2003 Johann Donabaum Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Berglage Loiben
Thursday, December 13, 2007
We are down to 5 Austrian wines and I decided that it was time to open another one. This time around it was the 2003 Johann Donabaum Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Berglage Loiben. If you are not familiar with Grüners they are a similar to Sauvignon Blancs but are only grown in Austria. This one has hints of mineral and green apple with a some pear and pepper on the finish. What really suprised me was how rich and creamy this wine was. I expected a bone dry and clean white that would be a bit acidic but I was definitely wrong. Unfortunately Winemonger is out of this wine but they still have plenty of others for you to enjoy.
http://www.winemonger.com/catalog/index.php
Posted by mardenhill 12/13/2007 09:50:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Wine
Mitchell Report
The Yankees were well represented on the Mitchell Report but the Tigers didn't get away scott free either. Looks like our DH Gary Sheffield was mentioned but as of now that is the only person affected. Not sure what this all means, will Gary be back next year, will he be suspended or will he just get a slap on the wrist? I guess we will have to wait and see.
I am not suprised that Gary's name is on the list, but I am glad that players like Maggs, Pudge, Verlander, Granderson, Polanco, Guillen and our latest draft pick Cabrera were not listed. I do hope that MLB takes this report seriously and lays the smackdown on players. We need to get steroids out of all sports and if it takes MLB to get it rolling so be it..........
Posted by mardenhill 12/13/2007 03:27:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Tigers
New James CD!!!
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
James announce 2008 UK tour
Plus release date for new album
James have announced details of a new tour for 2008, and revealed they will release their first studio album for seven years around the same time. The band, who reformed earlier this year, are likely to air tracks for the as-yet-untitled album, out April 7, on the tour. It will be the group's first record since 2001's 'Pleased To Meet You'
..........................................
This is great news since it seemed like James "broke up" for no apparent reason and still had plenty of gas left in the tank. According to my rules James didn't wait a full 10 years so this really isn't a reunion, just a long lapse between records which gave the band a bit of a breather and a chance for Tim Booth to release a solo record. With that in mind this is just another James record and nothing more. I still excited tho and will take what I can get. I highly doubt that we will see a US tour but at least we get new music come April.
Posted by mardenhill 12/11/2007 09:31:00 AM 0 comments
Labels: Music
Montinore Estate Gewürztraminer 2006
Sunday, December 09, 2007
If you are a fan of Gewurzts you need to check out this wine. Its from Oregon and not that expensive, between $13-$15 a bottle. It has the classic Gewurztraminer aroma, a bit floral, fruit and minerals. The wine has a golden color with intense flavors to match. Its rich like a chard but not as oaky and a bit on the sweeter side. This wine could hold up to some spicy food with its ability to coat your tongue and give you a cool and refreshing finish.
http://www.montinore.com/index.html
Posted by mardenhill 12/09/2007 10:33:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Wine
Warren Miller Playground
Saturday, December 08, 2007
Last nite my buddy Chris and I went and saw the latest Warren Miller ski movie Playground. Since Jeep sponsors the event and my company does their advertising I was able to get on the guest list. It saved us $20 each which was nice since I have seen my full of ski movies over the years. I do enjoy them because they get you ready for the season but they tend to be the same thing over and over. This one took you to Dubai and inside their enclosed ski run. They also had clips of Alaskan heliskiing and resorts in Japan. I do have to say they upped the extreme skiing in this movie, there were just a few kids scenes and no dogs in bandanas which was always a staple in the past. The best part would probably be the lack of snowboarders these movies tend to focus more on skiers.Posted by mardenhill 12/08/2007 11:43:00 AM 0 comments
Biden For Prez
Thursday, December 06, 2007
I like Joe, he's a great senator (even when he puts his foot in his mouth which can happen more often than not) and an excellent presidental candidate. He knows his foreign policy inside and out and could deal with the diplomatic disaster we will be left with when Bush leaves office. Below is a great posting that he wrote regarding the NIE and Iran.
Will Biden win the nomination, probably not but no one expected Ron Paul to do as well as he has. Same goes for the huckster, the former governer came out of nowhere and became the media darling for the last couple weeks. The stories are starting to pile on and it will be interesting to see if Huckabee can withstand the criticism.
Biden would be a great Secretary of State but as of now he is not interested. I wonder if that will change come November when a dem wins the WH.
I havn't decided who I am supporting as of now, too many good candidates but Joe is on my short list. Unfortunately he withdrew his name from the MI primary so I won't be writing him or any other candidate in.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joe-biden/meeting-the-iranian-chall_b_75628.html
Posted by mardenhill 12/06/2007 01:57:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Politics
Whoops I Did It Again
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
Hey Romney here is a simple concept, why not hire individuals who are legal citizens that you can verify yourself rather than relying on a service. You are running for prez you know things will be scrutinized why leave yourself open? Oh well, more fodder to play with and let me tell ya, it won't end here. Romney has based a campaign on bashing illegals maybe now you will realize that your narrowminded view is part of the problem.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2007/12/lawn_work_at_ro.html?p1=email_to_a_friend
Posted by mardenhill 12/04/2007 09:42:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Politics
L.Mawby Consort
Sunday, December 02, 2007
I was craving some sparkling so we opened up a bottle of L. Mawby's Consort last nite and it was great. It was sweet and smooth with lots of little bubbles. The Consort is made from Chardonnay and fermented in a stainless steel tanks before bottling. I generally perfer an oak barrel for additional flavor but steel tanks can produce some very good and clean flavors. With it being a Sec, its on the sweeter side but not too much and not quite a dessert wine.
The dryness scale goes as follows: Extra Brut, Brut, Extra Dry, Sec, Demi Sec and Doux. Most of your wines will be labeled Brut which is just a small dose of sugar and tend to be very dry.
We also have a bottle of L. Mawby's Talismon which is a cuvee, brut and fermented in oak. I am looking forward to drinking this one and havn't decided if it will be my New Years Eve bottle or not.
http://www.lmawby.com/buy/winesdetail.asp?id=9
Posted by mardenhill 12/02/2007 08:38:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Wine
Update: High Def
Friday, November 30, 2007
We received our new High Def cable box/DVR yesterday and was amazed at how clear the channels really are. As of now WideOpenWest offers 20 channels with more coming at the beginning of the year. We have the basic networks, ESPN, Discovery, TNT, PBS, WTV (wealth tv, very strange station), Food Network, Starz and a few others. I loved watching shows last nite on the Discovery since they come in at 1080i. Some channels will broadcast at 720p which is still really good but don't always use the whole screen. We watched the Redwings last nite which was amazing since it was easy to follow the puck and see all the action on the ice. Its almost better than being at the game. The cable box will always display the broadcasting size and also doubles as the DVR. Unfortunately we lost the shows we had saved on the previous ones but oh well, the high def makes up for it.
