Wish List

Tools:

Dremel - Variable Speed MultiPro Rotary Tool model 3966-02 or 3964-02 or 3961
Compound Miter Saw

Parts:

* Transmission rebuild kit for Barracuda: http://www.passonperformance.com/p187.html (for an Overdrive A833 23 spline transmission)
* Hydraulic clutch actuator kit: http://www.keislerauto.com/mopar/transmissions/clutch-link-kit.html
* Speed Demon 750 cfm carb w/ Choke & Vacuum Secondaries: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3568739344&category=763
* Kielser 5-speed transmission kit http://www.keislerauto.com/mopar/transmissions/a-body_67-76.asp

Tunes:

Sun Kil Moon: Ghosts of the Great Highway
For Stars: 1st album
For Stars: Windows
Rilo Kiley: Execution of All Things
Rilo Kiley: Take-Offs & Landings
The Decemberists: Castaways and Cutouts
The Strokes: Room On Fire
Johnny Cash: At Folsom Prison

DVDs

Stargate (the movie)
Complete BattleStar Galactica Episodes (original)

Videos
Gerald Weber's "Basic Guitar Amplifier Servicing and Overhaul"
Gerald Weber's "Advanced tube Guitar Amplifier Servicing and Overhaul"

Toys:



Clothes:

Columbia Hoodootoo boots Size 11 http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/1183635/c/12050.html

Books:

Measure for Measure: A Musical History of Science by Thomas Levenson
Audio Cyclopedia by Howard Tremaine
Practical Techniques for the Recording Engineer by Sherman Keene
The Ultimate Tone - Modifying and Custom Building Tube Guitar Amps by Kevin O'Connor ©1995, ISBN 0-9698-6080-3
DIY Speaker Cabinets for Musical Instrument Applications by Kevin O'Connor © 2001, ISBN 0-9698-6087-0
Blue Book of Acoustic/Electric Guitars & Guitar Amps Package


Audio Gear:

Microphone stand
Shure SM 57 microphone
Shure SM 58 microphone
AKG 414 microphone
Neumann TLM-170 microphone

DIY Audio kits:
Seduction Phono Pre-amp kit
PAiA 9407/K mono Tube Mic Preamp Kit (x2)
PAiA 9407/C enclosed Rack Case for 2 mic. pres

They want to ban busking... what's next?

I read about this in the paper yesterday: the MBTA wants to disallow performers from using amps and loud instrumets such as trumpets. Supposedly this is a security measure in response to Sepetember 11th. The argument is that people can't hear important announcements over the "noise". This didn't stop them from trying to install TVs in every T stop a few years back. At that time petitions and fierce citizen backlash forced the T to install the TVs with no sound. Eventually the TVs went away.

Without amps, buskers will have no vocals. I think it's reasonable to ask buskers not to play very loudly, and this should be enforced. But there are other ways to solve this problem, for instance, a system could be devised to flash a light or something in the event of an emergency, and buskers could be required to stop playing if they see the light.

But totally prohibiting amps is over-kill and will destroy the ability of many performers to get their music across.

Also, the T will begin charging for busking permits, $25 a pop. That's a lot of money to a struggling artist. It sounds like the T is gearing up to finance stricter enforcement.

Music in the T is part of this area's rich cultural heritage, and one of the few things that make the T tolerable. The music enriches people's lives and uplifts their spirits in a (literally) cold, impersonal place. Many buskers rely on donations as their primary source, or as a significant supplement to other income.

Many famous musicians have gotten their start busking in Cambridge or Boston's subways: Mary Lou Lord is one example of many.

Here's a petition you can sign on-line:

http://www.petitiononline.com/Tmusic/petition.html

Scooter dreams

It's a beautiful 47 degree sunny day and for some reason I'm daydreaming about scooters again. I don't have the money, but if I did I'd probably get me one of these:



It's a Bajaj Chetak, which is a "real" 145cc 9hp 4-stroke scooter (not one of those 49cc plastic jobs) that is similar in design and execution to the old Vespas. It's got a 4-speed manual transmission and requires a motorcycle license. You can get all kinds of neat extras for it like dual seats and fairings and stuff, like the old Vespas. Of course I'd prefer an old Vespa, but they cost a lot if they're in good shape and they don't always stay running for very long. This would be a new scoot with classic verve, and I wouldn't have to suffer the "it's too nice to drive/park" syndrome that comes with owning a classic vehicle.

Maybe after this winter is over I'll finally sell the Jeep and go for it...

