Hello avid readers. I really appreciate that you are still checking here to catch up on the Great Mix Experiment.

Since we won’t start up again on this project until the fall, and I have nothing new or interesting to report in my life, this blog is going to take a little break.

Now the last time I was going to take a break from blogging because I had nothing new to write about, a whole load of new topics came through proving me wrong… once again.

Thank you again for reading - check back in a few weeks and we might have something new for you.

"I Rock"

The joke goes something like this:

I lost my job today - well I didn’t loose it, I know where it is. It’s just when I go there, a new person is doing it.

I lost my girlfriend today - well I didn’t loose her, I know where she is. It’s just when I go to see her, there’s a new guy doing her.

As many of you know I actually did loose my job on Tuesday. It was not a surprise. They were very professional. I have decided that they only hire attractive HR women for this role so it goes over easy.

Today I spent the day working on the resume and applying for open positions. It was only the fall of 2006 when I was in this position last. Spirits are high. My options are unlimited. Check back in a week and we will see if it is the same.

Needless to say my two small projects for 2009 are on hold. I will not be visiting the Presidential Museums of the Mid-West. The Ultimate CD of Music to Drive to is also on hold. But send in your suggestions and ideas - we will pick this up where we left off.

The Best Songs to Drive By

NPR has done my work for me. In the search for the best music to drive by NPR has created a page with answers… or better yet, suggestions CLICK HERE

The program All Songs Considered took the summer of 2008 to accumulate and aggregate the music for the mood of driving.

I am still assembling the CD for the best songs to drive to. If you submit your top 3 favorites you will get a copy.

I need your help

Image by Kyle May via Flickr

Outside of the annual Great Mix Experiment, where people submit the music they listed to over the year, I gather the best music has to offer.

Currently I am compiling a list of the best music to drive to. Driving from your lovers house after a fight, the road trip of a long weekend, the daily commute, or a drive alone - what are your top three favorite songs you like to listen to in the car?

Make your submissions below or send me an email. Your thoughts and opinions here count! If you have submitted, or do submit your top three entries I will send you a copy of the final CD.

Send me your top 3 favorite songs to drive to today!

Overlooked

Image via Wikipedia

GME08 was not a total success. I failed to include two songs. Both submitted by the same loyal partner in this project for many years. My apologies to her.

“Falling Slowly” by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova from the Album Falling Slowly. You may recall this amazing and highly overlooked performance at last years Oscars. Glen Hansard is the lead singer of another band called The Frames that is more rock n’ roll but very, very good.

Canadian born singer, songwriter and classically trained pianist Chantal Kreviazuk has a song that was submitted called “Feels Like Home.” It too was overlooked on the GME08 this year. This stirring ballad at some points sounds like the best of what Randy Newman writes with the warm and fuzzy of a John Denver song. If you like those two artists or not you have to admit it is a compliment to be placed up there with such well known performers. Now come on, admit that there is at least one John Denver song you like.

Since January I have been listening to a Podcast put up by iTunes called “iTunes Weekly Rewind.” Each week they spend 30 minutes talking about the week in music - what is on the radio, commercials, movies and what they say is “the soundtrack to your week.”

At times this podcast makes me feel very superior in knowing nearly all the performers they are talking about. “I must be a musical genius,” I think to myself. But they go into details about bands and songs and how they are connected that make me feel small again, “I know nothing.”

This week they mentioned one of my favorite bands of all time ELO or Electric Light Orchestra. If you have not heard of them previously I recommend that spring is the best time of year to listen. Don’t go for the greatest hits, as they are missing some really good songs. Instead go for “Out of the Blue”. You will recognize “Mr. Blue Sky” and will want to drive around town in a convertible on a warm day. The rest of the album is wonderful on that same day in that same car - it even includes a track for rainy days.


SIDE NOTE: After writing this I found out that Randy Newman actually did write "Feels Like Home"

100 days, 100 songs, 100 locations, 100 dances

BOOMBOX from Ely Kim on Vimeo.

