tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68239932024-03-09T21:46:40.299-05:00.:DataWhat?:.You Bring the Liver, and We'll Deliver.:DataWhat?:.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13798529758046545533noreply@blogger.comBlogger864125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6823993.post-82261718920275957292023-12-31T00:11:00.019-05:002023-12-31T11:23:58.517-05:00Free to Be 2023:</br>
<center><b><span style="font-size:130%;">Free to Be 2023:</span></b>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/143141625@N08/53432400013/in/dateposted/" title="Top 9"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53432400013_cecf38963e_o.jpg" width="800" height="800" alt="Top 9"/></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></br>
Travel :: Music :: Cats</br>
The Boy :: The Nonsense :: The Way</br>
Family :: Projects :: Sun and Shade</br>
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An epic road trip to New Orleans/Louisville/Memphis</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">Saw Sun Studios for the first time, visited Graceland, drank bourbon, ate BBQ, Stayed at <a href="https://www.hotelprovincial.com/" target="_blank">a haunted hotel that used to be a civil war hospital</a>, communed with ghosts, ate beignets at Café Du Monde, shopped for <a href="https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/dark-matter-oddities-artisan-collective" target="_blank">creepy voodoo shit</a>, and ended with a Mecca-like visit to a Buc-ees truck stop.</br>
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<center><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/143141625@N08/53432210896/in/dateposted/" title="Johnsons2023"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53432210896_6172213ab7_o.png" width="984" height="233" alt="Johnsons2023"/></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></br></center>
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<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/games/connections" target="_blank">NYT Connections</a></br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">Wordle was fun, but it feels so 2020. All the cool kids in 2023 are playing Connections, where you need to find the thematic ties between different words, ranging from most complex connections to simple groupings. It has been the nightcap to our evenings this year, and every time its time for bed and Penny says "Wanna Connect?" I always say Yes.</br>
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This is The Way</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">If the seventh grader who lives inside me wasn't already happy enough, my wife devoted much of 2023 to creating a Star Wars Mandalorian costume. The <a href="https://uproxx.com/tv/bo-katan-throne-the-mandalorian/" target="_blank">Bo-Katan Kryze</a> helmet and jumpsuit were store-bought, but the armor pieces were individually sourced from 3D printers <a href="https://www.instagram.com/clever3dstudio/" target="_blank">Clever 3D Studio</a> then sanded, hand painted, and distressed over several months.</br>
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On top of it all, she's an unbreakable mother bear, a champion of animals in her work at the Humane Society, a frankenplanner pioneer, and continues to drop my jaw with her unwavering support of her friends, her family, and surprising her derpy husband.</br>
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<center><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/143141625@N08/53431327532/in/photostream/" title="PJ Bo Katan"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53431327532_db838dfffc.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="PJ Bo Katan"/></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></br></center>
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That Boy.</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">It was a huge year for Henry. He got his drivers' license, got a summer job, got two (TWO!) art pieces accepted into the <a href="https://www.pioneerimpact.org/art2.html" target="_blank">Pioneer High School Impact arts magazine</a>, was promoted on his high school robotics team, helped us build and move things, keept improving as a drummer, got accepted into every college he applied to (and received scholarships for each school), had his metalworking pieces displayed in a prominent jewelry store as part of youth art month, took some epic senior photos, developed a remarkable personal fashion style that is noticed any time we go anywhere, often closed the garage door, and honestly is an admirable man in a world where a lot of boys his age have chosen to be shitheads. </br>
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He still isn't taller than me but damn it if he isn't getting closer every year.</br>
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<center><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/143141625@N08/53432575399/in/photostream/" title="Henry's Senior Photos"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53432575399_571823b8da.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="Henry's Senior Photos"/></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></br></center>
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Mudroom to Pantry [Phase 1 of 2]</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">The last big project for the farmhouse before we move in next year was the kitchen. We loved the cabinets but the distance from the countertops to the upper cabinet doors was about 8.5" (so if you had a two-liter of pop on the counter and then opened a cabinet door to get a glass, the bottle would be knocked to the floor). We labored over this decision because Penny's grandfather hand-built the cabinets in the 1930s and so we hemmed and hawed about whether to keep them or not.</br>
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We talked to an architect friend of ours and she wisely said "You can keep the cabinets, just move them to another room" which blew our minds. We have a mudroom (traditional farmhouse room off the front porch where the farmhands could come in from the fields and clean up before lunch/dinner) so we decided to move the existing cabinets into the mudroom and transform it into a pantry.</br>
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I spent a couple months carefully dismantling the existing cabinets and re-factoring them into the new space. The most incredible thing was that when I pieced together the upper square cabinets, there was a dead space in the middle. We tried to decide whether to put shelving in there, or wall it off somehow, but I found an existing cabinet door that was exactly the right size to cap it off.</br>
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I got a butcher block surface and cut it down to the right dimensions, then stained it to match the rest of the cabinets. I think it turned out pretty OK.</br>
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More detail can be found <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10155237163071784&type=3" target="_blank">here</a> if we are Facebook pals.</br>
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<center><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/143141625@N08/53432535414/in/photostream/" title="MudroomBuild"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53432535414_17669c69bf_o.png" width="898" height="252" alt="MudroomBuild"/></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></br></center>
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Visiting Cincinnati for the <a href="https://www.atptour.com/en/scores/archive/cincinnati/422/2023/results?matchType=singles&matchRound=R64" target="_blank">Western & Southern Open</a> tennis tournament</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">Every year for the past several years, Penny has gone down to this incredibly accessible tennis tournament where all the pros play and it is within driving distance of our house. The weather was uncooperative in the morning, but the afternoon turned out to be a winner and I got to see Felix Auger-Aliassime, Matteo Berrettini, Andy Murray, Francis Tiafoe, Stan Wawrinka, Ben Shelton, Jessica Pagula, Venus Williams, Coco Gauff, and I only missed Aryna Sabalenka by a day.</br>
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On day 2, Penny went back to the tournament and Henry and I explored some weird stores across the river in Kentucky. Highlights: <a href="https://www.hailcincinnati.com/" target="_blank">Hail Records & Oddities</a>, a combo death metal record store, occult shop, and taxidermy museum; a bonkers toy store called <a href="https://www.earth2kentucky.com/" target="_blank">Earth 2 Kentucky</a>; and an incredible magical supply/bespoke arcana store called <a href="https://hierophanyandhedge.com/#press" target="_blank">Hierophany & Hedge</a>.</br>
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Stella's Lounge and Veggie Crunch Wraps</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">On one of our college tours, we found a bar called <a href="https://www.stellaslounge.com/" target="_blank">Stella's Lounge</a> that had a great collection of vintage video games, '80s kitsch on the TV screens and an incredible vegan crunch wrap that Henry adapted and has been making all year. Veggie chorizo, black beans, tomatoes, cheese, ranch dressing, and jalapenos all wrapped up and pan fried.</br>
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Oberon Eclipse & Long Drink</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="https://bellsbeer.com/beers/eclipse/" target="_blank">Oberon Eclipse</a>, a seasonal addition from Michigan's own Bell's Brewery (hints of coriander!), and the introduction of the Finnish <a href="https://www.thelongdrink.com" target="_blank">Long Drink</a> were welcome on my taste buds this year.</br>
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<center>Frank Ferrante is GROUCHO!</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">A true bucket list item crossed off.</br>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gTZOFr7LsVM?si=LKdo7HUXxuo8OsHZ" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></br>
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Frank Ferrante has been keeping the legacy of Groucho Marx alive for decades and I've always threatened to travel to see his long-running one-man show in Chicago,
</br>but never got there. My bestest old comedy buddy Dave alerted me to the fact that he was going to be playing locally so he and I saw the live show. </br>
Or, in the immortal words of the man himself: "I didn't like the play, but then I saw it under adverse conditions - the curtain was up."</br>
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Cottage Connectivity</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">I can't tell if this should fall under good things or bad things. Our family cottage up north has never had a TV, cell phone reception, and certainly not internet connectivity. It is a refuge where in order to have fun, you needed to read a book or listen to records or play cards or just stare at the lake. This year the inevitability of technology has crept in, and we installed wi-fi at the cottage. </br>
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Ultimately, this is a good thing. We can check weather, stream from Spotify, contact loved ones in case of wasps nests or severed fingers, but part of me will long for the olden days as soon as I see everybody in the room staring at their phones instead of looking for loons.</br>
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Dudes Weekend</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">Got away for a long weekend with a bunch of pals in the woods.</br>
The final assessment? "Ten Gilligans, no Professors."</br>
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<center>Pear butter</br>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/143141625@N08/53432385321/in/dateposted/" title="pear"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53432385321_a931cbdf19_w.jpg" width="400" height="400" alt="pear"/></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">Based on my lust for the spread that <a href="https://www.thejeffersonmarket.com" target="_blank">The Jefferson Market</a> puts on their biscuits,</br>
I got kinda obsessed trying to re-create their savory sweet pear butter at home. Theirs is spicy and buttery</br>
and it’s all I can do to keep myself from licking the little tin cup clean at every visit.</br></center>
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Farmhouse Kitchen Re-Imagining [Phase 2 of 2]</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">Like I said, the kitchen is in need of an update. We worked with a terrific architect, came up with good designs, found a miraculous contractor who shows up on time and keeps the workspace clean (and no you cannot have his number), and started tearing things apart in this 1880s farmhouse. </br>
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The plaster and lath came off of the walls, and revealed all kinds of additional historical mysteries. Long-abandoned doorways were revealed, the underlying structure showed true 1x12 boards (indicating that the original footprint of the oldest part of the house was before 1900), and some studs still had bark on the unfinished side. The walls beneath the plaster were actual tongue-and-groove boards, which would rarely be used for an internal wall, and we found multiple places where old doors or windows were modified or moved to accommodate the needs of the family as it grew.</br>
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The highlight was finding an inscription from <a href="https://quod.lib.umich.edu/s/sdlphotos/x-84/SHS00099" target="_blank">Penny's great aunt Ida</a> written on one of the studs in July 1900 when she was 17 years old.</br>
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The new cabinets are delivered and offgassing, electrical is run (involving another series of wild goose chases in a house where a lot of the original wiring is over 100 years old), and the drywall is hung. Here's to continued forward progress in 2024. Stay tuned.</br>
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<center><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/143141625@N08/53432642005/in/photostream/" title="Kitchen-Remodel"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53432642005_4bd7d1e94f_o.png" width="962" height="536" alt="Kitchen-Remodel"/></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></br></center>
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<center><b><span style="font-size:130%;">Tunes:</span></b></center></br></br>
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<img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53425381914_aeecf269f0_o.jpg" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0"/></br>
<b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-record-mw0003910086" target="_blank">the record</a></b> - Boygenius</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">The combined power of these three terrific singer songwriters overwhelms their impressive individual achievements. Beautiful harmonies, complimentary objectives, and angular approaches, plus some of the most lush production I heard all year.</br>
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<img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53425485690_b3b81ae0d6_m.jpg" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0"/></br>
<b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/weathervanes-mw0003936177" target="_blank">Weathervanes</a></b> - Jason Isbell</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">Every time a new Jason Isbell album comes out, my initial thought is "I like it, but it isn't as good as [previous record]." Then as I spend time with it, I find new nuances and things I look forward to. A turn of a phrase or a particular slide solo, or a certain storyline that I've never heard told in that way before. Simple as a weathervane, the themes and emotions are pure and the performances are top-notch.</br>
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<img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53425381884_514752d5a3_m.jpg" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0"/></br>
<b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/household-name-mw0003697186" target="_blank">Household Name</a></b> - Momma</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">My musical sherpa Steve turned me on to these guys (full disclosure: this album came out in 2022). These kids play '90s rock worth their Veruca Salt, and the fact that they name-check the Smashing Pumpkins deep cut "Hummer" in one of their songs certainly didn't hurt.</br>
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<img width="170" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53425215238_f13c0dc11c_m.jpg" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0"/></br>
<b><a href="https://margocilker.bandcamp.com/album/valley-of-hearts-delight" target="_blank">Valley Of Heart's Delight</a></b> - Margo Cilker</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">This brassy folkie released one of my favorite albums a couple years ago, and the follow-up is in the same vein. Heartfelt and loose, almost like if Emmylou covered an entire record of b-sides from The Band. </br>
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<img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53425215253_9da8c454f1_m.jpg" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0"/></br>
<b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/lavender-days-mw0003683290" target="_blank">Lavender Days</a></b> - Caamp</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">A staple of the local radio station 107.1, every song I heard from this 2022 album resonated with me so I dove in and really loved the whole thing. I honestly don't know if Caamp is a 10-person band or just one guy, but the simple acoustic pop songs he/they put together just hit right.</br>
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<img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53425485675_5cdc97ab69_m.jpg" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0"/></br>
<b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/secret-stratosphere-mw0003942591" target="_blank">Secret Stratosphere</a></b> - William Tyler</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">My favorite of the <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/blog/post/opening-your-third-eye-to-the-new-wave-of-cosmic-americana">New Wave of Cosmic Americana</a> players, Tyler loops and flips guitar lines until they sound like entire choruses or chanting monks, then zooms them all to an outer space desert.</br>
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<img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53424139417_ecb3d95f86_m.jpg" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0"/></br>
<b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/timothy-monger-mw0003990786" target="_blank">Timothy Monger</a></b> - Timothy Monger</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">Good friend and even better songwriter, Tim Monger crafts another Field Notes notebook of Michigan pop-folk with unexpected twists and brave production choices that all pay off. Here's to the Trillium and the Muskellunge! <strong>TUEBOR!!!!</strong></br>
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<img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53424139437_36c7ded9b1_m.jpg" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0"/></br>
<b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/did-you-know-that-theres-a-tunnel-under-ocean-blvd-mw0003879288" target="_blank">Did You Know That There's a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd</a></b> - Lana Del Rey</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">I intitially dismissed Lana Del Rey as another Selena Gomez/Ariana Grande/Demi Lovato-style face-slash-influencer, but in listening to her records, there is a spooky underbelly that reminds me of Barbara Stanwyck in Double Indemnity or Veronica Lake in The Blue Dahlia -- the soft, sweet face with the burning secret or the smouldering disaproval. Coolly analyzing the buzzing around her and dismissing it with a withering riposte.</br>
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<img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53424139422_dd30b6eefe_m.jpg" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0"/></br>
<b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-window-mw0004015954" target="_blank">The Window</a></b> - Ratboys</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">Being part of a band called Porchsleeper who once opened for Slobberbone, I am a big fan of great bands with unconventional names. While Ratboys sounds like they would be a bunch of gutter skatepunks, in reality they are a sweetly boisterous four-piece who lays out Breeders-y indie rock (produced by Death Cab for Cutie's Chris Walla). The highlight is the nearly nine minute epic-ish jam "Flat Earth, WI" which is seriously 90% a blistering guitar solo and then probably the most epic and anthemic codas of the year.</br>
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<img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53425381904_68fb42f26f_m.jpg" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0"/></br>
<b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/art-dealers-mw0004038235" target="_blank">Art Dealers</a></b> - Low Cut Connie</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">Saw these guys at The Ark this year, partially because it seemed like a small club for a big rock band like this. Piano-wielding frontman Adam Weiner is one part anthemic Bruce Springsteen and one part coy Michael Hutchence with a healthy dose of Little Richard camp and showmanship sprinkled over top (a well-established high point of the live show is when he dramatically rips open his plain white t-shirt in a Stanley Kowalski-esqe display of tortured masculinity). Still, the power of the songs and the enthusiasm is not to be denied.</br>
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The obligatory Playlist:</br>
<iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/playlist/2UubQMqYY4quphYCZLRXPj?utm_source=generator&theme=0" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></br>
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<strong>Live Shows:</strong></br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">Danielle Ponder and Neal Francis at The Ark</br>
Jason Isbell at Temple Theater in Saginaw</br>
Television City and All Over the Shop at the Cadieux Cafe</br>
Built to Spill at Bell's Brewery</br>
Coverboy Performs the Music of George Michael at the Cadieux Cafe</br>
Timothy Monger at The Ark</br>
Kid Koala and Lealani at the Blind Pig</br>
Low Cut Connie at The Ark </br>
Wait Wait Don't Tell Me feat. Bob Seger</br>
Natural Blonde at Neutral Zone</br>
The Darkness at Saint Andrews</br>
Frank Ferrante's GROUCHO</br>
Stone and Sue/Forty Drop Few house concert</span></br>
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<center><b><span style="font-size:130%;">Computers and Technology:</span></b></br></center>
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<center>Beneath the Rhythm Podcast: <a href="https://shows.acast.com/beneath-the-rhythm-an-rx-music-podcast/episodes/the-review" target="_blank">Episode 10 | The Review</a></br>
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<span style="font-size:85%;">I was interviewed alongside some other folks who work in online music publishing about the value and power of the album review.</span> </br>
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<iframe src="https://embed.acast.com/$/5e54147f6373e0ac5bb71518/the-review?feed=true" frameBorder="0" width="100%" height="110px" allow="autoplay"></iframe></br>
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<span style="font-size:85%;">If you like hearing me bloviate about the history and intent of AllMusic as well as me talking about Pat Finnerty's "What Makes This Song Stink" and Pitchfork's review of Jet's second album, my bit starts at around the 40 minute mark.</br>
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I also talk about buying things at the newsstand, the concept of employees getting a watch after 40 years working at an insurance agency, and the idea of grumpy people writing a letter to the editor of the newspaper so you can tell that I have my finger on the pulse of digital media in the 21st century.</br>
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<strong>Other New Podcasts:</strong></br>
Movie blather on <a href="https://www.theringer.com/the-big-picture" target="_blank">The Big Picture</a> and <a href="https://www.earwolf.com/show/unspooled/" target="_blank">Unspooled</a>.</br>
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General blather on <a href="https://www.smartless.com/" target="_blank">Smartless</a>.</br>
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Plus longtime favorites The Rewatchables, Hit Parade, Fly on the Wall, Decoder Ring, and How Did This Get Made?</br>
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<center><strong>AI in General in 2023</strong></br>
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So AI went kinda crazy this year. </br>
The video of "Will Smith Eating Spaghetti" became infamous in March, not just for its subject matter but also for its crude weirdness.</br>
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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/U975BOTsN4w?si=b7yuwGxsShCnw_Nt" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></br>
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Not long after that came this AI commercial "Pepperoni Hug Spot" which looked massively better (even if it is objectively weirder):</br>
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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qSewd6Iaj6I?si=8rNdcFCYKAavQWdq" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></br>
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And just last month, my buddy Ryan used AI to make this game show intro "Scam!" using tools to write the script and come up with the imagery.</br>
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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2JkTSnpDT2c?si=1zC8ATAKEQ9jLoWB" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">Assembled and edited in AfterEffects using video assets made with RunwayML, voiceover made with Audiosonic,</br>
a script produced in part with some prompting to ChatGPT, and stock sound effects compiled from Evanto Elements.</br></center>
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</br>
The <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfbwqgEGcisCNjcY11fQHrJmCzOz5mzXK" target="_blank">What Makes This Song Stink</a> series.</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">This session musician takes apart songs that stink in a very humorous fashion. Shots fired at Train, Kid Rock, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Jason Aldean, among others. </br>
The <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9yswswxCuw" target="_blank">episode about Machine Gun Kelly</a> is a particular favorite.</br>
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<center>Also, this year I discovered Cheddar Goblin:</br>
</br>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Z21kbq153P8?si=DxEP6_ZFTCumgKCT" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></br>
</br>
</br>
</br>
<hr>
</br>
</br>
<b><span style="font-size:130%;">Books:</span></b></center></br>
</br>
</br>
<img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1644713327l/59628021._SX300_.jpg" alt="books" title="reading is fundamental" border="0"/></br>
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59628021-amongst-our-weapons" target="_blank">Amongst Our Weapons (Rivers of London, #9)</a></b> by Ben Aaronovitch</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">A mysterious death in the silver vaults leads wizard-ish investigator Peter Grant on a merry chase that even leads outside of London where we finally learn more about the freaky secret magical societies in England from WW2.</br>
</span></br>
</br>
<img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1481890798l/11222940._SX300_.jpg" alt="books" title="reading is fundamental" border="0"/></br>
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11222940-no-longer-human" target="_blank">No Longer Human</a></b> by Osamu Dazai</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">Henry recommended this book to me. First published in Japan in 1948, the author/main character is sort of a Bukowski-esque sad sack who wants to participate in a society that he really doesn't understand and that, in turn, doesn't understand him. Very cutting and beautiful. </br>
</span></br>
</br>
<img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1334547766l/13538708._SX300_.jpg" alt="books" title="reading is fundamental" border="0"/></br>
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13538708-the-girl-who-fell-beneath-fairyland-and-led-the-revels-there" target="_blank">The Girl Who Fell Beneath Fairyland and Led the Revels There</a></b> by Catherynne M. Valente</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">September has longed to return to Fairyland after her first adventure there. And when she finally does, she learns that its inhabitants have been losing their shadows—and their magic—to the world of Fairyland Below. This underworld has a new ruler: Halloween, the Hollow Queen, who is September's shadow. And Halloween does not want to give Fairyland's shadows back.</br>
</span></br>
</br>
<img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1582634494l/49504061._SX300_.jpg" alt="books" title="reading is fundamental" border="0"/></br>
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49504061-the-once-and-future-witches" target="_blank">The Once and Future Witches</a></b> by Alix E. Harrow</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">When the Eastwood sisters join the suffragists of New Salem in 1893, they begin to pursue the forgotten words and ways that might turn the women's movement into the witch's movement. </br>
</span></br>
</br>
<img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1600720903i/55077652._SX300_.jpg" alt="books" title="reading is fundamental" border="0"/></br>
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55077652-the-past-is-red" target="_blank">The Past is Red</a></b> by Catherynne M. Valente</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">Tetley Abednego is the most beloved girl in Garbagetown, but she's the only one who knows it. But Earth is a terrible mess, hope is a fragile thing, and a lot of people are very angry with her. Then Tetley discovers a new friend, a terrible secret, and more to her world than she ever expected.</br>
</span></br>
</br>
<img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1626710416l/58446227._SX300_.jpg" alt="books" title="reading is fundamental" border="0"/></br>
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58446227-sea-of-tranquility" target="_blank">Sea of Tranquility</a></b> by Emily St. John Mandel</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">A novel of art, time travel, love, and plague that takes the reader from Vancouver Island in 1912 to a dark colony on the moon five hundred years later, unfurling a story of humanity across centuries and space.</br>
</span></br>
</br>
<img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1701980900l/61431922._SX300_.jpg" alt="books" title="reading is fundamental" border="0"/></br>
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61431922-fourth-wing" target="_blank">Fourth Wing</a></b> by Rebecca Yarros</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">Very much in the Harry Potter/Hunger Games vein (but decidedly not YA), the main character becomes a reluctant dragon rider and fights for her place in the hierarchy of this fictional world. Definitely predictable in a comforting way, but I found the worldbuilding unique and the tensions to be believable.</br>
</span></br>
</br>
<img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1685457125i/62854842._SX300_.jpg" alt="books" title="reading is fundamental" border="0"/></br>
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62854842-ink-blood-sister-scribe" target="_blank">Ink Blood Sister Scribe</a></b> by Emma Törzs </br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">Two estranged half-sisters tasked with guarding their family's library of magical books must work together to unravel a deadly secret at the heart of their collection--a tale of familial loyalty and betrayal, and the pursuit of magic and power.</br>
</span></br>
</br>
Full List <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/year_in_books/2023/738761" target="_blank">on Goodreads</a></br>
</br>
</br>
</br>
<hr>
</br>
</br>
<center><b><span style="font-size:130%;">Movies:</span></b></center></br></br>
</br>
</br>
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse</br>
The Killer</br>
Barbie </br>
Oppenheimer</br>
Stop Making Sense</br>
Blade Runner</br>
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny</br>
Asteroid City</br>
John Wick: Chapter 4</br>
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3</br>
Leave the World Behind</br>
Haunted Mansion</br>
Meg 2: The Trench</br>
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves</br>
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania</br>
Fast X</br>
</br>
</br>
</br>
<hr>
</br>
</br>
<center><b><span style="font-size:130%;">TeeVee:</span></b></center></br></br>
</br>
</br>
<center>
Cunk on Earth</br>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8tIE0y9kC5g?si=E4DOk_ZRULvGEV4P" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></center></br>
</br>
Welcome to Wrexham</br>
Ted Lasso</br>
Loki</br>
Wednesday</br>
The Mandalorian</br>
Cowboy Bebop</br>
Ahsoka</br>
The Crown</br>
White Lotus</br>
The Mayfair Witches</br>
Sex Education</br>
The Witcher</br>
</br>
</br>
</br>
<hr>
</br>
</br>
<center><b><span style="font-size:130%;">Bad Juju:</span></b></br>
</br>
</br>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/143141625@N08/53432251516/in/photostream/" title="WinterStorm"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53432251516_43f10bd9fc.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="WinterStorm"/></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></br></center>
</br>
Brutal Ice Storms in Michigan</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">A totally weird winter where the temperatures and precipitation combined to just stick to trees and make everything heavy as hell.
It sounded very alien outside and we lost a ton of branches on the old-growth trees at the farm.</br>
</span></br>
</br>
Groundhogs</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">In a disturbingly Carl Spacklerian move, I got really pissed off at the family of groundhogs digging up the foundations at the farm.
We developed a very close relationship with our new friends at <a href="https://www.pestfreemi.com/" target="_blank">Community Pest Solutions</a>, removing (I believe) 5 different groundhogs, but the critters still stalk the grounds.</br>
</span></br>
</br>
Book Project Stalled</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">Over the past couple years I've been working with a bunch of folks to write an oral history of the company where I've worked for over two decades, but this year it kinda ground to a halt. Some of the folks I believed to be on board with the project are suddenly unwilling and it has really slammed the breaks on both my progress and my enthusiasm. </br>
</br>
I strongly believe something will come of the book in 2024, even if it is just wrapping up the loose ends and trying to "finish" it to some degree. It is an important and hilarious and interesting story, and I feel it should be told, but without some of the key information, it won't be what it could have been.</br>
</span></br>
</br>
<strong>Those we lost:</strong></br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">Pee Wee</br>
Piper Laurie</br>
Trpcic</br>
Robbie Robertson</br>
Sinéad O'Connor </br>
Tina Turner</br>
Vivian Trimble from Luscious Jackson</br>
Trugoy the Dove from De La Soul</br>
Tom Verlaine of Television</br>
Van Conner of Screaming Trees</br>
Montana the Dog</span></br>
</br>
</br>
Not to mention wars in Ukraine and Gaza, the systematic dismantling of womens health rights, absolute lunatics remaining in power, unfortunate and frustrating family drama that I don't really want to put on the internet, the general buggy-whip state of running an ad-supported website in the modern era, Elroy Musk generally making things worse in the world, Hawaiian and Canadian wildfires, and our furnace died at the same time that our dishwasher stopped working and our well pump became disconnected accidentally. </br>
</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">But I don't like to complain.</br>
</span></br>
</br>
<hr>
</br>
</br>
2024 has the very real potential to be the most important year in all of our lives. Let's not mess it up.</br>
</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">Drink water.</br>
Enjoy every sandwich.</br>
</span></br>.:DataWhat?:.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13798529758046545533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6823993.post-15618448788292821542022-12-31T09:00:00.011-05:002022-12-31T15:57:01.579-05:002022 for Me and You:</br>
<center><b><span style="font-size:130%;">2022 for Me and You:</span>
</br></br>
<span style="font-size:170%;"><em>[If you can't read this on your mobile device, <a href="https://datawhat.blogspot.com/2022/12/2022-for-me-and-you.html?m=1" target="_blank">try here</a>]</em></span></b></br></br>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52596541829_a97dc979b1_o.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52596541829_e52d3de8d0_z.jpg" alt="2022" title="2022" border="0"/></a></br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">The Happiest PJ on Earth • Ol' Charlie • Henry the Wiser</br>
Library Nook • Orange Bird • In This House...</br>
Date Night • Space is the Place • Half-Century</br>
</span>
</center></br>
50th Birthday </br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">Every 10 years I throw a party for family and friends and this year was a blowout at the Pittsfield Grange. Drinks from Voyages Wine Shop, pizza from Buddy's, pies from Grand Traverse Pie Company, music, Atari games, puzzles, coloring pictures of Mr. T, great pals, and <a href="http://datawhat.blogspot.com/2022/08/half-century.html" target="_blank">I made 50 nametag stickers</a> with the things that I love most and all my loved ones wore them proudly. Here's to 50 more!</br>
</span>
</br>
The AMG Project</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">Early in the year, Michael Erlewine (the guy who started the All Music Guide) approached me with a concept: He felt as though there should be a book detailing the history of the All Music Guide from its inception as a book through its online presence (even before the World Wide Web existed) and beyond. He didn't think he should write it, he indicated that it should be in the voice of all the people who worked at AMG and I agreed.</br>
</br>
So far I have conducted dozens of interviews and pulled together a 130-page oral history that is about 3/4ths of the way done. I'm not sure what the final result will be, but I've had a lot of fun pulling the story together -- hearing the parts that contradict the other parts, and generally basking in the inexplicable way the whole thing came together. My hope is that in 2023 I'll have something that we can all read and laugh about.</br>
</span>
</br><center>
Colonel Johnson, in the Library, with the Candlestick</br>
<img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52596803718_7983a98147_z.jpg" alt="2022" title="2022" border="0"/></br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">The big project for the year was to build a series of bookshelves in the living room at the farm and transforming it into what we call "The Library." It took about six months, a lot of trial and error, thousands of pounds of red maple, gallons of stain, splinters, blisters, a borrowed radial arm saw, the patience of my son as I made him do manual labor, the lighting genius of my wife, multiple appointments with an electrician, muscle from my oldest brother and my newest brother, and finally contentment.</br>
More photos <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CleoDrdvqnf/" target="_blank">here.</a>
</span></center></br>
</br>
Hardwood Floors at The Farm</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">Before the library went in, we had to have the floors refinished. <a href="https://www.annarborhardwoods.com/" target="_blank">Ann Arbor Hardwoods</a> did a bang-up job, stripping out the old varnish, sanding and staining the floors like pros.</br>
</span></br>
</br>
Fixed my Ice Cube Maker</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">For years, the ice machine in our fridge has made a lot of clunking noises but very few ice cubes. I looked at some YouTube videos, figured out what I needed to replace, and then bought the thing that needed to be replaced. Sounds like a small victory, but it no longer sounds like a group of chain gang workers are pounding away in my freezer, and I get ice cubes whenever I want.</br>
</span>
</br>
Disney Trip</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">After old man COVID cancelled our trip in March 2020, we finally got down to Disney World this spring. We stayed in the luxurious Coronado Springs hotel and got to see the new Star Wars park. We rode on the newest Star Wars rides, walked straight onto the Haunted Mansion twice in a row, ate at the cool-ass retro steampunk restaurant <a href="https://www.theedisonfla.com/about/" target="_blank">The Edison</a>, and had a generally good time until we were supposed to leave.</br>
</span></br>
</br>
April Fool</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">Despite the fact that we were on vacation, my hilarious wife snuck about a dozen pictures of squirrels with in-joke phrases on them and hid them all around our hotel room on April 1st. She even brought tape and everything. She gets me every year and I hope it never stops.</br>
<center></br>
<img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52596803953_11b15d823a_z.jpg" alt="2022" title="2022" border="0"/></br>
The story behind this one is that once we were at a Mexican restaurant and a teenaged kid was holding his to-go box.</br>
His sister or somebody crashed into him and his leftover fajitas went splatting to the floor.</br>
Without even bothering to hear the story, the exasperated mom just looked at the mess he made and said "Oh, Mitchell."</br>
Like she had been there a thousand times before. </br>
It instantly became an inside joke for us.</center></br>
</span></br>
</br>
Talking with Steven Hyden</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">One of my favorite music critics wrote a book about Pearl Jam this year and <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/blog/post/pearl-jams-long-road-and-live-albums-with-steven-hyden">I got to interview him for AllMusic</a>. We discussed Pearl Jam, the Grateful Dead and bootlegs, how live albums fit into an artist's discography, but mostly it was cool to chat for an hour with a guy who seems to have a lot of the same takes as I do. But, y'know, smarter and more published.</br>
</span></br>
</br>
Henry at the Polls</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">Henry worked the election this year as a poll worker, starting at 6 in the morning and ending around 10 at night. He enjoyed the experience and it will look good on his college application. He got his paycheck and when he saw the payroll tax they took out he said "Welp, they better fix the roads now."</br>
</span></br>
</br>
Anniversary Trip to Midland</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">My darling bride and I celebrated our 25th anniversary in glamorous Midland Michigan at a very fine hotel and got to tour the <a href="https://www.abdow.org/" target="_blank">Alden B. Dow Studio</a> amidst drooling over dozens of mid-century modern houses and buildings. We had a dinner I will never forget and loved the cute breakfast spot in the hotel.</br>
</span></br>
</br>
Violet</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">She is my niece and I am delighted to announce that she will stay a squishy baby forever.</br>
</span></br>
</br>
Voyages Wine Shop </br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">One of the best guys I know opened <a href="https://www.voyageswine.com" target="_blank">Voyages Wine Shop</a> in Lansing which is one part high-end wine emporium and one-part neighborhood bodega.</br>
</span></br>
</br>
Chicago, the Windy Apple</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">We had a great mid-summer weekend trip to Chicago where we ate at a <a href="https://www.safehousechicago.com/" target="_blank">secret spy restaurant</a>, breakfasted on <a href="https://firecakesdonuts.com/" target="_blank">Firecakes Donuts</a>, hit up a swoonworthy vintage hi-fi and record shop called <a href="http://www.shadyrestchicago.com/" target="_blank">ShadyRest Vintage & Vinyl</a>, and snagged drinks at a swank underground speakeasy under Gilt Bar called "<a href="https://www.giltbarchicago.com/the-library/" target="_blank">The Library</a>."</br>
</span></br>
<center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52596541854_b7bb39e365_z.jpg" alt="2022" title="2022" border="0"/></br></center>
</br>
Plus: Visits to the Cottage with family and friends, father's day old time baseball and old cars at Greenfield Village, food trucks, barn swallows, Third Wednesday, good times, lotsa laughs.</br>
</br>
</br>
</br>
<center>
<b><span style="font-size:130%;">Tunes:</span></b></center></br>
</br>
<img src="https://rovimusic.rovicorp.com/image.jpg?c=Rw6bIdvRpv7KqG4zYG-FaN_M69_UI9rrJSVvWL2-yAg=&f=3" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0"/></br>
<b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/hiding-in-plain-sight-mw0003800096" target="_blank">Hiding in Plain Sight</a></b> by Drugdealer</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">A sunny Laurel Canyon-infused series of heartfelt songs. Some funky, some groovin', some strutting, all tuneful and hooky.</br>
</span></br>
</br>
<img src="https://rovimusic.rovicorp.com/image.jpg?c=YDVYCCYo1omsH8g4hJ-oKRyhM-OFI8zG4l-qVpXXB1I=&f=3" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0"/></br>
<b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/dragon-new-warm-mountain-i-believe-in-you-mw0003622436" target="_blank">Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You</a></b> by Big Thief</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">I didn't anticipate liking this overly-long album as much as I did, but the loose, folky arrangements and earnest broken vocals kept me coming back. </br>
</span></br>
</br>
<img src="https://rovimusic.rovicorp.com/image.jpg?c=vZgtv9vjqOot8M7Alj7hkh_TZlp6n_cq-Emr2zx15tU=&f=3" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0"/></br>
<b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/dead-born-grown-mw0002423165" target="_blank">Dead & Born & Grown</a></b> by The Staves</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">Three sisters from the UK harmonize like the Andrews Sisters over indie folk instrumentation.</br>
</span></br>
</br>
<img src="https://rovimusic.rovicorp.com/image.jpg?c=Y09e1Cc1tc0szJsPN4K2_lWnbEN5fCjifro6xhIBuB4=&f=3" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0"/></br>
<b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/michael-rault-mw0003699862" target="_blank">Michael Rault</a></b> by Michael Rault</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">A bright and poppy Nilsson-inspired album of big simple songs with lush floating production. </br>
</span></br>
</br>
<img src="https://rovimusic.rovicorp.com/image.jpg?c=LCB_DVmEyEE2nUCs-Hm00h_TZlp6n_cq-Emr2zx15tU=&f=3" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0"/></br>
<b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/sometimes-forever-mw0003689977" target="_blank">Sometimes, Forever</a></b> by Soccer Mommy</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">Gruffly sweet indie pop reminiscent of '90s alt-rock with some great understated quietly loud vocals from Sophie Allison.</br>
</span></br>
</br>
<img src="https://rovimusic.rovicorp.com/image.jpg?c=qePqyn28gLAMMRbsvetimQ4Q1ghY8VaPylnm7PwcKNY=&f=3" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0"/></br>
<b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/patina-mw0003707204" target="_blank">Patina</a></b> by Tallies</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">Do you guys remember The Sundays? You would like Tallies. Some of the sweetness of Harriet Wheeler tarnished away but still lush and full of static & silence.</br>
</span></br>
</br>
<img src="https://rovimusic.rovicorp.com/image.jpg?c=6bLpWdn1wPQEwYnxZkqZ_N_M69_UI9rrJSVvWL2-yAg=&f=3" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0"/></br>
<b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/superpremium-mw0003831488" target="_blank">SUPERPREMIUM</a></b> by dtrenz</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">Someone who has been threatening to drop an album after years of creating beats finally did it. Hypnotic and sultry bloops and beats reminding me of Dabrye and Midwest Product.</br>
</span></br>
</br>
<img src="https://rovimusic.rovicorp.com/image.jpg?c=GWxq5MCXOWRCSoz0hmcbUj6KsMttLlyBmmVTZ6_CLs0=&f=3" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0"/></br>
<b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/big-time-mw0003698579" target="_blank">Big Time</a></b> by Angel Olsen</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">A proper singer/songwriter album from this big-voiced artist, the songs remind me of Emmylou Harris, Neko Case and Loretta Lynn at different points.</br>
</span></br>
</br>
<img src="https://rovimusic.rovicorp.com/image.jpg?c=A6GqK0Y7Q85nnD12fdwfxt_M69_UI9rrJSVvWL2-yAg=&f=3" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0"/></br>
<b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/when-the-wind-forgets-your-name-mw0003698991" target="_blank">When the Wind Forgets Your Name</a></b> by Built to Spill</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">Still one of the best guitarists out there, Doug Martsch not only hits the scroodley notes but writes a supremely hummable and tuneful guitar line unlike any of his peers in indie or hard rock.</br>
</span></br>
</br>
<img src="https://cdn-s3.allmusic.com/release-covers/250/0005/592/0005592812.jpg" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0"/></br>
<b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/bronco-mw0003666962" target="_blank">Bronco</a></b> by Orville Peck</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">Still not sure if this guy is serious, but he records modern Roy Orbison/Johnny Cash outlaw cowboy songs that echo over the dusty plains in the friskalating dusklight, all while wearing a mask of long fringe and sporting the body of a pro wrestler. The songs and vocal delivery are terrific but I honestly can't tell if he is Johnny Horton or Weird Al.</br>
</span></br>
</br>
I got to see Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets performing early Pink Floyd songs. </br>
I got to see my favorite local gypsy jazz combo Djangophonique at Blue Llama and the North Star Lounge.</br>
I saw my friend Rollie Tussing play a great set at The Ark.</br>
Got to see White Denim playing outdoors at a park in Ann Arbor.</br>
Coverboy at the Cadieux playing a set of songs by The Cars.</br>
I saw Television City and All Over The Shop in my fave double-bill of the year.</br>
Boogie-woogie legend Mr. B played a springtime concert on our street while I served up free hot dogs and veggie dogs to our neighbors. </br>
Saw my first-ever Phish show in the rain at Pine Knob.</br>
My kid and a bunch of his friends played a drum recital in the barnyard and nobody called the cops.</br>
<center></br>
</br>
</br>
<img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52596803808_d5795696d3_w.jpg" alt="2022" title="2022" border="0"/></br>
</br></br>
My usual list of Spotify tomfoolery is available here:</br>
</br>
<iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/playlist/4hqwWZAc8qgbaF87yDjcCK?utm_source=generator&theme=0" width="50%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></br>
</br>
</br>
</br>
</br>
</br>
</br>
<b><span style="font-size:130%;">Computers and Technology:</span></b></center></br>
</br>
Domo Arigato, Mister Roboto</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">Henry joined his high school's robotics team <a href="https://pihisamurai.org/" target="_blank">PiHi Samurai</a> and really found a community. His concept for the team t-shirts was chosen as the best design, he built a full-sized samurai costume for the mascot to wear during competitions, and he earned his varsity letter.</br>
</span></br>
<center></br>
This McSweeny's article called <a href="https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/what-your-favorite-sad-dad-band-says-about-you?">"What Your Favorite Sad Dad Band Says About You"</a></br>
<img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52595792942_23c815e077.jpg" alt="2022" title="2022" border="0"/></br>
</center></br>
New (to me) Podcasts:</br>
<b><a href="https://shows.cadence13.com/podcast/fly-on-the-wall" target="_blank">Fly on the Wall</a></b></br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">David Spade and Dana Carvey riff off of each other and interview former SNL members. Friendly and funny.</br>
</span></br>
<b><a href="http://www.youmustrememberthispodcast.com" target="_blank">You Must Remember This</a></b></br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">An incredible deep dive into old Hollywood stories.</br>
</span></br>
<b><a href="https://armchairexpertpod.com/flightless-bird" target="_blank">Flightless Bird</a></b></br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">A guy from New Zealand got stranded in the USA when the whole planet went into lockdown so he tries to understand American culture.</br>
</span></br>
<b><a href="https://www.earwolf.com/show/how-did-this-get-made/" target="_blank">How Did This Get Made?</a></b></br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">Three funny people tearing apart the dumbest movies ever filmed.</br>
</span></br>
</br>
<center>This insane Australian burp:</br>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pGqqiLApTgg" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></br>
</center></br>
</br>
Good Earth LED Lighting</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">These long strips of <a href="https://goodearthlighting.com/12-ft-led-flexible-and-cuttable-plug-in-tape-light-rgb-warm-white.html" target="_blank">LED lighting from Good Earth</a> are pretty cheap and come with a remote control to customize the exact light you want. </br>
</span></br>
</br>
The <a href="https://www.instagram.com/obscurestvinyl/" target="_blank">Obscurest Vinyl</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ordinarypeoplememes/" target="_blank">Ordinary People Memes</a> instagram feeds.</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">Honorable mention to <a href="https://www.instagram.com/80snewsscreens/" target="_blank">80s News Screens</a></br>
</span></br>
</br>
<center>
<a href="https://twitter.com/JasonIsbell/status/1539430906783490055" target="_blank">This Tweet</a></br>
<img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52595792967_160cc94f2a_z.jpg" alt="2022" title="2022" border="0"/></br>
Twitter was kinda a shitshow there near the end, but one time Jason Isbell responded to my tweet. </br>
</center></br>
</br>
<center><b><span style="font-size:130%;">Books:</span></b></center></br>
</br>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/year_in_books/2022/738761">My Year In Books</a> is available online. Looks like around 11,000 pages read and 30ish books.</br>
</br>
<img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1584633432i/50623864.jpg" width="250" alt="books" title="reading is fundamental" border="0"/></br>
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50623864-the-invisible-life-of-addie-larue" target="_blank">The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue</a></b> by V.E. Schwab</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">France, 1714: in a moment of desperation, a young woman makes a Faustian bargain to live forever and is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets.</br>
Thus begins the extraordinary life of Addie LaRue, and a dazzling adventure that will play out across centuries and continents, across history and art, as a young woman learns how far she will go to leave her mark on the world.</br>
But everything changes when, after nearly 300 years, Addie stumbles across a young man in a hidden bookstore and he remembers her name.</br>
</span></br>
</br>
<img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1529591917i/40603587.jpg" width="250" alt="books" title="reading is fundamental" border="0"/> <img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1449159346i/25318857.jpg" width="246" alt="books" title="reading is fundamental" border="0"/></br>
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40603587-the-last-wish" target="_blank">The Last Wish</a> / <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25318857-sword-of-destiny" target="_blank">Sword of Destiny</a></b> by Andrzej Sapkowski</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">The first two "prequel" books to The Witcher series are very light (as far as epic sword and sorcery stuff goes) and enjoyable, and make a great companion read to the TV show.</br>
</span></br>
</br>
<img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1564199892i/45754981.jpg" width="250" alt="books" title="reading is fundamental" border="0"/></br>
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45754981-the-glass-hotel" target="_blank">The Glass Hotel</a></b> by Emily St. John Mandel</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">From the award-winning author of Station Eleven, an exhilarating novel set at the glittering intersection of two seemingly disparate events–a massive Ponzi scheme collapse and the mysterious disappearance of a woman from a ship at sea.</br>
</span></br>
</br>
<img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1362789963i/16059400.jpg" width="250" alt="books" title="reading is fundamental" border="0"/></br>
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16059400-burning-paradise" target="_blank">Burning Paradise</a></b> by Robert Charles Wilson</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">A great sci-fi page-turner about when a small group of conspiracy theorists (ok, hear me out) discover that a layer of celestial nanobots have been controlling and placating the population of the earth for a century. No WWII, no Great Depression. Is this extraterrestrial manipulation good or bad?</br>
</span></br>
</br>
<img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388179691i/9591398.jpg" width="250" alt="books" title="reading is fundamental" border="0"/></br>
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9591398-the-girl-who-circumnavigated-fairyland-in-a-ship-of-her-own-making" target="_blank">The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making</a></b> by Catherynne M. Valente</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">My favorite author crushes it in this much-loved young adult fantasy book. Her ability to create a meaningful scene while using beautiful and unexpected language. Preteen protagonist September is joined by the Green Wind in a jacket and a wyvern/dragon who was created from a library. Then it gets weird.</br>
</span></br>
</br>
<img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1637611536i/59684189.jpg" width="250" alt="books" title="reading is fundamental" border="0"/></br>
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59684189-hard-boiled-wonderland-and-the-end-of-the-world" target="_blank">Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World</a></b> by Haruki Murakami</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">Two interlaced novels that alternate chapters, one about a human computer and a scientist working on "sound removal" technology, and the other set in a fantastical enclosed city where your shadow is removed from you in order to do the necessary manual labor until it dies out.</br>
</span></br>
</br>
<img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1583523112i/48829708.jpg" width="250" alt="books" title="reading is fundamental" border="0"/></br>
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48829708-to-sleep-in-a-sea-of-stars" target="_blank">To Sleep in a Sea of Stars</a></b> by Christopher Paolini</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">A space explorer / scientist gets infected with an invasive species that becomes a bio-suit allowing her to communicate (and kick the ass of) the sudden alien invasion (which was awakened by her discovering the space suit species). This will probably be a mediocre series of movies at some point or a show on FX but the book was a ton of fun.</br>
</span></br>
</br>
<img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1534187029i/40780934.jpg" width="250" alt="books" title="reading is fundamental" border="0"/></br>
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40780934-let-s-go-so-we-can-get-back" target="_blank">Let's Go (So We Can Get Back): A Memoir of Recording and Discording with Wilco, Etc.</a></b> by Jeff Tweedy</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">The Wilco frontman has proven to be a very engaging author as he goes through his life and what it means to be in a rock band. A great anecdote is when he tried to convince his fellow third-graders that he wrote and recorded "Born to Run:"</br>
</span></br>
<center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52595792887_fd4772d4cb_c.jpg" "alt="2022" title="2022" border="0"/></br>
</br>
</br>
</br>
</br>
<b><span style="font-size:130%;">TeeVee:</span></b></center></br>
</br>
</br>
The Bear</br>
Light & Magic</br>
Sex Education</br>
Station Eleven</br>
Andor</br>
The Witcher</br>
Trainwreck: Woodstock '99</br>
Freaks and Geeks</br>
Love, Death, Robots</br>
Community</br>
Bridgerton Season 2</br>
House of the Dragon</br>
Stranger Things Season 4</br>
Wednesday</br>
Party Down</br>
Only Murders in the Building</br>
Attack on Titan/Jujutsu Kaizen/Cowboy Bebop</br>
The Queen's Gambit</br>
My Next Guest Needs No Introduction With David Letterman</br>
The Crown Season 5</br>
The Umbrella Academy</br>
Squid Game</br>
Moon Knight</br>
</br>
</br>
<center><b><span style="font-size:130%;">Movies:</span></b></center></br>
</br>
Prey</br>
The Batman</br>
Redline</br>
RRR</br>
The Mitchells vs. The Machines</br>
Top Gun: Maverick</br>
Licorice Pizza</br>
Nightmare Alley</br>
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness </br>
Neil Young's Harvest Time</br>
Kimi</br>
Weird: The Al Yankovic Story</br>
The Adam Project</br>
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever</br>
Thor: Love and Thunder</br>
Don't Look Up</br>
Hocus Pocus 2</br>
Moonfall</br>
Bullet Train</br>
Death on the Nile</br>
Downton Abbey: A New Era</br>
Elvis</br>
Jurassic World Dominion </br>
Uncharted</br>
Morbius</br>
</br><center>
The Meg</br>
<img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52596708450_93e192538d.jpg" "alt="2022" title="2022" border="0"/></br></br>
We've always joked that every time we check into a hotel, the shark movie The Meg is on TV. </br>
It started when we went to Chicago a couple years ago and Henry got sick on vacation. </br>
All we could do was hang out in the hotel room while TNT was having a Meg Marathon so we watched it on and off a number of times. </br></br>
Last year we were in a hotel somewhere and joked "Man, I hope The Meg is on" and it was. </br></br>
We went on a mini-vacation this fall, checked in and, yep. The Meg was on.</br>
</br>
</br>
</br>
<b><span style="font-size:130%;">Bad News:</span></b></br>
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Charlie </br>
<img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52595793032_3d6267af04_w.jpg" alt="2022" title="2022" border="0"/></br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">The ancient, creaky, and sweet farm cat passed on after using up at least 17 of his 9 lives.</br>
</span></br>
</center></br>
Take a Leak in the Bathroom</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">Our bathtub started leaking into the kitchen and despite plumber visits and heavy recaulking, we still can't completely figure it out.</br>
</span></br>
</br>
Dryer Debacle</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">When we bought our house in 1999 there was a late-eighties clothes dryer already hooked up in the basement. It worked valiantly for another two decades but crapped out this year. We bought a replacement but when they dudes delivered it, they couldn't get it down the stairs. What I didn't realize is that when we bought the house, they had to re-build one of the basement walls, so the stairwell was now 27⅜ inches wide and the dryers are all like 30 inches wide. After demolishing the existing broken dryer and hauling it out piece-by-piece, we had to find a slightly smaller apartment-style dryer that was exactly 27⅜ inches in width, and then cram it down our basement steps. As we were bringing it down, there was one point where all of us removed our hands from the dryer altogether and it just hung there, wedged in the walls that were exactly the same width. Ultimately, we crammed it down the stairs and got it installed, but it was a process.</br>
</span></br>
</br>
Flight Cancelled in Florida = Cannonball Run</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">The Disney trip on Spring Break was great but a massive storm blasted into Florida just as we were leaving and flights were cancelled for days. We thought quick, rented a car and made a Cannonball Run-style drive up the entire nation. Unexpected, but we were able to roll with it, sleeping in a crappy motel and introducing the boy to Waffle House.
