I love Ferndale. That's Ferndale, Michigan 48220. I live here. I just looked it up on Wikipedia, and I discovered one more reason to love it: Dana Elcar - Pete Thornton from the MacGyver series - is from here. Cool, eh?
I might not have remembered Mr. Elcar's name if it wasn't for the fact that I've been watching the complete MacGyver series on DVD, courtesy of my mother. I watched a LOT of MacGyver when I was young (alongside Cheers, Quantum Leap, and M*A*S*H reruns of course!). It has made me realize that Angus MacGyver has forever skewed my relationships with men. If a guy's not brilliant, adventurous, good with duct tape, AND utterly terrified of commitment, I don't want anything to do with him...
Monday, January 14, 2008
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
people from here are called...
When I moved to Michigan, I learned that people from here are called Michiganders. Yes, Michiganders. My first thought was "okay, so does that make me a Michigoose?" I was happy to learn that some people use the term Michiganian.
Many of you also know about my long-standing love for Seattle. I started to wonder what people from Seattle are called. Well, lest you should wonder as well, I'll tell you - Seattleites. Isn't that great?!
People from Los Angeles? Angelenos. Perhaps Angelenas as well?
People from Memphis? Memphisites. (Though I think Memphisian is SO much better...)
People from Kansas? Kansans.
People from Saint Petersburg? Petersburgers.
People from Moscow? Muscovites.
Does anyone out there have any other good ones?
Many of you also know about my long-standing love for Seattle. I started to wonder what people from Seattle are called. Well, lest you should wonder as well, I'll tell you - Seattleites. Isn't that great?!
People from Los Angeles? Angelenos. Perhaps Angelenas as well?
People from Memphis? Memphisites. (Though I think Memphisian is SO much better...)
People from Kansas? Kansans.
People from Saint Petersburg? Petersburgers.
People from Moscow? Muscovites.
Does anyone out there have any other good ones?
Thursday, January 3, 2008
on folk and country
So it's been a while. I hope everyone had a great holiday. My only New Year's goal is to average one blog post per week, so here we go...
There's been this disturbance in my psyche over the past few weeks. I can't figure out the difference between "folk" music and "country" music. To some people this may seem dreadfully unimportant or, at best, esoteric. I've spent a lot of time thinking about this, however, but to no avail.
It all started when I imported a new CD into my iTunes program. Steve Earle's Washington Square Serenade. (This is an excellent album, by the way. Maybe I'll start a new blog of music recommendations. Would anyone out there read it??) So when I imported the songs, I glanced at the genre iTunes (or, more precisely, the Gracenote CDDB) attached to the songs: Country. Now, I also have Steve Earle's first album - Guitar Town - which I would have no trouble classifying as "country." Perhaps this is because I grew up hearing the title track on the Birmingham country stations. The only other song of Earle's that I know well is "Copperhead Road," which I might also call "country," though a little less comfortably.
But in my little brain, the categories are worlds apart. I listen to lots of "folk" music, while I usually skip through my local country stations even more quickly than the rap stations. (My tolerance for rap has actually increased a lot since I moved to Detroit. It's not my favorite genre by a long shot, but I've become a bit more interested in it. Funny how your surroundings impact your musical tastes.) Anyway, so this iTunes-generated shock led me to look at the other "folk" musicians I have in my library... Gillian Welch? Country. Lucinda Williams? Country. Alison Krauss? Country. k.d. lang? Country. Yo-Yo Ma? Country. (Yes, but only for the Appalachian Journey album he did with Mark O'Connor and Edgar Meyer...Just had to make sure you're still paying attention, lol.) NOOOOOO! These are not "country"! I love them - how can they be "country"?!
Of course, I also love the country music that I grew up with: George Strait, Clint Black, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Alabama (naturally!), etc. And no matter how hard I try, I can't get Carrie Underwood's "Before He Cheats" out of my head. But country and folk aren't interchangeable categories, right? I mean, would anyone really call Bob Dylan or Woody Guthrie "country"?!
In all fairness to iTunes, "folk" is a well-populated category: James Taylor, Indigo Girls, Dar Williams (though I have seen her categorized as "country" elsewhere), Peter Paul and Mary, etc. But they also categorize music as "folk" that I would have considered something else. A lot of my "world music" is labeled "folk." Rocco DeLuca & The Burden is a definite "blues" for me. I also think of Tracy Chapman as a "blues rock" artist. But they're both in the "folk" category. What a mess!
I've tried to discuss this topic with a number of people, most of whom say something to the effect of "That's interesting..." which, of course, often means "Yeah, Rachel, that's not at all interesting." But while I was back in Alabama over the holidays I had this conversation with a couple of my high school friends who, I might add, were also kind enough to introduce me to Guitar Hero. Oh, wow! We weren't able to come to any definite conclusion, but we discussed the following points:
- "old" and "new" country are very different from each other, as are "old" and "new" folk - this muddies the waters a lot
- both old folk and old country seem to have roots in the poor, populist American tradition (I'm thinking about the Depression era particularly, though it's older than that)
- world music seems to have a much bigger place in folk than in country - country may be a peculiarly Southern US phenomenon - but this could lead to a discussion about country vs. bluegrass vs. blues...
