While we were down in NC I spotted this sign in the town of Chimney Rock (I believe) just adjacent to Chimney Rock park. I love the decayed nature of the sign and the fact that you can still tell it's a Bar-B-Que joint.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Andrew Sullivan, Obama and Palin
I've long been an admirer of Andrew Sullivan and a reader of his blog. One of the things I admire about Mr. Sullivan is that, in addition to having a formidable intellect, he is generally devoted to what might be called—if faux news hadn't ruined the term—a fair and balanced approach to political reporting. He consciously tries to avoid rank partisanship and dogma. He is a conservative who is appropriately outraged at the nationalistic thugs who call themselves conservatives in this country, who take their orders from Rush Limbaugh and have never heard of Burke. Given Mr. Sullivan's political viewpoints, his support of Barack Obama is a testament to his willingness to look beyond party lines and ideologies.
Over the last year, however, I have watched Mr. Sullivan's support of Obama grow increasingly intense, to the point where I now feel that he has abandoned any pretence of neutrality and has become almost a mouth piece for the Obama's campaign. How else would you explain his take on
McCain's selection of Sarah Palen as a running mate? Says Mr. Sullivan
"The first criterion for a veep - and I'm simply repeating a truism here - is that they are ready to take over at a moment's notice. That's especially true when you have a candidate as old as McCain. That's more than especially true when we are at war, in an era of astonishingly difficult challenges, when the next president could be grappling with war in the Middle East or a catastrophic terror attack at home. Under those circumstances, we could have a former Miss Alaska with two years under her belt as governor. Now compare McCain's pick with Obama's: a man with solid foreign policy experience, six terms in Washington and real relationships with leaders across the globe. One pick is by a man of judgment; the other is by a man of vanity."
Now, there is much I agree with here. McCain's pick could probably be described as "unserious." But this is an awfully strange argument coming from such an ardent Obama supporter. After all, Obama had been in the Senate for less than two years when he announced his candidacy for President. If Palin's thin resume makes her ineligible to lead the country, doesn't Obama's do the same? To Mr. Sullivan's credit, he posts several reader responses that make this point and he responds in an interesting way:
"ask yourself: could Sarah Palin have run a national election campaign against, say, a machine as powerful as the Bush family, and won? Does she have the skill set to construct a campaign that would actually have brought her to the nomination herself?"
It seems that, to Sullivan, Obama's skill as a campaigner qualifies him to be president. Palin, it seems, is unqualified in part because she was chosen and did not run herself. This argument is not entirely ridiculous. The Obama Machine is huge and well-oiled and Barack is at the center of it all. It's evidence of his considerable management skills. But I think that campaigning is very different from governing.
Bush had one of the best run campaigns in history: I think that's all we really need to know about that. Sullivan's argument is particularly puzzling if you consider that his main gripe with Palin seems to be her lack of experience in foreign policy and national security. I'm not sure setting up a brilliant on-line fundraising operation prepares you for dealing with Iran.
I have no doubt that Andrew Sullivan is smarter and better informed than I am. If we were ever to debate about anything he would probably demolish me. However, a strong mind can be used to deceive as well as enlighten and the world is full of people who use their intellect to deceive themselves. I'm not sure that's what Mr. Sullivan is doing now, but he has surely lost his commitment to even handed analysis.
Over the last year, however, I have watched Mr. Sullivan's support of Obama grow increasingly intense, to the point where I now feel that he has abandoned any pretence of neutrality and has become almost a mouth piece for the Obama's campaign. How else would you explain his take on
McCain's selection of Sarah Palen as a running mate? Says Mr. Sullivan
"The first criterion for a veep - and I'm simply repeating a truism here - is that they are ready to take over at a moment's notice. That's especially true when you have a candidate as old as McCain. That's more than especially true when we are at war, in an era of astonishingly difficult challenges, when the next president could be grappling with war in the Middle East or a catastrophic terror attack at home. Under those circumstances, we could have a former Miss Alaska with two years under her belt as governor. Now compare McCain's pick with Obama's: a man with solid foreign policy experience, six terms in Washington and real relationships with leaders across the globe. One pick is by a man of judgment; the other is by a man of vanity."
Now, there is much I agree with here. McCain's pick could probably be described as "unserious." But this is an awfully strange argument coming from such an ardent Obama supporter. After all, Obama had been in the Senate for less than two years when he announced his candidacy for President. If Palin's thin resume makes her ineligible to lead the country, doesn't Obama's do the same? To Mr. Sullivan's credit, he posts several reader responses that make this point and he responds in an interesting way:
"ask yourself: could Sarah Palin have run a national election campaign against, say, a machine as powerful as the Bush family, and won? Does she have the skill set to construct a campaign that would actually have brought her to the nomination herself?"
It seems that, to Sullivan, Obama's skill as a campaigner qualifies him to be president. Palin, it seems, is unqualified in part because she was chosen and did not run herself. This argument is not entirely ridiculous. The Obama Machine is huge and well-oiled and Barack is at the center of it all. It's evidence of his considerable management skills. But I think that campaigning is very different from governing.
Bush had one of the best run campaigns in history: I think that's all we really need to know about that. Sullivan's argument is particularly puzzling if you consider that his main gripe with Palin seems to be her lack of experience in foreign policy and national security. I'm not sure setting up a brilliant on-line fundraising operation prepares you for dealing with Iran.
I have no doubt that Andrew Sullivan is smarter and better informed than I am. If we were ever to debate about anything he would probably demolish me. However, a strong mind can be used to deceive as well as enlighten and the world is full of people who use their intellect to deceive themselves. I'm not sure that's what Mr. Sullivan is doing now, but he has surely lost his commitment to even handed analysis.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Hitting The Road!
I'm off to Philly to celebrate labor... and days... and having a long weekend, with the fam. It should be good, and who knows... maybe before I leave tomorrow morning I'll even upload some more Southern pictures tonight as I've been planning to basically every day since returning from North Carolina and Alabama last week! Ayee!
In the meantime, checkout this funny little bear, think funny thoughts about Van Halen and Sarah Palin... and somehow I have a feeling I'll toss up some more posts this weekend.
If, somehow, I don't... let me just say this: August has been a remarkable month here at The Best Way. With all that has happened in politics, a bunch of fun and interesting posts about music, the return of some photography and the usual dash of random goofy junk we've shot past 40 posts for a month (our previous max was in the 30s) and hit our second highest readership ever overall.
Thanks to those who stop in regularly and especially those who drop a comment here or there. Many thanks to those who link to us here and there and bring some traffic our way. Finally all my gratitude to my friends who post.
From Venice's interesting thoughts about ObamaMcCainPalinBidenHillaryPoliticalWhatnow to JR's input on plastic and Face-off it's tons of fun keeping this little train a choo choo chooing along. I hope you all continue to enjoy it as much as we do, and that everyone has a wonderful Labor Day weekend!!!!
Right Now! We didn't give you permission!
That's the chorus for the tune Van Halen is singing to John McCain, apparently they're none to pleased with him rallying this morning's Sarah Palin announcement using their tune, "Right Now." I watched video of Palin's speech earlier today and noted the tune, as I've always liked the song (and I remember it being the theme music for Crystal Pepsi commercials back in the 90s). But apparently Crystal Pepsi, John McCain is not to the fine gentlemen who make up the band, hence they are supposedly pissed that their little ditty has been apropriated by his campaign. Read more here on HuffPo.
Ever wish you could take back something you said on cable news?
Um... schwoops!
Hopefully somebody answered this question for Sarah before today. I imagine this little clip is going to make the rounds quite a bit in the next little while.
Further goofing on Sarah:
Hopefully somebody answered this question for Sarah before today. I imagine this little clip is going to make the rounds quite a bit in the next little while.
Further goofing on Sarah:
- 23/6 takes issue with name choices, "Track" and Palin's newest child, "Trig." Thank you, 23/6, not sure how I missed commenting on that earlier. Trig? Say whaaaaa?!?!!?!?
- While 23/6 calls her McCain's Quayle, Andrew Sullivan at the Atlantic has a post referencing the video above and naming her, "Harriet Quayle," a hybrid of the potato-loving former VP and the almost-Supreme White House lawyer.
- Finally... wow, Wonkette does it again! I told you Sarah was their girl. Check out their lovely photoshop of "Your First Look at McCain-Palin's America," a look not to be missed.... wow wow wow.
Now that you're all paying attention...
Caught this on Americablog just now, Obama's acceptance speech last night was ranked as having remarkably high viewership by Nielsen Media Research, which rated viewership as 38 million making this speech more watched than the Olympics opening ceremony in Beijing, the final "American Idol" or the 2008 Academy Awards.
