From Blendtec Blenders...ya gotta see this one. Betcha can't watch just one.Link
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
The Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking
CLINTON, Utah - An 87-year-old Utah man was discovered 2,000 miles away Wednesday in Pennsylvania, less than 48 hours after he was reported missing, police said. How did Andrew Hentz do it? "He mentioned he had hitchhiked," Clinton police Detective Matt Fawbush said. "I wish I knew how he traveled that far. It's mind-boggling."
Hentz has a son in Middletown, Pa., where police found him on a street after midnight Wednesday, Fawbush said. He was examined at Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, Pa., and released, according to the hospital. Hentz lives alone in a retirement apartment in Clinton, about 30 miles north of Salt Lake City. A daughter reported him missing Monday around 2 p.m. MDT.
"We received information from the family he may be seeking transportation back to Pennsylvania, where he's from," Fawbush said. "We had checked bus depots, airports. Pretty much nothing as far as leads and tips." Fawbush said he had no other details on Hentz' cross-country journey. Police in Middletown, Pa., did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
"Nice people? A truck driver? We don't know how he did it," Fawbush said.
Hentz has a son in Middletown, Pa., where police found him on a street after midnight Wednesday, Fawbush said. He was examined at Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, Pa., and released, according to the hospital. Hentz lives alone in a retirement apartment in Clinton, about 30 miles north of Salt Lake City. A daughter reported him missing Monday around 2 p.m. MDT.
"We received information from the family he may be seeking transportation back to Pennsylvania, where he's from," Fawbush said. "We had checked bus depots, airports. Pretty much nothing as far as leads and tips." Fawbush said he had no other details on Hentz' cross-country journey. Police in Middletown, Pa., did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
"Nice people? A truck driver? We don't know how he did it," Fawbush said.
How Cool!
LONDON (AFP) - After more than 30 years which he spent as a member of one of the world's most successful bands, Queen guitarist Brian May has finally finished his PhD thesis which he began as a student in the 1970s, The Times reported on Thursday.
May, 59, earned a degree in physics at Imperial College London but after years of studying interplanetary dust, he abandoned work towards his doctorate when Queen took off.
His interest in the subject was reignited when he co-authored "Bang! The Complete History of the Universe", which tells the story of the universe from the big bang through its subsequent evolution, and was released last year.
"For the last nine months, I've done nothing except slave over my PhD, which is now written up, thank God," May reportedly told students at a ceremony at Exeter University in southwest Britain when he received an honorary doctorate.
"But there are times when you really want to give up. There are times when you go, 'Why on earth did I take this on?'"
May worked on the PhD between 1971 and 1974, and kept all his hand-written notes on the subject through the years, finally discovering them in his loft recently.
"People are aware he is here and there is a feeling it is pretty cool that he has come back to finish his PhD, even if he has not been hugely visible," Abigail Smith, a spokeswoman for Imperial College, was quoted as saying by The Times.
The rocker will receive his PhD next May, assuming his thesis is approved by supervisors.
May, 59, earned a degree in physics at Imperial College London but after years of studying interplanetary dust, he abandoned work towards his doctorate when Queen took off.
His interest in the subject was reignited when he co-authored "Bang! The Complete History of the Universe", which tells the story of the universe from the big bang through its subsequent evolution, and was released last year.
"For the last nine months, I've done nothing except slave over my PhD, which is now written up, thank God," May reportedly told students at a ceremony at Exeter University in southwest Britain when he received an honorary doctorate.
"But there are times when you really want to give up. There are times when you go, 'Why on earth did I take this on?'"
May worked on the PhD between 1971 and 1974, and kept all his hand-written notes on the subject through the years, finally discovering them in his loft recently.
"People are aware he is here and there is a feeling it is pretty cool that he has come back to finish his PhD, even if he has not been hugely visible," Abigail Smith, a spokeswoman for Imperial College, was quoted as saying by The Times.
The rocker will receive his PhD next May, assuming his thesis is approved by supervisors.
Musical Guilty Pleasure
Yes, they were a Cream "rip-off" but the summer of my 14th year, I heard "Mississippi Queen" on the radio. Two minutes and twenty three seconds of crunching nasty bliss. I then went right out and bought "Climbing" from Mountain. What an appropriate name for this band. A Mountain of sound with two of the most underrated rock musicians ever. Leslie West and Corky Laing along with Felix Pappalardi. I remember on the back of the album it said "Made To Be Played Loud" and I did. I had the chance to see Leslie when "The Leslie West Band" opened for Thin Lizzy at the RKO Orpheum Theatre in Davenport circa 1975 or so. Playing rhythm guitar was Mick Jones (previously the guitar player in Spooky Tooth who also featured Gary Wright on vocals and keyboards..my admiration for Spooky Tooth will be documented at the future time). Mick left Leslie's band and put together Foreigner. Leslie also formed West, Bruce and Laing with former Cream bassist Jack Bruce (another loud mafuggin band that I really enjoyed). Corky Laing drummed his ass off and Felix (who was later shot to death by his girlfriend) really laid down some awesome backbeats. Not only could they rock with the best but "Nantucket Sleighride" is one of the most melodic rock songs ever and a real classic in my house. Hats off to "The Fat Man" who in the nineties shed a ton of weight. Thanks for helping shape my musical influences.My top five Mountain songs:
1. "Nantucket Sleighride"-this is a perfect song especially with the opening "Taunta's Tune"
2. "Mississippi Queen"-the soundtrack to that 14th summer
3."Never In My Life"-wham bam blam thank you ma'am (We need more cowbell)
4."For Yasgur's Farm"-their reflections on their Woodstock performance
5."Theme From An Imaginary Western"-just one of my faves from the farm
Junk Between My Ears
I just saw a new commercial with Betty White in it. Even well into her eighties, she is still a very attractive woman. At one time a "pin up" model, she married Password host Allen Ludden. He die of cancer many years ago. My favorite role of hers was that of Sue Ann Nivens on the Mary Tyler Moore show.^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I am addicted to these "World's Most Shocking" crap that comes on Court TV. I just saw "Worlds Most Shocking Dangerous Drivers 3" and watched the whole damn thing. Mind candy...uh wait more like mind cotton candy.
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I am getting where I hate the Baseball All Star Game. Joe Buck is grating on me for some reason ( I think he comes across as a smart ass) and Tim McCarver is a constant yak machine. The home run derby was fun, but I am sooo tired of..."back, back ,back ,back, back..it's gone". Can we think of something else? How long is it going to be until one of those kids on the field gets really hurt? Who was the clown with the Tshirt that was spray painted with the advertisement for the barber shop? One last thing...it's the bottom of the ninth, bases loaded, two out and you DON'T have Albert Pujols come up to bat? WTF? Vladimir Guerrero, you have been playing in the major leagues for over a decade and you STILL don't know any English? Just an effort would be nice.
