Merry Christmas/100th Post

Batman Has Sad Christmases
from thehighdefinite.com

Hooray! We've now been rocking your face off for an unprecedented 100 posts! Unprecedented in the history of ever. None of this would be possible without you, the loyal readership, so pat yourselves on the back. From the beginning, way back in August of 2007, we've grown by leaps and bounds, providing nothing but the best drivel and low-brow commentary. In honor of this momentous occasion, I've decided to stay the course (if it ain't broke, don't fix it, and literally tens of hits over the past year and a half don't lie) and make a post just like all the others. Only longer. Enjoy.

First off, a very special treat - you may have seen this, but Drunk Jeff Goldblum is well worth a second look. Videogum was kind enough to compile a list of the 8 Best, so check them out, but here is the original.



Here's a nice post from Hotair.com entitled "Scientists Scoff at AP Global Warming Story." It pretty much sums up what's wrong with the current state of global warming propaganda-alarmism and how it's being used to drive policy. Even if you don't agree with me, you should still read this and make up your own mind about how facts are being manipulated.

And here's a nice little piece on Mr. Obama's pick as his science adviser, proving that you don't need to know science to talk about science. And in case you're wondering, yes, I do know science.

On a lighter note, here's a great blog called Club Trillion - while it is indirectly basketball-related (he very rarely talks about basketball), it is very well written and quite funny. I won't go into his whole story or the meaning of the blog's name, but do yourself a favor and check it out.

If you're having trouble remembering the reason for the season, watch this Aqua Teen Hunger Force episode, the Cybernetic Ghost of Christmas Past. It's a high-quality episode of a hit-or-miss series. Prepare to be heart-warmed.

Here's Videogum.com's list of the 8 worst people of 2008. It's pretty right-on.

Finally, I figured we should end this post the way we started, so here are the 15 Weirdest Jeff Goldblum moments courtesy of Screenjunkies.com. Merry Christmas. Be good to people and don't drink and drive.

Videogum.com

Just a quick heads-up for anyone not aware of this website already, and looking to waste a little time: Videogum.com is a funny, well-written website with a little something for everybody. Here's a taste: I just read a post entitled "Children Have Trouble Cutting Bread the Darndest Things," which I think is an amazing title, especially since the post consisted almost exclusively of the video found below.


Not all of the posts are this ridiculous, but this is a website well worth an occasional visit. I liked this post entitled, "Seth MacFarlane is Not Even the Smartest Person in the Jail Where He Belongs." It's a reaction to Entertainment Weekly's list of the 25 Smartest People in TV, and I couldn't agree more - although he is at least smart enough to stick to his formula which exploits the public's desire for simple, lowest common denominator "humor."

Lastly, here's a great article by Charles Krauthammer about the future of America and what to make of President-elect Obama's appointments. And here's a thoughtful article from the National Journal about GM's past and possible future and how a bailout of the auto industry (excuse me, Automotive Bride Loan) would help/hurt. I'm on the fence. Fortunately, nobody seems to care what people like me think.

Hacks

Here's something that's been around for a while, but it was new to me, so what the heck. Joe Satriani has filed a lawsuit alleging that Coldplay ripped off his work in writing "Viva la Vida." In my opinion, there are far too many similarities (not just key, chord progression and melody, but also intervals from later in the Satriani solo that come up later in the "new" song) to deny, but I don't know anything about copyright law. Having a fairly strong background in music and composition, though, I can tell you that I absolutely believe that Coldplay ripped this off. Pretty disappointing - give this video a watch and make up your own mind.

UPDATE - video fixed 12/25/08

Food Overdose

tiricosuave.com - go there

Well, Thanksgiving went off without a hitch - we were graced with the presence of family and friends and copious amounts of food. I really think I've eaten more in the last week (our Thanksgiving feedings last at least a week) than in the entire last month.

In light of the holidays, I give you this retelling of "A Christmas Story," which uses Plaxico Burress as the main character (from tiricosuave.com, a great sports-related website). It's really funny, with some high-quality photoshop work.

Lastly, here's an article that nobody seems to want to read called "Eight Facts that Burnish Bush's Record." As I think I've stated in the past, I'm not a huge fan of President Bush and many of his policies, but the "Bush derangement syndrome" is very real. He has made many mistakes, but the current trend of blaming absolutely everything on Bush is ridiculous.

Some Cool Stuff

I just came across this list of "Top Ten Amazing Biology Videos" over on Wired.com - it's definitely worth checking out. I've taken the liberty of including the most bizarre one below. It's a Spanish music video about the heart, and it's pretty funny. A few of these videos are sort of genetics-related jokes, which you may or may not need to be a biology nerd to find humorous, but I like them so whatever. On a somewhat-related note, at the bottom is one of my favorite music videos from Familjen. My brother found it a while back and it's awesome. Hopefully, it'll get your toe a-tappin'.

