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12626. Magoseph - 12/9/2004 11:04:09 PM Celebrity Nativity scene draws ire in U.K
LONDON -- Christian leaders on Wednesday denounced a Nativity scene at a London wax museum featuring soccer star David Beckham and his wife Victoria, a former Spice Girl, as the parents of Jesus.
The waxwork tableau at Madame Tussauds museum included U.S. President George W. Bush as one of the three Wise Men, actors Hugh Grant and Samuel L. Jackson as shepherds and Australian disco diva Kylie Minogue as an angel.
"There is a well-understood tradition that each generation interprets and reinterprets the Nativity ... but, oh dear!" said the Rev. Jonathan Jenkins, spokesman for the archbishop of Canterbury, who leads the world's 77 million Anglicans.
At the Vatican, a spokesman said it was unacceptable to have celebrities representing Jesus, Joseph or Mary.
The spokesman mentioned the tradition in Naples of using celebrities such as Argentine soccer star Diego Maradona, but never as one of the principal figures. "This means that the crib can be lived as something that's contemporary. But the central mystery must be respected," said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity....
"We're sorry if we have offended people," said Diane Moon, a spokeswoman for the museum, who said it was intended in a spirit of fun.
The scene also features British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Prince Philip as Wise Men, and flamboyant talkshow host Graham Norton as a shepherd.
Arum Kataria, a spokesman for the Church of England, was unimpressed by Madame Tussauds' exhibit.
"The eternal story of Jesus will last a lot longer than these waxworks or the celebrities in it," he said. 12627. arkymalarky - 12/10/2004 12:57:34 AM Another song I heard today that's one of my all-time favorites--"Hold Your Head Up" by Argent. 12628. concerned - 12/10/2004 1:01:51 AM How about a couple of old rock classics that you virtually never hear about anymore:
'Cottage Cheese' by Crow &
'Hot Smoke and Sassafras' by Bubble Puppy
And of course, I have to mention my favorite Ray Charles song that I never have heard or heard about since I wore out my 45 when a kid:
'The Train'
Anybody have a lead on that, I'd like to find a good used condition copy of that record. 12629. arkymalarky - 12/10/2004 1:03:05 AM I guess I never hear about the first two any more because I never heard about them the first time. 12630. concerned - 12/10/2004 1:08:51 AM Another old fave that I actually have on LP:
'Apricot Brandy' by Rhinoceros 12631. concerned - 12/10/2004 1:13:51 AM I did a search of the Ray Charles number which apparently is the B side of "Let's Go Get Stoned" on ABC Paramount from sometime in the '60's. He was backed up by the 'Raelets' who I recall sounding super cool from forty years ago. 12632. concerned - 12/10/2004 1:16:15 AM It may never have been released on LP, btw. 12633. concerned - 12/10/2004 1:40:06 AM Hot Smoke and Sassafras
©Roy Cox and Rod Prince
In the mist of sassafras
Many things will come to pass
And the smoke shall rise again
To the place above where it began
Time will bring the fire and flame
As surely as it brought the rain
But in the gardens of the moon
Time is held within the silver spoon
If you're happy where you are
Then you need not look too far
If you've found your place at last
Then you need not use the looking glass 12634. concerned - 12/10/2004 1:51:39 AM Memories of Bubble Puppy
by Roy Cox
BUBBLE PUPPY
THE "HOT SMOKE AND SASSAFRAS" BOYS
I instigated the formation of the "Bubble Puppy" in 1968. We were four of the best available musicians the State of Texas had to offer. I had worked with Rod Prince in the Bad Seeds. We heard about Todd Potter from our original drummer, Clayton Pulley. Rod Prince knew David Fore and he took Greg’s place. Greg was our second drummer. After the Puppy solved it’s personnel problems, the band was one and we really came together.
In my opinion, we were four of the most talented and dedicated musicians the world had to offer. I have never since and neither will I ever again experience that type of bonding with other human beings. We all wanted the same thing - to be a Rock and Roll player. And for two wonderfully creative years, we did just that. No one on this planet could have been more dedicated to the cause than "The Bubble Puppy".
We wrote "Hot Smoke" one night in the recording studio. We had the place all to ourselves. Todd was ill at the time, so Rod, David, and I went to the studio to jam. Oh, the jams we used to have! Cream was our inspiration. Todd came in a few days later and added his lead part. "Hot Smoke" was then on its way into the history books and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It is listed under the category of "One hit wonders". I am proud. Incidentally, "Hot Smoke" was not the intended single, the flip side was.