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I love my country very much but I just don't understand why we invaded Iraq. This war may be the undoing of the republic. I hope it doesn't happen but I feel a major revolt coming. And we get news today that Al-Queda is now as strong as it was before 9/11. Wait a minute..what the hell have we been doing then? I thought the idea was to fight them over there so we don't have to fight them here. If they attack us here, they won't be messing around, that's for sure. If they do attack us, will W pull the martial law card and suspend the constitution? It doesn't look good kids.
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I was listening to Rush gasbag today and he reported that one of the republican senators said that those who oppose the president's "war' policy are "wimps". Then Rush said.."I like that, we're dealing with facts, here". Hey Rush, did you serve? Do you have friends who have kids serving over there? Of course not. It's OK as long as it's not you, huh? Sorry friends, I just get tired of the "chicken hawks" like Dick "I had other commitments"Cheney lining the pockets of the Haliburton investors while hurling invectives and slurs at the people who don't go along with this headlong race into the inferno. As long as I live, I never thought that I would long for Nixon again. These guys make Nixon look like a saint. Is this the best we can do? This is the best government money can buy. And it has. Where oh where is Teddy Roosevelt or Harry Truman when we need them the most?
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A couple of the guys I play basketball with are people that I admire. Pat is 74 and Jules is 77. Both of them hit shots this morning. I just hope to be walking at 74. God bless em.
Sorry for the rant, it has been a good day with me closing some deals and doing a great presentation.
Sunday, July 08, 2007
Set Your DVRs
Among inductees of the National Inventors Hall of Fame, his name comes alphabetically after Louis Pasteur. In the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, it follows Parliament-Funkadelic. This singular distinction belongs to Les Paul, whose insatiable curiosity and experiments gave us the musical instrument of the modern era - the solid-body electric guitar - and the predominant studio recording technique - multi-tracking. Audacious and indefatigable at every turn of his career - from small-town Waukesha to Harlem music haunts to Hollywood studios - Paul, at age 92, still holds court every Monday night at the Iridium Jazz Club in New York City. AMERICAN MASTERS explores the revolutionary results of his drive to create sounds that had "never been heard on earth" when Les Paul: Chasing Sound premieres Wednesday, July 11 8pm Central time.
Priceless! part two
65' Custom built motor yacht, staterooms, GPS navigation, twin supercharged diesels, etc. = $2.5 million
Champagne and strawberries, dockside, for the excited "soon to be owners" = $250.00
Crane and rigging, complete with faulty turnbuckle = $2,500 per hour
Watching your dreamboat nose dive into the harbor, accompanied by two corporate representatives just prior to "inking" the final paperwork........
Priceless....................................
Champagne and strawberries, dockside, for the excited "soon to be owners" = $250.00
Crane and rigging, complete with faulty turnbuckle = $2,500 per hour
Watching your dreamboat nose dive into the harbor, accompanied by two corporate representatives just prior to "inking" the final paperwork........
Priceless....................................
Priceless!
Sighting in your expensive new deer rifle
1.Shiny new, high-powered deer rifle.............. $1200.00
2.Quality, high-powered scope........................ $ 550.00
3.Bore sighting device.................................... $ 140.00
4.Hospital Visit............................................... $ 4,893.005.
Forgetting to remove the bore sighting device prior to shooting?
Priceless !
In Darwin 's book, the score: Deer 1 Hunter 0 GAME OVER
1.Shiny new, high-powered deer rifle.............. $1200.00
2.Quality, high-powered scope........................ $ 550.00
3.Bore sighting device.................................... $ 140.00
4.Hospital Visit............................................... $ 4,893.005.
Forgetting to remove the bore sighting device prior to shooting?
Priceless !
In Darwin 's book, the score: Deer 1 Hunter 0 GAME OVER
America Personified
ThisFriday, July 06, 2007
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
Signs An Establishment Isn’t Going to Deliver the Service You Expect.
I got this from waiterrant.com. Very good advice, I'd say:
1. There’s an “unsatisfactory” sticker from the Board of Health pasted on the front door. (Ever since the rats at Taco Bell incident the public’s been so picky!)
2. There are glowing restaurant reviews hanging in the lobby for all to see. The only problem? The most recent review is from 1987.
3. No one greets you at the door with a smile and says “Welcome.” That’s because the sexual deviant who owns the place has scared away all the young female hostesses OR the hostess is in the back getting high and/or servicing the owner/headwaiter/chef/sugar daddy customer who told her he’d get her a modeling gig OR the girl’s too busy talking to her agent/boyfriend/therapist/girlfriend/married man she’s having a fling with/ on her cell phone.
4. The waiter greets you by saying, “What up yo?”
5. That same waiter smells like he/she hasn’t bathed in days.
6. The menus are sticky, torn, and out of date.
7. The olive oil on the table is rancid.
8. You smell bleach because some Einstein in the kitchen decided it would be a good idea to swab down the prep area during the dinner rush.
9. The air conditioning/heat doesn’t work.
10. You see a man sitting at one of the back tables surrounded by stacks of bills and crying bitterly. Then you find out that person’s the owner.
11. You try using the bathroom but discover two of the waiters are using it to have sex. (Can we have some privacy please?)
12. When you do get into the bathroom there’s a floater in the toilet and no toilet paper.
13. Think about #12 some more. Now think about the sign “Employees must wash hands.”
14. There’s no air freshener in the toilet either.
15. There’s only COLD waiter in the bathroom sink because the owner is that cheap of a bastard. The liquid soap dispenser is also empty. Please think about #12 and #13.
16. On your way back to your table you catch a glimpse of the kitchen guys and swear you’ve seen all their faces on America’s Most Wanted.
17. When the waiter’s telling you the specials he slips you a note that reads, “Please kill me.”
18. The waiters are inking jail house tattoos into each others arms using the corkscrews on their wine openers.
19. The bartender’s watching some kind of kinky anime porn on the TV over the bar. Ugh! Tentacles! That’s the seafood special tonight folks! . Surf and Smurf!
20. There are no customers in the restaurant and its Saturday night. (DANGER, WILL ROBINSON! DANGER!)
If you walk into a restaurant and see any of these things — run like hell!
2. There are glowing restaurant reviews hanging in the lobby for all to see. The only problem? The most recent review is from 1987.
