"Ophelia...please don't darken my door"

After being out in Tucson, AZ for a week, I'm finally back with a nod to The Band and their classic rock favorite "Ophelia". We've just witnessed the most devastaing storm in U.S. history, now we're flirting with Hurricane/Tropical Storm Ophelia. Yesterday she was upgraded to hurricane status, today she's classified as a tropical storm. We can't breathe a sigh of relief yet, because experts agree that Ophelia could loop back and make landfall in Florida, Georgia or the Carolinas. The good news is Ophelia is not projected to enter the Gulf of Mexico. The Gulf Coast states have seen enough death and destruction to last a lifetime. Stay tuned for another update soon!

Dodged another bullet!

People here in the Tampa Bay area have dodged another bullet, as Hurricane Katrina has moved further west in the Gulf of Mexico. She has become a dangerous Category 3 hurricane packing winds of 115 mph. Key West was slammed with 10 inches of torrential rain Friday and Dry Tortugas National Park saw 97 mph wind gusts.

Where Katrina makes landfall on Monday is now uncertain. Gulf coast states like the western Florida panhandle, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi are all possible targets. Unfortunately some lives and property will be claimed by this powerful storm.

Katrina has an identity crisis!

Last night around 6:30, Hurricane Katrina made landfall just south of Fort Lauderdale. Experts downgraded her to a Tropical Storm and predicted she would exit due east via Fort Myers within 24 hours. Katrina decided to head South and crossed over the most narrow portion of our peninsula in only 8 hours! By morning there were four dead and a family of 5 missing at sea. Seems some people didn't take Katrina seriously and were killed by falling trees.

This morning Katrina was upgraded to hurricane status again fueled by the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. In just the last few hours her wind speed has increased from 75 to 100 mph and is upgraded from a Category 1 to a Category 2 hurricane. Meteorologists suggest she could increase to Category 3 or Category 4 this weekend.

Flooding has been problematic with some areas like Key Biscayne receiving 15-20 inches of rain overnight. One can feel the presence of Katrina approaching, she must be increasing in size. Here in the Tampa Bay area winds have been gusting and the rains have begun. Currently the storm is about 60 miles WNW of Key West and has been moving westerly. If she turns North before getting further out in the Gulf, that would spell trouble for the Bay area (storm surge, wind damage, tornados). We're not out of the woods yet!

We need to list some Soggy Saturday & Sunday Smooth Storm Songs!

Katrina and the Waves

With a nod to the 80's one-hit wonder group, Tropical Storm Katrina developed over the past 48 hours and is heading toward the East Florida coast. The "waves" will be coming too, along with associated storm surge. It's perched in the Atlantic Ocean just off shore from Fort Lauderdale and will probably make landfall tonight as a weak Category One hurricane (after last year, weak is good)! Within 24 hours the storm will cross the state and exit "stage left" near Fort Myers. Most likely it will turn northerly in the Gulf of Mexico and hit the panhandle before all is said and done. Guess it's time to "batten down the hatches", whatever that means! Could be worse though, Tokyo is about to get hit with another typhoon today. Count your blessings!

Funky Five Friday

Name your Top Five Favorite "Ffunk" songs from the 70's. Since we had the 60's last time, I thought we would dance around the 70's today! Here's my list...you know, I can never seem to stop at five. (Pic: Modern Funkateer and NBA Star Wayman Tisdale)

1. Ffun-ConFunkShun
2. Flashlight-Parliament
3. Skin Tight-Ohio Players
4. You and I-Rick James
5. I Like Girls-Fatback Band
6. More Bounce to the Ounce-Zapp
7. Stretchin'Out-Bootsy's Rubber Band
8. Shake Your Rump to the Funk-BarKays
9. One Nation Under A Groove-Funkadelic
10. If It Don't Turn You On (you oughta leave it alone)-BT Express

Play that Funky Music, White Boy!

What is Funk?

Funk is a distinct style of music originated by African-Americans. Funk best can be recognized by its syncopated rhythms; thick bass line (often based on an "on the one" beat); razor-sharp rhythm guitars; chanted or hollered vocals; strong, rhythm oriented horn sections; prominent percussion; an upbeat attitude; African tones; danceability; and strong jazz influences.

Compared to funk's predecessor, the soul music of 1960s, funk typically uses more complex rhythms, while song structures are usually simpler. Often, the structure of a funk song consists of just one or two riffs. Sometimes the point at which one riff changes to another becomes the highlight of a song. The soul dance music of its day, the basic idea of funk was to create as intense a groove as possible.

One of the most distinctive features of funk music is the role played by bass guitar. Before soul music, bass was rarely prominent in popular music. Players like the legendary Motown bassist James Jamerson brought bass to the forefront, and funk built on that foundation, with melodic basslines often being the centerpiece of songs. Notable funk bassists include Bootsy Collins and Larry Graham of Sly & the Family Stone. Graham is often credited with inventing the percussive "slap bass technique," which was further developed by later bassists and became a distictive element of funk.

Since funk is strongly rhythm-oriented, many funk songs contain no solos. Those that do often feature skillfully improvised horn solos. Some of the best known and most skillful soloists have jazz backgrounds.

In funk bands, guitarists typically play in a percussive style. "Dead" notes often are used in riffs to strengthen percussive elements. When playing with a horn section, guitarists usually play no solos; but if a band's style is closer to a "funk rock" approach, then a guitarist may play solos with a distorted sound.

