Cookie Swap Results & Plans to Bake an Apple Pie

OK, so the cookie exchange turnout was low - just 3 different kinds of cookies including mine, but one group brought a great-grandmother's recipe for "Maple Peanut Yummies," and they were quite yummy. Maple and peanut butter: tastes you don't really think would go together, but they do!

And 'tis the season - the baking continues. Some friends and I do an annual "holiday feast" on our own since we're still young enough to spend Thanksgiving and Christmas with our parents - and because some of us still live with our parents. It started my junior year in my Charter Oak apartment at UConn right before Thanksgiving. We had coupons for turkeys, and all the fixings' ingredients were on sale, so we figured, why not? Then it continued to my friend's real apartment last year, again right before Thanksgiving. This year we were a bit busy, so it's closer to Christmas, but it's the same idea.

I'm making desserts, so I've got the cookies described in the recipe below, and I'm going to bake an apple pie. I really like the Apple Pie by Grandma Ople on allrecipes.com. It has the highest rating and most reviews when you search "apple pie" on the site.

This pie has a lattice crust, which already looks impressive, and because you pour a syrup over the crust and into the pie, the crust has a nice sweet coating. I've made this before, but I doubled the recipe, and I'm not sure if I put quite enough flour in. When I make this pie either tomorrow or Saturday morning, I think I'm going to add a touch more flour or a little cornstarch (depending on my mood) to make sure the syrup is thick enough. I don't want it too thick like molasses, but last time, the pie was really runny and kind of spilled the syrup everywhere as I transported it.

Even with the thin syrup, this pie was delicious. It brought out the flavors of the apples, and my entire family enjoyed it. I also brought some slices to work, and as people who have sliced up a lattice-crusted pie from the pie plate to a container and then from the container to a plate know, it looked like a pile of apples at the end. Despite this, my co-workers thought it was pretty good.

*Above is a picture of the pie I baked.

Cookie Swap at the Bristol Library tonight!

The Children’s Department at the Bristol Public Library is holding its first annual Family Cookie Exchange tonight at 6. I'm covering it for the Bristol Press, but check back here tomorrow because I'm also blogging about my experience participating in it.

Participants are asked to bake two dozen of their favorite cookies, bring the baked cookies to the library with the recipes, and remember to bring an empty container for cookie exchanging, according to a press release. For the occasion, I baked my extra chewy chocolate chip cookies with oatmeal and caramel. A few years ago, I took a chocolate chip cookie recipe and substituted some flour for oatmeal and some chocolate chips for Hershey's caramel kisses. I just typed out the recipe in mass quantity for the swap, and I've included it below. I hope to find some delicious cookies at this swap, and I'm going to blog about my favorite ones.


Here's my recipe:

Extra Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies with Oatmeal and Caramel Kisses

Makes about 3 dozen, takes about an hour.

Ingredients:
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
2 Tbsp water
2 cups flour
1 cup oatmeal
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
3/4 of a 12 oz. package of chocolate chips
1/3 bag of Hershey's caramel kisses

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

1. Unwrap the Hershey's kisses, mash them up with a potato masher or big spoon. Set aside for later.
2. Beat butter and sugars together. Beat in eggs one at a time. Add vanilla and water, blend well.
3. Combine flour, baking soda and salt. Add in oatmeal. Gradually stir flour/oatmeal mixture into butter mixture. Stir in chocolate chips and then mashed up Hershey's kisses.
3. Drop rounded teaspoonfuls onto cookie sheets about 2 inches apart. Tip: These cookies are really sticky because of the caramel, so I recommend using parchment paper on the sheets first.
4. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until crisp and golden brown. Cool.

This recipe makes about 3 dozen cookies. Enjoy!

Mark Mulcahy Tribute Concert (12/11)

This was one great show. As the Connecticut release party of "Ciao My Shining Star: The Songs of Mark Mulcahy," a CD that came out two months ago, I wasn't really sure what to expect. I bought the CD, and a lot of the bands at this show were local, ones that didn't appear on the album. However, the bands rocked it that night at Toad's Place, and they played some great Mark Mulcahy covers as well as their own songs.

The lineup was as follows: The Furors, Frank Critelli, Spike Priggen, Dumptruck, Mr. Ray Neal, The Zambonis, Senator, Peacock Flounders, Boy Genius, Jounce, School for the Dead, Winterpills Chris Collingwood, Elvis Perkins, The Reducers, The Butterflies of Love, Chris Harford.

Frank Critelli (representing my hometown of Meriden) did a great cover of "She is Staggering," one of my favorite songs from Polaris, the house band of The Adventures of Pete & Pete, which Mulcahy was a part of. The Zambonis came out later in Whalers jerseys and other hockey attire - they are a band that plays all songs about hockey - and were a lot of fun. I was actually excited to see them because we stopped in for a quick dinner at Yorkside Pizza next door, and they were right near us. Jounce came on later, which was exciting because the lead signer is Daniel Tamberelli, the kid who played "Little Pete" in Pete & Pete. They were actually really good, and we bought their CD afterward.


Highlight of the night: Mark Mulcahy came on stage with Jounce and Michael Maronna, who played Big Pete. I tweeted that it was a dream come true to see Big Pete, Little Pete and Mark Mulcahy all on stage. Mulcahy sang, and Maronna played guitar as they performed a Miracle Legion song. I made my way up front to take some pictures.

Some bigger names that played included Chris Collingwood, of Fountains of Wayne, and Elvis Perkins. Both are on the actual tribute album.

The crowd at the show was a little older - it was mainly made up of the people who were part of the New Haven music scene in the 1980s, back when Mulcahy was part of Miracle Legion. There were also people there my age who remembered Mulcahy from The Adventures of Pete & Pete, which was, and still is, one of my favorite shows. I went into Toad's Place around when doors opened, and there was like no one there. However, it quickly filled up, which was really nice because it meant there was a lot of support for Mulcahy, whose wife died and left him with two young twin daughters. The tribute CD and show were to support Mulcahy and make sure he can keep doing what he does best - make music. The merch table was filled with CDs, all donated from the local bands, where proceeds went straight to Mulcahy. There was also a cool silent auction with things like a signed Ramones poster, again with the proceeds going to Mulcahy.

