The Final Post

One of the inevitabilities in life is that all things must end (so I heard). This is the message I bring to you today. This blog has run its course and it is only right that I bring this blog to a close. I no longer have the time and interest in maintaining this blog or seeking out records, tapes, CDs, and other formats of this material.

I would like to thank these fine individuals who have contributed to this blog's collection: KL from NYC, jay strange, aethr, yragentman, Tripmaster, and Jackory. (I hope I didn't forget anyone.)

I appreciate all who took the time to write a comment when visiting the Basement (except the spammers, damn you spammers).

I also appreciate all who took at least a few minutes from their lives to visit the Basement. I know those are not minutes you can ever have back, I can only hope it was fun, worthwhile, and maybe even educational.

While my interest in some of this stuff has decreased, I admit that I hope that this blog has at least in a small way encouraged people to go out and look for records, tapes, even CDs in the real world.

No need to worry about this blog being taken over by some bot and being turned into a shit spam blog or one of those blogs that contains written or copy-and-pasted celebrity news or some other such crap. It will still be up and available as a resource or as simply something for your amusement or however you wish to use this blog. Most if not all of the posts should still have active links. I may or may not decide to keep reuploading the files. This means that I may or may not take requests to reupload something. If you feel the need to repost something or two or more from this blog, all I ask is you reupload the files yourself. You don't even have to credit me.

I wish all of you happiness and wellness in your lives as well as luck in finding a weird record or two for a bargain. Thank you and farewell.

The New "Updates about Old Posts" Page

I have created a new page that will list updates of posts with new links and new information. This will be more efficient than constantly writing posts about updates. From now on, all updates will be posted on that page.

More Updates about Some Old Posts

I am hoping that I can post something new (or a few) this month. In the meantime, I took care of most of the posts that were stored on Megaupload by reuploading files along with the posts where I used Multiupload. Hopefully, the files will last a while. I think there are still a few dead links somewhere in the blog. If you see one and want it really bad, just let me know and I'll try to get it back online.

This will be the last time I undertake a massive reuploading project here. 1) I have many more files that need to be reuploaded at my other blog. I am way behind at doing that. 2) I cannot say for certain how long I will keep updating this blog or adding new records to this blog. Lately, I had very little time to look for records and when I do have a little time to look, I hardly find anything worth getting. Not much of anything interesting has been showing up in the used shops and the library sales for the past year. I am thinking the well is running dry. Also, I am focusing on my career in the real world. I have to make a living too. Sorry, I don't have much time to devote to this blog and my other one.

Perhaps what could be called the perfect storm on the current state of file sharing and what is happening in my life has contributed to the lack of posts here and my declining interest in doing this. It remains to be seen how long this blog will last.

Anyway, here are the reuploads I talked about.

Someone requested these and here they are. It is Xmas in July, ha ha.

v/a - Whine and Missingtoe

v/a - Stuffing

v/a -Turkey

v/a - The V/Vm Christmas Cracker

Here's some records with the sounds of race car engine noises, "the sounds of love", an explanation how to become sensuous, an aid to help you test your stereo, something to cause you "deep relaxation" and more other fun things in life.


Drag Race Sound Effects

Erotica, The Rhythms of Love

J - The Way to Become the Sensuous Woman

Vanguard Stereolab Test Record

Paul Scheele - Deep Relaxation

Jimmy Nelson - Jimmy Nelson's Instant Ventriloquism

Howard Loy - How to Stop Smoking Without Using Willpower

Audio Sellers - The Money Machine

Here's a recording of possibly the worst neighbors ever. I forgot that there was a documentary on this recently. I'll try to see it soon.

Raymond and Peter - Shut Up Little Man

And at last, but maybe least, here are some records by some individuals who want to shape the world and the people who inhabit it.

Jerry Falwell - The End of the World: How Near is it?

Jimmy Swaggart - The Ring of Fire

Jack Van Impe - Hell Without Hell

Hilton Sutton - The U.S.A. in Prophecy

Bob Harrington - Holy Happy Hour

Art Holst - The Challenge of a Pro

John Ankerberg - The Fatal Myths of Condom-Based Sex Education

Mike Warnke - A Christian Perspective on Halloween

Lust Control - We Are Not Ashamed

That is it. Don't forget to check out the updates in the last post if you already have not done so. See you soon.

Updates about Some Old Posts

I have not been around for a while. There was too much happening in real life to pay attention to this blog. Hopefully, there may be some new material here soon. I'm sure everyone by now knows what happened with Megaupload. Some of my files were stored on their servers. I found a little time to reupload some of those files. There are more to take care of. I wrote down a list of the files I reuploaded including the must-have Dr. Michael Dean's Hypnosis Record. That awesomeness got taken away by the feds. Now it's back (hopefully for good, ha ha) along with other records to change your life or not.

Dr. Michael Dean - Dr. Michael Dean's Hypnosis Record

Dr. Joseph Murphy - Developing a Wonderful Personality

 Jim Bakker - How to Accomplish the Impossible...

