What I Would Look Like.......
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
If I Were A Werewolf....
God.....
On Fire...
The Thinker.....
Just A Sketchbook.......In the latest Dell Vostro laptops there is a mounted camera (like those found on Macs) and some fun filters to play with. A co-worker had one of these so I had to snap a few photos for my collection. I have attached some of the best ones for you to enjoy.....
Posted by mardenhill 7/31/2007 04:56:00 PM 13 comments
Labels: Technology
Brit Band You Had Forgotten Turns Digital Music Age Into Snarky Publicity Stunt
Monday, July 30, 2007
So, let's just pretend for a moment that you're British band Hard-Fi. I realize this might be difficult, as you're trying to remember if you've ever heard of Hard-Fi. Just imagine a less interesting version of the Arctic Monkeys (yeah, yeah, I know) and stick with me for a moment. You're readying a second album that no one in particular wants to hear. How can you get some media attention for a moment? What will it take to make the prestigious pages of the NME? Oh, here's one idea: make a big fuss about not having cover art!
http://idolator.com/
...................................
Posted by mardenhill 7/30/2007 10:48:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Music
FBI Raids Sen Stevens House
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Agents from the FBI and Internal Revenue Service on Monday searched the home of U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens, an official said.
Investigators arrived at the Republican senator's home in Girdwood shortly before 2:30 p.m. Alaska time, said Dave Heller, FBI assistant special agent.
Heller said he could not comment on the nature of the investigation.
The Justice Department has been looking into the seven-term senator's relationship with a wealthy contractor as part of a public corruption investigation.
.........................................
We purged some of the corrupt bastards who occupy congress last year but didn't get them all. Now its time to kick the old geezer by the name of Sen Ted Stevens (R-AK) out of office and into the pokey. The piece of trash is as dirty as can be and its time he is exposed for the fraud that he is. Just like before its all about bribes and kickbacks......
Posted by mardenhill 7/30/2007 10:07:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Politics
Newton Chardonnay 2005
It wasn't the Talbott 2001 Chardonnay from a couple weeks ago but this Newton was another tasty one that I would pick up again. You can find this bottle between $17-$22 depending where you go. It had a great nose, lots of fruit and citrus but not so heavy on the oak. For some this would be a plus since the over oaked chards have fallen out of favor. It was rich and buttery with lots of apple and melon flavors. You had a nice finish with fruit lingering for a few more seconds.
Newton Vineyards is in California nestled between Napa and Sonoma. The grapes come from both appellations and is reflected on the bottle. I have added this vineyard as a must visit next time I am out in wine country.
http://www.newtonvineyard.com/newtonvineyard.html
Posted by mardenhill 7/30/2007 09:22:00 AM 0 comments
Labels: Wine
Amazing Quote
Thursday, July 26, 2007
I'm not a huge Spin reader, it had its moments years ago but fell out of favor in leu of Paste and other music rags that didn't cater to all the kiddies. Anyways Interpol was on the cover of the latest issue and since I get them free (I get all my magazines free, one of our divisions at work place all the ads for our client on tv, radio and print so there are always tubs of free mags of every interest, even ones I never knew existed) so I picked it up. Just a few pages in I came across this photo and quote, which made me laugh for what seemed like hours. Whether you like Glenn or not he is right on with this one. I have always hated Nu Metal and to see one of the greats dis it was music to my ears. Years ago I went to a Danzig show and had a great time people watching. Some of the grubbiest people in Detroit were at the show and my favorite person was some guy who had his whole back dedicated to Motorhead. He had the band's name across the top of his shoulders and 4 album covers covering the rest of his back. You really have to be a fan to devote your body like that to a band. Click on the photo for a better look.
Nu metal is a musical genre that has origins in the mid 1990s. It typically fuses influences from the grunge[1] and alternative metal of the 1990s with funk music, hip-hop, and various heavy metal genres, most often thrash metal and groove metal.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nu_metal
Posted by mardenhill 7/26/2007 08:36:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Music
iPhone Competition?
