| Favorite team: | LSU  |
| Location: | The Woodlands |
| Biography: | |
| Interests: | Music, beer, hiking, traveling, movies, cooking, beer |
| Occupation: | retired |
| Number of Posts: | 4364 |
| Registered on: | 4/20/2013 |
| Online Status: | Not Online |
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re: Endless Sleep - The Obituary Thread
Posted by bleeng on 2/10/26 at 1:48 pm to hogcard1964
Fredrick Edward Lefkowitz (April 10, 1948 – February 5, 2026), known professionally as Fred Smith, was an American bass guitarist, best known for his work with the rock band Television.
He was the original bassist with Angel and the Snake, which changed names to Blondie and the Banzai Babies, and then Blondie. He quit on March 7, 1975 to replace Richard Hell who had left Television over disputes with Tom Verlaine. Hell went on to form The Heartbreakers with Johnny Thunders and Jerry Nolan of the New York Dolls. At the time, Television played at CBGB along with Blondie.
Smith released his first song with Television, “Little Johnny Jewel,” on Ork Records in 1975. It became an underground hit and, crucially, drew the eyes of major labels. After releasing an EP on Stiff Records in 1976, Television signed with Elektra and began work on their debut album, 1977’s influential Marquee Moon. The record became a foundational release in post-1970 alt-rock, heavily influencing the post-punk and new wave scenes that flourished in the US in the 1980s and becoming a touchstone album for generations to follow. Smith remained with the band on through their second album, 1978’s Adventure, until their split that same year. When Television reunited in 1992 to release their third, self-titled album, Smith was right there alongside the founding members, and he continued touring with them into the 2000s.
According to Smith, "Blondie was like a boat that was sinking and Television was my favourite band". He stayed with the band until they broke up in 1978 and rejoined them when they reunited in 1992; the band has played off and on ever since. Smith also participated in the solo albums of the Television guitarists Tom Verlaine and Richard Lloyd, and played with such artists as The Roches, Willie Nile, Peregrins, and The Revelons. From 1988 to 1989 he played bass, recorded, and toured with The Fleshtones.
In 1999, he and his wife, artist Paula Cereghino, started making wine in their apartment on Houston Street in New York City's East Village. In 2003 they shifted production to Bloomington, New York, and in 2007 formally established their artisanal winery, Cereghino Smith.
Smith died of cancer at a hospital in Manhattan, New York on February 5, 2026, at the age of 77.
He was the original bassist with Angel and the Snake, which changed names to Blondie and the Banzai Babies, and then Blondie. He quit on March 7, 1975 to replace Richard Hell who had left Television over disputes with Tom Verlaine. Hell went on to form The Heartbreakers with Johnny Thunders and Jerry Nolan of the New York Dolls. At the time, Television played at CBGB along with Blondie.
Smith released his first song with Television, “Little Johnny Jewel,” on Ork Records in 1975. It became an underground hit and, crucially, drew the eyes of major labels. After releasing an EP on Stiff Records in 1976, Television signed with Elektra and began work on their debut album, 1977’s influential Marquee Moon. The record became a foundational release in post-1970 alt-rock, heavily influencing the post-punk and new wave scenes that flourished in the US in the 1980s and becoming a touchstone album for generations to follow. Smith remained with the band on through their second album, 1978’s Adventure, until their split that same year. When Television reunited in 1992 to release their third, self-titled album, Smith was right there alongside the founding members, and he continued touring with them into the 2000s.
According to Smith, "Blondie was like a boat that was sinking and Television was my favourite band". He stayed with the band until they broke up in 1978 and rejoined them when they reunited in 1992; the band has played off and on ever since. Smith also participated in the solo albums of the Television guitarists Tom Verlaine and Richard Lloyd, and played with such artists as The Roches, Willie Nile, Peregrins, and The Revelons. From 1988 to 1989 he played bass, recorded, and toured with The Fleshtones.
In 1999, he and his wife, artist Paula Cereghino, started making wine in their apartment on Houston Street in New York City's East Village. In 2003 they shifted production to Bloomington, New York, and in 2007 formally established their artisanal winery, Cereghino Smith.
Smith died of cancer at a hospital in Manhattan, New York on February 5, 2026, at the age of 77.
