Nobrainer’s Think Tank

Me: I’m not that old. His math is off.

(moments later)

Me: No it’s not.

I like this little short video by Leroy Powell:

• Whereas last year I began my container gardening of peppers and tomatoes from seeds, this year I opted to buy plants at Lowe’s. Hopefully my bell pepper and jalapeño plants enjoy their new home.
• I’m enjoying the fruits of some home brewing labors I undertook a few months ago. The first batch, as with many of forays into brewing with Mr. Beer, was flat and somewhat cidery. The 2nd batch, which is a Nut Brown Ale type beer is crisp and bubbly. Unfortunately it kinda tastes like club soda. Further brewing will commence after my move to DC. It will also include better brewing equipment and glass, instead of plastic, bottles.
• I’ve been enjoying some new music. Hank Williams III’s Straight to Hell is exceptionally good.
• The full length songs of Spinal Tap are not as enjoyable as the clips played throughout the movie.
• I’m reading several books concurrently. One is a PHP Cookbook. I’m just starting, but some hardcore coding education seems pretty exciting.
• I’m also working on Power System Economics. It’s an interesting read. Suffice it to say that I’ll know more about the subject that any of you within 6 months.
• I’m also reading Sowell’s A Conflict of Visions. It’s a good reminder that some people — wrongly in my opinion — simply view the world in different terms. However, juxtaposed upon current American politics, both parties pick and choose from the two visions in whichever way fits their interests.

That’s enough for now.

Recently, an internet DJ in Ireland received an email requesting to hear a little Hank Williams, something the writer couldn’t find on the radio. At home. Near Nashville.

The sad fact is Hank Williams just can’t get played on American roots radio these days and the same thing goes for other genuine legends like George Jones, Merle Haggard and Waylon Jennings.

In a world of glossy production values, expensive Stetsons and stylists, those guys just don’t fit in. You could say they’re ‘too country’.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, but much of what passes for country music in the States is little more than sanitised pop of the lowest quality.

This is something that has been bothering me lately. The more I listen to Waylon, Merle, and Cash, the only thing I can think when I listen to a country music station is “these guys fucking suck.” I knew the end had come when I heard Trace Adkins’ “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk.” Others who have drawn my ire recently are the band Rascal Flatts, and Keith fucking Urban.

The formers’ lead singer’s voice makes me want to put my DeWalt cordless drill and a 3/8″ bit to work on my ear drums. The latter looks like someone only the guys from Queer Eye could appreciate. Seriously. This guy:

is a country star? Nice haircut, Fabio.

I think it bears repeating:

Listen up folks. Apparently pennies are essential fundraising devices. And as we all know, Kevin Federline needs all the help he can get. His seed spreads like dandelions–his presence like kudzu. He won’t go away. He won’t die. He just keeps multiplying. And clearly he has no discernible talent with which he can earn a real income and support his brood. The guy needs charity. Get it?

So bring in Sir Richard Branson. Huh?

As anti-penny sentiment spreads on Capitol Hill, Virgin Mobile USA refuses to stand down and allow this historic coin to be abolished. To do their part to save the penny and renew its purpose, Virgin founder and chairman Sir Richard Branson, performer and rapper Kevin Federline and Americans for Common Cents Policy Director Matthew Eggers will band together to introduce Virgin Mobile’s Save the Penny campaign.

They called K-Fed a rapper. Isn’t that cute.

Excuse me while I clean up my vomit.

Hippies everywhere! They want to save the world but all they do is smoke pot and smell bad.” Or at least that’s what I was thinking through most of last night.

A little bit after 7, I had just cracked open an icy cold PBR when my neighbor dropped by, asking if I wanted to go the downtown Mall. When you answer a knock at your door holding a PBR, your answer to the going out question is without doubt in the affirmative. It turns out that Charlottesville has a pavilion that has just been completely upgraded and last night was the first show. Being the first show it was free. But damn, the band on staged rocked the place. Seriously though, the crowd consisted of about a thousand hippies and me. Surprisingly, I noticed no illegal narcotics, nor a general unpleasant aroma. The upcoming shows include Loretta Lynn, Dwight Yoakam, Bruce Hornsby, Violent Femmes, & the Spin Doctors. Maybe Charlottesville ain’t so bad.

So. Who was playing last night? It was Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe. I’ve never heard of them before, but they certainly got my attention. They are a 6 piece band — keyboards, drums, bass (6 string), guitar, a guy who plays some trumpet and cornet (and who appeared to be surfing the internet at times), and the lead singer who also plays the sax and flute… and they include cowbells. They played for at least 2 hours, and even though I’m not a big fan of live music, I was drawn into the experience. In checking out their website, I really dig their tour schedule. They look like they’ll play any time, anywhere as long as you give them a stage and the possibility of an audience. After Charlottesville last night, they head to Nashville, to Asheville, back to Viginia, to New York, to Missouri, to Wisconsin to Minnesota to Indiana to North Carolina to South Carolina to Florida. In all they’re scheduled for 15 shows from today through August 14th. Awesome. I’ve done some crazy road trips in my life, but nothing to compare to these guys… and I can’t even play an instrument.

Well I gotta get to campus. Later.