Aussie Shiraz
Wednesday, November 29, 2006

My friend Chris bought me a bottle of 1999 d'Arenberg McLaren Vale Shiraz for my birthday and I decided it was time to give it a try. Upon opening, the flavors came out in full force and the smell of the wine filled the room. Colorwise, its dark and a bit rusty like a tawny port. With it being over 7 years old, the wine has developed into a more complex red with hints of chocolate, leather and spice. Its not high in alcohol but you can smell a bit and taste it on the end. This wine is very smooth tho, there are no harsh tannins and its all flavor. Aging did this wine well and I can see how people enjoy opening a bottle they have put away for years. Luckily for me, I didn't have to wait and the bottle was bought for me already aged. I have a few bottles from Napa I plan on saving for a few more years and I hope they turn out as good as this one has.

Posted by mardenhill 11/29/2006 08:33:00 PM 1 comments    

Labels: Wine

All Of MP3

The Russian run mp3 site allofmp3.com may be closing up shop due to copyright infringement and pressure from the US govt. The site sells mp3s for pennies on the dollar and although they claim to follow Russian law, I don't think the royalties ever end up where they belong. I never used this site since I am not about to give my credit card information to them. iTunes and the rest of the pay sites are too expensive so that leaves me with eMusic.com where I can get songs for about .25c a piece. Just think, if Apple sold music this cheap, more people would download songs and with the masses consuming, royalties could still be paid to the artists. I think $4.99 a cd is a perfect price but do they listen, no they don't.

...........................................
update Russia has agreed to shut down Allofmp3.com and other music sites based in that country that the U.S. government says are offering downloads illegally.

The nation has struck the agreement with the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative as it seeks entry to the World Trade Organization. The U.S. has suggested that it would hold up Russia's acceptance in the WTO unless leaders there took action against digital piracy.

"Russia will take enforcement actions against the operation of Russia-based websites," according to a press release issued November 19 by the U.S. Trade Representative. "(Russia will) investigate and prosecute companies that illegally distribute copyright works on the Internet."

Posted by mardenhill 11/29/2006 07:51:00 PM 0 comments    

Labels: Technology

iTV

Steve Jobs introduced this prototype at the last Apple expo and got the internet talking. The idea behind iTV is a new internet appliance that will stream media to your entertainment center. You will be able to access your mp3s, podcasts, internet radio, photos, videos and dvds all wirelessly. Everyone was on board except it was missing 1 important component, a hard drive. Why you may ask, well simple, if this has a hard drive then it can also become a dvr and record all your tv shows.

Well some analysts have talked up the product a bit and gave us a glimmer of hope. With your dvd burner on your mac, you could theoretically burn shows that are saved onto the hard drive. Lets hope Apple goes down this route and we can eliminate more pieces of hardware from our entertainment centers.
........................................

Although Apple would not disclose additional specifications of iTV, Neff said the company highlighted that the device fits within its vision of simplifying consumers' use of content.

"Though details remain sketchy, Apple emphasized [the] focus of iTV [is] to improve user experience by leveraging its software expertise and implied that there may be features beyond the mere streaming of video content," the analyst wrote.

Apple has already acknowledged that the device will also be capable of streaming photos, music and podcasts. But during the meeting it also hinted at additional features such as an "internal hard disk drive for storage" and "advanced user interface software."

Posted by mardenhill 11/29/2006 04:17:00 PM 0 comments    

Labels: Technology

Simple Minds

I was listening to Simple Minds Greatest Hits and didn't realize how many good songs they put out. Everyone seems to remember them from the Breakfast Club fame and maybe 1 or 2 songs afterwards. Out of the 32 tracks there were 8 that most people should have heard one time or another and probably never equated with the band. There are more great songs but I just wanted to single out the more popular ones. Simple Minds formed in '78 and just released a new cd in '05 with the revival of new wave. They have a great catalog of music and I recommend everyone should own at least this greatest hits.

Don't You (Forget About Me)
Primised You A Miracle
Alive & Kicking
Sanctify Yourself
Up On The Catwalk
Life In A Day
See The Lights
Stand By Love

Posted by mardenhill 11/29/2006 09:42:00 AM 1 comments    

Labels: Music

Live Oasis
Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Today at 4pm EST Noel Gallagher and Gem from Oasis did an acoustic set to promote their greatest hits cd "Stop The Clocks". They have played a number of songs, Talk Tonight, Wonderwall, Slide Away, Cast No Shadow and Half The World Away just since I tuned in. I tried connecting via my mac but it wouldn't stream, so I missed the first few minutes. My co-worker Jay is also a big Oasis fan and has the concert streaming at his desk. We are about 10 feet away and the feed is maybe 2 seconds off so it sounds pretty funny when you stand between our cubes. I hope MSN or Youtube will have this available to watch again since I had to do some work between songs. Don't people know not to bother me when I am watching Oasis!!!!!!

