Enjoy this mix in one of the following conditions: sunny + hot + humid, rainy + hot + humid, or rainy + windy + cold.

It also goes well with: long drives across town at dusk, trying to find parking in the evening, rainy Saturday afternoon naps, beers at a quiet table, the bookstore, reminiscing, and procrastinating.

1. The Little Ones - Let Them Ring the Bells
2. Fruit Bats - Canyon Girl
3. Clinic - The Witch
4. Vivian Girls - Tell the World
5. The Submarines - Fern Beard
6. Forest City Lovers - Sullen Seas
7. My Latest Novel - The Hope Edition
8. Our Lady of Bells - Adeline
9. Sarah Harmer - I Am Aglow
10. Frontier Folk Nebraska - Parker Browne
11. Norfolk & Western - Terrified
12. Seabear - Hands Remember

Download June 2008 Mix (59mb)

Life hasn’t afforded me the time for a blog post in a while. Here’s what’s going on:

1. I’ve been very immersed in my new job, I am working on some awesome things I can’t talk about now because of trade secrets etc, but billing and payments in online insurance are about to get much much better.
2. My long term, live in girlfriend of four years and I broke up. This stuff is always hard, but new beginnings are nice too.
3. I moved from the West Side of Cleveland to Cleveland Heights (the East Side.) I miss the West Side but am loving exploring this part of town and being close to the Grog Shop and the Beachland. Incidentally I’m only 5 minutes from the Apple Store now. I’m also really excited to have a dedicated office space.
4. I’ve been doing a lot of freelance. I finished teaching my class, but I’ll be teaching another for Fall semester.
5. I started seeing someone else who is amazing (and also a talented baker) and I’m sure I will gush about her to the point your RSS feed will make you puke and you’ll unsubscribe.

I’ve also been putting some serious time and (ugh) money into decorating the new place. I bought a new couch and loveseat, I’m still waiting for the couch to be delivered. I’m getting a new dining room table. I’ve done a ton of painting (with lots of help.) I am replacing all my bedding and towels. I am going to put up all new window treatments. Someone should bar me from Crate & Barrel. I’ve also been going crazy with the Martha Stewart collection at Macy’s, and ended up with Martha Stewart paint. The dining room color is called Mint Gelato. The list goes on and on, so I’ve made two photo sets on Flickr, a before and an in progress. Here’s a few highlights:

I also want to mention Room Service, a fabulous shop where I bought my throw pillows on Detroit in the Gordon Square Arts District. They were pretty reasonable and have a lot of pieces by local designers and artists.

Long overdue, here is my mix for May. On June 2nd. I’m a little behind, give me a break I’m moving and completely drained.

Listen to this while lying on your couch with minimal lighting. Bonus points for incense and headphones.

There is also some album art.

1. French Kicks - Abandon
2. Annuals - Sore
3. Ladytron - The Lovers
4. The Sound - Heartland
5. My Brightest Diamond - Inside a Boy
6. Plants and Animals - Bye Bye Bye
7. Brightblack Morning Light - Come Another Rain Down
8. The Black Angels - Better Off Alone
9. Mary Timony - Look a Ghost in the Eye
10. Pete and the Pirates - Knots
11. The Warlocks - Dreamless Days

Download May 2008 Mix (60mb)

Pros:

• Naked Juice in the cafeteria
• Netflix
• Contemplating getting a scooter
• A friend’s successful recovery
• This article on blogging and personal privacy. Will resonate with anyone who’s ever had a LiveJournal.
• Five cent HDMI cable
• New upscaling DVD player
• Desperate Housewives season finale
• Ellen and John McCain
• New issue of Martha Stewart Living has a bee cake on the cover
• Scharffen Berger

Cons:

• Auto Kerning
• Packing
• Gas prices
• That Scarlett Johansson album
• Frutiger Serif
• Wishing I was going to Terrastock
• Best Buy ripping me off on upscaling DVD player
• Missing X show
• Ohio taxes
• People who wear lots of perfume/cologne and ride in the elevator
• Lakewood contemplating ignorant Pit Bull ban

Last night I finally stopped by the Tremont Tap House, billed as Cleveland’s first gastropub. From Wikipedia:

A gastropub is a British term for a public house (”pub”) which specializes in high-quality food a step above the more basic “pub grub.” The name is a combination of pub and gastronomy and was coined in 1991 when David Eyre and Mike Belben opened a pub called The Eagle in Clerkenwell, London. They placed emphasis on the quality of food served.

Gastropubs usually have an atmosphere which is relaxed and a focus on offering a particular cuisine prepared as well as it is in the best restaurants. Staying true to the format requires a menu that complements the assortment of beers and wines the gastropub offers.

Some describe gastropubs as the Anglo-equivalent of the French brasserie or the Japanese izakaya.

