Blue Dress+Wind=Trouble

I love Toni Braxton. I think she is one beautiful lady and sings like a bird. When I was working in Smooth Jazz radio, I played her stuff a lot. During opening ceremonies for the World Cup in Germany, it apparently was a very windy day....

Song Rip-Off Update

I was watching the NBA gane last night. I never watch pro basketball until the playoffs, then I love watching the pros. I heard "Magic Bus" for some car company and thought to myself, does Pete Townshend really need all of this money? I used to love Pete and The Who and thought they epitomized what rock and roll was about...loud and not pretentious at all. How wrong I was about Pete. He has sold his soul to the corporate machine. Just about every popular Who song has been stolen for something to do with cars, TV shows, you name it, Pete's sold it.

What the hell does "Oye Como Va" have to do with Honda's? When I interviewed Carlos Santana many years ago, he said "Oye Como Va" was the song that Tito Puente started his "Houseparty" with on Saturday nights broadcasting on the "X" out of Mexico. It is now selling cars. I guess I can't blame Carlos, it's not his song and maybe Tito's family needs the money....

I have cut up my Chase card due to the fact that "All You Need Is Love" is now thier theme song. Outrageous!! Did Micheal do this or was it Paul? If Paul agreed, than he's even more greedy that I previously thought. I about shot my water through my nose when I heard this. I'm seriously steamed that future generations will associate "All You Need Is Love" with a credit card.

Why Advertise?

In a column this morning, Bill McClellan wrote an article about something that I have been wondering about. Why does Ameren advertise? Are there choices in electric companies? I don't understand the need for them to be buying commercials with my money. They also throw a lot of money to lobbyists on both sides of the state congressional isle. What is the point? We have no choice when it comes to electric power.

Another question...why does MOdot run spots? Do we have a choice when it comes to fixing our roads? I didn't think so. This is a blatant attempt to spend the taxpayers money foolishly.

In Praise Of....A.R.S.

I thought the Atlanta Rhythm Section would be superstars. Formed out of the band that once was The Classics 4 (Stormy)(Spooky), this studio band caught me with "Doraville" from 1974. I caught the bug big time with "Dog Days" and was hooked. I never got to see them live, I just loved the smooth style and laid back playing that personified their music. Here are my fave ARS tunes....

1. "Sky High"
2. "Doraville"
3. "Crazy"
4. "Georgia Rhythm"
5. "Spooky"

As good as it ever got.

Blender’s list of the 50 Dumbest Rock Star Purchases

See the list here.

Er...uh..I'm jes' sayin...

It looks like wha?
This aerial photo taken from the Polk County assessor’s Web page shows the city of Des Moines’ detention basin at 2617 Easton Blvd. The basin, constructed about two years ago, helps prevent flooding, according to Des Moines City Engineer Jeb Brewer.

Brush With Greatness Part Ten

I think you know who these guys are...Taken in 1990 backstage at Kemper Arena in KC.

Funny

Kudos to the Kids and other crap I am thinking about

Paul has been accepted to Aeronautical Engineering School. We are talking NASA here. Not just aerospace but aeronautics. He has also embarked on his first solo road trip to the east coast. He will be doing a service project for Notre Dame over the summer. Get this...he will be building a back yard while living in the house owned by some hot shot stock market executive in Fairfield Ct. He has the house by himself each weekend while these guys go to "Cape Cod". Tough project huh? I think my summer projects always included detassling corn and bugs the size of your head. It's not rocket science...oh, wait it is!
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Emily has earned excellent grades her final semester of junior year. A 3.75 for the semester, nice job. She is slowly stepping away, I think we can all feel it. She is not long for this house.
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Jess is hopefully getting her feet underneath her and getting settled to what life is like after college. I apologize in advance for the numerous panic attacks and the feeling of terror that she is about to experience.
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The job front remains static. I have declined some things due to the fact that they just won't work and I am not that interested. It HAS to be the right move and I am sure it will come along. I have prayed about it a great deal. God will send me where God wants me to go. I would like to go southwest of here, but only time will tell.

Tivo Time

The Deadliest Catch.


This has been my favorite TV show lately. I have seen all of the shows and now I am watching them in reruns. I will set up my season pass to make sure I don't miss any more. This is the story of a group of crab boats that fish for Alaskan King Crab north of the Bering Strait. I guess I watch this because this looks like a challenging way to make some serious dough. I actually thought I might like to do this until the narrator said that the guys were up for 36 hours straight catching crab. I am too old for that.