Oscar Miro-Quesada - PSI*KICK

Russ Burgess - The Burgess Method: Developing Your ESP Powers

Dr. Robert Parrish - Listen and Lose

Tony Dolan - Cry, The Beloved Country

Barrie Konicov - Stop Smoking 

Dr. Milton I. Levine and Melba Rae - A Child's Introduction to Sex

Jack Van Impe - From Night Clubs to Christ

Dr. Eugene G. Weinberg - A Child's Cry: A Clue to Diagnosis

Ajay Lowery - I Will Not Be Swayed


Stu Phillips - Jud [soundtrack]

Apes of Wrath - Apes of Wrath

Fire and Ice, Ltd. - The Happening

Marty Gold - Wired for Sound

Zendik Orgaztra - Dance of the Cozmic Warriorz

Apollo 100 - Master Pieces

Dennis Coffey and The Detroit Guitar Band - Electric Coffey

The Moog Machine - Switched-On Rock

Gil Trythall - Country Moog: Switched On Nashville

The Basement Still Lives

Hello. How are you all doing? The long hiatus was unintentional. There were some matters in real life that I had to deal with. There are still some matters to deal with, but I thought I needed to post an update to let you all know that A Basement of Curiosities is not dead. It's not even a zombie (is it just me or is the zombie thing already played out?). It is alive.

The cobwebs and dust have increased due to neglect and I need to do some more cleaning. The Basement may need some remodeling, but I will address that down the road.

Hopefully some new posts will be added soon. I cannot say for certain when there will be new posts. In the meantime, I updated download links for some of the "classics" in the Basement archives. If you're new to this place or have yet to get around to adding some of these things to your collection, be sure to grab them as they will make you a winner and a happier person and all that:

Stag Party in London Vol. 2

Corelli-Jacobs - Music to Grow Plants

Jimmy Nelson - Jimmy Nelson's Instant Ventriloquism

Louise Egolf - Train Your Bird to Talk

Dr. Paul P. Parker - How to Use Tact and Skill in Handling People

Earl Nightingale - The Strangest Secret

Sydney Omarr - Virgo

Sam Chalpin - My Father the Pop Singer

Tom Massey - Guided Visualizations

Dr. Ed Sceery - Advanced Elk Calling

Paul J. Meyer - Positive Expectancy to Win

Jack Van Impe - Marked for Death: Can America Survive?

George L. Boston - The Final Houdini Seance

A Basement of Curiosities is Three Years Old!

I was hoping to gain fame and fortune as well as meeting a lot of hot chicks doing this blog. My pockets have not gotten fatter and I certainly am not famous (as I didn't think those things would happen anyway), but the big disappointment is that I have not met any hot chicks during my 3 years doing this blog. I have not even met any chicks who claims she is a hot chick but is really the opposite of hot. I don't get it. I'm charming and amazingly handsome and I have a blog plus I have a car that works. I would think that would be all I need. I am wrong. Perhaps I need to be like the guy in the video clip above this paragraph. He sure has a lot of babes hanging around with him. He seems to be charming and handsome. Interestingly, he also is wealthy which I guess he's generous enough to conduct seminars to teach people how to make boatloads of money like he has done.

However in all seriousness, I did meet quite a number of nice, interesting, funny, smart, and probably good-looking people during my 3 years running A Basement of Curiosities. First, I would like to thank all of the wonderful folks who kindly gave "love donations" to me for this blog during this blog's existence. (Yeah, I'm calling them "love donations". That's what Paul Crouch and his TBN (Trinity Broadcasting Network) station calls them so that must be okay.) I enjoy sending out "love gifts" to people over the webs (that's what Paul Crouch and TBN calls them too). The love gifts will keep coming and hopefully a few more love donations will come my way. That way, the love donations usually become love gifts to you all.

I would like to also thank all of the visitors to the blog. Without you all, this endeavor is just something to amuse myself with which is only fun for a short period of time. Of course, I do hope that this blog is inspirational and educational to you too. ;)

If I haven't already said it, happy new year to all of you and may your wishes come true in 2011. (Hopefully they will, cause the world's ending next year, right.)

Hi-Fi News & Record Review - Test Record

Hi-Fi News & Record Review - Test Record

LP released in 1996

I'm not going to lay out some sob story about how or why there has not been an update in almost two months. I'm not going to make an apology that I have not posted in a while. I know I have let my 60-something devoted fans down. I feel terrible that I have not provided anything that could be life-changing or just downright amusing, but there was not much I could do about it.

I'll be brief in explaining what's been going on behind the scenes. I went from a part-time job to a full-time job around the end of September. That was also the time I was getting ready for the next post here. So, I now have a full-time job in my field with somewhat decent pay and benefits plus I now contribute to society even more in the form of more withholding taxes. Also I happen to still be enrolled in the Master's of Library and Information Science (LIS) program in grad school. In case you're wondering, I should be finished next year in December. I need something to fall back on just in case the self-help/life improvement gig doesn't work out. Librarianship doesn't pay enough to buy a mansion in Hawaii and a jet helicopter, but there are a lot worse jobs out there. I've tried to adjust to the new job schedule and school. Now I think I've done just that, I'll be able to help you work on you through my postings on a regular basis.