For more about the "Ciao My Shining Star" project, check out the CD review I wrote for this blog a little while ago: "Ciao My Shining Star: The Songs of Mark Mulcahy."

I'm mentioned in the New England Newspaper & Press Association legal briefs!

The brief refers to my Freedom of Information Act request to the state Department of Environmental Protection. We wanted to know what was in the barrels that were illegally dumped around Bristol, Plymouth and Harwinton between Aug. 14 and 15. It took about four months, an FOI request and lots of phone calls to find out.

Check it: "Conn. reporter seen pivotal in release of pollutant records"

Pretty cool.

Mastisyahu (12/1) Review

This show could have been called "Matisyahu and friends" because it seemed like one big party on the Webster stage Tuesday night.

The Jewish reggae artist, who is known for his uplifting songs about unity and peace, put on an awesome concert, showing off his rapping and beat-boxing skills. An added bonus: During his performance, he let a bunch of guest rappers came on stage to show off their own lyrical skills, some even pandering to the audience by mentioning the Hartford Whalers and UConn Huskies. I couldn't really keep track of them, but they were all pretty cool, and they came in during a lot of good, fun, upbeat songs.

The opening band, Soja, was also good with the same funky reggae feel - and they got even better after they offered their CD to everyone in the audience for however much we wanted to pay for it. I paid $5.

The lead singer from Soja even came onto stage with Matisyahu to do a Bob Marley song together.


(Yes, I took these photos with my cell phone.)

Matisyahu fake ended with a long, really emotional version of "One Day," but then came back for a kind of weird encore. It was exciting at first that everyone came back, but then it turned into a long jam session. Then some guys left the stage while others kept playing. Then the last two guys left, and it just sort of ended. I think the people who stayed were waiting for a big finale, maybe a real song, but they didn't get it. I think the Webster was even confused because it took a little while for the lights to go off.

On the brighter side, Matisyahu's friends were wayy cooler than Arlo Guthrie's family.

Matisyahu at the Webster tomorrow! (12/1)

Matisyahu - the Jewish reggae artist best known for his blend of reggae, rap, rock and uplifting lyrics - is performing at the Webster tomorrow with Soja, a reggae band from Washington, D.C. opening.

Doors open at 7 at the Webster - 31 Webster St., Hartford, and tickets are $25. I'm so ready for this concert. Check back for a review!

P.S. Can you believe it's going to be December already?

Lady Gaga and Adam Lambert CDs out today!

I'm really trying to save money for Christmas presents, so I'm still deciding whether or not to buy these albums today after work. Even if I don't get them today or if I wait to get them as presents, I'm pretty excited about them.


First, I love Gaga's "Bad Romance." It's not quite overplayed on the radio yet, so I'm always waiting to hear it when I'm driving. I spent the summer constantly playing "The Fame," and because "Bad Romance" is so catchy, I'm sure I'll be listening to "The Fame Monster" just as much. The album's being released stand-alone with the eight new songs, but also in a deluxe edition with "The Fame," which is a really good deal, and I would totally get that if I didn't already own "The Fame."

Then there's Adam Lambert's "For Your Entertainment." I was distraught when Adam didn't win American Idol because he was the only reason it was worth watching this season, but I came to terms with his loss because he's going to do much better than Kris Allen. (Have you heard Allen's new single? Right.)


I remember Adam saying he would love to work with Lady Gaga, which he did right after the season of American Idol ended. They're both incredible entertainers - not just musicians, but entertainers because of their theatrical performances - so it's fitting that their albums are dropping on the same day. I'm excited to see how well they do. Also curious to see how many people buy both together.

No more Leader magazine?!

I got a postcard in the mail today from Girl Scouts of the USA saying that the organization is suspending the publication of Leader magazine. Seriously, when I opened my mailbox and looked at the card, I reacted with a quiet "Noooo!"

The postcard reads as follows:

Given the current economic climate, we have made the hard decision to suspend publication of Leader magazine. Based on results from a reader survey conducted earlier this year, we are exploring the feasibility of producing an online version of Leader. This approach would not only result in significan tcost savings, it has the added benefit of being good for the environment. In the interim, you can log on to www.girlscouts.org/for_adults/leader_magazine/ to read the latest series of articles written by the Leader team.

I have a lifetime membership to the Girl Scouts, so when they started sending out Leader magazine, I was stoked. It was beautiful, glossy and had stories that girls and their leaders care about. For example, features on Lisa Ling and Venus Williams, plus serious articles on dealing with eating disorders. After I graduated from high school, I decided to pay for the one-shot lifetime membership so I could one day be a troop leader, and I loved the magazine.

I know it will still be published online, but its print edition will be missed.

Election Day is OVERR!

After a really hectic day and filing three stories on Plymouth plus a police story for Bristol, I'm done! Here are the Plymouth results, in case you're wondering:

Mayor: Vincent Festa Jr. (D) (He was unopposed.)
Councilman-at-large: Tom Zagurski (R)
Town Council - District 1: Martin Sandshaw (R), John Wunsch (R)
District 2: DiAnna Schenkel (D), David Sekorski (D)
Town Clerk: Barbara Rockwell (R)
Treasurer: David Barbieri (D)
Tax Collector: Linda Hood (R)
Board of Finance: Peter Cook (cross-endorsed), Victoria Carey (D)
Board of Finance to fill a vacancy: Michael Drozdick (D)
Board of Education: Anthony Orsini (D), Daniel Santorso (D), Gerard Bourbonniere (cross-endorsed), Martin Wetzel (cross-endorsed), Mark Berube (R)
Assessor: Carl Kulesa (D)
Board of Assessment Appeals: Ronald Wollenberg (R)
Constables: Lawrence Deschaine (R), Christine Ciarmella (R), Eric Pelz (R), Patric Perugino II (D)
Library Trustees: Diana Oberg (R), Cathleen Paskus (R), Arlene Wood (D)
Library Trustees to fill a vacancy: Eleanor Petke (cross-endorsed), Mary Jane Wollenberg (R)
Referendum: No to questions 1, 3, 4, Yes to question 2

(Note: the office did get pizza today, and it was kind of fun rushing to get the results in.)