Given that most felt the speech itself was quite strong, this would seem to bode well for Mr. Obama and his good friend Mr. Biden.
Given that most felt the speech itself was quite strong, this would seem to bode well for Mr. Obama and his good friend Mr. Biden.
Wonkette Wonder Sarah Palin
I'm not going to lie, most of what I know about Sarah Palin, I've learned from reading one of my favorite political blogs, Wonkette, where for quite some time they've alternated between calling her the hottest governor ever and a GILF (now changed to VPILF). One of my favorite all time posts they tossed up was about Palin being the hottest Lego governor, but today they posted a collection of past posts, and I also enjoyed one about her being a snow dwarf, and one they created based on a picture of Palin giddily revealing the state quarter of Alaska (the title? "Hot Bear on GILF action!").
That all said, I would echo the strengths and weaknesses I've seen most places related to this whole thing. On one hand, it truly is remarkable to think that in four months we'll either have a woman swearing in as Vice President or a black man swearing in as President. It's also just remarkable to think that in four months we'll be past the Bush Cheney nightmare. That's beside the point, though.
Ok... back to Palin. I think the notion that she'll somehow be the magic bullet on recruiting Hillary voters who are disgruntled is completely bogus. It might help some tiny bit with that particular constituency, but I'll be honest, I think the media is over-blowing the size and importance of that faction. Simply put, I think most Hillary supporters are Democrats with a capital "D" who are likely pretty jazzed up about the strong ticket their party has put together, even if they might think very rightly that their woman would have headed a strong ticket herself (and they're right). While I think this notion of aiming Palin at the PUMA camp and somehow wooing them all is bogus, I do agree with Matt and many others who say Palin will help with all the uber social conservatives who think McCain isn't sufficiently crazed over abortion, appalled at gayness or ready to open oil rigs in every national park. I think Romney, Lieberman, and Ridge would all have caused big challenges with this crowd, and having been teased with those possibilities for weeks I imagine they're pretty giddy.
Meanwhile, back over in the world of how this all will unfold, I just can't imagine a debate between Palin and Joe Biden being anything but lopsided, but then again I thought Biden was pretty stellar in the early Democratic Primary debates and it clearly didn't keep him in the running for that job. I guess we have an interesting fall to look forward to.
That all said, I would echo the strengths and weaknesses I've seen most places related to this whole thing. On one hand, it truly is remarkable to think that in four months we'll either have a woman swearing in as Vice President or a black man swearing in as President. It's also just remarkable to think that in four months we'll be past the Bush Cheney nightmare. That's beside the point, though.
Ok... back to Palin. I think the notion that she'll somehow be the magic bullet on recruiting Hillary voters who are disgruntled is completely bogus. It might help some tiny bit with that particular constituency, but I'll be honest, I think the media is over-blowing the size and importance of that faction. Simply put, I think most Hillary supporters are Democrats with a capital "D" who are likely pretty jazzed up about the strong ticket their party has put together, even if they might think very rightly that their woman would have headed a strong ticket herself (and they're right). While I think this notion of aiming Palin at the PUMA camp and somehow wooing them all is bogus, I do agree with Matt and many others who say Palin will help with all the uber social conservatives who think McCain isn't sufficiently crazed over abortion, appalled at gayness or ready to open oil rigs in every national park. I think Romney, Lieberman, and Ridge would all have caused big challenges with this crowd, and having been teased with those possibilities for weeks I imagine they're pretty giddy.
Meanwhile, back over in the world of how this all will unfold, I just can't imagine a debate between Palin and Joe Biden being anything but lopsided, but then again I thought Biden was pretty stellar in the early Democratic Primary debates and it clearly didn't keep him in the running for that job. I guess we have an interesting fall to look forward to.
First thoughts on Palin
This is obviously a very gutsy pick. An unknown woman who has been the governor of a solidly Red state for less than two years. It could be brilliant, or exceedingly not brilliant, or it could not matter at all.
You can't help but contrast this pick with Biden. Biden was a great choice, but a very conventional one. Palin is anything but conventional. One of the reasons that I liked Biden is that he was chosen not for any specific demographic group but because he is so well-suited to the job. Don't get me wrong: I know Obama's choice is every bit as politically motivated. McCain's choosing Palin, on the other hand, is obviously an attempt to woo disgruntled HRC voters. I applaud his choosing a woman, but it seems very transparent. Are HRC voters just going to vote for McCain because he chose a woman as Veep?
I find it unlikely, but time will tell.
Also, Palin has been governor for less than two years and has never worked in a foreign policy job. Ever. Maybe I'm giving the voting public too much credit, but doesn't this undermine the argument that Obama isn't ready to be President? Basically, McCain is saying this is the person who will take over if anything happens to me. It seems strongly implied that he believes she is ready to do the job. But how can it be that she is ready and Obama isn't? It can't. Which means that McCain's argument about experience is just politics.
Disappointing.
One thing that I haven't yet heard anyone point out: Palin is a social conservative who is not associated with the Bush administration. In other words, she pleases the base without alienating the Bush-weary independents. From this perspective it's a good choice.
You can't help but contrast this pick with Biden. Biden was a great choice, but a very conventional one. Palin is anything but conventional. One of the reasons that I liked Biden is that he was chosen not for any specific demographic group but because he is so well-suited to the job. Don't get me wrong: I know Obama's choice is every bit as politically motivated. McCain's choosing Palin, on the other hand, is obviously an attempt to woo disgruntled HRC voters. I applaud his choosing a woman, but it seems very transparent. Are HRC voters just going to vote for McCain because he chose a woman as Veep?
I find it unlikely, but time will tell.
Also, Palin has been governor for less than two years and has never worked in a foreign policy job. Ever. Maybe I'm giving the voting public too much credit, but doesn't this undermine the argument that Obama isn't ready to be President? Basically, McCain is saying this is the person who will take over if anything happens to me. It seems strongly implied that he believes she is ready to do the job. But how can it be that she is ready and Obama isn't? It can't. Which means that McCain's argument about experience is just politics.
Disappointing.
One thing that I haven't yet heard anyone point out: Palin is a social conservative who is not associated with the Bush administration. In other words, she pleases the base without alienating the Bush-weary independents. From this perspective it's a good choice.
Obama's Speech
Damn. I said, damn. This was more than a home run, this was a grand slam. I have to admit, having this guy as President wouldn't be so very bad.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
More Southern Photos!
I'm going to post more picture on Flickr tomorrow, that's my plan at least. Here's a quick post of two goats we named Wilburrr (on the left) and Fiona (on the right). They were deuling... literally butting heads over a third goat, who I just named Elouise. Elouise was pretty freaked out by the whole affair so she scooted away pretty darn quick. These two were pretty impressive going at it. GOATS! In the SOUTH! Yeah!
New Favorite Political One-Liner
There have been lots of barbs tossed around this week at the Democratic Convention, and I hope people are starting to feel satisfied that the party is really going on the offensive against McCain, the Republicans, etc. Still, I missed this great line and only caught it today when Andrew Sullivan posted about how he missed it.
Peggy Noonan caught it, as did, apparently everybody out in Denver:
Peggy Noonan caught it, as did, apparently everybody out in Denver:
"By the way, the best line of the convention so far? Ted Strickland of Ohio, when he echoed the 1988 Democratic convention joke about George H.W. Bush, that he was born on third and thought he hit a triple. Strickland said of George W. Bush that he was born on third and then stole second. It didn't get much attention in any of the commentary, but it's all people were talking about in the bars of Denver that night."
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Rootlessness, America and Identity
A couple days ago the NYT had a fascinating article about Barack Obama (and John McCain), rootlessness, wandering, and the American identity. A someone who has only just passed the two year mark living in Connecticut (a tenure of residence in one state unparalleled since since the day I graduated college) I found the read interesting and engaging.
They offer a lengthy meditation on the subject, weaving together literary references, discussion of the wanderer as essentially American, but also the wander as feared and mistrusted. Towards the end they also present an alternate take, asking if Obama, who has lived in Chicago for years now, is once married, has a seemingly stable family, and wants to maintain his ties to Chicago, is in fact more rooted than your average politician.
As I think about it, I also now wonder how the Obama/Biden ticket offers an interesting sampling of wandering with rooted-ness. Biden certainly, as someone who regularly commutes home to Delaware even while the Senate is in session, displays strong roots and ties to the community that has elected him many times over.
The article is worth a read, and I'd love other peoples' reflections on it, if you have any to share in comments!