I thought I would make my somewhat grand return with another LP designed to test your records and your turntable from an operation called Hi-Fi News & Record Review (now just called Hi-Fi News). I needed to test my turntable anyway, so I thought I would record this LP while I'm at it. This LP is all about the tones, signals, and the pink noise. What I like about this LP is that there is no middle-of-the-road music tacked on or any music for that matter.

Here is what a chap named Len Gregory, "The Cartridge Man" has to say about this record:
All the test tracks on this disc have been carefully chosen to help you set up your cartridge and arm combination to work optimally. It is assumed that you have already followed the manufacturer's recommendation as regards setting-up their particular unit, and that the platter is perfectly level. When you have a cartridge for which the manufacturer gives a range of tracking weights (for example, between 1.5 and 2.5 grams), it is recommended that you begin the tests at the manufacturer's suggested maximum weight. You can then decide whether you want to reduce the tracking weight or not, according to the cartridge's capability during the first run.

The back cover also provides record handling tips which are obvious but still helpful:

• Always handle records with great care.
• Avoid touching the playing surfaces.
• Keep your records clean - if they need cleaning, then find a dealer with a record-cleaning machine (or buy one).
• Make sure your turntable mat is kept clean.
• Keep your stylus clean too - remember, dust and dirt shorten both the life of your records and your stylus.
• The opening of the inner record sleeve should always lie inside the outer sleeve if you are to avoid dust contamination.
• Store records upright at an even temperature.
• Make sure that you keep your records away from heat sources.

One more thing: if you happen to live in the United States of America, be sure to exercise your right to vote tomorrow.

Tracklisting:  (link coming back soon)

Side 1

1. Channel Identification {0:28}

2. Phasing {0:26}

3. Channel Balance {1:04}

4. Pink Noise -20dB, L Channel {0:27}

5. Pink Noise -20dB, R Channel {0:29}

6. Bias Setting (300 Hz Tone L+R at +12dB) {0:19}

7. Bias Setting (300 Hz Tone L+R at +14dB) {0:17}

8. Bias Setting (300 Hz Tone L+R at +16dB) {0:18}

9. Bias Setting (300 Hz Tone L+R at +18dB) {0:18}

Side 2

1. Tracking Ability 1 (300Hz L+R at +15dB) {0:21}

2. Cartridge/Arm Lateral Resonance Test {1:22}

3. Cartridge/Arm Vertical Resonance Test {0:44}

4. Tracking Ability 2 (300Hz L+R at +15dB) {0:14}

5. Cartridge Alignment (Azimuth) Test: 300Hz Vertical {0:21}

6. Residual System Noise (Unmodulated Grooves) {0:20}

7. Tracking Ability 3 (300Hz L+R at +15dB) {0:21}

various artists compilation - A Basement of Curiosities Sampler

various artists compilation - A Basement of Curiosities Sampler

This compilation is intended as a sampler of the records, tapes, and CDs discussed in A Basement of Curiosities during the first two and a 1/2 years of the blog's existence featuring the highlights (or lowlights). This post is for newcomers to the blog as well as for visitors familiar with the blog.

The other day, I went to that TED website to check out what recent talks are available. The site posts free videos of what are advertised as "riveting talks by remarkable people" at the TED conferences. What I have seen so far from my few visits to the site is interesting and even riveting. However, I noticed that no one at these TED conferences talk about stuff that matters such as how to make more money, how to be more successful in life, how to have better sex, how to attract people to have sex with, how to develop your ESP powers (everyone is supposed to have them, right), how rock 'n' roll inspired by the powers of hell will be used for Communist takeover of America aided by dirty unshaven stinkin' beatniks, why America is the #1 country in the world, how Satan and the New Age Movement corrupt young minds, how to hunt elk, etc. This is what people care about. I am going to toot my own horn and say that I am proud my blog has its fair share of "ideas worth spreading".

To keep the compilation at a manageable length, the length of the compact disc was used as an arbitrary measure of the length of the compilation. The compilation was intended to only be as long as one CD, but there was a decision made to include more material to present a better representation of A Basement of Curiosities. Therefore, the compilation is the length of 2 CDs. One can burn this compilation onto 2 CDs if one wishes to do so to listen to or to pass around to other people.

Half of the tracks are musical performances and the other half are excerpts from spoken word recordings of what could be considered riveting lectures and sermons. The tracklisting below is an intended sequence of the compilation including which tracks are included on the first and second CDs. Of course, anyone can rearrange, resequence, or even remix and make mashups of the tracks if one wishes to do so for listening and/or burning onto CDs.

There are two options for getting the sampler. Each CD has a link to a zip file. Each track also has a link for downloading for those who prefer to choose which tracks to get and for those familiar visitors who may have been hesitant to download a long lecture or sermon which excerpts are provided.