A Couple of Things

Here are a few things that have caught my fancy over the past few days. First, a few examples of the contested congressional ballots up in MN. No real analysis, other than that people who are too stupid to read simple directions shouldn't be surprised when their votes aren't counted. Next, a quick little article about a discovery that could possibly eventually provide direct evidence for the existence of dark matter - potentially game-changing stuff, but still very early. Lastly, I give you (once again by way of Filmdrunk.com) the greatest interview ever. JCVD is a true icon, and truly bizarre. One final note: I am deeply saddened that this season of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia has come to an end. If you missed the finale, you really need to watch it; I laughed as hard as I've laughed in a long time. I'll try to keep you posted as to when it makes it's way to Hulu. Until then, I give you... van Dame. He's like poetry in motion.

A Couple of Things

First things first - This is something that I wasn't sure I would post, but ultimately decided to let my (millions of) readers decide for themselves. This is the "How Obama Got Elected" video by John Ziegler. On the surface, it's sour grapes, pure and simple. But I think it's interesting and worth a watch for entertainment value (for conservatives) and also as a commentary on just how much impact the media has on everyday people. Of course, not everyone is this uninformed, and this video implies that all Obama voters were - which is not at all the case. But read this to see the numbers from the Zogby poll which was conducted in conjunction with this video, and also read this to see how he refuted the criticism he has received. Their commentary on this video is far better than anything I can muster - just keep in mind, I've not posted this to mock Obama voters. Again, I see it as proof of the media's bias.



Now, I'm not the hugest Romney fan (I'm down to about 185 now), but I have to say that I agree with him on the auto bailout. Here he is on MSNBC talking about it.



Now, I'm certainly no expert on this, but it seems pretty obvious to me that just about everyone who is for this new bailout is talking about it as what it is - another short-term band-aid. With a government-aided bankruptcy, the auto industry could restructure the way it has needed to for years, and find a way to be profitable and competitive again. Plus, allowing them to go through this (admittedly very painful) restructuring keeps free market, capitalistic ideals in place and refrains from truly opening the bail-out floodgates.

And finally, some lighter fare - do yourself a favor and check out these headshots (plus descriptions). Really funny stuff. I found this over on Filmdrunk.com. If you've never been, go there. Here's a taste.

Star Trek

In case you haven't heard, the new Star Trek trailer is out. I saw it the other day when I went to see the new Bond movie, and now that it's online, I have spent the obligatory 15 minutes poring over it frame-by-frame. I would encourage you to watch it (go here for the official, high-quality goodness). I've got to say, I'm pretty pumped about this. It certainly looks like a special-effects extravaganza. A special-effextravaganza, if you will. Some of it even looks special-extraordinary. I just hope the effects are used special-effectively to service the plot, and not just for special-effect. At any rate, it's a very well put-together trailer, which I very much respect. I've always been a big fan of well constructed trailers (one of my favorites is the teaser trailer for Superman Returns [higher quality here - just scroll down], which brings me to my next point.

When my friends and I were at the theater (inside the lobby, after having our tickets taken), we were greeted by a slick guy who asked us, "Do you like movies?" Unsure of what was happening, we said that yes, we do in fact like movies, and he proceeded to invite us to some sort of focus group thing where they would supposedly screen several movie trailers and then get our input, and pay us $75. He gave us each a piece of paper with the details, and on the back of each, he scrawled his name (John) and his personal number. I asked who was putting the thing on and he replied (somewhat coyly), "A major movie studio." Sounded too good to be true, but we took the papers and left. Unfortunately, none of us were able to make it to the shindig; I really would have liked to have seen what it was all about (and I looked up the agency who was doing the research - they were reputable). The thing that kind of gave us a bad feeling about it, though, was that not only did John give us his personal number, but he also said (in a way that made it seem like it had slipped out) that the group was all male. Now, that surely was just the demographic that they were looking for, but to aid in your understanding of the situation, I've produced the following picture of my recollection of John. [ Please note that as my lame-ass brother has yet to provide me with Photoshop, I had to use a crappy online drawing program. So this is far below my usual level of artistry.] I guess I will always have to look back on this time with the bittersweet sorrow of missed opportunities. Or maybe the address on the sheet would have taken me to John's personal cabin out in the woods... (click the picture to enlarge and enhance the quality [image quality, not artistic quality])

Bond

First things first - I had a lovely afternoon/evening with some friends which included a viewing of the new Bond movie, "Quantum of Solace." It was a very solid movie, with a great deal of action to enjoy, though it was a bit convoluted at times. I definitely like Daniel Craig as Bond, and I really think that his performance did a lot to carry the movie.

Now for the real business - I've had these links ready to go, cluttering my browser for the last few days, and now it's time to post them. First, a couple of posts about the recount debacle up in MN. Pretty unbelievable stuff going on up there (especially since it was Al Franken who complained the most when GW Bush "stole" the election in '04; now that seems to be exactly what he's trying to do). Here's Megyn Kelly (who's amazing, but terrifyingly intimidating) interviewing Gov. Pawlenty about the whole mess. And here's a nice bit about exactly how Franken is trying to steal this election - by lying about 80 year-old stroke victims. Finally, here's Glenn Beck with a good breakdown of the numbers for all of the squirelly goings on up there.