Twitter Lists

Twitter launched "Twitter Lists" last week for users to organize who they follow. On top of giving me something to do while watching the Yankees game on TV and winding down from work and a busy weekend, Twitter Lists actually helped me understand how and why I use Twitter. Yes, it feels good to be organized, but it's pretty cool to see how and why you and other people use something like Twitter.

As soon as I saw that I could make Twitter Lists, I had to think of the best way to group people in as few groups as possible while still being specific. First, I noticed that I use Twitter to get a lot of my news. Second, I saw that as a journalist, I have a lot of journalist friends and follow a lot of journalists. Then I thought, this is pretty cool.

Here are the lists I came up with:
@freesiaa/entertainment
@freesiaa/humor
@freesiaa/politics
@freesiaa/journalism
@freesiaa/friends
@freesiaa/uconn
@freesiaa/music
@freesiaa/news

I'm not sure if I'll follow other user lists, but it was nice to organize these lists for myself, and it's interesting to see how other people organize their lists and who they're following the most.

Ciao My Shining Star: The Songs of Mark Mulcahy (CD Review)

This album is absolutely beautiful throughout, and the thought behind it is even more beautiful. Mark Mulcahy's wife Melissa died unexpectedly about a year ago, leaving him to raise two 3-year-old twin daughters on his own. As a songwriter and member of New Haven-based Miracle Legion in the 1980s, then Polaris, the house band for the Nickelodeon show "The Adventures of Pete and Pete" and later as a solo artist, Mulcahy inspired many artists. After hearing about his loss, 21 of those artists recorded covers of Mark Mulcahy songs for this tribute album, with proceeds going to Mulcahy so he can support his daughters and keep making music.


Released Sept. 29, the album features a picture of Melissa on the cover, and the track list is as follows:

1. Thom Yorke - "All For The Best"
2. The National - "Ashamed Of The Story I Told"
3. Michael Stipe - "Everything's Coming Undone"
4. David Berkeley - "Loves The Only Thing That Shuts Me Up"
5. Dinosaur Jr. - "The Backyard"
6. Chris Harford & Mr Ray Neal - "Micon The Icon"
7. Frank Black - "Bill Jocko"
8. Vic Chesnutt - "Little Man"
9. Unbelievable Truth - "Ciao My Shining Star"
10. Butterflies Of Love - "I Have Patience"
11. Chris Collingwood (Fountains Of Wayne) - "Cookie Jar"
12. Frank Turner - "The Quiet One"
13. Rocket From The Tombs - "In Pursuit Of Your Happiness"
14. Ben Kweller - "Wake Up Whispering"
15. Josh Rouse - "I Woke Up In The Mayflower"
16. Autumn Defense - "Paradise"
17. Hayden - "Happy Birthday Yesterday"
18. Juliana Hatfield - "We're Not In Charleston Anymore"
19. Mercury Rev - "Sailors And Animals"
20. Elvis Perkins - "She Watches Over Me"
21. Sean Watkins - "A World Away From This One"

These songs just flow through the album, and while they're performed by different artists, they have a distinct Mark Mulcahy sound. There's raw emotion in Frank Black's "Bill Jocko" that starts with shouts of "Why do I have to stay? Why does she get to go?" and in Thom Yorke's "All For The Best" with the lyrics, "You're so beautiful it sings." These love songs alone feel like a tribute to Mulcahy and his wife. These artists, using Mulcahy's own songs, really did him justice and gave the album a spirit of hope.

I interviewed Mulcahy two years ago for an article for the Record-Journal before he performed at the Meriden Daffodil Festival. I was told by the event promoter that Mulcahy received a shout-out from Thom Yorke at a Radiohead concert, and I asked him about it. He said he was surprised, and he didn't know how Thom Yorke even knew he was there. Now this tribute album comes out with some big-name artists like Thom Yorke and Michael Stipe jumping on to help him. I read in other articles that he was also surprised, and really touched, by this tribute album. I think that's the best part about him. He's made great music, and he's inspired many people, and yet, he's still surprised by it.

Rest in peace, Jasper Howard

It's a tragedy when someone dies unexpectedly, but Jasper Howard had promise. He came out of a tough situation in Miami and worked his way to college, becoming a star cornerback on the UConn football team who would have been drafted to the NFL. He loved his mother, who worked hard to provide for him and his sisters. He was going to be a father. His murder on the UConn campus this weekend shocked and saddened the community, and I think his story is what makes this even tougher.

I graduated from UConn this past May, and I feel for Jasper, his family, his team, and the entire UConn community. I'm not alone. There have been several columns and blog posts in Jasper's memory, and I just wanted to link some of them here. I can't stop thinking about how senseless his murder was or how sad this situation is or how this could have happened outside the Student Union in rural Storrs, where we all felt safe. And, as of this posting, the murderer is still out there.

Former Daily Campus managing editor, associate managing editor, etc. Kevin Meacham has made three posts on the The Uconn Blog that summarize what a lot of people have been thinking. It also keeps a log of news on the case as it comes up.

One of his posts points to a great column about Jasper by the Courant's Jeff Jacobs.

Former Daily Campus sports editor Kevin Duffy also has a post on his blog, The Lost Generation.

Both of these alumni point out that their blogs are usually more light-hearted, and they'll go back to that, but right now, their thoughts are with Jasper. Add this one to the list.

Movie Review: "Where the Wild Things Are"

Saw "Where the Wild Things Are" this weekend after a day of doing everything we thought would be in the movie. That involved hiking and kind of climbing rocks, but at the end of the night, we were too tired to build a fort.

Anyway, this movie was beautiful. I've read reviews that called it "gorgeous" and talked about the characters being a work of art. They were. What I really liked about the movie, though, was that it was exciting, even for a 22-year-old. The "wild rumpus" was fun, but the wild things adventure turned out to be more serious than that. There were parts that were scary and parts that were really sad, and children should see these things in a movie. The dirt ball "war" went a little too far, and some of the wild things were hurt both physically. That's something children can see. The wild things talked about loneliness and looking for a king or someone to bring them happiness. You could feel the frustration that Max, the kid, felt at home where he was neglected and had no friends. Then when he journeyed into the land of the wild things, his same frustration was reflected in wild things. After a series of adventures and mishaps as king of the wild things, Max learns a lesson, and it's one that adults and children can appreciate.

