HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

North Korean Army seeks Munitions Specialist – Must be highly self motivated. Steady hand a plus. People skills not required. Excellent health and benefits package after first 90 days.

WHY SPORT?

WHY SPORT?

I watched Rutgers (15) defeat Louisville (3) last night. Man what a game (click here for recap.) It was their first victory over a ranked team since 1988. Louisville also represented the highest ranked team they have ever defeated. Rutgers has had a football program for 137 years! Needless to say it could have been their biggest win ever. Fans stormed the field with 3 seconds left to play and the view from the blimp camera was awesome. It was like a reverse damn breaking with people flooding the field from all sides at once. The players, coaches and security had to force the fans off the field, reversing the tide of humanity. The students retreated to just outside of the end zones and side lines to from a human fence. The distant blimp camera view captured the mass of it all. I noticed something from this view I had never noticed from lower, in stadium, cameras. Maybe it was just the length of time the camera stayed on the field, I’m not sure, but I saw an energy I just hadn’t seen before. Anyway…..it got me thinking about sport in general. Why do I and so many people love it so much? Why do we get so swept away by a sport, even when we are not playing it ourselves? Why do we get so excited? Well….what ever that reason is, I like it. Below are the four reasons I find sport so compelling.

Sport is:

Honest - Rules define the game, break the rules and you are no longer playing the game and cannot achieve victory.

Blind - No race, No creed, No heritage, No gender, No age. The only requirement is you must play to win.

Sport has:

Spirit - It can possess a crowd of thousands to rush a field and embrace. It can insight a crowd to trample itself. It can make your day or ruin it. It can drive you, to push your body and mind, to places it could never go with out it. It can raise the hope of an entire country.

Purpose - There is an end. Victory is achievable on any day against any foe. The result is definite and undeniable.

I GOT YOUR HIDDEN RIGHT HERE!!!!

I GOT YOUR HIDDEN RIGHT HERE!!!!

Well this is by far my biggest pet peeve. I respect all of these artists. However, I can not for the life of me figure out why you would put a hidden track on your CD. Oh that’s right! It’s a surprise for all the attentive listeners…..it’s a BONUS! Yea… a bonus pain in my ass!! It breaks my concentration at work when everything goes silent. I can’t put these tracks in any mix! If I do I have to make the effort and forward to the next track. I never get to enjoy the “BONUS” because I am not going to sit through up to ten minutes of silence for that little snippet of tunes. At least some artist put the music on its own track, but still, encased by silence. LAME!…PEOPLE…LAME!. Not to mention after the very first time it was done it was unoriginal. It kills me, these artist are some of my favorites….how could they go so terribly wrong!! Idiocy from my music collection documented below:

Beck
“Midnight Vultures”
TRACK 11 - Debra (5:33-12:40 BLANK AS HELL)

Nirvana
“Nevermind”
TRACK 12 - Something In The Way (3:45 – 13:52 10 QUITE FRIKIN
MINUTES)

Blue October
“History for Sale”
TRACK 12 - Amazing (4:59 – 10:04 BLANKARINO)

Hurt
“Vol.I”
TRACK 11 - House Carpenter (6:45 – 8:30 YEP NOT A SOUND)

Cold
“Year Of The Spider”
Track 12 – Kill The Music Industry (2:55 – 16:08 SHHHHHHHH)

Joss Stone
“Mind, Body, and Soul”
TRACK 14 - Sleep Like A Child (5:08 – 15:27 SILENCE) here is a twist…..the “untitled hidden Track” (track 15) is its own track?? So track 14 just has a lame ass 10+ minute dead spot.

Nonpoint
“To The Pain”
TRACK 15 - Bonus Track (0 – 9:21 NADA PEEP ) ahhhhh more originality……this is also its own track with a lame ass 9+ minute dead silence at the beginning of the track

KORN
“Follow the Leader”
TRACK 13 - My Gift ToYou (7:10 – 9:14 BLANKY BLANK BLANK)

Tool
“Undertow”
TRACKS 10-98 (each 1 sec. of NOTHINGNESS) On a note of originality it’s the only CD I have with 99 tracks; total playing time 69 min. hehehe.

Wikipedia explanation for this stupid idea!!!

