Red Elephant

Tweaks

So, I'm trying some new things on the site. For one, I've signed up for last.fm, which is an interesting service. You can download a plugin for iTunes [and other audio players] that records what you're listening to & then makes recommendations based on what you listen to most often. Kind of how Amazon builds 'The Page You Made' and other recommendations. You can also tag tracks, a la Fickr, and create lists based on those tags.

The other part of this equation is an audio player that you can download. It will make playlists [or 'radio stations'] based on recommendations, tags, or whatever you select. Heck, on their front page, there's a box where you type in a band you like, and it will make recommendations from that. Also notable on the front page is a list of what you get when you sign up. My favorite is at the bottom, "A Pony."

When you're listening to the player, you can tag tracks as ones you love, and you can skip/ban tracks you hate. This is a way to keep track of new music that you don't know, but want to keep an eye on. I'm going to have to file this under my other post on discovering new music. You could also do better to read Pitchfork's more recent article on this subject. There's also the article on Kottke's site that also helped put last.fm on my radar.

It also has some feeds that I've been messing with today, trying to get them to work. Over on your right, I'm featuring the last 10 tracks that I listened to in iTunes. To get it to fit, I've changed the design of the site slightly. I've taken my photo off, but I didn't really need that anyway. I should do one better and update my online albums here, or on my flickr account. The image only updates every five minutes, so it's not going to change while you're reading this. But, if you come back in a couple of hours, and I've been listening to music, then you'll get something else.

I'm always interested in discovering new music, and letting other people know what I'm currently enjoying. Any of my friends will tell you that I'm usually pushing something. During Burgers for MS, Max said that I'd turned him on to his last three albums. I like that.

Burgers for MS

Well, May is here again. That means that my father and I will be riding bikes to raise money for Multiple Sclerosis. We've been doing this for several years now, and it's always a good time. I'm sure some of you already got hit up by Joe for the MS Walk in NYC. Joe's mother is living with MS, so he takes raising money pretty seriously.

I'll be doing my part by hosting a little fundraiser at my house this Saturday, May 20, at 7pm. I'll be grilling burgers and asking for a $5 donation.  No, you don't need to donate to come. Yes, there will be turkey burgers & soyburgs for those who are not into cow. Yes, dogs are welcome. Yes, I will provide drinks. Yes, you can bring your own side dish.

If you can't make it, you can always pledge over the web through my team's webpage. [Thanks to Lindsy, who was the first to do this. It's not hard, is it Ms. D?] Thanks also to Dan & Erin, both of whom have sent checks already.

While we're on the subject of food & drink, check out this great article on fat v. skinny asparagus in the NYT.

And feel free to try out the new wine tagging / review site Cork'd.

Mad Loot

Junior's Cheesecake delivered from New York City. Thanks, Nick and Micahla.

Thanks also to Max for the Slimmy wallet. I needed a replacement since my last two wallets, a billfold and an old metal cigarette case, have all but fallen apart.

Max has expressed interest in drinking tea. So I got him this starter set, from Adagio Teas

Thanks to Paul, for his always appreciated gift of Basil Hayden's Bourbon.

Thanks finally, to Dan Walker, for his generous contribution to Multiple Sclerosis, which kicks off my fundraising drive for Celebrate Cycling 2006. I'll set up a webpage for our cycling team, once I get registered, which should be this weekend. That way, those of you who don't see me on a semi-regular basis, can pledge online, if you so choose.

Also have to give a shout to Chris Onstand. The Achewood strip on my birthday contained the best gift ever, Airwolf. Spoiler/backstory -- Ray bought Airwolf off of eBay Platinum, while high. You kind of had to be there, or just be a fan of the webcomic in the first place.

But come on, it's Airwolf. Christian thinks that "Airwolf" should be the new "Deck/Hawt/Cool/etc." As in, "Dude, check out my new wallet. "

"Oh, that's totally Airwolf."

[*EDIT*] Thanks also to Sonali who hooked me up with the iTunes gift certificate. I bought $20 worth of music before I could figure out how to enter my gift card code. Next time, I RTFM.