They offer a lengthy meditation on the subject, weaving together literary references, discussion of the wanderer as essentially American, but also the wander as feared and mistrusted. Towards the end they also present an alternate take, asking if Obama, who has lived in Chicago for years now, is once married, has a seemingly stable family, and wants to maintain his ties to Chicago, is in fact more rooted than your average politician.
As I think about it, I also now wonder how the Obama/Biden ticket offers an interesting sampling of wandering with rooted-ness. Biden certainly, as someone who regularly commutes home to Delaware even while the Senate is in session, displays strong roots and ties to the community that has elected him many times over.
The article is worth a read, and I'd love other peoples' reflections on it, if you have any to share in comments!
Round Mound of Obamanation
So there's clearly a good bit of Democratic Convention related stuff a person could be blogging about today, but instead of weighing into the, "Did Hillary do enough?" conversation, or the "Was Mark Warner at all interesting?" conversation or the, "What the hell was Ed Rendell thinking calling Obama Adalai Stevenson?" conversation I'm going to take up the Charles Barkley conversation. "What with the what now," you might say. That's right, former Philadelphia 76ers basketball great Charles Barkley has tended to lean republican throughout his life, but is a big-time supporter of Obama this year, and HuffPo has all the details.
Celebrity endorsements, who cares, right? I agree, but I just thought this was kinda fun, in part because of the very direct way in which the very opinionated Barkley describes what he sees as appealing in Obama, "We're a country of haves and have-nots. America needs a new leader. Someone who can give poor people a chance"
Celebrity endorsements, who cares, right? I agree, but I just thought this was kinda fun, in part because of the very direct way in which the very opinionated Barkley describes what he sees as appealing in Obama, "We're a country of haves and have-nots. America needs a new leader. Someone who can give poor people a chance"
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Abides does the Dude
Rolling Stone Magazine has a nice writeup called the Decade of the Dude, sending up the 10 year love affair many in our generation have developed with the Big Lebowski. They spend some time with Jeff Bridges and the article, among other things, includes the following priceless quote from Philip Seymour Hoffman:
Thanks to Tyler for posting this on Facebook!
"There's a freedom to The Big Lebowski," theorizes Philip Seymour Hoffman, who played Brandt, the wealthy Lebowski's obsequious personal assistant. "The Dude abides, and I think that's something people really yearn for, to be able to live their life like that. You can see why young people would enjoy that."
Thanks to Tyler for posting this on Facebook!
V.P. Drama? Right.
CNN goes a little nutty over the Obama VP drama... or well, not drama exactly, really just their impatience. Check it out.
Remarkable Woman, Remarkable Speech
I imagine most folks who caught it last night were touched and impressed by Teddy Kennedy's speech at the Democratic convention. He seems to be doing remarkably well for someone who has endured the sort of surgery he recently went through, and he was impressively powerful and clear in his words and presentation. I missed Michelle Obama last night, but I'm watching it this morning, and I'm so pleasantly impressed, but not surprised. She is an incredible person who has achieved remarkable things in her own life, so I think none of us should be surprised she can deliver an incredible speech. If you're up for spending 20 minutes with her, check out the full video below:
From Purple State Blog's Live-blogging of the convention last night:
Another wonderful reaction documented by Saramerica: young girls who aren't interested in politics find Michelle Obama inspiring.
From Purple State Blog's Live-blogging of the convention last night:
"I had thought going into tonight that Ted Kennedy's speech would be the one that could bring Democrats together across the Obama-Clinton divide. I was wrong. Michelle Obama proved herself a dynamic, captivating, and fantastic public speaker. I will post the video tomorrow. If you didn't see her speech tonight, watch it."
Another wonderful reaction documented by Saramerica: young girls who aren't interested in politics find Michelle Obama inspiring.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Water water everywhere and you thought Face-off was just a B-Movie
I am a B-movie fan. I love them. They give me interesting ideas for my own stories and thoughts. Sure they often take a bit more suspension of disbelief then other movies but if you can get there you will experience a fun time.
Face-Off was an initial exception, I just couldn't wrap my head around it the first time I watched it. It took a second watching sometime later to get my suspension to the level I felt it needed to be to enjoy the movie. Well low and behold I need not have suspended anything at all!
You too can get your face transplanted with someone else's! How wonderful! and with an implantable voice synthesizer, you can sound like them too! Electronic Voices
A quick point on bottled water: STOP USING IT! Seriously!
Bottled water in the vast majority of cases is no cleaner or healthier then tap water! There have been numerous instances where bottled water often has been tested as having higher amounts of potentially dangerous bacteria then any U.S. tap water. Not to mention the amounts of particles that come off the plastic itself. Ever notice the interesting taste and smell a bottle of plastic water has when it heats up a bit. Yeah, thats the plastic degrading.
Those are health risks, lets look at the actual monetary costs. Your average 20 oz. bottle of water costs between $0.70 and $1.50 depending on brand and location. The average cost of tap water in the united states in 2000 was between $0.07 and $0.40 per gallon. That is a milk jug of water folks. Inflation has not affected this cost significantly. Modern water treatment plants are top of the line and in most of the civilized world provide perfectly safe drinking water to millions of house holds. No bacteria, no harmful build up of chemicals.
Lets say you live in an older section of town and you have old pipes which do tend to harbor strange tastes smells and potential bacteria. You can get yourself an in house water treatment system that will provide mountain spring clear water for a fractional increase in cost over your standard tap water. These eliminate the 'taste' often associated with with older pipes.
Let's look at the environmental impact. I will just give you this fun fact. Despite the fact that recycling is continually growing through out the country in 2004 only one in six bottles were recycled. Check out some figures: Bottles Bottles everywhere
And you don't have to take my word for it, listen to two one of my favorite two man acts, Pen & Teller, call out the BS.
Bull $%*&
-J.R.
Editorial Note from John:
First, a big thank you to J.R. for a tremendous post. I really enjoyed the combination of two interesting and different topics, and what you had to say on both. If folks click through there are some great links here, and the bottled water issue is one J.R. and I both agree on and have talked through many times in the past.
If you're looking for a little multimedia to drive home the point, check out this video on where some of the plastic that doesn't get recycled goes. Warning, this video and the series that follows it are actually very disturbing. To give a quick synopsis they document a crew sailing out into the Pacific Ocean to document "trash island" a mass of swirling trash (largely plastic) and other debris that swirls around way out in the middle of nowhere unclaimed and unaddressed by governments to date. I posted this a little while back, but I think it really reinforces J.R.'s point.:
Face-Off was an initial exception, I just couldn't wrap my head around it the first time I watched it. It took a second watching sometime later to get my suspension to the level I felt it needed to be to enjoy the movie. Well low and behold I need not have suspended anything at all!
You too can get your face transplanted with someone else's! How wonderful! and with an implantable voice synthesizer, you can sound like them too! Electronic Voices
A quick point on bottled water: STOP USING IT! Seriously!
Bottled water in the vast majority of cases is no cleaner or healthier then tap water! There have been numerous instances where bottled water often has been tested as having higher amounts of potentially dangerous bacteria then any U.S. tap water. Not to mention the amounts of particles that come off the plastic itself. Ever notice the interesting taste and smell a bottle of plastic water has when it heats up a bit. Yeah, thats the plastic degrading.
Those are health risks, lets look at the actual monetary costs. Your average 20 oz. bottle of water costs between $0.70 and $1.50 depending on brand and location. The average cost of tap water in the united states in 2000 was between $0.07 and $0.40 per gallon. That is a milk jug of water folks. Inflation has not affected this cost significantly. Modern water treatment plants are top of the line and in most of the civilized world provide perfectly safe drinking water to millions of house holds. No bacteria, no harmful build up of chemicals.
Lets say you live in an older section of town and you have old pipes which do tend to harbor strange tastes smells and potential bacteria. You can get yourself an in house water treatment system that will provide mountain spring clear water for a fractional increase in cost over your standard tap water. These eliminate the 'taste' often associated with with older pipes.
Let's look at the environmental impact. I will just give you this fun fact. Despite the fact that recycling is continually growing through out the country in 2004 only one in six bottles were recycled. Check out some figures: Bottles Bottles everywhere
And you don't have to take my word for it, listen to two one of my favorite two man acts, Pen & Teller, call out the BS.
Bull $%*&
-J.R.
Editorial Note from John:
First, a big thank you to J.R. for a tremendous post. I really enjoyed the combination of two interesting and different topics, and what you had to say on both. If folks click through there are some great links here, and the bottled water issue is one J.R. and I both agree on and have talked through many times in the past.