For Comprehensive Hidden Track Lists http://www.hiddensongs.com/

Rolling Toomer's Corner

Rolling Toomer's Corner

After Auburn victories, students and fans converge on an old town landmark, the drugstore at Toomer's Corner, and completely toilet paper the entire area in celebration.

VOTE HERE for greatest college football tradition.

DISCO BASSO!!!

DISCO BASSO!!!

Basso joins Team Discovery Channel. Oh man…..this is pretty exciting. Basso was the only man to hang with Lance in the mountains a couple years ago. He did not get to race Le Tour this year because of Operation Puerto, which was a complete travesty, considering there was no merit to the allegations and he and everyone else involved has since been cleared. Lance is still involved with Team Discovery and has a knack for building a winning team around a great talent. I see some really great things for the American Discovery Channel team in 07. GO DISCO!!!!!

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- Two weeks after being cleared of doping accusations, Giro d'Italia champion Ivan Basso signed a two-year contract to ride for Lance Armstrong's former Discovery Channel cycling team.

"I am very excited to have Ivan as a part of the team," said Bill Stapleton, general manager of the Discovery team. "During Lance's final Tours, Ivan pushed Lance to a new level and we expect great things from him in 2007."

Basso finished third in the 2004 Tour de France and was second in 2005 behind Armstrong. Basso left his Danish team, CSC, three weeks ago. Basso will begin training with Discovery in December in Austin and Stapleton said he considers him the team leader for the 2007 Tour de France. (Entire article here)

Basso’s results:

2006 – Team CSC
Stages 5 (TTT), 8, 16, 20 and Overall – 2006 Giro d'Italia.
Azzurri d'Italia classification
Stage 2 and overall – Critérium International
Stage 2B – Circuit de la Sarthe

2005 – Team CSC
Stages 17 and 18 – 2005 Giro d'Italia
Stages 1, 2, 3, 5 and overall – Post Danmark Rundt
2nd Overall – Tour de France

2004 – Team CSC
Stage 12 and 3rd overall, Tour de France
Giro dell'Emilia
Grand Prix Jyske Bank

2003 – Fassa Bortolo
7th overall – Tour de France

2002 – Fassa Bortolo
11th overall – Tour de France
White jersey best young rider classification

2001 – Fassa Bortolo
Stage 1 – Tour Méditerranéen
Stage 5 – Bicicleta Vasca
Stage 5 – Österreich Rundfahrt

2000 – Amica Chips
Stages 1 and 3B – Regio Tour

1999 – Riso Scotti-Vinavil

1998 – Amateur

F#CK IT!!

F#CK IT!!!

Well, profanities are now allowed in news interviews. This is complete and utter SH&T!! Are you kidding me!!!…….we must now brace ourselves for a litany of profanity laced interviews. This also means that, if you have children in the room, you can no longer guage what language they are exposed to. You know when this gets out people are going to absolutly expliot it. I mean really…why allow this!!! Whats the point! I can’t think of a single one. We all know you can’t controll live interviews. People subcontiously know cursing is not allowed so the interiews generally stay clean. With this briliant move the muzzles are off! And for what…..

(Drudge Link view here)

"MAKE HIM STAND"

"MAKE HIM STAND"

Saddam during his trial.

Saddam had refused to stand for the verdict and had to be lifted to his feet by two court bailiffs.

"Make him stand," the judge ordered as the former president stayed seated.

He then stood in silence and waited for his fate to be announced to the world.

Saddam was convicted of ordering the deaths of 148 Shia men and teenage boys in the town of Dujail in 1982. The killings followed a failed assassination attempt against him and were intended to act as a grim warning to others not to oppose him.

I grabbed these four lines from an article (click to view article) linked to Drudge. I felt these words and his actions frame what happened today very well. Saddam Hussein was a brutal dictator, who not even on the day of his verdict, would stand and hold himself accountable. I think there is a chance the prayers of many Iraq's were answered today. He will be held accountable...

SOUTH PARK SEC

SOUTH PARK SEC

Thanks Brian....great pic!

(click image for better view)

GAME TIME!!!

GAME TIME!!!
Oh....Yea!!! the 2006-2007 season started today. Can I get a HELL YEA!!!! from the NBA Fans?

