Browsing around on HypeMachine after listening to the new My Morning Jacket song (which is great), I gave a listen to Los Campesinos, who have been getting some good buzz out there in the music world. This is the first time I've listened to them, but this song immediately (20 seconds in truthfully) gives you a shot of adrenaline. I'm a big fan of this one and look forward to finding out more about these guys.
I also downloaded the new Elbow album, and I have to say I'm disappointed after one listen through. Could be an album that takes a few listens, so I'm not trashing it just yet. For my taste, it's a bit on the melancholy side of things, and I clearly am ready for some uplifting music after this long winter.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Friday, April 18, 2008
Serving Size Me
I had an interesting trip to the video store today (Hollywood Video). At the checkout counter, I saw, among other assorted food-like goods, individually sold pickles. You read that correctly - junk food Pickles-In-A-Pouch, full of brine.
I asked the clerk the obvious question of why she had pickles. In what bizarro scenario did someone think that a pickle could compliment the iconic bowl of buttered popcorn?
The clerk's response, while rolling her eyes, was that the chain was getting pressure to sell more healthy foods, and this was offered as an alternative to the Pop-Secret, Mountain Dew, and bagged cotton candy already on display.
Healthy, huh? I picked up the bagged pickle, which looked like something from my ninth grade bio class specimen room, and noticed that this one pickle contained 4 servings.
Really, Bagged Pickle Company of America. Someone is going to eat that over four sittings?
Which got me thinking...
How many of you drink a 20 oz. bottle of soda over multiple sittings?
How many of you eat a small bag of chips/pretzels over multiple settings?
How many of you would eat a normal sized candy bar over multiple settings?
I think I know the answer, and it's next to nobody. For small sized convenience food, we tend to eat the whole bag of chips (or pickle in this case) and drink the whole Coke along with it.
So, why do food and beverage companies insist on muddying up what a "serving size" is? Sure, maybe to the consumer who doesn't closely read the label may be shocked/awed by the actual amount of calories in what he is deciding to eat, and maybe this would be a disadvantage against competition. Shouldn't we be working towards more transparency in what we eat, as opposed to veiling nutritional value under the guise of small "serving sizes"?
I asked the clerk the obvious question of why she had pickles. In what bizarro scenario did someone think that a pickle could compliment the iconic bowl of buttered popcorn?
The clerk's response, while rolling her eyes, was that the chain was getting pressure to sell more healthy foods, and this was offered as an alternative to the Pop-Secret, Mountain Dew, and bagged cotton candy already on display.
Healthy, huh? I picked up the bagged pickle, which looked like something from my ninth grade bio class specimen room, and noticed that this one pickle contained 4 servings.
Really, Bagged Pickle Company of America. Someone is going to eat that over four sittings?
Which got me thinking...
How many of you drink a 20 oz. bottle of soda over multiple sittings?
How many of you eat a small bag of chips/pretzels over multiple settings?
How many of you would eat a normal sized candy bar over multiple settings?
I think I know the answer, and it's next to nobody. For small sized convenience food, we tend to eat the whole bag of chips (or pickle in this case) and drink the whole Coke along with it.
So, why do food and beverage companies insist on muddying up what a "serving size" is? Sure, maybe to the consumer who doesn't closely read the label may be shocked/awed by the actual amount of calories in what he is deciding to eat, and maybe this would be a disadvantage against competition. Shouldn't we be working towards more transparency in what we eat, as opposed to veiling nutritional value under the guise of small "serving sizes"?
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Propeller Spin
There's been much talk about the recently announced merger between Delta and Northwest here in the small apple. It's really revealing to see a town so concerned for a really crappy airline. (Let us not forget about Jan 1999 incident that makes Jet Blue's recent passenger stranding look like a trip to the day spa.)
What's interesting to me is how the Delta/NWA execs are spinning the reasons for the airline merger, and how the media and government are responding to it. The execs are walking a tight rope of avoiding public backlash and political inquiry, which is probably why they told securities analysts today that they're not reducing capacity (which in turn sunk both stocks). Let's be honest here - the industry is at overcapacity, and this is a signal for softer competition (lowered capacity and higher prices) among industry players.
