Friday Music

Here we go:

Mother and the Addicts are a Glasgow-based band who I first heard this week. This is a track from their new album (their 2nd), called Science Fiction Illustrated. Their music definitely has the sort of Neo-NewWave vibe happening: Mother and the Addicts – “So Tough.”

While on the subject of Neo-NewWave, I realize that I haven’t posted any White Rose Movement in a while. This band really captures the kind of vibe that Duran Duran had (well, and still has, if the last time I saw them in concert is any indication). Thanks again to for introducing me to this band. White Rose Movement – “Love is a Number.”

Kula Shaker are back with their third full-length album (it’s been something like 5 years since the release of their last). The new album, Strangefolk doesn’t have the Indian influences of earlier work, but still sits solidly in the realm of new psychedelia, echoing the sounds of the late 60s. This track is a good example, with its very Doors-esque bassline: Kula Shaker – “Dr. Kitt.”

In honor of Republican Senator “Bathroom Footsie” Craig, I present the following, without additional comment: The B-52s – “Private Idaho.”

I’ve always used music in my RPG sessions. Back in the early 90s, I ran a game of Cyberpunk — the music I used there was a mix of electronic, punk, and tracks like the following, which really confused some of my more drastically suburban players, expecting more of the “hair metal” vibe that the rulebook illustrations seemed to encourage. Seems tame now, but at the time, it apparently came off as scary and threatening to some. Go figure. I thought it just had a bangin’ beat. LL Cool J – “Mama Said Knock You Out.”

Lastly, the track that has been firmly established as the “Jason Bourne theme”, used particularly well at the closing of the latest film, The Bourne Ultimatum. Moby – “Extreme Ways.”

There you go. Enjoy.

Internet Stalker unveiled

Holy Shit.

Long-timers might recall that a few years back, I was getting disturbing emails and harassing message-board posts from somebody who I began to refer to as my Internet Stalker. This individual made it his hobby to tell me how worthless he thought I was (referring to me as “GEE (what a) MESS” in a play on the “GMS” nickname), and generally making disturbing revelations about how much he knew about where I lived, where my daughter went to school, etc.

I reported those emails and posts to the LPD at the time, just to be sure.

Well, I now know who it was.

Turns out, it was my next-door neighbor.

This unhinged motherfucker, who has always assumed a level of familiarity far beyond what you’d expect from brief interactions in our shared driveway, just sent me a long diatribe about how I “ignored him” when he made “overtures of friendship” over the summer, when he was moving out. (He sent me a few emails, a couple of which I responded to, and he came to the door unannounced while I was on the phone once.)

Beyond talking to him a few times a year, I pretty much didn’t get involved with him in any way, because, bluntly, he always struck me as strange. His personal “business card” contained a link to a website where he obsessed about the relevance of the number “111” in his life. Odd stuff. So I kept him at arms length.

During the bizarre rant that I received from him today, he lapsed into the exact same attack phrases used by my old Stalker…..including “GEE (what a) MESS.”

So now I know that this fucker was living next door to me the whole time, has some strange fascination for me, a sense that he’s been slighted, and, while he has moved out, he knows where I live.

I’m sending his latest email to the LPD as well, just in case. But I’m also making this post, so that folks know about this.

His name is Jim Ward-Nichols. He’s a fucking nutjob. (here’s his website.)

I’m more than a bit freaked out.