Memorial Day With The Kids...

This is how Memorial Day should be for kids... eating after getting out of the pool on a nice, hot, sunny Memorial Day with not a care in the world... wish I was them again...

Happy Memorial Day 2006!

Cable TV Best Look Out

Almost a year ago I switched from cable tv to Direct TV and have really enjoyed Direct TV with no complaints. So yesterday I receive an email from Direct TV informing me that I am eligible to receive a free DVR. So what the heck I think, I call Direct TV up and order up the DVR which will be installed tomorrow. Here is why that whole experience is 1,000% more pleasant than any dealings I had with our local cable company and why I think cable tv, if they haven't already, will begin to see a decline for their services.

Well, we'll start out with the obvious...there is no way our cable company is giving away free DVR's in the first place. Cable raises their rates when they add channels to your tier, you look at the channels they added - touted as 30 new channels added to your basic teir - there are 25 home shopping networks, 2 community channels and 3 channels that focus around women...and not that women don't deserve more channels but I haven't been able to really spend any time watching the 18 current channels devoted to women...

After placing my request I am thinking that they will merely ship me the DVR and I will hook it up myself...but no. The first question to me was "How soon would you like this installed?" I about fell over. The last time the cable company 'installed' cable at my house it was them dropping off some coaxial cable and a bill for $60...thanks for the 'install'. But Direct TV pays someone to bring a DVR and hook it up to your TV...wow! And finally, the "How soon..." question... How soon? Are you actually saying I can say how soon I want this? Cable company response: We can have someone over next week but you will need to wait at home from 8 AM until 10 PM for service calls.

For so long cable companies could essentially dictate how 'good' their customer service should be...and to be honost it wasn't good at all. Every dealing I have had with Direct TV has been positive. I find it highly doubtful that I will ever go back to cable tv again....and I'm not really all that sad about it either.

Moron Reading The News

So Charles Gibson was just named the ABC News Anchor. Not that I had much of a reason to watch ABC News in the past but this pretty much clinches the deal.

During my career in television I had the 'pleasure' of seeing Chuck on Good Morning America on an almost daily basis for a few years. There is nothing that will display a person's true intelligence then live television and if there is one thing I learned from watching Chuck Gibson on Good Morning America is that Charles Gibson is a complete moron.

Network television proving everyday that it is made for stupid people by stupid people.

Barbaro's Ankle X-Ray

Yahoo! News Photo: "Handout image of radiograph (side view) of Kentucky Derby champion Barbaro, made following a surgery at the George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals at the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center May 21, 2006. The life of Barbaro hung in the balance after a delicate operation Sunday to repair a life-threatening leg fracture suffered in the Preakness Stakes. The colt survived the surgery at the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center for Large Animals in Kennett Square, Pa., and was in his stall, officials said NO SALES NO ARCHIVES REUTERS/University of Pennsylvania/Handout"

Tool - Video Clips

Looks like there's some bootlegs out there from the show I attended... I know there is a complete audio version of the show and here are 3 clips that someone has on YouTube:

46&2:



Jambi:



Vicarious:

Skewed Morality

Last week I was out with some people enjoying a couple of drinks. When 2 in our group decided to go outside to have a cigarette one of the ladies I was with made the comment how she wish they would quit smoking if not for themselves but for their children. Ok, point taken. Shortly after this the same gal (who has children) then goes into a story of a recent trip she was on and detailed how they would be drinking as they drove to their destination.

It's easy for a person to sit back and see the skewed perspective this lady has but it is exactly what society is creating. Right now the assault on smoking and smokers is relentless from all angles, the media, government, employers, etc... It's easy for most Americans who essentially develop their opinion in 1 second after seeing any Dateline, 20/20, 60 Minutes, etc... type report. These people walk around feeling better about themselves because they know that smoking is bad and they don't like smoking and feel concerned about those they know that do smoke cigarettes.

Yet, around 80 years ago alcohol was the scourge of society and couldn't be tolerated at any cost. Smoke, heck your doctor may have been smoking when he examined you. There was no such thing as a 'No Smoking Section' anywhere. At no time did anyone that smoked even consider inquiring whether or not it was acceptable to smoke in a business/residence/anywhere because it was implied that you smoked any and everywhere. Yet, you could not have a drink of alcohol anywhere. Now you fast forward the clocks 80 years and the situation has reversed itself.

What made me think of this skewed perception of 'evils' is something someone said after the Tool concert I was at on Friday. Security personnel were all over anyone even attempting to take a picture with your phone (or other device) but it seemed that the security was less concerned with those smoking pot. This particular person joked that the person in front of him was telling people to stop trying to take pictures so he could light up a joint... it made me laugh...but it is exactly what society has become today... at any point in time one thing will be seem worse than another to most Americans due to perceptions planted in their minds and you never know when or what it will be...

Most Excellent Time

Tool At The Minneapolis Orpheum Theatre, May 12, 2006 - A Most Excellent Time!

This was a fantastic show. My seats were really close..about 12 rows back and the theatre was small. Probably the first time (out of 7) that I really was able to see Maynard clearly and his expressions throughout the entire show. The entire band sounded really good. Maynard came out in what my friends and I have dubbed as the "Brokeback Maynard" outfit. Spiked mohawk - but wearing a cowboy hat for much of the time, mirrored sunglasses, jeans with a big cowboy-esque belt buckle, cowboy boots and no shirt. They played for about an hour and a half and was a solid selection of great Tool songs. They played a healthy dose of the new album - Jambi, The Pot, Vicarious, for Rosetta Stoned Maynard had this fanny-pack contraption that had a CB-style microphone that he used for the majority of the song. The crew really struggled early to get Maynard's vocals right...first they were too quiet and then would abruptly be really loud. The sound for the show cut out twice, once during Schism and then literally right at the end of the show as Aenema was finishing.

The drummer, Danny Carey, is freakin' unbelieavable. I don't think there is a better drummer playing out there right now. To see him perform live is a treat. Of course Adam Jones is awesome - my friend I think described him best as a 'technician'. Justin Chancellor - the bassist, is also fantastic. There are so many portions of songs that you wouldn't think a bass is playing but when seeing them live, there's Justin cranking it out...it was awesome.

All-in-all was a great time. Rain pretty much all day. Wasn't as bad when the show ended. The line to get in was backed up pretty bad...show started over a half hour late - probably due to that.

I can hardly wait to see them again...but it will probably be a large venue.

Addendum:

The friend I went with and I concluded our trip with the following summary: "It would have been awesome to hear more of the new stuff but now that just means we got to go see them again."

10,000 Days #1 Album

No surprise to anyone...I don't think...but according to Billboard Magazine Tool's 10,000 Days album debuted at #1 in album sales last week. Selling 565,000 units. Almost twice as much as Pearl Jam's latest release.

I, of course, am just over 24 hours away from seeing them live... I can hardly wait!

I Thought This Was Funny

10,000 Days First Review

So Tool's 10,000 Days LP was released yesterday. Of course I purchased the disc and I highly recommend everyone else to do the same. Of course Tool, like Aenema and Lateralus, had to have a unique, yet awesome packaging of 10,000 Days. 10,000 Days comes with a viewpiece that when looking through at the disc artwork appears in 3D. There are several pictures including a separate picture of each band member, all of which look cool. Tool will always win the Grammy for best packaging...maybe one day they will be good enough to actually win a Grammy - and that of course is spoken with as much sarcasm as one can apply.

My network of friends are all big Tool fans so of course I have had several conversations with them already about the new Tool and initial reaction from several of them are that they think it is already better than Lateralus. I think it is too early to make that definitive of a statement, but we all agree that 10,000 Days is some good stuff.

This album further entrenches Tool with it's already hardcore fans and I think it will also rid the band of all the 'bandwagon' fans...those that think Sober is the greatest Tool song of all time. This album, along with Lateralus, are requiring all new Tool fans to really 'pay their dues'. That is, if you haven't heard of Tool and were to 'get into them' then you are doing what the band wants you to do...that is listen to their entire album because that is what you have to do to fully appreciate Tool. 10,000 Days is a complete concept/theme album. Lyrical songs are all 6+ minutes in length, going through several degrees of rocking. Of course there are a variety of interludes that transition the listener from one song to the next.