If you're looking for a little multimedia to drive home the point, check out this video on where some of the plastic that doesn't get recycled goes. Warning, this video and the series that follows it are actually very disturbing. To give a quick synopsis they document a crew sailing out into the Pacific Ocean to document "trash island" a mass of swirling trash (largely plastic) and other debris that swirls around way out in the middle of nowhere unclaimed and unaddressed by governments to date. I posted this a little while back, but I think it really reinforces J.R.'s point.:
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Energy Independence
Some of the most annoying politicking of the current era revolves around "energy independence." Everyone assures us that he or she will break "American dependence on foreign oil." Everyone seems to think this is a good idea and why not? It ties into two strong urges: environmentalism and protectionism. The problem is that energy independence is a totally different goal that, say, producing energy in an environmentally safe way. And as for the protectionist urge to be independent from other nations, well, this strikes me as naive at best.
I read an interesting, if over-stated, editorial about this today. Check it out.
I read an interesting, if over-stated, editorial about this today. Check it out.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Biden Time
Well, turns out it was Biden after all. My first, pre-coffee reaction is one of relief: given all the ballyho about "the pick" I was beginning to worry that it might be someone else. The reaction to Biden's Veephood and Obama's handling of the announcement is uniformly positive. Maybe this will help the jitters among Democratic circles that Obama's campaing is on the wrong track.
I'm pretty pleased with the Pick, since I am a Biden guy from way back. It says a great deal about Obama's judgement that he went with someone like Biden and not a flashier, demographic-pleasing pick, like Kaine, Strickland or Clinton Herself. This gives credence to the idea that Obama will make up for his relative unfamiliarity with statecraft by surrounding himself with the best and brightest. Of course, Bush did the same thing on paper and look how that turned out. I suspect, though, that Obama is a good bit quicker than our Texan friend. All in all, this move will help Obama in the crucial me demographic.
I'm pretty pleased with the Pick, since I am a Biden guy from way back. It says a great deal about Obama's judgement that he went with someone like Biden and not a flashier, demographic-pleasing pick, like Kaine, Strickland or Clinton Herself. This gives credence to the idea that Obama will make up for his relative unfamiliarity with statecraft by surrounding himself with the best and brightest. Of course, Bush did the same thing on paper and look how that turned out. I suspect, though, that Obama is a good bit quicker than our Texan friend. All in all, this move will help Obama in the crucial me demographic.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Brooks On Biden
David Brooks has a nice opinion piece today in the NYT about the wisdom of picking Biden, yet more fuel on the fire, I believe. At this point I'm basically keeping my fingers crossed because I think Joe is a pretty great pick. Any thoughts to the contrary? Ideas of folks who might rival the strengths of the Senator from Delaware?
Obama/Astley '08
Apparently Barack Obama is brushing aside rumors and a growing rally around Joe Biden as a VP choice, instead announcing that he has chosen to Rick Roll America in the most elaborate "Never Gonna Give You Up" related prank to date. Read more here.
Not familiar with Rick Rolling? Read the wikipedia article on it here, see the Muppets play "Never Gonna Give You Up" here.
Not familiar with Rick Rolling? Read the wikipedia article on it here, see the Muppets play "Never Gonna Give You Up" here.
Mittens Linkage
Matt tossed up a tiny freakout about the Mitt rumors swirling this morning. Here are two links if you want to read more coverage of Time claiming to have the down-low on Mitt as McCain's VP pick:
Huffington Post
Salon.com's War Room
Wow... Mittens would sure change the race, huh? Veep rumors are fun, but is McCain really that um... dull?
Also, if you're on-board for some further interesting VP rumor-related stuff, check out this article I saw on HuffPo yesterday. In the article Adele Stan discusses how floating the possibilities of Tom Ridge or Ole Floppy Face Joe Lieberman may be a tactic the McCain campaign is using to distract while they prepare to pick someone much more conservative as VP. Interesting stuff.
Huffington Post
Salon.com's War Room
Wow... Mittens would sure change the race, huh? Veep rumors are fun, but is McCain really that um... dull?
Also, if you're on-board for some further interesting VP rumor-related stuff, check out this article I saw on HuffPo yesterday. In the article Adele Stan discusses how floating the possibilities of Tom Ridge or Ole Floppy Face Joe Lieberman may be a tactic the McCain campaign is using to distract while they prepare to pick someone much more conservative as VP. Interesting stuff.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Oh, By the Way
I'm back from the South with over a thousand pictures to try and wade through... sometime, and edit and upload, and and and... but in the meantime things are certainly interesting out there in the political world. I've been back since Monday evening, and the presidential campaigns have made a point of giving me lots to blog about.
Hence, it wasn't until just now that I realized I hadn't done any of the photoblogging I was hoping to do post vacation adventures. Hence, meet Mr. Biltmore Koi! He's one of a handful of super huge goldfish I photographed while we were taking a tour of the Vanderbilt estate at Biltmore in Asheville, NC. This guy was remarkably beautiful and in an effort to capture his beauty and girth I took tons of photos. This is one of my favorites, and the only one I've edited for uploading so far.
I've got some fun pictures of smores, adventures in downtown Asheville and other stuff taken early in the trip up on Flickr and over the next week or so I'll try and get more pictures up!
Until then, here's Mr. Koi, and I'll be cranking away with more political yammering, talk of music, etc. soon!
Headline Appreciation
Jake Tapper over at ABC News gets a nod from me today for his headline, "People Who Live in Seven Glass Houses..." and the attached rundown of the current McCain how-many-homes-do-I-owngate.
McCain's campaign again rolled out the arugula today while responding to Obama's campaign releasing an ad on the subject. Oh, what fun.
This should really become an interesting little plot line, methinks. It's just so... rich, no pun intended.
McCain's campaign again rolled out the arugula today while responding to Obama's campaign releasing an ad on the subject. Oh, what fun.
This should really become an interesting little plot line, methinks. It's just so... rich, no pun intended.
Timetables, huh? Interesting idea... sounds familiar.
Just a little piece today in the AP about how Condoleezza Rice and the Iraqis met and talked through an agreement that's nearly complete. This agreement would lay out something people are describing as "timetables" for US withdrawal from Iraq.
Funny, I seem to remember one of the presidential candidates advocating for such timetables... and perhaps even a whole party doing so (sorry this article is like 2 years old... wait... that's not even old enough to capture just how long the Dems have been pushing for timetables). I also seem to remember another party, oh, I dunno, attacking such ideas as defeatist politicking.
Anyway, just a little news piece. Just some back-peddling. Perhaps a dash of hypocrisy? That's all. Nothing big.
UPDATE: Fox News calls them "Time Horizons!"
Funny, I seem to remember one of the presidential candidates advocating for such timetables... and perhaps even a whole party doing so (sorry this article is like 2 years old... wait... that's not even old enough to capture just how long the Dems have been pushing for timetables). I also seem to remember another party, oh, I dunno, attacking such ideas as defeatist politicking.
Anyway, just a little news piece. Just some back-peddling. Perhaps a dash of hypocrisy? That's all. Nothing big.
UPDATE: Fox News calls them "Time Horizons!"
Toby Keith... Democrat? Interesting.
I've never paid tons of attention to Toby Keith, honestly he's only really ever come on my radar when writing songs about sticking boots up peoples' asses 'cause that's the, "American way," or more recently when I saw writeups claiming a new song is pro-lynching [yikes]. But today I stumbled across a short piece on HuffPo about how Mr. Keith lavished some nice praise on Barack Obama while also identifying himself as a Democrat.
Among other things he said, "So as far as leadership and patriotism goes, I think it's really important that those things have to take place. And I think he's the best Democratic candidate we've had since Bill Clinton. And that's coming from a Democrat."
Wow. Anyway, um... yeah, there you go.
Among other things he said, "So as far as leadership and patriotism goes, I think it's really important that those things have to take place. And I think he's the best Democratic candidate we've had since Bill Clinton. And that's coming from a Democrat."
Wow. Anyway, um... yeah, there you go.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Polls, huh, Good GOD, what are they good for?
I think I've put up at least 3 ______, huh, Good God posts before, but this one I'm pretty excited about, and I think the title is very apt.
I just finished reading a long but interesting and very worthwhile post over at Americablog about polls, why they matter, the current polling, what it tells us, and what folks should anticipate as they look towards this fall's election. There are pieces of what they talk about that make me think all the more that Biden could be a good VP pick, and there are pieces that explain some of the context for where things stand here looking towards the conventions in the next couple weeks.
The bottom line in the article is that basically while this year has been talked about as a potentially transformational or completely new/different kind of election there are many indications that it will be very traditional in many ways. Polling and other indicators seem to show that Obama and McCain will need to fight and fight hard for every vote through the fall, and that we'll likely see the battles shaping up on familiar ground (think Ohio, Florida, etc.).