PREGNANCY Q & A

PREGNANCY

Q & A

Q: Should I have a baby after 35?

A: No, 35 children is enough.

Q: I'm two months pregnant now. When will my baby move?

A: With any luck, right after he finishes college.

Q: What is the most reliable method to determine a baby's sex?

A: Childbirth.

Q: My wife is five months pregnant and so moody that sometimes she's borderline irrational.

A: So what's your question?

Q: My childbirth instructor says it's not pain I'll feel during labor, but pressure. Is she right?

A: Yes, in the same way that a tornado might be called an air current.

Q: When is the best time to get an epidural?

A: Right after you find out you're pregnant.

Q: Is there any reason I have to be in the delivery room while my wife is in labor?

A: Not unless the word "alimony" means anything to you.

Q: Is there anything I should avoid while recovering from childbirth?

A: Yes, pregnancy.

Q: Do I have to have a baby shower?

A: Not if you change the baby's diaper very quickly.

Q: Our baby was born last week. When will my wife begin to feel and act normal again?

A: When the kids are in college.

**thanks uncle Larry .....and yes that is a pregnant Barbie**

MOST DANGEROUS!!!

MOST DANGEROUS!!!

“Don’t be rollin up in the Ham…..cus we be bus’n caps!!!”

1. St. Louis
2. Detroit
3. Flint, Mich.
4. Compton, Calif.
5. Camden, N.J.
6. Birmingham, Ala.
17. Atlanta

22. Little Rock, Ark.
73. Montgomery, Ala.
93. Huntsville, Ala.
143. Mobile, Ala.
146. Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Without further ado... I give you the 6th most dangerous city in the whole U.S. of A. The HAM!!! That’s right Birmingham, Alabama is #6……I knew that I had bars on my windows and a security alarm for some reason. This list only reflects the cities that report their crime. Click Here for the entire list in reverse order from least to greatest crime rate. On that note….Why in the hell would you put out a list in reverse order? Who cares which city is safest…jeez!! Notice my list is reverse of thier reverse list…..mmmmm…hmmmm

I actually found a fired round on my back porch when I moved in 4 years ago. It was just the bullet. My guess was a shot fired in the air and it landed on my back porch. Grrreeat…..(story snagged from DRUDGE)

Lil' man

Lil' man.....

It's time for a new profile pic. So I give you "Lil' man." He started out as a small 5 point star and turned in to a little man. Out of all the doodles I have drawn, this is the only one that makes me smile. His actual size it about 3/8" square. He was drawn probably 5 yrs ago in black ink on cheap lined note pad paper with a BIC micro fine tip(.5mm) uni-ball rollerball pen. My old boss Jim Kemp, who does killer illustrations I might add, will draw with nothing else. This was the finest tipped pen he could find that would still draw a solid dark line. It’s also cheap and readily available.

Ahhhhhh...

Ahhhhhhh……

I almost had this template looking the way I wanted. But….alas, in order to have more control over it, I had to start over. So….I may screw it up before I get it just the way I like it. NO laughing in the mean time!!!

Le Tour

Le Tour…..

Oh yea……the 2007 Tour De France route has been released. Now all we have to do is count the days till the worlds toughest race gets underway. I can’t wait……

The route
Running from Saturday July 7th to Sunday July 29th 2007, the 94th Tour de France will be made up of a prologue and 20 stages and will cover a total distance of 3,550 kilometres. This will be the first time the tour comes to London and the first time the tour will begin anywhere in Britain.

These 20 stages have the following profiles
+ 11 flat stages
+ 6 mountain stages
+ 1 medium mountain stage
+ 2 individual time-trial stages

Distinctive aspects of the race
+ 3 mountain finishes
+ 2 rest days
+ 117 kilometres of individual time-trials (including the prologue)
+ 21 Category 1, Category 2 and highest level passes will be climbed

12 new stop-over towns
+ London
+ Canterbury
+ Waregem
+ Villers-Cotterêts
+ Joigny
+ Chablis
+ Semur-en-Auxois
+ Tignes
+ Tallard
+ Mazamet
+ Cognac
+ Marcoussis
Complete 07 Tour Info (click image for better view)

LOGIC...