Tool doesn't make music, they create an atmosphere. If there is a 'downside' to Tool is that it is very difficult to find appropriate times to just listen to a song or 2 here or there - but I usually suck it up and do so anyways. The upside is that when you are able to listen to their complete album wire-to-wire (especially with headphones!) your experience is always different, yet always a good one.

Tool is by far the band I enjoy the most and they are continuing their career as I would like to see it. I really don't think that 10,000 Days will be a huge commercial success - yet by industry standards will be. Tool remains a fairly unknown popular band primarily because their music isn't 'radio friendly', as I think the band predeterminates. The band continues to put out excellent music, interesting album artwork and I'll find out next Friday what the new live Tool is shaping out to be...but I'm fairly confident they will be as awesome as in the past, never a disappointment.

What's Your Time Worth?

Here's an interesting dilemna I ran into this week...

About a month ago my cell phone wasn't working properly. With the warranty, I was able to exchange and get a brand new one (same model) for free... I thought this was great. But now my new phone's battery is not holding a charge. I know I can take it and get a replacement battery if I were to take it in again...but here's the dilemna... where I need to take it is about a 15 minute drive one way...not bad... but I will also end up waiting approximately 30 minutes (minimum) to see a customer service representitive and then about another 15 minute drive home, a total of about an hour to get a new battery. The battery can be purchased online for about $20 and mailed directly to me, no hastles but $20 out of my pocket. As much as I like to be frugile with my money, the pain of wasting an hour at the mall just didn't seem worth it... I purchased the battery online. Obviously each case is different, but to me a lot of these companies are willing to give you good customer service when you eventually get to speak with someone but they make the process one that is far from pleasant which I think in turn is a natural detterent from using their customer service in the first place. What I also noticed at this cell phone store is that 80% of the store is set up to sell phones and accessories to new customers with several avaialable sales representative to help anyone that should need it, with most of the sales reps. just meandering around with no new customers to even assist. On the customer service side, there were 3 representitives and a line of 12 waiting individuals in a section of the store that was less than 10% of the total area available for customers.

It's like most every service in this country these days... as long as there are no problems or issues with your service everything is great. But the moment you have problems be prepared to be put to the test with your patience.

They have arrived!

The picture is a little blurry... but my tickets are here! I can sleep easy tonight knowing I will be seeing Tool in about 3 weeks!

Tickets Have Been Acquired

I have acquired 2 tickets to the May 12th Tool show at the Orpheum in Minneapolis.

I have yet to have them in my possession - which makes me a little apprehensive at this point - but there is no reason for me to doubt that the tickets are in route to my house as we speak.

The show was said to have sold out in under 5 minutes. I know of no one that was able to get tickets online and Ticketmaster outlets were sold out almost instantly. Tickets on EBAY and various other online ticket distributors have them priced at $150 to $1,000 (front row) for those still looking... and no, mine are not for sale! I'll see you at the show!

The NFL Draft...Why I Don't Care...

So Saturday is the 2006 NFL Draft and I, as a self-proclaimed football fan, really don't care all that much about it. What? How can that be? Right now there are people planning to spend all of Saturday parked in front of ESPN to witness every first round move. The draft gives all teams hope, if not just for one day.

But you see I've 'evolved' past the draft. Yes, at one time I did care about the draft. I too would be parked in front of the TV waiting and watching all the action of the NFL draft. But that was many a year ago now and here's why...

First, it's the whole draft ordeal. It is not interesting to watch on television in any way, shape or form. You wait for 20 minutes for a team to announce their pick...or better yet that they traded their pick... and wait for another 20 minutes. Yes, this is the ideal television to have on if you plan on drinking all day and essentially not doing anything and as much as I am a proponent of that activity, the draft still isn't enough interesting to justify that.

Then there's the whole post-draft world...and let's face it, the number of players that fail to make the NFL versus those that do is greatly skewed. First round busts aren't uncommon anymore, they are the norm. No matter how highly touted a player is, the likelihood of that player making an impact on an NFL team in the short-term is slim to none. And let's face it, that's where all the 'draft hype' is really at... the first round, maybe the second round. Any player drafted in the later rounds of the draft are rarely considered a 'bust'.

I think in conjunction with the whole 'draft hype', knowing that a team is likely to spend way too much on an unproven player is why I have trouble even caring about the draft anymore. Yes, I'll admit that maybe the Ryan Leaf experience may have biased me but if so then I am glad it did. It just further illuminates my point. To be tuned into that draft and to be excited about Ryan Leaf was just false hope.

Is the draft a COMPLETE waste of time? Absolutely not. I am certain I will flip by ESPN on occasion to see who the Chargers have picked but that will be about the limit of my caring...

10,000 Days First Listen

So I've managed to listen to the full 10,000 days album...

Tool seems to be reaching for a 'deeper' feel to their music without getting overly 'heavy'. Without question they are putting out music that is different than anything anyone else is doing right now and Tool is doing it in a manner that you can clearly see is masterful.

There is no way you can label Tool a 'heavy metal' or a thrash-rock type act. They are their own entity. Not progressive rock (ie: System Of A Down), they are better than any of that. Today's 'heavy' bands all just scream and shred. Tool is melodic and their lyrics mean something on many levels.

Like all of Tool's albums (except Opiate which really is an EP, imo) 10,000 Days has a 'feel' that is maintained in every song. It's nice to hear some new Tool, but what amplifies my appreciation for their music 1,000 fold is hearing them perform it live and any/all Tool performances have been unbelievable! I can hardly wait!

Toughest Ticket Around

Tool is playing in Minneapolis May 12th at the Orpheum Theatre. A tiny venue that holds around 3,000. Tickets go on sale this weekend. I am going to try and get tickets but am pretty sure that this show will sell out in minutes. This obviously won't be their full tour but they are playing small venues for a month or so after the release of 10,000 days then head to Europe. I'm sure we'll see the full awesome Tool show later this year where tickets will be cheaper and easier to get...

But if I am so lucky to somehow get a tickets to this May 12th show...that would be awesome!

Happy Easter

Son Watching Son

Because I just started using YouTube (which is pretty cool imo), here is a video of my son watching the video of himself and sister (previous post).

My Crazy Kids...

Video of my kids chasing balloons...

Godfather...

EA Games' Godfather... I've been playing it lately...

Sure, it resembles GTA a lot, but it's the mafia...extort businesses, take over rackets and wage war against the other families to become the Don of New York.

It's pretty fun...

(More screen shots on my Xfire profile page.)

Brett Favre

I'm not really a Favre fan...not really a Packers' fan.

But to recap this whole deal... 2 weeks ago the Packers gave Brett an 'ultimatum' to decide wether or not he was going to retire. The 'deadline' was April 1st and the Packer organization really didn't say what the consequences would be if Brett was still undecided. So then Brett holds a press conference late last week to say that he is still undecided.

This actions make it almost obvious as to what Favre wants to do...he does not want to retire but does not want to play for Green Bay and is essentially 'holding out'. Why hold a press conference to tell everyone that you still haven't made a decision? You could have a press conference every day if he wanted to do that...but it was to clearly send a message to the Packers that he wants to know what the organization's plans are with him before he makes a decision... and it's obvious that all this posturing is so that Favre doesn't look like the bad buy in the whole deal and that Packer fans will always worship him like a god...

The whole thing, imo, seems stupid. I don't think Favre is all that good and with his performance last year, who would want him? I think he should cut his losses while he still can. The last 2 seasons it just seemed like he was chucking the ball and hoping his team would get the ball...

Go Sioux!

The University Of North Dakota Fighting Sioux, 8 time NCAA National Hockey Champions, will take on Boston College in the first of two national semi-final games tomorrow at 3 ET in Milwaukee, WI. Championship game is slated to start at 7 ET on Saturday with the winner of this game taking on the winner of the Maine-Wisconsin game.

The Sioux are a young team and if you would have watched them earlier this season you'd wonder how they made it this far. But down the stretch the Sioux played some good hockey beating Wisconsin and then St. Cloud to win the WCHA tournament and then went on to beat Michigan and Holy Cross to make it to the Frozen Four.

What is so impressive about this team is that there is only 2 seniors and there is 13 freshmen playing. If the NCAA hockey teams think it is tough beating the Sioux this year...wait until next year!

I'd like to see both UND and Wisconsin make it to the final game proving that the WCHA is the best division in collegiate hockey.