Super Sixties Soul Song Sunday

This one's especially for you Doc!
Tell us six of your all time favorite 60's Soul Songs. Here's my list...

1. Groove Me-King Floyd
2. Knock On Wood-Eddie Floyd
3. Clean Up Woman-Betty Wright
4. Do You Love Me-The Contours
5. Papa's Got a Brand New Bag-James Brown
6. Ooh Baby, Baby-Smokey Robinson and the Miracles
7. Funky Broadway-Dyke and the Blazers (the original)
8. Give me Just a Little More Time-Chairmen of the Board
9. You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman-Aretha Franklin
10. Express Yourself-Charles Wright and the Watts 103rd St. Rhythm Band

...more to come...

Top Five for Friday

In honor of the Space Shuttle's successful landing this week... Top Five "Space" Songs (Interpret as you like..)  

Tell us 5 things about your hometown!

Well, I'm originally from Philadelphia, PA and the first thing that comes to mind when you say Philly is Cheesesteaks! Speaking of local fare, Philly has some of the best pizza, hoagies and soft pretzels that you'll find anywhere! (It's also the birthplace of Breyers Ice Cream!)

Of course, Philadelphia is home to our nations Liberty Bell, formerly on display at Independence Hall. In 1976 the bell was moved to Independence Mall and since 2003 it's housed at the new Liberty Bell Center. This city was once home to George Washington, John Adams, Ben Franklin and Betsy Ross. Historical documents like the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were penned here and remain here. The Declaration was first read to the public on July 8, 1776 in Philadelphia. Atop City Hall in Center City (the world's largest occupied masonry building) there is a 27 ton statue of William Penn (the largest statue on any building in the world). This statue is so large that you can walk around the brim of the William Penn's hat. (virtual tour).

There's so much to see like the Art Museum and Fels Planetarium at the Franklin Insitute. Last but not least Philly is a sports mecca, home to the NFC Champion Eagles, Phillies, 76ers and the Flyers.

Moon song Monday

OK, now see if you can think of five songs with "moon" in the title (in my honor). Here's a few to get your moon juices flowing...

1. Moondance-Van Morrison
2. Bad Moon Rising-Creedence Clearwater Revival
3. Yellow Moon-Neville Brothers
4. Moonshadow-Cat Stevens
5. Harvest Moon-Neil Young
6. Dancing in the Moonlight-King Harvest
7. Dark Side of the Moon-Pink Floyd
8. Moonage Daydream-David Bowie
9. Blue Moon-The Marcells
10. Shoot the Moon-Norah Jones

Sunday Sun Songs

Name five songs with "Sun" in the title. I couldn't stop at just five!

1. Sunshine Superman-Donovan
2. Ain't No Sunshine-Bill Withers
3. You Are the Sunshine of My Life-Stevie Wonder
4. Here Comes the Sun-Beatles
5. Sundown-Gordon Lightfoot
6. Walking on Sunshine-Katrina & the Waves
7. Sitting in the Midday Sun-Kinks
8. Sunshine in the Music-Jimmy Cliff
9. Sunset People-Donna Summer
10. Waiting for the Sun-Doors
11. You Are My Sunshine-Governor Jimmie Davis

What's currently in your car CD player?

The music in my 6 CD changer represents the eclectic within.

1. Norman Brown-Just Chillin'
2. The Essential Sly and the Family Stone-Disc 1
3. Norman Brown-West Coast Coolin'
4. Steve Cole-NY/LA
5. Brian Culbertson-Somethin 'Bout Love
6. Steve Oliver-3D

Flashback Friday

It's all about cruisin' this week ...

• Name three songs that remind you of a car trip you have taken.
• Name three songs that are best heard in a car.
• Name three songs with cars in the title or lyrics.

Hurricane Emily in the Caribbean 07/14/05

Tropical Storm Emily developed into a Category 4 hurricane in the Caribbean yesterday. Grenada took almost a direct hit and now Emily is headed toward Jamaica. Forecasters anticipate Emily entering the Gulf of Mexico by Tuesday. Brace yourself for the second major storm of the season!

Sailing on Boca Ciega Bay

Name a song that describes your life today!

• "Dazed and Confused" Led Zeppelin

• "Pain in my Heart" Otis Redding

• "Time is on my Side" Rolling Stones

• "Drift Away" Dobie Gray

• "Change is Gonna Come" Sam Cooke

• Can't stop at just one...mine always turns into a top 5 list!

Boca Ciega Sunset 

Wild hibiscus and berries 

Great blue heron 

Hurricane Dennis makes landfall

Dennis the manace finally came ashore on Sunday afternoon, damage reports vary across the state. Here in the Tampa Bay area, we had squalls on Saturday with high winds and sheets of rain throughout the evening. Sunday morning was wet and windy, but later in the day weather was back to normal. Trees and poles snapped like toothpicks, low lying areas flooded and some roads were littered with debris. This area has been spared so often that many are complacent. Hurricane Dennis stayed west of Tampa Bay, churning up the Gulf of Mexico and landing near Pensacola, only 50 miles from where Ivan struck last year. Residents feared the worst, but were relieved to find that Dennis lacked the strength of Ivan that battered the area last year.