While 20-somethings were going to see this to relive childhood memories or because they're fans of Spike Jonze or Karen O's indie soundtrack, it really was a great movie for children. I went to a 9 o'clock showing to avoid the kid crowd, but I saw a lot of them coming out from the 7 o'clock showing. A lot of children's books and movies are happy throughout, but children, like Max, get scared and angry, and at times, they feel sad too. That's why this movie is so great. The book was only like 10 pages long and mostly pictures, but it told a good story. And the movie, which was based on the book, shows that no one wants to feel lonely, and if you are a frustrated kid, you're not alone.

Arlo Guthrie - Oct. 9

This was my second time seeing Arlo Guthrie at Jorgensen, and I think he was much better the first time.


(Sorry for the crappy photo from my phone. Maybe we can just consider the washed-out faces artsy.)

When he came to UConn my sophomore year, he was on tour with family members, but not the whole family like he was this time - my first year out of undergrad. Without the whole family, he was able to tell more stories and play more of his songs, including the big one: "Alice's Restaurant."

He didn't play "Alice's Restaurant" or even "The Motorcycle Song" this time, despite requests from the audience. In fact, he let his grandson sing some kind of John Mayer-style love song to a girl he loved to watch sleep. It would have been OK, if his family members didn't have to be his back-up singers. At least that was the only song he did.

The idea of a family tour was kind of weird. Yes, last time, he did have his children play as his back-up band. This time, though, his young grandchilren were brought out to sing songs for an upcoming children's album, and you could tell some of them didn't want to be there. Also, you could tell which daughter was the favorite because she smiled the most and laughed the hardest at all Arlo's jokes, while the other two were just there. Three years ago, the young children were just brought on stage to sing Woody Guthrie's "This Land Is Your Land." They did that again this time, and then some.

The family aspect was a bit too much, and I think I'm good on seeing any Arlo Guthrie and family shows for a while.

Foreigner - Oct. 4

Garrett's mom won Foreigner tickets on the radio. Twice. That means that she got a pair for her and her husband and a pair for me and Garrett, and it was awesome.

We thought it was pretty hilarious that we were seeing Foreigner in the first place. I mean, they have some pretty big hits, but how is "Hot Blooded" not funny? How can you not giggle a little with "I Want to Know What Love Is" even if it is emotional? Also, it's kind of funny that lead guitar Mick Jones is the only original member left in the band. You can tell who he is, too, because he's the only one with gray hair. The replacements are all young musicians, and there's a long list of former members.

All silliness aside, it was a really good show there at the Warner Theater in Torrington. We couldn't believe how many Foreigner songs we knew. They played them all - "Cold As Ice," "Feels Like the First Time," "Juke Box Hero," "Double Vision" and "Head Games."

Garrett made a good point - we knew more songs at this Foreigner show than a lot of other concerts we go to.

The crowd was really into it. I'm sure for some people there, it was their favorite band. "I Want to Know What Love Is" was probably some couple's song. The audience's enthusiasm also made the show.

In the end, we had a lot of fun. And it was free.

"Where the Wild Things Are" Soundtrack

Karen O's "Where the Wild Things Are" Soundtrack dropped yesterday, and I cannot stop listening to it. It's SO GOOD! It's happy, funky, a little grungey, hip, and most importantly, it takes me back to the best parts of childhood and captures the vision of the "Where the Wild Things Are" story.

As my friends already know, Karen O is my favorite. I was totally stoked when I found out she was doing the soundtrack for this movie that I was already excited about. I love the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, which she fronts, and when I saw them at APW this year, I put it in my all-time top three concerts. I think she's absolutely incredible, and even though she already has a following, I think even more people will see that when they see "Where the Wild Things Are" and listen to her music. The soundtrack lists "Karen O and The Kids" as the artist for each song, and members of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Deerhunter and the Raconteurs, among other bands, are featured. You can listen to it here on Spin.

The songs have sick drum beats, shouting in the background provided by Karen O and a children's choir, clapping (like in "Capsize"), and it's all just fun. Even "Animal," which has a darker, more tribal feel to it as Karen O screams in the background, is adventurous, and if I asked the 6-year-old version of me what I thought of it, I would say it was "cooool." I guess not much has changed.

"All is Love" is definitely my favorite song with a cheerful guitar riff and kids shouting in the background. At the end, Karen O keeps saying "is love, is love, is love," with the kids' choir coming in and ending with just the kids. It's brilliant.

The best part is that listening to this soundtrack feels like a real adventure, like the best pretend adventures you had as a kid. I'm sure the movie will have this effect, too, and I cannot wait for Oct. 16 when it's released. This soundtrack is a great way to tide us over. Perfect, actually.

Sweet Free Show: Deerhoof, The Drums, Free Energy 9/12

Das Racist pulled a Screech and bailed from this show, so we didn't go to the combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, but it's all good because now we know they're lame, and we got to see more of The Drums.

They kind of sounded like Editors or Depeche Mode, and they were young, and there were a lot of people in their band. They rocked it.

Before them, we saw Free Energy, and the guys in that band looked the part with their long hair and non-matching, I-don't-care-what-I-wear-but-really-I-do-and-this-outfit-is-awesome outfits. They had a raw, fun rock feel, kind of like a Mark Mulcahy band. Though, I might have thought this because Mark Mulcahy is on our minds with that tribute album for him coming up. I have to pick that up.


And Deerhoof was awesome as always. Satomi was adorable. Greg rocked out on the drums and had sick shoes. This was our third time seeing them, and we were excited as usual. Everyone around us was dancing like crazy. That's just what Deerhoof does. They play loud, kind of weird, but ridiculously catchy music. Best free show ever? Maybe. Again, with Mark Mulcahy on the mind, and having seen him for free with the Animals at the Daffodil Festival, it's a tough call. Still, a phenomenal deal.

Late Weezer/Blink-182 Post

I guess I have a lot less free time now that I'm working. It's been weeks since this show, but I still think it was one of the best concerts I've ever been to.

