grits an' gravy

electric cars and beer- how can you not read this post?

2009-04-27T13:56:00.000-07:00

Sierra Nevada Brewing company has installed electric vehicle charging stations at its Chico CA facility for employees and visitor to use to charge the electric vehicles on campus. Thus combining two of my favorite things, beer and electric cars.. Although usually, I drink beer and discuss electric cars so it could be said that I'm practicing my version of sustainability by keeping the buzz going

(about the electric cars of course).

SweetWater, your move.

For a cool and compelling electric car concept click here or here to read about " Better Place". This company has changed the paradigm by standardizing on the battery sizes of electric cars they produce and buy funding 'swap stations' on a smart grid, so that you swap your used battery and replace it with a fully charged one. Thus not having to wait around for the battery to charge.

Lets just hope the 'swap' stations will allow me to swap/ recycle my empty bottles of Sierra Nevada for full ones! (for my passengers of course, not me)

Twittering bad for you?

2009-04-15T07:36:00.000-07:00

I don't even have time to contemplate whether I care that this story is right or wrong. Scientists at the National Academy of Sciences have published a report indicating that subjects who used Twitter showed less compassion and admiration than non Tweeters.

Happy 09! These are a few of my favorite things..

2009-01-02T06:55:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

In keeping with my normal -once a quarter- schedule for my 'grits' blog I've held out until Jan for the update.

So, here I am in early Jan. Maybe I'll be more productive this year? Twice a quarter? Once a month? Who knows? I do sort of enjoy when people approach me at cocktail parties and ask me if I realize that blogging is supposed done on a more frequent basis. Whatever, In the word's of one of my favorite cartoon characters ( Ignignokt from Aquateen Hunger Force- pictured here) " I do whatever I want, whenever I want").

What can I say, I've been busy.

Rather than re hash a bunch of news stories from 08, here's a few of my favorite things I discovered, bought, borrowed or did in 08.

1) Some of music favorites from 08 in no particular order:

Friendly fires, Tilly& the Wall, Santogold, Vampire Weekend, Secret Machines, Adron, Of Montreal, Fischerspooner, Toumani Diabate', Lil Wayne, Lupe Fiasco, Beck, The Raconteurs, Tegan & Sarah (pictured), Black Ghosts, Spoon, Jamie Lidel, Matt and Kim, the Whigs.

2)Listening to music - creating playlists on youtube, myspace, blip fm et al.

Why is this important? Well, I'm currently on a music purchasing / downloading hiatus. I realized half way through 08 I was spending a lot on iTunes. So, a friend told me I should just find the stuff I like on Youtube. He was right; pretty much every artist or song you would like to listen to is there in some form or fashion- either a video from a record company or a live vid that a user has posted. You can simply create an account ( who doesn't have one already besides my grandmother?), then search on tunes you like and create a playlist. The neat thing is that you have access to this where ever you go ( home, office, friends house etc).

Here's one of my recent playlists here. I encourage you to send me one of yours. Yes, I'm talking to the two people who read this. You know who you are.

Anyway, you can do the same type of thing with playlists now with myspace. I know, I know, you say, 'dude you are nearly 40 and you use myspace'? Well, its not just for high schoolers any more. Tom and Rupert aka Granddaddy Murdock have cut deals with nearly ever major label. You can stream music and vids on your playlists for free, just by setting up an account.

Speaking of myspace, here's a band I've been listening to lately. See if you recognize anyone there?

Another fun thing to do is to find a blog or two you like so that you can find interesting, different, local , not so commercial tunes. See number 3 for a couple of sources for delivering those goods.

3) Finding good stuff.. favorite music stations/ blogs:

Kcrw.com is a community college in SantaMonica Ca. Their show 'morning becomes eclectic' is world famous and features many up and coming and well known artists in an 'in studio acoustic ' format. The have a live music channel and an internet playlist. I listen a lot and when I hear a song I like I can go to their site to see who the artist is. You can also find them on the 'radio' in iTunes under public and eclectic. Then I'll go and spend the dough to purchase the tracks I really like.

Other music blogs I like which feature local, indie alt etc music info:

to name a few.