- a related point is that American folk music seems to incorporate experiences of the American West and North in ways that country doesn't - or maybe it's a matter of urban and rural experiences?
- there doesn't seem to be a big difference in instruments or tonality, although new country probably uses a more "electrified" sound
As the incurable internet research hound that I am, I had to see what Google could find on the topic. Here are a few relevant online discussions:
http://http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/481266
http://http://www.guitars101.com/forums/f77/folk-and-country-music-29503.html
This is probably the best one - it's from a songwriters' forum:
http://http://www.songwriterforums.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=2438
So, yeah. Country and folk. The same but different...
Happy New Year to all!
There's been this disturbance in my psyche over the past few weeks. I can't figure out the difference between "folk" music and "country" music. To some people this may seem dreadfully unimportant or, at best, esoteric. I've spent a lot of time thinking about this, however, but to no avail.
It all started when I imported a new CD into my iTunes program. Steve Earle's Washington Square Serenade. (This is an excellent album, by the way. Maybe I'll start a new blog of music recommendations. Would anyone out there read it??) So when I imported the songs, I glanced at the genre iTunes (or, more precisely, the Gracenote CDDB) attached to the songs: Country. Now, I also have Steve Earle's first album - Guitar Town - which I would have no trouble classifying as "country." Perhaps this is because I grew up hearing the title track on the Birmingham country stations. The only other song of Earle's that I know well is "Copperhead Road," which I might also call "country," though a little less comfortably.
But in my little brain, the categories are worlds apart. I listen to lots of "folk" music, while I usually skip through my local country stations even more quickly than the rap stations. (My tolerance for rap has actually increased a lot since I moved to Detroit. It's not my favorite genre by a long shot, but I've become a bit more interested in it. Funny how your surroundings impact your musical tastes.) Anyway, so this iTunes-generated shock led me to look at the other "folk" musicians I have in my library... Gillian Welch? Country. Lucinda Williams? Country. Alison Krauss? Country. k.d. lang? Country. Yo-Yo Ma? Country. (Yes, but only for the Appalachian Journey album he did with Mark O'Connor and Edgar Meyer...Just had to make sure you're still paying attention, lol.) NOOOOOO! These are not "country"! I love them - how can they be "country"?!
Of course, I also love the country music that I grew up with: George Strait, Clint Black, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Alabama (naturally!), etc. And no matter how hard I try, I can't get Carrie Underwood's "Before He Cheats" out of my head. But country and folk aren't interchangeable categories, right? I mean, would anyone really call Bob Dylan or Woody Guthrie "country"?!
In all fairness to iTunes, "folk" is a well-populated category: James Taylor, Indigo Girls, Dar Williams (though I have seen her categorized as "country" elsewhere), Peter Paul and Mary, etc. But they also categorize music as "folk" that I would have considered something else. A lot of my "world music" is labeled "folk." Rocco DeLuca & The Burden is a definite "blues" for me. I also think of Tracy Chapman as a "blues rock" artist. But they're both in the "folk" category. What a mess!
I've tried to discuss this topic with a number of people, most of whom say something to the effect of "That's interesting..." which, of course, often means "Yeah, Rachel, that's not at all interesting." But while I was back in Alabama over the holidays I had this conversation with a couple of my high school friends who, I might add, were also kind enough to introduce me to Guitar Hero. Oh, wow! We weren't able to come to any definite conclusion, but we discussed the following points:
- "old" and "new" country are very different from each other, as are "old" and "new" folk - this muddies the waters a lot
- both old folk and old country seem to have roots in the poor, populist American tradition (I'm thinking about the Depression era particularly, though it's older than that)
- world music seems to have a much bigger place in folk than in country - country may be a peculiarly Southern US phenomenon - but this could lead to a discussion about country vs. bluegrass vs. blues...
- a related point is that American folk music seems to incorporate experiences of the American West and North in ways that country doesn't - or maybe it's a matter of urban and rural experiences?
- there doesn't seem to be a big difference in instruments or tonality, although new country probably uses a more "electrified" sound
As the incurable internet research hound that I am, I had to see what Google could find on the topic. Here are a few relevant online discussions:
http://http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/481266
http://http://www.guitars101.com/forums/f77/folk-and-country-music-29503.html
This is probably the best one - it's from a songwriters' forum:
http://http://www.songwriterforums.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=2438
So, yeah. Country and folk. The same but different...
Happy New Year to all!
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Thank you, Lindt!
I've recently (well, in the past year) discovered the joy of dark chocolate. I started off with a 70% bar, then eventually worked my way up to 85%. I was perfectly happy with that until about 15 minutes ago. The History Channel aired a program on the history and process of chocolate production. As the camera panned across a selection of Lindt products, one very special bar caught my eye. I couldn't believe it...99% cocoa!!
In proper internet-junkie fashion, I googled it. Yes, it does exist, but in the US it's only sold in Lindt stores. So, of course I had to find out where THAT was: Toledo, Ohio (about 1-1/2 hours away). I think I'll be stopping there on my next trip down south.
