Pop Culture Roundup

I've been reading Founding Brothers this week. I read the first chapter and a half something like a year ago, and then forgot about it for a while. It was always sitting on my nightstand, though, and so I decided to give it another shot. This is a historical recap of a series of events and issues that the "Revolutionary Generation" faced in the earliest days of the nation's life. So far, I've been reading about the incidents that led up to the duel between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr, which saw political disagreements turn into more personal insults. I've also been reading about the first Congress' attempts to avoid or put off the discussion of slavery, as many believed that such a divisive issue wasn't healthy to address while the country was still trying to solidify its government and sense of unity. Interestingly enough, the earliest drafts of some of our founding documents contained provisions for abolition, but they were eventually removed before they took their final form. But hey, we finally got that one through...it only took 70 more years...

Coffeewife and I have taken to watching reruns of NCIS. USA shows three episodes of them in a row...we don't usually watch all three, but we have seen enough to know that they're from different seasons. Anyway, it's a crime dramedy where the team investigates military cases. The show has a healthy dose of wit and sarcasm usually courtesy of arrogant jockboy agent DiNozo and cute Goth chick lab analyst Abby. But the show features plenty of drama as well. We like it most for the banter between the characters...otherwise, we may not have paid much attention to the show beyond one episode.

This week I've been listening to Era Vulgaris by Queens of the Stone Age. It features the loud riffs one may be accustomed to, but they aren't adverse to experimentation. For example, "Make It Wit Chu" is more of a funk tune. The CD is dotted with organ lines as well. But all in all, this is a rock album and they don't disappoint. Another solid outing.

I added Questing Parson to the blogroll. I don't know why I didn't do it a while ago. He frequently shares stories from his life of ministry, usually showcasing the quirks and weirdness of the church and its characters.

Dave Matthews Band has a new album coming out in June. They recently posted a video that includes a taste of one of their new tracks. Enjoy: