Friday, November 26, 2010

Wow



They just don't make 'em like this anymore.

This is as EPIC a performance and song as you will ever find.

This is AWESOME.

This is blues.

This is something crawling on the floor of some hole-in-the-wall, dark, skanky, sweaty, smoke-filled gin-joint sitting at the gates of Hell.

This is Muddy Waters.

This is Mannish Boy.

Wow.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

The Thanksgiving Blog

Greetings and Salutations on Thanksgiving Eve!

So here we are, the start of the Holiday Season - tomorrow is Thanksgiving.

Here in the good ol' USof A, Thanksgiving has been an annual tradition/Holiday since 1863, and marks the celebration that happened at Plymouth Plantation (Massachusetts) in 1621.  You see, back then the Wampanoag Native American Indians helped the Massachusetts pilgrims harvest the land, saving them from certain starvation; and, together they had a celebration steeped in traditions of harvest festivals that were commonplace in Europe at the time.

Anyhow, Thanksgiving has become a time for us to reflect on things we are thankful for...a time for us to take a personal inventory, so to speak, and give thanks to those around us and to the Man Upstairs, and to count our blessings, no matter how big or small.

So here is my list of what I am thankful for this year...

1. I am thankful for Steph, Gabriel, and Michael.  It goes without saying, you are the push and the inspiration for me to keep going.
2. I am thankful for Gordon, Kim, Greg, Nancy, Ethan, Eric, Alex, Izzie, and Kelly for all being the best brothers, sister-in-laws, nephews, and nieces anyone could ever ask for.
3. Even though they aren't physically here anymore, I am now and forever will be thankful for Dad, Mom, and Mom-Mom...everything I have today is due to you guys and the foundation you provided.
4. I am thankful for my own and my family's health.
5. I am very thankful for my friends, my extended family, and my friends who are family - you know who you are, and I love you all.
6. I am thankful for my home, which keeps me warm when it's cold, cool when it's hot, and dry when it's wet.
7. I am thankful for my car, which allows me to get where I need to go and when I want to go.
8. I am thankful for the food in my fridge.
9. I am thankful for the beverages in my bar.
10. I am thankful for my job, which allows me to keep and maintain #6, 7, 8, and 9!
11.  I am thankful for the mistakes I've made, the challenges that I have overcome, and for the personal growth that has stemmed from them all.  Right, wrong, or indifferent, I'm okay with who I am today.
12. I am thankful and grateful for the brave men and women and their families who serve our country, and ensure my freedom.
13. I am thankful for believing...
14. I am thankful for opportunity...
15. I am thankful for today...
16. I am thankful for where I've been...
17. I am thankful for wherever I may be heading...
18. I am thankful for my many blessings...
19. I am thankful for all the small things in life that I seemingly take for granted every day...

AND OF COURSE...

20. I am thankful for being able to rock AWESOME like no one else.

Ask yourself today, tonight, and tomorrow - what is it that you are thankful for?

Here's hoping that you and yours have a wonderful Thanksgiving...

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

A Quote I Forgot...or My 50th Blog!

Forgot to throw this one in there last night...

Is it cheeseball?  Probably.

Is it pertinent?  Abso-friggin-lutely.

"We all need somebody that we can lean on,
When you wake up look around and see that your dream's gone,
When the earth quakes we'll help you make it through the storm,
When the floor breaks, a magic carpet to stand on,
We are the World united by love so strong,
When the radio isn't on you can hear the songs,
A guided light on the dark road you're walking on,
A sign post to find the dream you thought was gone,
Someone to help you move the obstacles you stumbled on,
Someone to help you rebuild after the rubble's gone,
We are the World connected by a common bond,
Love,
The whole planet sing it along..."

from We Are The World 25 for Haiti.

I sure wish more people around the world would subscribe to this one...

Is This Seriously the Way to Start the Season...or WTF?!?!?

Holy smokes, Beatdowners...not even 24 hours removed from my feel good quotes blog, this is the headlines today...

South Korea Vows ‘Enormous Retaliation’ After North’s Deadly Island Bombardment



Ain't that grand?!?!?

South Korea was doing some naval war game activities, the North didn't approve, and they take it upon themselves to shell a boarder island that is part of the South.

The North follows with a statement on their official Central News Agency saying that if South Korea "violated" their disputed sea border "even by 0.001 millimeter", they'd continue the military strikes.

The South throws some gas on the fire by saying they would strike back with the aforementioned "enormous retaliation" if they are hit again.

Talk about a proverbial powder keg....

And the underlying factor that is pretty friggin' scary (at least to me)...China fully supports the North, the USofA fully supports the South, and China is PISSED at us due to our plan to print some $600 billion and devalue the dollar, which would directly impact China's export business.

North Korea vs. South Korea is not awesome.  China vs. the USAis EPICALLY unawesome.

Keep an eye on this one - A new hi-tech nuclear facility in the North was uncovered over the last few days, and now this...stock markets around the world aren't reacting favorably to the news.

Pray for peace...'Tis the Season, afterall.

Monday, November 22, 2010

Random Quotes

Happy Monday, Beatdowners.

The Holiday Season kicks off officially in 3 days...make sure you remember what the Season is about.  Be thankful for all that you have, and worry a little less about what you don't.  More importantly, do your part - spread good tidings, festivus maximus, and awesome merriment!

A quick one tonight...

I've been reading a ton the past year...and listening to tunes and watching flicks...and listening to and/or seeing way too many political speeches during the past few months. 

And man, oh man...what a collection of quotes I've gotten from all sources!  Some are epic, some are fun, and some make me scratch me head...and some even make me wonder to myself if that person has any clue what's going on in the real world!

Here's some of my favorites, for varying reasons...enjoy.  And maybe apply some of them to your daily life...you never know it may make you just a tad more awesome!

"The best way to serve the age is to betray it" - from Brendan Kennelly's The Book of Judas.

"Trajectory is everything.  One inch out as the rocket launches and you miss Mars and end up on Venus.  If you're lucky - and I have been - you discover it was always where you wanted to go" - Bono, from U2BYU2.

"It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains" - from Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith's Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.

"I get excessively drunk at inappropriate times, disregard social norms, indulge every whim, ignore the consequences of my actions, mock idiots and posers, sleep with more women than is safe or reasonable, and just generally act like a raging d*ckhead.  But I do contribute to humanity in one very important way: I share my adventures with the world" - from Tucker Max's I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell

"But we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it, away from the fog of controversy" - FORMER House Speaker Nancy Pelosi during a March, 2010 speech during the Legislative Conference for the National Association of Counties.

RELAX MY LEFT LEANING BEATDOWNERS - MY 2 FAVORITE W-isms TO FOLLOW...

"Families is where our nation finds hope, where wings take dream" - President George W. Bush in a speech he made in October, 2000, LaCrosse, Wisconsin.

"There’s an old saying in Tennessee - I know it’s in Texas, probably in Tennessee - that says, fool me once, shame on, shame on you.  Fool me - you can’t get fooled again" - President George W. Bush in a speech he made in September, 2002, Nashville, Tennessee.

"If Latinos sit out the election instead of saying, ‘We’re going to punish our enemies and we’re going to reward our friends who stand with us on issues that are important to us’, if they don’t see what kind of upsurge in voting in this election, then I think it’s going to be harder, and that’s why I think it’s so important that people focus on voting on November 2" - President Obama during a radio interview on Latino station Univision, October, 2010.

"But joy is a very hard thing to conjure and happiness won't do" - Bono, from U2BYU2.

"Supermodels are beautiful girls, Will.  A beautiful girl can make you dizzy, like you've been drinking Jack and Coke all morning.  She can make you feel high full of the single greatest commodity known to man - promise.  Promise of a better day.  Promise of a greater hope.  Promise of a new tomorrow.  This particular aura can be found in the gait of a beautiful girl.  In her smile, in her soul, the way she makes every rotten little thing about life seem like it's going to be okay.  The supermodels, Willy?  That's all they are.  Bottled promise.  Scenes from a brand new day.  Hope dancing in stiletto heels" - Michael Rapaport in Beautiful Girls.

