Dogfish Head Fort
Friday, April 18, 2008

Posted by mardenhill 4/18/2008 06:12:00 PM 0 comments    

Labels: Beer

College In 2008
Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Before I am able to start my MBA program I need to take Calculus and decided to save some money and go to the local community college. Now its been 11 years since I have scheduled a class and was blown away at how things have changed. The trusty ole phone method is still available where you sit down with sheets of paper all around you with your schedule, your alternate and the alternate to that if the classes you want are not available. You then sit thru the painstaking automated voice that repeats everything back to you in snail speed. After it's all over you have your classes but if you need to make a change, its off to the office of registrar or back to the phone for another round. This was considered an advancement throughout the early to mid 90s and the method I had to rely on.

Well in 2008, it's quite different and forgive me if I am telling you what you already know but I am still smiling at how easy it has become. I logged onto the school's website, entered my username/password and did a search for the class I wanted. I found it clicked OK and the class was in my shopping cart, just like an Amazon purchase. I added another class for the 2nd half of the semester and in the end paid my tuition bill with my credit card. At that point I decided to google the professors to see if I could find anything on them and discovered the ratemyprofessors.com website. I was able to see reviews from students going back 3-4 years. Just like any open comments site, there were a bunch of idiots but I was able to get an idea of what I was getting myself into. I decided that the prof for the 2nd semester was a dud and searched for an alternate class. Found one at another campus and scheduled away. The school even has a link to the online bookstore where you can purchase what you need. Besides that, grades as well as your class schedule are posted online. I am really enjoying the modern world of college and can't wait to get started.

Btw, I need to take a semester of college algebra and trig before I can get into calc. At that point, I should be ready to start my MBA in January.

Posted by mardenhill 4/15/2008 07:09:00 PM 0 comments    

Labels: Grad School

Wente - Riva Ranch Chardonnay 2006
Monday, April 14, 2008

I bought this wine on a recommendation from a friend who knows great Chardonnays. While this wine retails at $18 a bottle, Costco had it for $13.99 where I picked one up the other day. After opening, I am kicking myself for not grabbing a 2nd or even 3rd. This is a classic chard from Monterey, CA and all the traits are present. The tropical fruit hits you up front followed by a rich body. Due to the cooler growing region you don't get the buttery flavor instead the bright tropical fruit shines thru. The finish has an oak flavor which adds to the weight of the wine. After looking on the website, I discovered that the wine is aged in a sur lie fashion for 12 months meaning that the yeast is present in the barrels after fermentation and isn't racked before bottling.

If you are looking for another inexpensive Monterey chard, look for Kali Hart which is a 2nd label from Talbott Vineyards. This wine ranges from $15-$18 depending on where you can find it and rivals the Wente Riva Ranch on taste and value.

http://www.wentevineyards.com/ourwines/wine_detail.asp?pn=476&c=Y

Posted by mardenhill 4/14/2008 10:18:00 PM 0 comments    

Labels: Wine

Slacker Personal Radio

I wrote about this a while ago when it was still in development mode. Just this weekend I received an email stating that the players are now for sale. For those of you not familiar with Slacker.com its a very cool website and the portable player is very cool. Slacker was born out of the old Musicmatch jukebox which ruled the digital world until iTunes became the universal standard. There are a number of stations broken down by genres kinda like satellite radio. You can take it a step further by selecting artists themselves and Slacker will recast an updated playlist based on similar artists. When you select a specific artist, different songs will play every 4-5 songs and you have the ability to skip past tracks. This is a free website that can be accessed from any computer. You do not need a separate player since everything is streamed thru the website.

Although the site is free you will have to purchase the handheld. Prices are $199 for 15 stations, $249 for 25 stations and $299 for 40 stations. These stations can be changed so you are not locked into any specific genre or artist. The handheld operates on a WiFi network streaming from the website when in range and caching songs when no network connectivity is present. The player holds up to 4000 songs that are refreshed when connected to the network. You don't have to worry about repeats since there is plenty of space to hold a vast collection of songs before your next sync. For $7.50 a month you can subscribe to the premium service which allows for unlimited skipping (the free only gives you so many each hour) and even more personalization. Slacker has found a way to combine the iPod with satellite radio and repackage it into an easy to use interface. You have the portability of an iPod, the music selection of satellite radio and you do not have to purchase any music or sit around trying to organize a playlist, hence the Slacker name.

I will admit, Slacker isn't perfect sometimes the artist selection isn't very deep and features shallow comparisions but for free I can't complain. I am interested in seeing the handheld in action and depending on battery life and how long it took to sync I might be interested.

If you havn't signed up for your free account, check out www.slacker.com and give the website a chance.

Posted by mardenhill 4/14/2008 09:30:00 AM 0 comments    

Labels: Technology

James - Hey Ma (2008)
Saturday, April 12, 2008

After a 7 year break James have surfaced with a new cd entitled Hey Ma. In Track 1 "Bubbles", the majestic and swirling composition returns along with the fleeting trumpet reminiscent of Seven's "Sound". The atmospheric tone of landscape, piano and guitar compliment Tim's vocals and build over the lyrics "I'm Alive". Those two words and the layered sound are a warning shot to all the critics who believed the band was history. Track 2 "Hey Ma" is upbeat but heavy on the politics. Tim references bodybags and the war while talking to his mom. Track 3 "Waterfall" sounds more like Tim Booth's solo work than that of James but the song is still very good. The trumpet and fuller sound bring in the James element which pulls it all together near the end of the track. Track 6 "Semaphore" slows it down and mixes in a subtle electronic undertone with the acoustic guitar and violin. Not quite Laid nor Wah Wah but right in the middle. Track 8 "Whiteboy" is the most upbeat track clocking in at under 3 minutes and building into a huge wall of sound. On Track 10 " Of Monsters & Heros & Men" a rare guitar solo starts out the track and Tim sings over a layer keyboards and piano. On the final track "I Wanna Go Home" you feel that Tim is thanking everyone for coming back to them and is in the process of saying his own goodbye. I would hate for this to be literal but we may never know. If this is it then James will have gone out with a bang and on top in my book.

This cd follows the pattern of "reunion" bands where the parts of the back catalog are mixed into new songs to give the listener a trip down memory lane and new folks an overview of the band's history. James doesn't meet my requirements for a "reunion" so I view this cd as a hiatus, a break so members could work on other projects. During the last seven years Tim released an amazing cd entitled Bone which I highly recommend everyone pick up and the remaining band members vowed to continue on but never really did.