Posted by mardenhill 11/28/2006 04:38:00 PM 0 comments    

Labels: Music

Ticket Increase
Monday, November 27, 2006

Tigers announce 2007 ticket prices

November 27, 2006

The Tigers announced ticket prices for the 2007 season, with increases introduced for five seating levels. Ten seating price levels remain unchanged.

The on-deck circle ($65), infield box ($40), outfield box ($30), rightfield grandstand ($20) and bleacher ($10) area prices have all been increased.

The areas unchanged for next season: Tiger Den ($60), terrace ($35), club seats ($25), upper box infield, rightfield, leftfield ($20), pavilion ($15), mezzanine ($15), upper reserved ($12) and skyline ($5).
.............................

We knew this would happen and every team will take advantage of a good season. I don't think its that big of a deal tho because the seats we usually buy are the $12 and $15 ones and those didn't increase. Lets hope we have another great summer with the Tigers next year.

Posted by mardenhill 11/27/2006 03:19:00 PM 1 comments    

Labels: Tigers

Stop The Presses!!!!

First Jessica then Britney, now Pamela. And to think, they had 3 ceremonies around the world, I wonder how much that had to cost. I never did get to see her around town but I guess that is for the better since she would probably be very scary in real life.
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TMZ has learned that Pamela Anderson has filed for divorce from husband Kid Rock.

Anderson, who is represented by celebrity hotshot lawyer Neal Hersh, cited irreconcilable differences. The couple was married August 3, 2006. Earlier this month, Anderson suffered a miscarriage.

"EXTRA" first reported and TMZ has confirmed that Kid Rock also filed divorce papers today (documents to follow shortly).
We've learned there was not a prenup, however, the two were married for such a brief period of time it will probably have little impact.

http://www.tmz.com/2006/11/27/pam-anderson-files-for-divorce/

Posted by mardenhill 11/27/2006 02:31:00 PM 1 comments    

Labels: Misc

Cyber Monday

Today is officially Cyber Monday, the electronic equivalent of Black Friday for shoppers. Everyone returns to work after the Thanksgiving holiday and jumps online looking for deals. If you are in the market for an external hard drive I have a great deal for you. I bought the Western Digital My Book 500 gig Premium drive a few months ago and love it. I keep all my mp3s on it, organized and ready to go when I need them. The Premium has both Firewire and USB 2, a must if you are a mac owner and can be bought from the Dell online store for $224, a better deal than Buy.com or Amazon.com. If $224 is too rich for your blood, you can get the 500 gig My Book Essential (USB 2 only) for $190. In order to get the Dell additional discount, you need to go to www.dealcatcher.com and choose Dell Home and select the 10% off coupon. It will take you to the store where you search for the hard drive. The discount will be added in the cart at the end.

http://www.dealcatcher.com/dell-home-coupons

I highly recommend this hard drive to anyone out there in need of a place to store music, photos and whatever else your digital life throws at you.

Posted by mardenhill 11/27/2006 01:52:00 PM 0 comments    

Labels: Technology

A Twisted Christmas
Sunday, November 26, 2006

When I railed against Christmas albums a few weeks ago, I never knew it could sink any further. Well folks it has and we are now graced with a "A Twisted Christmas" by Twisted Sister.

Track 1 "Have Yourself A Merry Christmas" starts off as a drunken saloon then the metal kicks in. Its retro metal and signature Dee Snider going full force. Track 2 "Oh Come All Ye Faithful" is "We're Not Gonna Take It", the exact sound just the lyrics changed. This one is amusing tho and you can picture is the band dressed up in Santa Claus outfits, chanting and pounding their fists in the air. Track 4 "I'll Be Home For Christmas" is a duet with the legendary Lita Ford and just like any good ballad there are blistering guitar solos. Track 6 "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" starts off with a heavy riff that continues throughout the song. The chunga chunga guitar makes its way thru maybe 3 chords but is the backbone to any good metal song. Track 8 "Deck The Halls" has a background chorus sounding like the Hells Angels getting ready for a fight. Track 10 "Heavy Metal Christmas (12 Days Of Christmas) is the only song where the lyrics were changed but they are classic and should replace "Grandma Was Run Over By A Reindeer" as the song for the ages.