While I understand the nuance and sensitivity needed, I can't help but picture Ayn Rand (yes I'm still reading Atlas Shrugged) cringing as Senators and NPR hosts shout about what the airline owes the state and its workers. Profits people. Profits.
What's interesting to me is how the Delta/NWA execs are spinning the reasons for the airline merger, and how the media and government are responding to it. The execs are walking a tight rope of avoiding public backlash and political inquiry, which is probably why they told securities analysts today that they're not reducing capacity (which in turn sunk both stocks). Let's be honest here - the industry is at overcapacity, and this is a signal for softer competition (lowered capacity and higher prices) among industry players.
While I understand the nuance and sensitivity needed, I can't help but picture Ayn Rand (yes I'm still reading Atlas Shrugged) cringing as Senators and NPR hosts shout about what the airline owes the state and its workers. Profits people. Profits.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
April Showers and New Dutch Music
Some more music reviews... Turn it up to 11 for me.
Racontours - Consolers of the Lonely.
The sophomore release from Jack White's side project doesn't disappoint. It's a rock and roll disc, pure and simple. I like most of the tracks on the album, but my favorites at this point would have to be Salute Your Solution and Attention.
Devotchka - A Mad and Faithful Telling
I liked the quirky sounds they produced for the Little Miss Sunshine soundtrack, so I bought a few songs of this new album. The Clockwise Witness is a really cool song, and had me hooked from the first few bars of the metallic xylophone part. I'm actually seeing them play in a few weeks, as I'm always up for new music.
Link to myspace site.
Elbow - Seldom Seen Kid
The album is not actually out yet, but I'm excited about it. Their last album, Leaders of the Free World, featured some awesome tracks. Forget Myself and Station Approach are excellent songs.
Station Approach Video
Racontours - Consolers of the Lonely.
The sophomore release from Jack White's side project doesn't disappoint. It's a rock and roll disc, pure and simple. I like most of the tracks on the album, but my favorites at this point would have to be Salute Your Solution and Attention.
Devotchka - A Mad and Faithful Telling
I liked the quirky sounds they produced for the Little Miss Sunshine soundtrack, so I bought a few songs of this new album. The Clockwise Witness is a really cool song, and had me hooked from the first few bars of the metallic xylophone part. I'm actually seeing them play in a few weeks, as I'm always up for new music.
Link to myspace site.
Elbow - Seldom Seen Kid
The album is not actually out yet, but I'm excited about it. Their last album, Leaders of the Free World, featured some awesome tracks. Forget Myself and Station Approach are excellent songs.
Station Approach Video
Awful Album Cover
This morning at my local Starbucks, I saw this new album from Sia. I couldn't help but think that this was some cruel ploy to help DVD sales of Billy Madison.
"Thank you very much, Ms. Lippy!"
Saturday, April 12, 2008
I'll take SWORDS for 500, Alex
A site called nerve.com just posted what it deems the "50 greatest comedy sketches of all time," most with a viewable Youtube video. It's a veritable treasure chest of hilarity. Enjoy.
http://www.nerve.com/dispatches/nerveeditors/50GreatestComedySketches/01/
http://www.nerve.com/dispatches/nerveeditors/50GreatestComedySketches/01/
Cool TED Video
It's amazing what this guy has done with something as simple as a Wii remote control...
Monday, April 7, 2008
Bad Name Contest
Tierney Lab, a great science blog from the NYT just posted the winners to its "Worst Bad Name" contest. That's right - a contest for the worst (real) names people have given to their offspring . I really should have entered a few that I know, because I've encountered some bad ones.
The winner? None other than Iona Knipl.
The winner? None other than Iona Knipl.
I Like iLike
Finally, a Facebook feature that doesn't (a) make me a vampire, (b) quiz me on my ethnicity, or (c) spam my friends with messages I never wrote (that's happened to me a few times). It's iLike, and it's a feature that lets you enter in your favorite music artists. This morning, I was greeted by a fresh email in my Gmail box letting me know that Death Cab for Cutie had just opened up a show in Minneapolis. Minutes later, I bought my tickets.