Go SIOUX!

Mac's Running Windows

Ah, justice is being served.

As I mentioned in a previous post, I've tired of Apple computer users' 'superiority' complex that seems to perpetuate many of their faithful. For years Apple-heads have decreed that the Mac/Apple computer(s) are superior to Windows/PC based systems with no really logic other than they pay more than they would for their Mac than for a comparable PC.

Well today it was announced that despite it's previous claims, Apple is releasing a beta version of 'Boot Camp' which will allow Macs to run Windows XP. Apple's first big move 3 months ago was to start using Intel chips and now they are supporting Windows...

So it will be interesting to see how all the Mac lovers out there tell us PC users how great their computer is...oh but wait...it's the same freakin computer now and you're still stupid enough to pay twice as much? I'm sorry, Mac lovers will only prove their ignorance and stupidity if they continue the charade that some how, some way an Apple/Mac computer is now better than a PC... end of discussion!

What A Flop!

Look at this flop that happened last night at the weekly card game I go to...

It went Q, Q, Q,Q and then the 6. That's right, four queens in a row! Unbelievable. The winning hand is off to the right...a pair of bullets. So after the flop he was sitting with a full house, queens over aces... hand ended up being 4 queens ace kicker...

What Is Going On Around Here?

Over a week and nothing posted, what is the deal? Well, really there isn't much for me...

- Our region is on 'Floodwatch' and the river is to crest on Thursday so for the next week all I will hear about locally is the preparations for flooding. I live in an area that is safe so my concern isn't all that great but it is for a lot of others.

- UND Fighting Sioux hockey make it to the Frozen Four. They will play Boston College Thursday, April 6th and if they advance would play either Wisconsin or Maine for the NCAA Division 1 Championship.

- A friend of mine works at a popular bar in town. He recently told me that the police have been coming in on weekends and citing the bar for over-serving patrons. Are you freakin' kidding me? The place is pretty busy and your servers/tenders are suppose to know how much every person in the place has had to drink and know when to no longer serve them? Why don't the cops just stick to sitting outside the parking lot and picking up everyone that leaves? Not enough money in doing just that? Lazy bastards...

Tool: Finally

One of my all time favorite bands, Tool, will be releasing it's fifth album (10,000 days) five years after their last release, Lateralus, on May 2nd. I can hardly wait and will no doubtedly be at the music store on May 2nd to purchase the CD ASAP.

What's not only great about getting some new music from Tool but will also be the opportunity to see them live again...I'm hoping they make more than 1 stop in the upper midwest in support of this album...

No BB Here

I'm only a casual NCAA basketball fan and there is no question the NCAA basketball tournament is awesome...

But tonight I am watching the WCHA Championship game, UND vs St. Cloud - hockey.

Go Sioux!

PS3 Release Delayed.

Playstation 3 now due out in November. The question will be how long will it be out until I break down and get one... I'm going to guess 2 years just for a start...

Screenshots

It's fun taking screenshots of your favorite player after running 93 yards for a touchdown!

Xfire is pretty cool...

Brees Signs With Saints

Story here.

Dolphins signed Culpepper because Brees wanted at least what the Saints were offering and obviously thought a deal to get Culpepper was better for their team.

Hope things work out for you Drew...good luck.

Brees Watch: Day 2

Drew Brees still has yet to decide who to sign with. Reports are that the New Orleans Saints have made the better offer. Brees' agent is to resume negotiations with the Dolphins today, so by appearances, Brees looks to want to play for Miami and would like them to up their offer...otherwise, he would sign with New Orleans.

Other Charger News: Within the same article cited above, it also comments that the Chargers may be trying to sign David Givens. Which will obviously put some pressure on Caldwell, Parker and Vincent Jackson to perform.

Good Luck Drew

Reports this morning have Drew Brees signing with either (most likely) the Dolphins or the Saints today.

I'm sorry to see you go but I understand why it has to be this way. I'll still be a fan of yours for the rest of your career, unless of course you sign with the Broncos.

Chargers Sign Safety...

Chargers signed a pretty good safety, Marlon McCree who played for Carolina last year. Looks like a Rodney Harrison type safety...not really a guy getting a lot of interceptions but a good tackling ball hound. I think moving McCree to strong safety and leaving Jue at free safety is the logical move. Jue is probably the Chargers best safety and McCree, at first glance, looks to me to be at least equal to Jue's ability and could quite possibly even be better...

I like this first move in free agency for the Chargers, signing a guy in the secondary. I'd really like to see a good offensive lineman (or two) get signed as well now.

Where Everyone Knows Your Name

A friend of mine just opened his own bar. Last night was his first night open and the bar was packed! He has a huge circle of friends so while there last night I probably knew 30 people...so it was like a huge party with a bunch of friends...A bonus (or maybe can be seen as a negative) is that his bar is within walking distance (5 blocks) of my house... I think this bar is going to be the site of some really fun times...and of course I'm already working on making it the 'official' San Diego Charger football viewing bar...but status of that project is still to be determined...

Corporate Teams

We all could see it coming. When will corporations just side-step sponsoring sporting events and just buy and name their team(s) after their corporation? Major League Soccer is the first league to do so by allowing Red Bull to purchase and rename a team. Yes, the Red Bull New York team will not only bear the name of the owning corporation but as the article points out that they will also play in Red Bull stadium - or whatever they desire to name it.

Of course I'm like most Americans and don't really care about soccer to any degree, but once something like this infiltrates one sport, regardless of how insignificant the sport may seem, may be a precursor to what's to come for the major sport leagues...

NFL Owners Agree To New CBA

The NFL owners last night approved the player's collective bargaining agreement to run until 2012. What that means for the Chargers, who were sitting pretty good under the cap under the old cba will really be sitting good under the new salary cap of around $102 million, with the Chargers currently (about) $27 million under that number. Free agency begins tonight. I am keeping my fingers crossed that the Chargers acquire at least one if not more quality defensive free agents...as I think many Charger fans are hoping.

NFL Free Agency Delayed - Questions Surround Brees

With a new collective bargaining agreement (cba) not reached between NFL owners and players gave the Chargers a couple extra days to decide what they want to do with Drew Brees. On ESPN's ticker yesterday I saw that they were reporting the Chargers were to allow Brees to become a free agent. Today the orthopedic surgeon came out to say that Brees “had a successful arthroscopic repair of his shoulder capsule and repair of a partial rotator cuff tear.” If ESPN's initial report is accurate, the Chargers will probably release him regardless. I also think there is some positioning. I think the Chargers want to keep Brees but they want a longer-value type deal. If Brees truly wants to stay in San Diego he and his agent will probably try and negotiate a deal prior to free agency starting. But with so many teams needing a quarterback it would be tough to pass up on the opportunity to make some big money while the potential is there. If Brees falters this season or gets reinjured, regardless of the team he is with, will greatly lower his value if a longer termed deal isn't reached this year.

The bright side for us Charger fans have is that we have a first round QB that has been in the league for 2 years learning the system and doing spot duty as needed. Phillip Rivers will start as a quarterback for a team eventually, the Chargers know this so it might be the right time to at least give him a shot... Rivers signed through the 2008 season so the Chargers have 2 years to decide whether or not he will be the man. The downside is that Rivers has yet to really play and his true NFL talent has yet to be showcased. He did play the majority of the last 2 games of the 2004 and '05 seasons under 2 different situations. In '04 the Chargers had clinched a first round home game playoff berth whereas in '05, all but eliminated from the playoffs, Brees suffered his shoulder injury and the Chargers suffered a beat down by the Broncos.

I'm all for giving Rivers a shot, but my gut tells me that if Brees and his agent want to really gain some 'fan cred' amongst Charger fans they would try to work a deal with the Chargers. But knowing the Charger front office frugality (word?) and knowing that outside of San Diego (and maybe even within San Diego) 'fan cred' really isn't all that...

People Bother Me...

I work at a venue that hosts a variety of events - concerts, trade shows, ice shows, touring broadway shows, sporting events - football, basketball, rodeo, motor sport events (indoor dirt and snow racing), etc... This facility was the first one of it's size in this region with the next closest venue of this size (or larger) more than 300 miles away. For the first 10 years this facility was the only place around that could host the events I listed above. Within the past 4 years several other similiar venues have popped up around the region, no longer giving us a monopoly on events that wanted to get exposure in the upper midwest.

