Me weekly

Made a tweet that their should be a ME weekly .. starring ME (was a riff on US weekly) ... Not sure how to do the RSS feed thing.

But here would be the me weekly from twitter.


http://twitter.com/statuses/user_timeline/4918641.rss


Edmund

Another IPod Challenge .. whee!/There Goes My Baby

I love these silly challenges .. trying to decide if want to leave the house and get coffee or keep watching stuff on DVR and burn CDs (got 5 CD grab bags @ Bull Moose (10 CDs each) for .99c/each) .. Yay!

Good stuff ... Guns N Roses-Appetite for Destruction, Sinead O'Connor - I do not want what I haven't got; U2-October; Tina Turner-Greatest Hits ..

Heres the facebook thing (from Kayt Sukel - super mom and writer) ...

Welcome to this week's viral tagging notes madness! But kinda fun if you have an iPod and eclectic taste in the music. (Out of 5569 songs shuffled on IPod/ Is actually a total of 11,882 songs on ITunes (and I want to figure out to get my vinyl digitized too)... Yep I'm a freak


RULES:
1. put your music player on shuffle
2. for each question press the 'next' button to get your answer
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS.

1. If someone says 'is that ok' you say?
New River Train - The Monroe Brothers -- **** .. nice song by the bluegrass pioneers (only had album for 2 weeks) from Bluegrass Vintage Vaults (4 CD set @ Wal-Mart) .. good stuff .. love compliation CDs that are cheap (was $14.99 I think) - finished song

2. What would best describe your personality?
Silly Game - Prince ... title is way, way too appropriate for my silly self who l oves games (Magic, Fluxx, Simpsons Uno, Trivial Pursuit, etc.) .. ***

3. What do you like in a guy or girl?
(This Song's Just) Six Words Long -- Weird Al Yankovic -- *** -- I guess the ability to make a song out of nothing -- do this all the time .. probably should get more into filking at cons

4. How do you feel today?
Dead Puppies - Ogden Edsi ... **** (from 3) ... The lyrics are so hilarious that the delivery doesn't matter ... Because "Dead Puppies aren't much fun" -- Dr. Demento album was a really great gift for the wife. One of the reasons I love her. I am in a time-wasting mood on this day off. A truly ridiculous song.

5. What’s your purpose in life?
Solitude - Duke Ellington .. **** .. One needs to be comfortable with himself no matter what (had a church service on topic recently of Solitude) and of course Duke Ellington is the greatest American composer of the 20th century.

6. What’s your motto?
Sewing Machine - Manhattan Projects -- **** - A "Cannonball" Adderly cover --- swings a lot .. fun son ..

7. What do your friends think of you?
Hung Up On You- Fountains of Wayne - *** .. weird to hear them do a country-ish song .. no idea what this mean ...

8. What do you think of often?
Sleep in Heavenly Peace (Silent Night) - Barbara Streisand - **** - lovely song -- Barbara Streisand was an amazing young perfomer ... Still is a force of nature. Adore "Silent Night" probably my favorite Christmas hymn.

9. What do you think of your best friend?
House upon the Hill .. The Secret Garden soundtrack (Musical) .. *** .. not a great musical ...

10. What do you think of the person you like?
Echoes of the Jungle - Duke Elllington .. **** .. love Duke Ellington ..nice to get some time with my music ...

11. What is your life story?
Can't Cry Anymore - Sheryl Crow - *** .. Songs aren't playing with questions today

12. What do you want to be when you grow up?
Surf Beat - Dick Dale & His Del-Tones -- **** .. love the king of the surf guitar .. that would be a cool skill to master ...

13. What do you think when you see the person you like?
All the Girls Love Alice - Elton John ... *** (was not rated - got from previous group of CD grabbag) ..

14. What do(es) your parent(s) think of you?
Ebony & Ivory - Steve Wonder - *** - IPod definitely on random today

15. How will you feel at your funeral?
"Quimby" Campaign Commercial - The Simpsons -- **** -- Love "The Simpsons" although it isn't what it was..

16. What will they play at your wedding?
I Don't Wanna (With Black Thought) - Carol Riddick - *** - Soulful song but the wedding was all about Ella.

17. What is your hobby or interest?
Crying Just For Show - French Kicks ** - Would have changed to alternate playlist by now. - that might belong on the deletion list.