Next, something truly unbelievable. Apparently, the FEC is planning to audit McCain's campaign (which is standard practice for campaigns which utilize the $84 million public grant), but not Obama's, in part, "...because the sheer volume of cash he raised and spent minimizes the significance of his errors." So, in spite of all of the irregularities in the fundraising, and the campaign's refusal to name the small donors, the Obama campaign will not be audited essentially because Mr. Obama went back on his word when he decided not to take the public funds. This is not sour grapes, for the record - it just doesn't make any sense to me.

And finally, in an attempt to end on a positive note, here are the guys from "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" learning how to "speak British." Enjoy.

In Case You Missed It

If you don't watch It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, shame on you. It's easily the funniest show on TV these days (which isn't that hard), and well worth your time. Here's a clip to whet your whistle until next Thursday at 9pm Central. In it, Dee is trying to realize her dream of becoming an actor by paying her dues as a stand-up comic. By the way, Hulu.com is amazing.



Also, enjoy this clip.

Fava Beans and a Nice Chianti

In case you haven't met my dad, he's huge. He also played football in college (at Tulsa University), and as a result of that and his various other (mis)adventures, he has had some ankle trouble. They are basically the size of grapefruits. So, a few days ago, he had one of them operated on. He's doing fine; still in some pain, but he's able to moderate the use of painkillers now to the point where he's lucid. What's really noteworthy here is that the surgeon let him keep all of the crap that he removed from the joint. Before you look at the pictures below, do a couple of things - first, make sure you aren't eating; and second, look down at your own ankle to get a feel for the approximate size of the joint, paying special attention to how much bone you think could be removed and still have a functional joint. Now, here are the pictures, served on a salad plate with a fork for reference. (Click to enlarge. You know you want to.)


The second image (with the lovely garnish, supplied by my twisted mom), was taken by my brother. It should be noted that we are, for the first time in history, using a team-coverage tactic for this story. Check out his work here, and leave a nasty comment for him about how much better my blog is. In case you're wondering, most of the material that was removed from my dad's ankle is bone spur, which has been accumulating in the joint for many years. So that's that - I will take a picture of his ankle after the bandages are removed to show how slim and sexy it is now. Until then, I will follow my brother's lead and provide the following palate-cleansing picture. Enjoy.

Bummer

I just heard that Michael Crichton passed away, and I've got to say, this is really a tremendous loss. He was one of the most brilliant and prolific writers of our time, and his work has a special place in my heart. As a kid, I probably read Jurassic Park 10 times in 4 years, and I've seen the movie at least as many times, and several of his other books are also in my top 20. What a bummer.

The People Have Spoken

Congratulations to all who voted, and of course to Barack Obama. This truly is a great and momentous occasion, and while he wasn't my guy in this election, I am still proud of what our great country has accomplished. This is undeniable proof of how far we as a country have come and the progress we've made towards true equality for all. Furthermore, Mr. Obama ran a great campaign, and his supporters should be very pleased. I truly hope that he is a great president - we really need strong leadership at this point in history, and I am confident that President Obama can provide it. I hope that he can use his power and influence for the good of all Americans, and most importantly, that he can make the difficult decisions necessary to protect our great nation. I hope and pray that he will lead us proudly into the future. This truly is a proud day for America.

Debate Mash-Up

This is amazing - at once hilarious and depressing. I guess this is why I found myself nodding off through most of the debates.

Get the latest news satire and funny videos at 236.com.

For what it's worth, I really do think that the series of town hall meetings that were proposed by McCain would have been infinitely more enlightening for exactly this reason. They would both have to be off-script and say how they really feel about the issues and what they would really do to solve them.

A couple of other things: Here's a great article by Michelle Malkin called "Snapshots of the Tank." In it she details her favorite media-bias moments from this election cycle. Pretty telling.

This is a really interesting account by a former Democratic speech writer (who wrote for Obama, among others) who recently decided to leave the Democratic party. She talks about why she felt she had to leave, and about how difficult it was for her.

Finally, here's Bill Richardson explaining the nuance of the Obama tax plan - now middle class has dropped from $250,000 down to $200,000, then $150,000, now all the way down to $120,000? Even if he just misspoke, the fact remains that we've heard four different numbers over the past few weeks - nobody knows the real answer, it would seem.

Lots of Stuff

First things first, a disclaimer - this will probably end up being a predominately political post. But, perservere, for there are other goodies too (or just skip to the bottom - we aim to please here at 'Rock). With that said, here's an interesting, article by Orson Scott Card, a sci-fi author, and well-known Democrat. Basically, he talks a bit about the economic crisis as a means to his main end, which is to call out the liberal media for doing such a terrible job. He gets pretty harsh, talking about the double-standard (he often asks how the media would have acted if there were actual evidence that the Republicans actually were completely to blame) and the total lack of journalistic integrity. Worth reading, and it's pretty short.