And a perfect one to end this rambling and set the table for the upcoming Season...

"There's no naughty kids, Nick. Every kid deserves a present on Christmas" - Vince Vaughn in Fred Claus.

Until next time...

Friday, November 19, 2010

A Feel Good One...or Don't Let The Opportunity Pass You By

TGIF, Beatdowners!

So this is just a quick one that I think is worth sharing...my Aunt Janet sent this e-mail out to me today, and it's got a good message...live for today, don't hold anything back, and most of all, tell the people that matter and that you care about the most that you love them...TODAY.

Thanks for reading.  Thanks to Aunt Janet for forwarding this one.  And love to you and yours.

Until next time...
One day a teacher asked her students to list the names of the other students in the room on two sheets of paper, leaving a space between each name.  Then she told them to think of the nicest thing they could say about each of their classmates and write it down.

It took the remainder of the class period to finish their assignment, and as the students left the room, each one handed in the papers.

That Saturday, the teacher wrote down the name of each student on a separate sheet of paper, and listed what everyone else had said about that individual.

On Monday she gave each student his or her list.  Before long, the entire class was smiling.

"Really?", she heard whispered, "I never knew that I meant anything to anyone!", and, "I didn't know others liked me so much", and other comments like that.  

No one ever mentioned those papers in class again.  She never knew if they discussed them after class or with their parents, but it didn't matter.  The exercise had accomplished its purpose.  The students were happy with themselves and one another. 

That group of students moved on.


Several years later, one of the students, Mark, was killed in Vietnam, and the teacher attended the funeral.  The church was packed with his friends.  One by one those who loved him took a last walk by the coffin.  The teacher was the last one to walk by and pay her respects.

As she stood there, one of the soldiers who acted as pallbearer came up to her and asked, 'Were you Mark's math teacher?".  She nodded yes.  Then he said, "Mark talked about you a lot".


After the funeral, most of Mark's former classmates went together to a luncheon.

Mark's mother and father were there, and they wanted to speak with his teacher.


"We want to show you something", his father said.  The father took his wallet out and said, "They found this on Mark when he was killed...we thought you might recognize it".


Carefully opening the two worn pieces of notebook paper that had been taped, folded, and refolded many times, the father held it out for the teacher to see. 

She knew without reading the papers that it was the list of all the good things each of Mark's classmates had said about him so many years ago.
"Thank you so much for doing that", Mark's mother said.  "As you can see, Mark treasured it".


All of Mark's former classmates gathered around.

Charlie smiled and said, "I still have my list.  It's in the top drawer of my desk at home".


Chuck's wife said, "Chuck asked me to put his in our wedding album".


"I have mine too", Marilyn said.  "It's in my diary".


Vicki, another classmate, reached into her pocketbook, took out her wallet and showed her worn and frazzled list to the group.  "I carry this with me at all times...looks like we all saved our lists".


That's when the teacher finally sat down and cried.  She cried for Mark and for all his friends who would never see him again. 

The density of people in society is so thick that we forget that life will end one day.  And we don't know when that one day will be.  So please, tell the people you love and care for that they are special and important.  Tell them, because one day you won't be able to.

Monday, November 15, 2010

Through The Looking Glass

Happy Monday, Beatdowners!  Hard to believe there are only 10 days 'til Turkey Day, and (GULP!) 40 days until Christmas...perhaps it's the warmer weather we've had over the past week or so, but it surely doesn't feel like that Most Wonderful Time of Year is right around the corner!

Anyhow, a quick one...

I really, REALLY do not like getting my picture taken.  Random, posed, whatever - I just hate it.  I find imperfections in any photo, and regardless of what anyone else says, there is no such thing as a "good" picture of yours truly. 

Facebook doesn't help matters with that whole "Tag" feature...I'm bound and determined tonight to figure out a way to disable that darn thing...because it's always the worst of the worst pictures possible that end up tagged (thanks assh*les).

