I'm beginning to think the Alan Turing rumors pertaining to Apple's logo are true. Rumor has it, the bite taken from the apple in the techno-bully's logo represents the fatal bite Alan Turing took from a poisoned apple (which he poisoned himself...drama queen!). Over the past week or so I've
been immersed in the Apple development world (iPhone, XServe, Cocoa, etc.) and it's really pissed me off...so now you're gonna hear about it.
All Grind Rates are rated out of 11...and fairly irrelevent.
iPhone Developer Program
Apple Developer Select Membership: $500/year
iPhone Developer Membership (pre-July): FREE!!!
iPhone Developer Membership minutes after installing "free" iPhone SDK update: $99!!!
Getting bamboozled out of $100: Stabby
Up until the latest release of the iPhone SDK any 'ol developer or evil doctor could build an application for their iPhone/iTouch (it's just a cooler name, why not embrace it?) and have it, you know, run on their device. Then one day Steve Jobs had a hankering for some bratwurst and sauerkraut...a LOT of bratwurst and sauerkraut. So, Apple released a "free" SDK update and...
POW! Catalina Wine Mixer!
Grinding Rating: 9 e's and a brat 'n kraut with the works
Apple's World of Mystery
Why the mystery? For the love of God, can you just for once have a set release date for things or a public plan? Only terrorists randomly announce things, is that what you are Apple? A terrorist?
I'm telling.
Grind Rating: 6 e's
Xserve
My name is the Uber Geek and I have been defeated by an XServe running Leopard Server
Hi, Uber Geek
I just wanted to change the hostname, that's all. I tried everything: changeip, scutil, screwing with the kerberos tables. Still, the Xserve mocked me by displaying it's old hostname. What do I have to do to make it work sweet, mysterious, condescending magic again?
Reinstall the server...duh!
Grind Rating: All the e's in the Leopard Server install DVD
Time Machine
What do you say, ya do here? Because all I've seen for the past week is a bunch of failed back up attempts. Anytime you try and backup the system you're just "preparing...", "preparing...", "preparing..."...and I don't see a damn sandwich yet! Let's contact Apple care and see how to fix this problem, shall we?
Delete the hardrive with the back ups and redo the backup history.
On a side note...I broke a string on my guitar, so I smashed the crap out of it and rebuilt it from scratch.
Grind Rating: 4 times the number of e's in the world "useless"
I Still Love You
I do. I still love you Apple. After all the hell you've put me through as a developer I still listen to my iPod everyday and wait patiently on the interwebs for any hint that you'll release a MacBook with multi-touch (September???).
Maybe I have battered woman's syndrome?
Grind Rating: 2 e's...for love and hate
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Monday, July 28, 2008
Randomly Musical
Since I loved writing the last playlist shuffle post I decided to make a habit of it. Let's say the last Monday of each month I will turn the 'ol iPod on shuffle and take 10 songs to reminisce.
Let's go!
1) I Alone - Live
Always had a somewhat love-hate relationship with this song. It was one of the biggest hits for Live (my favorite band during the Throwing Copper-era of the 90's) so I had problems admitting it was one of my favorite songs...you can't like the single!!! Deep down, waaay down, though, I've always loved this song. It's loud, it's explosive, it's what every teenager wants to hear.
2) Motor Running - Jeff Maher
A local hit! Jeff is the Uber Girlfriend's dad and local bard down in the SouthCoast. Last summer he got the music recording bug and started to hone his production chops. This is the demo version of the song which ended up having mandolin and bass and some keys I believe. Nothing compares to the song where he makes monkey noises though...with the utmost professionalism mind you.
3) Willie and Laura Mae Jones - Dusty Springfield
Dusty in Memphis is one of my new favorite female-vocalist albums. It's got a country, blues feel to it with a pop punch. Until I bought the album, Dusty Springfield had always been that southern belle who sang "The Preacher's Son". Now she's my favorite female British vocalist...amazing to think I can change a person's nationality.
4) Play the Game - Queen
Everyone goes through a Queen phase...everyone. Mine happened junior year of high school and ended probably a few days after buying their greatest hits album for a nominal fee of nothing. Don't get me wrong, I love Queen. They wrote some great songs, but I just can't get behind a band that (no matter how inadvertently) is the soundtrack to every junior league baseball game ever.
5) Since You're In Love (Live) - Jesse Malin
He's friends with Ryan Adams and, I'll be perfectly honest, that is the reason I bought one of his albums (The Heat). The song is a mediocre tune along the lines of "Play the Game" but the monologue prior to the song gives boosts it to "awesome". Why do you still call yourself "Music Television" when you have no actual music videos and you schedule is filled with no-talent ass clown reality shows, MTV? Answer Jesse Malin that!!!
