The trouble with integrating cars and user electronics.

In a nutshell, a good car will last 10+ years but a smartphone / gps / high-end stereo interface starts getting long in the tooth after 2.  Article at ITworld accompanied by assorted smartassery at Slashdot.

The solution in my latest car?  Basic AM/FM/CD stereo with an aux port, a la "earbud jack input."  An aux port is compatible with everything from the latest iPod down to an old cassette Walkman (yes, I have one, even use it occasionally), and it's a damn good bet that the aux port will continue to be compatible with just about everything for the next ten years.

Still need to get a smartphone though.  Maybe early next year.

BTW, kudos to Ford for putting out a damn fine radio in their '12 cars.  Even with that cute little 18" rubber ducky antenna, it pulls in FM like a champ and AM almost as well as my home shortwave set.  I'm betting there's a DSP chip in there somewhere, at least on the AM end.

Happy 70th, Jimi.

Today would've been Jimi Hendrix's 70th birthday.  What might have been, what might have been.

Good photo article over at CNN, go take a peek.

Rochelle Harper Band at The Ugly Pirate

Everything it sounds like it should be: music, beer, company.  Out in the parking lot (it's a small place), with propane heaters keeping everyone warm.

Just three workin' it last night: Derrel (back row, 2nd from left) on keyboard, Boz (front left), and of course Rochelle.
The world needs more of this kind of show.

Two steps toward a more boring world.

In recent, related reports from the BBC:
Japan's Ninjas Heading for Extinction
Somali Pirate Attacks Show Sharp Fall

Don't sweat it though, there is plenty of other good mischief to be had out there.  Here's a good start, but beyond that you'll have to go make your own.

What I'm Thankful For Today

That's the way uh-huh uh-huh I like it.

New Floors

Been offline for a few days, moving stuff out to have a flooring crew in. It was a raging pain in the rear, but the results are worth it.

Before:

Old carpet, grubby wear paths, beaten down pad, moldy smell, and dust-dust-dust.

After:

Clean, new look.  With a little dust over on the right side, but the pic is from yesterday when the flooring crew hadn't quite finished all the rooms.

As I said, a raging pain in the rear but completely worth all of the time and effort.  Will have to get the Roomba acquainted with its new responsibilities in the very near future.

Can't hardly wait (to go country).

Driving into New Orleans last week, I was listening to WSM.  Another song started playing, and a few bars in I was thinking "I know that song... and it's.. not... country.  Mandolin... that should be an electric guitar."

Turns out it was a cover of The Replacement's "Can't Hardly Wait."  A punk/proto-alt song turned inside out and into country?  Sure, and it even worked pretty well.  Sorta freaked me out when I realized what the song was though.

Wish I knew who did that cover.  I'd buy it in a second.

ps 11/22: through the magic of iTunes search bar, the singer turns out to be Justing Townes Earle.