</span></br>
<center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52595792882_f41769d005_w.jpg" alt="2022" title="2022" border="0"/></center></br>
</br>
The Erosion of Our Rights by Criminal Architects</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">By selectively placing shitheels onto the Supreme Court, the fringe right has stripped away peoples' rights to choose what happens to their own bodies, while one of them is married to a woman who was actively advocating for a hostile takeover of our Capital. They're stepping over the line between church and state and preventing the EPA to set emission standards and stretched out Title 42 longer than intended. I was glad to see Ketanji Brown Jackson (possibly the most qualified justice ever appointed) get there, and at least Michigan proved to be a bastion of light in November. </br>
</span></br>
</br>
Those who left us:</br>
Scott Mills (one of our running buddies who inexplicably died this year and I still feel like I see him on the street once a week)</br>
Mark Lanegan <span style="font-size:85%;">(I ended up <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/blog/post/sweet-oblivion-and-whiskey-for-the-holy-ghost-remembering-mark-lanegan">writing a whole article about him on AllMusic</a>.)</span></br>
Mimi Parker</br>
Angelo Badalamenti</br>
Glenn Johnson<span style="font-size:85%;"> (another friend gone too soon)</span></br>
Christine McVie</br>
Ryan's Mom</br>
Jerry Lee Lewis</br>
Hagrid</br>
Loretta Lynn</br>
QE II</br>
Nichelle Nichols</br>
Taylor Hawkins</br>
Joey the Dog</br>
Heather <span style="font-size:85%;">(I can't even put words around this yet)</span></br>
</br>
COVID</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">In general I feel that COVID is bad, but holy shit did I get COVID this year. After two years of masking, washing, vaccinating, boostering and not hugging my mom, I finally got the 'VID and it. was. awful. By far the sickest I have ever been... at one point I actually thought maybe being intubated would be a good idea. My wife nursed me to health and a delivery of chicken soup from a friend probably saved my life, but I was down for the count and I would only wish it on the worst of my worst enemies.</br>
</span></br>
<center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52596708425_554df5ae6c_w.jpg" alt="2022" title="2022" border="0"/></br></center>
</br></br>.:DataWhat?:.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13798529758046545533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6823993.post-41026639310927779832022-08-31T20:00:00.003-04:002022-08-31T20:00:31.397-04:00Half-CenturyThis year I turned 50.
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Throughout the year I kept track of the 50 things I liked, the 50 things that catch my eye, the 50 things that made me happy.
</br></br>
I printed them onto 50 stickers so that people could pick their favorites and wear them as well.
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Enjoy every sandwich..:DataWhat?:.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13798529758046545533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6823993.post-89589221633804145942021-12-31T11:28:00.005-05:002021-12-31T13:05:53.771-05:00</br>
<center><b><span style="font-size:130%;">2021 Was a Year:</span></b>
</br></br>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/143141625@N08/51789840371/in/dateposted/" title="Top9"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51789840371_75f15ba2c4_z.jpg" width="640" height="640" alt="Top9"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></br></br>
Home School • Barbaric Yawp • Knowing Look</br>
Upstate Dreaming • Pure Michigan • Axe Me No Questions</br>
Wedded Bliss • Firelight • Otherworldly
</center></br>
Vaccination Time, Come On!</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">Holy shit you guys. What a relief, especially when Henry could get his shots, and then the little kids were OK'd. We felt different, like superheroes. Knock wood but with our mask diligence and luck, we ain't got the 'Rona even once. It was nice to hug my mom again.</br>
</span></br>
</br>
Back 2 School</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">After a year and a half of virtual school, Henry was finally able to go back to school in person. He's got a great group of friends and was able to go to a sort of a homecoming in the front yard of his high school. He also joined the robotics team <a href="https://pihisamurai.org/">The PiHi Samurai</a> to build cool robots, plus this summer he went to driver's ed and got his learner's permit. Good kid.</br>
</span></br></br>
<center>
This Old House</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">Spent a lot of time and energy working on the old farmhouse this year. </br>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/143141625@N08/51788902667/in/photostream/" title="FarmProjects"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51788902667_3a793f114f_z.jpg" width="640" height="347" alt="FarmProjects"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></br>
We removed wallpaper and repainted, repaired and replaced all the window screens on the house, </br>
fixed and re-glazed the storm windows, replaced old insulation, bought deck furniture, </br>
and (most excitingly) pulled up old carpet to find decent hardwood underneath. </br>
On to electrical, fireplaces, refinishing floors and building bookshelves in 2022.</br></span></br>
</center>Axe Throwing</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">Henry's grandparents got him a session at the unfortunately-named <a href="https://axe-ventura.com">Axe Ventura</a> for his birthday and it was a blast. Sorta like a more dangerous version of bowling: you sign a waiver longer than the bible, then they hand you an axe and you can throw it wherever you'd like (ok, that part isn't true, but it is fun).</br>
</span></br>
<a href="https://djangophonique.com/">Djangophonique</a></br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">A local Gypsy jazz band who really has the chops. Their free concert in Ypsi was the first live music I saw in over a year and it was nice to hear.</br>
</span></br>
</br>
<center></br>
Upstate Dreaming</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">The family took a socially-distanced trip to Northern Michigan and the U.P., staying at friends' cottages and generally having a relaxed time. </br>
</span>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/143141625@N08/51790295139/in/dateposted/" title="Raleigh"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51790295139_24245f2bda_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="Raleigh"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></br>
We made fires, saw lakes and trees and read books on screened-in porches.</center>
</br></br>
We Were the Champions</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">Through some high-class connections, we got to watch a Tigers game at the fancy <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1nFRdCAMW4">Champions Club</a> at Comerica Park. A buffet, great seats and museum's worth of memorabilia including the two World Series trophies.</br>
</span></br>
</br>
Bell's No Yeah, Stiegl Radler Grapefruit Beer, Bell's Official Hazy IPA</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">Three great beers this year, especially the oddball <a href="https://www.stiegl.at/en/beers/classic-beers/stiegl-radler-grapefruit ">Stiegl grapefruit beer</a> which is amazingly refreshing.</br>
</span></br>
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Columbus, Ohio!</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">We took a mini-vacation to the wonderful burb to visit <a href="https://otherworldohio.com">Otherworld</a>, a bizarro art collective of light and space, and also hit the Marvel Comics exhibit at the science museum. Plus some triumphant hot dogs and veggie dogs at <a href="https://dirtyfranks.com">Dirty Frank’s</a>. Excelsior!</br>
</span>
<center></br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">This was our favorite room. All mirrored surfaces with an antique chair and phonograph. </br>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/143141625@N08/51790587185/in/photostream/" title="MirrorRoom"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51790587185_cb5f112ac9_z.jpg" width="640" height="213" alt="MirrorRoom"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></br>
The best part was that there were a stack of replica 7" records on the table </br>
and if you put them on the phonograph they would play different tunes and change the lighting.</br>
</span></center></br>
</br>
Dreamscape Immersive</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">On this trip, Henry and I did a <a href="https://dreamscapeimmersive.com/adventures/details/magicprojector01">VR experience at AMC Dreamscape</a> which was sorta life changing. There are only four of these theaters in the world (L.A., Dallas, Dubai, and Columbus) and you get strapped into a rig with goggles, earphones, a backpack and then trackers on your feet and hands, then you go into a 15x15 foot room and when they flip the switch you are standing in an old Indiana Jonesian museum.
You step out onto a balcony and you can "see" hundreds of feet below you as the wind blows your hair. You look to your left and right and see the other people in your party dressed as explorers and airmen. You reach out to flip the lever and the lever is actually in your real hand! You walk and enter a cave and grab a flaming torch AND THERE IS A REAL TORCH IN YOUR ACTUAL HAND! You wave the "torch" at cobwebs and the flame burns the cobwebs away. The floor gives way and your stomach drops, your feet feel the vibrations. You walk onto a platform in a mine shaft and take a roller coaster ride, all while standing in place. </br>
</span></br>
</br>
Pie Pan</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">Got a new pizza pan from <a href="https://lloydpans.com/pizza-tools/pizza-pans/pizza-sheet-pans.html">Lloyd Pans</a> and it seems to be solving my soggy bottoms problems.</br>
</span></br>
<center>
Atomic Starburst Pottery</br>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/143141625@N08/51789966793/in/photostream/" title="starburst"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51789966793_b74b874eb1.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="starburst"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">Penny found a set of this swank <a href="https://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/204245-franciscan-starburst-atomic-earthenware">Atomic Starburst pottery</a> in a box in the barn and it is the bees knees.</br>
</span></center></br>
</br>
A Taco Truck on Every Corner</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">One of the bright sides of this year has been that some folks on our block have been coordinating with local food trucks and every Tuesday we have a different truck right down the block. Favorites have included <a href="https://www.facebook.com/people/Tacos-El-Mariachi-Loco/100063670837103/">Tacos El Mariachi Loco</a>, <a href="https://www.theironfoodtruck.com/">The Iron Food Truck</a> (chicken and waffles), <a href="https://pizzapazzafoodtruck.com/menus/">PizzaPazza</a> (wood-fired pizzas in a truck!), <a href="http://www.raysredhots.com/">Ray's Red Hots</a> and <a href="https://www.timsgoodfoodgrill.com/">Tim's Good Food Grill</a> (sliders).</br>
</span></br>
</br>
Two Weddings</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">After waiting through the most uncertain times, some great kids got married this summer. Nice to see family being safe and happy.</br>
</span></br>
</br>
Renaissance, Man</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">Since we were unable to do much travel this year, we decided to make a weekend out of getting a hotel room and visiting the <a href="https://www.michrenfest.com">Renaissance Festival</a>. The jousting, Washing Wenches and falconry were as good as always, but the nicest thing was being in a hotel for the first time in like 18 months. No bills to pay, no laundry to do, no meals to cook. Just laying in bed and watching <a href="https://www.allmovie.com/movie/the-meg-v657794">The Meg</a> over and over again.</br>
</span></br>
</br>
<center>
Henry has been working on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfQ0SzdIOvU">playing the drums</a>, composing music, and creating 3D art in Blender.</br>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IBdaJoFfqoQ" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe><br>
This video combines all of these and is beyond cool.</center></br>
</br>
Plus: I went to a cool opera in Detroit, we discovered Garam Masala and Za'atar seasonings, Penny started putting LED candles on timers all around the house (big fan: you just come into a room and a little candle is just shining away at you), the Ann Arbor Civic Theater filmed a little play on the porch of the farm, and my buddies and I re-screened the porch at the Cottage while I ate some of the best food of my life.</br>
</br>
</br>
</br>
<center></br>
<b><span style="font-size:130%;">Tunes:</span></b></center></br></br></br>
</br>
<img src="https://rovimusic.rovicorp.com/image.jpg?c=0-Qzn01llp2iFGzij4amy4Af7E_1E-2MlBBPmPAXRBU=&f=3" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0"/></br>
<b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/all-bets-are-off-mw0003429463" target="_blank">All Bets Are Off</a></b> - Tamar Aphek</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">Oh man. This album was unlike anything else I heard this year. Tamar Aphek is a pioneer in Israel's underground rock scene and the album feels like a rocket taking off. Raw and unexpected, but still very tuneful and darkly beautiful. My friend Heather summed it up when she wrote "Frequently, All Bets Are Off feels like a collection of noir short stories from the femme fatale's point of view. "Stab him with your high heels/Then run," she sighs on "Crossbow," a standout that sounds like a chase scene with no escape. Poised somewhere between elegance and ferocity, All Bets Are Off is an exciting debut from an artist who thrives on the unexpected."
</span></br></br>
<img src="https://rovimusic.rovicorp.com/image.jpg?c=ZpAwBhl2eR4XKoR_jdOkxoAf7E_1E-2MlBBPmPAXRBU=&f=3" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0"/></br>
<b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/sour-mw0003505702" target="_blank">Sour</a></b> - Olivia Rodrigo</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">I resisted the zeitgeist single "Drivers License" for a long time, but once I listened I was hooked. Much along the same lines of a Taylor Swift or early Fiona Apple, the songs have a clean sheen but lay bare the feelings of a frustrated and conflicted teenager in love.
</span></br></br>
<img src="https://cdn-s3.allmusic.com/release-covers/250/0005/528/0005528419.jpg" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0"/></br>
<b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/pohorylle-mw0003566399" target="_blank">Pohorylle</a></b> - Margo Cilker</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">My musical Carnac the Magnificent Steve Bekkala hepped me to this Oregon singer/songwriter whose album embraces elements of the best Emmylou Harris / First Aid Kit / Gillian Welch / Maren Morris flourishes while still feeling fresh. Just solid songwriting and delivery, almost like if Emmylou covered an entire record of b-sides from The Band.
</span></br></br>
<img src="https://rovimusic.rovicorp.com/image.jpg?c=E5gNx6HteQnjud4cKJfpjR_TZlp6n_cq-Emr2zx15tU=&f=3" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0"/></br>
<b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/happy-birthday-ratboy-mw0003505683" target="_blank">Happy Birthday, Ratboy</a></b> - Ratboys</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">This unfortunately-named band offers a sweet-voiced and twangy pocket of tunes. While the name sounds like a skuzzball hair metal act, their sound is more like Hope Sandoval from Mazzy Star fronting Son Volt.
</span></br></br>
<img src="https://rovimusic.rovicorp.com/image.jpg?c=urt8y0DaUqPv2w-3ZlDQ7h_TZlp6n_cq-Emr2zx15tU=&f=3" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0"/></br>
<b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/begin-mw0000690213" target="_blank">Begin</a></b> - The Millennium</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">This 1968 album was reissued in 2021 and showcases a forgotten early psych-pop band that never quite made it. The songs are wonderfully-crafted and lush, on par with similar recordings by the Beach Boys and the Byrds. At the time, it was the most expensive album Columbia Records ever made, once forgotten, now remembered.
</span></br></br>
<img src="https://rovimusic.rovicorp.com/image.jpg?c=4p3r7hpq0yPN_xNPFX06IIAf7E_1E-2MlBBPmPAXRBU=&f=3" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0"/></br>
<b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/yasuke-music-from-the-netflix-original-anime-series--mw0003518685" target="_blank">Yasuke</a></b> - Flying Lotus</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">My son turned me on to this one. Flying Lotus is an electronic/instrumental hip-hop producer who focuses on soundscapes and deep grooves, he was commissioned to write the score for an anime series inspired by a 16th century African samurai. Aside from the hip-hop elements album also "often taps into the noirish romanticism in Vangelis' Blade Runner score" and Pink Floyd's spacey experimentation.
</span></br></br>
<img src="https://rovimusic.rovicorp.com/image.jpg?c=opd92PQ0WzzE_UOEGGw05N_M69_UI9rrJSVvWL2-yAg=&f=3" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0"/></br>
<b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/long-lost-mw0003499739" target="_blank">Long Lost</a></b> - Lord Huron</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">Another sprawling and reverb-laden offering from this Michigan/California act. The compositions are simple but the soaring sonics always remind me of up north evenings.
</span></br></br>
<img src="https://rovimusic.rovicorp.com/image.jpg?c=Dms-1ImHlH0IFjjPYa3OxJhUoDg0hsvx4F4sL4oO-nA=&f=3" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0"/></br>
<b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/other-you-mw0003552236" target="_blank">Other You</a></b> - Steve Gunn</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">I hadn't heard Steve Gunn before this album but it was perfect for album for late summer afternoons. Layered guitars and unobtrusive vocal melodies somewhere between Sam Prekop (from The Sea and Cake) and David Gilmour's solo work.
</span></br></br>
<img src="https://rovimusic.rovicorp.com/image.jpg?c=7SReX1CP0l1-MrDrP8D71SpQg_7iAU1wjqLgK_xGXts=&f=3" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0"/></br>
<b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/i-dont-live-here-anymore-mw0003559160" target="_blank">I Don't Live Here Anymore</a></b> - The War on Drugs</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">More of the same from Adam Granduciel -- broad strokes of guitar reverb and Michelob commercial rainy streets but he still nails it down. A fine headphone album and background music.
</span></br></br>
<img src="https://rovimusic.rovicorp.com/image.jpg?c=Ps2bfGMNHw9tguapas5cIByhM-OFI8zG4l-qVpXXB1I=&f=3" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0"/></br>
<b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-ballad-of-dood-juanita-mw0003563595" target="_blank">The Ballad of Dood & Juanita</a></b> - Sturgill Simpson</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">This album holds a special place for me. It came out when I was up north with a bunch of pals and we waited to listen to it until after the fire was built and the moon was coming up. The album is less than a half-hour long but is a cinematic story of a Civil War vet tracking down his kidnapped bride, and feels like a companion piece to Willie Nelson's "Red-Headed Stranger" in the best possible way.
</span></br></br>
</br>
</br>
<center>I also did a Spotify playlist of my fave tunes.</br>
<iframe src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/playlist/2nUbD1jRElwXEBMIFzZIMd?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="380" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture"></iframe></br></br></br>
<b><span style="font-size:130%;">Computers and Technology:</span></b></br>
</br>
This video about British Markets:</br>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MWTHbQ2sI0c" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">Narrated by Lee Titt, come for the poorly-identified animals, </br>
stay for the wild miscalculation of the number of giant pencils.</br>
</center></br>
<b><a href="https://yourewrongabout.com" target="_blank">You're Wrong About</a></b> podcast</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">Mike and Sarah are journalists obsessed with the past. Every week they reconsider an event, person or phenomenon that’s been miscast in the public imagination.</br>
</span></br>
</br>
<b><a href="https://cocaineandrhinestones.com" target="_blank">Cocaine & Rhinestones - Season 2</a></b> podcast</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">This season has been an incredible deep dive into the career of George Jones. Cocaine and rhinestones indeed.</br>
</span></br>
</br>
<b><a href="https://www.theringer.com/the-rewatchables" target="_blank">The Rewatchables</a></b> podcast</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">Movie fans sit and discuss the most rewatchable movies of all time. (Think of a movie where if you're flipping channels and it is on, you gotta stop and watch at least one scene... that's a "Rewatchable.")</br>
</span></br>
</br>
<b><a href="https://www.theringer.com/the-big-picture" target="_blank">The Big Picture</a></b> podcast</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">This one is a bit hit or miss, but they do fun rankings of movies including the occasional Movie Draft where they pick a year or a category and select their roster, fantasy football style.</br>
</span></br>
</br>
<b><a href="https://www.marxbrotherscouncilpodcast.com" target="_blank">The Marx Brothers Council</a></b> podcast</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">OK, definitely not for everyone, but these hosts have already forgotten more about the Marx Brothers than I will ever know. </br>
</span></br>
</br>
New Phone, Who 'Dis?</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">Upgraded about six versions to a new iPhone this year. I was glad that they are making the iPhone 12 Mini since the bigger they get, the harder it is to cram them into my pocket. I've come to the realization (justification?) that a phone should be like shoes or a mattress. You end up spending a significant amount of time with these things, better to get the one you want as opposed to being frustrated with the limitations of your old busted thing.</br>
</span></br>
</br>
HBO Max & Tubi</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">Both of these streaming services make the list for different reasons. HBO Max consistently has a lot of good stuff to watch, including some of the great TV series I just never got around to seeing before. And Tubi has a buttload of terrible disaster movies.</br>
</span></br>
<center><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/143141625@N08/51788970662/in/dateposted/" title="tubi"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51788970662_6c2fd19be9_z.jpg" width="416" height="640" alt="tubi"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center></br>
</br>
</br>
<center><b><span style="font-size:130%;">Books:</span></b></center></br>
</br>
</br>
<img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1316635864i/8694389.jpg" width="200" alt="books" title="reading is fundamental" border="0"/></br>
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8694389-deathless" target="_blank">Deathless</a></b> by Catherynne M. Valente</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">My favorite book of the year by one of the most gifted authors I've ever read. Valente tells a story of the history of 20th century Russia (kinda) through the experiences of a young woman who becomes the child bride of Koschei the Deathless (a mythical Russian devil) and works toward his undoing. Magical talking guns! Plant golems! House Elves! Birds that transform into handsome soldiers! Red scarves! The writing is like poetry and so evocative, it plays out like a movie in your brain.
</span></br></br>
<img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1604254794i/288950.jpg" width="200" alt="books" title="reading is fundamental" border="0"/></br>
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/288950.Stick" target="_blank">Stick</a></b> by Elmore Leonard</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">I had breezed through a handful of pulpy modern gumshoe mysteries that I had found in free little libraries while my beloved AADL was closed down and enjoyed them, so I decided that I should probably go to the source and read some Elmore Leonard. Surprise surprise, I read about six of them and loved every one. This was the best of the best in my opinion (so far), but they are almost all relatively interchangeable and enjoyable.
</span></br></br>
<img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1435452849i/90619.jpg" width="200" alt="books" title="reading is fundamental" border="0"/></br>
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/90619.Little_Big" target="_blank">Little, Big</a></b> by John Crowley</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">This is one that I tried to read about five years ago and really was enjoying it but I realized that I wasn't in a place to get as much out of it as I should so I put it down. 18 months of pandemic lockdown seemed like it should offer the time to concentrate and it really paid off. A tale of multiple generations of somehow magical people who live on the outskirts of what is visible, and the way their lives get smaller and closer as technology and society close in.</br></br>
<center>
<img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51788902657_62fc78f9c4_w.jpg" alt="little, big" title="little, big" border="0"/></br>
A photo of a passage from Little, Big</br></center>
</span></br></br>
<img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1338161553i/11447921.jpg" width="200" alt="books" title="reading is fundamental" border="0"/></br>
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11447921-beautiful-ruins" target="_blank">Beautiful Ruins</a></b> by Jess Walter</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">An unexpected delight, this book follows a screenplay for a mediocre war picture from its beginnings in a forgotten Italian inn to Hollywood over half a century. Romantic and honest, this was a smart beach read.
</span></br></br>
<img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1591339054i/52597312.jpg" width="200" alt="books" title="reading is fundamental" border="0"/></br>
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52597312-utopia-avenue" target="_blank">Utopia Avenue</a></b> by David Mitchell</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">An easy blast. This book from David Mitchell (The Bone Clocks, Cloud Atlas) tells the tale of a fictional psychedelic rock band in 1967 as they brush elbows with David Bowie, Janis Joplin, Keith Moon, Leonard Cohen and Sid Barrett and try to figure out how to be a rock band with drugs, sexuality, writers block and the inevitable multiverse-splitting personality disorder/demonic possession.
</span></br></br>
<img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388184640i/7235533.jpg" width="200" alt="books" title="reading is fundamental" border="0"/></br>
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7235533-the-way-of-kings" target="_blank">The Way of Kings</a></b> by Brandon Sanderson</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">Sanderson has been recommended to me repeatedly and I dug into the first book of this series. Huge worldbuilding over a thousand pages involving religions, magical armor, cultural economy, souljewels and all kinds of gooey fantasy stuff along the lines of The Wheel of Time and The Lord of the Rings.
</span></br></br>
Full list of stuff I read <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/year_in_books/2021/738761">here at Goodreads</a>:</br></br>
<center><b><span style="font-size:130%;">TeeVee:</span></b></center></br>
</br></br>
I usually write that I don't watch much TV but this year I decided I would tune into many of the great shows of this Second Golden Age of Television.</br>
</br>
True Detective (Season 1)</br>
The Wire</br>
The Sopranos</br>
Schitt's Creek</br>
Log Cabin Living (if I believed in guilty pleasures, this would be defined as one)</br>
Bridgerton</br>
WandaVision</br>
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier</br>
Loki</br>
What If...?</br>
Hawkeye</br>
Love, Death, Robots</br>
A Discovery of Witches</br>
<a href="https://www.pbs.org/show/icon-music-through-lens/">Icon</a> was a PBS show about Rock Music photographers and was super compelling.</br>
HBO Max/The Ringer Music Box series</br>
Classic Albums <span style="font-size:85%;">again</span></br>
</br>
<center>The Beatles Get Back</br>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/143141625@N08/51789843441/in/dateposted/" title="mugs"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51789843441_cb0fa71fb3.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="mugs"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">I mostly watched just for these mugs though.</span></br>
</br></br>
<b><span style="font-size:130%;">Movies:</span></b></center></br>
</br>
</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">(mostly Marvel movies, tbh)</span></br>
Spider-Man: No Way Home</br>
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings</br>
Black Widow</br>
Palm Springs</br>
Red Notice</br>
Godzilla vs. Kong</br>
Summer of Soul</br>
Justice League Snyder Cut</br>
Jungle Cruise</br>
Birddemic</br>
House Shark</br>
Christams Twister:</br>
<center></br>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/143141625@N08/51789840476/in/photostream/" title="ChristamsTwister"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51789840476_e8b35d2358_w.jpg" width="400" height="300" alt="ChristamsTwister"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></br>
</br></br>
<b><span style="font-size:130%;">Bad News:</span></b></center></br>
</br>
Those we lost:</br>
Nanci Griffith</br>
Aunt Helen</br>
<a href="https://thesalinepost.com/g/saline-mi/n/43615/taylor-jacobsen-84-artist-teacher-volunteer-saline-enthusiast">Mr. Jacobson</a> </br>
Michael Nesmith</br>
Charlie Watts</br>
Dusty Hill of ZZ Top</br>
Biz Markie</br>
</br>
There was a school shooting close to home and it caused a lot of hopeless anxiety.</br>
</br>
There was a massive wind storm at the Cottage up north. We came out mostly unscathed but many neighbors got hit pretty hard, and it is very troubling to see photos of the area and not be able to zip up there and check in on it. Thankfully good neighbors took some photos and put our minds at ease before we got up there with the insurance guy.</br>
</br>
A bunch of knuckleheads jacked up on Mountain Dew and misinformation tried to take our country by force last January.</br>
</br>
<center></br>
Bernie Sanders and I ended up <a href="https://www.today.com/news/bernie-sanders-talks-about-mitten-memes-inauguration-day-t206581">wearing the exact same thing</a> to Biden's inauguration:</br>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/143141625@N08/51788902687/in/photostream/" title="bernie"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51788902687_ed339c4343.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="bernie"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center></br>
</br>
Times was hard for a lot of people but I can't help but feel hopeful for our future. </br>
</br>Here's to two oh two two.
</br>
</br>
.:DataWhat?:.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13798529758046545533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6823993.post-63680316209233301192020-12-31T11:13:00.005-05:002020-12-31T11:30:31.745-05:002020 Visions</br>
<center><b><span style="font-size:130%;">Finding the Good in 2020:</span></b>
</br></br>
<img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50780468373_d8438bd5d7_c.jpg" alt="2020" title="2020" border="0"/></br>
Top Nine Twenty Twenty:</br>
1. Juggling Responsibilities 2. Porchsleeper Rockdown Before Lockdown 3. WTF WFH </br>
4. Repair Projects 5. Mask It or Casket 6. Stack the Deck </br>
7. Feeline’ Fine 8. Nitty Gritty 9. Freshman Class
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I follow the defunct TV show 30 Rock on Facebook and about once a week they post a text post that just says "What a week, huh?" and I swearta god every week it makes me laugh. </br>
</br>This was the most bizarre year of my life and I can only think that it may be similar to <a href="https://www.elsevier.com/connect/remembering-the-dreaded-summers-of-polio" target="_blank">when Americans knew Polio was a bad thing but didn't know what caused it</a>. My mom told me tales of a summer in the fifties when she and her sister couldn't play outside because there was something terrible happening to kids but nobody knew what it was. Or maybe it as like like London in WWII when kids couldn't go to school or families couldn't do their usual thing because bombs could rain out of the sky at any time.
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This whole year was like the scene in Boogie Nights when they're trying to sell drugs at Alfred Molina's house but he has a weird teenager throwing firecrackers into the air when nobody expects it. All of the sudden, we're in lockdown, but then you can eat in a restaurant, and if your loved one dies in Ohio but needs to be buried in New York maybe you can't go to the funeral, but you can go to casinos, just not the library. You and your immediate family has stayed away from everybody, but your friends on Instagram are going on bachelor party weekends or hanging out with 20 other people on a pontoon boat.
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You go to the grocery store in a mask and gloves, leave the (paper) bags on the porch and head straight to the shower, depositing your clothes in a laundry basket for your wife to throw straight into the washing machine, all the time wondering if the lady who asked you to get something from the top shelf just had allergies or what.
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Your baby nephew gets bigger but you haven't been able to come within 6 feet of him in 8+ months.
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You haven't hugged your mom in what feels like a thousand years.
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At the same time, life moves forward, and you ask each other what month it is and do projects and bake things and make things and contribute to the GoFundMe pleas from the places you desperately need to still be open when we get out of this thing.
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Your kid gets taller than your wife, then taller than you and is hilarious and whip-smart and (most important of all) kind, and has about the best group of pals you can hope for.
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And your wife tracks the CDC site and the WHO site and keeps you informed on what is actually happening, cutting through the (literal) fake news nonsense that contradicts itself, and she plays more tennis than she has since high school (and is really good at it), she works to <a href="https://www.salinehistory.org/" target="_blank">improve her community</a> and she gets a job at a non-profit where she honest-to-god saves puppies and is respected by her peers.
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So some days you feel lost and underwater, and other days you feel as content as you can feel, a little bit guilty for feeling good while waiting for the next bomb to drop or the vaccine to be in hand or waiting for the next firecracker to explode.
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<center>Squirrel Table</br>
<img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50777045093_2c0f3d5dfd.jpg" alt="2020" title="2020" border="0"/></br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">Henry and I took it upon ourselves to build a little table for the squirrels in our neighborhood. </br>
Outside dining only.
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This Old House </br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">Replaced the water system at the farm, removed old wallpaper and had plaster repaired, washed and stained the deck, planed a tree to replace the monster maple tree that came down last year, cut a path through the back part of the property, started rebuilding and repairing the hand-built wooden window screens, got a dumpster and tossed out a barnsworth of garbage.</br>
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Retirement Homie</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">After working for a million years at the University, my dad retired and instead of sitting around at home waiting for COVID to be over, he is now sitting at home waiting for COVID to be over and making biscuits. It's about the weirdest year ever to retire, and I'm sorry he missed out on a big retirement party but I'm glad he did it.
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Everything Bagel sprinkle</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">This year I discovered that you can buy a little sprinkle that you can put on your bagel to make it taste like an Everything bagel. I liked that a lot.
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Developing Skills in These Unprecedented Times.</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">Henry is getting good at digital art in Blender (portfolio <a href="https://dribbble.com/henrywjohnson" target="_blank">here</a>) and playing the drums (as well as working in Garage Band and Reaper to compose some of his own works). During lockdown he learned how to solve a Rubick's Cube and how to juggle, as well as making donuts, churros, beignets and how to jump-start a dead car battery (which happened often since we were never driving anywhere). Remote learning is going well for him and it'll be weird for him to actually go to school again.
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<center>Gritty Sauce</br>
<img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50777802501_d390fb8392.jpg" alt="2020" title="2020" border="0"/></br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">The only orange menace I have been able to really embrace this year is Gritty,
the Philadelphia Flyers mascot, </br>so when I found out that there was going to be a sriracha and mayonnaise sauce in honor of Gritty himself, </br>
I had to get myself some.
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Election Results Day</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">The political world was an insane shitshow this year but I will always remember the Saturday after the election when I was working out in the yard on a warm November afternoon and I heard honking and hooting and cheering erupt in the streets all around me. I jumped in my car and honked the horn, and then Henry and I masked up and walked uptown, being passed by noisy car and people waving and a real feeling of relief. Somebody pulled their guitar amp out on their balcony and played a heartfelt (if note-imperfect) version of the Star Spangled Banner to the whole city. It felt like something had changed.
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Gypsy Jazz</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">I did not get as involved as some quarantuners, but I did spend a bit more time playing guitar and specifically trying to learn the gypsy jazz style of playing as demonstrated by Django Reinhardt.
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<center>Haunted Hall prints and ReTech lamps</br>
<img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50777913247_1b689702f8.jpg" alt="2020" title="2020" border="0"/> <img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50777913087_8936e6d387.jpg" alt="2020" title="2020" border="0"/></br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">Every October there is an artist's fair called <a href="http://www.bewitchingpeddlersofhalloween.com" target="_blank">Bewitching Peddlers of Halloween</a> that offers some really cool art pieces, but this fucking year ruined that. </br>They had an online event and I was still able to find some wonderful rubber-hose/Cuphead style prints from <a href="https://www.theblackrabbitstudio.com" target="_blank">The Black Rabbit Studio</a> </br>and continuing my fascination with the industrial sculptures and lighting designs from <a href="https://www.instagram.com/retech_org/?hl=en">ReTech.org</a>.
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Sunsets at Glen Arbor</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">This year we tentatively drove upstate to a condo in Glen Arbor which showed us a series of the most picturesque sunsets I have ever seen. It was fitting.</br></br>
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Blacksmithing Class</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">We took a blacksmithing class at a local farm school. While my arms were tired, it felt good to actually create something.</br></br>
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<center>Thano's Lamplighter Pizza Experiment</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">I felt the need deep in my bones to re-create Thano's Deep Dish Sicilian pizza that I loved at the Lamplighter so much. </br>
<img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50777913292_4763a90f64.jpg" alt="2020" title="2020" border="0"/></br>
It was a pan-style Sicilian pizza with a thick, buttery, doughy sesame seed crust, a spice-heavy (non-sweet) sauce with thick mozzarella (or maybe a blend?) and sparse, large (not curled-up) pepperoni and onion (long sliced onion pieces, not diced). Maybe the pepperoni was under the cheese? It was cooked and delivered to the table on a thick, silver-colored, rectangular pan and served in eight rectangular slices. So far I've gotten close to nailing it but I have problems with my soggy bottom. I ordered a new pan this week and the quest continues.
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20th Work Anniversary at AMGMacrovisionRoviAllMediaNetworkBlinkxRhythmOneNetaktionAllMediaNetwork</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">20 short years ago I started working as an assistant editor at All Media Guide (after a couple years of scattered freelancing and casual stalking). When Tower Records closed down, I honestly had no idea what I wanted to do. "What jobs are there? What do people do for a job?" I would ask myself (and the only thing I could think of was being a garbage man). At that time, miraculously AMG had outgrown their humble beginnings and moved their offices to my hometown. At the same moment, the internet was becoming a thing and the company was expanding, looking for somebody who would write about bluegrass, folk and acoustic music. </br>Woodstra interviewed me about working at a big record store, and Tom and I talked about the recent Merle Haggard reissues. I didn't think we talked about anything actually business-related, and later I discovered that *was* us talking about business. I stumbled into the weirdest job with the best people and have somehow stayed there* for two decades and through a million different business cards (and parent companies).</br> I honestly have no idea what will happen next, but if I can somehow squeak out another 20 years helping to keep these websites breathing, I'll consider it a career well spent.</br></br></br>
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Summer Game and Bummer Game</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">Our local library is literally the best. Each summer they set up a bunch of quests and missions and riddles in town for people to research and discover, and when you get the answer you earn points toward t-shirts or notebooks or other goodies. This year they amazingly invented a way for regular people to create home codes, put them on a map and then when players discovered a home code they could redeem it for points. We took a lot of walks in the neighborhood using the map and getting points.</br>
If that wasn't enough, they saved our sanity in the spring by creating the hilariously-named Bummer Game which was a lite version of the Summer Game just when we needed it most.
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<center>Weird stenciled records stapled up around town</br>
<img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50777044903_2cc6d4357e.jpg" alt="2020" title="2020" border="0"/> <img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50777800016_af42f1db71.jpg" alt="2020" title="2020" border="0"/></br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">At some point during the summer some art weirdo went around our neighborhood and nailed a bunch of hand-painted stenciled LP records up impossbly high on phone poles. </br>Some have come down but many are still there.
