Slarty's World

The Bad Plus – EPK

A video promo for The Bad Plus’ new album. Taped in Cannon Falls, Minnesota. The coolest Jazz goof-balls on the planet.

The music sounds fantastic – can’t wait for the album.

My Aunt used to own Peeler’s Bar and Thrill in Cannon Falls. I guess that many musicians from the recording studio used to frequent the place while in town. Supposedly she has met the entire Nirvana group, include Cobain. Ahh, the life and times of a small town strip club.

I ordered an Apple TV the day they were announced. Got it today, plugged it in and linked it to my iTunes and I am blown away. So cool and so easy. I have purchased a few videos just to goof around.

I was planning on setting it up on my kitchen TV and stereo because I was going to it to play music when I have dinner parties and such. Unfortunately, my TV does not have component video, so that is a no-go. Instead, I hooked it up to my big TV in the basement and I am in heaven – so very cool.

The Star Tribune has an article about the closing arguments being completed in the MAC vs. the City trial. There were a couple of interesting tidbits that I gleened from the article.

One point is that MAC is being sued for 2 reasons, the first reason is because MAC violated their agreement with the cities. The second point is :

[The] second contention by the cities: that the MAC violated the Minnesota Environmental Rights Act by disrupting the natural resource of “quietude.”

There is a natural resource called “quietude!” That is probably that quality that I love about being up north at the lake. I just did not really think of it as a natural resource. Can we import it, say from Greenland? Maybe I could put an easement on my land to specify that no one can remove it. The MAC’s lawyer does not think it is a valid point. His name is Thaddeus Lightfoot. I just like his name and wanted it on Slarty’s World. If I ever have a drink with him, I will post all the details.

Lastly, I would be interested in hearing the arguments that were made about the calculations of noise level because I have been looking at the various monthly stats that MAC publishes and I tend to think there could be improvement. I even was thinking about getting a couple of noise meters and a computer interface to start doing some independent research. I have not yet, but if the MAC starts pushing me around I just might.

Star Tribune:Plane-noise-suit arguments end

Vote Different

I am impressed that the running woman has an iPod on. (I am pretty sure the original did not have this.)

Just read the NY Times article titled “Craft Brewers Turn to Whiskey Chasers.” Good read, basically it talks about how craft beer brewers are starting to dabble in distilling spirits. I could get excited if there were small batch (ie micro brew) whiskies and gins and vodkas at the liquor store.

I visited Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, a number of years ago and came across the Glenora Distillery. At the time, they had not produced any drinkable product, but were aging the whisky. I thought at the time that distilling whisky would be a tough business to get into; you would have to wait 10 years before you have your first aged bottle. What happens if you drink it and it tastes like crap? I am sure there are ways to test it along the way, but still seems like a patience game.

Years later, I tried some of their whisky and found it only ok(but I would be willing to resample). Also of note, on their web site it lists the product as North America’s only Single-Malt Whisky. When I had visited they were saying that they were North America’s only Single Malt Scotch. Not being from Scotland, it makes sense that they drop the Scotch reference, but it is good to see that they still use Whisky (vs Whiskey).