18. What is your biggest fear?
Steve Berman (Skit) - Eminem -- *** - I don't take criticism well.

19. What is your biggest secret?
Isfahan - Joe Henderson - **** - That I love jazz and a great beat isn't a great secret..

20. What do you think of your friends?
Cyclone (Extended Version) - Wizard of Oz soundtrack -- **** - Amazingly great soundtrack .. just a blast from the Munchkin Suite to "Over the Rainbow" ....

21. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
Beautiful - Marie Christine Soundtrack - *** - Another meh soundtrack -- This is one of the better tracks on it.

22. WHAT IS 2 + 2?
Boom Selection - Genius Cru -- *** -- I guess 2 + 2 is a beat ..

23. What will you repost this as?
There Goes My Baby - 50 Soul Hits --- Don't know artist -- But definitely classic 50s-60s early rock (probably 50s) .. ***

Didn't get as cool a group of songs this time ... Best one is Silly Game .. think going to do some gaming.

Edmund

p.s Really looking forward to Boskone this week in Boston. Yay!

30 Songs -- Question Answer from IPod on Shuffle Songs

Sounds like a good timewaster (although) that makes less sense at 12:39am when already watching Southpark... Will do this on random from my IPod (ie Shuffle Songs)... Got it from Lori Ellison.

Also don't want to wake up wife from the ITunes since she is sleeping and has to get up at 6 am (me more like 9:50am) .. Will include star rating too and a note on some of them . just because I am like that ... FYI out of 5520 songs (which is only part of my ITunes Library)

1. What's my mood like right now?
Farther Up The Road - Bobby "Blue" Bland ... First date with my wife to be in January, 2003 with Cody ChesnuTT who I got to know in LA .. very cool .. love the wife! .. **** .. Going to finish this song ... a good one.

2. How's tomorrow going to be for me?
Penny Lane - The Beatles .. a good omen I think .. ****

3. What kind of person am I?
Leaving Just to Leave - Jake La Botz ... **** .. Got this CD at a laundromat he was playing in at the Sunset Strip (true story)... I am a bit of a wanderer although been in Maine a while

4. Am I loved?
Walkin' My Baby Back Home - Nat King Cole .. **** ... Love Nat King Cole .. just lovely ...i

5. How can I achieve my highest potential?
I Don't Go for That - Quincy Jones .. *** ... From the Grammy award winning for Best Album - Back on the Block .. great album .. and Q: The Autobiography of Quincy Jones is like the Forrest Gump of Music (**** for the book) .. ****1/2 for the album ... Even saw him at the great LA Festival of Books .. amazing book festival for a very, very materialist town (wondering if should have done this when it was earlier)

6. What should I do with my life?
My Cherie Amour - Stevie Wonder - *** ... sweet sentiment

7. Is everything really going to be alright in the end?
Robbins Nest - Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis ... honestly got the album because its jazz and my namesake .. fun album .. nice artist ... Had no rating .. gave it ***

8. What is my best quality?
Three Little Words - Duke Ellington .. *** ... lovely song ... words are "I love you"

9. How does my social life look?
Before You Fell Out of Love With Me ... Hank Williams, Jr .. had no rating .. will give *** ... sounds inauspicious

10. What's the meaning of life?
Misirlou - Dick Dale & His Del-Tones .. better known as the Pulp Fiction opening song .. **** ... not as good a version as that one ... I think that you have to surf with life as stated by King of the Surf Guitar ... Not a bad meaning of life. .. finished song

11. What do people think of me?
A Life So Changed - James Horner - Titanic Soundtrack .. not sure what to think of this .. its one of the sad songs in the movie .. instrumental ... has an Enya quality to it .. does it mean I am effermal .. not rated before **** .... Is a thought provoking song which is always a good thing. ..finished song

12. Would I make a good lover?
Backwards Masking - Christal Methodists --- *** .. Not sure what to think of this one .. its an album of prank calling Christian radio ... bizarre, bizarre, if fascinating album ... Lets let this one go .. the title is fun at least ... finshed the short track

13. How crazy am I?
It's Wonderful - Ella Fitzgerald .. .**** .. The main artist in our wedding and one of my wife's favorites .. thanks for the DJ equipment John .. that a lovely thought ... like it better for question 14