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Samsung the company who seldom have their own ideas and do a bang up job ripping off others and lowering the price has a new phone in the works to compete against the iPhone. This one is the Samsung SGH-P520 but all we have is this photo, no look at the OS. Could it run Windows Mobile, we will have to wait and see. It does contain a 3 megapixel camera, decent screen but no 3G, just the Edge network support. From what I have read, the 3G sucks a ton of battery power and this was the reason Apple didn't include it in the 1st phone. They wanted to avoid bad battery reviews but come November the rumor mill is predicting 3G support. It may be a software upgrade for the previous phones since that would suck if all the existing users are obsolete only after 5 months.
Anyways, keep your eyes peeled for the new Samsung to hit the market this fall.
Posted by mardenhill 7/25/2007 09:25:00 AM 0 comments
Labels: Technology
Satellite Radio Merger
Monday, July 23, 2007
The Good News:
NEW YORK (AP) -- Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. and XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. said Monday the companies plan to offer a la carte plans to consumers starting at $6.99 for 50 channels.
The Bad News:
A la carte programming will be available beginning within one year following the merger, and the other programming options will be available beginning within six months following the merger.
.............................................
So when is this one year? I vowed that I would never subscribe to satellite radio for $13 a month although I really like it. I always said if it was $5 I would do it. With it being $7 and you get to pick your channels, I much more interested. While playing with XM, I only found a handful of stations I was interested in, same goes for Sirius. I could easily put together 50 stations and if they sell additional ones for a quarter then I am that much closer to signing up. Most likely be late 2008 before this will be available. I guess I could start putting away $7 a month now so when it does happen I will be ready.
Posted by mardenhill 7/23/2007 01:12:00 PM 1 comments
Labels: Music, Technology
Buffalo Tom - Three Easy Pieces
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Buffalo Tom is one of my favorite bands and when I got word that a new cd would be out this year I couldn't wait. Some of the reasons why BT are amazing have to do with their ability to take fuzzy guitar and distortion and apply it to a wide range of tempos. Songs can either be slow and heartfelt or upbeat and full of life. Lyrics seem to always circle around women and life but they don't dive too deep into social issues or politics which can be refreshing and keep the songs timeless. The art of jangle pop is perfected and no one can come close. This isn't a reunion record more a extra long break between since they never really broke up but each member went and did their own thing for a good 8 years.
Track 1 "Bad Phone Call" isn't that strong and a strange one to lead off the cd. It isn't bad but seems more like a left over studio session better placed as a B-Side. Track 2 "Three Easy Pieces" is classic BT, it starts off with a bit of jangle then the distortion settles in. Chris Cobourn sings and when he's up at the mic you know you are in for a treat. Track 3 "You'll Never Catch Him" has Bill back on the vocals and slows the down the tempo. The song features the half acoustic/crescendo build up that BT perform so well. Track 4 "Bottom Of The Rain" is probably the most upbeat song and also my fav on the cd. Its a perfect blend of distortion and pop melody. Track 6 " Renovating" brings Chris back onto the mic and with some interesting lyrics. You have 'God never cheats, he gave you to me', "God never lies....', 'God never cheats, saves you and me' and ' I know Jesus will call you.' At first I thought BT had transformed into a Christian Rock band but its only on this song. Track 8 "Pendelton" is a swooning piano ballad with both Chris and Bill singing. Track 11 "September Shirt" is reminiscent of "Souvenir" a short power packed jangle pop masterpiece. Track 13"Thrown" slows it down and mixes in a slide guitar and piano. Its Americana and very nice to see them experimenting with different instruments. The last cd had BT trying new things but I don't think people were ready for it. Now it works much better and isn't so studio sounding.
Give this a few listens and it will grow on you like each and every other BT cd. It has a much looser feel than Smitten but not as raw as Sleepy Eyed. I can't say for sure but this is becoming one of my favorite BT records the more and more I hear it. Pick it up, its a must for any music collection and one that will be in my top 5 of 2007.
Posted by mardenhill 7/22/2007 05:24:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Music
2001 Talbott Chardonnay Monterey County
Saturday, July 21, 2007
I was given this as a gift for setting up a co-workers new cell phone and decided it was time to open. Bill raved about this wine he said it was what his wife always drank and when it was in stock at Costco he would buy all he could. He gave me a bottle and I had been holding onto it for about a month now. I was waiting for the perfect meal and tonight it was. While out in Delaware we had plenty of crab and while at Costco today we picked up a can of Phillips crab. We set out to duplicate our amazing meal and came pretty close. Basically we took lump crab meat, mixed it with some seasoning and baked it. We will have to tweak a few things next time but overall it was great. I wanted a good Chard to go with the crab so I pulled out the Talbott.