Tracklisting:

CD1  (full CD links will be back soon, all the links to the individual tracks should still be active)

1. Dr. J. Clifton Williams - Techniques for Academic Success [excerpt] {3:11}
from recording Techniques for Academic Success cassette
Note: Dr. Williams explains why you should use the library.

2. Corelli-Jacobs - track 1 {2:37} from recording Music to Grow Plants LP

3. Dr. Joseph Murphy - Developing a Wonderful Personality [excerpt] {2:11} from recording Developing a Wonderful Personality/Communicating with the Subconscious LP

4. Bill Glass - Giving All of Oneself {1:39} from recording The Most Important Thing LP

5. Dickie Goodman - Energy Crisis {1:42}
from recording Mr. Jaws and Other Fables LP

6. Earl Nightingale - 9th Principle: Power of the Master Mind {1:23}
from recording Think and Grow Rich LP

7. The Electric Moog Orchestra - Imperial Attack {4:12} from recording Music from Star Wars LP

8. Stephen Ettinger - Acquired Murmurs (2) {1:58}
from recording Canine Heart Sounds LP

9. Dr. Ed Sceery - Advanced Elk Calling [excerpt] {2:13} from recording Advanced Elk Calling cassette
Note: This is the beginning of the tape with elk calls and an introduction by Dr. Sceery.

10. Apes of Wrath - The Apes of Wrath {3:07}
from recording Apes of Wrath LP

11. Audio Sellers - The Money Machine [excerpt] {3:44} from recording The Money Machine LP

12. Millard Bennett - How to Get People to Act Favorably With You [excerpt] {3:27}
from recording How to Get People to Act Favorably With You cassette
Note: Millard Bennett talks about the 30/10 power formula. Go to the post for this cassette to learn more if you're not familiar with it.

13. Boomer Sooner - When You Play the Sooners {2:05} from recording University of Oklahoma 7" vinyl

14. Directional Sound - Hogs Slaughtered {0:52} from recording The Sound of Sounds LP

15. Neil Brahe - The Magic Power of Enthusiasm in Dental Practice [excerpt] {2:10} from recording The Magic Power of Enthusiasm in Dental Practice LP

16. Marty Gold - Whistle While You Work {1:27} from recording Wired for Sound LP

17. Louise Egolf - Hello Pretty Bird {2:30} from recording Train Your Bird to Talk LP

18. Fred Lowery - Swing Low, Sweet Chariot {1:22} from recording Abide with Me LP

19. Dr. Michael Dean - Dr. Michael Dean's Hypnosis Record [first side] [excerpt] {1:57}from recording Dr. Michael Dean's Hypnosis Record LP

20. Tom Massey - Guided Visualization for Happiness & Prosperity [excerpt] {1:19}
from recording Guided Visualizations cassette

21. Henry Blythe - Stop Smoking [excerpt] {2:36}
from recording Stop Smoking LP
Note: Henry starts to use the hypnotic sponge.

22. James Walker - The New Age Movement: Space Age Heresies [excerpt] {4:08}
from recording The New Age Movement: Space Age Heresies cassette
Note: James believes The Beatles were evangelists of the New Age Movement and the implication was that young minds were corrupted by The Beatles.

23. Sapulpa High School Chorus - Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds {3:57} from recording A Tribute to The Beatles LP

24. Charles Kebbe - The Harper's Bazaar Success Formula for a Beautiful Speaking Voice [excerpt] {1:27} from recording The Harper's Bazaar Success Formula for a Beautiful Speaking Voice LP

25. Jim Bakker - How to Accomplish the Impossible with the Big Three Mountain Movers [excerpt] {3:11} from recording How to Accomplish the Impossible with the Big Three Mountain Movers LP
Note: Bakker proves Pat Robertson wrong.

26. Jimmy Swaggart - The Ring of Fire [excerpt] (1) {2:29} from recording The Ring of Fire LP
Note: Rock 'n' roll is evil and parents ought to be horsewhipped for letting their kids have that rotten filth of Beatle records.

27. The Moog Machine - You Keep Me Hangin' On {2:23} from recording Switched-On Rock LP

28. Jack Van Impe - Marked for Death: Can America Survive? [excerpt] {3:27} from recording Marked for Death: Can America Survive? LP
Note: Rock 'n' roll is used as a vehicle for wild and rebellious youth to take over America or something like that.

29. John Cook - And God Gave Me a Fix [excerpt] {2:08}
from recording And God Gave Me a Fix LP
Note: Cook led a good life as a stuntman getting his ass kicked by the likes of John Wayne and Lee Marvin in movies and hanging around celebrities and possessing lots of money and material possessions while suffering the ill effects of drugs and alcohol.

30. Gil Trythall - Folsom Prison Blues {3:12} from recording Country Moog: Switched On Nashville LP

31. Russ Burgess - The Burgess Method: Developing Your ESP Powers [excerpt] {3:19}
from recording The Burgess Method: Developing Your ESP Powers LP

32. Dennis Coffey and The Detroit Guitar Band - Capricorn's Thing {2:13} from recording Electric Coffey LP

CD2

1. Vanguard Stereolab - Speaker Balancing Signal {0:58}from recording Vanguard Stereolab Test Record LP

2. Hunter Lott - The Firing Session [excerpt] {3:07} from recording Front-Line Interviewing and the Firing Session cassette

3. Art Holst - The Challenge of a Pro [excerpt] {2:45}
from recording The Challenge of a Pro LP
Note: Art is optimistic that a few stinkin' long-haired dirty unshaven beatniks won't change America plus the War on Christmas was waging as far back as the late 1960s too.