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Porchsleeper show at Hamtramck Blowout</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">The 'Sleeper awakened this year for a reunion show at Baker's Streetcar Bar right before the lockdown hit. It is so incredible to remember being in a room pressed shoulder-to-shoulder with a mass of humanity shouting and sweating all in the name of rock and roll. I feel like we played well and am thankful for the memory.
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Fatcat No More</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">Our cat Twix weighed a whopping 23 pounds at the beginning of the year. There is a chart of what obese cats look like and he wasn't even represented on the chart. Through a lot of dilligent measuring of food amounts and regulated feeding schedules he is now down to a lean and mean 15 pounds (a total loss of 8 pounds!). Sometimes I'll hold a pound of ground beef before cooking it and realize "Twix has lost 8 of these. He used to carry around 8 of these exact things and now he is much healthier."</br></br></br>
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<center>Pumpkin Carving Contest at AADL</br></br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">Penny and I entered a verrrry spooooky pumpkin carving contest held by our incredible local library and both of us won big prizes! </br>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5jdhKfAmUzc" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></br></br>
You can see Penny's scary pumpkin which won Best Classic Jack O'Lantern at 3:25 and my first place winner at 6:10.
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<b><span style="font-size:130%;">Tunes:</span></b></center></br></br>
<img src="https://cdn-s3.allmusic.com/release-covers/500/0005/208/0005208636.jpg" width="200" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0"/></br>
<b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/fetch-the-bolt-cutters-mw0003377498" target="_blank">Fetch the Bolt Cutters</a></b> - Fiona Apple</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">This album was surprise-released when we were about a month into COVID-19 lockdown at the moment when we all kinda looked at each other (from a socially-distanced distance) and said "whoooo. OK, we may be in this for a while." The material was worked on and recorded over half a decade in her home studio and is insanely intimate and self-aware, with oddball percussion, hooky melodies, unexpected soundscapes and the occasional dog bark in the background. Apple reveals parts of herself in that way that only Fiona Apple "This world is bullshit" can, recounting (maybe?) half-fictional elements of her relationships, her childhood and how she views the world. This was not only the best album this year but one of the best albums of the decade.
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<img src="https://rovimusic.rovicorp.com/image.jpg?c=jkVVNTs1ssXB5TtOunu9pIAf7E_1E-2MlBBPmPAXRBU=&f=5" width="200" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0"/></br>
<b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/folklore-mw0003408614" target="_blank">Folklore</a></b> - Taylor Swift</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">While I don't think this is the best album of the year, it may be my favorite album of the year. Bridging some kind of line between singer-songwriter folk and indie pop, it feels insular and intimate, like it could only have been recorded on a shoestring in little individual recording studios during the pandemic of our lifetime. It insists and suggests, and her characters intertwine from one song to the next. I think she's a little bit scary like she has the power to put you in the cornfield if you give her too much trouble, and this confidence is balanced with her decades-crafted little girl innocence to offer different layers of discoveries upon repeat listens.</br></br></br>
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<img src="https://cdn-s3.allmusic.com/release-covers/500/0005/193/0005193977.jpg" width="200" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0"/></br>
<b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/teamwork-mw0003369375" target="_blank">Teamwork</a></b> - Futurebirds</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">As gruff around the edges as Drive-By Truckers but sweet and soaring like My Morning Jacket. At times it feels like Flying Burrito Brothers, "Being There"-era Wilco or side 2 of "Exile on Main Street."
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<img src="https://rovimusic.rovicorp.com/image.jpg?c=WIrDd3dS_OxpSBEtcdtWaQ4Q1ghY8VaPylnm7PwcKNY=&f=5" width="200" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0"/></br>
<b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/marigold-mw0003333700" target="_blank">Marigold</a></b> - Pinegrove</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">Pinegrove released this pleading, urgent album in the vein of Death Cab for Cutie or the Decemberists with an emphasis on soaring anthemic melodies balanced by the lead singer's eyes-closed/heart-forward vocals.
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<img src="https://cdn-s3.allmusic.com/release-covers/500/0005/187/0005187760.jpg" width="200" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0"/></br>
<b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/women-in-music-pt-3-mw0003365057" target="_blank">Women in Music, Pt. 3</a></b> - Haim</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">Sparse and California funky, the Haim sisters' harmonies and loose orchestrations feel casual and imploring, and come off as brassy and innocent and comforting. </br></br></br>
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<img src="https://rovimusic.rovicorp.com/image.jpg?c=ThAvDI4xm0xjg-e2LXjFkIAf7E_1E-2MlBBPmPAXRBU=&f=5" width="200" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0"/></br>
<b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-waterfall-ii-mw0003392352" target="_blank">The Waterfall II</a></b> - My Morning Jacket</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">I like it quite a bit. More than Waterfall. I purposefully sat down and listened to it (as opposed to having it on in the background while I was working) and found a number of real gems. The first two songs remind me of low-key Evil Urges/Circuital anthems, "Climbing the Ladder" is a goofy pedal steel disco backbeat with a third chorus that slows down to half tempo(?!?!?) before finding its feet again. "Magic Bullet" is a sneaky dark "Highly Suspicious" or "Holdin' on to Black Metal" with a honking baritone sax section. "Run It" and the last two songs are little back porch strummers that round out the record nicely. Nothing hit me as hard as their mid-period records do, but I have found a lot to like.
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<img src="https://rovimusic.rovicorp.com/image.jpg?c=DqRSYYph73g5i37YhxadjipQg_7iAU1wjqLgK_xGXts=&f=5" width="200" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0"/></br>
<b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/rookie-mw0003355472" target="_blank">Rookie</a></b> - Rookie</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">These Chicago rockers have been compared to Cheap Trick, Wilco, Big Star and the Rolling Stones which sounds pretty OK to me. Loose and raw and summery and swaggering and occasionally gleeful, this was my summertime 2020 go-to.</br></br></br>
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<img src="https://rovimusic.rovicorp.com/image.jpg?c=qjXnCxsTnA2ORE8FxfMiNx_TZlp6n_cq-Emr2zx15tU=&f=5" width="200" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0"/></br>
<b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/reunions-mw0003357573" target="_blank">Reunions</a></b> - Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">Another solid offering from Jason Isbell. It didn't hit me as hard as some of his other albums, but each one has been a grower, and there are some quality songs on this one. "Dreamsicle" is particulary evocative of a summer day as a kid.
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<img src="https://rovimusic.rovicorp.com/image.jpg?c=3mbkyu3xYMdBoJG1bQlvRgSijaXJlYnq0St31qpAJWo=&f=5" width="200" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0"/></br>
<b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/england-is-a-garden-mw0003341037" target="_blank">England is a Garden</a></b> - Cornershop</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">'Member these guys? "Brimful of Asha?" "Everybody needs a bosom for a pillow?" This album got a suprising number of spins from me this year. Uncompromisingly upbeat and whirling, it sounds like Tjinder Singh is smiling throughout the entire recording process.
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<img src="https://rovimusic.rovicorp.com/image.jpg?c=KRIen-aMyn_ZDKAeao0FeT6KsMttLlyBmmVTZ6_CLs0=&f=5" width="200" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0"/></br>
<b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/homegrown-mw0003382221" target="_blank">Homegrown</a></b> - Neil Young</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">This was a fun archival issue recorded in 1973 but never actually released. It is loose and rambling and played by real people in a room with wood floors and lots of candles and beer.</br></br></br>
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<center>I also did a Spotify playlist of my fave tunes.</br>
<iframe src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/playlist/2U11fzOoIXRVbslDTSHEeM" width="300" height="380" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></center></br></br></br>
<center><b><span style="font-size:130%;">Computers and Technology:</span></b></br></br></br>
I'm not convinced computers and technology were a help to us this year.</br></br>
<img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50780468388_e25a23df9d.jpg" alt="2020" title="2020" border="0"/></br>
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<b><a href="https://www.theringer.com/the-rewatchables" target="_blank">The Rewatchables</a></b> Podcast</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">Some of the folks behind Grantland sit around and talk in-depth about their favorite movies. Fun and insightful.
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This particular episode of Reply All called "<b><a href="https://gimletmedia.com/shows/reply-all/o2h8bx/158-the-case-of-the-missing-hit" target="_blank">The Case of the Missing Hit</a></b>"</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">Do you like to feel good? Do your ears and brain want to go on a ride that takes you places far away from whatever today is? If so, I recommend this episode of Reply All where a guy is convinced he is remembering a song, and the rest of the world thinks he is crazy. </br>
This story has interviews with music producers, an unbelievable/believable story about Doug Morris (the head of Universal Records), homemade recordings of whistled flutes, and bare naked ladies. It really has it all.
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<b><a href="https://slate.com/podcasts/decoder-ring" target="_blank">Decoder Ring</a></b> Pop Culture Podcast on Slate</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">Researched takes on unicorn poop, the mullet, rubber duckies and what Cancel Culture looked like in the 1860s.
</span></br></br>
</br>
<b><a href="https://www.imaginaryworldspodcast.org/" target="_blank">Imaginary Worlds</a></b> podcast</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">This host has a lot of similar nerdy interests in sci-fi, fantasy, movie making and comics.
</span></br></br>
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<center>Shittyfluted Videos</br>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kP2C2LabZro" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">This genius takes classic songs and puts his own mediocre flute playing on top of them.</br>
It is even hilariouser than it sounds.
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<b><a href="https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-rivals-57847258/" target="_blank">Rivals</a></b> podcast</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">One of my favorite music writers co-hosts this conversation about some of the wildest rivalries in music history. The Gallagher Brothers from Oasis, Fleetwood Mac, the guys from Uncle Tupelo, the members of The Police all get a brighht light shined on their petty squabbles and I am here for it.
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<b><a href="https://strongsongspodcast.com/" target="_blank">Strong Songs</a></b> podcast</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">An academic and musical analysis of the structure, tones, melodies and rhythms of songs from all over the place, from "Tom Sawyer" by Rush to "Hyperballad" by Björk and even "World 1-1" from Super Mario Bros.
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<center><b><span style="font-size:130%;">Books:</span></b></center></br>
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<img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1548719156l/41824495._SY475_.jpg" width="200" alt="books" title="reading is fundamental" border="0"/></br>
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41824495-fall-or-dodge-in-hell" target="_blank">Fall; or, Dodge in Hell</a></b> by Neal Stephenson</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">Quite possibly my favorite author, Stephenson writes incredibly long and in-depth novels about technology, human nature, faith, reality, computers and makes it all somehow personal.</br></br>
One really interesting concept in the book was where in order to completely obliterate fake news, a guy writes a program that creates millions of comments on everybody's social media account using a library of offensive terms and contradictory descriptions.
</br>
So everybody's Twitter/Facebook/Insta/LinkedIn/Snapchat is filled with "Julie is a Slut" "Julie is nice" "Julie tortures animals" "Julie died in Brazil last summer" "Julie loaned me her sweater when I was cold" "Julie is deaf in one ear" ...so much noise and static that nobody knew what to believe and nobody could trust anything so overnight everybody just shut off social media.
</br>
Maybe in a way that's where we're heading. Soon 97.4% of posts will be from bots and KPop street teams and it may be for the best.
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<img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1537541596l/40864790.jpg" width="200" alt="books" title="reading is fundamental" border="0"/></br>
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40864790-pumpkinheads" target="_blank">Pumpkinheads</a></b> by Rainbow Rowell and Faith Erin Hicks</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">This is an impossibly cute story about the last days of working a seasonal job at an apple orchard and the lives of the teenagers who are about to go off to join the real world. If you liked the graphic novel <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25179.Blankets" target="_blank">Blankets</a> this one is also worth checking out.</br></br></br>
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<img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1429797673l/24886019._SY475_.jpg" width="200" alt="books" title="reading is fundamental" border="0"/></br>
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24886019-six-gun-snow-white" target="_blank">Six-Gun Snow White</a></b> by Catherynne M. Valente</br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">A wild west re-imagining of the Snow White story (with seven companions, a wicked stepmother and apple magic). This author has a wonderfully vibrant way with language (big fan of her book <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24327445-speak-easy" target="_blank">Speak Easy</a>) and she manages to give this old tale new teeth.
</span></br></br></br>
Full list of stuff I read <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/year_in_books/2020/738761" target="_blank">here at Goodreads</a>:</br></br>
<center><b><span style="font-size:130%;">TeeVee:</span></b></center></br>
</br>
Again, not a lot of TV watched this year, but a handful of things I liked and watched at least part of:</br>
The Umbrella Academy</br>
The Crown</br>
The Mandalorian</br>
Archer</br>
Black Mirror</br>
Brooklyn Nine-Nine</br>
The Queen's Gambit</br>
Cobra Kai</br>
</br></br>
</br>
<center><b><span style="font-size:130%;">Movies:</span></b></center></br>
</br>
I *think* <b>Enola Holmes</b> was the only movie released in 2020 that I saw in 2020. And that was on a television.</br>
</br>
We saw and enjoyed <b>Knives Out</b> when we saw in the theater this year. (the only movie we saw in the theater this year)</br>
I also really loved the documentary <b>Bathtubs Over Broadway</b>.</br>
</br>
The more interesting movie events happened at home where Henry decided in October that he was ready to watch a scary movie so we watched <b>Alien</b>. He reacted favorably and it kind of ushered in the possibility of a new era of movie watching. More mature films are now in the offering.
</br></br>
He wanted to see a western so we first watched <b>The Magnificent Seven</b> and then watched Kurisawa's <b>Seven Samurai</b> directly afterwards, and had good discussions.
</br></br>
He has been a fan of Anime so I decided he was ready to watch <b>Akira</b> (which he loved).
</br></br>
Over Thanksgiving I spent the long weekend prepping Henry with film noir classics like <b>The Maltese Falcon</b> and <b>Double Indemnity</b> and discussing the concept of anti-heroes, pulp detective stories and paying cinematic attention to shadows and light.
</br></br>
Afterwards he and I watched <b>Blade Runner</b> (the original American theatrical cut with the hokey detective voiceover just like Double Indemnity) and then he schooled me for an hour about cyberpunk, manga, anime, set design and the concept of a 'lived-in' universe that was ushered in when Star Wars arrived in 1977 (and how that factored into Ridley Scott's Alien and sci-fi up through Firefly). </br></br>
<center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50777799996_fe4faee194.jpg" alt="2020" title="2020" border="0"/></center></br></br>
He made some amazing revelations about how his mom loves sci-fi and his dad loves westerns and now he loves dystopian futures where Asian and western cultures have fused into a techy cyberpunk Akira Magnificent Seven hodge-podge and that's fine by me.</br>
</br>
</br></br>
<center><b><span style="font-size:130%;">Things That Are Awful:</span></b></br>
</br>
I mean... (gestures hands wildly in every direction)</br></br>
<img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50777044733_c040fa8d7a_c.jpg" alt="2020" title="2020" border="0"/>
</center></br></br>
The most important and horrible thing I read this year was this Vox article about the current administration and how manurebag mastermind Steve Bannon really perfected the concept of "<a href="https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2020/1/16/20991816/impeachment-trial-trump-bannon-misinformation" target="_blank">Flooding The Zone with Shit</a>" (meaning that politicians and media types can choose to publish information, some of which is accurate, some of it is bogus, and much of it is intentionally misleading) and nobody seems to care. The story that leads is the story that people (and robots and trolls) recirculate and that is all that matters. It is obnoxious and more harmful than any of us realize.
</br></br></br>
<b>The list:</b></br>
Uncle John</br>
Uncle Harry</br>
Joyce's Mom</br>
Eddie Van Halen</br>
John Prine</br>
Adam Schlesinger (this one really hit me and <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/blog/post/but-now-its-time-to-say-what-i-forgot-to-say-adam-schlesinger" target="_blank">I wrote a whole jumbled thing about it</a>)</br>
Neil Peart</br>
Alex Trebek</br>
Chadwick Boseman</br>
Jerry Jeff Walker</br>
Gerry Rafferty</br>
Sean Connery</br>
Ruth Bader Ginsberg</br>
Toots Hibbert (Toots and the Maytals)</br>
Olivia DeHavilland (The Adventures of Robin Hood)</br>
Grant Imahara (Mythbusters)</br>
Carl Reiner</br>
Ian Holm (Lord of the Rings, Alien)</br>
Fred Willard</br>
Little Richard</br>
Kenny Rogers</br>
Terry Jones (Monty Python)</br>
Darth Vader AND Boba Fett goddamnit</br>
</br>
</br>
We had a trip booked to Disney in early April (spoiler alert: It didn't happen) and were planning an epic journey through the U.P. in the summer. I didn't get to hang with my buddies hardly at all.</br></br>
</br>
The well pump broke at the cottage and arranging for it to be fixed from afar while everything was shut down proved challenging.</br></br>
</br>
People I love had a hard time, and places I love have closed and may never re-open.
<center>
</br></br></br>
<img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50777910772_b63d747c83.jpg" alt="2020" title="2020" border="0"/></br>
<span style="font-size:85%;">On the whole, my attitude on Social Media changed quite a bit in 2020.</br></br>
</span></center>
</br></br>
Drink water, get rest, see you in 2021. I'll probably give you a hug..:DataWhat?:.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13798529758046545533noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6823993.post-21757217519204219192019-12-31T11:48:00.000-05:002019-12-31T16:46:31.029-05:002019 o Wow<center><b><span style="font-size:130%;">Things That Were A-OK in 2019:</span></b><br />
<br />
Allo' Gov'nah!<br />
My best girl, the boy, and I took a trip to London, the city some people call "The Chicago of Europe."<br />
<img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49304753473_685eee53ea.jpg" alt="Allo" title="Allo" border="0"/><br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Record stores, Sherlock Holmes museum, pints, London Gin, Sunday Roast, Abbey Road, bangers, <br />
mash, baked beans for breakfast every day, but the real highlight was going to the Wimbledon <br />
Tennis Tournament (a bucket list item for the missus and a real treat all around).<br />
</span><br />
</center><br />
Gypsy Jazz Guitar<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">This year I decided I wanted to learn how to play Gypsy jazz-style guitar (along the lines of Django Reinhardt). After several months of (nearly) daily practice, I can now fumble myself clumsily through about three songs. Sweet and lowdown.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
Civic Theater Gala<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">This year is the Ann Arbor Civic Theater's 90th year and they hand-selected a fistful of important people (past and present) were hand-selected to receive honors. My old Pop was one of the folks recognized so we got to go to a fancy shindig and associate with theater-types. We felt it was important for Henry to get to see his Gramps be recognized for the hard work he puts into the community and how people in his craft respect him. Especially since... (see next item)<br />
</span><br />
<center><br />
Giving Props <br />
<img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49304693048_6d06c8c7a3_w.jpg" alt="snek" title="snek" border="0"/><br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">My kid was drafted by the local theater troupe to make props for their youth production of Aladdin. <br />
His maker ability is starting to earn him a reputation. The centerpiece was the magical staff <br />
used by the evil sorcerer Jafar, which looked like a giant golden snake with menacing red eyes. <br />
The lesson he learned was to always bring your glue gun everywhere because the thing you built <br />
will get dropped and break but the show must go on.<br />
</span></center><br />
<br />
Building the Shed at the Cottage<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">The extended Johnson family assembled this spring and built a shed at our cottage. The shed is super-helpful but the best part was getting the whole family together to build a thing. I'm a big fan of building a thing. Especially with family.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
Bell's Double Two Hearted Ale<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">One thing I really have come to appreciate is a Michigan made craft beer with two hearts in it. I couldn't possibly imagine anything better but then Bells brewery put out their <b><a href="http://www.bellsbeer.com/beer/specialty/double-two-hearted" target="_blank">Double Two Hearted India Pale Ale</a></b> I scoured the area looking for it. I think I may have grabbed the last six-pack stashed behind the counter at the local grocery store but I have no regrets.<br />
</span><br />
<center>Cool new lamp from Re:Tech<br />
<img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49304701943_721a466f5b_w.jpg" alt="sharp" title="Sharp" border="0"/><br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">All year I pool up my pocket money and visit a showing of my favorite industrial artist <b>www.retech.org</b><br />
to see if he has built anything that tickles my fancy. He cobbles together electronic/electric <br />
pieces that evoke Blade Runner, Mad Max, Steampunk and a Jawa sand cruiser, but the pieces are <br />
beautifully battered and hand-loved in a way that hits me.<br />
</span></center><br />
Star Trek Exhibit<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">The Henry Ford Museum always has great exhibits, but this year they put together a <b><a href="https://www.thehenryford.org/current-events/calendar/star-trek-exploring-new-worlds/" target="_blank">Star Trek retrospective</a></b> that had science, props, costumes, original production artwork and a ton of cool interactive displays (including a camera booth where you could film your best "KHAAAAAAAANNNNN!" scream a-la the original James T. Kirk.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
Baby Oliver<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">I am now an uncle again.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
Henry Mowing the lawn<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Man oh man, when you have a kid some part of you thinks "Someday, I'll be able to put him to work to do all the lousy jobs I don't want to do" and friends, this was the year.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
Elfquest<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">In a year of nerdery, this was so unexpected and wonderful, I still have trouble wrapping my head around it. As a kid, I simply ate up this little indie comic called <b><a href="https://elfquest.com/" target="_blank">Elfquest</a></b> that was printed in black and white (practically by hand) by a husband and wife team who didn't have a huge industry supporting them, but had a unique story and an unwavering vision. This summer my beloved local library brought them in as key members of their annual comics festival and I got to meet them and get some stuff signed and generally bask in their warm wolfpack embrace. It exceeded my hesitant expectations of meeting your heroes and became one of my favorite memories of the year.<br />
</span><br />
<center>The 20th Anniversary of Buying Our House<br />
<img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49301563476_3b8a41b95a_o.gif" alt="house" title="House" border="0" width="400px"/><br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">In May of 1999 we bought the worst house on the best block we could find. <br />
20 years later we are happy as clams.<br />
</span></center><br />
Hamilton<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">We got to see the famed musical Hamilton in Lansing this year (after a failed attempt explained later) and it really lived up to the hype. My kid started listening to the soundtrack a year or so ago and while I was reluctant at first, repeated listens really drove the mastery and innovation of Lin Manuel Miranda's score and execution home. Seeing it performed live brings another level to my appreciation.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
C2E2<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">We made a spring break pilgrimage to the <b><a href="https://www.c2e2.com" target="_blank">Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo</a></b> to get our nerd on, shop for comic books and see a panel with Summer Glau from Firefly. I think the boy dug it.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
What's up Ypsi Pickle!!?!1<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Much like Martin Luther King, I had a dream where Penny and I were hanging out at Frog Island in Ypsilanti. Soul Train (who is/was a local character downtown about 20 years ago) walked into the room all dressed in green velvet with a broad-brimmed green hat and a green feather sticking out of it. In the dream he smiled wide and said "What's up, my niggas?" and my wife stood up and excitedly screamed "WHAT'S UP YPSI PICKLE!!!!" like it was the catchphrase from a sitcom or a hilarious SNL bit that everybody knew. In this dream I remember being so amazed that my wife obviously knew so much about the legend of Ypsi Pickle and also how pumped she was that he was actually there.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<center>Weird Posters<br />
<img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49305398822_7b48ed9ae6_w.jpg" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0"/><br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Somehow, the same weirdo in our neighborhood kept putting up flyers on our light pole. <br />
Someday we'll unmask that rascal.<br />
</span></center><br />
<br />
A Rebuilding Year<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">After we had some roof work done on the old farmhouse, the ceiling in one of the rooms was cracked and damaged. We engaged with a local contractor (<b><a href="http://www.kenlussenden.com">Lussenden Painting</b></a> if you must know) after being burned by a couple other lousy contractors in the past. They did a bang-up job faster and cheaper than originally quoted and it was nice to have a project go right from start to finish.<br />
<br />
After that, we kinda called all-hands-on-deck and did a massive painting project (including ceilings!) over a weekend and really took care of business. Thanks to friends and family for showing up, painting over the old 70s brown, and getting the farm one step closer to being totally done.<br />
</span><br />
<center>Summer Game<br />
<img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49305397657_7e4891f854_w.jpg" alt="game on" title="game on" border="0"/><br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Our local library puts on a summer-long event where you can solve puzzles, <br />
go on scavenger hunts, answer riddles and generally indulge in all of your <br />
Sherlock Holmes/DaVinci Code inklings in exchange for arbitrary points that <br />
can be used to get t-shirts or tote bags. The real wizardry is how it forces <br />
me to explore my town, visiting art galleries and historic neighborhoods, <br />
sitting with my son to solve a wordplay riddle or getting a text from my wife <br />
that says "I SAW THE BUS GO BY! IT SAYS ''STAYCATION'" (which was a game code).<br />
</span></center><br />
-13 degrees block party<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Holy shit you guys, it got rill cold last winter. On the coldest day (like -13 degrees) our insane neighbor Piotr decided to <b><a href="https://annarborobserver.com/articles/polar_party.html" target="_blank">throw a block party</a></b> so we went down there as bundled as we could get and stood by the fire, drinking shots of the coldest vodka you can imagine (your lip froze to the glass) but it built community, that's for sure.<br />
</span><br />
Flannel Lined Jeans<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Hey, these are nice.<br />
</span><br />
<center>Tying Pizza to Balloons<br />
<img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49304699223_b71ae98e3d_w.jpg" alt="pizza" title="balloons" border="0"/><br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">On my birthday I celebrated by doing something I've always wanted to do: <br />
I ordered a pizza and then tied a slice of the pizza to a bunch of balloons.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size:130%;">Tunes:</span></b></center><br />
<img src="https://rovimusic.rovicorp.com/image.jpg?c=vSZIV0Wm5XmvhGOQ-g-eLgSijaXJlYnq0St31qpAJWo=&f=5" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/sound-fury-mw0003311474" target="_blank">Sound & Fury</a></b> by Sturgill Simpson<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">This album needed to grow on me, and it needed to be played loud. The whole thing is just a lurching grinding hulk of an album with fat grooves and grumbling sentiments. It feels organic and real, and the songs just ebb and flow into one another seamlessly. The whole album passes by and I want to hear it again.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="https://cdn-s3.allmusic.com/release-covers/500/0005/016/0005016963.jpg" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/girl-mw0003252614" target="_blank">Girl</a></b> by Maren Morris<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">A sunny and sweet collection of tunes following in the same vein as her previous album <em>Hero</em>. Highlights include the empowering title track and the stoned and steamy "Make Out With Me" (which I contend is kind of like a prequel to Dusty Springfield's "Breakfast in Bed" but exactly 50 years later. Both have a swaying late-night/early morning feel with tremolo guitar and a disheveled heroine, sweeping strings and murky Memphis guitar, both clock in at under three minutes. Dusty in Memphis was released in March 1969 and Maren Morris' Girl was released in March 2019).<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="https://rovimusic.rovicorp.com/image.jpg?c=TDOltrnt1ArKaSv4tnho8wSijaXJlYnq0St31qpAJWo=&f=5" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/cuz-i-love-you-mw0003252453" target="_blank">Cuz I Love You</a></b> by Lizzo<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Have you heard of Lizzo? You might not have heard of her this year. She's really good. <br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="https://rovimusic.rovicorp.com/image.jpg?c=pULElsfk1MgLeP4AvxAxOByhM-OFI8zG4l-qVpXXB1I=&f=5" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/norman-fucking-rockwell!-mw0003306752" target="_blank">Norman Fucking Rockwell!</a></b> by Lana Del Rey<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">I gotta say I never had an opinion about LDR for the past decade, but but the production on this album is really strong. At times it reminds me of <em>Extraordinary Machine</em>-era Fiona Apple with a less insistent vocal delivery but the same underlying intensity. <br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="https://rovimusic.rovicorp.com/image.jpg?c=KgssvuEtpZp_1EklmtWFiCpQg_7iAU1wjqLgK_xGXts=&f=5" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/ribbons-mw0003257677" target="_blank">Ribbons</a></b> by Bibio<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">It feels like if Tycho produced a Nick Drake album. Mostly acoustic guitar-based songs peppered with ambient/electronic pastoral sections and the occasional string section movement.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="https://rovimusic.rovicorp.com/image.jpg?c=0_PtDIxOfBowfZKyHGHapj6KsMttLlyBmmVTZ6_CLs0=&f=5" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/when-we-all-fall-asleep-where-do-we-go-mw0003250262" target="_blank">When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?</a></b> by Billie Eilish<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">I kept coming back to this album because I simply could not figure out where she was getting all of these influences and where in the world it was going to go next. Breathy and menacing but also sweet and broken and at the same time empowered and untouchable. Man, this album confuses the hell out of me.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="https://rovimusic.rovicorp.com/image.jpg?c=jRYWuRDsULFMyy5yt5VpYB_TZlp6n_cq-Emr2zx15tU=&f=5" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-highwomen-mw0003302220" target="_blank">The Highwomen</a></b> by The Highwomen<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">The production is a Dave Cobb chef's kiss and it is so great to hear Jason Isbell's slide guitar peeking out underneath everything.<br />
I am such a fanboy of Maren Morris and Amanda Shires, and I think Brandi Carlisle has written some of the most gripping folk songs of the past several years.<br />
<br />
And overall the concept is great.<br />
I dunno how much you follow the business and politics of contemporary country music, but a couple of years ago this nonsense happened:<br />
<br />
<em>It started when industry publication Country Aircheck featured radio consultant Keith Hill in its lead story, and as part of Hill’s advice to programmers around the country he said, “If you want to make ratings in country radio, take females out.” According to Hill, country radio is “a principally male format” and the format’s female fans prefer hearing men blasting out of their speakers. Playing back-to-back women is a bad idea for retaining listeners, he claimed.<br />
<br />
“They’re just not the lettuce in our salad,” Hill explained. “The lettuce is Luke Bryan and Blake Shelton, Keith Urban and artists like that. The tomatoes of our salad are the females.” </em><br />
<br />
So to have a group of women in Nashville say "Fuck that" and revive the old supergroup of the Highwaymen but with 10 times the sass and 1000 times the estrogen is exactly what should be happening in 2019.<br />
<br />
And I like the fact that they're weirdly rag-tag: A gritty lesbian, an untested songwriter, a free-spirit fiddle player who has been in the shadow of her husband, and practically a teenager who has had her most chart success with an EDM crossover song. It's almost like a focus-group put them together. <br />
<br />
I've also come around on the entire genre of pop country over the past couple years. I think Tom Erlewine has a lot to do with it, and the fact that in the workshop at the farm I can pretty much only get one radio station, but overall I used to dismiss it as being dumb, one-note and maudlin/nostalgic and now I embrace the fact that it is simple, warmly predictable and romantic. Songs about loving your family, seeing a girl in a pretty dress in the bar, or putting your feet in the sand while drinking a Solo cup of beer always felt dopey and eye-rolling to me, but almost like reading a pulp detective novel or watching a rerun of an '80s sitcom, it is easy and pleasant and hits the right notes at the right time.<br />
<br />
Maren Morris' two albums are sweet little pop gems along the lines of Taylor Swift, but with a more believable/approachable attitude.<br />
<br />
There is so much honest emotion in the album too.<br />
Jason and Amanda wrote what might be the first same-sex country love song for Brandi who sings it like she really feels it.<br />
There's a lot of content about what it means to be a woman in this day and age, I think they nailed the concept overall.<br />
<br />
The lyrics all over the album are terrific, particularly in "Redesigning Women"<br />
"Rosie the Riveter with renovations"<br />
"Running the world while we're cleaning up the kitchen"<br />
"And when we love someone we take 'em to Heaven/And if the shoe fits, we're gonna buy eleven"<br />
"Some of us are saints and some of us are surgeons"<br />
"Made in God's image, just a better version/And breaking every jello mold"<br />
<br />
Man, so great. Just terrific one-liners that sum up the whole attitude.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="https://rovimusic.rovicorp.com/image.jpg?c=_CPClbj6-ezK2mrkBELtkZhUoDg0hsvx4F4sL4oO-nA=&f=5" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://swww.allmusic.com/album/goes-west-mw0003224183" target="_blank">Goes West</a></b> by William Tyler<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Much like his previous albums, <em>Goes West</em> evokes shimmering desert landscapes and sun-baked open air, but this time it feels less like a bedroom lo-fi project and more like a real full band.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="https://rovimusic.rovicorp.com/image.jpg?c=Seqle5hcInBxCNSwLeRWk4Af7E_1E-2MlBBPmPAXRBU=&f=5" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/weather-mw0003281073" target="_blank">Weather</a></b> by Tycho<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Tycho's previous albums had mostly/all been electronic instrumental affairs, but this album brings in some female vocals reminding me of mid-90s downtempo acts like Olive and Morcheeba at times. Still, the underlying vibe of Tycho's bleeps and bloops are the primary driver making for a perfect late night or early morning chillout record.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="https://rovimusic.rovicorp.com/image.jpg?c=HnUpbw9rtpkFF5nmoVxFvz6KsMttLlyBmmVTZ6_CLs0=&f=5" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/tallies-mw0003214774" target="_blank">Tallies</a></b> by Tallies<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Bright and ringing indie pop with strong nods to The Sundays and Lush, this album has some of the best shimmering wall-of-sound guitar since the early '90s.<br />
</span><br />
<center>I also did a Spotify playlist of my fave tunes.<br />
<iframe src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/playlist/3i1pe0nWWYghzZk73HGY8t" width="300" height="380" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size:130%;">Computers and Technology:</span></b></center><br />
Disney+<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">If you had told me 20 years ago that there would be a TV channel that let me watch every Star Wars movie and every Simpsons episode ever made, I would have called you a kook.<br />
</span><br />
Air Pods<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">These look dorky as hell and I don't think they sound all that great but for listening to podcasts I have found them to be super-convenient.<br />
</span><br />
<center><b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/decade-in-review" target="_blank">The AllMusic Decade in Review</a></b><br />
<img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49305282126_61ba0bd7ed.jpg" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0"/><br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">We put together a nice timeline function to look back on the albums from the past 10 years which required <br />
some new technical tomfoolery but I was very proud of how it looked and proud of the team that put it together.<br />
</span></center><br />
<b><a href="https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/radiolab/articles/radiolab-presents-dolly-partons-america" target="_blank">Dolly Parton's America</a></b> podcast<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">The guy from Radiolab went on a deep dive exploring not just Dolly's life and music but what it means to be a Southerner and how her mojo expands all around the world. Fascinating, even if you don't like country music.<br />
</span><br />
<b><a href="https://www.20k.org/" target="_blank">Twenty Thousand Hertz</a></b> podcast<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">A podcast about sound and the weird sounds we hear in movies, in music and in real life.<br />
</span><br />
<b><a href="https://slate.com/podcasts/hit-parade" target="_blank">Hit Parade</a></b> podcast<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Slate's Chris Molanphy digs way deep into the Billboard charts to dig out gems and see patterns in how music evolves.<br />
</span><br />
Roku Stick<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">I've been a fan of Roku for years and when our old box finally became incompatible I opted for the the little stick that goes into the HDMI slot. Recommended.<br />
</span><br />
Reddit<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">As Facebook and Twitter have become increasingly infuriating, I have found myself enjoying Reddit as a resource for dumb browsing. Like any wild west community, there is plenty of toxic stuff on there, but I find that since you can tailor your feed to just be the dumb things that interest you, it is freeing in a way.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<center><b><span style="font-size:130%;">Books:</span></b></center><br />
<img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1337818095l/228665.jpg" alt="books" title="reading is fundamental" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/228665.The_Eye_of_the_World" target="_blank">The Eye of the World</a></b> (Wheel of Time #1) by Robert Jordan<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Giant epic series spanning 14 thousand-page books telling the story of three farm boys who are thrust into becming heroes while channeling elemental magic, talking with wolves and conjuring flaming swords and the original author died halfway through? Sounds perfect.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1449239660l/28098152._SY475_.jpg" alt="books" title="reading is fundamental" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28098152-trouble-boys" target="_blank">Trouble Boys: The True Story of the Replacements</a></b> by Bob Mehr<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">God, what a mess/On the ladder of success. Bob Mehr really got a hands-on experience of the fights, achievements, missteps and glory of the Replacements. The book is infuriating (Paul Westerberg and Tommy Stinson literally burning their per-diem money just for the fuck of it), and sad (man, those Stinson boys had a rough upbringing), but the story explains so much about what makes the band so great, despite their best efforts.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1517326409l/36534574._SY475_.jpg" alt="books" title="reading is fundamental" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36534574-lies-sleeping" target="_blank">Lies Sleeping (Rivers of London #7)</a></b> by Ben Aaronovitch <br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">I have eaten up every book in this series about a London copper who just happens to solve crimes by speaking to ghosts and a variety of mythical beings, and this one was particularly memorable since I read it while on our vacation in England. The city and surrounding countryside ends up functioning as its own character in these books, and Aaronovich's ability to describe a location makes the reader really feel like they are transported there.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1427131789l/24327445.jpg" alt="books" title="reading is fundamental" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24327445-speak-easy" target="_blank">Speak Easy</a></b> by Catherynne M. Valente<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Man, this book was like a tall glass of absinthe poured through the gauzy hem of a flapper's dress. Imagine if Heaven, Hell, Limbo and any of Dante's circles were all actually the floors in a mythical hotel -- rooms filled with Bacchanalian never-ending parties and basements of toil and servitude, all paced with the lingo and hep jive speak of the Jazz Age.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1302062699l/944076.jpg" alt="books" title="reading is fundamental" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/944076.Last_Argument_of_Kings" target="_blank">Last Argument of Kings (The First Law #3)</a></b> by Joe Abercrombie<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">The third and final book in The First Law trilogy did not disappoint. The quietly-simmering barbarian got to unleash his fury AND try to become a hero, the spidery puller of strings attempts to take over the world, and final battles are waged. <br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327563734l/2113260.jpg" alt="books" title="reading is fundamental" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2113260.Shades_of_Grey" target="_blank">Shades of Grey</a></b> by Jasper Fforde<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">This oddball book was part Douglas Adams, part Tom Robbins and part Margaret Atwood doing a dystopian fiction story where everyone's place in society is dictated by which colors they can see. But kinda lightweight and funny.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<center><b><span style="font-size:130%;">TeeVee:</span></b></center><br />
Again, not a lot of TV watched this year, but a handful of things I liked:<br />
<br />
The Mandalorian<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">I'm a sucker for a good space western.<br />
</span><br />
Star Trek Discovery<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">A buddy of mine pleaded with me to watch this show to the point where he gave us his CBS All Access password just so we could watch it. It is very different than any other Star Trek series... Darker, grittier, more like a long mystery than a series of stand-alone episodes.<br />
</span><br />
<b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0tpFmcChPs" target="_blank">The Repair Shop</a></b><br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Stumbled into this show on Netflix and it is simply lovely. Nice British people bring broken things into an olde workshoppe and then different British people fix them using tools and elbow grease and a little bit of know-how.<br />
</span><br />
<b>Other Things:</b><br />
Ken Burns Country<br />
Stranger Things 3<br />
The Magicians<br />
Game of Thrones<br />
Poldark<br />
The Office (the boy has been enjoying them muchly)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<center><b><span style="font-size:130%;">Movies:</span></b></center><br />
(in roughly the order that I liked it.)<br />
<br />
Avengers Endgame<br />
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker<br />
Ford v Ferrari<br />
Captain Marvel<br />
Downton Abbey<br />
Toy Story 4<br />
Yesterday<br />
Alita: Battle Angel<br />
Spider-Man: Far From Home<br />
Echo in the Canyon<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<center><b><span style="font-size:130%;">Things That Are Awful:</span></b><br />
<br />
RIP Daisy<br />
<img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49304692623_89c5855171_w.jpg" alt="Daze" title="Daze" border="0"/><br />
15 years ago this Little Boston Terrier pup rocketed into our lives, with unquenchable energy and inexplicable noises.<br />
We taught her to say “I Love You” and she taught us that any toy with a squeaker in it only had seconds to live.<br />
As she got older she lost her ability to see and hear, but she still smelled.<br />
Daisy was just about the sweetest dog I ever met and our world is worse off without her.<br />
</center><br />
<br />
The Current State of Politics in America<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">November 2020 can't come fast enough. There can't be more of them than us.<br />
</span><br />
Airbnb Nonsense<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">While our trip to London was an unequivocal highlight of the year, it got off to a rough start. We secured an Airbnb flat several months ahead of time, but before our trip they canceled the reservation with little warning. We scrambled and found another Airbnb and figured everything was set. We arrived in London after our red eye flight but when we made it to the (second) flat, the plumbing didn't work. There had been a leak and they shut off the water (not before the previous occupants left a dump in each toilet than you very much).<br />
<br />
There were assurances and plans to have the plumbing fixed but long story short, it was not going to be fixed for several days. We had to frantically (and half-asleepedly) book another hotel which was too small and only had vacancy for two nights. This required yet another scramble to find a place with all three of us frantically using our phones to try to find a hotel that would work. Finally, not wanting to spend our entire vacation hopping from hotel to hotel every two nights, we bit the bullet and got <b><a href="https://www.radissonhotels.com/en-us/hotels/park-plaza-london-waterloo" target="_blank">a room in Waterloo</a></b> that was more expensive than we wanted but ended up being really nice. To use a local phrase: Sod Off, Airbnb.<br />
</span><br />
Uncle Gary/Aunt Alice/Neighbor Sandy<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Three great people left this year. Nothing but fond memories of all of them.<br />
</span><br />
Mark Hollis from Talk Talk and Peter Mayhew from inside Chewbacca died.<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Jammin' in Heaven.<br />
</span><br />
Not Hamilton in Chicago/Throwing Away Our Shot<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">We made a trek to Chicago to surprise Henry with tickets to see Hamilton but the day of the show he got sicker and sicker. We just sat in the hotel room all afternoon while he slept for hours and hours until we finally came to the realization that there was no way we were going to make it to the show. Even if we went he would be miserable so I tried to find any Chicago pals who could take the tickets an hour before curtains. Nobody could do it so I planned to drop the tickets at the front desk to see if any hotel employees wanted them. In the elevator on the way down, I looked at the woman next to me and said "I have three tickets to Hamilton that starts in an hour. Do you want them?" She and two of her gal pals were in town with nothing to do that night so she was over the moon. We stayed in and watched The Meg on the SyFy channel.<br />
</span><br />
Maple Left<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">During a windstorm out at the farm, a giant maple tree (probably nearly 100 years old) split and fell on one of the outbuildings. It had been struck by lightning at least two other times in the past and finally had to come down. Now that part of the yard looks totally weird every time we see it.<br />
</span><br />
<center>Bag of Diet Dr Peppers<br />
<img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49305396672_09b99d8e41_w.jpg" alt="doc" title="doc" border="0"/><br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Sometimes you order a box of 24 Diet Dr. Peppers and UPS delivers you <br />
a damp bag with 18 loose Diet Dr. Peppers in it.<br />
</span></center>.:DataWhat?:.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13798529758046545533noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6823993.post-81791418601083761192018-12-31T10:20:00.002-05:002021-04-29T15:07:24.174-04:002018? More like Two Thousand and Great!<center><b><span style="font-size:130%;">Things I Liked in 2018:</span></b><br />
