delurk...

or the cat gets it...

i don't obsess over my site log, or number of hits, but i was looking at it today and was pleasantly suprised to see that a number of folks use my photos on my space. i have no issue with people using my photos - they are licensed under creative commons - the main requirements are you can use them, but not make money off of them (if you plan on doing that, let me know and we'll work it out) - and a credit would be nice... i also seem to get a lot of hits from searches for my big bug photo and dandelion photos...

in other news - been listening a lot to the bad plus... they've gotten a lot of hype (well, jazz world hype, anyhow) - and predictably, backlash (well, jazz world backlash, anyhow...) seems like they polarize listeners - they are either the savior of jazz or no talent bums - actually, i think they are neither (why is it that it is only i that can see things in their proper perspective...) i guess i am ambivalent towards them...i don't listen to them often, but when i do i binge - and ultimately, i check out each of their releases - so i guess my verdict is thumbs up. while they may not be the saviors of jazz, they are a great and more importantly, an original band - which, frankly, the jazz world needs more of than saviors... the best way for me to describe them would be sort of a free jazz piano trio - but i hate describing music- they frequently do a lot of covers of rock/pop songs - human behaviour, smells like teen spirit, knowing you knowing me, every breath you take, iron man, we are the champions, chariots of fire and my fave: immigrant's song (you can take the boy out of the 70's...) - and give them a free jazz twist - i've made a nice little itunes playlist of them (blessed technology!)- in one respect, it is a bit gimmicky - in another, the familiarity and structure is comforting for their style - which, otherwise can be a bit meandering - anyhow, check 'em out - they also keep a blog

while i was trying on several blazers this morning to decide which fit best- my exasperated 4th grade daughter said - oh just wear the black one - that is the one she picked out for me as a christmas present - coincidence - or does she know black is slimming and goes with everything?

finally, it is my beloved scion xB's 1st month birthday. i have not name it yet - naming cars seems like a female thing - although i have named my ipod mini - cleverly enough - Minnie - (lol, i crack myself up...) largely after Minnie Driver - if you recall, the phantom of the opera is a favorite in my house - and while i have come to like the movie as a whole - my hook into it was driver's over the top comic relief as the diva carlotta (btw - i *HATE* when the term diva is applied to pop singers - and you can tell how much i *HATE* it as i rarely use capitals....) - plus driver is very tall - and was great as a gues on the kumars at no. 42 - where sanjeev had her say with a hindi accent "take me, take me sanjeev" - so she seems to have a sense of humor - or given it is a bbc show - humour...almost makes me want to check out her pop album - key word: almost....