6) The Spirit of Radio - Rush
Oh, sweet Jesus I hate Rush. This is yet another side-affect of being horribly OCD with respect to my music collection. I always keep everything on my iPod...horrible, brain-melting Rush included. In grad school one of my professors had a playlist of the 1000 greatest classic rock songs and it found it's way into my hands. On the surface it sounds awesome. Not having to buy a complete Kansas album and only listening to "Dust in the Wind" while dreaming about "Blue" Palasky? Priceless. Unfortunately, some asshat decided Rush should be on this list too and here we are listening to some piped in crowd noises and Neal Peart "sing"...he sounds like a lady for godsakes!!!
7) Onset - Buckcherry
This is off Buckcherry's sophomore effort, 15, that I probably have listened to three times. The album, of course, is infamous for it's song (and subsequent softcore porn music video) "Crazy Bitch" with it's award-winning prose:
You're a crazy bitch
But you fuck so good so I'm on top of it
When I dream I'm doing you all night
Scratches all down my back to keep me right on.
Classy?
8) Diamond - Spin Doctors
The iPod just keeps pumping out the mediocre hits today. This is from the Spin Doctors sub-par 3rd album Here Comes the Bride. I don't remember if this was before or after Chris Barron had a rare vocal chord paralysis. Either way, this album is very underwhelming. A couple of the tunes have a unique quirk to them...not this one.
Random FYI: The Spin Doctors are responsible for the soundtrack to Michael J. Fox's last sitcom, Spin City. If you've never seen/heard the show fix it...it's awesome
9) For Celebrations Past - Screaming Trees
Speaking of vocal paralysis...how did Mark Lanegan not die? I've always pictured him as the "eight ball" to Layne Staley's "heroine shooters". In my mind the Screaming Trees are a hidden gem of the 90's. Their hit song, "Nearly Lost You", was really all people heard from the band (even though they released 7 albums) and that's a shame. Sweet Oblivion was a great album filled with all the same Seattle grunge as those other plaid-covered tree-huggers. So much so that, as an homage, I performed one night at an open mic as The Whispering Shrubs.
10) Blue Monk - Thelonius Monk and John Coltrane
Always finish strong they say. You don't get much stronger than the jazz powerhouse of Thelonius Monk and John Coltrane assaulting you with jazzy-ness. In college I took a jazz appreciation course because I just didn't appreciate that much...now I appreciate the crap out of jazz. Monk is by far my favorite jazz musician and I can't really tell you why. It could be that he's got a blues jump to him. It could be all those dissonant chords melding to resolution. It could be that his name is Thelonius Sphere Monk (seriously, that's his real name).
But you know what didn't kill him? Smokin'
Let's go!
1) I Alone - Live
Always had a somewhat love-hate relationship with this song. It was one of the biggest hits for Live (my favorite band during the Throwing Copper-era of the 90's) so I had problems admitting it was one of my favorite songs...you can't like the single!!! Deep down, waaay down, though, I've always loved this song. It's loud, it's explosive, it's what every teenager wants to hear.
2) Motor Running - Jeff Maher
A local hit! Jeff is the Uber Girlfriend's dad and local bard down in the SouthCoast. Last summer he got the music recording bug and started to hone his production chops. This is the demo version of the song which ended up having mandolin and bass and some keys I believe. Nothing compares to the song where he makes monkey noises though...with the utmost professionalism mind you.
3) Willie and Laura Mae Jones - Dusty Springfield
Dusty in Memphis is one of my new favorite female-vocalist albums. It's got a country, blues feel to it with a pop punch. Until I bought the album, Dusty Springfield had always been that southern belle who sang "The Preacher's Son". Now she's my favorite female British vocalist...amazing to think I can change a person's nationality.
4) Play the Game - Queen
Everyone goes through a Queen phase...everyone. Mine happened junior year of high school and ended probably a few days after buying their greatest hits album for a nominal fee of nothing. Don't get me wrong, I love Queen. They wrote some great songs, but I just can't get behind a band that (no matter how inadvertently) is the soundtrack to every junior league baseball game ever.
5) Since You're In Love (Live) - Jesse Malin
He's friends with Ryan Adams and, I'll be perfectly honest, that is the reason I bought one of his albums (The Heat). The song is a mediocre tune along the lines of "Play the Game" but the monologue prior to the song gives boosts it to "awesome". Why do you still call yourself "Music Television" when you have no actual music videos and you schedule is filled with no-talent ass clown reality shows, MTV? Answer Jesse Malin that!!!
6) The Spirit of Radio - Rush
Oh, sweet Jesus I hate Rush. This is yet another side-affect of being horribly OCD with respect to my music collection. I always keep everything on my iPod...horrible, brain-melting Rush included. In grad school one of my professors had a playlist of the 1000 greatest classic rock songs and it found it's way into my hands. On the surface it sounds awesome. Not having to buy a complete Kansas album and only listening to "Dust in the Wind" while dreaming about "Blue" Palasky? Priceless. Unfortunately, some asshat decided Rush should be on this list too and here we are listening to some piped in crowd noises and Neal Peart "sing"...he sounds like a lady for godsakes!!!
