My gosh, don't you just know it

My sister has visited campus twice in my tenure here. The first time was in the middle of the hell that is the Senior Seminar. I was losing my mind, spent much of her stay holed up in my bedroom typing and consulting the portions of the library I had recently adopted. She sat on the couch (patiently, most of the time) watching movies, television, reading and conversing with my friends. I promised to take her to the Harbor, but as deadlines approached and I recinded the offer, claiming that the college town had so much more to offer. I was lying, and she knew it. But she was kind enough to play along, perhaps noting my slightly insane state and trying not to make any "sudden movements" that might set me off. Whatever the reason, she was kind enough to waste her Spring Break on my couch and I have felt nto just a little guilty since then.
Which is why I looked forward to her visit this past weekend. I wanted to show her all that I loved about Maryland and Baltimore; to give her a taste of the life I have grown to feel at home in. So, I over-planned. Movies, museums, parties, dinners out, lunches in, favorite stores, favorite roads, Mason (my favorite feline), friends and whatever other things she might want to do. Turns out she'd like to sit on my couch and watch a movie. So much for guilt.
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I also look forward to visits with my sister because she inevitably introduces me to some great new music. This time was no different, and so I present The Streets:

Mike Skinner, 22, is the musical mastermind behind U.K. phenomenon The Streets. When you meet Mike, with his slight figure; gray hoodie, shiny white Nikes, and gentle Birmingham accent; the phrase 'bling bling' isn't what instantly springs to mind. His debut, Original Pirate Material is the next evolutionary leap for British urban music. It might not be the poppiest album you've ever heard, or the darkest, or the most likely to stir up pandemonium on the dance floor, yet Mike's MC chats offer unparalleled evocation of working class street life. The whole of Original Pirate Material is focused on the unglamorous existence of an Everykid played out between the sneaker store, the bus stop, the dealer's, McDonald’s, the club, the passenger seat of someone's car, and a session on the Playstation.
Conceived as a posse project when many of Mike’s early consorts were interested in taking part, The Streets became just Mike, and his keen eye on urban culture, since no one else could be bothered. As for the name, it came easily. "It's such a good name," he says, "because it's just what you see wherever you go; It's just working class England. It's not about trying to be ghetto; it's just normal for me. I never lived in a housing project, but I wasn't born with silver spoon in my mouth either."

You can check out the Streets at download.com. I suggest Fit but you know it as that has been my own introduction.