Apple Event Planned For Next Week
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Apple will be holding an event next week in downtown San Francisco, I need to find out if its the store over near the cable cars, if so I might stop by in the morning. There will probably be a ton of apple geeks trying to catch a peek on the action so I may end up walking by and just taking a picture of all the jerks standing outside looking in.
Apple Music Event Sept. 7 [Updated]
Monday August 29, 2005 05:33 PM ESTPosted by Mudbug
Reported by MacWorld, Apple has sent out media invitations to a "Special Music Event" to be held at 10:00 a.m. in the Moscone Center West in San Fransisco on September 7, 2005. The invitation features a pair of denim jeans and the caption "1000 songs in your pocket changed everything. Here we go again. "The iPod line has been continually refreshed year over year since introduction and continues to be a possible candidate for this meeting. However, speculation from AppleInsider points to the possible release of the iTunes-capable Motorola phone that has been rumored for months.
[Update] According to the Wall Street Journal, Cingular will be the carrier to first offer the iTunes-capable phone, having reached an agreement with Apple.
Update #2 this one is from http://www.gizmodo.com/
Rumor, Rumor, iToil and iTrouble
READ MORE: Portable Media, Rumors, iPod
Man, now I’m getting kind of confused. It is not like Apple to screw up a launch like this. Motorola and Apple both have some REALLY BIG NEWS coming out on September 7th, but both of them announced a BIG BIG PARTY at once, which makes me think that Apple might have a few things to show, not just one iPod Phone. The fact that Motorola’s launch coincides with Apple’s launch obviously points to the ROXR coming to fruition, but considering the secrecy of Apple’s past launches, this is a massive breach, even if it’s caused by a partner. I’m kinda worried they might be releasing the iPod Tickle, an iPod vibrator.
Posted by mardenhill 8/31/2005 07:47:00 PM 2 comments
Bret Easton Ellis
Monday, August 29, 2005
One of my fav authors Bret Easton Ellis will be in town, well San Francisco next week for a book signing and reading. He will be around the block from my hotel at a Borders which is very cool. His new book is called Lunar Park, its part autobiography, part comedy and horror. Its full of satire and well its not an official auto bio, its more of a mockbio. I am still trying to understand what the book is really about, parts are authentic and others are fiction. Its more of what Bret is known for, blurring the lines between reality and fiction.
http://www.randomhouse.com/kvpa/eastonellis/
Bret has also written Less than Zero, Rules of Attraction, American Psycho and Glamorama.
My other fav author Douglas Coupland has a new book out, its a bio on a Canadian runner but I did find out that he just released a book this january called Elenore Rigby that I had no idea was out. He has a new one slated for next year entitled jPod, a mix of the japanese and current ipod culture crazy. As for what the book will be about, I have no clue but I wouldn't worry, Douglas doesn't disappoint.
http://www.coupland.com/books/index.html
Posted by mardenhill 8/29/2005 04:04:00 PM 3 comments
Napa, Sushi and the Fog
Sunday, August 28, 2005
Today was a good day, I got up and headed over to Napa Valley crossing over the Golden Gate bridge. It was pretty foggy but then after you cross, its all sunny. I hit a few good vineyards, I picked up a viognier from Goosecross, the amazing zinfandel port from Rutherford Hills and a zinfandel and moscato from Nichelini which was way up in the mountains. This vineyard was recommended by Ed from Simply Wine and it was excellent, great spicy zins and full bodied petit sirah. It was about a 20 minute drive off Silverado Trail but it was worth it, the view was beautiful and only a handful of people up at the tasting.
I stopped at Mustard's Grill for lunch and had the lemon chicken with mashed potatoes which was the same thing I had a year ago and couldn't wait to have again. I came back into the city and for dinner checked out a sushi bar recommended by a waiter at another restaurant. The sushi was the best I had every had and the price was pretty reasonable.
Posted by mardenhill 8/28/2005 12:44:00 AM 1 comments
Golden Gate Bridge
Posted by mardenhill 8/28/2005 12:43:00 AM 0 comments
Oasis Update
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
OASIS PLAN NEW ALBUM...IN 2010
NOEL GALLAGHER has told NME OASIS won’t release any new material until 2007 – and he wouldn’t be surprised if the next album isn’t out until 2010.
Speaking exclusively to NME, the guitarist said that currently the only plan is for a B-sides compilation next year, as the group will take most of the year off following their world tour which isn’t set to finish until early next spring.
He said: “We’re touring till next March, and I’d have thought by February we’ll be sick of the sight of each other. We’ll probably have the rest of that year out, and Liam will write 500 songs, Gem (Archer) and Andy (Bell) will write a few and I’ll go back to the ones I haven’t finished off.
“We never make plans. We haven’t got a record deal now anyway. We’re out of a deal, which is a great position to be in. So we’re gonna have to find a new record deal that suits us, that’s where we’re at, and then…we don’t like to rush things. ‘Be Here Now’ was rushed, ‘Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants’ was rushed, and it’s kind of like, ‘If it takes five years for the album to come out, I’m not arsed.’ As long as it comes out, it’ll be alright. ‘Definitely Maybe’ took fucking five years to make. And in that five years I wrote the first two albums, so you’ve got to figure that out for yourself.”
