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Good News For Michigan Distillers
Thursday, June 26, 2008

Currently there is a bill on Gov. Jennifer Granholm's desk allowing artisan distillers to purchase a license to sell and provide tastings of their product onsite instead of going to the state's liquor control. At this time distillers have to purchase a $1000 a year license and only sell their alcohol thru the state, this bill if signed will drop the price to $100 and give the option for tastings and local sales. This is great news for the state and Traverse City which has a few of the 11 artisan distillers. Little by little MI is turning Traverse City into its own "Napa Valley" and I hope this trend continues. I hope to get up to the vineyards next month and visit a few of the new ones that just opened this year.

Posted by mardenhill 6/26/2008 09:33:00 AM 0 comments  

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Spiritualized
Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Our favorite UK Space Rockers, Spiritualized will make an appearance in Detroit on Sept 7th. If you are not familiar with Spiritualized, the band formed from the ashes of Spaceman 3 and at this time only features Jason Pierce a.k.a. J Spaceman as an original member. Many people have come and gone (mostly kicked out per Jason) over various issues. The latest lineup features former Julian Cope musicians

The style of Spiritualized is a mix between shoegazer, garage rock, symphonic orchestra, blues, gospel, lots and lots of droning and wall of sound. While some songs are quite beautiful others can be hard on the ears with screeching guitar, fuzz, feedback, loops and other white noise. I don't think I have seen the band live unless it was at some festival years ago and I am debating about this show. It should be very good but I believe it might be an earplug night. I really haven't given the latest cd, Songs In A&E a fair listen and will try to this weekend. On the surface it has all the elements of the last few records and from other people, it's supposedly brilliant.

Posted by mardenhill 6/25/2008 10:48:00 PM 0 comments  

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Florida Everglades

In a landmark environmental decision yesterday, US Sugar sold their land (nearly 300 square miles) within the Everglades to the state of Florida for $1.75 Billion. This is great news for Florida and the rest of the country. The Everglades have been losing acres for decades and its about time restoration has won over development. This will not eliminate all sugar cane production, there are still 500 square miles still under farming but the US Sugar deal will help kickstart a larger restoration project. I applaud all parties who were involved in this decision and I hope this sets the stage for additional environmental projects throughout the country.

Posted by mardenhill 6/25/2008 08:39:00 AM 0 comments  

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Garden 1 Month Later
Sunday, June 22, 2008




Here are some photos of the garden 1 month after planting. Overall everything is doing well, we lost a jalapeno pepper that we had to replace and a few of the green beans but that is expected. The basil has taken off and the tomatos are right on track. Some of the peppers are starting and we should have a couple to pick within another week or so.

Posted by mardenhill 6/22/2008 10:56:00 AM 0 comments  

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Up By 15
Friday, June 20, 2008

Granted its just one poll and Newsweek at that but its still good news. Obama up by 15 points this early in the general election is nice and something we haven't experiences in years. Another good stat from the survey is below:

Obama's current lead also reflects the large party-identification advantage the Democrats now enjoy—55 percent of all voters call themselves Democrats or say they lean toward the party while just 36 percent call themselves Republicans or lean that way.

This may change over the summer and into the fall or maybe it will stay and if so this is great news for other down ticket elections in November. The more people identify with the Dems the more apt they will be to vote for candidates they might not know on their ballot. So much for the Conservative Majority Karl Rove and the GOP tried to force down our throats back in 02 and 04. Just remember, its still a pendulum and in time it will swing back to the right. Before it does its important for the Dems to get as much done as possible to get this country back on track.
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While we are on the topic of Obama, just yesterday Obama announced that he is opting out of Federal dollars for the General Election. This means that Obama is forgoing $85 Million in free money and its up to him to pay for the election himself. Obama had a verbal pledge to take funds but never got an official agreement from McCain so he decided to pay for it himself. People are saying that Obama may have upwards of $300 million to spend against McCain which can go a long way in some red and swing states.