This cd is outstanding and will end up in my top 5 for the year. I continue to say this about releases and will have to really think long and hard come December when organizing my best of. Previous years have been easy to list but 2008 will present me with a challenge on who gets number 1. The more I listen to this cd the more I hear the sheer brilliance of a band that many people treated as a one hit wonder and a faded memory. I loved their previous cd Pleased To Meet You but think Hey Ma may even be better.

Posted by mardenhill 4/12/2008 10:03:00 AM 0 comments    

Labels: Music

Red Wings Game 1
Friday, April 11, 2008

The Red Wings won last nite 3-1 to take the lead in the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. I don't want to write too much about the Wings since I am scared to death that the elusive President's trophy win this year will sink the team like it has done in the past. On the other hand, the Tigers are limping thru the start of the season and maybe this will be the ying to their yang and balance out the wins. Now I will give the Tigers credit, they won the other nite but then lost last nite 12-6. April is always a great month for sports in Detroit. You have the Tigers starting and the Wings and Pistons are always in the playoffs.

Posted by mardenhill 4/11/2008 01:33:00 PM 0 comments    

Labels: Red Wings, Tigers

Recession
Tuesday, April 08, 2008

Well I guess it's official that economic hack known as former Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan has acknowledged that the US is in a recession. Thanks man, its not as if we didn't know already. Why anyone actually listens to this geezer and thinks he is somewhat intelligent is beyond me. The guy over saw multiple recessions and either acted too late or too overzealous and ignored the consequences. He goes on to say that the Fed actions were appropriate and not responsible for our latest credit crunch and mortgage crisis. Yep, just like Bush, he refuses to accept any responsibility for his actions (or inaction's) and blames others. Greenspan also thinks that the govt should bailout banks, investment firms and others affected and that we should look to the 80's Savings and Loans crisis. Once again, another republican who says they believe in Free Market Capitalism now wants the govt to bailout all the Wall Street execs who knowingly defrauded the country.

So next time some chest beating, red blooded republican tells you that the govt has no business meddling in the economy and giving poor folks handouts, kindly remind them that corporate welfare should be outlawed as well. If they can't agree to that statement then they are not a Free Market Capitalist and have no business even pretending that there should be a separation between govt and the markets.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080408/bs_nm/usa_economy_greenspan_dc

Posted by mardenhill 4/08/2008 09:20:00 PM 0 comments    

Labels: Politics

0-7

That's it, time to pull the whole team and put in the Toledo Mud Hens (Detroit's farm league) and hope for a victory. At this point, there's nothing to lose. The Tigers are now 0-7 and in the middle of a series with the Red Sox........

Posted by mardenhill 4/08/2008 08:19:00 PM 0 comments    

Labels: Tigers

And It Doesn't Get Any Better Than This!!!!!!

Courtesy of Pitchforkmedia.com

Egos, hairdos, and cool shades will reign supreme on the late summer trek that Oasis and Ryan Adams & the Cardinals have just announced together. The first of these joint shows is in Seattle, and the rest are in Canada. Both groups have scattered dates apart as well. This is Oasis' first Canadian tour, and their first time playing live since 2006.

At the moment, Oasis are at work on their seventh studio album in L.A., but UK residents will hear Oasis-flavored tunes as soon as May 26. That's the release date of the double-A-side Paul Weller single "Have You Made Up Your Mind"/ "Echoes Round the Sun". Noel Gallagher co-wrote "Echoes Round the Sun" with Weller, and Oasis' Gem Archer plays guitar and keyboards on it. Both of the songs on the single are from Weller's forthcoming double solo album, 22 Dreams, out June 2.
.................................................

Since every band I have wanted to see live has conveniently skipped Detroit (except the National, thanks guys) I don't expect a show here but I can still hope and dream. I can't think of a better bill than Oasis and Ryan Adams. Both are egotistical bastards who love the media and know how to manipulate it to their liking. I would have never thought to put them together but it makes complete sense.

Posted by mardenhill 4/08/2008 03:24:00 PM 0 comments    

Labels: Music

Macbook Pro
Monday, April 07, 2008

I have a dilemma, I need a new laptop and I can't decide if I should wait or not. The rumors are swirling around the net regarding Apple and the updates to their laptop line. The Macbooks need it big time and it seems like Apple will go eco friendly and ditch the plastic case. They will use more aluminum and stainless steel which will be very cool but then what will they do for the Pro line? Will they make it thinner, change the components? The new Intel chipset will debut in next couple months and as of now the newly designed laptops may appear as soon as June or as late as September. I can see them adding a black border around the Macbook Pro series similar to the iMac but will it really be worth it? Figures the minute I decide to buy a laptop, the net goes wild with rumors.

I am looking at the Pro line, I really don't like the plastic of the macbook and the 13 inch is just too small.

Posted by mardenhill 4/07/2008 09:51:00 PM 0 comments    

Labels: Technology

4.8.08
Sunday, April 06, 2008

Mark your calendars because Starbucks has an announcement to make at 12pm on April 8th, 2008. Run to the closest coffeehouse to be part of "Something Big" (according to the Ad).

While reading the comments within the Huffington Post regarding the story I came across this:

"fresh coffee. no older then 2 weeks from the farms. starbucks will be brewing new coffee every 30 minutes as opposed to every hour. it'll be freshly scooped coffee, not packaged grinded coffee bags like it was before. i think also a new pastry. "

It seems Starbucks has realized that the McDonaldization of their product has diluted the brand and its time to return to the basics. If this is true it will be a good thing because Starbucks has fallen flat as of late. I will admit, I am not a daily Starbucks customer, I may go a couple times a month but will buy their beans to grind at home. I rotate their coffee between other roasters to keep my taste buds alive and not bored of the same thing. I don't think of Starbucks as an evil empire, I believe they are genuinely a good natured company. From what I have read, the whole lawsuit regarding tips was overblown and full of misinformation. The company still has its faults and I would like to see their prices lowered but I don't expect that to happen anytime soon.

Anyways, I plan on checking out their announcement next week in hopes that there will be free coffee for those that attend.
....................................
UPDATE:

Starbucks to launch new coffee blend Tuesday

SEATTLE -- Starbucks Corp. is hosting a nationwide coffee-tasting to celebrate the launch of its new "everyday" brew, a key ingredient in its drive to boost slumping sales.
Customers who line up at most of the coffee retailer's U.S. stores Tuesday will get a free 8 oz. cup of Pike Place Roast from 9 to 9:30 a.m. Pacific Time (12 to 12:30 p.m. EDT).

Chairman and Chief Executive Howard Schultz says Pike Place Roast has a bold flavor, smooth finish and "subtle, rich flavors of cocoa and toasted nuts."

It will be freshly roasted, hand-scooped, freshly ground and brewed in small batches that sit for no longer than 30 minutes.