Blink-182, Weezer and Taking Back Sunday played to a sold-out crowd at the Meadows on Sat., Sept. 29, and at least Weezer and Blink rocked it. Also, I got a press pass from the Bristol Press, so I got to take some sweet photos. The entire show was 15-year-old Freesia's dream come true.

The best concert of my life was probably Summercase 2007 in Madrid, when I got to see Bloc Party, the Arcade Fire, the Chemical Brothers, the Flaming Lips, Air, the Kaiser Chiefs, Lily Allen, James, etc. all over the course of two nights. However, this summer, I got to see my next top 3 concerts: Blink-182, of course, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Vampire Weekend at All Points West and also a last-minute show from Mates of State at Cafe 9, which was intimate and the best $3 ever spent.

Updates and thoughts on health care

I haven't blogged in nearly two months! Perhaps it's because I'm getting the hang of my new (well, kinda new) job at the Bristol Press, and when I get home after writing all day, I don't want to write any more. Maybe it's because it's the summer, and I have the relaxing mentality. It could also be because the internet at my house is really bad.

Anyway, here's what I've done this summer: worked, hung out, tried to catch movies and shows. I went to All Points West for one day this year - this was a much better decision than going all three days last year. We're getting old. But Friday was the best lineup. Jay-Z was a great last-minute replacement to the Beastie Boys, and I got to see two of my current favorite bands - Vampire Weekend and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs! It was fantastic. Before APW, I also saw Diana Krall, and later, I saw Sugar Ray for $5 - they played only their hits and covers. It was hilarious.

On a different note, I started getting these minor chest pains when I breathe in deeply today, and checking WebMD just makes me a hypochondriac. Also, it tells me to call a doctor, which I can't do until Sept. 1 because my insurance doesn't kick in until then. Central CT Communications, the company that owns the Bristol Press and New Britain Herald, makes employees wait 90 days until they're covered. I've got about three and a half weeks left.

This is the first time in two months I've begun to worry about not having insurance. And it made me think: Even with insurance, you have a ton of problems. The Bristol Press/New Britain Herald just switched insurance providers, and I know some people here are worried about their lack of a card from the new provider. Also, it's not really clear what's covered because we mysteriously lost the coverage book from our new insurance meeting. When I was under my parents' insurance, I always had trouble calling about things. I've been in support of universal health care since I heard about it, but really, recent events - that is, my being a 22-year-old without health insurance and joining the ranks of the many uninsured - I've come to believe that there is an urgent need for health care reform. Even waiting 90 days feels like forever when you're not sure if you're going to have to see a doctor. I can't imagine what it's like to wait indefinitely.

I'm not going into my thoughts on insurance yet. I'll save that for a time when I don't have a meeting in an hour.

Seriously, Cox Media?

I saw the Cox Media smarter advertising commercial for the first time today, and the entire time, all I could think was, Really?

The commercial, if you haven't seen it, is a direct attack at newspapers. It tells advertisers that cable advertising is "better" than newspaper advertising by taking statements like "People read newspapers" or "Newspaper advertising is affordable" and attempting to prove them wrong with statistics and claims that cable advertising is more effective, even if it is more expensive.

Really, Cox? Seriously?

First of all, the only reason why I watched that commercial and didn't change the channel was because I wanted to hear what they had to say about newspapers, and I wanted to see if they would argue against any other forms of advertising. They didn't. It was just about newspapers. Disclaimer: I am a full-time newspaper reporter. This is my first job after several internships at newspapers and working at my college newspaper. I've wanted to be a reporter since I was 5-years-old because I've always had a lot of newspapers in my house. My dad just really likes reading the news - we've always subscribed to our local paper, the Record-Journal, but he regularly picks up the Hartford Courant, USA Today and the New York Daily News for fun. We also subscribe to Newsweek, Time and Spin and pick up tabloids when they're interesting. Print media has been a staple in our household because it's readily available, and it's enjoyable to just sit back and read about what's going on.

Here's the thing. Any medium that uses advertising as a form of income is hurting because the advertising industry is hurting in this economy. When a business needs to cut costs, advertising is one of the first things to go. That being said, it doesn't make sense that Cox Media would target newspapers exclusively like they're a major competitor taking all their advertising. What is this, Pepsi vs. Coke? Also, the commercial even says that advertisers will use newspapers because advertising in them is affordable - that's true because newspapers need advertisements and want to keep prices attractive to buyers. Why doesn't Cox just make their advertising more affordable? And on that point, I don't understand why Cox needs to go after newspapers for more advertisements because they're a cable company. They pretty much have all of Meriden under their services, even if they're pretty bad. I have a ton of Internet connection problems at home, and when I ask around, other people in the area have the same problems at the same time.

On the Cox Media "Smarter Advertising" Web page, the list of related stories is about declining ratings for local news. What does that mean? Do they not want people to advertise through local newscasts? Are they just making an attack on news in general? It just doesn't make any sense.

So here are my reasons why newspaper advertising is better than cable:

1. You can't change the channel. Yes, you can turn the page, but there's usually a story or something on that page that keeps your attention for some time. The advertisement is right there, and a reader can't help but see it.

2. Your advertisements reach people anywhere. In the car, on the porch, on the beach, people can bring along a newspaper to read. Also, they read them in the bathroom. Commercial breaks are the perfect time to leave and go to the bathroom. While people do spend a lot of time in front of a television, they do have to leave at points, and they're not going to leave during their favorite show.

3. It's more affordable. Especially when businesses are struggling and cutting costs, it makes more sense to advertise in a way that's cost effective.

4. It works. It's cost effective because it's affordable and works. People see advertisements. If they're inserts in the paper, they can't help but look at them.

5. It reaches more people than you think. Take my college newspaper, for instance. We had a circulation of 9,000, but a lot more people read it because it would get left on a dining hall or library table. I always pick up a newspaper and read it when I'm in a waiting room. I don't usually watch TV when waiting for something. Families share newspapers. Also, some classifieds in newspapers transfer to their Web sites. That means there are even more readers.