3. No one greets you at the door with a smile and says “Welcome.” That’s because the sexual deviant who owns the place has scared away all the young female hostesses OR the hostess is in the back getting high and/or servicing the owner/headwaiter/chef/sugar daddy customer who told her he’d get her a modeling gig OR the girl’s too busy talking to her agent/boyfriend/therapist/girlfriend/married man she’s having a fling with/ on her cell phone.
4. The waiter greets you by saying, “What up yo?”
5. That same waiter smells like he/she hasn’t bathed in days.
6. The menus are sticky, torn, and out of date.
7. The olive oil on the table is rancid.
8. You smell bleach because some Einstein in the kitchen decided it would be a good idea to swab down the prep area during the dinner rush.
9. The air conditioning/heat doesn’t work.
10. You see a man sitting at one of the back tables surrounded by stacks of bills and crying bitterly. Then you find out that person’s the owner.
11. You try using the bathroom but discover two of the waiters are using it to have sex. (Can we have some privacy please?)
12. When you do get into the bathroom there’s a floater in the toilet and no toilet paper.
13. Think about #12 some more. Now think about the sign “Employees must wash hands.”
14. There’s no air freshener in the toilet either.
15. There’s only COLD waiter in the bathroom sink because the owner is that cheap of a bastard. The liquid soap dispenser is also empty. Please think about #12 and #13.
16. On your way back to your table you catch a glimpse of the kitchen guys and swear you’ve seen all their faces on America’s Most Wanted.
17. When the waiter’s telling you the specials he slips you a note that reads, “Please kill me.”
18. The waiters are inking jail house tattoos into each others arms using the corkscrews on their wine openers.
19. The bartender’s watching some kind of kinky anime porn on the TV over the bar. Ugh! Tentacles! That’s the seafood special tonight folks! . Surf and Smurf!
20. There are no customers in the restaurant and its Saturday night. (DANGER, WILL ROBINSON! DANGER!)
If you walk into a restaurant and see any of these things — run like hell!
Will Prom Night Disappear?
It failed to bring Jim Carrey happiness in the award-winning film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, but scientists have now developed a way to block and even delete unwanted memories from people's brains.Researchers have found they can use drugs to wipe away single, specific memories while leaving other memories intact. By injecting an amnesia drug at the right time, when a subject was recalling a particular thought, neuro-scientists discovered they could disrupt the way the memory is stored and even make it disappear. The research has, however, sparked concern among parliamentary advisers who insist that new regulations are now needed to control the use of the drugs to prevent them becoming used by healthy people as a "quick fix". But the US scientists behind the research insist that amnesia drugs could be invaluable in treating patients with psychiatric disorders such as post-traumatic stress. In a new study, revealed in the Journal of Psychiatric Research, psychiatrists at McGill University, in Montreal, and Harvard University, in Boston, used an amnesia drug to "dampen" the memories of trauma victims. Prof Karim Nader, of McGill University, said: "When you remember old memories they can become 'unstored' and then have to be 'restored'. "As the memory is getting restored, we gave patients a drug that turns down the emotional part of the memory. It left the conscious part of the memory intact, so they could still remember all the details but without being overwhelmed by the memory." The research suggests memories can be manipulated because they act as if made from glass, existing in a molten state as they are being created, before turning solid. When the memory is recalled, however, it becomes molten again and so can be altered before it once more resets. The drug used by the scientists is thought to disrupt the biochemical pathways that allow the memory to "harden" after it is recalled. The researchers used propranolol, a drug normally used to treat hypertension in heart disease patients but also known to cause memory problems. They treated 19 accident or rape victims for 10 days with the drug or with dummy pills, while they asked to describe their memories of a traumatic event that happened 10 years earlier. A week later, they found that the patients given the drug suffered fewer signs of stress such as raised heart rate when recalling their trauma.The technique echoes scenes from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, where the characters played by Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet both undergo treatment to delete each other from their memories. In the film, scientists ask the characters to remember their unwanted memories in order to target them with small electric shocks. But the treatment goes drastically wrong, when the characters discover they in fact wanted to hold on to the memories after all. Scientists at New York University have published another new study where they claim to have erased a single memory from the brains of rats while leaving the rest of the animals' memories still intact. The rats were trained to associate two musical tones with a mild electrical shock so that when they heard either of the tones they would brace themselves for a shock. The researchers then gave half the rats a drug, called U0126 and known to cause limited amnesia, when playing one of the musical tones. After the treatment, the rats that had been given the drug no longer associated that particular tone with an imminent shock but still braced themselves upon hearing the second tone, demonstrating only one memory had been deleted. Prof Joseph LeDoux, who led the New York team, said: "Such treatments may have highly specific and potentially permanent effects." The research has alarmed some experts, however, who fear that memory altering drugs could be abused by healthy individuals to delete unwanted memories on a whim.
A new report published by the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, which advises MPs about scientific advances, warned that regulations need to be put in place to restrict the use of any memory-blocking drugs, imposing strict limits on their prescription.
Dr Peter Border, who edited the report, said: "There has been a deafening silence from the regulators about whether or not they might consider licensing pharmaceuticals for use in individuals where there is no medical benefits. There is a need for someone to consider how to regulate these things."
From "The Telegraph.UK"
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Ipod Tuesday
Today was the 33rd anniversary of the wedding day of my first marriage. I celebrated by mowing the yard. As stated before, I really like mowing my own yard, over the whine of the lawn mower, THIS is where I hatch my plans to take over the world, you can see how far I have gotten. Anyway, had the old Ipod charged and ready to go. With weedeating and some general maintanence in the yard, I was out for about one hour and twenty minutes, here is what came up as I shuffled my way back to...wherever.
We started with..
Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey - Paul McCartney...one of my faves from him
Unchained-Van Halen...underrated Fair Warning disc
Dragonfly-Mahogany Rush..from IV a very fine release from 1976
In From The Storm-Hendrix..nuff said
The Fool and Me-Robin Trower..another Raley Hall of Fame album
I Just Want To Celebrate-Rare Earth...great song for 4th of July eve
Across The Border-ELO..was there a better album than "Out of The Blue"? maybe, maybe not
Shouldn't Have Took More Than You Gave-Dave Mason...see previous post
Trademark-Eric Johnson...Ah Via Musicom was my favorite release of 1991
Stone Cold Crazy-Queen...heavy metal Queen 2:16 of pure rock and roll
Workin For MCA-Skynyrd...one of their best, loved this band
Last Of The Singin Cowboys-Marshall Tucker..maybe my favorite song of theirs
Rocket In My Pocket-Little Feat...great live tune
Fools-Deep Purple..from Fireball when I was 15, this was my favorite album
Accidents will Happen-Elvis Costello...I hated this guy till I got older
All Things Must Pass-George Harrison...miss this dude a lot
The E Street Shuffle-Bruce...before he was famous
You-Bonnie Raitt...gets me every time.