Starbucks will sell it -- both regular and decaf -- alongside rotating coffees of the week.

Posted by mardenhill 4/06/2008 10:42:00 AM 0 comments    

Labels: Coffee

0-5
Saturday, April 05, 2008

I don't know what's going on, its like 2003 all over again. The Tigers just lost their 5th straight and are at the bottom of the league. Even San Francisco has at least 1 win. Back on '03 the Tigers lost a total of 119 games and didn't get their 1st win until game 9. I don't expect a repeat but there is no reason why the Tigers should be playing so poorly. Maybe this is the Tigers slump for the season and will kick it into high gear within the next week. I keep trying to be optimistic here but with the 2nd highest salary in the league, the Tigers should be leading not trailing.

Posted by mardenhill 4/05/2008 06:28:00 PM 0 comments    

Labels: Tigers

New Michigan Vineyard
Friday, April 04, 2008

Looks like there is a new vineyard to check out this summer up in Traverse City. While reading the wine report in the Detroit News I discovered 2 Lads Winery opening this May at the tip of Old Mission Peninsula. The vineyard will focus on cool climate reds, whites and sparklings. By opening they will have a Pinot Grigio, rose of Cabernet Franc and 2 sparklings. This summer a Chardonnay will also be available.

You can read more about the vineyard at the link below. I am very excited to check this winery as well as 45 North..

http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080403/OPINION03/804030362/1423/LIFESTYLE10

http://2lwinery.com/content/view/12/27/

Posted by mardenhill 4/04/2008 04:16:00 PM 0 comments    

Labels: Wine

81%

Americans are more dissatisfied with the country’s direction than at any time since the New York Times/CBS News poll began asking about the subject in the early 1990s, according to the latest poll.

In the poll, 81 percent of respondents said they believed that “things have pretty seriously gotten off on the wrong track,” up from 69 percent a year ago and 35 percent in early 2003.
............................................

Lets think about this, a never ending war that drains billions of our tax dollars every month, oil at $100 a barrel, the sub prime mortgage fiasco, corporate welfare bailing out Wall Street, an economic recession, higher health care costs, higher unemployement, trading deficits and the list goes on.

Wonder if the president will address this or just hide in his bubble believing that the country he inherited in 2000 is better off now. These numbers will drop in the next couple months when citizens receive their "Economic Stimulus" checks but that euphoria will be gone once the money runs out. Just yesterday NPR discussed thru behavioral economics the right approach to kickstarting the economy. You send out a check and many people will deposit it into their bank accounts where they will pay bills or just save it. You direct deposit the money, same thing, its all "virtual" with no real feeling attached to it. The best approach would be to send the money out on Visa debit cards which would force people to spend them at local businesses. This is a novel idea but then you take the freedom away from the individual and how they would like to spend their own money. I predict a large boom in flat screen tvs but unless people purchase from Philips all that money will go back overseas. I see a great marketing campaign for Philips here and if they don't act on it, they really shouldn't be in business. This is still a generalization and by no means "a what will happen" but it is worth considering.

Maybe the govt should develop a campaign to go along with the money highlighting what products are still made in the US. After some consideration and research I decided to purchase a new bike. Trek is a US company and the majority of their bikes are made here. There are some of the entry level models built overseas but the one I am interested in is domestically made. We have a Trek shop a couple miles from my house but I found that my local Berkley bike shop is still cheaper. Either way, I am supporting a local business, US company and a product that is manufactured in the states. Maybe I will buy a bunch of California, Oregon and Michigan wines with the rest of it, that way I will have done my part to help our economy.

Posted by mardenhill 4/04/2008 09:02:00 AM 0 comments    

Labels: Politics

Campo Viejo Crianza Rioja 2003
Thursday, April 03, 2008

This evening I opened a bottle of Campo Viejo Crianza Rioja. The wine is a blend of 75% Tempranillo, 20% Granacha and 5% Mazuelo and spends 2 years in oak barrels. The flavors are very young and sweet with fresh cherry and blackberry bursting thru. When I think of these grapes I expect them to be more on the earthy side. This wine showcases them in another light as do many young Spanish reds. Campo Viejo also has a Reserva that is aged for 3 years and a Grand Reserva for 5. If you head to southern France you will find these grapes blended with Syrah which adds some weight and complexity.

http://campoviejo-usa.com/wines/winesProdListing.cfm?category_id=310

Posted by mardenhill 4/03/2008 09:40:00 PM 0 comments    

Labels: Wine

R.E.M. - Accelerate
Wednesday, April 02, 2008

Say goodbye to the sleepy sounds of the past 3 records and get ready to rock. R.E.M. just shot across the bow and are back in full force. Accelerate features 11 songs and tops out at 35 minutes, not your typical release from the trio. In track 1 "Living Well Is The Best Revenge" the signature jangle pop is back with some distortion. Michael Stipe sings with a belly full of anger and Mike Mills backs him up filling out the sound. Track 2 "Man Sized Wreath" is awash with political inferences and mid tempo fist pumping rants. On track 3 "Supernatural Superserious", the 1st radio single, the classic R.E.M. sound with harmonies, garbled vocals and arena tendencies. Track 4 "Hollow Man" slows down the tempo and features Michael crooning over a piano for the first 30 seconds. The rest of the band joins in and builds on the a cresendo that rides up and down. Track 5 "Houston" harks back to the New Adventures In Hi Fi era with moody keyboards and strange tempos. Track 7 "Until The Day Is Done" starts out like "Try Not To Breathe" which had me singing wrong lyrics and meanders into an alt country, melancholy swoon. Track 9 "Sing For The Submarine" keeps the minor chord feeling going, and builds on the aura that "E Bow The Letter" created. Track 10 "Horse To Water" is one of my favorites, its upbeat, in your face approach and heavily distorted guitar gets you going. The song is sloppy and brash, completely different from their perfected studio masterpieces. Hearing this track on its own you would think it was some young Minneapolis band circa early 80s.

Whereas R.E.M. turned up the amps and distortion on Monster, this is different. It's not controlled and polished, its raw but from a group of men who know each other inside and out. The harmonies tone down the rough edges and once again you hear life coming from the band. Most people love to dis R.E.M.'s Around The Sun release which I get but I never thought it was that bad. There were some amazing tracks but it was overproduced and much to long. Take the best songs and you would have had one amazing EP. I have been a huge fan of R.E.M. and have embraced each and every cd. I havn't liked every song, I could go on thru life without ever hearing "Shiny Happy People" but cry if I couldn't ever listen to "Pretty Persuasion", "Electrolite" and "The One I Love".

I don't have a favorite R.E.M. record and if I was forced to pick just one it might even be Up. I really enjoy the atmospheric style and this cd was created to listen to on headphones. Automatic For the People tugged at your heart while Up created a separate universe where you could just sit with back with Michael and listen to his stories.