6. People need their news. People read newspapers because they want to know what's going on. Especially with local papers, it's usually the only place they can go to find out what's going on in their town. If there's a local election coming up, how else will they know about the candidates? And it's their elected local leaders who determine a lot of stuff that actually matters to them. They really don't need to watch another reality TV show.

7. People are attentive when they're reading newspapers. You actually have to read the paper to get the news. That means that they're focused on the page at hand. Can you really say that about someone whose TV is just on while they're making dinner or doing work?

8. People look for things in newspapers. They go through the classifieds to find things or look for jobs. They're looking for coupons. They're actively seeking out these advertisements. With television, it's the opposite. It's just forced on them, and, once again, they can change the channel or get up.

Here's the link to Cox Media's terrible rationale: http://www.coxmedia.com/GainesvilleOcala/advertisingmore.aspx?ID=DA_814852.

And here's the related article that showed up on the side bar when I went on the page: http://www.coxmedia.com/GainesvilleOcala/advertisingmore.aspx?ID=DA_1151368

Final Decision on Tinted Windows

Not worth it. Take a look at this video - it's their performance of "Kind of Girl" on Rock After Dark:

Yeah.
I wanted so badly to like them, I really did. Hanson's been my all-time favorite band since I was 10 years old, and they're a great favorite band for a number of reasons (post on this coming later). So when I heard that Taylor Hanson was doing a side project, the first thing I thought of was that time I waited in line to see them in New Hampshire (yes, I drove from Connecticut) and sat there for about six hours in a misty rain and had usual conversation with the regular Fansons. One mother said that she won a lunch with Tyler Hilton, who opened for Hanson a few years ago, and Tyler said Taylor would be better off doing his own thing. Um, after hearing Tinted Windows, I disagree.
Tinted Windows is a power pop superband that's made up of Taylor Hanson, James Iha from the Smashing Pumpkins and A Perfect Circle, Adam Schlesinger from Fountains of Wayne, and Bun E. Carlos, the drummer of Cheap Trick. It's a weird grouping, as the band admitted in a Spin interview. Because of each member's success in other bands, one would think they would gather some old fans for this new group. They might, but it's going to be hard because this sound is different from all their former groups, except for maybe Fountains of Wayne, which has a little more power pop. However, all the "Whoa-ohs" from Taylor and James sound very strained and just look weird coming from them. Even the song feels superficial, a song about "the kind of girl you can't get enough of ... whoa-oh." There's really not much to it, and it really makes you question the motives of these talented musicians from rather successful bands.
Because Hanson is my favorite band, I do wish Taylor the best of luck. Who knows? Maybe they'll catch on. All those bands do have dedicated fan bases, and there could be a market for shallow attempts at power pop where the drummer is way too good for the rest of the band. But for this Fanson, who does enjoy other music by the way, it's just not good.

4/19 - Of Montreal and Janelle Monae!

This show was so fun. As soon as Janelle Monae took the stage to open for Of Montreal, Toad's Place was just loaded with energy. In a recent Spin feature on her, she said that she's been blessed to have people be too afraid of asking her how she'll fit into the mainstream. We're blessed too. I like that she's different with her front-pushed hair and jockey outfits. Her music was dancey with a touch of Outkast and a whole lot of herself shining through. At one point in the show, she painted a picture on stage and handed it to the crowd.

As Of Montreal started their first song, I almost thought that Janelle outdid them. However, as they moved on with their set, they were incredible. Totally freaking out the bouncers. With their guys in stretchy pink costumes to hobbits to a tiger doing unspeakable things to someone else in a stretchy black costume, it was a crazy party on stage, and that party feel really spread to the crowd. Especially when they performed some of their more popular numbers like "A Sentence of Sorts in Kongsvinger" or "Gronlandic Edit," which are both very danceable with recognizable and repeating background beats, they got the crowd going. I was surprised they didn't play "Heimdalsgate Like a Promethean Curse" for obvious reasons of what might have been going on in the audience, but I was very happy with how much they played off Hissing Fauna as well as Skeletal Lamping. This was probably one of my top 5 concerts, and my boyfriend and I danced more than we ever danced before.

The Ting Tings - 3/16

I know, I know. Very late update on this concert. It was a busy month. I can't wait to graduate. Anyway, The Ting Tings put on a great show and reminded me exactly why they're one of my new favorite bands. From their fun dance tunes to their extra brass instrumentals done by girls in funky wigs, it was an all-around good time. Also, the fact that they picked Hot Tub as an opener to tour with them was a fantastic idea. I love girl-fronted bands, which is partially why I love the Ting Tings. I also love energy - another quality of the Ting Tings. And here's Hot Tub from Oakland, Calif., embodying all of that. I loved that they were three multicultural girls just rapping and rocking out.

2/20 P-Funk

I got down just for the funk of it. George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic had a show at Toad's place, and it was one of the most interesting Toad's experiences I've ever had. The show was good. At times, some songs dragged on repetitively, but really, that's what a lot of the crowd wanted. They just kept on dancing. And the crowd was so diverse in both age and backgrounds, which also made this interesting. George Clinton is the man. They played their hits. They played some covers. They added some soulful singers. Clinton's granddaughter came out to MC and rap about marijuana. P-Funk turned a concert into an all-out event, and they gave us the whole funk and nothing but the funk.

2/12 Darwin's Meditation for the People of Lincoln

I don't think I've ever thought of a concert as a work of art, but "Darwin's Meditation for the People of Lincoln" was exactly that.

The piece featured Daniel Bernard Roumain (DBR), who can really shred a violin. If you didn't think rocking out on a violin was possible, listen to DBR, man. I don't want to call it just a show because it was an entire composition with several elements coming together to celebrate the 200th birthday of Charles Darwin and Abraham Lincoln, who were born just hours apart. It included narratives that juxtaposed Darwin and Lincoln's lives together, and the music varied from passionate salsa to soulful funk to emotional classical music. It all came together perfectly, and UConn was really lucky to have gotten this show on the day of Darwin and Lincoln's actual birthday.

2/7 - Eve 6

I wish I brought a camera to have a photo for this post, but the show was right after a men's basketball game, so I was kind of on-the-go and forgot to bring one.

