New word: Prejected

adj. 1. someone or something that has been rejected in advance of being offered, stated or proposed, often due to defense mechanisms on the part of the prejector, who chooses to reject early and often rather than take a risk; preject (v.), prejection (n.)

SYD, auditions

Well, it's finally here -- and yet still not here. Auditions for "So You Think You Can Dance," unlike those for "American Idol," are the least fun part of the show.

I will therefore not review them.

Next week: Vegas week!

"Ask not what your country can do for you." Also, don't ask what you can do for your country.

An Ohio man has been arrested for mowing the overgrown grass at a local park in Sandusky.

Here's my favorite part:

"Police said they arrested 48-year-old Hamilton after he refused to stop mowing and charged him with obstructing official business and disorderly conduct.

City Manager Matt Kline called the arrest unfortunate and said he understands Hamilton's frustration. Kline said budget cuts have left Sandusky understaffed for seasonal maintenance work."

[Emphasis mine.]

The very brief AP article makes sure to say that he was blowing the grass out onto the sidewalk and that his mower chewed up trash that hadn't been picked up, as though this justifies the arrest somehow. As though it wasn't the town's responsibility to pick up that trash -- the town's, or the individuals' who threw it there in the first place.

Short of court-mashalling those litterers, the town should be taking care of this property. If they're even slightly worried that John Hamilton's actions will lead to other mowers coming forward and contributing to the town by taking care of public land in similar ways, they should applaud it and give him some kind of award, like some free bowling shoe rentals. Or, hey, a tax cut.

If they're worried about lawsuits should anyone not officially employed by the city get hurt while taking care of public land, all the more reason to officially find a way to accept them as volunteers. And coming from a resident of the state that invented Lyme disease (though we don't have a monopoly on "rusty metal hiding in tall grass"), I can tell you that unkempt public fields are just as likely to get you in legal trouble as somebody mowing them.

Challenge met: Apocalypse Readiness Kit (A.R.K.)

Now you wish you'd responded to my challenge...or you will during the Apocalypse!!


Contents:

Tissue paper: Useful for kindling or paper substitute; may be used to record all of Ecclesiastes in event of Apocalypse by fascist dictatorship, easy-to-read essential grocery list for looting in case of Apocalypse by fast-moving zombie horde, self-congratulatory memoir of Apocalypse survival in all other cases. Own blood will substitute for ink or graphite if necessary. (Others' blood preferred.)

1 book on surviving the Apocalypse, illustrated: Self-explanatory

1 copy of Apocalypse Chow, a recipe book for post-Apocalyptic cooking (provided radiation doesn't pre-cook all food microwave-style): Self-explanatory

1 can Hormel chili with beans with pop-top lid: Until a working heating device (i.e., toaster oven) can be wrestled from the zombie hordes, this chili can be used to sustain life. Use caution when attempting to avoid zombie hordes, however. They may smell the chili even after it's been consumed. As desperate measure, chili may also be poured over head and face to simulate previous zombie attack. (Zombies unlikely to choose leftovers when fresh brains abound.)

1 flyswatter with a cartoon man-face and tophat: To be used for squishing enormous mosquitos and other irradiated giganto-bugs post-Apocalypse; in the event of complete human extinction (other than owner of the A.R.K.), may also be used as "Wilson"-like substitute for human companionship. Do not attempt to mate with flyswatter.

2 cloth napkins, greenish: Because Apocalypse does not excuse you from using some manners, young man.

90 plastic Army men, green and tan: May be used for plotting military coup in post-Apocalyptic political/zombie landscape; Army men may also be partially melted to reflect actual condition of friendlies and enemies (i.e., "no left arm," "elephantized head," "missing brain with zombie teeth marks on skull"). Save any removed parts in case other combatants have grown extra arms or heads.

1 roll duct tape: Anyone who doesn't know what use duct tape could be in the Apocalypse is already dead; duct tape also likely to become new currency after free-for-all anarchic phase, then eventually replaced with something less sticky/useful.

1 small tray with pictures of lemons on it: May be used for storing and carrying items, and for remembering lemons.