I could go on and on about R.E.M. but you get the point. They are a band that I grew up on and still follow, they are my U2 and I frequently pull out different cds depending on my mood.

This cd is amazing and a must have. Even if you wrote the band off years ago, try this one on you will not be disappointed.

Posted by mardenhill 4/02/2008 05:26:00 PM 1 comments    

Labels: Music

More Michigan Sex Scandals

Ok, if Kwame wasn't enough of an embarassment, now we have the 2nd husband of our US Senator Debbie Stabnow caught up in a prostitution ring. On Feb 26th, Thomas Athans was stopped by the police leaving a local hotel in Troy. Thomas told the cops that he met the woman on the internet and paid her $150 for sex. He wasn't charged but instead issued a ticket for driving on a suspended license. The cops then went back to the hotel and arrested the woman who claimed that she just started her new found profession a week earlier. The sting was setup after the hotel's nam appeared on the website backdoor.com.

Thomas was a big name in the Democratic party here in MI. He hobnobbed with all the big wigs and helped lauch Air America and the Ed Schultz show.

What a freakin tool, what was he thinking? Wonder if Debbie will stand by her man or just hang him out to dry? I was reading some of the comments online from the Freep.com and amazed at some of the responses. There were people calling for Debbie's resignation, not sure why she should resign, it wasn't her sleeping around. I guess the Debbie haters just need to vent and look for a reason to kick her out of office. Sorry folks, Debbie is not at fault here, it's her stupid husband who is NOT an elected official....

Posted by mardenhill 4/02/2008 01:33:00 PM 0 comments    

Labels: Politics

Opening Day!!
Monday, March 31, 2008

It's finally Spring, Tigers opening day is today and at the top of the 6th, they lead Kansas City 3-2. There are a few conference rooms here at the office broadcasting the game so I have been able to poke my head in for a few minutes to catch some of the action. Its an overcast day, in the 50s and the sky looks like it could open at at moment. I am a bit bummed that I am not downtown for all the action but the last couple years have become impossible to score opening day tickets so I have given up.

Unfortunately both Curtis Granderson and Joel Zumaya are out on 15 day disabled list, I just hope that they can both return healthy and ready to take the team where it belongs.

Posted by mardenhill 3/31/2008 02:51:00 PM 0 comments    

Labels: Tigers

Chateau Chevalier - Cabernet Sauvignon 2003
Sunday, March 30, 2008

I bought this bottle by recommendation by the guy at Plum Market a few weeks ago. At $20 it was a gamble but thought it was worth a shot. Before anything I checked out the website and discovered that Chateau Chevalier only make 2 wines, a Cabernet Sauvignon and a Sauvignon Blanc. The 2003 is completely sold out on the website and they are now pushing the '04 vintage. I checked my bottle and low and behold I had an '03 so I thought this might be good. From the color perspective, the wine was a deep ruby with moderate legs. The tannins were soft while the body was plush and full of fruit. Not too sweet and the oak stretched the finish on the back of your tongue.

I opened the bottle last nite while it was still cold and tight. After 24 hrs the wine began to change and show some of its true characteristics. I would probably buy again and do like the idea of a vineyard that is so small and only makes 2 styles.

http://www.chateauchevalier.com/

Posted by mardenhill 3/30/2008 09:59:00 PM 4 comments    

Labels: Wine

ProxyVote Time

Posted by mardenhill 3/30/2008 11:46:00 AM 0 comments    

Labels: Misc

Doma Coffee Roasting Company
Saturday, March 29, 2008

I just received my coffee of the month from Citizen Bean this afternoon and it hails from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. The roaster prides themselves on sustainable practices both in their selection of beans and output. I received 1lb of the Carmela's Blend which is Rainforest Alliance Certified. The flavor is quite nice, there are hints of chocolate and the roast is complex and quite dark. It's not overly bitter and Citizen Bean included fresh cinnamon sticks in the shipment which I added to my cup. The cinnamon enchanced the flavor and added a bit of spice. I already had my morning coffee for the day but I couldn't wait until tomorrow to try the blend so I made a cup with the French Press for a nice afternoon pick me up. Normally I will use a conventional drip coffee maker but if I have time I will use the press and try to have at least 1 cup from each pound I receive this way.

You can read more about Doma at the website below.

http://www.domacoffee.com/

Posted by mardenhill 3/29/2008 04:15:00 PM 1 comments    

Labels: Coffee

Yet More Proof.....

Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson is likely to call for the creation of new regulatory agencies with broad powers over lending, the securities industry and business conduct, according to the draft of a study he commissioned.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aRtdXeb9Bca4&refer=worldwide
..................................................

If bailing out Bears Stearns wasn't enough, the Treasury Dept wants to hand over more power to the Fed. Both the WH and the Fed under the leadership of that hack Greenspan screwed up big time and lowered interest rates to the point that loans were free for the taking. They were making money hand over fist all the while knowing it would blow up in the future. I have a feeling that they expected it to happen after the election that way it wasn't their problem. Instead the credit crunch and subprime mortgage imploded early. Now the only thing left to do is to cover their tracks and by giving the Fed more power, investigations and oversight can be kept to a minimun. The WH knows Congress will impose more regulation and to stay "true" to their cause they must defeat this and keep the Fed operating under the guise of free market capitalism. Like I said before, the idea of free market capitalism has been flushed away by this administration. It's just a CYA and the WH hopes that all the attention on Obama vs Hillary and American Idol will keep the public from figuring it out.

Posted by mardenhill 3/29/2008 11:03:00 AM 0 comments    

Labels: Politics

Supergrass - Diamond Hoo Ha
Wednesday, March 26, 2008

One of the best and most underrated Brit Rock bands just released a new cd this past week. The band is Supergrass and their 6th studio album goes by the name Diamond Hoo Ha. Unlike the last cd, Road To Rouen which saw the band slow it down and play with more of a subdued and instrumental sound, this one is all out rockin and full of swagger. The cd starts out with "Diamond Hoo Ha Man" a 70s rock n roll classic mixed with a some garage. The Brit Rock returns on track 3 "Rebel In You" which borrows heavily from Bowie and not just in the title. Some hot keyboards surface in track 4 "When I Needed You" and the vibe from the 1999 Supergrass cd are here. In Track 7 "Rough Knuckles" you would have thought that Herbie Hancock joined the band and took over the keys. The sound is fat and oozes reverb and soul.