<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/143141625@N08/32668229898/in/dateposted-public/" title="BestNine2018"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7816/32668229898_fc60b35ae3_z.jpg" width="640" height="640" alt="BestNine2018"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Pickwick the Owl, Twix, Daisy<br />
Weird posters, Best pals, DeLorean tomfoolery<br />
Yes Michigan, Rebuilt windowframe, Farm projects<br />
</span><br />
</center><br />
<br />
Fall Colors in Northern Michigan<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Probably the most visually spectacular thing we did this year was drive across upper Michigan in October when the leaves on the trees were unspeakably brilliant. I saw colors I simply had never seen before. Talking with locals (even old-timers), many of them said that this was one of the best years in their memories.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
Window Rebuild<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">One of the windows in our 1960s cottage was in really bad shape...rotting to the point where the glass was almost falling out. Of course since it was hand-built a billion years ago, I had to go to the local lumberyard and have the boards hand-milled to be the correct widths. And then I had to hand-cut the joints on-site, router the edges so the glass fit correctly, and match the angle that my granddad had cut in so that it would open properly. After a ton of sweat and splinters, I set the windowframe into place and it worked.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<center><a href="https://oldnationbrewing.com/beer/m-43/">Old Nation Brewing's M-43</a> and <a href="http://www.upperhandbrewery.com/brands/laughing-fish-summer-ale/">Upper Hand Laughing Fish</a> beer<br />
<img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7888/46530439351_d7ae8ac96f_n.jpg" alt="2018" title="2018" border="0">   <img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7899/45806657604_b9137dc716_n.jpg" alt="2018" title="2018" border="0"><br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">I bumbled into a couple of good Michigan beers this year. This is them.<br />
</span><br />
</center><br />
Camping With Ten Thousand 7th Graders<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">My kid was pretty hesitant about going to his school camp, so I volunteered to be a counsellor for the whole time. BUS TO BUS! The camp was originally scheduled for early September (picture perfect time for camping) but got re-scheduled for NOVEMBER! IN MICHIGAN! We were in lodges so it wasn't like we were in tents or anything, but we were outside for essentially the whole day, building fires, shooting arrows, building shelters and climbing rock walls. One morning when we woke up it was 16° fahrenheit. Nevertheless we persisted, learned about nature, and almost nobody died. And my kid kinda liked it, so in the final analysis I think we came out on top.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
I Fixed My Washing Machine<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">For a while it was taking our washing machine FOREVER to run, and when we looked at the cold water filling the drum would just trickle out. BUT, if I swapped the hot and cold lines, the cold would be fine, and the hot would trickle in. Additionally, when the washer was running, the pipes in the basement would rattle and howl. Long story short, I tore that whole fucker apart, ordered a new inlet valve for $18, hooked that duder up and it's like we've got a brand new (old) washing machine.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<center>Weird Posters<br />
<img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4864/46530438511_671f644fbd_c.jpg" alt="2018" title="2018" border="0"><br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Some lunatic in my neighborhood has been putting up these weird posters that are confusing and quite frightening in many cases. <br />
Unfortunately there is no way to know who has been doing it.<br />
</span><br />
</center><br />
<br />
Star Wars Costume Exhibit<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">The Detroit Institute of Arts hosted an in-depth costume exhibit from all of the Star Wars movies and it was incredible to see so many of the real-deal costumes up close and personal. Of particular note was the original Princess Leia costume from the 1977 movie. It was kinda taped-together and scuffed. The belt looked like it came from Studio 54 and was hastily spray-painted, and the boots could hhave been found in a cardboard box at a thrift store, but Hollywood magic made it royal.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<center>This lamp (re)built by <a href="https://retech.org/">ReTech</a><br />
<img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7870/32657138258_0b0a91c5f7.jpg" alt="2018" title="2018" border="0"><br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">At a weird art show this fall I stumbled into this guy's functional sculptures made from found objects, <br />
rejected doll's heads, medical equipment, LEDs, human bones and whatever else catches his eye. <br />
I loved about a dozen pieces but ended up buying this lamp which has cool bulbs on a dimmer and a secondary light inside.<br />
</span><br />
</center><br />
I ate at 4 great restaurants in my area for the first time:<br />
Satchel's BBQ<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">• BBQ within feet of my house</span><br />
Miller's bar<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">• No menus, no bill, just burgers and honesty</span><br />
Standard Larder & Bistro<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">• Ooh la la.</span><br />
Everest Sherpa<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">• Hearty food from Nepal, Tibet and India (unfortunately trapped in a non-atmospheric strip mall).</span><br />
<br />
<br />
I saw 4 great music performances in my hometown:<br />
Martin Sexton show at the Ark<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">• Intimate vocal acrobatics</span><br />
Iron & Wine show at the Michigan Theater<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">• Clouds and beards</span><br />
Jason Isbell show at Hill Auditorium<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">• I got to shake Jason Isbell's hand on the street while he wandered around (probably looking for shoe stores). Then he <a href="https://twitter.com/jasonisbell/status/957055941261881345">went to Chipotle</a></span><br />
Jit Exchange Show at UMMA<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">• More on this below:</span><br />
<br />
<center>The Jit Exchange at the University of Michigan Museum of Art<br />
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font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div><div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"><div><div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div><div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div><div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"><div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div><div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"><div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div><div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div><div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div></a> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BnsAUFSBcO1/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">The Jit Exchange brought it from Zimbabwe to Detroit. The art museum is a pretty cool place to hang out. Tagging @sp_ace_cadet @oldwestsidegirl @dragon_archer_</a></p><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/datawhat/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> Zac Johnson</a> (@datawhat) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2018-09-14T01:11:48+00:00">Sep 13, 2018 at 6:11pm PDT</time></p></div></blockquote><script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">My son's drum instructor and a good friend of ours both worked on bringing together<br />
this show which incorporated <a href="http://www.michiganradio.org/post/detroit-dance-style-subject-new-documentary">Detroit Jit dancing</a> and <a href="http://www.thezimbabwean.co/2010/05/jiti-music-revived/">Zimbabwean Jiti music</a>.<br />
It was so positive and full of energy it kept me smiling for days.<br />
Another clip <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BnuiIBZhH__/">here</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiJuI3F7Nxg">here</a>.<br />
</span><br />
</center><br />
I'm Goin' to Disney World!<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">The family took a trip to Disney World and stayed in the Contemporary Resort (the original 1971 resort built under Walt's watchful eye). We've been to the park a handful of times now and at this point, we don't break our necks racing around from dawn until the park closes... we are much more discerning and casual in our pace, and it ends up being pretty nice.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
Batter Up!<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">We got the chance to attend batting practice at a Tigers game from down on the field. It was a great behind-the-scenes view of what goes on and Leonys Martin threw a ball to Henry (two days later he was traded to the Indians. Martin, not my son. My son still plays for the Montreal Expos).<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<center>Back In Time<br />
<img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7867/46530441711_5d785a6c4b_z.jpg" alt="2018" title="2018" border="0"><br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Some days your buddy comes to town in his DeLorean and you both say “Welp, let’s dress like bros from the Middle Ages and go drive around for a while.” <br />
<br />
We stepped out of the car at Dominick's and the old guy at the door said "I guess I need to check your IDs, you guys might not even be born yet."<br />
Kevin said "Oh no, we're very old."<br />
</span></center><br />
Re-Roof<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">The farm got a new roof this year, and it was amazing to see. They took off the tiles that had been there at least since the 1960s, then pulled off the cedar shake shingles under that to get down to the original (true) 1x10 boards from when the upstairs was added to the house (mebbe 100 years ago?), all the while shielding themselves from the flocks of bats they were disturbing. The end result is a great-looking roof, no leaks and re-built chimney that I kinda want to make out with.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
Blue Wave<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">After two-years of non-stop nonsense, it seems like my fellow citizens are starting to recognize the importance of voting and the numbers of people participating in mid-term elections is heartening. Additionally, a number of progressive candidates gained ground, so maybe the normalization of some helpful ideas can get traction in the upcoming election.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
Stunt Camp<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Henry attended a terrific Stunt Fighting camp at <a href="http://ringofsteel.org/classes/summer-camp/">Ring of Steel</a> where he learned fake punches, swordplay, high falls, archery and pyrotechnics. My only question is: When is the camp for adults and b) can we bring beer?<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<center>Charley Harper Glasses<br />
<img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4845/32657139038_a1674743c3.jpg" alt="2018" title="2018" border="0"><br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">I fell in love with the simple geometric designs on these <a href="https://www.charleyharperartstudio.com">Charley Harper</a> glasses and received two sets for Christmas. <br />
My initial thought was to take them up to the cottage but now I think I want to see them every day.<br />
</span><br />
</center><br />
Chips Ahoy<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">The bad news is that the huge 200+ year old Burr Oak at the farm lost some serious branches this year. The good news was that with the help of friends and family we were able to cut up the limbs, rent a truck and an massive 9" chipper and we chopped up a ton of that wood into woodchips, knocking down the woodpile from being 8 feet tall to being only like 2 feet tall. Plus we cut down a bunch of junk trees and generally cleaned up the whole property. AND we chipped the flower beds for "Free." The best best part was that the neighbor kid, Truman, is WAAAYYYY into landscaping equipment and owns his own rototiller. When he came onto the property and saw that we had a Bandit™ 9" chipper his mouth dropped open. I said "Hey bud, this is the Bandit™ 9" chipper with fully rotational discharge chute" and he said "Oh I know, I've watched YouTube videos of it." He was a really big help, with a huge grin on his face the whole time.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
Tunnel of Trees<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">On a mini-vacation in August, Penny and I finally drove the <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g42281-d3238479-Reviews-Tunnel_of_Trees_M119-Harbor_Springs_Emmet_County_Michigan.html">Tunnel of Trees</a> on M-119 in northern Michigan. <br />
</span><br />
<br />
<center>Pickwick the Owl<br />
<img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7838/32657141768_1502bfd32b.jpg" alt="2018" title="2018" border="0"><br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">For my best girl's birthday, I tried to commission local artist <a href="https://zinnart.com/">David Zinn</a> to do an original chalk artwork on our sidewalk to celebrate. <br />
He was very kind and mysterious, and (without accepting any payment) a magical cake-squatting owl appeared on our front walk. <br />
His name is Pickwick and we love him.<br />
</span><br />
</center><br />
<center><b><span style="font-size:130%;">Tunes:</span></b><br />
<br />
Big rock, super pop, laid-back country, <br />
the slow burn, the night shift, the parking lot pirouette, <br />
a couple weird albums from the '70s that I just stumbled into, <br />
some long-time friends, lots of first-time strangers:<br />
<iframe src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/playlist/3Oa23gB3A9TeW3AMKmaZy0" width="300" height="380" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></center><br />
<img src="https://rovimusic.rovicorp.com/image.jpg?c=HtwFpmiU2KeQksWGexwN7SpQg_7iAU1wjqLgK_xGXts=&f=5" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/golden-hour-mw0003148566" target="_blank">Golden Hour</a></b> by Kacey Musgraves<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Far and away my favorite album of 2018. Recommended sunny Saturday morning listen. A light warm collection of smart singer/songwriter-y tunes with immaculate production. I keep thinking of it as Harriet Wheeler (from The Sundays)’s Nashville album.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="https://cdn-s3.allmusic.com/release-covers/500/0001/616/0001616741.jpg" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/sand-1973-mw0002759075" target="_blank">Sand</a></b> by Sand<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">I honestly started listening to this album because I liked the album cover. The band is called "Sand" and the album is called "Sand" and the cover has a picture of a sandwich in the sand. Do you get it? What I found was a warm, CSNY-influenced Americana album from 1973, with shades of the weird soundtracks Pink Floyd did in 1969 and 1971. <br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="https://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_500/MI0004/388/MI0004388819.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/historian-mw0003138667" target="_blank">Historian</a></b> by Lucy Dacus<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">One of my litmus tests to find an album that will stick with me is if the album is done, and I think to myself "You have an infinite universe of music to choose from. What do you want to listen to next? I think I want to listen to that same record again." Kinda sprawling and atmospheric but also intimate and personal. The production is really clean and her voice is sweetly pure. It’s sort of the black turtleneck/heavy eyeliner flip side of the Kacey Musgraves record.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="https://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_500/MI0004/234/MI0004234524.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/balsams-mw0003046854" target="_blank">Balsams</a></b> by Chuck Johnson<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">It is almost a disservice to think of Chuck Johnson as a guitarist because, while he is extremely adept at playing his instrument, the sounds on Balsams feel almost like a swelling church organ or the gusts the winds might make in a dry melodic canyon. Similar to William Tyler's Modern Country, this album is a sprawling ambient blanket containing layers of braided sound and landscapes of sun-baked minor key melodies, like the earth-bound companion to Brian Eno's Apollo. <br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="https://rovimusic.rovicorp.com/image.jpg?c=-ksX5Zj3sfbpfVuir_i9IYAf7E_1E-2MlBBPmPAXRBU=&f=5" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/cest-la-vie-mw0003205110" target="_blank">C'est La Vie</a></b> by Phosphorescent<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">This one crept up on me. It's a quiet, intimate singer-songwritery album that would have felt right at home in the late '70s. Relaxed, hummable tunes with intricate instrumentation.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="https://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_500/MI0004/413/MI0004413020.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/television-city-mw0003173411" target="_blank">Television City</a></b> by Television City<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Michigan-centric Americana that just happened to be recorded by a bunch of my favorite people. It was fun to follow the evolution of this record as it grew from loose ideas to become the full release that it is now. Some of the tracks are true epics, but in the end I gravitated toward the looser and more sparsely intimate songs that sprung up fully-formed in the later stages of making the album.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="https://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_500/MI0000/099/MI0000099611.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/barry-goudreau-mw0000647873" target="_blank">Barry Goudreau</a></b> by Barry Goudreau<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">After the band's rocket to fame in the late '70s, Boston mastermind Tom Scholtz became inevitably tied up in legal battles with his manager and label, leaving the rest of his band idle. During the downtime, guitarist Barry Goudreau enlisted almost the entire band to record nine <em>very</em> Boston-sounding tracks. It feels almost as if Scholtz left every amp and microphone as-is after Boston's second record, and Goudreau and company just stepped in and recorded the band's third record while Scholtz wasn't looking. The album's clear highlight is the minor hit "Dreams" which channels a familiar guitar tone and anthemic chorus.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="https://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_500/MI0004/405/MI0004405658.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/providence-canyon-mw0003152335" target="_blank">Providence Canyon</a></b> by Brent Cobb<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">As it turns out, when your brother is widely regarded as the best producer in town, your album ends up sounding pretty good. Laconic and laid-back, Cobb's uncomplicated songwriting and warm voice evoke wooden porches and ice cold cheap beer, but in a way that seems less calculated than the bro country clunking up the airwaves on country radio.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="https://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_500/MI0003/556/MI0003556348.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-mountain-moves-mw0002497702" target="_blank">The Mountain Moves</a></b> by Treetop Flyers<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Somehow transported forward in time from Laurel Canyon in the 1970s, Treetop Flyers' debut album is collection of wistful acoustic Americana tunes in the style of CSNY and America (another British band that captured the California sound with unexpected accuracy). Like a less-bombastic My Morning Jacket, this five-piece croons and noodles over lazy backbeats, the songs buoyed by rich harmonies. Their subsequent albums nudged toward slightly busier instrumentation and production, but this first record is a warm summertime beachfire gem.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<img src="https://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_500/MI0001/982/MI0001982362.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href=https://www.allmusic.com/album/potatoland-mw0000193636" target="_blank">Potatoland</a></b> by Spirit<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Spirit is largely remembered as a hard-driving rock band based on their biggest hit "I Got a Line on You," so it is difficult to wrap one's head around this bizarro concept record. Originating in the early '70s and reworked for a 1981 release, the science fiction backstory is illustrated by a comic strip (included in the LP) and the disjointed nature of the album makes for a puzzling listen, but man, there are some good songs on there. Proto-disco, Beach Boys harmonies, Yacht Rock bounce, electronic synth noodling, bluesy chooglin' and a chiming Byrds-influenced closer, Potatoland is a grab bag of trippy California oddities.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<center>One of my favorite music moments was Kacey Musgraves covering a Keane song<br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UgKmbVhvI1w" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">An intimate and perfect version of "Somewhere Only We Know" accompanied by cello, piano and banjo. <br />
</span><br />
<br />
<br />
I spent a good amount of time curating this <a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2SPIhE055jeTua5S1ZpwQW?fbclid=IwAR05PLUChTR3pT87nHK1kvjKxiIkLj283z8zeXKHqe2102V1eY3e7ir1a-w&si=AXGk7EidTNG-SgYCFHEdAA">Shakedown Cruise playlist</a>.<br />
<iframe src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/playlist/2SPIhE055jeTua5S1ZpwQW" width="300" height="380" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe><br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Summertime smooth rock from the late '70s and early '80s, <br />
heavily influenced by yacht rock and big dumb fun sunset jams. <br />
Expect big production, harmonies, sensitive lovers and lots of chest hair.<br />
Full Sails and Feathered Hair, everybody.<br />
</span><br />
</center><br />
<center><b><span style="font-size:130%;">Computers and Technology:</span></b></center><br />
<a href="https://cocaineandrhinestones.com/">Cocaine & Rhinestones </a><br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">This year I dove into a new podcast called Cocaine & Rhinestones (hosted by David Allan Coe's somehow-normal son) which highlights some of the wilder and weirder stories of country music in the 20th century. Drunken brawls and slimy managers, feuds and affairs, dirt poor angels and big city devils, nudie photo blackmail and backstage deals at the Grand Old Opry. Recommended, even if you don't like old country music.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<center>Gritty<br />
<iframe src="https://giphy.com/embed/lcjNHIJilbfGOdqIkd" width="480" height="270" frameBorder="0" class="giphy-embed" allowFullScreen></iframe><br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">I don't really follow hockey but I do follow giant googly-eyed orange monstrosities that haunt all of our dreams. Thanks Gritty!<br />
</span></center><br />
Slow Burn "True Believers" podcast<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">This <a href="https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2017/11/introducing-slow-burn-slates-new-podcast-about-watergate.html">lengthy dive into Watergate</a> gave insights into a certain political scandal and the country's reaction.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.wtfpod.com/podcast/episode-942-joe-walsh">Joe Walsh on WTF</a> (and Joe Walsh in general)<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">This interview with Joe Walsh was really great. He's sober now and remembers everything. He was like a Rock & Roll Forrest Gump, popping up to give Jimmy Page his first Gibson SG and learning how to play slide guitar from Duane Allman. My favorite quote: "Keith Moon decided he liked me. That was the scariest thing that happened in my whole life... In 24 hours, we stayed up for a couple days."<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<center>Cuphead<br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NN-9SQXoi50" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">I don't play the video games that often, but everything about this one grabbed me. <br />
The early animation style, the ragtime jazz, the simple side-scroll action. <br />
The only slightly disappointing thing was finding out how much better my kid is at video games than I am.<br />
</span></center><br />
Shower Thoughts<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">I stumbled across the Reddit community of Shower Thoughts. Many of them are dumb but every once in a while there is a little gem:<br />
<br />
Amish girls have no way of knowing if it's a romantic candlelit dinner or just a regular dinner.<br />
<br />
If you drew a dick on a vampire's face while they were sleeping they'd never find out about it.<br />
<br />
If you were to play Mario games backwards it is the story of a plumber leaving his wife and his life progressively getting easier.<br />
<br />
Technically everything you throw at a blind person is a UFO to them.<br />
<br />
It is some people's jobs to deliver Digiorno pizzas to the grocery stores.<br />
<br />
The most unsettling thing in the world would be knowing the day and month of your death, but not the year.<br />
<br />
You don’t really wash your hands, they actually wash each other while you just stand there and watch.<br />
<br />
Hotel California is basically a bad Yelp review with a two minute guitar solo.<br />
<br />
A werewolf on the moon would be the most powerful werewolf ever.<br />
<br />
It must be quite alarming for deaf people to find out that farts make sounds.<br />
<br />
The more holes a net has, the better condition it's in.<br />
<br />
People who sit on the front row at the cinema technically get to see the movie first<br />
<br />
Diarrhea is literally a blast from the past.<br />
<br />
It must take a while for a Giraffe to throw up.<br />
<br />
One of the unspoken things about being an adult is having a favorite burner on the stove.<br />
<br />
Give a man a fish, he eats for a day. Give a man a poisoned fish, he eats for the rest of his life.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<center><b><span style="font-size:130%;">Books:</span></b></center><br />
<br />
<img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1486520624l/32075825.jpg" alt="reading is fundamental" title="books" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32075825-the-rise-and-fall-of-d-o-d-o" target="_blank">The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O.</a></b> by Neal Stephenson and Nicole Galland<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">My favorite book of the year: A linguist is pulled from her unfulfilling academic life to dive into a black-ops government agency to save magic, travel through time, explore ancient martial arts, code in red hat internet protocols, learn WAY too much about corsets, watch Wikipedia entries and history books change before her eyes, witness hilarious Viking sex, visit the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893, and generally upend the space-time continuum.<br />
Incredibly, the science of magic and time travel are both given startlingly believable explanations and the story is told via quill-and-ink parchments, diary entries, government requisition forms and Slack Channel messages.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1284167912l/944073.jpg" alt="reading is fundamental" title="books" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/944073.The_Blade_Itself" target="_blank">The Blade Itself</a></b> by Joe Abercrombie<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Scratching the itch that Game of Thrones and <b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/186074.The_Name_of_the_Wind?ac=1&from_search=true" target="_blank">The Kingkiller Chronicles</a></b> is waiting to scratch, this fantasy series follows a mercenary barbarian, a noble-born swordsman, a crippled torturer and a wizard as their paths slowly intersect in the middle of a three-army war. It's one of those books where a chapter ends, and you're bummed out because you really want to know where that storyline was going, then you pick up the next chapter and say "Oh yeah, right! *They* were about to get ambushed, wonder what will happen?" and so on over and over again.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1433671750l/333867.jpg" alt="reading is fundamental" title="books" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/333867.The_Stars_My_Destination" target="_blank">The Stars My Destination</a></b> by Alfred Bester<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Alfred Bester first published this in 1955 but it feels much more futuristically real than Flash Gordon or Fantastic Planet. One interesting element was that the author kept referring to futuristic high-society members like the Sears-Roebucks, the Kodaks, the Buicks and "R.H. Macy XVI, head of the powerful Saks-Gimbel clan." Other than that it was a ripping space yarn.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51U3ZI1QvxL._SX319_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" alt="reading is fundamental" title="books" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/allyshwed/woodstalk-3-days-of-peace-music-and-zombies-book-1" target="_blank">Woodstalk: 3 Days of Peace, Music, and Zombies</a></b> by Bruce Worden<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Author/Illustrator Bruce Worden (Goodnight Keith Moon) re-imagines the Woodstock Music Festival through the eyes of The Zombies (Rod Argent, Colin Blunstone, et al) as they are forced to battle a real zombie outbreak. Musical in-jokes wail as Ravi Shankar, Richie Havens, Joan Baez, wide-eyed hippies in a fumbled drug deal and a frazzled Vietnam veteran band together to try to survive 3 days of peace, music and zombies. <br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1426760513l/23346525.jpg" alt="reading is fundamental" title="books" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23346525-dark-run" target="_blank">Dark Run (The Keiko Trilogy)</a></b> by Mike Brooks<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">A brash captain with a dark past leads a ragtag group of smugglers and pirates on questionable adventures aboard their space freighter. Lots of obvious similarities to the TV show Firefly but still a fun and easy book snack.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1516562234l/35068687.jpg" alt="reading is fundamental" title="books" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35068687-twilight-of-the-gods?ac=1&from_search=true" target="_blank">Twilight of the Gods: A Journey to the End of Classic Rock</a></b> by Steven Hyden<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Steven Hyden (Your Favorite Band is Killing Me) takes the pulse of classic rock to determine what is keeping the music breathing after 50-plus years and if it still matters. Golden gods/geriatric hangers-on such as the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen, Fleetwood Mac, the Eagles, Black Sabbath, and the Who are examined along with the fans, industry and culture surrounding this dusty but cherished genre<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1403033579l/17235026.jpg" alt="reading is fundamental" title="books" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17235026-the-girl-with-all-the-gifts" target="_blank">The Girl With All the Gifts</a></b> by M.R. Carey <br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">It must be one of the few books to cast a flesh-eating zombie as the protagonist but somehow the reader ends up feeling for the main character. A global catastrophe has caused most of the population to become eaters, and a few pockets of humanity remain, looking for a cure. Despite the subject matter, it really is more of a road trip adventure through a post-apocalytic ruin with creepy scientists and bloodthirsty survivalists around every corner. Anyone who liked Station Eleven would probably dig this book.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1400569100l/47956.jpg" alt="reading is fundamental" title="books" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/47956.Daughter_of_the_Blood" target="_blank">Daughter of the Blood</a></b> by Anne Bishop<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">I plowed through this series, and while the second book was the best, I was entertained throughout. An interesting aspect was that the magic derived from colored crystals (kind of like Fleetwood Mac's third album) and each color was more powerful than the colors before it, so you got this weird hierarchy of witches and wizards who could lord over somebody, or had to bow down to somebody else based on the power of the color.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1480443659l/21479290.jpg" alt="reading is fundamental" title="books" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21479290-the-hanging-tree" target="_blank">The Rivers of London Series</a></b> by Ben Aaronovich<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">I started this series last year but kept it up this year as well. A bumbling London cop finds he has a knack for the supernatural and ends up in a little-known (and little-respected) division of the police force. All of them are pretty good but The Hanging Tree was the best of the bunch so far.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<center><b><span style="font-size:130%;">TeeVee:</span></b></center><br />
Again, not a lot of TV watched this year.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gp_RnJcb8Ig">Disenchantment</a><br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">The boy and I quite enjoyed Matt Groening's new medieval version of The Simpsons. The tone is a bit more adult and some of the jokes fall flat but it is worth digging into.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
Fixer Upper<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">There are a bunch of unwatchable programs on HGTV, but this year we fell into this show where people often fix up old farmhouses. After a long year of tough projects at the farmhouse we've been working on, we found a lot of positive inspiration from this show.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/slow-tv">Slow TV</a><br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Friends of our hipped us to this channel(?) lifestyle(?) where they show really boring things like the view from a train in Northern Europe for 6 hours, or a 4 hour documentary on cutting firewood in Sweden. Must See TV!<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<center><b><span style="font-size:130%;">Movies:</span></b></center><br />
(in roughly the order that I liked it.)<br />
<br />
Annihilation <br />
Black Panther<br />
Avengers Infinity War<br />
Solo: A Star Wars Story<br />
Incredibles 2<br />
Ralph Breaks the Internet<br />
Ready Player One<br />
Bohemian Rhapsody<br />
Ant-Man and the Wasp<br />
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald <br />
Pacific Rim: Uprising<br />
Mortal Engines<br />
Johnny English Strikes Again<br />
A Wrinkle in Time<br />
Rampage<br />
<br />
<br />
<center><b><span style="font-size:130%;">Things That Are Awful:</span></b><br />
<br />
This Administration<br />
<img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7885/32657141418_922fee6236_o.jpg" alt="2018" title="2018" border="0"><br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">This tweet sums up everything I despise about how our country is being run.<br />
Callousness. Indifference. Partisan attitudes. Winning at all costs. Childish obstinance. Unwillingness. Cruelty. Greed.<br />
I kept thinking of the horrible things that happened this year, and nearly all of them could be traced back here in one way or another.<br />
</span><br />
</center><br />
The Deck<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">We had some work done on our deck this year and the contractor began to take advantage of our trust. It came to a head at a time when I was out of town and was not able to solve it (or even address it). It got worse from there and I still get angry about how he manipulated us after we felt like we could really trust him. The good news is that we found somebody else who could finish the job and we look forward to a sunset cocktail on the deck in the spring.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">After several years of not wanting to go to sleepaway camp, we finally convinced our kid to go away for a week at a well-known camp for a week. He didn't pass the swim test which meant that he was unable to participate in a number of activities, the vegetarian food options weren't great so I imagine he wasn't eating much, etc. I had hoped this would kick off a lifetime enjoyment of summer camp hi-jinks and cherished memories, but ultimately he didn't like it, which I guess is fine...he's not the first kid to ever dislike summer camp, but I do feel bad that he spent an entire week stuck and wishing he was somewhere else. <br />
</span><br />
<br />
GDPR<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">It feels foolish to complain about this, but in 2018 websites that have visitors from European nations needed to jump through a bunch of stupid steps for the illusion of online privacy. It was legislated by people who don't really understand technology and caused a bunch of headaches and extra work for me this year, only to ultimately not really amount to anything. Just a dumb waste of my time.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
Ambulance Blues<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">A family member, a best friend, and a former co-worker who can't catch a break all spent time in the hospital this year for three very different reasons and none of them were pleasant. There has been real progress on all three patients, but I was for real worried about them and focused a lot of nervous/positive energy on them this year.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
Gone Gone Gone<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Pete Shelley of Buzzcocks, Burt Reynolds, doofy Detroit radio DJ Mike Clark, Aretha Franklin, Stan Lee.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
.:DataWhat?:.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13798529758046545533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6823993.post-20746329011289512102018-01-24T18:38:00.001-05:002021-04-29T15:02:16.158-04:00Music Like Firefly<meta property="og:image" content="//farm5.staticflickr.com/4744/26009174818_39444c6339_o.jpg"> <br />
I revisited the Firefly TV series recently and it reaffirmed my love for the incidental music chosen for the show. <br />
<br />
Sure, there is a lot of cool space battle rah-rah bombast that happens in the score when the guns start blazing, but the thing that I always liked was the odd juxtaposition of the dusty acoustic folk instrumentation with hints of Eastern elements and the occasional ambient/industrial-ish tones.<br />
<br />
Much of the highlighted instrumentation in the music I gravitate toward seems to be dobro, mandolin, and violin with occasional acoustic guitar and banjo or piano as underlying accents. Music theorist Jennifer Goltz in her excellent essay "Listening to Firefly" (found in the book <em><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/70113.Finding_Serenity" target="_blank">Finding Serenity</a></em>) points out: <br />
<br />
<center><b><em><span style="font-size:130%;">"When they flew off after an adventure turned out all right, we <br />
heard slide guitar, a little strumming, sometimes a fiddle: it was the sound <br />
of their home and the sound of everything being right with the world.<br />
<br />
And the fiddle and guitar are portable instruments, perfect for the <br />
lifestyle of the crew; the music they make calls up tunes played out <br />
in the open, by people who were hundreds of miles away just yesterday. <br />
[The musical theme] <em>Serenity</em> conjures the nomadic lifestyle <br />
the crew leads and underlines the western aspect of the show."</span></em></b></center><br />
<img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4757/25008747507_75fcbe6cc3_o.jpg" width="1130" height="171" alt="FireflyBanner" id=".responsive-image"><br />
<br />
Since this kind of Appalachian folk has much of its original roots in Celtic music, song forms like reels and jigs wend their way into the soundtrack by way of flutes, pipes, and hand drums. Then from left field, Eastern folk instruments and phrasings would drift into the edges, due in large part to the influence of Chinese culture on that universe. And of course, being a sci-fi show, there are broad stretches of the music that feature atmospheric instrumentation and occasional industrial sounds -- the machinations of outer space.<br />
<br />
The soundtrack to Firefly and the Serenity film are great, but they aren't really appropriate as background music. The music tells a narrative to what is happening on-screen including fistfights, space battles and other thrilling heroics, but I was looking for something that could be on in the background while reading or maybe starting a role-playing game that all had the same mood and feel, and kept the signal going.<br />
<br />
I pulled together a Spotify playlist of instrumentals that could be found in the Firefly and Serenity universe. As I indicated above, it is mostly instrumental acoustic folk with some bluegrass/Chinese hybrid songs and a couple appropriate tunes from film and video game soundtracks.<br />
<center><b><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />
Take The Sky - Music Found in the Firefly Universe</span></b><br />
<a href="https://open.spotify.com/user/zacjohnson/playlist/5vetpCFkn63rOjUiaFjb5s?si=iuAk7DzNTcyWEb9TD1ugwg" target="_blank">https://open.spotify.com/user/zacjohnson/playlist/5vetpCFkn63rOjUiaFjb5s?si=iuAk7DzNTcyWEb9TD1ugwg </a><br />
<br />
<iframe src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/playlist/5vetpCFkn63rOjUiaFjb5s" width="300" height="380" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe>
<br />
</center>The tracklist:<br />
"Interlude (Eastmountainsouth)" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/eastmountainsouth-mw0000029029">Eastmountainsouth</a><br />
"The Signal" - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_k7eOZmaNBfZqKRNJ25RHQiK67qubtuu94">David Joseph Wesley</a> (from the Music to Smuggle By [Original Video Game Soundtrack])<br />
"Slinger's Song" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/bastion-original-soundtrack-mw0003099285">Darren Korb</a> (from the Bastion soundtrack)<br />
"Cows / New Dress / My Crew" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/firefly-original-television-soundtrack-mw0000704040">Greg Edmonson</a> (from the Firefly soundtrack)<br />
"Robin and Marian" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/nickel-creek-mw0000060819">Nickel Creek</a><br />
"The Silver Spear/The Earl's Chair/The Musical Priest (Reels)" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/lost-in-the-loop-mw0000603773">Liz Carrol</a><br />
"Stumptown" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/why-should-the-fire-die-mw0000311287">Nickel Creek</a><br />
"Katniss Afoot" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-hunger-games-original-score-mw0002303425">James Newton Howard</a> (From the Hunger Games soundtrack)<br />
"In Case of Trouble" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/bastion-original-soundtrack-mw0003099285">Darren Korb</a> (from the Bastion soundtrack)<br />
"Mansinneedof" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/song-up-in-her-head-mw0000818836">Sarah Jaroz</a><br />
"Winnipeg" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/looking-glass-mw0002026107">Chris Pandolfi</a><br />
"Dao Chuilian" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/classical-contemporary-chinese-music-mw0002980885">Red Chamber & Mei Han</a><br />
"The Moon in the Sky (Xiao Yue Er Gao)" - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dCCa743MdI">Yu Liangmo</a><br />
"Scotch & Chocolate" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/why-should-the-fire-die-mw0000311287">Nickel Creek</a><br />
"River's Dance" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/firefly-original-television-soundtrack-mw0000704040">Greg Edmonson</a> (from the Firefly soundtrack)<br />
"Spike in a Rail" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/bastion-original-soundtrack-mw0003099285">Darren Korb</a> (from the Bastion soundtrack)<br />
"Searching for Peeta" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-hunger-games-original-score-mw0002303425">James Newton Howard</a> (From the Hunger Games soundtrack)<br />
"Bill" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/nebraska-original-motion-picture-soundtrack-mw0002585054">Tin Hat</a> (from the Nebraska soundtrack)<br />
"A Proper Story" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/bastion-original-soundtrack-mw0003099285">Darren Korb</a> (from the Bastion soundtrack)<br />
"Iguazu" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/ronroco-mw0000596886">Gustavo Santaoalla</a><br />
"Ashokan Farwell" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-civil-war-original-tv-soundtrack-mw0000690934">Jay Ungar & The Nashville Chamber Orchestra</a><br />
"Pastures New" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/nickel-creek-mw0000060819">Nickel Creek</a><br />
"Aran Boat Song" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-diary-of-a-fiddler-mw0000667767">Darol Anger & Alasdair Frasier</a><br />
"Spring" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-hired-hand-mw0000261707">Bruce Langhorne</a><br />
"The Crystal Merchant" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/fascination-mw0000809492">The Greencards</a><br />
"On the Drift" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/on-the-drift-mw0001085691">Bedlam Bards</a><br />
"First and Last Waltz" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/why-should-the-fire-die-mw0000311287">Nickel Creek</a><br />
"Dead End Alley" - <a href="http://reddead.wikia.com/wiki/Red_Dead_Redemption_Soundtrack">Bill Elm and Woody Jackson</a> (from the Red Dead Redemption soundtrack)<br />
"Vale of Plenty" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/black-hawk-down-original-motion-picture-soundtrack-mw0000657952">Hans Zimmer</a> (from the Black Hawk Down soundtrack)<br />
"Amulet" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/eso-terra-mw0001473976">Copal</a><br />
"Journey of the Sorcerer" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/one-of-these-nights-mw0000189767">Eagles</a><br />
"Cuckoo's Nest" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/nickel-creek-mw0000060819">Nickel Creek</a><br />
"Backstep Cindy/Purple Bamboo" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/song-of-the-traveling-daughter-mw0000207056">Abigail Washburn</a><br />
"Saffron's Wedding Dance" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/on-the-drift-mw0001085691">Bedlam Bards</a><br />
"Choctaw Hayride" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/new-favorite-mw0000232591">Alison Krauss & Union Station</a><br />
"Workfield" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-shawshank-redemption-original-motion-picture-soundtrack-mw0000121398">Thomas Newman</a> (from the Shawshank Redemption soundtrack)<br />
"Su Prabhat" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/viridian-mw0000577754">The Greencards</a><br />
"Datun Jelut" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/classical-contemporary-chinese-music-mw0002980885">Red Chamber</a><br />
"By the River" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/uncommon-ritual-mw0000383252">Edgar Meyer, Mike Marshall & Bela Fleck</a><br />
"The Rock Garden" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/on-the-drift-mw0001085691">Bedlam Bards</a><br />
"Redemption in Dub" - <a href="http://reddead.wikia.com/wiki/Red_Dead_Redemption_Soundtrack">Bill Elm and Woody Jackson</a> (from the Red Dead Redemption soundtrack)<br />
"Elsie"- <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/a-dotted-line-mw0002629075">Nickel Creek</a><br />
"River's Jig" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/on-the-drift-mw0001085691">Bedlam Bards</a><br />
"Big Country" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/uncommon-ritual-mw0000383252">Edgar Meyer, Mike Marshall & Bela Fleck</a><br />
"A Kazakh Melody" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/abigail-washburn-the-sparrow-quartet-mw0000785457">Abigail Washburn & the Sparrow Quartet</a><br />
"Girls Picking Flowers" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/classical-contemporary-chinese-music-mw0002980885">Red Chamber</a><br />
"Smoothie Song" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/this-side-mw0000314763">Nickel Creek</a><br />
"Box Elder Beetles" - <a href="https://open.spotify.com/track/1toQOKW7K5Sp7pl3EWNoGE">Wires & Wood</a><br />
"Peace" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/follow-me-down-mw0002125149">Sarah Jarosz</a><br />
"Light Black" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/black-coral-sprig-mw0002611704">Talk West</a><br />
"Freiderick" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/sara-watkins-mw0000805110">Sara Watkins</a><br />
"City on the Mesa - Part 3 - Onwards to Meridian" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/horizon-zero-dawn-original-game-soundtrack-mw0003031284">Joris de Man</a> (from the Horizon: Zero Dawn soundtrack)<br />
"Ah Ya Zein" - <a href="http://www.asza.com/CD-store/RC2.html">Red Chamber</a><br />
"High Ham" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/now-hear-this-mw0000350993">Psychograss</a><br />
"Long Past Gone" - <a href="https://www.gamespot.com/articles/spot-on-the-music-of-braid/1100-6197644/">Sieber, Kammen, Fulton and Schatz</a> (Music from Braid)<br />
"Dry and Dusty" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/brittany-haas-mw0002422328">Brittany Haas</a><br />
"Local Honey" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/what-to-fear-mw0002913195">Sean Watkins</a><br />
"Mandala" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/kitaros-world-of-music-mw0001762099">Yu-Xiao Guang</a><br />
"Short Trip Home" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/short-trip-home-mw0000393636">Edgar Meyer, Mike Marshall, Sam Bush & Joshua Bell</a><br />
"Greeneries" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/exposition-mw0002496810">Takénobu</a><br />
"Going for a Ride" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/serenity-original-motion-picture-soundtrack-mw0000642589">David Newman</a> (from the Serenity soundtrack)<br />
"Big Country" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/uncommon-ritual-mw0000383252">Bela Fleck, Mike Marshall, Edgar Meyer</a><br />
"The Rakers" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/these-changing-skies-mw0002563246">Elephant Revival</a><br />
"Santa Anna's Retreat/Kitchen Gal" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-sparrow-quartet-ep-mw0002081228">Abigail Washburn</a><br />
"Little Siam" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/fascination-mw0000809492">The Greencards</a><br />
"Gone to Fortingall/Wired to the Moon" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/transatlantic-sessions-series-6-vol-2-mw0002639641">Jerry Douglas and Michael McGoldrick</a><br />
"The Majestic Swan" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/gravitys-our-enemy-mw0000793382">Cadillac Sky</a><br />
"Everything's Shiny Captain" - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_k7eOZmaNBfZqKRNJ25RHQiK67qubtuu94">David Joseph Wesley</a> (from the Music to Smuggle By [Original Video Game Soundtrack])<br />
"White Snow in Spring" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/music-for-the-motherless-child-mw0000092235">Martin Simpson & Wu Man</a><br />
"Maenam" - <a href="http://braid-game.com/news/2008/08/the-soundtrack-to-braid/">Sieber, Kammen, Fulton and Schatz</a> (Music from Braid)<br />
"40800" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/kitaros-world-of-music-mw0001762099">Yu-Xiao Guang</a><br />
"Out in the Black" - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_k7eOZmaNBfZqKRNJ25RHQiK67qubtuu94">David Joseph Wesley</a> (from the Music to Smuggle By [Original Video Game Soundtrack])<br />
"Across the Marshland" - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rwws5SnEGn4">Janne Viksten</a><br />
"Almost Home" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/weather-and-water-mw0000345391">The Greencards</a><br />
"Blue Balloons" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/blue-balloons-the-longest-journey-mw0002604048">Blossom</a><br />
"Leaving Atmo" - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_k7eOZmaNBfZqKRNJ25RHQiK67qubtuu94">David Joseph Wesley</a> (from the Music to Smuggle By [Original Video Game Soundtrack])"<br />
"Public Enemy" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/starcraft-ii-wings-of-liberty-mw0002114950">Glenn Stafford</a> (from the StarCraft II Soundtrack)<br />
"Downstream" <a href="http://braid-game.com/news/2008/08/the-soundtrack-to-braid/">Sieber, Kammen, Fulton and Schatz</a> (Music from Braid)<br />
"Dirtside" - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_k7eOZmaNBfZqKRNJ25RHQiK67qubtuu94">David Joseph Wesley</a> (from the Music to Smuggle By [Original Video Game Soundtrack])<br />
"The Beekeeper" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/how-to-grow-a-woman-from-the-ground-mw0000734662">Chris Thile</a><br />
