adrian is rad

actually, just spanish.

I signed up for a beginner’s Spanish class at the Palo Alto Adult School. It’s from Sept. 13-Nov. 29 on Tuesdays. I can take the second and third parts in the winter and spring.

There’s also this motorcycle class that I’ve been thinking about. I’ll hold off a bit before signing up for that.

Other languages to learn:

• Zulu
• Afrikaans

I should be able to learn five languages (english, german, spanish, zulu, afrikaans), right? They’re just words (and syntax and whatnot)….

I spent basically all of Sunday up in San Francisco with Jon Werberg (and Helene and others).

I got a bunch of CDs at Amoeba:

• Bruce Springsteen Nebraska
• Songs:Ohia Didn’t it Rain
• Mogwai Government Commisions: BBC Sessions 1996-2003
• Pinback Pinback
• Classic Mountain Songs (from Smithsonian Folkways)
• Classic Southern Gospel (from Smithsonian Folkways)
• Northumbian Rant: Traditional Music from the Edge of England (from Smithsonian Folkways)
• Songs and Ballads of Anthracite Miners

We went to Alcatraz, which was actually pretty interesting. They have an audio tour which is done by some old wardens and old convicts who served at Alcatraz. There are some really interesting stories of attempted escapes and the general conditions there. It’s not quite like having ex prisoners themselves give you the tour but it’s pretty interesting.

Continuing on the things that San Franciscans never do, we headed to the Coit Tower but the parking lot was full and rather than wait for a while or park farther away and walk up, we just gave it a skip.

After wandering around the Mission a bit, we went to Studio Z for a film fundraising thing for a friend of a friend of a friend of a friend (to me, Jon had one less of those). They’re making a documentary about two twins who were born boys but recently (at age 20 or thereabouts) one starting living as a girl and has had sexual reassignment surgery. They showed a 20 minute excerpt of the movie and I really didn’t know what to think. Various people from the mayor’s office and city council spoke afterwards. It was all a bit strange.

After that it was already after 9 and we were a bit hungry so we (Jon, and a few friends and friends of friends and I) headed to Walzwerk, which is a kickass East German restaurant (though don’t be fooled! Spaetzle is Swaebisch, not East German!). I had a Koestriker, potato pancakes, and an entree with chicken stuffed with apples and bacon and mashed potatoes on the side. Man, that’s a heavy meal! I thoroughly recommend Walzwerk. I’d recommend giving the “green salad” a skip; one of my dining companions was thoroughly disappointed with it. Just get some wurst or something!

I went to see 40 year old virgin at the Capitol Drive-In for my birthday on Saturday with Andyl and Shad.

The title basically explains what the movie is about.

It was really funny and well-written. I laughed out loud a bunch. It’s also got a reasonably good story and good characters given the genre.

Of the four major sports (baseball, basketball, football. and hockey), there are 15 cities with exactly one major sports franchise. They are as follows:

• Columbus (Blue Jackets, NHL)
• Ottawa (Senators, NHL)
• Edmonton (Oilers, NHL)
• Raliegh (Carolina Hurricanes, NHL)
• Calgary (Flames, NHL)
• Vancouver (Canucks, NHL)
• Montreal (Canadiens, NHL)
• Greenbay (Packers, NFL)
• Jacksonville (Jaguars, NFL)
• Orlando (Magic, NBA)
• Sacramento (Kings, NBA)
• Portland (Trailblaizers, NBA)
• Salt Lake City (Utah Jazz, NBA)
• Memphis (Grizzlies, NBA)
• San Antonio (Spurs, NBA)

the following are what I call “sort of”s because they are in the metropolitan area with major sports franchises:

• San Jose, CA (Sharks, NHL, in the Bay Area with San Francisco and Oakland teams)
• Arlington, TX (Texas Rangers, MLB, in Dallas/ Ft. Worth area)
• Foxboro, MA (New England Patriots, NFL, in Boston area)
• Tempe, AZ (Arizona Cardinals, NFL, in Pheonix area)
• St. Paul, MN (Minnesota Wild, NHL, in Minneapolis area)

A reminder to listen today because John Vanderslice is playing on my show in the 8am (PST) hour. woo!

The playlist for the rest of the show.

I added a “covers contest” tag so now you may click on that on the right side (at the bottom of the list, currently) and see all the posts about the covers contest. It’s great for going back and listening to them!

The song for last week was Photobooth by Death Cab for Cutie.

The votes went like this:
Best Cover:
Adrian 3
Dave 2

Most Original:
Adrian 0
Dave 5

Congrats to Dave and me.

four sports or activities in which I can beat the layman but I am no match for the skilled or professional:

• swimming
• cycling
• table tennis (or “pong” as I call it)
• foosball

I saw Johnny Clegg at Slim’s last night. Johnny is a South African who is sometimes called the “White Zulu.”

It wasn’t my normal indie rock concert fair. The crowd was entirely different—much wider range of ages. It was good fun though. I was suprised at how few South Africans I heard. I mean, how do you hear about this guy if you’re not South African? Have any of you heard of him?

The music was good; many of the 80s-era cheesy keyboard lines weren’t recreated live, fortunately. Johnny told some interesting anecdotes and danced some in the Zulu style. He also speaks a fair amount of Zulu, it seems. One day I’ll be able to speak a fair amount of Zulu.

I made a bunch of Adrian is Rad shirts:

Also, I made a couple hoodies:

Now, for some business. I’m trying to decide whether it’s good or fair to charge people for these? I mean, it’s sort of shameless self-promotion. On the other hand, I did spend ~$8 on each of these shirts? So what do you think?
a) sure, those shirts are pretty sweet and I’m willing to pay for it.
b) I’m willing to pay for one but not $8.
c) this is pretty much shameless self promotion. I’d like one if it’s free.

Anyway, let me know.

I’m doing a different show this week, a world music show.

right now I’m playing this awesome dhrupad by the Dagar Brothers.

this is the playlist and you may listen here

my radio show is indirectly mentioned on tiny mix tapes today.

check the second show under the “tour.”