2009 Album of the Year

This award may seen sort of arbitrary because I definitely have not listened to every major album release this year. However, my criterion are simple: I want to see something complex, something different, and some true talent. For that I turned to jam bands and classic rockers, the last bastion of rock n' roll prowess on Earth. Mainstream rock and pop are automatically excluded because, well, it's crap. Honestly, lyrics don't justify a band to me- I need some real musical talent. Rap is not eligible because to win album of the year you must be a form of music.

As mentioned before, the two top contenders this year are Derek Trucks Band with Already Free and Gov't Mule with By a Thread. Both albums are amazing in their own right and have some stupendous guitar work.

First, the runner-up. By a Thread is such a cool album. I honestly cannot say how much I love listening to this CD. The variety of styles on each track has something for everyone. In typical Warren Haynes fashion, there are plenty of heavy riffs and slick guitar solos. Jorgen Carlsson is amazing, he is exactly what the band needed and, in my opinion, is better than Andy Hess on average. Saying that this isn't the best album of the year because it wasn't something monumental like Dose would be incorrect. In fact, I think this is the best album produced by Mule since Woody passed away. However, considering what Mule typically does, this album falls right in line. The winner this year has something special that took me by total surprise and elicited a strong emotional reponse.

Already Free is a killer. There is a special bluesy attitude to every track, and the entire album exudes this feeling of uplifting. I always break into a smile when I hit play on this sucker (which has been probably 50 times or more this year). Derek Trucks' slide work is top-notch, he has handily earned his distinction as the best slide guitarist currently alive. There are so many tracks on this album that get you tapping your foot and singing along. All of the vocals and harmonies are superb, and the song featuring Trucks' wife on leads vocals is so full of depth and deeper meaning. One of my favorite tracks is "Get What You Deserve", I've never heard anything quite like it, and really love the band's dynamic on this track. In short, the group feels so tight on this album and they pretty much scored a touchdown with every single track. Anyone who doesn't own a copy of this album should probably make their next move to be to the record store to pick one up. Once you start listening, you'll replay it over and over until you have every song in your heart.

Both of these albums should be purchased by all lovers of music, and the Gov't Mule album has a slight caveat to being runner-up: if I was asked to recommend which band to see live if they could only choose one I would immediately tell them to see Mule. Derek Trucks is great to see live, but after hearing both albums' material played live, Mule does a much better job of improvising on it and putting together a more involving show. Every show of theirs is something great, and they don't disappoint to this day. Warren Haynes has such a large library of songs to choose from that you never know what might get played or who might be guest-starring in a show. Derek Trucks plays a little more closely to the album, but aside from Already Free his material might be a little too offbeat for most people, including me.

Rating something higher than music from my favorite band was difficult, but I think Already Free deserves recognition due to the unique style and memorable licks which immerse the listener and virtually place him in the Trucks home studio with the band. Bravo, after all this 2010 is going to seem quite dull.

If Facebook says it....

... it must be true.

The fact that a site frequented by young people shows this result means only bad things for Mr. Change.

Depressed over football

I'm so glad someone else feels the same way I do about the Tech game. At least my fantasy team isn't getting killed.

Our Amps now go to 12

Not only do I love this movie, but I love engineers. It's funny because the only thing I can think about when seeing volume knobs is potentiometers. After today's Emag discussion about microwaves I will forever think about the standing wave in the middle (place your food off-center) and the conductivity of steak (2 S/m). Thanks, Tech.

The Whole Foods Approach

I read John Mackey's article in the WSJ several months ago and was reminded of it when flipping through some news today. I intended to find an interview with him but stumbled across this video and thought it said a lot more about the issue.

Every employee interviewed seems happy with their healthcare plans and after reviewing the plan details it makes sense why they do. It rewards them for being healthy and keeping their costs down, and having employee input creates an environment that makes everyone feel included and valuable, which has a positive impact on worker productivity. While this wouldn't work for all companies, it certainly can work for any company up to the size of Whole Foods reasonably well. I though Mr. Mackey has the right idea and his employees seem to agree. If you haven't read the article, here is the link: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204251404574342170072865070.html

Hipster/Techie Dream

Found this awesome WOHO light-up messenger bag on Wired and thought it was actually a cool idea. I wish sometimes that I could live in the city and do everything by bike, having something like this would be perfect. It adds to the safety of you ride and carries stuff for you. 