Starting next year we will be getting my favorite station of all time, the Discovery Science channel in HD which will be amazing. I can then watch all my favorite topics: space, technology, geography, geology, egypt, oceans anything that is more or less on the station. There will be another Discovery along with TLC and Animal Planet. I am not looking forward to Animal Planet tho, the animal rescue shows are bad enough I couldn't imagine them in HD, you could really see the abuse close up. Erika is looking forward to watching Tennis in HD and I am hoping that they replay the Planet Earth series.
Posted by mardenhill 11/30/2007 12:28:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Technology
Robert Hall Cabernet Sauvignon 2003
Thursday, November 29, 2007
While updating my wine inventory I discovered this Robert Hall cab in my cellar. One of the reasons I had bought it was due to it being from the Paso Robles region. I decided to open it and was very impressed with the taste. The first glass was very cold even though the wine had warmed up a few degees. It wouldn't open at all and it was just a bunch of fruit and nothing else. After a couple hrs the wine finally responded and became what I was hoping for. The plush flavors appeared and a bit of oak and spice made its way to the table. The tannins were soft but present and left a great taste on your tongue. You can definitely tell the difference between a California cab than one from Chili or Argentina.
http://www.roberthallwinery.com/roberthall/index.jsp
Posted by mardenhill 11/29/2007 10:39:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Wine
High Def
Wide Open West is coming today to deliver our High Def cable box/DVR I will followup with a posting once its done.
Did anyone catch the Republican debate last nite? It was the CNN Youtube debate and provided some pretty funny moments. For starters Fred Thomspon the so called great hope blew it last nite and his campaign is just about over. He is a lazy and useless schmuck that looks like and extra from the Evil Dead. Romney tried to weasel his way out of a few questions but got bitchslapped by McCain on torture. Hey Romney just say it, you are in favor of torture u love the idea. Guilani was blasted at the beginning and never really recovered but did get in a few 9/11s as well as a gimme question that was used to take the pressure off of him as a one trick pony. Tom Trancredo is still insane as ever and said that he wouldn't fund a misson to mars which pissed me off. The only one that seemed to shine last nite was Huckabee. He was a smooth talker, interjected some humor when needed and pulled it off. The guy is scary tho, he is the product of the new breed of republicans and I don't think the country wants to relive the whole "compassionate conservatism" all over again.
Posted by mardenhill 11/29/2007 08:32:00 AM 0 comments
Labels: Politics
Save Tucker
Monday, November 26, 2007
http://savetucker.org/index.html
I don't always agree with the guy but I think he is a great cable news personality. He is willing to make fun of himself and will take both sides to task for their ignorant stands on issues. After Jon Stewart kicked Tucker out of the park on Hardball years ago, he became a real person and a better pundit. It took a while but he lost the bowtie and lambasted partisans who refuse to take off their blinders. I respect him for this and although he still pisses me off from time to time I don't want to see him go.
Posted by mardenhill 11/26/2007 11:48:00 AM 0 comments
Labels: Politics
Lots Music News
For starters I have rules that I believe bands need to follow when it comes to "getting the band back together". No band should say they are reformed or back together if they have not reached the 10 year mark. This 10 year can be between releases or the dismantling of the band. So for groups like Janes Addiction and Smashing Pumpkins, those are just extended breaks between albums not official reformations. With that in mind I have a few bands I would like to discuss today. All three bands meet my criteria and are scheduled to resurface next year.
The first band is the Jesus And Mary Chain. After their Coachella show the Reid brothers decided to give it another shot and will be releasing a new cd next year. This will be 10 years since their last cd Munki and possibly a new direction for the band. Both brothers will be featuring their own songs and as of now there is no talk of newer music written together. This can always change so we shall see.
The second band is My Bloody Valentine who took the 10 year rule and blew it out of the water. Their last cd surfaced back in '91 so we are looking at 17 years. MBV were part of the shoegazing scene that pulled influences from JAMC, Sonic Youth and Cocteau Twins. Due to Kevin Shields insistence on perfection, MBV never released anything after Loveless until now, or so he says. Shields wants to pull a Radiohead and release online only but at a price no free music.
Our third band would be The Verve who hit it big with Urban Hymns only to crumble a year later. Yeah they pulled off some shows with a new guitarist but that never panned out and Richard Ashcroft dismantled the band and went solo. For the last 8 years Ashcroft put out cds that became progressively worse and for any credibility to be left he needed to get the band back together. Right now, The Verve are just re-releasing a greatest hits with a DVD packaged together. They did play some shows and posted about 20 minutes of music recorded during some studio sessions. The music didn't amount to much, no songs but a good starting point for work on a new cd.
All three bands are very important in the history of music, lets hope their reformations amount to some amazing sounds, something the music industry desparately needs.
Update: As for Janes Addiction, they had a 13 year span between cds but within that time were back together playing shows with members of Red Hot Chili Peppers throughout the late 90s.
Posted by mardenhill 11/26/2007 10:32:00 AM 1 comments
Labels: Music
New TV
Sunday, November 25, 2007
I left the store with his card and prices and headed back home for some more research. I checked everywhere else and no one except Amazon could come close to the price at ABC so I decided I would do one last check thru Costco then back there. Costco had the older Sharp model at a great price but online only so I used this as my bargining chip. I went back to ABC and told the guy I didn't want an extended warranty but was willing to buy at Costco due to the 2 year they give and asked what else he could do. He came back and knocked off another $50 and threw in a surge protector, HDMI cable, DVI to HDMI converter and glass cleaner at his cost (or so he says but it was a good discount none the less). I walked out of there with the Sharp Aquos LC 42D64U for $1450 which I believe was a great deal. This model has an additional HDMI port, a lower response rate 4ms and a slimmer design over the 62U series Costo was selling. I still have 30 days to decide if I want an extended warranty but I am not sure if I will do so.