1 copy each "Apocalixx," "Apocalixx II," and "Apocalypse is Fun!" mix CDs: Self-explanatory, assuming the world still contains working CD players.

PSA: Common road kill animals, in reverse order of cuteness

Possums

Vultures

Skunks

Turtles

Deer

Raccoons

Squirrels

Bunnies

PSA: 50 hours much, much longer than 24.

"I found out that the 50 hour mix is exponentially harder -- it is more than twice as hard," said P.C. as we talked on the phone about his efforts to wrestle the available songs into "winter" or "summer" categories.

He's right, of course. I'll post all 50 hours of mix lists (2 days, one winter, one summer, plus the rain mix and the witching hour mix) when they're done -- possibly in installments.

PSA: Extra, extra (money for me)

I've started making these purses out of rolled up newspapers. I think I have a pretty good technique going, and except for the fact that you shouldn't really take them out in the rain, they're pretty cool.

I'll sell you one if you're interested. Discount for friends and people willing to talk me up to others. ("Oh, that Alicia is so generous and kind, and look at this awesome purse I've got!" etc.)

PSA: National Spelling Bee

Finals are today.

PSA: File this under "it's about freaking--" oh, wait.

Back issues of the Chicago Defender, "famed black newspaper," are being donated to the Chicago Public Library (South Side branch, appropriately) by the heir to the paper's founding family, Robert Sengstacke (now 66). The collection contains pictures never published elsewhere and a part of black (and American) history going back to the early twentieth century.

According to the NYTimes,

"The Defender was founded in 1905 by Robert Abbott, who quit a fledging law practice after being told he was “too black to win a case.” The newspaper became a leading national voice for African-Americans, a showcase for black intellectuals and an unapologetic advocate for civil rights."

It's still running as a weekly with a circulation of around 10,000.

PSA: File this under "It's about freaking time."

Obama has nominated a Hispanic woman to take Justice Souter's place: Sonia Sotomayor.

NPR predicts she will pass the nomination process, and if she does, she'll be the first Hispanic person to become a Supreme Court Justice (and only the third woman ever).

PSA: Happy Memorial Day

Parades, etc.

"Flirting," AKA, "lying to"

Marcus at Pizza Hut: "I've decided never to work for a corporation again."

Me: "Sounds like you're in the market to learn how to make handmade handbags."

Marcus: "No, I'd work at a real restaurant."

Me, before I can stop myself: "My boyfriend works at [X restaurant]."

My girl, seated at the table across from me: "You have a boyfriend?!?"

Me: "Whoops -- Pretend I didn't say that!"

Marcus: "Yeah, she doesn't have a boyfriend!"

Me: "It was just a lie I made up to say to Marcus. That's what I do -- I'm always telling Marcus lies."

My girl: "Alicia, you're flirting with Marcus!"

Marcus: [Laughs and walks away.]

Me: [Laugh] "Eat your lunch."

Local Trivia: WOW. (That's what she said.)

Sign on Route 10, Farmington/Plainville: "Hard Wood Wanted."

PSA: So You Think You Can Dance (SYTYCD [SYD]) auditions premiere

Yes! It's finally here!!

Unsolicited Advice, XII

Don't get involved with your sibling's love interest unless you're as funny and down-to-earth-charming as Steve Carell, and it's true love.

Local Trivia: Umm...actually, I feel more uncomfortable with you around describing the picture, than with that book.

[At the Book Outlet, a male customer walks past me with a male manager toward the back of the store in the adult book section -- as opposed to the children's book section -- and speaks with increasing desperation, but rationally. The manager remains solicitous and curious throughout the exchange.]

Male customer to manager, then to a female customer: "I'm just saying -- ma'am? Ma'am, you have a small child, don't you?"

Female customer with five-year-old daughter running around the store: "Yes."

Male customer: "Could you come take a look at this, please?"

[Female customer starts walking toward male customer and manager, confused but obviously wanting to be helpful.]

Manager to male customer: "No. No, I'm not going to let you do this to the customers."

Female customer, awkwardly and backing away: "Sorry..."

Male customer: "I'm just saying, there should be a sign, because there are children wandering around this store, and they might wander into that section."