"Fischer Store Road" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/song-up-in-her-head-mw0000818836">Sarah Jarosz</a><br />
"The Road of Trials" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/journey-original-video-game-soundtrack-mw0002401879">Austin Wintory</a> (from the Journey video game soundtrack)<br />
"Paddle the Torrens" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/sweetheart-of-the-sun-mw0002561182">The Greencards</a><br />
"Leadfoot" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/you-got-this-mw0002719148">Haas Kowert Tice</a><br />
"Dance of the Yao Tribe" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/classical-contemporary-chinese-music-mw0002980885">Red Chamber</a><br />
"City of Rome" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/assassins-creed-brotherhood-original-video-game-soundtrack-mw0002873680">Jesper Kyd</a> (from the Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood video game soundtrack)<br />
"A World Behind the World" - <a href="https://soundcloud.com/aminology/aworld-behind-the-world-jami-sieber-game-soundtracks">Jami Sieber</a><br />
"I Do the Job" - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_k7eOZmaNBfZqKRNJ25RHQiK67qubtuu94">David Joseph Wesley</a> (from the Music to Smuggle By [Original Video Game Soundtrack])<br />
"Pterodactyl" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/grant-gordy-mw0002319773">Grant Gordy</a><br />
"The Pasture" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/these-changing-skies-mw0002563246">Elephant Revival</a><br />
"The Docks" - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_k7eOZmaNBfZqKRNJ25RHQiK67qubtuu94">David Joseph Wesley</a> (from the Music to Smuggle By [Original Video Game Soundtrack])<br />
"Now That This Old World is Ending" - <a href="https://www.destructoid.com/far-cry-5-s-soundtrack-keeps-me-coming-back-497054.phtml">Dan Romer</a> (from the Far Cry 5 Original Video Game Soundtrack)<br />
"River Valley Waltz" - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLe-mCiJvNU">Janne Viksten</a><br />
"Transit of Venus, Matavai, A.D. 1769" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/vikings-of-the-sunrise-fantasy-on-the-polynesian-star-path-navigators-mw0001009679">Stephen Scott</a><br />
"Salvage" - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_k7eOZmaNBfZqKRNJ25RHQiK67qubtuu94">David Joseph Wesley</a> (from the Music to Smuggle By [Original Video Game Soundtrack])<br />
"Lauren's Lullaby" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/book-of-silk-mw0000210361">Tin Hat</a><br />
"Leonardo's Ride" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/movin-on-mw0000142634">The Greencards</a><br />
"Northern Winds" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/train-a-comin-mw0000172075">Steve Earle</a><br />
"Havelock" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/famous-places-mw0002015094">Goldmund</a><br />
"Midnight Ferry" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/sweetheart-of-the-sun-mw0002561182">The Greencards</a><br />
"Gypsy Camp/Art Stamper" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/appalachian-picking-society-mw0000405054">Tim O'Brien</a><br />
"When the Morning Light Shines In" - <a href="https://www.destructoid.com/far-cry-5-s-soundtrack-keeps-me-coming-back-497054.phtml">Dan Romer</a> (from the Far Cry 5 Original Video Game Soundtrack)<br />
"Benediction" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/unspoken-mw0000786201">Jami Sieber</a><br />
"Solid Ground" - <a href="https://breakofreality.bandcamp.com/album/the-sound-between-5-track-acoustic-ep-2006">Break of Reality</a><br />
"The Ghost of Blind Willie Johnson" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/roll-my-blues-away-mw0000091818">Tony Furtado</a><br />
"Jason Ehleben" - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1mIUKu4GV8">Bells</a><br />
"Verse Things Have Happened" - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_k7eOZmaNBfZqKRNJ25RHQiK67qubtuu94">David Joseph Wesley</a> (from the Music to Smuggle By [Original Video Game Soundtrack])<br />
"The Last of Us" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-last-of-us-original-video-game-soundtrack-mw0002538211">Gustavo Santaolalla</a> (from the The Last of Us Original Video Game Soundtrack)<br />
"Downstream" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/artist/shira-kammen-mn0000028975">Shira Kammen</a><br />
"Forslund" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/mike-marshall-and-darol-anger-with-vasen-mw0000749932">Mike Marshall and Darol Anger with Väsen</a><br />
"Keep Flying" - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_k7eOZmaNBfZqKRNJ25RHQiK67qubtuu94">David Joseph Wesley</a> (from the Music to Smuggle By [Original Video Game Soundtrack])<br />
"Seeds of Light" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/seasons-of-the-soul-viola-meditations-mw0001613380">Karen Olson</a><br />
"Sliding Down" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/uncommon-ritual-mw0000383252">Edgar Meyer</a> featuring Béla Fleck and Mike Marshall<br />
"Independence, VA" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/steal-the-blue-mw0001685217">April Verch</a><br />
"Safe and Sound" - <a href="https://www.destructoid.com/far-cry-5-s-soundtrack-keeps-me-coming-back-497054.phtml">Dan Romer</a> (from the Far Cry 5 Original Video Game Soundtrack)<br />
"Desert Capriccio" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/crouching-tiger-hidden-dragon-mw0000107873">Tan Dun / Yo-Yo Ma</a> (from the Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon soundtrack)<br />
"A Prairie Tale" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/from-scotland-with-love-mw0002681146">King Creosote</a><br />
"Silent Skies" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/seasons-of-the-soul-viola-meditations-mw0001613380">Karen Olson</a><br />
"Acoustic Traveler" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/acoustic-traveller-mw0000184321">John McEuen</a><br />
"Inara's Suite" - <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/firefly-original-television-soundtrack-mw0000704040">Greg Edmonson</a> (from the Firefly soundtrack)<br />
"Love Keeps Her in the Air" - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_k7eOZmaNBfZqKRNJ25RHQiK67qubtuu94">David Joseph Wesley</a> (from the Music to Smuggle By [Original Video Game Soundtrack])<br />
<br />
<br />
I also started a <a href="https://www.pandora.com/station/play/3873757753042275988" target="_blank">Pandora station</a> that occasionally surfaces some gems but is often more miss than hit.<br />
<br />
I discovered these while digging through lists on Fireflyfans.net, Whedonesque, Reddit, AskMetafilter and from a handful of other helpful browncoats.<br />
<br />
Let me know if you think of any other songs that would be appropriate and maybe this list can keep flying. <br />
<br />
.:DataWhat?:.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13798529758046545533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6823993.post-84684282907166502382017-12-30T22:27:00.002-05:002021-04-29T15:09:50.060-04:00Twenty Seventeen<center><b><span style="font-size:130%;">Things I Liked in 2017:</span></b><br />
<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/143141625@N08/38691342564/in/dateposted-public/" title="bestnine"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4596/38691342564_5b380d6933.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="bestnine"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<span style="font-size:85%;"><br />
1. This girl. 2. That guy. 3. Young cat. <br />
4. Old dog. 5. Trip to California with a hot girl and a hot car. 6. Trip to NYC with cold ales at McSorley’s. <br />
7. Working in the shop. 8. That orchard wedding. 9. Sitting on my porch drinking coffee.</span></center><br />
<br />
That Orchard Wedding<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">My sister got married in an apple orchard and it was very nice for all involved. <br />
</span><br />
<br />
<br />
Lager House Porchsleeper Show<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">The 'Sleeper put it together once more for a show to celebrate a buddy's birthday. You can see a pile of the videos <b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRILFbDJJz8&list=PLeuv2GYFWptxoWO0ls1yTUEKG84YmtCNO" target="_blank">here</a></b>: <br />
</span><br />
<br />
<br />
Henry playing drums<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">My kid has an amazing drum instructor and the lessons have really been improving his playing. Every once in a while, Penny and I will look at each other while the boy is practicing and say "Is that our kid? Or did a professional skinsman sneak into our basement?"<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<br />
D&D<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">My kid started getting into playing Dungeons & Dragons and he's developing into a pretty decent dungeon master. (Note: This is probably be something that would get me burned at the stake a hundred years ago, so there has been <em>some</em> progress in society).<br />
</span><br />
<center>Stormtrooper Costume<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/143141625@N08/38691335274/in/dateposted-public/" title="Trooper1"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4647/38691335274_7af268e019_n.jpg" width="320" height="240" alt="Trooper1"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/143141625@N08/38691340504/in/dateposted-public/" title="Trooper2"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4646/38691340504_e91ee97412_n.jpg" width="320" height="240" alt="Trooper2"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/143141625@N08/39399306761/in/dateposted-public/" title="Trooper3"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4731/39399306761_4e652cabbc_n.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="Trooper3"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Henry wanted to be a Stormtrooper for Halloween but the helmets he liked were all $70 so he decided to cut up some cardboard and make his own. <br />
It took hours and hours and about a gallon of hot glue, but in the end it looked like a million spacebucks.<br />
</span></center><br />
<br />
Touchin' Squirrels<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">For some terrific reason, Penny and I have decided to keep track of who has touched the most squirrels in the wild. The current tally is 9 for me and 7 for her. I have a feeling when we are in the old folks home, we'll still be playing (even if we are slowly trying to touch radioactive cyber-rodents by that time).<br />
</span><br />
<center><br />
Building Cabinets in The Shop<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/143141625@N08/38521291285/in/dateposted-public/" title="Cabinet1"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4590/38521291285_9e3eec74e3_n.jpg" width="320" height="240" alt="Cabinet1"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/143141625@N08/27622126519/in/dateposted-public/" title="cabinet2"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4689/27622126519_9f34be766d_n.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="cabinet2"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">I've been working on cleaning out the workshop at the old farmhouse we inherited and it is a world of discovery <br />
(ancient tools, mouse nests, chemicals that have been discontinued since the Eisenhower administration). <br />
I was able to clear some surfaces and build two different cabinets this summer. <br />
It's gonna be great (in about 6 years).<br />
</span></center><br />
<br />
Snickers Crispers<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Back in college we fell in love with the Good Stuff candy bar (so much so that we collected the wrappers and created our own Greg Brady-style beaded curtain for our door).<br />
I’m happy to report that the <b><a href="https://www.theimpulsivebuy.com/wordpress/2015/12/15/review-snickers-crisper/" target="_blank">Snickers Crisper Bar</a></b> is about as close as you can come nowadays. <br />
</span><br />
<br />
<br />
Eclipse!!1!<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">At one point his year, the moon came between the Earth and the Sun and it made my brain explode.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<br />
Botnik Seinfeld<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Hoo boy. <b><a href="https://twitter.com/jamieabrew/status/910699116266643456" target="_blank">These geniuses</a></b> loaded up a predictive text robot with a bunch of Seinfeld scripts and ended up making my new favorite television show.<br />
<br />
KRAMER enters dancing with garbage.<br />
<br />
KRAMER: Hey hey hey, great idea for big sponge: Make it so large you think it's got a fat clock in the middle.<br />
<br />
JERRY: (takes off his bones)<br />
Kramer, do you have a fun flashback to do?<br />
<br />
George is wearing a $20 hat that says "Hello to Horse."<br />
<br />
GEORGE: I'm kinda like the captain of hygiene.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
The Women's March and The Science March<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">The reasons behind the need for these marches were and are infuriating, but it was pretty incredible to be a part of the groundswell of emotion, passion and anger.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
Brian Regan show <br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">We took the boy to see <b><a href="http://brianregan.com" target="_blank">his favorite comedian</a></b>. It was his first big comedy experience and he laughed at it.<br />
</span><br />
<center><br />
Driveway Fires<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/143141625@N08/38691237444/in/dateposted-public/" title="DrivewayFire"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4684/38691237444_1f64d360a4.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="DrivewayFire"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">One tradition we tried to enforce was having driveway fires in the summer. <br />
We set up our hardware-store fire pit, gather some dry wood and kindling, then have the boy build and start the fire (ideally with just one match). <br />
Once the beacon is lit, neighborhood kids appear with back-cabinet marshmallows and dusty Hershey bars and floppy graham crackers. <br />
They whittle sticks and blaze their marshmallows until they taste horrible and burnt, and the grown-ups pass glasses of bourbon <br />
in their camp chairs and everybody is reminded that life is pretty great in little glimpses.<br />
</span></center><br />
<br />
A Trip to New York City<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Henry's Auntie Joyce was a cab driver in Queens back in the day, so she wanted to take him to the city to show him around. She let us tag along. We saw Strawberry Fields in Central Park, the Alice in Wonderland statue, Carmine's, Knitty City, <b><a href="http://www.excelsiorhotelny.com/" target="_blank">Excelsior Hotel</a></b> (a total find), The Strand bookstore, the Lower East Side at night, <b><a href="https://mcsorleysoldalehouse.nyc/" target="_blank">McSorley's Old Ale House</a></b> (the oldest bar in NYC), A real highlight was at 30 Rock where my dad knows the lighting designer for Jimmy Fallon's show. We got a hands-on tour of the stage, the area where the Roots perform, the desk, and a ton of backstage scenes. It really is the Windy Apple.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
Henry's Birthday with Swordfights and Archery<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Henry wanted to do swordfighting, wear armor and shoot a bow at his birthday, and the best place to do that was <b><a href="http://ringofsteel.org/" target="_blank">The Ring of Steel</a></b> Action Theater & Stunt Troupe. The kids got to wear chain mail armor, hoist big weaponry, shoot bow and arrow, eat an Eye of Sauron cake, and have a general good time hitting each other with foam swords. A nerdy dream come true.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<center>Winnie the Pooh Rain Art <br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/143141625@N08/25529242918/in/dateposted-public/" title="PoohRain"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4589/25529242918_44509dcb8c.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="PoohRain"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">When it rains on the sidewalks of Ann Arbor, this image appears. <br />
I took a photo of it and it ended up being <b><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/mildlyinteresting/comments/78cwky/this_bit_of_street_art_is_only_visible_when_it/" target="_blank">posted on Reddit</a></b> and got upvoted 46,000 times.<br />
</span></center><br />
<br />
San Francisco / Napa Trip <br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">My bride has stayed married to me for exactly 20 years so I thought it would be nice to reward her for her patience. We flew out to California for a trip to Napa Valley and San Francisco (or "Frisco" as I kept calling it). We ate luxurious breakfasts and drank wine, and in "Frisco" we met with friends, cruised around the bay, shopped for records at Amoeba, grabbbed drinks at my favorite bar in the world <b><a href="http://royalcuckoo.com/" target="_blank">The Royal Cuckoo</a></b>, and generally enjoyed ourselves. <br />
<br />
<center><iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/249211583" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
</center><br />
Among the highlights was that I had secretly rented a Ford Mustang for us to tool around in. The Mustang is one of Penny's favorite cars and I thought it would be a blast. Well, when we got there Hertz said there were no Mustangs available. The sound of Penny's heart breaking was audible so the guy behind the counter pulled some strings and got us into a Shelby GT 350. I guess Hertz and Ford offered a <b><a href="http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-shows/new-york-auto-show/news/a28539/the-legendary-shelby-gt-h-is-back/" target="_blank">rental Shelby GT350 in 1966</a></b> and the one we drove was for the 50th anniversary. She purred like a kitten.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<br />
Toledo Mud Hens' Beatles Tribute Night<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">We were at a minor-league ballgame and a Beatles tribute band broke out. The game jerseys were tackily styled after the Sgt. Pepper's uniforms, and after the show we were treated to a Beatles tribute band. A splendid time was guaranteed for all.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<br />
Wisconsin Dells<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Took the family to the Dells for spring break. It was mostly fine (mac & Cheese and New Glarus beers), but much of the resort town was not yet open for the season. The unexpected gem was this goofball <b><a href="https://www.wizardquest.com/" target="_blank">Wizard Quest</a></b> attraction, a clearly home-grown pile of unicorn fuzz and troll farts that was one-part obstacle course and one part treasure hunt. <br />
</span><br />
<br />
<br />
Emagine Theater<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">My small hometown got a movie theater with huge screens and even huger beers. What a world we live in.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<center>Cleveland Rocks <br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/143141625@N08/39369040612/in/dateposted-public/" title="HappyDog"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4601/39369040612_32701f444b.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="HappyDog"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Went to Cleveland with a buddy to re-re-visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. <br />
A highlight was eating at <b><a href="http://www.happydogcleveland.com/food.php" target="_blank">Happy Dog</a></b> where you can get the following things on your hot dog: <br />
Bourbon Pork-n-Beans, Spaghetti O's, Andy Capp's Hot Fries, Pimento Mac-n-Cheese, Chunky Peanut Butter, a Sunny-Side-Up Fried Egg and Froot Loops.<br />
</span></center><br />
<br />
Broken Jokes <br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">I fell into a rabbit-hole of "Broken Jokes" like this one:<br />
A horse walks into a bar. Before the bartender can ask for its order or comment on its physiognomy, the horse panics, because horses do not belong in bars. Much property damage ensues, and the horse is put down.<br />
<br />
Then I stumbled into Fred Stoller's concept of a "No-Joke Joke." A "No-Joke Joke" is a joke that, upon first hearing it, you'll think that you have just heard a joke and, in fact you'll probably laugh. However on closer examination, analysis and scrutiny you'll realize that it actually wasn't a joke at all. Indeed, it merely sounded like a joke.<br />
<br />
hoo boy. This got me.<br />
<br />
• The town was so small, the Ferris wheel was painted green!<br />
• She was so fat, her sister worked for the phone company!<br />
• I come from a town so small, the hooker wore a helmet!<br />
• I went out with this girl that was so fat, I didn't know whether to take her to a movie or to a Met game!<br />
• My wife talks so much, when she coughs it costs me $22!<br />
• Our town was so small, the police precinct had a screen door!<br />
• She's so fat that when she leaves a nude beach, she has to show a receipt!<br />
• My school was so rough, the yearbook was shaped like a canoe!<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<center>This two-hour car chase around Oklahoma City:<br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mNu5fUwTZGk" frameborder="0" gesture="media" allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">This had more drama and action than any other movie I saw this year.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size:130%;">Tunes:</span></b><br />
<br />
Some of my fave songs:<br />
<iframe src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/playlist/24OAFobbR7ZlumY8h5inMw" width="300" height="380" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></center><br />
<img src="https://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_250/MI0004/231/MI0004231309.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-nashville-sound-mw0003035530" target="_blank">The Nashville Sound</a></b> by Jason Isbell<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Once again making incredible American music with heart and romance and a little spitfire.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="https://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_250/MI0004/251/MI0004251861.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/a-deeper-understanding-mw0003062304" target="_blank">A Deeper Understanding</a></b> by The War on Drugs<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Dreamy and moody.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="https://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_250/MI0004/191/MI0004191531.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/amber-lantern-mw0003014269" target="_blank">Amber Lantern</a></b> by Timothy Monger<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Local boy makes good.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="https://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_250/MI0004/231/MI0004231298.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/together-at-last-mw0003037550" target="_blank">Together at Last</a></b> by Jeff Tweedy<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">I wandered into Amoeba Music in San Francisco just as this came on. I thought it was a live bootleg or something but it turned out to be a real release. The songs are good, even without layers of studio magic.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="https://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_250/MI0004/140/MI0004140206.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/after-the-party-mw0002991747" target="_blank">After the Party</a></b> by The Menzingers<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">These were guys I had never heard of. Adult punk with mortgages and conflicts.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="https://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_250/MI0004/011/MI0004011455.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/is-the-is-are-mw0002900824" target="_blank">Is the Is Are</a></b> by DIIV<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Somebody described this as The Cure meets Real Estate and they were right.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="https://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_250/MI0004/286/MI0004286733.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/trinity-lane-mw0003064372" target="_blank">Trinity Lane</a></b> by Lilly Hiatt<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Bold and fearless songwriting.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="https://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_250/MI0004/265/MI0004265849.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/need-to-feel-your-love-mw0003063397" target="_blank">Need to Feel Your Love</a></b> by Sheer Mag<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Gut-punch rock from Thin Lizzy meets the Go-Gos.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="https://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_250/MI0004/306/MI0004306355.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/for-sale-live-at-maxwells-1986-mw0003082039" target="_blank">For Sale: Live at Maxwell's 1986</a></b> by The Replacements<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">I got to see the Replacements a couple years ago and it felt a lot like this. Dangerous and electric.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="https://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_250/MI0004/171/MI0004171158.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/near-to-the-wild-heart-of-life-mw0002991749" target="_blank">Near to the Wild Heart of Life</a></b> by Japandroids<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Emphatic and empathetic raucous rock from this tuneful two-piece.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<center>I also really liked Guided by Voices' "Glad Girls" (even though it came out a billion years ago):<br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XZsi9uEOJLg" frameborder="0" gesture="media" allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe></center><br />
<br />
Also this year I got way into <b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/but-seriously-folks-mw0000264591" target="_blank">But Seriously, Folks</a></b> by Joe Walsh and <b><a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/allied-forces-mw0000192227" target="_blank">Allied Forces</a></b> by Triumph (just ask the guys in my office).<br />
<br />
<br />
<center>A friend asked for everybody's favorite soul song and I kept digging into weird old compilation discs <br />
to find gritty, gutsy, greasy R&B tunes that I wasn't already familiar with. <br />
The result is this <b>Shake & Fingerpop</b> Playlist.<br />
<iframe src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/playlist/0ubir4epIRoYx6mgT0xGGv" width="300" height="380" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe><br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">The title is inspired by the first line which is <br />
"Put on your wig woman/We're goin' out to shake and fingerpop."<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size:130%;">Computers and Technology:</span></b></center><br />
Newspapers<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">A year ago I would have told you that we don't need to subscribe to newspapers anymore because you can just look at the headlines on Facebook or the homepage of Yahoo and get the basic information you need. At the end of 2017 I subscribe (pay for) two separate newspapers (New York Times and Washington Post) simply because they are providing a service that few other outlets are managing to accomplish. These are among the few places where investigative journalism is happening and I want to keep that fire going.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
S-Town and the Dirty John podcast.<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">These two dark stories (one Faulkner-esque, the other more like Elmore Leonard) kept me plugged into my audio machine this year.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
Slow Burn Podcast<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">I've been listening to Slate's in-depth look at the Watergate break-in and they do a great job of linking the events of the past with what is happening now and it is both disappointing and heartening that the crime, deceit and skullduggery that happened in Washington in 1972 have real parallels with what we're seeing today.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
Stuff You Should Know and Stuff You Missed in History Class<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">My kid got way into historical and science podcasts this year and these two are worth checking out. They made long road trips very bearable.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<center><b><span style="font-size:130%;">Books:</span></b></center><br />
<img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1469206373l/13069874.jpg" alt="reading is fundamental" title="Tunes" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13069874-jerusalem" target="_blank">Jerusalem</a></b> by Alan Moore<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Sometimes you read a book and it is like watching Stranger Things or like viewing Interstellar or listening to OK Computer where you get done with it and is is so inter-looping and broad and genius and frustrating and confusing and incredible you just want to start at the beginning again and pick up the threads and relationships that you missed the first time. <br />
<br />
This book is 1300 pages long and an entire third of it is spent during the time that a toddler is choking on a cough drop. An entire chapter is written in a seemingly nonsensical style inspired by that which James Joyce used in Finnegans Wake. Still, it is a sprawling and all-encompassing work that I will read again (someday)<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1379133081l/18295861.jpg" alt="reading is fundamental" title="books" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18295861-the-first-fifteen-lives-of-harry-august" target="_blank">The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August</a></b> by Claire North<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">A terrific book about a man who keeps re-living his life and finds a community of people who are in his same predicament. <br />
</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1489788218l/28446162.jpg" alt="reading is fundamental" title="books" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28446162-dreaming-the-beatles" target="_blank">Dreaming the Beatles: The Love Story of One Band and the Whole World</a></b> by Rob Sheffield <br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">The Beatles have been analyzed and discussed ad nauseum for the past 50+ years, but Rob Sheffield's series of essays manage to inject a personal narrative and contemporary worldview into this familiar mythology. Using sly turns of phrase and nods to Beatle lyrics in his analysis, Sheffield is able to offer a fresh look at everything from Abbey Road to Zapple Records.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1446378280l/876497.jpg" alt="reading is fundamental" title="books" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/876497.Time_And_Again" target="_blank">Time and Again</a></b> by Jack Finney<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Another time travel book, this one set in New York City. I read this as we were in NYC so I was able to walk out and see the exact locations that were being referenced. Recommended.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1472068073l/186074.jpg" alt="reading is fundamental" title="books" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/186074.The_Name_of_the_Wind" target="_blank">The Name of the Wind</a></b> by Patrick Rothfuss<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">A truly original fantasy novel from an unexpected perspective. Can't wait for volume 3.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1498231185l/35503162.jpg" alt="reading is fundamental" title="books" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8680417-midnight-riot" target="_blank">Midnight Riot</a></b> by Ben Aaronovitch<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">A bumbling London cop finds he has a knack for the supernatural and ends up in a little-known (and little-respected) division of the police force.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<center><b><span style="font-size:130%;">TeeVee:</span></b></center><br />
Again, not a lot of TV watched this year.<br />
<br />
Black Mirror<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">This is some of the best / most brutal social commentary and technological examination since The Twilight Zone. Highly recommended but not binge-able.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
The Magicians<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">I really liked the books and the show is pretty faithful.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Again, I liked the book.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
Stranger Things II<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">More of the same. The second series had a bit less of the "WTF is happening right now" but the characters are very likable so I stuck with it.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
Game of Thrones<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">We're finally caught up!.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<center><b><span style="font-size:130%;">Movies:</span></b></center><br />
(in roughly the order that I liked it.)<br />
<br />
Blade Runner 2049<br />
The Last Jedi<br />
Wonder Woman<br />
Thor: Ragnarok<br />
<b><a href="https://www.allmovie.com/movie/kedi-v660102" target="_blank">Kedi</a></b> (a documentary about cats in Istanbul)<br />
Guardians of the Galaxy 2<br />
Spider-Man: Homecoming<br />
LEGO Batman<br />
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword<br />
Pirates of the Carriean: Dead Men Tell No Tales<br />
<br />
<br />
<center><b><span style="font-size:130%;">Things That Are Awful:</span></b><br />
<br />
Uncle Rick<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/143141625@N08/38521142355/in/dateposted-public/" title="Rick"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4682/38521142355_2f5d431758.jpg" width="500" height="329" alt="Rick"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">My dad's brother died this fall after a really brief illness. <br />
If you have stood on the dock he built at our cottage you have experienced his strength. <br />
He will be missed.<br />
</span></center>The Trump Administration<br />
Chuck Berry<br />
Tom Petty<br />
Harry Dean Stanton & John Hurt<br />
Chris Cornell<br />
Will Stewart<br />
Carrie Fisher (two years running)<br />
A bunch of men turned out to be fucking creeps this year. <br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">I'm glad they are being called out but it's tough to find out so many people you liked are fucking scumbags.</span><br />
A ton more shootings and bombings<br />
Hurricanes and wildfires<br />
Charlottesville and white supremacists <br />
<center>Candle Salad <br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/143141625@N08/39399293441/in/dateposted-public/" title="CandleSalad"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4683/39399293441_d4e4455301.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="CandleSalad"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">(found in an old cookbook and never forgotten)<br />
</span></center>.:DataWhat?:.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13798529758046545533noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6823993.post-25052626454089651992016-12-30T13:30:00.000-05:002016-12-31T10:31:20.409-05:002016 Still Had Good Things<center><b><span style="font-size:130%;">Things I Liked in 2016:</span></b><br />
<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/143141625@N08/31175288863/in/dateposted-public/" title="Best_Nine_2016"><img src="https://c8.staticflickr.com/1/565/31175288863_cec2ed5a94_z.jpg" width="640" height="640" alt="Best_Nine_2016"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
1. Blind dog. 2. Hilarious April Fool's joke on me. 3. Coaching the "Killer" Bees little league. <br />
4. Tower Talk @ AADL. 5. Homemade toga. 6. Asshole cat. <br />
7. Drum lessons. 8. New car named Julius. 9. Total babe w/lucky so-and-so.<br />
</center><br />
American Film Institute Top 100 Movies<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">This year I took it upon myself to have seen all of the AFI 100 movies. And I did. More detail below.<br />
</span><br />
<center>Starring in the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/143141625@N08/31144422174/in/dateposted-public/" title="datawhatIndy"><img src="https://c7.staticflickr.com/1/762/31144422174_3872225144.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="datawhatIndy"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">We went to Disney World and I got to be part of the <b><a href="https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/entertainment/hollywood-studios/indiana-jones-epic-stunt-spectacular/" target="_blank">Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular</a></b>. A childhood dream realized.<br />
</span><br />
</center>Cubs Win!<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Good to root for the underdog in some cases this year.<br />
</span><br />
Bridge Street Social<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">My good friend opened his own restaurant <b><a href="http://bridgestreetsocial.com/" target="_blank">Bridge Street Social</a></b> which has amazing food and the smartest wine list I've seen.<br />
</span><br />
<center>This magic trick <br />
I am still trying to figure out:<br />
<iframe src="//giphy.com/embed/l0Hly9gCIrKihPEd2" width="196" height="300" frameBorder="0" class="giphy-embed" allowFullScreen></iframe><br />
</center><br />
Bathroom Renovation<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">We spent much of the year ripping the plumbing out of a 130-year-old farmhouse and renovating the bathroom. We think the tradesmen we brought in may have been the first professional plumbers ever to set foot in the house. The main guy said "I've been a master plumber for years and I've never seen anything like this." It was an amazing spider web of galvanized, copper, steel, and just random tubing. Now the bathroom is like peeing in a wonderful luxury hotel. Still miles to go.<br />
</span><br />
My sister got engaged<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">He's a good guy too. When I went out as the only old dude with a group of her friends years ago, I looked around the table and said "I like all of these people, but that guy is the best one. He should start dating my sister."<br />
</span><br />
Trip to Toledo<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Had a romantic trip to Toledo Ohio which included seeing the Mud Hens pitch a combined no-hitter and wonderful stay at <b><a href="http://www.casey-pomeroyhouse.com/" target="_blank">The Casey-Pomeroy House</a></b>.<br />
</span><br />
<center>Tower talk and "All Things Must Pass" viewing<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/143141625@N08/31984398415/in/dateposted-public/" title="DatawhatPKZJ"><img src="https://c8.staticflickr.com/1/363/31984398415_5ebf14c269.jpg" width="500" height="294" alt="DatawhatPKZJ"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
On Record Store Day, Paul Kahlenberg and I had a blast reliving the old Tower Records days at the Ann Arbor Library. <br />
Busting shoplifters, drinking in the art room, Y2K and getting Hulk Hogan to pay his late video fees all get covered. <br />
You can experience it <b><a href="https://soundcloud.com/datawhat/tower-talk-discussing-tower-records-ann-arbor" target="_blank">on my Soundcloud</a></b>, bruh. </center><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />
</span><br />
Kid Koala's <b><a href="http://kidkoala.com/live/nufonia-must-fall-live/" target="_blank">Nufonia Must Fall</a></b><br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">We got to see an incredible ...uh...puppet show live action filmed musical performance on turntables with a bingo game. You kinda had to be there.<br />
</span><br />
Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra at Hill Auditorium<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Jazz greats with great friends.<br />
</span><br />
Science Olympiad<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">My kid competed in the largest Science Olympiad in the world and his team got 3rd place for launching water rockets. NERD!<br />
</span><br />
Jason Isbell show<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">I'm glad he's off the sauce. He's doing amazing music and his twitter is hilarious.<br />
</span><br />
Sam Beam & Jsca Hoop show<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">My favorite music moment of the year. Seeing these two in an intimate performance at the Ark was beautiful<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<center><b><span style="font-size:130%;">Internets and Computering things:</span></b><br />
<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="http://motherboard.vice.com/read/the-story-of-allmusic-the-internets-largest-most-influential-music-database" title="AllMusic"><img src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/1/737/31868214811_59f291334b.jpg" width="500" height="444" alt="AllMusic"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
I was interviewed for <b><a href="http://motherboard.vice.com/read/the-story-of-allmusic-the-internets-largest-most-influential-music-database" target="_blank">this article about AllMusic</a></b> which offers a bit of history about how the whole thing fits together.<br />
<br />
Expect references to Brian Austin Green, Who Dat?, CDNow, Sadcore, a 4½ star teen pop album, <br />
Cub Coda, Parachutes revisionism, and a hazily-remembered visit from Taylor Swift. <br />
</center><br />
Henry programming in Python<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">My son expressed interest in making his own video games, so he and I both sat down and learned the very basics of the Python programming language. He even made a simple text-based game where it asks you questions ("How are you doing?") and depending on your answer, gives you a canned reply. No matter what, he has learned the bare bones of what programming is and that should give him a leg up in the future.<br />
</span><br />
Beyond Yacht Rock podcast<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">ENDORSEMENT! If you like music nerds and laughing, you should check out the "Beyond Yacht Rock" podcast, featuring localish dudes JD Ryznar and Hollywood Steve Huey. They select a semi-made-up arbitrary musical genre and then count down a top 10.<br />
<br />
The first week the genre was "Sultry Hits" (think Danger Zone and sweaty sax solos from the Lost Boys) and this week was "Try-N-Raps" (think Barney Rubble as the Master Rapper who is here to say/he loves Fruity Pebbles in a major way). The hosts know their inane musical history so if you and your pals like to sit around and discuss the merits of Pat Thrall, occasional guitarist in Asia, this is the podcast for you.<br />
</span><br />
99% Invisible Podcast<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">A podcast about the unnoticed design of everyday things. It's cooler than it sounds.<br />
</span><br />
<center><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/143141625@N08/31175547603/in/dateposted-public/" title="Fine"><img src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/1/362/31175547603_3fa251377e.jpg" width="500" height="243" alt="Fine"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size:130%;">Music I liked:</span></b></center><br />
<img src="http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_250/MI0004/045/MI0004045179.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/album/love-letter-for-fire-mw0002916769" target="_blank">Love Letter for Fire</a></b> by Sam Beam & Jesca Hoop<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">By far the album I spent the most time with this year. Iron & Wine's Sam Beam's sandpapery voice interlaces so well with singer/songriter Jesca Hoop (who was a nanny for Tom Waits' offspring in the early 2000s!) it reminded me a lot of Gillian Welch and David Rawlings mesh together perfectly. The album is warm, intimate and rustic, and the acoustic guitars and simple percussion (Wilco drummer Glenn Kotche and former Soul Coughing bassist Sebastian Steinberg) set the songs off perfectly.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_250/MI0004/109/MI0004109448.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/album/tuns-mw0002969796" target="_blank">Tuns</a></b> by TUNS<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Matt Murphy (Super Friendz, Flashing Lights), Mike O'Neill (the Inbreds) and Chris Murphy (Sloan) make some great power pop. If you like Sloan albums you will like this because it sounds like a Sloan album.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_250/MI0004/069/MI0004069750.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/album/modern-country-mw0002936250" target="_blank">Modern Country</a></b> by William Tyler<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Tyler creates these sprawling desert American landscapes of a mythical West. Many of the songs focus on looped and manipulated guitar with only bare insrumentation behind it. I can't wait for my next summertime road trip to try this one with the windows down.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_250/MI0004/030/MI0004030751.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/album/good-times%21-mw0002916562" target="_blank">Good Times!</a></b> by The Monkees<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">I was super exited to hear this record when I heard about the songwriters involved: Adam Schlesinger (Fountains of Wayne), Andy Partridge (XTC), Rivers Cuomo (Weezer), Ben Gibbard (Death Cab for Cutie), Noel Gallagher (Oasis), Paul Weller (The Jam) all contribute songs, plus a resurrected Harry Nilsson duet and a cover of an obscure song I associate with The Byrds. The whole thing feels fresh in a way that doesn't feel like a nostalgia act.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_250/MI0004/065/MI0004065728.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/album/give-a-glimpse-of-what-yer-not-mw0002947605" target="_blank">Give a Glimpse of What Yer Not</a></b> by Dinosaur Jr.<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">A great return to form from a veteran band, cranking out very tuneful distorted rockers.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_250/MI0004/077/MI0004077640.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/album/case-lang-veirs-mw0002925163" target="_blank">case/lang/veirs</a></b> by Neko Case, k.d. lang, & Laura Veirs<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">This seems like an oddball recording: Three female singer/songwriters from vaguely different eras and backgrounds but it all mushes together very well. Laura Viers' voice is the most slight but I ended up liking her contributions the most. They're very honest and heartfelt.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_250/MI0004/167/MI0004167851.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/album/compilation-mw0003006377" target="_blank">Compilation</a></b> by Sheer Mag<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">This band has been described a billion ways, often inferring the Go-Gos and Thin Lizzy influences, but alls I know is they sound raw and soulful with a real sense of melody. I wish their stuff was on Spotify. <b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOt774ekroI" target="_blank">You can see the video for my fave tune here</a></b>. <br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_250/MI0004/026/MI0004026948.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/album/stiff-mw0002916103" target="_blank">Stiff</a></b> by White Denim<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">While I've liked other White Denim records better, this was a grower, and their wonky technical jamminess is always balanced with a real sense of melody and listenability. Most jam bands I stumble across rely too much on technical ability and extended jamz, but these guys keep everything tight and hummable.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_250/MI0004/158/MI0004158588.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/album/boots-no-1-the-official-revival-bootleg-mw0002986763" target="_blank">Boots No 1: The Official Revival Bootleg</a></b> by Gillian Welch<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">I've long been a fan of Welch's debut, and this 2-disc collection of demos, outtakes and radio appearances from that era really felt good this fall. Simple instrumentation and honest performances are as good as would be expected, and a couple songs that never made the final cut are like finding an unexpected ten dollar bill in your pocket.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_250/MI0004/042/MI0004042785.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/album/a-sailors-guide-to-earth-mw0002925995" target="_blank">A Sailor's Guide to Earth</a></b> by Sturgill Simpson<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Simpson has one of the most honest voices in country music today, and this album is a dark, gut-bucket collection of soulful southern muscle. It is said to be a letter to his newborn son telling him how to become a man, so there are layers to un-peel. I'm still not sold on the cover of Nirvana's "In Bloom" which takes me out of the flow of the record, but I may see how it fits someday.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
An album that has been unavailable digitally just surfaced in Spotify. Unicorn was a bright and earnest British acoustic-based rock band from the mid-70s and "<b><a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/4cxXOeHEVID85siqQvpSzF" target="_blank">Blue Pine Trees</a></b>" is my favorite of theirs. <br />
<br />
<center>My fave tunes in convenient Spotify form:<br />
<iframe src="https://embed.spotify.com/?uri=spotify%3Auser%3Azacjohnson%3Aplaylist%3A3iRgs1Mj3AW1ZL3dkk6T3t" width="300" height="380" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true"></iframe><br />
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size:130%;">Movies I Watched:</span></b></center><br />
Earlier this year I watched "The Apartment" with Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine. It was so incredible that I realized there must be a ton of great movies out there that I had never seen. "The Apartment" is on the <b><a href="http://www.filmsite.org/afi100films_2007.html" target="_blank">AFI 100 list</a></b> and while I had seen about half, I had never seen "Ben Hur" or "All About Eve" or "Raging Bull" so I set myself the arbitrary challenge of watching them all by the end of the year.<br />
<br />
Schindler's List was always my "really?!?" movie. (I have a theory that there are always movies that you think you should have seen but you've never seen and when you tell somebody you've never seen Schindler's list they say "Really? You've never seen Schindler's List? *REALLY?!?!?1!?*") and now I have seen it.<br />
<br />
I have to say I recommend it heartily. Instead of watching the latest Adam Sandler movie on demand or just flipping through channels, you have the opportunity to watch something that is really incredible and timeless. I suggest it to everyone for 2017.<br />
<br />
Movies I saw in 2016 that actually came out in 2016 (in rough order of how I liked them):<br />
Rogue One<br />
Captain America: Civil War<br />
Oasis: Supersonic<br />
Doctor Strange<br />
The Beatles: Eight Days a Week<br />
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them<br />
Everybody Wants Some!!<br />
Kubo and the Two Strings<br />
Zootopia<br />
Deadpool<br />
Ghostbusters<br />
The Jungle Book<br />
Hail Caesar<br />
Batman very Superman<br />
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows<br />
London Has Fallen<br />
Independence Day: Resurgence<br />
<br />
<br />
<center><b><span style="font-size:130%;">Books I Liked:</span></b></center><br />