The venue I work at is like most in America. It was funded by the taxpayers. The difference between the venue I work at and a vast majority of other venues is that our venue has never finished a year in the red, over 12 years now. Most publicly owned venues are more than likely losing money on the events they host but the public often does not care because the economic impact a venue has is considerable. So using this as a lead-in, here's why I begin with that preface.

Part of my job responbilities is to receive and reply to most general questions that are sent to our facility via email. Without any question probably the #1 'complaint' that is sent to us is that we are not getting Paul McCartney, AC/DC, The Rolling Stones, Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys, Pearl Jam or whomever you would like to insert there. 80% of those emails are easily dismissed as the act is not touring, so how would you expect our venue to be able to book an act such as they want when the act themselves isn't even performing - just pointing out some of the masterminds behind these emails. Then you have the ones that will comment that U2 is playing in Chicago, why aren't they playing here? Easy again, huge acts (and you could actually substitute the word huge with greedy) will not even consider going to a secondary market - which is what we are considered. Just because U2 is selling out 5 shows in Chicago and Minneapolis doesn't mean they are going to stop in nowhere North Dakota to make 10% of the money they could doing just one show in a large city. And finally we have the emails that come from people that think that some obscure or upcoming act would sell out our venue because it is their favorite band and not only would they come to the show, but so would everyone they know...yet these acts would have a tough time selling out club or sub-5,000 seat venue even in the larger cities.

What frustrates me the most is trying to tactifully tell these people that they are stupid. First and foremost for a venue to land an event the event itself has got to want to perform there. Yes, we would love to have some guaranteed 'ringers' perform at our venue but why would they? Again, landing an act that sells out everywhere (which are fewer than ever) why would they choose to come to nowhere, ND to make less money than if they stayed on the east and west coasts and even the larger metro areas in between? It would make no sense for them other than to broaden their fan base, but if they are selling out shows everywhere they go, odds are they have a very broad fan base already and their fans are willing to travel to see them.

What has really devalued the concert industry is the casinos. At one time we could attract the 'mid-level' entertainers. Acts that are established and have good fan support, but may no longer be putting out albums or have had member changes within the band or just no longer at the top, but still a popular act. Casinos will gladly hand over a respectable amount of cash for these acts to come out and play 2 shows a night at about an hour, hour and a half in length. These casino acts could have continued to play venues at a cheap ticket price and make a fair amount of money - but with no guarantees...the casino gig is a guarantee. So now you've essentially eliminated every act from the 80's. The casino's in this region have had Cheap Trick, Styx, Firehouse, REO Speedwagon, 38 Special, Eddie Money, etc... all acts that sure, would probably not sell out even the venue I work at, but now have essentially devalued themselves. These acts will also play at fairs and festivals but why pay that $30 or $40 ticket at a fair when you can get a comp ticket to see them at a casino?

To top things off, you factor in the fact that there just isn't that many big name acts anymore. I think it is sad when Paul McCartney, Simon And Garfunkel and The Rolling Stones are among the top grossing concerts any year they tour. Especially when you look at some of their ticket prices! How long can the Stones continue to charge over $100 to see them and who are the morons that continue to pay that? Current, popular acts just don't have the widespread appeal that AC/DC of the 80's had. Music has gotten so fragmented and diversified that you could probably look through 10 different people's cd library and the likelihood of all 10 people having the same cd that is currently popular is probably unlikely. Just because you like 50 Cent doesn't mean I even know who he is. But 15 years ago, even the acts that I didn't care for I usually have at least heard of and probably some of their music.

And, as I started this whole article out with, this venue hasn't lost money in it's entire history but one way to do so is to start offering an exborant guarantee to acts to perform at a venue and then not being able to recoup those funds when the event is held, which is typical of many venues. I guess in summary, what really bothers me is that people will often fire off an angry email to us as to why our venue is unable to get the concerts they would like to see without even knowing the basic logistics of the business itself, yet in my community the 'bottomline' of this venue is often the main concern for many rather than the type of events we host, so we have yet another factor that comes into play for our particular venue. So either we could begin to host every concert that even came close to this region and make 1/2 the people of this region happy but then the other 1/2 would begin to complain that their hard earned tax-paying dollars are being wasted to fund a concert that wouldn't fill up a large bar...we just can't win and people bother me....

Movie Science Spoilers and More

Just perusing the web and found some interesting sites:

- The Insultingly Stupid Movie Physics site will explain why certain elements in movie just couldn't occur as they do...from cigarettes igniting gasoline, breaking windows, exploding cars and more.

- How To Tell A Relationship Is Over is a quick short film...pretty funny.

- Play Guess the Dictator or Sit-Com Character. You pick a dictator or sitcom star and the computer will ask you questions and try to guess who it is. Pretty good.

All the time I have for today...

Enjoy.

Winter Winding Down

It was yesterday that everyone in the region began to notice that it is daylight when you go to and from work. One of the first signs that winter is on it's last legs. Sure, we could still get hit with a blizzard or dumped on with a ton of snow or for it to get unseasonably cold but now that March is here even if any winter type weather hits us more than likely some nicer weather will be along shortly.

Still have plenty of snow on the ground and the temperatures are in the mid-20's...so not quite spring yet, but feeling like 'pre-spring' if you will...

Free Time About To Return

After this weekend my work schedule begins to ease up just a bit...which will be great to finally collect my thoughts more frequently...I hope...

Here's some quick thoughts:

Winter Olympics are over. I did watch a fair amount of coverage, mainly hockey but did see speed skating, bobsled, luge and even curling. The other countries probably amplified their stereotype of Americans with Bode Miller - not even medaling after being hyped up by himself and the media and of course the girl who tried to get cocky on the last jump of the snowboard snowcross event and wiped out after being so far ahead and losing the race...it is no wonder why people from other countries think we are all arrogant assholes...we had two athletes that did there best to exhibit that trait.

Speaking of winter... the forecast for my region is for it to start warming up....and not a day too soon! We still have plenty of snow on the ground and it's time for the thaw to at least get started...this winter has not been bad at all. Of course it still could take a nasty turn sometime before April, but odds of the temps getting into the 30's become more regular than irregular....

My 320 gig external hard drive is awesome. I am now on a quest to fill it up! I'm downloading tons of stuff in the night-time and my work hours... lots of music, movies and games!

Charger news, how could I forget... a big decision is going to be made here shortly on whether or not to keep Drew Brees. He of course is still recovering from a shoulder injury that happened in the last game. The big question is to whether or not to put the franchise tag on him again. I would like to see them try and negotiate a longer term deal out with him and then maybe move Rivers prior to the draft and pick up a backup QB in the draft. I would hate to see Brees be let go, Rivers stink and Brees continue to do well... but knowing the Chargers' track history, that is the likely course...

I Need More!

Over the weekend I ordered a 320 GB external hard drive. I have 130 gigs right now with less then 20 free... most are movies, games, shows, video clips, concerts and movies. Yes, I could be burning them onto disc, but then they get stored and when I'm looking for something I know I have, it sure is nice to find it right there on the hard drive rather then sifting through 2,000 cd's - which is the approximate amount of cd's I have and I employ a rather ingenious labeling and organizational system: none. So that always makes the hunt for a disc quite the adventure...

It will be great when I get it and have it up and running... I've halted a lot of my downloading activities because of storage issues...

Cat Hunting

While at the store today with my son, he of course was whining that he needed a toy... so I grabbed a $3 air rocket toy. It didn't take long for myself and son to start 'hunting' my daughter's cat with the toy. At home with the kids all day tomorrow, so it should be a good time...

NBA All Star Uniforms: Yuck.

I don't care about the NBA All-Star game at all, just happened to flip by the channel and noticed the god awful, ugly uniforms...

Brrr...

So the mild winter couldn't last the entire season...

Wake up this morning, it is 21 below zero. The high today is suppose to be 8 below. Tomorrow the forecasted high is a balmy 4 above. I live in the cold barren wasteland as advertised.

Validated: News Media Worthless

Disclaimer: I do not support or openly back the current adminstration, but...

