Otokichi

It's about the middle of October, and things are both in the Past and ahead in the Future. Here's a look at KC & The Sunshine Band, talking about "That's The Way I Like It" and songs of the late 1970's. A bonus: Dutch subtitles for people who think English is "so 20th century.";)

Step right up, folks, you have only one neck to sacrifice on the altar of (sorta) High Fidelity music! It's "Techmoan" again, with "whiplash collar" noisemakers that will earn you the ire of people nearby. (Yes, these "I Hate You!" sound radiators will take you back to the "Ghetto Blaster" days toot suite.;) Do any of these things work as advertised? Only "Techmoan" knows for sure...

An uptempo love song to guess who, featuring Guitar, audio EFX, and a multispeed vocal. Let's get it on!

It's break time, so let's rent a spaceship, head for the equivalent of Miami beach and have Fun, Fun, Fun! However, a "smart aleck" diddles with the controls, and they're far from known Space. What could go wrong?

Every now and then, I run across analyses of a group of movies/TV/games that are like penny candy. (Tasty for a while, but gone all too soon) This one stuck, because a lot of these films aren't going to play at the local Corporate Cineplex anytime soon. Check out some of the also-rans and see if this reviewer knows his stuff. (Wonder Woman comics were that KINKY!?)

Hello again, Steam Punkers! If you've got some custom video or music lying around that's "all you," here's proof that analog immortality can be yours. Yessir, even old sour grapes Thomas Edison would be thrilled to be immortalized in such a way. Let The Future see you in 45 RPM just before Old Sol turns into a red giant and wipes all trace of Terra's Homo sapiens away.;)

I see that the new "Doctor Who" has arrived and she's shaken up the TARDIS freaks no end. With that in mind, here's "Techmoan" with a Steam Punker's Hip New Thing: sound and video from a 45 RPM vinyl record! Yep, you can be the first "Steam Boy" to have something that plays audio and video at will, without switching to another device. Don't be too put off by the "Eadward Muybridge"-level video, be amazed that the package delivers at all! (Sorry, no puppets.)

Submitted for your approval, a frequent Maui visitor, Will Adams.

October is just around the corner, as what's left of Summer heat gives way to Autumn cool. (I can't get back to the Songfacts main section to check out this group.) Submitted for your approval, a song about changing seasons by a "two man band."

This movie is playing today on Turner Classic Movies and on YouTube. It has two important distinctions: A movie about War Crimes trials after the end of World War II (while World War II was still on) and a "B Film" on a major subject produced by "poverty row" studio, Columbia Pictures. Another distinctive note: a strong female lead in the 1940's. Submitted for your approval as a movie landmark as significant in it's day as "The Great Dictator" to show what was going on "over there."

The 1994 "comedic farce" committed by Roland Emmerich is an expensive one-joke special EFX movie that goes nowhere and is best forgotten. Submitted for your approval is a "fan anime" that "tells the rest of the story." By the way, the reason that the 14th century English folk stayed "far from Britain" was the destruction of the star maps to Earth. I'd say that a Hollywood-sized reboot is in order, since the "backward people beat the high tech space-faring civilization"tale has happened. (At least once...so far.) "The High Crusade" audio book

Submitted for your approval, a brand new QSL Quadraphonic LP! Techmoan's Internet connections have scored a made-in-USA Suzanne Ciani vinyl record for those who like "front to back" sound. The hardware is quite interesting, and the audio will take you back to 1990's New Age instrumental music featured on VH-1's "New Visions" TV show. An added bonus, The Moan Family puppets are on hand, talking about "Quad in the Automobile!;)

Submitted for your approval, Philips' VCR and Video 2000 systems that took on Beta and VHS in Europe. Once again, "Techmoan" presents an obscure/unsung technology. Philips aimed for the PAL system video European market, while Sony and Matsushita aimed at the world. So, did the superior video format lose to the VHS mass market giant, or was this doomed by the parochial aim of the manufacturer?

Some musicians can do one thing, but others can do nearly every thing! (Hi Sessions never ceases to amaze as it showcases local talent.;)

It's the most wonderful time of the year, as the kids go back to school. The heat of Summer is going away, so get out and enjoy the outdoors!;)