7) Onset - Buckcherry
This is off Buckcherry's sophomore effort, 15, that I probably have listened to three times. The album, of course, is infamous for it's song (and subsequent softcore porn music video) "Crazy Bitch" with it's award-winning prose:
You're a crazy bitch
But you fuck so good so I'm on top of it
When I dream I'm doing you all night
Scratches all down my back to keep me right on.
Classy?
8) Diamond - Spin Doctors
The iPod just keeps pumping out the mediocre hits today. This is from the Spin Doctors sub-par 3rd album Here Comes the Bride. I don't remember if this was before or after Chris Barron had a rare vocal chord paralysis. Either way, this album is very underwhelming. A couple of the tunes have a unique quirk to them...not this one.
Random FYI: The Spin Doctors are responsible for the soundtrack to Michael J. Fox's last sitcom, Spin City. If you've never seen/heard the show fix it...it's awesome
9) For Celebrations Past - Screaming Trees
Speaking of vocal paralysis...how did Mark Lanegan not die? I've always pictured him as the "eight ball" to Layne Staley's "heroine shooters". In my mind the Screaming Trees are a hidden gem of the 90's. Their hit song, "Nearly Lost You", was really all people heard from the band (even though they released 7 albums) and that's a shame. Sweet Oblivion was a great album filled with all the same Seattle grunge as those other plaid-covered tree-huggers. So much so that, as an homage, I performed one night at an open mic as The Whispering Shrubs.
10) Blue Monk - Thelonius Monk and John Coltrane
Always finish strong they say. You don't get much stronger than the jazz powerhouse of Thelonius Monk and John Coltrane assaulting you with jazzy-ness. In college I took a jazz appreciation course because I just didn't appreciate that much...now I appreciate the crap out of jazz. Monk is by far my favorite jazz musician and I can't really tell you why. It could be that he's got a blues jump to him. It could be all those dissonant chords melding to resolution. It could be that his name is Thelonius Sphere Monk (seriously, that's his real name).
But you know what didn't kill him? Smokin'
Saturday, July 26, 2008
My New Anti-Hero
Once a doctor, always a doctor. NPH (Neil Patrick Harris for you uneducated folks) has yet again doned the white lab coat and started treating patients in the new web movie "Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog". This time, though, the Doog is all grown up and has traded his good natured healing for inflicting pain and awkwardness. "Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog", is the brainchild of the uber awesome Joss Whedon (whom I was introduced to by the Uber Girlfriend and her Uber Family) of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Firefly" fame.
The show (movie, blog, musical, whatever) centers around the eternal battle between Dr. Horrible (NPH) and Captain Hammer (Nathan Fillion...also the captain in "Firefly"). Good vs. Evil. Naturally Gifted vs. Not So Gifted. Smooth Operating Pansy Superhero vs. Awkward Badass Evil Scientist. The best part of the show (outside of NPH's awesome portrayal of Dr. Horrible) are the songs Whedon incorporates in the show. All the actors are great singers and the songs, I dare say, are better than those in "The Flight of the Conchords".
You can purchase all the episodes on iTunes for $1.99 a pop but, if you're as thrifty (read: horribly cheap and stingy) as I, you can get a season pass for $3.99.
Oh, and there are T-shirts...that's right, T-shirts.
The show (movie, blog, musical, whatever) centers around the eternal battle between Dr. Horrible (NPH) and Captain Hammer (Nathan Fillion...also the captain in "Firefly"). Good vs. Evil. Naturally Gifted vs. Not So Gifted. Smooth Operating Pansy Superhero vs. Awkward Badass Evil Scientist. The best part of the show (outside of NPH's awesome portrayal of Dr. Horrible) are the songs Whedon incorporates in the show. All the actors are great singers and the songs, I dare say, are better than those in "The Flight of the Conchords".
You can purchase all the episodes on iTunes for $1.99 a pop but, if you're as thrifty (read: horribly cheap and stingy) as I, you can get a season pass for $3.99.
Oh, and there are T-shirts...that's right, T-shirts.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Sergey Anto-Awesome-nov
The Breakers mansion in Newport could beat up your house and a wolverine at the same time...blindfolded
FACT!!!
Nighttime is the right time for concerts
FACT!!!
Dudes with feathered-type hair wearing long tail coats and playing cello are pansies.
FICTION!!!
Last night I beat up some rich folks and stole their tickets to see cellist Sergey Antonov play a concert during the Newport Music Festival. It was the best atmosphere for a concert I've attended. The night rains let up and a cool breeze made the manion's open foyer feel cool. Antonov and the pianist (name = ??? but she had a guy flip her pages who was pretty bad ass...picture Benson + the trainer from Punchout) were situated on a spot-lit stage with the audience seated in a semi-circle around. A wall of glass doors facing the cliff walk were to the right of the audience with two of the doors left open which, during quiet pieces, allowed you hear the waves crashing along with the music.
I didn't recognize any of the pieces but Anto-awesome-nov was so damn good he could've been playing Air Supply's greatest hits and I still would have broken out the air cello (my windmills were unappreciated). Most of the songs had great dynamics and some moodiness, typically ending in a crazed, apeggiated creshendo and Antonov coming close to becoming the first classical music head-banger.
