Author / admin

by admin

FB4: Week 20

A pretty decent week, thanks in part to one big day.  Sunday got the week off to a good start, coming in at nearly 7700 steps.  Monday was even better, finishing just 81 steps shy of 11,000 steps.  Tuesday suffered a big drop off, with only 9 steps keeping me from 6000 steps.  Wednesday was slightly better, but still under goal at nearly 6200 steps.  Thursday jumped back up over 7300 steps, thanks in part to travel down to West Lafayette.  Friday was the big day of the week, with over 16,700 steps thanks to Danny’s campus tour of Purdue.  Saturday finished over 7500 steps, due to a trip to Guaranteed Rate Field to see the White Sox battle the Tigers.

Total steps: 62,317

Daily average: 8902.4

by admin

FB4: Week 19

Another good week, with 5 out of the 7 days coming in over goal.  Sunday started the week off on a good foot with over 7300 steps.  Monday was even better, with over 8700 steps.  Tuesday was back down again, coming in a whole 6 steps higher than Sunday’s total.  Wednesday was a big day, with a post-work trip down to Wrigley Field with Michael for a clock giveaway boosting me to over 14,100 steps.  Thursday and Friday were down below goal, with 5700 and 5300 steps respectively.  Saturday came in at nearly 9200 steps, thanks to a return trip to Wrigley Field, this time with Val and Daryl to see the Cubs battle the Pirates.

Total steps: 57,885

Daily average: 8269.3

by admin

Top 200 Albums – #1 – 10

itunes_imageNearly 4 years ago, we first counted down the Top 200 albums in my iTunes library. Since that time, I’ve successfully managed to migrate my music collection to a new PC with the stats intact. So, I figured it was time to take another look, based on number of plays from late 2007 through January 1, 2018.

We finish things off today with the final batch of 10 albums, ranked between #1 and 10, including 4 comedy albums, 4 compilations, 1 greatest hits package, and 1 bootleg live performance.

#10: Patton Oswalt – Werewolves and Lollipops
iTunes stats: 213 plays
Previous Ranking: 13

This total for Patton Oswalt’s standup set would be significantly higher if I were to ever sync my old iPhone 4s again.

#9: The Lonely Island – Incredibad
iTunes stats: 218 plays
Previous Ranking: 3

7 tracks from the groups debut album, most of which originated as digital shorts on SNL, did not rack up the listens and suffers a large drop.

#8: Various Artists – Living In The 90’s
iTunes stats: 224 plays
Previous Ranking: 22

A whopping 22 songs, from bands like The Proclaimers, EMF, and Roxette, make up the total for this compilation of early 90s hits.

#7: Garfunkel and Oates – Slippery When Moist
iTunes stats: 236 plays
Previous Ranking: 10

The entire album, which I got thanks to High 5 iTunes gift cards, added well over 100 listens since last time around.

#6: George Carlin – Complaints and Grievances
iTunes stats: 239 plays
Previous Ranking: N/A

The highest ranking debut is this 2001 comedy album, taped shortly after 9/11.

Continue reading →

by admin

FB4: Week 18

A disappointing week, that was saved by one good day to finish a whole 21 steps above goal.  The week got off to a slow start on Sunday, finishing with only 6100 steps despite a trip to Wrigley Field to see the Cubs battle the Giants.  Monday was another slow day, with just over 5700 steps.  Tuesday had a little bounce back, finishing 50 steps over goal.  Wednesday was another good day, coming in over 7700 steps.  Thursday was back down again, with just over 5000 steps.  Friday used a post-work trip down the Guaranteed Rate Field to see the White Sox and the Brewers to come in over 13,300 steps.  Saturday was the same trip, minus the work part, and came in with a lowly 3900 steps.

Total steps: 49,021

Daily average: 7003

by admin

Top 200 Albums – #11 – 20

itunes_imageNearly 4 years ago, we first counted down the Top 200 albums in my iTunes library. Since that time, I’ve successfully managed to migrate my music collection to a new PC with the stats intact. So, I figured it was time to take another look, based on number of plays from late 2007 through January 1, 2018.

The penultimate grouping has the nearly final batch of 10 albums, ranked between #11 and 20, including 3 compilations, 2 comedy albums, 2 studio albums, 2 greatest hits package, and, finally, 1 bootleg live performance.