The brash young punks that brought us "Caught By The Fuzz" spent the next 13 years experimenting with sounds ranging from 70's jangle pop, organic instrumentals to toe tapping singalongs. Supergrass always know how to write a good hook and whether its layered in production or just plain raw, its still amazing. This cd takes where Supergrass failed in some folks eyes and built on that 70's homage with a less produced and more honest sound. Its really hard for me to pick a favorite cd, all of them are amazing in their own right. I have favorite songs from every era and I am just glad to see the guys still making music. Check this cd out and if you are new to the band, grab their greatest hits Supergrass Is 10 for a better insight.

Posted by mardenhill 3/26/2008 12:54:00 PM 0 comments    

Labels: Music

Dashe Cellars Dry Creek Zinfandel 2005
Monday, March 24, 2008

All I can say is WOW, this Zin rocks. This Zin is on par with my favorite "The Monster" from Norman Estates. The nose is fresh with ripe berry and upon drinking, the black cherry and spice linger on your tongue. The finish is long and complex with hints of heat that fill the back of your mouth. Unlike the Monster that surpasses 15%, this one comes in at 14.5% which still allows the fruit to shine. This is not a cheap Zin either, at $24 it's a higher end bottle that is worthy of the price. This is one that I would buy again and not think twice about.

http://www.dashecellars.com/wines_info.html?db=wines&action=info&id=23&archived=2005

Posted by mardenhill 3/24/2008 09:06:00 PM 0 comments    

Labels: Wine

IPhone's Gone Corporate

Posted by mardenhill 3/24/2008 04:48:00 PM 0 comments    

Labels: Technology

Satellie Radio

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Justice Department approved Sirius Satellite Radio's $5 billion buyout of rival XM Satellite Radio on Monday, saying the deal was unlikely to hurt competition or consumers.

The deal was approved despite opposition from consumer groups and an intense lobbying campaign by the land-based radio industry.

The buyout received shareholder approval in November. The companies said the merger will save hundreds of millions of dollars in operating costs—savings that will ultimately benefit their customers.
..........................................

We are one step closer to an ala carte satellite radio subscription service. Back when this was announced, both Sirius and XM said they would be willing to allow users to select up to 50 stations for $7 a month. Although it wasn't my magical $5 price point I feel most things should be, I might be willing to sign up for this. Lets hope to they don't back down because I have been patiently waiting for this day. In reality it may not be until late this year which is fine since my new car might not happen until fall or even next year.

Posted by mardenhill 3/24/2008 04:19:00 PM 0 comments    

Labels: Music, Technology

And Then There Were Charges

Wayne County Prosecuter Kym Worthy just announced 12 charges against Kwame Kilpatrick and Christine Beatty. The charges include conspiracy to obstruct justice, obstruction of justice, misconduct and perjury. Basically Kwame is toast, he will try to spin this as a racial witch hunt but that won't work. Too many people have been affected and the days of acting like Coleman Young are over. Kwame will have to resign otherwise there will be a huge backlash and he will be driven from office by the local citizens of Detroit and the surrounding areas. The City Council has already called for his resignation in a non binding resolution and now you have charges filed. I know Kwame will try to fight this to save face but I give it 1 month and he will be out of office. I said June before but that is too far away, it will be sometime in April that Kwame will be gone. And this is not just a local issue for me, all the cable news stations picked up the press conference and Kwame even made the front page of Drudge.

Kwame is scheduled to speak at 12pm, should be interesting. I expect him to play the race card, beat his chest that he has done so much for the city and that his little transgression should be forgiven. Too bad it won't fly, everyone is against him and he has no place to go.

Posted by mardenhill 3/24/2008 11:24:00 AM 0 comments    

Labels: Detroit, Politics

The National Coming Back to Detroit
Sunday, March 23, 2008

The National are touring with R.E.M. this summer for a handful of dates and decided to stop off in Detroit. Unfortunately R.E.M. doesn't have a show scheduled here and with a nite between Chicago and Toronto, The National will play a show. They are playing in Pontiac at the Crofoot Ballroom a newer bar on the scene. The last show was sold out down at the Magic Stick and I imagine this one will be as well. The last show was amazing and if you have never seen them live you really need to. You can check out a live show from NPR at the link below which I highly recommend.

Posted by mardenhill 3/23/2008 10:14:00 PM 0 comments    

Labels: Music

Richardson Endorses Obama
Saturday, March 22, 2008

This happened yesterday but it's important to examine why it has potential. For starters Richardson won't be used as a pawn to pick up possible votes in upcoming primaries since the states with the largest Hispanic vote have already voted. Clinton's advisor Mark Penn threw this out there yesterday and said it really meant nothing. So according to Penn and the Clintons if you can't help secure votes then you are not worth carrying around. Typical Clinton backstabbing, use and abuse then toss to the curb. Richardson is signaling to the superdelegates that they do not have to be held hostage to Billary and that they have their own voice. Yeah Richardson is fishing for a VP slot but so is everyone else. If not VP, there is always Secretary of State so I feel that Richardson sees the future and that is one without the Clintons.

Posted by mardenhill 3/22/2008 10:55:00 AM 0 comments    

Labels: Politics

The Kills - Midnight Boom
Thursday, March 20, 2008

Posted by mardenhill 3/20/2008 02:06:00 PM 0 comments    

Labels: Music

It Looks Like A No Go For MI Primary ReVote
Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Hillary was in Michigan calling for a re-vote but as of not it looks like the issue is all but dead. Hillary supporters are blaming Obama for this and saying that its UnAmerican not to support such a thing. Well sorry Hillary, it was UnAmerican for Howard Dean to strip our delegates and it was UnAmerican for all candidates to sign off on the deal and agree not to campaign in the state. You cannot have it both ways, you agreed that the vote wouldn't count but that was back when you felt that you would be crowned with the nomination. Now that you had to fight for it you seem to have forgotten that you along with everyone else accepted the jackass decision that the DNC and Howard Dean set forth. You left your name on the ballot for the option to circle back around and claim the delegates but that has failed. From DNC and MI rules, those who participated in the 1st round would be barred from voting again and if this is true I don't want a revote. I would not be able to participate and this is not fair since I had no one to choose from the 1st time.

The only solution is to take MI's delegates and award 50/50. If I was screwed at the beginning that I couldn't vote for whom I wanted to and if a 2nd vote comes up and I am ineligible to vote again then all bets are off and no one votes.

Its not that hard of a decision, but since it doesn't give Hillary the lead she isn't interested.

And just a reminder, I hate everyone who was involved in this sham and will remember what was done to me.