4) Applied for a job in a non traditional way: found an opening at Turner/TNT here in ATL for writer, producer of digital content- focused on viral videos. So I posted this in hopes it would make its way to the right people. I dont think the right people have gotten infected yet, but check it out and forward to anyone you know who could help.

5) Bought an iPhone.

I know I'm nearly as sick of hearing about it as you non iPhone users are. But I bought one and its great. I'm not a huge gamer so many of the apps are just 'nice to have' but the built in GPS, voice recognition, and fully functional browser are among the the features that make it a game changer. I'll get back to you on whether on screen typing is going to work out for me. One game I've heard will be released soon looks pretty cool: SuperWordFind.

Here's a blog post on iPhone and mobile device marketing that has figures on iPhone sales & projections of how and when it will take over the world.

So that's it. Quick and dirty five things I've seen, heard, done or bought in '08. Savy readers will discern other activities which have kept updates to a minimum here. Comments welcome.

The biggest news with Grits is that Mrs Grits is preggers and due in May. We couldnt' be more thrilled to have a lil Girl Grit running around.

Here's to a Happy and Healthy '09.

Lyricist of the year! Song review and musings on my thug life

2008-10-21T06:42:00.000-07:00

This is so funny and frankly a little scary to me at the same time I had to break my bloggin silence and post something about it. Lil Wayne has been named lyricist of the year by BET

I can hear it now: a smattering of applause followed by a collective 'huh? Who dat?'

Background: Let's talk about me for a second, shall we? I've always appreciated a wide variety of music. From the sweeping sonatas of Beethoven to the mind bending solos of Jimi Hendrix and nuanced horn phrasings of Coltrane and Davis to in your face lyrics of the disposable heroes of hypocracy and public enemy. Most who know me would agree I appreciate a lot of diverse acts. I played in rock bands in high school and college ( and after). As a kid I took drum lessons and as a child of the 80's ( and Yo! MTV raps) I was one of millions of kids who lived no where near NYC or compton who appreciated Run DMC, Houdini, FatBoyz and later Tribe called Qwest, De La Soul, Digable Planets, NWA, Beastie Boys and more and even later Outkast, Snoop, Dre, Lupe Fiasco and more.

For the most part, I like the rhythms and beats and I'm amazed at the cadences and rhyming ability to tell a story that usually had little to do with my life as a white kid growing up around Atlanta. I appreciated these groups as talented artists that moved me whether black or white ( and made me laugh or made me feel cool or took me to another place) the same way that the beatles, led zep, stones, pink floyd, clash, bowie, devo, cure, cult, rem, pixies, red hot chilis, fishbone, fugazi, beck, 9inch nails, stp, nirvana, libertines, miles, brubeck, monk, ponty, coltrane, willie nelson, ray charles, sam cooke etc. Sometimes you can't explain why you like music, it just speaks to you, even if in a language you don't understand...even if the guy singing claims to be a dude from another planet. Side note, in 8th grade I wanted my name to be ziggy.

Now, back to the subject at hand. I know many of you don't know much about Lil Wayne. I certainly did not until my lovely wife came home from a gals trip out west singing the lyrics to " A milli"... her rendition, fascinating and funny in itself. Its a catchy little ditty about making lots of money and driving fast cars and being around beautiful women, among other things...So, she is singing and talkin' about how funny the song is...." I Dont owe you like two vowels". I'm intrigued, but I am on a self imposed 'no more buying digital music downloads' kick. So, later that week, we were headed to an art opening in Grant Park ( i'll save that for my next blog which is currently scheduled for Jan 09 but you should check out inhabit atlanta for the latest in around town activities) driving in the car and she says "lets turn on the radio and see if we can hear A milli." To which I replied "yeah right". Of course, to my surprise and her delight, the first station we flipped to we heard it....
WOW. The bass boomin' , the looped computer voice dronin' ' a milli, a milli, amilli' in a

ratt-ta-tat cadence that seems annoying at first then puts you into a trance. I'm thinking ok, I can dig this.. Then some of the raunchiest lyrics get spit that I've ever heard. Raunchy, but funny, like 'omg, did he just say that?' and "how did he think to rhyme 'two vowels' with 'loose bowels'"? Ingenious!? Hits you in face and grabs you by the gut. His voice like an old man who just crawled out of a gutter after being on a 4 day bender drinking glenmore ginn and smoking 2 packs of marlboro reds (and probably more).