Setup was easy, just screw in the base and plug in. We still need to swap our cable box for the HD version with the bigger DVR. The tv did an automatic scan for channels and once that was done we were watching. I am excited to upgrade to the HD since I will be able to watch Discovery channel in High Def. We also need to get a home theater in a box and will wait til xmas for that. Since our living room is not that big I didn't want to do the separate components and a simple dvd player/receiver with wireless rear speakers will work just fine. There are a few that I am looking at and all are very affordable. We plugged the Wii in last nite and played a game of tennis which was a lot of fun. Yeah its not High Def quality but the split screen was big enough that you could play against each other and see the ball. I will need to get the better cables for the Wii now but that's not a big deal. I will also have to calibrate the tv getting all the colors right but that is something I will do another day. So if you are in the market for a new tv, consider Sharp, they have all the necessary specs as well as a great design.
Posted by mardenhill 11/25/2007 10:02:00 AM 0 comments
Labels: Technology
Campion Edna Valley Pinot Noir 2002
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Happy Thanksgiving everyone and hope that you had some good food and great wine today. With that in mind I will fill you on on what we served with our dinner. We had both a red and white for everyone and the red was a Campion Edna Valley Pinot Noir from California. Though not as heavy as an Oregon Pinot, the Campion holds up well and delivers a nice plump and earthy red. There is a bit of tannin on the finish and a hint of wood and spice creep thru. This is a $20 bottle and well worth it if you are looking for an easier drinking red but not too weak. This is definitely a wine I would buy again with no problems.
http://www.campionwines.com/wines/
Our 2nd bottle was the 2006 Blackstar Farms Late Harvest Riesling, a great example of Michigan wines. This is a sweet and crisp white with hints of apricot. A wine like this will go well with any spicy dish or with an audience of non wine drinkers who prefer sweeter juice. Michigan does excel in the white wines and Rieslings stand out on top. This wine is great on its own or served with a simple dessert of fresh fruit. This wine can be found for about $16 a bottle.
http://www.blackstarfarms.com/winery/wines/?id=34
Posted by mardenhill 11/22/2007 02:30:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Wine
My Moto Q9H
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Yeah I know I go on and on about how cool my phone is but I'm not lying, it really is that cool. The other day I installed a program to view YouTube videos in full screen mode (not something I watch a lot of but nice to have). I also discovered that the software can also stream internet radio. While driving up to Erika's family I plugged my phone into our iPod adapter and streamed Woxy Vintage while driving down the expressway. As long as you have a good signal it comes thru with no problems. When we were north of Lansing it started to go out. At that point I switched back to the iPod and continued on with our journey.
The ability to stream internet radio for free while driving around town is awesome and something I will do more of back at home. I didn't expect to have signal the whole way but was suprised by how far it did go.
I found a free weather and travel program that gives me updates as well as a Zaget restaurant guide.
Posted by mardenhill 11/21/2007 07:34:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Technology
Research in Motion Secretly Plans iPhone Killer
Word on the street is that RIM has its sights set on dethroning Apple and the iPhone. They will release a touchscreen device under the 9000 series in hopes of breaking their image of a business only device. They did make some headway with the Pearl, a small phone with a 2 type keyboard that is next to impossible to type on. They brought the keyboard back with the Curve and both devices had cameras onboard as well. This is good and all but when compared to windows based devices the Blackberrys do not hold up. They are not user friendly when it comes to 3rd party applications and you always feel like you are in business mode when using.
Another problem I have with Blackberrys is their desktop software, this is needed to sync and reconcile emails and files. Its completely stupid that I need a desktop software to keep my outlook organized. As for file transfer, thats fine since all devices have this. I have never worked with a Blackberry that is truly 100% wireless, something never syncs and its back to the usb cord once again. This is one of the reasons I love Active Sync and Windows Mobile, I never have to cradle my device unless I want to transfer files. My calendar, emails, address book, tasks and notes all sync flawlessly.
So with that in mind I don't see Blackberry coming close to an iPhone killer. Neither device is 3G which is a big deal for me. This is one of the reasons why I didn't go for the iPhone. If the 2nd generation sports 3G and a few other missing features then I will reconsider.
http://www.alleyinsider.com/2007/11/research-in-mot.html
If you are on the fence and are considering a Blackberry, look elsewhere and try a Windows Mobile device, I think you will be much happier.
Posted by mardenhill 11/21/2007 07:22:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Technology
2005 Domaine de la Motte Chablis Cuvée Vieilles Vignes
One of the problems with old world wines are the lack of photos and good websites. Anyways, the bottle in question is a 2005 Domaine de la Motte Chablis Cuvée Vieilles Vignes. This is a Chardonnay from the Burgundy region in France and one that many people will enjoy. While its not the over oaked chards from Australia, its not a simple and sweet wine either. Its the best of both worlds, a great nose with hints of tropical fruit and and wood. Its not some amazing Burgundian wine that should be held for years or rationed, its just a $13 bottle from Costco. I do recommend it tho, if you are in need of a chard for your cellar but want something other than the usuals give this a try.
Plus you can always look pretentious among your friends by pulling out a bottle with a name longer than most and one that can't be rattled off at will.
http://www.chablis-michaut.com/index.php?en
Posted by mardenhill 11/21/2007 09:27:00 AM 0 comments
Labels: Wine
Monsanto Chianti Classico 2003
Sunday, November 18, 2007
I am used to Chianti's being very cheap, thin and watery and never had the desire to buy a good one. I changed my mind and picked up the Monsanto from Costco. Fortunately it was only $15.99 and when I did a bit of research I discovered that outside of warehouse stores its well over $20 a bottle.
This Chianti is 90% Sangiovese, 10% Canaiolo and aged 24 months in oak. The color is a deep red and is hard to see thru. The flavor is rich and plump with a lot of fruit and a lingering spicy backbone. Even after 2 days this wine stood up and continued to offer flavor.
I am hoping that Costo has a few more bottles left because I will definitely pick up a couple to sit on for years to come.
Posted by mardenhill 11/18/2007 09:45:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Wine
Circuit City Are A Bunch Of Assholes
Friday, November 16, 2007
I don't do much shopping at Circuit City and after my experience today I will do much less, basically none. I had today off and decided to do some research on TVs for our upcoming purchase. I did my research online beforehand, I had my specs down, I want 42 inch, 1080P, LCD, multiple HDMI ports and a price around $1200 if possible. I saw a few TVs that interested me on Circuit City's website with one being a Phillips for $1499. It features the Ambilight technology and I wanted to find out if this was something that would work if you didn't have the TV mounted to the wall. The website states not available for store pickup which is fine since I wasn't 100% on this TV anyways.
