The Other Chris Brown

It appears that there are TWO Chris Brown's making records these days. With all the bad press that superstar Chris Brown is taking, it might be time find another. The OTHER Chris Brown quietly released his debut disc a couple of years ago and I've been diggin' it ever since. Perfectly crafted pop songs with an Elliot Smith-like vocal (though not as somber) and lyrics that share a darkness I haven't come across since Warren Zevon took care of little Suzie at the Junior prom. Check him out at http://www.chrisbrowntunes.com

We Have to Go Back, Pablo

While reading The Backyardigans "The Secret of Snow" I started to wonder if maybe J. J. Abrams (of "Lost" and "Fringe" fame) is somehow behind it....icy underground chambers with connecting control rooms, teleportation, ice in a desert, jungle adventures....hmmmm.

Mo Willems and His Pigeon

To steal a sentiment from Dr. Seuss, if you haven't read Mo Willems you should, because Mo Willems is fun, and fun is good. His stories and dialog buck the norm for kids' books, and his characters are fun, imaginative, and human (even when they're birds, pigs, or elephants). Start with "The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog" and you'll be hooked. Or visit Mo's site to read, play, and learn.

Miles Davis - Kind of Blue (Legacy Edition)

Sony Legacy has given their usual thorough treatment to Miles Davis' landmark album Kind of Blue, originally released in 1958 (hence the 50th Anniversary Edition), and currently the best-selling jazz album of all-time. The packaging is beautiful with extensive notes from music journalist Francis Davis and a full disc of outtakes and alternate versions. In addition to Davis, the album features Cannonball Adderley, Bill Evans, and John Coltrane. Learn more via the included digital liner notes, or at http://www.miles-davis.com/

Google Sync Beta for iPhone

Google just released a way to wirelessly sync your Google Calendar and Gmail contacts to your iPhone. I haven't tried the contacts, but the calendar worked like a charm. Check it out

Create Your Own Font (website)

YourFonts.com lets you create your own font. It's very easy, and assuming you have a scanner and printer, takes about 5 minutes. Click the image at the left so see a sample of my font.

Cozi Online Family Organizer

While my family is too small (and non-tech) to take advantage of this site, it looks amazing. Lets you set up calendars, shopping lists, journals, mobile alerts...basically anything you need to keep your family organized and in touch. Well-worth checking out at http://www.cozi.com/

What's On? (iPhone app)

Finally a nicely designed, reasonably customizable, iPhone app for TV listings. I've tried a few and they all suck. "What's On?" is the best I've found by far. Lets you pick favorite shows, choose whether to include repeats in your list of favorites, etc. Lots more, and it's FREE.