LOGIC…

I am certainly not an expert on DJs, but Logic is not your typical DJ. He works with many jazz musicians and seamlessly incorporates his skills into the music. He is very talented and has earned the respect of numerous top notch jazz musicians. It was Logic’s work with Medeski, Martin, and Wood on “Combustication” (release 1996) that first opened my ears to DJs. Since then I have discovered a few other DJs, but that’s for another post.

In 1998 two years after his work on “Combustication,” Logic released his first solo work “Project Logic.” Three years after that came “Anomaly.” I did not even know “Anomaly” existed until I looked up the release date for “Project Logic.” So… I get to hear a new DJ Logic album in the near future….yea!!!! His newest release on July 11th, 2006 was “Zen of Logic.” It’s slammed full of guest jazz musicians just like his first release and is easily as good. Listed below are some exerts that I snagged from his Jambase.com bio. I thought they summed up how unique his work is and might push you music lovers to give him a listen.
(LISTEN and PURCHASE here)

“Logic's not just a skilled DJ, he's also a talented all-around musician. Eschewing flashy scratching displays, he fronts chunky hip-hop beat slinging, knob-twisting dub, and chaotic sound sculpting -- sonic trademarks that've made him the man to call when jazz cats want to tap into the hip-hop zeitgeist. The results - both on the album and in concert - favor multi-textured grooves over highflying solos.” – URB

“Logic toured with MMW and recorded with them on their Blue Note album, Combustication. A big break for the DJ, his work with MMW made him a sensation in the jazz, jam band and hip-hop worlds, leading to work with jazz musicians like Graham Haynes, Don Byron, John Scofield, Joshua Redman and Christian McBride; jam bands like the Allman Brothers and Phish; and hip-hop masterminds like Prince Paul, Ursula Rucker, and Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson from the Roots…..” (FULL biography)

Coming in HOT!!!

Coming in HOT!!!!!

This is as close as I will ever get to a street bike again....sniff..sniffff........WHAAAAAAA!!!!!

Happy Halloween!!!

Happy Halloween!!!

My criterion for a good pumpkin is simple. It must look like a pumpkin, not a sculpture. I have many pics of intricately sculpted pumpkins. Don’t get me wrong. They’re pretty cool but, not the real deal. A perfect pumpkin must be carved. Here are my top 5 “punkin’ pics.”

Enjoy these pumpkin innovations!

Will Rogers

Will Rogers Wisdom

Will Rogers, who died in a plane crash with Wylie Post in 1935, was probably the greatest political sage this country has ever known. Enjoy the following quotes:

Never slap a man who's chewing tobacco.

Never kick a cow chip on a hot day.

There are two theories to arguing with a woman... neither works.

Never miss a good chance to shut up.

Always drink upstream from the herd.

If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.

The quickest way to double your money is to fold it and put it back in your pocket.

There are three kinds of men: ones that learn by reading, few who learn by observation, and the rest of them have to pee on the electric fence and find out for themselves.

Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.

If you're riding ahead of the herd, take a look back every now and then to make sure it's still there.

Lettin' the cat outta' the bag is a whole lot easier 'n puttin' it back.

After eating an entire bull, a mountain lion felt so good he started roaring. He kept it up until a hunter came along and shot him... The moral: When you're full of bull, keep your mouth shut.

More on Will Rogers.

NOT GUILTY

NOT GUILTY

Ok...I'm sure many have heard that Floyd Landis tested positive for steroids in his recent Tour De France victory. This whole thing gets my blood boiling for many reasons. The first and most upsetting is the fact that the MEDIA has convicted him well before any proof to that effect. Second, this whole scenario clearly depicts the media's ability to negatively influence the public and their willingness to do so! Many Americans read that first head line, "Floyd Tested Positive!", and believed it or rather had no reason not too. The stories of athletes using drugs are old news now. So what's one more? That's it. Case closed. The majority of people won't look any further. To many people that was thei first and only impression of Floyd Landis. It's wrong and shameful to influence people of something you yourself do not KNOW to be true.

