Mr Lee and His World

New Blog App

2011-02-27T11:55:00.001-08:00

So I have discovered BlogPress for IPhone that will allow me to post my blog entries quickly and efficiently.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Home for a Lazy Sunday

2010-11-28T13:58:00.000-08:00

Today is about as lazy as it can be. The wife and I returned from Rockford more exhausted then we thought. This is mostly because our daughter is in a cranky phase and was a screaming meanie at Red Robin last night. The Hockey game was fun, but sadly the Ice Hogs could not beat the Peoria Rivermen. This will no doubt be met by a great deal of ribbing from my family in Peoria.

Right now I am sitting here enjoying the Bears game and watching my daughter chase our cat underneath the Christmas tree.

I found a great writing program called OmmWriter which is a no frills writing program that allows you to type away without the distractions of spellcheck and formatting. I like it because currently my background is a snow covered landscape and I am typing over it.

It is available for free download here.

otherwise, the wife has flown the coop for a spa afternoon and the daughter and I are working on singing "Bear Down".

Adios

2010-11-27T13:42:00.000-08:00

I am off to Rockford today with the family to enjoy some good food and a Rockford Ice Hog game.

There is definitely something exciting about minor league hockey over NHL. To me, I think the minors is a place where everyone is so hungry to achieve that it drives the game.

I wanted to share a great website with you all. It is called FiveBooks.

FiveBooks is a website that compiles the five best books on a particular subject offered by scholars in the field of the subject. It is essentially a great site to use if you are looking to learn about a particular field, from Einstein to Music. It is very intriguing and has prompted me to reach out to a couple of friends about starting a History Club, which is really a fancy way of saying a Book Club. In my mind we would pick a topic and read books about the topic and then gather for cigars and whisky in some dingy backroom bar and discuss the topic and how it made us feel.

If you are local maybe you will want to join.

Random

2010-11-26T13:34:00.000-08:00

Happy belated Thanksgiving.

A few random thoughts for my readers (all 5 of you)

-Pick up the new Kanye West album in stores now. It is easily my favorite album so far this year and may be the best so far this decade. It is not necessarily kid friendly, but a great record for the car or on the computer when little ones are asleep.

- I also have been listening to the new Cee Lo Album. Great if you like a fusion of 60's pop and R&B. Not as strong as his work with Danger Mouse.

-Microsoft Xbox 360 Kinect is by far the funnest gaming experience I have ever had. It runs about $149 but you will be having a great time sweating out to Dance Party or the white water rapid game that comes with the system.

What I Am Reading This Holiday Season

2010-11-25T13:22:00.000-08:00

A couple weekends ago I joined my wife's family for a college football game in Ann Arbor. I love college football games because of the energy and the excitement. This game was by far the best one we had been too, mostly because the Fighting Illini and Michigan went into overtime and battled back and forth, until, sadly Illinois fell short.

It was also a nice weekend because neither my wife or I had to drive. This gave me the opportunity to pick up a magazine at a truck stop to read on the way home. The truck stop we stopped at had a very dismal inventory of magazines, so instead of my preferred Sports Illustrated, I ended up picking up a Rolling Stone.

After reading a couple great articles about Conan O'Brien and Taylor Swift, I read a great book review about Keith Richards. Keith just wrote his autobiography with James Fox called "Life". Now because the review was so good, I thought I would pick up a copy from Amazon. Boy was I not disappointed. I am currently a hundred pages into it, and simply reading about Keith Richards upbringing has been a joy. I cannot even imagine what a ride I will be in for once we get into the Rolling Stones years.

My second book on the agenda is Decision Points by President George W. Bush. Now this book at first would seem political, but skimming in it seems very insightful and thoughtful to the Bush presidency, and how he came to make the decisions that would, for better or worse, shape his presidency. Far be it to me to wax poetic about a presidency, however I am one of the few out there in the world who think that as history evolves, the eight year term term of G.W will be looked at differently, with fresh, respectful eyes.

I imagine these two books will last me, but if there are any suggestions I would appreciate it.

Why I Disappeared

2010-11-24T13:11:00.000-08:00

So as my five followers have noticed I was on a great blogging rampage leading into labor day and then completely disappeared. I will not lie that some of this was laziness but for the most part the business of life sort of caught me by surprise. While I was blogging about leaderships lessons and great websites, I was also on the sly, looking for a new job. It had come to the point at my last job that I had become way to comfortable, with the work and the people and the business. Life in the office was one repetitive task after another, and I was slowly just evolving into the type of worker who spends his days surfing the internet and not caring about th output. In mid-August, after a good month of refining my resume, I found a hit. I had two very good interviews, and by October 15th, I was in a new company where my hard work and ideas would be appreciated.

During that time I was also taking three classes at Depaul that for lack of better phrase, were kicking my ass. The worst of the three was a statistics class that was taught online and totally utilized Microsot Excel to formulate problems. Now this may seem like an easy class, but trying to create formulas in Excel and copy and paste data from one tab to another was time consuming. Not to mention this class had one huge project each week.

So I abandoned the blog for a while. But I am back over the holiday break and hope to really dive in to the blogosphere.

sorry for the interuption.

Today's Reading List

2010-09-02T13:13:00.000-07:00

Some nuggets for you :)

If you want to hang with the executive set. You need to know what they are reading and how.

What a Player Executive Reads

Training people at work? Work Awesome will show you the way.

11 Tips for Training People at Work

An invaluable idea.

No One Nos: Learning to Say No to Bad Ideas

Today's Reading List

2010-09-01T10:45:00.000-07:00

Here are some of the things I have been reading today.

About.com has a great article on what you should do on your first day as a manager.

A First Day Manual for Managers

Lifehacker offers a little etiqutte lesson on remebering and dealing with people's names.

On remembering and dealing with people's names

Finally, 10 easy ways to improve your cooking.

Bucktown Art Fest 2010

2010-09-01T04:52:00.000-07:00

Bucktown Art Fest 2010

This past weekend, the wife and I (and daughter too) attended the 25^th Annual Bucktown Art Fest. Despite the horrendous heat, we loaded into our mini-SUV and made the 45 minute ride into the city. Back in the day, my wife and I attended this particular fest, and loved it. We even walked away with a few pieces of art which at the time, we both felt was the best artists that the festival had. This year was beyond our expectations.

The wife and I literally saw dozens of pieces (sculpture, art, and photography) that we wanted or could use in our home. I could have easily dropped 10K on art this weekend if the economy and my wallet were not in the way. In the end my wife and only purchased one piece of art.

This piece was created by Maria Ciaccio, and as you can tell is an abstract painted onto an old window. The wife and I were totally besotted by the art that was on display in Maria's tent. Unfortunatley I did not catch the name of the other young lady who was also in the space, but both were very grateful at our purchase.

For the wife and I, there is nothing better than to buy and admire works by local artists from Chicago. In this instance, we will we thoroughly enjoy this piece for a long time.

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The Dentist

2010-08-31T16:06:00.001-07:00

Why is it that if you show up a minute late, the receptionist wants to tear your head off, but if you happen to arrive ten minutes early they act like you are throwing off their flow.

It amazes me that someone in the medical profession hasn't come up with a more efficient way to clear people through a daily schedule. I understand that a doctor has to wear many hats but there has got to be some room for delegation along the process.

Any thoughts?

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Today's Reading List

2010-08-31T11:01:00.000-07:00

Here are the articles I am reading today. Hopefully my 5 followers will enjoy them.

The Life Work of a Thought Leader

Great Q&A with the late Coimbatore Krishnarao (C.K.) Prahalad - former professor at the University of Michigan’s Ross Business School. Courtesy of Strategy+Business.

The Complicated Lives of Today's Leaders: Why Being at the Top is Harder Than Ever

An insightful Q&A on ethics, values, and competencies required of today's global leaders with four fellows from The World Economic Forum's Global leadership Fellows Program.

How CEOs Will Use Social Media in the Future

Another interesting article courtesy of Gist. I have no idea how CEOs will pull this off in the short-term but the long-term expectation is that tomorrow's corporate leaders will be twittering up a storm.

The End

2010-07-28T09:48:00.000-07:00

Right now I am sitting in the back of a Chevy Traverse riding down Highway 131 heading towards Vail. I may not survive the car ride because my mother in law insists on driving 90 miles an hour on the curviest roads I have ever been on. So if this is the last blog post I might as well update everyone on the trip to Colorado.

Let me start by repeating that I am on a trip with my wife, sister-in-law, and the aforementioned mother-in-law. The three of them together is like watching three chimps try to put together a jigsaw puzzle. These woman refuse to communicate in anything other than grunts and mumbles and hold any information they may have like cold war spies. It is a cluster to say the least and a tremendous source of agitation for me. Add an 8 month old who I have to keep tabs on, and this is as much of a vacation as a dime stint in Folsom Prison.

On Saturday we arrived and drove up to Steamboat Springs from Denver. The ride was ok but being stuck in the back seat makes me sick to my stomach. I must mention that my sister-in-law refuses to ride in the car while I am driving because I get impatient with not having the right directions. That's right, as a 30 year old man I am to take orders from my sister-in-law. It sucks but it seems to be how my wife wants to conduct the marriage. So I take orders, get berated, and crapped on by all woman in the family. Oh well.

So once we reached Steamboat Springs we went to the Rodeo where we enjoyed great BBQ and the show.

On Sunday we awoke to go have brunch. This is another of my in-laws must haves. If there is a brunch or a cheap breakfast deal it is imperative to make the time to go. In this case we needed to take a gondola all the way up the mountain to have brunch, take the gondola all the way down to go back to the condo, then back up so we could hike down. The hike was great and we were starving when we came back down. We grilled kebobs.

On Monday we went white water rafting and had blast. The rapid had one class 3 rapid and several class 2. On the last class 2 the raft guide let us dive from the raft and ride the rapid on our backs. This was amazing.

On Tuesday I hiked the mountain alone and was able to get some great shots. The wife and I went on a little date into town and went to a little make your own steak place. The only bad part was they did not depoop the shrimp, leaving my wife to envy my Ribeye.

This morning we awoke early to hike to a waterfall and then quickly went back to pack, shower, and get on the road. By late afternoon we should be in Denver. Then home in Chicago back where there is work, and chores, and no In Laws.

2010-07-24T11:12:00.001-07:00

So we have arrived in Denver after a substantial delay in stormy Chicago. I am ready for a beer but it is way too early for it. By the way I love it when we fly into Colorado and the land is so flat around the airport. Makes me think " That John Denver was full of shit". Weather is beautiful and god bless Jack in the Box for an amazing steak sour dough melt.

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Uggh

2010-07-24T03:14:00.000-07:00

First things first, I have no idea why I allow my wife to book early flights. It is now 5:13 and we are on the southside of Chicago heading to Midway Airport. I an tired, the baby is loud, and my mother in law is ever so speedy in the car making my stomach churn. I need a coffee and another piece of nicotine gum.

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Hummingbird

2010-07-22T19:02:00.001-07:00

I am happy to announce that we saw our first hummingbird on our feeder tonight. I hope to get pictures with the good camera soon and post them on the blog.

And as a final update to the crazy train. The Lockport people talked about the healthy benefits of urine and an 80's cover band that will be playing at a Joliet bar next week. I was forced to listen to my iPod.

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They Exist

2010-07-22T15:43:00.001-07:00

Imagine that a group of Carnies escaped from a roving caravan only to breed children with little intelligence and exceptional foreheads. This is the population of Lockport.

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The Shit for Brains on my Train

2010-07-22T15:30:00.000-07:00

I originally was going to post this as a haiku and spent a few minutes on this ride coming up with the right words. The truth is that the guy sitting right in front of me warrants more than a few sentences of carefully crafted verse.

The guy sitting in front of me is roughly 5 ft 4 and weighs close to 160 lbs. He has salt and pepper hair, glasses, and a blackberry that was in style roughly three years ago. He is also the most annoying man I have ever had to deal with in the general proximity. He is loud, obnoxious and from the idle conversation he shares with a few riders I think he is a lawyer. Oh and he is also an extreme creature of habit thus creating the issue between us.

Every night I get on the train while it is relatively empty, I take a seat and draw out the demons of the workday by listening to my IPOD or reading or writing. When obnoxious gets on the train he makes it a point to announce that I am not Richard. Apparently the seat I am in is reserved for this mysterious Richard. He yells this every single day.

Oh wait I am stopping this rant to say his annoying compadres just showed up to spend their time being loud and obnoxious. I guess, taking into account that obnoxious man rolls with a pack, that he is guilty by association or by culture. It is evident that they are just the coterie of idiots that make up the population of Lockport. So it goes.

You Know They Got A Hell of a Band

2010-07-22T12:23:00.001-07:00

Let me make this quick and painless. If you have not listened to the new Black Keys album Brothers you are missing out on what might be the greatest listening experience I have had this year.

For me it is rare to hear an album that I would categorize as top tier. Artist release albums to fulfill a need by the label to have a hit single. Because we have moved into a new digital realm, that is all the label needs to make a profit. So with that in mind, artist put on a hit single on an album then load it with another 11 tracks of crap.

This is why I have been amazed by Brothers and the Broken Bells. Here are two albums that are absolutely pure and a throw back to the time when artists actually recorded an albums worth of material. The songs sync together to create an experience which is all this music fan asks for.

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Test

2010-07-22T12:13:00.000-07:00

I am testing my phone blogging capability.

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1960's

2010-01-21T15:25:00.000-08:00

So right off the bat I will give you what I think the Best Album of the 60's, The Most Influential Album of the 60's, and Best Song of the 60's is, and from there you can choose to continue reading. Please note, I am just a dude who likes music and have no idea if the music I have chosen is reflected on any list (but I bet they are).

Best Album: The Beatles- Rubber Soul.

Most Influential Album: The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds.

Best Song: The Beach Boys - God Only Knows.

Best Album: The Beatles- Rubber Soul.

There are two camps when it comes to best albums + The Beatles. Those who think Revolver is the best, or those who think Sgt. Peppers is the best. Now, both of these albums are the amazing, do not get me wrong. If I was on a desert island with my top 100 albums, they would both be in my treasure chest. However, if I was on a desert island with only five albums, Rubber Soul would be one of the five.

In this world, there is nothing better than listening to this album, frontwards to back, and taking it in. This was The Beatles at the beginning of their musical journey. Yes, there are at least a hundred recordings previous to this record, but it was here that they began to shine. Take away a few garbage songs on the album, the rest is solid gold. For me, The song In My Life is the number 1 song Lennon/McCartney ever wrote. It is an important album- Harrison starts to shine as a lyricist and instrumental innovator, Lennon starts to seem more comfortable with his singing, and McCartney truly begins to put substance into his lyrics (most of the songs are written for his impending break-up with then girlfriend Jane Asher). Hell, even Ringo gets creative by flicking a matchbook as percussion during the song I'm Looking Through You. This is the best Beatles album, and no matter how many revisions to the list, or new expanded remastered albums they put out, Rubber Soul will always be their best.

Most Influential Album: The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds.

It is almost fitting that the most influential album of the 1960's was born from the best album. When Brian Wilson heard the album Rubber Soul by The Beatles, he realized that musically The Beach Boys needed to go places. Wilson began writing songs with lyricist Tony Asher, and the result, in my opinion, is the most influential album of the 1960's. This album, besides giving the world amazing songs, was what would usher in the world of studio experimentation. One could say, well George Harrison (The Beatles) was playing the Sitar and George Martin(The Beatles producer) was messing around with the studio space, but Brian Wilson took experimentation and made it into a cohesive, grand experience. Any band, from May 1966 onwards who ever flipped a knob and found brilliance, owes that inspiration to this album.

Best Song: The Beach Boys - God Only Knows.

What can someone say about this song that has not already been said. This is one of the best songs of all time. Now saying that might lead you to believe that I am saying it is great amongst rock and roll or the music post Elvis shaking his hips. No, I am saying it is one of the best of ALL time. Throw in a couple songs by Mozart and Beethoven and you are on your way. When people in the future are carbon dating our bones and picking up bits of our culture and they happen upon this song, they will think we were a beautiful species. I am going on record with this blog that no one has written a more beautiful song since and I am guessing no one will. I danced to this song with my wife at our wedding. case closed.

My Best, Influential Albums and Best Songs

2010-01-20T15:21:00.000-08:00

So I have been in a heated debate with my old buddy Chris about what was the best song of the 1990's. Chris and I have of course agreed to disagree( for now) but in the interim, the discussion has prompted me to take a look at the 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's, and 00's and pick my favorite album, the most influential album, and the best song of the decade. I decided I would blog about it and see everyones reaction. By no means am I the definitive answer to great music, but I thought it would be interesting to see what others reactions would be. Chris may get a little pissed at me but am going out on a limb

Top 100 of Decade

2009-12-06T14:53:00.000-08:00

Well, I certainly took a big crap when it came to my official list of top 100 albums of the decade. Of course I had great excuses for ignoring the list. First, My wife and I moved to the suburbs, specifically with my mother in law whose Internet access was crap. Second, my wife and I were building a new house which is a time suck. Third, my wife was pregnant. My daughter was born happy and healthy on November 18, 2009. Now, I am not a complete loser. I compiled my list last May and therefore I am going to publish it without comments. Maybe my blog followers have their own idea of top albums?

My list

100 Eddie Vedder Into the Wild(OTS) 2007
99 Girl Talk Feed the Animals 2008
98 Jets Overhead Bridges 2005
97 Dr Dre The Chronic 2001 2001
96 Wolfmother Wolfmother 2006
95 Nine Inch Nails With Teeth 2005
94 Dave Matthews Band Everyday 2001
93 Gorillaz Demon Days 2005
92 Jay Z Kingdom Come 2006
91 Dave Matthews Band Gru Grux King 2009
90 Dr. Dog Fate 2008
89 Eminem The Marshall Mather LP 2001
88 The Strokes Is This It 2001
87 Bright Eyes I'm Wide Awake.. 2004
86 Tool Lateralus 2001
85 Shins Chutes to Know 2002
84 Queens of the Stoneage Songs for the Deaf 2002
83 The Killers Sawdust 2007
82 Modest Mouse The Moon & Antarctica 2001
81 Beyonce I'm Sasha Fierce 2008
80 Bloc Party Silent Alarm 2006
79 Red Hot Chili Peppers Stadium Arcadium 2006
78 Brian Wilson Smile 2004
77 Mgmt Oracular Spectacular 2008
76 Incubus Morning View 2001
75 Rihanna Good Girl Gone Bad 2008
74 Beyonce Dangerously In Love 2004
73 Outkast Speakerboxx/The Love Below 2003
72 System of a Down Toxicity 2001
71 The Great Northern Trading Twilight for Daylight 2007
70 Wilco Wilco(The Album) 2009
69 Sufjan Stevens Illinois 2006
68 Thom Yorke The Eraser 2006
67 Keane Hopes and Fears 2004
66 Kings of Leon Only By The Night 2008
65 The Strokes Room on Fire 2003
64 The National Boxer 2007
63 Linkin Park Hybrid Theory 2000
62 Staind Break The Cycle 2001
61 3 Doors Down The Better Life 2000
60 The White Stripes Get Behind Me Satan 2005
59 Greeny Day 21st Century Breakdown 2009
58 Beck The Information 2006
57 Kanye West Graduation 2007
56 Modest Mouse Good News for People Who Love. 2005
55 Ryan Adams Heartbreaker 2005
54 Mark Ronson Versions 2007
53 Jay Z American Gangster 2007
52 The Killers Day & Age 2008
51 Metallica St. Anger 2003
50 Pearl Jam Pearl Jam 2006
49 Coldplay Viva La Vida 2008
48 Johnny Cash American V: A Hundred 2006
47 Radiohead Amnesiac 2001
46 Beck Guero 2005
45 Jeff Tweedy Sunken Treasure 2006
44 Lil' Wayne Tha Carter III 2008
43 Amy Winehouse Back to Black 2007
42 Dave Matthews Some Devil 2003
41 Eve Scorpion 2001
40 U2 How to Dismantle an Atomic 2003
39 The White Stripes Icky Thump 2007
38 Maroon 5 Songs About Jane 2003
37 Jay Z The Blueprint 2001
36 James Blunt Back to Bedlam 2005
35 Jack Johnson Brushfire Fairy Tales 2001
34 Gym Class Heroes As Cruel as School Children 2006
33 Gorillaz Gorillaz 2001
32 Franz Ferdinand Franz Ferdinand 2004
31 Danger Mouse The Grey Album 2004
30 Beck Modern Guilt 2008
29 Fergie The Duchess 2007
28 The Soundtrack of our Lives Behind the Music 2002
27 Kanye West Late Registration 2005
26 Radiohead Hail to the Thief 2004
25 Justin Timberlake Future Sex Love Sounds 2006
24 Fleet Foxes Fleet Foxes 2008
23 The Killers Sams Town 2006
22 Metallica Death Magnetic 2008
21 Nelly Furtado Loose 2006
20 Wilco A Ghost is Born 2004
19 Coldplay X&Y 2005
18 Vampire Weekend Vampire Weekend 2008
17 Beck Sea Changes 2002
16 The Killers Hot Fuzz 2000
15 Jay Z The Black Album 2003
14 Radiohead Kid A 2000
13 TI Paper Trail 2008
12 Weezer The Green Album 2001
11 Bright Eyes Cassadega 2007
10 The White Stripes White Blood Cells 2001
9 Radiohead In Rainbows 2007
8 The White Stripes Elephant 2003
7 Wilco Sky Blue Sky 2007
6 Green Day American Idiot 2004
5 Coldplay A Rush of Blood to the Head 2002
4 U2 All That You Cant Leave Behind 2000
3 Kanye West College Dropout 2004
2 Coldplay Parachutes 2000
1 Wilco Yankee Hotel Foxtrot 2001