"Heavy Metal Christmas"
On my heavy metal Christmas my true love gave to me,
12 Silver crosses
11 Black mascaras
10 Pairs of platforms
9 Tattered t-shirts
8 Pentagrams
7 Leather jackets
6 Cans of hairspray
5 Skull earrings
4 Quarts of Jack
3 Studded belts
2 Pairs of spandex pants
And a tattoo of Ozzy!

I cannot think of any other metal band able to pull of this feat. Its a disaster but entertaining at the same time. Twisted Sister are geniuses tho, this thing has the potential to sell like hotcakes and keep the royalties flowing for years to come. The highlights are "Oh Come All Ye Faithful" and "12 Days Of Christmas" the others just tend to blend together with the exception of the Lita Ford duet. Search for Twisted Sister on the iTunes Music Store and you can hear 30 second clips of each song.

Posted by mardenhill 11/26/2006 12:55:00 PM 0 comments    

Labels: Music

Jazzamor
Saturday, November 25, 2006

I will start off with, I am a sucker for female vocals and a jazzy, trip hop beat. When a bit of lounge and French lyrics are added, its over and I am in love. I would like to introduce you to a great release by the band Jazzamor, a band off of the Blue Flame record label. They mix a bit of world music, lounge, jazz, French and a cool atmospheric beat.

Track 1 "Before To Long" starts off with strings then falls into a soothing beat with a bit of Spanish guitar. Track 2 "Nuit Magique" grabs you right away with the vibes and the French vocals. At the moment the French kicks in, its over and I am on hook, line and sinker. The sultry vocals and world beat are enough to melt anyone with a heart of ice. The next few tracks play with some world fusion but don't stray too far from the mood. Track 6 "Travel In Order Not To Arrive" has hints of Pink Floyd with the moodiness and slow trip hop beat. Track 8 "Icy" is cold and full of electronic beats. There is no world infusion to warm this track up, think of Gus Gus or anything coming out of Iceland as of late. The next few tracks speed up the tempo and add an acid jazz beat to get you dancing. The French doesn't kick back in until track 13 "Wann Ist es Liebe" where the you find echoing vocals and lazy beats. The cd ends with track 14 "Tibet", an ambient mix of sounds and whispering vocals.

I have been a fan of Trip Hop for over 11 years now and back in college had a radio show dedicated to the style. I also love the infusion of jazz and world music which keeps the sound from going stale and sounding too cold. This Jazzamor release blends all the right elements into a great cd and everyone should check it out. You can find it on www.eMusic.com.

http://www.jazzamor.com

from their website....

2006 will be the release of the third album "Travel (in Order Not to Arrive.)" A trip around the world in music. Each song is placed at a special setting in the world. Sometimes it's the language, other times it's an instrument, a rhythm or a story that brings us on a journey to a distant country or a city. Sometimes it's just a wishful dream, other times tales of being there. Bon Voyage !

Posted by mardenhill 11/25/2006 11:31:00 PM 1 comments    

Labels: Music

Lets Go Flying
Friday, November 24, 2006

Today was a beautiful day, not something we are used to in November. With that in mind, Erika's step dad has his private pilots licence and decided the two of us should go out flying. The plane we went up in was a Cessna 182 which is pretty cool. While up in the air Dave let me take control and pilot the plane around. It was a very weird feeling since there is nothing below you. Control wasn't that hard, you have 2 pedals and depending on what way you want to turn, you press the pedal and turn the steering wheel. Where it gets tricky is trying to keep from climbing or dropping and you are constantly looking at the altimeter while maneuvering around. There was no wind so I was able to make turns and steady the plane pretty easily. Had it been rough, I don't think I would have tried. We cruised at 3000 ft and just flew around looking at lakes, homes and landmarks around the area. Piloting the plane reminded me of sailing where you are constantly paying attention to instruments and trying to steady the boat. As for getting my private pilots license, I don't know if I really want it since you have to pay attention when flying and not look out the window all the time.

Posted by mardenhill 11/24/2006 08:19:00 PM 0 comments    

Labels: Misc

Black Friday

Macs and iPods

Posted by mardenhill 11/24/2006 10:14:00 AM 1 comments    

Labels: Technology

My Thanksgiving Wine
Wednesday, November 22, 2006

I need to make a correction, the MI vineyard is Black Star Farms not Blackstone which is crappy grocery store wine put out by the Mondavi conglomerate. We will be serving a 2002 Pinot Noir from Campion Vineyards, The Furst Gewurtzaminer from the Alsacian region of France, a few MI wines (not sure which ones, I am not bringing those) and an excellent 2003 Sichel Sauternes for dessert. I will write reviews after tomorrow.