#20: Patton Oswalt – Feelin’ Kinda Patton
iTunes stats: 169 plays
Previous Ranking: N/A

This total for Patton Oswalt’s standup set would be significantly higher if I were to ever sync my old iPhone 4s again.

#19: Garfunkel and Oates – All Over Your Face
iTunes stats: 170 plays
Previous Ranking: 27

10 tunes from the musical comedy duo contribute to this total.

#18: The Monkees – The Monkees Greatest Hits
iTunes stats: 177 plays
Previous Ranking: 14

19 different tracks from the made-for-TV band make up this total.

#17: Garbage – One Mile High… Live
iTunes stats: 184 plays
Previous Ranking: 63

The audio rip of the band’s live video release makes the list thanks to 21 different tracks.

#16: Various Artists – TV’s Hits Vol. 7: Cable Ready
iTunes stats: 191 plays
Previous Ranking: 12

This collection of TV theme songs, mostly from the early to mid 90s, uses 13 different tunes, from shows like Mad About You, Saved By The Bell, and Blossom.

Continue reading →

by admin

FB4: Week 17

A pretty good week, with 6 out of 7 days above goal.  Things got off to a good start on Sunday, finishing a whole 14 steps above my daily goal of 7000 steps, while Monday’s total was exactly 3 steps worse.  Tuesday improved a little bit, with nearly 7800 steps.  Thanks to a post-work outing to the south side to see the Orioles and White Sox, Wednesday was the big day of the week with nearly 13,100 steps.  Thursday came in a mere 49 steps shy of 8000.  Friday was another good day, with over 7400 steps.  Saturday was the down day of the week, coming in 25 steps shy of 4800.

Total steps: 55,037

Daily average: 7862.4

by admin

Book 12 (of 52) – I’ll Be Gone In The Dark

I’ll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman’s Obsessive Search For The Golden State Killer – Michelle McNamara

Writer Michelle McNamara became interested in a serial killer she would dub the Golden State Killer, writing an article for Los Angeles magazine in 2013.  She was working on turning that article into a full fledged book when she died unexpectedly in 2016.  McNamara’s widower, comedian Patton Oswalt, hired crime writer Paul Haynes and investigative journalist Billy Jensen to help finish the book, and I’ll Be Gone In The Dark: One Woman’s Obsessive Search For The Golden State Killer was finally released earlier this year.  In the book, McNamara lays out her case that numerous unsolved cases throughout California, attributed to the Original Night Stalker, the East Area Rapist, and the Diamond Knot Killer, were all the work of the same person.

In an interesting twist, Oswalt, Haynes, and Jensen did an appearance through Anderson’s Bookshop on April 23, which I attended to get an autographed copy of the book.  At the end of the talk, Oswalt seemed confident that the identity of the Golden State Killer would be uncovered one day.  Little did he know that the next day, Sacramento police would announce that they had made an arrest and that 72-year-old Joseph James DeAngelo, a former police officer, had been identified as the Golden State Killer.

 

by admin

Top 200 Albums – #20 – 30

itunes_imageNearly 4 years ago, we first counted down the Top 200 albums in my iTunes library. Since that time, I’ve successfully managed to migrate my music collection to a new PC with the stats intact. So, I figured it was time to take another look, based on number of plays from late 2007 through January 1, 2018.

We are getting close to the finish line with this next batch of 10 albums ranked between #20 and 30, including 5 studio recordings, 3 compilations, 1 soundtrack, and 1 comedy album.

#30: Various Artists – Millennium Rock N’ Roll Party
iTunes stats: 154 plays
Previous Ranking: 50

13 tunes, from the likes of Santo & Johnny, Chuck Berry, and Jerry Lee Lewis, make up the total for this compilation of 50s hits.

#29: Veruca Salt – American Thighs
iTunes stats: 155 plays
Previous Ranking: 19

10 songs from the Chicago band’s debut album make up this total.

#28: Mexican Cheerleader – Kings and Kings’ Hoots
iTunes stats: 156 plays
Previous Ranking: 17

12 tunes off this sophomore effort from the local punk band make up this total.

#27: Garbage – Beautiful Garbage
iTunes stats: 157 plays
Previous Ranking: 21

The third studio album from the group uses 13 tracks to make up this total.

#25: The Beatles – Past Masters, Vol. 2
iTunes stats: 158 plays
Previous Ranking: 32

This remastered version of the album has 10 songs that make up its total.

Continue reading →