Do You Want To Dance?-Jim Messina..one of the best albums to make love to..not that I would know or anything
Not a bad playlist, huh? Think I could run my own station? Nah...
We started with..
Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey - Paul McCartney...one of my faves from him
Unchained-Van Halen...underrated Fair Warning disc
Dragonfly-Mahogany Rush..from IV a very fine release from 1976
In From The Storm-Hendrix..nuff said
The Fool and Me-Robin Trower..another Raley Hall of Fame album
I Just Want To Celebrate-Rare Earth...great song for 4th of July eve
Across The Border-ELO..was there a better album than "Out of The Blue"? maybe, maybe not
Shouldn't Have Took More Than You Gave-Dave Mason...see previous post
Trademark-Eric Johnson...Ah Via Musicom was my favorite release of 1991
Stone Cold Crazy-Queen...heavy metal Queen 2:16 of pure rock and roll
Workin For MCA-Skynyrd...one of their best, loved this band
Last Of The Singin Cowboys-Marshall Tucker..maybe my favorite song of theirs
Rocket In My Pocket-Little Feat...great live tune
Fools-Deep Purple..from Fireball when I was 15, this was my favorite album
Accidents will Happen-Elvis Costello...I hated this guy till I got older
All Things Must Pass-George Harrison...miss this dude a lot
The E Street Shuffle-Bruce...before he was famous
You-Bonnie Raitt...gets me every time.
Do You Want To Dance?-Jim Messina..one of the best albums to make love to..not that I would know or anything
Not a bad playlist, huh? Think I could run my own station? Nah...
Sunday, July 01, 2007
God the Painter Number 4
On second thought, I think I would rather live here. Who needs artists when the Almighty gets it perfect?
Farming In The Big Apple?
I got this story from the BBC, being a guy who was raised on a farm I found this very interesting...(is this what Jethro Tull was referring to in their song "Farm On The Freeway"?) 
Is this how farms will look in the future?
Downtown Manhattan is hardly a place you would associate with agriculture. Rather, with its countless restaurants, cafes, shops and supermarkets this is a place of consumption. And so every morsel, every bite of food New Yorkers munch through every day must be trucked, shipped or flown in, from across the country, and across the world. Now though, scientists at Columbia University are proposing an alternative. Their vision of the future is one in which the skyline of New York and other cities include a new kind of skyscaper: the "vertical farm".
The idea is simple enough. Imagine a 30-story building with glass walls, topped off with a huge solar panel. On each floor there would be giant planting beds, indoor fields in effect. There would be a sophisticated irrigation system. Even if it's not quite natural...you're going to get back the rest of the earth. And so crops of all kinds and small livestock could all be grown in a controlled environment in the most urban of settings. That means there would be no shipping costs, and no pollution caused by moving produce around the country. It's all the brainchild of Columbia University Professor Dickson Despommier. He and his students took existing greenhouse technology as a starting point and are now convinced that vertical farms are a practical
Vertical farming in the big Apple
By Jeremy Cooke BBC News, New York
By Jeremy Cooke BBC News, New York
Is this how farms will look in the future?
Downtown Manhattan is hardly a place you would associate with agriculture. Rather, with its countless restaurants, cafes, shops and supermarkets this is a place of consumption. And so every morsel, every bite of food New Yorkers munch through every day must be trucked, shipped or flown in, from across the country, and across the world. Now though, scientists at Columbia University are proposing an alternative. Their vision of the future is one in which the skyline of New York and other cities include a new kind of skyscaper: the "vertical farm".
The idea is simple enough. Imagine a 30-story building with glass walls, topped off with a huge solar panel. On each floor there would be giant planting beds, indoor fields in effect. There would be a sophisticated irrigation system. Even if it's not quite natural...you're going to get back the rest of the earth. And so crops of all kinds and small livestock could all be grown in a controlled environment in the most urban of settings. That means there would be no shipping costs, and no pollution caused by moving produce around the country. It's all the brainchild of Columbia University Professor Dickson Despommier. He and his students took existing greenhouse technology as a starting point and are now convinced that vertical farms are a practical
suggestion. Professor Despommier lists many advantages of this revolutionary kind of agriculture. They include:
Year round crop production in a controlled environment
All produce would be organic as there would be no exposure to wild parasites and bugs
Elimination of environmentally damaging agricultural runoff
Food being produced locally to where it is consumed
And, says the professor, vertical farming would allow some existing traditional farms to be returned to natural forests. Good news in a time of global warming. "Even if it's not quite natural.... a little bit factory-like in terms of its production, here's what you're going to get back: you're going to get back the rest of the earth. And I'll take that any time."
The plan is to make the whole complex sustainable.
Nurturing high rise crops in the "vertical farm" Energy would come from a giant solar panel but there would also be incinerators which use the farm's waste products for fuel. All of the water in the entire complex would be recycled. Several hours drive north of the city in upstate New York, Ed Miller's 18,000 apple trees are in full bloom. Like farmers across the world he has lived through decades of constant change and innovation. But he remains, at heart, a man of the soil.
So what does he think of the virtual farm concept? He is, perhaps, surprisingly positive: ''It looks like a fancy greenhouse," he says. "It's fabulous, it will be very interesting. It will be phenomenal." For now, vertical farms are a virtual concept. But the scientists insist that the theory is sound.
All they need now, they say, is the money to make this a reality.
Year round crop production in a controlled environment
All produce would be organic as there would be no exposure to wild parasites and bugs
Elimination of environmentally damaging agricultural runoff
Food being produced locally to where it is consumed
And, says the professor, vertical farming would allow some existing traditional farms to be returned to natural forests. Good news in a time of global warming. "Even if it's not quite natural.... a little bit factory-like in terms of its production, here's what you're going to get back: you're going to get back the rest of the earth. And I'll take that any time."
The plan is to make the whole complex sustainable.
Nurturing high rise crops in the "vertical farm" Energy would come from a giant solar panel but there would also be incinerators which use the farm's waste products for fuel. All of the water in the entire complex would be recycled. Several hours drive north of the city in upstate New York, Ed Miller's 18,000 apple trees are in full bloom. Like farmers across the world he has lived through decades of constant change and innovation. But he remains, at heart, a man of the soil.So what does he think of the virtual farm concept? He is, perhaps, surprisingly positive: ''It looks like a fancy greenhouse," he says. "It's fabulous, it will be very interesting. It will be phenomenal." For now, vertical farms are a virtual concept. But the scientists insist that the theory is sound.