Posted by mardenhill 11/22/2006 12:03:00 PM 0 comments    

Labels: Wine

Thanksgiving Wine
Tuesday, November 21, 2006

If you are looking for a wine for Thanksgiving, here are some ideas. I plan on drinking some Pinot Noir and Gewurstaminer this year. I have had Zin in the past and decided its time to mix it up a bit. As for bottles, I am still deciding, I have a couple Oregon pinots in the basement and I will grab one of them. Michigan has some great whites so for those of you looking to support the local economy, check out Bel Lago, Black Star Farms, Chateau Grand Traverse, and Chateau Fontaine. If you are outside of MI and cannot get any of our wine, look for New Zealand Sauv Blancs and either German or Washington Reislings and Gewurtz. For your red, you have both Oregon and Cali pinots and of course Cali zins. The Beaujolais Nouveau was good this year but a bit too sweet for my taste. There was a bit too much cherry ring pop flavor for me to enjoy with dinner. For dessert, you cannot go wrong with a Sauternes or a moscato di asti.
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Best White Wine Options

Sauvignon Blanc – a crisp white wine that is noted for its earthy, herbaceous flavors – a prime candidate specifically for turkey and herb-filled stuffing.

Viognier – a white wine with low levels of acidity and characterized by light floral flavors often surrounded by delicate touches of peaches and pears.

Riesling – a white wine that may either be bone dry or fairly sweet, excellent with any dishes that may have a bit of spice to them.

Gewurztraminer – another white wine that may present itself dry or sweet, depending on the style. This wine has a zestiness that allows it to pair nicely with side dishes that may have a bit more kick to them, but also settles well with a variety of dessert options.

Top Red Wine Options

Pinot Noir – this red wine is a traditional favorite for Thanksgiving. It is easy going enough to complement just about any flavor you can throw at it.

Zinfandel – a red wine that ups the intensity from a Pinot Noir, but still maintains a balancing effect on many traditional side dishes. This would be a great pick for those looking for a heartier wine with deeper flavors.

Syrah/Shiraz – another red wine that picks up the intensity and flavor, yet graciously handles the cornucopia of flavors in a traditional Thanksgiving meal. The peppery notes will accent a flavorful helping of stuffing as well as both the white and dark turkey meats.

Beaujolais Nouveau - a light, fruity red wine that goes very well with turkey and all of the fixings. This wine is released from France on the third Thursday of November, just in time to highlight your Thanksgiving feast!

Posted by mardenhill 11/21/2006 09:55:00 AM 1 comments    

Labels: Wine

Time To Vote
Sunday, November 19, 2006

6 of the 7 original wonders of the world are no longer in existance, the great pyramids being the only surviver. Its time to vote on a new 7 wonders and there are 21 to choose from. The pyramids need to be renominated so you really only have 6 votes, use them wisely. The winners will be announced next year, July 7th, 2007 (7.7.07) in Lisbon, Portugal. I am leaning towards the Taj Mahal, Great Wall, Kremlin/St. Basil, Colosseum, Pyramids of Giza, Eiffel Tower and either Easter Island or Stonehenge. I am trying to mix some of the ancient treasures with modern ones well ones built within the last 500 years since they to will stand the test of time. Its been really hard to decide and although there are a couple I don't think should be in the list, I believe there needs to be more than 7. You can register to vote at the site below.

http://www.new7wonders.com/

Posted by mardenhill 11/19/2006 01:18:00 PM 0 comments    

Labels: Travel

Has Shoegazing Returned?
Saturday, November 18, 2006

The latest UK sensations The Fields have given us a 7 song EP full of swirling guitars, lush vocals and electronic layers. The Fields used MySpace to connect with fans and score a major label distribution. They are signed to Black Lab but this label is affiliated with Atlantic Records.

Track 1 "Song For The Field" has hints of Soundtrack of our Lives and South with a heavy psychedelic feel. Track 2 "Isobel" slows down the tempo and blends a folky acoustic beat with a bit of electronic atmosphere. Track 3 "Brittlesticks" sheds some of the layers and puts forth some classic brit rock. Track 4 "Sisters" starts off as Bluegrass with guitar and singing but adds keys and an electronic sound midway through. Track 5 "Roll Down The Hill" is a blend of shoegazer and trip hop with a slow tempo drifting through space. There are also Sigor Ros vocals dotting the landscape. Track 6 "Heretic" gets back to a beat and adds echoing vocals to a wall of sound. Track 7 "A Slow Crawling Hand" is more of a soundtrack than a song, with no singing and background sonance.