Windfall





This show looks like it may have some promise. A group of friends win a huge sum of money in the lottery and we get to watch as (apparently) their lives change much more than we can imagine. I have a season pass all set up. I will watch the first show tonight and report. I hope NBC doesn't screw it up. The first show has promise, although I am the only one in the family who thinks so. I have taken the bait and I will report how this goes. Another interesting show, may be too many plot lines though, we will see.

My Friend Bill Page

I found out I lost another friend today. When Bill Page was in the news department at KBOA in Kennett, he routinely told me how happy he was. He was being paid a pretty nice salary and in return, Bill gave them his heart and soul. During the tornados that touched down in Caruthersville, Bill did a 36 hour shift. He thought it was what newsmen did. Shortly after that, he was fired for "budgetary reasons". He was heartbroken and emailed me to say so. (See a previous post)He decided to become a police dispatcher and emailed me a couple of weeks ago to tell me how much he liked his new job, he missed radio. I only met Bill twice. Once at the MBA in Kansas City (he won a bunch of times) and once in Kennett at the station. He died yesterday. Whatever the cause was, Bill died of a broken heart more than anything else. It immediately reminded me of the story about Coach "Bear" Bryant of Alabama, who coached the tide forever and finally when he retired, he died. Bill was a professional newsman. I think he would like to have been known like that.
Here is the announcement of Bill's death in the local paper.

Phoebe Cates

The picture on the left was taken in 1989. The one on the right, at the premeire of "A Prairie Home Companion", held over the weekend. We dig Kevin Kline at our house (a was a graduate of Priory)and apparently, life is treating him well, too.
She looks basically the same. Beautiful woman, always has been.

Two Types of Yoga

I love yoga..



Redneck Yoga..

Ouch, this one hurts.

Rest in Peace Billy Preston. How cool were you? You got the chance to jam with the Beatles on the rooftop. You got to be the "fifth Beatle." You did that amazing keyboard in "Get Back". You were the only person other than the Beatles to get a credit on their records. As I sit here listening to "Outa Space" (a #2 song in July of 1972, "Lean On Me was number one.), I say a prayer for your family. Apparently, you've been in a coma for awhile. Thank you for your music, your smile and that very very cool afro.

He seemed to me to be a very happy guy, it looked like he smiled a lot. Apparently, he had many battles with the demons that we all face.

Billy Preston was 59.

Weekend Crap

This is almost day 110 into what I call as "Operation Ground Zero". It is an opportunity to start again and reenergize the thought process in the somewhat new age of 50. It has been that long since a have had a drink. "How do I feel? " some people have asked. I feel great. I have also dropped 28 pounds, so that may have something to do with it.
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What will be the future of HD radio? It is very expensive right now to buy a receiver, but I also remember when blank video tapes were ten bucks a piece. I hope that the radio companies (and I think mine will) be bold enough to offer something other than the same tired 500 song playlist. I have witnessed the diffrence between HD and analog, and I can't wait to hear Steely Dan's "Aja"... or "Crime of the Century" by Supertramp on one. When I was working in a stereo store in the late 70s, those were the two albums that were sonically miles ahead of their peers. Those would be the LPs we would test stereos.
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Congrats again to the people at the Arch. Less than 1 point behind KMOX in the 12+ demos. That's frickin cool. Some of The Arch music isn't for me, but there in lies the popularity. It's not for everyone some of the time, but for most folks most of the time, and that has translated into a real winning formula. I don't think the other stations still know what hit them.
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St. Peterfest in Kirkwood tonight. Nothing like a parish festival to get into summer. I think I will go easy on the food and drink this year. It will be fun, though, just to get the latest gossip in the neighborhood.

I Never Knew...

THIS MAY COME AS A SURPRISE TO THOSE OF YOU NOT LIVING IN LAS VEGAS,
BUT THERE ARE MORE CATHOLIC CHURCHES THAN CASINOS (in Vegas).

NOT SURPRISINGLY, SOME WORSHIPPERS AT SUNDAY SERVICES WILL GIVE
CASINO CHIPS RATHER THAN CASH WHEN THE BASKET IS PASSED.

