Look to windward

This Culture novel of Iain Banks was the first ebook I read on my Sony reader, and I found it really disappointing, long winded, pointless...

District 9

In my opinion, this movie is worth every bit of hype it's caused. Go see it! I'm thinking about the visuals days later, where usually I forget movies 20 minutes after leaving the theater.

Three great whites

No, not sharks. Three great white wines I've had recently:
The 2007 Gainey Sauv Blanc we had for my birthday.
The 2007 Domaine Alfred Chardonnay is a steel-fermented white that I loved.
The 2008 Castoro Cellars Fume Blanc is plain nice.

CD's

Still buy them. Digital media rights are minimal to non-existent. Possession, as always, continues to be nine-tenths of the law.

This is sad beyond belief.

2005 Harrison Clarke Grenache

This Santa Ynez Grenache, picked up from Jonathan's in La Jolla for $30, is hands down one of the best wines I've ever had. It's not dry, not acidic, not tannic, it's a bit like ... not the wines I usually drink. It's aromatic, medium thickness, and, to me at least, hints at port or brandy. I have no idea whether it's typical of other grenache wines, but it's something to be experienced. I drank it over a week, and I think it was at its peak on the third day. Out of this world!

Mountain Hardwear Clouds' Rest Sleeping bag

Last fall, as I was starting my three month dirtbagging phase, I decided two things absolutely had to be replaced: my sleeping bag, and my backpack. I replaced my North Face Aleutian synthetic bag, with a down bag I found at Wilson's in Bishop on discount, the Mountain Hardwear Clouds' Rest. Fatefully, this was a day before I hit Yosemite National Park and backpacked to 6 miles short of the peak of the same name: Clouds' Rest. This 5 degree sleeping bag has basically changed my outdoor life. I can now boldly go where I would not have previously gone, secure that I will not freeze my butt off. There is apparently a womens' version, which mine is not, but, as those tend to be short and narrow for me, I'm somewhat grateful to have the black and red men's version. My feet stay warm, I can sneak my shoulders out, or snuggle in, as I prefer, and it's soooo soft. Now that it's summer, I've taken to leaving my tent behind and just sleeping in the bag, and I still tend to leave it unzipped, because it really is HOT!

Warehouse 13

It seems really out of character for me to be recommending a TV show. I wonder if it's a symptom of my standards deteriorating... In any case, I've watched the first two episodes of Warehouse 13 on Hulu, and so far, I'm impressed. That anyone would manage to seamlessly incorporate steampunk into a mainstream TV show is beyond the pale. And the male Agent's character: hilarious! I'm really really enjoying this!