Rain, singing along, and the hateful Seattle Times solicitations

Tuesday morning dropped into place, dark and steadily raining. Wipers at the normal full-on position, none of this interval swiping business about today's rain. Traffic was also steady this morning, full-on present, but not unusual in anyway. On mornings like this I am that-much-more-than-usually-glad I have such a short commute.

This morning's blog-aside stems from a call I received to my cell phone late last night. The Seattle Times wanted to know if I would like to subscribe to their newspaper. No, I still don't. Just like I told you last week, and twice the week before that, and on many, many occasions over the past couple of years.

So, what does it take to get the Seattle Times newspaper to stop calling with phone solicitations? We were never willing subscribers, having been unceremoniously and automatically switched to their paper when the other local paper (which we did elect to take) ceased publication. Even when they already had us as full-week subscribers, though, they continued to call us several times a week to sell us their paper.

They called our do-not-call registered land lines (back when we had that quaint accommodation), then our do-not-call registered cell lines. They called despite repeated attempts to get them to stop. We finally cancelled our subscription in protest of the constant calls (and politely told them why we were doing so), and yet the calls kept coming. We have officially reported them, and the calls keep coming. Sometimes they call and hang up when we answer. They never leave voicemail.

Time to revise the old witticism: the only unavoidable things in life are death, taxes, and regular sales calls from the Seattle Times. Maybe it's time to submit an op-ed piece to the NY Times on this issue? I'm taking suggestions, truly.

The playlist this morning kicked off with one of the most can't-help-but-sing-along tunes I have heard in recent years. To Ohio hails from the critically acclaimed Oh My God, Charlie Darwin album by The Low Anthem. Rhythmic, low-toned, and simple, it just pulls the listener into singing or humming along. Listen to it without singing or humming, I dare you!

Another track from today's list worth mentioning is the last one, by then-local area pianist Aaron Parks. This track is from his first album (he was all of 16 when this was released). A very talented jazz pianist who enrolled at the UW at the age of 14 as a double major in computer science and music, he has an intense and reflective style that reminds me of Brad Mehldau. I didn't know, until very recently, that he has worked with Terence Blanchard, including Blanchard's powerful recording A Tale of God's Will (A Requiem for Katrina).

This morning's complete soundtrack:

- The Low Anthem: To Ohio
- Jake Shimabukuro: Blue Roses Falling
- Bruce Cockburn: Open
- Aaron Parks Trio Footprints

- Posted via iPad.