Manager: "Well, there are signs clearly marking the adult books from the children's books." [The store is divided in half by these categories.]

Male customer, increasingly desperate: "But there are children around, and there's a picture of man and a woman naked, there, touching each other, and I'm just saying that kids could see that and think 'oh, yeah, that's something I want to experiment with' before they're really ready -- before they're emotionally ready."

Manager: "I don't know what you want me to do, though."

Male customer: "Well, the police are going to be involved in this."

Manager: "What would you say is the difference between art and pornography, though?"

[They walk out of earshot toward the front of the store.]

In Defense of Poppery X: Weird Al Yankovic’s “White and Nerdy”

Pop example: Weird Al Yankovic’s “White and Nerdy”

What redeems it: “White and Nerdy” may be the perfect example of a musician knowing his audience.

People listening to Weird Al are almost invariably white, and almost invariably nerdy. No other subsection of the planet is as likely to listen to the parodic reimaginings of popular music Weird Al produces, as most humans are not as dependent on satire to free them from the constricting bonds of the overanalytic lifestyle.

As with the worrywart, overanalyzers are generally only free to stop analyzing their experience when they feel the necessary analysis has been responsibly dispensed with by someone else, usually equally capable of analysis. Weird Al shows a superior mastery of not only the musical forms (in parody) of the subjects of his satirical songs, but also of the silly subjects that overanalyzers fear all pop song lyrics eventually come down to. Weird Al anticipates the overanalyzers’ criticism of shallow lyrics and parodies them to everyone’s benefit.

Just some of Weird Al’s “White and Nerdy” lyrics, all of which refer to things that white, nerdy teens and adults generally like, are able to lay out the whole stereotypical life of a nerd:

"First in my class here at M.I.T.
Got skills, I'm a Champion of DND
MC Escher that's my favorite MC
Keep your 40
I'll just have an Earl Grey tea
My rims never spin to the contrary
You'll find they're quite stationary
All of my action figures are cherry
Steven Hawkings in my library"

By referring to things that geeks like – M.I.T., Dungeons and Dragons, m.i.b. action figures (and a sideways reference to Captain Picard's Earl Gray tea predilection) – “White and Nerdy” allows geeks to derive the same enjoyment, albeit of a different variety, from the Weird Al version of the song that fans of “Ridin’ Dirty” get from that song. Their enjoyment and fandom can be unabashed because Weird Al has already ironized what would typically need translation from ghetto to geek.

This is Weird Al’s usual m.o., as in the songs “Amish Paradise,” “Eat it,” or “Yoda,” each of which appeal to some element of the target demographic (chastity and industry as an alternative to the “gangsta” life, overeating [possibly to the point of obesity], and Star Wars fandom, respectively) as well as accomplishing the shutdown of overzealous, overworked critical faculties in its audience.

“White and Nerdy,” however, takes the accomplishments of previous songs to a new level by being, first, an extremely catchy and enviable tune, musically; and second, a song about the audience it appeals to.

The tune is, of course, almost identical to that of “Ridin’ Dirty,” a song about things most nerds have never done and will likely never do. The song features a lot of bass, and is best played loudly at stoplights from a car with tinted windows, chrome rims, and possibly hydraulics.

Nerds realize they aren’t cool enough to do this. It’s part of what makes them nerds – that they’re self-conscious enough to understand this. (For nerds or geeks who don’t have the social IQ necessary to distinguish between inappropriate and appropriate behavior for worrywart white people, “White and Nerdy” serves the helpful purpose of saving face for those who would have listened to “Ridin’ Dirty” instead.)

Still, do not be fooled: Nerds and geeks have just as much vanity as anyone. They enjoy hearing about themselves the way everyone does. To write a song to geeks about geeks, then, is excellent marketing. To understand the target demographic well enough to make that song a parody (the primary source of humor for many varieties of geek and nerd), is a stroke of genius.

9 pocket protectors

PSA: US to issue tougher fuel economy standards for automobiles

Our cars will now be required to get at least 3 mpg (highway)...forcing Hummer to take two thirds of its models off the road. (The H3 gets 3 mpg when coasting in neutral down a steep grade.)