The Vice President's hunting accident has shown how stupid, narrow-minded and basically obsessed with trying to nail Bush and his adminstration with something. If anyone saw highlights from today's daily White House briefing would get to see the crack White House Press Corps exhibit their finely tuned journalistic skills. The primary focus today was why Bush wasn't notified by Dick Cheney himself and within 24 hours of the hunting accident...and they were relentless in their questioning...

All I have to say is GIVE ME A BREAK! If this is the most pressing national story it only furthers proves that the national news corps is only a half-step ahead of tabloid news. And what do they really hope to come from this accident? For Cheney or Bush to resign?

Of course I will recant everything if anyone from the media is able to 'crack' this case and uncover some diabolical plot or nefarious activity...but I'm willing to take that bet...

Educators

Living in the barren wasteland that is North Dakota, one of the most talked about topics is the teachers pay for the state. North Dakota has consistently ranked towards the bottom of pay scale for teachers and every year we hear how hard teachers work and that they deserve more pay, current average salary is $35,000. At one time I did sympathize with them but I no longer can...

Let's look at the teachers 'work schedule' for this region...

They work Monday-Friday 7:45 (or 8) until 4 PM... well, heck, right now most people with other jobs are already jealous. Then they get every known holiday off - a minimum of one a month - and extended time off during Christmas. Then they get 3 months off a year over the summer. What really gets me now is the fact that the teachers have scheduled twice a year time to hold parent-teacher conferences - no school for the students. So what do the teachers do? Schedule the conferences on days before scheduled time and then go to Disney World over this break...and I'm not kidding, my daughters' teacher is going to Disney World.

The teachers average salary of $35,000 is a very good wage for this region and considering the abundance of 'perks' these people take advantage of, I no longer have any tolerance for their arguments as to why they deserve more pay. Yes, I believe there are teachers that do work during periods of vacation. But for every one teacher that works during their time off there is approximately 1,500 other teachers that are sitting on a beach.

Winter Olympics

Glad the Olympics are starting up...

Bad thing about the Winter Olympics: Opening and closing ceremonies and figure skating... because for the entire duration of the Winter Olympics regardless of the event you are watching, one of those three topics will be further mentioned as they are the only thing that people (people meaning women watching 'sports') care about watching.

Good thing about the Winter Olympics: Downhill skiing, hockey, speed skating, bobsledding and all the rest of the 'real' sports that I will get to watch. And any sport that involves a judge is not a 'real' sport, so no ice dancing and or events that involve a snowboard are on my Olympic viewing schedule. What's the over/under for the number of days before we here of a person getting 'screwed' out of a metal because of judging...

224!

A friend and I took our daughters bowling this afternoon. And I have bowled before, never in a league, but my parents are both big bowlers and grew up around bowling...so I know how to bowl. I hadn't bowled in about 2 years, but my first game today was a 165 with no warmup and then I rolled a 224...I was pretty proud of that...and I'm thinking of turning pro now, although after paying for 8 games of bowling don't know if I can afford too... $27!!!

Super Bowl XL Aftermath

Super Bowl XL is in the books. The Steelers with the help of the officials beat Seattle. The game was pretty lack-luster. Commercials (as predicted) were mostly lame. And really, the whole 'event' was forgetable.

I drank too much, then to make sure I suffered some pain, my daughter was ill and so both the kids stayed home with me on Monday while my wife went to work. Instead of sleeping off the effects of 13 hours of eating and drinking, I got about 4 hours of sleep and then spent the rest of the day on the couch being a worthless pile... I'd like to thank my wife for that specail treat...it wasn't like she couldn't have stayed home, but since I was anyways... thanks again...

Warmest January

It's all but official...January 2006 will be the warmest January since records have been kept. Of course with our luck it won't get above zero for much of February...

The overall mild winter has helped my heating bill(s) considerably...with the cost at an all-time high.

Super Bowl Thoughts

So Super Bowl XL is almost here. I really don't like or despise either of these teams, so really am indifferent about the game. My first hunch is that this game is going to be a blowout and what little interest I have in this game will quickly be gone.

Since I've moved here (8 years ago) I've attended the same Super Bowl party. It has been at a few different locations, but has always been a well attended and really fun time. But one of my biggest pet peeves about going to a well attended Super Bowl party is the commercials...and really, it is the people who think the commercials are the best part of the game itself. These same people are the ones who will laugh after every commercial if it even attempts at any from of humor. And futhermore, what really drives me nuts, is when these very same people will laugh so loudly at a 'funny' commercial during the Super Bowl, yet the commercial is not a new one and if this person had watched the Conference Championships or any previous other sporting event would have seen this commercial...which just highlights even further how lame these people truly are.

Anyway you cut it, I have Monday off (as I have taken off for many a year now) and regardless of the game, I'm confident I will be having a good time.

Longtime No Blog

I've been extremely busy at work and plenty of activities at home that are keeping me from doing some blogging, but found a moment to get some thoughts down...

First, I can not begin to say how happy/relieved I am that the Broncos lost in the AFC Championship game. I'm not really too glad Pittsburgh won, but I will take any team over the Broncos. The early talk is that Pittsburgh is the early favorite for the Super Bowl...the 6th seeded AFC team...just shows how far superior AFC teams are over the NFC at this time. I really don't have too much of an interest in either of these teams, so I'm hoping the Super Bowl is a good game.

Next, the winter/weather in my region continues to be mild for the season. Unless some cold air hits the region before the end of the month, the average high temperature for January could be over 20 degrees...which is unbelievable considering some winters the entire month of January may never get above 0 degrees. But I'll take it!

NDSU Men's Basketball team beat the 13th ranked Wisconsin Badgers...this was a huge win for the Bison and begins to legitimize the school as a legit Division 1 school although still ineligible for playoffs for another couple years. This win was probably the biggest win for a men's basketball team from the state of North Dakota ever...yes, it is that huge for this state.

My plate is full for the remainder of this month and much of February...but I'll try and keep the blog as 'fresh' as I am able too...

Jockstocks Trouble Page

I've had a lot of inquiries about the status of the Jockstocks web site.

There were web pages that at one time would list any issues with the web site Jockstocks but as of June 2011 all of those pages have been removed and are no longer available.

Jockstocks does have a Facebook and Twitter account and their status might be posted on either of those locations. 

(Updated 8/28/08)

{Updated 6/2/11)

(Updated 8/25/11)

SCOTUS Judge Nominations

Politics in this country is a disgrace.

The little I've been paying attention to the confirmation hearings of Sam Alito to the Supreme Court had me thinking 2 thoughts:

1. Apparently the only and most important ruling/law in America today is abortion. I can not believe that this issue is at the forefront of whether or not a person can be confirmed to the highest court in the land. Alito would merely have to give his opinion on abortion for or against it and he would likely not be confirmed...how is that for a double-edged sword? But in the end, ridiculious that a single issue could be the sole reason for not confirming a person.

2. These confirmation hearings are really less about Alito and more about some senators seeking some quality 'air-time'. I think there is no doubt that several senators are 'grandstanding' so that they can see their face on the national news in the evening.

Politicians in America are elitist bastards. They no longer have any grasp of what common people in America care about or what they want. Abortion is far down the list of priorities on my care scale...how about protecting our civil liberties and for freedom, the very basis of why our country was formed...naw, no one cares to be free...let's focus on abortion. Just plain stupid in my opinion.

Apple Computers Taking America By Storm...NOT

Here's a new subject for my blog... that being my dislike of Apple computers...and really, I should clarify this, it isn't just Apple computers it is also the "Apple-Heads" (as I like to call them) that really drive me nuts. These Apple-Heads are people that think Apple computers and anything Apple makes is the cat's meow and far superior than PC's. Many even think that because they are of the Apple faithful that they then are superior than PC users for some reason. Because it was announced today that Apple has cracked the 4% market share for pc's I feel compelled to go on record now:

Apple computers and most* Apple products SUCK - end of discussion. I am not saying this blindly, I have used many an Apple in my time. They suck in many ways on many levels, but Apple-Heads refuse to believe the truth. The first and most obvious fact about Apple's is that whatever you pay for an Apple (or IMac) is about 2 to 4 times more than you would pay for a comparable PC...yes, 2-4 times. So by selecting an Apple computer, you are first accepting that you've probably paid over 2 times as much for your computer than a good PC. And what is even really silly now is that the top-end PC's are far superior than any of the top Mac's and continue to lead.

