Rhythm and Gravy

A pretty reasonable-sounding discussion (YouTube link) of the problem of global warming, framed a risk analysis – i.e. nobody can say for certain if global warming is real, so either outcome (one, nothing happens, or two, death on a stick) is possible, so for each outcome let’s take the probability that it’ll happen times how much it’d suck, and take action based on the winner . Plus, the guy is a sports racer. He’s probably made an earth sandwich, which means he knows his stuff.

But, however reasonable this makes it all sound, I’m still pissed off at Al Gore for inventing global warming.

A couple of new songs:

The first is “Death or Radio” by Zolof the Rock & Roll Destroyer. I’ve been getting into Indie Pop music since a couple of years ago when I happened on a Fountains of Wayne album at a used CD shop in Pittsburgh. Subsequently, my cousin Brady introduced me to The New Pornographers. I realize I’m way behind the curve on this, but I’d been previously self-confined to jazz, soul, and hip-hop, so suck it.

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I found this track on JWZ’s latest mixtape 074 (JWZ is the proprietor of the DNA Lounge in San Francisco and he’s got some wacky musical taste, but his mixtapes are always interesting and often really fun). I’m a sucker for a good hook, and “Let’s hold hands and listen to sh*tty bands” is right up there with the best. Really, that line is pretty much how I feel about pop music in general – I don’t like it because it’s necessarily good (although a lot of it is), but because it tricks me into liking it.

The same goes for “nerdcore” hip-hop. I guess I’ve known about it for a while, starting back in the day with MC Stephen Hawking and more recently, MC Frontalot. I heard MC Chris’s “Fette’s Vette” while watching “Zack And Miri Make a Porno” last week (decent movie, by the way).

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Overheard at the Home Depot on N. Aurora Saturday morning:

Woman: “They told me I needed to pick up ten gallons of odorless kerosene, is this the right thing?”

Saleslady: “Possibly. Can you tell me what it’s going to be used for?”

Woman: “I’m not allowed to say. But it’s for the WWE.”

This is the way I find out that the WWE is in town. Gee, I wonder what the kerosene was for?

I’ve been thinking a lot about how I love Pittsburgh lately. After moving to Seattle two years ago, I’ve reconnected with a bunch of friends via Facebook, and the Steelers have rescued football for me. But this… this really sums up my feelings for the place. Really. I shed a single tear.

1. At my follow-up appointment this morning, Doc said my vision is 20/25 and he expects me to be down to 20/20 within two weeks.
2. While walking to work from the appointment, I saw a chalkboard marquee outside of Bank of America advertising a 5.25% MORTGAGE, NO FEE’S. So I wet my thumb and fixed it. I blame my mother for the self-righteousness I felt.
3. It took me eight minutes to donate a pint of blood. That’s a record for me!