Here's a great article by George Will, again focusing on the truth behind the economic crisis, and how it's not as bleak as some want us to believe (yet).

Here's a shocker - turns out the Ohio official who ok'd the (illegal) records search on "Joe the Plumber," director of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, Helen Jones-Kelly, is not only an Obama supporter, but a maxed-out donor. It's that new-style politics, baby.

File this one under "In Case You Missed It" : Here's a nice synopsis of the journalistic-integrity free LA Times' decision not to release the tapes of Obama speaking at Khalidi's going away party. Just to be clear, Ayers was there, as were many, many, anti-Isreal types.

Finally, a very in-depth analysis called The Comprehensive Argument Against Barack Obama. You can probably guess what it's about. It was written by Guy Benson and Mary Katherine Ham, with input from Ed Morrissey, and posted on Hotair.com. Lots of really thought-provoking, scary stuff that we all should know about him, but don't because the main-stream media is too busy talking about Sarah Palin's shoes. Give it a read, or don't.

As promised, something different. Here's a great interview with Christopher Nolan, director of such films as Memento, Batman Begins. It's a really interesting analysis of one of the most pivotal scenes from The Dark Knight, the interrogation scene between the Batman and the Joker. Very much worth reading, if you're a film buff. Or especially if you're in the buff.

Lastly, another in case you missed it. Awesome, especially considering he played linebacker for Kentucky. I must have watched this 50 times to watch every part of the official's body just to be sure it was intentional; the fact remains - he had plenty of opportunity to avoid contact as he shuffled along (actually, pursued the running back inside-out, just like the teach linebackers to do [believe me, I know; I played linebacker in highschool; years ago]).

A Cry for Help

Photo credit: someone else.

As it turns out, I don't really have all that many vices. But there is one thing that I simply cannot refuse; one thing that poses a significant risk to my god-like body - Stacy's Baked Pita Chips. Especially the "simply naked" variety, seasoned with nothing but sea-salt and shame. There just aren't that many things out there that I really worry about literally eating a whole bag of, but this is one of them. I (stupidly) often eat them while I'm doing something else, like reading or... eating lunch (which still qualifies as "something else" because my brain seems to be able to focus 100% of its processing power on eating pita chips, if given the chance). This is a terrible idea, because it can take me several minutes before I realize that I'm shoving them in my mouth as fast as I can. With both hands. I often joke that they're laced with crack, but given the way I jones for them when there aren't any around, it's not that funny anymore. I can't think of anything else. I start to think of ridiculous, risky ways to get quick cash to get my fix. Sure, I've done some things I'm not proud of, but it's not my fault. I'm sick, man. So, if you haven't ever had them, give them a shot. Maybe just try one. Oh, have you seen those crystal meth PSA's? I think I just came up with a new ad campaign for Stacy's: Pita Chips - The High is a Lie.

Magnus Got a Bed

I thought that a nice diversion from all the crap that's been going on lately would be to post some pictures of the puppy. He's growing at an astounding rate, and, more importantly, my mom just got him a new toy. I mean bed. For the record, I am aware that this would be better served by using Flickr! or the like, but I don't really do that. Without further ado, Behold! He is Magnus.



I believe the words you're looking for are "Ridiculously Adorable."

Alessi

Last night, my parents and I had the pleasure of going to see Joseph Alessi in concert with the Brass in Blue. I was looking forward to hearing the band play, as I'm a big fan of the brass band style, but as a trombonist, it was pretty amazing to see one of the best in the world. Alessi played some pretty great repertoire, including Blue Bells of Scotland (the link takes you to Jorgen Van Rigen playing Blue Bells, plus a whole lot of schtick), an old standard that I've played in the past (though not anywhere near the level I saw last night). The show was great all around; all of the musicianship was of very high quality, and now I can say that I've seen one of the greatest ever, live in concert. Here's a short clip of Alessi playing the solo from Bolero (which is fiendishly difficult to play well), followed by a clip of him playing one of my favorite short solos, Malcolm's Fantasy. Both were performed at masterclasses, so they aren't really indicative of just how dominant a player he is, but they're fun clips. I'm still a nerd.

Gird Your Loins, Friends

note: I stole the above image from somewhere out there in the intertubes.