That said, I think people should continue to push to get new folks excited about engagement in this election. Obama is an electrifying presence, and one that I still believe can turn out flocks of new voters, but only if the campaign and those who already are behind it continue to try and find those new folks, register them, and get them to show up in November. In the meantime, having someone like Biden on the ticket seems (as I said before) like it could really help sure up some of the folks who are searching for depth of experience on a ticket. Blah blah blah... anyway, check out the Americablog post, "Why people should be worried about the polls." It's worth a read.
I just finished reading a long but interesting and very worthwhile post over at Americablog about polls, why they matter, the current polling, what it tells us, and what folks should anticipate as they look towards this fall's election. There are pieces of what they talk about that make me think all the more that Biden could be a good VP pick, and there are pieces that explain some of the context for where things stand here looking towards the conventions in the next couple weeks.
The bottom line in the article is that basically while this year has been talked about as a potentially transformational or completely new/different kind of election there are many indications that it will be very traditional in many ways. Polling and other indicators seem to show that Obama and McCain will need to fight and fight hard for every vote through the fall, and that we'll likely see the battles shaping up on familiar ground (think Ohio, Florida, etc.).
That said, I think people should continue to push to get new folks excited about engagement in this election. Obama is an electrifying presence, and one that I still believe can turn out flocks of new voters, but only if the campaign and those who already are behind it continue to try and find those new folks, register them, and get them to show up in November. In the meantime, having someone like Biden on the ticket seems (as I said before) like it could really help sure up some of the folks who are searching for depth of experience on a ticket. Blah blah blah... anyway, check out the Americablog post, "Why people should be worried about the polls." It's worth a read.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
The RIAA took my baby away!
Hate is a strong word. I hate the RIAA (the Recording Industry Association of America), that swarthy group of no good bastards who supposedly represent the interests of musicians and yet have done so much to take down creative forums like internet radio, to destroy venues for sharing and getting excited about music, and now they've taken down yet another internet music resource, Muxtape.com.
If you visit Muxtape, you'll see their notice simply says they're down while they work things out, and honestly I'm not surprised that the RIAA went after them. Still, this news follows the RIAA's well-established pattern of slash and burn tactics (see suing deceased grandmothers).
In celebration of this ranting and raving, please feel free to check out a fun post about how much the head of the RIAA pulls down in annual salary and benefits. At least we know the benefits from all those dead grandma lawsuits is going to the artists who work so hard to make their music... er... right.
If you visit Muxtape, you'll see their notice simply says they're down while they work things out, and honestly I'm not surprised that the RIAA went after them. Still, this news follows the RIAA's well-established pattern of slash and burn tactics (see suing deceased grandmothers).
In celebration of this ranting and raving, please feel free to check out a fun post about how much the head of the RIAA pulls down in annual salary and benefits. At least we know the benefits from all those dead grandma lawsuits is going to the artists who work so hard to make their music... er... right.
My Biden Thoughts
I think Joe Biden would be an incredibly interesting add to the Democratic ticket as Obama's VP choice. Often I hear that one of his biggest pros, that he strongly and clearly states positions, isn't afraid to go on the attack, and gets out in front of issues is also a downside when he says off the cuff things and grabs lots of negative press in the process. That said, I think his national security credentials are pretty great. I think his resume in general is impressive, and I think he would just make for a cool and strong addition to an already strong ticket. He's articulate, smart, and he's been around Washington for long enough to know the game, but still comes off as somebody who's not simply a player, someone who has a stance and sticks to his guns.
That's all pretty first-blush stuff, but I personally think Biden is one of the strongest possibilities, to my mind much stronger that Bayh or Kaine. I think there are people out there who have questions about experience and Biden could help sure up some of those folks, which is a good thing (although honestly I think their concerns are a little silly... still I think it's a real group in the electorate).
Any thoughts on Wes Clark or Kathleen Sebelius? I got the impression Clark was out of consideration for some reason, but saw some discussion of him on HuffPo today, and Sebelius is always mentioned but I rarely hear people go into much depth on the possibility.
I dropped this into comments too, but Purple State has some nice coverage of the Biden possibility here.
That's all pretty first-blush stuff, but I personally think Biden is one of the strongest possibilities, to my mind much stronger that Bayh or Kaine. I think there are people out there who have questions about experience and Biden could help sure up some of those folks, which is a good thing (although honestly I think their concerns are a little silly... still I think it's a real group in the electorate).
Any thoughts on Wes Clark or Kathleen Sebelius? I got the impression Clark was out of consideration for some reason, but saw some discussion of him on HuffPo today, and Sebelius is always mentioned but I rarely hear people go into much depth on the possibility.
I dropped this into comments too, but Purple State has some nice coverage of the Biden possibility here.
Obama-Biden
Lots of buzz that Obama could choose Biden as his running mate. I don't want to get too excited, but that pick would seriously sway my choice in November. I've always admired Biden more than any of the other Democratic contenders and he's always seemed like the kind of person you want as President. Well, best not to get my hopes up... Any thoughts?
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Invisible Curve
You know how every so often you find a new disc of music that you know instantly will be a personal favourite and possibly define your musical interest for months to come? I have just listened to such a disc: Invisible Curve by the Azure Ensemble. The Azure Ensemble is a truly innovative chamber music group from New York City, in which the prominent instruments are flute, viola, harp, piano, and cello. The piccolo is often substituted for the flute because the ensembles leader is a renowned master of contemporary piccolo music (apparently there is such a thing! How cool!) The Invisible Curve is their first recording, featuring the works of Karen Tanaka and Chen Yi, two contemporary composers. The music is relentlessly new, but also unabashedly beautiful. I thought immediately of Messeian, and apparently Bartok was an influence on Chen Yi. Since these are two of my favourite composers, it is perhaps not surprising that I enjoyed this disc so much.
One of the many noteworthy things about the Azure Ensemble is that they specialize in the works of living woman composers. Both of the composers featured on Invisible Curve are women. This got me to thinking. Why are there so few well-known women composers? Women have played an important role in every area of creative impression: they are famous novelists, painters, poets, and musicians. In popular music, there are any number of well-regarded songwriters. But within “classical” or “serious” music, it seems like the work of women composers gets very little attention. This means that the world is overlooking fully half of its talent pool.
I would resist thinking of Invisible Curve as a recording of music by women. I can’t imagine anyone could discern—or even care about—the gender of the composer from listening to the music. Invisible Curve is simply an amazing debut recording of wonderful music performed with exemplary musicianship. But you can't help but think of all the music we're all missing out on because of the masculine bias of the musical world. Maybe the Azure Ensemble will help to change that. I am pretty sure that when I look back on this post bar period of my life, this will be the disc I remember.
One of the many noteworthy things about the Azure Ensemble is that they specialize in the works of living woman composers. Both of the composers featured on Invisible Curve are women. This got me to thinking. Why are there so few well-known women composers? Women have played an important role in every area of creative impression: they are famous novelists, painters, poets, and musicians. In popular music, there are any number of well-regarded songwriters. But within “classical” or “serious” music, it seems like the work of women composers gets very little attention. This means that the world is overlooking fully half of its talent pool.
I would resist thinking of Invisible Curve as a recording of music by women. I can’t imagine anyone could discern—or even care about—the gender of the composer from listening to the music. Invisible Curve is simply an amazing debut recording of wonderful music performed with exemplary musicianship. But you can't help but think of all the music we're all missing out on because of the masculine bias of the musical world. Maybe the Azure Ensemble will help to change that. I am pretty sure that when I look back on this post bar period of my life, this will be the disc I remember.
Friday, August 15, 2008
John's August Top 50 (pt. 6: 5-1)
5. Wave of Mutilation (the Pixies)
At the heart of my Pixies/Pavement revival has been my love for Wave of Mutilation this summer. I've been listening to Where is My Mind a lot too, but between being in constant rotation on the ipod and being in the set list on Rock Band WoM has been inescapable over the last few months, and I love it!!
4. Here I Come (The Roots feat. Malik B & Dice Raw)
Hot weather, bright sunshine, hot tracks... this song off their next to latest release, Game Theory, shows the Roots plowing ahead at full steam, knocking down anything in their way. The pace is fast, the rhymes are spit in two-word phrases through most of the song... this is hip-hop raw and done right.
3. Strangers (The Kinks)
Wes Anderson is good, what can I say, and while "This Time Tomorrow" was the first Kinks song that grabbed me off the Darjeeling Limited soundtrack, this one has really stuck with me for the last 6 months. In regular rotation all the time since I first ripped it to my ipod, I still love it.