Now the good part...Floyd is fighting for his integrity. He was raised strict Mennonite until he was 18. This means not following the social norm is a way of life for him. He and his team released their defense last week for the world to read. My jaw dropped when I read it. I was amazed that this could happen and amazed that the lab that tested him could be considered competent. Below is only one example of the information contained in the Powerpoint presentation that outlined his defense. READ IT HERE or scan, because it won't take you long to come to a conclusion. Please comment, I would love to hear your thoughts.

WADA (World Anti-Doping Association) Rules
"Any forensic corrections that need to be made to the comment should be done with a single line through and the change should be initialed and dated by the individual making the change. No white out or erasure that obliterates the original entry is acceptable."[1] Ignorance is not an excuse: "All personnel should have thorough knowledge of their responsibilities including the security of the Laboratory, confidentiality of results, Laboratory Internal Chain of Custody protocols, and the standard operating procedures for any method that they perform."[2]

[1] WADA Laboratory Internal Chain of Custody. TD2003LCOC. (2003).
[2] WADA International Standard for Laboratories. 29, (2004),

Hide-N-Seek

Hide-n-Seek

These two photos are identical, except for three small differences; just like in the old Highlight magazine. So, you have to find the three differences. I can only manage to find two. Let me know if you find all three. Good luck…it’s a tough one. “Click on the image above to see the two pictures”

BECK...Do it yourself!

BECK….Do it yourself!

Beck’s new album, "The Information", has do-it-yourself cover art where owners can decorate the cover with stickers that come with the CD. Also, people can go to the Beck website and upload the their designs for the chance to have them included in the album cover sticker set for the second pressing. In an interview in Wired Magazine, they ask Beck, "Isn't all that repackaging just about making ways to sell more product?" Beck answers:

"I guess that's part of it, but for me it's more about giving the music legs, giving people new ways to experience it. There are so many ways to integrate technology into music; I can't wait to see how the opportunities end up being put to use."

"click image for a better view"

Well I hate to say it but I have only started listening to Beck in the last couple years. His 05 album “Guero” was recommended by a friend and DAMN!!! That was a good album. So when his latest album “The Information” came out I was more than eager to give it a listen.

ITS GOOD!!.....hahaha Like there was a question that it would not be. The man is talented and as with his last album "The Information" is full of refreshing changes, sounds, and grooves. So far it has not hit my as hard a “Guero” did but I'm still digging it.

BOTTOM LINE: If you Dig Beck…get it! If you liked “Guero”….get it! If you have not listened to beck…get “Guero”…then get it!

Rodney Mullen

SICK!!! Thats all there is to say. Rodney is old school and a complete BadA$$ (i.e. MADD SKILLZS.) You don't see this stuff at x-games. Can I get an OMG from the SKATERS???

SEC LEADS NATION!!

SEC LEADS NATION!!
With 266 Players on NFL Rosters

AUBURN (27)
Willie Anderson – Cincinnati

Rob Bironas – Tennessee

Ronnie Brown – Miami

Jason Campbell – Washington

Tim Carter – New York Giants

Karlos Dansby – Arizona

Stephen Davis – St. Louis

Heath Evans – New England

Wayne Gandy – Atlanta

Chris Gray – Seattle

Roderick Hood – Philadelphia

Jeno James – Miami

Rudi Johnson – Cincinnati

Spencer Johnson – Minnesota

Stanley McClover – Carolina

Marcus McNeill – San Diego

Mike Pucillo – Washington

Jay Ratliff – Dallas

Tony Richardson – Minnesota

Carlos Rogers – Washington

Kendall Simmons – Pittsburgh

Takeo Spikes – Buffalo

Dontarrious Thomas – Minnesota

Reggie Torbor – New York Giants

Marcus Washington – Washington

Willie Whitehead – New Orleans

Carnell Williams – Tampa Bay

For the rest of the SEC players and teams CLICK!!!

Amos Lee

AMOS LEE

“Supply and Demand”

For those of you who are Norah Jones fans... get ready to add Amos Lee to your CD changer. That is... if you don’t already have him in there. A year or so ago, I heard Amos Lee and was not surprised to learn that he opened for Norah Jones. His first album, “Amos Lee,” was released in 2005 and was an instant favorite for me and my wife. He has a rich soulful voice that never sounds anything but in control and warm. His style is a mix of folk, gospel, country and blues music, much like Norah Jones. His guitar is clean and simple. His lyrics are to the point and meaningful. I don’t know what to say other than he is the real deal. Excellent music anyway you cut it.

