Here is the Official Results show of The Sieve! Monthly Song Challenge for August, 2008.

Truncated Show Notes:

August Criteria:
Genre     - Country
Topic     - Summer
Word     - Bridge

Submitters:
Bob Goyetche, John Meadows, Mark Blevis,

Additional Players:
Jay Moonah

Other Links:
Creative Commons
Jonathan Coulton
Robbie Hancock


**Detailed show notes can be found on my blog, here.

Okay, so the 'stupid editor' in question is me.  But I was away for a while, and then I was sick, and then I went away again for a weekend....and then I got sick again....and then, uh, locusts!  Oh yeah, and I ran out of gas! And I was abducted by aliens....well not really, I just got lazy for awhile.  Hey, it's summer.  I get lazy in the summer.  And winter.  And those other two half-seasons we get that last for about 4 days each.  but I've got lots of stuff ready to be processed and rolled out.  And it won't disappoint!  Well, no more then it usually does.

"C" ya real Soon!

Stevie Z

PS - Honest, another episode of The Sieve! is coming shortly!

Okay, it's not big like an internationally paradigm-shifting kind of thing that's going to change your life.  Or maybe it will, if you're a sad little person.  Not that being a sad little person is a bad thing, because after all, I am too.  Hey, let's start a Facebook group for Sad Little People.  We'll call it the....um...uh...well, how about the Sad Little People Group.  Of course, there already is a Sad Little People's group....it's called Parliament.

Oh, SNAP!

What was I talking about again ?  Oh yeah. the big news.  Well, my website is finally up and running.  Well, parts of it, anyways.  Enough that you can check out some of the things that will shape your life for years to come. 

Point yer mouse on over the badlybent.ca and you'll find 3 important things:

1) A link back to this page, for people who are looking for The Sieve!  (Okay, granted, that's not really that big a deal, because why would you go to that site just to come to this site?  I mean, if you're reading this you obviously are here, so why would you go to badlybent.ca and then come back here?  Makes no sense, unless you're just killing time.  If that's the case, check out my new cities here and here.

B) A link to my new blog.  Instead of using this site as a blogging site (because it was never really designed to be such in the first place) I finally got my new site here set up to blog at.  I'm trying to get into the habit of doing it regularly.  What will probably happen is that I'll post a few times a week, and then incorporate some of that into The Sieve! Podcast.  Because I am all about recycling.  I'll also put links at the blog that will allow you to download my show directly from there too, cuz I know you're almost as lazy as me.

III)  A link to the site for Little Jerry, a band I'm in.  Okay, to be honest, that part of the site still isn't up and running yet, and I don't have one of those cute "under construction" pages there as a placeholder instead.  It will just take you to a stupid looking site for now that really doesn't say anything.....kind of like this one, but less so.  So, don't bother going there yet, cuz it isn't there to go to.  Once it's completed though it'll have photos and tunes to download, and movies to view.  All of Little Jerry (sorry about that).

So, there ya go.  I know all this news has probably been somewhat traumatic for you, so grab a Taps beer and lie down with a cold cloth on your face. 

Peace, Love, and Ports,

Stevie Z

 

Wow, 2 episodes in 2 months.  What can I say?  How about "sorry about that".

I will warn you all in advance though, that I ramble even more then normal over this episode.  I mean, 2 stories about cats that total over 8 minutes each?  That, my friend, is craziness and stuff.  But at least they are both A) entertaining and 2) educational.  I guess you could say they're "EduCATutainment".  You could say that, but I wouldn't if I were you, it sounds stupid.  Really stupid.

It's worth making it through the rambling though, because not only is there some good advice about cat pee and human pee, I also have not one, not forty-seven, but two songs from an amazing local songwriter named Robbie Hancock.  Or Robbie Jason Hancock, or Rob Hancock.  To be honest I'm not sure which one he goes by these days.  Come to one of his shows and ask him.  He's the kind of songwriter that makes me realize that there is no justice in the world vis a vis the music industry, because Rob(bie) (Jason) Hancock is not a household word, and Simon Cowell hasn't yet slid under a bus.  Wow, harsh, but heartfelt.

My point is that you really need to check out the two songs I've got on this week's show, then you really need to follow the links below and you really need to pick up his CD and then you really need to check him out live.  I've included links to his myspace page,  and if you're on Facebook, do a search for "Robbie Jason Hancock" and you'll find his groups.

I've also included links to a few other things I mentioned in the show, because, hey, I LOOOOOOVE links.  Especially of the sausage variety.

Finally, on a somewhat serious note, I was saddened to note the passage this week of Jazz and Blues great Jeff Healey.  This weeks show was already recorded and partially edited when I heard the news over the radio, and rather then re-record what was an already overdue show, I decided to include a tribute into next week's show.  When someone who's as passionate about music as Mr. Healey passes away, the light of the world gets just a little dimmer.   Rest in Peace.