14. Will I have a good life in general?
Wappin - Darrell Hammond ... *** ... Dr. Demento 20th Anniversary album ... has Elmer Fudd Wappin ... I am very, very silly

15. Can Lanna Lee ever really love me?.
Gimme Shelter - The Rolling Stones ... **** .. .yep she can .. most definitely

16. Can me and Lanna Lee ever be more than friends?
Long, Long Summer - Dizzy Gillespie .. *** ... love the wife

17. What's going to happen to me this week?
Shy - Prince ... **** ... Definitely a recipe for fun ...

18. Where will I be a year from now?
Give Me One Reason - Tracy Chapman ... **** .. love Tracy Chapman .. one of the best debut albums of all time ... great job for this former busker on the T in Boston

19. What is my fondest wish?
There Something on Your Mind -- BB King & Etta James ... **** ... Again a very nice thought

20. What is the love of my life doing at this very moment?
Dead Cats Dead Rats -- The Doors ... **** ... This would be a very odd dream for the sleeping wife ... Fun crazy song

21. How did my parents meet?
I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow - The Soggy Bottom Boys - O Brother Where Art There Soundtrack - **** ... Makes it sound like country dancing ... But really it was over bridge and friends at UC Riverside

22. How will I die?
Diga, Diga Doo - The Mills Brothers ... **** .. The Mills Brothers are John Wooden's favorite band I found out ... Honestly makes me think of a New Orleans Jazz Wake .. which is an awesome tradition

23. What song will be played at my funeral?
A Big Hunk O' Love - Elvis Presley .. *** ... This would defintely be more of a party then a somber occasion if your playing this upbeat song

24. What will happen after I die?
Recorda Me - Joe Henderson - **** .. lush jazz symphonic record also has good portents

25. What will I dream about tonight?
We'll Meet Again Sweetheart - JD Crowe & The Kentucky Mountain Boys ... not rated .. will give *** (I give 3 a lot) ... That will meet your sweetheart again .. For me it would be about friends long lost and seen again ... Yep my collection is eclectic. ...Finished song .. .Lovely thought

26. What should I be working on right now?
Should I Stay or Should I Go - The Clash .. *** ... Really good guitar licks on a New Wave Record? .. Would like to develop some more music ability.

27. What's my roommate up to currently?
Future Love Paradise ... Seal .. *** ... Hopefully it means the wife is sleeping well ...

28. What did I do last weekend?
Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most - Barbara Streisand . .. **** ... I know its hard to believe but in 2 months its April ... honest answer is lots and lots of Magic: The Gathering with the Conflux pre-release

29. Describe me?
The Last Kuwaiti Women Held Hostage - Harry Shearer .. *** ... Silly .. the word would be silly .. and a big Simpsons fan ...

30. What does my music player think of me?
California Sun -- The Ramones ... **** ... That I enjoy myself and love to rock out on my breaks .. my IPod is definitely my friend @ work ... That I am out there having fun in the wicked cold Maine sun ...

This was really fun .. at least I don't type a lot on this kind of stuff.

edmund

Bonus Song -- I'll Walk Alone - Charlie Parker .. **** .. Although I can be social I like my space.

Super Conflux Sunday

So today is super bowl sunday ... Honestly this year .. meh ... Yep the Cardinals are a great cinderella story, but my fearless prediction is this is the WORST rated Super Bowl ever ... 31-17 Steelers.

And of course would care far more if the Eagles were playing . .but what I really care about today is Conflux.

What is Conflux you may ask .. its the 2nd part of the Shards of Alara block and going to a prerelease today ... I play Magic: The Gathering and have been interested in it since last Spring (although I did buy some Ice Age packs and decks early on.) ...

So I am getting 2 tournament decks one of Shards and one of Conflux (equivalent of 3 boosters each) ... But mainly today is all about geeking out.

Speaking of my geekiness .. I reread something on the last 3 days which I haven't read since I was a kid - 8-12? maybe ... "Around the World in 80 Days" by Jules Verne ... **** ... Just a pure joy of a book, forgot how much pure joy and fun was in the book. The quiet, whist-loving Fogg, the crazy servant, the lovely Indian woman and the crazy detective Fix .. Don't forget that you gain a day going east around the world.

