Recent Posts

Howdy Ya'll,

Well, the Becky Snatcher is history. They tore her poor ass to pieces at Neville Island, Pennsylvania. She's basically completely destroyed now. On March 10, 2010, Suzanne and I saw her one last time, and this was what she looked like:

That was a week ago, and right now you can't see much of a damn thing. So, to recap, here is a photographic timeline showing her unfortunate demise:

October 17, 2009:

February 24, 2010:

Then compare that to the first image in this message that shows her in ruins. She's gone.

I recorded a brief video of her in ruins on March 10, 2010, and the video can be seen at the following link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEJcJCBK3hE

Suzanne and I were fortunate enough to get to see the Becky two more times before she was destroyed. We visited her on March 2, 2010, and Suzanne recorded a video of me performing the old folk song "Faretheewell" as a bit of a dirge for the Becky's impending demise while the boat can be seen over my shoulder in the background. This video can be seen at the following link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y58inL8c8oQ

That was the last time I saw her in one piece. A picture in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette dated March 9, 2010, shows the crane crashing down on her (link).

More pictures that I took around the time of her demolition can be found here. Also, I put together a Becky Thatcher Memorial of sorts, which includes old pictures and memorabilia that I've collected over the years.

While I was looking for images and videos of the Becky, I stumbled onto a hilarious video that Ben Cowdery and I made on Friday, June 28, 1996, in Marietta, Ohio. The film is entitled, "Two Funky Fiddlers". A brief snippet of the Becky can be seen in the background as some "young hoodlum" can be seen pissing off of the train bridge. Also, the video may contain the only known vintage footage of the old Penny University Coffee House on Front Street. Holy tits and ass, Batman, this funky sass film may contain the only known video footage of this type of shieeet from that time. A seven minute snippet of the film can be seen here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aLyVLiqm0Q

Here's a walk-through of this 7 minute snippet: 1) It starts out with the title "The Ma Huang Gang", and quickly moves to me and Ben talking briefly about some funky shit until a hilarious butt fart occurs at around 0:20. The wild butt fart is relived a few times for your comical enjoyment. 2) At around 0:35, the scene is Front Street, Marietta, and it starts out with me zooming in on some dude in a window holding a guitar, to which I say, "See that ass in the window playing the old gee-tar?" We laugh with glee and continue walking along. I then zoom in on the sign over the Double L, which hilariously says, "Poo", though obviously it was meant to advertise the addition of pool tables in the establishment, but the "L" is missing from the end (I guess the Double L didn't have an extra "L" to spare that day). I continue filming as Ben walks by the Hotel Lafayette. 3) At around 1:01, we arrive on the scene of a country band performing down near the levee (in that little makeshift stage that used to be near the "King's Kreamy Kreations" ice cream shop). The country song they're playing is entitled "Don't Close Your Eyes", a song that was made famous by Keith Whitley (it was Billboard's number-one country single in 1988, and to see a YouTube clip of Keith Whitley playing the full song live in 1989, click here ). I don't know the Marieghetto dudes shown briefly in my video, but the bassist has a funky mullet going on. Ben and I quickly scram from that scene, and walk back towards the Lafayette. 4) At about 1:30, while walking by the Lafayette, I zoom in on a newspaper vending machine displaying a copy of the USA Today with a headline, "Why Are Churches Burning?" I jokingly answer, "Because they're on fire for the Lord!" When I saw this video again after all these years, I decided to see if there was any information about this headline on the internet. I found this: "Why Are Churches Burning? By Gary Fields and Richard Price, USA Today, June 28-30, 1996, pages 1A and 2A." Also, if you look closely at the video, you'll see the headline above that one says, "Top Allies Pledge Anti-Terrorism War". I guess some shit never changes. 5) At about 1:40, exterior views of the Penny University Coffee House can be seen. 6) At about 1:49, the infamous Train Bridge Scene can be found, in which a "young hoodlum" can be seen pissing off of the train bridge, and maliciously bringing a curse upon Marieghetto meant to last down through the ages. Haha, yeah right. Anyway, because of the angle, the dong isn't really visible in the unedited version either, but I put a box over the general area just in case anyone complains. The Train Bridge Scene lasts until about 3:05. 7) Scenes of Front Street and the Penny University Coffee House at night start at 3:06. "Spanky La Monkey" aka Jason Hill walks by at approximately 3:27. Starting at 3:34 we look inside the window of the coffee house and have trouble zooming in. We don't have the $2 cover charge. Dialogue: Lee: "See look, we can get some nasty sneak peeks. God, I can't get it focused! That chick's too ugly, it won't focus on her. See, look at that, you ass." Ben: "That's a guy!" Lee: "Do I know that ass?" Ben: "Show that guy singing." Lee: "There's the Arab ass. Is that a dude? Hey look, it's that one... Is that Christian, or is that a woman?" Ben: "Focus on that guy's face." Lee: "I can't." 8.) At 4:22, Meaghan Hahn, Evon Hughes and others are standing outside the coffee house beside a tree. At about 4:31, Evon asks, "Why are you video taping, Lee?" 9) Matt's ass Downing shows up outside the coffee house and tries to look cool with a couple of top buttons undone on his shirt and some chain around his neck. Ben and I jive talk his ass starting at 4:32, and the jive talking ends at 5:03. 10) Starting around 5:14, Ben starts running towards the Fountain in front of the Lafayette in order to try and get his chain back from Natalie Wheeler. A fight sequence between Ben and Natalie starts at about 6:00. By 6:12, Ben has his chain back. Ian Jennings comments on the fight, "They didn't even have the decency to oil up first." Those who can be seen by the fountain include: Man Chan, Meaghan Hahn, Ian Jennings, Natalie Wheeler, and Ben. Around 6:34, I make a comment to Ian Jennings about his short hair cut by saying, "Hey, you militaristic weave!" He then stares into the camera and asks, "What's this for?" Ben replies, "Your arse." 11) At about 6:51, the view is mostly dark because we are on top of the roof of the Lafayette, after having climbed up the fire escape in the back. At 6:54, while on top of the Lafayette, I start comically singing, "All I wanna do is have some fun, I've got a feeling I'm not the only one" (Sheryl Crow). 12) Starting at 7:06, there are some views from inside the Penny University Coffee House. You may need to pause these frames to see them in more detail, but it looks like the opening shot contains Zach Coss talking to some dude, and maybe Scott Jonathan Block walks by. Then, some dude is sitting at a table talking to someone, but behind that you can see Ian Jennings, and behind him you can see Uriah Binegar. Pause the frames starting at 7:10, 7:11, and 7:12 to see what I mean. Well, that's about it. The full length version of "Two Funky Fiddlers" is 21 minutes long and contains some scenes inside Rink's (Rinky Dink's) Flea Market, as well as a couple of songs by yours truly. Nevertheless, all of the front street scenes are included in the 7 minute version on YouTube, so that other funky folks who were around at that time can see and remember them raunchy old days.