From the start the nose took you back to the vineyard with a bit of yeast and citrus. It was as if you were in California strolling thru tasting wines. The first drink knocked my socks off, it was very oaky with a bit of apricot and pear. You also had a bit of minerality going on and the flavor was plush and buttery in your mouth. It was the classic California Chardonnay and one that I havn't tasted in years. With it being a 2001, it had a bit of age on it and a golden hue. It was not overly sweet or tart at all. It was probably the best Chardonnay I have ever had and it blew anything away that I have tasted from Napa. I don't know if its the year or if its just the wine itself but it was amazing and I think everyone should buy a bottle. You are talking about a $40 bottle of Chard, not your everyday wine but you can pick it up for about $30 at Costco. I plan on treating myself next time I am shopping and grabbing another bottle of Talbott. It won't be a 2001, most likely a 2004 but it will give me a good chance to compare the two.
Posted by mardenhill 7/21/2007 09:35:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Wine
Probably The Stupidest iPod Accessory
Friday, July 20, 2007
http://www.arriva.com/
Posted by mardenhill 7/20/2007 10:33:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Technology
Electromagnetic Globe
I love globes and while we are at it maps as well. Erika got me a very cool globe a few years ago that we keep in the living room and I have another one on my desk upstairs. The idea of a electromagnetic one is very cool but the one here is a bit too small. Its comes in at 4 inches, good for a desk but I would prefer a full size one. You can spin the globe just like you would with one on a handle or pedestal.
http://blog.scifi.com/tech/archives/2007/07/19/electromagnetic.html
Posted by mardenhill 7/20/2007 09:55:00 AM 0 comments
Labels: Science, Technology
Allroy Saves
Thursday, July 19, 2007
One of my buddies at work asked me if I had any Rollins Band which I said oh yeah but when I checked my hard drive I had none. Just tapes in the basement but no digital files. We got on the topic after discussing some other bands like The Dead Kennedys, Dead Milkmen and D.R.I. I now had a quest, I had to come up with the Rollins Band mp3s and I was stuck. I decided to do a quick search on eMusic and found what I needed. All the cds were there which surprised me since I was under the impression that they were recorded on a major label back in the 90s. While poking around I came across the Descendants, an LA punk band from the 80s. From there I found the link to All, the remnants of the Descendants. I was a big All fan back in highschool and had everything on tape. Checking my hard drive I only had one All cd so it was time to download once again. I grabbed Allroy Saves for now, I have to wait to grab the rest since I only have 33 downloads left and I need to get the Rollins Band tomorrow.
The crazy thing about it all, I woke up the other morning with the chorus of "Just Living" in my head but I had no idea what it was from. After discovering the All cds I remembered it was All I was singing. Now I have the song and can add it to my collection. One of the scariest concerts I went to was All while in highschool in the bowels of Detroit. It was not at the usual spots but some building in the middle of some crackridden neighborhood. We parked our cars in this fenced in lot with weeds taller than the fence itself. We saw the show and didn't really care about it til afterwards realizing that it was probably not the best decision we had made.
If you are craving some good old fashioned punk rock with melodies check out All over at eMusic.
http://www.emusic.com/artist/All-MP3-Download/10559386.html
Posted by mardenhill 7/19/2007 08:11:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Music
Travis Live
Travis played last nite in Detroit but I didn't go, tickets were too expensive and I just went and saw the Police the day before. Anyways, NPR has a live show that you can stream over on their Live Concert Series page. Unfortunately the quality really sucks so don't get too excited on the stream. Previous concerts like The National and Poly Spree sounded great.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=11910318
Posted by mardenhill 7/19/2007 04:45:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Music
New Sioixsie Sioux
Siouxsie goes solo
The famous Banshee releases first solo album this autumn
Siouxsie of Siouxsie & The Banshees has announced the details of her first solo album. 'Mantaray' was produced by Steve Evans (Robert Plant) and Charlie Jones and features 10 tracks. It is due out on October 2 in the US.According to a spokesperson for the singer, the album incorporates industrial rhythms, modern glam and an expansive sound.