Check out the BritishFoldingCompactBike in the following image. That is not something I would want to ride around the city. 

Shooting Dead Offenders

Ted Nugent defends the 2nd Amendment

I really enjoy listening to Ted Nugent. He is a little over the top, but he remains consistent in his opinions and is able to defend his arguments well. Plus, he and I share a lot of the same outlooks. Honestly, I am displeased with the criminal justice system today and would prefer that the right to self-defense be taken more seriously. Criminals have so many supposed "rights" these days that the victim can be seen as the enemy in some cases. I've said this before and say it again, if someone was to break into my house I would not hesitate to shoot them. I realize that decision may be difficult to face if that situation occurs, but I believe in this outcome so strongly that hopefully it will come as instinct.

If people were required to take gun safety courses and shooting practice courses the number of handgun accidents would plummet. Do you think it's right to let someone drive a car that has no experience or training? The same goes for guns. Educate, don't ignore. 

You would die too...

If you knew how badly your football team is going to get beaten by the Yellow Jackets.

UGA VII Dies

Fire Alarms

Headline: Tech students cause 3 alarms in 2 weeks. Brilliant.

How to be active in politics

Congressman Glenn Nye

116 Cannon House Office Building

Washington, D.C. 20515

 

Dear Congressman Nye,

I am writing to you to once again impart my feelings about the current lineup of proposed

legislation. While I am disappointed that the Congressional Budget Office managed to

deem the healthcare bill, H.R. 3962, appropriate for enactment, there is still plenty of

opportunity to stop enactment of this program. The principles of the legislation are

inappropriate for America, for nowhere does the Constitution say citizens have the right

to healthcare, nor do they have the right to many of the other things Americans take for

granted. Subsidizing another person's medical costs is not something I wish to do

involuntarily, so any type of expansion to the Medicare or Medicaid programs is

unwelcome in my view.

 

I could outline the costs I find offensive about H.R. 3962 to you here, but I will let the

author of the article I have attached do that.  To our benefit, she is able to succinctly lay

out the consequences of this bill; perhaps you will learn of some new details that you can

reveal to your colleagues in the House and the Senate and perchance open their eyes

about how this program's benefits are severely outweighed by its shortcomings.

 

The most atrocious thing about most of the major legislation Congress has enacted this

year is the cost. I do not wish to spend my life attempting to pay down a national debt

that was created on frivolous programs, nor do I want any future generations to have to

worry about carrying the burden created by irresponsible adults. As an about-to-graduate

engineering student, I see the need for solutions to problems in our world. However,

placing more emphasis on the federal government is not the proper method to carrying

out these solutions. Lowering mandates and regulations on healthcare insurers would be a

great start to reducing the high costs of healthcare, just as refining spent fuel would

provide a long-term fuel source for nuclear reactors to generate power. Rather than

junking the car and buying a new one, let's work efficiently to fix what we have. 

 

Sincerely,

 

Robert Carpenter

NOTE: I printed out and attached the following article: The Worst Bill Ever

 

The Secret is Out

Written by left-winger John Cassidy for The New Yorker:

The U.S. government is making a costly and open-ended commitment to help provide health coverage for the vast majority of its citizens. I support this commitment, and I think the federal government’s spending priorities should be altered to make it happen. But let’s not pretend that it isn’t a big deal, or that it will be self-financing, or that it will work out exactly as planned. It won’t.

Many Democratic insiders know all this, or most of it. What is really unfolding, I suspect, is the scenario that many conservatives feared. The Obama Administration, like the Bush Administration before it (and many other Administrations before that) is creating a new entitlement program, which, once established, will be virtually impossible to rescind. At some point in the future, the fiscal consequences of the reform will have to be dealt with in a more meaningful way, but by then the principle of (near) universal coverage will be well established. Even a twenty-first-century Ronald Reagan will have great difficult overturning it.

That takes me back to where I began. Both in terms of the political calculus of the Democratic Party, and in terms of making the United States a more equitable society, expanding health-care coverage now and worrying later about its long-term consequences is an eminently defensible strategy. Putting on my amateur historian’s cap, I might even claim that some subterfuge is historically necessary to get great reforms enacted. But as an economics reporter and commentator, I feel obliged to put on my green eyeshade and count the dollars.