PSA: Revised escalation of insults

You

Your face

Your butt*

Your mom**

* Newly added
** “Your mom” is now the ultimate insult, replacing “your mom’s face.”

Tyler Frost SUSPENDED Over PROM Attendence

I understand that a fundamentalist ethos is a vital part of many American Christians' personal spiritual lives, and that they derive joy and satisfaction from following it. I don't begrudge anyone their ability to start schools or enforce rules in them, even silly, silly rules like "you can't go to your girlfriend's prom."

(After all, why didn't the school suspend Tyler when they found out he HAD a public-school girlfriend? Surely he was holding hands with her before they went to prom together! Surely the fact that they were dating was proof enough of his lust!)

The trouble with the fundamentalist mindset interacting with the world at large, though, I think is twofold: first, such a rigid code of conduct doesn't allow for any discussion of inner life or motives (thus burying actual emotional or mental issues with "sins" such as wanting to look at beautiful girls, and obscuring the difference between dancing with your girlfriend and having unprotected sex), and second, that these kids are almost certainly totally uneducated in sex ed.

And a lot of them will have sex anyway. They won't use protection because they won't be prepared to, won't have access to it, won't know how. They'll end up pregnant or with STDs. And that does affect society as a whole.

Schools are allowed to have their own rules. But when they start withholding vital health information that might influence the wellbeing of society, that's when I feel entitled to speak up.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Local Trivia: Towns in which I’ve bought something from a quarter machine in 2009, so far

Southington

Waterbury

Watertown

PSA: Things I’ve gotten from quarter machines, so far

Tiny plastic handcuffs: 2

Clear plastic balls with two ball bearings and plastic face inside: 2

“Booger-like” sticky things to fling at stuff: 2

Rubber bracelets with Spanish and English sayings on them: 2 (“Que onda?!?” and “Esta de pelos”)

Clear plastic ball with two ball bearings and no plastic face inside: 1

Hematite heart necklace: 1

Hematite heart keychain: 1

Thin blue plastic bracelet set-of-two: 1

Ring: 1

Giant die: 1

PSA: Just some of the weird songs played on Pizza Hut’s dining room “radio station”

“Dirty Diana” – Michael Jackson

“Be Prepared” – Scar, The Lion King (movie)

“Just Wait” – Blues Traveler

“Scrubs” – TLC

MFHTDWF #7

Principle: The recent trend toward “green” living should be followed to the letter, or it won’t count.

When you’re marketing yourself as a “green” celeb, or a spokesperson for “green living,” you’re appealing to a particularly by-the-book, neurotically/obsessively conscientious crowd that generally mocks famous people and considers all efforts to live with a smaller carbon footprint null and void if you haven’t proven yourself by living in a tree through at least two television seasons.

Remember, even in "green living," your primary goal as a famous person is to fascinate and terrify. This is your responsibility as a wielder of influence; I cannot emphasize enough how important this is.

You must join every environmental group that approaches you for a donation or membership, but only speak out for the most extreme – i.e. PETA or the variety of Greenpeace that blows stuff up. Do not let it be known that you are a member of the World Wildlife Fund, the Nature Conservancy, or related groups (such as the ASPCA or Audobon Society) unless asked directly or when speaking with other members of the same groups.

Bring the conversation back around immediately to your more extreme environmental group involvement and drop in fascinating/terrifying "facts," such as that the dodo egg was a known cure for cancer before dodos were mercilessly destroyed by the nascent pharmo-industrial complex, or that a million and a half acres of trees are cut down every fourteen seconds. Do not allow anyone to question your facts. Be aggressive in your defense, and allow arrogance to do the work for you, rather than checking facts.

If you are unable to extricate yourself from a fact-based debate, point out that while you were arguing over how many trees can actually be cut down in fourteen seconds, three more species went extinct. Then say "the time to act is now," and make a dramatic exit.

You may freely admit that you are a member of the Sierra Club, but be careful when name-dropping marginally obscure conservation-minded artists or authors (Wallace Stegner, Wendell Berry, Ansel Adams) to ascribe to previous members a godlike status in your personal life. Imply, but do not state directly, that these authors and artists have had a revolutionary impact on your life; then quickly change the subject as though too affected to continue. Any actual discussion of the content of authors’ work or artists’ photographs should be avoided, as it will reveal you as a sham. (These types of fans can smell blood in the water a mile away, and they enjoy ripping others apart in a debate.)