The tracklisting is:
'Into A Swan'
'About to Happen'
'Here Comes that Day'
'Loveless'
'If it Doesn't Kill You'
'One Mile Below''Drone Zone'
'Sea of Tranquility'
'They Follow You'
'Heaven and Alchemy'
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Siouxsie solo, I thought the last few cds were more or less solo releases. She had the Creatures project and for the most part the Banshees was her outlet. Either way, new Siouxsie is good news to me and it adds to the great year in music we are having. I missed her last time around but I did get to see her back in '91 so all good.
Posted by mardenhill 7/19/2007 03:45:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Music
The Police 2007
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Last nite I saw the Police on their reunion tour and it was amazing. For starters I scored presale tickets which were expensive. That coming weekend they went on sale and the greedy side of me decided to buy some cheap seats and make money off the good ones. Well it was a novel idea until reality set in and I was stuck with 4 tickets with 3 days to go. I tried Stubhub, Craigslist, Kijiji and finally eBay where I sold 1 set. Unfortunately I sold the cheap set of seats and in the end had the good ones still. Erika had class and couldn't go and I was scrambling to find someone. I almost had them sold at 1pm yesterday but the deal fell thru and my buddy Jay ended up taking the ticket. My plan was to sell these seats and take the extra ticket my friend Ryan had which ended up going to Chris. Pretty funny that I had 4 tickets and almost went on another. Oh well it all worked out and I got to see the Police. Moral of the story, never buy extras in hope of making a profit because it never works.....
By the time Chris got off work and we made it to the Palace all the parking was gone. I had to illegally park my car, which was fine since everywhere else people were doing the same thing. This is one of the reasons I love the Focus, it fits just about anywhere. There is a dumpster on the other side of my vehicle.
All the t-shirts were retro in design with recycled images from the 70/80s. They were too expensive so I settled for a collection of 5 pins for $10.
Yeah I know the photo sucks but my phone was all I had.
The Police started the show off with "Synchronicity" and kept the energy going for nearly 2 hrs. They played pretty much everything you would want to hear, "Walking In Your Footsteps", "Every Breathe You Take", "King Of Pain", "Wrapped Around Your Finger", "Roxanne", "Can't Stand Losing You", "Message In A Bottle", "Don't Stand So Close To Me", "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic", De Do Do Do...", "Invisible Sun" were just some of them. They also played some very old ones that I forgot about. They didn't play "Spirits In The Material World" which I wanted to hear but oh well they played enough others to satisfy. The show reminded me of the Greatful Dead, not with a bunch of dirty hippies hocking grilled cheese but in song structure. They played with some of the arrangements, mixed it up and added jam sessions in the middle of ones.
Posted by mardenhill 7/18/2007 10:15:00 AM 0 comments
Labels: Music
Up All Nite
Monday, July 16, 2007
Its about time Harry, no more pussyfooting around, time to show the country what theses Obstructionists are really up to. This cloture vote on every piece of legislation is just a way for the repubs to filibuster without being on record for voting up or down. There are times when filbustering is needed but on every piece of legislation, no at all. You will have Mitch McConnell cry foul and say the big bad dems are not playing by the rules and as usual the media will grab on hook line and sinker. In the end it won't matter since the repubs will just vote down party lines with a few defectors and Reid will end up with 57-58 votes and it will be over. It needs to be done tho so let the games begin.
Posted by mardenhill 7/16/2007 05:06:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Politics
Stereophonics
Hi everyone,We have more news for you this week as we reveal the track list for Stereophonics sixth studio album Pull The Pin due for release on 1st October 2007.
The track listing is:
01. Soldiers Make Good Targets
02. Pass The Buck
03. It Means Nothing
04. Bank Holiday Monday
05. Daisy Lane
06. Stone
07. My Friends
08. I Could Lose Ya
09. Bright Red Star
10. Lady Luck
11. Crush
12. Drowning
Just got this on my bulletin via myspace. You can hear the song "Bank Holiday Monday" on their page and its very good. Its not dark and heavy as a few songs off of the last cd but it does sound more British than their previous work. I hear a lot of Liamesque vocals, snotty and slurred speech ripe with attitude. I think I will like this cd and can't wait til October.