by Ely Kim

100 Songs:

001. Heart of Glass / Blondie
002. Jimmy / M.I.A.
003. Deceptacon / Le Tigre
004. Im on Fire / 5000 Volts
005. Je Veux Te Voir / YELLE
006. The Way I Are / Timbaland
007. Too Young / Phoenix
008. Over And Over / Hot Chip
009. Stick It To The Pimp / Peaches
010. Say My Name / Destiny's Child
011. Pin / Yeah Yeah Yeahs
012. Geremia / Bonde Do Role
013. Let Me Clear My Throat / DJ Kool
014. Point Of No Return / Expose
015. Bubble Sex / The Seebach Band
016. Pump Up the Jam / Technotronic
017. Let's Make Love And Listen To Death From Above / CSS
018. Hella Nervous / Gravy Train
019. Me Plus One / Annie
020. Don't Go / Yaz
021. Bootylicious / Destiny's Child
022. Electric Feel / MGMT
023. Boys Don't Cry / The Cure
024. Lose Control / Missy Elliott
025. Ride The Lightning / Evans And Eagles
026. Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough / Michael Jackson
027. Hearts On Fire / Cut Copy
028. Tainted Love / Soft Cell
029. Between Us & Them / Moving Units
030. It Feels Good / Tony Toni Tone
031. Polaris (Club Mix) / Cyber People
032. You Never Can Tell / Chuck Berry
033. Huddle Formation / The Go! Team
034. Pump That / FannyPack
035. My Love / Justin Timberlake
036. Hung Up / Madonna
037. Justice - D.A.N.C.E (MSTRKRFT Remix) / Justice
038. Cybernetic Love / Casco
039. Creep / TLC
040. When I Hear Music / Debbie Deb
041. B.O.B. / Outkast
042. Bubble Pop Electric / Gwen Stefani
043. Miss You Much / Janet Jackson
044. You Spin Me Round / Dead Or Alive
045. Slide In / Goldfrapp
046. Kelly / Van She
047. Mine Fore Life / The Sounds
048. Disco Heat / Calvin Harris
049. Nighttiming / Coconut Records
050. Club Action / Yo Majesty
051. Pogo / Digitalism
052. Lip Gloss / Lil Mama
053. Heartbeats / The Knife
054. Enola Gay / OMD
055. Goodbye Girls / Broadcast
056. Kids In America / Kim Wilde
057. Kiss / Prince
058. Tenderness / General Public
059. Push It / Salt N Pepa
060. Circle, Square, Triangle / Test Icicles
061. Day 'N' Nite (Crookers Remix) / Kid Cudi
062. Shadows / Midnight Juggernauts
063. Paris (Aeroplane Remix) / Friendly Fires
064. Out At The Pictures / Hot Chip
065. Me Myself and I / De La Soul
066. AudioTrack 10 / Diplo
067. Girls & Boys / Blur
068. Heater / Samim
069. I Wanna Dance With Somebody / Whitney Houston
070. Hands In The Air / Girl Talk
071. Limited Edition OJ Slammer / Cadence Weapon
072. Meeting In The Ladys Room / Mary Jane Girls
073. NY Lipps / Soulwax
074. Lex / Ratatat
075. Gravity's Rainbow (Soulwax Remix) / Steve Aoki
076. Once In A Lifetime / Talking Heads
077. Leave It Alone / Operator Please
078. Half Mast / Empire Of The Sun
079. Hardcore Girls / Count and Sinden feat. Rye Rye
080. Dance, Dance, Dance / Lykke Li
081. Never Gonna Get It / En Vogue
082. Blue Monday / New Order
083. Crazy In Love (Featuring Jay-Z) / Beyoncé
084. 10 Dollar / M.I.A.
085. Love To Love You Baby / Donna Summer
086. Steppin' Out / Lo-Fi-Fnk
087. Karle Pyar Karle / Asha Bhosle
088. Love Will Tear Us Apart / Joy Division
089. Straight Up / Paula Abdul
090. My Drive Thru / Santogold, Casablancas, NERD
091. Like A Prayer / Madonna
092. Freedom 90 / George Michael
093. Black & Gold / Sam Sparro
094. B-O-O-T-A-Y / Spank Rock and Benny Blanco
095. Great Dj / The Ting Tings
096. In A Dream / Rockell
097. Don't Stop the Music / Rihanna
098. Hong Kong Garden / Siouxsie & The Banshees
099. It's Tricky / D.M.C.
100. Bizarre Love Triangle / New Order

Shout Out to Ben

Let's all give a hardy hello and pat on the back to our good friend Ben! Today he won his case and the world is a little bit better for having the only good lawyer... insert lawyer joke here.

“I believe that sex is one of the most beautiful, natural, wholesome things that money can buy.” - Steve Martin

Image by Freyja* via Flickr

Once again I am on one of those singles sites. It is a semiannual sadomasochistic ritual I go through to find out just how many people I do not match.

Numerically my chances of finding someone who is a single female within a ten year age range in a 25 mile area are slim. There are only 1,200 people who match that (this number is before any other criteria outside of white, female, single, 32 - 48.) That number is dwindling fast in this Jimmy Carter era economy.