I also found this delightful blog of one taster's experience: http://www.keacher.com/?p=388 (Oh, btw, I don't think that Blogger.com is fully compatible with my Mac - I think that's why I can't get hyperlinks to work. Just my latest theory...)
In proper internet-junkie fashion, I googled it. Yes, it does exist, but in the US it's only sold in Lindt stores. So, of course I had to find out where THAT was: Toledo, Ohio (about 1-1/2 hours away). I think I'll be stopping there on my next trip down south.
I also found this delightful blog of one taster's experience: http://www.keacher.com/?p=388 (Oh, btw, I don't think that Blogger.com is fully compatible with my Mac - I think that's why I can't get hyperlinks to work. Just my latest theory...)
Monday, November 12, 2007
a recipe
Now, I'm not a great cook. Many of you can personally attest to this. :( But I just came up with a great little appetizer/light lunch...
2 slices of pumpernickel bread (rye would probably work, too)
1 tbsp. butter
garlic (or, in a pinch, garlic powder) to taste
1/2 avocado
salt (preferably sea salt)
1 slice meunster cheese
(1) Mash the garlic (powder) into the butter.
(2) Spread it on the bread slices.
(3) Cube/dice avocado into 1/3" (or so) cubes.
(4) Place half the avocado on each bread slice.
(5) Lightly salt each slice.
(6) Place a 1/2 slice of meunster on top of each.
(7) Microwave for 30 seconds (or you could probably broil it briefly?)
(8) Consume with reckless abandon.
2 slices of pumpernickel bread (rye would probably work, too)
1 tbsp. butter
garlic (or, in a pinch, garlic powder) to taste
1/2 avocado
salt (preferably sea salt)
1 slice meunster cheese
(1) Mash the garlic (powder) into the butter.
(2) Spread it on the bread slices.
(3) Cube/dice avocado into 1/3" (or so) cubes.
(4) Place half the avocado on each bread slice.
(5) Lightly salt each slice.
(6) Place a 1/2 slice of meunster on top of each.
(7) Microwave for 30 seconds (or you could probably broil it briefly?)
(8) Consume with reckless abandon.
Monday, November 5, 2007
"to discuss" list
So I have a mental list of topics about which I'd like to blog sometime. Since I'm prone to lose such lists, I thought I'd share it with you:
- dreadlocks (I had them. Now I don't. Someday I'll give you the **full** story.)
- being divorced (I am.)
- rock concert sociology (I spent a LOT of time at concerts - and waiting in line for concerts - this summer...)
- traveling stories (Greyhound, rest stops, Kentucky gas station attendants, oh my.)
- being post-Mormon (Still trying to figure out how to "be" this.)
- to PhD or not to PhD (and a quasi-related "to MBA or not to MBA")
- fat (in the abstract and the particular)
- on living in 17 houses/apartments in 10 years (Yes, I'm serious.)
- Ferndale (my current home)
Requests are, of course, welcomed as well.
- dreadlocks (I had them. Now I don't. Someday I'll give you the **full** story.)
- being divorced (I am.)
- rock concert sociology (I spent a LOT of time at concerts - and waiting in line for concerts - this summer...)
- traveling stories (Greyhound, rest stops, Kentucky gas station attendants, oh my.)
- being post-Mormon (Still trying to figure out how to "be" this.)
- to PhD or not to PhD (and a quasi-related "to MBA or not to MBA")
- fat (in the abstract and the particular)
- on living in 17 houses/apartments in 10 years (Yes, I'm serious.)
- Ferndale (my current home)
Requests are, of course, welcomed as well.
Saturday, November 3, 2007
music recommendation
Apropos (my new favorite word) of the previous post, you must, must, MUST hear Robert Plant's new album.*** It's an album of duets with Alison Krauss (so it's technically "Robert Plant and Alison Krauss's new album"...). Need I say more??! If, for some strange reason, that doesn't convince you to log onto iTunes post-haste, read the BBC review (I'm still trying to figure out how to add a hyperlink to my post -sorry!):
http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/release/rwcz/
I bought it (on iTunes) the day it came out, and I can't stop listening to it. So what are you listening to these days?
*** Why do I, who grew up in the age of cassette tapes and am now living in the digital age, use the word "album"? Because I grew up listening to classic rock stations whose DJs used the word. And I think it's more dignified. So, since my writing ALWAYS reflects the most dignified language (he he) AND because so much of the music I learned to love as a young 'un was originally released on vinyl, I'll stick with the outdated "album," thank you very much.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/release/rwcz/
I bought it (on iTunes) the day it came out, and I can't stop listening to it. So what are you listening to these days?
*** Why do I, who grew up in the age of cassette tapes and am now living in the digital age, use the word "album"? Because I grew up listening to classic rock stations whose DJs used the word. And I think it's more dignified. So, since my writing ALWAYS reflects the most dignified language (he he) AND because so much of the music I learned to love as a young 'un was originally released on vinyl, I'll stick with the outdated "album," thank you very much.
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