Posted on June 3, 2008 at 3:29 p.m.

This just in! A link to the official PBS page of "As The Wrench Turns" that includes a little promo video: http://www.pbs.org/wrenchturns

Also, as a clarification, the link that is listed as a description of "Chicago Push Polka" is actually to a band called "The Chicago Push". While they were pioneers of the push, a better description from the "Polka Dictionary" on the Polish American Journal's website is, "a style used by the rhythm section that adds drive to polkas utilizing a jazz ride effect on cymbals along with a mixture of syncopated rhythms on the drum set as well as bellow shaking the accordion and "button pushing" of the concertina." Whew... Basically it is a slower, plodding rhythm which matches well with the more of a walking-style polka that they do in the north and midwest.

On Brave Combo land theme song for upcoming animated series based on NPR's Car Talk

Posted on April 25, 2008 at 2:57 p.m.

I'm the one taking the picture. The woman in the photo is Ann Marie Harrop, the band's bassist. I'm Brave Combo's assistant/booking person/den mother.

On Headliners Delbert McClinton, Brave Combo, and The Neville Brothers perform at free Denton Arts & Jazz Fest

Posted on April 24, 2008 at 10:53 a.m.

First off I need to change that default image for my profile. I don't think I've ever worn a hat like that....but yes, that's me. I have the incredible ability to stand on a folding chair that is slowly sinking into the mud while holding a digital camera and telling Carl Finch to "scoot a bit to the left."

On Headliners Delbert McClinton, Brave Combo, and The Neville Brothers perform at free Denton Arts & Jazz Fest

Posted on April 19, 2008 at 5:14 p.m.

If you would like to talk about the effects of earthquakes on soil, it just so happens that someone I know works for the U.S. Geological survey on just that subject. But that's just her day job...when she's not poking dirt with a stick, she's Big Lou "Accordion Princess" formerly of Those Darn Accordions and Polkacide. http://www.accordionprincess.com/

On Slow news day affects North Texas newspapers, TV stations, PegNews staffer

Posted on April 19, 2008 at 4 p.m.

Oh, I know all about the fault being ready to go any second. I actually have earthquake insurance on my house. I think I'm the only one that's ever asked my agent about it. He thought I was crazy. It was a whole whopping $30 a year. Skip going out to dinner one night a year and I'm all paid up in case that thing snaps.

On Slow news day affects North Texas newspapers, TV stations, PegNews staffer

Posted on April 19, 2008 at 12:12 p.m.

Oh it's just as bad up here in Chicago. Yesterday there was an earthquake on the New Madrid fault which is nearly 300 miles from here. While yes, we did feel it up here a wee bit, the newcasters talked about it for four hours straight. Everything became related to the earthquake. My favorite was when then finally took a breath to give a traffic report, a piece of metal that was blocking one of the lanes of the interstate "might be there because of the earthquake"? Huh...even at the epicenter only a few buildings were damaged, but somehow a minor vibration that wasn't even as much as a low flying jet caused huge chunks of metal to be flung from a truck. Wow!

On the other hand I've been in Dallas during one of your "snow storms" and your news folks acted like it was the apocalypse. I kept having to peek out my hotel window to make sure I was in the same weather system that they were reporting on.

On Slow news day affects North Texas newspapers, TV stations, PegNews staffer

Posted on January 2, 2008 at 11:50 p.m.

Up here in Chicago "Moo & Oink" are the mascots for a chain of local butcher shops of the same name. http://retail.moo-oink.com/ It's always freaked me out a bit that the happy dancing animals in the commercials are trying to convince you to buy pieces of their dead relatives.

On Moo-N-Oink, family diner with late-night bar, opens in Plano at Park and US 75