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re: Post a song that references any variation of "walk".
Posted by bleeng on 2/10/26 at 12:44 pm to Perfect Circle
"do the camel walk"
LINK
Palantir climbed 7% on Tuesday after beating Wall Street’s fourth-quarter estimates amid rising spending on artificial intelligence tools from governments and businesses.
The shares popped after it reported $1.41 billion in revenue, ahead of LSEG estimates of $1.33 billion. The company posted adjusted earnings per share of 25 cents, beating the 23 cents a share expected by LSEG.
The earnings came after a muted end to 2025 — November was Palantir’s worst month in two years amid a broader decline in software stocks over fears of an AI valuation bubble. The stock ultimately rose 135% in 2025 but, at Monday’s close, was down 17% year to date.
CEO Alex Karp told CNBC’s Morgan Brennan Monday that the earnings were “the best results that I’m aware of in tech in the last decade.”
Palantir climbed 7% on Tuesday after beating Wall Street’s fourth-quarter estimates amid rising spending on artificial intelligence tools from governments and businesses.
The shares popped after it reported $1.41 billion in revenue, ahead of LSEG estimates of $1.33 billion. The company posted adjusted earnings per share of 25 cents, beating the 23 cents a share expected by LSEG.
The earnings came after a muted end to 2025 — November was Palantir’s worst month in two years amid a broader decline in software stocks over fears of an AI valuation bubble. The stock ultimately rose 135% in 2025 but, at Monday’s close, was down 17% year to date.
CEO Alex Karp told CNBC’s Morgan Brennan Monday that the earnings were “the best results that I’m aware of in tech in the last decade.”
re: Debut Rock Albums where Every Single Song was Great
Posted by bleeng on 1/31/26 at 4:40 pm to FearlessFreep
Devo: Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!
Brand X -Unorthodox Behaviour
King Crimson-In the Court of the Crimson King
The Mahavishnu Orchestra-The Inner Mounting Flame
Starcastle-Starcastle
Blind Faith-Blind Faith (PG cover)
Vikings fire GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah
Posted by bleeng on 1/30/26 at 5:48 pm
Loading Twitter/X Embed...
If tweet fails to load, click here. Mark Wilf says there will be no additional personnel moves. "Every offseason is critical, but we're excited here about the possibilities with the draft capital we now have, taking a hard look at free agency and where we can supplement given the parameters in the league"
James "Mingo" Lewis (December 8, 1953 - January 27, 2026) was an American percussionist and drummer who played with Santana, Al Di Meola (he was a band member for Di Meola's first five albums), Return to Forever, and The Tubes.
Lewis is credited with composition of one song on four of the first five Di Meola albums: "The Wizard" on Land of the Midnight Sun, "Flight Over Rio" on Elegant Gypsy, and "Chasin' The Voodoo" on Casino (retitled from his composition Frankinsence on his 1976 album Flight Never Ending). For The Tubes album Now Lewis wrote "God-Bird-Change", which he reprised on Di Meola's Electric Rendezvous.
He has performed live and/or recorded with hundreds of musicians such as Third World, Miles Davis, Todd Rundgren, and Billy Joel. He has recorded over 100 records, many of which were Grammy winners.
One night, the Santana band was in town to play at Madison Square Garden. It happened that the percussion section had quit the afternoon before the gig, and Carlos and the band were left scrambling to find a replacement. When the show's promoter got word that Mingo, who had been dragged to the show by a friend, was in the house waiting for the show to begin, an impromptu audition was arranged, and with only minutes to spare, Mingo filled in. It was the beginning of what would become a three-year relationship with Santana, during which they toured the world and recorded the studio albums Caravanserai and Love, Devotion and Surrender and the live LP Live at the Crater Festival.
Over the ensuing years, he worked on some highly acclaimed pop and fusion records, including Billy Joel's Turnstiles, Todd Rundgren's Nearly Human, XTC's Skylarking, David Byrne and Brian Eno's My Life in the Bush of Ghosts, and a handful of Al DiMeola's early works.
Lewis is credited with composition of one song on four of the first five Di Meola albums: "The Wizard" on Land of the Midnight Sun, "Flight Over Rio" on Elegant Gypsy, and "Chasin' The Voodoo" on Casino (retitled from his composition Frankinsence on his 1976 album Flight Never Ending). For The Tubes album Now Lewis wrote "God-Bird-Change", which he reprised on Di Meola's Electric Rendezvous.