All they need now, they say, is the money to make this a reality.
Saturday, June 30, 2007
My Two Latest Purchases
Sometimes, you hear songs that you just grasp onto and can't let them go. When I was working at KY102 in the early eighties, this record came out. The first song released was "Tell Me What You Want" and I loved it. It was a welcome relief from the Flock of Seagulls, Modern English junk that was polluting our airwaves at the time, just good old straight ahead rock and roll done melodically and with great harmonies. I would cheat on the format (sorry, Max) to play this song just about every night. I then got the record, the rest of the stuff was pretty mediocre with the exception of "Who's Behing The Door?", the very last song on side one. I thought these guys were going to be big. Alas, only one other song made much of a dent back in those new wave days and that was "Bears" from their third CD. These two songs from this album still hold up today and when I was at The Rock, I had a chance to see them on tour at Pops. They were great and very nice guys, too. I don't know what happened to this CD from my collection, but I am glad it's back.
It's kinda hard to describe how much I have listened to Dave Mason in my life. I guess I am not alone, because back in the day, he jammed with Clapton, Hendrix (that's him playing the acoustic guitar on "All Along The Watchtower"), George Harrison, Steve Winwood (he was a charter member of Traffic at 18) Delaney and Bonnie, etc. etc. He was one of the few guys that would come through Davenport on a regular basis and bring his bad ass band. I picked this up yesterday and literally can't get it out of my CD player. He performed at the one year anniversary of XM in 2003, and has never sounded better. All the hits are here and some tasty stuff, too including his duet with the late Jim Capaldi on "40,000 Headmen". When I had a chance to interview him at KSHE in 1985, I thought I was going to throw up, I was so nervous. This guy is one of my top ten artists of all time. This is an awesome release.
It's kinda hard to describe how much I have listened to Dave Mason in my life. I guess I am not alone, because back in the day, he jammed with Clapton, Hendrix (that's him playing the acoustic guitar on "All Along The Watchtower"), George Harrison, Steve Winwood (he was a charter member of Traffic at 18) Delaney and Bonnie, etc. etc. He was one of the few guys that would come through Davenport on a regular basis and bring his bad ass band. I picked this up yesterday and literally can't get it out of my CD player. He performed at the one year anniversary of XM in 2003, and has never sounded better. All the hits are here and some tasty stuff, too including his duet with the late Jim Capaldi on "40,000 Headmen". When I had a chance to interview him at KSHE in 1985, I thought I was going to throw up, I was so nervous. This guy is one of my top ten artists of all time. This is an awesome release.
I was going to list my top five Dave Mason songs, then my top ten, but I found out I couldn't do it. So, here are my top five Dave Mason albums:
Number five: "Headkeeper"
Released: February 1972
Chart Peak: #51
Weeks Charted: 14
Tommy Li Puma, Dave Mason's coproducer at Blue Thumb, has notified by mail various radio stations and record distributors across the country to go ahead and promote Headkeeper, in spite of the fact that Mason has brought a lawsuit against the label. For those of you who do not boycott the album, Headkeeper has plenty of moments to justify your purchase, and yet leaves you feeling that it is an incomplete, unfinished album.
Each of all the five songs on side two is a live recording of material Mason had recorded elsewhere. "Pearly Queen," a song that here is attributed to Mason and on the Traffic album is credited to Winwood and Capaldi, got itself a better treatment the first time around, simply because Winwood's vocal was funkier, grittier, more edged with irony. The song itself has enough propulsion in it that it doesn't need the extra added bit of soul that Winwood gives it, but then why not? Mason's interpretation here of "Feelin' Alright" is different from the one he delivered on Traffic. Then he sang with a whimpering, quaveringly insecure voice which, when joining the chorus, instantly picked up sarcastic strength. The change was always sudden and dramatic as Clark Kent leaping out of a broom closet dressed as Superman. In the present version, latin jazz rhythms open the song and right from the beginning all the way through, Mason sings with extroversion and authority. Now he even takes a supposedly humbled line like "Well, boy, you sure took me for one big ride," and turns it inside out to read like a gorgeous put-down. Whatever Chris Wood offered in the way of bluesy saxophone on the first version, Mark Jordan matches well with his jazz electric piano on this.
The other three songs on this side are all originally from Mason's Alone Together. In each case judgements of quality will have to be simply a matter of taster's choice. Between the two "World In Changes," I prefer the studio recording if for no other reason than the way Mason stutters one phrase, making it come out "I-I can't pretend." On the Alone Together's "Just A Song," you got a banjo and back-up chorus; here you get a jaunty organ and a barely audible but spontaneous laugh from Mason on the line "You're all I've ever done." In the two versions of "Can't Stop Worrying" you'll find two of the finest vocals Mason's ever recorded. To my mind the first version has the edge because I've grown in love with the expressive and pristine electric guitar lead, but there are those who'll find even more purity in the sound of Mason performing alone with just his acoustic.
The piano is the instrument which dominates and gives body and flavor to the best of the songs on the first side, all done in the studio. Pretty but a little tense, the ivories in a high register open the first one, "To Be Free," and are soon followed by the words from Mason's voice, which has been produced to stand up-front with all its natural texture left out in the open. When Mason signals "whoa yeah," the drums, bass, and Delaney & Bonnie-type chorus break in, Mark Jordon bounces his fingers down the keyboard faster than a Bruin dribbling downcourt for a basket, and Mason accentuates everything with a "come on, come on" here and a "woooo-hoooo" there. When the song closes though, it has not really resolved itself of the energy it set in motion, and you're left feeling a bit cheated.
The two most confusing songs on the album are "Here We Go Again," and the title track, "Headkeeper." "Here We Go Again" is the case of a song whose lyrics contradict everything that the music expresses, and vice versa. Standing on their own, the lyrics are Mason's bleakest: "After you've gone I'll die some/ After you've gone I'll feel blue.../ Night-time appears like a hole in the sky/ Follow me down to my room." Mason has set these lyrics to one of his most childlike melodies, and given it all a music-box sound. Having only the tone of the rest of the album to go on, I would guess that Mason is making fun of the high seriousness expressed by the words, rather than using the words to point out an idiot optimism in the music.
"Headkeeper" has its own sinister opening that lies somewhere between the opening of "40,000 Headmen" on Traffic, and Valerie Simpson's "Sinner Man." There's a "Magical Mystery Tour" piano break, a wailing banshee guitar, and one section in which the squeak of the organ completes an idea from the guitar, somewhat like when "Love Child," the Supremes would whisper "scorned by--" and Diana Ross would fill in loudly "Society."