Noel revealed that he still has 25 songs left from the sessions for ‘Don’t BelieveThe Truth’, and suggested that that will mean he won’t have to “any more work for the next few years”. These songs include the much talked-up ’Stop The Clocks’, of which Noel has now tired, revealing, “There are so many versions of that song now we could put it out as an EP on its own!”
However, the guitarist insisted that rumours that Oasis are about to release a Greatest Hits compilation are untrue.
“This is from the horse’s mouth – we will only do a best of when we split up. The only thing we’ve got that might be in the pipeline next year will be another B-sides album, all the B-sides from ‘Standing..’ to this lot,” explained Noel, before taking a pop at his traditional rivals. “I never understood the Manics and Blur putting out Best Ofs – I mean, what the fuck’s all that about? It’s kind of saying that whatever you’re gonna do from there on is not gonna be your best. We’ll put out a best of when we stop. No best of or singles album until it’s done and dusted.”
Posted by mardenhill 8/24/2005 08:17:00 PM 2 comments
San Francisco Update
Here is another picture of Chinatown, its a couple minute walk from my hotel. Its not as large as New York's but it goes on for blocks in both directions. I went to some Chinese restaurant last nite, it was ok but nothing special. I also went to this place called the Bubble Lounge, a hipster champagne and wine bar. It was very pretentious and I felt a bit out of place. It was very expensive, I had 1 glass and it was $10, that was near the bottom of the prices. After that, I headed out, not a place I would like to hang out at but it was cool to go just once.
http://www.bubblelounge.com/sfabout.shtml
Posted by mardenhill 8/24/2005 12:46:00 PM 1 comments
Chinatown
Posted by mardenhill 8/24/2005 12:41:00 PM 2 comments
San Francisco
Sunday, August 21, 2005
Tomorrow I leave for San Francisco, I will be out there for 3 weeks working in our BBDO West office. I will be staying at the Granf Hyatt in Union Square and the office is about a 10 minute walk away. Our San Fran tech put in his 2 weeks so I will be filling in and training the replacement. It will be a lot of fun, I plan on checking out Napa again and hitting a ton of cool restaurants around the town. Erika will be flying out for Labor Day weekend where we plan on going to Berkeley, Santa Cruz and maybe the Redwoods. I will be avail via email and my cell phone and will be blogging so don't worry "What's Going On In The Head Of Randy" will continue on with daily postings.
I will update with pics and other misc stuff.
Posted by mardenhill 8/21/2005 12:45:00 PM 1 comments
Attack Of The Gallaghers
Liam is at it again, attacking the drug ridden Pete Doherty of the pathetic excuse for a band Babyshambles. Like I said before, you piss off Liam your chances for success are pretty low.
OASIS VS BABYSHAMBLES!
OASIS singer LIAM GALLAGHER has hit out at PETE DOHERTY during the band’s set at V FESTIVAL - comparing him to a 4ft inflatable penis.
The band have just finished their headline set at Hylands Park in Chelmsford - their only UK festival appearances in support of their current album ’Don’t Believe The Truth’.
During ’Bring It On Down’, Liam made a subtle reference to Doherty's well publicised drug troubles, by changing a lyric to You don’t care…because you’re smoking crack.
However, he was more obvious as soon as the song finished. After asking for the house lights to be put on the audience, Liam spotted an inflatable penis in the audience.
”It’s good to see Pete Doherty turned up,” he said, “one big cock.”
Liam’s feud with Pete began when Doherty failed to turn up to an Oasis support in Southampton.
http://www.nme.com/news/113442.htm
Posted by mardenhill 8/21/2005 12:38:00 PM 2 comments
New Blog Name
Friday, August 19, 2005
It was brought to my attention that the former title "A Thousand Monkeys Typing On A Thousand Typewriters" is already in use and it would be wrong of me to keep that name. I had thought Chris J was being creative so I changed it for him, instead he just ripped off a fellow blogger which in the blogosphere are grounds for a beatdown. Anyways, for the remainder of the day, my blog will now be known as Chris J's Angry Rant and Raves. If you have any suggestions you would like the name to be, mind you it needs Chris J in the title, feel free to post and I will change it at random.
Posted by mardenhill 8/19/2005 10:38:00 AM 4 comments
Welcome to the Grand Viewing of "A Thousand Monkeys Typing On A Thousand Typewriters" formally "What's Going On In The Head Of Randy". I can't take all the credit, I must thank Chris Jablonski for the picture and new title. Until further notice, this is my new blog.
Posted by mardenhill 8/19/2005 10:13:00 AM 3 comments
More Cookies!!!!!