We now can move on to the next obvious point about Apple's sucking...where do you get software? And if you actually find a place that has more than 3 titles for your crappy Mac, odds are the PC version has been out longer and, again, probably cheaper. Boy, you Apple-Heads are really showing how superior you are by settling for an overpriced computer that you can barely get software for.

But I think the biggest factor in people becoming Apple-Heads is that they don't want to actually know or learn anything about computers. In my encounters with the few Apple-Heads that I know, only one actually knew anything about their computer other than turning it on. Because us PC users have such a wide array of software and potential problems that arise from using said software, some working knowledge of how a computer works is needed.

I will quickly move away from Apple computers and move to the I-Pod. If you own an I-Pod you are a moron...yes, that is quite a blanket statement, but I will stand by that statement. Again for probably 1/3rd of the price you can purchase a great MP3/Data player that requires no special software and a person can quickly and easily load these pc compatiable devices up with tons of content. It is again the morons of society that think I-Pod's are the cat's meow (how I don't know) but with some quick searching a person can find a better music/movie playback device for a fraction of the cost.

All Apple-Heads/I-Pod owners/users have over myself is the fact that they have spent at least twice as much money on their computer or mp3 player that is most likely crappier than one you could get for 1/2 the price.

And to conclude this piece with some sweet justice for the many discussions I have had with Apple-Heads, it sure is gratifying to know that Apple is switching to Intel chips...the very same ones that are in the PC's...which was the very basis for many Apple-Heads argument as to why their Apples are better - because they weren't intel chips....so now what do you got? Just a neat looking case?

* I do know Final Cut Studio is probably one of the top non-linear video editing software which is unfortunately made by Apple only for Apples...so you got 1 piece of software.

Kenny Mayne Is Not Funny

Most regular readers of my blog are aware of my previous blog entries (here and here) on my impressions of ESPN and how it sucks...

So for some reason I happened to be watching ESPN yesterday (or the other day) - something I routinely DO NOT do... but got to catch one of these 'funny' Kenny Mayne pieces. Now this certainly wasn't the first such segment by Kenny that I saw and upon viewing it brought flashbacks of his previous pieces... no specific details can I recall except one...that being, none of these supposedly comical segments are even remotely funny. He gets coaches, owners, players, etc... to play along with his segment, but the end result is a very poor attempt at humor.

Does ESPN have anyone that works for them that has any grasp of what is good or not? I have a little tip for ESPN executives and it is one I have given before... SHOW HIGHLIGHTS OF SPORTS! But I'm sure that option is being put aside because the braintrust at ESPN is no-doubtedly working on a new lame game show that features Stuart Scott and Kenny Mayne...

Now That's A Fire!

Get that god-damn lighter fluid out of here, we don't need no lighter fluid...

... Now that's a Fire!


Check this guy out. Lighting charcoal using liquid oxygen... your grill is lit and ready to use in about 3 seconds...

My son helping around the house. (First mobile blog entry for me.)

More Work For The Wicked...

With the new year comes some new responsibilities...

North Dakota State University (NDSU) has added matrix display messge centers and video screens to their basketball/indoor track/wrestling/volleyball/etc. facility. I am going to do video production for a variety of events for NDSU (as needed), with the first basketball game being tomorrow night.

NDSU is in the process of moving up from Division II athletics to Division I-AA and in doing so are investing in their athletics, as seen in this project. I do have to admit that my work isn't all that bad... doing live event video production for sports, I'll take it! Now if I could just figure a way out to get some more pay!

Weather Service: Spot On As Usual

Oh, and I need to relay the latest National Weather Service/Media Weathercasters latest total whiff for my region...

Saturday night I watch the weather and the forecast was for snow beginning Sunday afternoon and continuing until Monday night with a total accumulation of 4 to 7 inches.

Actual accumulation as of 48 hours since said forecast: 0.0 inches. They give themselves plenty of lee-way with a 4 inch forecast, but to not even be close? Worthless...

Back At It

So today was my first day back to work after almost 2 weeks off...

It wasn't too tough to get back to work, especially since there is plenty for me to do at this time...

Just feels odd after a long break of staying up late, drinking too much and basically being care-free to have to readjust back to being 'normal'.

Chargers Lay Down

The San Diego Chargers decided to put an exclamation point on reasons why they don't deserve to make the playoffs by losing their final regular season game to the Denver Broncos 23-7. The team came out and looked unimpressive from the opening kick off until the final gun...probably relieved to just be done with this season that had so much promise and potential and ends with a mediocre record of 9-7.

Brees hurt his shoulder which means Phillip Rivers may just be around one more season in San Diego.

Right now the season is still too bitter in the mouth of San Diego fans to look back on and look for positives (or negatives)... but will be done at a later time.

Chargers Not Good Enough

The Charger season has all but officially ended...yes, that was uttered 2 weeks ago when the bolts lost at home to Miami, but beating the previously undefeated Colts the following weekend seemed to signify that the Chargers were a team that had some hope of not only making the playoffs, but also being a team that could pull off an upset or two.

But after the Kansas City Chiefs had their way with the Chargers this past weekend, that all came to a screeching halt. The Chargers, who earned the label of being a team that couldn't finish a game - having blown 4 fourth quarter leads this season - show the ultimate price to pay from that....not making the playoffs.

I do believe I have called for Schottenheimer to be let go last year and will do so again. Yes, he helped rebuild this team into a competitive football team, but his coaching style is exactly what we saw throughout the season. If a lead is attained, then sit on the ball and put pressure on the opposing team's offense, which works about 50% of the time. And if the Chargers need to come from behind, well, you are in a coin-flip because long plays are absent from the playbook.

Tomlinson looked like he was out of gas the last 4 or so games. Not breaking 100 yards, banged up ribs... and really, all season just didn't look like he was running good... slipping and falling on more runs then making long runs...

Gates as well, since his mild ankle injury, seemed to be dropping passes that were routine for him most anytime.

McCardell really stepped up this year and was a great surprise.

Brees looked good most of the time. He did seem to fumble more when sacked this season and did make a couple of really poor decisions/passes. Hopefully he will continue to learn and improve.

Offensive line was abmissal as usual. A reason, I think, one of the best runningbacks in the league didn't have the dominating season he should have. Very rarely was there a hole for Tomlinson to bust through but instead, and oftentimes, defenders often met Tomlinson at the point of exchange. Completely unacceptable.

The defense seemed to get better as the season went on. Rookie Merriman looks like he could be the real deal. But what's odd is that the Charger run defense, which ranked first going into the game against KC, got RAN over. Which adds to my theory that I've had every time the Chargers are 'suppose' to have this good run defense...and that is teams don't need to run on the Chargers when they can pass. The Chiefs didn't want to pass and chose to run the ball and had little to no problems doing so... and that just goes to show that the Chargers were number one against the run on paper only...

Overally I am mostly disappointed with the season. I felt the Chargers were legitimate contenders for the division. Their schedule was brutal, but even more reason to think that they could have really proven something this season but came up short. What really stinks is the first four losses the Chargers could have, should have won and then these last two were simply embarassments...if they would have been the first two losses for the Chargers, then they wouldn't matter so much, but because of the previous four losses they just show that the Chargers are not a good team.

Hopefully the offseason is positive and I look forward to next season when the Chargers can redeem themselves.

What's On Tap?

So in 3 1/2 hours my X-Mas vacation begins and I know many are wondering what I will be doing. At first I was hesitant to post my activities as to not create enormous amounts of jealousy amongst my regular readers, but I've decided against my original intentions and will reveal the action packed, non-stop agenda I have planned for my Christmas vacation...

Well, first there's the obvious... I got to start and finish my Christmas shopping. After that, I am getting my driver's license renewed...so there is day one: 4 hours of Christmas shopping and probably an equal amount of time standing in line at the DMV...jealous yet? A trip back to my 'hometown' to see my parents, sister, brother, friends, etc.. with the kids for a day (maybe two) is slated to occur sometime after Christmas.

Well, there you have it... the extent of my Christmas plans...not really too exciting, but my birthday is also next week, but normally noone cares. It's one of those birthdays that just happens at the wrong time for any kind of fun to happen... shortly after Christmas and just before New Year's Eve. When I was younger it was great because it was a perfect excuse to go out drinking yet one more night during the Christmas break...but now, I'll probably be in bed by 10 or 11.