Carrying a work of nonfiction by one of the “green” authors should suffice. Extra points for older, more obscure conservationists, and for dog-eared copies that appear to have been read multiple times. Ansel Adams photos tastefully framed and displayed are acceptable, but coffee table books of his work are not. They have been overplayed.

Here are some equivalencies between typical markers of fame and “green” fame:

Lamborghini = Prius

Ray-bans = Black framed, rectangular glasses (designer label)

Vera Wang wedding dress = funky short dress “picked up from this awesome little vintage store in the village”

Shoplifting = Chaining oneself to something in protest

Paying for new wing at local hospital = paying for new hospital in African country

Black = Green

Plastic surgery = “Eating raw”*

*If you are a beautiful woman in the Western tradition (blond and buxom), the “green” crowd will forgive surgical enhancements, despite their otherwise unrelenting focus on the “natural.” If you are an ugly woman trying to become beautiful, or a man, surgical enhancement will reveal you as the poseur you are.

Examples of famous people who succeed at this principle by living “green” to the extreme: Pamela Anderson, Cake (the band)

Examples of famous people who succeed at this principle by not caring at all about the environment: Marie Antoinette, all male characters on half-hour sitcoms

Examples of famous people who fail at this principle by being not green enough: All male characters on hour-long dramas

PSA: Birch Beerers

P.C. and I (mostly I) have made a first attempt at homemade birch beer. I stayed up three hours last night removing the inner bark from the wood and outer bark, boiling it (half an hour) and adding enough sugar to make a person diabetic two years before her time, to get it to a syrup that could be easily added to selzer water.

It tastes weird, but it's authentic. If you want some, speak up.

New word: Escapegoat

n. one who serves as the excuse to leave a party or other gathering earlier than generally socially acceptable, i.e. "Oh, I'm sorry, but Dave needs to get home to his sick mother," "We'd stay, but Helen is pregnant," or "Richard hates it when people call him Dick. Now we have to go before he gets dangerously drunk and vomits on your bathroom floor...again. We had a great time."

Local Trivia: The best thing about CT in the spring.

An overabundance of lilacs.

(They must be the easiest trees on earth to grow [in this climate], because everyone has at least one lilac tree in their yard, and they smell great.)

PSA: SYD (SYTYCD)

Premiere for "So You Think You Can Dance" is May 21 at 8 p.m.

That's a Thursday. (Next Thursday.)

New word: GPSyndrome

n. 1. the inability to find point A from point B without a GPS, caused by overuse of global positioning system

2. shrinking of neural networks and/or neurons and/or portions of brain associated with location and spacial reasoning due to overuse of global positioning system

3. the psychologically experienced need to know where one is in relation to satellites or earthly coordinates, created by constant surveillance of position via global positioning system, to the point of addiction

Local Trivia: Unacceptable local parks

McLean Game Refuge, Granby (pond drained for erosion remediation)

Willow Street Park, New Britain (contaminated)

Local Trivia: Decent local parks

Martha Hart Park, New Britain

Stanley Quarter Park, New Britain

Local Trivia: Good local parks

Norton Park, Plainville

Walnut Hill, New Britain

Willow Brook, New Britain

Local Trivia: Awesome local parks

Hubbard Park, Meriden

Sleeping Giant State Park, Hamden

PSA: Other things we can make out of twigs

Coasters

Hot plate mats

Jewelry (rings, necklaces, bracelets)

PSA: Weaver fever

Prince Certainpersonio and I have been making various items out of the bittersweet vines we found (and took) from the reservoir last week -- baskets, mostly -- using butcher's twine and very simple knot-tying techniques. (I call them "the knot-tying equivalent of the dog paddle.")

Friend Sharon has already benefited from our new hobby. (Anyone else need a basket?)

My current goal is to make a picnic basket, complete with liftable cover.

