Stephen Colbert: I Am America (And So Can You!)
I had to get this book the day it was released. So far, a little bit here and a little bit there. So far, the best part has been comparing the nuclear family's father to God. And, it comes with an internal bookmark! How cool is that!? (Only the non-pirated copies though...)
Mark Kurlansky: Salt: A World History
Not that I use a lot of it ever, I tend to find alternative seasoning when I cook (I admit that there are times when this is the only option. I know that the only thing that will fix something that is too sweet is salt). I'm fascinated with this book. It's interesting to think that something as mundane as salt was once so rare and hard to find that it was not only used as payment, it was also an impetus for legislative action. Of course, now the big deal is oil. I think, though, that oil might be harder to assign to the ordinary...
Jonathan Franzen: Strong Motion: A Novel
One of the rare works of fiction written in the 20th Century that I am actually enjoying reading. I shuffle through a few pages/chapters a night before I turn of the lamp.
Mary Roach: Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers
Just in case one wants to know what might possibly happen after death or what has been known to occur.
Max Brooks: The Zombie Survival Guide: Complete Protection from the Living Dead
Just in case...
Anthony Bourdain: Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly
I tend to shy away from books about chefs that even lead me to believe that there will be shit-talking about the servers. However, because I have also been a cook, I was given this book to read by a friend. It's not bad at all. He's still a bit of an unbridled ass, but if anyone sees Chef Bourdain, tell him I know where to get Fugu. And also remind him that Hamachi is NOT TUNA! "Yellowtail Hamachi Tuna"?! WTF mate!? Hamachi is Amberjack! Two different fish, totally different flavors. And this is from a server/bartender/cook/Gm who was in the Army and isn't scared of your old-school bs.
Anna Lappe: Grub: Ideas for an Urban Organic Kitchen
Learn to live better in a country that has no understanding of seasonal or what fresh really means.
Jon Stewart: The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Presents America (The Book): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction
I can't wait until they make "America (The Book)" into "America (The Book) The Movie. I'll wait overnight in line dressed up like Rob Corddry.
Nafeez Mosaddeq Ahmed: The War on Freedom: How and Why America was Attacked, September 11, 2001
Yeah, it might be more propaganda. But I need to get equal parts pro and con or else my head might explode from the dissonance.
Jonathan Safran Foer: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close : A Novel
i decided to get this to read while camping in ptown for the weekend of the 4th. great on the beach and at the pool.
This is an advertisement. Please don't run away.
Leah is having a crazy summer sale to make room for the fall line and it's a great opportunity to get some kick-ass jeans at deep, deep discounts. I'm hoping to make it there, myself. The sale is on Thursday, the 19th, and it starts at 6pm with a 10% discount through the 11 o'clock hour, where the discount goes all the way up to 40%!!!! Come in and grab some million-dollar jeans at a fraction of the cost!!! See you there?!
Christ, what in the hell is happening in the world of advertising these days? 
I was listening to the radio the other day and heard an ad for Dasani Water, a brand of the infamous Coca-Cola company. In this ad, there is some freak of a bear telling me how much better this water is than any other water on the planet. It's better than stream water, spring water, even waterfall water. Then, this "sounds like a fat ex-frat guy on a bender" bear moves on to give me the valuable information regarding the fabulous flavors that Dasani comes in, including (this is pretty much a direct quote) "even water-flavored water."
WTF!!?? That line almost caused my head to explode and me to drive into a group of small kids with balloons on a field trip to the Franklin Park Zoo.
Maybe I think too much, but this statement raised several questions for me.
1- What does water actually taste like?
2- Is there a means by which one can create a chemical compound that actually reproduces this taste?
3- Why is it necessary to flavor water to taste like water?
4- If it is required that the water's original taste be changed, why would I want to drink that water?
5- Why do they pressurize the bottle so that it makes that fizz sound like it's a soda? It's a bottle of water, water doesn't fizz.
And no, I don't need a frat bear to tell me that I need to stay hydrated. That incredible need for liquid that can only be sated by imbibing a naturally occurring chemical compound is enough for me.
Speaking of, I have a bottle of electrolyte-enhanced Smartwater waiting for me.
Never Win, We Need A War
Fischerspooner: Odyssey
Ever listen to a song and then forget about it and then have something remind one of it and then sorta' discover it all over again? Yeah, me, as well.
From A Buick 6
Bob Dylan: Highway 61 Revisited
My parents had diverging interests when it came to music. My mom was the musical theatre type. She loved music from movies like Thoroughly Modern Millie. Dad loved the Stones, the Beatles and Dylan. I got to love all of it. This song, though, always makes me feel a little happier. Once, in high school, I had a teacher misquote a line from Highway 61 Revisited. I was the only one in class who knew enough to correct him.
Random
Lady Sovereign: Public Warning
The video's not bad, either... Thank God I don't have to dance when this comes on. Probably because i'm usually sitting in the office with headphones on.
Tengo La Voz
Nortec Collective: Tijuana Sessions Vol 3
This song makes me smile.
Think I'm In Love
Beck : The Information
I love it! I have even turned off NPR to listen to this album.
But It's Better If You Do
Panic! At the Disco: A Fever You Can't Sweat Out
Who would think that these kids are so young? I like the writing and the music. Good stuff.
sangue de beirona
cesaria evora: the very best of cesaria evora
there is nothing funny about this... an incredibly beautiful song about incredible ugliness.
pussy
brazilian girls: brazilian girls
yeah, it's just what you think it is... and more... so much more... Me Gustas Cuando Callas
if i ain't got you
alicia keys: the diary of alicia keys
this is the song i want to sing... and sing well.
crazy
gnarls barkley: st. elsewhere
ahhh, dangermouse and cee-lo bring it on home... almost as good as the adult swim album produced last year... check out the myspace: Gnarls Barkley
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