I like the style this band has given us but I think they need to streamline their direction for their full length. The folk mixed with electronic is good but they need to dump the Sigor Ros because its pretty boring. The cresendos and layers sound great and remind me of the first South record. I first heard The Fields on Woxy and then found their EP on eMusic.

http://www.fieldsband.com

Posted by mardenhill 11/18/2006 09:26:00 AM 1 comments    

Labels: Music

It May Just Happen
Friday, November 17, 2006

The rumors that chief White House political architect Karl Rove will leave sometime next year are being bolstered with new insider reports that his partisan style is a hurdle to President Bush’s new push for bipartisanship. “Karl represents the old style and he’s got to go if the Democrats are going to believe Bush’s talk of getting along,” said a key Bush advisor.

Other elements are also at play: The election yesterday of Sen. Trent Lott to the number two GOP leadership position in the Senate is also a threat to the White House and Rove, who worked against him when he battled to save his majority leader’s job after his insensitive remarks about Sen. Strom Thurmond.


http://thinkprogress.org/2006/11/17/rove-departure/
...............................

This is good news but I wonder how accurate it really is. Bush isn't up for another election and kicking Rove to the curb would be a good way of restoring what little legacy the guy has. On the other hand, it leaves Rove open to be snagged by another republican for 2008. I would hope that he was bloodied enough this election cycle that no one in their right mind would go near him. We tend to give Rove more credit than he deserves but it is nice to see the Bush White House imploding at all levels.

Posted by mardenhill 11/17/2006 04:58:00 PM 0 comments    

Labels: Politics

Slayer In 2006

The other night my friend Chris and I were out having a beer and discussing music. The topic of Slayer came up and how Chris is still a fan after all these years. He did make a point that I could sing all the lyrics to their older stuff which I begrudgingly admitted to. I have listened to their new cd "Christ Illusion" and its a non stop, frontal assault on your brain. Slayer has not slowed down like other metal bands or switched to the country genre, they still give it all they got. Lyric wise, the topics still revolve around death, corruption, war, religion and nothing is sacred to these guys. They are not a satanic band, they just explore the darker side to our existence.

I decided to check out their website to see what the band looks like these days. The lead singer Tom Araya still has the long hair but is going grey. The original drummer has returned and according to some, given Slayer back their classic sound. These guys who have been playing for at least 25 years are in their early and mid forties, will they continue on into their 50s? You have Ozzy and Lemmy still rockin out but musically they are nowhere near as hard as Slayer.

There are a few Slayer songs I still enjoy listening to and they come from the South of Heaven and Reign in Blood cds. I can usually get thru maybe 2-3 songs before its time to move on, I just don't have the tolerance for such heavy music. I have seen them once in the past but I don't know if I could handle another show, I would need industrial size ear plugs.

If you have never listened to Slayer or havn't in a while, go back and check them out. You will respect the guys even if you don't care for their music. They are not like Lars Ulrich from Metallica who wants to sue everyone for downloading while he is sits on millions. And Nasir if you read this, Iron Maiden still sucks so don't get any ideas....

http://www.slayer.net/site.php

Posted by mardenhill 11/17/2006 01:35:00 PM 0 comments    

Labels: Music

Washington Wizards

While at the wine store last night two Washington Wizard players came in to buy some wine. They picked up a couple $80 Napa cabs for the evening. The players always stay at the Townsend Hotel in downtown Birmingham which is just a couple blocks from Eds. He sees a lot of players, coaches and other famous people come and go from the store but this was my 1st sighting. Seeing that I am not a big basketball fan I would have never known they were players had it not been for their jackets with the Wizards logo. They play the Pistons tonight who have been struggling as of late.

Posted by mardenhill 11/17/2006 08:59:00 AM 0 comments    

Labels: Pistons

Beaujolais Nouveau 2006
Thursday, November 16, 2006

I stopped at the wine store on my way home from work and picked up a bottle of Albert Bichot's Beaujolais Villages Nouveau. It had the smell of cherry candy and a sweet and fruity taste. Colorwise, it was very light and had little legs. The finish was simple but did give you a bit of tannin. Overall the wine was good, nothing I would ever sit around and drink but fun for celebrating the new harvest. I havn't decided if I will pick up a bottle for the holidays since I like having a red zinfandel with my turkey. As for whites with thanksgiving dinner, I like a nice crisp sauvignon blanc but may try a gewurztaminer this year. For dessert, you can't go wrong with a Sauternes.

