It is that time of year again. Here's the Unwilted Christmas Podcast for 2010. Featuring non-traditional music this year. Chris Rea, Gordon Lightfoot, Happy Snowman, Bryan Adams, Neil Diamond, and Sufjan Stevens.
Friday, December 24, 2010
Untitled
It is that time of year again. Here's the Unwilted Christmas Podcast for 2010. Featuring non-traditional music this year. Chris Rea, Gordon Lightfoot, Happy Snowman, Bryan Adams, Neil Diamond, and Sufjan Stevens.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Photo Test
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Vegetarian?
I've sometimes joked that I would just start eating meat. It sure would be easier to eat meat, but as a lifelong vegetarian I just never could.
Then I stumbled upon a blog called meatdiary the other day written by some woman who claims to be a lifelong vegetarian. That is, if you consider eating fish all of your life vegetarian. Oh, and she ate chicken as a kid. Then she's been eating chicken for the last 14 years as well (along with fish, and probably all other seafood as well as other poultry such as turkey). So this so-called vegetarian is blogging about her decision to eat meat this year. So what? You ate dead fish and dead chickens almost all of your life. Now you have a burger and think that is something?
I continue to be confused by how people call themselves vegetarian and then eat fish or even chicken. This isn't an attack on those people for their diet. Good for them. Words do have plain meanings, however. A vegetarian does not eat dead, rotting flesh.
An analogy? I go around telling people that I don't drink alcohol. Except I've been drinking beer since high school. Oh, and I just moved to Napa Valley, and it is almost socially necessary to drink wine here. So I usually have a glass of wine with dinner. But this year, I've decided to go crazy and start drinking alcohol. So I this week, I tried a martini. Next week, it will be a rum and coke. Wow! A lifelong teetotaler is now drinking alcohol, and it is great! Would anybody take me seriously if I started a blog about that?
Then I stumbled upon a blog called meatdiary the other day written by some woman who claims to be a lifelong vegetarian. That is, if you consider eating fish all of your life vegetarian. Oh, and she ate chicken as a kid. Then she's been eating chicken for the last 14 years as well (along with fish, and probably all other seafood as well as other poultry such as turkey). So this so-called vegetarian is blogging about her decision to eat meat this year. So what? You ate dead fish and dead chickens almost all of your life. Now you have a burger and think that is something?
I continue to be confused by how people call themselves vegetarian and then eat fish or even chicken. This isn't an attack on those people for their diet. Good for them. Words do have plain meanings, however. A vegetarian does not eat dead, rotting flesh.
An analogy? I go around telling people that I don't drink alcohol. Except I've been drinking beer since high school. Oh, and I just moved to Napa Valley, and it is almost socially necessary to drink wine here. So I usually have a glass of wine with dinner. But this year, I've decided to go crazy and start drinking alcohol. So I this week, I tried a martini. Next week, it will be a rum and coke. Wow! A lifelong teetotaler is now drinking alcohol, and it is great! Would anybody take me seriously if I started a blog about that?
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Soldier Gives Iraqi Police Motivational Speech
Culturally, I'm not really sure this works with the Iraqis. But I bet it felt good, and many of us have wanted to say these things at times.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Webb Sisters New EP
Certainly, there are bigger new releases this week. Still, I find myself listening a lot to the new Webb Sisters EP, Comes in Twos (available on itunes). They have been performing with Leonard Cohen live, making his upcoming tour dates all the more compelling (most of the North American dates will be announced soon). The EP features a live recording of Cohen with the Webb Sisters performing If it Be Your Will. Brilliant. They are so damn good that Cohen pretty much just introduces them and lets them perform his song.
I'm not sure if the Sisters have been influenced by Cohen or if they were selected to preform with him because of a similar musical outlook. Some tracks could be called alternative country, especially In Your Father's Eyes. Others, such as Words That Mobilise [sic], will be pleasing and familiar to fans of Cohen. I like them all. A solid release, and I'll definitely look forward to seeing the Webb Sisters performing with Leonard Cohen. If I can get tickets.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Worse Song?
Lionel Richie released a new single, Just Go. I'm not sure I've heard a worse song released as a single in quite some time. What happens to musicians as they grow older that causes them to release pure pap?
Monday, February 09, 2009
Careless Whisper
I'm not sure it really takes all that much to do a grunge cover of a 1980s song, but Seether's version of Careless Whisper is pretty good for what it is. Actually, this is a double dose of nostalgia for me -- the 1980s trip combined with the 1991 sound. Is grunge making a comeback?
Saturday, February 07, 2009
Mac and iPhone Are Not the Same Thing
Just a quick geek vent lamenting that so many formerly good sources for news and information about Macs have too much iPhone information. Yes, both products are made by Apple. But that does not mean I'm interested in sorting through reviews of every dorky new iPhone app.
Thursday, February 05, 2009
The Rake's Song
The Decemberists came out with a new single, The Rake's Song
from the upcoming album, The Hazards of Love.
from the upcoming album, The Hazards of Love.Tuesday, February 03, 2009
Starting to Feel the Disappointment
I knew this day would come, but I didn't think it would come so soon. I'm feeling a creeping sense of disappointment with President Obama, the stimulus package, and most of all with the Democrats in Congress. I guess I'm still holding out some hope that the Senate will clean things up, perhaps with pressure from President Obama. But it is not too damn likely. I'm not against taking out a mortgage in the form of additional debt (although I really hate the idea of debt), but it should be limited to spending that meet two tests. First, the spending must provide a near-term benefit in the form of either jobs or other economic stimulus. Second, the spending must be for something that really is an investment in the future and not merely current spending. Plenty in the bill as currently written meets neither test. Much of it does not qualify as an investment in the future.
I'd also be okay with using this opportunity to take on a big challenge -- particularly real comprehensive health care reform or a progressive tax simplification. Alas, neither -- even though both could be done in a way that stimulates the economy. Just stupid spending on stuff that makes the Democrats and Obama vulnerable to attack -- and rightly so.
I'd also be okay with using this opportunity to take on a big challenge -- particularly real comprehensive health care reform or a progressive tax simplification. Alas, neither -- even though both could be done in a way that stimulates the economy. Just stupid spending on stuff that makes the Democrats and Obama vulnerable to attack -- and rightly so.
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