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Blog postI wrote in French License that the automobile is the Number One source of income for the French state. Many of the figures I cited have now been updated in a comprehensive article by Erwan Benezet et Aurélie Lebelle in today’s Parisien https://articles.cafeyn.co/61ccea/le-parisien-paris/2020-08-17/letat-accro-aux-taxes-automobiles clearly demonstrating that the situation has worsened for car owners. A sample:
-Fully 36% of all revenues to the government in France come from taxe -
Blog postMusée national de l’automobile
In my book, French License, I detailed in the chapter on Car Culture how little France cared about the automobile. I contrasted French attitudes toward motorised vehicles with those of their neighbours and the USA, where I come from. The differences are stark and plentiful.
So, on a trip to Alsace this week, I was stunned to learn that France claimed the world’s largest, most prestigious and valuable car museum, the ‘Musée nati -
Blog postAlbum #10: Ivo Papasov and Yuri Yunakov Together Again I was introduced to Bulgarian Wedding music by Eddie Current through an article in Bass Player magazine when I was in my late 20s. The fusion between jazz and folk and progressive rock was bewildering and enticing at the same time. Even Frank Zappa thought the sound was ‘way out there.’ The musicianship is phenomenal. Radomirska Kopanica will forever be…Continue readingAlbum #10 of 10 albums which marked my life
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Blog postAlbum #9: Joni Mitchell Blue 1971 What? A GIRL on this list? I was surprised as well, in my mid-20s, when a male friend turned me on to her. He said her early albums were the equal of her all-male counterparts. I was incredulous. How could that be? But as I listened, I agreed with him. I couldn’t believe my ears. Here was musicianship, and songwriting, and complex melodies…Continue readingAlbum #9 of 10 albums which marked my life
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Blog postThis is in response to a challenge from Alain Cournoyer of the Homebuddies to post 10 albums which marked my life in ten days. I challenge Dan Vuletich, not only because he has a vast knowledge of music, and a degree to prove it, but today’s his birthday. Also, it was his brother, Tom, who introduced me to jazz, pointing me to the all-time great recordings. Album #8: Dave…Continue readingAlbum #8 of 10 albums which marked my life
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Blog postAlbum #7: Rush Moving Pictures 1981 Neil Peart was everyone’s favorite drummer, so he couldn’t be mine. But boy did I admire that guy. He could hit it as hard and fast as anyone. But what set him apart was how crisp his fills were. Here was a perfectionist who practiced endlessly to get it just right. He put so much emphasis on sound, from his set, to tuning,…Continue readingAlbum #7 of 10 albums which marked my life
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Blog postAlbum #6: The Clash, Sandinista 1980 I was late to the punk scene. Most likely because I was too young, and a freckle-faced kid who believed in the inherent goodness of the world. Why spoil it with a bunch of self-absorbed whining and screaming and lack of musical talent? (insert picture of Sex Pistols here) Then came the Clash. They were some guys who could really play with fantastic…Continue readingAlbum #6 of 10 albums which marked my life
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Blog postAlbum #5: Jethro Tull living in the past 1972 Still my favorite band, and Clive Bunker my favorite drummer. Listen to him go wild on Dharma for one. It always seems like he’s about to go off the rails. Despite missing the skins on some hits, he stays on track, and keeps rising throughout his solo. What energy! My kinda guy. Discovered the group in high school, and this…Continue readingAlbum #5 of 10 albums which marked my life
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Blog postAlbum #4: Foreigner 4, 1981 The drumbeat on Urgent was so simple I thought I might be able to play it. So my 12-year-old self got my dusty drum set out of the closet, where it had been put away since the Christmas I turned seven years old. I could always control my hands on the sticks pretty well and every once in a while keep the beat one…Continue readingAlbum #4 of 10 albums which marked my life
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Blog postAlbum #3: The Police Zenyatta Mondatta 1980 This was blasted into my ears from the right rear speaker of my Mom’s cherry red BMW 320i on countless drives down highway 5 on family trips from SF to LA. Never grows old. Stewart Copeland was always one of my favorites, and I’m continually surprised at the lack of recognition for his playing. His ultra-tightened snare drum sound on this album…Continue readingAlbum #3 of 10 which marked my life
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