Holy Hail

Pictures of hail that fell on friday night in Carrboro

Xmas show video

I played The Trekky Christmas show with the band "I Was Totally Destroying It" Here is a video.. Thanks to Trianglerock for taking the video!

Caution!! Massive Biofuel use = more CO2

Hurray!! congress might raise the fuel efficiencies standards for vehicles..with this new energy bill well great and all that.. we really need to do a lot more on fuel efficiency. What is really concerning about the energy bill is the massive mandated use of Biofuels that is also in it.. the long lasting effect of this is dangerous and could potentially make global CO2 emissions worse. Here is a link to a report that outlines my fears. Basically the problems are these:

• Whenever an acre of farmland is converted from food production to fuel production, we can either forgo the food that used to be produced there (leading to higher food prices and food shortages) or we can make up the difference by cultivating previously unfarmed land somewhere else. The choice is clear, but all too often the new farmland is carved from forests, wetlands, and grasslands that are doing much more in their natural state to reduce greenhouse gas levels than policy to increase biofuels.
• When we increase our land-use for bio-fuels (either using corn or soybean) we increase the price of crops such as soybean worldwide (bec farmers will grow corn instead of soy for ethanol). The US and Brazil are the top soybean exporters in the world. As the world-wide price of soybean goes up, soybeans grown in Brazil are displacing conventional food crops from the most arable regions of the country. The food farmers, in turn, are displacing ranchers, who are creating new grazing lands by slashing-and-burning large sections of the Amazon. The enormous climate benefit that the forest provided by absorbing and storing atmospheric carbon is forfeited. Read that again... if we burn biofuels than we may encourage cutting down tropical rainforests that will release much more CO2..!!
• Likewise, the demand for bio-oils created by the European Union's biofuel policy is contributing to the wholesale conversion of Indonesian and Malaysian forests into palm oil plantations. So much carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere when these forests are cleared that Indonesia recently jumped from 21st to third on the list of countries with the highest national greenhouse gas emissions. Because the destruction of Indonesian forests and the resulting emissions are due in part to Europe's biofuel policy, analysts have calculated that the biodiesel sold in Europe is as much as eight times worse than petroleum-based fuels when it comes to net greenhouse gas emissions.
• There are other arguments to be made about the problems with increased corn ethanol in the US.. like the increased use of fertilizer (run-off), more water use, etc

There is some more info on biofuels limitation in this interview from npr with plant scientist Dave Tilman. Here is another story on how the soybean trade effects Brazil's tropical rainforests. I'm not completely against all biofuels but this massive mandate is very dangerous...!

Time is tight

Hey Kids the UN Climate Change Panel is really trying to tell us something and its pretty important. More important than any issue you can think of.. because if we don't get it right, none of the other issues matter.

• See here for some of the message.
• Here is a rosy perspective from the Guy who brought you Gaia.

Stuff you could do:

• I've been thinking about energy (and water) conservation a lot lately. I've just been trying shut stuff off. Anyway, I came across this website it seemed pretty interesting: http://www.builditsolar.com/index.htm It seems like a pretty good resource. I haven't looked through it all and can't vouch for all the ideas..
• I looked though the half-plan section and it seems pretty sensible: http://www.builditsolar.com/References/Half/Half.htm
• Like its probably a good idea to turn off all the Computer stuff that seems to be on all the time: http://www.builditsolar.com/References/Half/ProjectsConservation.htm#PC
• Even when you turn stuff off it seems to use energy: http://www.builditsolar.com/References/Half/ProjectsConservation.htm#Phantom

Anyway.. I just thought I'd pass the info along. What we really need is large scale, effective, well thought-out government and global action. We all could to let our leaders we need a plan. There are a few Bills in congress.. keep an eye on them... I'll try to pass along info.. Maybe we could avoid at least another coal fired power plant. http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/777434.html

• Time is Tight

Daytime music this Sat, Durham

I've been blabbing alot about this soul band I'm in (soul in the Memphis/stax tradition). We are going to play 12PM this Sat. at Alivias in Durham. Also the SOC rovers (crazy marching band I'm in) will play on Foster St. 2:30 to 3:30PM. All during the day! This is all part of a Durham Artwalk event. Bunch of other events & bands all day: http://www.durhamartwalk.com TO RECAP: Minnie Skirt and the Bootlegs (yes, thats the name) 12ish to ~1:30PM Alivias, Durham (across from Brightleaf Square) http://www.aliviasdurhambistro.com/ I believe we'll be playing outside on the patio Scene of the Crime Rovers Durham's Independent Rag-Tag Marching Band 2:30pm at The Scrap Exchange, then processing to the BBC Plaza at 3:00! www.myspace.com/sceneofthecrimerovers Also of note.. Triangle Soundpainting orchestra is playing at the CCB plaza (where the new Bull is) at 12PM too.. I'm so sad to miss seeing them.. www.myspace.com/trianglesoundpaintingorchestra I won't be offended if you see them instead.. Stay the entire day and check out lots of great art, music and local culture during Art Walk, presented by the Durham Arts Council and The City of Durham!

Non-Cannon video

My friend rob is in this band.. This is a live video.. It rocks and they ROCK!

Horns at Cat's Cradle Sat night (8/25/07)

Its been my dream for a while to get a working horn section to play with local bands etc.. On Saturday night we're gonna give it a go at the Cradle opening for the Schooner CD release party. The Hercules Europe Brass (Hank, David & I) will play with North Elementary and Erie Choir. It should be a lot of fun. BTW, the Hercules Europe Brass name comes from The Wusses (another project I'm in.. http://thewusses.com/ .. thanks David Nahm for the name!) ************************************************************ The FACTS:

• WHAT: Schooner CD release Party!
• WHERE: Cat's Cradle http://catscradle.com/
• WHEN: Sat. Aug 25, Show starts at 8:30
• HOW MUCH?: Free!! (yes!,, and smoke free)
• When will the horns play?: 9:15-10 w/NE, 10:45-11:30 w/EC

[note: times are approximate :] ************************************************************************* The Line-up:

• Doors at 8
• Wes Phillips at 8:30 [http://www.myspace.com/wesleydongeroga]
• North Elementary at 9:15 w/horns [ http://www.myspace.com/northelemetary]
• The Strugglers 10 [http://www.myspace.com/thestrugglers ]
• Erie Choir 10:45 w/horns [http://www.myspace.com/eriechoir]
• Schooner 11:30 w/theramin [ http://www.myspace.com/schooner]

All these bands are pretty great... I think its gonna be an awesome show with a few other surprises! Did I mention it is free?

Scene of the Crime Rovers!

Hey! I started playing with this Roving marching band. We debuted in downtown Durham at the Culture crawl. What fun! Visit our myspace and see a video here.