Posted by mardenhill 7/16/2007 01:38:00 PM 1 comments
Labels: Music
When 2 Crappy Restaurants Combine
http://freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070716/BUSINESS07/70716009
So IHOP is buying Applebee's, great so now they can share recipes and combine their crappiness into one big pile of junk. I hate both places, never go unless I am trapped on some interstate in the middle of nowhere. I will admit I used to like IHOP back in the day but its been about 6 years since I have been there. Last time I went to Applebee's I ordered fish and chips and they served me Gorden's frozen fish sticks. I wrote a letter to the company and they sent me a $5 gift card which didn't even cover the price of the food.
Posted by mardenhill 7/16/2007 10:58:00 AM 0 comments
Labels: Misc
Heiss Traminer Ice Wine 2002
Sunday, July 15, 2007
“The Traminer grape is in general a very aromatic variety which through the defrosting process in production of Ice Wine is getting even more interesting. This has a hint of mushrooms, bread, and the typical Traminer rosewood aromas. Very soft, very dense on the palate; almost oily. In its finish it has beautiful aromas, acidity, and harmony. A wine is called Eiswein [Ice Wine] when it has been harvested at -7 Celsius or lower. There are only 2 days a year you can properly harvest Eiswein. It is very important to do this on a cold day so that the wine will take on more taste and be more interesting. Also so that it won’t ferment. That’s why it must be cold.” -Vintner Franz Heiss.
Traminer:
The Traminer developed from crosses of wild grape varieties. The most closely related grape is Vitis silvestris Gmelin. Recent genetic research indicates that the Traminer grape, in the past one of the most important Austrian varietals, is one of the oldest of all grapes and ancestor of numerous others which are usually thought of more highly by wine lovers. The Traminer grape has been known since the Middle Ages, but mutates easily and emerged as the Gewürztraminer in France in the 19th century.
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So now you have the background on this amazing wine and I won't have to bore you with technical data. If you have never had an ice wine you are missing out on the of the best wines in the world. The ice wine we opened last nite was the Heiss Traminer 2002, an Austrian bottle which can be found for about $35-$40. They come in 375ml, but on the other hand you tend not to drink too much and we still have half a bottle. It was golden in color, thick and sweet with hints of apricot, honey and a bit of spice. If you are familiar with Sauternes a botrytised wine from France then an ice wine won't be too foreign. Both have some of the same characteristics but still have distinct flavors due to the different grapes used in the process.
http://www.winemonger.com/catalog/product_more_info.php?products_id=435
Posted by mardenhill 7/15/2007 11:19:00 AM 0 comments
Labels: Wine
New Moto Q
Friday, July 13, 2007
This phone will own the Samsung Blackjack, better keyboard, larger screen, better camera and will run Windows Mobile 6. Its just a matter of time until the Blackjack is updated and how much of an improvement it will be to the new Q9h. I am just glad to see AT&T get yet another smartphone. At this time they pretty much own the market on these devices. Now the question becomes, do I still get a Blackjack or spend a little more and get a Q9h? Next month my contract opens up and I can get a new phone. Which one will it be?
http://www.geardiary.com/2007/06/18/motorola-q9h-quick-hit-review/
Posted by mardenhill 7/13/2007 01:21:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Technology
Back It Up
Thursday, July 12, 2007
This came from NME over in the UK but I imagine its the same here. BACK UP YOUR FILES, I CANNOT STRESS IT ENOUGH. I have my mp3s on an external hard drive plus backups on DVD just incase the drive dies.
Insurers won't pay out for lost digital music
A new study by Computing Which? magazine warns that most insurance policies fail to offer any cover for loss of digital music files.It means that music fans who use MP3 players such as iPods risk losing their entire music collection, unless they have it backed up or have the files on another format, such as CD.The study showed that only 22 out of 46 insurance companies examined offered any kind of cover at all. Most of the 22 who did offer cover would only compensate against loss due to fire, theft or flood damage. Some insurers put a cap of £1,000 or £2,000 on claims for digital downloads.The average value of most music fans' MP3 archives is £257, the study found, but many fans, downloading at 79p a track from sites such as iTunes, will have collections worth thousands of pounds.Abigail Waraker, editor of Computing Which?, called for insurance companies to realise that downloading is now the easiest way to buy music, and that they should offer cover. "Music lovers know it, music companies know it, but insurance companies are determined to stay behind the times," she said.
Posted by mardenhill 7/12/2007 09:29:00 AM 0 comments
Labels: Music, Technology
New Video iPod?
