Products I Love XV

Saltwater taffy: Nummy!

Music to My Ears LXVII

I just created a new iMix: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas Soundtrack. It's a collection of music and musicians mentioned in Hunter S. Thompson's novel Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

Vinyl Solution

Since I moved to New York two Januarys ago, I've not been listening to as much music for some reason. I don't listen to music at home, I'm not to going as many shows, and I'm not buying as many records.

Most recently it's because my turntable hasn't been working properly. Isolating the problem in the old turntable's cables, I bought a new turntable not long ago -- and much to my dismay. I'm just not satisfied with my new Audio Technica AT-PL50 belt drive turntable. Not only does it feel cheap by comparison, I don't like the tone arm's action, and the stylus appears to be shot -- straight out of the box.

So I've ordered an upgrade kit from LP Gear. Hopefully the different stylus -- and belt, which I'm not sure I'll use -- will make all the difference.

If not, I bought the wrong turntable -- and older is better than newer.

Blogging About Blogging LXXX

I got my Odeo invitation today. Biz Stone's welcome message is a hilarious bit of brevity, and I've downloaded a couple of sample podcasts to taste tonight. The Synchr app is pretty sleek, and I like the Flickr-like mouse-over prompts on the Odeo site. Lookin' good, Robin Hood!

Music to My Ears LXVI

I just created a new iMix: Tampa Burn Soundtrack. It's a collection of music and musicians mentioned in Randy Wayne White's novel Tampa Burn.

Music to My Eyes XXVIII

As part of last weekend's Handstand Command anniversary show, members of the collective displayed an exhibit of photographs taken throughout the group's history. Now that photographic history is available online.

Event-O-Dex XVII

Saturday, June 25: Grand opening reception for the new Giant Robot New York store on E. 9th Street.

I hope to be there, dressed up as a toaster. Or something.

Trylons, Assemble!

I'm in a new band, but not really. While the Anchormen are on a prolonged geographic hiatus, I've been tinkering around with several friends in New York. We call ourselves the Trylons after the Philip Johnson folly that's part of the Chrysler Building.

Roll call: Myself, Deb Klein of the Mary Reillys, Mike Faloon of the Kung Fu Monkeys and Egghead, and Mike Yannich of the Ergs and many other musical groups. We're on a bit of a hiatus ourselves, what with the Ergs going on tour and all.

Here are some rough, rough tracks from a practice earlier this year:

• When Morning Breaks
  
• Smash the Control Machines
  
• My Mental Health
  
• (I've Got) Something to Say
  
• Orion's Heart
  
• Starvation Army
• My Bathroom Bar
  
• Knockout, Oklahoma
  

I think the volume's a little low on the sound files, but check 'em out and let us know what you think. We've yet to play out or record properly, and if you're interested in booking a show or putting out the forthcoming "Knockout, Oklahoma" EP, don't be shy. The Trylons have arrived.

Event-O-Dex XVI

Saturday, June 18: Handstand Command anniversary show in Somerville, Mass., featuring what might be the Operators' final performance, Scrapple, Asian Babe Alert, and Anchormen Karaoke. That means I'm not singing with the band; I'll be somewhere else, unfortunately.

Surprising Delights

I'm in a hotel room, a three-hour flight from home, and poking around online to kill time before hitting the hay. Imagine my reaction when I realized that iTunes had picked up not one, but two Shared Music options. Thanks to jblazinny, I'm sampling alien music.

Here's a snapshot of the 100-plus song library: 50 Cent, Akon, Audio Slave, Backstreet Boys, BB Mack, Bowling For Soup, Brian Doerkson, Eagles, Eminem, Green Day, Gwen Stefani, Howie Day, Jadakiss, Jennifer Lopez, Jet, Kelly Clarkson, the Killers, Lindsay Lohan, M.I.A., Mark Schultz, Phil Collins, Rage Against the Machine, Switchfoot, and Usher. Jblazinny also has a bunch of songs from the various Wow Worship compilations, which I'm now listening to.

