The good folks at the Annees Vinyl site have posted two interesting musical slide shows on YouTube.

One is of the Rolling Stones performing “Route 66″ on what sounds like a mid-1960s British radio show. Accompanying the music are photos of sights along the road.

The other Route 66 slideshow has Nat King Cole, also performing “Route 66.”

Dave Gilmartin has caused quite a stir across the country. He’s published a book, “The Absolutely Worst Places to Live in America,” which lists 80 U.S. cities were recommended (or derided) by readers.

Quite a few of those cities are none too happy about it, either.

Five cities on Route 66 made the “worst” list:

• Albuquerque
• Tulsa
• Springfield, Mo.
• Barstow, Calif.
• Granite City, Ill.

Also, the book has a “dishonorable mention” listing. Four more Route 66 cities made the cut:

• East St. Louis, Ill.
• Los Angeles
• Oklahoma City
• Rolla, Mo.

I had a chance to peruse the book in a local store and sussed out other information about it on the Internet. I observed several things:

• Gilmartin’s book is filed in the “Humor” section. That alone tells you to take its contents with a ton or two of salt.
• Many of the author’s musings and reader testimonies are suspect — filled with dubious information, stereotypes and axe-grinding.
• Gilmartin sure knows how to publicize a book. There are nearly 40 stories about it and the furor it’s sparked on Google News alone.

I’m not taking it seriously. I’ve lived in and visited a lot of places. Any main “worst” listing that leaves off East St. Louis — and its staggering crime, toxic waste, grinding poverty, official corruption and acres of blight — but includes a growing, diverse, vibrant city like Albuquerque is automatically suspect.

Gilmartin doesn’t seem to be too willing to stand up for his book, either. In this story in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Gilmartin seemed taken aback by the strong reactions from nearby Granite City.

“I’m sorry. I really didn’t mean to upset anyone to that degree.”

He’s probably afraid steelworkers hoisting a few Stag beers at the nearby Luna Cafe would stomp him into hamburger if he ever set foot in the place.

Hey … if you dish it out, you have to be prepared to take it.

Disney-Pixar’s hit summer movie about Route 66, “Cars,” tied “Flushed Away” for the most Annie nominations from the International Animated Film Society with nine, reported the Los Angeles Daily News.

The awards will be announced Feb. 11 at the Alex Theatre in Glendale, Calif.

According to CountSolo at the Pixar Planet forum, here are the “Cars” nominations:

• Best Animated Feature
  
• Directing in a Animated Feature Production - John Lasseter
  
• Character Animation in Feature Production - Carlos Baena
• Character Animation in Feature Production - Bobby Podesta
  
• Music in a Animated Feature Production - Randy Newman
  
• Animated Effects – Keith Klohn
  
• Animated Effects – Erdem Taylan
  
• Production Design in a Feature Production – William Cone
  
• Writing in a Feature Production – Dan Fogelman 

Last we heard, La Posada de Albuquerque, which was closed for renovations in 2005, was going to reopen sometime in spring 2007.

Now it looks like the reopening isn’t going to happen anytime soon. According to Duke City Fix,  owner Gary Goodman is asking the city for $9 million in industrial revenue bonds to continue the historic hotel’s renovations, which apparently are ongoing. Whether the city ponies up the bonds is uncertain.

Duke City Fix contributor Don Pizzolato opines:

It has been obvious for a while that Goodman did not have the funding to begin renovations. Since the property shut down in mid 2005 it has sat vacant, hosting the occasional “everything must go” furniture liquidation sale. In recent months the first floor restaurant and banquet spaces have been gutted, but nothing new appears to be taking shape. [...]

Part of me wonders if this whole kabuki dance has not been some sort of elaborate real-estate flip. Similar to what is happening with the El Vado but more opaque. The city is keen to preserve the few historic properties it has, but for some reason it won’t pony up the dough to purchase them until a gun is put to their head. [...]

Everyone would be well served by exercising a little patience. Should Mr. Goodman’s plans fall through (likely), the city should purchase the property and wait. La Posada’s time will come (again), just not now. The last thing downtown needs is another project for progress’ sake.

Stay tuned.

Looking west on Missouri Highway 100, aka Route 66, in Manchester, Mo., on Dec. 3.

(Photo courtesy of Ron Sanderson.)