Some music takes time to 'grow on you.' The Flower Kings is that kind of band. They are so prolific. Roine Stolt says he works 12 - 18 hours a day, and it shows when you hear the output.

The frustrating thing is all that work ends up on CD largely unfiltered. You find some of the best prog being made today side-by-side with material better left on the master tapes. I can only imagine how popular TFK would be if somebody selected one CD of good material for every 2 CDs of music produced.

Still, it's nice the listener gets to decide what is "good". It takes patience to appreciate TFK. The first time I heard "Flower Power" I was pretty disappointed. After a couple of listens, I put it on the shelf for a couple months. Then it eventually made its way to the CD player in my truck. I found myself playing it more and more, and one day I realized this was a great CD. TFK requires an investment of time to get into, but it sure was worth it. Yeah, I hit the skip button on some tracks, but not many. Not anymore.

For the uninitiated, start with "Stardust We Are." It is fairly easy to get into, but it is a two-disc set, and it does have some filler. Don't try to listen to it all at once. Then try "Flower Power." If you like these two, you'll likely appreciate most everything else. The only one I haven't been able to get into is "The Rainmaker," and even that one has a couple of good tracks on it.

My current favorite TFK song is the epic "Garden of Dreams" - breathtaking stuff. The finale still gives me goosebumps even after playing it dozens of times.

Check out The Official Flower Kings Website for more information on this great band.

The smallest minority on earth is the individual. Those who deny individual rights cannot claim to be defenders of minorities. - Ayn Rand

The Pirates of Eminent Domain

Scary stuff.

Some morons in Florida think it's cool to blast people with real train horns installed in their trucks. Can you believe it? Are some folks so intentionally disposed to disturbing others that they would spend over a thousand bucks to do it? Perhaps some people just have an unquenchable need to compensate for something they lack...

Apparently, some people think our right to own private property is not all that important, but tell that to Susette Kelo and six other homeowners whose homes may be taken by eminent domain. Here, it is private developers using the power of Government to take an unwilling seller's private property. Although eminent domain has been used by governments for many years to build railroads, highways and other public works, today it is being used to to enrich "connected" individuals. The local Governments doing this say that the increased tax revenues from the subsequent development are a "public good". I'm trying to figure out how the Government spending more tax dollars than it already is stealing is a public good. And what about the cost of public services resulting from the "growth" from the development? Anyway, the Supreme Court will hear this case. Let's hope they wake up, because your property may be next.

AI sure has come a long way. A web site called 20q.net beat me at a game of 20 questions. (It correctly picked a stapler.) See if you can beat them.

Ever heard of Google bombing? Here is the definition

Anyway, how about doing a Google bomb so that when you do a Google search for "socialist world domination" you get the UN's web page. Just a thought.

Meanwhile, someone found a human ear in Manchester, the BBC reports. I wonder if someone is serving it for tea somewhere.

Irritated by that asshole yapping on his cellphone while you're trying to enjoy a quiet dinner in your favorite restaurant? Well now you can zap him to silence

Looks like cars are going to get "pedestrian-friendly" bumpers. When you get run over, the intitial impact won't feel so bad, at least until it propels you into the windshield of that car going in the other direction.

and...

Why do you always forget to give me ketchup?

I really am wondering if this blog thing is such a good idea. Should it be personal? I am not sure if anyone cares if I wear white cotton briefs. Should I talk about politics or religion? That will just piss everyone off. On the other hand, does any of this make a difference? I bet no one is reading this anyway.

There. Now I have written something.

Born this day of 16 Feb 2005, is the place of Harold's meanderings.