So, if you're anything like me, you're already sick to death of election politics, and have been for months. But really, I'm just getting sick of being lied to. You can't even turn on the TV without hearing some sort of "spin" (which of course actually means "carefully worded lies") - maybe I'm alone on this, but the fact that the media actually refer to their holding pen at debates and other big events from which they report each night as the "spin room" is pretty unbelievable. Actually, it's offensive and insulting. They are actually telling us straight up, "this is where we go to warp the politicians' words to suit our own agenda." Great. But even that wouldn't really be that big of a deal if the media would just cover both sides equally - anyone who says that the vast majority of the mainstream media isn't in the tank for Obama... is entitled to their own opinion, but I'd like to hear them support it. Oddly, the only person these days who really seems to be saying what he thinks and meaning what he says - Joe Biden. The fact that he has said the things that he's said, predicting that the world would see President Obama as unready for the office, and want to test him (which people are calling a "gaffe" - I don't buy it, he knew exactly what he was saying), and that America will need to "gird it's loins" to get through one of the several global crises he envisions. It's pretty unbelievable. Even more unbelievable is that virtually none of the mainstream media even covered it - and the fact that everyone seems to have forgotten that Biden himself said that there was no room in the Presidency for "on the job training " (read: he's not ready) during the primaries. Mr. Obama swept this most recent one under the rug by calling it a "rhetorical flourish," but you just know he clenches his teeth (or perhaps girds his loins) whenever Biden opens his mouth.

I don't want to belabor the point, but for everyone out there who has jumped on the "Blame the Republicans" bandwagon, read this. At the very least, this gets the ball rolling to get to the bottom of the economic crisis - and it shows that there's plenty of blame to go around. For my money (not that I have any), Barney Frank should be thrown in jail for his role in all of this, and for all of the money he's made from Fannie and Freddie. One last note - apparently this actually does exist, in spite of the fact that the Obama campaign has stated numerous times that it doesn't. This is the kind of lie that is just ridiculous - it's so easy to prove that it's not true that it's just offensive that they would try it.

Oh, Willard, You're Such a Card

This is hilarious - brought to you by The Soup, enjoy this clip (after Al Roker gets hammered on fruity drinks) of Willard Scott molesting Ann Curry on the Today Show. Maybe the most awkward thing since... well, probably this. Or maybe this. Or perhaps this.






Or this (old but still horrific):

Lots of Stuff

Well, it's been several weeks since the last post (and even that one was kind of lame) but get off my back, I've been busy. Here's a partial list of the things I've been doing, in no particular order:

I had an interview at KU Med: I felt like it went pretty well. I pretty much told them how stupid it would be not to immediately accept me, then I got up and strutted out of the room. I did this because I read somewhere that "confidence is key," and since I'm such a sucker for alliteration, I was sold.

I got accepted to KU Med: Pretty happy about this one. Now that I'm finally done waiting to see if I got into medical school, I can finally start waiting to start medical school in July. I did the early decision program, which means that since I was accepted, I'm locked in at KU. That's great because KU is where I really want to go, but now recruiting letters are starting to come in from other schools who've seen my MCAT scores and GPA. Mostly this just makes me glad that the whole application process is finally over.

I'm taking Anatomy and Physiology: It's been good so far - I really dig the material, and I'm doing really well so far. Also, there's a cute girl in the class - some might say that her complete and utter lack of interest in me is due to a complete and utter lack of interest in me, but I prefer to believe that she's playing hard to get. You know how girls like to be wooed, wined and dined, stalked, etc.

My folks got a new iMac: It's nice to be able to use a computer that turns on when you ask it to.

My folks got a puppy: His name is Magnus, he's an 8 week old Chocolate Lab, and he's sleeping right now, so please read quietly. He's more of a handful every day as he gets more and more comfortable in his new home (we've had him for about 6 days). Since both of my parents work and I'm kind of a bum right now, I've been spending a lot of time with him, and my back is pretty sore from stooping to grab stuff out of his mouth. In fact, I hear him whining right now, so I will cut this truly fascinating post short. Enjoy the puppy pictures.

I know there's a word for this...

Unbelievable. Presumptuous. Arrogant. Unprecedented.

This just in via Hotair.com - act now to get your Barack Obama Presidential Coin!!! You know, make up your own mind about his policies, his character, his experience or whatever issues there might be out there, but this is pretty outrageous. It seems like they should at least wait until he wins the election before they immortalize his visage on a coin. I'm really "struck" (get it? I'll give you a hint: it's a pun - you strike coins, and I said that I'm "struck") by the fact that this was considered a good move for someone who is already considered by many to be arrogant.

That 1 Guy

So my whole family loves music, and my dad is often the one who introduces the rest of us to new and interesting stuff. One such example is That 1 Guy. I heard his newest album "The Moon is Disgusting," with my dad the other day, and I just spent a few minutes watching YouTube videos of him. I've always had an interest in the one-man-band, and this guy is sort of the 21st century version. His style is sort of a grab-bag of everything from electronica and dance to funk and folk. He plays a one-string bass comprised of a long, segmented pipe that has several electronic triggers on it, in addition to various pedals that he uses to trigger other sounds (see the picture above). It's hard to really explain well, so just watch the videos below; it's really fascinating, innovative stuff. And he's hilarious. I've included the video for his song "Buttmachine," which is a poppy, dance-inspired song with very funny lyrics about butts. Below that is a live performance of the title track from the new album, which wanders a bit, but it demonstrates his music well. Hope you enjoy.