4. The Sanborn Singers - Recruit/Train/Motivate {2:50} from recording Sing Out for Free Enterprise LP

5. Hilton Sutton - The U.S.A. in Prophecy [excerpt] {2:12} from recording The U.S.A. in Prophecy cassette
Note: Intellectualism is the subject of this excerpt.

6. Tony Dolan - Cuba Will Be Free {1:55} from recording Cry, the Beloved Country LP

7. Pat Robertson - It's Time to Pray, America [excerpt] {2:16}
from recording It's Time to Pray, America LP

8. John Wayne - Face the Flag {3:49} from recording America, Why I Love Her LP

9. Earl Nightingale - The Southwestern Company Sales Tips: Your Job as a Salesman {2:37}
from recording The Strangest Secret LP

10. Ajay Lowery - Taxanity {3:02} from recording I Will Not Be Swayed LP

11. - Stock Sports Car Class {0:50} from recording Drag Race Sound Effects LP

12. Bob Harrington - A Real He-Man {2:47} from recording Holy Happy Hour LP

13. J - The Way to Become the Sensuous Woman [excerpt] {1:48}from recording The Way to Become the Sensuous Woman LP

14. Jimmy Swaggart - The Ring of Fire [excerpt] (2) {2:33} from recording The Ring of Fire LP
Note: Jimmy talks about his favorite subject.

15. - Erotica, The Rhythms of Love [excerpt] {0:53} from recording Erotica, The Rhythms of Love LP

16. Lust Control - Virginity Disease {3:31}
from recording We Are Not Ashamed cassette

17. Helen Gurley Brown - How to Behave at Home {2:19} from recording Lessons in Love LP

18. Charley Drew - The Girls I've Loved & Lost {2:27}
from recording An Evening with Charley Drew, His Piano, and His Party Songs LP

19. Warren Mintz - Plateau Phase of the Male Sexual Cycle [excerpt] {4:06} from recording Plateau Phase of the Male Sexual Cycle cassette
Note: Warren reads a part of the D. H. Lawrence novel Lady Chatterley's Lover.

20. - Chicago {1:59} from recording Stag Party in London Vol. 2 LP

21. Jack Van Impe - From Night Clubs to Christ [excerpt] {4:05} from recording From Night Clubs to Christ LP
Note: Jack talks about how movies are getting worse with their increasing amounts of nudity, sex scenes, lesbianism, and violence.

22. 101 Strings - This Guy's in Love With You {3:40} from recording The Sounds of Love LP

23. Willard Cantelon - LSD: Battle for the Mind [excerpt] {2:38}
from recording LSD: Battle for the Mind LP

24. Dr. James Dobson and Steve Russo - Fighting Satan in Today's World [excerpt] {2:08}
from recording New Age, Humanism and Satanism: Protecting Your Family cassette
Note: Russo explains how teens get into Satanism.

25. Pat Robertson - Teens' Question #6 (Music) {2:22}
from recording Answers for Today's Parents and Teens cassette

26. Former Fetus - I'm Free {2:45} from recording A Rock Opera CD

27. A. A. Allen - God is a Killer [excerpt] {3:32}
from recording God is a Killer LP

28. Directional Sound - Sports Cars on Curve, with Crash {1:20} from recording The Sound of Sounds LP

29. Brian Ruud - From a Bum Trip to... "The Trip Beyond" [excerpt] {2:32}
from recording From a Bum Trip to... "The Trip Beyond" LP
Note: Hoodlum Brian discovers Jesus in prison.

30. Raymond and Peter - Don't Call Me Goodnight! {1:09} from recording Shut Up, Little Man! CD

31. Lloyd Lindroth - Tequila {2:28} from recording Harpist's Bazaar LP

The Basement Has a Sponsor

A Basement of Curiosities has a sponsor. That sponsor is Terrell's Siding who is a highly reputable home improvement company specializing in siding, windows, roofing, and sunrooms. Terrell's is committed to providing the highest quality products and the finest workmanship at an affordable price. Terrell's has been proudly helping homeowners for 40 years. This company has been in existence longer than I have so that should mean something. Watch the video if you already have not done so for not one but two important messages. Not only is Terrell's the best in siding, roofing, windows, and sunrooms, but Terrell's also is the best when it comes to values. Terrell's is so highly impressive that a local TV news reporter went to visit the company's owner and was also featured on the national cable news program, The Rachel Maddow Show. Terrell's operates primarily in central Oklahoma, but you'll wish that you had Terrell's in your city or locality.