The Breakers was a gorgeous venue for a concert, I highly reccomend it if you ever have the chance.
I also reccomend (awkward pause) lifting weights...what?
FACT!!!
Nighttime is the right time for concerts
FACT!!!
Dudes with feathered-type hair wearing long tail coats and playing cello are pansies.
FICTION!!!
Last night I beat up some rich folks and stole their tickets to see cellist Sergey Antonov play a concert during the Newport Music Festival. It was the best atmosphere for a concert I've attended. The night rains let up and a cool breeze made the manion's open foyer feel cool. Antonov and the pianist (name = ??? but she had a guy flip her pages who was pretty bad ass...picture Benson + the trainer from Punchout) were situated on a spot-lit stage with the audience seated in a semi-circle around. A wall of glass doors facing the cliff walk were to the right of the audience with two of the doors left open which, during quiet pieces, allowed you hear the waves crashing along with the music.
I didn't recognize any of the pieces but Anto-awesome-nov was so damn good he could've been playing Air Supply's greatest hits and I still would have broken out the air cello (my windmills were unappreciated). Most of the songs had great dynamics and some moodiness, typically ending in a crazed, apeggiated creshendo and Antonov coming close to becoming the first classical music head-banger.
The Breakers was a gorgeous venue for a concert, I highly reccomend it if you ever have the chance.
I also reccomend (awkward pause) lifting weights...what?
Friday, July 18, 2008
Change of Venue
Heaven has moved for the day. God went windsurfing on Titan and Jesus is working things out between A-Rod and Madonna (she's his fucking soulmate, duuuuuude!) so they left the keys with the only man (outside of Magyver) who could proctor Heaven
The one they call The Bat Man.
So, if you're looking for Heaven tonight it'll be down here for 2.5 hours at the movie theater. I suggest you all go. I'll be there making sure no clowns try to ruin it.
I'm such a nerd.
The one they call The Bat Man.
So, if you're looking for Heaven tonight it'll be down here for 2.5 hours at the movie theater. I suggest you all go. I'll be there making sure no clowns try to ruin it.
I'm such a nerd.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
The (Screwed Up) Moment of Truth
While waiting for the Hell's Kitchen finale (best. show. ever) tonight I decided to watch The Moment of Truth...sometimes TV is just fuuucked up. If you're not familiar with the show, it involves a person sitting in a chair and having (the non-funky) Mark Walberg ask them questions which make them squirm. Questions such as (real answers in parens...with pizazz!):
Have you ever cheated on your boyfriend? (no...awww that's cute and almost makes up for answering the next question)
Have you ever woken next to a guy in bed and not know his name (abso-whorely!!!)
Do you think your father is trustworthy? (hell no!)
Have you ever gotten in an accident when you knowingly drove drunk? (who hasn't?)
When working at Hooters did you have have sex with one of your customers? (you better believe it)
Do you blame your father for ruining your childhood? (of course he did)
After answering 21 of these questions correctly (before the show they ask you 50 questions with a lie detector in toe) you get $500k. Good thing it's only you, the host and the audience...ooops! Actually, 5 of your closest family and friends are sitting right in front of you (Mom sure was shocked you about that sex thing).
Believe it or not I'm not here ranting about the content of the show (though it's totally rantable...and I guess I did a little). My beef with this shiny example of the downward spiral of humanity into idiocracy involves the damn commercials. About 30 min in to the show I realized there was a commercial every 7 minutes...and the commercials were 4 min long!!!
Want more commerical douchery?
When returning from commerical they replayed the last 2 minutes of the show leaving the content:commercial ratio was 5:4.
Oh, thank God. Gordon Ramsey is swearing at someone...now that's quality TV.
Have you ever cheated on your boyfriend? (no...awww that's cute and almost makes up for answering the next question)
Have you ever woken next to a guy in bed and not know his name (abso-whorely!!!)
Do you think your father is trustworthy? (hell no!)
Have you ever gotten in an accident when you knowingly drove drunk? (who hasn't?)
When working at Hooters did you have have sex with one of your customers? (you better believe it)
Do you blame your father for ruining your childhood? (of course he did)
After answering 21 of these questions correctly (before the show they ask you 50 questions with a lie detector in toe) you get $500k. Good thing it's only you, the host and the audience...ooops! Actually, 5 of your closest family and friends are sitting right in front of you (Mom sure was shocked you about that sex thing).
Believe it or not I'm not here ranting about the content of the show (though it's totally rantable...and I guess I did a little). My beef with this shiny example of the downward spiral of humanity into idiocracy involves the damn commercials. About 30 min in to the show I realized there was a commercial every 7 minutes...and the commercials were 4 min long!!!
Want more commerical douchery?
When returning from commerical they replayed the last 2 minutes of the show leaving the content:commercial ratio was 5:4.
Oh, thank God. Gordon Ramsey is swearing at someone...now that's quality TV.