When we got home that night,Kell downloaded and played the clean version for me.
I of course downloaded the explicit version to see what I was missing. This post could also serve as a warning: drinking and web surfing often lead to purchasing items that are not supposed to be purchased under someone's self imposed non purchasing ban, yet I digress.

Amilli, Amilli .Again the bass and rythm put me in a trance.. the lyrics are on the edge, taunting me and pushing me to question my boundaries of good taste. Like a kid who has learned a curse word and knows its wrong. Like Milton, is it more fun to be naughty than nice? I couldnt sing this song on the street without getting arrested. ( doesnt mean i dont like it). Now I know many (most?) rapp artists sing about the thug life (please lets not get into a debate about rapp vs hip hop here) and this means a whole shift in lexicon directed to its audience with songs about whos got the most money, biggest ___ , most women, fastest car and has sold the most dope before shooting bullets into someone else's derriere because of some act of disrespect. I get it. But as much as I 'get it' that this is what this genre is about I keep thinking, a) what does this say about me that I like this? and b) what does that say about the state of music? and finally c) how can I be so disconnected from the lyrics of the song in nearly every way but still like the song?

Isn't this the essence of entertainment? To be transformed in character, place and time. To escape, if alb-eight for a 3 min interlude?
For many, Music has always been about revolution and making the older generation feel uncomfortable and making people think...
YES, I'm getting old...music is changing and so am I. But has media's view of art has changed too? Lyricist of the year? Who am I to say? I'm not here to judge. The song is funny but its certainly not for everyone, especially kids. DL at your own risk. It may shock you, it may rock you.

Either way LW is living the life. His life. Instead of playing music and being a rock star or doing something creative, I'm stuck here in the corporate world and he's a 'young money millionaire, tougher than nigerian hair' whose 'criteria compared to (my career) just isn't fair.' True that Lil Wayne. Double True! No fair indeed. He's got 'a million here and a million there'...which for me, is really here nor there? Sure you may feel silly like me, when you drive up to a red light with LW pouring out of your open window so commuters in cars around you can hear it in all its glorious nastiness. But inside you're bouncin' and livin' your own life.

Enjoy.

p.s. For those of you who wonder why I even keep this blog and what the heck I do all day if I'm not busy updating you on the titillating minute by minute goings on in my daily life, take heart: I'll be launching a website soon relating to a new business endeavor and it will feature a blog. And NO, it has nothing to do with my thug life.

summertime food for thought and thoughts for food

2008-08-05T13:24:00.001-07:00

Surprise! I finally got off my lazy duff and posted.. more more-over, I found something interesting to comment on. Where the heck have I been? Thousands of fan letters have been asking the same question ( ok one person emailed and asked what was up with my 'so called' blog, but I tend to exaggerate for effect).

Hope you are having a great Summer. I am.

Of my favorite discoveries I'd point to two:

1) stumbleupon. If you haven't found it... find it. Use Firefox browser for best results. basically its a way to share content, any content (pics, blogs, videos, music) with your friends. it also allows you to teach its search component what you like ( you vote after each result - thumb's up or down). I'm spensational1 ... look me up!

2)locally grown, humanely raised eating.

yes, Kell and I have become locavores. I have been encouraging her to blog but I think she is too modest to share her the knowledge she has been acquiring over the past year. Spoiler alert: here's where I get kinda deep.

Most people never think about where their food comes from. I really didn't until this year. I've never had an issue eating animals. I think I always knew that some bad things ( besides being put to death) happened to animals I eat, but never wanted to really consider the current state of our food supply with commercial feed lots keeping animals in horrible conditions, pumping them full of anti-biotics and killing them inhumanely. I read Michael Pollen's "Omnivore's Dilemma" late last Spring so I could understand how my wife had such a complete and immediate change of heart. So complete that she ( and by my good fortune we) have actually made changes in our actions that reflect this (new philosophy) in our diet and eating habits.