SINCE THEY GET CHIPS FROM MANY DIFFERENT CASINOS, THE CHURCHES HAVE
DEVISED A METHOD TO COLLECT THE OFFERINGS.

TH E CHURCHES SEND ALL THEIR COLLECTED CHIPS TO A NEARBY FRANCISCAN
MONASTERY FOR SORTING AND THEN THE CHIPS ARE TAKEN TO THE CASINOS OF
ORIGIN AND CASHED IN.

THIS IS DONE BY THE CHIP MONKS.

YOU DIDN'T EVEN SEE IT COMING DID YOU?

OWNED.

Thanks KK

Ways To Stop Being a Fucking Idiot

This list is not for you, our well-behaved and handsome readers. It's for all your friends and enemies who don't mind acting like major a-holes. Please forward this helpful list to them and hopefully their unsavory conduct will cease.
• If you are able to read while exercising, stop reading. You are not really exercising.
• If you find yourself enjoying bad blues performed by Bruce Willis, John Goodman or Jim Belushi, stop it. And throw away your Planet Hollywood jacket while you're at it.
• If it takes more than $45 to fill up your gas tank, stop it. Pour the gas on the outside of the vehicle and light a match.
• If you constantly worry aloud about catching SARS or West Nile, stop it. The eight cigarettes you have at lunch everyday will kill you first.
• If you are Toby Keith, stop it. Breathing, that is.
• If you are an office clockwatcher who decides what to talk about based on the day of the week and its relation to the weekend, i.e. "I hate Mondays"; "Wednesday, Hump day!" and "It's Thursday, which is almost Friday! Yay!" Stop it. Please follow me out behind the dumpsters. I want you to meet someone.
• If you put "shizzle" at the end of every word and you are not Snoop Dogg, stop it. It's about as funny as "Waaazzz-up!"
• If your fulltime job is selling crap on eBay, stop it. We don't need to bid on your sister's half-used acne medication.
• If you talk about your fraternity or sorority days ad nauseam, stop it. We already know your best days are hopelessly behind you.
• If you feel the need to yap on your cell phone in a restaurant, stop it. Leave the restaurant, continue yapping and walk directly into traffic.
• If you scold others for yawning, stop it. Take the hint (it's you).
• If you proudly state, "I really don't watch TV," stop it you liar. You watch TV every waking second you are not downloading porn.
• If you wear anything that says "WWJD," stop it. One thing Jesus wouldn't do is wear a chintzy WWJD bracelet purchased at Bea's Hallmark in the strip mall.
• If you do a month's worth of banking at my ATM when I just need to get a 20 spot, stop it. I have a gun pointed at our back, step aside and take your business inside the bank.
• If you proudly proclaim Top Gun, Scarface or Pretty Women is your favorite movie, stop it. Imitating people on "Cribs" is not a good idea.
• If you act like your work place is an episode of "The Real World," stop it. The real, real world doesn't need your drama fits (but still feel free to dress like a stripper).
• If you are a guy more than 17 years of age and choose to drink a fruity alcohol malt beverage, stop it. You did not earn the right and privilege to be drunk.

I stole this from here.

The Top Ten Unintentionally Gay Videos

Can be found here.

Regarding the first person on the list; there was nothing unintentional about it.
I know first hand...(shaddup!).

Very Funny...

Memorial Weekend Post #4 The last one...

The headstone says:
Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart.

It doesn't say what you gave up over there. It took you so long to come home even after you came home. It hurt so bad to see you like that. I can't begin to explain how much I miss you, bro. I feel lost and sometimes double crossed in life and I always remember your kind words. "Shut the fuck up and get going". I can't imagine what my life would have been like with you in it. I think about you every hour of every day. Forty five was WAY too early to go. I will see you soon.
William Guy Raley Jr. October 5 1948-October 9 1993


BTW, I stole your flag. Didn't think you'd need it or miss it.

Memorial Weekend Post #4 Retro Jams

Very weird little program broadcast on Sunday by our local whatever affiliate. I have seen videos so far like "Rock The Boat" by The Hues Corporation (what decade was that?), "Native New Yorker" by Odyssey, "You Make Me Feel Like Dancin'" by Leo Sayer (he was chewing gum while singing that's certainly believable), "Rock Your Baby" by George McRae (very primitive looking) "Love Is In The Air" by Paul Young. All of these videos came out pre MTV and look very dated. I haven't heard "Native New Yorker" forever and completely forgot about the song. What caused me to change the channel was a 20th anniversary mix of KC and the Sunshine Band that pumped it up even more...put a bullet in my brain...please. Back to the channel and a video of "All Right Now" by Free with a very alive Paul Kossof and a very young Paul Rodgers. At no time did this video syncronize the singing and/or guitar playing with what was shown. Interesting little program, viewed for curiousity's sake only.

