VA - Love Is Gonna Let Me Down

The slick transition between the first and second tracks was my main excuse for moving forward with a new mix. I also just felt like I hadn't made one (that wasn't a year-end compilation) in several months. As is the drill, please give a listen and let me know how it …

Endless Numbered Mixtape #18: Gregg Allman's "Queen Of Hearts"

Much more soulful than the blues-y riffing of The Allman Brothers oeuvre, Gregg Allman's solo album Laid Back (1973) is one of my absolute, all-time favorites. A record that sadly, I saw pass through many a cut-out bin during my 6-year stint at the local record store, …

More On Haggard

Ted Haggard, the pastor of New Life church who was ousted for having a homosexual affair with a male prostitute, is back in the spotlight for a second homosexual affair with a 20 year-old church volunteer (this time with added bonus hush money!).

Ted Haggard's back in …

The 44th President of the United States: Barack Hussein Obama (or) Change Has Come to America

The complete Inaugural Address transcript...

My fellow citizens, I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well …

"American Tune," by Paul Simon

Because it's bloody brilliant, but mostly for that moment at the 1:49 mark when the chords shift to major ("And I dreamed I was dying.") and it feels like the song's about to tread water, but then out tumbles one of the most stunning yet delicate moments and melodies …

Consider the Engineer (or) On the Subject of the Downed US Airways Flight that Ended Up in the Hudson River

1/19/2009 - NOW UPDATED WITH VIDEO!

I've already squawked about this a little bit on Twitter, but the headlines refuse to go away, so I feel I have to vent a little further.

On the subject of the downed US Airways flight that ended up in the Hudson river, let's be …

Kumar Makes The (Real) Chai

PASSED 88: Skoolbus39's Year-End Mix

Friend, former bandmate, co-worker and shadowy internet ninja Skoolbus39 (aka The Unknown Stuntman) has posted his year-end mix for 2008. It's a bit on the avant-garde, left-field side, which is good because I don't investigate that stuff as much as I used to in my …

The Wisdom of Sagan Pt.1

On what draws us to pseudoscience and religion...

Naturally people try various belief systems on for size, to see if they help. And if we're desperate enough, we become all too willing to abandon what may be perceived as the heavy burden of skepticism. Pseudoscience …

Seven Worlds Collide Again

As a reminder, Neil Finn and friends are revisiting their 7 Worlds Collide project from 2001 and have reunited in New Zealand the past few days for a 3-week recording session and a series of live performances. Participants include Neil Finn, Ed O'Brien and Phil Selway …

Endless Numbered Mixtape #17: The Zombies "She's Not There"

Paige directed me towards Cave17's article on the greatness of The Zombies' "She's Not There" that's definitely worth a read.

The second verse is more of the same as the first verse, except a bit more explicit: "No one told me about her / THOUGH THEY ALL KNEW." But …

M.A.D.G.A.C.N.I.C.E.

Jason has turned me on to the new single from the band The Sound of Arrows, entitled "M.A.G.I.C.," and it's a wonderful pastiche of Electric Company and My Little Pony-esque sights and sounds which begs to be mashed up with Justice's "D.A.N.C.E." and/or The Go! Team's …

Au Revoir, 2008 (Redux)

Blame my obsessive compulsive nature, but I wasn't happy with the previous incarnation of this year-end mix and went ahead and re-did it (but hey, think of the previous mix as source materials for this one, since this mix is a blended single track).

I took out all of …

Let The Right One In by Tomas Alfredson

We went, with interest but slight trepidation, to see Tomas Alfredson's Let The Right One In last night. The movie, an adaptation of a novel by John Ajvide Lindqvist, was brilliantly imagined, magnificently filmed and just a wonderful film to behold.

From the outset …

"Due Without Thanks or Compliment," by Mark Twain

"We hear much about His patience and forbearance and long-suffering; we hear nothing about our own, which much exceeds it. We hear much about His mercy and kindess and goodness--in words--the words of His Book and of His pulpit--and the meek multitude is content with …

How Does an Asshole Like Bob Get Such a Great Kitchen?

Wes Anderson directed Softbank Mobile commercial featuring Brad Pitt, inspired by Jacques Tati's 1953 French film "Les Vacances de Monseieur Hulot."

RELATED: Wes Anderson's American Express "My Card" ad & Wes Anderson's commercials for AT&T in 2007

(via)

That Inescapable Year-End List (2008 Edition)

I previously posted a compilation of some of my favorite single tracks from the year and there were so many great songs I didn't even have the space to include them all. Now it's time to turn the attention to the parent albums from whence many of them came.

Like most …

My Niece's Daddy on The Daily Show

My niece's father Adam (as well as, I believe, the street I live on) was featured in this clip on The Daily Show last week. Pretty cool, well done Adam.

Also, Adam vlogged (a new term to me) his experience leading up to and after the appearance on the show. Here's …

RE-BLOG: This Is My Jazz, Vol.1

This is a mix I originally submitted to Yewknee's Summer Mix Series back in 2007. I wasn't very happy with the cover art for the last one, so I banged out a new cover this evening. While I was at it, I decided to go ahead and repost the mix, seems fitting music for …

Au Revoir, 2008

In lieu of some fancy-ass, themed and blended mix I've decided to go ahead and just group together a bunch of my favorite songs from the past year. There's plenty of stuff that was released just this year, but also quite a few nuggets from the past that I fell in love …