Update

2009-10-11T14:22:00.001-07:00

I know it has been awhile people. Moving, and work, and school, and baby. I am back though, so be happy. :)

#99-Girl Talk-Feed The Animals-2008

2009-05-18T18:35:00.000-07:00

There are no original ideas, only original people. This is a quote from Barbara Grizzuti Harrison but it just as well could be a quote from any of the artists lifted for this 2008 album. Girl Talk is as original as they come, despite the fact that he is stealing from every genre of music over the last fifty years.

Girl Talk, or Greg Michael Gillis, has extrapolated music from Procol Harum to Radiohead to Kanye West and even Twisted Sister. He has taken these original works, juxtaposed them to a beat and added lyrics, and created a cornucopia of music more appropriate for a frantic night at the club. Although I cannot find a single word online about pending copyright lawsuits or a disgruntled member of The Band trying to hunt him down, I believe Girl Talk has developed the next phase of music in a world where original music is falling into the crevices of recycled auto tuning and reprocessed drum beats.

#100-Eddie Vedder-Into the Wild-2007

2009-05-17T08:29:00.000-07:00

The cinematic premise of Into the Wild was fated to be a powerful adaptation of Jon Krakauer’s 1996 book. The story of Chris McCandless and his journey from Atlanta to Alaska is heart wrenching, emotionally charged, and in the end a study of the American youth post-Kerouac on the road without a thought of the world around him. When the project was announced, my initial reaction was that Sean Penn would give the tender, affectionate treatment to the film that was needed to bring the story to the screen. It was my surprising when I heard that Eddie Vedder would be recording the soundtrack.

The Into the Wild soundtrack is in essence a solo album by one of the most underrated leaders of music today. It has everything an album would need to tell a story of an epic American adventure. It has the acoustic, haunting power of Dylan with the deep growl of a performer who not only sings the song of Chris McCandless but also of the millions who find themselves on a great journey. Each song is a testament to Sean Penn’s beautiful film as well as Krakauer’s narrative.

Eddie Vedder is the father of modern music. Through his years as Pearl Jam’s front man, he not only contributed to the current musical landscape, but also managed to keep his head above the tumultuous musical waters of the last 20 years. He is our Neil Young, our Dylan, and this album is a fine entry into what can only be described as a powerful discography.

Next #99

Ryan

Ryan's Top 100 Albums of the Decade

2009-05-17T06:03:00.001-07:00

It has been a while since I have posted. This is mostly due to school, and work, and a new house we are building, and a baby that is coming in November. However, all of this aside, it is no excuse to ignore all four of my followers and therefore I think I will commit more time with this.

For some news( besides the house and the arrival of a child), I also quit smoking which has seriously impeded my creativity. Truly, the greatest synapse enhancer is nicotine, and with it drained from my body, I have lost a lot of energy to type out anything. Thus my absence.

Now, I am definitely feeling better and am ready to tackle a monumental task. I am going to compile my thoughts on the top 100 albums of the last decade. Now that a new decade is just around the corner, traditionally it is the job of VH1 and MTV and Rolling Stone Magazine to analyze what the greatest songs of the decade have been. If you want an expert opinion, I suggest following them. If you want a list of my top 100 songs, then keep reading. I will be posting my first album shortly and hope I can finish this list by Jan. 1st. We will see.

Also you can email me or post a comment on here if you have your own idea for a great album. I will then listen to the album and find an appropriate place on my list.

Ryan

This Morning and the Crazy Bus Driver

2009-03-21T05:50:00.000-07:00

So the wife is off to Rockford for a day and I am home alone. It has been a very busy week, with the final revision to my globalization paper pending. I was hoping I was going to be done last week, but my instructor came back with some revisions. Last night I fixed up my Work Cited and today I am going to finish it all:). When the wife goes away she takes the car, and that means I have to hoof it. I am a die hard Dunkin Donut's fan and since there is not a single Dunkin Donut's around her, it means I have to take the bus. I could just have easily taken a bus to Clark Street, but that is the dirty Dunkin Donut's, so I decided to take the bus down to Ashland and then walk a mile down Lincoln Avenue to the good Dunkin Donut's.

I waited until it was somewhat light out and I made my way to the bus stop. The bus came along rather quickly and the entire bus trip would take only a few minutes. If I was a healthier man I would walk it but who cares. Now comes the Crazy Bus Driver story related to you the reader through our dialogue. Please let me tell you this conversation-three minutes in duration-came out of nowhere and I am really making it more PC then it really was. Gotta love the #77 Belmont at 6 a.m.

Me to the Bus Driver: Good Morning.

Bus Driver: Good Morning, afternoon and evening. I have been on this bus for the last 12 hours.

Me: Wow! Is your shift almost over?

Bus Driver: Oh yeah, and then I am going home to get me some.

Me(giggle): Great

Bus Driver: I've known this woman for 6 years and all she wants is for me to ****. (I am leaving this part out for the PC audience but it involves a sexual act that is not sex).

Me: really, for 6 years?

Bus Driver: 6 years I have been doing this, and now I am going to bang".

Me: well good for you.

Bus Driver: My only problem is the kids. She has four kids and I gotta watch out for them before I get me some.

Me: Sounds tricky.

Bus Driver: It is!! She has jet black hair that goes down her back. Oh yeah I love white woman.

Me: Ok (I stand and tell him I am getting off the bus at Ashland).

Bus Driver: Have a good morning man, hope you get some too.

Me: I just need a coffee.

Bus Driver: Well think of me getting some while you are drinking it.

I get off the bus.

I have no idea why the bus driver felt compelled to tell me this story but it seems it was monumental enoguh to share with a complete stranger. For your information I am drinking my Dunkin Donuts and trying really hard not to think about the bus driver getting some. This city is amazing.

Conversation Overheard

2009-03-19T05:36:00.000-07:00

If you ride the Red Line you become privy to some great information. Case in point the three guys who stood over me today. By looking at them I could tell they were Art students, but the conversation alone was amazing. I have named them Dweezil, Johan, and Kevin. Please not I have taken some liberty with the dialogue, but the topics were true.

Dweezil: You know I am excited about graduating.

Johan: So it is your Masters, right.

Dweezil: Yep, but in writing. I am going to write the Great American Novel.

Ken: Then why are you working in the video department.

Dweezil: Digital media is my hobby, writing is my passion. That is why I am not living in Seattle.

Ken: Seattle? I thought you were from Kentucky.

Johan: Seattle, Kentucky..It is all relative.

Dweezil: No I was living outside of Seattle and was taking classes at the community college.

Ken: Tacoma?

Dweezil: Bellevue, and I was in community college and working at Nordstroms

Ken: Nordstroms is for girls.

Dweezil: no way man, I was pulling down some serious cash..enough cash that I almost didn't leave. I was shining shoes and pulling nearly 250 a day.

Ken: 250 a day for shining shoes.

Dweezil: yep, and it was cushy. I would get into work at 9 and work until 5. I would sit in a big leather chair and watch sports center and shine shoes for a living. It was the greatest job in the world.

Johan: Why did you leave?

Dweezil: It was a girl Johan, a girl made me leave my home and then I was living in Chippewa Falls for a while with her and doing the whole domesticated thing, and then when she left I came down to Chicago.

Ken: Sounds like you should have stayed in Seattle.

Dweezil: No Seattle is overrated, but shining shoes is amazingly profitable. I am thinking about taking it up again if I cannot find a publisher.

Johan: Great I have a few penny loafers at home you can start with.

ALL GIGGLE.

So for Dweezil, Johan, and Ken life went on when I left the train, and I have really no idea why I felt compelled to tell this story, but that Nordstroms in Bellevue sounds amazing.

The Red Line

2009-03-18T05:22:00.000-07:00

For those who do not live in the city, riding the rails to and from work often brings some colorful situations. Case in point was the blind man who wandered onto my Red Line train today and was asking for change.

I have seen this guy on the train before, and although the CTA claims that solicitations on the train are prohibited, that is really an empty warning. Anything the CTA warns about is really just a suggestion.

The blind guy plays this game very well. He gets on the train at whatever stop ( This time is was Clark and Division) and quietly asks for change. His story is that he is blind (which is true if you see him) and that he is not a threat to anyone but wants to eat. Some people will give him change right away, and for some homeless people that is enough.