I arrived at the store around 2pm with maybe 15 cars in the parking lot. I make my way to the TV section and the guy who pretty much ignored me when I came in finally came over to ask if I needed any help. I rattle off my specs and what would fit in this range and he showed me a JVC which was nice. I then asked about the Phillps and he said they didn't sell the TVs anymore hadn't in over 6 months. I then said I saw them online and he tried to fight with me that Circuit City doesn't sell them. What kind of moron doesn't know what is available on the website? If you work at a store you should be familiar with what is available online. Its not like they only sell one Phillips, they have 10 on their site. He gave me a non answer regarding the Ambilight so now I have to make a trip to Best Buy to see if they have one and have a person who can answer my questions. Its not like the store was packed, there were 2 people in the TV dept and there were 2 workers. So the guy was of little use, had a bad attitude and didn't even know what his company sells. I expect this from Best Buy and figured that Circuit City would have some knowledgeable folks in their TV dept. I guess I was wrong and will end up going to Costco for my purchase. At least I know I won't get any help and prefer that over some idiot kid who is clueless and needs a crash course in customer service.
http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Televisions/sem/rpsm/c/1/catOid/-12867/N/20012866+20012867+40000406/link/ref/rpem/ccd/categorylist.do
Posted by mardenhill 11/16/2007 04:49:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Misc
Slacker Portable Player
Thursday, November 15, 2007
I while ago I wrote about Slacker.com a website that allowed you to stream music by genres and artists. They are in the process of releasing a portable player which is pretty damn cool. You can get them in 3 sizes:
15 Station: $199
25 Station: $249
40 Station: $299
The devices are WiFi and I believe have a hard drive which will store music on it when you are away from an internet connection. You get album art, biography and reviews of the music you listen to. Its not a touch screen but there is a touch bar on the side that allows you to slide up or down.
The concept is very simple, you choose to listen to pre programmed stations or build your own by choosing artists and letting the service build around that particular sound. Its completely free to listen to online and you get 6 skips per hour. There is a premium level which runs $7.50 a month that will give you unlimited skips and higher sound quality. If you are interested in listening to new music or just tired of putting together your own playlists let Slacker take over for you. One of the cool features on the web and maybe on the player is the Up Next, that way you get a preview of the artist (not song) that is scheduled to play.
Unfortunately the website does not go into specifics on the portable player which I find disappointing. I would like to know battery life, hard drive size, how long you can stream without an internet connection and how long it take to sync. Hopefully they update this soon that way I can notify all of you on the latest in the coolest gadgets around.
Update:
Just found a site that gave battery life and its only 10 hrs which does suck a bit. You can play your existing mp3s which means there is a hard drive present, just not sure what size.
http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/slacker-video-tour/slacker-portable-personalized-radio-player-video-and-gallery-323023.php
Posted by mardenhill 11/15/2007 11:52:00 AM 0 comments
Labels: Music, Technology
Nokia N82
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Nokia just released a new phone under their "N" series and its the N82. This phone is amazing in many ways but not one I would really go out and buy. Its loaded with GPS, WiFi, music player, microSD memory slot (comes with a 2gb card), internet browser, and camera that happens to be a 5 megapixel with a Carl Zeiss lens. No keyboard but for a media player phone this is nice. One of the great things about the Nokia phones is that you can buy them unlocked and just pop your sim card in. Now you are going to spend a great deal of money to do so but if you want a killer camera/phone/music player in one this is a device for you.
I still love the Motorola Q9H and should be getting my microSD card soon from Amazon. I plan on loading it up with mp3s, photos and apps.
http://www.nseries.com/index.html#l=products,n82
Posted by mardenhill 11/14/2007 04:39:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Technology
Obama Strikes Again
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
The Hillary lovefest is over and now its Obama's time to shine. Ever since Hillary's debate performance, her flip flopping on illegals and drivers licenses and the planted questions the media has set its eyes on a new candidate. Before it was Hillary this, Hillary that now its Hillary has stumbled, can she make it, is she too wounded etc.
I was watching the cable news shows last nite and every pundit spent their time fawning over Obama's performance at the Iowa dinner Saturday night. From the clips I saw, Obama did knock it out of the park and if he continues to turn up the heat, the nomination will be his. This was the Obama that everyone witnessed at the Democratic convention back in 2004. This is the Obama that could finally wrestle government control from the Baby Boomers who continue to fight the same battles since the 60s. This is one of the things I like best about him, he was too young for Vietnam and was not part of the counterculture movement. I just hope my generation doesn't follow the same path and spend 40 years fighting about the Iraq war. The good news is that the majority of the country knows it was a mistake and that Bush and co lied to get us in there.
I havn't decided who I am supporting, too many good candidates but Obama has made it to my shortlist.
Posted by mardenhill 11/13/2007 09:35:00 AM 0 comments
Labels: Politics
The Arcade Fire
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Last nite The Arcade Fire played on Austin City Limits and I have to say it was quite interesting. I don't love the band but I don't hate them either, they are one of those that I like a few songs but tend not to listen to all the time. After watching about 5-6 songs on ACL, I am glad that I have never seen them live, I don't know if I could handle a whole show. They are unique to say the least. They run around and swap instruments during songs but get a little too excited with the percussion. I find the lead woman very annoying tho, between her look and her singing, its enough to keep me from listening. She completely rips off Bjork with her style and she screams too much. If you have never seen them live I recommend finding some footage first, that way you can guage if its worth it.
Posted by mardenhill 11/11/2007 04:56:00 PM 1 comments
Labels: Music
Lack Of Postings
Thursday, November 08, 2007
Sorry for the lack of postings over the last couple weeks but I have been slammed at work and havn't had much time to write anything witty.
A few things to tide you over could be:
I still love my new phone, the Motorola Q9H is amazing and I have found more and more things that it can do. My latest was to download the Resco Internet radio client where I can listen to Woxy or Woxy Vintage while on the go. I have created some new ringtones and setup a new wallpaper. I am still waiting on a memory card, I can't decide between a 2 or 4 gig.
Well enjoy this little nugget and I promise I will get back to my normal schedule of postings soon.
Posted by mardenhill 11/08/2007 08:06:00 PM 1 comments
Labels: Misc
City Of Berkley Election Results
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
We had a charter ammendment to vote on in our city and the good news is it didn't pass. The city of Berkley has had a nativity scene out in front of City Hall for years but the charter would require the city to display this from the end of November thru January. It would require a Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus along with a Santa Claus and presents. Mind you there is a huge church a half mile down the road that could display all of this instead of City Hall. There is no reason why this should be on the property not to mention the tax dollars that will be wasted defending this. Its good to see that the citizens of my city came thru and defeated this proposal. We will just be labeled heathens by the nutballs who supported this but I really don't care. And the crazy lady who was running as a write in candidate lost as well. So overall it was a good day for my faire city.