Since old videos were on my mind, I decided to upload the sessions that Suzanne filmed of me and Scott Floodstrom in our old basement in Marietta back in 1998, when we were recording our song entitled, "Your Family Is..." (aka "They Dance, They Dance, They Shit Their Pants"). Part 1 - features me and Scott working out the lyrics and the musical arrangement for the song. Part 2 - contains the acoustic guitar and vocal take used on the final recording of the song. Part 3 - is the recording of Scott's bass guitar part for the song. Part 4 - shows me adding the drum track to the recording. And, when the whole thing was done, the Final Funky Version went like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUwJz27K_T8

Millions of years in the making
Farts are always breaking
out onto the scene
if you know what I mean
that's a chance that's worth the taking

- Lee

1 Coffee House / Four Year Old Couch / Re: Watcha been up to? pt V on: August 27, 2010, 02:55:23 PM
Started by Christopher Limeade - Last post by MacCaine

2 Coffee House / Four Year Old Couch / Re: Merry Ghetto Films‏ (Becky Thatcher gone and P.U. Video from 1996) on: May 22, 2010, 07:12:37 PM
Started by LeeP - Last post by BLAH!!!!!!!!!
OH MY GOD! That video is awesome! Thanks for sharing it Lee. I don't even remember that night, but its cool to see some of the good ole times in the ghetto.

3 Coffee House / Four Year Old Couch / Re: Watcha been up to? pt V on: April 30, 2010, 01:44:34 AM
Started by Christopher Limeade - Last post by Christopher Limeade
well.. that's your answer now, innit?

4 Coffee House / Four Year Old Couch / Re: Watcha been up to? pt V on: April 24, 2010, 03:08:45 PM
Started by Christopher Limeade - Last post by Deirdre
Do people still come here?

5 Coffee House / Four Year Old Couch / Re: Watcha been up to? pt V on: April 06, 2010, 07:19:48 AM
Started by Christopher Limeade - Last post by MacCaine
Keep your chin up, kiddo.

6 Coffee House / Four Year Old Couch / Re: "Viewing an XML feed." on: March 30, 2010, 06:48:14 AM
Started by sameoldschtik - Last post by Christopher Limeade
WikiAnswers answers that age old question "What do dances were to dance?" Judging by the answer, the asker wanted to know what dancers where.

7 Coffee House / Four Year Old Couch / Re: Merry Ghetto Films‏ (Becky Thatcher gone and P.U. Video from 1996) on: March 27, 2010, 04:16:00 AM
Started by LeeP - Last post by Christopher Limeade
Holy crap, it's Lee Paxton! that's sad about the Becky. I know she wasn't doing too well the last 10 years or so, but it looks like that's the end of it. I watched one of the videos the other day.. i'll watch the rest later on. good times.