The blind guy is different. The blind guy will get his initial change and then will walk up and down the aisle, using his cane to hit people's feet. He will ask everyone for change openly and get louder as the train cruises down the track. By the time the train got to Belmont, the guy was screaming for change. SCREAMING. This annoyance was enough for him to pull down by my count, $5.00 extra dollars. If this guy can pull five dollars each train ride x 15 train rides, he is sitting with some good dough.

Depression Cooking

2009-03-17T05:11:00.000-07:00

I saw this feature a few weeks ago and found it quite amazing. Depression cooking, it seems is a hot topic right now. The economy tanking means that people need to look for alternatives for food and shelter at an alarming rate. Maybe it is time to look to our elders for strength.

Some of them, the generation who lived through the Great Depression, may be able to bring some insight to better living in these tough times. Please note: It completely freaked me out how quick Clara was dicing the potato and onion!! Speaking of that, most of these recipes use potato and onions-a staple of depression cooking.

WOW

2009-03-14T07:29:00.000-07:00

I apologize in advance for people being offended by this video...:)

Tuesday Rain Means No Work :(

2009-03-10T05:25:00.000-07:00

Sadly the rains have come back and I have taken a day off from work to monitor the ceiling. Luckily the landlord is going to fix the situation along with the rest of the condo association, but truly this has been a nightmare week so far.

While I am sitting here watching the water and working on my big paper. I am listening to two stations on my Itunes Radio. The first station is the 90's hits which as I type is rocking out a little Bryan Adams (Everything I Do) I Do it For You. Gotta love early 90's Adams and his complete sell out to Hollywood (This was a part of the Robin Hood soundtrack). I was listening to the Beatles station earlier and it pissed me off. I do not understand why a popular stance has been taken to only play the acoustic version of While My Guitar Gently Weeps. I mean, I know it is more melodic and dreamy, but for the love of god, give me some Clapton and Harrison.

Meanwhile, check out this awesome rendition of While My Guitar Gently Weeps on the ukulele!

The CTA nightmare

2009-03-09T05:13:00.000-07:00

I have mentioned quite a few times my disdain for the Chicago Transit Authority. Today sealed the deal.

After a quick walk down Wabash Avenue to Macy's( I was trying on a new suit), I found myself at the height of rush hour needing a train back home. Now as any Chicagoan will tell you, trying to board a train during rush hour can be a stressful experience.

In the Randolph station of the Red Line, I stood for almost thirty minutes waiting for a train I could board. Each train shooting down the tube was filled to the brim with people. Then came one that was somewhat empty. I saw an opening, and new this was the train for me. The doors open and at the opening of the door comes a handicapped woman trying to get off of the train. The problem with that is there is a gap between the train and the platform. The train was delayed for almost another ten minutes while the woman waited for a CTA official to show up with a ramp that sits between train and platform, so the woman can get off. Then the doors closed before anyone could board and the train left. The next train came and was packed.

This was enough for me. At this point I was forty minutes behind schedule and wanted desperately to get home to work on my paper that is due this week. I finally left the Red Line, walked up the steps and headed for the Brown Line where I found an easier time boarding a train. I walked into the apartment at 6:05.

When is the CTA going to get its act together. Security on the train sucks, the workers are either talking to the cops assigned to watch the stations, or they are on their cellphones. Isn't there a rule that you cannot use your cell phone while you are working? I cannot sit at work all day and talk on my cell phone.

I wish in my deep hidden wishes that I keep in my heart that I could be the CEO of the CTA for one week. I would deplete the existing workforce and give the jobs to people who want to work sans cell phones.

** Addition- Someone got stabbed hours earlier a stop away. Security and/or the Chicago PD was probably standing around doing nothing.

Ryan

Rainy Sunday In Chicago

2009-03-08T07:50:00.000-07:00

Today is rainy, and with the rain comes the inevitable leak that sprouts from our ceiling. The wife and I rent, so it is really that landlords issue, but just the inconvenience of moving the couch, and the lamp, and my Guitar Hero drum set, is enough for me to be "put out". The weekend has been lazy, with a stack of work that I need to get done for school. I will get to it, just needed to blog my headache away. If anyone wants to read a good article, check out today's Chicago Tribune.

The article is about 27 year old Jon Favreau, the president's chief speech writer. At 27, he is working in the White House, and through the power of written word, changing the world. It amazes me the dynamism of the presidential team. I saw Jon on the evening of the election. We were standing in the press pit, looking up at the stage, and for that moment, when Jon stepped in front of me, he looked like any guy walking down the street, or working in my building, or standing in the hall at DePaul. The thing to remember is that each day, when you feel the walls of the cubicle closing in, or the monotony of life on your shoulder, remember that there are people like you changing the world.

It can be done.

Jon Favreau

Saturday- The Deluge Begins

2009-03-07T08:00:00.000-08:00

A big rainstorm is blowing through and my meteorological guru Tom Skilling is predicting a wicked weekend of weather. For anyone who does not know Tom Skilling, I am including a Wikipedia entry on him below. I have been watching him since I was a child, always telling you the technical aspects of the weather, leaving out the charming fluff that seems to follow TV weatherman. I wonder of he has ever been approached by the Weather Channel. Nationally he would be a superstar. For his part he is a superstar here in Chicago, and I am glad we have him.

Tom Skilling Wikipedia Entry

Tom Skilling's Blog

Friday

2009-03-06T08:13:00.000-08:00

My pal PezCore decided to do a little video mashup this week. Let me know what you think

AMAZING!!

Danger Danger

2009-03-04T17:32:00.000-08:00

This is not very encouraging. (Courtesy of Bloomberg)

March 3 (Bloomberg) -- Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Chairman Sheila Bair said the deposit insurance fund could dry up if the agency doesn’t impose additional fees on the industry amid a surge in bank failures.

“Without these assessments, the deposit insurance fund could become insolvent this year,” Bair wrote in a March 2 letter to the industry.

“A large number” of bank failures may occur through 2010 because of “rapidly deteriorating economic conditions,” Bair said in the letter. “Without substantial amounts of additional assessment revenue in the near future, current projections indicate that the fund balance will approach zero or even become negative.”

The FDIC last week approved a one-time “emergency” fee and other assessment increases on the industry to rebuild a fund to repay customers for deposits of as much as $250,000 when a bank fails. The fees, opposed by the industry, may generate $27 billion this year after the fund fell to $18.9 billion in the fourth quarter from $34.6 billion in the previous period, the FDIC said. The fund was drained by 25 bank failures last year.

U.S. community banks plan to flood the FDIC with about 5,000 letters in protest. They are outraged over the one-time fee, which could wipe out 50 percent to 100 percent of a bank’s 2009 earnings, Camden Fine, president of the Independent Community Bankers of America, said today in a telephone interview.

“I’ve never seen emotions like this,” said Fine, adding that he’s received more than 1,000 e-mails and telephone messages from angry bankers.

‘Significant Expense’

“The FDIC realizes that these assessments are a significant expense, particularly during a financial crisis and recession when bank earnings are under pressure,” Bair wrote. “We did not want to impose large assessments when the industry and economy are struggling. We searched for alternatives but found none better.”

The agency, which has released the change for 30 days of public comment, could modify the assessment to shift the burden to the large banks “that caused this train wreck,” Fine said. “Community bankers are feeling like they are paying for the incompetence and greed of Wall Street,” he said.

Bair dismissed that suggestion.

“For risk-based assessments, our statute restricts us from discriminating against an institution because of size,’’ Bair wrote.

Bair rejected arguments that the agency should use government aid to rebuild the fund. The FDIC has authority to tap a $30 billion line of credit at the Treasury Department.

“Banks, not taxpayers, are expected to fund the system,” Bair said. Asking for taxpayer support “could paint all banks with the ‘bailout’ brush.”

The FDIC “will revise the interim rule, if appropriate, in light of the comments received,” the agency said in a Federal Register notice posted today.

To contact the reporter on this story: Alison Vekshin in Washington at avekshin@bloomberg.net.

SCARY

RYAN

The Book I am Reading.

2009-03-03T17:29:00.000-08:00

I am now reading "Basic Economics" by Thomas Sowell. It is amazing. I am including a review from the awesome Amazon.com below.

This completely revised and updated third edition of Thomas Sowell's instrumental work includes a new chapter on government finance. Basic Economics is a citizen's guide to economics--for those who want to understand how the economy works but have no interest in jargon or equations. Sowell reveals the general principles behind any kind of economy--capitalist, socialist, feudal, and so on. In readable language, he shows how to critique economic policies in terms of the incentives they create, rather than the goals they proclaim. With clear explanations of the entire field, from rent control and the rise and fall of businesses to the international balance of payments, this is the first book for anyone who wishes to understand how the economy functions.

Guess what song is playing on my 90's Greatest Hits. Hint Hint..The band's name before their current name was the Shrinky Dinks.

I Just Discovered....

2009-03-02T17:27:00.000-08:00

I just discovered the radio list on my Itunes. I have spent the better part of an evening listening to 90's greatest hits. I bet you cannot guess what song is playing right now.

Hint Hint...It is from the Pretty Woman Soundtrack and I believe with my eternal nerdiness that JC Chasez sang this song in the Mickey Mouse Club Version.

I am nerdy.

My friend Newsgator/NetNews Wire

2009-03-01T17:12:00.000-08:00

A couple of months ago I discovered what has to be one of the best APPs for my Iphone. It is called NetNews Wire and is is sponsored by the site Newsgator. Essentially what Newsgator does is compiles a list of RSS feeds that yu plug into your account and beams them to the Net News Wire APP. From your phone you can access everything from The New York Times to Blogs. I wanted to list some of my favorite feeds that I labor over daily. Most of them could be pretty nerdy, but I do not really are.

Core Economics (From Australia I believe, pretty insightful)

Freakonomics( from New York Times)

FT.com - US Equities

Game Theorist

Got2BeGreen

Lifehacker

Macworld

New York Times

Politico.com: Politico 44 (Up to Date information on the Obama Presidency)

Talking Points Memo

Time Magazine

Wall Street Journal

Generation Y (Generacion Y: A blog from Cuba)

White House. Gov

Zen Habits

The Economist

Wired News

These sites can be updated daily or every so often, and on average I can read nearly 200 new items a day. Most of the time they are abstracts or at least enough information to tell me if it is worth my further attention. I can Add an article to My Clippings, and then access Newsgator and retrieve the article. The service if free and awesome.