We've planted a small garden ( no small feat for a house in Piedmont Heights / Atlanta) from organic seeds with organic dirt etc. Heirloom stuff, nothing genetically modified by monsanto or other industrialized food behemoth. ( sample beans , cuc's and mater's pictured)

We've joined a couple of CSA's (community supported agriculture). Depending on which one you join, you can get great veggies, humanely raised meats and much more delivered from the farm to a variety of pick up places around the Atlanta area. I would promote mine but I'm keeping it to myself. Not only does it takes better, but it makes you feel good to know the animal wasn't raised inside a small box wallowing in its own feces and fed corn and anti-biotics. The grass fed meats we get are from cows who spent their days in open pastures- it tastes great and has less fat and the eggs we get are from hens who actually wonder around fields eating what hens eat are so much better tasting and healthier for you.

To sum up what this change of habits has meant to me in a few paragraphs is impossible. I haven't even mentioned how shipping foods from south america to our local grocery stores is bad for the environment or how great it is to go to my local farmers market and actually meet the farmer who planted the food I'm going to eat. How cool is that?

Thanks Kelly.

Who gives a sh*t? You may ask. Well maybe if you thought about it, you would too.

p.s. I'd be remiss if I didnt include this link to the humane societies' current endeavor to stop animal cruelty within our food supply ( this is a good thing ) so click here and sign the petition.

Asleep at the wheel... Is greater Atlanta finally ready for effective mass transit?

2008-06-23T07:20:00.000-07:00

Yes, this blog has sucked lately... but hey what a delightful surprise when you check back and and realize that after a nearly a month I have finally posted_something_?!Ok, maybe not.. but here goes anyway.

I travel nearly every week for biz (hence the lack of posts)

and being from Atlanta I'm always frustrated to see so many other cities who thought ahead years (or in many cases decades) ago and have efficient, effective mass transit solutions. Since we've consistently ranked in the top 10 of the worst traffic cities in America, I could never figure out why Atlantans never raised cain about sitting in their cars for hours a day to go to work. I mean, our traffic sucks! Then, even more surprising is the record of some suburbs and counties consistently voting against MARTA. Crazy! Last legislative session saw a couple of proposals for raising sales tax to pay for rail ways in the greater Atlanta area but the governor didn't support them. Apparently he wanted more time to finish overhauling the State Transportation Board which was hobbled by cumbersome bureaucracy. I was just telling some friends over the weekend that someone should start a group of concerned citizens who would lobby for better mass transportation.

Well, it looks like $4 a gallon ( which could soon be $5 per gallon?) gas prices are proving to be the 'significant emotional event' that get people to think about alternatives. Recent polls ( and increased rider-ship of shuttles from outlying counties) prove that folks in the metro may be feeling different now about funding a new rail system.

The Atlanta Business Chronicle has an article which provided me with a glimmer of hope that folks asleep at the wheel in commuter traffic may be waking up. ABC discusses two proposals for rail systems - one to the South toward Griffin that would utilize Norfolk Southern rail lines already in place, and another going from Atlanta to Athens via tracks owns by CSX. The most promising thing is that now Governor Purdue is on board with this movement. I guess he finally realized that eventually citizens of GA are going to start complaining about the dire straits of Georgia's derailed transportation system on the way to the ballot box? Second most interesting is that there is in fact an alliance of more the 50 business, government and environmental orgs called "Get Georgia Moving Coalition" which was formed to push for the transportation funding initiative in this year's legislature. Let's hope they accomplish their goal. I know I'm a dreamer ( and I'm not the only one), but man how could would it be to be able to take a train to Athens to see a band like the whigs or go to a UGA game to root on my Dawg's? Totally cool.

brown turning green?

2008-05-22T12:21:00.000-07:00

I'd like to think it was because of the environment, but when its a $40B company, its got to be about saving or making more money. Either way, I was happy to read on www.ecotechdaily.com that UPS recently announced it is investing in more in alternative energy vehicles.

UPS is purchasing 200 hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) and 300 compressed natural gas vehicles (CNG) from Daimler Trucks. This was the largest order ever for hybrid electric trucks.

These trucks will be diesel and electric and will provide 40% fuel savings and 90% reduction in carbon emissions compared to standard diesel. Pretty cool.

Maybe the smart guy (or gal) at UPS who ran the numbers and convinced big brown going green will keep them in the black will get a big kiss from a hippie environmentalist for helping reduce emissions and keeping oil prices at $4 a gallon?