2. You Don't Know What Love Is (You Just Do As You're Told) (The White Stripes)
This song just blazes out of your speakers from start to finish. Face Burning Guitar Solo!!?!?!?! Oh yeah, you'll find one here.
1. Lights Out (Santogold)
So far this is the song of the summer for me. Sure, I may have started seeing it in beer ads, and I don't necessarily feel so original saying it, but it's damn good and I just can't deny that I leave it on every time it pops up.
At the heart of my Pixies/Pavement revival has been my love for Wave of Mutilation this summer. I've been listening to Where is My Mind a lot too, but between being in constant rotation on the ipod and being in the set list on Rock Band WoM has been inescapable over the last few months, and I love it!!
4. Here I Come (The Roots feat. Malik B & Dice Raw)
Hot weather, bright sunshine, hot tracks... this song off their next to latest release, Game Theory, shows the Roots plowing ahead at full steam, knocking down anything in their way. The pace is fast, the rhymes are spit in two-word phrases through most of the song... this is hip-hop raw and done right.
3. Strangers (The Kinks)
Wes Anderson is good, what can I say, and while "This Time Tomorrow" was the first Kinks song that grabbed me off the Darjeeling Limited soundtrack, this one has really stuck with me for the last 6 months. In regular rotation all the time since I first ripped it to my ipod, I still love it.
2. You Don't Know What Love Is (You Just Do As You're Told) (The White Stripes)
This song just blazes out of your speakers from start to finish. Face Burning Guitar Solo!!?!?!?! Oh yeah, you'll find one here.
1. Lights Out (Santogold)
So far this is the song of the summer for me. Sure, I may have started seeing it in beer ads, and I don't necessarily feel so original saying it, but it's damn good and I just can't deny that I leave it on every time it pops up.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
North Carolina, Beer & Philosophy
While visiting Asheville NC we discovered that a local brewery not only makes a tasty Milk Stout, but they have chosen their name in association with one of my friend Matt's favorite philosophical tools, the duck-rabbit.
Mmmm... this is some tasty stuff, and vacation is going swimmingly.
John's August Top 50 (pt. 5: 10-6)
10. Generator (Bad Religion)
I always admired Bad Religion back when I was big into punk music, and with my recent re-acquisition of some amount of punk music this track is a huge standout. I used to love and listen to this track a lot, and now I've been doing it again. Their ideals are present in the lyrics, but the drive of the beat itself is undeniable. Good sh*t!
9. Encore (DJ Danger Mouse feat. Jay-Z and the Beatles)
After a few years of hearing all about Danger Mouse's opus, the Grey Album (a remix of Jay-Z's the Black Album and the Beatles' the White Album) I finally got a chance to give it a listen this spring. This track is my standout. I've had it in constant rotation ever since I first flipped my way through the album. The production and mixing here is great.
8. Dear Sergio (Catch 22)
Another story of recovering old favorites, I used to listen to Catch 22 in college (I think my friend Kate introduced me to them... hmm... maybe). Anyway, I recently realized I had lost track of their stuff so I picked up a copy of Keasbey Nights. This and the title track are both very very enjoyable.
7. All You Ever Wanted (the Black Keys)
In a post earlier in the week I mentioned that the Black Keys have a consistently enjoyable and solid sound. This track, off their latest release, Attack and Release, demonstrates just that. The sound is vintage Black Keys and yet the production values are dark and thick, more robust than they often employ. It's clear from listening to this track and others why reviewers often lump the Keys in with venerable company such as the White Stripes.
6. Franco Un-American (NoFX)
More more more from the John Punk Revival! Yeah, NoFX is such an enjoyable group. I recently saw a few episodes of a show on FUSE tv about NoFX touring, and it was quality TV! They were going to play in Argentina, I believe, and when they showed up it turned out that their promoter had done nothing to secure permits, etc. but had sold hundreds of tickets to rabid fans who went absolutely batshit crazy when the police showed up to shut down shop on the show. It was interesting to watch the negotiations and mechanics behind the scene. Anyway, this song is fun, quick, and all about the odd reality of having crazy liberal ideas in your head.
heh heh heh... top 5 tomorrow!!!
I always admired Bad Religion back when I was big into punk music, and with my recent re-acquisition of some amount of punk music this track is a huge standout. I used to love and listen to this track a lot, and now I've been doing it again. Their ideals are present in the lyrics, but the drive of the beat itself is undeniable. Good sh*t!
9. Encore (DJ Danger Mouse feat. Jay-Z and the Beatles)
After a few years of hearing all about Danger Mouse's opus, the Grey Album (a remix of Jay-Z's the Black Album and the Beatles' the White Album) I finally got a chance to give it a listen this spring. This track is my standout. I've had it in constant rotation ever since I first flipped my way through the album. The production and mixing here is great.
8. Dear Sergio (Catch 22)
Another story of recovering old favorites, I used to listen to Catch 22 in college (I think my friend Kate introduced me to them... hmm... maybe). Anyway, I recently realized I had lost track of their stuff so I picked up a copy of Keasbey Nights. This and the title track are both very very enjoyable.
7. All You Ever Wanted (the Black Keys)
In a post earlier in the week I mentioned that the Black Keys have a consistently enjoyable and solid sound. This track, off their latest release, Attack and Release, demonstrates just that. The sound is vintage Black Keys and yet the production values are dark and thick, more robust than they often employ. It's clear from listening to this track and others why reviewers often lump the Keys in with venerable company such as the White Stripes.
6. Franco Un-American (NoFX)
More more more from the John Punk Revival! Yeah, NoFX is such an enjoyable group. I recently saw a few episodes of a show on FUSE tv about NoFX touring, and it was quality TV! They were going to play in Argentina, I believe, and when they showed up it turned out that their promoter had done nothing to secure permits, etc. but had sold hundreds of tickets to rabid fans who went absolutely batshit crazy when the police showed up to shut down shop on the show. It was interesting to watch the negotiations and mechanics behind the scene. Anyway, this song is fun, quick, and all about the odd reality of having crazy liberal ideas in your head.
heh heh heh... top 5 tomorrow!!!
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
John's August Top 50 (pt. 4: 20-11)
20. Whole Wide World (Wreckless Eric)
I'll admit it, I fell in love with this song largely based on the movie Stranger than Fiction.
19. Leggy Blonde (Flight Of The Conchords feat. Murray aka Ginger Balls)
I recently went ahead and got the Flight of the Conchords CD and was pleased I did so when I could tote around my ipod listening to some of my favorite Conchords tunes, Leggy Blonde being high up on my list.
18. I'm Shipping Up to Boston (Dropkick Murphys)
17. Countdown (The Black Keys)
The Black Keys are incredibly enjoyable blues rock. Stripped down, great sound, nice licks, easy to love. Their most recent CD is especially nice, but all their stuff is solid.
16. Get Busy (The Roots feat. Peedi Peedi & Dice Raw)
15. Snap Music (The Apple Juice Kid)
14. Strange Apparition (Beck)
In anticipation of his new CD I started re-listening to some of my favorites. This is by far my favorite track off his list album, the Information.
13. The Mesopotamians (They Might Be Giants)
12. Break the Glass (Suicide Machines)
11. El Microfono (Mexican Institute of Sound - MIS)
I'll admit it, I fell in love with this song largely based on the movie Stranger than Fiction.
19. Leggy Blonde (Flight Of The Conchords feat. Murray aka Ginger Balls)
I recently went ahead and got the Flight of the Conchords CD and was pleased I did so when I could tote around my ipod listening to some of my favorite Conchords tunes, Leggy Blonde being high up on my list.
18. I'm Shipping Up to Boston (Dropkick Murphys)
17. Countdown (The Black Keys)
The Black Keys are incredibly enjoyable blues rock. Stripped down, great sound, nice licks, easy to love. Their most recent CD is especially nice, but all their stuff is solid.
16. Get Busy (The Roots feat. Peedi Peedi & Dice Raw)
15. Snap Music (The Apple Juice Kid)
14. Strange Apparition (Beck)
In anticipation of his new CD I started re-listening to some of my favorites. This is by far my favorite track off his list album, the Information.
13. The Mesopotamians (They Might Be Giants)
12. Break the Glass (Suicide Machines)
11. El Microfono (Mexican Institute of Sound - MIS)
Monday, August 11, 2008
John's August Top 50 (pt. 3: 30-21)
30. Magic Trick (M. Ward)
M. Ward's music fits nicely in the pantheon of folk rock singer songwriters, offering lyrical complexity, good and growing production sensibilities, etc. This song is nicely accessible and straightforward with the central concept that the woman he sings about has "one magic trick, just one magic trick, she disappears." I find it breezy, fun , summer-appropriate and smile-inducing.