Dan Auerbach - Keep It Hid

2009-02-10T15:29:00.000-08:00

I had first heard about the Black Keys through a co-worker of mine named Paul. He swore by these guys and burned me a compilation CD. Of course I took the CD and lost it. Two years went by and I eventually found the CD tucked away in a drawer. It was covered with rubber glue that I had used on a science experiment for an Earth Science class at the College of Dupage. I took the CD, gently removing the rubber glue, and cleaned it. When I listened to it, I was completely amazed. Dan Auerbach is the multi-instrumentalist and vocalist in the Black Keys. When I saw the first review on Ain't It Cool News.Com I immediately came home to download this. Here is my review.

1. Trouble Weighs a Ton - Very good track 1, with some great acoustic strums.

2. I Want Some More - Definitely something reminiscent of the Loving Spoonful-if an amalgam of John Sebastian picked up Jack White's guitar.

3. Heartbroken, In Disrepair-The beginning could be the opening of a random TV show about the judicial system. It slowly finds itself and for a second it could be late-80's Fogerty.

4. Because I Should-A lot of computerized noises in the beginning. It seems hard to find it's place on the record. A few seconds of noise really.

5. Whispered Words (Pretty Lies) - Just the name gives this song hope. I am amazed how Auerbach goes from sounding like John Sebastian, to John Fogerty, to Wayne Coyne (Flaming Lips). This song could just as well been on the last Modest Mouse CD.

6. Real Desire - Yes a standard Napoleon Dynamite, Beat Drum and Organ mix. It has been awhile!!

7. When the Night Comes - This is what I was waiting for! I can only see this song on some car commercial a few months down the road.

8. Mean Monsoon - Sounds like me after a few guitar lessons and some Clapton/Allman-esque guitar parts.

9. The Prowl - Sound fits the title. You feel like you are on a prowl.

10. Keep It Hid - Title cut and another beat drum. Singing through a bullhorn is still not very original.

11. My Last Mistake - I like it. May be worth buying the whole album if you do not take my word.

12. When I Left the Room -Another tight cut.

13. Street Walkin' - Again

14. Goin' Home - A nice little diddy for the close.

I am pretty convinced that Dan kept all the great tracks for the end of the record. Overall four thumbs up.

Ryan

Some More Music Reviews

2009-02-09T15:28:00.000-08:00

To outdo my blogger comrade Tim, I am going to unleash some more music reviews in the next few days. Hopefully I can turn my 3 followers onto some good music, or reintroduce them to some classic albums. Maybe if I am lucky I can get more followers.

Ryan

Album Review: Fleet Foxes/ Fleet Foxes

2009-02-08T14:24:00.000-08:00

There is something apocryphal about Fleet Foxes self titled album. It is as if you as the listener have stumbled on a forbidden tragedy of esoteric recordings direct from the backwater churches of the Appalachian Mountains. My first exposure came in the form of their performance on Saturday Night Live. I have long been against the opening of musical horizons on the backdrop of a Grand Central Station Terminal, but for me and their performance, it opened my eyes to what could possibly be the most enjoyable music I have heard in a long time. Below is a track by track breakdown(as usual).

1. Sun It Rises - The opening is what you would imagine a family singing on their porch as the sun sets and dinner is about to be served. When the acoustic guitar pipes in, you think you have this song figured out, and then comes the Brian Wilson melody-something you would not expect from a band who is trying to conjure up a lighter Deliverance with their finger-picking and banjos.

2. White Winter Hymnal - There is a story here, deeply embedded within the melody. It's magical and special and unique and if you really devote yourself to the lyrics, you want more of the story to be told.

3. Ragged Wood- You can imagine people in church singing to this song, dancing and harkening the birth of spring or Jesus.

4. Tiger Mountain Peasant Song- very subtle, reminsicent of Greensleeves, but with an aching voice singing about premonitions of his death.

5. Quiet Houses - This could just be on a Dave record, with a more powerful drumline than the other songs.

6. He Doesn't Know Why - I would imagine this could be a transplant from an early 70's folk band. This song has no place in this era, and that is why it is beautiful.

7. Heard Them Stirring - Churchy and again in that very C G guitar playing that could very well be that timeless song about the beheaded Anne Boleyn.

8. Your Protector - Pan flutes have no place in this day and age. Beautiful singing.

9. Meadowlarks - Neil Youngesque vocals singing of the meadowlarks. Could be one of the top songs on this album.

10. Blue Ridge Mountains - very gentle and subtle. Very Beach Boys on the Susquehanna River.

11. Oliver James- The finale and a keeper.

Overall I would have to say this is a great record. Something different in this world of commonality. I give it Five Thumbs Up.

Once Again..

2009-01-28T06:10:00.000-08:00

Once Again The Metallica Boys kicked my ass again. This was my fifth Metallica concert, and it was just as good as I hoped. I brought my wife Anne and of course she was ok with it, but not overwhelmingly excited. Anyways I will post the setlist below.

That Was Just Your Life
The End of the Line
Harvester of Sorrow
For Whom the Bell Tolls
One
Broken, Beaten and Scarred
Cyanide
Sad But True
Welcome Home (Sanitarium)
All Nightmare Long
The Day That Never Comes
Master of Puppets
Fight Fire With Fire
Nothing Else Matters
Enter Sandman

Encore:
Die, Die My Darling
Whiplash
Seek & Destroy

2009-01-11T10:42:00.000-08:00

Check out this awesome documentary !

Ry

The next great game

2009-01-10T09:19:00.000-08:00

For all of you Nintendo junkies...check out the next great game for the Wii. Just the music gave me chills.

I can remember spending hours trying to defeat King Hippo in the original Mike Tyson's Punchout. I finally was able to do it with a Game Genie. I wonder if my favorite classic games place has the original available.

Ryan

January Homework assignment

2009-01-10T09:08:00.000-08:00

Since I am aware that only a few people even look at this blog, I am giving you two a small homework assignment and a promise. I hope you will tell your friends about my blog and I promise if I can get at least 15 people to follow my blog, I will post something every single day. I know it is hard to find the time to blog and review blogs, but I am hoping I can reach this goal by July 1st.

I also want everyone to check out my dad's blog. He is not the most reliable posting man, but the posts that are there are usually very insightful and well researched. As a quick background, my father what you would call a modern environmentalist, using his time to invent and research advances in bio-technology. He is also coming off of a very difficult summer where he was forced to start his life over after suffering a bad illness. If you are also a recipe junkie, travel back through his blog for some great recipes. My father is one of the best cooks that I know.

http://morningcoffee-tlee.blogspot.com/

Calm the space that makes you hollow.

Ryan

Check It OUT!!

2009-01-09T08:59:00.000-08:00

Check out this great documentary about high school life in China, India, and the United States.

http://www.2mminutes.com

It seems to me besides the economy, and energy issues, President Obama will have his hands full redefining and enhancing the educational experience. Pretty soon, an entire generation of Indian and Chinese students will surpass the current generation of United States high school students.

Past Albums-Revisited-Live-Secret Samadhi

2009-01-08T08:52:00.000-08:00

This may be one of the best albums of the 1990's. To set the scene, the first time I heard this album was sitting in my friend Drue's house, playing on some chat service, and making fun of a few nerdy kids in my class. This was my album for a good six months and definitely the soundtrack of the last half of my senior year of high school. There was something foreboding in the music and the lyrics. Something trying to subconsciously warn me about the future, the looming ascent into adulthood...It strikes me as a powerful, metaphorically enhanced album. Some people embraced Dark Side Of The Moon, I embraced Secret Samadhi.

Track-list

1. Rattlesnake
2. Lakini's Juice
3. Graze
4. Century
5. Ghost
6. Unsheathed
7. Insomnia And The Hole In The Universe
8. Turn My Head
9. Heropsychodreamer
10. Freaks
11. Merica
12. Gas Hed Goes West.

The End Is The Beginning of the End.

2009-01-07T08:48:00.000-08:00

I have decided, with a heavy heart, to remove my feed that was connected to Mark Cubans blog. Over the course of two years I have followed this blog daily, enjoying every techi-word or basketball rant. Unfortunately, Mr Cuban has decided to withdraw his bid for the Chicago Cubs. It was my only hope that he would be able to light a fire under a team that I dream about winning the world series. Combined with his recent SEC issues, I am cutting bait and letting him sink. Please enjoy my other feeds, especially Politico 44. I hope the new year brings all of us a better tomorrow.

Ry

Solar Panels

2008-11-24T15:03:00.000-08:00

This is an amazing story I read this morning, courtesy of the BBC.

Solar Panels In Spain

This is where we are going as a green world. Space on our planet is quickly disappearing. What we need, especially in our community are bright idea's, like the one above.

amazing

New Blog Archive

2008-11-23T12:09:00.000-08:00

I have added an RSS feed to my blog from Politico 44.

For those who do not know, Politico.com made a name for itself over the course of the election by breaking several news stories. Now, after the triumphant win on November 4th, Politico is taking on the entire 44th presidancy. Each minute will be thrown on this site, and subsequently on my blog.

Check back often because Politico 44 updates often.

Victory!!!!

2008-11-04T23:59:00.000-08:00

There are no words...

Past Albums-Revisited-Metallica's Load

2008-10-25T09:09:00.000-07:00

I decided I am going to review some great albums from my youth and talk about them. Since my friend Mar is the only person who actually reads my blog (and given that her fiance talks a big game but never comments), I guess she will be the only one who enjoys these little blogs. Oh Well.

Artist: Metallica.

Album: Load.

Year: 1996.

This album was it for me, the introduction into the world of Metallica. Of course I had heard Enter Sandman and Sad But True from their previous album, but when I saw the video for "Until It Sleeps", I began what would be a magnificent quest to be an absolute Metallica fan.

Track List and description:

Ain't My Bitch-The song brings back the memories of riding in my El Camino down the mean streets of Gilman, Illinois-wondering who my bitch was.

2 X 4-no comment

The House Jack Built-a great song and the first non-single song of Metallica's I enjoyed.