Posted by mardenhill 3/19/2008 05:14:00 PM 0 comments    

Labels: Politics

How I Spent My Day
Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Today Joe and I went to the Microsoft launch of Server, SQL and Visual Studio 2008. It was a free event down in Detroit at the Ren Cen. It was a typical Microsoft launch party, lots of people, speeches and demos. What did I get from this, well other than a headache from the sheer bordom I did get some pretty cool swag. I will admit it, I wasn't really interested in going and the only reason I did was for the free stuff. For attending you receive a Not For Resale copy of MS Server 2008, Visual Studio, SQL and MS Vista. Lunch was provided in the pretty cool bag that is a dual layer where you can store your breakfast on top and lunch on the bottom. And probably the best prize would be the pin that says "Get Geeked". It's stupid but it really summed up the day. I was entered into at least 5 drawings for Zunes that I never won and sat near a guy who slept across a 4 chairs snoring during one of the sessions.

Posted by mardenhill 3/18/2008 06:01:00 PM 1 comments    

Labels: Technology

Detroit City Council Speaks

In a 7-1 vote, the Detroit City Council have asked Kwame to resign.

http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080318/METRO/803180439

Kilpatrick dismissed the resolution Tuesday afternoon.

"It's not a binding resolution ... they spent a whole day on it," Kilpatrick said. "There are more important things."

Kilpatrick also suggested text messages that appear to contradict his sworn testimony that he did not have an affair with his former chief of staff may not be authentic.

"There will be a time when we can comment about the texting … the authenticity of all of it," Kilpatrick said. "A lot of things on public display are not facts ... are not true."
.........................................................

Above a few quotes from Kwame and you can see the latest spin, the text message transcripts may not be authentic. So Kwame is basically admitting that they exist and that a deal was made about them. So if this is the case, the "Official" transcripts must be made public to compare. You can't just say that they are wrong without any proof, so Kwame is caught in a quite a bind. If they were not true, why then did he accept the resignation of Beatty, why not fight for her?

We will have the vedict of the investigation next week and I believe Kwame will continue to fight but will gone by June.

Posted by mardenhill 3/18/2008 04:17:00 PM 0 comments    

Labels: Detroit, Politics

Federal Reserve & Corporate Welfare
Sunday, March 16, 2008

Just last week the Federal Reserve gave Bear Stearns a huge bailout to keep the large investment bank afloat with hopes that Wall Street wouldn't take another hit. Along with the Fed, JP Morgan said they would assist Bear Stearns as well but come Sunday nite, Drudge reports that JP will buy Bear Stearns for $2 a share or $236 million. Mind you, Bear Stearns was worth over $3.45 billion just a month ago but due to the toxic subprime mess their shares have dropped. This sounds like a bunch of Wall Street blather than doesn't mean much to the average person but when you look deeper you see how we have been duped by the White House and Wall Street.

JP Morgan will purchase a competitor of theirs for pennies on the dollar and will have the luxury of the Federal Govt taking care of the debt and mess that put the bank in trouble in the first place. So JP scored an amazing deal and all of us are stuck paying for it. I used to think that Republicans believed in free markets and govt intervention was frowned upon. I guess when it comes to making a backroom deal and having the govt foot the bill, Republicans love a good bailout.

If you take a look at this whole credit crisis from the beginning, the White House was hands off when it were only poor folks in the subprime market losing their homes. No intervention was needed because the market would take care of it. When the foreclosures escalated upwards to the idiots who purchased the $500,000+ homes and started to default, the WH decided it was time to act. Now banks are failing and the WH is all over it, time to save them and forget about free market capitalism. You can see parallels here to many decisions made by this WH over the years, they ignore the poor folks of the country but are willing to spend our tax dollars on helping out their own friends and supporters. Its not enough to help the poor folks, it was their fault, but when rich folks overextend themselves we better act because they may have been taken advantage of.

Bear Stearns won't be the only bank to default, there will be others and the Fed will be there to bail them out. What really kills me is how the Republicans and Bush refused to fund SCHIP, health care for children but they believe its alright to help out a fellow Wall Street tycoon. These are where the priorities of the Republican party are, help a buddy score a sweet ass deal at the expense of the tax payers while screwing over little children. I would like to see those who opposed the expanded funding of SCHIP defend this bailout. Lets hope Obama and other Dems pick up on this and expose the Republican party for the frauds that they are.

Posted by mardenhill 3/16/2008 08:37:00 PM 1 comments    

Labels: Politics

Son Volt - 6 String Belief
Saturday, March 15, 2008

I received this DVD for xmas but never had the time to watch til now. The DVD was recorded at the Orange Peel in Asheville, NC on 9/23/2005 and contains 31 songs plus an interview. This live show really captures the heart and soul of the band. Son Volt plays Okemah & The Melody Riot in full but mix in many songs from earlier cds as well as Uncle Tupelo. It's a must have for any Son Volt fan and even those Wilco followers out there. Both the sound and picture are excellent and the camera angles give you the impression that you are right there in the front row. Unlike regular movies, I love live DVDs and can watch them over and over. I am trying to decide what one to watch next, either Depeche Mode or R.E.M.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000F8OIKK/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

Posted by mardenhill 3/15/2008 09:05:00 PM 0 comments    

Labels: Music

Matchbook Chardonnay 2006
Thursday, March 13, 2008

This wine is part of the Crew Wine Company which also owns 3 other labels. The Matchbook showcases grapes from the Dunnigan Hills region in northern California. There are some nice tropical flavors here with hints of green apple a crisp finish. This wine isn't over oaked but there isn't much butter and creme to this bottle which I found a bit disappointing. It feels like a Sauvignon Blanc on the finish with the tight citrus and acidity. I will try it again tomorrow to see if the flavors change. Not bad for $15 tho and it would be a great summer wine.

http://www.crewwinestore.com/index.cfm

Posted by mardenhill 3/13/2008 10:08:00 PM 0 comments    

Labels: Wine

New R.E.M. Very Soon

Posted by mardenhill 3/13/2008 09:19:00 PM 0 comments    

Labels: Music

Cruiser Bike
Wednesday, March 12, 2008

I am closer to a decision on a new bike this spring, its either between the Trek Calypso or Drift. Both are new bikes, affordable and well made.

Calypso: retro design with modern look, 7 speed, hand breaks and white walls.

Drift: more retro, the details are made to look worn and cooler frame. 3 speed with pedal brakes and cork hand grips.

I have to decide what I like better for brakes, pedals or hands. The design of the Drift is very cool and although there are no whitewalls, I could go for this one. Once the weather warms up, I will head to the local bike store to test both models and make my decision. The Calypso is $80 cheaper which is a factor but the big one will be the whole braking situation.

http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/2008/bike_path/cruiser/drift3/

Posted by mardenhill 3/12/2008 10:19:00 AM 1 comments    

Labels: Misc

Mark Lanegan
Monday, March 10, 2008

Mark is on his way to becoming the new Ryan Adams with releases in one year. His work with Greg Dulli which I just reviewed the other day came out this month and another duet this time with Isobell Campbell (their followup to the Ballad of the Broken Seas release in 2006) will be out in May. Mark and Isobell released an amazing cd back in '06 and I am curious to see how things will sound the 2nd time around.

