8.17.08 Weekend Update and Link Love

This weekend was the "New West Fest" (New Waste Fest, I say) in our downtown shopping area. There was lots of free music, courtesy of the Bohemian Foundation, with Taj Mahal and Little Feat as the headliners.

We got to see Taj Mahal last night, and it was most excellent. I've been a fan of his for years, but I'd never seen him play before. Amazing. He's a great showman and a soulful musician. The kids weren't so jazzed to be there, but the little one went to sleep in the Ergo carrier and mama got to enjoy the show.

Most of the "Fest" is made up of vendors selling:

• stuffed animals
• fairy wands and butterfly wings
  
• cable and direct TV installation (free!)
• car window replacement service ($50 off coupon)
• the latest "superfood" network marketing stuff (goji berry, mangosteen, colloidal silver)
  
• politics (candidates and party)
  
• windows and siding ("energy efficient")
• cheap sunglasses (buy one and get two free for $20)
• overpriced imported jewelry, clothing, and assorted crap
• airbrush and henna tattoos
• cheap straw cowboy hats (buy one get one free)
• funnel cakes
• chiropractic services (free screening)
  
• kettle corn
• God (ours is the way)
  
• fry bread (Indian)
• magnetic jewelry (arthritis miracle)
  
• BBQ (genuine Texas)
• turkey legs
• custom signs (Rat Terrier Crossing, Harley Parking, Bronco Fan Parking)
  
• chili-cheeseburgers
• fountain drinks (large, jumbo, extra-large)

One booth, right at a central location, had 16 oz. bottles of coke or water for sale for 3 bucks each. Three dollars each! What the hell?...  I don't drink soda, and I always bring water with me, so whatever. Capitalism. Supply and demand. Opportunity. Whatever.

The crowd mentality is a wierd thing. Walking through the place, watching where people went (free stuff), it all felt very strange to me. I rarely buy anything at fairs, but I do enjoy checking out any craftsmen or artisans' booths, especially wooden stuff.

We went because our ten year old really wanted to ride some carnival rides. Really wanted to. Bugged us until it happened. So we head to the rides, which are all part of the carnival part, to the side of the rest of the fair. Tickets are a buck each, and each ride costs three tickets (it's different somehow, to buy three tickets for a dollar apiece instead of one ride for three bucks...). Three year old goes on the merry-go-round, ten year old on the mini rollercoaster and big swing while three year old yells and cries "I want to do that right now! I want to go on ride! I a big girl!".

Enough randomness. Now for some links.

• I've gotten quite a few visitors from FrugalBabe, so I added her to the blogroll.
• I've been looking around cre8Buzz , finding other dads who blog.
• Go check out Internet Archive. So much cool stuff there.
• I just found Kitchen Gardeners International.  
• jango for custom internet radio.
• Need a personal trainer or coach? Alternative Personal Training is highly recommended.
• celsias. Interesting concept. What do you think?
• I'm still going to jail on August 20th. Help bail me out and support the March of Dimes.
• Eat the View. High-visibilty edible landscapes.