<img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1444101399l/10149142.jpg" alt="read" title="learn" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10149142-the-family-fang" target="_blank">The Family Fang</a></b> by Kevin Wilson<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">The adult children of a couple of oddball performance artists try to figure out how the hell to make sense of their lives. Kind of like The Royal Tenenbaums if the kids turned out halfway normal.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1440457662l/24694185.jpg" alt="read" title="learn" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24694185-van-halen-rising" target="_blank">Van Halen Rising: How a Southern California Backyard Party Band Saved Heavy Metal</a></b> by Greg Renoff <br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">A meticulous documentation of the initial David Lee Roth era of Van Halen including the Van Halen brothers' upbringing, Diamond Dave's transformation from wannabe to preening, strutting cock-rocker, and a nearly-endless series of frustrated bassists. From high school parking lot gigs and backyard shows busted by the cops, to the boys fake skydiving in to a major outdoor festival. <br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1387736721l/1399976.jpg" alt="read" title="learn" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1399976.Syrup" target="_blank">Syrup</a></b> by Max Barry<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Max Barry skewers the advertising industry and exposes how jacked up marketing really is. Max Barry also wrote Jennifer Government which was also quite good.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1451446835l/20170404.jpg" alt="read" title="learn" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20170404-station-eleven" target="_blank">Station Eleven</a></b> by Emily St. John Mandel <br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Man, this one is a spooky post-apocalypse survival story that loops back on itself in six different ways. Recommended.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1454284600l/27068734.jpg" alt="read" title="learn" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27068734-but-what-if-we-re-wrong-thinking-about-the-present-as-if-it-were-the-pa" target="_blank">But What If We're Wrong? Thinking About the Present As If It Were the Past</a></b> by Chuck Klosterman<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Klosterman asks a ton of questions and leaves it up to you to try to figure out the answers. He notes: Ben Selvin outsold Louis Armstrong in the 1920s. In 1956, Nelson Riddle and Les Baxter outsold almost every rock 'n' roll star not named Elvis, but they've been virtually erased from the public record. It's almost impossible to guess what will be important to future generations. Brain asplode.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1458496509l/26245024.jpg" alt="read" title="learn" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26245024-your-favorite-band-is-killing-me" target="_blank">Your Favorite Band Is Killing Me: What Pop Music Rivalries Reveal About the Meaning of Life</a></b> by Steven Hyden<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Author Steven Hyden looks at the rivalries in music, beyond the Biggie/Tupac and Pearl Jam/Nirvana spats down to the lesser-covered Madonna/Cyndi Lauper creative wrestling match. <br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1455089828l/19103097.jpg" alt="read" title="learn" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19103097-the-magician-s-land" target="_blank">The Magician's Land</a></b> by Lev Grossman <br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">The final book in The Magicians series (Harry Potter in Narnia with angsty college students) and I think it did a good job of feeling epic and wrapping up loose ends.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
Full list here: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/year_in_books/2016/738761">https://www.goodreads.com/user/year_in_books/2016/738761</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<center><b><span style="font-size:130%;">TV I Saw:</span></b></center><br />
Stranger Things<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Much has been said about this so I don't need to say more, but I love the concept of VHS-Core filmmaking and I watched this twice.<br />
</span><br />
The Magicians<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Much like the books: horny college students leave Hogwarts and go to Narnia. The magic they do is cool and there are funny things they say.<br />
</span><br />
Soundbreaking<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Like "Classic Albums" but not quite as nerdy.<br />
</span><br />
<center>Parks & Rec<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Hey, this is super cute, plus this scene about Fartsicles made me laugh so hard I couldn't breathe:<br />
</span><br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FA8-uRy5MAY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
<br />
<br />
<p><b><span style="font-size:130%;">Horrible, Horrible Things:</span></b><br />
<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/143141625@N08/31984517705/in/dateposted-public/" title="KarmaPolice"><img src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/1/564/31984517705_e79c5d1937_z.jpg" width="640" height="426" alt="KarmaPolice"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<br />
George Martin<br />
Ron Glass<br />
David Bowie<br />
Ralph Stanley<br />
Kenny Baker<br />
Carrie Fisher<br />
Prince<br />
Phife Dawg<br />
Merle Haggard<br />
Leonard Cohen<br />
Gene Wilder<br />
<br />
Grandma Johnson & her sister Polly<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/143141625@N08/31984535275/in/dateposted-public/" title="GrandmaJohnson"><img src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/1/466/31984535275_77626fbff2.jpg" width="500" height="331" alt="GrandmaJohnson"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<br />
Cops shooting people all the time<br />
People driving cars into crowds<br />
People shooting up rock shows and nightclubs<br />
Brexit<br />
<br />
Staring at my phone<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/143141625@N08/31144421924/in/dateposted-public/" title="datawhatnightmaredevice"><img src="https://c5.staticflickr.com/1/774/31144421924_f302598da2.jpg" width="500" height="278" alt="datawhatnightmaredevice"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<br />
The media/press lying to us all the time in the name of advertising revenue<br />
The sheer quantity of fucking horrible ads on my own website<br />
Friends who got fired<br />
<br />
<img src="https://media.giphy.com/media/xTiTnM1RYT0ukqcr5u/giphy.gif" alt="boom" title="boom" border="0"/><br />
<br />
<br />
::</center><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />
<br />
Thanks <b><a href="http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20061223184710/uncyclopedia/images/f/f3/Haha_Internet.jpg" target="_blank">Innernets</a></b> and those involved with my life.<br />
<br />
</span><br />
<br />
---<br />
<br />
.:DataWhat?:.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13798529758046545533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6823993.post-21838675976908812902016-12-27T15:40:00.002-05:002016-12-27T16:01:39.685-05:00Remember 2015?<meta property="og:image" content="https://c4.staticflickr.com/1/410/31110074843_4d8dcb3814_z.jpg"/><br />
<br />
Hoo boy.<br />
So at the end of 2015, everything went kind of sideways.<br />
My father-in-law got very very sick and ended up passing away.<br />
The last thing I felt like doing was compiling a list of how awesome everything was.<br />
<br />
Fast forward to late 2016 and I found the scratch pad I was keeping my 2015 in review on.<br />
The completest in me forces me to publish it in its pre-formed state.<br />
<br />
<strong>Things I liked in 2015</strong><br />
I have the strongest wife and the best kid of anybody.<br />
Our house had its 100th birthday<br />
We paid off our house & painted our porch<br />
We took an epic Maine trip<br />
I held a Birthday Photoshop Contest and ended up in all kinds of funny situations<br />
<img src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/1/410/31110074843_4d8dcb3814_z.jpg" alt="everywhere"><br />
You might be able to see it here. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/zacbook/media_set?set=a.10153610691361784.1073741834.719271783&type=3">https://www.facebook.com/zacbook/</a><br />
The Beatles started streaming on Spotify<br />
We explored Ice Caves on Lake Michigan<br />
Jerusalem Garden moved into a new space where you can actually sit inside<br />
Went to the Replacements show somewhere in Detroit<br />
Went to a Wilco show at Hill Auditorium<br />
Went to the Punch Brothers show at the Michigan Theater<br />
Porchsleeper did a show with Prime Ministers<br />
Saw The Chet Lemons play The Bends<br />
Star Wars frenzy and the movie was great<br />
My kid found some funny questions you can ask Siri <br />
<img src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/1/283/31110074723_c503e3e4c0_z.jpg" alt="Siri"><br />
Tower Records documentary All Things Must Pass came out (but I didn't see it until 2016)<br />
Porchsleeper released a series of digital singles <a href="https://porchsleeper.bandcamp.com/">https://porchsleeper.bandcamp.com/</a><br />
We had a pretty mild winter<br />
There was Supermoon<br />
I got a watch that I think is beautiful and I hope I have it forever<br />
The Ann Arbor Library Summer Game was super fun<br />
We played mini-golf on Mackinac Island<br />
I faked some Pluggers comic strips based on things my officemates say.<br />
<img src="https://c5.staticflickr.com/1/609/31546299740_48ef06fe72_z.jpg" alt="Pluggers"><br />
Gay Marriage is A-OK<br />
AllMovie relaunch <a href="http://www.allmovie.com">http://www.allmovie.com</a><br />
I built an epic snow fort with the kids in the neighborhood.<br />
Coachella for Dads made me larf <a href="http://www.funnyordie.com/articles/4f1f226c2c/coachella-for-dads">http://www.funnyordie.com/articles/4f1f226c2c/coachella-for-dads</a><br />
<img src="https://c8.staticflickr.com/1/553/31110074503_d0ed34843c_b.jpg" alt="4dads"><br />
<br />
<strong>TV I saw:</strong><br />
Mr. Robot<br />
A Very Murray Christmas<br />
Daredevil<br />
The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt<br />
<br />
<strong>Music I liked:</strong><br />
<br />
<img src="https://c7.staticflickr.com/1/629/31882209766_c1cc72ca27_b.jpg" alt="tunes"><br />
<br />
Links to reviews and samples of each of these are available here: <a href="http://www.allmusic.com/profile/datawhat/54d4f081e33c3e870fa29702/fave-2015-records">http://www.allmusic.com/profile/datawhat/54d4f081e33c3e870fa29702/fave-2015-records</a><br />
<br />
My favorite songs playlist is here:<br />
<iframe src="https://embed.spotify.com/?uri=spotify%3Auser%3Azacjohnson%3Aplaylist%3A3IlrFAIM3ZkcsZIr2vKL8C" width="300" height="680" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true"></iframe><br />
<br />
Also, I "discovered" a '70s band called Unicorn which I liked quite a bit: <a href="http://www.allmusic.com/album/blue-pine-trees-mw0000420556">http://www.allmusic.com/album/blue-pine-trees-mw0000420556</a><br />
<br />
<strong>Movies I saw:</strong><br />
Mad Max Fury Road<br />
Star Wars The Force Awakens<br />
Ant Man<br />
The Martian<br />
Avengers: Age of Ultron<br />
Jurassic World<br />
Pixels <br />
Home<br />
McFarland USA<br />
Supermensch<br />
<br />
<strong>Books I liked:</strong><br />
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern<br />
1Q84 by Haruki Murakami<br />
The Magicians by Lev Grossman<br />
Armada by Ernest Cline<br />
Seveneves by Neal Stephenson<br />
Codex by Lev Grossman<br />
The Book of Life by Deborah Harkness<br />
The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell<br />
Full list here: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/year_in_books/2015/738761">https://www.goodreads.com/user/year_in_books/2015/738761</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Horrible things:</strong><br />
Wayne Died<br />
Grandpa Milton Died<br />
Probably other stuff...<br />
<br />
Maybe 2016 will be awesome.<br />
<br />
---<br />
<br />
<br />
.:DataWhat?:.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13798529758046545533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6823993.post-34857154451384886192014-12-29T21:32:00.002-05:002014-12-30T13:40:45.643-05:002014 :: That Was The Year That Was<br />
<center><b><span style="font-size:130%;">Best Junk from 2014:</span></b></center><br />
<center>Fambily:<br />
<img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7480/15503089023_94a14f0194.jpg" alt="Best" title="Best" border="0"/><br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">We finally did a family portrait. The photographer kept saying "SQUIRREL!" to get Daisy's attention. You can tell.<br />
</span></center><br />
Henry coined what he considers to be <b>The 4 Steps Of Men:</b> <br />
Step 1: You get born <br />
Step 2: You get action figures <br />
Step 3: You get beer <br />
Step 4: You die<br />
<br />
<br />
A successful road trip to Falling Water, Gettysburg and DC. <br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">The boy became very interested in the Civil War this year and asked to spend spring break exploring the ghosts of the battlefield. Along the way we saw Frank Lloyd Wright's Falling Water, toured the Library of Congress (where I saw Steve Ditko and Stan Lee's original first page of the first Amazing Spider Man comic), and ate chili dogs at <b><a href="http://benschilibowl.com/" target="_blank">Ben's Chili Bowl</a></b><br />
</span><br />
<br />
Appalachian Brewing Company in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania <br />
<span style="font-size:85%;"><b><a href="http://abcbrew.com/" target="_blank">This brewpub</a></b> had such great beer and burgers, we eschewed going anywhere else and just ate here twice. <br />
</span><br />
<br />
<center>The Sleeper Has Awakened<br />
<img border="0" alt="jamz" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8645/16122778805_0e25d9fa77.jpg" ><br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Started the year with a triumphant <b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Porchsleeper/30906349723" target="_blank">Porchsleeper</a></b> reunion show at The Loving Touch and ended the year back in the studio recording new jams.<br />
</span></center><br />
<br />
The Moscow Mule<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">My darling bride introduced me to this <b><a href="http://hungry-again.com/moscow-mule-mad-men/" target="_blank">delicious wintertime beverage</a></b>. Vodka, ginger beer and lime in a copper cup. Until recently we didn't have copper cups so usually I just threw whatever pennies I found on the street into the glass.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
The Draper Stereo Cabinet <br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Along the same Mad Men lines, after years of searching we were finally able to find a replication <b><a href="http://www.houzz.com/photos/216529/Draper-Media-Console-eclectic-media-storage" target="_blank">Mid-Century Modern stereo cabinet</a></b> that matches our refined sensibilities.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<center>A beer for all seasons<br />
<img border="0" alt="Smitten" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7484/16120867501_db8c922851.jpg"><img border="0" alt="Airstream" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7583/15503084593_aa344fe698.jpg" ><br />
<span style="font-size:85%;"><b><a href="http://www.timeout.com/chicago/food-drink/drink-this-now-bells-smitten-golden-rye-ale" target="_blank">Bell's Smitten Ale</a></b> in the summer, <b><a href="http://www.newbelgium.com/beer/detail.aspx?id=bb436b19-1df5-40a3-be8c-273701c4c3d3" target="_blank">New Belgium Accumulation Ale</a></b> in the winter.<br />
</span></center><br />
One of my all-time favorite bands <b><a href="http://greatlakesmythsociety.com/" target="_blank">Great Lakes Myth Society</a></b> reunited after a long absence for a sweaty and exuberant show at the Lager House this year.<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">They left a lantern at the bar. <br />
</span><br />
<br />
<center>Trillions of Trillium<br />
<img src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8681/16120870851_1f50489008.jpg" alt="" title="" border="0" /> <br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Visiting Glen Arbor in May 2014, we were amazed to see tens of thousands of trillium flowers carpeting the woods. <br />
At one point these flowers were protected (I believe they still are) and it was jaw-dropping to see them in such quantities.<br />
</span></center><br />
We spent a day on our camping trip splashing around <b><a href="http://www.explorem123.com/points-of-interest/lower-tahquamenon-falls-state-park/" target="_blank">Tahquamenon Falls</a></b> in the U.P.<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">While the upper falls are more majestic and root beer-colored, the lower falls are pretty spectacular. You can just wander around and try not to fall dowm for hours. <br />
</span><br />
<br />
We went to Disney again and Henry got to <b><a href="https://vimeo.com/108656924" target="_blank">battle against Captain Jack Sparrow himself</a></b>.<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">No parlay was asked, and none given.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<center>PLAY BALL!<br />
<img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7535/15937038367_52b3ea5498.jpg" alt="" title="" border="0" /> <img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7531/15936716939_47fcd5faca.jpg" alt="" title="" height="373" border="0" /><br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">On Father's Day this year we splurged on great seats at a Tigers game and Miguel Cabrera threw Henry the ball they were practicing with.<br />
</span></center><br />
Twix<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">We got a cat, his name is <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/datawhat/15500843424" title="Twonk by datawhat, on Flickr" target="_blank"><b>Twix</b></a>, he is adorable and makes us bleed.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
A little local grocery and produce station called <b><a href="http://www.argusfarmstop.com/" target="_blank">Argus Farm Stop</a></b> opened up about a block from our house.<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">If we run out of milk, we can go down the street and buy more. As somebody who lives downtown, this is a game-changer.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<center>Blimpy Burger Reopened<br />
<img src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8594/16120870151_2241ea9dd4_o.jpg" alt="" title="" border="0" /> <br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Grease merchants Krazy Jim's Blimpy Burger reopened in a new location about a block from my house. <br />
Once the hour-plus wait time eases off, I hope to gain ten thousand pounds.<br />
</span></center><br />
<br />
<br />
<center><b><span style="font-size:130%;">Computers, Innernets and Technology:</span></b><br />
<br />
<br />
The iPhone 6<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Henry was asking Siri some questions and as it turns out, <br />
she and Lewis Tully from Ghostbusters have some shared experiences.<br />
</span><br />
<img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7570/15503081543_ba43d54cf1_c.jpg" alt="" title="" border="0" /> <br />
</center><br />
<b><a href="http://www.radiolab.org/" Target="_blank">Radiolab</a></b> podcasts.<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Late to the party here, because the over-production still kinda irks me, but the stories are so good I kept coming back.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
The dudes in my office were oft tickled by The Onion's offshoot <b>Clickhole</b><br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">If you are not already familiar, this quiz entitled "<b><a href="http://www.clickhole.com/quiz/how-many-beach-boys-songs-have-you-heard-379" target="_blank">How Many Beach Boys Songs Have You Heard?</a></b>" is a good place to start. <br />
</span><br />
<br />
Oh that Fake Red Hot Chili Peppers song "<b><a href="http://rhcp2014.com/" Target="_blank">Abracadabralifornia</a></b>" <br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">From <b><a href="http://time.com/3809/red-hot-chili-peppers-fake-song-super-bowl/" target="_blank">this Time Magazine article</a></b>: Then the new “Chili Peppers” song starts playing. The track titled “Abracadabralifornia” features a knock-off Anthony Kiedis crooning about California, replete with nonsensical lyrics like “Bing a bong bing a bong a bong Burbank,” “Shopping cart — escalator!” and then scat-rapping rhymes like, “I drink an Alabama slammer with your sexy-ass grandma.”<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<b><a href="http://www.avclub.com/article/adult-swims-too-many-cooks-weirdest-sitcom-never-e-211518" target="_blank">Too Many Cooks</a></b> <br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Bizzaro '80s sitcom theme song that goes on forever. You might think "Oh, I get it" but after about 14 minutes you may re-think everything you know.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<center><b><a href="http://datawhat.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Tumblr</a></b>, again<br />
<img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7492/16122779405_6aa734b459_o.jpg" alt="" title="" border="0" /><br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">If for no other reason, just because it brought forth this image of a wallet full of Pizza Rolls.<br />
</span></center><br />
DataWhat celebrated its 10th anniversary.<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">While it only gets updated about 1/365th as much as it used to, it still lives and breathes.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b></b><center><b><span style="font-size:130%;">Recordings:</span></b><br />
<br />
<br />
<b><a href="http://open.spotify.com/user/zacjohnson/playlist/1Cu97dhjfZUWn5cazcH3wb" target="_blank">This Spotify Playlist</a></b> has my best tunes from 2014.<br />
<br />
<iframe src="https://embed.spotify.com/?uri=spotify:user:zacjohnson:playlist:1Cu97dhjfZUWn5cazcH3wb" width="300" height="380" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true"></iframe><br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Spotify is like a faucet of music that you just turn on</span></center><br />
<br />
<img src="http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_250/MI0003/712/MI0003712849.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/album/atlas-mw0002615472" target="_blank">Atlas</a></b> by Real Estate<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Wonderful, simple and tuneful. I miss Luna records and this one really locked in for me.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_250/MI0003/691/MI0003691014.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/album/lost-in-the-dream-mw0002604506" target="_blank">Lost in the Dream</a></b> by The War on Drugs<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Oh man did the bros and I run this one into the ground (but I still find new things to like about it). The album was dismissed as "beer commercial music" and while that is painfully not too far off, this guy has all of the right records. Bruce Springsteen, Steve Winwood, Rod Stewart, The Outfield, The Hooters, Bruce Hornsby...I swear to God I hear them in every song...but y'know, in a good way. (Oh man, I am selling this record short).<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_250/MI0003/719/MI0003719461.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/album/teeth-dreams-mw0002615479" target="_blank">Teeth Dreams</a></b> by The Hold Steady<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">A return to form for The Hold Steady. This album has more memorable songs than any of theirs since "Boys & Girls in America" which is one of my favorite albums of the past 10 years.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_250/MI0003/720/MI0003720271.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-continuing-adventures-of-the-butterfly-kid-mw0002639701" target="_blank">The Continuing Adventures of the Butterfly Kid</a></b> by Jim Roll<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">A million years ago I wrote a letter to Jim Roll encouraging him to stop effing around with so many other bands and record another of his own albums. I'm glad he did.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_250/MI0003/691/MI0003691026.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/album/awake-mw0002614497" target="_blank">Awake</a></b> by Tycho<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Ghostly International knows my sweet spot when it comes to instrumental/ambient post-rock. Yeah that's right, I have a sweet spot for that.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_250/MI0003/801/MI0003801689.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/album/alpha-mike-foxtrot-rare-tracks-1994-2014-mw0002766847" target="_blank">Alpha Mike Foxtrot: Rare Tracks 1994-2014</a></b> by Wilco<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">A dorky fan's dream, the b-sides and throwaway tracks on this collection are better than 99% of the songs that the kids put out these days. Just being able to hear alternate mixes from the Summerteeth era was worth it. This is one of those box sets that you can you can just sit with the liner notes and read like a book.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_250/MI0003/680/MI0003680949.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/album/transgender-dysphoria-blues-mw0002590823" target="_blank">Transgender Dysphoria Blues</b></a> by Against Me!<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">So I didn't know what to think of this record.<br />
<br />
It's the first album by this punk band after the lead singer said "Y'know what? I'm actually a woman born into a man's body but forget that, I'm gonna be transgendered and not as a gimmick or a Rocky Horror laugh, but I'm tired of being pushed into the gym locker of life by all of the punk rock jocks. You can now call me Laura Jane." So, when I initially heard the story I was like "OK little mascara, nice way to set yourself apart from the Green Days by coming up with a tabloid story. I got enough drama in my day-to-day thank you very much."<br />
<br />
But then you listen to the album and it is a very well-crafted set of songs with good playing and a good frontman/woman voice...reminds me a bit of The Clash's Joe Strummer energy, or Billy Bragg or Fugazi or The Gaslight Anthem.<br />
<br />
And then you think about the experience of the person. I mean punk is the ultimate disenfranchisement ... the establishment is against you, you don't know what you want but you know how to get it... But even now when Green Day has a hit musical on Broadway, I guess being a dude who wants to be a chick in a hardcore band is pretty goddamned punk rock. Sure beats the pain of a rock star feeling put-upon because fame is a bitch or being on the road is hard or being a bullet with butterfly wings. This dude has put himself in one of the least friendly environments and decided to let his/her freak flag fly.<br />
<br />
And the songs have good pop hooks.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_250/MI0003/721/MI0003721574.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/album/most-messed-up-mw0002618879" target="_blank">Most Messed Up</a></b> by Old 97's<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">A fine return to form for these guys. Great smart power pop with a hint of twang, and the songs hold together better than anything since Satellite Rides (which was one of my favorite records of the last 15 years).<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_250/MI0003/725/MI0003725618.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-golden-age-of-glitter-mw0002627979" target="_blank">The Golden Age of Glitter</a></b> by Sweet Apple<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">More power pop, this time by J. Mascis (Dinosaur Jr.), a couple guys from Cobra Verde, Mark Lanegan, as well as Guided by Voices leader Robert Pollard and Rachel Haden of that dog. You could slip most of these songs into a Cheap Trick or Badfinger collection and nobody would get mad at you.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_250/MI0003/681/MI0003681859.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/album/jumping-the-tracks-mw0002602586" target="_blank">Jumping the Tracks</a></b> by +/-<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Imagine my surprise when finding out that the guy in this band used to be in a local Ann Arbor band (Skillet Records' The Melba) that I loved 20 years ago.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<center>Also, I think my favorite song of the year was "Shake It Off" by Taylor Swift. <br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/nfWlot6h_JM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">A sugar-rich pop confection with the "Oh Mickey you're so fine" stomp, a persistent "Thrift Store" saxophone honk, <br />
a totally weird melodica flurping under the chorus, and brimming over with (post-)teenage sass that feels like it is coming from a real place. <br />
</span><br />
</center><br />
<br />
<b></b><center><b><span style="font-size:130%;">Book Em':</span></b></center><br />
<img src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1378710146l/17333223.jpg" alt="Reads" title="Bookz" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17333223-the-goldfinch" target="_blank">The Goldfinch</a></b> by Donna Tartt<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">This is being dismissed by a lot of fancy book critics, but I found it to be very entertaining (in a literature way, not in a "oh that was cute" way). Lots of believable characters in soul-wrenching situations. Plus, a painting of a pretty bird.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1376419833l/18302455.jpg" alt="Reads" title="Bookz" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18302455-the-circle" target="_blank">The Circle</a></b> by Dave Eggers<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Oh man, Eggers re-writes <b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2748.Microserfs" target="_blank">Microserfs</a></b> for the social media generation. A bit haunting, if you want to get down to it.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1354988288l/5886881.jpg" alt="Reads" title="Bookz" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5886881-dark-places" target="_blank">Dark Places</a></b> by Gillian Flynn<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Speaking of haunting, the author of Gone Girl has some twisted dark recesses in her brain. Still, super page-turny.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1341952742l/15745753.jpg" alt="Reads" title="Bookz" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15745753-eleanor-park" target="_blank">Eleanor & Park</a></b> by Rainbow Rowell<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Oh my, this cute little mixtape warmed the Say Anything part of my soul. If you were ever in high school between 1984 and 1992, I bet you can relate. (Uh, not in high school the WHOLE TIME between 1984 and 1992...if that was the case, I bet you don't usually read for fun).<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1403972500l/24983.jpg" alt="Reads" title="Bookz" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24983.Doomsday_Book" target="_blank">Doomsday Book</a></b> by Connie Willis<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Time travel gone wrong and mortal peril abounds? Sign me up.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1381258937l/12396528.jpg" alt="Reads" title="Bookz" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12396528-hollow-city" target="_blank">Hollow City (Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children #2)</a></b> by Ransom Riggs<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">This author combs flea markets and estate sales to find weird old photographs of double negatives and circus sideshow freaks, then crafts this incredible Harry Potter-esque story around them. It claims to be Young Adult fiction but I am an old adult and I like it just fine.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b></b><center><b><span style="font-size:130%;">Televizzle:</span></b></center><br />
<center><img src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8650/16122781435_5c17470ba2_o.jpg" alt="Pam" title="Pam" border="0" /><br />
</center><br />
<b><a href="http://www.sidereel.com/Archer" target="_blank">Archer</a></b><br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Far and away my favorite show of the year. So much batshit crazy unexpected nonsense in each episode, I can't even...Oh man, I had something for this...<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<b><a href="http://www.sidereel.com/Louie" target="_blank">Louie</a></b><br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">This was some of the best television of the year. The 6-episode "Elevator" arc could be rolled into a cute little depressing indie movie and I'd go see it.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<b><a href="http://www.sidereel.com/comedians_in_cars_getting_coffee" target="_blank">Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee</a></b><br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Funny people talking about funny things.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<b><a href="http://www.sidereel.com/Sherlock_%282010%29" target="_blank">Sherlock</a></b><br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Super-entertaining and maddening that there are so few episodes.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<b><a href="http://www.sidereel.com/Eastbound_and_Down" target="_blank">Eastbound & Down</a></b><br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Late to the party here, but Danny McBride spins such a cringeworthy character it's impossible to look away.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<b><a href="http://www.sidereel.com/cosmos_a_spacetime_odyssey" target="_blank">Cosmos</a></b><br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Brain assplode. Great to watch with the boy.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<b><a href="http://www.sidereel.com/gotham" target="_blank">Gotham</a></b><br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Not 100% sold but I've found that it becomes even more enjoyable if you exaggeratedly ask "Got Ham???" every time the show title comes onscreen.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
The usual suspects:<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Tigers games, Mad Men, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Game of Thrones and 30 Rock reruns.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b></b><center><b><span style="font-size:130%;">The Picture Shows:</span></b></center><br />
These are all of the movies I saw this year. <br />
In retrospect, all of them were pretty much cartoons (especially the Frank Miller-esque murder scene in Gone Girl).<br />
<br />
<b><a href="http://www.allmovie.com/movie/captain-america-the-winter-soldier-v562324" target="_blank">Captain America Winter Soldier</a></b><br />
<b><a href="http://www.allmovie.com/movie/the-lego-movie-v552740" target="_blank">The LEGO Movie</a></b><br />
<b><a href="http://www.allmovie.com/movie/guardians-of-the-galaxy-v568178" target="_blank">Guardians of the Galaxy</a></b><br />
<b><a href="http://www.allmovie.com/movie/grand-budapest-hotel-v569290" target="_blank">The Grand Budapest Hotel</a></b><br />
<b><a href="http://www.allmovie.com/movie/how-to-train-your-dragon-2-v516176" target="_blank">How to Train Your Dragon 2</a></b><br />
<b><a href="http://www.allmovie.com/movie/the-amazing-spider-man-2-v546904" target="_blank">Amazing Spider-Man 2</a></b><br />
<b><a href="http://www.allmovie.com/movie/gone-girl-v585104" target="_blank">Gone Girl</a></b><br />
<b><a href="http://www.allmovie.com/movie/big-hero-6-v572990" target="_blank">Big Hero 6</a></b><br />
<b><a href="http://www.allmovie.com/movie/night-at-the-museum-secret-of-the-tomb-v577901" target="_blank">Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb</a></b><br />
<br />
<br />
<center>And we watched the Star Wars 7 Trailer about a hundred times.<br />
<br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/erLk59H86ww" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size:130%;">Speaking of The Dark Side...These Things Sucked</span></b></center><br />
Henry's bum toe<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Yerg. This year my kid had a medical issue with his toe and needed to have a couple of procedures done. It was brutal and painful, resulted in an emergency overnight stay at the hospital and he was actually in a wheelchair for a while after. One of those things where you just feel so rotten and you can't help the kid at all. <br />
</span><br />
<br />
<center>Do they have whiskey in Heaven, Grandma?<br />
<img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7535/15937039037_5e559682d4.jpg" alt="" title="" border="0" /><br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">A tough but loveable old bird, she passed at 96.<br />
</span><br />
</center><br />
Pete Seeger died <br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">This one hit pretty hard. <b><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/blog/post/pete-seeger-this-man-surrounds-hate-and-forces-it-to-surrender" target="_blank">I wrote a little something about it here</a></b>.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<center>A bunch of people I like got fired for dumb business reasons.<br />
<img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7461/16096990536_95d521f0e1.jpg" alt="" title="" border="0" /><br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">This is going to bite their former company in the ass so hard and for a long time, and none of the suits know it.<br />
</span></center><br />
Ian McLagan (Faces) and Bobby Keys (Stones) died.<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Like, within a week of each other. <br />
</span><br />
<br />
Stupid Cold Winter<br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">Holy icicles, last winter was frigid and interminable.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<center>Lauren Bacall went down that Dark Passage<br />
<img src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8669/16123047475_33870f7958_o.gif" alt="" title="" border="0" /><br />
<span style="font-size:85%;">"You know how to whistle, don'tcha Steve?".<br />
</span><br />
</center><br />
<center>::</center><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />
Thanks <b><a href="http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20061223184710/uncyclopedia/images/f/f3/Haha_Internet.jpg" target="_blank">Innernets</a></b> and those involved with my life.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<br />
.:DataWhat?:.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13798529758046545533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6823993.post-63413692535690911212013-12-31T14:36:00.001-05:002014-12-01T08:50:25.309-05:002013 :: These Are a Few of my Favorite Things<br />
<br />
<b></b><center><b><span style="font-size:130%;">Best Junk from 2013:</span></b><br />
<br />
This one and that one:<br />
<img src="http://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7465/15922533465_4f3d8903ba.jpg" alt="Best" title="Best" border="0" height="400px"/> <img src="http://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7543/15302892753_9c6a225a76_z.jpg" alt="Best" title="Best" border="0" height="400px"/><br />
<span style="font-size:78%;">New job, new hat, all good stuff.<br />
Really the favorites of all of my favorite favorites. Forreals.<br />
</span></center><br />
<b><a href="http://www.allmedianetwork.com/" target="_blank">All Media Network</a></b><br />
<span style="font-size:78%;">Turmoil! Upheaval! Exciting Things! Terrifying Things! Liberating Things! Pain-In-The-Ass Facilities/Office Manager/Startup-y Things! This year my former company spun the websites I work for off to a new company called All Media Network. This means that the day-to-day operation of AllMusic, AllMovie and AllGame has been handed over to myself and a small team of my good friends. While this is ultimately not unwelcome, it is a huge responsibility and it weighs heavily on my soul. I am up for the task, I feel empowered to keep the sites growing, but at the same time...hoo boy. It was a bit of a surprise.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<center>The Redesign of <b><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/" target="_blank">AllMusic</a></b>:<br />
<img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2807/11674066996_f6be83dd0b_o.png" alt="" title="" border="0" /><br />
<span style="font-size:78%;">We hired a really talented designer, got our shit together and nailed down an entire from-the-ground-up redesign of the site in a matter of weeks. <br />
It then won an <a href="http://www.thefwa.com/shortlist/allmusic" target="_blank">FWA shortlist award</a> and will be a Merit award winner in the 15th Annual HOW Interactive Design Awards in July 2014. <br />
It was a slog to build out but I'm incredibly proud of the results.<br />
</span></center><br />
Basement Erasement<br />
<span style="font-size:78%;">A couple years ago we had some problems with our plumbing and the guy said "You've got two options. You can replace all of the plumbing or you can never keep anything of value in your basement." This year we replaced all of the plumbing in our house (no small task), then insulated, painted, repaired the cement, replaced the windows, added carpeting and put furniture down there, now we have a place for the boy to put his Legos and we could reclaim the living room. Hard work, expensive, but ultimately worth it.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
My father's day consisted of Zingerman's bacon, <b><a href="http://www.bier-camp.com/" target="_blank">Biercamp</a></b> brats, Bells beer, the Detroit Tigers and Washtenaw Dairy ice cream. <br />
<span style="font-size:78%;">Michigan Father's Day achieved<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<center>Henry made these crazy paper monsters.<br />
<img src="https://scontent-a-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/p480x480/249029_10151398457516784_1065985427_n.jpg" alt="Monsters" title="Monsters" border="0" /><br />
<span style="font-size:78%;">They look so cartoonishly alive. I want to watch a Cartoon Network series based on their escapades. <br />
Bobcat Goldthwait voices Red Rooster and Pee Wee Herman is the voice of Big Blue.<br />
</span></center><br />
SXSW<br />
<span style="font-size:78%;">I got to go to South By Southwest music festival as part of my job. Lonestars, BBQ and heard some good music.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
AMG Softball Reunion<br />
<span style="font-size:78%;">I flexed my Softball bones at an AMG softball team reunion game this year. Everybody won.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<center>Collaboration:<br />
<img src="https://scontent-b-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/1441180_10151684297891784_118715014_n.jpg" alt="" title="" border="0" width="400px"/><br />
<span style="font-size:78%;">A talented artist created the monster on the left and then another talented artist create a companion monster on the right. <br />
They both look like cool bros.<br />
</span></center><br />
A boat tour under Mighty Mac<br />
<span style="font-size:78%;">We took a boat tour under the Mackinac Bridge and really got the back story and little tidbits about the construction of the bridge. Additionally, sailing underneath the bridge and seeing all of the angles in the sunset was pretty great. Recommended!<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Porchsleeper/30906349723" target="_blank">Porchsleeper</a></b> reunion<br />
<span style="font-size:78%;">Where you been? Honestly this is probably the only situation in the history of rock and roll where the band members liked hanging out with each other so much that they decided to start playing music together again just so they could be around each other. Also, this is the basic plot of Brokeback Mountain.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<center>A buddy of mine discovered this 49-year-old bourbon in his aunt's closet and immediately thought of me. <br />
<img src="https://scontent-a-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/p480x480/1382344_10151614278361784_1217295166_n.jpg" alt="Best" title="Best" border="0" /><br />
<span style="font-size:78%;">I have some pretty nice friends.<br />
</span></center><br />
Literati<br />
<span style="font-size:78%;"><b><a href="http://literatibookstore.com/" target="_blank">An independent bookstore</a></b> opened in a downtown location in America. It was appreciated and became financially viable, not by selling papercraft or incense or action figures, but by selling actual books. Film at 11.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
Isalita<br />
<b><span style="font-size:78%;">A terrific Mexican street food place called <a href="http://www.isalita.com/" target="_blank">Isalita</a></b> opened up in our town. Bury me in elotes!<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<center>While my kid was at the zoo, one of the parents took this spectacular picture: <br />
<img src="https://scontent-a-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/970729_10151522329414753_1080642294_n.jpg" alt="Zoop" title="Zoop" border="0" width="400px"/><br />
<span style="font-size:78%;">I've always heard the phrase "Does a bear shit in the woods?" but I guess I never thought about what polar bears might do...<br />
</span><br />
</center><br />
<b><a href="http://www.10tv.com/content/stories/2013/09/28/columbus-meteor-spotted.html" target="_blank">I saw a meteor</a></b>: <br />
<span style="font-size:78%;">I really thought it was just above Ann Arbor. Turns out it was an entire state away. Still, pretty wild to see.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
My Mom retired<br />
<span style="font-size:78%;">Long time coming. She seems happier.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<center>APRIL FOOLS!<br />
<img src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/425123_10151426646244753_986585012_n.jpg" alt="Googly" title="Googly" border="0" width="400px"/><br />
<span style="font-size:78%;">On the night before April Fools Day I spent about an hour gluing googly eyes on every thing in our fridge. <br />
The look on my wife's face the next morning was worth it. <br />
Also, there's still a mustard with one eye in the door of our refrigerator.<br />
</span></center><br />
<br />
The Bar at Braun Court<br />
<span style="font-size:78%;">A kooky little bar opened our little town and I got to spend some time there this year. They serve some weird drinks and they have a bathroom full of plug-in moving portraits of Niagara Falls. It feels a lot like the kind of bar I'll probably open someday.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
I saw Hem, Band of Horses, Old 97s and Drive By Truckers do rock shows.<br />
<span style="font-size:78%;">We also saw Bill Harley who does stories and kids music, and I'll be damned if this goofy guy doing his storytelling goofballiness didn't stick with us. We'll go see him again.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
At my grandma's 95th birthday party she only received whiskey. <br />
<span style="font-size:78%;">She made excellent choices in life.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b></b><center><b><span style="font-size:130%;">Computers, Innernets and Technology:</span></b></center><br />
<center>This guy dancing at a Willie Nelson concert.<br />
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/M8Q3QAtrVys" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
"Swing out...Beach Boys... downstairs ...annnnd we're back. YEAH!"<br />
</center><br />
Vine<br />
<span style="font-size:78%;">Teeny six-second movies that loop. Sometimes it's the little things.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
Wii U<br />
<span style="font-size:78%;">We finally caved and got a video game system for the boy (now that we have a cool basement). It's a pretty amazing piece of technology.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
The podcasts Harmontown and Bullseye with Jesse Thorn.<br />
<span style="font-size:78%;">Both of these are worth putting in your ears.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<center>BatDad: <br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/YlVi0noRr-o" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
<span style="font-size:78%;">This guy makes fathering look like fun (and being his wife look very challenging).<br />
</span></center><br />
Tumblr in general but also <b><a href="http://liartownusa.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">LiartownUSA</a></b><br />
<span style="font-size:78%;">Liartown USA are the folks behind the <a href="http://liartownusa.tumblr.com/tagged/AppleCabin" target="_blank">fake grocery fliers</a> you may have seen. All comedy gold.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<b></b><center><b><span style="font-size:130%;">Recordings:</span></b><br />
<br />
<b><a href="http://open.spotify.com/user/zacjohnson/playlist/37P3jV8c5aL2oeHsxDTKJS" target="_blank">This Spotify Playlist</a></b> has my best tunes from 2013.<br />
<iframe src="https://embed.spotify.com/?uri=spotify:user:zacjohnson:playlist:37P3jV8c5aL2oeHsxDTKJS" width="300" height="380" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true"></iframe><br />
<span style="font-size:78%;">Spotify is like a faucet of music that you just turn on</span></center><br />
<img src="http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_400/MI0003/637/MI0003637749.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/album/MW0002521619" target="_blank">Random Access Memories</a></b> by Daft Punk<br />
<span style="font-size:78%;">Quite simply the most original and best album of the year. Damn if those French robots don't know how to make good music.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_400/MI0003/448/MI0003448315.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/album/lonesome-dreams-mw0002417140" target="_blank">Lonesome Dreams</a></b> by Lord Huron<br />
<span style="font-size:78%;">The debut from Michigan-born/Los Angeles-based band, this got a lot of play from me this summer. Just terrific wistful and melodic music from the ends of the earth.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_400/MI0003/601/MI0003601612.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/album/MW0002555210" target="_blank">The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight, The Harder I Fight, The More I Love You</a></b> by Neko Case<br />
<span style="font-size:78%;">Oh Neko, you wild thing. How do you make such incredible, loving, terrifying music. I think if I met you we'd eithe have a pleasant conversation or you'd force me into a car for some unwanted Thelma & Louise-type caper. (Aw who'm I kidding, I'd probably go willingly). <br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_400/MI0003/524/MI0003524192.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/album/ghost-on-ghost-mw0002498880" target="_blank">Ghost on Ghost</a></b> by Iron & Wine<br />
<span style="font-size:78%;">In my imagination, Sam Beam moved down to a ramshackle old mansion in New Orleans, channeled some ghosts and then hired a ton of great musicians to record a new version of <b><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/album/astral-weeks-mw0000190975" target="_blank">Astral Weeks</a></b>. That's how the movie plays out in my head anyways.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_400/MI0003/500/MI0003500185.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-ash-clay-mw0002472642" target="_blank">The Ash & Clay</a></b> by The Milk Carton Kids<br />
<span style="font-size:78%;">Heartbreakingly sweet and haunting, these two kids pick up the Gillian Welch/David Rawlings mantle, channel it through some early Simon & Garfunkel LPs and make some really charming and heartfelt songs.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_400/MI0003/510/MI0003510723.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/album/summer-sleeves-mw0002515833" target="_blank">Summer Sleeves</a></b> by Andrew Leahey & the Homestead<br />
<span style="font-size:78%;">Even though this EP is only 4 songs long, the leadoff track "<b><a href="http://www.americansongwriter.com/2013/02/video-premiere-andrew-leahey-and-the-homestead-little-in-love/" target="_blank">Little In Love</a></b>" got a ton of "windows-down-volume-up" play in my car this summer.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_400/MI0003/496/MI0003496205.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/album/hannah-georgas-mw0002418553" target="_blank">Hannah Georgas</a></b> by Hannah Georgas<br />
<span style="font-size:78%;">Haim and Lorde made a ton of noise this year but in my opinion, this Canadian singer-songwriter has more songwriting chops than both of 'em.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_400/MI0003/442/MI0003442192.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/album/no-beginning-no-end-mw0002424120" target="_blank">No Beginning No End </a></b> by José James<br />
<span style="font-size:78%;">Imagine if that D'Angelo video of his torso was interpreted by a jazz combo and recorded for Blue Note, you might have an idea of what this album is about.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_400/MI0003/661/MI0003661744.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/album/magpie-and-the-dandelion-mw0002578651" target="_blank">Magpie and the Dandelion </a></b> by The Avett Brothers<br />
<span style="font-size:78%;">While I believe these are mostly b-sides or leftovers or what-have-you from The Carpenter sessions, I liked this better than the proper album they put out.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_400/MI0000/381/MI0000381885.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/album/steel-guitar-jazz-mw0000593706" target="_blank">Steel Guitar Jazz</a></b> by Buddie Emmons<br />
<span style="font-size:78%;">While this album actually came out 50 years ago, I was turned onto it this year. It was described to me thusly: "I picked up an album in NYC that I have now learned is the long out of print score for the Truman Show-esque movie about Zac. When he's in the scene, this is playing. In your head, his, or both."<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<center>I spent a lot of time refining this early Reggae/Ska/Bluebeat playlist. <br />
<iframe src="https://embed.spotify.com/?uri=spotify:user:zacjohnson:playlist:566gxJiXUpIYPPmR3DcgkY" width="300" height="380" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true"></iframe><br />
Good for summer afternoons or January days when you wish it was summer.<br />
<br />
Finally: somebody uncovered this recording of The Ronettes doing <a href="http://dangerousminds.net/comments/a_true_spine_tingler_isolated_vocals_tracks_from_the_ronettes_baby_i_love_y" target="_blank"><b>Baby I Love You (Isolated Mix)</b></a><br />
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/zM4wLjD6Clg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
</center><br />
<br />
<b></b><center><b><span style="font-size:130%;">Book Learnin':</span></b><br />
<br />
These are books:<br />
<img src="https://scontent-b-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/1006021_10151507273281784_1279648431_n.jpg" alt="" title="" border="0" width="400px"/><br />
</center><br />
<img src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1171571661l/107419.jpg" alt="Reads" title="Bookz" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/107419.True_North" target="_blank">True North</a></b> by Jim Harrison<br />
