LaBrea Tar Pits

Lots of fun at the LaBrea Tar Pits today. Some incredible fossils but I was most impressed that there was actual tar (okay, technically it is asphalt) seeping out of the ground. This stuff is s-t-i-c-k-y! No wonder the Sabre Tooth Cats kept getting stuck!

Video shot and edited on iPhone 3GS

The Sad Revelation of “Vienna Calling”

Back in ’86 I really dug Falco’s “Vienna Calling,” the follow-up single to the number one hit “Rock Me Amadeus.”  Despite the oft-repeated moniker, Falco was no “one hit wonder” as “Vienna Calling” went Top 20 on the U.S. charts. And, to my ears, is still the stronger single. Much dancier but still with the Austrian flair the late performer was known for.

falco

I’ve been hearing Falco a bit more on XM radio lately, so I dug into my MP3 collection to find this 80’s gem. You can watch the YouTube video here. It’s really a great song.

Of course, most of the song is in German as were most of Falco’s songs (especially the parts of the songs actually sung by Falco himself). With a song like this I really don’t mind the foreign (to me) language as it actually kind of sets the mood. It’s probably my second favorite song sung in German, the first being Rammstein’s “Du Hast” (which is the music Hitler’s stormtroopers would be dancing to if they survived into the 1990’s).

Anyway, I though I’d see if the internet could help me interpret Falco’s lyrics to “Vienna Calling” and behold look what I found!

Hello, Vienna calling
Hello, hello, Vienna calling
– Cha!
Hello, hello, Vienna calling
– Cha! Cha!
Hello, oho, Vienna calling, na na na na
Hello, oho, Vienna calling, na na na na

Talking about
Stella sits in Rio
Stella lies in Tokyo
Men ask her for a light,
for the other thing as well

Sugar Chris misses you a lot
your legs and your face
You can do without me –
just not without luxury.
What do little girls play with today,
here and there and there,
whether in Tucson, Arizona;
Toronto, Canada.

Vienna, only Vienna you know me up,
know me down
You know me.
Only Vienna, only Vienna, just you alone
Where have your women gone

Ohoho, operator (so alone am I)
Ohoho, operator (need you to come tonight)
Hello, oho, Vienna calling, na na na na
Hello, oho, Vienna calling, na na na na

Two, one, zero
The alarm is red
Vienna in need
Cha, cha, cha

Vienna calling, oho, Vienna calling, oho

And suddenly Mary is named Marilyn
and Eva is named Yvonne
A young Bogart hangs on
your lips, Kid, and says come.

The glory of the curls is finished
the dancers have stopped
It’s 4:45,
now the position is rehearsed.
What do little girls play with today,
here and there and there,
whether in Tucson, Arizona;
or Toronto, Canada.

Vienna, Vienna, only you know me up,
know me down
You know me.
Only Vienna, only Vienna, just you alone
Where have your women gone

Ohoho, operator (so alone am I)
Ohoho, operator (I need you here tonight)
Hello, oho, Vienna calling, na na na na
Hello, oho, Vienna calling, na na na na

Two, one, zero
the alarm is red…

(courtesy About.com)

Wait a minute…

“Vienna Calling” isn’t some sort of heartfelt shout-out to Falco’s hometown? Not about life on the road and wishing he could call home and talk to his family? It’s about… the fact that Vienna doesn’t have any more good prostitutes?

Well,  I guess this is good news as I’ve been trying to find the third track for my 1980’s Call Girl Mix (to go along with “Roxanne” and “Call Me”).   Seriously… wow.

Sea Lions at San Francisco’s Pier 39

Julie and had a date night and drove up to San Francisco for some sightseeing and dinner. We stopped at Pier 39 at sunset and of course had to visit the famous sea lion enclave. How little did we know that the wharf was teeming with sea lions!

The video was shot on an iPhone 3GS and edited in iMovie.

julie-pier39

Earlier we had a great drive up to the top of Twin Peaks for a clear view of The City. The rain yesterday really cleared out the sky and even though it was a little breezy the view was spectacular.

julie-sf

For dinner we tried Joe’s Crab Shack down near Fisherman’s Wharf. The shrimp caesar salad I had was great! We had a nice view overlooking the street and wharf below.

julie-joes

kevin-joes

All photos taken with iPhone 3GS.

Great Photo of Riley

This is Riley’s Halloween costume as a Mad Scientist. Hair courtesy of yours truly…  Great photo by Julie showing his look with the props and such.

riley-mad