Peace, Love, and Puffy-Swollen-Irritated-Nasal-Passages, (see what I did there?)
Stevie Z

PS - If you're bored, check out this.  You can also build your own city too.  Wow, I really do need a life...

Linksies!
Jeff Healey
Robbie Hancock's Myspace Page
Robbie's FaceBook Page
Mulligan's Sports Bar (Home of the Weds. Night Open Mic)
Catfish Show
Jirina's Cakes
Buckley's Cough Mixture

.......and I don't care who knows it!!

Okay, I'll confess.  I've had a crush on Joan Jett (yes, of "Joan Jett and the Blackhearts" fame) since I first saw her in 1981 on my TV screen, clad head to toe in black leather (her, not me) confessing that she loved rock and roll, and desiring me to put another dime in the jukebox, baby.  Yummy.

I guess I would have been about 10 or 11 back then (but I was mature beyond my years in those days) so when I heard her growl "I knew he must have been about seventeen...oh yeah, she was talking to me.  Now, I'm 36, and while I haven't gotten any better looking with age (only wider, really) she has grown even more amazingly gorgeous.  Hey, don't take my word for it, look over yonder.  And if I could look that good at 47 years old, it'd be great.  Hell, I'd love to look like that at 47.  Again, Yummy.

My wife and I have a little "list" of celebrities that we would allow each other to, um, let's just say "have a pajama party with" if ever invited.  For example, Joan Jett is on mine (Angelina Jolie used to be, but she seems to have run out of crazy) and suffice it to say that if Garth Brooks ever showed up at our front door and asked about The Luverly Michelle she would probably break the sound barrier packing her toothbrush.

I've always admired artists who flung their fingers (the middle one, the good one, not the pinky) into the face of the music industry.  I know, tons of artists have over the years, but most of them seem to do it for the same reason that a 2 year old throws a temper-tantrum - to be difficult and to get attention.  It seems that over the years Ms. Jett has done her thing her way and screw you if you don't like it.  Not an in-your-face SCREW YOU!! type of thing but more of a dignified "excuse me, but screw you because I want to do it this way, and it's my life and my career."

Now, I could be waaay off here, and please Ms. Jett, feel free to email me at badlybentpub@yahoo.ca if I am wrong, and to, say, spank me for my errors, but she really seems to be the kind of independent rocker the world needs more of.  Even if we ground up all the Pseudo-Punk of groups like Sum 41, Charlotte's Web, err, sorry, Good Charlotte and all the rest of the wanna be's it still wouldn't equal the amount of real, honest to goodness punk in Joan Jett's left motorcycle boot.

And to all you young girls who look up to girls like Avril Lavigne as an example of a "Rocker Chick".  Forget her, and start acting more like a certain hot sexy 47 year old who loves Rock and Roll, and has a Bad Reputation.

Thanks for the great tunes, and keep em coming.  Check out her music.

Peace, Love and Punk,
Stevie Z

PS - Oh, Ms. Jett - that offer to spank me still stands.

PPS - And yes, all you Destroyers of Dreams out there, I know I don't stand a chance, for many, many reasons.

Yup.  That's right.  First real episode since July 1.  I know, the whole world has been waiting anxiously.  Well, maybe not the whole world. Parts of China though, for some reason, and a teensey weensey bit of Iceland.  Go figure.

It's been a busy summer, fall, and first half of winter.  How busy?  How should I know.  Oh.  Yeah.  Well, you'll just have to listen to the next few episodes to see what it's been like, and listen to me whine my way through explanations of what I've been doing with myself....and with others.

In this episode, I play an excerpt from the Canadian Podcast Buffet, because, first of all it's a kickass podcast, and secondly, it features yours truly.  Take a listen and you'll see what I mean. And after you finish this episode, head on over to the Canadian Podcast Buffet for a great show about podcasting and the Canadian Podcasting community specifically.

Also head over to Decoder Ring Theatre and check out some of the best audio drama around.  Then go into the kitchen and get some pie - you've earned it.

For those of you that have wandered through the wilderness since July of last year waiting, yearning for me to get off my podass and do a podcast......what the heck's wrong with you?!  Get a life!  Just kidding, thanks so much for keeping subscribed and stopping by every once in a while to see if anyone was still living here.  For those that are new, welcome to my own special corner of reality.  Well, my reality, anyways.

You may notice that there isn't the usual "audio bling" such as my intro, extro and bumper music.  I've been having computer "woes".  Well, that's like saying that Job was having a "few bad days".  See (or rather listen, I guess) to the show for a little more details.  I think I'm going to come up with a whole new crop of bumpers for the show.......wait for it......don't get ahead of me.....yes....here it comes.....a BUMPER CROP!!   I slay me.  We'll get some new themes, new bumpers, and a whole new slew of fun and annoying stuff to stick in your ears.