We had a great start with a pretzel and smoked cheddar stout dipping sauce. The pretzel was soft, and not too salty or greasy. I appreciated that the beer menu used color to easily identify what was on tap and which beers were large. Read the rest of this entry »

MSNBC recently picked Tina Fey as their funniest person. Though I would hardly call MSNBC the barometer of hilarity, it’s nice to see a woman in entertainment get respect for something other than her boobs. The best part of the article:

…women (along with other women in comedy) still battle periodic declarations by male performers and writers that women aren’t funny — from the notorious John Belushi bellowings of the late 1970s to a Christopher Hitchens essay last year in Vanity Fair. So being the first female head writer at “SNL” isn’t merely a “happened to be first” situation, but a victory over daunting odds.

So Tina Fey in a movie with Amy Poehler (second most hilarious lady on television) is basically my dream comedy duo. The only way this movie could possibly be funnier would be throwing Amy Sedaris into the mix. Baby Mama opens this Friday, watch the trailer.

Pitchfork has posted a guide to upcoming spring releases.

In no particular order I’m excited for:

• Acid Mothers Temple
• Boredoms
• The Breeders
• Clinic
• Envy (DVD)
• Microphones (reissue & new)
• Shout Out Louds
• The Gossip (live)
• Make Believe
• Bellafea
• The Black Angels
• Free Kitten
• Joan of Arc
• The VSS (reissue)
• Ellen Allien
• Ladytron
• Shearwater
• Silver Jews
• Tilly and the Wall
• Liz Phair (reissue)

I’m probably most excited for the new Ladytron album.

I came across an article via Lifehacker about historical figures and productivity. I wasn’t surprised to see number one on the list is don’t work long hours.

Too often in the corporate world long hours are used as an indicator of productivity, which is totally artificial. Someone could sit here for twelve hours and do nothing, what is that really telling you?

When I started my new job I saw people were running off to the gym all throughout the day. I asked if they stayed late or came in early to offset their workout time, and they said not as long as the work is done. I asked my manager if it was acceptable for me to visit the gym on work time, and her response was basically the same, go whenever you want, as long as your work is done we don’t care. So I’m essentially working a 35 hour week, and I’ve never been more productive. Imagine what I could do in a 30 hour week? Read the rest of this entry »

Kottke posted a link yesterday to photos of people just before and just after they died. It reminded me of a documentary I watched the other night from PBS’ P.O.V. series called A Family Undertaking, about the growing home funeral movement.

After the civil war, American funerals moved out of the home and largely into the hands of undertakers, now a large industrial funeral complex. As a person who’s seen plenty of open casket services, my first thoughts were “Eew.” But I found myself strangely touched by these families, and surprised by the dignity in their home funerals. Gone were the artificial parlors with their ostentatious floral arrangements, plaster columns and faux victorian furnishings. There were no grim undertakers or officiaries lurking about. Read the rest of this entry »

Since I’ve been absent for so long I thought I’d post a nice surprise for those of you who still subscribe; an April mix.

Blah blah yes I know about Muxtaping, but you can only make one 12 song mix.

Album artwork is included in the download, enjoy.

1. Shout Out Louds - South America
2. Au Revoir Simone - A Violent Yet Flammable World
3. Beach House - Gila
4. Great Lake Swimmers - There is a Light
5. Grand Archives - Sleepdriving
6. A Weather - Oh My Stars
7. Headlights - Catch Them All
8. Peter and the Wolf - Safe Travels
9. Alela Diane - My Tired Feet
10. Songs of Green Pheasant - Boats
11. Dirty on Purpose - Your Summer Dress
12. Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan - Trouble

Download April 2008 Mix (75mb)

Due to last week’s blizzard the CWSA’s first purely social event had to be postponed and is rescheduled for today. A note to all you foodies, Bier Markt/Bar Cento chef Jonathan Sawyer will be appearing on Iron Chef America tomorrow night on Michael Symon’s team. If you’d like to have the best burger in town, or just want to geek out, swing by at 4pm.

After watching Alien Saturday afternoon Alana and I decided 80s and early 90s action classics are sorely missing from our DVD library. We decided to brave The Exchange last night (and I do mean brave, the last few times we were there employees had to oust rowdy/violent clientele) and see what we could find.

We returned with:

• Blade Runner
• Aliens
• Terminator/Robocop combo box
• Predator
• Rocky
• Total Recall
• The Bourne Supremacy
• Martha Inc.

Yes I know Rocky is 70s, but the series spans the 80s. Alana hadn’t seen the second Bourne movie so we grabbed that too, and I couldn’t resist Martha Inc (the Cybil Shepherd made for tv Martha Stewart movie.) I couldn’t believe our luck finding Terminator and Robocop packaged together. Also of note is the Predator cover, hologram FTW!

Next on our list would of course be the rest of the Terminator/ Rocky/ Predator/ Alien/ Robocop series, the Rambo series, Commando, Kickboxer, Die Hard series, (a little burnt out on Die Hard so will probably add them last) Demolition Man, Judge Dredd, Escape from New York and Escape from LA.