He has performed live and/or recorded with hundreds of musicians such as Third World, Miles Davis, Todd Rundgren, and Billy Joel. He has recorded over 100 records, many of which were Grammy winners.
One night, the Santana band was in town to play at Madison Square Garden. It happened that the percussion section had quit the afternoon before the gig, and Carlos and the band were left scrambling to find a replacement. When the show's promoter got word that Mingo, who had been dragged to the show by a friend, was in the house waiting for the show to begin, an impromptu audition was arranged, and with only minutes to spare, Mingo filled in. It was the beginning of what would become a three-year relationship with Santana, during which they toured the world and recorded the studio albums Caravanserai and Love, Devotion and Surrender and the live LP Live at the Crater Festival.
Over the ensuing years, he worked on some highly acclaimed pop and fusion records, including Billy Joel's Turnstiles, Todd Rundgren's Nearly Human, XTC's Skylarking, David Byrne and Brian Eno's My Life in the Bush of Ghosts, and a handful of Al DiMeola's early works.
re: Visiting Pearl Harbor
Posted by bleeng on 1/26/26 at 1:32 pm to Shotgun Willie
Just go..from the museums to still seeing the oil patches to knowing that sailors are entombed in the USS Arizona..if that doesn't give you chills and move your emotions nothing will.
Crosby, Stills, & Nash
quote:
Toys In the Attic
This was Aerosmith's third album.
re: Cyclist Knocked Down by a Kangaroo on the Final Stage but Recovered to Win Tour
Posted by bleeng on 1/25/26 at 2:49 pm to UncleLester
He’s a very good professional bike racer. He’s won stages and also the overall mountain classification twice in the Vuelta.
re: Your big regret(s) in not seeing music artist(s) live in concert
Posted by bleeng on 1/25/26 at 12:45 pm to Everyday Is Saturday
Rolling Stones at the LSU Assembly Center (75??)..the one with Mick riding the giant dildo...I wasn't a big Stones fan so I opted out..ce la vie...
re: IPAs tear me up
Posted by bleeng on 1/21/26 at 12:53 pm to Fishinguy3527
If you were drinking a hazy IPA then you may have OD'ed on lactose. You may have had 3 pints of milk sugar.. :yack:
re: What Group Or Artist Have You Listened To The Most In Your Life?
Posted by bleeng on 1/20/26 at 5:44 pm to shutterspeed
My mom had this album so I started listening to the Beatles at an early age in the mid 60's. Between radio, albums, cd's, videos, etc, I've probably heard more Beatles songs than any other band in my life.
If you get into the solo albums it's definitely the case.
Ralph Towner (March 1, 1940 – January 18, 2026) was an American multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger and bandleader. He played the twelve-string guitar, classical guitar, piano, synthesizer, percussion, trumpet, and French horn.
He joined world music pioneer Paul Winter's "Consort" ensemble in the late 1960s. He first played jazz in New York City in the late 1960s as a pianist and was strongly influenced by the renowned jazz pianist Bill Evans. He began improvising on classical and 12-string guitars in the late 1960s and early 1970s and formed alliances with musicians who had worked with Evans, including flautist Jeremy Steig, bassists Eddie Gómez, Marc Johnson, Gary Peacock, and drummer Jack DeJohnette.
Along with bandmates Paul McCandless, Glen Moore, and Collin Walcott, Towner left the Winter Consort in 1970 to form the group Oregon, which over the course of the 1970s issued a number of influential records mixing folk music, Indian classical forms, and avant-garde jazz-influenced free improvisation. At the same time, Towner began a longstanding relationship with the ECM record label, which released virtually all of his non-Oregon recordings after his 1973 debut as a leader Trios / Solos.
He joined world music pioneer Paul Winter's "Consort" ensemble in the late 1960s. He first played jazz in New York City in the late 1960s as a pianist and was strongly influenced by the renowned jazz pianist Bill Evans. He began improvising on classical and 12-string guitars in the late 1960s and early 1970s and formed alliances with musicians who had worked with Evans, including flautist Jeremy Steig, bassists Eddie Gómez, Marc Johnson, Gary Peacock, and drummer Jack DeJohnette.