Wow, looks like this guy really cares about the future of the nation. As someone who is supposed to be knowledgeable about the economy, how do you justify taxing the rich and businesses heavily, providing healthcare for free, and dealing with costs "later"?

Here is the full article for those who want to hear his full discussion. Mind you, it is devoid of meaningful numbers, as all economics should be: http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/johncassidy/2009/11/some-vaguely-heretical-thoughts-on-health-care-reform.html

Bike Lock Fail

It doesn't get much worse than this. May as well be unlocked.

Nice Bias

Taken from "G.O.P. Counters With a Health Plan of Its Own"

"In its opening section, the Republican bill, which has no chance of passing, promises to lower health care costs and expand insurance coverage 'without raising taxes, cutting Medicare benefits for seniors, adding to the national deficit, intervening in the doctor-patient relationship or instituting a government takeover of health care.' ”

Way to go, NY Times. I definitely didn't see any proof that there was 0% chance of passing. I guess being factual isn't what reporting is all about.

Halloween at the White House

Here's the rundown of the Halloween costumes at the White House:

Michelle Obama was Catwoman.  

Robert Gibbs was Darth Vader.

Barack Obama was.. Barack Obama, President of the United States.

Nancy Pelosi.. well... she doesn't need a costume to be scary.

Review: "By A Thread" - Gov't Mule

Halfway through this week I took delivery of the new Gov't Mule album, "By a Thread." Now, anyone who knows me will confirm that Mule is my favorite band to listen to and to attend concerts for. However, I was slightly disappointed that they released a new album so close to the end of 2009. Why? Earlier this year, Derek Trucks Band released a killer album, "Already Free." When I had listened to that album I said it was hands down the best album of 2009, perhaps unless the Mule released an album. Well, here it is.
This is a preview of the album that I pieced together to give you a sampling of the flavor of this disc:



The Review:
Needless to say, this album is awesome. Warren Haynes and gang never fail to impress me, and with Jorgen Carlsson onboard they have a new style at bass which is immediately apparent from the first few seconds of this album. All of the guitar work is stellar, and is somewhat of a depart from the power trio style of before. Everything sounds a bit more full, with more layers of guitar and keyboard than previously. Also, just like Already Free, Gov't Mule decided to try a more bluesy tone, although Mule remains a Southern Rock band whereas Derek Trucks lays down a set of Delta Blues tunes that cannot be rivaled in today's music scene.

One of the things I love about "Already Free" is that I don't really have that 'least favorite' track, the one that I always skip. Every since track on that album is great, and for the most part "By A Thread" is the same way. Their last album, "High and Mighty" had a few tracks that dragged on- and for a jam band, Mule is quite capable of avoiding that effect.

Obviously hearing the music for yourself is the best judge of the album, so commenting on detail is pointless. Warren busts out some amazing slide riffs on this album, but does seem to use the same tone for most of the slide licks. Not that it is a bad thing, because his tone is beautiful, but he isn't able to diversify as much as he did in "Dose" or their self-titles album. Either way, Warren Haynes gets better at playing every day, and does not disappoint.

My final verdict on this album is: 9.0/10.0
It isn't perfect, but it will definitely get many listens and should be in every jam band, southern rock, or blues lovers' collection. If you have $15, you would be foolish not to get this album.
As for whether it will win the Best of 2009 award (to be awarded in December), all I can say is that I am still heavily contemplating passing up an album by my favorite band for one of the best blues albums of all time. (Spoiler?)