I’m contemplating adding Van Damme movies as a separate endeavor (need at least Bloodsport, Kickboxer and Lionheart.) I’m also not counting Indiana Jones since that’s more action/adventure, and I won’t be buying and of those movies on DVD until the last one is released and I can get some crazy box set. Also in their own genres which I will get at a later date: Mobster movies, assassin movies (Assasins, Point of No Return, The Long Kiss Goodnight are all on my list), 80s fantasy/adventure, and 80s sci-fi & computer/adventure.

So, have any suggestions within the constraints of 80s and early 90s? Please note I’m not interested in Stephen Seagal, Chuck Norris, or Westerns.

This Saturday, March 7th the CWSA would like to present:

The First Semi-Annual Convocation of the Benevolent & Protective Order of Markup

Are you interested in CSS? Want to geek out? This is an opportunity to meet and socialize with the Cleveland Web Standards Association, as well as drink beer and eat some of the best food in town. Spouses and significant others are welcome! Come right from the Cleveland Film Festival! If you haven’t been there before, the Bier Markt is located across the street from the West Side Market. There’s free parking behind the Market, or pay parking in a lot behind the Bier Markt and Great Lakes Brewing. If you haven’t been to a CWSA meetup yet and would like to get to know everyone in a more social environment, this is the perfect opportunity!

We’ll be there from 4pm until we feel like going home. Please RSVP and get details for the event on meetup.com. I hear the weather might suck, so if you end up not being able to make it, please remember to change your RSVP.

I was in Agile training for two days last week while simultaneously kicking caffeine. Suffice to say I was desperate for something to keep myself awake, and some semblance of focused. So I started doodling. Some of the doodles are actual notes (see “pearprogramming”) most are random.

Read the rest of this entry »

I’ve never had healthy habits, but until recently they never seemed to be a problem; when I was younger I took for granted how active my job really was. I was surprised to find when I got my first post-college “real” (desk) job how the calories started to pile on. For a while now I’ve been talking about wanting to join a gym, but I haven’t really had the time or motivation. Fortunately, my new job has an excellent on-site gym. I figured since the rest of my life is changing, I may as well change my unhealthy habits too. Maybe it will help alleviate some of the stress that comes with all the transition.

So last week I made an appointment with one of the personal trainers for a customized fitness program. I was apprehensive, with visions of some muscle bound dude with veins popping out of his neck telling me to drink raw eggs and sprinkle protein powder on all my food. Thankfully, instead I got a totally normal, down-to-earth guy who really understood my needs. He didn’t scoff as I revealed my sedentary past few years. Read the rest of this entry »

The past two weeks have been incredibly busy. In addition to assimilating to the new job, I’ve been swamped with freelance and work for my class. Alana also started a new job, at Evolved in Columbus, probably the most reputable tattoo studio in the state. We’ve had a lot of work getting everything ready for the transition, since she’ll be in Columbus four days a week. Last week we hired a dog walker. The dogs have not yet eaten any furniture, so I consider it a success. I’m hoping to get some time in at the office gym soon, I have an orientation tomorrow. The art collection is amazing. Once I’m all caught up I expect regular posting to resume, but in the mean time I’m turning off the Twitter updates for minimal clutter.

The first tattoo of this episode is a crane on a girl’s ribcage. As Kat’s applying the stencil some dude Corey’s tattooing is ogling her and making rude comments. If this ever happened to me when I was getting tattooed, I would never come back. If I were the artist working on a client who behaved in such a way I’d tell them to knock it off or they’ll have an unfinished tattoo. A woman getting tattooed is not a piece of meat. There’s a reason artists need private stations. She shouldn’t have been parading this poor girl around the shop half shirtless. Overall the tattoo turns out pretty good, Kat seems skilled at wildlife and should perhaps try her hand at that in lieu of traditional portraiture. Read the rest of this entry »

Last night’s CWSA planning meeting was a great success. We’ve had a lot of new faces, some of them traveled pretty far to attend. Some topics discussed last night:

• Trying to advance standards in the local web and business communities without being the CSS gestapo.
• Involving other industries in our group. (Maybe we can find a lawyer to present on the topic of Section 508 compliance or some other aspect of web-related law?)
• Becoming involved with the Email Standards Project.
• Finding a venue for a Cleveland BarCamp.
• Creating our own business case for standards, with examples and success stories from our local community.
• Improving the workflow between front and back end developers.

We had some faculty representatives from a local college show up. They talked about how a group like CWSA benefits them, because it can help their students understand things like being required to validate all assignments.

What I’ve begun to notice is smaller schools and community colleges are really pushing to embrace standards, and at a significantly faster pace than large universities. I don’t know if it’s because of their size they’re able to adapt quicker to industry changes and adopt best practices? Or maybe their high ratio of part-time instructors tend to attract a more passionate faculty, who work in the industry now, not 10 years ago before they became a teacher? It’s my sincere hope that this group can help our local higher learning institutions, community colleges and universities, move forward.

Lastly, I’m trying to plan a purely social event for us next month. I’m hoping to make it coincide with the Cleveland Film Festival, so if there are any fellow geeks in from out of town they can meet us.