Posted by mardenhill 11/16/2006 11:06:00 PM 0 comments    

Labels: Wine

Time To Celebrate

Its that time of the year again, the 3rd Thursday in November where we get to drink the first wine of 2006. These wines come from the Beaujolais region in France, right below Burgundy. The wine is made from the gamay grape, (pinot noir for the non wine enthusiasts) and is soft and fruity. This is not a wine that you will sit around discussing its qualities, its meant to be drunk young and with much celebration. It goes well with Thanksgiving turkey or just a simple spread of cheese and crackers. You can also pair it with burgers and other bar food since its really just a step up from grape juice. George Dubeuf is the largest producer of the wine but you can find other vineards bottling the stuff. On your way home from work, stop at your local wine store to pick up a bottle and celebrate with the rest of the world.

Posted by mardenhill 11/16/2006 09:53:00 AM 0 comments    

Labels: Wine

Tanya Donelly - This Hungy Life
Wednesday, November 15, 2006

Tanya is back with a new solo record entitled "This Hungry Life". It was recorded in front of a live audience but is not a "Live" record. She had her fans join in and watch the band record over a weekend. It would have been fun for a couple hours but a whole weekend, I would go insane.

Posted by mardenhill 11/15/2006 06:03:00 PM 1 comments    

Labels: Music

New Room

Sorry for the lack of posts the last few days but I have been tied up in repainting our spare bedroom. We decided to redesign the room and pulled the colors from the bedding we received last year for christmas. Three coats later the original color stopped bleeding through. Its a bit hard to tell from this photo but 3 walls are the yellowish color and the 1 is the orange. Its our fall room, that way its October all year round. We are in the process of looking for a headboard/frame for the bed and nightstands. The room is somewhat small so we need to be careful on size. We have a few ideas so far, just need to narrow them down. We also need to put up some shelves from IKEA and make new window coverings, that should be done in the next couple weeks. I will post final photos when all is completed.

Posted by mardenhill 11/15/2006 04:40:00 PM 1 comments    

Labels: House

Chateau du Perier
Tuesday, November 14, 2006

I just opened a bottle of Chateau du Perier a 2003 Bordeaux from the Medoc region. On inital opening, it had a great nose, lots of black cherry. I let it sit for a few to open up and the dark, plum flavors came out in full force. You have some fruit up front and smoke filling out the finish. The tannins are soft but a bit lingering. This was a 50/50 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot but no Cab Franc or other blending grape.

The last few bottles have been French so I will try and get back to something else. I have an Italian red from the Piedmont region that may be next.

Posted by mardenhill 11/14/2006 08:50:00 PM 0 comments    

Labels: Wine

Starting This February

Posted by mardenhill 11/14/2006 08:16:00 PM 0 comments    

Labels: Detroit

Samsung BlackJack
Monday, November 13, 2006

While checking out Gizmodo a technology blog I came across this new phone. Its a Motorola Q knockoff with a better battery but everything else looks to be the same. I guess this means that Cingular will not be getting the Q this December. Verizon has been selling the Q for as low as $99 but a Q Pro is expected next quarter. I should be getting my hands on one of these soon, someone at our office will end up buying one and I will have to set it up. At this time, the Nokia E62 is my favorite smartphone except it has no camera. If they add a one that will be my next phone.
...............................................................

We knew it was coming, but today Samsung officially lifted the veil off its new BlackJack smartphone. The Windows Mobile-based phone will have everything you'd expect from a smartphone (QWERTY keypad, 320x240 screen, 1.3-megapixal camera) and at 3.5 ounces, it'll also weight less than the 4.1-ounce Q. Samsung claims the BlackJack's battery will last for 11 days in standby mode and deliver 5.5 hours of talk time. We'll have more on that, as having a short battery life was one of the Q's main shortcomings. Otherwise, the BlackJack is packing Bluetooth 2.0 (sorry, no Wi-Fi), hooks up with Cingular's HSDPA network, and has a microSD card slot for further expansion. It's ll be available via Cingular for $199 (which is almost twice what the Q is going for nowadays). Click through for some extra shots of the BlackJack.

http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/smartphones/samsung-looking-to-outsmart-q-with-a-little-blackjack-214308.php

Posted by mardenhill 11/13/2006 09:37:00 PM 0 comments    

Labels: Technology

Microsoft Zune

We were at Target and they had a Zune on display to play around with. The player is bigger than the iPod Video but has a larger screen. The menus are pretty cool the way they scroll thru but once you try to navigate back from within artists, it was a bit cumbersome. Either I was not hitting the right button or its not a simple back and forth like the iPod. The Zune displays the cd art when searching artists/albums which I thought was cool. When playing a video you need to turn the screen sideways, same goes for photos. There is no smooth wheel, Apple has the patent so you have to actually click.