GIVE ME MORE COOKIES!!!!! This is a pic of Debbie Stabenow from a John Kerry rally last year. There were cookies there and I swear I saw her sneak 1, 2 maybe 5 of them.
http://www.surveyusa.com/100USSenators0805SortedbyNetApprovalScore.htm
A survey was taken of our senators and low and behold, our favorite repubican hyprocrite Rick Santorum is dead last. Its funny that the bottom 5 are all republicans and 2 of them are from the scandal ridden state of Ohio where Gov Taft was just hit with an ethics violation. But not all dems are in the clear there were a couple near the bottom including Debbie Stabenow, hence the picture above. Poll wise, Debbie is safe for re-election, it looks like Devoss will be running and she can beat him. The only challenge would have been former secretary of state Candice Miller who is currently a US rep, she posed the greatest risk. Mind you, that would have been the battle of the uglies if it did occur.
100. Rick Santorum PA
99. Tom Colburn OK
98. Mel Martinez FL
97. Mike DeWine OH
96. George Voinovich OH
95. Lisa Murkowski AK
87. Debbie Stabenow MI
Posted by mardenhill 8/19/2005 09:57:00 AM 2 comments
Meeting Notes
Thursday, August 18, 2005
Courtesy of Chris Jablonski.....
Minor Items:
Blogs - still doing their job of documenting sorry sorry existances
Portable Music Players - nothing new, can possibly cause hearing damage
Onion articles - should always be cited to avoid confusion
Internet/Photoshop - still lowering worker productivity
Major Items:
Cats wearing cones - always funny, expecially if they have multiple nicknames
There has been an email thread going on between a few of us and Chris has taken it upon himself to sum it up in a meeting record for all of us.
Posted by mardenhill 8/18/2005 10:02:00 AM 1 comments
Echo
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
Echo & the Bunnymen have a new cd coming out this September 19th entitled Siberia. Echo will also be doing a world tour but of course no Detroit stop, come on we love you here why u dissin us? Echo are going on over 25 years together, the last tour a couple years ago was the 25th anniversary and they are still releasing music not just living off the classics. I do have to admit the last Echo show here was not good, the sound at the majestic was awful and Ian was losing his voice. I am do for a better show before they pack it up.
Speaking about ’Siberia’, singer Ian McCulloch said: “The band we’ve got around us now are the closest to the old Bunnymen we’ve ever had. Not that we’ve intentionally set out to capture the past in any way. I think I’d been trying to get away from the approach of ’Heaven Up Here’ or ’Porcupine’ where a lot of the songs were based on a single note, or a pulse even.”
He added: “But with this album I thought, let’s just slide in there and see what happens. It was Will (Sergeant - guitarist), really, who reminded me that we used to do things more instinctively. We’ve tried to be a little less structured in the songwriting, but not forgetting the importance of a good song. We’ve got the balance here, I think.”
Posted by mardenhill 8/17/2005 12:55:00 PM 4 comments
Toyota Prius Decked Out
Now this is cool, a solar powered prius. I have been reading a lot about people tricking out their prius's to get better gas milage. Its a bit different than the usual tricking out but still cool. Now this needs some modificatons, like the solar panels embedded into the roof of the car rather than just on the top but its a start.
Solar-Powered Toyota Prius Project
August 17, 2005 02:40 AM - Michael G. Richard, Ottawa
Green Car Congress writes about
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2005/08/solar-powered_t.php
Posted by mardenhill 8/17/2005 12:48:00 PM 8 comments
When It Rains It Pours
Bush Approval Continues to FallPresident Bush’s job approval has dropped to 41% nationwide, according to the results of 50 separate but concurrent, statewide public opinion polls conducted by SurveyUSA. Bush’s aproval rating ranges from a high of 59% in Idaho to a low of 29% in Rhode Island.
Bush is above 50% in 7 states.
Bush is at 50% in 2 states.
Bush is below 50% in 41 states.
Compared to last month's poll, Bush's approval numbers dropped 5 or more points in 10 states. The single largest drop was in Minnesota, where it fell 10 points. Bush also fell 9 points in New Mexico.
http://www.politicalwire.com/
Posted by mardenhill 8/17/2005 12:45:00 PM 3 comments
Cindy Sheenan vs Bush
Cindy has been down in Crawford for a couple weeks and what started as a hippy dippy anti war protest has turned into a movement across the country. After the redneck asshole drove his truck thru the crosses, mind you these had flags on them and to most people these are the 2 symbols of our country. So you have mr redneck trashing the memories of fallen soldiers and desercrating the flag, I have a feeling most of his kind consider that type of behavior grounds for death. So mr president, are you with the texan or are you with us, the people who don't destroy the symbols of our country?
I found this article and it sums it up pretty well.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/
Cindy Sheehan has the "hit dogs barking" all across the U.S.Posted by David ZephyrAdded to homepage Wed Aug 17th 2005, 09:09 AM ET
Ann Richards, with her lovely Texas drawl said it best back in 1988: One can always tell when one has hit the target...because "the hit dog is barkin'".When a moronic and angry Texan Bush supporter resorts to actually mowing down a makeshift memorial of crosses and flags to our fallen American soldiers in a cowardly act in the dark cover of the night, we can all know beyond any doubt whatsoever that the tables have not only turned, but have been turned over.Make no mistake about it folks, Cindy Sheehan has hit the bullseye and she has the entire Republican National Party in a sweaty panic about how to react to what Maureen Dowd has correctly called her 'absolute moral authority'. Can you hear it? Cindy Sheehan's fingernails are slowly scratching down upon the nation's proverbial blackboard making everyone of us squirm and deal with this catastrophic duster called the War in Iraq.