Good. Lord.

Well, the countdown to the Olympics is nearly over, and Beijing finally seems to have gotten a handle on their little smog problem. Or not. WithLeather.com (the most trusted name in sports blogging - and they just wrote about the Royals!) has a picture from yesterday which really makes me believe that they've got things under control. Seeing these pictures, I can't help but wonder what it would be like to try to run a marathon or a sprint (or just briefly jog to flee from the Chinese tanks and gunfire); the first thing that comes to mind is that it would probably be like that part in The Abyss when Ed Harris first starts breathing that pink water. Only instead of pink water, it'd be like breathing molten lead mixed with cancer.

It Has Arrived

For those of you who don't know, I finally bit the bullet and got a new drum set. I'm surprised I held out as long as I did, but I must say that I'm sad to see the pink drums get replaced. They were very good to me. I've included a few pictures of the set, and if you are so inclined, a list of components at the end (yes, I'm a nerd). The pictures don't really do the finish justice, and it's difficult to get a good angle to really show the entire set from within the confines of the basement (and there's no way I'm going to tear the whole thing down and relocating it just to take a few pictures that nobody but me will care about). Oh, and you can totally see Smokey the Bear the to left of the picture below. He's wearing a cowboy hat, of course.Drums: 14x5 Pearl Free Floater snare drum (brass shell), 10x6 Pacific Maple snare drum
8x7, 10x8, 12x9, 14x12, 16x16, 22x18 Pearl MCX Masters Maple Shells
Cymbals: 7" Sabian Signature Max Splash
8" Zildjian A Custom Splash
10" Sabian AAX Splash
12" Zildjian Oriental Trash Splash
13" A Zildjian Mastersound Hi Hats
14" Zildjian Schimitar Hi Hats (ancient)
14" Zildjian Trashformer
15" Zjildjian K Custom Hybrid Crash
16" Zildjian K Dark Medium Thin Crash
16" Sabian AAX Crash
17" Zildjian K China
20" Zildjian A Custom Ride

Thumbs Up

The Good Reverend Jesse Jackson. In case you missed it, he said that he wanted to cut Barack Obama's nuts off. For real. Watch it here, read about the apology here, if you like. But way more importantly, I really encourage you to read this editorial my dad came across from The Root, entitled "When the Man is One of Us." It's a very interesting commentary from the Black perspective on how rapidly things are changing and what it would really mean for America to have its first African American President. I really recommend it. Also, I was hoping to find a youtube clip of Darrell Hammond as Jesse Jackson, but all I could find was this. It's entertaining, but he only does Jackson for a few seconds 1:45 in.

Photo from Ridiculopathy.com.

Summer Olympics = Huge Disaster?

So, I'm already super psyched for the Olympics. But, as the title of this post should tell you, it's time for alarmist prognostication. I sure hope this isn't the case, but there really are way too many ways in which the Olympics Games in Beijing could go horribly wrong. Our friends at Slate (which I really don't know anything at all about them, but WithLeather.com hates them, so I probably do to - it's really quite taxing coming up with opinions on my own) have compiled a list of possible disasters that's worth a read. Having been to Beijing, I can vouch for several of them, namely the air pollution (which immediately burns your lungs from the second you step off the plane) and the food (which immediately burns your insides from the second you eat it). I read a while back about how the US was putting a great deal of effort into transporting clean beef, chicken and pork there to prepare for our athletes, but come to find out, outside food isn't being allowed. I hope the food there doesn't do to the athletes what it did to me or - insert awkward bathroom joke here. Of course, the interweb has allowed people with a little creativity and/or Photoshop (mostly the latter) to create images of doom and gloom. Some are pretty funny - like this one. Or this one. Or even less subtle, this one. But reading all of this about the Chinese government diverting water to Beijing and shutting down construction projects, not to mention kicking half of the cars off the streets to reduce pollution, I can't help but think about how much it would suck be subject to the whims of a government like that. And how much effort they're putting into all of this just to look like they're not a third world country anymore, which they aren't - although I did see a little girl poop in the street and then run to her waiting mother when I was there. Hopefully, none of these potential disaster will occur, and the games will go off without a hitch. My advice to American athletes: Go for the gold and don't eat or drink anything. Or breathe.

Italian Spiderman

In case you haven't heard of it, do yourself a favor and check out "Italian Spiderman." Click the link above to see them all, but the first installment is below for your viewing pleasure. Be warned, it can be a bit offensive (but in a harmless way), and the episodes are pretty hit-or-miss, but it's definitely worth a shot. Also, PopSci.com has a pretty sweet gallery of new-ish images of the surface of Mars - there are, of course, better places to see more of these pictures, but here they're all in one place with charming synopses. Oh, and don't forget, AskaNinja.com is still cranking out high-quality humor.