Posted by mardenhill 11/13/2006 09:22:00 PM 0 comments    

Labels: Technology

eMusic Changes

eMusic Basic

• 40 Song Downloads per month
• $9.99per month

eMusic Plus

• 65 Song Downloads per month
• $14.99per month

eMusic Premium

• 90 Song Downloads per month
• $19.99per month

Posted by mardenhill 11/13/2006 08:21:00 AM 0 comments    

Labels: Music

Thanks Newsweek
Sunday, November 12, 2006

Excellent Cover, Newsweek nails it perfectly. I love the sad and pathetic face of Dubya in the background. Daddy came in trying to salvage the remaining years of 43's presidency and the Bush name.....

Posted by mardenhill 11/12/2006 03:24:00 PM 0 comments    

Labels: Politics

New Environmental Direction
Saturday, November 11, 2006

Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) will replace James Inhofe (R-OK) as leader of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. Inhofe once called climate change the "greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people."
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This is another change coming in January, committee chairman swaps. Dems will run the committees in both the House and Senate and important ones like Environmental And Public Works will have a real leader on board. You would be amazed at some of the statements made by the nutball Inhofe, he should be locked away not sitting in the Senate. Between the Bush Admin and this guy, nothing good has been done for the environment, just what is best for big business. You can kiss ANWAR goodbye and hopefully real research and funding will go towards renewables. Big Oil has billions in profits, they don't need the billions in handouts the last energy bill gave them. We have a vast country, sun in the southwest, open plains in the middle, oceans on the coast all full of energy yet to be tapped. Think of the solar farms that could be developed throughout the desert and wind farms in the great plains. We have tons of coastlines that wind turbines could be setup offshore. Screw Ted Kennedy and his precious view, these are needed and needed now. Europe does this and they don't have a problem. We also have the ability for more ethanol and bio diesel something the big 3 need to speed up development on. The solutions are here, we just need leadership willing to embrace them not push it away.

Posted by mardenhill 11/11/2006 10:49:00 AM 0 comments    

Labels: Politics

Looks Like Rummy Is In Some Hot Water
Friday, November 10, 2006

Rumsfeld may be charged with war crimes, talk about a way to end a tenure. I guess it would have never occurred here in the states but other countries can go for it. Will it make to trial, I highly doubt it but stranger things have happened. Now we can sit back and watch the implosion of the Republican party and the NeoCon faction. I wonder whats in store for the party next week, I have been enjoying all these aftershocks since the election.

Posted by mardenhill 11/10/2006 04:10:00 PM 0 comments    

Labels: Politics

One More Drifter In The Snow

I will start this off with the fact that I hate Christmas music, it drives me insane. I hate that WNIC starts playing the stuff early in November and every office and store pumps this crap out.

I can't believe I am writing about this but Aimee Mann has just released a Christmas record and it features some interesting song choices. "You're A Mean One Mr. Grinch" with actual Grinch speaking parts and the classics like "Winter Wonderland", "White Christmas" and "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas". I did a brief 15-20 second listen on a few of the songs, I couldn't stomach listening in their entirety so its up to you to decide. All I wanted to do was gather the mood of the songs, the style of play and Aimee's voice. All were great, Aimee stands out with her trademark vocals and the songs are played in an acoustic/folksy manner. I may pull this cd out to listen possibly once before the holiday but that's it. I am a big fan of Aimee and she lowers the cringe factor a few notches. Sarah McLachlan has also released a Christmas record but that is out of the question. She falls into the same category as Clay Aiken and the rest of the chumps who release garbage under the guise of holiday cheer.

http://www.aimeemann.com/

Posted by mardenhill 11/10/2006 12:38:00 PM 1 comments    

Labels: Music

The Gift That Keeps On Giving
Thursday, November 09, 2006

If winning the House wasn't enough the other day, we had Rumsfeld resign to much rejoice. From there both Allen and Burns conceded and the Dems took the Senate which was something people dreamed of but didn't really expect. The fallout didn't stop there, it looks like the RNC's posterboy Ken Mehlman will be stepping down and the jackass John Bolton won't be heading back to the UN anytime, well ever...