Those fingernails will not allow a moment's respite of distraction.Cindy makes all Americans sleep badly at night. As we get into our nice comfortable beds at night, we know that she's down there in the Texas heat and humidity in a ditch on the side of a road grieving for her son and for all the forever lost lives in George Bush's war.And more than anything else, this single woman has peeled off all the slick public relations packaging around the President revealing him to the deepest part of our collective American psyches as one of the greatest cowards in our nation's history.He's afraid of a grieving mother.Thank you, Cindy! You put us all to shame.
Posted by mardenhill 8/17/2005 09:17:00 AM 1 comments
Now What Do These 3 Pictures Have In Common?
Monday, August 15, 2005
Take a look at the 3 pictures below, what do they have in common? Well for starters, they are all republicans, and all in the news for ethics violations with Jack Abramoff at the bottom acutally indicted. You can also tie Jack to both Delay and Rove who have their own scandals which go figure, involve Jack. Delay's ethics violations all center around Jack and his lobbying, and Rove well he doesn't like to admit it but one of his assistants who screens calls for him was Jack's old secretary. What does that say about the 2, a coincidence, I think not. Just goes to show that good ole Jack is in bed with the whole republican administration and he was indicted just this past Friday. Jack, you need to come clean on roll on both Rove and Delay, do something good for a change instead of ripping off Indian tribes.
Posted by mardenhill 8/15/2005 05:27:00 PM 2 comments
Tom
Tom Delay
Tom at Justice Sunday II
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/14/AR2005081401036_pf.html
Posted by mardenhill 8/15/2005 05:21:00 PM 1 comments
Jack
Jack Abramoff
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/8941526/site/newsweek/
Posted by mardenhill 8/15/2005 05:19:00 PM 1 comments
Karl
Posted by mardenhill 8/15/2005 05:19:00 PM 2 comments
www.ipodmybaby.com
Someone with too much time on their hands but also a marketing genius or a marketing sleazeball depending how you look at it. What the ipod has done to our society.
www.ipodmybaby.com
Posted by mardenhill 8/15/2005 05:01:00 PM 1 comments
Poodle Paws
Sunday, August 14, 2005
Here is another pic of Mr Kitty a.k.a "Poodle Paws". As you can see he had his paws shaved and there is a spot on his side along with his belly. Mr Puss n Boots here is strutting his stuff for the camera. Now that he is feeling better, cone pictures have become funny.
Posted by mardenhill 8/14/2005 12:55:00 PM 3 comments
Silver Oak Cab
Yesterday we went to the Simply Wine Birmingham location since Ed the owner works at that one instead of Ferndale. I picked up a Muscatel from France and some Italian white that I can't remember off hand. Ed is great, I walk in there tell him I am looking for something different and he grabs a bottle off the shelf for me. While chatting away, Ed handed me a bottle of the Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignaun to take home for free. He opened it the day before for a tasting and had about a half a glass from it and put the cork back in. This retails for $65 a bottle and there was about $60 left of wine inside, talk about a great deal. We had some of it last nite and it was the smoothest cab I have ever had. There was no harsh tannin flavor, just the well balanced, smooth tasting of an amazing wine. I remember seeing the vineyard in Napa, there are 2 one there and this one in Alexander Valley. The Napa version sells for $100 a bottle and has a very pretentious tasting room. The moral of the stroy, befriend your local wineshoppe owner and you get free stuff.
Posted by mardenhill 8/14/2005 11:29:00 AM 1 comments
Mr Kitty Update: Mr Kitty Has Returned Home
Saturday, August 13, 2005
Mr Kitty has returned home and is progressing along just fine. He is eating and doing his business, we just need to keep the cone on him for a few more days until the stitches come out. We will take the cone off but as usual kitty finds a way to get out of our site and go for his incision. He has his daily meds that we have to force down his throat and his special cat food that costs $16 a bag. He dropped about 1.5lbs while in the hospital but he has been eating like crazy and I think he will be back up to his weight in no time.
Posted by mardenhill 8/13/2005 10:42:00 AM 2 comments
Ryan Adams Update
Friday, August 12, 2005
We have more cancelled shows, more recorded songs that could be on another Cardinals cd, talk about a crazy year.
Ryan Adams Cancels Tour (Again), Blames Cysts
Kati Llewellyn and Amy Phillips report:All owners of four-leaf clovers, rabbit's feet, and picked-up pennies should forward these cherished items to a man who needs them so much more. Honestly, Ryan Adams must be the most unlucky man in rock. Or the unhealthiest. Can you tell where I'm going with this? Ryan Adams and the Cardinals have canceled the remainder of their U.S. tour, six dates in total. The trek, supporting May's delivery of Cold Roses, was scheduled to run through August 20, but we all knew it was a gamble going in, didn't we?