Had a good reading week actually finishing 3 books on the Kindle... Also read "God's Harvard: A Christian College on a Mission to Save America" by Hanna Roisn and "In Defense of Food" by Micheal Pollan .. both are non-fiction and fascinating...

I also had read both of these books for some time ... Enjoy both of them quite a bit and both are really, really different.

In Defense of Food ... is Michael Pollan's follow-up to Omnivore's Dilemma (which I haven't finished yet) ... basically against imitation foods and what he labels "nutritionism" that nutritionists keep looking for one thing for health. Interesting book against corn syrup, and strange ingredients and in favor of whole foods. Part of his argument is that you should eat whole foods, and that food cultures(ie Italy, France, Greece, India, China, etc.) ie the foods of mom provide far better health then the Western diet .. Interesting and a good read ***

God's Harvard was completely fascinating to me. Especially as I am on the opposite end of the spectrum from homeschooled fundamentalists as a Unitarian Universalist. This school is designed to make "god's warriors" to change America to a more "Christian" place. Many of the students who go here go onto work in DC and are true believers for GW Bush and many of the members of the Christian right in politics. It also amazes me how restrictive the school is the 2000s, high level of in-local parentis. Glad I have a liberal religious experience and the freedom to choose and believe. Most fascinating if come from an opposite experience .. ***1/2.

Cheers and happy February.

Edmund

Lazy Sunday

Sundays are always a great day for me.

Its the day I can unwind and just take time for myself and nest.

I often call it my "drool" day .. where the most important thing I do all day is drool while watching TV and having a beer.

But that is not really true.

Today is a day to recharge.

Especially on a snowy January in Maine where it looks like 4-6 inches of snow have fallen already.

There is something great at waking up at noon... Having a shower ... making yourself some eggs (also the salsa in the scramble today just ended up messy) .. listening to some Prairie Home Companion .. and today blogging.

Looking forward to the game of the birds .. two teams with mediocre regular season records the Cardinals and the Eagles ... and even a third bird team in the Ravens in the AFC .. I guess a good chance for birds to go south (to the Super Bowl) ... The Eagles were a 5-5-1 team that won 4 of their last 5 in the regular season .. and needed the Bucs to collapse from 9-4 to 9-7 and either the Bears or Vikings to lose before the destroyed the Cowboys.

The Cardinals clinched the NFC West early and drifted down to 8-8 with some ugly losses to the Eagles and Patriots among others.

Of course, I am an Eagles fan and looking forward to this game greatly .. honestly hoping the Eagles can win it all this year . but too superstitious to pick the Eagles this week (picked the Vikings, and Giants in playoffs already -- Seems like picking against the Eagles has worked).

Then you have the Steelers and Ravens. I think this will be a game of defense and turnovers .. team that makes the least mistakes wins ... Strangely I think that is the Ravens say 21-17

As far as the Eagles-Cards game ... I think the 1st quarter will be very important if Warner, Fitzgerald and Bolden get hot early, it could be a day for Arizona. If Philly's defense makes some big stops and interceptions looks good for Eagles. Since picking against the Eagles has worked well so far picking Cardinals 24-21.

Also really happy to see the end of the Bush era in almost exactly 48 hours from now. Obama is entering a difficult recession and a time of dwindling employment. We desperately need national health care in this country, and need once again to be respected on the world stage.

Have a great Sunday.

Edmund

25 Things About Me

Rules: Once you’ve been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it’s because I want to know more about you.

Saw this from Kayt Sukel's note on facebook.

1. I am a dork and a geek ... Used to worry about this but embrace it now.

2. I love Philly sports .. especially the Eagles and Phillies .. have since I moved to NJ.

3. I was born in Madison, Wisconsin but only lived there for 2 years .. Visited once about 10 years ago looks like a great town.

4. Lived in Montgomery Township, near Princeton from 7 to in my 20s ... Have many thoughts about the place but definitely think it has grown for too much with country clubbers .. HS class was 106 in 1992 and in the 400s now .. Did love the hills there though.

5. Started college at the University of Chicago .. was there for 2 years .. .found it to be the school where 19 year olds acted like Ph.D. students .. which I don't think is healthy ... Although I have never seen a place where people were so wanting to answer questions and get in the debate.