Googling "jblazinny," it appears that my benefactor is a fellow named Jonathan Moy. With a defunct blog, a more active Xanga site, and a hand in Just Jared, Moy likes "Bball, tennis, reading, working out, chilling with friends, good and insightful conversations, swimming, hanging at the beach," and seems to be in New Orleans for a sales meeting. He's also active in church.

Fascinating. Thanks, Mr. Moy, for sharing your music. You get a punk point, while this Silver person -- who also shows up in the hotel network but isn't sharing -- gets a demerit. And props to the hotel for networking its guests.

Music to My Ears LXV

Two sounds that absolutely please me: birdsong and Gregorian chants. I could listen to either in the background all the time.

Heath Row Goes to College IV

Postmarked Nov. 4, 1991

Dear Mom and Dad,

Thanks oh so much for the letter! Ha. Mr. B. (or B.) called last night to ask whether he could send the contract to our home or my campus address. I said to send it here. He has me in mind for business manager, who is in charge of the camp budget, parent picnic fees, bills, etcetera. I realize I haven't had much experience doing any of that stuff, but I think I could do a good job.

Looking at the calendar, I told him that the earliest I'd be able to start would be the week of June 13th. He seemed a bit disappointed that I would miss the camp staff week and the start of the season, but said we could work something out. Yet, this proposes a quandary. Should I move toward taking this job this soon or sould I hold off until the other opportunities present themselves as I look into the media jobs we've previously discussed, such as the Janesville Gazette, Daily Union, WSJY, and what have you? I;d like to look into these a tad more before writing them off for the camp job, but I don't want to discount that job because it seems rather available and almost reserved for me. I realize it's not, but I don't want to lose it because of a delay that'll have me working at McDonald's for the summer.

Enough of that. Please give me some input. Midterms all went as well as could be expected. A- on my history essay, and D. (my TA) said that he was impressed with some of my insights. I just have to work on my organization for the final. I'm afraid I rambled a bit in the beginning. A (94%) on my statistics test, and I could've done better. The grad student who corrected the test wrote "Good test" on the top of the first page. Perhaps he did this on everyy A, but that's still good. Of course, I got a B on the sociology test. On the American government test, I got a B on the curve. So I actually did pretty well for this first quarter so far. I only have to continue this level of academic excellence. Ha.

Working on my first real city desk story. Yes, I chose the city desk. Why? I like the editor and assistant editors, and the other staff writers on the desk. People have told me that papers respect students that have had city desk experience because the stories are more "real." For some reason, the university microcosm isn't held in the same light as a city. So I thought I'd get involved in the Evanston scene and see what makes the city tick. Heath Row, intrepid reporter. The city is my beat. Evanston is my city.

Other than that, it is extremely cold here. It actually snowed here today. Nothing on the ground yet, though. Very windy and very cold. Ack. All the people here that came from Florida or Arizona are freaking out because they've never been this cold. Of course, I'm used to is and constantly amaze people with my nonchalant attitude to going outside.

Turns out that the FCC changed their ruling to state that people need not pay for educational licenses. If we want, we can get out money back. But if I'm thinking of possible working at a radio station for the summer or in the relatively near future, should I take the refund? Then again, $35 is a nice bit of money to have. Any comments? I think I may take the refund because I can always pay later if I need to get one, and then the money won't be wasted if I never do anything commercial.

How're things in Fort? I called today (11/02/91) to discuss the camp staff stuff more in depth, but you were out. I think it's great that you guys finally have a social life. It seemed like you were always staying home because of B. and I. Classes are swell, all is well. Have a nice day.

Oh, lest I seem heartless and unappreciative, thanks a lot for the cookies. They came as a total surprise and were very good. One cookie, however, had no chips. I was going to send the tin back and demand a replacement, but you know... postage. Have a nice day for real now.

Dad: How do you justify on Appleworks? Do you have to do it at top and bottom or just top or what? Please tell...

I just realized that all the pants I wear on a day-to-day basis are jeans. I need to get some day pants that aren't dressy. Can't wear denim forever. Mom'll be proud. I now wear T-shirts when I wear dress shirts. It's silly, the fuss I made about it in the past (not too far distant, either...)

Udkafjhaskljfkjsaath,