Anyway, Eve 6 brought back memories of being in seventh grade and mad at the world singing along to "Inside Out." It brought back memories of loving "Here's to the Night" because it's how we feel when we're "embarrassingly sentimental" as lead singer Max Collins described it. It was good. I haven't really listened to them in a while, so I was really surprised to see how many songs I actually knew and could sing along to. I have a feeling everyone else in the audience was feeling the same thing because it seemed that everyone could sing along to their radio singles and TRL hits. It took the band at least a song or two to get going, I think, because after a while, they really got into the songs, singing and playing a little harder. That just wasn't the case with the first two songs. The band did everything right, though. If they needed time to warm up and get into the show, they were right to play a few songs before the singles that everyone wants to rock out to. Actually, come to think of it, maybe it was the singles that everyone sang along to that pumped the band up. Either way, the show got better through the set. Also, I love when bands rotate new songs with old popular ones because it really keeps the crowd going, and Eve 6 did that.

Lights Resolve opened for them with a long set, and they just didn't do it for me. I mostly wanted it to end. One of the drums was mic'd too closely, and despite the singer describing one song as a dance tune that you'd "shake your ass" to, it still sounded pretty "I'm trying to be rock, and really, I can only head bang to this even though it's not really that hardcore and what you'd think to head bang to," which was pretty much what all their songs were. Also, there was a lot of "Oh Oh Oh"-ing to the songs, and lyrics that were trying too hard to be emotional and spiritual like "the angel cries oh oh oh oh [etc]."

2/5 - Marissa Nadler

I'd never heard of Marissa Nadler before, but WHUS was putting on a free show, and I had originally planned on going to see Nick Swardson who canceled his performance that night, so it was something to do.

And Nadler was pretty good. Her music was very light indie folk, and she has a gentle, steady and haunting way of singing. Her songs were beautiful in ways that would touch someone who's really having a tough time. It was funny though, because in between songs, she would giggle with the band members and joke in a girly way about how she was hurt by the people leaving. Also, she would described some of her songs as "rock" or "crazy synth pop" even though as soon as she started singing, it sounded just like her other songs with repeated broken chords, lyrics reaching out to someone whose dad died last month or about a man who tries to give his wife some food, none of which sounded very "rock" or "crazy."

WHUS described Nadler as "up and coming," and from her between-song stories of people normally talking during her sets and her long struggling career, I hope so.

Superbowl Sunday

What a game. But what's more important to me - sorry Cardinals or Steelers fans - was that there was an hour-long episode of The Office afterward.

It was the funniest episode I've ever seen. Dwight's crazy safety drills. Stanley's heart attack (You have to live! Barack Obama is president!). Meetings at corporate. Michael's roast. And Jim's love for Pam. It was everything I'd been waiting for in these past weeks with the sporadic lack of new episodes. I'm so glad The Office brought out the big guns for the big post-game TV show.

1/30 Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood

This was my second time seeing these "Whose Line?" guys at Jorgensen, and it was still pretty funny. Even with the same basic show, the material was different because it was improv. (I can't say the same for Lewis Black, who was funny, but seeing him the second time was just too predictable.) Mochrie and Sherwood still did the "guess the crime" that the audience made up gig, and it's totally worth the 25 minutes it takes to play this game because Sherwood got Mochrie to say, word for word, that he was wearing lederhosen, duct tape and handcuffs and that he retrieved a gerbil and painted black spots on cows. I don't even remember the wacky town name he was able to get from Sherwood's clues. So that part was fun. But when they walked on mousetraps, it was kind of the same as last time, and that part, plus some others, was funnier the first time seeing it.

Inauguration

Today was my first day of classes, but thankfully, I got out of one class early so I could stop in the Dodd Center to watch the inauguration on CNN.

I got there just in time to see Biden sworn in. Then there was a musical selection, at which time, CNN informed us that Obama was officially president because the Constitution states that he would be president by noon, whether or not he was sworn in yet. That was pretty awesome.

Watching Obama get sworn in was very moving. It was everything we've been waiting for since the beginning of his campaign trail. When he gave his inaugural speech, it was inspiring. He touched on all the problems the nation faces, but he also gave hope to a brighter future, and I can't help but believe that things will be better under his leadership. I liked that he mentioned that his father, less than 60 years ago, would not have been served at a local restaurant, gesturing at the fact that America has come a long way in electing its first black president. I liked that the inauguration was the day after Martin Luther King, Jr. day. I liked that Obama specifically mentioned the troubled economy and spoke directly to terrorists, saying that power comes from building, not destroying. I liked that in spite of all the bad things that he mentioned, he gave reasons for hope. That's what America needed, and for the first time in my life, I'm excited for the next four years under a certain presidency.

And I have to add, I thought it was the cutest thing ever when CNN zoomed in on Malia Obama taking photos/video on her digital camera and looking absolutely intent on it.

Spring Awakening

Spring Awakening is closing today on Broadway, and I'm really glad I caught one of its final performances yesterday at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre.

Hunter Parrish gave an excellent performance in his Broadway debut as Melchior, a teenager discovering love, and sex. More known for his role as Silas in the television series, Weeds, Parrish kept the same angst-ridden teen role but broke out with even more angst and emotion. Melchior is the smartest boy in school in this musical, which is set in a German town in the 1890s. However, the fact that he's very smart means that he questions authority and is atheist, which of course, attracts all the girls in town.

Melchior falls for Wendla, played by Alexandra Socha in her Broadway debut. She and Parrish have great chemistry on stage as they go from two children extremely confused about their attraction to young adults giving into sexual temptation, despite all the warnings from the adult men and women. Socha as Wendla starts the musical off with "Mama Who Bore Me," a song from a daughter, asking her mother about things in life. Afterward, she asks where babies come from, and her mother is too uncomfortable to tell her. Of course, when Wendla ends up pregnant from her escapades with Melchior, she has no idea that that was where babies come from.

All the adult men and all the adult women are played by the same two people. Tony Carlin, an understudy, filled in for the adult men, and he really showed the strict authoritarian that all the men from abusive fathers to the disciplinarian teacher. It both interesting and fitting that they only cast one person for all these roles - by nature of the musical, all the adults were the same. They were all telling their children that sex was wrong. They were all telling them to conform. In the end, their denial of sexual freedom and free thinking led to tragic consequences, and the message was just as powerful as the actors' performance.