Proposal: Requires the city to display a Christmas nativity scene on city hall property each year. ( 7 of 7 precincts)
NO
2,275
Yes
1,861
Posted by mardenhill 11/06/2007 10:06:00 PM 1 comments
Labels: Berkley
Nick Cave News
Sunday, November 04, 2007
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds release their 14th studio album DIG, LAZARUS, DIG!!! on 3rd March 2008.
Produced by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds and Nick Launay who worked with the band on their last album Abattoir Blues/ Lyre of Orpheus, the new album was recorded over the summer at State of the Ark Studios in Richmond and mixed by Nick Launay at British Grove in Chiswick.
DIG, LAZARUS, DIG!!! features artwork by British artists Tim Noble and Sue Webster.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds will announce single and tour news soon, and rest assured you will be the first to hear about it.
................................
I am very interested to hear what this cd will sound like. After Nick's side project with Grinderman, will he go back to the soft ballads or will he have an edge to his sound? Its great that there will be a tour but I am not holding my breathe for a Detroit date.
Posted by mardenhill 11/04/2007 03:49:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Music
Rogue Chipolte Ale - Oregon
Thursday, November 01, 2007
Chipolte Ale
Dedicated to Spanish author Juan de la Cueva, who, in 1575, wrote of a dish that combined seedless chipotles with beer: Chipotle Ale is based on Rogue’s American Amber Ale, but delicately spiced with smoked jalapeno (chipotle) chile peppers. Deep amber in color with a tight head, rich malty aroma, delicately smooth and crisp flavor, and subtle chipotle chili finish. Chipotle Ale is created from Northwest Harrington, Klages, and Maier Munich Malts; Willamette and Cascade hops; and Chipolte (smoked jalapeno) Peppers. Available in a 22-ounce (12/case), 12-ounce (24 loose/case) screened bottles, and on draft. Blend it with Rogue Chocolate Stout and create a Mole’ black and tan!
http://www.rogue.com/brews.html#MMsoba
........................................
While in Oregon we saw a display of this beer and wanted to try it. It took about 5 stores and finally Holiday Market in Royal Oak had it in stock. The beer is quite good and although it made with peppers its not what you think. I was expecting a more smokey flavor due to the chipolte but it was just heat at the end of the taste. You have the classic Rogue flavor with a bit of BAM at the end. If you have never had Rogue beer before you are in for a treat. They have some amazing styles and if the Chipolte Ale is too much, just try the Dead Guy Ale.
Posted by mardenhill 11/01/2007 09:30:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Books
Santa Helena Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Costco had this wine up front when you walk in a few weeks ago and I decided to give it a shot. It was only $12 so if it sucked well I didn't waste too much money. You have to be careful sometimes with the Costco blowouts, you don't really know the condition of the wine and you are taking a chance. The last few times I did so worked out so I decided to roll the dice once again.
The wine is from Chile and the producer is Santa Helena. The appellation is the Colchagua Valley and the vineyard Aureus. Its a cab and for the most part scored in the mid to high 80s in many reviews. I wasn't able to smell much tonight so it was hard to tell the nose on the wine. On taste you had the classic signs of a cab but it was not deep and robust like a California. It had some plump blackberry and a hint of spice but the finish was a bit short and had no lingering flavors. If you are looking for a decent and simple cab you can't go wrong with this bottle. The price is right and the taste is better than any other grocery store wine you would find for $12. If you are looking for a higher end Chilean wine look for a Montes Alpha, its usually wrapped in white tissue paper and features an angel on the label. These wines are very good and worth the extra few dollars.
Posted by mardenhill 10/30/2007 10:24:00 PM 3 comments
Labels: Wine
Q9H!!!!!!
Well I finally got my new phone, nothing like waiting for 2 months for it to launch. I saw on phonescoop that some people came across them yesterday afternoon so I called our local AT&T store. They just got them in and by 5:45pm I had one in my hands. It only took a few moments to sync my mail, just typed in a few server configurations and my network password and I had my email. I also synced my GMail acct which was really easy as well. I had Telenav turned on for the next 30 days and will decide if its worth it or not. The service is very cool, you can either type in an address or call it in and the GPS will register where you are and then build a map to get you to your destination. It gives you turn by turn directions along with voice commands. If you change the road it recalculates your new route. You can also browse local gas stations, restaurants etc with the service. Its like having a Tom Tom with you at all times.
The Pros:
3G Support: faster internet connection
2 megapixel camera
Windows Mobile 6
GPS
Additional RAM
Micro SD slot which supports up to 4 gig cards
QWERTY keyboard
Bluetooth
Extra Battery
The Cons:
No touch screen
I was going to complain about not adding my own ringtones to the phone but figured that problem out earlier today. I needed to lower the bitrate on the clips and that solved it. I need to get an SD card so I can save some mp3s and other files to it to make this the perfect multifunctional phone. Its no iPhone but I do have 3G speed and a cheaper price. Overall I am very happy with the phone and if anyone is in the market for a new pda/smartphone check out the Motorola Q9H.
Posted by mardenhill 10/30/2007 05:57:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Technology
Traverse City
Monday, October 29, 2007
Erika and I went up to Traverse City to see her sister and had a great weekend. We ate at the Blue Tractor a bar/grill that had some amazing mac n cheese and old man beer for $1.50 after 9pm. I got a can of Carling Black Label and a draft of Old Style, it doesn't get much better than that.
Saturday we started at some hippy restaurant where I had french toast which was ok but not groundbreaking. Everyone else enjoyed their food so I won't completely write off the establishment. It had some funky name but I can't remember and they are selling the place so I guess it really doesn't matter. From there we made our way to Fishtown an area right on Lake Michigan in Leeland. This was very cool, a bunch of old shacks with stores, a bar and fish monger. Our next stop were the vineyards, went to BlackStar Farms which is always fun and full of good wine. We bought a Chardonnay and Late Harvest Reisling from them. From there we made our way to Shady Lane, a new vineyard for me and I was impressed. Although we only bought a bottle of their Estate Reisling, I did enjoy a number of their other wines. Our final stop was L Mawby, my favorite vineyard up in Traverse City, its all sparklings and the people who run it are very cool. We splurged here and bought a bottle of their Talismon which was $30. We also picked up a couple Blanc de Blancs which are very good and reasonable at $18. Although you can get Domaine Chandon for $12 at Costco, I do like supporting our MI vineyards and would buy L Mawby if its available.