12635. concerned - 12/10/2004 1:51:55 AM The Puppy was then on its way. "Hot Smoke" was a huge hit. Staying at the top of the charts for literally months, it was #1 in such places as Houston, Chicago, Miami, San Antonio, Dallas, Denver, San Francisco, Pittsburgh, Philly, etc. for two and three months running. We were amazed.
We then managed to have the ultimate experience. The Puppy toured with everyone who was anyone -- Steppenwolf, Spirit, Canned Heat, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Grassroots, MC-5, Ambouy Dukes, Chambers Brothers, Janis Joplin, Johnny Winter, Nice, Emerson, Lake, and Palmer, ZZ Top, Moody Blues, BB. King, Grand Funk Railroad, Mother Earth, Rare Earth, The Turtles, Ohio Express, The 1910 Fruitgum Co., The Buckinghams, Sir Douglas Quintet, Blackoak Arkansas, Bob Seger. The list goes on and I just can’t remember all of the wonderful and talented artists who we met while on the road. And if you came to Texas, you played with " The Puppy".
12636. concerned - 12/10/2004 1:52:03 AM Some of these men and women are still my friends. And they, as well as I, are very excited about this new venture - the "BluesKnights". Many of them are ready to participate in this project and I am extremely happy about that.
I will mention the time I met Hugh Hefner and Buddy Rich in Chicago at a club called the "Kenetic Playground". We were there to perform for the weekend and Friday had been canceled because of a unruly "peace demonstration". However, Mayor Daily of Chicago lifted the curfew the next day, and we performed Saturday night. That night, our booking agency - William Morris, talked us into staying over for Sunday’s performance of Buddy Rich. That Sunday night, I watched Buddy and his band play the complete score of the musical "West Side Story", and he performed a forty-five minute drum solo. Only the way that Buddy could. Later I met both him and Hugh. I could go on about four young men with a hit record. It was merely AWESOME.
And that was then and this is now.
The New Bubble Puppy CD Hot Smoke will be released soon!
Click here to go to the NEW Bubble Puppy UPDATES page!
Ciao . . . Roy
BluesKnights Headquarters
505 San Jacinto, Ste. #101
Austin, Tx 78701
512-472-9888
roycox@bluesknights.com 12637. wabbit - 12/10/2004 3:26:30 AM concerned, if you really want that Ray Charles 45, it's available on eBay (of course). 12638. iiibbb - 12/10/2004 5:47:03 AM Try this game It seems to be doing more than just prune a large data tree.
It's pretty good at guessing. 12639. iiibbb - 12/10/2004 5:48:46 AM Try this instead 12640. Ms. No - 12/10/2004 6:00:23 PM That was fun! I beat the machine this time around but I realize that I chose a rather strange word.
Spigot
To me that specifies an outdoor or utility water spout as opposed to the faucet of a bathroom or kitchen sink.
The AI didn't know the word spigot and if I choose "faucet" from its eventual list of suggestions then the answers we give diverge along the shiny-indoor-bathroom-fixture v. crusty-iron-outdoor-fixture line. 12641. iiibbb - 12/10/2004 6:07:55 PM I think we're training it. A friend of mine thinks it's someones masters thesis. 12642. judithathome - 12/10/2004 6:12:28 PM It took three extra questions for HAL to get it but he did...but check this out:
You were thinking of asparagus.
Does it have anything to do with salad? You said Yes, I say No.
Can you mash it? You said Yes, I say No.
Is it cold? You said Sometimes, I say No.
Is it smooth? You said Sometimes, I say No.
Does it come in many varieties? You said Sometimes, I say No.
Does it bring joy to people? You said Sometimes, I say No.
Does it go inside other things? You said Sometimes, I say No.
Contradictions Detected
It does not matter if our answers disagree, as over time the game will change its answers to reflect common knowledge. If you feel that the game is in error, the only way to fix it is to play again.
12643. judithathome - 12/10/2004 6:13:31 PM I think my answers were correct.... 12644. Ms. No - 12/10/2004 7:24:57 PM I'd have said so too, but I realize why some of the questions were asked. Asparagus can be mashed even if it isn't usually but the question was an attempt to determine if you were talking about potatoes.
All the other questions just show that the person who initially entered asparagus into the AI-brain doesn't know much about how it is served and eaten.
12645. judithathome - 12/10/2004 11:04:20 PM Clearly, they never had white aspargus cold and wrapped in prosciutto.
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