Am I upset about Obama breaking his pledge, yeah a bit but on the other hand he is using the millions of doners as the wave to the White House instead of large doners and the traditional groups. Obama has taken the Howard Dean grassroots approach and expanded on it tenfold. He has used the internet and his community organizing skills to build a new coalition outside of DC. I will admit I haven't donated yet and I am still on the fence but will probably give in by September. I figure if I am going to donate money, I will do so after the dog days of summer when no one is paying attention. The 527s are not active on the GOP but I expect the slanders to surface come August. The Dem's biggest 527 Moveon.org has delisted itself as a 537 and will function as a PAC which has limits on donations unlike a 527. They will still attack McCain but will do so in a way that doesn't go too far outside of Obama's message. Overall, its a risky strategy but one that may be worth taking.

Posted by mardenhill 6/20/2008 09:54:00 PM 0 comments  

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Over 5 Billion


As of this week Apple has sold over 5 Billion songs from the iTunes music store, quite a feat if you ask me. They also announced "iTunes customers are now renting and purchasing over 50,000 movies every day, making iTunes the world’s most popular online movie store".

Gone are the days of the big announcements, free giveaways, now its just a press release. Anyways this is good news for the digital medium and the more Apple can compete and win against Walmart and Best Buy the better. I have been thinking about the Apple TV lately, I know I have discussed it before but it is actually pretty cool. I don't like the fact that it is only a 160 gig hard drive but the idea of renting HD movies is worth it. We have rented a few movies thru Wide Open West's On Demand service but their HD selection is quite thin. Apple's store has much more to choose from and would be worth it. Its still on the back burner since I need a laptop first and formost but maybe come Xmas. I don't forsee myself buying a Blu Ray player anytime soon so the Apple TV might be a good replacement.

Posted by mardenhill 6/20/2008 08:54:00 PM 0 comments  

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Coldplay - Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends
Tuesday, June 17, 2008

In one of the most anticipated releases of the year, Coldplay return with a very good cd entitled Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends. The cd starts off with a 2:30 second instrumental with a few whoa near the end that was no doubt lifted from The Police's Synchronicity. Track 2 "Cemeteries In London" plays it safe but starts to show off Brian Eno's brilliance. Track 3 "Lost" begins with a church organ and what sounds like hand claps or snare drum rim shots. Chris Martin's vocals blend beautifully with the organ and its not until after 2 minutes that the guitar appears to add another layer. Track 4 "43" is classic Coldplay with vocals, piano and lush accompaniment. Strings appear and the song begins to take a new direction. The strange march to war buildup and the lovely melody that finish off the song surprisingly work well together. Track 7 "Yes" is complicated as well, the orchestra beginning makes way into a twangy and folk song with subtle electronic undertones. The violins here are odd, first its a symphonic melody then it moves into a fiddle esque sound. If that wasn't wierd enough, with 3 minutes left the song starts a completely new track and direction. Mostly wall of sound with soft and high octave whispering vocals. Track 7 "Viva La Vida" uses the violins once again and establishes Coldplay as baby U2. The song is good, its perfect for an iPod commercial and is by far the most upbeat and radio friendly song on the cd. Track 8 "Violet Hill" would be the heaviest on the cd and yeah I said heavy and Coldplay in the same sentence. Its not death metal but the mood is dark and the music is tense at times. Track 10 "Death And All His Friends" features Chris barely singing, just mumbling some words over the piano, like a drunken Tom Waits. There is a crescendo that builds in the middle of the song but fades into a chillout electronic finish.

Coldplay have thrown down the gauntlet and want to drop the "best band to fall asleep to" title won last year. They have realized the last cd was boring and it was time to liven things up. Yes this cd is experimental, its not a Radiohead but it is a departure from their previous work. The wall of sound, experiments with orchestra, texture and electronics are well worth it and no doubt came from Brian Eno. I have listened to this cd a few times now and each time I actually like it more and more. I am not a huge Coldplay fan but will give them props for a great cd and another fine 2008 release.

Posted by mardenhill 6/17/2008 09:24:00 PM 1 comments  

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Argyle 1999 Blanc de Blancs
Monday, June 16, 2008

Last year on one of our two trips to Oregon we hit a few vineyards and Argyle was one of them. Besides great chardonnay and pinot noir, Argyle makes some amazing sparklings. We picked up a bottle of their 1999 Blanc de Blancs and opened it the other nite. I forgot how good the wine was and it was great to drink it once again. Right away you had great tropical fruit flavors bursting thru followed by a rich and creamy body. The wine wasn't too sweet nor too bone dry. It was a perfect middle where people who prefer different styles could come together and agree. The yeast flavors were subtle and didn't overpower the fruit. At $40 a bottle its a bit on the pricey side but well worth it.