29. Duck Down! (The Roots)
28. Dwarf Star Party (The Majesticons)
I wanted to check this album out about 5 years ago when it came out, but then quickly forgot about it. Recently I re-discovered it via Emusic, and have enjoyed the handful of tracks I downloaded. This one, specifically is about UFOs among other things. Alien Rap? Sweet.
27. The Passenger (Iggy Pop)
Nice duo here with Iggy and Robert Forster. The Iggy track is one of my favorites, just a good feeling all time classic if you ask me. Great for cruising around town, great for well... fuck it, anything. Let's be honest. The Robert Forster track is new but sounds like it could easily be a familiar track you first heard decades ago on the radio while cruising around in the car with your dad.
26. It Ain't Easy (Robert Forster)
25. Kelen ati leen (Orchestra Baobab)
This song is infectious. If you check it out, I recommend turning it on, turning it up, and getting ready to do some stupid dance you'd feel self-conscious about if you were in a public place. Seriously, Orchestra Baobab is enjoyable in general, but this track is SO sweet. It's been in heavy rotation for me since January!!!
24. The Denial Twist (The White Stripes)
23. Flames Go Higher (Eagles of Death Metal)
22. Holland, 1945 (Neutral Milk Hotel)
21. Walk it Off (the Breeders)
Return to form? Ok. I'll say it. Nice track.
M. Ward's music fits nicely in the pantheon of folk rock singer songwriters, offering lyrical complexity, good and growing production sensibilities, etc. This song is nicely accessible and straightforward with the central concept that the woman he sings about has "one magic trick, just one magic trick, she disappears." I find it breezy, fun , summer-appropriate and smile-inducing.
29. Duck Down! (The Roots)
28. Dwarf Star Party (The Majesticons)
I wanted to check this album out about 5 years ago when it came out, but then quickly forgot about it. Recently I re-discovered it via Emusic, and have enjoyed the handful of tracks I downloaded. This one, specifically is about UFOs among other things. Alien Rap? Sweet.
27. The Passenger (Iggy Pop)
Nice duo here with Iggy and Robert Forster. The Iggy track is one of my favorites, just a good feeling all time classic if you ask me. Great for cruising around town, great for well... fuck it, anything. Let's be honest. The Robert Forster track is new but sounds like it could easily be a familiar track you first heard decades ago on the radio while cruising around in the car with your dad.
26. It Ain't Easy (Robert Forster)
25. Kelen ati leen (Orchestra Baobab)
This song is infectious. If you check it out, I recommend turning it on, turning it up, and getting ready to do some stupid dance you'd feel self-conscious about if you were in a public place. Seriously, Orchestra Baobab is enjoyable in general, but this track is SO sweet. It's been in heavy rotation for me since January!!!
24. The Denial Twist (The White Stripes)
23. Flames Go Higher (Eagles of Death Metal)
22. Holland, 1945 (Neutral Milk Hotel)
21. Walk it Off (the Breeders)
Return to form? Ok. I'll say it. Nice track.
Saturday, August 09, 2008
400 Posts Old!?!?!
Wow... what a ride it's been!
2 Years!
400 Posts!
5 Contributors total!
Untold number of photos, videos, and other random tidbits from the internets, the world, random random randomness.
On that note... or those notes, I'm going on vacation. While I'm down South for the next week I hope to take bunches of pictures that I'll post up here. Keep your eyes peeled for photos of mountainous beauty, natural niftyness, and general merriment.
Also, while I'm away I'll have those top 50 track lists auto-uploading.
For now... I'm actually a little amazed to have logged in and realized that this is actually post #401.
Gosh.
2 Years!
400 Posts!
5 Contributors total!
Untold number of photos, videos, and other random tidbits from the internets, the world, random random randomness.
On that note... or those notes, I'm going on vacation. While I'm down South for the next week I hope to take bunches of pictures that I'll post up here. Keep your eyes peeled for photos of mountainous beauty, natural niftyness, and general merriment.
Also, while I'm away I'll have those top 50 track lists auto-uploading.
For now... I'm actually a little amazed to have logged in and realized that this is actually post #401.
Gosh.
Friday, August 08, 2008
John's August Top 50 (pt. 2: 40-31)
So I started a bit of a series here, thinking I might schedule a couple posts to drop in while I'm on vacation next week. Keep your eyes peeled for the remaining segments of my current listening list, and hopefully with high speed internet in the cabin where we're staying even some updates on the mountains of North Carolina.
Here are my songs #40-31 for August of 2008:
40. Busta Miles (by The Apple Juice Kid)
This is off a really enjoyable album of Miles Davis music remixed. The album treads a nice line aesthetically between keeping some of the edgy playfulness that is so central to much of mixing and sampling in hip-hop while also letting the originality and brilliance of the source material shine through.
39. I Summon You (by Spoon)
38. Cut Your Hair (by Pavement)
I went through a big Pavement and Pixies phase recently, pulling back out old CDs to rip tracks to the ipod, picking up a nice copy of the delux re-release of Crooked Rain Crooked Rain by Pavement, and this is one of a handful of tracks I've kept in steady rotation ever since.
37. One Armed Scissor (by At the Drive-In)
Fun to crank up, hadn't heard this song in awhile, but tracked it back down via Emusic, I believe, and have enjoyed playing it in the car a lot lately.
36. Trapped By Love (by Manu Chao)
35. Leave You Behind (by Sleater-Kinney)
34. Dress Up In You (by Belle & Sebastian)
I have been a fan of Belle & Sebastian for awhile, listened to Tigermilk a lot while studying abroad in college, laughed when they were the butt of a joke in High Fidelity. After all this time, I was pleasantly surprised when I picked up a copy of The Life Pursuit. Their songs have consistently been enjoyable over the years, but often had a similar feel and pace, so it was nice to hear this new CD push their sound in ways that give a real sense of newness while capitalizing on the elements that have kept fans close to B&S over the years. Anyway, this is just one of a couple tracks I really like of the disc.
33. Check Yo Self (by Ice Cube)
32. L.E.S. Artistes (by Santogold)
31. White City (by the Pogues)
Along side my Pavement and Pixies revival of late has been a broader punk, alt, guitar driven music revival. I have developed this habit over time of seeking out all kinds of music, but while my tastes have wandered and strayed I still do love some of the sounds that helped me jump off the land of top-40 radio into my own efforts to explore music on my own terms.
Here are my songs #40-31 for August of 2008:
40. Busta Miles (by The Apple Juice Kid)
This is off a really enjoyable album of Miles Davis music remixed. The album treads a nice line aesthetically between keeping some of the edgy playfulness that is so central to much of mixing and sampling in hip-hop while also letting the originality and brilliance of the source material shine through.
39. I Summon You (by Spoon)
38. Cut Your Hair (by Pavement)
I went through a big Pavement and Pixies phase recently, pulling back out old CDs to rip tracks to the ipod, picking up a nice copy of the delux re-release of Crooked Rain Crooked Rain by Pavement, and this is one of a handful of tracks I've kept in steady rotation ever since.
"Darling don't you go an cut your hair do you think it's gonna make him change?
I'm just a boy with a new haircut and it's a pretty nice haircut!"
I'm just a boy with a new haircut and it's a pretty nice haircut!"
37. One Armed Scissor (by At the Drive-In)
Fun to crank up, hadn't heard this song in awhile, but tracked it back down via Emusic, I believe, and have enjoyed playing it in the car a lot lately.
36. Trapped By Love (by Manu Chao)
35. Leave You Behind (by Sleater-Kinney)
34. Dress Up In You (by Belle & Sebastian)
I have been a fan of Belle & Sebastian for awhile, listened to Tigermilk a lot while studying abroad in college, laughed when they were the butt of a joke in High Fidelity. After all this time, I was pleasantly surprised when I picked up a copy of The Life Pursuit. Their songs have consistently been enjoyable over the years, but often had a similar feel and pace, so it was nice to hear this new CD push their sound in ways that give a real sense of newness while capitalizing on the elements that have kept fans close to B&S over the years. Anyway, this is just one of a couple tracks I really like of the disc.
33. Check Yo Self (by Ice Cube)
32. L.E.S. Artistes (by Santogold)
31. White City (by the Pogues)
Along side my Pavement and Pixies revival of late has been a broader punk, alt, guitar driven music revival. I have developed this habit over time of seeking out all kinds of music, but while my tastes have wandered and strayed I still do love some of the sounds that helped me jump off the land of top-40 radio into my own efforts to explore music on my own terms.