Until It Sleeps- Lars Ulrich with Mascara and a bluesy opening. This was complete opposite of Enter Sandman and was what hooked me.

King Nothing-The video had Metallica in the woods. It always reminds me of winter.

Hero Of The Day-John Mayer called the solo in this song his favorite. Basic and powerful.

Bleeding Me-Listen to the guitar solo and then try and tell me that Kirk Hammett isn't amazing

Cure-no comment

Poor Twisted Me-no comment

Wasting My Hate-no comment however the live version is amazing.

Mama Said-James singing to his dead mother. When you see him do this song solo and alone on stage with an acoustic guitar, you can feel how much pain inside.

Thorn Within-no comment

Ronnie-no comment

The Outlaw Torn-no comment.

After hearing this album, I immediatley went and saw them in concert in Moline, Illinois. I will never miss a Metallica concert when it comes around. They are just too good.

Discovery

2008-10-18T08:24:00.000-07:00

Today I have discovered a song that may or may not mark the end of my status as a fan of great music.

Now, you may be asking.. what song is it, Ryan?

This song was recorded in 1992.

This song won the Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocals in 1993.

The song I am referring to is k.d. Lang's "Constant Craving".

That's right friends, I am in love with a love song sung by a lesbian.

This song might be the most amazing song ever put down on record. I am a grown man of 28, and after hearing this song I am surprised how moved I was. This was not the first time I heard this song. I can remember that my mother had this album and played this song like 900 times on a car trip between G-town and Champaign-Urbana. Of course, the repetitive nature of hearing a song over and over can ruin it for a person, especially for a twelve year old who had just discovered Nirvana. Nevertheless, as an adult and hearing this song, I am completely floored at how honest the lyrics are, and how thoughtful the production value lends itself to k.d. Lang's voice.

I may have destroyed any shred of integrity I have as it relates to blogging about music, but who cares. This song is a gem.

It's been awhile

2008-09-28T09:50:00.000-07:00

So it has been awhile, and although I am trying to stay true to the blogosphere I am having a rough time finding the minutes to type anything here. This is mostly because of work, and school, and of course the Cubs Playoffs, but rest assured, when I have the time I will write my innermost thoughts here to the masses...aka Chris.

Better Place

2008-09-12T14:41:00.000-07:00

I first read about Shai Agassi in a recent article in Wired Magazine. It seems Shai is about to change the entire world, and most of us did not even know it.

Driven

It seems as if every few years a story comes up about a new technology, or idea that will change the way we travel. Case in point, this story.

Reinventing The Wheel

Although the segway does serve some kind of relavancy today ( an example is Chicago Cops or tourist scooting through the park, it never caught on with the average joe. Better Place, although a complete 360 from the segway, is the future.

Our dependance on foreign energy(oil) is sickening. Our news cycle is inindatted with the problems with oil. Iran may start transacting oil in Euros, or Russia may transact it in Rubles. Hurricanes threaten our strategic oil reserves, or terrorist threaten to destroy strategic piplines. It is time for the world to wake up from this nightmare that is being perpetuated by the government, OPEC, and Detroit. Following Shai Agassi is an important step.

If you liked what you read about Better Place, my suggestion is to forward the link to the Wired Story to your local United States representative. Let them know that we need a change.

The Bears...a reaction

2008-09-08T08:05:00.000-07:00

was anyone completley amazed by the Bears vs. Colt game on last night?

Who would have guessed that our loevable bruisers would take down the mountain of Peyton Manning and the Colts.

Of course one game in week one hardly makes a season, but there was something in this win, something salty that's been smoking around the veins these last two seasons. I am talking about 2006 and the Bears loss to the Colts in the Super Bowl. You see, Bears fans never forget the big losses and as much as we have sucked since, I think we needed to win this game.

To quote Jack Dundee from The Best Of Times.

We are going to blitz like Dick Butkus into the backfield of the future and throw a vicious forearm shiver on the demon ball carriers of the past.

That is what we did on Sunday. Whether we go to the playoffs or fizzle into the lower bowels of the league, Sunday night was our night. And so it goes.

Success and Forte

2008-09-07T18:11:00.000-07:00

A few Sunday Evening Notes

I BEAT level 2 of Turtles today at 12:00-My Dream has been realized.

Michael Turner is God

Matt Forte is God.

BOOYA

Nintendo: My Dream Emerges

2008-09-07T06:59:00.000-07:00

Yesterday a magnificent event occured.

I was walking up Clark Street, meandering towards the comic book shop ( to buy the latest Dark Tower comic), and low and behold I see a shop called PEOPLE PLAY GAMES.

Walking in, the sound of classic video games emerges from the sound system. I am talking about tunes from the original Legend Of Zelda and Nobuo Uematsu's beautifully composed music for Final Fantasy VIII. Then comes another familiar sound, the rallying call of Mike Tyson's Punchout. In the corner, a man is trying to beat Mike Tyson. Of course the great ones classic lightining quick punches are not enough for Little Mac, the character you take through the ardous circuit. I walk up behind the guy and apologize for looming. He explains that he has spent the last three day's trying to beat Tyson and was unsuccessful.

I begin looking at the shelves and see the thousands of classic Nintendo games they have. Apparently these guys refurbish old Nintendo systems for ultimate capability and sell the games at a reasonable price. At once my childhood ( another haiku?) came flooding back.

It did not take long for me to decide to buy a system. $89.00 later and now I am a proud owner of a classic NES system. The system came with Super Mario Bros/ Duck Hunt and I bought Super Mario Bros 3 and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Super Mario 3 is an old favorite and I can remember scouring the malls of Bloomington/Normal looking for it. My mom and I eventually found it at K's Merchandise. The orginal Super Mario is always a great a game for a little fun, but it is Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles that is my Everest.

You see, the second level of TMNT is the underwater level. When I first borrowed this game from my childhood pal Jeff, it took countless hours to try and beat the level. The set-up is that you are swimming underneath the dam trying to disable all the bombs before the damn explodes. Of course there are dangeroud underwater foot soldiers and stinging algae. I was never able to beat that level.

I am about to turn thirty in a couple years. My only goal, besides being successful at my job, and starting a family, is to defeat this level.

I will update everyone once I have done so, and I will also update on any new classic games I will pick-up.

I am contemplating a huge Tecmo Super Bowl tournament for my friends.

We shall see.

Donnie Wahlberg: A Haiku

2008-09-05T06:56:00.000-07:00

It is living in my childhood again.
everything is not lost.
Donnie Wahlberg is not a real bad boy.

Retroactive Continuity and Beverly Hills 90210

2008-09-04T10:34:00.000-07:00

WTF

For those who do not know what retroactive continuity is please brush up:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retcon

You know what grinds my gears.

For those who have been watching the new and improved 90210 know that something stinks in that part of TV Land.

To be honest, I was an avid watcher of the original Beverly Hills 90210 and it's spinoff Melrose Place. Should we forget that Rob Estes played Kyle McBride on Melrose Place and is now playing some random principal from Kansas who grew up in Beverly Hills. Are we destroying the world of Beverly Hills 90210 for better television.

This is retconning. Taking a world and screwing it up. Now we all know retconning happens. Professional Wrestling is the predisposed harbinger of destroying it's previously established historical data. George Lucas is also a big fan, changing the Star Wars universe and blowing it up. In the end most people go along with change, but not me.

Where is the authenticity within writing. Is it really so hard to keep a consistent stream of words over time.

One of the biggest disappointments was Stephen King's Dark Tower odyssey. For those who do not know The Dark Tower, it is a core seven books with several other books feeding into it. One of these feeder books, Insomnia, had a character named Patrick Danville. Patrick was a kid an he was an artist. The whole ending of Insomnia revolved around the fact that Patrick was going to die saving two men, one of whom must not die. This was a prophecy in the book clearly linking Patrick to the Dark Tower books and a teaser that in the end he would save the gunslinger before he ascended to the fabled Dark Tower. This, sadly, did not happen. He did make an appearance in the final Dark Tower book, however he did not save two men. His only purpose was to "erase" the Crimson King (the antagonist), and he never died.

Stephen King sort of retconned the situation with some early plot devices, but how hard would have it been to create a situation where Patrick Danville would have to save two men. The same with George Lucas, how hard would it have been to shoot a scene showing Yoda on Dagobah with Luke, or Obi wan having interaction with Uncle Owen. Why create something and then not give it your all.

Rob Estes is an easy thing to ignore on 90210, however is it really staying true to the 90210 world?

Nevertheless, the new 90210 is pretty cool.

The ER Incident.

2008-09-03T10:21:00.000-07:00

So I am not sure what the hell happened, but last week I found myself in a little pickle. On the way back home from downstate, i started to notice that my neck was hurting. Through last weekend, the pain in my neck got worse and by the time the new week began, I was in considerable pain. I made it to today, and had to go to the doctor. Unfortunatley doctors will not take a rush appointment, so it was on to the ER for me.

The wife picks me up and we are off. The ER was a wonderful place and a great place to people watch.

There were several observations that I made. I made a list below.

People are miserable in the ER
People with neck injuries wait longer than people with substabce abuse problems.
People who have been hit by a car still need to drag their luggage around.
People who are passing kidney stones cry alot.

Just some observations.

BTW-the neck was just strained a little.

So it goes.

The Truth About Kiefer and Jack

2008-09-02T09:50:00.000-07:00

I recently became re-introduced to "A Few Good Men', Aaron Sorkin's amazing portrayal of high-level conspiracy within the United States Marine Corp. This play, as well as the movie, is a compelling look at the inner workings of command within our armed forces. The movie is dated (i.e. September 11th would have changed how we viewed code red's in the military, and of course Tom Cruises charisma, however I think the movie is a realistic look at how discipline works within the military,

The one problem, and call this a random observation, is the character usage within the narrative.

Let me create the scene.

LTJG Daniel Kaffee (Tom Cruise) is questioning 1LT Jonathan Kendrick (Kiefer Sutherland). The questioning turns to the matter of the code red and whether Jonathan Kendrick ordered said code red. Now Kiefer Sutherland( in an underrated part I might add) handles Tom Cruise brillantly, and parries and jabs without any problem.