8 Coffee House / Four Year Old Couch / Re: Writers Strike Nearing Postscript? on: March 27, 2010, 04:14:29 AM
Started by Christopher Limeade - Last post by Christopher Limeade
Measure burns tanning salons They'll be paying almost 20 percent in taxes, but doctors say a tan is a half-baked idea, anyway. A cloud is looming over indoor tanning businesses and their customers... from Tulsa World. Please, Sarah Plummer, World Staff Writer.. one joke is enough.

9 Coffee House / Four Year Old Couch / Merry Ghetto Films‏ (Becky Thatcher gone and P.U. Video from 1996) on: March 18, 2010, 05:44:57 AM
Started by LeeP - Last post by LeeP
Howdy Ya'll, Well, the Becky Snatcher is history. They tore her poor ass to pieces at Neville Island, Pennsylvania. She's basically completely destroyed now. On March 10, 2010, Suzanne and I saw her one last time, and this was what she looked like: That was a week ago, and right now you can't see much of a damn thing. So, to recap, here is a photographic timeline showing her unfortunate demise: October 17, 2009: February 24, 2010: Then compare that to the first image in this message that shows her in ruins. She's gone. I recorded a brief video of her in ruins on March 10, 2010, and the video can be seen at the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEJcJCBK3hE Suzanne and I were fortunate enough to get to see the Becky two more times before she was destroyed. We visited her on March 2, 2010, and Suzanne recorded a video of me performing the old folk song "Faretheewell" as a bit of a dirge for the Becky's impending demise while the boat can be seen over my shoulder in the background. This video can be seen at the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y58inL8c8oQ That was the last time I saw her in one piece. A picture in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette dated March 9, 2010, shows the crane crashing down on her (link). More pictures that I took around the time of her demolition can be found here. Also, I put together a Becky Thatcher Memorial of sorts, which includes old pictures and memorabilia that I've collected over the years. While I was looking for images and videos of the Becky, I stumbled onto a hilarious video that Ben Cowdery and I made on Friday, June 28, 1996, in Marietta, Ohio. The film is entitled, "Two Funky Fiddlers". A brief snippet of the Becky can be seen in the background as some "young hoodlum" can be seen pissing off of the train bridge. Also, the video may contain the only known vintage footage of the old Penny University Coffee House on Front Street. Holy tits and ass, Batman, this funky sass film may contain the only known video footage of this type of shieeet from that time. A seven minute snippet of the film can be seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aLyVLiqm0Q Here's a walk-through of this 7 minute snippet: 1) It starts out with the title "The Ma Huang Gang", and quickly moves to me and Ben talking briefly about some funky shit until a hilarious butt fart occurs at around 0:20. The wild butt fart is relived a few times for your comical enjoyment. 2) At around 0:35, the scene is Front Street, Marietta, and it starts out with me zooming in on some dude in a window holding a guitar, to which I say, "See that ass in the window playing the old gee-tar?" We laugh with glee and continue walking along. I then zoom in on the sign over the Double L, which hilariously says, "Poo", though obviously it was meant to advertise the addition of pool tables in the establishment, but the "L" is missing from the end (I guess the Double L didn't have an extra "L" to spare that day). I continue filming as Ben walks by the Hotel Lafayette. 3) At around 1:01, we arrive on the scene of a country band performing down near the levee (in that little makeshift stage that used to be near the "King's Kreamy Kreations" ice cream shop). The country song they're playing is entitled "Don't Close Your Eyes", a song that was made famous by Keith Whitley (it was Billboard's number-one country single in 1988, and to see a YouTube clip of Keith Whitley playing the full song live in 1989, click here ). I don't know the Marieghetto dudes shown briefly in my video, but the bassist has a funky mullet going on. Ben and I quickly scram from that scene, and walk back towards the Lafayette. 4) At about 1:30, while walking by the Lafayette, I zoom in on a newspaper vending machine displaying a copy of the USA Today with a headline, "Why Are Churches Burning?" I jokingly answer, "Because they're on fire for the Lord!" When I saw this video again after all these years, I decided to see if there was any information about this headline on the internet. I found this: "Why Are Churches Burning? By Gary Fields and Richard Price, USA Today, June 28-30, 1996, pages 1A and 2A." Also, if you look closely at the video, you'll see the headline above that one says, "Top Allies Pledge Anti-Terrorism War". I guess some shit never changes. 