"A Heartache, A Shadow, A Lifetime" is the song which never went anywhere when released as a single a few months ago. That's a shame, because it really is a gorgeous number. The piano part shines with a unique humanity and brilliance, modestly keeping silent until its turn, then bursting into life.
Maybe if Headkeeper had had two sides of new material rather than just one, Mason as an artist to our view would have been standing less like "a mist upon the shore." He never has been an easy one to figure out, in his public life or in his music. With Headkeeper he by no means has painted his masterpiece, but instead has left us with some fine sketches and life studies.
Mark Jordan's electric piano works and Mason's electric guitar solos are very sharp on the half-studio half-live Headkeeper, and a version of Mason's Traffic classic "Feelin' Alright" cooks.
Each of all the five songs on side two is a live recording of material Mason had recorded elsewhere. "Pearly Queen," a song that here is attributed to Mason and on the Traffic album is credited to Winwood and Capaldi, got itself a better treatment the first time around, simply because Winwood's vocal was funkier, grittier, more edged with irony. The song itself has enough propulsion in it that it doesn't need the extra added bit of soul that Winwood gives it, but then why not? Mason's interpretation here of "Feelin' Alright" is different from the one he delivered on Traffic. Then he sang with a whimpering, quaveringly insecure voice which, when joining the chorus, instantly picked up sarcastic strength. The change was always sudden and dramatic as Clark Kent leaping out of a broom closet dressed as Superman. In the present version, latin jazz rhythms open the song and right from the beginning all the way through, Mason sings with extroversion and authority. Now he even takes a supposedly humbled line like "Well, boy, you sure took me for one big ride," and turns it inside out to read like a gorgeous put-down. Whatever Chris Wood offered in the way of bluesy saxophone on the first version, Mark Jordan matches well with his jazz electric piano on this.
The other three songs on this side are all originally from Mason's Alone Together. In each case judgements of quality will have to be simply a matter of taster's choice. Between the two "World In Changes," I prefer the studio recording if for no other reason than the way Mason stutters one phrase, making it come out "I-I can't pretend." On the Alone Together's "Just A Song," you got a banjo and back-up chorus; here you get a jaunty organ and a barely audible but spontaneous laugh from Mason on the line "You're all I've ever done." In the two versions of "Can't Stop Worrying" you'll find two of the finest vocals Mason's ever recorded. To my mind the first version has the edge because I've grown in love with the expressive and pristine electric guitar lead, but there are those who'll find even more purity in the sound of Mason performing alone with just his acoustic.
The piano is the instrument which dominates and gives body and flavor to the best of the songs on the first side, all done in the studio. Pretty but a little tense, the ivories in a high register open the first one, "To Be Free," and are soon followed by the words from Mason's voice, which has been produced to stand up-front with all its natural texture left out in the open. When Mason signals "whoa yeah," the drums, bass, and Delaney & Bonnie-type chorus break in, Mark Jordon bounces his fingers down the keyboard faster than a Bruin dribbling downcourt for a basket, and Mason accentuates everything with a "come on, come on" here and a "woooo-hoooo" there. When the song closes though, it has not really resolved itself of the energy it set in motion, and you're left feeling a bit cheated.
The two most confusing songs on the album are "Here We Go Again," and the title track, "Headkeeper." "Here We Go Again" is the case of a song whose lyrics contradict everything that the music expresses, and vice versa. Standing on their own, the lyrics are Mason's bleakest: "After you've gone I'll die some/ After you've gone I'll feel blue.../ Night-time appears like a hole in the sky/ Follow me down to my room." Mason has set these lyrics to one of his most childlike melodies, and given it all a music-box sound. Having only the tone of the rest of the album to go on, I would guess that Mason is making fun of the high seriousness expressed by the words, rather than using the words to point out an idiot optimism in the music.
"Headkeeper" has its own sinister opening that lies somewhere between the opening of "40,000 Headmen" on Traffic, and Valerie Simpson's "Sinner Man." There's a "Magical Mystery Tour" piano break, a wailing banshee guitar, and one section in which the squeak of the organ completes an idea from the guitar, somewhat like when "Love Child," the Supremes would whisper "scorned by--" and Diana Ross would fill in loudly "Society."
"A Heartache, A Shadow, A Lifetime" is the song which never went anywhere when released as a single a few months ago. That's a shame, because it really is a gorgeous number. The piano part shines with a unique humanity and brilliance, modestly keeping silent until its turn, then bursting into life.
Maybe if Headkeeper had had two sides of new material rather than just one, Mason as an artist to our view would have been standing less like "a mist upon the shore." He never has been an easy one to figure out, in his public life or in his music. With Headkeeper he by no means has painted his masterpiece, but instead has left us with some fine sketches and life studies.
Mark Jordan's electric piano works and Mason's electric guitar solos are very sharp on the half-studio half-live Headkeeper, and a version of Mason's Traffic classic "Feelin' Alright" cooks.
-Rolling Stone 1972
Number four:"Let It Flow"
Released April 1977
Chart Peak #37
Weeks on Chart 49
His biggest selling disc by far, although not his best. It's a fine collection of songs but you walk away with the feeling that Dave "doesn't rock anymore". All of the songs are very low key and his biggest song "We Just Disagree" (which, ironically enough, he didn't write) is included here. The best songs on this disc are "So High", "Mystic Traveller", "Seasons" (where Yvonne Elliman's lovely voice is wasted) and the title track. Don't get me wrong, it's a fine effort but Dave seems to go through the motions on this one, although it is a disc I have listened to a lot.
Number Three: "Alone Together"
Released July 1970Chart Peak #22
Weeks on Chart 25
What were Steve Winwood and Chris Wood thinking? The scuttlebutt is that Dave Mason had to leave Traffic and go solo in order to get his music recorded (Traffic drummer and lifelong Mason friend Jim Capaldi did provide some support on 'Alone...'). And so what does he do? Nothing less than release one of the greatest rock albums of all time, 'Alone Together'. As the last song on the CD fades out, Mason plaintively intones "...listen to me...". One wonders if those few words were intended for the ears of his ex-bandmates. Following his triumph, Mason returned to Traffic (for his third stint) and contributed two 'Alone Together' songs to one of the finest live LP's ever produced, 1971's 'Live At the Canteen'. At least the other members of Traffic were willing to think twice...