This increases the size of their 'alternative fuel fleet' by 30% to 2200 vehicles.

Your Move, FEDEX!

Blinded by Science: pass the booze and crank up tunes, its research!

2008-05-15T02:38:00.000-07:00

Thomas Dolby would be so proud...
In yet another glorious, experimental foray undertaken in the name of SCIENCE to quench the empirical thirst of academia, I submit to you the most enlightening study of the day. Or as my beautiful and clever wife would say " how bout it, science?"...

Researchers at Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland (shouldn't they be studying scotch or whiskey?) have determined through voracious analysis that music has an effect on the listeners' taste of wine. How in the world does someone get funding for this type of experiment ( and where to I sign up?).

Seriously, I think I learned that music effects the way alcohol tastes the first time I heard Led Zeppelin while drinking PBR at a high school party ( ok it might have been 'The Cure" and three 4 pack's of Bartles & James wine cooler but c'mon i've got an image to protect) ... and oh by the way I also think drunk girls efffect the taste of booze as well... but that could be a whole other post or experiment ( I'll phone the UGA science department immediately).

(This is not one of the students in the experiment, but I'll bet she is listening to Jimi. Go girrrl!)

According to the Herio Watt study, which purported to analyze 'cognitive priming theory' (remind me to use that phrase the next time I'm planning on getting soused and listening to tunes), 250 subjects (students of the university of course) were offered a free glass of wine in exchange for their views, which turned out to be quite enlightening.

Apparently the taste of Chardonnay was most effected by 'zingy and refreshing' sounds like Kylie Minogue (spinning around) or Tina Turner (what's love got to do with it?). Ok, so i'll pass on the Chardonnay for now and give a big " N/ A" stamp for my own damn self).

Along with 'zingy and refreshing" researchers played for different 'styles of music including 'subtle and refined' and 'mellow and soft'.

The flavor of Cabernet Sauvignon was enhanced by 'powerful and heavy' music. The students heard Jimi Hendrix (All Along The Watchtower) , The Who (wont get fooled again - in what was no doubt an attempt at semi irony by researchers) and the Stones (honkey tonk woman- no comment on this commentary about the 'white lady'.. needs a whole other experiment?).. and the students, I mean , subjects all said the Cab tasted better when rocking out to the oldies but goodies. What no White Stripes or AudioSlave was available? Go figure.. I saw Jane's Addiction a couple of times in the 90's and Perry Ferrell seemed to always have bottle of red.. though it looks like he's switched to veuve clicqot now that he's in Satellite Planet and living high on hog from royalties of Jane's tunes like "pigs in zen".

but I digress... So crank up the tunes,pop the cork on your favorite vino on your and enjoy this study... or create your own, what do i care? Live your own life..I'm drunk already.

here's a link to the original story... read it while you can still see straight.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7400109.stm

Danger mouse and Beck plus Cat Power? The New Pollution (again?)

2008-05-13T06:52:00.000-07:00

I've always been a big Beck fan. I must admit that with every album I wonder if his appeal for me will wear off. Yet, with each offering he manages to take his music to a different place while still keeping with the nuances that make it definitively Beck. I think he has been one of the biggest influences in quote alternative music since he changed the perception of rock and rap with "Odelay" in '96. So I'm thrilled to hear that he's teamed up with Danger Mouse for his latest effort "modern guilt" ( my guilt is usually olde fashioned, so that sounds interesting). For those of you who don't know ( and shame on you because even my step mom is fan of Danger Mouse), DM is the force majeure behind such revolutionary acts as Gorillaz (where he helped combine brit pop and rap with more than a touch of psychedelia), Gnarls Barkley who's "Crazy" was an anthem you heard at every back yard bar-b-b-q, office party, night club and sporting event for the entire summer of '06.....as well as the Black Keys, Shortwave set and Sparklehorse. It will be interesting to hear how DM's aestetic of making 'what sounds old sound new' brit -triphop-pop mixes with Beck's amalgamation of folk-rock-rap et al (with more emphasis on the "et al". I'm always amazed that DM can collaborate with such different artists but still add his own sensibility to their effort. Beck comments that one can hear a tinge of Pink Floyd. Should be interesting considering Chann from CatPower helps out on back up vocals on a couple fof songs. Hopefully DM takes Beck in another new direction. No release date is set so if you hear something let me know.