I would definitely drink again and will have to keep this on my short list when looking for sparklings.

http://argylewinery.com/store.php

Posted by mardenhill 6/16/2008 08:42:00 PM 0 comments  

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Marmot Gear
Friday, June 13, 2008

A few weeks ago I picked up a new raincoat at REI during their Memorial Day sale. The jacket was the Marmot PreCip, a lightweight and waterproof jacket perfect for Summer. It compresses nicely has has underarm zippers that you can open. The jacket breathes which is great but can be a little too thin in early spring/late fall. Even so, just add an extra layer underneath and you will be all set. The jacket comes in a wide range of colors and the one I have is the Bonfire/Lava. Another great feature is the hood, it covers your head and has a duck bill in front to help keep water off your face. It can also be tightened up if the wind is too strong. I tend to alternate between North Face and Mountain Hardware for my jackets but this year I couldn't find a good raincoat in either brand that wasn't too expensive. This jacket offers everything you need at a great price.

http://marmot.com/spring_2008/mens/outerwear/shells/precip_jacket/enlarge

Posted by mardenhill 6/13/2008 02:29:00 PM 1 comments  

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iPhone 3G
Monday, June 09, 2008

Well Apple just upped the ante in the battle for cell phone supremacy. Today they announced the new iPhone running on the 3G network available July 11th. Besides faster data speeds, the new iPhone has integrated GPS which will allow you to use Google Maps like a GPS device with a moving dot on the screen showcasing where you are. The iPhone is slimmer and also comes in 2 colors, Black and White. The developers store will be launching soon with applications that you can download via the cell phone or computer and apps can be customized for enterprise environments. It still gets better, Apple has dropped the price and the iPhone starts at $199 for the 8 gig model and $299 for the 16 gig. This will definitely put a damper on the Windows mobile, Treo and Blackberry market.

Apple also changed the .Mac site into MobileMe a website that will contain mail, contacts, calendar, photos, data etc that syncs with your desktop or laptop. This is not a free service, its $99 a year but you have push technology when it comes to email and calendar. Think of it as enterprise software for the common user. Is it worth $99, probably not but its an option none the less. You will now go to www.me.com from any computer and sign in.

Existing iPhone users will get the 2.0 software soon which will allow them to take advantage of all these features sans 3G data speeds and integrated GPS.

Overall, this is a win win situation for Apple. A foot into the corporate world and a chance at cell phone domination. They did it with the iPod and they may do it with the iPhone as well.

Posted by mardenhill 6/09/2008 03:52:00 PM 0 comments  

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Terrorist Fist Jab

To show how desperate Fox News is these days, they have sunk to terrorist smears while discussing Obama. E.D. Hill one of the morning Fox News hosts made a comment regarding Michelle and Barack's fist jab when Barack accepted the Democratic Nomination.

HILL: A fist bump? A pound? A terrorist fist jab? The gesture everyone seems to interpret differently. We'll show you some interesting body communication and find out what it really says.


Is she that ignorant, yes, E.D. has a list of completely absurd statements but this one may take the cake. Has she ever watched any sporting event, any young adult, any male or female for that matter greet each other? Its the new form of shaking hands, its a non formal acknowledgement. What's next, athletes who jump up and bump chests a terrorist plot? How pathetic and I really hope Jon Stewart and Keith Olbermann lampoon her for this stupid comment. She deserves a SNL skit but unfortunately the seasons over.

Come on Fox News, we all know you are in the tank for the GOP but do you really need to keep using terrorism as an attack on fellow Americans?