Sunny At Devil Dirt will be released on May 5th with a short UK tour to follow.

I am kicking myself bigtime because I actually missed his last collaberation with the Soulsavers which came out in October 2007. The Soulsavers are an electronic duo who took on the task of writing music that could support Mark's vocals and style. What came out was utterly brilliant, the cd mixes gospel and country with some excellent downbeats. There are a few covers on the recording, a Rolling Stones, Neil Young and even a remix of "Kingdom Of Rain" off of Mark's 2nd solo release. You can hear a few songs at the Soulsavers myspace page below. "Revival" is one of the best songs I have heard in years and the new "Kingdom of Rain" may be better than the original. I did some searching and Pitchfork had a couple articles about it but no huge writeup and it happened to appear when I was on vacation last year. I still can't believe I missed this but I have made up for it by listening to the cd multiple times in the last 24 hrs.

http://www.myspace.com/soulsavers

Posted by mardenhill 3/10/2008 06:10:00 PM 0 comments    

Labels: Music

Bye Bye Tucker

Insiders tell TVNewser Tucker Carlson’s 6pmET show Tucker is getting the axe, but Carlson stays on as a political contributor to all MSNBC shows at least through the 2008 election. The official announcement, expected tomorrow, will include details about who will replace Tucker at 6pmET as well as other political programming additions. Sources say the network is going to beef up its schedule with more NBC News talent.
.....................................

Now this really sucks, I liked Tucker even though I didn't agree with him half the time. I thought he was a good host and had a great personality. I have to disagree with MSNBC and all the liberal blogs out there who are cheering his demise. Yeah Tucker went under a number of different makeovers, lost the bow tie and moved to the 6pm slot but I think its a mistake for him to go. At least he will be with us thru the election but after that who knows. I have no idea what the station plans on doing and if I had a choice I would give a show to either David Schuster or Rachel Maddow but that won't happen. Both are too partisan and the station would lose all credibilty as a broadcasting network. Don't get me wrong, both are amazing reporters/pundits and deserve more airtime but having them on along with Keith Olbermann may be too much.

Posted by mardenhill 3/10/2008 12:43:00 PM 2 comments    

Labels: Politics

Easton Zinfandel 2006
Saturday, March 08, 2008

I picked up this bottle the other day at Holiday Market with no idea what to expect. I checked out their website to gain an understanding of the vineyard and was impressed. The vineyard specializes in Zins but bottles a merlot, cab and sauvignon blanc as well. The logo is basic, with just an outline of a tree and the name. The wine itself is big and juicy with classic zin flavors bursting at the seams. I will admit upon opening, the wine was rather sweet and had that cherry candy flavor which is synonymous with many cheap zins. I was disappointed but decided to give it a day and revisit. 24 hours later the wine is much better and the bold, zesty and peppery characteristics I was expecting have appeared. The wine is still young and if stored I believe might mature in a few years. The plump berry flavor entices you in while the finish gives you that oak and pepper that lingers on your tongue.

Its not my favorite zin by any means but it was quite nice and I would be interested in trying some of their higher end bottles.

http://www.terrerougewines.com/eastonwines.html#

Posted by mardenhill 3/08/2008 10:06:00 PM 0 comments    

Labels: Wine

The Charlatans UK - You Cross My Path

Posted by mardenhill 3/08/2008 08:51:00 AM 0 comments    

Labels: Music

Get Ready, It's Almost Here.....
Friday, March 07, 2008

Posted by mardenhill 3/07/2008 10:02:00 AM 0 comments    

Labels: Technology

More On The Michigan Fiasco
Thursday, March 06, 2008

Here are some additional jackasses who screwed up big time and are now trying to figure out how to get Michigan's delegates to count. We have Gov. Jennifer Granholm who is an ardent Clinton supporter and wants the vote to count since it will benefit her girl. You have one of the masterminds of the whole fiasco Carl Levin in the next photo. At the bottom you have Mark Brewer the head of the MI Democratic party and next to him Debbie Dingell wife of congressmen John Dingell. Finally you have former Governer Jim Blanchard who is another Hillary shill.

Former Michigan Gov. Jim Blanchard, a cochairman of Clinton's state campaign, said the specifics of a do-over are hard to work out, however. Clinton, he said, would have to get some kind of credit for the January victory for it to be acceptable.

.................................

According to Blanchard, Hillary should get to keep what she won and then more since he advocates a do-over. What an idiot, you can't count the 1st vote as a victory everyone knows it was a sham.

Granholm wants another vote as well but doesn't want MI taxpayers to pay for it which I agree with but good ole dumbass Dean says that the DNC shouldn't pay either, that money is needed for the general election. So now we need to turn to private money, maybe both campaigns could foot the bill, split it 50/50. Nah that wouldn't work, Hillary would find a way to complain since Obama raises more money than she does and heaven forbid she parts with any of it.

Inept and incompetent politicans all around. Part of me wants to see a huge battle royal, let the party implode, maybe then we can get rid of the dead weight and actually elect some real people to lead the party.

Posted by mardenhill 3/06/2008 02:49:00 PM 0 comments    

Labels: Politics

Will It Ever Stop?
Wednesday, March 05, 2008

Just like the snow, Hillary will not go away. She staved off another demise last nite by winning both Texas and Ohio. The delegate and popular vote count haven't changed and Obama still has the lead. We will now go onto Pennsylvania and most likely into summer while the GOP sits back and lets the Dems destroy each other. Hillary did well over the last week, she used fear and race to secure her wins showing everyone that she and Bill will do anything to succeed. I am not counting Obama out but I see Billary now going after MI and FL with guns a blazing since those will be what will put her over in the end. Super delegates will still need to go one way or another and will be the deciding factor but will it be based on who won the most votes or who has the most influence?

It will be interesting to see how Billary comes after the MI delegates and their spin on the whole situation. Once again, thank you Howard Dean, you really bungled this election, how bout doing all of us a favor and resigning, you are a useless DNC leader and have no business running the party. Same goes for Mark Brewer the head of the MI dems, you are a pathetic twat who blew my chance at voting for a candidate.

We are looking at a brokered convention where in the end I have a feeling Obama gets screwed. The establishment will step in and give the nomination to one of its own and hope for the best. I feel that Hillary can beat McCain but I am afraid of what will happen lower down on the ticket. Many people who might have split their votes may just vote straight republican which will have a negative impact on house and senate seats.

