I was having trouble picking a song. Nothing in particular stuck in my head today. I was aimlessly wandering the virtual halls of youtube and I came across Galactic. I can't say I've heard of them, but it struck the chord. Listen for a minute and you'll feel that sweet groove. Given the fusion of musical styles, I think there is something for everyone here too.

Song Recommendations

If you like this song, I also suggest:

• Beck
• Cake
• A Tribe Called Quest

I also suggest the music genre:

• Jazz Rap

Click here for more info on Galactic (feat. Lyrics Born) – From the Corner to the Block – "I Got It (What You Need)".

The MP3 may be purchased here…

Galactic - From the Corner to the Block

There are a lot of idiots out there.

With the Olympics on TV, I've been seeing a lot of advertisements. There is a set of ads for "clean coal" proclaiming we need to grow our coal industry and create jobs. I am disgusted. They try to pull on your heart strings showing families and soldiers, as if not using coal will fail them, and make America fail. They even show good sources of energy like wind turbines to make you think clean coal is just as good. Are you kidding me!? Sadly, there are a lot of idiots out there who may just fall for such obvious manipulation and propaganda by "America's Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity". (click to here if you want to be manipulated.)

Clean coal is not "the solution" to anything. Clean coal still emits gobs of carbon dioxide, which as we know, is a greenhouse gas. Perhaps the record high temperatures in Vancouver and the Pacific Northwest last summer in 2009, which may be a factor for why there has been very little snow for the Olympics, has been forgotten? The melting of the ice caps are apparently not proof enough for everyone that the globe is indeed warming on average? (See some shocking images and analysis on nasa.gov.) Did a little snow in Texas and Florida make everyone fail to notice that we have been setting more and more record high temperatures than record low temperatures over the years?

Here is a CBS news segment on the topic of "Clean Coal" power plants:

Investing in any fossil fuels at all is ultimately a waste of time and resources. I am with GreenDaily.com. "I know we can't just switch to solar, wind and geothermal power, but if we want to create jobs, protect the environment, reduce our global emissions, and create a sustainable energy system for future generations, it's counter-productive to put any resources into the outdated and flawed coal industry." – GreenDaily.com (Read the entire article here.)

The evidence is overwhelming that global warming, climate change, or whatever you want to call it ("humans screwing themselves" perhaps?) is real. Clean coal is not going to help. Where is Jimi when we need him to set these douche bags straight?

Lord, there's got to be some changes
Living together's gonna be a lot of re-arranges
You better be ready, lord, my lord
Just hope love comes before the summer

Song Recommendations

If you like this song, I also suggest:

• Joe Cocker
• Cream
• Jethro Tull

I also suggest the music genre:

• Acid Rock

Click here for more info on Jimi Hendrix – Band of Gypsys – "Earth Blues".

The MP3 may be purchased here…

Jimi Hendrix - Band of Gypsys

The other day I actually got a ticket from a county sheriff for having a crappy car. Awesome, right? Her muffler fixed, I was able to get the ticket dropped, but I think my relationship with my car may need to come to an end.

I love my car but she is old. 14 years old, and I've had her for 10. She has served me well, but lately I have to have something non-trivial fixed on her at least every 3 to 6 months, and now she is getting me in trouble with the law! She works now, but tomorrow who knows what will be next to break.

I've been looking at alternatives, and I found a little number not unlike a car I wanted to buy 10 years ago but could not afford at the time. The car I'm thinking about is a Ford Focus 2007 ZX5 SES Hatchback … Black:

I found one in the area and tested it out the other day. I going to go see it in the daylight and if it is looking good, I'll pull the trigger to buy it. My new "low rider". The hatchback will be handy if I want to move something like a dog, a set of drums, or who knows around town. Neither my current car nor G's, which is a 2006 Ford Focus and has proven to be a great car for the cost, is exactly a good car for moving anything around. The SUVs and crossovers out there are way to much money though. Most people out there are a little bit insane for spending so much on cars, and then the gas to run those cars. Oh and then there is the the environmental impact. You're being selfish people. Tsk tsk.

I like a small car too. They fit in parking spaces (and more importantly my itty bitty garage). They don't handle like a boat. Parts are cheaper to replace. I do like that they feel like "low riders" now given how high up all the other vehicles are these days. I suppose they are less safe in some ways, but only because they have to share the road with vehicles like the Hummer.

The money to buy a new car (and by new I mean used of course… I don't believe in buying brand new cars), is a bit scary. I currently enjoy minimal debt. I haven't had a car payment in 8 years. Then again, I do have the saddest looking car of anyone I know. Hmmm. I'll keep you all posted on my decision, but for now I'll be humming a little "Low Rider" as I mull it all over.

Song Recommendations

If you like this song, I also suggest:

• Commodores
• Gil Scott-Heron
• Red Hot Chili Peppers

I also suggest the music genre:

• Funk

Click here for more info on War – Why Can't We Be Friends? – "Low Rider".

The MP3 may be purchased here…

War - Why Can't We Be Friends?

The other night, G and I and a couple friends were just sitting around talking about and playing music for hours on end. It was like high school all over again, saying stuff like… "Oh man you have to hear this song!" … "What you've never heard of them?" … "If you only hear one album it has to be this one." … "Now now, let me explain why I like them." …

It was awesome because there is just so much music and no one has heard everything. I would say I know a lot, but considering there have been between 10,000 and 40,000 albums released each year since 1990 (so let's guess somewhere about half a million albums in the past 20 years), there is no way I or anyone could have heard it all. Even if you discard any music that you do not love, there are still songs and albums out there that you would probably love if you knew they existed. I suppose certain DJs or people in the music industry may come close to "knowing it all", but there is too much. So hearing of new music from your friends is the best way to find new music for yourself, and that is what we did for hours on end.

Of the many artists, songs, and albums we discussed (and that are all still swimming in my head), this one came up and I'm way overdue for posting a Red Hot Chili Peppers song, so here it is!

Song Recommendations

If you like this song, I also suggest:

• Foo Fighters
• Primus
• Smashing Pumpkins

I also suggest the music genre:

• Funk Rock

Click here for more info on Red Hot Chili Peppers – Stadium Arcadium – "Snow ((Hey Oh))".

The MP3 may be purchased here…

Red Hot Chili Peppers - Stadium Arcadium

This song was stuck in my head this morning. The beat rocks. Like much of Beck's music, this is a great song to blast on the radio in the car, windows down & punk up!

Song Recommendations

If you like this song, I also suggest:

• Primus
• Radiohead
• The White Stripes

I also suggest the music genre:

• Funk Rock

Click here for more info on Beck – Guero – "E-Pro".

The MP3 may be purchased here…

Beck - Guero

Whenever I hear Primus my ears perk up because they are just so different. The atonal made palatable. This is probably my favorite by them now thanks to playing it 5,000,000 times in Guitar Hero II. Though "My Name Is Mud" is a close second (click to watch and listen). The bass part is too cool.

Click here for more info on Primus – Frizzle Fry – "John The Fisherman".

The MP3 may be purchased here…

Primus - Frizzle Fry