These are my obsessions: July 26

The biggest thing changing my life over the last few weeks has been the acquisition of a Smartphone, an HTC Evo. I have finally joined the thousands of people I see every day staring down at a rectangle like it holds all the secrets to the world. I am really trying not to spend every second of the day staring at it but it really does do everything. I especially love having a camera, notepad and podcast listening device in my purse at all times. To put it in perspective, my last phone couldn’t even get a picture text so to be able to send photos of my new hairstyle or latest knitting project is pretty exciting to me. The photo above is some flowers I saw on my walk home the other day. I just loved the vibrant colors and fun shapes.

I am officially an app-a-holic. I spent the first 3 days of having my phone reading a number of web based lists of what apps I needed to outfit my droid operated phone. CNET has a great starter guide. My favorite apps are Stitcher (allows you to listen to new episodes of your favorite podcasts and live streaming radio), Evernote (take notes, mark web pages, create notebooks), IMDb (to answer my movie questions on the go) and Random Mahjong (endless hours of matching tiles). I haven’t found a recipe app that I love yet, Epicurious is just not working well for me. I want an app version of Tastespotting.

I am repeatedly listening to the Eleanor Friedberger album Last Summer. Check out the My Mistakes video. This album just feels like a summer of living in the city, enjoying the sunshine.

Potatoes have been regularly appearing in my farm box the last few weeks. I love roasting them and eating potato wedges but wanted to expand my potato recipe stash. I discovered a roasted potato salad that is super tasty and mayo free.

Shopping for accessories is one of my favorite things. I just got the most adorable measuring tape bracelet at the online shop Fancy French Cologne. They have a unique collection of clothes and accessories.

WTF with Marc Maron Podcast

Over the last year I have heard the WTF podcast mentioned a few times but I always wrote it off as a comedy podcast. In general, I don’t appreciate stand up type comedy, I prefer situational humor. It’s hard for me to laugh when I feel like it’s required of me. Of course there are exceptions to this but in general I tend to be reluctant to give something a chance if I hear it called comedy. A few weeks ago Entertainment Weekly had an article about the host of WTF, Marc Maron. The article caught my interest with a reference to Maron’s personal frustration that Jon Stewart made it and he never did. It also talked about how WTF is more of an examination of what makes a comedian successful and their history rather than an opportunity to be funny.

I was intrigued so I went on iTunes and downloaded a few episodes that featured comedians I was familiar with like Amy Poehler and Ed Helms. I was immediately enthralled by the first episode I heard and listened to two more that evening. The podcast is funny, touching, raw and offers a window into the world of comedy. The live shows are generally funnier and feature a variety of guests. The interviews are an hour or more of intimate conversation between Marc and his guest. He always takes time to ground the listener in the history of the guest, especially if the guest has a history with him (usually including an apology for a time that Marc was rude or disrespectful to the guest).

WTF and Marc Maron are everywhere right now, including interviews with The Onion AV Club, the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times. Check out WTF for a history of comedy over the last 30 years, an examination of what it means to be successful, information about the people that make you laugh that you will not hear anywhere else and the musings of a man on a journey to figure himself out. New episodes are released twice a week with the most recent 50 episodes available free on iTunes or if you find yourself quickly becoming obsessed you can pay for an app to hear all the episodes.

Non-Fiction that Reads like Fiction

I love a book that immediately hooks me and make me want to read the whole thing in one sitting. I also love learning new information about an obscure subject. Recently, it seems like a lot more non-fiction is written more like a story than a dry textbook, combining my favorite qualities and giving me something fun to talk about.

Cleopatra by Stacy Schiff: Cleopatra is one of the most unknown famous historical figures. She has been the subject of countless books, movies, plays and art but most of her history was written by her enemies. Stacy Schiff attempts to piece together the story of Cleopatra by examining all the historical sources and taking the information with a grain of salt based on the point of view of the writer. Often there are multiple narratives of a single event, with a discussion of why there are differences in the telling. I really enjoyed learning more about Cleopatra and this exciting period in Egyptian and Roman history. I would love to spend some time reading in the library and wandering the streets of Alexandria.