It may seem strange that my first sponsor is someone whose services I can't use yet as I do not own a home as of right now. I have been promised a large discount in the future for the home I'll eventually own in exchange for sponsorship from this fine company. Believe me, I'm going to own a large home in a gated or exclusive community because I'm on my way to being a winner. The home will have somewhere around 4 or 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, a kitchen with an "island", a large living room with a large plasma TV and a large stereo, another large room for a home theater, and a double door garage. I may even buy another home or two just for the heck of it.

Enough about me, this is about the sponsor. Terrell's is committed to providing the highest quality products and the finest workmanship as well as ending secular socialism. If you need services in the areas of siding, roofing, windows, and sunrooms and stand for freedom and liberty, call or write Terrell's. If you don't live in Oklahoma and need home improvement services, move to Oklahoma.

Changes Coming to Blog

I am going in a new direction in my life. This blog will reflect the change in my life that I need. It just occurred to me that my life is sad. All I do really is shop in thrift stores and other places that sell used junk. No I don't just wonder in these places. What I do is look for old records and tapes. Not just any old records and tapes. They are records and tapes that no one has probably heard of and no one probably wants, from records consisting entirely of car noises to off-the-wall atonal 20th century chamber music. Usually I just grab whatever junk is there even if they're beat to hell since they're dirt cheap and I'll have money left over to buy food and car insurance. What's even sadder is that I post these things on a blog such as this one. I cannot believe where my life has gone. I don't think I even have a life. Good lord, did you see my post yesterday? It's a tape of some woman repeating phrases over and over and they're really intended for people to play to their pet parrots. I buy stuff like that, digitize this stuff then post this stuff. I can't believe it.

I should make an attempt to be a part of the mainstream. From now on, I will quit looking for moldy old recordings. Besides, if they were any good, they would be out on CD and fully stocked at Wal Mart or Target and remastered so I don't have to hear those ugly clicks and pops that vinyl records make. Apparently most of them aren't any good which is why they just sit in junk shops and collect dust. Anyway there is so much good new music out there that I don't need to bother with old stuff especially weird old stuff that no one even listened to back in the day. From now on, I'm watching American Idol. It's amazing that there is so much talent in the world. I'm liking listening to the young people on the show sing and perform. I even like the way some of them look. It's great that there is no one over 30 performing as pop stars tend to be washed up at 30 anyway, right. I like the Logan's Run rule. Sure there is some British guy on the show that can be overly critical at times, but I know his heart is in the right place. He believes in good music. Millions of people believe in good music as they're tuned in every week. After the show is over, everyone is talking about it even the mainstream news media. So I am now joining the masses. Hopefully I can find some new friends since it shouldn't be too hard to find other people who enjoy American Idol. I'm watching with anticipation to see who will be the next American Idol.

I am resetting my stations on my radio to the top-40 stations along with some classic rock and country stations. Have to have a little variety and those genres are also good. I'm especially enjoying country music. I mean the new kind not that sad whiny genuinely moving cry-in-your-beer stuff. I like me some Toby Keith, Kenny Chesney and Taylor Swift. Toby Keith is now one of my favorite artists. I'm trying to sell my crap (i.e. weird records and tapes) in order to have money to buy all of Toby Keith's CDs as well as all of Kenny Chesney's and Taylor Swift's CDs and all of the CDs by everyone who won American Idol such as David Cook and Ruben Studdard. Then I'll look next to buying CDs from whoever is popular. I am also watching popular TV shows such as Gray's Anatomy, Desparate Housewives, and Survivor. I'm watching every reality show on the air because they're great and all about real life. That's why they get high ratings. I am also planning on reading popular books. Wait, hardly anyone reads. Never mind. I guess I don't need books now.

Now that I am listening to mainstream pop music and watching the TV shows that everyone else watches, I am able to be a part of mainstream life. I want to shop at stores that sell new stuff and consume. I want the newest car and all that stuff that's on the commercials. I want to fit in. I want to make money, have a big house, live in the newest gated subdivision, and make friends with other people like me preferablly the ones that are successful in life of course.



Speaking of successful people, I am now a devoted reader of The Pioneer Woman. It may sound odd at first that I am a man who reads a blog everyday aimed at women especially mothers. It's not really that aspect that draws me to The Pioneer Woman although her tales with her children (or "punks" as she refers to them) are delightful. I just like reading about her wonderful life and checking out her delicious recipes and viewing her lovely produced photographs. The Pioneer Woman has a blog that is widely read by millions all over the world. Her posts receive an average of approximately 500 comments while I am lucky to get a comment at all on my small insignificant obscure blog. Yes, I am a fan of The Pioneer Woman because she is a hugely successful blogger plus she is so amazingly talented in so many areas (such as cooking, photography, and home schooling). Meanwhile all I do is post recordings of old crap created by other people. She has also published a cookbook. She is definitely not posting parrot training or elk hunting cassettes.

Her blog has won many real awards. Her blog won Weblog of the Year at the Weblog Awards. Not only that, her blog also won in two other categories: Best Photography and Best-Designed Weblog. Wait there's more. The Pioneer Woman was also named one of the best 25 blogs by Time magazine. It's on the same list as other popular blogs such as The Huffington Post, BoingBoing, Lifehacker, and others although The Pioneer Woman is superior to all of them.