Technology Choice Failure

From the WSJ:
Sprint Nextel Corp. posted a wider third-quarter loss as subscribers continued to leave the mobile-phone service provider for other carriers despite the launch of some new handsets.
The number of subscribers slipped 1% from the prior quarter to 48.3 million. The company lost a net of 545,000 wireless subscribers, including 801,000 customers on contracts, putting the total decline in the last eight quarters at about 7.8 million.
By contrast, rivals AT&T Inc. and Verizon Wireless said in the past week they added two million and 1.2 million total customers during the quarter, respectively.
Sprint, the third-largest U.S. provider cellphone services, said Thursday its loss widened to $478 million, or 17 cents a share, from $326 million, or 11 cents a share, a year earlier. Revenue fell 9% to $8.04 billion.
Churn, the rate of post-paid turnover, was 2.17%, up from 2.05% in the second quarter and above the 2.15% of a year earlier. The figures are still well above those of rivals.
Wireless revenue fell 8%, and average monthly revenue per user, a key metric for wireless companies, was flat in the post-paid segment. Wireline revenue dropped 10% on continued voice and data declines.
In an effort to keep customers, Sprint Nextel has added the Hero touch-screen phone, which runs on Google Inc.'s Android software, to complement the Palm Inc. Pre smart phone which Sprint sells exclusively.
Sprint Chief Executive Dan Hesse, who has repeatedly said the company's subscriber losses will stabilize, said Sprint's efforts to beat competitors on price are gaining some traction with new customers, saying the company posted its best quarter in several years for gross additions, or subscriber growth before disconnects.
"We had some successes in the third quarter but we still have much progress to make," he said on a conference call.
Sprint has suffered from high turnover rates in recent years, prompting the company to work on improving customer service and push prepaid plans such as those at its Boost Mobile unit. In July, the company doubled down on the fast-growing but highly competitive prepaid mobile phone market with a $483 million acquisition of Virgin Mobile USA Inc.

Remember when Toshiba was pushing for the adoption of HD-DVD? Remember how screwed all those people were that went out and bought  a bunch of HD-DVD's and the players?
Well, Sprint is apparently like one of those people. It's no secret that they are endorsing and pumping what money they can into the 802.16m WiMAX technology. What surprises me is why they chose this path.
What confuses me is that anyone with a reasonable knowledge of wireless communications, and the ability to use Wikipedia.com would make this choice given the available options for future technologies and the existing implementations of the new technologies in working environments.

It is a well known fact that WiMAX connectivity is not exactly solid when connected to a moving handset. Now, this is great for people in rural areas looking to connect to that tower on the mountain. Unfortunately, Sprint needs to tap into a market that has population density in order to grow. This is more accurately known as a city. Cities have walls, and doors, and buildings. WiMAX is a radio wave, which can both stop and reflect to some degree when encountering these surfaces. So, not only does it encounter the inherent limitation to wireless communications, it isn't useful for someone who is outside on the go... because, well, "on the go" implies motion.
Let's take Verizon as an example of what Sprint should be. Both companies has extensively deployed a CDMA 3G network. However, Verizon must have read the specs from IEEE on the LTE standard and said to themselves, "Hmm, we can support voice calls and data calls, and can expect a high data rate even at speeds of 60mph. I think people will enjoy using this, maybe even pay more for it."
All I can say is, technology will kill you, Sprint. If you have any customers left when LTE goes mainstream (~2 years), you can kiss your WiMA$$ goodbye.

Georgia Tech as a Steakhouse

I had an interesting conversation with a classmate today, and after he stated that post-grad he would like to stop learning for a while to let his knowledge sink in, we came up with the following metaphor:

Georgia Tech engineering is like the steakhouse that costs a lot of money, has a superb decor, but in the end people pay a lot for the ambiance. The steaks (students) themselves are cooked too quickly and not simmered (i.e. Too much knowledge crammed into a small time period) but for some reason everyone wants one. Maybe it's the mashed potatoes, or the gravy, but these steaks definitely don't feel like they were cooked properly and yet seem to be the most popular food in town. Obviously, you won't be getting a streak without it costing you something, but it will be delicious.

Ohm's Advice

This is such a great EE joke. Knowing the formula for electric power is basic, but this joke is quite amusing.
Hooray for XKCD for providing geeky people with amusement at the expense of the layman.

Human Feedbags

What's funny about this to me is that my mom has always joked about fat people being interested in "strapping a feedbag" to their face to eat. When you watch some people eat, it really is like a horse nosing through hay. Well, now you can nose through the all-important Taco Bell.


New Wearable Feedbags Let Americans Eat More, Move Less

Bribery = Campaign

I guess it is an act of desperation when you have to pay people to vote for your legislation. I thought that was called bribery, but maybe I missed the memo on ethical politics.

Article

Gays in the Military

Once again, the Regular Guys entertain me to no end. I love the imitation at the end!

Timeouts and the Nobel Prize

I love the Regular Guys. This was played on the morning Obama won the Nobel Prize, and in fact was the first I had heard of it... as I was waking up. What a great way to start the day.

First Post

This is the first post ot my new blog. I am going to post a bunch of stuff that I have already posted on Facebook so that people:
a) Have something to look at and
b) Can catch up on what I post.