Firefox rocks. Version 3 is outstanding. It’s great, really. But, if you haven’t downloaded any extensions you are missing out on at least 50% of the benefits of the browser. Here are my top five extension that make the internet bearable, and sometimes enjoyable.

1. Cooliris
This extension is truly revolutionary.  The web is some heavily visual these days that organizing it textually doesn’t always make sense. Cooliris immerses you in the multimedia component that defines the web. You’ll never look at Facebook, Flickr, the news, or any other visually heavy site  the same again.

2. Forecastfox
Sometimes its the little things that help the most. Forecastfox won’t replace you need for weather.com but it will at least make you aware of what the weather has in store for you, even if it is just in the back of your mind. If it gets me to take my rain jacket to work in morning so I don’t get wet walking home then I’ll take it.

3. Adblock Plus
Geez, I didn’t realize how many ads were on the net until I installed this. Its great, it cuts down on 90% of internet advertising.

4. Scribefire
Okay if you don’t blog you can skip it, but if you have a blog do yourself a favor and get it now. Since I downloaded it, I post at least twice as much just because its so easy. On a cool site? Bring up Scribefire, write a paragraph, and post it to your blog. Do it all without ever having to log in, create a post, cut and paste in the link, yada yada yada. It makes blogging quick and painless. (In fact, this whole post was written in Scribefire).

5. Noia Extreme
Yeah, I know not an extension. It is actually a theme. But, whatever. Noia skins Firefox into a slick interface that is infinitely more pleasing to the eye and easy to navigate.

Sometimes it seems that like all my favorite bands are between albums. In these times I swear I can’t dig up any new music that that is worth listening to more than the one time it takes to determine it’s terrible. However, this is not one of those times. An enormous number of albums worth their scratch have come out in the last few months. I’ll do my best to limit it to five songs off these albums, but it’s going to be difficult.

1. Stereophonics - Stone
I finally saw the Stereophonics in concert two weeks ago at the Showbox in Seattle and they blew me away. I had been waiting to see them for years and hearing Dakota live sort of marked the end of an era for me. In any case, Stone stood out as a quintessential Stereophonics song–hauntingly melodic and more often then not building into a giant climax. Near perfection.

2. People in Planes - Last Man Standing
These guys opened for the Stereophonics and are good enough to be the main act on any stage once their name gets out there. Last Man Standing is fresh off their new CD and is really raw and driven. Its reminds me of 30 seconds to Mars with a splash of Incubus, but less angry and less produced-basically remove the shit from these bands and you have People in Planes.

3. Santogold - LES Artistes
Santogold is true to her name and delivers a shining entry into the electro-pop arena; the genre hasn’t sounded this good since the Swedish first got their hands on it. This song in particular has all the needed fixings of an electro-pop hit- catchy vocals, a nice little treble arpeggio traversing the length of the tune and a driving bass line.

4. Counting Crows - 1492
The Counting Crows are back! Really a timeless band that had such a strong freshman album they were doomed to continually disappoint. The pop sellout in release of Hard Candy didn’t help matters. But, they have apparently come to their senses and put out an album on par with August and Everything after. 1492 is the very first track off the album and hits hard. It’s like Mr. Jones telling you about his bender last night- crazy as hell but sure to be on continual repeat in your mind for the next week.

5. MGMT - Electric Feel
So I have known about MGMT ever since I went on a ski trip with a bunch of crazy kids from Wesleyan. We had these epic dance parties that centered around the song Kids. I was told that MGMT was like the unofficial theme music to the Wesleyan experience. Well the finally got an album out and not just a bootleg. It’s called Oracular Spectacular. Kids is there along with this song, Electric Feel. Unadulterated, catchy, and you can’t help but dance to it. Think electro-rock, this band blends the genres seamlessly and doesn’t disappoint in the slightest.

Estelle - American Boy; Seriously catchy, seriously getting the play time it deserves
Gnarles Barkley - Run; Yeah it’s not that new, who cares it’s still great
Mudcrutch - Scare Easy; Did the Traveling Wilburies release a new album? Yeah, it’s that kind of Petty good

So a friend and I decided to try to ski The Great One, a couloir on the north face of Sacagawea’s southern sister peak. Our start was delayed due to the road to the trail head being closed (of course the first car through once the gate opened arrived just as we finished the 3 mile ‘extension” of the hike). The hike up required kicking a few steps and I in my running shoes obliged. The problem was that without a hard toe two things happen. First (and most obviously) your toes get smashed. Second, your foot get deflected and wrenched in odd ways. By the halfway point my right knee was starting to hurt. In any case, we ended up summiting Sacagawea a bit later than planned, but precisely when a rare 10 a.m. thuderstorm starting throwing bolts. Seeing lightning strike about 5 miles south of us, we decided to retrace our steps as quickly as possible. Neither of us felt good about being on the highest peak in the range holding metal sticks with metal skis extending 2 feet above our packs. I was especially nervous because I knew my knee was not going to let me ditch my pack and make a break for it. As we came down, another group continued their hike on the assumption that the storm will be funneled to the south of us. Whenever I see a person making the exact opposite choice as me in a similar situation, it makes me question my judgment.

While it sucked to bail, lighting is one of the few factors in the outdoors you have very little control over. It is probably the only nature phenomenon I won’t mess with. In nearly every situation there is gear or skills that will keep you alive. With lighting about all you can do is try to get to a less exposed area, crouch and cross your fingers.

The story has a predictable ending though. As the other group forecast, the storm blew to the south. So we tossed on our ski boots and got in about 1000 feet of turns. It is July, so I can’t complain. Now I just have to figure out how to move to Seattle without bending my right knee…

I’m a huge fan of the radio. I think it is a valuable medium than must not die. But, like many I am rarely around my radio for any length of time, let alone the time when my favorite shows are on. So I love podcasts. Perhaps radio will cease to exist in its current form, but podcasts are a viable alternative that I have embraced. Here are my favorite podcasts that I habitually listen to and couldn’t live without.

1. KCRW’s Left Right and Center
A great political opinion round table discussion that delves a little deeper into the issues than what the talking heads on MSNBC, CNBC, or CNN get into. It often will discuss longer range political prospects and problems than the usual next election time-frame.

2. This American Life
I used to think this show was some strange, depressing radio oddity. But, I have had more “driveway moments” listening to this show than any other. It will broaden your perspective and get you to think about those other than you in more than an analytical, utilitarian fashion. In short, it humanizes the world.

3. This Week in Photography
At first, I wasn’t too sure how interesting a podcast about photography could be–for god’s sake there aren’t any pictures on the radio (well technically its only a podcast). But, if you can embrace your inner nerd for an hour a week (and you can if you are a photographer) than this is a great way to learn some nice tips and stay up with the photography world.

4. Car Talk
Listen to Tom and Ray whenever you want? Its a no brainer, just get it.

5. On Point with Tom Ashbrook
This is a great way to learn more about the issues of the day. I found this after The Connection went off the air. Without Dick Gordon’s daily two hour round up of the day’s top issues, I felt like I was missing something. On Point filled this void perfectly issuing in depth reports on ever issue imaginable. Plus, you able able to learn what expert and fellow citizens think about these issues.