Now I've come to the general conclusion that I am not what you would call a good lookin' man - all is well and good though, I make up for it with my shear awesomeness. 

But still...every single picture I see of me, I would hang in basements to keep the rats away.  The images I see could stop a friggin' clock.  Really.  If you are in a picture with me, I'm certainly going to make you look a whole lot better lookin' than you really are.  If you are having a day when you aren't feeling too pretty or handsome, take a look at a photo of me and you'll instantly say, "it could be worse, I could look like that".  Forget the ugly stick, or the ugly tree...I got hit by the ugly forest in most pictures.

I make due with the cards I've been dealt in the looks category...and I've done pretty well with what I have.  But man, oh, man do everyone a favor and don't get camera happy around me...it'll end up UGLY!

Have a great Monday...and until next time, stay handsome out there!

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Thank You, The Hits Keep Coming, and Remember...

Happy Thursday, Beatdowners!

First and foremost, THANK YOU to all of the brave men and women who have served the United States in the past.  THANK YOU to all the brave men and women who serve today.  And THANK YOU to the brave men and women and their families who have given the ultimate sacrifice to defend our freedoms and our country.

Today, to honor those men and women and their families, I hope for ALL of us to lose the label of Democrat, Republican, Liberal, Conservative, Tea Partier, Righty, Lefty, etc., and subscribe to the only label that truly matters...AMERICAN.

Now on to a quick one...not too sure how to feel about this one...often worried that the world is going to Hell in a hand basket because of stuff like this...

The United Nations' Security Council charged a panel (made up of representatives from the U.S., the U.K., China, France, Russia, Japan, and South Korea) with the undaunting task of monitoring the enforcement of the already imposed UN sanctions on the North Korean regime that effort blocking their advancement of a nuclear program. 

Some of these sanctions are aimed to ban North Korea from exporting or importing weapons, nuclear technology, and/or missile technology.

The panels findings, which finally went to the Security Council yesterday (China had been doing its best to prevent the report from being distributed, but finally allowed it), shows that North Korea, despite the UN sanctions, exports $100 million in weapons and missiles each year.

$100 million.

The report (all 75-pages worth) also provides evidence collected by the International Atomic Energy Agency, different governments across the world, and varying news reporting agencies that states North Korea is involved in "nuclear and ballistic missile related activities in certain other countries including Iran, Syria, and Myanmar (Burma)".

The report does cite that the sanctions seem to be limiting North Korea's arms sales, but still...$100 million?!?!?

Now I'm not saying we, or any other government, should go in and engage North Korea militarily.  This isn't saber-rattling.

Just something to keep an eye on...dangerous times.  Bad sh*t all around.  Wars and rumors of wars.  Regimes Hell-bent on wiping countries and people off the face of the Earth.  It's a sh*tshow out there.

The Holiday Season is right around the corner...it kicks off in a mere 2 weeks. 

Regardless of faith, regardless of nationality, regardless of political affiliation, remember one underlying and unified basic fact about what the Season is all about:
PEACE ON EARTH, GOODWILL TO MEN.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Holy Sh*tballs...

Happy Tuesday, Beatdowners.

I dig conspiracy theories.  They are sometimes amusing, sometimes fascinating, and sometimes down right scary.

Ever hear of the Web Bot Project?  Look it up - interesting.  A quick summary - the collective unconscious of individuals can be used to predict certain future events based on words people use in internet search engines.  Kind of ridiculous and a stretch, but intriguing.

Anyhow, the Web Bot guys, Cliff High and George Ure (they call themselves the Time Monks - snicker, snicker), have been noted as saying there would be some major "tipping point" between 11/8 and 11/11 that would lead to a catastrophic nuclear confrontation in the world.

That'll suck...really put a damper on my weekend plans.

Anyhow, nuclear war or some massive war breaks out this week...or some actions that "tip" the pendulum of war, and we start speeding down that spiral.  Interesting read, makes me go, "Hmmmm", and makes me hug the Littleheads a little tighter the next few nights at bedtime.