Posted by mardenhill 6/09/2008 11:54:00 AM 0 comments  

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The National - The Crofoot Pontiac, MI 6.8.08
Sunday, June 08, 2008

Last night Erika and I went to see the National who were playing a 1 off show during the tour with REM and Modest Mouse. They had a free evening between Chicago and Toronto so the National stopped in Detroit (well Pontiac) for a show. We missed the opening band which is ok since it was no one I have ever heard of. The show was sold out at 1150 people and this was the first time I had ever been to the Crofoot. Its a newer venue in Pontiac, was Industry I believe years ago and renovated for shows. The layout is amazing, the stage is a good size and the balcony is quite wide and gives you perfect view of the band. There are a number of bars both upstairs and down so waiting for a drink isn't too bad at all. The best part, its not that smoky and its clean. Yeah I still love St Andys down in Detroit but if I had my choice I would rather see shows here, the sound it much better and its not a million degrees in the summer.

Getting back to the National, they played for about an hour and a half and started off with "Start A War". They played the majority of Boxer; "Brainy", "Squalor Victoria", "Racing Like A Pro", "Ada", "Mistaken For Strangers", "Fake Empire", "Apartment Story", "Slow Show" and "Secret Meeting", "All The Wine" and "Mr. November" which they dedicated to Barack Obama from Alligator. There were a few more songs but I can't remember off hand but it gives you a good idea of the setlist. The band sounded great and were into the show. There was a little bit of banter between songs but you couldn't really understand what Matt Beringer was saying. There were some songs I was hoping for but have heard them at other shows. If you are slated to see the National open for REM or even on an independent show you will enjoy. They are an amazing live band and one that you should not miss.

Posted by mardenhill 6/08/2008 10:51:00 AM 1 comments  

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Garden 2008 2 Weeks Later
Saturday, June 07, 2008

Herbs
Herbs & Hot Peppers
Tomatos
Beans
Pathway with annuals
Annuals outside of fence.

Here are some updated photos of our garden, we put everything (sans the large herbs) 2 weeks ago and here is their progress. So far everything is doing great, a few of the annuals have died and need replacement but thats all. Its still early but the flowers should fill in the walkway and border outside the fence. This year I used Cosmos, Zinnias and Dalias outside the yard and along the path a mix of some purple and multicolor daisy like flowers. I threw away the tags so I have no idea what they are called.

Posted by mardenhill 6/07/2008 01:34:00 PM 0 comments  

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When We Left Earth

Starting tomorrow night at 9pm, Discovery Channel will be airing a 6 part series regarding NASA and the last 50 years of space exploration. Like Planet Earth, this is in High Def and has never before seen footage. I am looking forward to this series since I enjoy anything space related and when its in HD its even better. You can check out the promo at the site below.

http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/nasa/nasa.html

Posted by mardenhill 6/07/2008 12:01:00 PM 0 comments  

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Cline Bridgehead Zinfandel 2006

If you are in the mood for an over the top, full bodied zin bursting with fruit and oak then the Cline Bridgehead Zin is for you. Its not hot like the Norman Estates Monster, it only comes in at 14.5% . This is fine tho because the flavors come thru instead of the alcohol.

This single vineyard showcases why California Zins are much more than some cheap grocery store wine and why this varietal is worth checking out. The wine starts off with fruit but isn't candy sweet like some low end zins. The oak provides a nice backbone and the finish is long and enjoyable. Its a great summer wine and one you should definitely check out.

If you are not familiar with Cline Vineyards, they are one of 1st ones on your way into Napa Valley and Sonoma. The people are friendly, the wine tasting is free and the wine itself is both inexpensive (Napa Standards) and great tasting. Cline has a number of wines that are in the sub $10 range while others climb upwards to $30.

http://www.clinecellars.com/

Posted by mardenhill 6/07/2008 09:56:00 AM 0 comments  

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And The Cup Is Back Home Once Again
Thursday, June 05, 2008

Last nite the Detroit Red Wings beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 with another scary 30 second finish to win the Stanley Cup. The last minute was stressful, the puck was down in Wings territory and Osgood had to do his best to keep the puck out of the net. With seconds left Osgood goes down and is swiping the puck away and one last shot goes off behind him. It didn't go in but I swear time stopped, or that was my heart because it was almost a repeat of Monday nite. On the replay you actually got to see what really happened, the clock was at zero and although the shot was behind Osgood, it never went across the line and just out the other side. If there had been a couple seconds left on the clock and a Pittsburgh player on the right of Osgood, we might not be celebrating.

The parade will be in downtown Detroit tomorrow morning but I doubt I will go. I was downtown for the parade in '98 and I think I'm content with that experience.