Kiefer 1 Tom Cruise 0

Later, Tom Cruise is questioning Col Nathan R Jessep(Jack Nicholson)and giving him the same hard line joust. Tom Cruise manages, through clever dialogue and a heated scene, to break Jack Nicholson into submission.

Tom Cruise 1 Jack Nicholson 0.

Is this a real world scenario? I totally like Kiefer Sutherland and Jack Nicholson, however there is no way that Tom Cruise would be able to break Jack Nicholson in the real world. To be realistic, Jack Nicholson would have jumped out of his seat and would have detroyed Tom Cruise with a round house kick or a well hidden shank. Kiefer on the other hand would never have taken the verbal abuse from Tom Cruise. I imagine that Kiefer would be like his character from that phone booth movie. He would wait while Tom Cruise was out and about and would snipe him from the 30th story of some building. It would be amazing.

Completley Random.

WTF-Sara Palin and the ABC Afterschool Special

2008-09-01T13:23:00.001-07:00

It was earlier this morning when this story showed up

http://ochairball.blogspot.com/2008/09/todd-palin-dwi-palins-go-national.html

Of course Mr. Palin having a DWI is hardly an issue-especially when you read this.

http://majikthise.typepad.com/majikthise_/2008/06/background-on-c.html

Now, news comes from the great town of Wasilla, Alaska that Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin has been keeping an additonal secret. Her daughter, Bristol is pregnant at the age of 17.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/01/palin.daughter/index.html

Wasn't this vetted in the selection process? Didn't Campaign Manager Rick Davis notice the baby bump? It is amazing to me that this would go unnoticed and that this woman can NOW even be considered to be a viable candidate for the vice presidancy. If you want to creat an image among women in this country about how Sarah Palin=Hillary Clinton, then ask yourself, how many babies did Chelsea have when she was in high school.

This should be expected. in 2006 Mccain voted against an amendment to the Senate's Fiscal Year Budget that would allocate $100 million for the prevention of unintended pregnancies. Now Mccain has a reminder of his failed voting record following him at every event.

Great job Republicans.

So it Goes

My Fantasy Football Draft

2008-09-01T11:57:00.000-07:00

Let me just prefice this that I have serious doubts about the status of the league I joined. One of the players took Matt Hasselbeck in Round 1 and Koy Detmer in Round 3...he had Tom Brady, Steven Jackson, and Terrell Owens on the board.

SLOT PLAYER, TEAM POS ACTION OPP STATUS ET PRK PTS AVG LAST PROJ PVO %ST %OWN +/-
QB Brett Favre, NYJ QB @Mia Sun 1:00 7 237 14.8 -- 223 +0 55.9 100.0 +0
RB Frank Gore, SF RB Ari Sun 4:15 10 170 10.6 -- 225 +0 81.0 100.0 +0
RB Michael Turner, Atl RB Det Sun 1:00 75 33 2.1 -- 151 +0 3.1 100.0 +0
RB/WR Tim Hightower, Ari RB @SF Sun 4:15 -- -- -- -- 44 +0 0.0 14.7 +1.4
WR Calvin Johnson, Det WR @Atl Sun 1:00 34 103 6.4 -- 146 +0 41.8 100.0 +0
WR Jerricho Cotchery, NYJ WR @Mia Sun 1:00 25 120 7.5 -- 156 +0 24.5 100.0 +0
TE Kevin Boss, NYG TE Was Thu 7:00 40 22 1.4 -- 64 +0 1.1 50.6 -1.9
D/ST Vikings D/ST, Min D/ST @GB Mon 7:00 5 164 10.3 -- 100 +0 74.3 98.3 -0.2
K Stephen Gostkowski, NE K KC Sun 1:00 3 137 8.6 -- 96 +0 56.3 91.9 -0.7
Bench Empty -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
BENCH WEEK 1 2007 SEASON 2008 PRESEASON
SLOT PLAYER, TEAM POS ACTION OPP STATUS ET PRK PTS AVG LAST PROJ PVO %ST %OWN +/-
Bench Justin Gage, Ten WR Jac Sun 1:00 50 80 5.0 -- 96 +0 3.4 11.0 +1.7
Bench Dominic Rhodes, Ind RB Chi Sun 8:15 71 38 2.4 -- 38 +0 16.2 6.7 +0.6
Bench Leonard Pope, Ari TE @SF Sun 4:15 20 48 3.0 -- 40 +0 2.5 3.4 +0.6
Bench Kyle Orton, Chi QB @Ind Sun 8:15 52 28 1.8 -- 91 +0 1.4 4.0 +0.9
Bench Buccaneers D/ST, TB D/ST @NO Sun 1:00 8 143 8.9 -- 94 +0 48.4 42.8 +0.6
Bench Andre Davis, Hou WR @Pit Sun 1:00 43 89 5.6 -- 32 +0 4.0 1.5 +0.6
Bench Jason Hill, SF WR Ari Sun 4:15 167 0 0.0 -- 81 +0 0.0 0.9 +0

Cotchery and Favre are gonna put up some good numbers

The Best Album Of The 1980's

2008-08-31T11:42:00.000-07:00

Believe me this IS the best album of the 1980's

Some people say it is LONDON CALLING-THE CLASH, or some day THE JOSHUA TREE-U2. If you are really a fan, you could probably argue PURPLE RAIN-PRINCE AND THE REVOLUTION. Of course these are all great records and always have a spot in any shuffle that I am compiling. To me, though, the best album of the 1980's is none of these, and in fact, my album rarely shows up on any list anywhere. My BEST ALBUM OF THE 1980's is:

RADIO KAOS-Roger Waters

I will let Wikipedia describe the album. It is a concept album but it is describes to me exactly what the 1980's were about.

The concept is based around a 23-year-old disabled man from Wales named Billy.

Billy is confined to a wheelchair and is thought to be mentally a vegetable. However, Billy is highly intelligent but has no way of expressing himself. Billy has a twin brother Benny who is a coal miner. Billy lives with Benny, Molly his wife, and their children. Unfortunately, Benny has lost his job in the mines due to the "market forces". One night, Benny and Billy are out on a pub crawl when they pass a shop full of TV screens broadcasting Margaret Thatcher's "mocking condescension". Benny vents his anger on this shop and steals a cordless phone. Next, in theatrical fashion, Benny poses on a footbridge in protest to the closures; the same night, a taxi driver is killed by a concrete block dropped from a similar bridge. The police question Benny, who hides the phone in Billy's wheelchair. Benny is taken to prison, and Molly, unable to cope, sends Billy to live with his uncle David in L.A.. Billy is gifted and can hear radio waves in his head ("Radio Waves" track 1), so he begins to explore the cordless phone, recognising its similarity to a radio. He experiments with the phone and is able to access computers and speech synthesisers, he learns to speak through them. He calls a radio station in L.A. named Radio KAOS (hence the album title) and tells them of his life story about his brother being in jail ("Me or Him" track 3), about his sister-in-law not being able to cope and sending him to L.A. to live with his uncle Dave ("Sunset Strip" track 5), and about the closures of the mines ("Powers that Be" track 4). Billy eventually hacks in to a military satellite and fools the world in to thinking nuclear ICBMs are about to be detonated at major cities all over the world whilst deactivating the military power to retaliate ("Home" track 6 and "Four Minutes" track 7). The album concludes with a song about how everyone, in thinking they were about to die, realises that the fear and competitiveness peddled by the mass media is much less important than their love for family and the larger community. ("The Tide is Turning" track 8).

The album is dedicated "to all those who find themselves at the violent end of monetarism." This and other moments in the album--such as a segment juxtaposing a Ronald Reagan campaign slogan with clips from an old western TV show and an apparent recorded plea from American hostages not to engage in "heroics" to free them--make Waters' political point of view quite clear.

Thanks to Wikipedia I can copy and paste a good description. To listen to it is remarkable, and take away the ICBM's crushing towards the west coast, you could definitely picture this album today.

So It goes

Amazon Versus B&N Versus Borders Versus Independent Bookseller: The Battle Of Bioteams

2008-08-30T10:33:00.000-07:00

Today I went on a journey.

This journey began on foot and soon ended in a train. My journey was the search for a book. This book Ken Thompsons BIOTEAMS was recommended to me by a friend, and was also a part of a featured story in the latest WIRED magazine. Bioteams details the subject of Biomimicry, or in lay terms, the adaptation of natures rules into a corporate business team. An example is the way bee's work and converting that idea into a real world scenario( project management).

I knew this book was going to be hard to find. It was published in January with little fanfare. I wanted to test and see if the reliability of the two major booksellers and one independent bookseller would be as reliable, efficient, and dependable as my favorite site, Amazon.com.

I first visited my local Borders. Borders is what Barnes and Noble would be if it was more user friendly. Walking into Borders there is a readily available computer console where I can search the stacks for my book. I had already done advance research and new that both major bookstores kept them in stock. In a pre-journey ranking I expected my best chance was to find this book at Borders.
Sadly the book was not available. I spoke with a floor attendant and she told me that they would easily be able to order this book for me. She said it would take 7-10 days. I did not accept and moved on.

Barnes and Noble, at least the ones I visit are a complicated experience. Whereas Borders offers easy search on certain computer consoles, and the independent bookseller has better customer service, Barnes and Noble is hardly either. Walking in, it took me a few minutes to find the business books. I was able to find a Star Wars section, a Fiction and Literature section, and a section completely devoted to Winnie Cooper( yes from Wonder Years). Apparently Winnie, being not only my first real crush, also is a mathematician who is helping young people succeed in Math. Amazing. ANYWAYS, Barnes and Noble was a complete bust, however they have an exorbitant amount of Donald Trump books. evidently in-stock research does not take in has-beens on there list.

My final jaunt was to an independent bookseller. It was with little hope that I would find the book i was looking for. Most of the times, the hard to find books will be here, but for me my little book wasn't available. I left with my head down and decided that with this little journey, I could officially say that what we know as the modern bookstore is DEAD.

Online booksellers are the way of the future. Not only will they have the book in stock, they will also offer you used books from people who may share the same taste. They will show you books that fit the same description, and they will continue to be on the cutting edge of technology. Easy search, less coffee smells, and customer service that is a click away. I ordered my book in two clicks. It is now somewhere between Omaha and Des Moines and will be in my hands on Wednesday.