Things That Really Grind My Geeeeeahs
Its a busy day at the center today. A wonderous time is being had undoing things that have been previously undone by undoers before me. Therefore there just isn't much time for a real, high-quality post today. Instead, I'll be writing about, you guessed it, Frank Stallone!!! Umm, no, I mean, things that really grind my geeeeeeahs!
All Grind Rates are rated out of 11...because I said so.
Ignorant Educators
I work for a center which prides itself on designing innovative educational solutions which introduce technology to the classroom. Many times when parents/friends/hobos/principals hear about technology in the classroom they gasp and say, "Oh, that will never work. Kids are already too distracted before bringing in computers" (because, of course, technology == computers...always). Those types of reactions always made me wonder, "Why do people hate classroom technology so much?" Then I read an article about how some researchers believe technology will reshape America's classroom and I, too, get all stabby inside.
"Why would we ever buy a book when we can buy a computer? Textbooks are often obsolete before they are even printed, " said Debra Socia, principal of the school in Dorchester.
It's so true Debra. I cannot count how many times I have integrated 4x + 7 only to be forced to reintegrate when the rules of calculus changed...don't you just hate that?
Grinding Rating: All the e's in my Calculus I & II books
Summer
I know you mock me. Watching me, judging me...stop looking at me!!!
Grind Rating: 4 e's
Bowser
I defeated you near the Battlerock Galaxy last night. I won fair and square by spinning and hitting you in the tail. However, you flew away even though you promised this would be our last battle. I believe you to be some sort of "cheater" and would very much like you to return Princess Peach.
Grind Rating: 6 e's, 74 star bits and a hungry Luma
gAy-Rod
gAy-Rod, do you know where you are? Can you tell me what year it is? Oh, whew, I was hoping that was the case. gAy-Rod seems to believe it to be 1988 not 2008. This story I just saw on CNN about him rounding the bases (yes, I went there) with Madonna makes so much more sense now
Grind Rating: ∞ - z e's | z = number of World Series rings on gAy-Rod's fingers
CNN
Things happening in the world: Crumbling economy, plane crashes, presidential election, wildfires.
Things I see on CNN for 10 min at 8AM: A-Rod's wife blames Madonna for divorce
Seriously? For realz?
Grind Rating: an e for every hair in Wolf Blitzer's beard
All Grind Rates are rated out of 11...because I said so.
Ignorant Educators
I work for a center which prides itself on designing innovative educational solutions which introduce technology to the classroom. Many times when parents/friends/hobos/principals hear about technology in the classroom they gasp and say, "Oh, that will never work. Kids are already too distracted before bringing in computers" (because, of course, technology == computers...always). Those types of reactions always made me wonder, "Why do people hate classroom technology so much?" Then I read an article about how some researchers believe technology will reshape America's classroom and I, too, get all stabby inside.
"Why would we ever buy a book when we can buy a computer? Textbooks are often obsolete before they are even printed, " said Debra Socia, principal of the school in Dorchester.
It's so true Debra. I cannot count how many times I have integrated 4x + 7 only to be forced to reintegrate when the rules of calculus changed...don't you just hate that?
Grinding Rating: All the e's in my Calculus I & II books
Summer
I know you mock me. Watching me, judging me...stop looking at me!!!
Grind Rating: 4 e's
Bowser
I defeated you near the Battlerock Galaxy last night. I won fair and square by spinning and hitting you in the tail. However, you flew away even though you promised this would be our last battle. I believe you to be some sort of "cheater" and would very much like you to return Princess Peach.
Grind Rating: 6 e's, 74 star bits and a hungry Luma
gAy-Rod
gAy-Rod, do you know where you are? Can you tell me what year it is? Oh, whew, I was hoping that was the case. gAy-Rod seems to believe it to be 1988 not 2008. This story I just saw on CNN about him rounding the bases (yes, I went there) with Madonna makes so much more sense now
Grind Rating: ∞ - z e's | z = number of World Series rings on gAy-Rod's fingers
CNN
Things happening in the world: Crumbling economy, plane crashes, presidential election, wildfires.
Things I see on CNN for 10 min at 8AM: A-Rod's wife blames Madonna for divorce
Seriously? For realz?
Grind Rating: an e for every hair in Wolf Blitzer's beard
Monday, July 7, 2008
Tournament of Indecision
Listen to Wolfmother (the most badass bandname of the 21st century) or Silverchair? Hmmm, ummm...I can't decide. Eat lunch or snack on blueberries? Well, blueberries are awesome buuuuuut lunch is my favorite meal. Watch a movie or indulge in my latest Wii obsession (living my life vicariously through an italian plummer in a quest to save a princess from a fire-breathing dragon...happens everyday, no?)? Wake up or sleep? Send email or txt? No Problemo or well, that's never a question...it's always No Problemo.
Get to the point you say? Fine (but I'm gonna silently make faces at you). All those questions have rattled around my brain at some point today and none were answered by me because I have a problem...I can't decide! So, being the uber geek I am, I let the interweb do it for me! Last week I discovered a site called (fittingly) I Can't Decide which allows you to post questions and, while waiting for answers, help out all those other indecisive fools in the ether who are running your life (ah, the circle of life). Of course, my indecision problem has led to another problem...my addiction to the site. The last two weeks of my life have been predominantly dictated by internet minions (free will's stupid).
