Pandora's Box

Pandora's Box by John William Waterhouse, courtesy of gods-and-goddesses.com

My friend Johnny, a music aficionado and someone much more technosavvy than I am, introduced me to something so fun last night that I just have to share it!

Pandora Internet Radio. You enter the name of a favorite song or artist, someone/thing that definitively represents your musical tastes. Then based on the qualities of your favorite song, Pandora generates a playlist of music you may never have heard of but will probably love.

Photo courtesy of someone named leedoweeds at flickr.com

If a song comes on that you don't love, you click the little thumbs-down icon, and Pandora apologizes, promises never to play the offending song again, and subtly readjusts the playlist to suit your taste better.

I had so much fun last night that I had to tear myself away from it in order to go to bed.

I have a Cowboy Junkies station, a Cracker station, and a station built around the qualities of Dusty Springfield's "Son of a Preacher Man."
I discovered several great artists that were unfamiliar to me. Ben Harper, for example. And songs I'd not yet heard from artists I already knew, like Tom Petty.

I'm in love with Pandora.

Pandora by Dante Gabriel Rosetti, courtesy of the National Museum of Liverpool

V is for Vodka

If I am to go out on a date ever again, I am going to have to find a man for whom intelligence is aphrodisiac. Does such a man exist?

Meanwhile, Valentine's Day for me this year means a rendezvous with a box of chocolates I am going to buy for myself. And red wine, of course.

From CBSnews.com

I hope you all have a wonderful Valentine's day, celebrating in a way that makes you happy. And for your amusement, here are some dark little Valentines.

From The Directory of Wonderful Things (boingboing.com)
From 7deadlysinners.typepad.com
From vintagevalentinemuseum.com

While I'm on the subject of twisted love, let me share some lyrics with you from a band called Cracker. I went to high school with the guy who wrote this song. (Listen to it here)

Mr. Wrong

Well, meet me by the river that goes nowhere.
Let me lay my sorry trip on you.
Won't you meet me by the river, little darling'?
I might just let you see my bad tattoo.

Well I was gonna bring you flowers, but I didn't.
It's the thought that counts and I think I'm a bit too broke.
But there's some change in my ashtray--maybe just enough to pay.
For a half pint of somethin', probably make us choke.

CHORUS:
Well you know I'd rather not go and meet your family.
They'd probably send me back where I belong.
Don't want to hear about Mr. Right.
'Cause he's out of town tonight.
Baby come and spend some time with Mr. Wrong.

I drive a one-eyed Malibu without a muffler.
And a tape deck that works if you kick it hard enough.
And baby if you like to read, I've got some great pornography.
And a ten pound flashlight rolling in the trunk.

CHORUS

Now, do you have a girlfriend and does she look as good as you?
Would she like to meet my brother?
He'll be out of jail in a month or two.

CHORUS

Where I come from they call me Mr. Wrong.