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Yet more rumors but this morning according to "sources" in the Taiwanese supply chain, Apple will release the video iPod sometime in August. I don't expect it until November or possibly January which Apple loves to do for some stupid reason but not next month. We should see the new iMac next month and I don't see them crowding the field with that and the iPod. At least we can all agree its inevitable that we will get a full screen video iPod, its just a matter of when.
Posted by mardenhill 7/11/2007 09:37:00 AM 0 comments
Labels: Technology
Chateau Moncontour Vouvray
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
I will start it off with I didn't have a bottle from 1993 but one from the 2004 vintage, the website only had this photo for me to use. Either way, I love this wine, its amazing and its cheap. Chenin Blanc is the grape at hand and one of my favorites. Its a creamy white with lots of sweet fruit and minerals. You have pear, apricot and some green apple but its not crisp and dry like a Sauvignon Blanc. Its velvety texture covers your tongue and leaves a lingering sweetness that continues on for days. This type of wine is best served during the summer and with spicy foods since it balances out heat very easily. Next time you are out looking for something other than a Chard or Sauv Blanc, pick up a Vouvray or Chenin Blanc if not from France for something new.
http://www.moncontour.com/index.html
Posted by mardenhill 7/10/2007 08:53:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Wine
Christopher Moore - A Dirty Job
Just started reading Christopher Moore's book A Dirty Job and I am liking it. I had no idea who he was and found the book at the store a few weeks ago. It was before our vacation and Borders had buy 3 get 1 free sale so I had pick one out or Erika got all 4. From reading Moore's website it looks like he has a list of other books, full of off beat humor and San Francisco charm. I will let you know what I think of it once I'm done.
If anyone has read his previous works leave a comment to let me know what you thought.....
Posted by mardenhill 7/10/2007 03:11:00 PM 1 comments
Labels: Books
Tick Tock, Tick Tock
Buh bye, thanks for playing. It looks like John McCain's days campaigning for President are coming to a close. He just lost 2 key figures in his campaign and is losing the fundraising race. I just wonder who McCain will blame for his defeat, the republicans who still hate him or the opposing side who didn't support the war. No one on the left has done anything to puncture McCain's sail, he did it all on his own by supporting Bush and the current Iraq policy. McCain sealed his own fate when he chose to embrace this administration and beg for their support. The McCain of 2000 is long gone and has been replaced with an insider who cannot judge the mood of the country and what they want. Will I be sad to see McCain bow out of the race, no not at all, he lost my support years ago and has done nothing to gain it back. Good riddence and may Guilani, Romney, Thompson and the rest of the lot join you. Don't let the door hit you on the way out.
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8Q9RLQO0&show_article=1
Posted by mardenhill 7/10/2007 01:23:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Politics
Some Apple Rumors
I know, you are still reeling from the over exposure of the iPhone and it hasn't even been 2 weeks but I have a few Apple rumors that should make your day that much better. For starters Apple should be updating the iMac line next month. Its been over 306 days since the last refresh and will be intime for back to school. The new iMacs will only come in 20" and 24" models. The rumor sites are also reporting that the design will be thinner, only 2" thick and come in a brushed aluminum case. The 2nd rumor has to do with the iPhone and the nano. The buzz is all around that 4th quarter we will see a cheaper iPhone based off the nano platform. This would be pretty cool but I would rather see a stripped down iPhone as the new iPod. If they were to do that and sell it for $300, I would buy one.
Posted by mardenhill 7/10/2007 09:25:00 AM 0 comments
Labels: Technology
Its Summer, Time For Some Rosé
Sunday, July 08, 2007
You think blush, nah that can't be good its just another white zin. Well I am here to tell you otherwise. I am here to convince you to try a Rosé. Open one on a hot summer evening while sitting on the back patio or serve it with appetizers. This amazing wine is quite dry with a quenching flavor that isn't too sweet nor to heavy. Forget about Arbor Mist and all the other wine coolers, this is what you need.
