Last weekend I was in a friend's wedding as an usher. It was fun. I brought my friend Stephanie.

I want an iPod. Bad. Real bad. But in great WASPish tradition I'm trying to talk myself out of it because, technically, I don't need it.

But I might get a new, larger internal hard drive on the iBook. I've got about 250 albums loaded onto it(maybe a third of my collection), which works out to 11GB of music. And it's only a 30 GB hard drive. I'm thinking of buying the drive from the internet and getting FirstTech to install the new drive. Then, finally, buying Logic Pro.


Listening to Visqueen, and I still love them. Perfection. I ended up not going(because of the wedding) but I hope their show last Thursday was just packed.

One of the reasons that I have really enjoyed going carless (except for the motorcycle) for the last year.

From the Star Tribune's Op Ed:

Editorial: Less driving/It's a way to save big money
June 20, 2005

It should come as no shock: Rising gasoline prices have hit people hardest in sprawling cities that are heavily dependent on cars, and affected people least in compact cities that offer more options for getting around.

The lesson for federal and state governments now engaged in the transportation debate should be clear. Bigger transit systems and wiser land-use planning can cushion people against growing volatility in the world oil markets while saving a bundle of money.

An average family in a spread-out, auto-oriented city like Houston, for example, spent $4,286 more on transportation in 2003 than a similar family in denser, transit-friendly Baltimore -- and that was before the big spike in gas prices earlier this year. These figures are part of a new study released this week by the Surface Transportation Policy Project, which advocates for balanced transportation investments.

The study, based on figures from Bureau of Labor Statistics, showed that a typical family in Minneapolis-St. Paul spent $2,473 more on transportation in 2003 than a similar family in Portland, Ore., a more compact city with an extensive and growing transit system. In other words, the Twin Cities family donated almost $2,500 to the oil companies that the Portland family got to use for other things.

It borders on lunacy for Minnesota's governor and Legislature to continue cutting transit service, raising fares and failing to make a long-term commitment to expand the system. Forcing Minnesotans increasingly to suckle at the spigot of "big oil" isn't good for the family pocketbook or the regional economy. Nor is it best for solving traffic congestion, air pollution or dependence on foreign energy sources.

Congress, now finally on the brink of new transportation legislation, should allow states more flexibility in spending federal dollars on non-auto projects. It should also increase transit funding, retain its commitment to reduce air pollution and encourage new land-use patterns that minimize driving.

We should begin coming to terms with reality. The Big Gulp era of gasoline consumption is ending. In the early 1960s, Americans spent 10 percent of their incomes on transportation. Now, 40 years later, on a sprawling landscape with far more cars, far more driving and incomes beginning to decline, Americans spend double that share -- 20 percent. That trend cannot be sustained.

Last week I was really busy loading a bunch of albums onto my computer, as a friend and I had bought another friend an iPod(20 GB'er), and I wanted to load it up with a bunch of quality stuff. Well, this lead me to load a bunch of stuff up I hadn't listened to in a while....and I discovered this great Duke Ellington Record I hadn't thought about in a while. It's called "Money Jungle" and it's Duke on Piano, Charles Mingus on bass, and Max Roach on drums. It's just awesome.

So, as a result, I've decided that next month will be the month I rediscover my record collection. Play everything. Remember why I liked it so much at the time.

For the first album I picked Soul Asylum's "After the Flood" live album. It's a shame Karl went off and died. Marnie and I caught Karl Mueller's second to last show(at Gluek's). Great live band.

I was just trolling the 'Net and I saw that Visqueen is playing June 23 at the Triple Rock in Minneapolis.

As some of you(or the one of you that reads this thing) may know, this band is the best band I've discovered this year. Cheap Trick/Weezer mixed with heady amounts of Rockin' Estrogen(or Rostrogin, pronounced Rost-ro-gin).

The only downer is that I may not see the other side of the mountain....I might not make it to the Promised Restrogin land there with you as I may have to be in Iowa for a wedding. But I'm going to try to reschedule and make it happen, tux and all.

Strange.

David Lynch, the famous film directory, gives daily weather reports on his web page.Check it out.

Last weekend was busy.

I worked at the Walker on Saturday, for their "First Free Saturday" Program, which is intended to introduce families to the Walker. They have kid-friendly movies, folk storytellers, even really talented musicians (like the band Ida I discussed a couple of posts back) play kid friendly music.

On Sunday, I had my first piano recital. It was ok, and I had fun. I played "Matchmaker" and a little blues/jazz tune. Next time, in the winter, Bach instead.

There are two types of Radio DJs I just can't stand(thus drive me to listen to the albums I've loaded on my computer):

Those that sound like they have to manage an incredible amount of saliva in their mouths. It's just gross. I don't want to listen to them swallow their own spit. Like Steve Seel.

Those that pause, almost Shatner-esque mid sentence. Like Mark Wheet. Or all the old timey Radio K djs.

Just shut up and play me my music goddamnet. Except Mary Lucia. She's good, and is allowed to speak.

Another great album-they just had an in-studio on 89..

Ida's Heart Like A River .

On air, they kinda sounded Owl-ish....