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March 10th, 2006
12:35 am - too amazing not to mention
This violates my rule about politics, but not heavily since I'll let you take from it what you will. In honor of tax time, this from the Disney corporation circa 1943:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2857278388843745235
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March 9th, 2006
12:33 am - Booze and the people who drink it
I've sort of been considering writing an occasional column on booze for several years. I liked this beer, this one sucks, occasional hints of chicory, that kind of thing. This blog will serve that purpose, probably poorly, just because I don't drink carefully or enough to do it well. As the reader will not fail to observe, however, the only time I'm going to post anything here is when I've had a couple drinks, so perhaps this topic is appropriate.
Tonight's contribution involves bourbon. Now, the standard "good" bourbon (that people have heard of, that when you show your roomate's chinese friends they are impressed, that was too good for your grandfather to enjoy, etc.) is Maker's Mark. I have a bottle sitting on top of my dresser. A little sweet, but very nice with ice. When I visited newyork several weeks ago, I went to my neighborhood pub and asked them what they had in the way of bourbon. He said (paraphrased) "well, we have this maker's mark crap, I guess some people like that, and then we have baker's, we're out of basil hayden's [also pretty good, but the guy looked at me cross-eyed when I said I liked it], and then we have two really good ones, Blanton's and [forgotten]." Blanton's puts Maker's Mark to shame. Most bars don't even have Blanton's. I don't think you can buy it in most liquor stores. It's special. It also cost $11 at the tapas place where I bought a glass of it tonight. Took me two hours to drink it. I don't believe in that hoohah about describing liquor by relating it to other tastes, so I suppose you'll just have to take my word for it. It burns your tongue a little and fills your mouth when you swallow and absorbs your thoughts. It's not that its particularly strong, liquor wise. Its just wonderful.
I also wrote another paragraph on political blogs, but I have omitted it for the sake of not writing about anything even remotely related to politics or the people who study it.
If you want good bourbon, drink Blanton's. If you want pretty good bourbon, Maker's Mark will do.
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February 5th, 2006
03:12 pm - some music
1. The Kingston Trio-Seasons in the Sun & perhaps Greenback Dollar
The Kingston Trio is music from my childhood. Some people find it mildly annoying, recognize from camp, etc. For a while I could listen to them a lot. Now I've cut back to a few different songs. Seasons in the Sun is sad but amusing, and Greenback Dollar has the nice traveling roughness to it.
2. Leo Kottke-All of 6 & 12-String Guitar
I'd like to pick one of these songs, but they're nearly all awesome, and hard to distinguish. Kottke is an amazing guitar player, and these songs are cleverly written and fantastic. If you want people to sing along with the pretty music, you're out of luck here, though.
3. Paris Combo-Sous la Lune
While we're on the subject of pretty songs, Paris Combo has some of the prettiest ones I'm heard. One friend of mine heard it and observed that regardless of how pedestrian the lyrics might be (he had no idea), it certainly sounded good in French. Istanbul, on their live album, is also fantastic, and little more lively.
4. Omar Faruk Tekbilek-Egyptian Dance
Slightly westernized but still virtuosic Turkish music. Not sure how westernized, but not enough so that it bugs me.
5. Sufjan Stevens-Jacksonville
This is a good song. The breathy indie sound ain't my thing, but Stevens really has his shit together. It's also about Illinois, which is one of the few places I've spent a good bit of time, so how can it go wrong?
6. Stan Getz-I'm Late, I'm Late and/or Night Rider
These are two tracks on an album called Focus. Its Getz with a string orchestra playing cleverly written bits. Awesome.
7. Roy Nathanson-Last Call
This is on a jazz concept album about a bar that burns down. There is a vast variety of different sounds on the album, but this one features an accordion and a lyrical tenor sax solo. The song is about some guy who goes into a bar and how the woman sitting next to him gradually become far more attractive as the night goes on. Off the beaten track, but highly recommended.
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November 7th, 2005
09:39 pm - Harvard Library
I went to Widener, the 'main' Harvard library today. They have one of the most confusing systems for storing books. First of all, the stacks are 10 stories, D-6, with two halves, east and west. I almost bumped my head going down. If that weren't enough, they have TWO DIFFERENT NUMBERING SYSTEMS! Simultaneously throughout the library, half of the books are numbered one way, and half another. Luckily, there seems no obvious way to tell the call numbers apart just by looking at them, and there is no correspondence. On the other hand, different shelves are different systems, and similar subjects in the two systems seem close together. One nice thing was a sign describing the call numbers on one shelf "S 1-900 (General Agriculture) ≠ S (Science) [with an arrow pointing in the direction of the other S]". Nor is there anything resembling a map of the place near the entrance. I know harvard kids are supposed to be smart, but c'mon guys. You need an advanced degree just to find your book in that place, forget about actually finding the exit afterward.
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October 27th, 2005
08:59 pm - Beer
Dogfish brewery makes some tasty tasty beer. I especially like their ipas. Tonight at the People's Republik I had 2 of the 60 minutes variety. Nothing takes your mind off of reading about misperceptions of relative power like a tasty tasty beer. yum yum.
Current Mood: none of your damn business.
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October 24th, 2005
12:47 am - A more productive activity?
Visiting my live journal is poor way to spend your time. On the other hand, you should probably be rewarded just for knowing it exists. Perhaps if I get angry enough about something I'll post something to make your efforts more worthwhile. Based on the experience of certain parties (i.e. professors who failed to get tenure at the university of chicago), I'm not sure this blogging thing is really such a hot idea.
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