Just a map of my afternoon bike ride.
Monthly Archives: August 2010
Junky Star by Ryan Bingham and the Dead Horses
Ryan Bingham and the Dead Horses
Anyone would forgive Ryan Bingham and the Dead Horses for a disappointing album at this point. Mescalito, their major label debut was exciting and intriguing, with its tales of wandering souls with guitars slung over their shoulder, truck-drivers and trains. Songs alternated between country flavored rock &roll and emotional folk ballads.
Then came Roadhouse Sun. This could well have been the dreaded “sophomore slump” album, but Bingham avoided that trap. While there as songs such as “Country Roads,” which are enjoyable enough, but somewhat cliche, there are also songs like “Dylan’s Hard Rain” and “Hey Hey Hurray” which are startlingly original with lyrics that are pointed social commentary.
So now comes Junky Star. It could have been a major disappointment and no one would have been surprised. But it’s not disappointing; It is unbridled brilliance. It’s the band’s best record to date!
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Watch the Numbers Turn on the Student Debt Clock
The counter at the time of posting. Click to go to the site for the current total.
$848,193,864,069 at 2:52. $848,194,027,574 at 2:53. It’s frightening how fast the figures change on the student debt clock.
Total student loan debt outstanding exceeded total credit card debt outstanding for the first time in June 2010. The seasonally adjusted figure for revolving credit in the Federal Reserve’s G.19 report (current report, historical data) was $826.5 billion in June 2010. (Credit card debt represents as much as 98% of revolving credit.)
It’s a big problem and a growing one. Graduates are not making enough when they leave college to make the payments on their student loans, yet it is nearly impossible to discharge such loans, even through bankruptcy. College students are clearly borrowing to much and you may be tempted to say let them suffer the consequences.
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New York City, Murfreesboro, Tennessee and Islamophobia
This is the United States of America! Most of us realize that what makes our country great is not our military or economic power, but what we stand for, the principles laid out in our Declaration of Independence and made law in our Constitution. One of our most sacred principles, one which drew many of our ancestors to this place, is freedom of religion. And yet lately one group finds itself under attack purely because of their religion. It started with the argument over the so called Ground Zero Mosque, and the rhetoric over that has stoked the flames of something more dangerous, as exhibited by this story of an attack on the construction site of a mosque in the Nashville suburb of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Closing Night at Laurel Grill and Bar
Laurel Grill and Bar, one of my favorite places in Boston, has been sold and officially closed its doors tonight. Time to find a new watering hole, probably just wherever our favorite bartender Eryl goes!
It was a pretty impressive crowd that showed up to say good-bye tonight, especially since nobody knew it was going to happen until a day or two ago. The Facebook event page helped, but mostly I think it was word of mouth. People love that place and they love the staff. Here’s a few pictures from tonight. They’re not great, taken with my iPhone, but they do document a special night.
Academic Freedom Media Review, August 21-27
Compiled by Scholars at Risk
The Scholars at Risk media review seeks to raise awareness about academic freedom issues in the news. Subscription information and archived media reviews are available here. The views and opinions expressed in these articles are not necessarily those of Scholars at Risk.
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Call for Urgent Action for Detained Mechanical Engineering Professor Abdul Jalil Al-Singace of Bahrain
Scholars at Risk, 8/27
A Recovery at Risk
David Moltz, Inside Higher Ed, 8/27
U. of Louisiana Board Postpones Vote on Tenure
The Chronicle of Higher Education, 8/27
Iran Launches New Crackdown On Universities
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 8/26
Vietnamese Professor Detained
NEAR International, 8/26
A straight case of discrimination? Lawsuits come in all shades for US institutions
Jon Marcus, Times Higher Education, 8/26
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I'll Never Understand Musical Genres
Cory Branan
I thought maybe it was time to put together a new play list, so I went off searching for tracks on Rhapsody. The genres of the songs that came up amused me. I was surprised by the variety and by the nature of many of them. Some were simple and frequently used, like Vocal Jazz, Folk, Pop… Then there were other genres that I knew, but that it was hard to tell the difference between. Like what is the difference between Americana, Folk Pop, Alt Country and plain old Folk? And there were the bizarre ones that I had never heard of. What about Pop Punk, Post-modern Pop, Adult Alternative and Alt/Punk? What are they and what is the difference between them? Anyway, here is the play list. Enjoy!
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"Depression" by Ryan Bingham
The album, Junky Star, releases in three day on August 31st. The first single, “Depression“, is available now. I know this sounds like advertising, and it would be if I were getting paid. Hesperidine and natural extracts from Vein Protex tadalafil 10mg uk composition show a beneficial effect on blood circulation, preventing the formation of acidic crystals, improving digestion, curing weight loss and detoxification of liver are other advantages of using apple cider vinegar. Well, the quantity varies cialis 5 mg from person to person. 2. You should see overnight cialis tadalafil purchased here the reviews of the customers related on the website about the product. People who suffer from issues relating to premature ejaculation also experience mild problems with erectile dysfunction, and vice versa. cialis super active I’m just excited! I’ve heard most of the tracks on the record, and it’s going to meet expectation. Here’s one.
Here’s a little clip in which Ryan talks about the disc.
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Academic Freedom Media Review, August 14-20
Speak, by R. Baxter © All Rights Reserved
“I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”
— from the Friends of Voltaire
When Laura Schlessinger quit her job this week, she made claims about violations of free speech and her first amendment rights. This is absurd. Her show is on commercial radio network. The First Amendment applies to the government infringing on free speech; a commercial network needs to think about the listeners or viewers, as well as the advertisers. Laura Schlessinger is free to use the “N-word” as much as she wants in the privacy of her own home, and speeches for organizations that share her views, or just out on the street if she’s prepared to deal with the consequences.
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Notre-Dame Basilica, Montreal
This is not a particularly spectacular story, but it is about a spectacular place! Enjoy!