Ode to Train Travel

Sitting on an Acela train between Philadelphia and Boston. To be more specific, and current, somewhere between New York and Stamford, CT. Realizing for the umpteenth time how superior train travel is to flying for short-to-medium distance trips.

While it is not quicker it is certainly more civilized. I did not need to arrive an hour before departure and I did not need to stand in line to take my shoes off and go through a metal detector. I did not need to separate my liquids from my carry-on and put them in a plastic bag. My seat is similar to a domesic first class airline seat and I have a table that actually fits my laptop. I have a big window with a view of the landscape flying by. I have dual power outlets for my computer and my iPhone. I don't need to turn off all electronic equipment for take off and landing. I can use wireless Internet and be logged as much as I want on the trip (got some work done, now relaxing writing this). I can make phone calls. I can get up and walk to the cafe whenever I like. It's quiet and there's never turbulence. I don't need to listen to announcements telling me what to do "in the unexpected event of a water landing." No credit card commercials blasted through the speaker system. I arrive downtown. And, it's better for the environment.

I wish I could travel like this all the time.

Oh, looks like I''ve passed Stamford and am approaching Bridgeport now. Gotta love the GPS on the phone...

The Academy Awards Best Picture Project - 1930-31

So, I've had the long-standing idea that I should watch all of the films that have won an Oscar for Best Picture, starting from oldest to newest. I finally got around to it.

Well, the first thing I learned was that the oldest Best Picture winner (Wings, winner in 1929) hasn't been released on DVD in the US. I don't know if that's the case for any others... Anyway, I watched the following two winners this week:

The Broadway Melody (winner in 1930, made in 1929)

A musical centered around a male Broadway star and a two-sister vaudeville act just arrived in New York. I did not care much for the musical aspect but thought the storyline and acting were quite good. A love triangle, some ulterior motives, etc. Since the setting is a Broadway revue, several of the music numbers don't feel too forced but there are also a couple of occasions of people bursting into song in apartments, which always seems contrived. I'm probably grading this a bit on a curve, given its age, but I'll give it a 7/10.

All Quiet On The Western Front (winner in 1931, made in 1930)

I have to admit I didn't know much about the actual story here, even though it's based on such a famous book. The movie begins in Germany during the early stages of World War I, and we see a college professor giving a firebrand speech (duty, honor, etc.) encouraging the students to join the war effort. We then follow a group of new German recruits through basic training and then onto the trenches on the western front.

The overarching message of the film (war is hell, and the soldiers who return are forever changed) is familiar, but the movie never feels preachy. The characters are compelling and the war scenes are impressive (they used over 2,000 extras) and seem realistic. (8/10)

Speaking of war movies and how soldiers are changed by the experience, if you haven't seen The Hurt Locker (in movie theaters still, I think) I highly recommend it. I don't want to give the movie away, other than that it follows a US bomb squad in Iraq in 2004 whose primary job it is to disarm or detonate roadside bombs, and that the movie opens with a quote by Chris Hedges: "The rush of battle is a potent and often lethal addiction, for war is a drug." The quote makes a lot of sense after you've seen the movie.

Hedges was a foreign correspondent for the New York Times for 15 years, and spent much of them in warzones. A number of years ago I read his book War Is A Force That Gives Us Meaning (also recommended) and I still remember the interview that made me go out and get the book: he talked about the seductive nature of war, even as a reporter, and how regular life seems insignificant when life-and-death no longer is on the line. After many years in the field he realized that he had to choose between going back and living a normal life or continuing until he was killed. So, he returned home and started writing books.

Finally, if you want to listen to a guy who truly understands the situation in Iraq, Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, etc. listen to Michael Ware (also foreign correspondent; now CNN, previously Time Magazine) who has lived in Iraq since before the invasion. While I'm doing shoutouts, also listen to Reza Aslan who often appears on talk shows. His book No god but God from a few years ago is an excellent lesson in the history of islam with a surprisingly optimisitic view on its future. And, a reminder to follow Fareed Zakaria and his excellent show GPS.

Road Trip! (Day 1 of 12)

As I've mentioned in a couple of posts, my sister and parents came to visit for three weeks in late June and early July. Because we like to go see things (and it's really hot here!) we went on a 12-day road trip - see the route below:


View California Road trip: mom and dad in a larger map

The green houses indicate where we stayed the night (going counter-clockwise from Phoenix):

• Vegas (2 nights)
• Mono Lake / Lee Vining (1 night)
• Fairfield / Napa Valley (2 nights)
• San Francisco (2 nights)
• Carmel (2 nights)
• Santa Maria (1 night)
• Palm Desert (1 night)

In order to keep this bearable, I'm dividing up the trip into about one post per day, and I'm including a handful of pictures in each post. So, here goes...

Day 1 - Tuesday, June 23

We left Phoenix in the morning and headed north for Sedona. Our first activity: Pink Jeep Tour!

Here are a couple of links for those not familiar with Sedona or the Pink Jeep Tours. Both highly recommended. Our next stop was lunch at l'Auberge: good food in a great setting down by the creek!

After leaving Sedona, we drove across the Hoover Dam and into Las Vegas and checked in at THEhotel at Mandalay Bay. We had a nice evening at the bar at Charlie Palmer's Aureole. Great food and wine list, and always fun to watch the "wine angels" do their high-wire act and ascend the 4-story wine tower to fetch the wine (see the virtual tour on the web site.)

What's Spinning Now (August Edition)

Whew. I'm back. I had my sister and my parents visiting for three weeks, which meant I had a 3-week lapse in listening to new music, blogging etc. Anyway, here we go.