Getting back to the snow, I went skiing for the last time this season and winter should be officially over now. Instead we had rain yesterday that froze and turned our driveway into a sheet of ice. We then had at least 8 inches of snow on top of that making for a long and slippery shovel session this morning.

Posted by mardenhill 3/05/2008 09:52:00 AM 0 comments    

Labels: Politics

d’Arenberg The Hermit Crab Viognier Marsanne
Tuesday, March 04, 2008

Tonight I opened a bottle of d’Arenberg The Hermit Crab Viognier/Marsanne blend with some frozen Costco Mahi and Cuban style rice. I have had a few different bottles from d'Arenberg and enjoyed all of them. If you are looking for a good Aussie wine, look for this label over some of the usuals. This is by no means a small boutique brand, d'Arenberg has been around for close to 100 years.

The wine itself is a few shades lighter than many chards but still has a light golden color. Favorwise, this wine is plump full of fruit with hints of sour apple and pineapple. The plush flavor is not overpowered by any oak and with the tropical fruit has a lingering sweet finish. Don't think of this as a dessert wine, it's not that sweet but it can cut thru spicy dishes and pairs well with seafood.

http://www.darenberg.com.au/default2.php

Posted by mardenhill 3/04/2008 09:38:00 PM 0 comments    

Labels: Wine

The Gutter Twins - Saturnalia

Well its finally here, the cd everyone has been waiting for. Don't worry if you are not familar with the band, by the end of the review you will be in love with it and running to the nearest store or iTunes website.

The band is the Gutter Twins and features Mark Lanegan (Screaming Trees) and Greg Dulli (Afghan Whigs). The two of them have been working together for the last few years, lending vocals and touring. There were rumors of a cd but no one knew for sure. Earlier this year they posted a few songs on their Myspace page which got everyone excited for the full length.

Track 1 "The Stations" starts out soft and dark, reminiscent of Mark's previous solo works. Mark sings lead here with Greg adding great backing vocals. Both sing over a violin with crescendos growing and fading. Track 2 "God's Children" builds on the tension and takes a page from some early Whigs songs. Greg's at the helm and his vocals are strong and full of emotion. Track 3 "All Misery Flowers" goes back to Mark and has the sound of his last solo record Bubblegum. The piano cuts thru layers of heavy distortion while providing a slight melody to carry the vocals on. In Track 4 "The Body" the mood finally lightens and both Greg and Mark are joined by a female voice. The simple acoustic guitar has the feel of a Spanish guitar and summer sound. Track 5 "Idle Hands" is the heaviest with pounding keyboard and matching guitars. This song is probably the least representative of both artist's back catalog and a better understanding of what the Gutter Twins together sound like.

Track 7 "Who Will Lead Us" features a great folk sound which pays homage to Mark's cover record "I'll Take Care Of You". Track 8 "Seven Stories Underground" raises Mark's voice up an octave which is something we haven't heard from him in years. Greg follows up with his soothing woos and in the end, stands out as one of the best songs on the cd. Track 10 "Bete Noir" features a killer fuzzed out keyboard coinciding with a nice toe tapping beat. Track 11 "Each To Each" has an electronic element to it with Greg taking over vocals and giving us an idea what he would sound like if Unkle or Chemical Brothers came looking for a guest vocalist. The cd ends with track 12 "Front Street", birds chirping and an acoustic guitar. Both Mark and Greg are present and the layers of new instruments build into a grand orchestration providing a great ending to maybe the best cd of 2008.

This is not an easy cd to listen to, all the factors that make both men are present. The dark and brooding vocals, heavy mood and pockets of light are all here. The songs play off of both Mark and Greg's previous work but some bring a new sound to the mix. It's a true collaboration here and if you listen close enough you can see how both men compliment each other and provide us with a glimpses of the past while blazing into new territory. This is a must have for any Mark Lanegan or Greg Dulli fan and even for newcomers its definitely worth listening to. Give it shot, you won't be disappointed.

Posted by mardenhill 3/04/2008 06:31:00 PM 1 comments    

Labels: Music

Kwame Gets A Break (For Now)

The Detroit city council has delayed a vote on Kwame's removal from office until after the investigation. We can look at it two ways, if Wayne County Prosecutor Kim Worthy finds a smoking gun (actually the text messages are but...) then Kwame will be forced to resign or it ends in a convoluted mess where lawyers fight over what the definition of "Is" is. If we get the 2nd choice, Kwame will stay put and cling onto power still wasting more tax payer money. The part that really bugs me is how Kwame doesn't seem to care that he lied under oath and wasted 8 million dollars doing so. He has never apologized for that since he knows admitting to it will seal his fate. He then puts on his pouty face and tries to play the victim.

Posted by mardenhill 3/04/2008 05:36:00 PM 0 comments    

Labels: Detroit

Super Tuesday Redux

Tonight may be the make it or break it for Hillary Clinton. In my own opinion she shouldn't be in the race after 11 losses but who am I to decide how much of the Clinton legacy Hillary wants to destroy. All this talk about "just getting warmed up" is just bull, Hillary lost everything in last few weeks of February. But since its the Clintons we need to move the goal posts each and every week until we get to the convention. I predict an Obama win in Texas and a very slight win in Ohio for Hillary. Unfortunately it will not be enough delegates and Hill will be in the same place she has been since last month. She will use this as a reason to stay in and compete for Pennsylvania. Maybe I'll be wrong and Obama will pull off another sweep but I just don't see it happening. Should be a fun evening and I can't wait to watch the returns on MSNBC......

Posted by mardenhill 3/04/2008 05:21:00 PM 0 comments    

Labels: Politics

Yemon Mocha - Sanani
Monday, March 03, 2008

More than four centuries ago, this vagabond coffee wandered through the bustling Yemen port of Mocha. This is a coffee that captures wanderlust, uniting a bold aroma, nutty and spicy flavors with a hint of the wild gypsy tendencies appreciated by coffee aficionados and surprising to the uninitiated. A toast to the adventurer in us all, Yemen Mocha Sanani is a rare coffee that should be savored. Well worth the indulgence.

http://www.ptscoffee.com/store/product_detail.php?c=139&s=51095

......................................................

This is my latest selection of the month from Citizen Bean and I just had my first cup this morning. The coffee is great, it has a nice aroma and smooth taste. There is very little bitterness here and the flavor finishes long with a bit of spice. The roaster is PTs Coffee and Jeff Taylor is one of only 4 certified International World Barista Competition judges. Basically, the guy knows his coffee and its a pleasure to taste his work.

Posted by mardenhill 3/03/2008 09:52:00 AM 0 comments    

Labels: Coffee