The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore: Two boys are born in Baltimore, one grows up to be a Rhodes Scholar and the other ends up in prison. Wes Moore sees his name in the Baltimore paper in a city-wide search for a man involved in cop-killing. He wonders what was different between his life and the other Wes Moore. He meets Wes Moore and documents his life. It’s an interesting story on growing up in an area where life is a series of hard choices. This is a quick read and a great testament to the role that active parents play in setting their children up for success.

Born to Run by Christopher McDougall: After the author injures himself running, the doctor informs him that his body was not built for running. He sets out to disprove this theory by learning more about a hidden tribe in Mexico that runs ultra-marathons for fun and speaking to scientists from around the world about the mechanics of running. Along the way he meets a number of interesting characters and trains to run an ultra-marathon alongside some of the most elite runners in the world. This book made me want to go out for a run right away.

June New Music

With all the driving I have been doing lately, I have listened to a lot of music. Dancing in my seat is one of the things I miss most about driving. I am enjoying an eclectic mix of artists, all of whom make me dance in a way that is guaranteed to make my neighbors giggle. Here are a few of my current favorite songs.

Last Friday Night-Katy Perry: While this song is quickly on its way to becoming totally overplayed like so many other Katy Perry songs, I am still loving it. It makes me feel like I am having a party when it comes on. The video is like a great 80s makeover movie in 6 minutes, with appearances by Rebecca Black, Kenny G (loving all the new image for him), Debbie Gibson, Corey Feldman, Hanson and Kevin McHale from Glee.

Nasty-Nas: This song reminds of the rap I loved in the late 90s, when I first discovered Funkmaster Flex and the Wu Tang Clan. The beat will make your head nod and the lyrics actually make some sense, unlike a lot of the current rap you hear. Nasty is the first single off an album that will be out later this year.

Quero Ver Quarta-feira-Emicida: Emicida is a Brazilian rapper speaking about how Carnaval and how it affects Brazilians, often in a negative way. The song’s fun rhythm makes you want to party, not think about the issues of Brazilian society.

Edge of Glory-Lady Gaga: When I first heard this song on a Google Chrome commercial, I wanted to hop out of my seat and run through the streets of Oakland. It reminds me of a Journey song that everyone knows the words to and even those that don’t want to dance find themselves rocking out to. Also, I am loving how the sax is a super sexy instrument again.

Leozinho-Beirut: This song is a cover of a famous Caetano Veloso song that is part of the Red Hot Rio 2 album, a benefit for AIDS. It makes your hips shake and you want to buy the first ticket to Brazil (not that I don’t feel that every day). This song manages to sound happy and melancholy at the same time. It feels like the perfect end to any day.

I’m dancing in my kitchen chair just thinking about all these fun songs!

Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon

I love a ridiculous, big-budget action movie in the summertime. I think it goes back to watching Will Smith in Independence Day (that was 15 years ago…can you believe it?). I totally lose myself in the excitement of the movie. None of these movies are going to win any Oscars and I probably won’t see them again unless they happen to be on TV while I am super bored but they are one of the hallmarks of summer for me. If you didn’t like the first Transformers and/or don’t watch Bad Boys anytime it happens to come on TV (one or two…I love them both), you will probably not care for Transformers 3 either. It is definitely better than the second one, not quite as good as the first one. It has all the hallmarks of a Michael Bay movie: explosions, huge fight scenes, massive destruction, super-hot ladies, at least one plucky nerd and super buff heroes saving the world from certain annihilation. It has the added bonus of being adapted from a cartoon of my childhood. Some of the sexy lady shots and product placement feel a bit excessive but then I am not really his target audience. I love Shia LeBeouf, with his nerd made good character and his hilarious parents who show up in their RV to poke fun at him. John Turturro’s kooky character with his new sidekick is quite enjoyable and Frances McDormand and John Malkovitch add to the film in supporting roles. It’s definitely worth it to watch in 3D, as it was actually shot with that intention. There are definitely some groan-worthy moments but overall a fun way to spend a summer evening.