Memorial Weekend Post # 3 Flag Up?

I am a spiritual guy. I am also very patriotic. This is no doubt the greatest country in the world. It's greatness lies within it's people. People who have sacrificed for us to be better off that 99% of the rest of the world. Even though I do not care for the current residents of the White House, Senate or Congress, I am free to say so. Is your flag up? Correctly? Mine is and will be till 12 midnight on Monday. God bless those who never came home and God bless the families who will wait till eternity.

Memorial Weekend Post #2 The Frito Principle

Let me explain the Frito Principle. This formula applies to everything in life as I am about to demonstrate. On the first day, they made Fritos and it was good. They were especially tasty when mashed onto a tuna salad sandwich when I was in third grade. I loved Fritos. Then the people who make Fritos decided to make Bar B Q Fritos. This was not good. Then, the people who make Fritos decided to make Texas Honey Sweet fritos, this was not good. Then the people who make Fritos decided to make Cheddar Cheese Fritos and it was not good. Then the people who make Fritos decided to make Chili Cheese Fritos and it was not good. Now, when I go to the store, I can't find the original Fritos on the shelf. That's because there are too many packages of Bar BQ, Chili Cheese...etc. The Frito Principle? Quit fucking with stuff. Once you have something right, don't screw with it. Quit messing with my mellow. This segues into Dr. Pepper...

When I was a kid on the farm, it was a treat to get a frosty Dr. Pepper. We didn't have soda in the house and riding my bike into town on Saturday morning always featured a stop at Norman's Rexall drug to get a fountain Dr. Pepper. Oh the joys of childhood. Recently, I was sucked into a tsunami of advertising blitzes for their new "Berries and Cream" soda. At the store, I picked one up. It tastes like a Dr. Pepper Cream Soda. I like cream sodas, some don't. Will I buy it again? I don't know, I guess it all depends on how much TV I watch. I am thinking though, for one more fountain Dr. Pepper at Norman's before I die.

Memorial Weekend Post #1 Rat Fink!

A collection of Henry Kissinger's private letters and correspondence was released the other day.

George Washington University’s National Security Archive released the collection, drawn from papers available at the government's National Archives and obtained through the group’s Freedom of Information requests.

In it, Kissinger tells Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai in June 1972 that the United States, mired in Vietnam, probably could live with a communist government in South Vietnam as long as that evolved peacefully. “If we can live with a communist government in China, we ought to be able to accept it in Indochina,” he said.

So. Let me get this straight...we basically gave up to the Chinese in 1972, but didn't pull out until 1975. So, does that mean that all of those guys who died from 1972-1975 didn't have to die? Don't forget this bastard won a Nobel Peace prize in 1973. Mr. Kissinger, may you and Mr. McNamara be forever in enternity persecuted and haunted by the ghosts of the men who fought and died for the miscarriage of justice known as Vietnam.

What the hell...?

In the spirit of American Idol being the new "thing" and our country's fascination with all things that are Jenn...Brad...Ben...Britney...Angelina,I am pleased to report that since January 12, 2006, this website has reached more than 10,000 hits. The sign of the apocolypse is upon us. Run for your lives. The next thing you know, cats will be hangin with dogs..I'm jes sayin'...too weird to be made up.

How true...

Awesome animation

Maybe one of the coolest animation pieces I have ever seen. Very, very nice.
Click here.
The website
Thanks, KK.