God Bless America

In a year filled with complicated issues, partisan political bickering, and rampant anti-Americanism both at home and abroad, there's no better time than the Fourth of July to remember the ideals upon which our great nation was founded. We must remember those who came before us and the sacrifices they made to ensure our way of life, and also those who fight for it in our own times. This was going to be a rant about politics and remembering where we came from as a nation, but instead, I'd rather focus on the positive. For all of the problems and disagreement we have in this country, I believe that the American Spirit lives on, and with it the hope of a better tomorrow. Happy Fourth of July, and God bless America.

Monday Cool

Well, I'm not really sure what to say about all of this, but I just wanted to share this with those of you who haven't seen it yet. I just came across a guy named Pjotro who has built a suit that translates his dance moves into music. This video embedded below is from a truly bizarre Russian talk show (apparently hosted by Jabba the Hut [or the Baron Harkonnen, depending on which nerd-verse you're coming from]), and it shows a live performance of the dance suit. If you're interested, a search for "Pjotro" on Youtube will yield more videos. But do check out his website - with a bit of searching and enduring a rather long intro (which is hilarious, he sounds like Count Dracula) you get to the real gem. You can create a dance for him to perform using a variety of options and then make him dance it. Just check it out, it's well worth the time. He's also got a blog that talks about everything from the construction of the suit to his world tour. Be sure to check out the "about me" section too - it's hilarious.

How I Won Father's Day

So, holidays/birthdays that require the exchange of presents are always the source of some consternation in my family. Mostly my parents refuse to tell my brother and me what they want (or even what they would tolerate) as a gift. This year, for Father's Day, I applied my superior intellect to the problem and lo and behold - the greatest Father's Day gift of all time. Here's the product itself, but more importantly, below is a picture of my dad wielding it. Tremble in fear of this image and bask in awe of my complete and utter mastery of this holiday of holidays.


As a fun side-note, I was pretty uncomfortable buying this at Dick's Sporting goods - it didn't really help when the cashier immediately said, "Wow, you could really hack some people up with that!" He's right, but that's not what it's for. Honest.

Thumbs Up Special

So many things to bitch about, so little time. Instead of trying to cram everything in, I'm just going to talk about our Savior, Al Gore - or as the folks at Hotair.com call him, Goracle. In case you've forgotten, Goracle is now the champion of the environment, flying all over the world in his private jet to give talks (out of the goodness of his heart - and for over $100 million dollars in speaking fees). As a side note, he just bravely (after the nomination had already been decided) stepped up to endorse Obama (who admitted that he flies friends in to play basketball with him - nearly as environmentally hypocritical as the Goracle himself). But I digress. There's just so much to be appalled about with this guy that I can't even keep it all straight. For instance, the fact that he won the Nobel Peace prize for his "work," including the pseudoscientific (in that it distorts the facts to meet its alarmist ends) sham that is "An Inconvenient Truth" (a movie made from a slideshow). Now that's all fine and good - we need to be more aware of the impact we have on the environment. The real travesty here is that he won the Nobel Peace prize instead of Irena Sendler, who saved the lives of 2,500 Jewish children during the Holocaust at significant risk to her own life. Behold, Goracle!
By the way, I didn't make that image - if I had, it would have been way less understated. At any rate, the real purpose for this Thumbs Up for Mr. Gore is his valiant efforts to overhaul his enormous Tennessee mansion to make it more green (I would have just painted it). This was an important step for Gore, who has been criticized for being the world's biggest hypocrite. And boring. Click here to read the Tennessee Center for Policy Research's press release (really, it's short and well worth it) detailing Goracle's heroic transformation of his home from an energy-gobbling monstrosity that used 20 times the energy of the average US home to an energy-gobbling monstrosity that uses 10% more energy than it did before the renovation. That's right, it uses more energy now that he's made all of these improvements. But I guess all of that goes away when he throws money at "carbon-offsets," which are maybe the most idiotic result of his enviro-alarmism.

What people need to know, however, is that Al Gore might not actually be in this for the good of the world - what you never hear about is the fact that his investment company, GIM, holds a 9.5% stake in Camco Global, a company with one of the largest holdings of carbon credits. As you can see, Goracle stands to make quite a bit of money on the tails of the cap and trade program he has so fervently espoused. So for all this and more, here's a big thumbs up for Al Gore, savior of the environment. Want to learn more? Watch the video below to find out how you can help stop climate change. UPDATE: For those of you who want the facts, and not just my summary of them. Also not that Reuters reported it too, so this isn't just "Right-Wing conspiracy" against the Goracle.

Basketball is Stupid

So, during this exciting season, I know many of you out there are wondering how I feel about Basketball. Well, I'll tell you - I think it's stupid. Now, don't get me wrong, I enjoy a good, hard-fought college game, but I find the NBA to be borderline intolerable. Why, you might ask? Because laziness is rewarded - these players are some of the most phenomenal athletes in the world, not to mention the most immense, and they flop around like rag dolls when there's the slightest contact. "Draw a foul?" Despicable words. The worst part is that they get rewarded for moving just enough to make someone bump into them and then falling over like a baby. There is not another sport out there that encourages not trying to make a play (unrelated - NASCAR is not a sport and the drivers are not athletes). I know I'm not alone in thinking that this is ruining the game - in fact, click right here to listen to Commissioner (I totally want to have the title "Commissioner" before I die) David Stern talking about the flop on the Dan Patrick show. And if you don't believe that it's a problem, behold! The clip below will surely show you your error.