After the L Mawby we went back over to Leeland where we watched the sunset on the beach and enjoyed a bottle of the Blanc de Blanc. I left my camera at home so I only had my phone but you get the point.
The weather sucked on Saturday until 3pm when it stopped raining and the sun came back out. Sunday was great and made for an easy drive back home.
http://www.blackstarfarms.com/
http://www.shadylanecellars.com/ourStory.asp
http://www.lmawby.com/
http://www.bluetractorcookshop.com/
Posted by mardenhill 10/29/2007 09:30:00 AM 0 comments
Ryan Adams & The Cardinals - Follow The Lights
Friday, October 26, 2007
The latest EP from Ryan Adams continues the vibe of Easy Tiger and features a few new tracks, a cover and live studio tracks. The songs are slow and somber but not dark like the songs found on Love Is Hell. They are chalk full of Americana with slide guitars and beautiful melodies that blend together to create a lush and majestic music landscape. The highlight of the EP would be the Alice in Chain's cover of "Down In A Hole". Instead of the crunchy sound you have warm slides and acoustic guitars. The subtle aggression is still present and Ryan does a great job with the tortured vocals Layne Stanley is so famous for. I am always interested in Ryan's covers and this may be his best one yet. Track 5 "This Is It" is from RocknRoll but given a facelift with the help of the Cardinals. I highly recommend this EP, the 7 tracks are fresh and its enough to get us thru til another proper full length.
Posted by mardenhill 10/26/2007 08:58:00 AM 0 comments
Labels: Music
Green Currents
Thursday, October 25, 2007
GreenCurrents - A Renewable Energy Option
GreenCurrents is a voluntary green options program that makes being green easy and affordable. Help make the air we breathe a little cleaner and support the development of renewable energy alternatives for Michigan.
GreenCurrents Supports Michigan-based Renewable Energy
Longterm supply contract completed with Stoney Corners Wind Farm
Two additional Michigan bioenergy projects expected shortly
Coming Soon - a healthier, more sustainable Michigan
..........................................................
Although you are not getting "Green Energy" you are helping build the infrastructure needed to facilitate this. How it works, you have 2 choices either match 100% of your current energy bill by paying an additional .02 cents per KW or buy blocks of 100 watts for $2.50 each. Its like the carbon trading scene where you offset your current use with a greener subsitute. If you sign up, you will still get the same energy but the additional revenue will go towards the purchase of green energy.
I would love to generate my own energy thru solar panels but that's not really an option so this is the closest I can get. Its like hybrid drivers, they are paying a premium for their vehicle and in the end may not make up the extra costs in fuel consumption but many don't care. They are doing it because its the right thing to do. I plan on signing up with the Green Currents and after calculating it out, a 100% match would be an extra $13 a month. Thats not a big deal and if the money is going to a worthy cause then I am all for it. I will continue doing what I can and in the process help DTE Energy go green.
http://my.dteenergy.com/products/greenCurrents/index.html
Posted by mardenhill 10/25/2007 09:23:00 AM 0 comments
Labels: Environment
Van Halen 2007
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Some of the highlights were "Dancing The Night Away", "Everybody Wants Some", "I'll Wait", "Jamie's Crying", "Running With The Devil", "Panama" and "Pretty Woman". David Lee Roth was in classic form with a multitude of outfits, roundhouse kicks and sexual innuendos. At one point he grabbed a camera from the crowd and stuck it down his pants, not sure why but thats DLR for ya. The cameras singled out one middle aged woman in the crowd and plastered her on the big screen over and over. I think they were hoping for some shirtlifting action but it never happened. My main gripe about the show was the sound, it was way too loud. I have been to my fair share of shows but this one rivaled Dinosaur Jr and Queens of the Stoneage and was painfully deafening. The vocals were lost at times and it was a mush of sound that really did a disservice to the band. The crowd was interesting and I had a drunk woman and her husband next to me who looked like she was ready to puke over the ledge into the suite below. She did spill her popcorn down on the people which provided for some laughs. Unfortunately the downfall of the show was "Jump" which they played as an encore. DLR screwed up the lyrics and it felt like karaoke.
The face value of the tickets were $150, I am just glad I only had to pay for beer and half of parking. With many shows sold out around the country, VH is pulling in some dough that should last them for a while.
Btw, I did not take these photos, I yanked them off the official web site....
Posted by mardenhill 10/23/2007 09:16:00 AM 1 comments
Labels: Music
The Verve - The Thaw Sessions
Monday, October 22, 2007
http://www.nme.com/vervedownloadform/
You can download the latest from the Verve at the site above. Its 14 minutes of studio session that isn't much of a song but more of sound. From the beginning it sounds just like U2 with Richard Ashcroft doing his best Bono impression. The music is slow and gradually builds into an atmospheric haze reminicent of classic Verve. Its not bad and I do like parts of the track but it doesn't really give you a glimpse into where they are going for some new music. You can't tell if the songs will be slow and melodic or if there will be some rockin ones.
Posted by mardenhill 10/22/2007 10:25:00 AM 0 comments
Labels: Music
2005 Jiménez Landi Méntrida
Friday, October 19, 2007
Erika bought me this bottle for my birthday but I couldn't find an actual website for the vineyard. All I could find were a couple reviews. The wine is a Spanish blend with Merlot, Tempranillo and Syrah. Its dark in color with a fruity yet rustic flavor. The tannins are pretty strong and linger on your tongue. Although the Syrah is a minimun here, you can taste what it brings to the table. It rounds out the wine giving it a rich consistency and keeps the wine from being too dry. I have only had this open for about a half hr and I am interested to see how opens up.
Below is the review I pulled from the internet.
..........................................
The Wine Advocate The 2005 Jiminez Landi is a blend of 50% Merlot, 35% Tempranillo, amd 15% Syrah aged for 7 months in a mixture of French and American oak. Purple colored, it exhibits an attractive perfume of cedar, lavender, black currant and blackberry. This is followed by a plush wine with excellent depth and concentration, ripe, sweet fruit and enough structure to ensure several years of positive evolution. It should drink well through 2020.
Score: 90. —Jay Miller, February 28, 2007.
Posted by mardenhill 10/19/2007 10:08:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Wine
Google Phone
Google plans to announce details on their upcoming smartphone next week. On the surface it seems like a good thing, the hottest new company with its forward thinking developing a phone to compete with the likes of Apple, Microsoft, Motorola, Nokia etc. Well once you dive a bit deeper its not so sweet. Google plans on using HTC for the hardware side and although they make decent phones I am not a fan of the hardware. They all seem big and clunky with little attention paid to comfort. Lets hope they start fresh and give us an easy to use and nice looking device.
