"The Future and You" is an audio podcast that I download religiously. Created by Stephen Euin Cobb, the show discusses macro-humanity/real world trajectories with famous science fiction authors. Definitely something to geek out to in a useful way, now weekly. Read more about The Future and You, now updated weekly
I'm not trying to be a hep music journalist here but since I do have friends that like to keep up vicariously with my music adventures, here are some the things I listened to this year... in no particular order:
Queens of the Stone Age - Era Vulgaris
Era Vulgaris is far and away my favorite record this year and I consider it to be at a level of genius on par with the Flaming Lips' Pink Robots album. Some might snark, especially old school Queens fans. My old friends who have gone a little soft are horrified. And even Joshe Homme, the Queens mastermind, would squirm at any hint of pretention. Read more about Sonic Pleasures 2007
Patsy (my mom) and Dick bought us a Scooba, the floor-cleaning iRobot. Simon and Henry named it "Mecha-G" in honor of the giant robotic monster built to defend Japan from the real Godzilla. Read more about Mecha-G Cleans Our Kitchen Floor
Henry's birthday is in October, so this year he was particularly interested in Halloween. He started dressing up and scaring passers-by in late September. He wore his spiderman gloves every single day. He had 15 configurations ready for the big day, and used about 7 of them. We had a smoke machine and microphone/amplifier set up on our spider-web strewn Haunted Porch.
It was great fun. The boys got over-the-top scary at times... even scaring the bejeezus out of some schoolmates (we still feel bad, Sabrina) but it sure was fun seeing 4-year-old Hank take Halloween to the Hilt. Read more about Scary Halloween
As November begins, it occurs to me that we've been Californians* for 10 years exactly. The * is for my friend Hil in L.A. who rightfully notes that I'll never be a true Californian... I will always be a Midwestern Boy. Fair 'nuff, I can accept that. I'm actually proud of it. But make no mistake... Simon and Henry are true Californians. And their mom and dad will be sure to help find them some nice Midwestern Girls, some day. Read more about 10 Years in California - What I've Learned So Far
Here it is.... the Hardly Strictly wrap-up. I'm pretty wrecked, probably because I had boys on my shoulders for 8 hours/day all weekend. Highlights and lowlights after the jump... Read more about Hardly Strictly Rundown - It Ain't Easy!
Just about anybody who knows me or this blog knows that Danny Barnes has been my favorite musician for 17 years or so. (His band used to be Bad Livers.) During that time, we've become good friends and I also handle his website. He's always gotten the nod from world class musicians (Bill Frisell, John Paul Jones, Tim O'Brien, and many others) but he's remained in relative obscurity to the masses... until this past weekend. Read more about Our Guy Goes BIGTIME