Not only does The Pioneer Woman has the greatest blog of all time, she has a great life story. She was raised in the slums of some country club golf course in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, which the town is inhabited by wealthy oil barons and home of the annual Mozart Festival by the way. Then she moved to Los Angeles, California and got a degree at the University of Southern California, a private school. Then she lived a life of being a fashionable spoiled city girl just like on that show Sex and the City. Then she met some cowboy from you guessed it, Oklahoma. She fell in love with this cowboy whom she named Marlboro Man. She married him and moved to his ranch back in Oklahoma. Now she is roughing it on the ranch with Marlboro Man who happens to be in one of the richest families in the area and is probably amazingly handsome and rugged in a suave way. The Pioneer Woman's depictions of her life on the luxurious estate on the ranch are riveting. Now the news has come that Reece Witherspoon is going to play her in a movie based on her life. Wow! I do not dare to think who would play me in a movie.

I am just a smalltime blogger who is now another devoted follower of The Pioneer Woman. Did I mention that she is the greatest blogger ever? Anyway, I plan on writing blog posts on things people care about such as anecdotes from my life, American Idol, recipes, tips on success, tips on how to use Photoshop to make pictures look professionally done, celebrity and pop culture news along with posting pictures of celebrities and cats. That's what's coming on this blog from now on. I strive to be a successful blogger like The Pioneer Woman and go on national TV, publish real books, win awards for blogging, and make lots of money. Yes, I strive for success. That should be my focus and ambition. That is all for today. If memory serves, there is a holiday today although I can't quite recall which one it is.

A Basement of Curiosities is Two Years Old (Plus a Poll of Visitors' Favorite Posts)

Yes, you've read the post title correctly. We are celebrating the second birthday here at the Basement (actually it's just myself, I just like to use "we" to make it sound more important, that an organization is running this enterprise because apparently nowadays people like organizations over individuals; this blog contradicts mainstream social norms as it is mostly individually ran although I've had some help this past year from other individuals). Speaking of help this past year, I would like to thank those generous enough to contribute some materials to the Basement library and archive as well as fulfilling my requests. Next, I would like to thank the fans and visitors to this blog. I also would like to thank my fellow bloggers and webmasters for linking to the Basement.

I strive to not only bring you, my lovely visitors, some of the most interesting works of entertainment that has the power to help you forget your problems and tribulations in your life, I strive to bring you works that could change and improve your life. Occasionally, there is something that I intend to post that meets one of those criteria, but instead it ends up meeting both criteria.

I could go on and on, but instead of writing out a long self-indulgent and self-congratulatory anniversary or birthday post, I am going to have this post be an interactive one as I let you, my lovely visitors, be involved in this post. I would like to know what are your favorite posts here in the Basement. It can be one, five, ten, or whatever number you think is fit. This is an unscientific survey, but I am curious to know what are the most popular posts of A Basement of Curiosities. In the meantime, I am going to treat myself to a combination of chocolate cake and ice cream as I think I deserve it.

A Basement of Curiosities Comment Policy [written on August 4, 2009]

I believe I need to post rules and policies about comments on this blog. I should have done this when I first started this blog, but I was fortunate for a year and a half that no problems came up in the comments section. That is until now.

First of all, I have a very open comment policy. This means that anyone (even anonymous people without aliases) is welcome to post a comment without being approved by me. I found that a majority of blog owners overall (not just sharity bloggers) are either strict about who can comment or what can be posted as a comment. They also moderate comments, that is they read and decide to approve comments for posting. It has not come to the point where I need to moderate comments and I hope it will not be necessary to moderate comments.

The reason I decided to write this post is that people recently have decided to post spam on my blog. I just deleted several comments posted by one individual who posted such spam in several of my posts.

My policy is that the comments section is not to be used as a means for advertising and attempt to direct people to whatever is being advertised. If you have something interesting and relevant to offer, I am willing to make an exception as long as it is not in multiple posts. Examples include letting me know that you have an interesting blog or website and/or offer interesting material (preferably for free). If spam shows up, it will be deleted shortly thereafter.

I have the comments available for anyone to post their thoughts about the posts, add information to the posts, let me know about technical issues, to ask questions or even to make requests. Yes, your requests are welcome. You can have conversations with each other or me. This is a social blog as well as a blog about my cool and awesome collection in both physical and digital form.

If you have any questions or if there is something I need to clarify, feel free to write in the comments form.

A Basement of Curiosities is a year old

One year and one day ago, January 3, 2008 to be exact, A Basement of Curiosities was given life in this world. Even I am a little surprised that it has made it this far considering that, according to my educated estimate based upon my expertise of blogs, somewhere around 60% of blogs don't even make it 3/4 of a year. These wannabe bloggers eventually learn that constantly updating posts does take a little bit of effort and time after all. These people come to realize that having a life is more important than writing (or copying and pasting stuff) for blog posts. It is too much trouble and not worthwhile as hardly any of the bloggers' few readers bothers to write a comment just to say "good job man, keep up the good work." Perhaps some people do not have what it takes to blog. I think it takes a special kind of person to not only keep updating their blog(s), but to do this for quite a long time. I don't mean to sound arrogant just because I also have another blog that is over 2 years old. Okay, I am arrogant, but as you can figure out I also really do not have much of a life after all.

