Simple Math

If a train is headed east at 40 mph and another train is headed west at 60 mph, and if another train has a speed equal to the sum of the passengers on all three trains divided by the amount of rainfall in the Brazilian rainforest during the month of June, what will be the railroad company’s annual profit?

This is not simple math.

[Segue alert]

Simple Math is the latest album by the group Manchester Orchestra. It’s a 10-song disc (download) that from start to finish (45 minutes) really is something beautiful. I don’t know the biography of the band to bring in any interesting fact about the meaning behind any of the tracks. I’ve heard that it’s an album that kind of mirrors the lead singer’s life. I’ve also heard that the lead singer… hold on while I Google his name, Andy Hull, is the son of a preacher. That seems to be a vogue label these days so we Crums had better cash in.*

For the MO on MO you’ll have to do some research on the Web.

It’s guitars, drums, a children’s choir, mixed in with some string arrangements and some trumpet blasts. If that isn’t enough of a description to entice a listen I don’t know what would. You’ll just have to trust me on this.

So whether your preferred medium is vinyl, cassette (I’m actually not sure they are available on this), CD, MP3 or web-stream… If you’re looking for an album that will rock your socks off, do the Math!!

*Note: I think most of the members of the band The Kings of Leon grew up as traveling preacher kids.

!!Parental Advisory - This album does contain a few curse words!!

Almost there... plus a belated Mother's Day video.

I'm sure that the next post here on the family blog will be a very impressive one indeed, to honor such a momentous feat in blogging. As for this post, I told Mom that I'd repost this, which is why I am. Honestly this is one of my favorite episodes of "the Dlog", is it weird that I laugh everytime I see it?

Records

The Satisfaction of modern records

This morning I entered 4 download codes from 4 records I recently purchased. This isn't what I like best about records -- what I like best is how they force you to actually sit down and listen to music -- but it is one of the most satisfying aspects of modern vinyl. It's really nice and convenient to just open iTunes and download an album (or song) but then what do you have? I would much rather wait for a good cloud-based music service to be available (rdio is good, but not what Lala was or what Spotify would be) than download a song to a single computer (or device) and then go through the hassle of putting it on multiple other devices and computers that I use throughout the week.

With a record I know what I am getting. I am getting an object that I put into my record player and it works. It does not work in my iPod or CD player or computer... just the record player. I expect to listen to that music in one place; my living room. It's nice to download the music and have the option to transport it, but really, if I want to listen to it at work or at home I will usually just play it off of Grooveshark. I know this isn't the model for everyone... in fact, most people would rather download the song once to their iPhone and play it through the built-in speakers or plug it in to their stereo. That's cool (expect the built-in speaker part -- music should never go through those). The end.

P.S. The currently downloading song in the image is Mumford & Sons' Dharohar Project which you can listen to here

Art Contest

Click over to my blog to read about a sweet art contest!!

Tetris Heaven

Playmobil, 2011

For those of you out there still interested in playing with Playmobil, but are sick-and-tired of the lame pirates, cowboys and knights, check this: The brand new Playmobil Apple Store Playset. Now your kids can become cult followers of Apple products before they can even spell i-phone.

Available at Think Geek: $179.99

Nate is back

I am working on assembling the art work I have created over my long life and uploading it to my blog. I hope that this is an enjoyable change from my two random posts each year.

The Force is Strong With This One

It took me longer than I had planned, but I am happy to report that I am finally finished editing Nate and Katie's wedding video. For those who didn't get to attend I hope to have captured the spirit of the occasion. For those who were there, especially Katie and Nate, I hope that it will bring back good memories. And for those who don't like Dumb Dumb Dog... I've got some bad news for you!

Nate and Katie should be receiving their copy in a few days, the rest of you will follow shortly. Enjoy.

Fontastico

Michal gave me an amazing book for Christmas called Alphabesties and Other Amazing Types, a children's-ish book with pictures of animals (for each letter of the alphabet) created from type. Unfortunately I can't bring myself to let the boys read the book without serious supervision... maybe they will enjoy this video:

The Alphabet from n9ve on Vimeo.

Merry Christmas Everyone! (revised)

Why?

Why won't this blog site allow me to change my primary email address to a gmail address? What do I do if/since we're switching from comcast to verizon Fios?

Pop's Christmas List

Some of you have asked what Pop wants for Christmas. His original list had one item, a sweater, which I have already purchased. So we finally pursuaded him to write a longer list. [I've left off the "underwear".]

dress winter hat--more like Indiana Jones than Captain Ramias--in a color other than brown

athletic shorts, not too short, Adidas [please, for all our sakes', no old-school basketball]

classical CDs by good orchestras with known conductors: (someone Bob K. would recognize and recommend, Pop says)
Mozart
Bach
Handel
Hayden
Tchaikovsky
Vivaldi

then, after giving it even more thought he suggests

a donation to Harvest Ministry in Philadelphia and prayer for its ministry to those who struggle with sexual sin

a donation to Christ Academy at Grace Reformed Episcopal Chruch in Colingdale, PA and prayer for Mike Fitzpatrick and the faculty and student body. Christ Academy is a classical boys high school near Philadelphia. Many of their students are from Liberia.

a donation to Barnabas Aid and prayer for those who suffer poverty and persecution for their faith in Christ

Love, Mom

Sabers Only

I actually saw this a couple weeks ago done by someone else and it just kind of fell flat. I thought "man, that could have been great!" and now... here it is: great.

To Jill

David commented on the Christmas wish list post by Mom with what's on his list. I thought I could help by posting a pic.

- Matt

Road trips

For those of you taking road trips in the next couple of weeks here is a list that may come in handy. A recent pole of Americans (though, I'm not sure of the average age) came up with this list of top 10 road trip songs:

1. On the Road Again by Willie Nelson
2. Born to Be Wild by Steppenwolf
3. Take It Easy by The Eagles
4. I Get Around by The Beach Boys
5. Highway to Hell by AC/DC
6. Free Falling by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
7. Riders on the Storm by The Doors
8. I Wanna Rock and Roll All Night by Kiss
9. Wanted: Dead or Alive by Bon Jovi
10. Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd

So how about you? What are your favorite songs to listen to while cruising down Route 66?

Some video from New Orleans

Jazz on Bourbon

Beignets

Christmas List

Dear Family,
In the past we selected the name of the brother (or sister) for whom we were to buy or make a Christmas gift on the day after Thanksgiving. Last year was the first time we deviated from that tradition in order to include everyone in the gift exchange. In case you have forgotten the new routine, you will be buying a gift for each sibling in turn. This year you will buy for the one next younger to the one you bought for last year--except for Ben who bought for Jesse last year and will therefore buy for Peter this year.
Here, for those of you who cannot remember as far back as last December, is this year's gift list:
Peter buys for William
Matthew buys for Jesse
Ben buys for Peter and family
Jon buys for Matt and Emily
Nate buys for Ben and family
Thomas buys for Jon
David buys for Nate and Katie
Stephen buys for Thomas
Elisabeth buys for David
William buys for Stephen
Jesse buys for Elisabeth

Please post your "wish list", if you have one, so that your gifter has some ideas of what you would like. So, speaking of a wish list, here's mine:
a Belgium waffle iron
an outdoor thermometer
a GPS--one that speaks to me (preferably in a British accent)
but one without all the complicated bells and whistles
I just want to know how to get there (by avoiding unnecessary traffic and
delays)

You're Welcome...

The Beatles!

here