Adams offered an explanation for the latest round of cancellations on his website: "The band got a bad bug on the way back from Japan that just kept wearing us down. Really sorry about having to cancel the gigs, especially since I never have to cancel anything." (Um, what?) "But my voice was fried and the band was toast. And I never fully recovered from my inner ear infection. Was trying to avoid canceling any more shows. Unfortunately, I have infected cysts next to my ear canal, causing hearing, balance and throat problems." Yikes. To all the haters who think he's just making excuses for being a lazy drunk, he has this to say: "Some people would protest that it's just the wine. Where as the wine to me is just self-respect." Consult your shrink to figure out what that means.
A bouquet of "Get Well Soon!" and "Good Luck!" balloons is on its way to Adams straight from PFMHQ. J/K! But seriously, feel better, dude. Them cysts is a motherfucker.
Canceled tour dates:
08-12 Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom
08-14 Oakland, CA - Paramount Theatre
08-16 Los Angeles, CA - Wiltern Theatre
08-20 San Diego, CA - Spreckels Theatre
The same website post revealed that Adams and the Cardinals had recently finished recording music for the new Cameron Crowe movie Elizabethtown. "What started as 1 ended up being 18," Adams wrote. "Only one or so will be used. But this is your heads up that there might be another Cardinals record in your near future." Good god, ANOTHER Ryan Adams album this year?! Does he have a songwriting sweatshop somewhere?
Posted by mardenhill 8/12/2005 12:51:00 PM 2 comments
Paste Magazine
Thursday, August 11, 2005
Another music magazine, do we need it? Well this one is called Paste and so far its pretty cool.
http://www.pastemagazine.com/
Paste caters the the 30-40 year old crowd that still likes music but can't stand the nu metal and other junk that floods our airwaves. The bands that we sung along with thru our teens and 20s and are still around barely get mentions unless they are on a big reunion tour. Well Paste has entered the frey with a mag that will focus on our favorite aging rockers. In the current issue, you got articles on Bob Mould, Son Volt and well not that they are an old band but Death Cab For Cutie. There are a ton of cd reviews, most on artists Spin and Rolling Stone would never print.
Remember back in the 90s for those of you in the Detroit area, the radio station "The River"? Well this was a concept that kinda took a wrong turn and ended up lame. At the beginning it was a station of good vintage alternative with a mix of adult alternative. It then morphed into the coffee house music, everything acoustic or roots rock. The alt country would fit in perfect but this is a bit gritty for radio so it was never included. Anyways the station faded and Detroit is left with more or less crap for radio. This station was supposed to be for the Gen X crowd who wanted something different but was overtaken by a bunch of Tom Petty wannabees. One fault was the complete absence of anything that rocked. It didn't need to play Metallica but something with a guitar would be nice.
I have done some thinking and Alt Country is kinda the new adult alternative, nearly every aging rocker finds a way to incorporate this sound into theirs. This is good, there needs to be more of an emphasis on this genre, its the voice of Generation X. We are all getting older and can only handle so much guitar rock and since Kurt Cobain is no longer here to carry that torch, the Alt Country sound has taken over. We still love our rock but forgoing the screaming vocals I think most people are ok with.
Getting back to the Paste mag, it focuses on the indie scene, another thing Gen X'ers still like. As a whole, Gen X doesn't care for conformity and what the music industry decides is the flavor of the month. They grew up on rebellion and counter culture, all generations did so in some fashion but I think ours was different. Gen X'ers are still into music and not just summer reunions, they want to grow old with their artists and still see shows at smoky downtown clubs. We are not interested in shelling out hundreds of dollars per ticket like the baby boomers are doing, we expect our bands to charge a decent price. U2, is probably the worst out of our generation in this for tickets but there are plenty of other acts who are conscience of this and work to limit the price.
Present day alternative is not indie, its mainstream which sets the current generation apart from Gen X. I think what is different with the alternative scene of the Gen X crowd is that it wasn't the mainstream music and the voice like previous generations. There were many genres of music at the time and Alternative didn't rein supreme until the early 90s. The older artists that are still around remember those days and build on that mentality with their current music. Paste does a good job giving these artists another shot at the spotlight while introducing credible up and coming bands.
btw, I am not saying DCFC are credible, they just happen to be in this mag and on the cover. I will admit it, I am a DCFC hater and do my best to trash them when I can.
A great online station to listen to your favorite music is Woxy Vintage. Check out www.woxy.com and click on the vintage section, you will find the best of the 80s and 90s alternative scene.
Posted by mardenhill 8/11/2005 02:20:00 PM 0 comments
The Stones In Trouble
I just read an article regarding the new Rolling Stones cd that slams the Bush administration and it talked about will the conservatives Dixie Chick the Stones? I can see this happening but not to the extent of the Dixie Chicks, The Stones have a broader audience and are not central to one genre of music. Everyone claims influence from them and their music is on more than one station. People who have followed the Stones will ignore the new record if they choose but they will never give up on the back catalog no matter how much they disagree. The Dixie Chicks were easier to give up on, they had only been around for a limited number of years and although they were popular did not have a large influence over country music. Without the Stones, its impossible to think what music would be like. I saw Mick Jagger and Keith Richards on CNN this morning discussing the line in question and Mick said it wasn't an attack just on Bush it was an attack on the republican idology that has taken over the party. Both of them were downplaying the song and saying its not that big of a deal, which I agree, you cannot put Rage Against The Machine and the Stones in the same sentence when it comes to political rants. I havn't heard the cd yet, I hope this song blends in with the rest and they don't release this as the 1st single.