Today, however, I had a quandary which my beloved site could not handle...multiple choices!!! Ugh, now what do I do? Luckily, I'm a huge sports fan (have YOU ever thought the outcome of a grand slam tennis final would be determined by your watching said event? Didn't think so) and love the idea of a well made bracket. So, on some scrap paper I made a bracket to decide which hard rock band I would be listening to while at work (read: playing on I Can't Decide). No worries, I didn't come up with the type of band...the internet told me I wanted to "rock my ass off" instead of "lay back and relax". Amazingly, and randomly, I chose all Australian bands (they rock my ass off the most).
Here's the 1st round matchups, seedings in ( ):
AC/DC (1) vs. Wolfmother (4)
JET (2) vs. Silverchair (3)
Surprisingly, Wolfmother pulled the big upset and battled it out with JET in the finals. In a rout Wolfmother took the title of "Band the Uber Geek will listen to for the next 35 min before lunch when he goes and listens to something else" from JET with a whopping 9-3 final tally.
Hmm, I might have more problems than I thought.
Get to the point you say? Fine (but I'm gonna silently make faces at you). All those questions have rattled around my brain at some point today and none were answered by me because I have a problem...I can't decide! So, being the uber geek I am, I let the interweb do it for me! Last week I discovered a site called (fittingly) I Can't Decide which allows you to post questions and, while waiting for answers, help out all those other indecisive fools in the ether who are running your life (ah, the circle of life). Of course, my indecision problem has led to another problem...my addiction to the site. The last two weeks of my life have been predominantly dictated by internet minions (free will's stupid).
Today, however, I had a quandary which my beloved site could not handle...multiple choices!!! Ugh, now what do I do? Luckily, I'm a huge sports fan (have YOU ever thought the outcome of a grand slam tennis final would be determined by your watching said event? Didn't think so) and love the idea of a well made bracket. So, on some scrap paper I made a bracket to decide which hard rock band I would be listening to while at work (read: playing on I Can't Decide). No worries, I didn't come up with the type of band...the internet told me I wanted to "rock my ass off" instead of "lay back and relax". Amazingly, and randomly, I chose all Australian bands (they rock my ass off the most).
Here's the 1st round matchups, seedings in ( ):
AC/DC (1) vs. Wolfmother (4)
JET (2) vs. Silverchair (3)
Surprisingly, Wolfmother pulled the big upset and battled it out with JET in the finals. In a rout Wolfmother took the title of "Band the Uber Geek will listen to for the next 35 min before lunch when he goes and listens to something else" from JET with a whopping 9-3 final tally.
Hmm, I might have more problems than I thought.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
It's Been a While
Mornin' loyal reader(s...hmmm, maybe not so much with my hiatus)! Yes, I understand that this site has been, how do you say, ummm, so totally and unbelievably neglected that I've been dodging social service calls for months. But that won't happen again, or it might, I'm not really here to make promises (I'm here to entertain...wait, what? I don't do that either? Damn).
First blog back I figured I'd go totally lazy and rip off a theme a good friend of mine often implements. I'm gonna set the 'ol iPod (yep, I have and iPod now...feed the machine!) on shuffle and listen to 10 songs. In the time of listening for those 10 songs I'll write something about each one, but only in the time of the song playing...no more! Ok, this should be interesting as I'd say 15% of my iPod music I've never heard...annnnnnd go!
1) Last Tube - Trey Anastacio
Well we've got pleeeenty of time to write here. Last Tube clocks in at just over 11 min, harking back to my jam band phase during the first few years of college. This was Trey's 3rd solo effort and a favorite of mine sophomore year. At the time I was in the first encarnation of my current band (it's always been Me and Brad and some assortment of other people) and we were all about the jam bands: Phish, The Dead, The Allmans, Zeppelin (ok, not totally jam...but just amazingly awesome). You'd think our style would be reflected by those influences but we weren't really good enough to have our influences shine through...but we had promise! In fact the friend I stole this idea from was the lead singer and harp (not the string kind, the awesome blues reedy kind) player. Oh, so the song...eh, it's ok. It's supposedly a continuation of the Phish song "First Tube" but they aren't that similar and the old adage that sequels are never as good as the original rings very true.
2) I'm in an Awful Mood - T-Bone Walker
Ah, the blues, a fitting choice. This is a from a collection I got from the Dr. (of momentum that is) way back when mp3's were some kind of futuristic innovation and Shawn Fanning was just getting high in his dorm room instead of pissing off Metalica. This collection was one of my first hardcore journey's into blues.
3) Come Pick Me Up - Counting Crows
Amazing song! As you all know (or should damnit!) this is a Ryan Adams tune from his 1st solo album Heartbreaker. Its a really raw portrayal of a girlfriend who just totally screws you (and your friends) over and (GASP!!!) steals your records! The Crows do a good cover and this song was my first realization of a musical relationship between Adam Duritz (lead singer Counting Crows) and RA. They have written songs together numerous times that appear on both bands albums. Most notably, "Answering Bell" from RA's album Gold has Duritz singing backup vocals and appears (I'm pretty sure) in the video which is a trippy Alice in Wonderland with Elton John...awesome.