Along with bandmates Paul McCandless, Glen Moore, and Collin Walcott, Towner left the Winter Consort in 1970 to form the group Oregon, which over the course of the 1970s issued a number of influential records mixing folk music, Indian classical forms, and avant-garde jazz-influenced free improvisation. At the same time, Towner began a longstanding relationship with the ECM record label, which released virtually all of his non-Oregon recordings after his 1973 debut as a leader Trios / Solos.
The Chargers lost their two best OL lineman RT and LT Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater. Herbert was a punching bag behind the scrubs that replaced them.
Very busy 2025 for me. I don't expect 2026 to be nearly as busy as I don't have any international trips planned (as of today!)
We are generally outdoor people and enjoy the state/national parks for day hiking. We also enjoy arboretums/ botanical gardens, museums, state capitol buildings, beer (!), and just exploring new places. We will travel until we run out of money or just get too decrepit to travel anymore.
2025 Total miles: 64,506
New airports: MIA (Miami), SIN (Singapore), NKT (Narita Japan), PWM (Portand ME), SMF (Sacramento), USM: (Koh Samui Thailand)
Total airports-14 (not counting multiples)
One new airline: Bangkok Airways
No major road trips except Houston-BR LA several times
January: IAH-MIA & TPA-IAH
February: IAH-TPE, TPE-SIN, SIN-BKK, BKK-UBP, UBP-BKK, BKK-TPE, TPE-IAH
March-IAH-NRT, NRT-IAH
June: IAH-BOS, PWM-EWR, EWR-IAH
September: IAH-COS, DEN-IAH
September, October: IAH-SEA, SMF-IAH
November: IAH-TPE, TPE-BKK, BKK-USM, USM-BKK, BKK-UBP, UBP-BKK, BKK-TPE, TPE-IAH
EVA Airlines: Star Alliance Gold
United: Premier Gold
Marriott: Lifetime Titanium Elite
Only one 2026 booked trip so far.
March/April: IAH-JAX for a short 11 day trip GA/FL trip for a wedding.
February considering a road trip to Big Bend NP again.
April/May working on an AZ/CA/NV 3 week trip to state/national parks.
Late summer trip up in the air, thinking about Alaska/NW Canada.
Happy trails to all of you
:cheers:
We are generally outdoor people and enjoy the state/national parks for day hiking. We also enjoy arboretums/ botanical gardens, museums, state capitol buildings, beer (!), and just exploring new places. We will travel until we run out of money or just get too decrepit to travel anymore.
2025 Total miles: 64,506
New airports: MIA (Miami), SIN (Singapore), NKT (Narita Japan), PWM (Portand ME), SMF (Sacramento), USM: (Koh Samui Thailand)
Total airports-14 (not counting multiples)
One new airline: Bangkok Airways
No major road trips except Houston-BR LA several times
January: IAH-MIA & TPA-IAH
February: IAH-TPE, TPE-SIN, SIN-BKK, BKK-UBP, UBP-BKK, BKK-TPE, TPE-IAH
March-IAH-NRT, NRT-IAH
June: IAH-BOS, PWM-EWR, EWR-IAH
September: IAH-COS, DEN-IAH
September, October: IAH-SEA, SMF-IAH
November: IAH-TPE, TPE-BKK, BKK-USM, USM-BKK, BKK-UBP, UBP-BKK, BKK-TPE, TPE-IAH
EVA Airlines: Star Alliance Gold
United: Premier Gold
Marriott: Lifetime Titanium Elite
Only one 2026 booked trip so far.
March/April: IAH-JAX for a short 11 day trip GA/FL trip for a wedding.
February considering a road trip to Big Bend NP again.
April/May working on an AZ/CA/NV 3 week trip to state/national parks.
Late summer trip up in the air, thinking about Alaska/NW Canada.
Happy trails to all of you
:cheers:
re: Time to retire some phrases that are overused
Posted by bleeng on 1/3/26 at 10:45 am to Arthur Bach
BREAKING!!
re: Seems like Indiana -7 and Oregon -2.5 are free money
Posted by bleeng on 1/1/26 at 11:52 am to Tiger Ryno
You called it
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