Alright the countdown to excitement is now at 3 hours and 24 minutes...

4 Hours

I am just working 4 more hours, tomorrow until noon, then I am off until next year! I need to get my driver's license renewed and do my Christmas shopping... I'm hoping to do all that tomorrow so that I can have Thursday and Friday to basically do nothing...

Happy Holidays everyone!

First Timer

After running a (pay) fantasy football league for 10 years, I am having the best year of my career. Sure, I have won and done well in free leagues in the past and I've even taken third a couple of times in this league...which only garners your entry fee back. But this year, after a quick start my team began to fade down the stretch - which is typical with my teams. I needed a win in week 13 to make our playoffs (which run weeks 14-16 in the NFL schedule) and have won convincingly the past two weeks and am in the championship game and a matchup that looks very favorable for me. So I'm keeping my fingers crossed and hopefully things go my way this weekend...

For the record, the Chargers I have on my team are Antonio Gates, Keneen McCardell and kicker, Nate Kaeding. McCardell has to be the biggest surprise on my squad. I was also able to acquire Steve Smith before the season started primarily because he was hurt last year and didn't appear towards the top of any 'cheat sheets' so I really got a 'steal' when I drafted him. And I think that luck does factor in just a bit... before the season started, I offered a competitor Stephen Davis and Derrick Mason for Fred Taylor and Chad Pennington - I'm glad he balked at that deal!

WOW!

The Chargers looked solid all but the 3rd Quarter, but slayed the giant. The Colts are no longer undefeated.

Shawn Merriman (#56) was freakin' awesome!!! If you watch any sports show this next week that 'disect' this game, you will see him all over Manning.

Brees, two int's and a fumble, all which let Indy into the game when the Chargers were up 16-0 in the third quarter.

Defense redeemed itself from last week's disgusting display.

If the Raiders could somehow, someway, please help us out... and beat the Broncos next week, the Chargers beat KC, of course in Arrowhead - but a smaller feat to ask for then this week's win at Indy...not? Then the Chargers would play the Broncos on New Year's Eve for the AFC West title, and chances are, probably the only realistic way I see the Chargers getting into the playoffs...

Big win for the Bolts today! I'm still shell-shocked...

Go Chargers!

Weather Service Comes Through Again...

Well, this is the third day of our 'Winter Storm" as forecasted by the National Weather Service and apparantly anytime it snows in this region it warrants hitting the panic button. After being in 'high alert' for the winter storm the end result is about 3 inches of snow on the ground and it being a bit cold outside...

As I previously mentioned, if the weather we had the past few days justifies weather bulletins, issuing a winter storm watch and such, this region is 'technically' under a winter storm watch from November until the end of February because it is fairly cold and we get snow at least once a week during that time...

Either the people in this region are becoming bigger wusses or the 'storms' we have aren't what they use to be...

Random Thoughts

Ok, here's another edition of some random thoughts from myself:

1. The weather forecasters in my region are HORRIBLE. So 2 weeks ago they totally blew forecasting a fairly substantial ice storm/blizzard, the first of the season...which is typical. So what does the National Weather Service (which every media-forecaster reitterates) do from here on out? Forecast a storm/blizzard days in advance. I wake up this morning to find out that our region is under a Winter Storm Watch... nevermind that it is 34 degrees outside, snow is melting and there is no wind. This Winter Storm Watch is essentially in effect until February because they don't know if/when it will ever actually strike, but this way they can at least say they warned us in advance...

2. Christmas. As I've gotten older and more cynical, I really don't care about Christmas. I NEVER get anything I really want because anything I really want is either too expensive for anyone to buy it for me or I already bought it for myself. But having kids really does remind me of when I was younger and how exciting it really is. My wife and I wrapped presents last night and put them under the tree and the kids were all abuzz this morning. My 3 year-old son was ready to start opening them up right then.

3. The new rules in the NHL, to me, is making the game better. The shoot-outs are exciting and the action seems faster than ever. Now if the NHL would just rearrange their schedule so that their season ends in April rather than June, I think they'd really see more fan growth.

4. Has anyone ever scheduled a doctor's appointment and actually seen the doctor and left in a timely manner? I had an appointment yesterday and after only 10 minutes after my appointment was scheduled did a nurse come and do the preliminary stuff - I thought I would be in and out in a timely manner - WRONG. I then got to sit and wait for 45 minutes to see the doctor - which was an hour after my scheduled appointment... it never fails... I hate going to the doctor just for that fact that it is never timely. And I know that the doctor is probably taking care of someone more serious than myself or delivering a baby or doing brain surgery or whatever, but every time? Just once in my lifetime would I like to have a doctor's appointment that I don't have to block a 1/2 day out devoted to just waiting... I should smarten up and get a laptop or other portable device I can carry with that would help kill the time...

No Joy In Chargerville

With the San Diego Chargers' loss it's easy to think that their season is over...and rightfully so. Even if the Chargers would have beaten the lowly Miami Dolphins, they still have three tough games remaining...starting with a road trip to the undefeated Colts.

I'm not willing to give up total hope yet on the Chargers missing the playoffs. But they will need to win these last three games and hope the Steelers drop a game before season's end.

It's tough for me to think about 'what if' and 'next year' when there is still a glimmer of hope left in this season...albeit a very faint glimmer.

Go Chargers!

Chargers Show True Colors...

Today's game proved their true colors today.... even if they get a playoff berth...as lucky as that could be in the AFC... they'd showed today that they aren't very good...

The defense was horrible and the offense didn't do anything to prove that it can dominate an inferior opponent....

This should be a year the Chargers could flex their muscle and prove they no longer deserve the label of team that is destined to come up short, but today's game gives that much more ammo to all the Charger nay-sayers, and rightfully so....

The only redemtion the Chargers have now is to win the last three games of the season and it starts next week against the undefeated Colts... A win next week would gain some of the respectability they lost from the poor showing today... but it isn't just a one win the Chargers need now, it's to not lose from here on out... a tough task to ask, and if the Chargers are going to gain any respect back from any of the national media, they will have to do it....

Go Chargers!

Chargers Throttle Raiders, 34-10

Although the final score made the game appear as a rout, the game was still up for grabs for most of 3 quarters. The halftime score was 17-10 Chargers, but the Raiders went three and out twice in the third quarter wheras the Chargers controlled the ball and began to widen the score.

Tomlinson got banged up and missed the last Charger possession before the half, but was back in the second half. Brees looked good. Gates caught a touchdown, but I still think is a little slowed by the ankle injury he got 2 weeks ago. Defense played fairly good, especially after the first quarter. Kerry Collins, for the Raiders, stinks.

This was one of those 'trap' games for the Chargers. A team never can write off a rival no matter their record, but looking at the two teams this year, one would think that the Chargers should have had no problem with the Raiders and I was glad to see that was the case. But many times a 'strong' team will take for granted a lesser division foe, play less then stellar football and lose a game that they should have won. But with the AFC playoff picture in its current state, the Chargers can not afford to be losing any games...especially ones they should win.

With the Steelers losing, the Chargers move into the 6th seed in the AFC playoff picture. More importantly, the Broncos lost to the Chiefs which puts the Chargers only a game out of the division lead. The Chargers remaining schedule is Miami, @Indy, @KC and Denver. A sweep of all those games would mean the Chargers would finish the season on an 8 game win streak with an overall record of 12-4 and would win the AFC West... man that would be sweet, but that Indy game is going to be tough.

Chargers need to stay focused, take care of Miami this weekend and prepare for what might be the biggest game of their season...at Indy...

Go Chargers!

Excellent...

Just acquired my father-in-laws 'old' 55 inch television...

He bought a new 55'' plasma television and just gave our family his old one...

Since we've gotten it, other than the brief moment I took this photo, it has been exclusively been used for Playstation and kid channels... I'll let them get their fill today, tomorrow is Sunday and that means football and that is what the big screen television was built for... watching SPORTS!

Chargers Escape With WIn

So now that I have a moment, let's reflect on this past Sunday's game against the Redskins in which the Chargers lucked out and ended up winning in overtime because of LaDanian Tomlinson... Not only did Tomlinson score the 41 yard game winning run in overtime, but a 32 yard game tying touchdown run in the fourth quarter. Tomlinson was certainly the exception to the Charger offense because Brees looked off and Gates dropped several balls but did make a key catch in overtime setting up the Tomlinson winning score.

