Flock

So I'm trying out a new browser today called Flock... I'm going to keep this post short since I'm posting right out of the Flock browser. Cool...

H5N1

We've been hearing a lot about the Avian Flu or H5N1 virus in recent weeks. Talk of a pandemic sweeping the globe is all the rage. Scary as it sounds, we need to keep a level head amidst the hysteria. A recent Washington Post article puts it all in perspective.

SARS was scary for a bit a few years ago and apparently there was a swine flu craze in the 1970's that never really panned out, killing many more people from innoculations than the actual flu.

Stay cool, wash your hands and try not to swap too much spit this winter.

Watered Down Wine?

Here's a great article about the practice of adding excess water to California wines during the fermentation process. It sounds like the industry is a little annoyed at the Economist for even bringing it up. Personally, I'd like to try a cabernet that's 24% alcohol, but I've never been accused of being an oenophile. Enjoy!

Technorati Tags: wine, california

John Butler Trio and Live Music in General

We went to see John Butler Trio the other night at the Somerville Theater. It was a great show - kind of a mix between Rusted Root, Midnight Oil and Phish, but a pretty original sound. He mentioned a return to the area in Feb/March 2006 - get tickets if you like any of the above bands... you can thank me later.

We enjoyed beer and a BBQ dinner at Redbones before the show. Not the best BBQ on the planet, but certainly worth the visit. The beef brisket was to die for on this trip and the spicy corn relish almost killed the three of us that tried it... we ordered milk to kill the inedible heat. The "beer wheel" in the bar keeps me coming back - spin the wheel and get one of the 20+ beers they have on tap. Good times.

The whole experience reminded me of how important it is to get out and support live music... on several levels. Supporting young artists and seeing them in small venues is something I really enjoy. We saw the Rolling Stones at Fenway this summer (another experience altogether) and it's just not the same. I prefer seeing the lesser know, up and coming artist in a small, intimate location (the Stones were an experience, but you get the point).

I also realized how living in the "burbs" and having children has impacted my consumption of live music. Getting a sitter for seven hours adds a significant "surcharge" on top of the ticket prices and keeping in touch with what's happening in the city isn't something I've been doing a very good job of... but the internet makes it easier.

So I just bought tickets to G Love and Special Sauce at the Orpheum in November. Whether this is a long term fix and I continue seeing live music remains to be seen... I hope so.