'Alone Together' features 3 outstanding rock songs. Only one of these songs made it as a single on Billboard's Top 100, that being the opener, 'Only You Know and I Know', which peaked out at number 42 in 1970. It is surprising to me, however, that 'Waitin' On You' was not also released as a single. It feels more pop oriented, especially with the soulful backing singers, and has a more standard beat (guests on American Bandstand would agree). The closer on the album, 'Look At You Look At Me' dutifully rocks as well.
The remainder of the songs on the CD are plaintive odes to love. Especially appealing are 'Shouldn't Have Took More Than You Gave', featuring Mason on a wonderfully expressive wah-pedal guitar throughout, and 'Sad and Deep As You', which just sounds so sad and so deep you'll swear tears are going to short out your CD player. These two songs, in addition to the aforementioned rock numbers, form the core of elite songs on 'Alone Together', but don't undersell the supporting cast. 'Just a Song' and 'Can't Stop Worrying, Can't Stop Loving' continue the relationship-based theme, but on a brighter tempo. Whoever Mason was hooking up with at the time of these compositions touched off emotive spasms that resonate throughout the album. Authenticity jumps off the disc.
The 'weakest' song on the album, and I certainly use that term in a relative sense, is 'World In Changes', but this song remains a staple of Mason concerts, last appearing on his live CD recorded with Jim Capaldi in 1999. The only other weakness to this CD is the complete absence of any liner notes. You're going to be left in the dark regarding who is contributing to this masterpiece. Other sources on the Internet list such stellar performers as Delaney and Bonnie, Leon Russel, Jim Keltner, and Jim Gordon in the supporting cast. I hope it is only an oversight that MCA intends to correct, because each and every musician involved here deserves credit for their contributions, and it would be fascinating to have some historic details regarding the production of this set. I'd ask for lyrics, which should be as much a staple as the jewel case, but I don't want to knock any record company clowns (as Neil Young calls them) off their La-Z-Boys.
This is a gem that should be in the collection of every lover of classic rock and roll. It wasn't really pioneering in any respect... I don't believe it changed the way anyone looked at music... but it is the pinnacle of a fine songwriters songwriting career... Mason's Mona Lisa.
'Alone Together' features 3 outstanding rock songs. Only one of these songs made it as a single on Billboard's Top 100, that being the opener, 'Only You Know and I Know', which peaked out at number 42 in 1970. It is surprising to me, however, that 'Waitin' On You' was not also released as a single. It feels more pop oriented, especially with the soulful backing singers, and has a more standard beat (guests on American Bandstand would agree). The closer on the album, 'Look At You Look At Me' dutifully rocks as well.
The remainder of the songs on the CD are plaintive odes to love. Especially appealing are 'Shouldn't Have Took More Than You Gave', featuring Mason on a wonderfully expressive wah-pedal guitar throughout, and 'Sad and Deep As You', which just sounds so sad and so deep you'll swear tears are going to short out your CD player. These two songs, in addition to the aforementioned rock numbers, form the core of elite songs on 'Alone Together', but don't undersell the supporting cast. 'Just a Song' and 'Can't Stop Worrying, Can't Stop Loving' continue the relationship-based theme, but on a brighter tempo. Whoever Mason was hooking up with at the time of these compositions touched off emotive spasms that resonate throughout the album. Authenticity jumps off the disc.
The 'weakest' song on the album, and I certainly use that term in a relative sense, is 'World In Changes', but this song remains a staple of Mason concerts, last appearing on his live CD recorded with Jim Capaldi in 1999. The only other weakness to this CD is the complete absence of any liner notes. You're going to be left in the dark regarding who is contributing to this masterpiece. Other sources on the Internet list such stellar performers as Delaney and Bonnie, Leon Russel, Jim Keltner, and Jim Gordon in the supporting cast. I hope it is only an oversight that MCA intends to correct, because each and every musician involved here deserves credit for their contributions, and it would be fascinating to have some historic details regarding the production of this set. I'd ask for lyrics, which should be as much a staple as the jewel case, but I don't want to knock any record company clowns (as Neil Young calls them) off their La-Z-Boys.
This is a gem that should be in the collection of every lover of classic rock and roll. It wasn't really pioneering in any respect... I don't believe it changed the way anyone looked at music... but it is the pinnacle of a fine songwriters songwriting career... Mason's Mona Lisa.
Number two: "Dave Mason
Released: November 1974
Chart Peak:# 25
Weeks on Chart 25
At this time, after hearing album number one, I was a full bore lifelong Dave Mason fan. His version of "All Along The Watchtower" absolutely blows all of them away, Jimi, Bob and whoever takes second place. This is one of the tightest bands on the planet with Jim Krueger on guitars, Mike Finnegan on keyboards and Dr. Rick Jaeger on drums. "Show Me Some Affection" is about as good as it gets with "Relation Ships" one of his best ever. Song for song, this may be the best Dave Mason album, but his redoing of "Every Woman" (a song that did not need to be redone, it was perfect the first time) knocks it down one notch. "Harmony and Melody" is tops but his rendition of "Bring It On Home To Me" is unesscessary.The 'Dave Mason' disc is unique in that it marks the beginning of the Jim Krueger era in Mason's career. Krueger became a fixture on Mason's works during the 1970's and 80's, occasionally penning a tune or vocals, and lending a great deal of exquisite guitar playing. Krueger may be a better guitarist than Mason in a technical sense, but Mason has a style and feel that is all his own, and it's missing on tracks such as 'Harmony & Melody' where Dave defers the lead to Krueger. If you have not been enlightened to Mr. Mason, this is probably the CD you should find.
Number one: "It's Like You Never Left"
Released November 1973
Chart Peak #50
Weeks on Chart 28
Mason is a master of the soft, acoustic ballad, also highlighted on ''It's Like You Never Left'. 'Baby...Please' starts the CD with a great groove and featuring great harmony vocals from Graham Nash and David Crosby. The short version of 'Every Woman' ( featuring Graham Nash on back up vocals), a song featuring an appealing George Harrison-like slide guitar sound ('If You've Got Love'). The closer from this album (the jazz-fusion title track) features Dave at his best 'Headkeeper' again features Graham Nash and some decent lead guitar chops from Mason, and 'The Lonely One' simmers like an offspring of 'Shouldn't Have Took More Than You Gave', and features a unique harmonica from Stevie Wonder, an instrument not often heard on Dave Mason recordings. Many of the remaining tracks, including 'Maybe', 'Silent Partner', blend into the soft-rock sonic landscape, and offer distinction lyrically. At times the lyrics are simply confusing, such as on 'Silent Partner' where we are confronted with "Paranoia is the voyeur", or simply empty, such as on 'Misty Morning Stranger' when Mason admits, "It's hard to explain what I'm feeling". 'Misty Morning Stranger' offers the diversion of a brassy foundation and electric guitar finish, while 'Side Tracked' is unique as a bluesy electric jam, The entirety of 'It's Like You Never Left' was penned by Mason. This CD was out at a time when I needed it more than any other piece of music that I can recall. The original was a little muddy but this disc and "Dave Mason" are now available in a two for one package and his been lovingly remastered to sound awesome.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
When Dad Is A Graphic Designer
We all know that Moms love to dress up their kids. But when Dad is a graphic designer, anything is possible.. It all started out with the innocent baby picture below.....