Way to go Wings, great season and thanks for bringing some good news to Detroit for a change

Posted by mardenhill 6/05/2008 08:43:00 AM 0 comments  

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Time To Buy A Mac
Wednesday, June 04, 2008

If you are in the market for a Mac, the next 3 months is the perfect time. If you are a student, or can get your hands on an ID or someone else to purchase a computer, you will receive a free 8 gig iPod Touch. You can also upgrade to a higher capacity iPod and pay the difference after $299. The deal is on the whole line of Macs except the Mini. I am still holding out for my laptop, I am hoping the MacBook Pro series has its refresh within the next couple months. If not I may just get the current MacBook Pro and since I am back in school, I'll use the Education discount to score myself a free iPod Touch.

Posted by mardenhill 6/04/2008 11:01:00 AM 0 comments  

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It's Official Obama Is The Nominee

Last nite Obama reached the new delegate milestone of 2118 and is now the Democratic nominee. This is historic on many levels, for starters Obama is the first black candidate, 2nd he defeated the most powerful and feared political machine in modern day politics and 3rd he did it without D.C. insiders. Obama has reshaped politics for years to come. He has shown that you don't need to always go negative, its ok to embrace the grassroots and don't underestimate the will of the people.

Hillary ran her campaign as the chosen one and had no plan after Super Tuesday. In her mind the nomination was hers and the rest of the primaries were just little plays that she had to smile and sit thru. She never saw Obama coming as did many others and was caught off guard. Poor planning on her part and not a trait I want my president to possess.

Now Hillary is yet to concede, maybe she is just letting things rest for a couple days and will do so by the end of the week. Part of me thinks this is the case while the other part knows how greedy and power hungry the Clinton's are and have no qualms about taking it to the convention. Its going to be an interesting summer and if the Clinton's try to sabotage Obama'scandidacy, there will be hell to pay.

Congrats to Obama for doing the unthinkable and to the superdelegates for not bowing to the will of the Clintons. Allowing a small segment of the party to dictate the nominee is wrong and one that would have only hurt in the long run.....

Posted by mardenhill 6/04/2008 08:51:00 AM 3 comments  

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Game 5 Tonight
Monday, June 02, 2008

The Wings are up 3-1 in the Stanley Cup Finals and tonight could be the last came of the season. If so it would mark 4 cups in 11 years. Besides that the Wings have been in the playoffs for 17 years straight.

This is a different team than the last few cups, no more Federov, Yzerman, Shanahan, Russian 5 and Bowman. On the other hand, the quiet players who stayed Lidstrom, Draper, Maltby, McCarty (just back this year), Osgood (gone for a few years but back as well), Chelios and Holmstrom have kept the team alive and the new blood gives longevity to the team. It should be a good nite and who knows maybe all of us will be celebrating tonight/tomorrow morning.

Update: Yeah I spoke too soon, the Wings lost in a Triple OT game. The Penguins scored with 35 seconds left in the 3rd and after that it was downhill. I can't say for sure since I went to bed after the 1st OT but I didn't expect a celebration.

Posted by mardenhill 6/02/2008 06:18:00 PM 2 comments  

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One More Day

Well tomorrow is the last day of the Democratic primaries and as of now it's Obama in the lead. Over the weekend MI and FL were decided by the rules committee and both states delegates were cut in half. Hill's supporters are still up in arms over it, somehow Obama got 4 more delegates than he should have, not like it would have mattered but that's the latest argument. When Hillary says she won the popular vote it is with MI counting only for her and no votes for Obama. Doesn't seem really fair but when it comes to playing by the rules the Clintons skipped that lesson.

Obama will be the face of the new Democratic party, no more egotistical/power hungry/greedy boomers to call the shots. This needed to happen, if the Dems plan on surviving they must pull the power from the boomers and spread it around to others within the party. There will be grayheads who will bolt and vote for McCain but let them, they are just old and jaded and can't accept the next generation taking over. These people are not the future of the party and if we are to have any luck in shaping the country for the next 20 years, Obama must be the nominee.

June 3rd, What took you so long................

Posted by mardenhill 6/02/2008 05:44:00 PM 0 comments  

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