<span style="font-size:78%;">I waited until I was in the northern Michigan woods before starting this book and it was the right choice. Harrison's simple anti-hero drinks too much, gets some tail from women who are not too skinny and aimlessly tries to atone for the horrible money-grubbing rape of the wilderness his family has caused in the Upper Peninsula. No wait, it's really good and uplifting. Aw, I'm not telling it right. Jim Harrison does though. You should let him do it.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1344305390l/49628.jpg" alt="Reads" title="Bookz" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49628.Cloud_Atlas" target="_blank">Cloud Atlas</a></b> by David Mitchell<br />
<span style="font-size:78%;">A twisting tale that kept me rapt the whole way through. I am afraid to see the movie.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1320564598l/9460487.jpg" alt="Reads" title="Bookz" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9460487-miss-peregrine-s-home-for-peculiar-children" target="_blank">Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children</a></b> by Ransom Riggs <br />
<span style="font-size:78%;">Listed as young adult fiction, but this weirdo time travel Potter-esque tale was pretty dark and twisted. Kudos!<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1333577302l/13330761.jpg" alt="Reads" title="Bookz" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13330761-the-dog-stars" target="_blank">The Dog Stars</a></b> by Peter Heller <br />
<span style="font-size:78%;">An amateur pilot and his dog try to survive in a barren post-apocalyptic wilderness. Gripping.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1364098722l/10411930.jpg" alt="Reads" title="Bookz" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10411930-i-want-my-mtv" target="_blank">I Want My MTV: The Uncensored Story of the Music Video Revolution</a></b> by Craig Marks, Rob Tannenbaum <br />
<span style="font-size:78%;">I will never look at Billy Squier the same way.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="http://kbimages1-a.akamaihd.net/Images/fbbe5416-e2b4-4a7b-8e32-b04f84bafe89/180/1000/False/straight-man.jpg" alt="Reads" title="Bookz" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/414298.Straight_Man" target="_blank">Straight Man</a></b> by Richard Russo<br />
<span style="font-size:78%;">Over the novel's four days, all heck breaks loose -- while his wife is out of town, college professor Hank Devereaux's department goes haywire, his daughter's marriage dissolves, his nose is mutilated by a coworker, he threatens to kill a goose on local television . . . oh, there's a drunken episode involving a hot tub, and another scene in which our hero is stuck in a heating vent while spying on a department meeting.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1342214694l/12982393.jpg" alt="Reads" title="Bookz" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12982393-dare-me" target="_blank">Dare Me</a></b> by Megan Abbott<br />
<span style="font-size:78%;">If you had handed me this book about two high school cheerleaders getting involved in a smalltown suicide/murder investigation and said "You'll really like it" I woulda said "Nah." In fact it was quite compelling and made me very glad that we will never have a teenaged girl living in our house.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<img src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1339602131l/8442457.jpg" alt="Reads" title="Bookz" border="0" width="180px"/><br />
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8442457-gone-girl" target="_blank">Gone Girl</a></b> by Gillian Flynn <br />
<span style="font-size:78%;">This was not a terrific book but it was a terrific read. The definition of a page-turner. It'll probably make a great movie if they don't screw it up too bad.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<b></b><center><b><span style="font-size:130%;">Televizzle:</span></b><br />
<br />
<img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7372/11673895016_4a9463d59a_z.jpg" alt="" title="" border="0" /><br />
</center>All of the other shows I watched this year cannot hold a candle to Breaking Bad. <br />
<span style="font-size:78%;">So many people say "It's the greatest" or "There's not a bad episode in the whole series" and that is tough to swallow from a rabid uber-fan. "Yeah yeah, I'm sure it's great." But if you spend 44 minutes and watch the pilot, you might want to clear your schedule for the next couple weeks. It's pretty compelling TV. Also, I am now interested in buying some crystal meth if you know somebody who is holding.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
Arrested Development<br />
<span style="font-size:78%;">I never watched these the first time around although the concept is right up my alley (comedy weirdos, ensemble cast) and when they got resurrected by Netflix I started watching the first series. There is a lot to like but I abandoned ship about halfway through. I'll get back in once Breaking Bad is done.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
The IT Crowd's Last Episode<br />
<span style="font-size:78%;">Poke around on the innernets. It's worth it.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.<br />
<span style="font-size:78%;">Joss Whedon had something to do with it. I'm In.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
Workaholics<br />
<span style="font-size:78%;">Alternately hilarious and creepy but then hilarious in the creeposity. These brajs really love each other, which is sweet...but creepy.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
The usual suspects.<br />
<span style="font-size:78%;">Tigers games, Mad Men, Firefly and 30 Rock reruns.<br />
<br />
<b>R.I.P. 30 Rock!!!<br />
</b><br />
'I love this cornbread so much I want to take it behind the middle school and get it pregnant.'<br />
– Tracy<br />
<br />
'I like when a woman has ambition. It's like seeing a dog wearing clothes'<br />
–Jack<br />
<br />
'I watched Boston Legal 9 times before I realized it wasn't a new Star Trek.'<br />
–Tracy<br />
<br />
'I don't sleep on planes. I don't want to get incepted.'<br />
-Jack<br />
<br />
'I only pass gas once a year, for an hour, atop a mountain in Switzerland.'<br />
– Jack<br />
<br />
Liz: 'Why are you wearing a tux?'<br />
Jack: 'It's after six. What am I, a farmer?'<br />
–Liz and Jack<br />
<br />
'Who hasn't made mistakes? I once french-kissed a dog at a party to try to impress what turned out to be a very tall 12-year-old.'<br />
–Liz<br />
<br />
'They do that a lot in movies: An Affair to Remember, Sleepless in Seattle, and that remake of An Affair to Remember that I was in, A Blaffair to Rememblack.'<br />
–Tracy<br />
<br />
'Hey, nerds! Who’s got two thumbs, speaks limited French, and hasn’t cried once today? [pointing thumbs at self] This moi.'<br />
-Liz<br />
<br />
'One time I laughed at a blind guy eating spaghetti! Sometimes I pee in the shower if I’m really tired! I saw my grandparents making love once and I didn’t leave right away!'<br />
-Liz<br />
<br />
Kenneth: 'And your landlord called and he says it's not the toilet, it's you.'<br />
Liz: 'That's his opinion.'<br />
-Liz and Kenneth<br />
<br />
'Here's some advice I wish I woulda got when I was your age: Live every week like it's Shark Week.'<br />
–Tracy<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<b></b><center><b><span style="font-size:130%;">The Cinema:</span></b></center><br />
These are all of the movies I saw this year. <br />
I offer no ranking for them only to say that Planes was pretty terrible and Free Birds was only passable.<br />
<br />
Pacific Rim<br />
Iron Man 3<br />
Gravity<br />
Thor: The Dark World<br />
Sound City<br />
Planes<br />
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2<br />
Free Birds<br />
<br />
<br />
<b></b><center><b><span style="font-size:130%;">Ug, This Shit Again?</span></b><br />
<br />
Our ancient cat Bukowski died.<br />
<img src="https://scontent-a-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/1467460_10151889429909753_1979960713_n.jpg" alt="Sweet Kitty" title="Sweet Kitty" border="0"/><br />
<span style="font-size:78%;">The only cat I ever knew who would fetch. Hair ties, milk jug rings...If you balled up a piece of paper she would come around to see if you would throw it.</span><br />
</center><br />
My Great-Uncle Aub died<br />
<span style="font-size:78%;">A ballsy old coot. He drove a hot yellow muscle car for as long as I knew him.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<b><a href="http://www.annarbor.com/entertainment/food-drink/my-last-pilgrimage-to-krazy-jims-blimpy-burger/" target="_blank">Krazy Jim's Blimpy Burgers</a></b> Closed.<br />
<span style="font-size:78%;">My parents actually sorta met at Blimpy's all those years ago. Hopefully they'll reopen somewhere but I doubt it'll be the same.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
Some folks I worked with no longer work with me.<br />
<span style="font-size:78%;">Some by choice, some were not by choice. All were a drag.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
Famous people I like died.<br />
<span style="font-size:78%;">George Jones, Storm Thorgerson, Roger Ebert, Hal Needham, Jonathan Winters, Elmore Leonard and Barbara Park (the author of the sassy Junie B Jones children's books) hit pretty hard.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<center>::</center><span style="font-size:78%;"><br />
Thanks <b><a href="http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20061223184710/uncyclopedia/images/f/f3/Haha_Internet.jpg" target="_blank">Innernets</a></b> and those involved with my life.<br />
</span><br />
.:DataWhat?:.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13798529758046545533noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6823993.post-61869861019774418662012-12-31T10:16:00.000-05:002013-12-31T14:52:36.522-05:002012 What-Not<br />
<center><b><span style="font-size: 150%;">Best of 2012:</span></b><br />
<br />
PJ & The Boy<br />
<img alt="Porchsitters" border="0" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8071/8319324587_8eebaa7a19_z.jpg" title="Porchsitters" /><br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">The best of the best.</span></center><br />
<br />
The <b><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/" target="_blank">AllMusic</a></b> Redesign<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">This year I got to really focus my attention on the redesign of AllMusic.com, updating the design and offering more features. Despite struggles and differences of opinion and <b><a href="https://getsatisfaction.com/allmusic/topics/dont_like_the_new_design_want_a_catalog_not_a_media_website" target="_blank">the inevitable user backlash</a></b>, this has been the most fun I've ever had at a job and I hope to keep doing this forever (even in the future when the internet is just light beamed into our heads from space).</span><br />
<br />
We went to a terrific bar called <b><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/theroyalcuckoo/interesting/show/" target="_blank">The Royal Cuckoo</a></b> in San Francisco.<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">The album selections were all kept in an old card catalog in the back. All Tropicalia, 60s country and obscuro LPs. The owner is the sister of <b><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/album/one-hour-mama-mw0000035527" target="_blank">Lavay Smith</a></b> who shows up to sing from time to time while her brother plays the Hammond B3 organ. It was dark and styled like a retro hunting lodge and I never wanted to leave.</span><br />
<br />
<center>Somebody put up this flyer at work:<br />
<img alt="bros" border="0" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8224/8320384834_059f13a823.jpg" title="bros" /></center><br />
Eating at <b><a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=lamy%27s+diner&hl=en&safe=off&tbo=u&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ei=6bPbUNKRMM_9qQGB04C4DA&ved=0CFQQsAQ&biw=1920&bih=965" target="_blank">Lamy's Diner</a></b> in the Henry Ford Museum<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">There has been this cool old diner as an exhibit in the middle of the Henry Ford Museum and this year they opened it up to serve food. Better Made chips and Faygo in glass bottles anyone? Andrews Sisters on the tinny radio! Paper hats on the cooks! A dream realized! </span><br />
<br />
Levi's 559 Relaxed Straight jeans.<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">If you've seen me in pants this year, these are probably the pants you've seen me in. Thanks for the "What Not To Wear"-style fashion advice, Darlin'.</span><br />
<br />
<center>Star Wars Night at Comerica Park<br />
<img alt="Relief Wookiee" border="0" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8498/8319324687_ae14b345e8.jpg" title="Relief Wookiee" /> <img height="483" alt="Your Worship" border="0" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8074/8326044917_154283de9e.jpg" title="Your Worship" /><br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">We did a handful of outings to see the Tigers this year, including a super-fun visit to Star Wars Night (as pictured above).<br />
Then they went to the World Series. Bless you boys.</span></center><br />
Van Halen put out a new album with David Lee Roth and then went on tour.<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">I got to see the Detroit show of that tour before Dave and Eddie inevitably got mad at each other. I blathered on about it <b><a href="http://datawhat.blogspot.com/2012/01/mousewife-to-momshell-is-pretty-great.html" target="_blank">here</a></b>.</span><br />
<br />
<b><a href="http://www.bathandbodyworks.com/product/index.jsp?productId=11669884" target="_blank">Orange & Ginger Energy</a></b> lotion from Bath & Body Works<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">Nice lotion, great when poured over ice cream. Also, the liquid hand soap makes a great chaser after a shot of cheap gin.</span><br />
<br />
<center>A romantic weekend with Bells on.<br />
<img alt="gonna miss my flight" border="0" src="http://distilleryimage8.s3.amazonaws.com/9b5f4c3e484911e2b39e22000a9d0df1_6.jpg" title="gonna miss my flight" /><br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">My wife whisked me off to a romantic weekend in Kalamazoo, the highlight of which was finally getting to take the Bells Brewery tour. Eccentric indeed.</span></center><br />
Joss Whedon at SXSW<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">I got to see Joss Whedon speak at South By Southwest. He was funny and clever. Y'know, as billed.</span><br />
<br />
<b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYIycKHHp6c" target="_blank">Total Unicorn</a></b> at SXSW<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">At South By Southwest we went across the highway to a little bar that was having live music. The main attraction was a band called Total Unicorn. For a while there were these old roadies setting up equipment and I said to myself "Oh, I wonder when the band is getting here..." then the old guys put on full-head unicorn masks and started playing this bleepy bloopy electronic music. While wearing unicorn heads with light-up eyes. It was life changing.</span><br />
<br />
<center>Visited Disney and the Harry Potter theme park.<br />
<img alt="the wand chooses the wizard" border="0" src="http://distilleryimage3.s3.amazonaws.com/ae05da42072611e2a3d822000a1e952c_6.jpg" title="the wand chooses the wizard" /><br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">We took a family trip down to Orlando to pay the mouse, and also hit up the Harry Potter theme park. </span></center><center><span style="font-size: 78%;">While the tickets were pricey, I was glad to see the deep nerdiness of an entire theme park devoted to a children's book rendered in such incredible detail.<br />
Even the shops that weren't even shops looked like shops.<br />
Every time you turned around you got to see another subtle Easter Egg reference to the books or Potterverse.<br />
Well done, Floridians.<br />
</span></center><br />
The <b><a href="http://theicecreambarsf.com/" target="_blank">Ice Cream Bar</a></b> in San Francisco<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">The Ice Cream Bar is a full service 1930s style soda fountain and classic lunch counter, serving house-made ice cream and sodas, kind of like a hip "mixology" cocktail bar but with ice cream. I had a root beer made from tinctures and (I believe) a bit of J.D. Rockefeller's own blood. It was delicious.</span><br />
<br />
The first paragraphs of <b><a href="http://www.esquire.com/features/jon-hamm-interview-0312#ixzz1nv5GWe4V" target="_blank">this interview with Jon Hamm</a></b> in Esquire.<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;"><b>Little-known fact:</b> Jon Hamm owns four eagles. They sit on separate perches in his backyard. Four species of eagle: golden, tawny, Spanish Imperial, and short-toed snake.<br />
<b>Previously unknown:</b> Every morning, these eagles are fed, then rotated by a robed assistant whose sole duty is to judge which of these regal birds looks most like Jon Hamm on that particular day.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<center>AllMusic on Commercial on TV<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Do2K3cKLeA8" width="560"></iframe><br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">I helped to come up with the overall idea and coordinate the music for this promo that was eventually turned into a commercial as seen on DirectTV. </span></center><br />
I had a dream where my sister Emily said that Penny and I acted a lot alike and Penny said "We're just like Billy Gibbons and Dusty Hill if they were in Spandau Ballet instead of ZZ Top." <br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">Cool story bro</span><br />
<br />
They opened a Culvers in our town.<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">All of the Butterburgers!!!1!</span><br />
<br />
Obama got re-elected.<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">This means something.</span><br />
<br />
<center>I turned 40. <br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">I had a big party with a bunch of my pals.<br />
This is what I learned.</span><br />
<img alt="learned" border="0" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8300/7803241920_891b3a7af9_b.jpg" title="learned" /></center><br />
<br />
<br />
<center>::</center><br />
<br />
<center><b><span style="font-size: 150%;">Innernets and Technology:</span></b><br />
<br />
I started a <b><a href="http://datawhat.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Tumblr</a></b> page<br />
<a href="http://datawhat.tumblr.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="tumbl" border="0" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8058/8219448016_4eac9b1609_c.jpg" title="tumbl" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">Tumblr is pretty incredible. <br />
It has all of the things that I really loved about blogs so long ago: Just one image after another of funny, crazy, sexy, fascinating things.<br />
Between Tumblr (instantly posting funny images) and Facebook (posting quick observations) it makes Blogger a bit of a tough slog.</span></center><br />
<b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=502ILHjX9EE" target="_blank">Agile</a></b> development methodologies<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">Nerdy to say, but Agile is just like making quick lists of things to cross off and when you're done you get a whole project that is completed. I am appreciative to the folks who have walked me through this so far.</span><br />
<br />
iPhone<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">While I miss my tactile keypad, I do enjoy the iPhone. Thanks, work.</span><br />
<br />
I got a new <b><a href="http://www.crutchfield.com/S-ZG3SXLJggNr/p_113KDCX396/Kenwood-Excelon-KDC-X396.html?tp=5684" target="_blank">Car Stereo</a></b> from my darling bride.<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">It has a USB input so I can play my iPod in the car without trying to hook up the infuriating FM transmitter, but the coolest thing is that the background lights change color. This just in: I am easily impressed by shiny objects.</span><br />
<br />
<center>Crazy Cow video<br />
<object height="315" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Z6K8yV8MXz0?version=3&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Z6K8yV8MXz0?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="560" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object><br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">MOOOOO! Man did this hit the spot one afternoon.</span></center><br />
Angry Birds Star Wars, Where's My Water and Minecraft<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">Oh iPad, I'm sure there are all sorts of great important things I could be doing with you, but simple games seem to be what I navigate back to for long stretches at a time.</span><br />
<br />
Red Bull Stratos Space Jump and the Mars Rover<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">Space is the place, apparently. A worthwhile version of the space jump is available on the YouTubes <b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNhmYaWiPEk" target="_blank">here</a></b>.</span><br />
<br />
<b><a href="http://theacidsweatlodge.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Acid Sweat Lodge</a></b><br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">My favorite blog of the year. These guys collect great photos of bikers, punks, log cabins, party dudes and metalheads, then classify the photos into scientific research groups Like "<b><a href="http://theacidsweatlodge.blogspot.com/search/label/beards" target="_blank">beards</a></b>" or "<b><a href="http://theacidsweatlodge.blogspot.com/search/label/brotherhood" target="_blank">brotherhood</a></b>" or "<b><a href="http://theacidsweatlodge.blogspot.com/search/label/hideout" target="_blank">hideouts</a></b>"</span><br />
<br />
<center>G.O.A.T. performing "Quack Like A Duck"<br />
<object height="315" width="420"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/mSnRq6iyHKg?hl=en_US&version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/mSnRq6iyHKg?hl=en_US&version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object><br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">This should probably not be seen (or heard) by anyone, but I'll be damned if some dudes I know didn't watch this video about 74 times in a row and laughed so fucking hard each time. <br />
It makes me question everything I know.</span></center><br />
<br />
<br />
<center>::</center><br />
<br />
<center><b><span style="font-size: 150%;">Music:</span></b><br />
<br />
<b><a href="http://open.spotify.com/user/zacjohnson/playlist/0Nh4CsGDVtWQWYp3jL4s7Y" target="_blank">This Spotify Playlist</a></b> has my best tunes from 2012.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="380" src="https://embed.spotify.com/?uri=spotify:user:zacjohnson:playlist:0Nh4CsGDVtWQWYp3jL4s7Y" width="300"></iframe><br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">Spotify is like a faucet of music that you just turn on.</span><br />
</center><br />
<b><span style="font-size: 110%;">Albums:</span></b><br />
<img alt="" border="0" src="http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_250/MI0003/433/MI0003433719.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" title="" /><br />
<b><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/album/3-pears-mw0002408332" target="_blank">3 Pears</a></b> by Dwight Yoakam<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">A spectacular pop record by way of Bakersfield.</span><br />
<br />
<img alt="" border="0" src="http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_250/MI0003/327/MI0003327705.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" title="" /><br />
<b><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/album/boys-girls-mw0002301190" target="_blank">Boys & Girls</a></b> by Alabama Shakes<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">Super brassy soulful female vocals fronting a down-and-dirty bar band.</span><br />
<br />
<img alt="" border="0" src="http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_250/MI0003/320/MI0003320910.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" title="" /><br />
<b><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/album/some-nights-mw0002287703" target="_blank">Some Nights</a></b> by Fun.<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">These young kids like Queen records and pop hooks.</span><br />
<br />
<img alt="" border="0" src="http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_250/MI0003/379/MI0003379995.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" title="" /><br />
<b><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-tarnished-gold-mw0002363349" target="_blank">The Tarnished Gold</a></b> by Beachwood Sparks<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">Sweet and dusty indie twang. This one really grew on me.</span><br />
<br />
<img alt="" border="0" src="http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_250/MI0003/419/MI0003419167.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" title="" /><br />
<b><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/album/hot-cakes-mw0002393712" target="_blank">Hot Cakes</a></b> by The Darkness<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">Cock rock extraordinaire. A return to form after that crappy album with the train on it.</span><br />
<br />
<img alt="" border="0" src="http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_250/MI0003/438/MI0003438364.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" title="" /><br />
<b><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/album/mirage-rock-mw0002405489" target="_blank">Mirage Rock</a></b> by Band of Horses<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">Another grower. Very melodic and anthemic rock with lots of backroads and mountaintop harmonies.</span><br />
<br />
<img alt="" border="0" src="http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_250/MI0003/306/MI0003306648.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" title="" /><br />
<b><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/album/a-different-kind-of-truth-mw0002295183" target="_blank">A Different Kind of Truth</a></b> by Van Halen<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">Somebody commented that this album was better than it had any right to be, and that feels pretty spot-on.</span><br />
<br />
<img alt="" border="0" src="http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_250/MI0003/359/MI0003359651.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" title="" /><br />
<b><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/album/celebration-rock-mw0002354334" target="_blank">Celebration Rock</a></b> by Japandroids<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">These guys play loud rock and they sound like they're having fun. Both of 'em. 35 minutes of garage-door-rattling fun.</span><br />
<br />
<img alt="" border="0" src="http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_250/MI0003/360/MI0003360736.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" title="" /><br />
<b><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/album/home-again-mw0002289317" target="_blank">Home Again</a></b> by Michael Kiwanuka<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">If The Band hired Bill Withers and Shuggie Otis to cover all of Astral Weeks, it would sound like this.</span><br />
<br />
<img alt="" border="0" src="http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_250/MI0003/406/MI0003406112.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" title="" /><br />
<b><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/album/pool-party-mw0002389402" target="_blank">Pool Party</a></b> by Ponderosa<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">Produced by Dave Fridmann (Flaming Lips pal), spacey/swimmy melodies and reverb-y vocals. Triumphant!</span><br />
<br />
<center>Additionally I spent a good chunk of the year tracking down great old late '60s/early '70s California psych-country tunes. <br />
I envisioned long-haired hippy kids who heard a Merle Haggard record and smoked a big bowl and recorded a twangy freak-out tune or two in their catalog. <br />
<br />
My exploration grew from there, and I ended up with this playlist called <b><a href="http://open.spotify.com/user/zacjohnson/playlist/6oJPRYoqzRf8L0Cy8BSeUJ" target="_blank">California Gold Mine</a></b><br />
<br />
<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="380" src="https://embed.spotify.com/?uri=spotify:user:zacjohnson:playlist:6oJPRYoqzRf8L0Cy8BSeUJ" width="300"></iframe><br />
<br />
<br />
::<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: 150%;">Movies:</span></b></center><br />
<center>Raiders of the Lost Ark<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">Took Hank to see this when they re-released an IMAX version of it. <br />
We left for the theater across town just before kickoff on a football Saturday. <br />
We wanted our journey to the movie theater to be as close to the Raiders opening sequence as possible: filled with traps and mortal peril.<br />
<br />
The boy was totally into it, as is evidenced by his schoolwork:<br />
<img alt="Raiders" border="0" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8223/8320723718_a11b0cf0c4_z.jpg" title="Idol" /><br />
The narrative says "The Boulder. Who is he again? Indiana Jones. Oh yeah. See the gold idol?"</span></center><br />
Hunger Games<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">When Katniss shouts "I VOLUNTEER!" I get goosebumps.</span><br />
<br />
The Five-Year Engagement<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">Not spectacular as a film, but I got to say "I know where that is!" about a hundred times since it was filmed in Ann Arbor.</span><br />
<br />
Moonrise Kingdom<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">Funny and cute. I liked it more than Darjeeling Limited and Fantastic Mr. Fox.</span><br />
<br />
Looper<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">Hoo boy. This one was a heavy little mind-bender. Part sci-fi, part thriller, part horror movie, part shoot-em-up. All crazy.</span><br />
<br />
Argo <br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">White knuckles throughout. Also Alan Arkin in anything is caustic and terrific.</span><br />
<br />
Dark Knight Rises and Wreck-It Ralph<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">Both of these were entertaining cartoons where beefy good guys triumph over a sinister villain who has a creepy backstory, via the help of a sassy young sidekick. </span><br />
<br />
<center>The Avengers<br />
<img alt="Zoom!" border="0" src="http://i1262.photobucket.com/albums/ii608/peterpan00001987/tumblr_lwoe77OIdR1r2b3wjo8_250.gif" title="Zoom!" /><br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">Bang! Zoom! Hilarity! Group Dynamics! Flawed Hereos! Scarlett Johansson in a black bodysuit! Shawarma! Joss! So good.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
::<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: 150%;">TV:</span></b></center><br />
Downton Abbey<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">Rich white ensemble cast has drama and acts crazy.</span><br />
<br />
Storage Wars<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">Blue collar white ensemble cast has drama and acts crazy.</span><br />
<br />
Game of Thrones<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">Medieval white ensemble cast has drama and acts crazy.</span><br />
<br />
<center>Plus I watched Louie, Mad Men, a ton of Tigers Games <br />
and the live episode of 30 Rock nearly killed me:<br />
<br />
<iframe id="nbc-video-widget" width="560" height="315" src="http://www.nbc.com/assets/video/widget/widget.html?vid=1398659" frameborder="0"></iframe><br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">"I done stole me a catfish! I'm gonna eat 'til I'm belly full!"</span><br />
<br />
<br />
::<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: 150%;">Books:</span></b></center><br />
<center>Reamde by Neal Stephenson<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">Man, this guy writes a book that will stick with you. I never wanted this one to be done.</span><br />
<a href="http://comiccrits.blogspot.com/2011/12/reamde-by-neal-stephenson.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Big Book" border="0" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8215/8320475334_1880d5f598_z.jpg" title="Big Book" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">Terrific Neal Stephenson Reading Experience image from <b><a href="http://comiccrits.blogspot.com/2011/12/reamde-by-neal-stephenson.html" target="_blank">this blog</a></b>.</span><br />
</center><br />
The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">A terrific and timeless baseball love story.</span><br />
<br />
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">Oh man, this was like a choose your own adventure book set in an Atari 2600 but, y'know, in the future. Harry Potter DaVinci Code Wozniak/Jobs Tron Indiana Jones awesomeness.</span><br />
<br />
Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">A fun fantastic introduction into Sanderson's writing. I'll follow up with more of his books. </span><br />
<br />
Fire and Rain: The Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel, James Taylor, CSNY, and the Lost Story of 1970 By David Browne<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">For anyone who gets sucked into the culture and music of this era, it is a fascinating read. These four artists intertwined and crossed paths in completely unexpected ways, and affected folks including Joni Mitchell, Clive Davis, Mike Nichols, Peter Asher, Dr. Arthur Janov, Carole King and Devo along the way. </span><br />
<br />
<center>Moneyball by Michael Lewis<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">It was about data and baseball. I read it just as the season was starting. It clicked.</span><br />
<img alt="Book em" border="0" src="http://distilleryimage8.s3.amazonaws.com/db8bd564a60211e1b2fe1231380205bf_6.jpg" title="Book em" /><br />
<br />
If any of these books look interesting, you can find 'em <b><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/738761-zac?format=html&order=d&shelf=read&sort=date_read" target="_blank">Here on my Goodreads page</a></b>.</center><br />
Plus I read the rest of those Game of Thrones books which took up a huge chunk of my reading hours this year.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<center>::</center><br />
<br />
<center><b><span style="font-size: 150%;">Bad:</span></b></center><br />
<br />
An unnamed unpleasantness<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">There was an event that happened in our home this spring that will go unnamed. Alls I can say is that I will be scarred for life. Some grody PTSD going on. </span><br />
<br />
A buncha dudes I like croaked this year: Davy Jones, Ralph McQuarrie, Earl Scruggs, Adam Yauch, Doc Watson, Dave Brubeck, Andy Griffith.<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">For anybody who only knows Andy Griffith from his show or Matlock, please get a big orange drank and listen to his 1953 monologue called "<b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNxLxTZHKM8" target="_blank">What It Was, Was Football</a></b>"...it will make you smile. It will.</span><br />
<br />
Take/These Broken Wings/And Learn To Fly Again<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">My 80 year old father-in-law chose a pretty shitty time to break his arm while on vacation all by himself. I was out of town at a conference that I've always wanted to go to (SXSW) in Austin and my wife had to drive down to Nashville to be with him <b>ON HER GOTT-DAMN BIRTHDAY</b>. I had to leave the conference and fly back early to relieve the Tetris matrix of our family members who were so kindly making sure our son didn't die while we were both in different parts of the country. It was an unfortunate, inconveniencing event for everyone involved and it could have been avoided with a little bit of forethought. A real shame.</span><br />
<br />
<center>The Imperfect Storm<br />
<img alt="heavy stuff" border="0" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8080/8320384764_782c8fcee8.jpg" title="heavy stuff" /><br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">There was a pretty brutal storm in our area this spring featuring local neighborhoods hit hard by tornadoes and for-realgolf ball-sized hail.</span></center><br />
<br />
Dr. Arwulf stepping down from his Sunday Best radio show.<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">His radio show on WEMU was my preferred way of starting my Sunday mornings. He inspired my enjoyment of early traditional jazz from the '20s, '30s and '40s. This year he <b><a href="http://www.annarbor.com/entertainment/arwulf-arfwulf-stepping-down-as-host-of-sunday-best-jazz-show/" target="_blank">stepped down</a></b> but I do miss his quiet cadence and sleepy passion for great music. You can hear a brief clip of what he would offer <b><a href="http://blog.benjaminenglish.com/post/18044665186/sidney-bechet-therell-be-some-changes-made-with" target="_blank">In this introduction</a></b> to a hot Sidney Bechet tune.</span><br />
<br />
Telegraph Avenue by Michael Chabon<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">A writer I really like writes a novel about two guys who own a vintage record store in the Bay Area? Sounds awesome! In reality it felt really jive-ass. Michael Chabon must have done some research into this world but to me it felt really forced. How much does he know about the African-American experience? And collecting old Soul and Jazz sides? Ug. It all felt really forced which was a big disappointment for me.</span><br />
<br />
Road Trip to Tennessee<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">My grandma has some pretty advanced Alzheimer's to the point where the caretakers at her old-folks-home recommended that she be put in a facility that specializes in that kind of care. So my dad's side of the family took a trip down to Tennessee to move her from one facility to another. While the trip went as well as it could, it is still tough to see somebody's memory slipping away like that.</span><br />
<br />
My Great Depression<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">My company's stock dropped considerably in 2012 and I lost a lot of money. It sucks.</span><br />
<br />
<center>Weird Beard<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">Hats off to you dudes who can grow a beard.<br />
I gave it my best for about 2 months this year and only found out that <br />
1) I look bad with a skimpy-ass beard and <br />
2) beards are awful itchy things to wear.<br />
<br />
<img alt="Magnum" border="0" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8216/8319348805_ddde9d7653.jpg" title="Magnum" /><br />
It did, however give me the opportunity to sport this swell Magnum P.I.-styled cookie duster for about 20 minutes. <br />
Silver beard lining.</span></center><br />
Sucks Gettin' Old.<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">Friends, I gotta tell ya, Almost upon the moment of turning 40 this year, my bones got creakier, my back got tighter, my joints make noise in the morning and my cuts take longer to heal. I have a scrape on my cheek that I got in early fall and I can still see it today. I feel as though I should buck up and say "40 is the new 17!" or something, but I genuinely feel older. </span><br />
<br />
<center>::</center><br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;"><br />
Thanks <b><a href="http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20061223184710/uncyclopedia/images/f/f3/Haha_Internet.jpg" target="_blank">Innernets</a></b> and those involved with my life.</span><br />
<br />
.:DataWhat?:.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13798529758046545533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6823993.post-25481744307699095642012-11-25T20:23:00.003-05:002013-12-31T14:52:18.320-05:00I'll Tumbl For Ya<br />
<center>So I started a Tumblr because of course I did. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://datawhat.tumblr.com/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="423" width="800" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8058/8219448016_4eac9b1609_c.jpg" /></a></div><br />
If you are interested in photos of crazy things, old technologies, sex kittens and pizza, you may want to tumbl over to <b><a href="http://datawhat.tumblr.com/">datawhat.tumblr.com</b></a> </center>.:DataWhat?:.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13798529758046545533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6823993.post-26622986599503496352012-08-19T15:00:00.000-04:002012-08-19T15:00:02.014-04:00What I've Learned<center><br /><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8300/7803241920_891b3a7af9_b.jpg"><br /></center>.:DataWhat?:.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13798529758046545533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6823993.post-43107487541873598982012-01-17T19:58:00.009-05:002012-01-17T22:06:18.031-05:00"Mousewife to Momshell" is a pretty great line...<span style="font-size:85%;">I have opinions about music.</span><br /><br />So the first time I heard Van Halen's new single "Tattoo" was on WRIF and Drew and Mike were talking over the top of it, so I couldn't hear any of the lyrics. I remember thinking that from between the DJ bro-talk of "Cooter & The Bear In The Morning" it sounded a lot like Van Halen.<br /><br />Big toms, lots of cymbal SHOOOSHing, a hammery guitar EVH solo, some DLR vocal goosestepping...sounded just about right.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Then I made the mistake of watching the video which was just awful.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/3WfQ-hV3WtA" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" width="640"></iframe><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Total amateur hour.<br /><br /></div>I know it *could* be said that they were harkening back to the old days of low budgets and the fellas just goofin' and riffin', but it (and the <b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxzpV-5uwSI" target="_blank">YouTube video "ticker announcement"</a></b> that was the intro of 3 songs from 1984 with recycled footage for 3 minutes) proved one clear thing to me:<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >YOU <span style="font-style: italic;">NEED </span>A MARKETING DEPARTMENT</span><br /></div><br />Radiohead probably doesn't, Bjork seems to get by just fine, even The Darkness seems to be getting by on their own ego sweat and cocksure hilarity. But if you're going to record the album in your own studio and make your own chunky teenaged kid the bass player, you may not be making all the best decisions in the "Consumer Facing" department.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">So then today I watched the other fan-made video that <a href="http://www.belowblog.blogspot.com/">Dave</a> passed around:<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/35173319?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" webkitallowfullscreen="" mozallowfullscreen="" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" width="640"></iframe><br />and it really changed my opinion of the tune.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">While the <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/soulflypremiere/dlrhandwritten.jpg" target="_blank">DLR lyric about tattoos is really sub-par</a>, the verses about coal tattoos and the "crazy stuff we'd never say" being poetry in ink started to make sense (Diamond Dave-sense anyway) so the pretty pichers of gurls in a Van Halen video turned the tide a bit for me.<br /><br />At one point Dave drops down to a semi-sultry/creepy uncle spoken word part that ain't too far off from other stuff he's done (I'm looking at you "I reach down/Between my legs and/Ease the seat back" which was semi-creepy 28 years ago), but ultimately the song really sounds like Van Halen, so I came to the following conclusion:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >"Tattoo" is occupying some kind of alternate-dimension space between "Panama" and "Yankee Rose"</span><br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/w-NshzYK9y0" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" width="480"></iframe><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">"Panama" has the same goofy Diamond Dave-whispered "poetry" ("We're runnin' a little bit hot tonight" vs. "Best believe that needle hurt you") and the barked, party-time harmony-deprived chorus ("Panama! Panama-Aw!" vs. "Tattoo! Tattoo!")<br /></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/A_KeCa9MmTY" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" width="480"></iframe><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Holy fuckballs, do yourself a favor and re-watch this video compared to the official "Tattoo" video <br />and see which one seems like it is from a boring outdated era.</span><br /></div><br />"Yankee Rose" is a similarly cornball patri-erotic <span style="font-size:78%;">(see what I did there?)</span> anthem with stunt guitar fireworks and blue-collar aesthetic.<br /><br />So the song itself (while not spectacular) is not <span style="font-style: italic;">really </span>the problem. The real issue is how it was handled.<br /><br />Van Halen re-forming with David Lee Roth should be bigger news than Kim Kardashian's failed wedding or where Ryan Gosling was during the Golden Globes. I have read more online about <a href="http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1677389/lana-del-rey-snl.jhtml" target="_blank">Lana Del Ray's semi-mediocre SNL performance</a> than I have about this album and concert tour. If this announcement was given the proper spin and goosing, and if the video was filmed/edited by somebody else besides a high-school AV Club treasurer, I think the single might have had more impact and more people (besides the folks like me who have an RSS feed for the <a href="http://www.vhnd.com/" target="_blank">Van Halen News Desk</a>) would be excited about this.<br /><br />So the bottom line is thus:<br /><br /><ul><li>I am a sucker for a good video and marketing can really sway my opinion about a product. If you do it on your own and you do it wrong, you end up really missing the boat.</li><li>The leadoff single for the new album underwhelms a bit, but I've always been a bit more "Drop Dead Legs"/"Somebody Get Me a Doctor" guy anyway, so I'm not too worried about finding good songs on the album.</li><li>I really <span style="font-style: italic;">really </span>miss Michael Anthony</li><li>Keep in mind DLR brought one of those <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IArxakPsPE0&feature=youtu.be&t=1m58s" target="_blank">"Wheooooo!" wacky whistles</a> to the "Runnin' With the Devil" recording sessions. Let's not pretend like we're talking about Truffaut or Goddard or anything.</li><li>I think that if a band like <a href="http://cdn.stereogum.com/mp3/Free%20Energy%20-%20Free%20Energy.mp3" target="_blank">Free Energy</a> or <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlnOYsRVtkY" target="_blank">Limozeen </a>recorded a song like this, hipsters would totally be spilling their PBR over it, but if it is Van Halen who records a fun and decent rock song, folks are excited to find immediate fault with it (as opposed to just partying down with a jamburger).<br /></li><li>I have tickets for the show at the Palace which is the second night of the tour so the odds are pretty low that Diamond Dave will have said something really stupid to Ed and totally gotten the tour cancelled by that point.</li></ul><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Bottom line:<br /><br />Know it... Live it.... <i>Love it.</i><br /><i><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7166/6717730733_74ff6b14ed.jpg" /></i><br /></div><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div>.:DataWhat?:.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13798529758046545533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6823993.post-57599639176209235822011-12-15T20:17:00.006-05:002011-12-28T23:03:19.879-05:002011: Mr. Nerd's Wild Ride<b></b><center><b><span style="font-size:130%;">Best Junk from 2011:</span></b><br /><br />This and This:<br /><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7012/6518305637_71f4c524e9_z.jpg" alt="Best" title="Best" border="0" /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">They are secretly superheroes whose powers are awesomeness and hilarity.</span><br /></center><br /><br />New(ish) Job: I changed roles at work this year. <br /><span style="font-size:78%;">In the words of Jim James from My Morning Jacket: "It matters to me/Took a long time to get here/If it would have been easy/I would not have cared"<br /></span><br /><br />Looney Tunes<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">I got borderline obsessive about collecting Looney Tunes episodes this year. I think it is important for Hank to see those original Merrie Melodies cartoons in their original form. <b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEcMkU9Z2Ag" target="_blank">Robin Hood Daffy</a></b>, <b><a href="http://youtu.be/cH6i2Z6mTRE" target="_blank">Duck Amuck</a></b>, <b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIpRaPdDnHA" target="_blank">Transylvania 6-5000 </a></b>... Chuck Jones, Robert McKimson, Friz Freleng and Mel Blanc should all have their faces on Mount Rushmore.<br /><b><a href="" target="_blank"></a></b><br /></span><br /><br />PJ and got to hear Aretha Franklin sing the National Anthem at a Tigers playoff game this fall.<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">She fucking killed it. <b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pb8kUbK5xQA" target="_blank">YouTubez here</a></b><br /></span><br /><br />I got to witness all of the Moving Pictures album performed at the <b><a href="http://www.dandeentertainment.com/rush-time-machine/" target="_blank">Rush: Time Machine concert</a></b> from a beery suite with a bunch of my pals at a Toledo hockey arena for Dave Below's 40th birthday.<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">It was everything I was hoping for. The universal dream.<br /></span><br /><br /><center>This gif:<br /><img src="http://upload.blagspot.com/dw/beer-me.gif" alt="Outer Space Tallboy" title="Outer Space Tallboy" border="0" /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Best joke from BrianSleeper: <br />"The joke’s on Luke. That can is empty. There’s no way Carrie Fisher ever gave a full beer away."<br /></span></center><br /><br />I went to a restaurant called <b><a href="http://www.chinapoblano.com/" target="_blank">China Poblano</a></b> in the <b><a href="http://www.cosmopolitanlasvegas.com/" target="_blank">Cosmopolitan Casino</a></b> in Las Vegas and it was likely the best meal I had all year.<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">It is a mix of Chinese and Mexican food where you can get little plates of all kinds of delicious crazy food taking the best of these two cuisines and jamming them together: Duck Tongue Taco with pork rinds! Chinese steamed bbq pork buns! Oaxacan Chocolate Terra Cotta Warriors! Kerpow! (that last one is an exclamation and not a Sino-Mex dish).<br /><br />Also: They played a terrific soundtrack at the new Cosmopolitan Casino: All funky Motown, bossa nova, deep kitch-pop cuts and Black Keys b-sides. I felt like I was in a Soderberg version of a Tarantino soundtrack from a novel by Elmore Leonard.<br /></span><br /><br />Spent a magical night with the re-united Fluoride Program at the Lager House.<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Their comeback show was 100% what they wanted it to be and it was amazing. Everything in its right place.<br /></span><br /><br />I feel like I spent more time <b><a href="http://tobasol.bandcamp.com/track/upstate-dreaming" target="_blank">Upstate Dreaming </a></b> this year and I really locked into it.<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">A terrific trip <b><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/datawhat/6590965213/sizes/l/in/photostream/" target="_blank">with Mr. Eric Kelly to Raleigh Del Norte</a></b> in the UP was everything I had hoped, and a <b><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oldwestsidegirl/6050136805/in/photostream/lightbox/" target="_blank">family camping trip in the shadow of the Mighty Mac</a></b> confirmed it: Call me Yooperman! Also <b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150226577576784&l=2c1f1be935" target="_blank">I Saw an Eagle on the 4th of July!</a></b> Pure Michigan.<br /></span><br /><br />I got an iPad<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">To paraphrase what Dan Trenz enthused when he got his: "It is the 2011 we were promised."<br /></span><br /><br /><center>This photo of Ann Arbor by <b><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dustin_j_williams/" target="_blank">Dustin Williams</a></b>:<br /><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2443/5715292255_e09bdb2a85_z.jpg" alt="bokeh" title="bokeh" border="0" /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">More sizes available <b><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dustin_j_williams/5715292255/sizes/l/in/set-72157614700001383/" target="_blank">here</a></b>:</span><br /></center><br /><br />Incredibly enough we were <b><a href="http://www.npr.org/2011/07/22/138575125/born-in-the-usa-this-blanket-might-look-familiar" target="_blank">interviewed on NPR about Baby Blankets</a></b>. Recording of the interview <b><a href="http://soundcloud.com/datawhat/the-johnsons-love-baby-blankets" target="_blank">here</a></b>:<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">The interviewer was doing research on those white blankets with blue and pink stripes that hospitals wrap babies in. She stumbled across <b><a href="http://babyroadies.com/?p=144" target="_blank">this post that I wrote on BabyRoadies</a></b> about those incredible blankets, and apparently this makes me a respected authority on the subject.<br /></span><br /><br />They opened a Five Guys Burgers & Fries in our town.<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">So long hippy bookstore! Helloooooo big greasy cheeseburgers!<br /></span><br /><br />Got to see My Morning Jacket in concert outdoors at Meadowbrook with Neko Case and Kelly Hogan opening up.<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">They did a cover of "<b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5D13GnGBEQA" target="_blank">Stop Draggin' My Heart Around</a></b>." Terrific company and a great time.