I grabbed "Supply and Demand" the instant I heard it was out. This album sounds like he picked up where he left off from his self titled debut. The production value might be a little higher, but nothing to the point of changing his sound. My biggest complaint from the first album was that... Dang It!...It's just not long enough! Well, he picked up where he left off there as well….both albums sport 11 tracks and a listening time of 36 and 37 min respectively. I guess that I should not expect any more, since this is typical for folk music. Shorter songs mean shorter albums. I am just happy that I can now listen to him for an hour straight.

Almost forgot to mention…….He is on the BLUE NOTE label….So, you know its good stuff. Oh, and you can check it out here http://www.amoslee.com/home.php

BOTTOM_LINE: Go get it, if you like Norah Jones…….or really good easy listening with a blues-folk sound.

BOY BEATEN!!

BOY BEATEN!!

A very sad story with a happy ending.
Click on image to enlarge and read.

JIM SMASHERS!!!

JIM SMASHERS!!!

Thanks for stopping by......and ya'll come back now you hear!

Click the photo its even prettier when its bigger!

MSMW

MSMW

Since no one knows, I will clue everyone in….”Medeski, Martin, and Wood” is my FAVORITE band …well Jazz band….and is among my few all time favorites (all favorites being equal regardless of genre), which I will divulge in a later post I am sure. They just released there second album with John Scofield on Sept. 26th. The first was “A GO GO” released in 1998. This was a John Scofied album featuring MMW. The new album “OUTLOUDER” is a true collaboration between all four artists. Recorded in just under a week at Shacklyn, MMW's downtown Brooklyn studio this is the first release on MMW's independent label Indirecto Records. For more specifics and thoughts from the artist go to www.myspace.com/medeskiscofieldmartinandwood

This is an early review, but when I picked up “OUTLOUDER” I was expecting something different given the vibe of MMW’s last release “End of the World Party (just in case)”. Oh, I highly recommend “End of The World Part” if your interested in giving MMW a listen. Given my expectation I was .…mmmm….less than ecstatic upon listening for the first time. Since then I have listened a few more times. Every track on “A GO GO” was very listener friendly, which is logical since this is an improvisational album and the first was not. With that said, this album defiantly has tracks that are as friendly just not all of them. The sound on the album is jam up of course! It’s from MMW’s label. All in all I like the album, my minimal disappointment arrives in some of Scofields work on a few tracks. Some of his soloing just does not sound as fluid or as solid as I like. He has never been one of my favorite guitarists, so these parts leave me unsatisfied. There I said it……..not a Scofield fan. I feel Scofield just does not have the improvisational skills that Medeski, Martin and Wood have or maybe it’s just the way he chooses to phrase things.

BOTTOM_LINE: Good album but I do not like it as much as there first work together. Not in my top five MMW works.

ANY MMW FANS MUST COMMENT!!!!!.....pleeees?

DOODLE THIS...

DOODLE THIS.....

Old doodle which has become my Profile Pic...... Actual size is about 1/2" Square on lined note pad and drawn with RED felt tip pin..............hence the BLEEEEDING!!!!!

ON YOUR MARK!!!

ON YOUR MARK!!!

Lynn, Jim Kemp (former Boss), and I line up to start day 2 of our 150 mile adventure. With 75 miles in our legs from the day before we were not sure what to expect on our final 75 miles. The weather could not have been better for both days, with Sunday being the hotter of the two days. On Saturday we road 75 miles and averaged 18.7 mph for four hours. Then on Sunday the ride was 5 miles shorter and only totaled 70 miles. When I realized the ride was shorter I was a little disappointed.......But only for a second........Then I was very pleased to see the finish 15 minutes sooner than I or my legs expected. Amazingly Lynn and I managed to average 18.6 mph on the second day. This was much better than we expected considering we road the final 45 miles or so by ourselves. We managed to take a few photos from day 2 (forgot the camera on Saturday...oops). Click here for Photos!! We had a tremendous time and plan to do it again next year!!!

Lynn and I want to thank everyone that donated to fight MS. We raised over $600 and our team raised almost $75,000!!