Knitting gallery addition

Photos of knitted lace spheres have been posted.

More than Zero

Today I spotted a strange new variety of Coke at the 7-11: Coke Zero. Calorie free, carb free. So, we've already got regular Diet Coke, Diet Coke with multiple flavors, Diet Coke with Splenda, and now this. What the heck, I tried it. Whoa, I had to reread the ingredients label three times before I was convinced it had no real sugar in it. This is diet Coke even my mother would like, though for my taste it's a bit too sweet. How did they make this? According to a press release I found, Coke Zero has the same ingredients as regular Diet Coke, except it has less aspartame and more acesulfame potassium.

My verdict: If you are counting calories or carbs but hate diet cola, this one is for you. If you're a Diet Coke lover, you might find it too sweet.

The Coke Zero website doesn't have much now, but I'm guessing we'll see a marketing campaign aimed at men. That's what this product is aimed at, right? People who want a diet drink that isn't called "diet."

This cries out for a taste test. Diet Coke, Diet Coke with Splenda, Coke Zero, and Tab.

Menthal health

Obsession of the summer: Mint chocolate chip. I give you today's serving suggestion: the Mintarita. (click picture for larger image)

Rocking in the Garden State

Friday night I caught the last show of Hanson's Underneath tour at Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, NJ, hometown of Jon Bon Jovi. They've been on the road pretty much constantly for the last two years, and now they're headed for the studio to record the next album. Do you have something snotty to say about Hanson? Go right ahead. I have heard it all. I used to make snotty jokes too, then I became a fan against my will, which then turned into a crusade, but that is a whole other story. The show was fantastic, one of the best Hanson shows I have ever seen. Since it was the last show I guess they just poured themselves into it, and it showed.

A fellow fan whose username is mmmtwin17el took fantastic pictures. Click on this image to see the rest. God bless those devious fans for sneaking in the cameras!



It's something of a miracle we got there at all. The drive to Sayreville, NJ, was horrendous. We ran into heavy traffic EVERYWHERE. Additionally, I now have a personal vendetta against Yahoo maps for repeatedly giving me bum directions. I mean, I can follow instructions, but when the directions don't match the actual signs, I get testy. And when bum directions lead me to take the wrong exit in heavy traffic, and I have a show to get to, I get way beyond testy. Do not say the words "Garden State Parkway" to me, or things will get ugly. Like I said, it is a miracle we made it to the venue in time ... well, a miracle, plus the fact that the doors opened an hour late. We got into a line of at least 2,000 people, which went around the building and the parking lot twice. I still do not know how all of those people fit into the building. I still think they hid bodies in the basement. There were so many people ahead of us I started thinking the venue oversold and we wouldn't get in, even with tickets. But no such thing happened. Then, somehow, in spite of being at the end of the line, we found a spot by the bar at the right of the stage that had a great view. It was about 30 feet from the stage and was mostly unobstructed. And best of all, we were nowhere near the mosh pit. For those who have never been to a Hanson show (I assume that's you), the girls on the floor push to get to the stage. I don't mean delicate nudging. It's a full on crush against the barrier that might kill someone one day. At this show I saw security pull out four girls in front who passed out. I won't go anywhere near that madness, so I hang out on the sides or the back with the rest of the old people. It is at the point where I usually know half a dozen old people at the back of the venue at every show. We old fans are tight. I love how this band attracts such a wide variety of fans.

The show was excellent, one of the best I have ever seen. The band was tight tight tight, the vocals were great, and Taylor had the crowd completely eating out of his hand. The energy in the audience was fantastic. Some people think I'm weird to say this, but I love how the audience goes completely crazy. The sheer volume and intensity of the screaming is hard to believe, and it is like that every single show without exception. It is great to see fans get so excited about a show. The opening act was a local NJ band called Gibbler. The Hansons are on a crusade to promote independent bands, and for this show they held a contest in which fans could vote for a local band to open the show. The Gibbler guys seemed stunned by the size and intensity of the audience, but took it in stride. I saw them several times after their set, and they looked totally dazed. Very nice guys, and they did a great job opening the show. I especially liked their new single Hannah, and they also did a kick ass cover of Hard Day's Night. Check out Gibbler's website to find out about them.

The setlist was very similar to the Australia shows last week.

Optimistic (Radiohead cover)
Dancin' in the Wind
A Minute Without You
Strong Enough to Break
Rock 'n Roll Razorblade
Look At You
Broken Angel (Zac solo)
Being Me (Ike solo)
Underneath
Every Word I Say
Hand in Hand
Crazy Beautiful
Penny and Me
Deeper
In A Little While (U2 cover)
You Never Know
MMMBop
Where's the Love
Gimme Some Lovin'
Lost Without Each Other

Encore: Hey

Steamy

The heat has finally arrived in DC, and I decided this morning that I have a new goal: While wearing work clothes, I will attempt to never allow outside air to touch my skin. I think I have a good chance of doing it. This week I started working on the BRAC Commission contract at Crystal City; and if you're familiar Crystal City, you know it's totally doable. When I leave my apartment, I get into the elevator, head down to the parking garage, and get into my air conditioned car. Then I drive to Crystal City, enter another parking garage, then go directly into the building. No need to leave for lunch or any pesky errands. At the end of the day, I go back to the parking garage, get into my car, drive home, and return to my apartment without once leaving air conditioned comfort. I wonder how many days in a row I can do this? Once I'm out of my work clothes, the rules don't apply. I can sweat myself silly on my bike, go to the supermarket, go out, or whatever. But I think I can successfully lead my life without ever venturing outdoors before 5:30 pm.

Deep Throat revealed!

Haven't posted this week due to travel to Kentucky, followed by an attack of acute muscle spasms in my neck and shoulder. Apparently this is called acute wryneck, aka torticollis, which makes it sound much more interesting than it really is. It was excruciatingly painful, and I will never complain about a stiff neck again. "They" say it will take 1-2 weeks to clear up.

In the meantime, this week in the nation's capital has been all about the revelation of Deep Throat. I found this tidbit in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. A small act of courtesy loaded with irony.

The revelation that W. Mark Felt was the anonymous source who kept Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein on track in their Watergate reporting is not without its ironies.

Felt, now 91, was the No. 2 official at the FBI -- a prime position for a leaker. He was also convicted in 1980 of having approved illegal break-ins of his own, violating the civil rights of friends and relatives of fugitive members of the Weather Underground in the early 1970s.

He and Edward Miller, former head of the FBI's intelligence division, were fined $8,500 after a trial that included testimony by Nixon and five former attorneys general.

Both men were pardoned in 1981 by Ronald Reagan, who said at the time they had acted "on high principle to bring an end to the terrorism that was threatening our nation." At which time Nixon sent Felt champagne and a note reading, "Justice ultimately prevails. Congratulations for sticking with it and thanks for your service to the nation." -- from "This nation needs another Deep Throat" by Sally Kalson