The Cure just re-released Disintegration, their seminal album from 1989, to excellent reviews.

A whole lot of this album’s appeal is that it’s comforting, practically womblike– big, warm, slow, full of beauty and melody and even joy. The trick, I think, is how well it serves as a soundtrack to that feeling that everything around you is meaningful, whether it’s beautiful or horrible or sublime…

I’d have to say I agree. This album was in heavy rotation my freshman year of college, along with Metallica’s Master of Puppets and Siamese Dream by the Smashing Pumpkins. There’s an interesting mix of music, huh?

Date posted: June 10, 2010 | Filed under music, shortlinks | Leave a Comment »

Here’s a link to Engadget’s iPhone 4 guide, including preview, pricing, and  availability. Both Jen and I are eligible for the “$18 upgrade” with a 2-year contract. I’d prefer not to give AT&T another two years of my money, but they’re still the only game in town. And I’m not paying $20/mo. extra for the “privilege” of tethering.

Date posted: June 9, 2010 | Filed under apple, geek, shortlinks | Leave a Comment »

I’m kind of ashamed to say this, because I dislike the name of the band so much, but I’m currently digging LP3 by Ratatat. It sort of defies description, but I like the way it’s constructed and the influences I’m hearing.

Date posted: June 8, 2010 | Filed under earworm, music, shortlinks | Leave a Comment »

From the It’s about Freakin Time Department: a Netflix app for the iPhone is coming, according to the current WWDC stream.

Date posted: June 7, 2010 | Filed under apple, shortlinks | Leave a Comment »

I don’t live in Baltimore City anymore, but I think the idea of a vacant building tax for properties that are owned but abandoned is fantastic, and long overdue.

Date posted: June 1, 2010 | Filed under politics, shortlinks | Leave a Comment »

From the New York Times: To Develop Young Tastes, Look Past the Children’s Menu.

“If you don’t ask your children to try things, how will they ever know what they’re capable of?” Mr. Marzovilla said. “And isn’t the same true of us?”

Amen, brother. I’m fully aware and anticipating Finn’s shrieking reluctance to try new foods or to suddenly refuse to eat things she formerly enjoyed, but that’s not to say we’re going to stop trying.

Date posted: May 25, 2010 | Filed under finn, shortlinks | Leave a Comment »

Steam for the Mac went live a couple of weeks ago, so I downloaded the app and set up an account to poke around. They’re offering Portal for free for a few weeks, so I downloaded that and played with it for about a half an hour last night. What an awesome, addictive game.

Date posted: May 20, 2010 | Filed under entertainment, geek, shortlinks | Leave a Comment »

I’d love to buy Finn one of these T-Shirts, given her love of all things Uglydoll, but $25 for a toddler size is a bit spendy. And, I’d like it more if we could add her name or a custom icon instead of the fifteen or so included.

Date posted: May 17, 2010 | Filed under art/design, finn, shortlinks | Leave a Comment »

Holy Mary, Mother of God, this 1954 Hudson Hornet Special is beautiful. There really isn’t anything bad about this car, even though the paint is peeling, the upholstery looks like it was dug out of a casket, and the engine resembles a 1950’s robot monster. I would drive it exactly as you see it.

Date posted: May 16, 2010 | Filed under art/design, cars, shortlinks | Leave a Comment »

Wow, here’s a fantastic new repository of info for a shade-tree n00b like me: Secondchancegarage.com.  I followed a link for interpreting a vacuum gauge and stayed for Let’s Create a Carburetor!.

→ This is a syndicated post from my Scout weblog. More info here.

Date posted: May 13, 2010 | Filed under projects, Scout, shortlinks | Leave a Comment »