Challenge: Quarter Machinifesto

Next time you see a quarter machine that has an assortment of tiny, ridiculous toys, spend a quarter and see what you get.

My bet is either a childlike sense of wonder and joy (from getting, like, a hematite necklace or a giant purple die) or a conversation piece for sarcastic banter (like, another sticky thing that kids like to fling at stuff "because it feels like a booger," or a weirdo clear plastic ball with two inexplicable, meaningless ball bearings in it).

Choice has been overrated and overextended, and quarter machines take it away, imposing a tiny, non-biodegradable toy on you (usually complete with tiny display case) just when you need it most. I promise you won't get anything you would have chosen on your own. But you might just like it anyway.

Try it. Then comment here on what you got.

PSA: 24 Hour Mix (4/30-5/1)

Well, thanks to my awesome-ridiculous boyfriend, the 24-hour mix has been tweaked to perfection.

Here's how perfect it is:

Time........Running time
12 A.M....59:57
1............. 59:46
2 .............58:46
3 .............58:45
4 .............59:44
5 ........ 1:00:00
6 .............59:36
7 .............59:43
8............ 59:05
9 ............59:56
10 ..........59:54
11 ..........59:50
12 P.M...59:58
1 ............59:44
2 ...........58:05
3 ...........59:55
4 ...........59:15
5 ...........59:57
6 ...........59:57
7 ...........59:22
8 ...........59:41
9 ...........59:43
10 ........59:54
11 .........59:50

The alternate 3 A.M. (Witching Hour) and 3 P.M. (Rain) mixes are for times when sleep and sun aren't in your 24-hour schedule -- and they run 59:27 and 59:47 respectively.

Normally, I'd offer to send these out to anyone who requested them; in this case, you'll have to send an SASE and 25 blank CDs (with one alterna-mix thrown in free, since that what I'd usually do).

Or request specific times, if that suits you.

And obviously, shout outz to Prince Certainpersonio, mixmaster extraordinaire, provider of half the 24 hours of music, stay-up-late-er for mix perfecting, and excellent all-around individual to boot.

Rock.

PSA: Reasons I would give a standing ovation

The performance was excellent and moving, possibly life-altering

The performance was good for its kind, i.e. a high school musical; a grade-school dance recital; a quick street con

The rest of the audience is standing up and I can't see anything past their heads

Someone I know, who knows where I'm sitting, is in the performance

My grandma is already standing up next to me

I know other audience members, who know where I'm sitting, and suspect they're watching me

There's a bee or other insect buzzing around me, and I'm worried it will sting

I've been sitting for a long time and want to stretch

PSA: Reasons P.C. would give a standing ovation

The performance was excellent and moving, possibly life-altering

PSA: Things that, in a perfect world, I would be growing in a garden

Green beans

Yellow Squash

Zucchini

Carrots

Corn*

Jalapenos

Chickpeas

Black Beans

Cilantro

Scallions

Onions*


*I would prefer that corn shuck itself still on the stalk when it's ready to eat, and that onions (particularly, red) grow abundantly on bushes or small trees like apples, in my perfect-world garden.

PSA: Bhuja Nut Mix

It is, in fact, "ablaze with taste and goodness," though kind of weird for a Western palate.

But it's definitely worth $1.

PSA: Emily

Friend Emily, who once worked in the WC [the other one] at MC, has been seriously ill for over a month.

She's recovering, but anyone who knows what I'm talking about, keep her in your thoughts.

Anyone who doesn't know what I'm talking about, email me to find out.

Local Trivia: Goslings

The goose eggs have transformed into feather down and an empty nest.

P.C. and I assume the parents were out giving the little Canada geese-to-be lessons in swimming, being neighborly, and ending every message with "eh?".

24: 11 A.M.

Strawberryfire - The Apples in Stereo
Relative Ways - And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead
Grounds For Divorce - Elbow
Just Push Play - Aerosmith
Everybody Loves A Loser - Morcheeba
Sand - Phish
Til I Hear It From You - Gin Blossoms
Music Is My Hot Hot Sex - C.S.S.
Come Together - Joe Cocker
Elevation - U2
What We Came Here For - Damone
Oxford Comma - Vampire Weekend
Victor Jara's Hands - Calexico
Time of the Season - The Zombies
Pale Sun - Darker My Love
Combat - The Flobots

24: 10 A.M.

