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I’m writing an essay on nanotechnology. It has great potential and great risk, and some possibilities are just scary. The same is true for biotechnology, which I know a little more about.

Let me just say this: each and every one of you had better have a real breathing respect for this earth we live on. One little screw up and it is possible that it all goes away.

I’ll just be really disappointed if that happens.

It’s the 108th BIG GAME! You may not know that I’m in the band here at Cal, but I am. It takes up about half of my life in the fall, and more like three fourths of it this past week.

The rivalry between Stanfurd and Cal is a nice friendly one, but it’s still lots of fun, and in the end, we still have the axe, and here’s to keeping it for another year. GO BEARS!

The game’s on Saturday November 19th, 4PM PST, on ABC. You can also listen/track it on calbears.com.

Update: Final score: 28 – 3, Cal. Go bears.

I found something in the back of the great vault that is my bookmark menu that I had nearly forgotten about—Garrison Keilor’s Prairie Home Companion.

If you’ve heard it before, this is a reminder to go listen every once in a while, especially in busy times where you can begin to forget the important things. If you haven’t heard it before, give it a listen. He’s just a wonderful storyteller telling wonderful stories.

Because life is better with music.

1. José Gonzalez – Veneer: A silky mix of deftly picked guitar and a perfect low-key voice. I heard the track “Heartbeats” (a cover of a song by The Knife) on this Sony commercial and had to pick up the hard-to-find CD. The whole album lives up to it, and I’m surprised it hasn’t gathered more attention.

2. Tristan Prettyman – t w e n t y t h r e e: Yes, her name is Tristan, and yes the spaces are supposed to be in the title. This album is a perfect set of folk-pop love songs from a songwriter and a voice you could easily call a female Jason Mraz (and I mean that as a compliment). He even sings on one track, and it’s pretty good. Plus her name is Tristan, so how could I resist?

3. Matt Pond PA - Several Arrows Later: I’m not sure what the PA stands for, but this album is all around good. Reminds me a little of Josh Rouse’s older albums, or Keane with a guitar but different. It’s energetic and calming and comfortable at the same time, with great lyrics to boot.

4. Rogue Wave – Descended Like Vultures: Okay, where is all the hype for this amazing album? Let me start it if there is none. Sort of like Arcade Fire’s “Funeral,” but with just the good tracks, and with better lyrics and music. Seriously, I’m a musician—some of the chordal structures (especially in “Bird on a Wire”) are stunning; I mean, when was the last time you heard a major 9 in a rock song? I love it! I was about to list my other favorite tracks before I realized it was 8 of 11 total. This whole album has great energy, but at the same time it’s not overdone or artsy; it’s easy to listen to, catchy at times, thoughtful, musical, etc. etc. Just go listen to it already.