My 2nd concern would be pricing, Google loves to give things away but at a price, they spam you with advertising to do so. I really don't want a great deal only to have my inbox, sms text messages and internet cluttered with advertising. I am not saything this will happen but if you look at their product history, its a good guess.
So at this time I will be sticking with the Motorola Q9H (whenever stupid AT&T get around to releasing it) and see what happens within the next year or so.
http://www.forbes.com/home/technology/2007/10/18/gphone-iphone-wireless-technology-personaltech-cx_bc_1019gphone.html
Posted by mardenhill 10/19/2007 09:40:00 AM 0 comments
Labels: Technology
Band Of Horses - Cease To Begin (2007)
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
"I could sleep, I could sleep.....When I lived alone, is there a ghost in my house?"
http://www.mtvu.com/video/?id=1571790&vid=181238
There isn't much to the song, just a huge crescendo that builds up to a wall of sound that would make any shoegazing junkie a happy boy. Lyrics are simple and go in and out between the guitars.
The band is Band of Horses and "Is There A Ghost" comes from their 2nd release entitled Cease To Begin. BOH are on SubPop and made a name for themselves with the help of constant touring and as an opener for Iron & Wine. Their debut was full of great guitars teetering between classic and indie rock. On their 2nd cd, BOH continues with the classic sound and introduces a bit of sunshine and jangle pop into the mix. Shinesque vocals, a bit quirky and out of place at times weave in and out between upbeat melodies. Track 2 "Ode To Lrc" keeps the tempo up and channels My Morning Jacket for a spin on the retro train. By track 3 and 4, the tempo dampens and the indie melodies take over. Track 5 "The General Specific" features hand claps, honkytonk and some drunken saloon swagger.
The whole cd is solid from start to finish and I highly recommend it if you are looking for something different. Unfortunately its not available on eMusic, for some reason SubPop is the only large indie rock label not listed.
Posted by mardenhill 10/16/2007 08:32:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Music
Radiohead - In Rainbows (2007)
I will give it to Radiohead for their creative way of releasing new music and using the internet and media to promote it. Every magazine, internet site and even CNN ran stories on the cd. Radiohead couldn't ask for better coverage and by playing the "pay what you want" card, they garnered sympathy from just about everyone. In the end we found out that the files are only 160 bitrate and an offical cd will drop in January but that didn't stop people from downloading. From unoffical sources Radiohead "sold" 1.2 million copies of In Rainbows and who knows how many were plucked from the internet underground. With the sliding scale its estimated that Radiohead pulled in a couple million on this deal. They still have the collectors edition and the official cd coming which will bring in even more. Will this convince other bands to follow suit, I think so.
As for the actual music, its not bad but the last 3 cds havn't been very interesting to me. The art rock took a left at unlistenable and jogged over to downright boring. I have listened to this cd a few times now and while some songs are very good others suck. The opening track "15 Step" has a quirky electronic drum beat that doesn't mesh well with the rest of the instruments. Track 2 "Bodysnatchers" returns to a straightforward guitar rock and has a pretty heavy sound. Track 4 "Wierd Fishes Arpeggi" is reminicent of OK Computer and has a pleasant and mellow/pseudo electronic sound. Track 7 "Reckoner" has a great piano run with Thom Yorke's vocals meandering thru the jangle of high hats and snare drums. Track 9 "Jigsaws Falling Into Place" is pretty boring in the sense that there are no artistic tangents but its one of my favorites. Probably because its the closest to a real song and easy on the ears.
There are no "Karma Police", "No Suprises", "Black Star" or "The Bends" here which I find frustrating. I am the first to admit that I don't enjoy listening to complicated and off kilter rhythms but come on, a melody once in a while would be nice. So if you left Radiohead back in the 90s, don't expect to be swayed with this release, just pull out The Bends and OK Computer and live in the past back when Radiohead actually meant something.
Posted by mardenhill 10/16/2007 09:59:00 AM 1 comments
Labels: Music
Elk Cove Pinot Blanc 2006
Sunday, October 14, 2007
One of my favorite Oregon vineyards is Elk Cove and tonight we opened one of their Pinot Blancs. This wine is similar to a Chardonnay, it's creamy with a hint of oak but has a bit more mineral and tartness to it. Not quite a Sauvignon Blanc and not bold enough for a Chardonnay either. The Pinot Blanc is a cousin to the Pinot Gris grape and is popular in Germany, Austria and the Alsatian region of France. You can pick up this bottle at Costco for about $13.
Posted by mardenhill 10/14/2007 09:54:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Wine
The Right Wing Smear Machine
On Friday when they announced Al Gore won the Nobel Peace prize, most news stations were reporting it, but only one was trashing Al and the award itself. If you are a bit puzzled as to who it could be, well it was none other than Fox News. The attacks didn't stop on Friday, it went thru the weekend where the useless scum sucking pigs who bloviate all over the Sunday morning talk shows compared Al Gore to Arafat and considered him anti American. The Fox News whores thought General Petraeus should have received the award when they were not calling the committee a bunch of socalists and commies.
But the smearing didn't stop at Fox News, the presidental candidates have weighed in and our good friend John McCain felt the need to get a little press for his failing campaign and attack Al as well. I guess we should expect the flip flopper/panderer Romney and Attilla the Hun Guilani to weigh in tomorrow. No republican worth his weight in gold can pass up an opportunity to attack for no reason. Hey McCain what have you done to help Burma, nothing so get off your high horse and stop pandering to the far right wing of the party, they still don't like you so give it up.
............................................................
John McCain has become the first candidate for president to comment on Al Gore's Nobel Peace Prize in a negative way, telling an Iowa crowd that there were more worthy people out there to whom the prize could have been awarded.
"I would have liked to see that prize go to the Buddhist monks who are suffering and dying in Burma," McCain said.
Posted by mardenhill 10/14/2007 08:09:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Politics
Motor City Brewing Works
Last nite we checked out the Motor City Brewing Works for a few drinks then over to Traffic Jam for dinner. I've had the beer before but it was the 1st time to the brewery. They are known for their Ghettoblaster, a mild English Ale which was pretty good. I also had the Nut Brown Ale, dark in color but not too heavy. Its not Bells but it's also a nice break from the Woodward Avenue and Royal Oak Breweries which can get bland at times. If you're ever downtown or looking for a new local beverage, check out the Motor City Brewing Works for a much deserved change.