You can read more about the project here:

http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2008/05/12/in-the-studio-beck-conjures-1960s-brit-rock-vibe-on-danger-mouse-produced-modern-guilt/

alcohol fueled, trash talkin' green thoughts

2008-05-09T06:00:00.000-07:00

I swear, some days I wonder how so many good ideas can continuously be swept under the rug in the oil induced coma that is our nation. There are so many energy alternatives, transportation alternatives... When will we convince our congressmen to start funding more alternative energy programs? Here's a couple that would make Christopher Lloyd proud. Cue Huey Lewis and the news.. We're going "Back to the Future".

www.cleantechnica.com is reporting that some garbage collection trucks in California will soon be fueled by trash. Brilliant! Apparently America's largest waste management company "Waste Management" (clever name but I will cut them some slack after reading this) has a goal to reduce fleet emissions by 15% by 2020. They are paying nearly $15M to create a facility at a landfill which will purify and liquify up to 13,000 gallons of liquified natural gas daily. Why can't landfills in Georgia be doing this?? Oh yeah, I forgot, our Atlanta City Council can't add and subtract and we don't even have effective mass transit. Here's a link with more deets:

http://cleantechnica.com/2008/05/08/transportation-fuel-produced-from-trash-in-worlds-largest-plant-in-2009/

Its enough to drive you to drink. And drink..... But, when you wake up, take heart , and take those left over beer and vodka bottles with any backwash down to your local fuel station, IF you are in California:

In Las Gatos an entrepreneur has launched a company that will make ethanol for vehicles out of left over alcohol. ( Left over? They don't know me so well.) The dude has invented a machine with a fermentation tank that converts sugar extracted from alcohol into ethanol. Apparently it will fuel any vehicle that accepts 'flex fuels'. Incredible! Obviously this guy spent more time in chemistry class than drinking beer and skipping chemistry class like I did in college. The ideas are out there, we just need a sea change of thinking.. maybe its happening?

http://www.nbc11.com/slideshow/technology/16200868/detail.html

and speaking of being original...

2008-05-07T04:00:00.000-07:00

Since my main topic yesterday was the ever boring struggle to be original, i had to post this...Darwin would be chuckling at this one. Scientists have finally deciphered the genetic blueprint of one the weirdest (some might say cutest?) looking creatures on earth. No not Marty Feldman or Dennis Rodman, the duck billed platypus. . According to these crazy scientist dudes at University of Oxford UK, is a mammal covered with fur that produces milk, but it also lays eggs (film at 11). I kind of resemble my mom, but have some of my dad's features.

This little bugger has the tail of beaver, bill of a duck and eyes like a mole, according to the British DNA nerd quoted in this article. So I guess ducks and beavers at some point......well you know.

Anyway, I'm sure she'll have a blog at some point too..

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7385949.stm

who am I?

2008-05-06T04:49:00.000-07:00

Who am I? or rather who am I going to be on the net? Since everyone else and their pets (seriously have you seen catster??) now have blogs, I thought the water was finally warm enough for a swim... and the pool is crowded.

Sheesh. I have been planning a 'first post' for a quite a while, but putting it off and off trying find the right words, url, blog name _something remotely original. It ain't happenin'! Is it me or is it increasingly hard to do anything original on this here information super highway? I had a helluva time just naming my blog because there's already grits n/an/&/ and gravy users out there. Grits n Gray in MN? Really? Must be a transplant? And here I thought everyone and their cousin was moving to Atlanta...Its like going to a party and everyone's wearing the same "I'm with stupid" shirt. So, guess I'm too late for the properly spelled 'grits n' gravy'. Not that I think I'm special or have anything interesting to say, but I thought I should start before some kid in the Netherlands writes a program that can guess what I'm going to blog about and blogs about before I get the chance. So here you go Dieter. take that!

Anyway, you found me. Thanks for stopping in. Come again for an aggregation of posts and archives of arts & food, culture, technology, going local, going green, going insane from the mundane and maybe, just maybe, something original (from some geek in the netherlands).

So pass me some gravy.