No harm, no foul.

BUT...

I look at the news today and come across this headline...

Missile Shot Off Los Angeles Still a Mystery for Pentagon Officials

Anyone hear about this last night?  Doubt it. 



But a local CBS news copter filmed the mystery missile launch that happened around 5pm PST about 35 miles off-shore west of Los Angeles.  As of this afternoon, our government, our military officials, or commanders at the North American Aerospace Defense Command can not explain what the projectile was, where it came from, or (gulp!) if it was one of ours.

The Missile Defense Agency has went on record saying it did not launch any test missile Monday night that could possibly explain what was filmed.  Better than that, both the United States Navy and Air Force couldn't come up with anything to explain this launch.


WTF?!?!?!? 

Thirty-five (35) miles off of the American coastline, a missile is launched and we don't know where it came from, who dun it, or why it happened.

Seriously?!?!?!?

Almost 10 million people live in the Los Angeles area, an apparent big-ass missile is shot off that could have easily reached the city's population center(s), and we have no friggin' clue what's going on?!?!?!?

If that's the case (and the military isn't just playing dumb), we're f*cked.

Should be interesting to see the spin on this one the next few days.

Here's hoping we aren't about to all get blowed up! 

Until next time...

Friday, November 5, 2010

Someone Got It Right...or Not Throwing In The Towel on the US Just Yet

TGIF, Beatdowners!

A real quick follow-up to my blog from 10/25/10 - the one about the woman who had a civil rights complaint filed against her for posting an advertisement at her Church in which she said she was seeking a "Christian" roommate.

As previously blogged about, the Fair Housing Center of West Michigan accused the young woman of posting an ad that "expresses an illegal preference for a Christian roommate, thus excluding people of other faiths".

What a crock of sh*t.  I still can't believe that...essentially saying it's illegal to choose who you want to live with. 

Anyhow, on to the update...the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department did the right thing...they dismissed the civil rights complaint.  Their statement said:

"In light of the facts provided and after assessing the unique context of the advertisement and the roommate relationship involved in this particular situation potentially involving the sharing of personal religious beliefs, the Department defers to Constitutional considerations in reaching its conclusion. Accordingly, the Department finds that there is no reasonable cause to believe that the Act was violated in this matter".
FINALLY!  Common sense prevails! 

While my frustrations continue, things like this make me refrain from throwing in the towel on the good ol' U.S. of A...for now.

Hey Republicans and Tea Partiers - a quick note to you - WE gave you a chance to work to fix all that is wrong with the general state of the Union...don't blow it...if you do, we'll fire you in November of 2012.  Everyone in DC needs to understand one basic fact - COMPROMISE IS NOT A DIRTY WORD.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Questions...or Things That Make Me Go "Hmmmmmm"...

Greetings and salutations from a cool and rainy Maryland, Beatdowners.

Just a quick one...some questions that sometimes keep me awake at night...

1. If you have relations with a prostitute and roll out without paying, is that considered shoplifting?

2. Is it possible to cry underwater?

3. What characteristics must a person have to be considered assassinated rather than just plain ol' murdered?

4. Why is it a "spork" and not a "foon"?

5. People "put their two cents in" to conversations, but only receive "a penny for their thoughts"...where exactly is that extra penny going?

6. In the afterlife (Heaven or Hell), are you seriously stuck for all eternity wearing the clothes you are buried in?

7. Pizza is round, but it comes in a square box...why?

8. How is it that man has walked on the moon well before someone thought it'd be smart to put wheels on luggage?

9. Why do people say they "slept like a baby" to denote a good night's sleep?  Last I can remember, babies wake up every few hours and generally aren't really happy when the do.

10. Why are actors IN a movie, but ON TV shows?

11. Why do toasters have a setting that allows the bread/bagel/waffle/etc. to be burned to the point of resembling a charcoal briquette when there is NO way any normal person would consume it?