Simple Pleasures

I was filling out a questionaire the other day and one of the questions was
"What makes you happy?" Hmmm. I answered that the very simple things that don't cost money make me happy. I have very simple pleasures. Then today, my friend Karl sent me an email with the heading "Natural Highs". After consuming many "natural highs" in my life, I opened the email and this is exactly the stuff I was thinking about..
So, since I am big into lists (couldn't tell could ya) I present the top 40 natural highs.
1. Falling in love.
2. Laughing so hard your face hurts.
3. A hot shower.
4. No lines at the supermarket
5. A special glance.
6. Getting mail
7. Taking a drive on a pretty road.
8. Hearing your favorite song on the radio.
9. Lying in bed listening to the rain outside.
10. Hot! towels fresh out of the dryer.
11. Chocolate milkshake.. (or vanilla or strawberry!)
12. Giggling.
13. A good conversation.
14. The beach
15. Finding a 20 dollar bill in your coat from last winter.
16. Laughing at yourself.
17. Midnight phone calls that last for hours.
18. Running through sprinklers.
19. Laughing for absolutely no reason at all.
20. Having someone tell you that you're beautiful.
21. Friends.
22. Accidentally overhearing someone say something nice about you
23. Waking up and realizing you still have a few hours left to sleep.
24. Your first kiss (either the very first or with a new partner).
25. Making new friends or spending time with old ones.
26. Playing with a new puppy.
27. Sweet dreams.
28. Hot chocolate.
29. Road trip! s with friends.
30. Swinging on swings.
31. Making eye contact with a cute stranger.
32. Holding hands with someone you care about.
33. Running into an old friend and realizing
that some things (good or bad) never change.
34. Watching the sunrise.
35. Getting out of bed every morning and
being grateful for another beautiful day.
36. Knowing that somebody misses you.
37. Getting a hug from someone you care about deeply.
38. Knowing you've done the right thing,
no matter what other people think.
39. White Shoulders perfume
40. The smell of a freshly mowed lawn

Thanks, Karl for reminding me.

Seventies Music

I was having a discussion inthe sauna the other day with friend of mine and we got off on this tangent about what bands we listened to the most in the seventies. He came up with some weird formula that consisted of how much we listened over a certain length of time. With all factors in mind, here are my top five artists that I listened to in the 1970s.

1. Joe Walsh (very surprising but think about The James Gang from 1970-1972 solo from 1972-76 and then with The Eagles from 1976 to 1980)

2. Santana (the first Santana CD came out in 1970 and they released about nine LPs in the 70s)

3. Dave Mason ("Alone Together" was from 1970 and his last good CD was "Mariposa de Oro" which was released in 1978)

4. Steely Dan (from "Can't Buy A Thrill" in 1972 to "Gaucho" in 1980)

5(tie). Blue Oyster Cult (from the first one in 72 to 1980's "Cultasaurus Erectus")

J. Geils Band from 1970's "Morning After" to 1979's "Sanctuary")

Honorable Mention: Led Zeppelin (done with them in 1976), Deep Purple (ditto), The Doobie Brothers (hated the Micheal McDonald stuff), The Who (very erratic later in the decade), The Eagles, Wishbone Ash, Elton John (I hated everything after 1975), Ted Nugent (loved all of his 70s work), Van Morrison.

Ramblin Randy

My sister and I grew up in a bowling alley. Every fucking Sunday night we would put on our stupid matching uniforms and go to the bowling alley to be paraded around like a couple of goons. My dad was an old man and so were his friends. They would all smoke cigarettes and get drunk on "highballs" and hit on my mom who was twenty years youger than all of them. I hated Sunday nights. But, I did grow a fondness for bowling and in my day could hit a 185 average or so. I haven't bowled since I got sick which was 4 years ago. The last time I bowled I was sick because I couldn't throw the ball very well. I went bowling yesterday. I started with a 121, found my mark and five games later did a 178. It felt great. Fancy damn scoring machines they have on the lanes does everything but pick up a split.

The first watermelon of the season has made it to the Raley home and has promptly disappeared. There are two things I can eat my weight in. The first would be cashews and the second would be watermelon. The first watermelon of the season always tastes the best.
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What does a track coach coach? Really, is it technique? My high school track coach smoked which I thought was funny but I never got what they actually coached. Either you are fast or you are not. Jest wonderin'
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The youngest daughter is Lady Capulet in our production of Romeo and Juliet at Priory. She tried out for Juliet but didn't quite look young enough. The play runs through Sunday's matinee. This is the stuff that makes it all worthwhile through the bitching and screaming sessions that seem to make no sense. I am very proud.
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My oldest is having her graduation party on saturday night in the Quad Cities and I am looking forward to a road trip. I love the road and will drive to the Quads Saturday afternoon, see Jess and all, turn around and head back to St. Louis Sunday morning.
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It's all good.