Ramble: Autumn, Part I

Dew evaporates off the meadow grasses lazily. The resulting mist hangs low enough that the clear autumn sun is unhindered. A 4-point buck stands on the bank of the stream, striking a pose like he is auditioning to be the next model for the Hartford logo. Everyone I see nods in mutual appreciation of the serenity that is this perfect morning in the Glade Stream Valley.

The big, perfect dear watches me plodding along and seems to wonder how I can put out so much effort, yet move so slowly. My top speed when I "run" is more of an amble, but it's not about speed for me. It's about feeling healthy and connected. Activity helps me feel healthier, while mornings like this help with the connectedness.

While raking leaves in the backyard just before dinner, I pause for a moment to look up at the stately oaks towering over me. They still have most of their leaves, so I will get to live this day again in a few weeks. Most excellent.

Music Monday: Jonsi Skull Root Spree

Jonsi

Go Do, Animal Arithmetic, Animal Arithmetic (acoustic)

Cool stuff, but he's a "raw-food vegan"? Holy cow!

Dre Skull

I Want You Back

If this doesn't make you bop your head up and down, then you are broken and I can't fix you. Gets weird near the middle, but recovers nicely.

Rusted Root

Send Me on My Way

In this video, they remind me of The Polyphonic Spree. They look like a bunch of hippies. Speaking of the PS...

Polyphonic Spree

Lithium, Light & Day

Gotta love the hippies.

Ramble: Planning How to Spin My Next Loss

From a comment on the Language Log blog:

Reminds me of an apocryphal tale of an officer-enlisted football game where the enlisted men win. The next day, the command plan of the day reports: "Officers power through to a second place finish; enlisted men barely manage to come in next-to-last place."

Man, I need to use that line soon! Maybe next time Girl Kid is racing me somewhere.

Web Stuff Friday: War Golf Titles

Here are a couple interesting videos:

• Jason Forrest: War Correspondent
• Tipsy: Space Golf

And here are some suggestions for Better Book Titles that can save everyone lots of time.

Music Monday: Kill Weather Raconteur Stripes

I like following musical trails. When I find an artist I like, I like to look for other artists with whom they have worked and keep on following the trail. Here is a sample trail:

The Kills (video: Cheap and Cheerful)

I shared a CD of various stuff with a (now former) colleague. Now that she has spare time, Sunshine finally listened to it. When she heard the Ting Tings, she thought they reminded her of The Kills.

Dead Weather (video: Treat Me Like Your Mother)

Alison Mosshart of The Kills is in Dead Weather.

The Raconteurs (video: Steady, As She Goes)

Jack White and Jack Lawrence of Dead Weather are also in the Raconteurs.

The White Stripes (video: Seven Nation Army)

Jack White is half of The White Stripes, which is a man/woman duo like The Kills.

Phew. Not sure how often I will be able to bring it around that like, but it's great when that works out.

Web Stuff Friday: First Cousin Once Removed

WolframAlpha rocks, but the coolest thing I have seen recently is alluded to in the WolframAlpha blog: My Cousin’s Cousin’s Niece’s Grandfather Said to Just Ask Wolfram|Alpha. Now, I know what to call the woman who is my uncle's granddaughter.

Bonus: Missing Cat by David Thorne is sublimely funny.

Music Monday: Dancing Grizzly Volta

This post started out almost a month ago, and I finally have a third entry. Sorry for the huge delays in posts, but life happens sometimes.

You! Me! Dancing! by Los Campesinos is being used in this Budweiser ad, but the original video is interesting (and, of course longer). I have had this tune in my head for days now, which means I watch too much football. Shazam on my Droid absolutely rocks. I love being able to identify every song I hear.

Grizzly Bear: I have spent most of the past days at work listening to Horn of Plenty and then Horn of Plenty - The Remixes. Wow. I love the remixes. The remixes album is a nice accompaniment to document reviews. Nice groove. Here is a link to the Remixes at last.fm.

I checked in on my Google Reader for the first time in ages and saw Chris Hanaka's There Was Talk of Joy Division. Now I am kinda obsessed with Mars Volta. Here is a Mars Volta Mix at YouTube.