White Trash Angel Cake

The last guests just left - it was an awesome party. I made White Trash Angel cake and there were many wonderful fondues. There were three different cheese fondue pots, a steak fondue pot with multiple sauces by Emily, lots of olives, Tomoko's awesome salad, tons of wine, chips, dip, crackers, pate, it was awesome - all fingerable food. Esme made an amazing mango salsa and Karen's chocolate fondue was awesome, with a hint of coconut. We had apricots, dried mango, apples, strawberries, angel food bits, for dipping, plus various impromptu experiments. One such yielded the amazing combination of Ruffles potato chips and chocolate fondue. Also, dipping apples in the cheese fondue was very good. I wanted to try raw steak and chocolate but didn't have the nerve. Tracey and Stephen made 4 different 70's mix CD's and I think we heard all of them. Tons of Zeppelin and Who and Boston and so on. In between I played Innocence Mission, and Luna. Roger and Brenda came later with 3 gourmet pizzas that Roger made at work. One had ginger and mandarin oranges and asparagus. One was blue cheese and chicken. The others were equally unusual and delicious. We still have most of those - lunch for a week! We have tons of leftovers, and a great many pounds will be gained this week. Beth had a great time and went to bed a little tipsy. She got lots of nice presents and hugs. We are lucky to have such wonderful friends.

White Trash Angel Cake recipe

(This recipe was handed down to me by a genuine White Trash Angel)

1 supermarket angel food cake, sliced into 3 layers
1 pint whipping cream
1 tsp vanilla
2 tbsp confectioners sugar
1 cup orange juice
1 bag frozen mixed fruit
2 mixing bowls
1 large plate
Drain type Serving spoon

Thaw the frozen fruit (to quick-thaw microwave for 4 minutes). Add orange juice and 1 tbsp confectioners sugar. Stir. In another bowl, whip the cream with 1 tsp vanilla and 1 tbsp confectioners sugar until stiff. CAREFULLY slice the angle food cake into three layers. Lay the largest Angel Food layer on the plate and frost it with whipped cream. Use the draining serving spoon to make a layer of fruit on top of the whipped cream (make sure you cover all the the cake or else the juice from the fruit will dissolve it and it will all collapse into a big puddle of fruit mush - ask me how I know). Add another layer of whipped cream on top of the fruit, then repeat for the next 2 layers. Use the last of the whipped cream to cover any exposed cake on the top and sides. Extra points for making designs with the juice that has oozed out. Drizzle the remaining juice over the cake, lay any remaining fruit on top. Put it in the freezer until 1 hour before serving. One bite and you'll go straight to White Trash Heaven!

***

Oh, and Blue is finally recovering from his injury of earlier this week. See, he had to get stitches in his thigh, from getting caught on something in the woods, but now his leg is all puffed up and filled with fluid. And he was all loogey and lazy and would barely get up to pee for 2 days. It was very upsetting since he's always so energetic. The vet switched him to a wide-spectrum antibiotic and he's been getting warm compresses and tons of sympathy and treats from his extended family, which seems to be working. He certainly perked up a lot during the party, surrounded by non-stop goodies and petting.

Super cheesey

The house is filled with the smell of cheese. Everything is ready, as we await our guests. Luna is playing in the livingroom and the diningroom. Blue is resting, occasionally licking his injured leg. I'm wearing my orange shirt. La la la.

1972 all over again

Tonight we're having a Fondue party for Beth's birthday! About 20 people are coming over so I'm supposed to be cleaning but instead I'm procrastinating by working on web stuff. I have to hook the stereo up so it plays in the diningroom and livingroom, too.

We're having several kinds of cheese fonude, a meat fondue (which Emily is bringing) and a couple of different chocolate fondues. Plus salad and tons of hors d'houvres. It's a pot luck so we will probably have way too much food but that's better than too little.

Okay, time to go do stuff...

THREE-CHEESE FONDUE WITH CHAMPAGNE

register.com pisses me off - CYA!

So, the domain www.carefulrecords.com expired. I figured, "okay, no big deal, I'll just pay another $30 and renew it for another year."

Not so fast, bucko! Welcome to the LATEST SCAM!!!!

Register.com didn't send me an e-mail or anything letting me know this was about to happen. Why not? Well, because now they want to charge me $240 to "preserve" my domain name. WHAT THE FUCK?

This is literally highway robbery. They are taking advantage of people who have made an investment in a domain name by charging this arbitrary dollar amount to flip a switch. They let your domain expire without warning you, then charge you extra to turn it back on.

Who's protecting the consumers here? Is this legal? How can we fight back?

My response, when asked to pony up $240 to keep my $30 domain name, was to say FORGET IT!!!! SEE YA!!! I'll let it totally expire in a few weeks, and it will return to the public domain, and if I decide I really want it I'll pay $30 to register it again. If someone else wants it and snatches it up in the meantime, well, more power to 'em. I refuse to be ripped off.

So I did a little research and there's a domain registrar called enom.com and they seem like a much better deal. I'm transferring ultrajosh.com over to them. We'll see how it goes.

Hilarious, or just too damned true?

Mom Finds Out About Blog

http://www.theonion.com/3944/news3.html

the king is dead long live the king

Okay, so this is the new journal. That old journal was completely stale, over 2 years out of date. Here's where I'll write new exciting stuff about myself that's not too cringingly personal and hopefully somewhat interesting.