Posted by mardenhill 8/11/2005 09:21:00 AM 4 comments
How To Get $500.00
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
Now this isn't fair, if Berkley came around and offered this, I would be all over it. Instead I just have half dead grass that I cut every week which gets me nothing. I'm conserving water in my own way, it may be the lazy way but its still conservation. I do water our garden and landscaping but leave the grass to fend for itself. We have had one of the hottest and dryest summers and having a green lawn is not a big priority of mine. I am convinced there is some strange weather pattern in the Berkley, Royal Oak area, we will get rain up in Troy but when you reach 14 mile road, the rain stops. It picks up again down in Ferndale or south of that, there is about a 5-7 mile stretch that just stays dry.
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - Pulling up grass in Flagstaff could earn homeowners some greenbacks.
The city is offering a one-time $500 rebate to households that remove at least 1,500 square feet of grass and replace it with rock or hardy native plants that require little water.
The average homeowner uses about 72 gallons annually to water each square foot of grass, according to the Bureau of Reclamation.
Adam Miller, Flagstaff water conservation manager, expects up to 20 households a year to take advantage of the rebate.
Posted by mardenhill 8/10/2005 04:02:00 PM 2 comments
The Posies
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
The Posies are back with a new cd, its been a while for these lads. Their new cd, Every Kind of Light is amazing, lots of expertly crafted guitar pop from the masters of the genre. Some of the songs are heavier than Solar Sister and Dream All Day but they still maintain that element of Posies and what they stood for. During their break, Ken Stringfellow toured with R.E.M. and Jon Auer put out a couple solo cds and both of them reformed Big Star with Alex Chilton. If you are familiar with the band the Minus 5, well that is a side project for Ken and Scott McCaughney which has released a few cds. Both Jon and Ken are very talented and have released a number of things outside the Posies but I feel their best work was together. Good news for all you fans, they are coming to Detroit this fall, they will be playing the Magic Stick Oct 4th I believe. I cant wait til the show, I saw them in Kalamazoo back in 92 and it was a great show. Son Volt, Bob Mould and Bloc Party with the Kills are all coming, too many shows and I can only go to 2 of them. The Posies is one and I am torn on the other.
http://www.theposies.net/
Posted by mardenhill 8/09/2005 05:00:00 PM 1 comments
Happy 300th
Well folks, this is my 300th posting, 11 months to the day. Sept 9th will mark my 1st year blogging. I am still amazed that I am already on 300, its amazing how fast they add up.
I have decided to scour the internet looking for others that are celebrating the number 300 and came across these anniversaries.
http://www.300spb.ru/enews.html
This site documents the 300th anniversay of St Petersburg, Russia.
http://www.theonion.com/2056-06-22/index_b.php
The onion has created a 300th anniversay for themselves which you can check out above.
http://www.gophila.com/itineraries/i_itinben.htm
Good ole Benjamin Franklin would be 300 this year if he were still alive. Too bad we didn't have cryogenics back in the day, Ben then could get a first hand look at what the repubs are doing to this country.
If you take 300 pennies it equals $3 which then can be used to buy a gallon of gasoline, you will get a bit of change back but not too much, I saw it for $2.49 a gallong this morning.
The Simpsons have reached and surpassed their 300th episode, its a cartoon thats been on forever and doesn't seem to be slowing down.
I think thats enough for now, I need to get back to work.
Posted by mardenhill 8/09/2005 08:43:00 AM 0 comments
iTunes in Japan
Monday, August 08, 2005
iTunes just launched in Japan and has already sold 1 million songs in just 4 days. It took a week to sell that many in the states. iTunes hasn't even got the Sony catalog online, once that happens you will see the downloads go thru the roof. Sony has their own download site and doesn't want to let iTunes in. At this point in time, there are 20 difference iTunes music stores, its hard to imagine any other company coming online and competing with it. I thought Yahoo would have a bigger impact than that have but I guess having a big name doesn't get you everything. The worry here in the states is the price of songs and will they increase next year. Labels are finally coming around on the whole downloading and as usual want a bigger piece of the pie and continue to press Apple to raise the .99 cents a song price tag. This would be the biggest mistake and I can see the labels actually thinking this would work. I still like emusic, you get 40 downloads for $10 a month and if you look you can find some good stuff to get. I just got the new Bob Mould that came out last week, its very good if you are interested.