The Charger defense was able to stop the Redskins during the entire fourth quarter and overtime which is why the Chargers were able to win. There is no question that this win was an 'ugly' win for the Chargers, but knowing how they got the four losses the Chargers carry right now, they will gladly take the win in the manner they did so.

A big Sunday night game against the Raiders who have to be reeling after losing to a sub-par Dolphins team. With the AFC playoff picture as tight as it is right now, they can ill afford a loss against losing teams, but historically Charger-Raider games are never easily won by either team despite the current season standings.

What A Week!

Finally getting a chance to catch my breathe...

Had a nice relaxing Thanksgiving and then... literally... I went to watch the Charger-Redskin game this past Sunday - and the Chargers are about to give me heart problems but that is another story - and the drive to the bar I watch them at was normal... but not so when I left. For almost the instant I set foot inside, a blizzard was just beginning to hit our region... and actually at first it was rain, which turned to freezing rain and by nightfall, was snow. Then the wind kicked in and most of the town was shut down on Monday and Tuesday morning.

I did make it down to Minneapolis Tuesday afternoon to see Clutch at First Avenue... good show, great time... the trip both ways did have stretches where the interstate was in less than ideal driving conditions, but overall not too bad...

After a week off from work... I really have no ambition to work the remainder of this week but I'll try and 'tough it out'...

Tomlinson 23 Redskins 17 F/OT

Brees looked really 'off' today.

Gates was dropping passes...

Good thing LaDanian was ready to run and had 2 really nice long td runs...

Happy Thanksgiving

Here's my family's bird... about an hour left to cook... looking yummy!

Happy Thanksgiving To Everyone!

Happy Thanksgiving

Hope everyone has a fun and safe Thanksgiving holiday... I'm going to be enjoying a couple of concerts during the next week... Static-X on Saturday night and Clutch in Minneapolis on Tuesday... should be a good time...

Charger news:

Good news regarding Gates' injury... just a slight sprain and he is expecting to play this Sunday...which is good. The Chargers have an early game against the Redskins... the Raiders barely eeked out a win against the Skins last week, so hopefully the Chargers can be a little more impressive in their win...

Charger Domination

This is the Charger team that we should see each week....

Gates went down, hopefully it isn't anything serious or else Charger Domination won't continue....

Kick off coverage is going to kill the Chargers unless that is addressed SOON!

Brees looked especially sharp... 28-33, 339 yds and 4 TDs...

Makes Me Laugh

I think the comedian is Tim Cavanaugh (but not sure) and the Bob & Tom Show on morning radio will occassionally re-air one of his on-air bits and in that bit, which is all pretty funny, when I hear this line:

"You know what they say about Monday's? It's the first day of the weekend!"

It always makes me laugh... I don't know why, but I figured I'd post it up because of that....

First Half Review

So the first half of the NFL season is in the books...and technically a little more than half the season has gone bye. But this week is week 11, the first week after all teams have had their byes, as did the San Diego Chargers, so it seems as if the second half really starts this week, because all teams have the same games played now.

The Chargers are 5-4 and could very easily have been 9-0 but even winning 2 of the games they should have won, they would look even more respectable at 7-2...but that does not matter anymore. The Chargers had a tough first 9 weeks and the Chargers can make their move in the next few weeks to position themselves for a playoff run - they play 3 of their next four games at home and none of the opponents seem too threatening (Buffalo, Washington, Oakland, Miami) then conclude the season with what appear right now to be big time games (Indy, KC and Denver) with the first two games being on the road. The Chargers really need to win these next four games so that 1 and maybe even 2 losses out of the last three games won't be too critical in the playoff picture... of course the Chargers merely need to win and they will control their own destiny....

Charger fans have been critical of Marty Schottenhiemer's style... only 2 games have the Chargers dominated an opponent for the full 60 minutes. The Chargers have had leads in most every game and have tried to sit on the lead only to see it dissapper... and that is why Marty does deserve some of the flak that he is getting. This Charger team looks very talented and to see games that the Chargers should easily dominate in, eek out a win is unacceptable. Marty needs to loosen the reigns and let the offense dictate the game...the New England game is the pattern I think the Chargers should strive for...total ball control, unrelenting drives that lead to scores...

My mid-season prediction for the Chargers - I think they go 5-2 and finish at 12-4 and in the playoffs. Hopefully the Broncos will start their latter season dive and the final game of the season in San Diego versus the Broncos will be for the AFC West title....and the Chargers prevail!

(BTW Picture Caption: San Diego Chargers running back and former TCU running back LaDainian Tomlinson, second from right, stands with his mother, Loreane Tomlinson, right, and his wife, Torsha, on his left, during halftime of the TCU-UNLV game, Saturday, Nov. 12, 2005 in Fort Worth. Officials with the school said no one has worn his No. 5 jersey since he left, and no one will in the future without Tomlinson's approval)

First Snow

Yesterday we got our first snow of the season...and it wasn't the nice gentle snow dropping from the sky on a slightly brisk, yet not too cold of day... it was a windy and cold and the snow hurt when it pelted your face. That's about how I remember winters... I hate winter....

Soon To Retire

Well to all my faithful blog readers it appears as if my status in society is about to change... I just recieved an email from the British Lottery Headquarters notifying me that I've won $2.5 million. Of course I've never heard of the British Lottery nor recall ever entering it, but it has to be legit because I got an email...never mind that it fails to mention my real name, address or even any identifying characteristics of myself, I am so overwhelmed with joy that is all inconsequential.

Because it is an European Lottery (as the email explains) the money will be dispersed from their London bank after I send them a check for only $5,000. The email further explains they are ready to process my claim IMMEDIATELY and if I fail to respond in a timely manner my winnings could go to someone else, so needless to say I had to mortgage my house over my lunch hour to come up with the necessary funds to send off post-haste.

I can hardly wait to receive my winnings and let me tell you, there will be a big party at my place when it comes....

/end sarcasm font

The End Is Near

Starting tomorrow, the venue I work at is hosting 7 football games from Thursday thru Saturday. I will be working most of them... but after completing the last game on Saturday, I get some 'downtime'. We are primarily a 'football' venue and once football concludes for the season, whether it be collegiate or high school, most everyone has less demanding daily workloads....

I'll get busy in late January and remain so until June but until then, it will be nice to not be so busy...

Chargers Win.... Barely

The Chargers escape with a win...

Charger faithful unhappy with coaching.... rightfully so...

Tomlinson is awesome....

Rest up this week and begin Charger domination in 2 weeks....

Chargers At NY Jets

Well today is the day that the San Diego Chargers can avenge the heartbreaking playoff loss that ending their season last year to the NY Jets. The Jets are a different team this time... their starting qb, Pennington, is out for the season, his backups have been banged up consistently and the Jets team as a whole is not as formidable as it was last season.

The Chargers 'should' have no problems today. I think Tomlinson, Gates and Brees all have good games and the Chargers look good as they go into the bye. Chargers 35 Jets 12.

War On Drugs - Wasting Money

Just got hold of some interesting facts regarding America's most costly, ineffective 'war'... the War On Drugs and I thought I share them:

- More than 500,000 Americans are behind bars in federal, state and local prisons for violating a drug law. The United States represents 5% of the world's population but 25% of the world's prison population. The U.S. has the highest per capita incarceration rate in the world. Definately not the 'land of the free' as advertised.

- The War On Drugs costs taxpayers roughly $40 billion annually in direct costs and tens of billions more in indirect costs. That's over TWENTY times the amount we spend on quality after school programs that help kids stay out of trouble.

- After more than three decades of the Drug War, drugs today are cheaper, purer and more easily obtained than ever before.

Mandatory sentencing is filling up America's prisons faster than ever with people that don't deserve to be behind bars. A first time offense will lead to a minimum sentence of 7 to 21 years, whereas manslaughter, robbery and even assualt don't carry such harsh sentencing guidelines. Meaning a non-violent drug offender has his life literally changed/ruined because of one mistake they may have made - which often times is merely just getting caught - whereas a violent criminal is often back on the streets in less time, a total 'skewed' judicial system severely punishing people for a moral decision rather than punishing true criminals in our society, the sex-offenders, murderers and other violent criminals.