Posted by mardenhill 11/09/2006 09:56:00 PM 0 comments    

Labels: Politics

JPod

http://www.jpod.info/

I just started reading Douglas Coupland's latest novel JPod last nite. I have only made it thru a few pages so I don't have much of a description. If you are a fan of Douglas Coupland this book is reminiscent of Microserf's but updated for the iTunes and Google generation. I have been a fan of Coupland since his 1st book Generation X and love all of his writings. His last couple books have been on the introspective side, exploring deep emotions rather than the cynical outlook on life. I will keep you posted on how this book turns out but I expect it to be a great one. Below is Coupland's website with all his writings and the 1st link is to a page devoted to his new novel.

http://www.coupland.com

Posted by mardenhill 11/09/2006 01:40:00 PM 0 comments    

Labels: Books

A Stitch In Time EP

http://therecordroom.blogspot.com/2006/11/twilight-singers-stitch-in-time-ep.html

The Twilight Singers are back with an EP and probably their strongest release yet. It features Greg Duli and his new best friend Mark Lanegan on a number of songs. Before I dive into a review I would like you to visit the link above where Will did an amazing review of the cd a few weeks ago.

Track 1 "Live With Me" is dark, brooding and features both Mark and Greg on vocals. It pulls more from Mark's style of music but there is that classic Whigs tension mixed in. You would have never known that the song was a Massive Attack cover but it is. Track 2 "Sublime" reminds me of the Whigs cover of "Creep" with a big R&B feel circling around. Joseph Arthur joins in on the fun and this 70s porno/smooth jazz groove leaves you wanting more. Track 3 "Flashback" gives vocals back to Mark and reminds me of his cover record I'll Take Care Of You". It has that vintage folk sound but kicked up a notch. You have the hammond organ and guitar filling the room, competing but also complimenting each other. Track 4 "They Ride" gets back to the classic rock formula with Greg back on vocals. Its more Twilight than Whigs but could be a b-side to something off of Black Love. The EP finishes off with "The Lure Would Prove Too Much" a soft yet engaging number that pulls you in deep. You can find this EP on eMusic so if you have a subscription I highly recommend downloading it. You can hear 3 of the songs at the Twilight Singers MySpace page below.

http://www.myspace.com/twilightsingers

Posted by mardenhill 11/09/2006 09:22:00 AM 1 comments    

Labels: Music

Little James' Basket Press
Wednesday, November 08, 2006

Ed at Simply Wine just got this wine in and wanted me to try it. The bottle is from France but you would have never guessed from the crazy label. There is no traditional chateau or ton of information that confuses more than tells you whats in the bottle. Anyways this is a 100% Grenache from Chateau de Saint Cosme located in the southern Rhone region. The wine is very jammy with a plum red colour. It starts off fruity but then a bit of pepper kicks in and finishes with some nice tannins on your tongue. Its great table wine and is a blend of both young Grenache and older vines. Due to the region and the style it does not have a vintage (NV) but from what I have gathered on the net, it probably came from 2003. After warming up a bit to room temp, this wine has opened up a bit and has more flavor and backbone than first thought.

Posted by mardenhill 11/08/2006 09:55:00 PM 0 comments    

Labels: Politics

Grinderman

Nick Cave to reelase 'foul-mouthed' new album
The Grinderman is coming next year

Nick Cave and several of his band The Bad Seeds are to release an album under the name Grinderman early next year.

The band features are Cave on vocals and guitar, backed by Warren Ellis, Martyn Casey and Jim Sclavunos.

The as-yet-untitled LP, which is reported to be "foul-mouthed and noisy", will be release on March 5.

Speaking about the record Casey said: "It wasn't consciously two fingers to maturity but I remember thinking, all the way through, 'This isn't bad for a bunch of old farts'", while Cave added: "We're just searching for a bit of freedom."

The track 'No Pussy Blues' can be heard on the band's MySpace site

Myspace.ccom/grinderman.

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I am checking out the track right now out on myspace and its very good. You have Nick Cave at his best, raw and uncensored. At times Nick has moved into a more introspective role and although these songs are good, the rulebook has been thrown out the window and anything goes now. Its loud, sleazy and full of greatness, unfortunately we still have 4 months to wait for more.

Posted by mardenhill 11/08/2006 02:30:00 PM 0 comments    

Labels: Music

1PM......

Posted by mardenhill 11/08/2006 12:58:00 PM 0 comments    

Labels: Politics