<br /></span><br /><br />There are these <b><a href="http://www.greathall.com/" target="_blank">great story CDs by Greathall</a></b> that really got Hank introduced to King Arthur, Greek Myths, Famous Astronomers, Robin Hood and American Tall Tales. <br /><span style="font-size:78%;">A must for road trips.<br /></span><br /><br /><center>Hank's first season of T-ball:<br /><img src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/284410_10150237726906784_719271783_7948375_3080671_n.jpg" alt="Best" title="Best" border="0" /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Wookiee Wizards FTW!!!</span><br /></center><br /><br />I had a blast playing the candy version of Russian Roulette <span style="font-size:78%;">(is that non-PC now?)</span> with <b><a href="http://www.jellybelly.com/our_candy/beanboozled.aspx" target="_blank">BeanBoozled Jelly Bellies</a></b>.<br /><span style="font-size:78%;"> Two participants each bite into identical-looking Jelly Belly candies. Is the black one Licorice or Skunk Spray? Is the blue one Berry or Toothpaste? Is the red one Strawberry Jam or Caterpillar Flavor? Silliness abounds! </span><br /><br /><br />We got a magical box called a <b><a href="http://www.roku.com/" target="_blank">Roku</a></b> which streams Netflix, HuluPlus, Amazon, Crackle and other sources of "over the top" programming (as we say in the biz) right into your TV machine.<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Simple enough for Hank to watch 754 episodes of <b><a href="http://www.sidereel.com/X-Men_Animated_Series" target="_blank">The X-Men Animated Series</a></b> all on his own.<br /></span><br /><br />A great little bar called <b><a href="http://woodruffsbar.com/" target="_blank">Woodruff's</a></b> opened up in Depot Town in Ypsi.<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">I've been closely following the activities of one Andy Garris since the summer of 2004 when he revitalized the Alley Bar on my street. He moved into the Elbow Room and did great things there <b><a href="http://annarbor.com/business-review/elbow-room-is-the-latest-downtown-ypsilanti-nightspot-to-close/" target="_blank">until the man shut it down</a></b>. Then he moved into The Savoy and did great things there <b><a href="http://www.annarbor.com/business-review/malfunctioning-meter-could-spell-the-end-for-ypsilanti-nightclubs-savoy-and-pub-13/" target="_blank">until the man shut it down</a></b>. <b><a href="http://www.annarbor.com/entertainment/the-deuce/another-800-words-about-andy-garris-and-a-bar-please-welcome-woodruffs-to-depot-town/" target="_blank">Now he's whipped Woodruff's into a great little indie bar with the help of some area stalwarts</a></b>. an of the year, in my liver's opinion.<br /></span><br /><center><br />I spent some time up North in a cabin in the woods for a lost weekend of beer in cans and loud music. <br />It was kinda like Weekend at Bernies except <i>all</i> of us were limp and unresponsive.<br /><img src="http://upload.blagspot.com/dw/noodle.gif" alt="NoodleJump" title="NoodleJump" border="0" /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">"Faaaack, Pal"<br />Mark's boss "Funkee"<br />"Cooter & the Bear in the morning"<br /><b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrERtikdPus" target="_blank">The Doogie Howser theme</a></b><br />The piano coda to Layla<br />The fact that somebody bought a pineapple for some reason<br />Noodle jumping<br />Derek's terrific headlamp ("This was the best thing from the weekend! Everybody loved it!")<br />Covering that Band of Horses song with Steve Motrinc on lead lead vocals.<br />Brian's "West Virginia Whiskey Sour"<br />Cancer Dog.<br /><b><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7172/6546560225_f4f5b5d0be.jpg" target="_blank">Gravy 'Batin'</a></b><br />Sack Blabbath<br />"Knuckles & The Moose"<br />midget in vegas<br />air raid siren at 12:05 friday night<br />Brandon Inge's home run<br />"even when I win, I lose."<br /></span><br /></center><br />Spent a lot of energy and time and money <b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150374065021784&l=53da7ac08f" target="_blank">having our front porch rebuilt</a></b> this year.<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Can't wait for next spring when we can use it.<br /></span><br /><br /><br /><b></b><center><b><span style="font-size:130%;">Teh Intarwebs</span></b></center><br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.meh.ro/" target="_blank">Meh.ro</a></b> is a site that I know nothing about but taps into my hilarity bone consistently.<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Lurk and Awe!<br /></span><br /><br /><center><br />This video of a drunk baby:<br /><iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/cds7lSHawAw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">"You don't know me..."</span><br /></center><br /><br />The concept of <b><a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/" target="_blank">Kickstarter</a></b>.<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Particularly it's ability to get new albums by <b><a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/timothymonger/timothy-mongers-second-album-the-new-britton-sound?ref=live" target="_blank">Timothy Monger</a></b> and <b><a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/724054840/jim-roll-1st-solo-album-in-10-years?ref=live" target="_blank">Jim Roll</a></b> made (or underway). Micro-Patronage: Huzzah!<br /></span><br /><br />There is a well-represented local blog called <b><a href="http://www.damnarbor.com/" target="_blank">Damn Arbor</a></b> which does a great job of local issues, food reviews, insta-news, campus what-not and funny observations.<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Their list of <b><a href="http://www.damnarbor.com/2010/10/guide-to-ann-arbor-bars-that-dont-suck.html" target="_blank">Bars That Don't Suck</a></b> is a good place to start.<br /></span><br /><br /><center>The 2011 TLC lineup:<br /><iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/_8jeuYMHX9Y" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Oddly, 'Little People, Tricky Fridge' and 'Uterus Cannon' keep conflicting on my DVR</span><br /></center><br /><br />Get Stoked: <b><a href="http://www.rad-dudes.com/" target="_blank">Rad-Dudes.com</a></b> brought nuthin' but photos of the raddest dudes around.<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Sista site <b><a href="http://www.radbabes.com/" target="_blank">RadBabes.com</a></b> is only worth looking at if you like 80s chicks aerobicizing in spandex, Wanda Jackson and David Lee Roth drinking with Material Girl-era Madonna.<br /></span><br /><br /><center>This video went through my head during a very painful website launch this year:<br /><iframe width="480" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/0la5DBtOVNI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /></center><br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.spotify.com/us/" target="_blank">Spotify</a></b> became available to the US. It is like the faucet of music. I actually paid for a subscription.<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Also <b><a href="http://www.spotify.com/us/about/features/biographies/" target="_blank">this statement from their website</a></b>: "To help us compile this information, we’ve called on the magnificent All Music Guide - the most comprehensive music reference source on the planet. They’re as nuts about music as we are." <br /></span><br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/6696852/in-evening" target="_blank">Grantland</a></b><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">More for the Klosterman than the Simmons, but it is all quality writing.<br /></span><br /><br /><center>Bad Lipreads like <b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uE5xZKszXMQ" target="_blank">this Herman Cain one</a></b><br /><iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/uE5xZKszXMQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Hooo boy. "Women got extra-fatal lady shimmer of no maximum strength" = Larfs.<br /></span></center><br /><br /><b><a href="http://damnyouautocorrect.com/category/best-of-dyac/" target="_blank">DamnYouAutoCorrect</a></b> made me whiz myself with larfs.<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">The ones where the autocorrects just keep autocorrecting are the best ones. Extortion. No...Axe Murder. Dammit Exfoliate. NO! <b><a http://damnyouautocorrect.com/15361/the-nutcracker/" target="_blank">EXAMPLE!</a></b><br /></span><br /><br />The fact that a movie called <b><a href="http://www.allrovi.com/movies/movie/terror-at-blood-fart-lake-v480962" target="_blank">Terror at Blood Fart Lake</a></b> exists.<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Sadly it was not directed by <b><a href="http://www.allrovi.com/name/bill-zebub-p445462" target="_blank">Bill Zebub</a></b> who has some spectacularly-titled films like "<b><a href="http://www.allrovi.com/movies/movie/jesus-christ-serial-rapist-v548479" target="_blank">Jesus Christ, Serial Rapist</a></b>" and "<b><a href="http://www.allrovi.com/movies/movie/antfarm-dickhole-v548038" target="_blank">Antfarm Dickhole</a></b>" on his SAG card.<br /></span><br /><br /><center>This gif:<br /><img src="http://upload.blagspot.com/dw/tumblr_lesepnQ14k1qzg8t0o1_500.gif" alt="Best" title="Best" border="0" /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">It's in the puddin'</span><br /></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><b></b><center><b><span style="font-size:130%;">Recordings:</span></b></center><br /><br /><br /><b><a href="" target="_blank">This Spotify Playlist</a></b> has my best tunes from 2011.<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Spotify is like a faucet of music that you just turn on</span><br /><br /><img src="http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_250/MI0003/181/MI0003181248.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" /><br /><b><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/album/nothing-is-wrong-main-entry-r2188852" target="_blank">Nothing is Wrong</a></b> by Dawes<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">This record spun around my turntable more than any other in 2011. Just really pure, honest songwriting and solid messages. Plus a harmony or three.<br /></span><br /><br /><img src="http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_250/MI0003/176/MI0003176432.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" /><br /><b><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/album/d-r2180852" target="_blank">D</a></b> by White Denim<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Kind of a mix between Buffalo Springfield, Tortoise, and Yes. Rootsy but jammy but smart but spacey. Some people will think that sounds like a terrible idea. I would usually be one of them, but I dig it.<br /></span><br /><br /><img src="http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_250/MI0003/190/MI0003190221.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" /><br /><b><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-new-britton-sound-r2235954" target="_blank">The New Britton Sound</a></b> by Timothy Monger<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Local hero writes great songs, records them and then puts them onto playable media. Film at 11.<br /></span><br /><br /><img src="http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_250/MI0003/108/MI0003108886.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" /><br /><b><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-king-is-dead-r2078368" target="_blank">The King is Dead</a></b> by The Decemberists<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Thank you Peter Buck for steering their ship into the heartland. More blather from me on this topic <b><a href="http://datawhat.blogspot.com/2011/02/february-2011-album-of-month.html" target="_blank">here</a></b><br /></span><br /><br /><img src="http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_250/MI0003/182/MI0003182936.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" /><br /><b><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/album/circuital-r2181009" target="_blank">Circuital</a></b> by My Morning Jacket<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">This hit me just right this year. So much to dig into. Jammy, rockin, soulful. Everything except Black Metal.<br /></span><br /><br /><img src="http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_250/MI0002/964/MI0002964186.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" /><br /><b><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/album/god-willin--the-creek-dont-rise-r1838045" target="_blank">God Willin' and the Creek Don't Rise</a></b> by Ray LaMontagne<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">His VH1 Storytellers where he covered "<b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33WmhHzttoQ" target="_blank">Out on the Weekend</a></b>" by Neil Young was inspired. More blather from me on this topic <b><a href="http://datawhat.blogspot.com/2011/05/april-2011-album-of-month.html" target="_blank">here</a></b><br /></span><br /><br /><img src="http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_250/MI0003/248/MI0003248456.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" /><br /><b><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/album/andrew-leahey-the-homestead-r2321715" target="_blank">Andrew Leahey & the Homestead</a></b> by Andrew Leahey<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">I have to be honest about this one...I work(ed) with Andrew this year and y'know how sometimes when you work with somebody and they say "Hey I just made an album" and you go "Oh great, now I gotta pretend to like this" but honest to Gram this record sounds really terrific. Great songs well recorded in a 1930s movie theater and some solid songwriting. This is the album I've been hoping for years that Ryan Adams would put out. <b><a href="http://andrewleaheymusic.com/" target="_blank">Listen here</a></b>:<br /></span><br /><br /><img src="http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_250/MI0003/130/MI0003130300.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" /><br /><b><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/album/helplessness-blues-r2136980" target="_blank">Helplessness Blues</a></b> by Fleet Foxes<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Beardy beardy sing song beautiful.<br /></span><br /><br /><img src="http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_250/MI0003/168/MI0003168902.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" /><br /><b><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/album/hot-sauce-committee-pt-2-r2066772" target="_blank">Hot Sauce Committee, Part 2</a></b> by Beastie Boys<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Another solid release. "Don't Play No Game that I Can't Win" was my Jam this summer.<br /></span><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_250/MI0003/189/MI0003189389.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" alt="jamz" title="Tunes" border="0" /><br /><b><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-harrow-the-harvest-r2219679" target="_blank">The Harrow & the Harvest</a></b> by Gillian Welch<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Thrum thrum hollar twang. Glad to see Gillian and David Rawlings stripping it back down to basics.<br /></span><br />Again, <b><a href="" target="_blank">This Spotify Playlist</a></b> has my fave picks from these albums plus a few more from Eisley, Laura Marling, Richard Buckner, Release the Sunbird and maybe more. <br /><br /><br /><b></b><center><b><span style="font-size:130%;">Televizzle:</span></b><br /></center><br />Louie.<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">I really got into Louis CK this year, and his show is a brutal and hilarious and one of those shows that media historians will be talking about in 50 years. And anytime Ricky Gervais is on it is beyond gold: <b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5X-sGfKytY" target="_blank">Example</a></b><br /></span><br /><br />Mad Men<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">I can't actually remember if there were any new episodes this year, but this show is still <b><a href="http://www.christinahendricksgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/0022.jpg.php_2.jpg" target="_blank">two of my faves</a></b>.<br /></span><br /><br />30 Rock<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Still the funny. Saw lots of reruns this year. <b><a href="http://www.nbc.com/30-rock/video/a-look-back-at-season-5/1331661/" target="_blank">Season 5 recap</a></b>.<br /></span><br /><br />The Detroit Tigers played a lot of Baseball on my TV this year.<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Bless You Boys.<br /></span><br /><br /><br /><b></b><center><b><span style="font-size:130%;">The Cinema:</span></b></center><br /><br /><img src="http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/2/Open/20th%20Century%20Fox/The%20Tree%20of%20Life/_derived_jpg_q90_235x358_m0/TheTreeofLife-PosterArt.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" alt="Roll Film" title="Roll Film" border="0" /><br /><b><a href="http://www.allrovi.com/movies/movie/the-tree-of-life-v422961" target="_blank">The Tree of Life</a></b><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">The front runner for my favorite movie of the year. While it didn't make a lot of sense as a direct narrative, the imagery was amazing and it really seemed to capture some of the internal struggle of being a father <i>and</i> being a son.<br /></span><br /><br /><img src="http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/2/Open/CinemaSource/Harry%20Potter%20and%20the%20Deathly%20Hallows%20-%20Part%202/_derived_jpg_q90_240x320_m0/063907r1.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" alt="Roll Film" title="Roll Film" border="0" /><br /><b><a href="http://www.allrovi.com/movies/movie/harry-potter-and-the-deathly-hallows-part-2-v434402" target="_blank">Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows Part 2</a></b><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Well done, everyone involved. One of the rare experiences where the films are close to as enjoyable as the books.<br /></span><br /><br /><img src="http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/2/Open/iNDEMAND/Tron%20Legacy/_derived_jpg_q90_240x320_m0/0411Tron1.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" alt="Roll Film" title="Roll Film" border="0" /><br /><b><a href="http://www.allrovi.com/movies/movie/tron-legacy-v416371" target="_blank">Tron Legacy</a></b><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Zoom! Laser bikes! Overwrought dialog and fake Zen Buddhism. Exactly what I was hoping for.<br /></span><br /><br /><img src="http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/1/adg/cov250/drv200/v255/v25549ewneu.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" alt="Roll Film" title="Roll Film" border="0" /><br /><b><a href="http://www.allrovi.com/movies/movie/the-trip-v527104" target="_blank">The Trip</a></b><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Worth it for the Michael Caine bit alone.<br /></span><br /><br /><img src="http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/2/Open/CinemaSource/American%20%20The%20Bill%20Hicks%20Story/_derived_jpg_q90_240x320_m0/081079r1.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" alt="Roll Film" title="Roll Film" border="0" /><br /><b><a href="http://www.allrovi.com/movies/movie/american-the-bill-hicks-story-v500646" target="_blank">American: The Bill Hicks Story</a></b><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">A longtime Hicks fan, I was a bit nervous as to how this animatic-style documentary would work, but it was actually not as distracting as I thought it would be.<br /></span><br /><br /><img src="http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/2/Open/iNDEMAND/Joan%20Rivers%20A%20Piece%20of%20Work/_derived_jpg_q90_240x320_m0/joanriverspieceofwork1.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" alt="Roll Film" title="Roll Film" border="0" /><br /><b><a href="http://www.allrovi.com/movies/movie/joan-rivers-a-piece-of-work-v507399" target="_blank">Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work</a></b><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">My nerdish obsession on the comedy kept going this year, and the Joan Rivers doc really showed me what an obsessive nutjob she is. Bravo.<br /></span><br /><br /><img src="http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/2/Open/CinemaSource/Exit%20Through%20the%20Gift%20Shop/089559h1.jpg?partner=allrovi.com" alt="Roll Film" title="Roll Film" border="0" /><br /><b><a href="http://www.allrovi.com/movies/movie/exit-through-the-gift-shop-v511335" target="_blank">Exit Through the Gift Shop</a></b><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Artsy (but not so much with the fartsy)<br /></span><br /><br /><br />All of the other junk I watched:<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Rango<br />Rio<br />Cars 2<br />Gnomeo & Juliet<br />Midnight in Paris<br />Cedar Rapids<br /></span><br /><br /><b></b><center><b><span style="font-size:130%;">Book Learnin':</span></b></center><br /><br /><img height=160 src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1293504845m/2767052.jpg" alt="Book 'Em" title="Book 'Em" border="0" /><br /><b><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2767052-the-hunger-games" target="_blank">The Hunger Games</a></b> by Suzanne Collins<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Man oh man, this was a fun read. Well-written, strategy-filled (although pretty dark for younger readers). I was tempted to list <b><a href="http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/lions_gate/thehungergames/" target="_blank">the trailer</a></b> as one of my favorite movies of the year because I watched it about a hundred times.<br /></span><br /><br /><img height=160 src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1312430353m/13496.jpg" alt="Book 'Em" title="Book 'Em" border="0" /><br /><b><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13496.A_Game_of_Thrones" target="_blank">Game of Thrones</a></b> by George R.R. Martin<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">This continues to be a bit of a tough slog but very worthwhile. A billion great characters with wild-ass names and a million sub-plots to keep straight, but it's all starting to click together. I think one of the things that I really like is that Martin is not afraid to kill off one of his main characters in a heartbeat...<br /><br /><center>somebody posted this alternate title which I think is very appropriate:<br /><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7160/6591582323_8daa3ce730_m.jpg" alt="Book 'Em" title="Book 'Em" border="0" /><br /></center><br /></span><br /><br /><img height=160 src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171897553l/125229.jpg" alt="Book 'Em" title="Book 'Em" border="0" /><br /><b><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/125229.The_Real_Animal_House" target="_blank">The Real Animal House</a></b> by Chris Miller<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">A blast to read. Music played such a big role in the book that I (of course) created <b><a href="http://open.spotify.com/user/zacjohnson/playlist/7diuKXZD3o3iXKa4BhaD9g" target="_blank">a Spotify playlist </a></b>of all of the songs mentioned favorably in there.<br /></span><br /><br /><img height=160 src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320484151l/227614.jpg" alt="Book 'Em" title="Book 'Em" border="0" /><br /><b><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/227614.The_Blind_Assassin" target="_blank">The Blind Assassin</a></b> by Margaret Atwood<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Despite the fact that this was a story of two sisters growing up in the 1930s/40s in a small Canadian town as told by a creaking octogenarian, Margaret Atwood's sentences are an incredible thing to behold and this kept my interest with its sheer lyrical beauty.<br /></span><br /><br /><img height=160 src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1312736922l/9418327.jpg" alt="Book 'Em" title="Book 'Em" border="0" /><br /><b><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9418327-bossypants" target="_blank">Bossypants</a></b> by Tina Fey<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">I'm sure the other people around me on the plane thought I was an insane person because I was laughing so loud.<br /></span><br /><br /><img height=160 src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41nM4fVceVL.jpg" alt="Book 'Em" title="Book 'Em" border="0" /><br /><b><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9439303-life" target="_blank">Life</a></b> by Keith Richards<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Good lord, how is this man still breathing?<br /></span><br /><br /><img height=160 src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1316729686m/7905092.jpg" alt="Book 'Em" title="Book 'Em" border="0" /><br /><b><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7905092-freedom" target="_blank">Freedom</a></b> by Jonathan Franzen<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Soul crushing and beautiful all crammed into 3,000 pages.<br /></span><br /><br /><img height=160 src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1315596650m/823062.jpg" alt="Book 'Em" title="Book 'Em" border="0" /><br /><b><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/823062.The_Light_of_Other_Days" target="_blank">The Light of Other Days</a></b> by Arthur C. Clarke<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">This sci-fi yarn digs into how humanity could (will?) react when everything can be peeped upon through wormholes, etc. No crime, no espionage, rampant teenaged sex on park benches... this book has it all.<br /></span><br /><br /><img height=160 src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1266466978m/76740.jpg" alt="Book 'Em" title="Book 'Em" border="0" /><br /><b><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/76740.The_Demolished_Man" target="_blank">The Demolished Man</a></b> by Alfred Bester<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">A whip-smart sci-fi murder mystery from 1953. If you have watched Blade Runner as obsessively as I have, you will dig this book.<br /></span><br /><br /><img height=160 src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1156897088m/350.jpg" alt="Book 'Em" title="Book 'Em" border="0" /><br /><b><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/350.Stranger_in_a_Strange_Land" target="_blank">Stranger in a Strange Land</a></b> by Robert Heinlein<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Another sci-fi classic. It is amazing that the concepts can remain so fresh even as we are chuckling at their ray guns and automated computational machines.<br /></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><b></b><center><b><span style="font-size:130%;">Bad Juju</span></b></center><br /><br /><b><a href="http://obits.mlive.com/obituaries/saginaw/obituary.aspx?n=rolland-berger&pid=153175463&fhid=9280" target="_blank">Uncle Rolley</a></b><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">My Uncle Rolley pulled his RV to that great campground in the sky this year. Always quick with his toolbox and a bit of fatherly advice, he called every man in the family "Son" and really meant it. He is sorely missed.<br /></span><br /><br />City Flats hotel<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">My darling bride and I took a mini-vacation to the very hep <b><a href="http://cityflatshotel.com/holland/accommodations/guestrooms/" target="_blank">City Flats Hotel</a></b> here in Michigan. We had some great times and some fine dining until this cocksure assholish bartender overserved me on Gin Martinis which ended up for a very rough night (and not nearly as romantic as I had hoped) as well as a pretty ugly morning after. That is why I am never drinking again.<br /></span><br /><br />Google+<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!1!!" - Mark Zuckerberg<br /></span><br /><br />Missing a Mud Hens game<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">So here goes. For Hank's last week before he started Kindergarten, PJ and I planned a whole week of awesome activities. Waterparks, arcades, playdates, The Lego Store ...and it was to culminate in us seeing the last Toledo Mud Hens game of the season. So we roll into town at about 4:30 on Sunday to drop by Tony Packo's for a hot dog (with the boy dressed in his new birthday Mud Hens t-shirt, me in my new birthday Mud Hens hat) only to find Toledo to be a ghost town and PLENTY of seating at Tony Packo's. <br /><br />We had opted for a Sunday game instead of our original Saturday plan, and as it turns out I got the time wrong: It was a 1PM game and I thought it was going to be a 6PM game. <br /><br />I was beyond crushed. We had talked about the game for weeks -- the boy's last adventure before he was thrust into the public school system and I bungled it by not looking closely at the time on the ticket. AND IT WAS THE LAST GAME OF THE 2011 SEASON! No Do-Overs! How fucking poetic was that? Shee-it. What a heel.<br /></span><br /><br />Skunks<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">My dog finally got sprayed by an Old West Side skunk which meant that I was awake at one in the morning using the dog and cans of tomato juice to re-create the final scene of Carrie. Her muzzle still stinks when she gets wet.<br /></span><br /><br />Bert Jansch and Charlie Louvin died.<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">A sad year for lonesome music.<br /></span><br /><center><br />Borders Books closed down<br /><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7020/6591867861_517683fd52.jpg" alt="Book 'Em" title="Book 'Em" border="0" /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Henry started crying when we told him Borders will be closing. <br />He kept asking "*ALL* of the books will be gone?"<br /></span><br /></center><br /><br />In Hot Water<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Our hot water heater crapped out and in the midst of replacing it, the "technician" broke off a pipe and water went <b>everywhere</b>. Guitars got wet, it was an unpleasant scene.<br /></span><br /><br />Spent some sad days in my funeral suit this year.<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">It doesn't get easier.<br /></span><br /><br />The music industry is not making anything better.<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">"I was driving a forklift in a warehouse for a while. Before that I was holding a road sign for Con Ed in while they were working on the power lines in the Upstate. January in the Catskills with snow banks and dead deer next to me. I worked for the census last year." - Richard Buckner, one of my favorite singer/songwriters.<br /></span><br /><br /><center>::</center><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><br />Thanks <b><a href="http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20061223184710/uncyclopedia/images/f/f3/Haha_Internet.jpg" target="_blank">Innernets</a></b> and those involved with my life.<br /></span>.:DataWhat?:.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13798529758046545533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6823993.post-38779041137088813752011-05-05T20:03:00.001-04:002011-05-05T20:21:34.763-04:00April 2011 Album of the Month<center><br /><font size="4">Ray LaMontagne "God Willin' & The Creek Don't Rise"</font size="4"><br /><br /><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5264/5673715587_aa26317321.jpg" alt="Ray" title="Ray" border="0"/><br /><br />Listen for free here on <b><a href="http://grooveshark.com/#/playlist/Ray+Lamontagne+and+quot+god+Willin+and+The+Creek+Don+t+Rise+and+quot+album+Order+/51817170?src=5"target="_blank">Grooveshark</a></b><br /></center><br />I'd heard <b><a href="http://www.allrovi.com/name/ray-lamontagne-mn0000182302"target="_blank">Ray LaMontagne</a></b>'s previous albums and liked them. He's got a throaty and gruff "old soul" voice that reminds a lot of folks of Van Morrison or the guy from <b><a href="http://www.allrovi.com/name/Gomez-MN0000948625"target="_blank">Gomez</a></b>. I actually heard a song from this album on the radio in my car and did one of those things where you find an old receipt and scrounge a pen and try to write down as many of the lyrics as you can without crashing.<br /><center><br /><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5303/5673715557_10659ae8c9.jpg" alt="Ray" title="Ray" border="0"/></center><br /><br />His previous albums sounded a bit like solo efforts, but it seems like now he's settled in with a real band. Lots of good pedal steel, occasional banjo and shuffle beats. The whole thing has a real "<b><a href="http://www.allrovi.com/music/album/harvest-mw0000192539"target="_blank">Harvest</a></b>" feel like the Neil Young album, with a couple songs that make you think "Hey, is this 'Old Man?' No? Oh, Ok. You sure? Hmmp. I still like it though."<br /><center><br /><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5103/5674284286_801cc8243f.jpg" alt="Band" title="Band" border="0"/><br /><br /></center><br />The standout track is definitely "<b><a href="http://grooveshark.com/s/Beg+Steal+Or+Borrow/3DJs5t?src=5"target="_blank">Beg, Steal or Borrow</a></b>" but the positive but retrospective "<b><a href="http://grooveshark.com/s/Old+Before+Your+Time/34bdBG?src=5"target="_blank">Old Before Your Time</a></b>" and the slowed-to-a-crawl "<b><a href="http://grooveshark.com/s/Like+Rock+and+Roll+And+Radio/39tRme?src=5"target="_blank">Like Rock & Roll Radio</a></b>" are also stand-out front porch sittin' songs.<br /><br />An excerpt from the <b><a href="http://www.allrovi.com/music/album/god-willin--the-creek-dont-rise-mw0002013840"target="_blank">AllRovi.com Review</a></b>:<br /><font size="1">LaMontagne helmed the session at his home studio and it is mostly a loose, laid-back affair with a couple of exceptions. The Pariah Dogs -- bassist Jennifer Condos, guitarists Eric Heywood and Greg Leisz, and drummer Jay Bellerose -- have recorded and/or toured with him previously. The opener, "Repo Man," is the album's wild card. Introduced by a popping upright bassline, it's a gritty funk number that's totally out of place with the rest of what's here. Bellerose plays tight breaks, the guitars roil and coil, and LaMontagne's protagonist indicts a former lover, spitting out lyrics in a grainy, swaggering growl. The album changes direction abruptly on "New York Is Killing Me." It's a sad country song whose title reveals a longing for somewhere else as Leisz's pedal steel guitar twins with LaMontagne's world-weary voice. The title track is a love letter from a cattle driver to his beloved back at home. Bellerose's deeply tuned snare and tom-toms are balanced by two pedal steels underscoring the otherworldly loneliness in the grain of LaMontagne's voice. "Beg Steal or Borrow" is a midtempo shuffle that exhorts a younger man to just go; to fulfill his dreams at any cost. Two broken love songs -- "Are We Really Through" and "This Love Is Over" -- seem to echo the sentiments in "Repo Man," albeit far more gently. Both are skeletal and moody; the latter touches on the soul balladry LaMontagne's known for, but with a jazzy touch in the guitars. It's the best cut here. "Old Before Your Time" is the brother to "Beg Steal or Borrow": it reveals the consequences -- perhaps to the man in the mirror -- if the admonitions in the previous tune are not adhered to. - Thom Jurek</font size="1"><br /><center><br /><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5146/5673715797_a24b280ae2.jpg" alt="Winder" title="Winder" border="0"/><br /><font size="1"></font size="1"><br /></center><br />Maybe buy it at <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003YOWU1Q/"target="_blank">Amazon MP3</a></b> or maybe on the <b><a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/god-willin-the-creek-dont-rise/id381971352"target="_blank">iTunes</a></b>?.:DataWhat?:.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13798529758046545533noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6823993.post-72642459580160739582011-04-12T19:21:00.002-04:002011-04-12T19:21:59.773-04:00Drunk Babies!!!1!<center><br /><br />I want an entire channel of this show:<br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/cds7lSHawAw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />::</center><br /><br />New My Morning Jacket single "Circuital" is streaming <b><a href="http://www.relix.com/audio/artist-exclusives/2011/04/12/my-morning-jacket-circuital"target="_blank">here</a></b> and available to download from their site <b><a href="http://t.opsp.in/Uwiy"target="_blank">here</a></b>:<br /><font size="1">Jammburger.<br /></font size="1"><br /><center>::<br /><br />A terrific time lapse video of my hometown Ann Arbor.<br /><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/17734657" width="400" height="225" frameborder="0"></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/17734657">Ann Arbor</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user4022109">Seth McCubbin</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p><br /><font size="1">I have no idea how they got some of those shots.<br /></font size="1"><br />::</center><br /><br /><b><a href="http://accessmaincomputerfile.net/"target="_blank">AccessMainComputerFile.net</a></b> is a terrific compilation of completely impossible computer screens and interfaces from movies.<br /><font size="1">See also "<b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vxq9yj2pVWk"target="_blank">Zoom In And Enhance</a></b>"<br /></font size="1"><br /><center>::</center><br /><font size="1"><br />Thanks <b><a href="http://www.damnarbor.com/"target="_blank">DamnArbor.com</a></b><br />Thanks <b><a href="http://belowblog.blogspot.com/"target="_blank">David</a></b><br /></font size="1">.:DataWhat?:.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13798529758046545533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6823993.post-68595303373667914472011-04-05T20:08:00.001-04:002011-04-05T20:10:29.938-04:00Record Scratch. What?<center><br />This incredible video is a fake elevator pitch for a Fax app store (a.k.a "Fap Store"):<br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/120R2-phK0U" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />While the concept is outrageous, I have seen professional presentations with much lower production value.<br /><font size="1"><br />So full of buzzwords that you'll want to punch the next guy in Dockers you see.<br /></font size="1"><br />::</center><br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.oliandalex.com/james-face/"target="_blank">This guy</a></b> says:<br />I LIKE GOING ONTO MY FRIENDS FACEBOOK PAGE, TAKING PHOTOS OF HIM, CHANGING HIS FACE SLIGHTLY THEN PUTTING THEM BACK UP ON FACEBOOK. HE DOESN'T LIKE ME DOING THIS.<br /><font size="1">Oh man...this is like one of those "Find the difference in these two pictures" games but when you figure it out it makes you laugh.<br /></font size="1"><br /><center>::<br /><br />This kid ain't gonna pee-pee the bed tonight.<br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/PwzBuN7jfjw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />My guess is that Gandalf put a spell on her.<br /><br />::<br /><br /><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5184/5593285205_27a3f46260.jpg" alt="Hello?" title="Hello?" border="0"/><br /><br />::<br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.snotr.com/embed/6200" width="400" height="330" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><br />From <b><a href="http://www.neatorama.com/2011/03/31/police-squad-credits/"target="_blank">Neatorama</a></b>: Some would argue that the best part of the TV series Police Squad! was the end credits, in which the common freeze-frame method was parodied. This video has the ending credits to all six episodes, including the one with the chimpanzee who didn’t know how to hold a freeze-frame.<br /><br />::<br /><br /><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5102/5593874648_b45f2a7069.jpg" alt="Reeding" title="Reeding" border="0"/><br /><font size="1">"welllll, looks like we've got ourselves a reader."<br /></font size="1"><br />::</center><br /><font size="1"><br />Thanks <b><a href="http://Waxy.org"target="_blank">Waxy.org</a></b><br />Thanks <b><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=UIDMISS70311121714052993&sql=B3psyxdfb3olg"target="_blank">Steve</a></b><br /></font size="1">.:DataWhat?:.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13798529758046545533noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6823993.post-20665477461079246392011-03-20T10:54:00.003-04:002011-03-20T11:01:20.029-04:00March 2011 Album of the Month<center><br /><font size="4">Eisley "The Valley"</font size="4"><br /><br /><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5094/5542606363_11704ac502.jpg" alt="Valley" title="Valley" border="0"/><br /><br />Listen for free here on <b><a href="http://listen.grooveshark.com/#/playlist/Eisley+The+Valley+album+Order+/50638917?src=5"target="_blank">Grooveshark</a></b><br /></center><font size="1"><br />Some folks may remember that a million years ago I used to have a CD Of The Month club where I would let folks know the album that most struck my fancy that month. I've started that up again.<br /></font size><br />I have a real soft spot for vocal harmony, and doubly so when it comes from siblings. The Beach Boys, The Dinning Sisters, the Louvin Brothers, Great Lakes Myth Society, The Mills Brothers...all of their close harmonies weave together and take a seat right in my soul. Alt-Pop act <b><a href="http://www.allrovi.com/name/eisley-mn0000184818"target="_blank">Eisley</a></b> (consisting of three sisters, a brother and a cousin) fit into this niche nicely, adding in some youthful innocence and a wide-eyed earnestness that can only come from being weirdly religious or home-schooled.<br /><center><br /><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5011/5542606549_960689989f.jpg" alt="fam" title="fam" border="0"/></center><br /><br />On their 2011 album "<b><a href="http://www.allrovi.com/music/album/the-valley-mw0002094725"target="_blank">The Valley</a></b>" the DuPree family dig into some darker territories, stemming from some relatively public break-ups (two of the sisters were either married or engaged to indie rockers and the dissolution of these relationships fuel a lot of the themes on the album). Still, the album never feels maudlin or depressing. The songs have more of a growling punch behind the sweetness than they've had before, which makes them feel more mature and less teen-cute than their previous releases. Like they're growing up or something.<br /><center><br /><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5054/5543185894_8312cb2b29.jpg" alt="Park" title="Park" border="0"/><br /><font size="1">keeping with my theme of <b><a href="http://datawhat.blogspot.com/2011/02/february-2011-album-of-month.html"target="_blank">bands in fields near trees</a></b> from last month</font size="1"><br /></center><br />The standout track is definitely "<b><a href="http://listen.grooveshark.com/s/Smarter/3zQ2hK?src=5"target="_blank">Smarter</a></b>" which slowly burns with its tock-tock rhythms, growling guitars and a chorus that sounds like the Heavens are raining down on your ears. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.allrovi.com/music/album/the-valley-mw0002094725" target="_blank"><b>AllRovi.com Review:</a></b><br /><font size="1">Written in the wake of several failed relationships -- a broken engagement for the eldest Eisley sibling, a divorce for the middle sister, and a split with Warner Bros. Records -- Eisley's third album features some unexpected dark moments. Much of the aggression comes from Sherri DuPree, whose marriage to New Found Glory's Chad Gilbert came to an abrupt halt after ten months. On Eisley's 2005 debut, she sang ballads about star-crossed lovers and enchanted forests, but Sherri ditches the storybook romance during The Valley, whose sobering song titles -- "Sad," "I Wish," "Ambulance" -- paint the picture of a girl's broken heart. The Valley isn't necessarily a gloomy album, though; most of the anger is funneled into Chauntelle DuPree's guitar riffs, whose rawness is balanced by the girls' sweet, dreamy harmonies. Co-vocalist Stacy helps even the tables, too, taking the mike during some of the album's brightest moments and offsetting her sister's pinched, emo-influenced voice with a womanly alto. Barely a teenage at the beginning of Eisley's career, she's steadily become the group's creative centerpiece, and it's appropriate that The Valley both begins and ends with her songs. But the best part about The Valley is the emotional spectrum it covers, from the Veruca Salt-ish sneer of "Sad" to the lush title track, where harmonies and strings swell in parallel motion. There's a happy ending, too: Sherri remarried two years after her divorce, followed in 2010 by Stacy, Chauntelle, and drummer/brother Weston. - Andrew Leahey</font size="1"><br /><center><br /><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5098/5542606455_ef60b750b5.jpg" alt="Coffee?" title="Coffee?" border="0"/><br /><font size="1">Are they old enough to drink coffee?</font size="1"><br /></center><br />Maybe buy it at <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Valley-digital-booklet/dp/B004OM19GY/ref=tmm_msc_title_0"target="_blank">Amazon MP3</a></b> or maybe on the <b><a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-valley/id417572601?partnerID=30&ign-mpt=uo%3D4"target="_blank">iTunes</a></b>?.:DataWhat?:.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13798529758046545533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6823993.post-5291636633567149152011-03-18T22:15:00.005-04:002011-03-18T22:25:38.100-04:00Outer Space Tallboy<center>How is it possible that I have not seen this gif before?<br /><br /><img src="http://upload.blagspot.com/dw/beer-me.gif" alt="Outer Space Tallboy" title="Outer Space Tallboy" border="0" /><br /><br />Best joke from BrianSleeper: <br />"The joke’s on Luke. That can is empty. There’s no way Carrie Fisher ever gave a full beer away."<br /><br />::</center><br /><font size="1"><br />Thanks <b><a href="http://www.belowblog.blogspot.com/"target="_blank">David</a></b><br />Thanks <b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/WhiteGoldISWhiteGold"target="_blank">Zach</a></b><br /></font size="1">.:DataWhat?:.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13798529758046545533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6823993.post-92215603964062668802011-03-12T17:02:00.003-05:002011-03-12T17:15:20.412-05:00Excelsior!<center><br /><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5059/5520395213_8780ab9d23_b_d.jpg" alt="Stan" title="Stan" border="0"/><br /><font size="1"><b><a href="http://www.geeksaresexy.net/2011/03/05/what-if-stan-lee-knew-anything-about-science-cartoon/"target="_blank">embiggen</a></b><br /></font size="1"><br />::</center><br /><br />Speaking of Stan The Man, here's a terrific <b><a href="http://www.vanityfair.com/online/oscars/2011/03/spidey-bites.html"target="_blank">Vanity Fair interview with Stan Lee</a></b>:<br /><br /><b>Q: Are you going to be one of those guys who doesn’t quit until they find you dead in your office, face down in a pool of ink, surrounded by storyboards?<br /></b><br />A: I don’t intend to die.<br /><br /><center>::</center><br /><br />This <b><a href="http://www.npr.org/2011/02/21/133899844/local-natives-tiny-desk-concert?ft=1&f=92071316"target="_blank">Local Natives acoustic concert</a></b> at NPR's offices was quite nice.<br /><br />It also inspired this angry diatribe:<br /><br />I don’t like anything about this. Not one thing.<br /><br />This reminds me of the crap I hear played by street musicians and then quietly think to myself “man, this is as far as that crap is gonna take them,” and then pretend I had no change in my pockets.<br /><br />Their arrangements are more like chaotic chanting than anything pleasant to hear.<br /><br />I realize this is acoustic, but even so for having so many musicians, they all suck at playing them. Watch them play their instruments. Hell, I play better than they do.<br /><br />I know there’s only so much you can do with one drum, but the repetition in the drumming style is brutal.<br /><br />They look like a bunch of band dudes that spent every Friday in the dorm growing facial hair.<br /><center><br />Don’t know what’s thicker. That dudes mustache or his eye brows.<br />Nice to know that Oates’ and Yanni’s mustache has found a home.<br /><br /><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5052/5520371091_3d1276dea2.jpg" alt="plucker" title="plucker" border="0"/><br /></center><br />Based on that Neville-esque ‘noma on his neck, this band will be shopping for a new lead singer by next fall.<br /><br />The guy on the right is like a fat girl waiting to happen.<br /><br />Wearing that shirt is embarrassing enough, but to then roll the sleeves?<br />Everyone knows this (‘specially the fat ones), if you’re doughy, don’t roll your t-shirt sleeves.<br /><br />The guy in the beard is by far the most annoying. He’s TERRIBLE at singing, yet he seems to sing the loudest.<br />This is why drummer shouldn’t sing (see Don Henley).<br /><br />People at work were coming into my cube to see if I was alright when the third song was playing.<br /><center><br /><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5136/5520963118_c923db270f.jpg" alt="hungry birds" title="hungry birds" border="0"/><br /><br />Jean vest? Jesus Christ.<br /><br />::<br /><br /><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5140/5520311861_259d007725.jpg" alt="Let the Wookie Win" title="Let the Wookie Win" border="0"/><br /><font size="1">Let the Wookie Win</font size="1"><br /><br />::</center><br /><font size="1"><br />Thanks <b><a href="http://www.geeksaresexy.net/"target="_blank">GeeksAreSexy</a></b><br />Thanks <b><a href="http://goldenfiddle.com/"target="_blank">GoldenFiddle</a></b><br />Thanks <b><a href="http://www.allrovi.com/name/derek-vertin-mn0001351474"target="_blank">Derek</a></b><br /></font size="1">.:DataWhat?:.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13798529758046545533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6823993.post-4800469838668389082011-03-01T19:44:00.002-05:002011-03-02T09:02:25.956-05:00Winning.<center><br />Oh my. <br /><br />Charlie Sheen has become the perfect celebrity in my opinion.<br />I don't really care about him. He was good that one time:<br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/IRbzZG_JxYY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />But two decades, an awful sitcom, and a fat paycheck later, something within him has snapped...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.livethesheendream.com/"target="_blank"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5178/5490536012_c04278fbd3.jpg" alt="Winning" title="Winning" border="0"/></a><br /><font size="1">visit <b><a href="http://www.livethesheendream.com/"target="_blank">LiveTheSheenDream.com</a></b></font size="1"><br /><br />...or possibly elevated him to an accelerated life form.<br /><br />His maniacal mentality makes me firmly believe he is operating at a higher level of functionality than the rest of us.<br /><br /><a href="http://mediumlarge.wordpress.com/2011/02/28/cats-quote-charlie-sheen-morning-news-edition/"target="_blank"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5219/5489940869_8f6719b229.jpg" alt="Winning" title="Winning" border="0"/></a><br /><font size="1">visit <b><a href="http://mediumlarge.wordpress.com/2011/02/28/cats-quote-charlie-sheen-morning-news-edition/"target="_blank">Cats Quote Charlie Sheen</a></b></font size="1"><br /><br />He is bulletproof and indestructible.<br /><br /><a href="http://sheenfamilycircus.blogspot.com/"target="_blank"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5220/5490536040_008487bd22.jpg" alt="Winning" title="Winning" border="0"/></a><br /><font size="1">visit <b><a href="http://sheenfamilycircus.blogspot.com/"target="_blank">SheenFamilyCircus.com</a></b></font size="1"><br /><br />He has re-appropriated our language and made it his own.<br /><br /><a href="http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2011/03/charlie_sheen_glossary.html"target="_blank"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5091/5490536058_de1e4be721.jpg" alt="Winning" title="Winning" border="0"/></a><br /><font size="1">visit this <b><a href="http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2011/03/charlie_sheen_glossary.html"target="_blank">NY Mag Glossary</a></b></font size="1"><br /><br />He is not Bi-Polar, he is <b><a href="http://www.bi-winning.com/"target="_blank">Bi-Winning</a></b>.<br /><br />And his constant use of the phrase "Winning" is the ultimate punctuation to a statement.<br />You say something completely batshit-insane which aggrandizes yourself in a superhuman way. <br />And then you inform your interviewer (which is everybody listening) that you are "Winning."<br /><br /><a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/charlie-sheen-quotes-as-new-yorker-cartoons"target="_blank"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5174/5491871276_6323e3c048.jpg" alt="Winning" title="Winning" border="0"/></a><br /><font size="1">visit <b><a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/charlie-sheen-quotes-as-new-yorker-cartoons"target="_blank">Charlie Sheen Quotes as New Yorker Cartoons</a></b></font size="1"><br /><br />Remember this moment folks.<br />History is unfolding before our eyes.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.livethesheendream.com/"target="_blank"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5054/5490536002_14840335ea.jpg" alt="Winning" title="Winning" border="0"/></a><br /><font size="1">visit <b><a href="http://www.livethesheendream.com/"target="_blank">LiveTheSheenDream.com</a></b></font size="1"><br /><br />He will clearly be dead or Christian soon, and we will be sad. <br />So cherish this moment while we can.<br /><br />Remember us Winning.<br /></center><br /><font size="1"><br />Thanks <b><a href="http://belowblog.blogspot.com/"target="_blank">David</a></b><br />Thanks <b><a href="http://whatevs.tumblr.com/"target="_blank">Grambo</a></b><br />Thanks <b><a href="http://www.allrovi.com/name/stephen-thomas-erlewine-mn0001859280"target="_blank">Tom</a></b><br /></font size="1">.:DataWhat?:.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13798529758046545533noreply@blogger.com1