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
Wait, Did Paris Hilton Just Do Something Cool?
Funny or Die, previously most famous for posting a hilarious clip of Will Farrell arguing with his 8 month old landlord (outtakes here, criterion edition here), has just posted a video response by Paris Hilton to John McCain's celebrity ad.
If you aren't aware of the brouhaha that has surrounded it, last week McCain released a video online that compared Barack Obama to Paris Hilton and Britney Spears, saying he was one of the biggest celebrities in the universe and basically implying that he shares other qualities with the aforementioned vacuous pop star and celebutant. The Paris video is... I don't really know how to put this, um... good. Interesting, at the very least. Enjoy:
h/t Huffington Post.
If you aren't aware of the brouhaha that has surrounded it, last week McCain released a video online that compared Barack Obama to Paris Hilton and Britney Spears, saying he was one of the biggest celebrities in the universe and basically implying that he shares other qualities with the aforementioned vacuous pop star and celebutant. The Paris video is... I don't really know how to put this, um... good. Interesting, at the very least. Enjoy:
See more Paris Hilton videos at Funny or Die
h/t Huffington Post.
Sunday, August 03, 2008
Saturday, August 02, 2008
John's August Top 50 (pt. 1: 50-41)
Ok, so in the spirit of our recent flurry of music-related content here on Best Way, I decided to start writing a bit about my fake ipod charts that I started awhile back. When I worked at my college radio station I generated weekly charts that reflected what discs were getting lots of play, what were new ads, etc. and distributed those to various distributors to keep them posted when their releases were getting pick-up. It was one of the more fun pieces of my job, along with the weekly conversations these charts spurred with reps from the various distributors.
Since owning an ipod I listen mostly to my own music when driving in the car (via FM radio adapter), at home, etc. so I have started thinking of my ipod as a little self-contained radio station. Hence, in June I made my first monthly top 50 playlist. I had toyed with the idea before, and it was lots of fun, so this month I'm doing the same. Below are songs #50-41 in my top 50 for August 2008. Songs newly added to my ipod and the list are in green.
50. Soggy Tongues (by Vic Chestnutt)
Lovely song by a widely respected artist, someone whose music I've always meant to check out, but only recently downloaded some of his stuff.
49. Climbing the Walls (by They Might be Giants)
48. Living Room (by Basement Jaxx)
47. Salamalekoum - Les Escrocs (by Bantu, Docta, Sister Fa & More)
This is off a wonderful compilation of African hip-hop I found on E-music. The album is called "Many Lessons: Hip Hop, Islam and West Africa." Some really wonderful sounds here.
46. Sweet Talk (by Spank Rock)
45. I Woke Up Today (by Port O'Brien)
44. Keasby Nights (by Catch 22)
I used to listen to Catch 22 a lot in college, but never purchased the CD until about a month ago. This has been in pretty heavy rotation ever since. Ahh for the throwback songs we used to crank while driving around campus!
43. Walcott (by Vampire Weekend)
They're a little too phenom-y for me right now, I see their record everywhere, but their sound is good even if the whole African sounds filtered through preppyness vibe is weird to me.
42. Ladies of the World (by Flight of the Conchords)
41. You and Me (by Solomon Burke)
Solomon Burke is an incredible soul singer who could literally make the warnings at the end of a direct-to-consumer drug advertisement sound amazing. This is a relatively new cut.
Since owning an ipod I listen mostly to my own music when driving in the car (via FM radio adapter), at home, etc. so I have started thinking of my ipod as a little self-contained radio station. Hence, in June I made my first monthly top 50 playlist. I had toyed with the idea before, and it was lots of fun, so this month I'm doing the same. Below are songs #50-41 in my top 50 for August 2008. Songs newly added to my ipod and the list are in green.
50. Soggy Tongues (by Vic Chestnutt)
Lovely song by a widely respected artist, someone whose music I've always meant to check out, but only recently downloaded some of his stuff.
49. Climbing the Walls (by They Might be Giants)
48. Living Room (by Basement Jaxx)
47. Salamalekoum - Les Escrocs (by Bantu, Docta, Sister Fa & More)
This is off a wonderful compilation of African hip-hop I found on E-music. The album is called "Many Lessons: Hip Hop, Islam and West Africa." Some really wonderful sounds here.
46. Sweet Talk (by Spank Rock)
45. I Woke Up Today (by Port O'Brien)
44. Keasby Nights (by Catch 22)
I used to listen to Catch 22 a lot in college, but never purchased the CD until about a month ago. This has been in pretty heavy rotation ever since. Ahh for the throwback songs we used to crank while driving around campus!
43. Walcott (by Vampire Weekend)
They're a little too phenom-y for me right now, I see their record everywhere, but their sound is good even if the whole African sounds filtered through preppyness vibe is weird to me.
42. Ladies of the World (by Flight of the Conchords)
41. You and Me (by Solomon Burke)
Solomon Burke is an incredible soul singer who could literally make the warnings at the end of a direct-to-consumer drug advertisement sound amazing. This is a relatively new cut.
Friday, August 01, 2008
Happy Anniversary, Crap Bag
Today is the 20th anniversary of Rush Limbaugh's radio broadcast being on air. I honestly can't figure out anything more appropriate to say about this than what Tom Tomorrow said on his blog:
What an ass. Rush, that is, not Tom. Happy Anniversary, ass.
"Most of us try to make our mark, in some small way. But it’s a rare group of human beings who can look themselves in the mirror and know, beyond any doubt, that the world is a far worse place for their having lived in it.
It’s quite an achievement!"
What an ass. Rush, that is, not Tom. Happy Anniversary, ass.
OhNoesBama ALIENS!?!?!?!
Thanks to Wonkette I just saw this redonkulous piece of campaign interview footage. Obama, what kind of answer is that? It isn't even funny. He smiles like he thinks he's making a funny, but really his answer is just plain strange.
Now, granted, this has got to be the most silly question I've seen put to Obama since Georgie Stephanop-o-pop-o-lupus asked, "Does Jeremia Wright love America, Jesus and Apple Pie as much as Harry Carey loves the sun?" Watch the super quick and silly clip below and be amazed. Hooray for Friday Video Rediculousness!
Now, granted, this has got to be the most silly question I've seen put to Obama since Georgie Stephanop-o-pop-o-lupus asked, "Does Jeremia Wright love America, Jesus and Apple Pie as much as Harry Carey loves the sun?" Watch the super quick and silly clip below and be amazed. Hooray for Friday Video Rediculousness!
New QTip... Maybe For Real This Time
So it has now been 9 years since the last release from Q-Tip, but that album, his solo debut, Amplified, is still great. Along the way between then and now there have been many indicators that something new would be released. Kamaal the Abstract was previewed to radio stations back in 2001 when I was still music director at my college's radio station, but while the initial tracks for that were tantalizing and intriguing it never surfaced. Today I read on Pitchfork that a whole new Q-Tip album is tentatively set for release in October. It sounds like this one may actually become real. Check out a stream of the first single.
Listening Notes Take 1
Nobuzaku Takemura: Scope
This has been one of the better rediscoveries on my iPod. I got this album sometime during college, and vividly remember driving back from the record store with my friend chuck, listening to the first track. It was about 20 minutes long and consisted mostly of silence broken by atonal, arrhythmic electronic noises. It was intriguing but hard to get into. The rest of the album is more accessible, and I am particularly fond of a track called “Icefall” which has been a regular feature on my playlist. It sounds like someone recorded a little synth riff, burned it onto CD and then scratched the hell out of it. It doesn’t sound like the recipe for gorgeous music, but it is—utterly gorgeous and utterly alien. In fact, in places, it reminds me somehow of Bach. Definitely worth listening to when you’re wearing headphones, alone in your room, or—as a study in contrasts—when you’re wandering through the woods early in the morning.
This has been one of the better rediscoveries on my iPod. I got this album sometime during college, and vividly remember driving back from the record store with my friend chuck, listening to the first track. It was about 20 minutes long and consisted mostly of silence broken by atonal, arrhythmic electronic noises. It was intriguing but hard to get into. The rest of the album is more accessible, and I am particularly fond of a track called “Icefall” which has been a regular feature on my playlist. It sounds like someone recorded a little synth riff, burned it onto CD and then scratched the hell out of it. It doesn’t sound like the recipe for gorgeous music, but it is—utterly gorgeous and utterly alien. In fact, in places, it reminds me somehow of Bach. Definitely worth listening to when you’re wearing headphones, alone in your room, or—as a study in contrasts—when you’re wandering through the woods early in the morning.
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