France makes the best Rosé but one of my favorite Californian vineyards does just fine. Cline uses Mouvedre as the grape which is excellent on its own and refreshing when chilled. This is not your college bottle of strawberry hill, so forget about those days of drinking multiple bottles of Boones. This bottle can be found for about $13-$14 depending on where you shop. While picking up some Cline try their Viognier, Ancient Vines Zinfandel or Ancient Vines Mouvedre all great wines at prices that will not bust your wallet.
http://www.clinecellars.com/store/index.cfm?fuseaction=view&CFID=18955&CFTOKEN=61307911
Posted by mardenhill 7/08/2007 09:48:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Wine
Live Earth 7.7.07
Friday, July 06, 2007
I know its not quite 7.7.07 but in Sydney, Australia it already is. You can stream the shows from around the world via MSN and I imagine there will be a recap and also a DVD to follow. The band in the video is Sneaky Sound System and they are not that bad. A mix of electro/dance/funk/indie rock with dueling male/female vocals. I do find the sponsorship of Chevy interesting, I guess they are trying the BP advertising angle. I plan on tuning in throughout the day tomorrow so there may be more posts to follow.
http://www.sneakysoundsystem.com/
Way to go Al, keep up the good work. I know you don't want to run for president again but we really need you to.
www.liveearth.org
Posted by mardenhill 7/06/2007 11:01:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Environment, Politics
Absinthe Back In The States
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Its been a long 95 years but the wait is over. Absinthe is finally legal in the US once again. We are not talking about some knockoff bottles but the original stuff made with real Grande Wormwood. Now the myth of hallucinations from the stuff was just propaganda used to ban the drink, modern science has debunked that theory. You would have to drink multiple bottles of the stuff and at 62% I don't see many people making it thru even one. While in London I was able to try Absinthe which was one of those things I have wanted to do for years. I did find out that there is the classic French style and a Chech which is more minty like Listerine. I preferred the French style and thats what Lucid is. I drank the Absinthe in the traditional method with a sugar cube and cold water dripped over the top. It turned cloudy and a bright emerald green. From some articles I came across it looks to be $60 for a 750ml. This may change from state to state but it is something I would invest in. As of now its only in New York but Lucid promises more distribution throughout the US. The website has a very interesting FAQ which answers all your questions regarding this exotic elixir.
http://drinklucid.com/
Posted by mardenhill 7/05/2007 04:44:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Liquor
iPhone
We went to the Apple store yesterday to see first hand the new iPhone. I have to say, I was very impressed and would actually consider one. Not now but at a future date, maybe next year or so. It fits in the palm of your hand and is no bigger than the Motorola Q. The phone behaves like the widgets on the mac and moves in and out when selected. The coverflow for the ipod portion is very cool except you would have to make sure all your files are tagged correctly. The browser shows a full page and when the phone is turned sideways it rotates into a bigger view. I didn't get to play with the internet very much so its hard to tell how the speed. The address book was easy to navigate and with your finger you just move it up and down the screen and the list moves. The google maps was pretty cool as well, its like having a walking gps, well as accurate as free map sites are. The final thing was the keyboard or lack of. Its a touchscreen keyboard that inflates the letter when you touch it to verify thats the one you wanted. It took a few tries to type my name but I think with some practice it would be easy to use. Rumors are, corporate email support may make its way to the iPhone in coming months.
Posted by mardenhill 7/05/2007 09:22:00 AM 0 comments
Labels: Technology
Some Photos Of The Garden 2007
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
Our jungle of herbs....
Peppers, peppers and even more peppers.
The tomatoes are taking over......We have 8 plants, 6 different varieties
Our green beans and corn. Some bastard critter chewed up a bunch of our corn stalks.
The radishs that need to be picked. Our carrots are doing well but I need to weed the area and didnt want to throw up any photos.
The raspberry bush which has been trying to take over the whole yard.
Tonight we grilled with some fresh green beans from the garden and made a dessert with the raspberries. I am looking forward to the peppers since we have a red savina which is 2x hotter than a habanero. I probably won't be eating them but I will pass them along to friends at work.
Posted by mardenhill 7/04/2007 07:36:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Garden
Ash - Twilight Of The Innocents
One of the great brit rock bands of the 90s have released their latest cd Twilight Of The Innocents and at the same time stated its their last official cd. Going forward Ash plan on releasing songs whenever they like and forgoing the whole standard cd pressing. They say it now, will it happen well we shall see. Getting back to the new cd, the band is now a 3 piece once again, after 9 years Charlotte Hatherley left the band. Another interesting piece of information regarding TOTI, Ash self produced the cd which is apparent. This is the biggest downfall since every song sounds the same. There isn't much excitement going on, the songs are upbeat and full of loud guitars but its a very trendy sound. The vocals sound like an 16 year old emo kid rather than someone who has been playing for 18 years. It feels like Ash is obsessed with the US sound and will do anything to break the states. I don't expect Ash to cater to their own country but emulating some of the stupid emo bands from the US isn't the answer. There are a few good songs but none that I really felt like writing about. I was disappointed with this release but honestly gave up on them after Meltdown.