So it goes.

Obamaist 1.0

2008-08-29T15:35:00.000-07:00

It is true that I am a Republican. For years I have lived a guerrilla lifestyle within the confines of my wife's family. Her family is democratic tried and true. They are altruistic, and liberal, and left. My wife's family believes in everything a good democrat would believe in.

Then comes me.

I am from the rural stretches of Illinois. Down in my neck of the woods, Democrat is a dirty word said with anger more than pride. We believe in guns, and amendments and rights. We believe that George W. Bush is misinterpreted and that Dick Cheney is a national hero. We hated Clinton and Gore and Kerry and believe that if this nation is gonna be safe than George Bush will make us safe.

Then comes Barack Obama.

It is funny. As I am typing this blog, the spell-check does not recognize his name. Something tells me in the near future, all blogs, and Microsoft Word etc will have to adapt to the funny named president. That's right men and gals, I think Obama is going to win.

Obama really is a great story... but I am not writing this to talk about his mother, or his father from Kenya, or his Harvard days. I want to talk about his election for senator in the state of Illinois. On January 20th, on the day of the inauguration-after the champagne is gone and the work needs to begin..Barack Obama needs to stand on that stage in the January cold and thank one person above all for his ascendancy.

God
Michelle

Nope, neither. The person Barack Obama needs to thank is Jeri Ryan... That's correct, Jeri Ryan-the blond beauty who so famously played a half borg in Deep Space Nine, and went to other jaunts as a scandalous character on the OC and as a teacher on Boston Public. Jeri Ryan is the reason that Barack Obama is going to be president. John McCain should cancel his annual trip to the Star Trek convention because it was her that set us on a course for greatness.

You see, Jeri Ryan was once married to an Illinois politician named Jack Ryan. Now Jack Ryan was a charmer, a good lookin' SOB who was destined to be a big name and a big contender for a top tier position. I really believed in Jack Ryan and worked in his campaign as a low level envelope stuffer. I got my mother to be his Iroquois County chairperson, and was excited of the prospects. His only downfall was his name, which if anyone knows, the last name RYAN is like having a raging aces of Herpes. Besides this, Jack was on his way...then came the scandal.

Now I am not too privy on the exact details of the scandal, but Jack once wanted his wife to have sex with him in a public place..call it a dirty nightclub( aren't they all), or an outdoor Sybaris. Either way, the scandal seemed to leave a bad taste in people's mouth. Now, I may not be a love doctor, but is it really a big deal if a man wants to have sex with his wife. I know the public aspect may be awkward, but most sex doctors say to spice it up once in a while. Maybe Jack was indeed from Mars and Jeri was from a Borg Cube. nevertheless, this was enough. The republicans in there desparate scramble decided to draft Alan Keyes to be the candidate. Alan fucking Keyes. It was all but handing the charismatic Obama the election.

I ended up voting for Obama in that election, and then went on to vote for him in this years primary. Sadly my republican brethren, I believe that "YES WE CAN". My only hope is that if Barack does make it up to the dais on that cold day, he will give a shout out to Jeri ryan, or at the very least us his mind to tap the borg collective and give her the props she deserves.

Costa Rica

2008-02-09T03:56:00.001-08:00

The wife and I are off.....See ya in 10 Days

Hillary Oh No

2008-02-06T02:55:00.000-08:00

Looks like Hillary took the lion's share. I have no idea why anyone wants to go back to all of that, and not move forward. I am not saying that Obama is the answer to all our prayers, however he is something different, and that's what we need. Going back to the same old situation is weak, ignorant, and overall what will eventually hurt our country. White Woman( Ages 40-65), Latinos, and Asians need to wake up-HILLARY IS NO DIFFERENT THAN GEORGE W BUSH.

My peace....

Ryan

What is it all about

2008-02-04T17:15:00.000-08:00

I go to work everyday, work my hours, and come home for dinner, I spend time with my wife and my cats, go to sleep, and do it all over again. I am almost finished with school, have a great job, and can pay the bills. We take great trips( Costa Rica in a week) and have carved a nice little piece in the world....But what is it all about?

I found out today at work ( I will not mention my place of business because the corporation forbids talking about it) that one of my fellow employee's was murdered in a robbery at a Lane Bryant store in Tinley Park. Although I did not know her ( her father worked works with us and I know him), I somehow am deeply moved by this. She worked a few floors below me( we had the same elevator bank) and it makes me wonder if I ever shared a nicety with her, or said good morning. I have no idea what she looks like( besides her picture in the Tribune), but I know that I could have been a general proximity to her.

She was shot in the head, along with five other women, as they shopped. She was 22, a paralegal with my company, and had just graduated college last year. It has moved me to ask..Is this what it's all about?

I've done my time( so to speak), struggling through the early twenties, struggling to pay bills, and get through school, and keep a relationship intact. It's a hard life for some, but I think I have made it harder by being so pessimistic all the time. This girl may have had a hard life( who knows) but what is certain is that she worked hard, got through college, got a job, and on a cloudy morning decided to go and buy some work suits for the winter months. A man entered, tied her up, and executed her for no reason other than she was there. Is that what we have to look forward to? Are we predestined to suffer( some of us)? Is this what God has in store for us?

This world is not safe, and the more I get older, the more I realize that we are all susceptible to crime, and poverty, and terrorism, and heartache. What I am asking is, can anyone really know when it is there time when this world has nothing for us but hatred, and murderers roaming the streets. I know some of my friends live downstate, but the lines of smalltown and big city are pretty vague when it comes to animals who murder without remorse. I just hope we all TRY and be nice to one another, and remember the good times, and think about what we have over whaat we don't. Sorry if this was preachy, but like I said I have been pretty moved by this ordeal.

For Sara

Super Bowl

2008-02-03T19:53:00.000-08:00

I am a Bears fan..tried and true..but tonight's Giant's win made me feel really good. I am so glad someone finally stuck it to Tom Brady, Randy Moss, and of course Bill Bellichik( or as I like to call him Bill Bellabitch). He has got to be the biggest baby in sports history.

Did He Half Ass It?

2008-02-02T18:49:00.000-08:00

So let's get right down to the bread and butter...

It is my opinion, in his headstrong pursuit to stop the Sith from taking over the galaxy, that Obi Wan Kenobi fucked up.

I came to this conclusion after watching Revenge of the Sith and realizing that the reason the galaxy fell into darkness was not because the Emperor succeeded with his grand design, but because Obi Wan Kenobi was a horrible closer.

Let me set the scene..

After a close call on some planet, Obi Wan escapes, only to find out that the Jedi are being wiped out. He and Yoda, in a vain attempt to keep the story going, decide to head back to the city planet and stop some automatic messaging service telling the Jedi to come back home. Once there they realize that all the Jedi deaths, and the Jedi foolery was instigated by none other then Anakin Skywalker, or by his nom de plume Darth Vader. In a moment of calirty, little green Yoda decides that he will duel the Emperor and Obi Wan should find Vader and kill him. End scene.

Of course we all know how it goes, Vader and Obi Wan fight on the lava planet, they exchange semi-homosexual banter, and in the end Obi Wan severs Vader's legs. This is the moment where Obi Wan fails.

Here is my point...

If I was in his shoes, I would have shashayed down the incline to where Vader was wounded and burning up (lava started seeping up) and put my lightsaber square in his head. This would have prevented yet another Sith from roaming the galaxy, and the whole Rule of Two would have been stopped. Perhaps the Emperor would be weakened, giving Ypda another opportunity to face him. Who knows. My opinion, Obi Wan Kenobi is the reason the galaxy went to shit, and in the annuls of time, he should be the one who is judged for his crimes.

The Unified Theory Of Everything or MY 10 Commandments About Wilco

2008-02-01T17:01:00.000-08:00

1. Follow the chord of Wilco-listen to some Uncle Tupelo and dive face first into A.M.

2. Realize that Summerteeth is the best album from 1999.

3. Download Jeff Tweedy and Jay Bennett live at XRT Studios 7/25/1999

4. Listen to every Wilco song on the Woody Guthrie compilation Mermaid Avenue, and exlcude all the Billy Bragg songs.

5. Realize that Yankee Hotel Foxtrot is one of the best albums of all time.

6. Listen to "Heavy Metal Drummer" and debate with friends whether Jay Bennett was an asshole for leaving the band over a 2 second drumbeat

7. Download the Yankee Hotel Foxtrot Demos and acknowledge it as a separate but equal masterpiece.

8. Digest "A Ghost Is Born" as experimental but fall in love with "Sky Blue Sky"

9. Associate "Impossible Germany" with your own road-trip through Deutschland.

10. See Wilco in concert, preferably in Chicago's Millenium Park on a cool September evening with Cassiopeia rising slowly above the skyscrapers.

My First Album

2008-01-31T17:11:00.000-08:00

I have been wondering what the first album was that I really fell in love with. The easy anser would be Nirvana's Nevermind, or Pearl Jam's Ten, but I am pretty sure that I did not dig these records until my later teens, well after Kurt Cobain put a shotgun in his mouth. So what was my first full-on album that I loved. My only guess after soul searching was 1985's MIKE + THE MECHANICS. Although I was only five when this record dropped, it has to be the first one that I thought was cool( next to anything by Disney).

Of course music was always playing when I was growing up, but my mind still comes back to this obscure solo album by the tall guy in Genesis. Anyways I am not a huge fan of Genesis, mostly because the post-Buster, cameo in Hook Phil Collins creeps me out. His soundtrack to the movie Tarzan must be what the government uses on Terrorist in Cuba. I have to say, my hatred of Phil Collins even trickles to other people, including Diana Ross. This is because sometime in the early nineties, creepy Phil recorded a cover of the Supremes "You Can't Hurry Love". The greatest taint on a career is possible having Phil Collins record one of your songs.

Like the spread of some disease, Phil Collins is Herpes Simplex 2.

Mike + The Mechanics on the other hand the first album I loved and hope that if you are ever in a record store, or illegally downloading music, you check it out.

Why White

2008-01-29T17:29:00.001-08:00

Because my last blog was black, and I am all for the duality of things....More posts to come.