So I put myself out there to someone who matches those basic features only to find she is a bot:

“Hello Dear,

Am bridgette from detroit MI,thanks so much for the message.ui take alook at my profile very well..l really don't know how to start let me say you are the first person l will have a word with on here...and when l discover myself l find out that something special wanted to happened...Well Sweetie l want to know you more better can you tell me what are you looking for in a woman.amlooking for ereal love distant is never too far for two who are in love,i wish i can tracvell..well to know more about me, what do you think can make you happy in life, what is the best thing you love to do in life, what do you like for fun, Have you dream of any woman before, what Luck have you find on here...Can you be sincerely be honest with me, and tell me how many woman have you write to on here...I am a fun loving, caring and sincere woman who is looking for the same in his mate. I do not play games and I am not looking for game players. I have wasted enough time playing games.

Family and close friends are very important me. I I am the only one who my niece will allow to take her trick or treating, someone has to protect her from the monsters. I am looking for someone who is family oriented, and wants to have a family. I have no objection about having a relationship with someone who already has children however I do want a family of my own.I am looking for the same qualities in a man. I am looking for someone who is not afraid to express themselves, who is willing to try new things. I also like to be spontaneous, and I am looking for the same in a man. I have an off the wall sense of humor, and need someone who can appreciate that and can be just as funny. Above all I am looking for some who wants to be in a committed relationship and can be understanding, when I have a bad day at work and in return I can do the same for him. I believe that honesty and communication are the two keys to a healthy and successful relationship.

What makes you come to lnternet to make a chioce, what are the special thing you are looking for on here basically on a woman...how old are you,what makes you have lnterest in me,what is your name l mean your middle name and surname, where do you lived what is your favorite food you like eating, what do you think can make you the happiest man in life, what is your favourite colour, what is your hero, what is your plan, what do you do for living for work, do you have kids, do you lived alone, or with family, or with roommate... what is the bad thing you ever pass through in life, what is the good thing you have pass through in life, do you have a car,what is your best type of clothes you lime wearing, what is the best type of shoe you like wearing, please tell me all about you and what have not asked you..

l will be glad lf all this could be answer and then l will know maybe will are compatible or when you still had from me maybe will are you will decided that in your heart....Just don't be curious of asking of too much of my question please or lf there is any way l hurt you in an areas please tell me...l'm a woman of respect and honest and caring kind that gave honor to man and make everyone happy in life...l look at your profile and that makes me happy and l really love all what you said about you,...so i will email you right on my personal address write over there cause i am kinda new on this internet.. write me back at….”

Oi Vey!

Etiquette Mistakes

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Yahoo posted an article of “Etiquette Mistakes”. I would say that many of these go beyond mere etiquette and are part of poor upbringing.

I spend more time in my time and energy trying not to ramble on or rock the boat…. If I catch you doing any of these - watch out!

What bothers you the most?

Party Poopers RESPOND or “RSVP”
Nickel & Dimin’ - be prepared to split the bill more or less evenly in a group
The Line-Up - cutting in line or trying to ignore the fact that there IS a line –- stop it!
The ME Show Those who blab on about themselves while you listen intently, then don’t ask a thing about you in return are just plain rude.
Baby Biz Changing the other kind of baby diaper in public is one thing, but still should only be done when absolutely necessary!
Mobile Madness We do not want hear some teen queen dishing to her friend about last night's hot date - too much information.
Smokes Everyone has a right to smoke in public, but be conscious of whose face your smoke is blowing into.
The Pee & Flee Public bathrooms get used by everyone -- Leaving a mess for the next visitor is completely unacceptable
Stealing a parking spot
Belly Baring anyone who's passed puberty, everyone who isn't lounging poolside or oceanside -- resist the urge to bare those bellies.
Spitting no one wants to see you hock a big gooey one out of your car, onto the sidewalk, or anywhere else for that matter.

The Full Story Here The Worst (And Most Common) Etiquette Mistakes

Lincoln Lover

Image via Wikipedia

“Lincoln Lover” is what I am sure our good friend Ben will call me. Just as he calls the people of Monroe “Custer Lovers” for their historical status as benefactors of a once great and foolishly fallen Michigander… Michiganian… guy from the big mitten state I call home.

I am not the “brightest bulb in the batch,” nor am I “as smart as a sack of hammers.” My grades have always been low in subjects of disinterest and high, for at least a while, in those I focus on.

So why this interest in the American Presidency? I could not tell you.

What I can tell you is there is a surprising amount of adult entertainment centers off abandon exits along I-94.

Just like the Horn of Africa is a difficult route for sailors due to bad weather, such is the “Horn of Chicago” where I-94 turns to I-80 along Lake Michigan. There is hardly a trip in the winter I can recall when that stretch is has been an easy pass.

Western Michigan is a blossom of new homes and business.

Indiana and Illinois do not have better roads than Michigan.

NPR weekends are awesome to listen to while driving, NPR on Sirius radio even better.

Driving home is not as exciting as driving there. Home is great and all, but going there you don’t know what to expect.

So call me a Lincoln Lover, a freak, a history nerd or geek. They may all be true in one way or another.