Posted by mardenhill 10/14/2007 07:18:00 PM 0 comments
HTC Tilt
I took a stroll thru the AT&T store yesterday and got my hands on the new HTC Tilt (a.k.a Kaiser) and was impressed with the phone. It has a touch screen and the keyboard slides out for typing. The screen then tilts up for easier viewing but now you look like a teenager with a sidekick. Its running Windows 6 Pro and includes 3G, WiFi, GPS, 3 Megapixel camera and micro SD slot for additional memory. At $299 its a steal but at 6 oz its a brick. Its lighter than the last Cingular/ATT smartphone but still heavier than the Treo (5.4 oz), iPhone (4.8 oz), Blackberry 8820 (4.73 oz) and Blackjack (3.5 oz). Its amazing what we consider big these days, I guess we can thank the iPod for that. Speaking with the reps they claim the new Moto Q may surface in the next 2 weeks and will be heavier than the Blackjack due to the GPS chip. According to Phonescoop the Q weighs in at 4.73 oz, not bad and a size that can be held while talking. I am still holding out for the Q, I have been going insane waiting for it but I think it will be worth it in the end.
Posted by mardenhill 10/14/2007 10:53:00 AM 1 comments
Labels: Technology
Way To Go
Friday, October 12, 2007
Al Gore won the Nobel Peace prize for his work on Climate Change this morning which many believe will nudge him to run for president. As much as I would love to see Al run, I don't think he will do it and I believe he is more influential outside of the WH. If he decided to throw his hat in the ring he would get my vote but I don't see it happening.
Al got screwed in 2000 but 7 years later, he is on top and Bush continues to fall. Its a great "I told ya so" and will only help out next year with Dems reclaiming the WH and increasing their numbers in congress. History will look back and will no doubt see Al as the true winner.
Way to go Al, keep up the good work.....
Posted by mardenhill 10/12/2007 10:55:00 AM 1 comments
Labels: Politics
Screw All Of You
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
Well its official, the bastard dems are pulling out of the Michigan primary. I say screw you, I will write my own name in come January. At this point you will have to really convince me for your vote in the general if you bypass my state. Dumbasses, thats what they are. Hillary has made a pledge not to campaign but has left her name on the ballot. She will then spin it as a victory which I think is wrong. If you are not going to participate at least take your name off the ballot no matter how stupid of a move the whole thing is. Going forward, anyone who plans on voting in the Primary either write your own name in or feel free to vote for me.....
................................................
Obama, Edwards and Richardson asked the Michigan Secretary of State to take their names off the ballot, and Biden's campaign said today he would do the same. They are pulling out because Michigan, like Florida, has violated national Democratic Party rules by moving up its primary date in a challenge to the traditional monopoly on early voting held by Iowa and New Hampshire.
New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, who has consistently held a comfortable lead among Democrats in Michigan polls, will stay on the state ballot, aides said.
"It's unnecessary" to remove her name from the ballot, spokesman Mo Elleithee said, because she has already signed a pledge not to campaign in Michigan or other states violating the national party's scheduling rules.
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071009/UPDATE/710090435&theme=Politics-President
Posted by mardenhill 10/09/2007 04:12:00 PM 2 comments
Labels: Politics
Life In Vegas
Sunday, October 07, 2007
Here are a couple photos of our room (and where Joe and I have spent the majority of our time here in Vegas). Its actually quiet right now, everyone has vacated for one reason or another. Give it 20 minutes and it will be full once again. Actually went outside today, hadn't been since Friday nite and its damn cold. Its hotter back in MI which blows me away. Had a good dinner last nite, we ate at the grill at Valentino, its the cheaper part of the main restaurant. Still a bit pricey but it did fall into our per Diem for the day.
http://www.venetian.com/VALENTINOGRILL.aspx
Posted by mardenhill 10/07/2007 05:12:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Travel
Emeril
Saturday, October 06, 2007
While taking a short lunch break today, we had our first celebrity sighting and it was none other than Emeril Lagasse. We were sitting at the Enoteca San Marco and Emeril walked thru behind us. At first we were not sure if it was him but when he came back out and past our table we got a better look and heard him speak. Weather wise, its pretty cold out here, in the high 60s low 70s. You would think the desert would be warmer but a cold front moved in paralyzing the city.
http://www.venetian.com/ENOTECA.aspx
Posted by mardenhill 10/06/2007 06:14:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Travel
Las Vegas
Friday, October 05, 2007
I am hanging out at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas for the next 5 days and will be blogging intermittently. Not here for a vacation tho, out here for work and the majority of the time will be spent in a windowless conference room maintaining the local network. Joe and I arrived yesterday and today spent the whole morning setting up the network. I will post some photos of our room so you can enjoy the scenery alongside us.
Posted by mardenhill 10/05/2007 03:42:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Travel
Still Not An iPod Killer
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
Microsoft announced the Zune 2.0 yesterday and while they are nice players they don't come close to the iPod. Pricewise, they match the iPod line and the only thing going for them will be a couple features like FM Tuner and "Squirting". Yeah I know the whole squirting thing makes no sense since its next to impossible to ever find another Zune owner within 1 mile of you. Nice try Microsoft but strike 2.
..........................................................
Posted by mardenhill 10/03/2007 08:11:00 AM 1 comments
Labels: Technology
Siouxsie - Mantaray 2007
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
The Queen of Goth is back and with a vengence. At 50, Siouxsie has ditched her band, her husband and the musical styles of the past. Siouxsie has embraced loud guitars, keyboards and a dark club beat for her latest solo record. The opening track "Into A Swan" has a deep and crunchy guitar with hints of NIN style production. From there Siouxsie lightens up the mood with modern discotechque beats and a surefire club anthem. I can see this song standing the test of time and being played alongside "This Corrosion" and "Head Like A Hole" at City Club for years to come. Track 3 "Here Comes That Day" pulls some old Banshee tricks with tempo and instrumentation but the arrangement is very fresh and not dated at all. The rest of the cd weaves in and out of subtle vampire homage and swooning orchestration. Just as Siouxsie has given us a wealth of music over the years, she gives a taste of many different sides of her personality here.
Siouxsie did a great job playing with styles that pair well with her voice. She is still haunting as ever but you don't need to dress all in black with eyeliner to appreciate this album. Radar did a great interview with her, you can read it at the link below.
Posted by mardenhill 10/02/2007 12:42:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Music