4) Til The Morning Comes - Neil Young
Damn a short one. Haven't listened to this a hell of a lot. After the Goldrush is a pretty good album. I had a huge Neil phase in college but its waned alot since then. Ummm, ok, songs over.
5) Green Onions - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Score, another cover tune! Green Onions is an instrumental tune from one of my favorite R&B groups Booker T & the MGs. Before you say, "yeah, well never heard of him or that song...I'm gonna go look at pr0n on the internets" let me retort with "yes, you've def heard this song...and you liked it!". Tom Petty adds a nice edge and rockness to the tune...Booker T was proud I'm sure. I had the priveledge to see Booker T light up the keys with Clapton at the Garden (Boston...I won't call it that OTHER name it was in the 90's), great show.
6) Stairway to Heaven - Stanley Jordan
Well, then, the iPod is determined to have it's own theme. Sadly, I don't think I've ever heard this cover off Zeppelin's most famous (though not their best) song...didn't even know I had this! Jordan is another artist the Dr. got me hooked on. He's a guitar player who makes one guitar sound like at least two, its truly amazing. By playing the guitar like a keyboard (and turning the action waaay down low) he can comp the bass chords and play melody at the same time. Oddly enough, he was discovered in the subway playing for people and he turned down a record deal to stay on the subway circuit. A year later he relented and began a very successful career as a jazz guitarist.
7) Fresh Feeling - The Eels
Yeah, not much to say about this one. I got this album (Souljacker) from the Dr. during his Eels phase a couple years ago which, coincidently, got started by me (I think...correct me if I'm wrong) and the 2 or 3 Eels songs I had in the music vault. Their albums aren't bad but usually they just aren't my style. Too much Butthole Surfer sound...damn you Johnny Depp!
8) Insomnia and the Hold in the Universe - Live
My 2nd favorite band when I was a teenager. The first band I got obsessed with was Stone Temple Pilots (who are actually on the iPod a ton lately) then it was Live and finally sophmore year of high school Blind Melon took over the reins as my favorite band ever (RA is not a band so he can never threaten Blind Melon...just to clarify my ranking scheme). This song is a middle of the road tune off a middle of the road album (Secret Samadhi). The album has some great tunes ("Rattlesnake", "Graze" and "Lakini's Juice") but was def a fall off from the great Throwing Copper album. Live rebounded with their 4th album The Distance to Here,which is actually my favorite album from the band.
9) The Last Remaining Light - Audioslave
A track from the supergroup consisting of 90's rock icons' ((Rage Against the Machine + Soundgarden) * ∞ < Guns 'n Roses + STP) self-titled album...which I haven't listened to that much. I'm gonna listen for a few min and then give my thoughts on this rarely heard track...eh, def not the best song off this album. So what's the last song...
10) Cosmic Friend (Live) - The Black Crowes
The show that started a craze. This is from the Crowes tour in 2001 where everyone who bought their album Lions could download shows online...for free!!! This of course caused some controversy and problems and yadda yadda yadda. This is from the show I attended at Great Woods on June 11th (wow, that's over 7 years ago). I've seen the Black Crowes a bunch of times and, while they always bring it, I'd say this was 3rd on my list. First being the greatest show ever (not headlined by Ryan Adams) when the Crowes played with Jimmy Page and Kenny Wayne Shepherd opened...not a bad show for your first concert. Then I'm inclinded to think that when their show at the Providence Performing Arts Center was next. "Cosmic Friend" is a good tune but I never liked it as much as the other songs off Lions. A fitting end to our list however, as this song closed that show.
So there you have it, my first blog in a long time...and I stole the idea (I'm like Metalica...oh, snap!). There's a ton of stuff that's happened over the last few months but I'm not gonna tell you...ha!
Ok, maybe one day...if you're good.
First blog back I figured I'd go totally lazy and rip off a theme a good friend of mine often implements. I'm gonna set the 'ol iPod (yep, I have and iPod now...feed the machine!) on shuffle and listen to 10 songs. In the time of listening for those 10 songs I'll write something about each one, but only in the time of the song playing...no more! Ok, this should be interesting as I'd say 15% of my iPod music I've never heard...annnnnnd go!
1) Last Tube - Trey Anastacio
Well we've got pleeeenty of time to write here. Last Tube clocks in at just over 11 min, harking back to my jam band phase during the first few years of college. This was Trey's 3rd solo effort and a favorite of mine sophomore year. At the time I was in the first encarnation of my current band (it's always been Me and Brad and some assortment of other people) and we were all about the jam bands: Phish, The Dead, The Allmans, Zeppelin (ok, not totally jam...but just amazingly awesome). You'd think our style would be reflected by those influences but we weren't really good enough to have our influences shine through...but we had promise! In fact the friend I stole this idea from was the lead singer and harp (not the string kind, the awesome blues reedy kind) player. Oh, so the song...eh, it's ok. It's supposedly a continuation of the Phish song "First Tube" but they aren't that similar and the old adage that sequels are never as good as the original rings very true.