Birdhouse In Your Soul - They Might Be Giants
Failing A Test Falling In Love - Tri-Danielsons
House Of Tom Bombadil - Nickelcreek
I'm a Cuckoo - Belle & Sebastian
Circles - Strongbad Sings
Mambo #8 - Perez Prado
Brak - I Love Beans - Space Ghost
Meet James Ensor - They Might Be Giants
Short Skirt/Long Jacket - Cake
YATTA ! - happatai
Don't Download This Song - Weird Al Yankovic
White Kids Love Hip-Hop - MC Chris
A Word From Deacon Jones (a local Cable Access Ministry) - Mark Lowry
Techno - Strongbad Sings
Send Me On My Way - Rusted Root
Doctor Worm - They Might Be Giants
Hoe Down - Aaron Copeland
(Ain't Nothin' Gonna) Break My Stride - Matthew Wilder
Hakuna Matata - Lion King
Don't Worry Be Happy - Bobby McFerrin
Manic Monday - The Bangles

24: 9 A.M.

Times Like These (Acoustic) - Foo Fighters
Have A Nice Day - Stereophonics
No More Running Away (Live) - Air Traffic
Blackbirds and Thrushes - Niamh Parsons
Octopus's Garden - Beatles
The Times They Are a-Changin' - Bob Dylan
Keep It Together - Guster
You Get What You Give - New Radicals
Lie In Our Graves - Dave Matthews Band
Forever Young - Rod Stewart
Perfect Day - Collective Soul
You Gotta Be - Desree
Everyday Is A Winding Road - Sheryl Crow
Demon Days - Gorillaz
Smoothie Song - Nickelcreek

24: 8 A.M.

Life in Technicolor - Coldplay
Brand New Day - Sting
Start Me Up - The Rolling Stones
Daylight - Matt & Kim
More Than A Feeling - Boston
Bang Bang - Dispatch
Hungry Heart - Bruce Springsteen
I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) - The Proclaimers
Oh, Happy Day - Sister Act
Woke Up This Mornin' - B.B. King
Shifting Sand - Caedmon's Call
Takin' Care Of Business - Bachman-Turner Overdrive
Beautiful Day - U2
Beautiful World - Coldplay
First Tube - Phish

24: 7 A.M.

Oddity - Bela Fleck and the Flecktones
Shanti - Bela Fleck and the Flecktones
Prelude To Silence - Bela Fleck and the Flecktones
Good Morning - Bullfrogs and Butterflies
Sleeping In - The Postal Service
Indefinetely - Travis
Sleep - Phish
Euglama - VHS or Beta
Rising Sun - Rusted Root
Daylight - Coldplay
Sunrise - Hand Fed Babies
A Gaelic Blessing - John Rutter
Wake Up - Arcade Fire
Turn, Turn - Birds
The Seeker - The Who
At Last We Meet Again - Bela Fleck and the Flecktones

24: 6 A.M.

There was snow (Opening) - Thomas Newman
In the Cold Light of Morning - Placebo
I Hope Tomorrow Is Like Today - Guster
Souvenirs - Dan Fogelberg
Somewhere Over The Rainbow - Thomas Newman
Only One Time (Sweet November) - Enya
Sleepers Wake - Bach
Light In August - Early Day Miners
Gretchen Ross - Donnie Darko Soundtrack
There's Never Enough Time - The Postal Service
In The Morning Of The Magicians - The Flaming Lips
Wild Horses - The Sundays
Heaven - Rusted Root
City Of Angels - Gabriel Yared

24: 5 A.M.

Slipping Away - Donnie Darko Soundtrack
Screenwriter's Blues - Soul Coughing
Pure Morning - Placebo
Paranoid Android - Radiohead
Stay Awake - Dishwalla
Highly Suspicious - My Morning Jacket
Colorblind - Counting Crows
Who Needs Sleep? - Barenaked Ladies
Is There a Ghost - Band of Horses
Long Nights - Eddie Vedder
Part 3 - The Februarys
When You Sleep - My Bloody Valentine
I Drove All Night - Roy Orbison
Soco Amaretto Lime - Brand New
Red Oyster Cult - Guster
Climbing Up The Walls - Radiohead

24: 4 A.M.