Thanks again ya'll.   It's good to be back.
 
Peace, Love and PODCASTING AGAIN!
Stevie Z

Howdy Ho!

Only about a million years behind the latest in tech wizardry over here at Libsyn.com (me, not the great Libsyn folks) finally realized that I could add a little Podcast Player to the page, which would enable you to listen to the podcasts right there without even having to download them.  Neat, huh?

See that little dude in the top left hand corner of the screen?  Just click on the Play button and it'll play the latest and greatest (who am I kidding?) episode of The Sieve!

If you want to listen to previous episodes, simply click on the "Next" button to travel back in time to when men were men, women were women, and Britney Spears was....well, still annoying as Hell, really.

You're Welcome!

Peace, Love, and Past Episodes!
Stevie Z

PS - Yeah, I know having the little player in the top left looks kind of goofy, but with my limited-to-nonexistent HTML skills, I gotta use what I can cut-and-paste.

.....he's (in my humble, but accurate opinion) most likely a lying sack of crap who deserves to be kicked repeatedly in the nards, and seeing him with the words "Right Honorable" in front of him makes me want to hurl my dinner, but we, and by "we" I mean the Canadian sheep....err, people, and not "we" as in "me" elected him......and then "we", and by "we" I mean the Liberal Government, also elected by "us", and by "us" I actually do mean "me" this time, gave him 2.1 Million Dollars at one point in a libel settlement.....hey, I just noticed that the words "libel" and "liberal" are pretty damn close to each other...hmmm......um.....where was I? 

   Oh yeah, he's our ex-Prime Minister, but, like it would seem George W. Bush is fated to go down as one of the most detested Presidents ever (say what you will, I'm talking public opinion and history here, "Lyin" Brian Mulroney will probably go down as our most hated Prime Minister ever, and probably always will be unless some future Prime Minister gets caught beating Kittens or something.  Which, face it, could happen.  Don't kid yourself kiddies, our politicians can be pretty evil too, just not with guns and stuff.

    Oh yeah, and his son Ben makes me want to throw things at my television too.

    Peace, Love, and Prime Ministers,
    Stevie Z

It's finally freakin' here!  The first-ever official promo for the first-ever official 1st Anniversary Craptacular Show!  Oooooh, shivers.


Thanks to many, many problems, some self-inflicted, some natural, some unnatural, and waaaaay too many due to purchasing a new computer that ran Windows Vista (I know, I know, I can hear all you Sieve-illians yelling "Steve, why didn't you get a Mac?!?)  Well, you guys want to take up a collection to buy me one?  I'll give you my paypal info.  Truth is, it was a lot easier to round up $500 for an HP Windows machine then shelling out the $1200 or so for a new Mac.  But oh, how'd I love to.....heck, it was hard enough spending the $100 for a new mic and headphones.  That reminds me, hopefully at least a few of you will notice the huge difference in quality (the sound, not the humour or writing) over previous attempts, since I finally got a studio condenser mic.  An Apex to be exact, and it's shiny, very shiny.

What does all this mean?  Well, it means I can start recording the 1st Anniversary Craptacular now.  It also means that I can lay down the vocals for some of my songs, and put em up in forthcoming shows.  It also means that the Loverly Michelle has another reason to bitch at me for spending more money.  Ah, life is good.

Peace, Love and Pickering!

Stevie Z

Ladies, gentlemen, and people from Sudbury, the countdown has begun!  On November 22, The Sieve will publish it's 1st Year Anniversary Craptacular !!  I'm giving you this advance notice so that you may make preparations, cancel elective (and non-elective) surgeries, change vacation dates,  purchase emergency rations, plywood and tinfoil, and otherwise prepare for that date.  At 10:36 PM (Eastern Time) The Sieve will publish Episode 15, otherwise known as the 1st Year Anniversary Craptacular !!
I'm not going to give too much away.....suffice it to say that it'll be unlike any episode of The Sieve so far.  Not necessarily great, but just different.  "But Stevie Z, we want, nay, we need to know, how different ?"  Well, how different it is will depend on if I lose 10 pounds in the next 2 weeks.  Doesn't make any sense?  I know, welcome to my world.

I can tell you this though......stubbing your toe on the coffee table in the living room hurts like hell.  That has nothing to do with the podcast, but damn, it sure is painful.

Be on the lookout (listenout??) for not one, not seventeen, but 2 new promos in the near future, featuring special guests The Luverly Michelle(TM) and fellow Little Jerry member Ignacio.  Who, or what, or whom is Little Jerry.  Check it out here.

So until November 22....uh.....bye.

Stevie Z

PS - This is where a really cool countdown timer would have gone if I had been able to figure out how the 'freak to do it.....just mark it on your calendar!