And for some ipod rumors:
In related news, reliable sources say fifth-generation iPods could also see major advancements in battery technology. Specifically, Apple is said to be developing an iPod that supports user-replaceable batteries, which the company would market in the price range of $49 to $69. Such a move would also help lower iPod prices and present Apple with an opportunity to generate additional higher-margin battery sales. Likewise, Apple is reportedly experimenting with several new iPod battery technologies, which have emerged from third parties and promise both extended life-spans and longer runtimes. However, AppleInsider has been unable to confirm with 100 percent certainty that either of the aforementioned battery advancements will make it into the fifth-generation players.
Posted by mardenhill 8/08/2005 05:01:00 PM 1 comments
Here is a picture of our wood floors, they came out great and we can't wait for our new furniture. We plan on tearing down the old floor molding and putting up new stuff, there is a gap between the floor and the molding and its also pretty boring looking. We found some stuff at Lowes that will will probably get and put up next weekend.
Posted by mardenhill 8/07/2005 01:00:00 PM 2 comments
Update 2: Mr Kitty
Saturday, August 06, 2005
The surgery was this afternoon and Mr Kitty made it thru and is recovering. We pick him up on monday, it will be nice to have him back home again. He will have to wear a cone for about 10-14 days depending on how the healing goes and there is a spot that they had to shave on his back that will have to grow back in. I am not sure how much they had to shave for the surgery but I can imagine he will need some time to return to normal. We will have to feed him a special diet, not sure what yet but I imagine its the expensive food from the vet. Hopefully we can start him out on that and move to a lesser priced food, otherwise Mr Kitty will be out searching for a part time job to help support his expenses.
Posted by mardenhill 8/06/2005 09:16:00 PM 3 comments
Update: Mr Kitty
Friday, August 05, 2005
Well we picked up Mr Kitty from the vet this afternoon and had to take him over to the emergency hospital up on Telegraph and Orchard Lake for surgery. The vet was to unable to clear the crystals from him so the next step was surgery. We just got a call about a half hr ago that the doctor was able to push the crystals into the bladder and they go thru with it tonight. If so, we would get him on Sunday. We are hoping this works, we are already spending a fortune on this that he will have to get a job to help pay for the surgery. I will post an update when we receive one.
Posted by mardenhill 8/05/2005 05:37:00 PM 3 comments
Strike A Pose
Thursday, August 04, 2005
Mr Kitty posing for the camera,doing his best to look cute. Mr Kitty is currently in the hospital, he had a bladder infection earlier this week and won't be home til Saturday. He was supposed to come home today but decided to pull out his catheter last nite and got another 2 days behind bars. We thought he was just nervous due to all the moving of furniture, relocation and wood floors but he was getting sick. We took him in on Tuesday morning when he could barely walk and was crying. I went and saw him yesterday and he was doing better just upset being cooped up in a cage with tubes and a cone around his head. As long as he behaves the next 2 days he will be home on Sat.
Posted by mardenhill 8/04/2005 10:47:00 PM 4 comments
Watch Out
Mr Kitty yawning, yeah he is part cobra...
Posted by mardenhill 8/04/2005 10:40:00 PM 0 comments
Johannisberg Reisling
2003 Robert Mondavi Private Selection Johannisberg Riesling
Varietal/Type: Riesling
Region/Origin: Central Coast
Blend Percentage: 81% Johannisberg Riesling, 10% Chardonnay, 6% Muscat, 3% Gewrztraminer
Suggested Retail Price: $9.00
Winemaker's Notes
Robert Mondavi Private Selection 2003 Johannisberg Riesling has charming floral, fruit, spice and mineral notes that weave through the aromas and crisp, lightly sweet flavors.
I just opened a bottle of this the other day and although its a Mondavi its not worth it. Its not too sweet like you would expect from a reisling but there wasn't much of a body either. The wine isn't a 2003 its a 2000, that may be part of it, some whites are meant to be drunk young and this one is 5 years old. I doubt that will have much of a factor but I should probably try a newer one to make sure. Price wise, $9 isn't bad but I can think of a number of better selections for that price.
Posted by mardenhill 8/04/2005 09:15:00 AM 2 comments
Franz Ferdinand Flys Again
Franz Ferdinand is back, well not quite yet, you have to wait til October but it should be worth the wait. Franz led the charge with the post punk, 80s revival which countless bands have copied and sucked at. Franz deserves the all the praise, they came onto the scene with something new, well something borrowed but new to current scene. I could go on with a list of copycats but will spare you the details, just remember Franz was here 1st. Hopefully this puts the Killers to bed, I am sick of their 1st cd, it is crap but still gets played. Franz will show the world how to come off the high of the 1st cd and not suffer the sophmore slump. The Killers on the other hand, are milking this one for all they can because they know their next cd will suck and they will be a flash in the pan, 1 cd wonder. The Strokes will be dropping their 3rd cd in January, they narrowly avoided the sophmore slump although some people think Room on Fire deserves the label. The cd was ok, the band came out and said it was Is This It Part 2 and that the next one will be something new. The Strokes hype was supersized and I think they were given a pass for their 2nd cd, something most people would never do. With that in mind, their 3rd better be groundbreaking, if not they will be laughed out of town.
FRANZ FERDINAND
You Could Have It So Much Better With Franz Ferdinand is released on October 3, preceded by a new single "Do You Want To" on September 19.