Coldest Winter - Kanye West
Someone Saved My Life Tonight - Elton John
Samson - Regina Spektor
Did You Know Him - Donnie Darko Soundtrack
Mad World - Gary Jules
Makambo - Geoffrey Oryema
All I Have To Do is Dream - Buddy Holly
River of Dreams - Billy Joel
Creature Fear - Bon Iver
When You Sleep - Cake
Once Upon A Time - Cirque Du Soleil
In Dreams - Roy Orbison
Adiemus - Adiemus
Dream On - Aerosmith
Carpathian Ridge - Donnie Darko Soundtrack
Air On Strings In G - Bach

Alterna-24: 3 A.M. (Witching Hour Mix)

''Twisted Nerve'' - Bernard Herrmann - Kill Bill
The Red Bedroom - No Knife
We Do What We're Told (Milgram's 37) - Peter Gabriel
Red Right Hand - Nick Cave
I'm No Angel - Dido
Habeas Corpses (Draconian Love) - El-P
The Bitten Bite Back - Mount Sims
Thriller - Michael Jackson
''Axe Throws'' (SFX) - Kill Bill
Stockholm Syndrome - Muse
Run To Your Grave - The Mae Shi
The Stranger - Billy Joel
Vletrmx (Plaid Mix) - Autechre
Dirty Diana (Album Version) - Michael Jackson
''Super 16 (Excerpt) [Remix]'' - Neu! - Kill Bill

24: 3 A.M.

3 A.M. - Matchbox Twenty
Song For A Sleeping Girl - Devics
Sheep May Safely Graze - Bach
Rest Easy - Audio Adrenaline
Rest - Skillet
Nights In White Satin - Moody Blues
Awkward talk - Thomas Newman
Threnody - Goldmund
Yearning of the sword - Coco Lee & Yo-Yo Ma
American Beauty - Thomas Newman
I Grieve - Peter Gabriel
The Dike - Paweł Błaszczak

24: 2 A.M.

Today, Tonight - Dishwalla
Everything - Lifehouse
No Cars Go - Arcade Fire
I Just Died in Your Arms Tonight - REO Speedwagon
Come Back To Bed - John Mayer
My Wife with Champagne Shoulders - Mark Isham
Sleep Tight - Death Cab For Cutie
Here with Me - Dido
I Am Weary (Let Me Rest) - The Cox Family (O Brother, Where Art Thou?)
2:45 AM - Elliott Smith
Lullaby - Creed
Lullaby - Billy Joel
Requiem aeternam - John Rutter

24: 1 A.M.

No Sleep 'Till Brooklyn - Beastie Boys
I'll Take You Home - Matt & Kim
No Sugar Tonight - The Guess Who
Save Tonight - Eagle Eye Cherry
Set the Fire to the Third Bar - Snow Patrol (with Martha Wainwright)Bar
Nightswimming - R.E.M.
What a Day That Was - David Byrne
Handkerchiefs - Winterpills
Let Go - Frou Frou
A Movie Script Ending - Death Cab For Cutie
Closing Time - Tom Waits
Farewell And Goodnight - Smashing Pumpkins
Slow Night, So Long - Kings of Leon
Goodnight and Go - Imogen Heap
In the Cold, Cold Night - The White Stripes

24: 12 A.M.

The New Year - Death Cab For Cutie
New Years - Asobi Seksu
Midnight Show - The Killers
Midnight Special - Credence Clearwater Revival
Midnight Rider - Allman Brothers Band
Midnight Sun - Diana Krall
Midnight - Red Hot Chili Peppers
You May Be Right - Billy Joel
Young Bride (Cassettes Won’t Listen Remix) - Midlake
Remedy - The Black Crowes
Ashley - the dodos
Waiting On Elvis - Dire Straits
Badge - Cream
April Come She Will - Paul Simon
123 Goodbye - Elvis Perkins In Dearland