5) At about 1:40, exterior views of the Penny University Coffee House can be seen. 6) At about 1:49, the infamous Train Bridge Scene can be found, in which a "young hoodlum" can be seen pissing off of the train bridge, and maliciously bringing a curse upon Marieghetto meant to last down through the ages. Haha, yeah right. Anyway, because of the angle, the dong isn't really visible in the unedited version either, but I put a box over the general area just in case anyone complains. The Train Bridge Scene lasts until about 3:05. 7) Scenes of Front Street and the Penny University Coffee House at night start at 3:06. "Spanky La Monkey" aka Jason Hill walks by at approximately 3:27. Starting at 3:34 we look inside the window of the coffee house and have trouble zooming in. We don't have the $2 cover charge. Dialogue: Lee: "See look, we can get some nasty sneak peeks. God, I can't get it focused! That chick's too ugly, it won't focus on her. See, look at that, you ass." Ben: "That's a guy!" Lee: "Do I know that ass?" Ben: "Show that guy singing." Lee: "There's the Arab ass. Is that a dude? Hey look, it's that one... Is that Christian, or is that a woman?" Ben: "Focus on that guy's face." Lee: "I can't." 8.) At 4:22, Meaghan Hahn, Evon Hughes and others are standing outside the coffee house beside a tree. At about 4:31, Evon asks, "Why are you video taping, Lee?" 9) Matt's ass Downing shows up outside the coffee house and tries to look cool with a couple of top buttons undone on his shirt and some chain around his neck. Ben and I jive talk his ass starting at 4:32, and the jive talking ends at 5:03. 10) Starting around 5:14, Ben starts running towards the Fountain in front of the Lafayette in order to try and get his chain back from Natalie Wheeler. A fight sequence between Ben and Natalie starts at about 6:00. By 6:12, Ben has his chain back. Ian Jennings comments on the fight, "They didn't even have the decency to oil up first." Those who can be seen by the fountain include: Man Chan, Meaghan Hahn, Ian Jennings, Natalie Wheeler, and Ben. Around 6:34, I make a comment to Ian Jennings about his short hair cut by saying, "Hey, you militaristic weave!" He then stares into the camera and asks, "What's this for?" Ben replies, "Your arse." 11) At about 6:51, the view is mostly dark because we are on top of the roof of the Lafayette, after having climbed up the fire escape in the back. At 6:54, while on top of the Lafayette, I start comically singing, "All I wanna do is have some fun, I've got a feeling I'm not the only one" (Sheryl Crow). 12) Starting at 7:06, there are some views from inside the Penny University Coffee House. You may need to pause these frames to see them in more detail, but it looks like the opening shot contains Zach Coss talking to some dude, and maybe Scott Jonathan Block walks by. Then, some dude is sitting at a table talking to someone, but behind that you can see Ian Jennings, and behind him you can see Uriah Binegar. Pause the frames starting at 7:10, 7:11, and 7:12 to see what I mean. Well, that's about it. The full length version of "Two Funky Fiddlers" is 21 minutes long and contains some scenes inside Rink's (Rinky Dink's) Flea Market, as well as a couple of songs by yours truly. Nevertheless, all of the front street scenes are included in the 7 minute version on YouTube, so that other funky folks who were around at that time can see and remember them raunchy old days. Since old videos were on my mind, I decided to upload the sessions that Suzanne filmed of me and Scott Floodstrom in our old basement in Marietta back in 1998, when we were recording our song entitled, "Your Family Is..." (aka "They Dance, They Dance, They Shit Their Pants"). Part 1 - features me and Scott working out the lyrics and the musical arrangement for the song. Part 2 - contains the acoustic guitar and vocal take used on the final recording of the song. Part 3 - is the recording of Scott's bass guitar part for the song. Part 4 - shows me adding the drum track to the recording. And, when the whole thing was done, the Final Funky Version went like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUwJz27K_T8 Millions of years in the making Farts are always breaking out onto the scene if you know what I mean that's a chance that's worth the taking - Lee

10 Coffee House / Four Year Old Couch / Re: Rock out with your (insert genitals here) out...or "what're you listening to?" on: December 26, 2009, 03:13:23 AM
Started by Darth Meaux - Last post by Christopher Limeade
...here again is my 20 Most Played songs on my iTunes, with their position on the list last time, back in September (01) Air : Ce Matin La (02) Klee : Die Stadt (04) Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti : Can't Hear My Eyes (03) Pink Floyd : See Emily Play (08) Claudine Longet : I Believed It All (06) The Cure : Signal to Noise (05) Joe Henry : Our Song (07) Voxtrot : Soft & Warm (11) Claudine Longet : Snow (10) Randy Newman : Every Time It Rains (09) Taking Back Sunday : ...Slowdance on the Inside (13) The Zombies : Beechwood Park (--) Gershon Kingsley : Sunset Sound (12) Pink Floyd : Arnold Layne (15) Randy Newman : I Miss You (14) Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti : Let's Build a Campfire There (17) Giant Crab : I Enjoy Being the Boy (16) Paul Frees (as Clark Gable) : By the Time I Get to Phoenix (19) The Soft Boys : Song #4 (--) The Beatles : The Long And Winding Road