Maybe I just don't love basketball as much as this a-hole (on the right - he looks kind of familiar), or maybe I just can't revert to child-like wonder as easily as him. Oh well, I just hope Jack Nicholson doesn't read this and attack my car with an umbrella. Oh, and I couldn't decide which of these pictures to include, so here's another picture of Kobe Bryant. Also, go to www.floppolice.com for updates on the rumored rule changes and to sign the petition.

Back in Kansas

So, I guess it's been about a month already since the last post. I've been pretty busy - I'm back in Kansas, livin' it up. I missed the fam when I was up in Idaho, but definitely not the humidity. The awesome news is that I got back in town here just in time for all of my friends (or the last remaining KS residents) to leave - Jacob is in Lawrence for the month, and Adam is doing a medical program in India... and that's pretty much it.

In other news, I had the pleasure of going to the dentist today - probably my least favorite thing in the whole world. Everyone always says, "Oh it's so great going to the dentist! I just love leaving with my teeth all clean!" No. That's not generally how I feel when I leave the dentist's office. I feel brutalized. I feel violated, like I just paid to have someone rip up my gums with metal skewers and then proceed to berate me for not taking good enough care of them. I think that the hygenists want your mouth to be in perfect condition when you get there so they have a clean canvas on which to paint their portrait of pain (I've been pretty into alliteration lately). Now don't get me wrong, I don't go in there with crap in my teeth - I take very good care of my teeth. Partly because I would rather go back to China than have any kind of oral surgery (that's saying a lot), and partly because I don't want to get ragged on for not flossing when I go to the dentist. My dentist and the hygenist I normally get are really nice, but I'm pretty sensitive about the comments they make. Especially since they pretty much rate your effort over the last 6 months and they always put on this concerned/disappointed voice as if to convey the gravity of the situation. I floss every day and brush my teeth 2-3 times a day, so there's not a whole lot more I can do. And, they're sort of sending mixed messages since you always have to walk through the hall of horrors with all of the cautionary pictures of dental disfiguration just to get to the damned chair. But then, they have to do at most 30 seconds worth of cleaning before they polish (more like buff) and they still feel the need to make me feel like my teeth are rotting out of my head. Bitches. I just saw pictures of what it looks like when peoples' teeth are rotting out of their heads, and unless something changed pretty drastically from when I brushed my teeth this morning, I don't think I'm quite there yet. I'm not going to go into the whole awkward conversation tangent, because I feel like it's been pretty well covered over the last 150 years, but I will say that even when I do have a chance to actually say words (not just, "eeaooouow, eeehh hhooooll," or the like), I generally don't. Not because I'm rude or because I just sit there and pout, but because I don't like seeing someone perched over me, waiting to shove bloody meathooks back into my mouth while I wrap up my 5 word sentence about how rainy it's been lately. Bitches.

Speaking of bitches, in case you missed it, Clint Eastwood recently made Spike Lee his bitch by telling him to "Shut his face." Well said. Read the story over at Filmdrunk.com.

Soon

This is just a quick update to let all you devoted fans know that I just finished principle photography on my latest (and greatest) project. Just a few FX shots and some sound issues to fix and it will be ready for public consumption. No promises on this one, but if Ty Doucheington can have a "special project every week," then so can I. What a douche. Just listen to his damn voice.

Dexter

So a few months ago, my uncle asked me if I had ever seen the show Dexter. I'd actually never even heard of it at the time, but his description was more than enough to pique my interest. So I endeavored to watch the series in its entirety, which necessitated the use of a great website called Sidereel.com (it has lots of TV shows and movies that you can watch for free - even old stuff that nobody should ever watch, but is too good to resist) because of the fact that I don't get Showtime. With the exception of the last episode, they had all of them (fortunately, I was able to download the season 2 finale), and I just finished today. I've got to say, this really is one of the best TV shows I've ever seen - the acting is all great, and the writing is superb. I highly recommend it - I would not, however, recommend watching it on ABC or whatever network has just started showing it. Not only will the cut out a lot of the violence (which is not gratuitous, it's just integral to the character), but most importantly, they will have to trim about 10 minutes from each episode. It might work out, but if you're so inclined, the first season just came out on DVD; that's how I would recommend watching it. It's definitely a dark show, but one that's certainly worth watching. I wanted to include a clip, but Dexter doesn't really lend itself well to bite-sized consumption, so here is a compilation of a great character from the show Frisky Dingo. Like it or not, Adult Swim has some quality stuff off and on, and this show is really quite funny. Enjoy.