2) I'm in an Awful Mood - T-Bone Walker
Ah, the blues, a fitting choice. This is a from a collection I got from the Dr. (of momentum that is) way back when mp3's were some kind of futuristic innovation and Shawn Fanning was just getting high in his dorm room instead of pissing off Metalica. This collection was one of my first hardcore journey's into blues.
3) Come Pick Me Up - Counting Crows
Amazing song! As you all know (or should damnit!) this is a Ryan Adams tune from his 1st solo album Heartbreaker. Its a really raw portrayal of a girlfriend who just totally screws you (and your friends) over and (GASP!!!) steals your records! The Crows do a good cover and this song was my first realization of a musical relationship between Adam Duritz (lead singer Counting Crows) and RA. They have written songs together numerous times that appear on both bands albums. Most notably, "Answering Bell" from RA's album Gold has Duritz singing backup vocals and appears (I'm pretty sure) in the video which is a trippy Alice in Wonderland with Elton John...awesome.
4) Til The Morning Comes - Neil Young
Damn a short one. Haven't listened to this a hell of a lot. After the Goldrush is a pretty good album. I had a huge Neil phase in college but its waned alot since then. Ummm, ok, songs over.
5) Green Onions - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Score, another cover tune! Green Onions is an instrumental tune from one of my favorite R&B groups Booker T & the MGs. Before you say, "yeah, well never heard of him or that song...I'm gonna go look at pr0n on the internets" let me retort with "yes, you've def heard this song...and you liked it!". Tom Petty adds a nice edge and rockness to the tune...Booker T was proud I'm sure. I had the priveledge to see Booker T light up the keys with Clapton at the Garden (Boston...I won't call it that OTHER name it was in the 90's), great show.
6) Stairway to Heaven - Stanley Jordan
Well, then, the iPod is determined to have it's own theme. Sadly, I don't think I've ever heard this cover off Zeppelin's most famous (though not their best) song...didn't even know I had this! Jordan is another artist the Dr. got me hooked on. He's a guitar player who makes one guitar sound like at least two, its truly amazing. By playing the guitar like a keyboard (and turning the action waaay down low) he can comp the bass chords and play melody at the same time. Oddly enough, he was discovered in the subway playing for people and he turned down a record deal to stay on the subway circuit. A year later he relented and began a very successful career as a jazz guitarist.
7) Fresh Feeling - The Eels
Yeah, not much to say about this one. I got this album (Souljacker) from the Dr. during his Eels phase a couple years ago which, coincidently, got started by me (I think...correct me if I'm wrong) and the 2 or 3 Eels songs I had in the music vault. Their albums aren't bad but usually they just aren't my style. Too much Butthole Surfer sound...damn you Johnny Depp!
8) Insomnia and the Hold in the Universe - Live
My 2nd favorite band when I was a teenager. The first band I got obsessed with was Stone Temple Pilots (who are actually on the iPod a ton lately) then it was Live and finally sophmore year of high school Blind Melon took over the reins as my favorite band ever (RA is not a band so he can never threaten Blind Melon...just to clarify my ranking scheme). This song is a middle of the road tune off a middle of the road album (Secret Samadhi). The album has some great tunes ("Rattlesnake", "Graze" and "Lakini's Juice") but was def a fall off from the great Throwing Copper album. Live rebounded with their 4th album The Distance to Here,which is actually my favorite album from the band.
9) The Last Remaining Light - Audioslave
A track from the supergroup consisting of 90's rock icons' ((Rage Against the Machine + Soundgarden) * ∞ < Guns 'n Roses + STP) self-titled album...which I haven't listened to that much. I'm gonna listen for a few min and then give my thoughts on this rarely heard track...eh, def not the best song off this album. So what's the last song...
10) Cosmic Friend (Live) - The Black Crowes
The show that started a craze. This is from the Crowes tour in 2001 where everyone who bought their album Lions could download shows online...for free!!! This of course caused some controversy and problems and yadda yadda yadda. This is from the show I attended at Great Woods on June 11th (wow, that's over 7 years ago). I've seen the Black Crowes a bunch of times and, while they always bring it, I'd say this was 3rd on my list. First being the greatest show ever (not headlined by Ryan Adams) when the Crowes played with Jimmy Page and Kenny Wayne Shepherd opened...not a bad show for your first concert. Then I'm inclinded to think that when their show at the Providence Performing Arts Center was next. "Cosmic Friend" is a good tune but I never liked it as much as the other songs off Lions. A fitting end to our list however, as this song closed that show.
So there you have it, my first blog in a long time...and I stole the idea (I'm like Metalica...oh, snap!). There's a ton of stuff that's happened over the last few months but I'm not gonna tell you...ha!
Ok, maybe one day...if you're good.
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