6. Finished my schooling (undergrad) at Rutgers University. I really enjoyed my time on the banks although like at Chicago I had way too many incompletes .. my advice to future college students .. .just write the damn paper even if its total crap.

7. I really wish I took so time off between HS and college ... Montgomery was a very sheltered place and I think I could have used some time abroad.

8. I considered joining the military many times. My dad wanted me to join the NJ National Guard. I think I would have made a very good officer in the Air Force. I also thought very early on that Iraq was a new Yugoslavia. You have a strongman dictator (Tito and Hussein) who kept a country together by fear where the people hate each other.

9. I have considered getting a Ph.D. many times ... The absolutely dreadful market for professors in the Humanities and Social Science have dissuaded me about this.

10. I have an MBA. Although I enjoy the studies at Claremont/Drucker-Ito School .. I think it was generally far too easy and gave me far, far too much student loan debt. Although I really enjoyed the strategy management portion of my degree.

11. I have declared bankruptcy before the law changed. I was underemployed for a long time and got far too much credit card debt. I just wish the student loan debt was dischargeable. I also think we need too make it easier for people to declare bankruptcy. Especially how many people get into it for medical reasons.

12. I really think we need to divorce health care/insurance and employment. I think this would increase the velocity of employment (how long people are unemployed between jobs) and would allow people not to worry about getting sick.

13. I am really, really happy my parents had great insurance when my dad was diagnosed with brain cancer (GBM) this summer. He was in neuro ICU for almost 4 weeks, and his bills were close to a million dollars. I am happy they were able to remove the golf size tumor and that is was reachable in the front of the brain. My dad is doing very well now and it makes me very greatful.

14. I am really happy to be married to my silly, crazy, awesome wife Lanna. We love to laugh and love together and its just awesome.

15. I have found that I have felt more grounded, at peace and grateful then I have for a very long time. My dad is doing well after his cancer (taking chemotherapy drugs and no recurrence yet), I have a wonderful wife and I am employed.

16. I have tried a very, very long time to be more patient. I think patience is a hard thing to learn but extremely important.

17. Favorite films all time: Brazil, Ran, Intolerance, Empire Strikes Back, Apocalypse Now(which I can never spell right), Rear Window, Vertigo, Citizen Kane, GoodFellas, Dr. Strangelove, and Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

18. I root for Rutgers athletics hard. I wish more people would go to see C. Vivian Stringer coach the always intense Rutgers women's basketball team, and am really happy to see Greg Schiano turn the football program around.

19. I really enjoy campy things .. Marilyn Monroe (both music and movies), Judy Garland, Madonna (for a long time), old musicals, etc.

20. I play Magic the Gathering .. .Its a fun game but I wish it was more contained sometimes .. you can spend an unlimited amount on it.

21. I live in Southern Maine now ... I enjoy it here but it feels very anglo after living in Hyde Park (Chicago), Claremont, CA (S. Calif), Washington Heights, NYC, etc. ...

22. I really miss good Mexican food .. the local food in Pomona, CA (which is more then half mexican) was just awesome. And usually the less you paid, the better the food was .. ie little taquiras with all spanish on the menu wiht a $1 taco would be awesome .. the anglo sit down restaurants kinda sucked.

23. I feel really grateful and lucky for all the support my parents have given me over the years.

24. I would like to travel more .. although I have lived in NYC, Chicago, NJ, Maine, LA, etc. would love to live overseas.

25. I think airline security (the 3 oz bottles and removing shoes) is a total farce ... There are so many better ways.

26. I was a republican until September 11, 2001 ... When GW Bush started trampling on the 1st Amendment and the Bill of Rights I was gone.

27. I am really hopeful of the Obama presidency will be peacemakers and increase the size of diplomacy and the State Department and decrease the spending on military and fancy toys. I think the US spends more on defense then the rest of the world combined.

28. I like ellipses (...)

29. The internet saved my dating life (always shy asking women out and fearful of rejection) .. its where I met most of the women I have dated and my wonderful wife).

30. I love my DVR and the ability to pause and record TV. I also have pretty severe ADHD /clicking around when watching TV shows and have for a long time. I think I may be ADHD spectrum as well.

31. I reveal too much when I do these and never stop at 25.

Edmund