It's a sad month for Broadway as it loses this show, but at least it had a great run. And on a side note, we had great seats. (Thanks, Kassie's mom!)

Sakimura with my parents

My family went to Sakimura (Saki Mura? It's spelled one way on their sign and another on their website) in Meriden tonight for my parents' 26th anniversary. I've now experienced hibachi with every possible party you can think of - church groups, girl friends, dates, and now family. On a date, it's OK, as long as you're not the only ones at your table, and I mean the only ones. Yes, that's happened to me. Actually, going out to a hibachi restaurant with your family is the ideal situation. It was our first time going as a family, and we all had a great time. I'm 21, and my brother's 17, so going out as a family isn't the same as back in the day when we could go to Chuck E. Cheese's and be amused for hours. Hibachi is perfect for parents and their older children. Conversation is cut to a minimum while everyone is entranced in the hibachi chef's work. But there's still family bonding as we lean over to whisper our amazement. Also, we had fun with trying to catch flying zucchini in our mouths and watching the chef squirt a shot of sake into my dad's mouth.

Sakimura in Meriden, so far, is the best hibachi restaurant I've been to, mainly for the great deal you get with a meal. The chefs are entertaining, as usual, which is an added bonus, but you get more for your money with the food. A hibachi dinner comes with miso soup, salad, fried rice, noodles, vegetables and your entree. And it's a ton of food. For $24, I got steak and scallops, and it was delicious. The last time I went to Sakimura, I remember there being noodles listed as part of the dinner on the menu. However, this time it wasn't, but we still got noodles, which was a pleasant surprise. They were fried with a great garlic flavor. They cook your steak to order, and while I got regular steak and my brother ordered filet mignon, I just as happy with my steak as he was with his filet. We got a good serving of vegetables and heaping piles of noodles and fried rice. We boxed our leftovers, which we inevitably had, and left extremely content.

Reaction to new season of American Idol

I haven't watched American Idol regularly since high school. It's more of a bonding experience with my family - it gives us another thing to talk about at dinner, and it's just fun. I think being at home for winter break, and the fact that I'm planning on living at home after graduation, has brought me back on the American Idol wagon.

At least the eighth season is shaping up to be very promising. I love the first episodes of a season because everyone talks about their dreams, and the show really milks these dreams for all they're worth. Also, we get the bad auditions, but not too many. There are fewer joke auditions this season, and really, I'm glad.

I'm also glad they added Kara DioGuardi. I think she adds a fresh face and outlook to the judges' panel. She's accomplished, and she has the background for the job. Also, having four judges is refreshing. It's a nice change.

Now for the contestants. Bikini girl was annoying, and that whole scene with Kara and her having the sing-off was silly. So was all the hype that the show aired leading up to it.

But in both of the first episodes, they saved the best contestants for last. I loved Scott MacIntyre, and I really think he's going to go all the way. The show kept talking about his inspiring story because he is legally blind, but really, he had an incredible voice and is great at piano. He went to college at 14 and graduated by the time he was 19. He's absolutely brilliant in every way, and he is just the epitome of an "American Idol." In one of the commercials previewing the Hollywood sessions, they show him with his piano and the judges giving him a great applause. He might be the reason why I keep watching, and why I might actually vote this season. I also loved Lil Rounds, who topped off tonight's episode. She was fantastic, and Randy called her a mix of Fantasia and Mary J. Blige. Personally, I thought she was better than both of them put together, and I really want to see her go far in this competition.

1/3 Second City in Toronto

We were going to Toronto for the International Bowl, so we had to stop in The Second City theatre. I hadn't heard much about the improv group until recently, but when I started looking into it, I was interested. So many famous people have come out of Second City, which has resident theaters in Chicago and Toronto and a few smaller mainstages. From Second City Toronto, we got John Candy, Dan Aykroyd, Mike Myers and Colin Mochrie.

The current variety show right now is called "Barack to the Future," and it was hilarious. The actors were great from their rehearsed scenes to their late-night improv after show. Someone from the show is bound to become famous.

Some notable scenes: It started with a Barack Obama impersonator ending the war at his "inauguration" and changing the national anthem to "Sexual Healing." There was some mother f*ckin' ping pong complete with techno beats and strobe lights. There was an dancing and singing troupe at a catholic school assembly promoting very liberal ideas to the dismay of the school principal. And there was a "Too Far" contest where the comedians had to cross the line with their jokes.

Of course, I can't do the jokes justice here in print. I couldn't stop laughing, and this was definitely worth going to see.

12/30 The Mighty Mighty Bosstones at Toad's Place

Ahhh, the nostalgia. Going to ska shows takes me back to when I was 15 and skatastic. I didn't pull out my checkerboard belt or Capri Sun purse, but it still felt right.

Now, I've been to lots of ska shows, from smaller local bands to bigger headliners, but I had never seen the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, and this was pretty exciting for me. They went on a hiatus in 2003, which was a year after the last time they played Toad's. Their recent reunion and tour was a big deal, and the fact that they're an older band really showed in the audience - there was everyone from high school kids, parents with younger children, parents of old ska fans who became ska fans, and you name it. The Bosstones played their classics. Their everyone singalong choruses and breakdowns really pumped up the crowd. The dancing guy made me giggle and want to dance too. Everyone in the room sang along to "The Impression that I Get," and it was a really feel-good, fun time.

It was a really good thing that a good chunk of the band put down their instruments to help sing because lead singer Dicky Barrett was losing his voice. His voice is pretty hoarse to begin with, so it was a rough situation. On the brighter side, with his hoarse voice, slick hair and snappy business attire, he totally looked like a villain from a superhero movie.

Tip the Van opened for this show, and frankly, they open for almost every ska show. They're also opening for Reel Big Fish and Streetlight Manifesto when they play Toad's. They're also opening for that line-up in MA. I've seen them everywhere - from UConn to smaller shows to Catch Xmas, and they always manage to impress a lot of people. They definitely deserve to get bigger real soon.