monkees Theme Song is one of the best tv theme songs of all time. Plus, they were involved with one of the coolest and freakiest films to come out of the 60's: HEAD. Rent it...netflix it...whatever you have to...just see it. I was fortunate to see the Monkees both times that Michael Nesmith was involved...wouldn't see them without him as Nesmith was my favourite Monkee growing up watching the show. Yes, Jahfin, Michael Nesmith does deserve a little credit for being one of the early country-rock proponents. And Aquamarine, you saw the Monkees in the 60's?!? WOW! Was it the tour with Jimi Hendrix opening?

So some friends and I attended last night's double-bill of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan" and "Star Trek III:The Search for Spock" and, as usual, George Takei was freaking hilarious, insightful and eloquent. If you've never had the chance to see him in person, you should rectify that at your next opportunity...you won't be sorry. He is one of the most entertaining speakers I've ever heard. I am surprised no one has posted this on this thread yet, but here is one of the most hilarious and clever things I've ever seen on Youtube...just the editing work alone deserves massive hosannas...ENJOY! And for those who can't get enough of William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy singing( I have albums by both "thespian-singers"...and no, I don't feel embarrassed by that fact, hehehe), here's a treat for you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vd5zadgAYg0

TONIGHT at the American Cinematheque@Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood...with GEORGE TAKEI IN PERSON! Star Trek Celebration @ American Cinematheque TO BOLDLY GO…: CELEBRATING STAR TREK In 1979, Robert Wise's STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE kicked off a mania for TV-to-movie adaptations that has thrived ever since and spawned multiple sequels, tributes and spin-offs. To celebrate the STAR TREK film series, we've chosen six of the eight films in the franchise, plumbing deep for gems in the Trek universe that haven't necessarily received the tribute they deserve. All of these films embody the ideals of sci-fi's first franchise that have endured for more than 40 years. May they continue to live long and prosper for many more. Please join us at the Egyptian Theatre for our STAR TREK tribute, including 35mm screenings of THE WRATH OF KHAN and THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK, plus THE VOYAGE HOME, THE FINAL FRONTIER and THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY in 70mm. Series compiled by Grant Moninger. Discussion with cast and crew following STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE and with the STAR TREK IV, V and VI screenings. Egyptian Theatre • Thu, March 24 - Sun, March 27 Films in this Series at the Egyptian STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE Thu, March 24 - 7:30pm Egyptian Theatre STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN / STAR TREK III: THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK Fri, March 25 - 7:30pm Egyptian Theatre STAR TREK IV: THE VOYAGE HOME / STAR TREK V: THE FINAL FRONTIER Sat, March 26 - 7:30pm Egyptian Theatre STAR TREK VI: THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY Sun, March 27 - 7:30pm Egyptian Theatre

Of all the times it had to rain here in Los Angeles, Mother Nature chose last night to send clouds and rain our way, negating any chance for us Angelenos to see the closest moon in 18 years.

I totally understand what you are saying MSG, and I give a pass to the younger fans. My comments were directed at those who should know better...I can't tell you how many times I've picked up a Zeppelin book only to see photo after photo mis-dated. And when one book has an error, the error reverberates because the next book picks it up and passes it along as fact. So now we have a whole bunch of Zeppelin books out there with screwed up facts...there are even people out there who claim to have seen Zeppelin in concert in 1974 and/or 1976.