Value added Facebook apps... what a concept.
On a side note, if you are looking for concerts in your area, check out Pollstar.com for a listing across venues, cities, artists, etc.
Value added Facebook apps... what a concept.
On a side note, if you are looking for concerts in your area, check out Pollstar.com for a listing across venues, cities, artists, etc.
Friday, April 4, 2008
Moment of Zen
I just discovered the show "Sunrise Earth" on Discovery HD. It's not really a show at all - it's just footage of natural surroundings as the sun comes up. It's really chill, and the images are fantastic. Great if you're lounging and listening to some Friday Chill Music.
Domo Arigato, Mr . . .
From the "dog" robot Orn posted a few weeks back to this creepy new humanized interface from MIT, I think we're seeing a real turning point in the abilities of robotics.
However, as high tech as these new robots are, nobody tops Awesom-O in my book.
Muxtape
I just discovered Muxtape after reading an RSS feed from VH1's Best Week Ever, a necessary indulgence from time to time. Anyway, Muxtape is essentially an online collection of mixtapes. The songs are legally streamed from their owners, essentially making it a sort of internet radio station. I'm having some technical difficulties in getting it to play on my computer (which is slowly dieing an agonizing death), but I love the idea of this site. I found this muxtape and was pretty psyched about the tunes. It has Micah Murphy written all over it...
(Clarification: It looks like just the blog portion of the site is "powered by Tumblr.")
(Clarification: It looks like just the blog portion of the site is "powered by Tumblr.")
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Attention Red Sox Haters
I don't want to hear any more complaints that the "Red Sox are just like the Yankees" and that they "buy championships." Clearly, there are several tiers of team payrolls.
2008 MLB Payrolls
N.Y. Yankees -- $209,081,579
Detroit -- 138,685,197
New York Mets -- 138,293,378
Boston -- 133,440,037
Chicago White Sox -- 121,152,667
Los Angeles Angels -- 119,216,333
Chicago Cubs -- 118,595,833
Los Angeles Dodgers -- 118,536,038
Seattle -- 117,993,982
Atlanta -- 102,424,018
St. Louis -- 100,624,450
Toronto -- 98,641,957
Philadelphia -- 98,269,881
Houston -- 88,930,415
Milwaukee -- 81,004,167
Cleveland -- 78,970,067
San Francisco -- 76,904,500
Cincinnati -- 74,277,695
San Diego -- 73,677,617
Colorado -- 68,655,500
Texas -- 68,239,551
Baltimore -- 67,196,248
Arizona -- 66,202,713
Minnesota -- 62,182,767
Kansas City -- 58,245,500
Washington -- 54,961,000
Pittsburgh -- 49,365,283
Oakland -- 47,967,126
Tampa Bay -- 43,820,598
Florida -- 21,836,500
2008 MLB Payrolls
N.Y. Yankees -- $209,081,579
Detroit -- 138,685,197
New York Mets -- 138,293,378
Boston -- 133,440,037
Chicago White Sox -- 121,152,667
Los Angeles Angels -- 119,216,333
Chicago Cubs -- 118,595,833
Los Angeles Dodgers -- 118,536,038
Seattle -- 117,993,982
Atlanta -- 102,424,018
St. Louis -- 100,624,450
Toronto -- 98,641,957
Philadelphia -- 98,269,881
Houston -- 88,930,415
Milwaukee -- 81,004,167
Cleveland -- 78,970,067
San Francisco -- 76,904,500
Cincinnati -- 74,277,695
San Diego -- 73,677,617
Colorado -- 68,655,500
Texas -- 68,239,551
Baltimore -- 67,196,248
Arizona -- 66,202,713
Minnesota -- 62,182,767
Kansas City -- 58,245,500
Washington -- 54,961,000
Pittsburgh -- 49,365,283
Oakland -- 47,967,126
Tampa Bay -- 43,820,598
Florida -- 21,836,500
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