Seriously, this blog was created as a place to post stuff that would not be a good fit on my other blog. I thought that the records and other stuff already featured here deserve their own place (i.e. as far away from all that is good as possible). This is where I admit my love for apocalyptic and overly moralistic religious sermon records, success-motivation records, and just about anything "out there."

A lot of noteworthy events has taken place during this blog's first year of existence. For instance, there was a presidential election in the USA that had repercussions on not only the state of the nation, but of the world, as well, where for the first time ever, an African-American person will be the leader of America. Also, gas prices went skyrocketing high then suddenly they dropped to their lowest prices in 5 or 6 years. A swimmer named Michael Phelps (representing the USA of course) has won a record 8 gold medals in the Olympics. One of the county commissioners of Oklahoma County, Brent Rinehart, tried to win re-election with a comic book about Satan and his evil minions who happen to be gay who are trying to stop Brent from doing whatever county commissioners are supposed to do. He failed miserably to win his party's nomination.

Most important of all, my hometown of Oklahoma City got its first-ever professional major-league or big-league (the phrase preferred by the locals) sports team, the NBA (National Basketball Association) team, formerly the Seattle Supersonics now renamed the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder is wowing everyone with an impressive record of 4 wins and 30 losses (as of this writing). That doesn't really matter now as Oklahoma City is a "big league city." For his efforts, chief owner of the OKC Thunder, Clay Bennett, has been named Oklahoman of the Year by Oklahoma Today magazine, the magazine I think that is read by all Oklahomans. Stealing, er I mean relocating a team with 41 years of tradition and that has brought Seattle its only championship and bringing said team to OKC is Mr. Bennett's accomplishment that won him Oklahoman of the Year. Great work, Clay. Gotta love those uniforms too.

I've made some new year's resolutions. I vow to improve myself in all facets of life. Thank goodness, I have a role model in Clay Bennett to look up to as he is a highly successful individual as you should already know. I'll also attempt to post more often in this blog. I know that it's really pointless to make new year's resolutions as I'll likely forget about them in a week. And I will do that. But one resolution that I won't disregard is the one where I say I'll post more. In fact, I'll resume regular or rather irregular posting with a new post tomorrow.

Basement News 9-2-08 (dzend's curiosities mix)

The nice fellow, dzendvokh, of dzend's bestiary has created a short mix using only the posts from this blog and my other blog, A Closet of Curiosities, as source materials. It's an entertaining and enjoyable mix that you can listen to here or here. The second link leads to a Divshare link where you can download it. Enjoy.

My Wish List (a.k.a. Requests)

Well, since the NBA is finally in Oklahoma City, I would like to learn more about the history of our new team that used to play in Seattle. I would like to know about the team's only championship which means that it would be wonderful if someone could provide this LP for the Basement. By the way, it's cool that OKC's team already has a championship. That's one more than the Dallas Mavericks and several other teams. ;)

It should be noted that the Seattle Supersonics name and the team colors and uniforms will not be used in Oklahoma City. The team is allegedly to be called the Thunder or the Barons and the championship banner will supposedly be hung in the arena in OKC so that the people will feel proud that not only do they have a big league team, but they have a team with a championship.

It would make me happy, if someone is kind enough to share a part of Supersonics history. For my visitors in Seattle and in the state of Washington, yes we all agree that Clay Bennett is the Anti-Christ.

I should not forget to point out that I made a post earlier in the year in an attempt to persuade people to visit the lovely state of Washington.

I have also made a wish list of stuff I would like to have and it is on the right side of this blog. I'm not sure if I made enough posts to have a request list, but what the heck. It would be awesome if my visitors could provide one or as many as possible of the requested items and help make the Basement a special and unique place. This is hard to believe but I've heard a rumor that the Basement is almost good enough to be a Blogger Blog of Note.

Yeah, I'm not believing it either.

Thanks for dropping by and I'll talk to you soon.

Introduction to the Basement

Welcome to A Basement of Curiosities. Here in the Basement, mainly audio oddball/weird/unusual/novelty recordings will be highlighted and perhaps discussed. Most items will be LPs and some will be tapes and CDs. I will tell you from the start that this blog will not be updated too often as I have other online projects not to mention a life believe it or not. Ideally, I will update this blog once a week.
I am aware that there are other blogs and websites that have been doing this sort of thing for years and I have taken a few pointers and inspiration from those sites. I do hope to post stuff that no one else has. I have wanted to do this type of blog for some time as there are interesting used LPs, tapes and CDs that I cannot resist purchasing while digging for music at places such as thrift stores, flea markets, antique stores, swap meets, garage/yard sales and other places that have used merchandise for sale.

Hope that you have as much fun visiting as I am posting.