Last Month (June) Revisited

Ani DiFranco - Saratoga, CA 9.18.06 (2-CD)

First, I was fortunate enough to see Ani play in Saratoga on July 1 (with sister and parents.) My third Ani-show in about a year, and, as usual, the show was great, but the most lasting memory from this show may be the venue itself. Mountain Winery sits, as the name suggests, on top of a mountain and in the middle of a vineyard, overlooking San Jose and Silicon Valley, and it's just a great venue for outdoor summer shows.

Anyway, this double-CD is from the show held here three years earlier. Good stuff. (7/10)

Bill Callahan - Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle

Mostly very subtle stuff. Half-taking, half-singing and may seem boring at first, but it rewards repeated listening. (7/10)

Elvis Costello - Secret, Profane and Sugarcane

Much too uneven. If you're a big Elvis fan, get it for completeness. If you're not (and you should be!) start somewhere else. (4/10)

Georgia Anne Muldrow - Olesi Fragments Of An Earth

I wanted to like this, but it just isn't the kind of music I usually listen to, and 21 tracks was too much to digest. So, I put it aside after having played it through once. (No Rating)

Isis - Wavering Radiant

I only got through three tracks on this album. Hardcore metal...it doesn't matter how good it supposedly is. Ain't gonna fly here. (No Rating)

Leonard Cohen - Live In London (2-CD)

Leonard Cohen is touring again, and I'd love to go, but I'm probably going to miss it. The closest he's getting to Phoenix is Vegas, and it's the week before I've already booked a trip there.

Anyway, this album is a must-have for fans, and not a bad way to discover some of his work, although I'd recommend starting with his Best Of album and work from there. (8/10)

Passion Pit - Manners

A few good tracks, but dance music is probably too far from my style for me to really appreciate. Sleepyhead is still a great song, though. (4/10)

Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

Lisztomania is great and a few other good songs, but hasn't grabbed me overall. (5/10)

Sonya Kitchell - This Storm

Soldier's Lament alone makes this album worth getting. Uneven album overall, but worth checking out. (6/10)

Tori Amos - Abnormally Attracted To Sin

This album was met with lukewarm interest from the press, but I like it better than that. If you like Tori, definitely get it. (7/10)

The Vaselines - Enter The Vaselines (2-CD)

I've still only listened to the first disc - not sure I liked it enough to check out demos and live tracks. I liked a few songs, but don't understand what the big deal is. (5/10)

Wavves - Wavvves

Five of the songs on the album have the word "goth" in the title. I like the last track on the album (Surf Goths) but haven't been able to get any other song to grow on me. That's all I have to say about that. (No rating.)

White Rabbits - It's Frightening

A bit punky for my taste, but a number of good songs. (6/10)

St. Vincent - Actor

Revisiting this from last time. I'e decided on a rating now. (7/10)

This Month (in alphabetical order)

The Avett Brothers - The Gleam II

Picked this band up based on a recommendation from my friend Nikki who understands Sufjan Stevens, remembers Howard Jones fondly, and abhors Black Eyed Peas; all credibility enhancing traits.

Cold War Kids - Robbers & Cowards

Recommendation from Brittany at work, who has proven adept at finding interesting stuff. If you like the stylings of the different variations of Jack White, check this out. (No actual connection, other than stylistic.)

Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca

This could be my album of the year. I know this probably isn't in line with how I've rated the albums, but looking back now, I have this, Veckatimest (Grizzly Bear) and Merriweather Post Pavilion (Animal Collective) in the running. Dave Longstreth is absolutely a genius, and this is truly some next level stuff.

The Fiery Furnaces - I'm Going Away

Male-female sibling duo that's been around for a while, but they are new to me.

Florence And The Machine - Lungs

I keep wanting to call them Florence And The Henderson's... Anyway, this debut album is getting a lot of attention in the UK and from the critics. I like it so far.

Laleh - Prinsessor

This is the second album from Swedish, Iranian-born, singer-songwriter Laleh, who released her third albums (Me and Simon) earlier this year. I've got both of them but am listening to this one first. The album contains a mix of Swedish-and English-language songs and I'm very impressed so far.

Maia Hirasawa - Though, I'm Just Me

Continuing the theme of Swedish singer-songwriters with international ancectry...Maia Hirasawa (Swedish-born, Japanese-heritage) recently released her sophomore album GBG vs STHLM (Gothenburg vs Stockholm), but this is her 2007 debut. A bit poppy but promising.

Melanie - Best Of

Nothing new about this, but I just picked it up. Good stuff, mainly from the late 60s and 70s.

Miss Li - Dancing The Whole Way Home

Another Swedish singer-songwriter, but this one without international connections (real name, Linda Carlsson.) I've been a big fan of her previous three albums. Catchy tunes, playful lyrics, fun arrangements with influences from many styles and eras (blues, jazz, motown, 50s... )

Moby - Wait For Me

What is there left to say about Moby? This seems to be one of his better albums since Play...

Movits! - Äppelknyckarjazz

You may have caught their act on The Colbert Report a few weeks ago. Four dudes in black tie and sneakers laying down some Swedish-language hip-hop/jazz/swing beats. Yeah. Those guys. If you missed, here it is:

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Movits! - Fel Del Av Garden
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Meryl Streep

Regina Spektor - Far

I really liked her previous 2006 effort Begin To Hope. This seems a bit more polished (which is usually not good in my book), but I think I still like it.

Tiny Vipers - Life On Earth

This is the new release from Tiny Vipers, the stage name for Jesy Fortino, and I got it based on a recommendation from my sister Karin.

Well, that's all folks for now. I want to post some stuff from my family visit and our 12-day road trip, but haven't been able to find the time yet...