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Who Is This Man?
A) German Ambassador to the United States?B) Former rock and roll star?
C) Spokane, Washington serial killer?
D) Announced Presidential candidate in 08?
E) CEO of Haliburton?
So, who is he?
Thanks, Beth.
Raley's Lifetime Achievement Award
Sometimes in life you find a gem. A piece of music that no matter how long you live, what kind of times you go through, the album (CD for you kids) comes shining through and fills your heart like an old time friend. This release has done this for me. I first discovered "Streetlights" in 1978. I had heard of Bonnie Raitt but at the time, never heard much of her music. When I was putting together a music library for an AM station that I was programming, I found this beauty playing on the stereo in a record shop. I was immediately hooked and she has remained a favorite of mine for years. I was so pleased at her comeback in 1991 and thought "Nick of Time" was a fine recording. But this one, this one has a permanent place in the Raley Album Hall of Fame.1. That Song About The Midway ( a Joni Mitchell song done better here)
2. Rainy Day Man (James Taylor tune from his very first LP on Apple records)
3. Angel From Montgomery (John Prine says THIS is the best version ever of his song)
4. I Got Plenty (sweet sweet tune, maybe the best on the album)
5. Streetlights (written by Billy Payne of Little Feat her beau at the time)
6. What Is Success (Alan Toussaint's finest stuff)
7. Ain't Nobody Home (living well is the best revenge, you go, girl)
8. Everything That Touches You (written by conductor/composer Micheal Kamen smooth stuff)
9. Got You On My Mind (this is my favorite song on here, my favorite Bonnie song ever)
10. You Got To Be Ready For Love (If You Wanna Be Mine) (nice ending, babe)
I first heard Bonnie doing a song called "Guilty" and it ripped my heart out of my chest. Thank you Bonnie for almost 30 years of awesome music in my life. This is definately a Charter Member of the Randy Raley all time album Hall of Fame.
Here's a synopsis of her career:
Bonnie Raitt - one of the most critically admired yet commercially ignored white R&B singers in the history of popular music, Bonnie Raitt only achieved the success and respect she had so obviously deserved with her tenth album, almost 20 years after her recording debut. The daugher of Broadway star John Raitt (of Carousel and The Pajama Game fame), Bonnie Raitt (born 1949) was first captivated by the blues and began learning guitar at the age of 12.After dropping out of college in 1969, she began playing on the US folk and blues circuit, turning heads due to her ability - almost unique in a white female - to play credible bottleneck guitar. She became friendly with many of the surviving blues legends, including Howlin' Wolf, Mississippi Fred McDowell and particularly Sippie Wallace, with whom she later recorded. fter paying her dues in clubs, she signed with a major record label in 1971,when she released her eponymous debut album which included both contemporary songs by Stephen Stills and Paul Siebel and a number of blues covers, plus two selfpenned originals. Backed largely by R&B musicians who normally worked with producer Willie Murphy, Raitt was somewhat sold short by the album. as became clear with the release of 1972's greatly improved "Give it up" album, which made the US chart and featured mainly white rock players and superb songs written by under-appreciated songwriters like Eric Kaz and Jackson Browne, plus three originals and several R&B covers. She went on to release seven more albums ("Takin' my Time" (1973),"Streetlights" (1974), "Home Plate" (1975), "Sweet Forgiveness" (1977), "The Glow" (1979), "Green Light"(1982) and "Nine Lives" ( 1986) . 1989's "Nick of Time" found Raitt on a different record label after 18 years with one company, and with production by Don Was, Raitt finally found herself receiving the commercial rewards (and Grammy Awards) her mainly excellent body of work had always deserved.1990 saw her winning another Grammy awards for her work on John Lee Hooker's "The Healer" album, which was to some extent a return to the roots for two truly great artists from different generations. Chart positions are largely irrelavantin Bonnie Raitt's case, but anyone who enjoys great music is missing something should they decide to ignore this supremely tasteful andutterly sincere artist.
What the Hell is The Deal?
It seems to me lately that the news has been full of men killing thier families. First off, the guy from St. Charles who is accused of killing his wife and kids along the intertstate right outside of Chicago. Did he really believe someone would fall for a bullshit story like that? His wife and THREE kids were(allegedly) slaughtered by this guy, he's the only one who doesn't get killed and he thinks this is believable?
What kind of satanic asshole would kill his wife and kids? What have we become? The next story is about the beautiful young woman in Ohio and her unborn child who was killed by her boyfriend who, by the way, hadn't divorced his wife? Did he expect to get away with this? What kind of monster would do that? Help me here. According to the pictures, a young beautiful woman. 
Then, the story of the wrestler who calmly strangled his wife, waited a day or so, smothered his son and then hung himself. What the hell is happening? Is this some part of an alien conspiracy or have we become so heartless, callous and cruel? I could never even imagine. Please say a prayer for the human race, because in case you haven't figured it all out, Satan is all around us. Heaven help us all.
What kind of satanic asshole would kill his wife and kids? What have we become? The next story is about the beautiful young woman in Ohio and her unborn child who was killed by her boyfriend who, by the way, hadn't divorced his wife? Did he expect to get away with this? What kind of monster would do that? Help me here. According to the pictures, a young beautiful woman. Then, the story of the wrestler who calmly strangled his wife, waited a day or so, smothered his son and then hung himself. What the hell is happening? Is this some part of an alien conspiracy or have we become so heartless, callous and cruel? I could never even imagine. Please say a prayer for the human race, because in case you haven't figured it all out, Satan is all around us. Heaven help us all.Monday, June 25, 2007
The Dark Knight Preview
This is the "BatPod" from the new movie "The Dark Knight". As a kid, Batman ruled and he was not a nice guy at all. "The Dark Knight" will delve into his obsession with the dark side and his troubled and troubling personality. After all, Bruce Wayne witnessed the murder of his parents when he was a young man. I can't wait for this, I think this may be the best "Batman" movie ever. It will not be a happy, feel good movie. The comic book of the Dark Knight was a chilling affair. This will be the ONE movie I will see this year.
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