Rating: 5/10
Posted by mardenhill 7/04/2007 02:42:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Music
Ryan Adams - Easy Tiger
Its only 1 cd this year (so far) but Ryan Adams is back. He released Easy Tiger last week and I highly recommend everyone pick up a copy. The cd is amazing, its a blend of Alt Country, Folk and heartfelt Singer Songwriter. The cd starts off with "Goodnight Rose" a soulful and southern twang reminiscent of songs from Jacksonville City Nights. Track 2 features a duet with Sheryl Crow, no they are not dating but the two of them sound great together. Track 4 "Halloweenhead" is the most upbeat song and it took a few listens to really enjoy. On first listen I thought it was a joke but the beat draws you in and keeps your toes tapping. Yeah the lyrics are stupid at times but it wouldn't be the 1st time. Track 6 "Tears Of Gold" starts off with the slide guitar and settles in with a mid tempo country sound.
If you like the Alt Country side of Ryan Adams you will love this cd. If you prefer the acoustic sound there is plenty here for you to enjoy. The Americana influences are also back and although its not Cold Roses it does have a bit of the 60s. The dark and brooding seeps in here and there but is kept at bay to give the cd a more warm and summertime feel. The only thing not present is the Garage Rock sound, there are electric guitars but no screaming. This isn't my favorite Adams cd but it is very good and one I keep on my laptop and ipod for my listening pleasure.
Rating: 8.5/10
Posted by mardenhill 7/04/2007 02:22:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Music
Recap Of Our Vacation
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Well our trip started off with a bang, we flew Northwest who was in the middle of a labor dispute. Luckily we had a crew for our flight and made our way onto the plane. From there we sat for over an hour due to inclement weather, i.e. it was storming and lightning while we were sitting in a big sardine can. We finally made it to Baltimore where we picked up our rental. I got the car thru a great deal with my MBNA worldperks card and had to book a small suv to get the price. I figured I would negotiate when I made it to the counter to get a smaller car but they wanted to charge me. I was willing to take a 4 door car instead but they said no. So I was stuck with a Chevy Equinox which wasn't that bad of a vehicle. It did have XM which I listened to Fred, Ethel, Lucy and a couple other stations non stop the whole time. I did hate parking the beast of a car and how much gas it sucked up. I was glad to turn it back in and go back to my focus.
So we left Baltimore and headed towards Philly which took forever due to construction. We hit 5 different zones within 100 miles, it was crazy. Philly was fun tho, we saw Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell and Reading Market. It was 91 degrees and humid so our walking around the city was cut a bit short. We did find a really cool restaurant by the name of Swanky Bubbles. It was a sushi and champagne bar where we had an excellent meal. The next morning it was pouring rain so we skipped the last couple places in Philly and headed south towards the beaches in Delaware.
Our hotel was in Lewes and the wedding in Primehook Beach which was about 25 minutes north. We were only 5 miles from Rehobeth Beach but at times took almost 30 minutes to get to due to traffic. There is a huge boardwalk with food, games and carnie rides. The wedding was amazing since it was at the house and ceremony on the beach. We had excellent weather along with food and alcohol all nite. One of the highlights was the bottle of Pol Roger Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill 1996 we broke open. It was an amazing champagne and we did a taste test against the Pol Roger Brut Réserve Non-Vintage. Hands down the 1996 blew it away but it was fun to taste the different levels. We also ate lots and I mean lots of Maryland crab all weekend. I thought I would be crabbed out but I am ready for another round. I will post a few pics later today once I get all the photos copied to my computer.
http://www.swankybubbles.com/
http://www.polroger.co.uk/champagne.php?name=cuvee_churchill
http://www.jerrys-seafood.com/index.htm
I had the 6oz Firecracker crab bomb, all seasoned lump meat and good to the last bite. I could eat one of those at least once a week for the rest of my life.......
Posted by mardenhill 7/03/2007 09:21:00 AM 0 comments
Labels: Travel