The tracklisting for the album runs:
The Fallen
Do You Want To
This Boy
Walk Away
Evil And A Heathen
You're the Reason I'm Leaving
Eleanor Put Your Boots On
Well That Was Easy
What You Meant
I'm Your Villain
You Could Have it So Much Better
Fade Together
Outsiders
Posted by mardenhill 8/04/2005 08:50:00 AM 1 comments
No Nuge in '06
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
We have been spared the nonsense of a Ted Nugent political campaign. Thank you Ted, please stay down in Texas where you fit in nicely. We do not need you up here trying to pull a Ventura and run the state, we have enuff problems we don't need anymore.
Nugent Not Running for Governor
"After as much gungho hardcore scrutiny, review & disecting (sic) as put forth toward any endeavor or consideration in my life, the Nugent family has decided that for a variety of reasons, I will not run for MI Guv in 06. We continue however to review ops for 2010 while maintaining upgrade pressure on all politicos for the very clear & obvious quality of life upgrades we have all listed here & then some. stay on course my friends. I am with you all the way."The message was posted from the administrator of the Nugeboard on Nugent's official web site, so I'm assuming it was done by him or with his blessing.
Posted by mardenhill 8/03/2005 04:37:00 PM 4 comments
Paul Hackett
Well Paul lost 48% to 52% to Jean Schmidt yesterday in the special Ohio 2nd district house race. The good news tho, this is a %70 republican district and Paul was able to crack that and only lose by 4000 votes out of over 110,000. I had high hopes for this win but I knew that it would probably not happen. I did send a wakeup call to the repubs in Ohio, you are not as safe as you think you are, watch out and this goes for other conservative districts around the country, we are coming for you. 2006 will be our year.......
Posted by mardenhill 8/03/2005 01:03:00 PM 2 comments
Mighty Mouse
Apple does it again, welcome to the mighty mouse. This mouse is a hard shell like all the others but has click, roll, scroll and squeeze sensors built in. You can have a sweet looking mouse but can say goodbye to the single click that most mac users are faced with. You can use your index finger to roll around a document or picture, scroll up/down/left/right and by tapping you can access menus. This is way cool and its only $49. The bite tho, I have a bluetooth mouse at home and I am not about to go back to a cord yet so I will be waiting for the bluetooth version of this badboy. Now if Apple will insert artwork lookup in iTunes, my life would be complete. I had to find a plugin to tag my mp3s with artwork since musicmatch stopped working, junkass program that one has turned out to be. I am hoping in iTune version 5 since the ipod photo displays the artwork and Apple wants you to rip with its software but it won't automatically load the art, doesn't seem right. While we are on the mac topic, I am definitely thinking of getting a wireless card for my imac, I have the computer upstairs but during the summer it never cools down and is a furnace up there. The mac continues to overheat and power itself off. If I had a wifi card, I could move the mac downstairs where its cooler.
Posted by mardenhill 8/03/2005 01:02:00 PM 1 comments
If You Are Not Sick Of Ryan Adams Yet...
Well folks our favorite alt country poster boy is back with another cd next month. The cd is called September and will be dropping the same month. An if this isn't enough, there should be a 3rd cd by the end of the year. I love Cold Roses, its one of my favorite cds this year and I can't wait to hear this one.
RYAN'S 'SEPTEMBER' SONGS
RYAN ADAMS & THE CARDINALS will release their new album ’SEPTEMBER’ on September 26.
The LP will be the second of three releases from the band in 2005, and follows on from May’s double LP ’Cold Roses’. It had previously been announced the album would be titled ’Jacksonville’
Produced by Tom Schick, the album will feature 15 tracks including ’Dear John’ - a duet with Norah Jones.
The full tracklisting for September is:
‘A Kiss Before I Go’
‘The End’
‘What Sin Replaces Love’
‘Hard Way To Fall’
‘Dear John’
‘The Hardest Part’
‘Games’
‘Silver Bullets’
‘Peaceful Valley’
‘September’
‘My Heart Is Broken’
‘Trains’
‘Pa’
‘Withering Heights’
‘Don’t Fail Me Now’
Posted by mardenhill 8/03/2005 12:43:00 PM 5 comments
Wood Floors
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
Well the wood floors have been refinished and look great. The company Lifetime Hardwood did the work. We had a stain in the floor that would have cost $450 to replace the boards so we darkened the wood stain and now it only looks like a shadow and the couch will cover it completely. We need to put up new baseboard, the stuff up now isn't even and doesnt come close to the floor. We are going to get this done before the new furniture arrives so we are not moving things all around. Let me tell ya, that was an adventure, I had to take mr kitty over to Chris's house for the weekend while everyesetthing was going on and he was all freaked out over it. The fumes after the sealant was put on was enough to kill you, i opened the door for 30 seconds and my eyes were burning and I was all dizzy. By Sunday most of the smell was gone and yesterday we didn't notice anything. I took some pics and once I get them off the camera I will post them.
Posted by mardenhill 8/02/2005 09:16:00 AM 2 comments