12. Jimmy cracks corn, and no one cares...then why the song?

13. Goofy and Pluto are both dogs...why does Goofy walk like a person and Pluto remains on all fours?

14. Gilligan's Island...the Professor...he could get all MacGyver with a coconut, but he really couldn't fix a hole in the boat?

15. Wile E. Coyote apparently had a ton of money lying around to buy all of those crappy Acme items he used to try to catch the Roadrunner...why didn't he just use that money to buy himself some dinner instead of always being blown up by whatever it is he bought for his latest ploy?

16. Why do Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star and The Alphabet Song have the same tune?

17. You just tried singing both of those songs to see if I was right or wrong, didn't you?

18. Why is it that when you blow in a dog's face, they get pissed, but when you throw 'em in the car and roll the windows down, they happily stick their head out of it and get buffeted with 20, 30, 40 MPH-plus wind gusts?

19. Why is "bra" singular and "panties" plural?

20. Is there something wrong with me since I can't lick my own elbow?

That's all I got.  Have a good one, Beatdowners.

Until next time...

Stop trying...you can't lick your elbow either!

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Ain't It Awesome...or The LEFT or RIGHT is WRONG

Rant time, Beatdowners.

I live in Pasadena, Maryland.  Polls here close at 8pm, and our area code is "410".

There is a "202" area code calling Maryland residents right now.  It's a robo-call, as they call them (automated mass calling message).

Again, polls close at 8pm here.

The message is the recorded voice of a female.  She states:
"I'm calling to let everyone know that Governor O'Malley and President Obama have been successful.  Our goals have been met.  Our polls were correct and we (inaudible).  We're okay.  Relax.  Everything is fine.  The only thing left is to watch on TV tonight.  Congratulations and thank you."
Plain, simple, and undebateable - tactics to keep people from going to the polls and voting.

"Psh, why bother, O'Malley has already won".

Wrong.

This sh*t is WAY out of line.  When called back, no one answers.

O'Malley and the Democrats, or the GOP and Ehrlich...someone is playing games here.  Whatever. 

These are the individuals you want running our state and our country?  EPIC FAIL.

Go ahead, my left leaning readers - blame this one on Bush, too. 

And to my right leaning readers, if this was a GOP trick, you would be okay with this kind of leadership to bring about an end to your (and my) frustrations?!?!?!?!? 

Whomever is responsible, stop adding to the problem.  Take your blinders off.  COMPROMISE IS NOT A DIRTY WORD.

More importantly, THIS is what America has become, over the last 2 years, the last 10 years, etc. 

Aren't you proud?

An Election Day Blog...or Obvious Generalizations

Happy ELECTION DAY Beatdowners!

Do your part.  Go out and cast your vote today.  Regardless of your party, your views, or who you intended to vote for, take part in the process...it's one of the greatest "freedoms" we have as Americans.

Now then, on to some obvious generalizations...take it for what it is...and understand that when the actions of the few summarize the many, no body moves forward.

If someone on the right doesn't like guns, they don't buy one.  If someone on the left doesn't like guns, they want all guns outlawed.

If someone on the right is a vegetarian, they don't eat meat.  If someone on the left is a vegetarian, they want all meat products banned for everyone.

If someone on the right is homosexual, they quietly lead their life.  If someone on the left is homosexual, they demand legislated respect.

If someone on the right is down-and-out, they think about how to better their situation.  If someone on the left is down-and-out, they wonder who is going to take care of them.

If someone on the right doesn't like a talk show, a talk show host, or a news programs, they switch channels.  If someone on the left doesn’t like a talk show, a talk show host, or a news programs, they demand that those they don't like be shut down and deem them as a non-news entity.

If someone on the right is a non-believer, they don't go to church.  If someone on the left is a non-believer, they want any and all mention of God and religion silenced.

If someone on the right decides they need health care, they shop for it, or they choose a job that provides it.  If someone on the left decides they need health care, they demand for the rest of us pay for theirs.

If someone on the right reads this, chances are they'll get a good laugh.  If someone on the left reads this, they'll probably get angry, blame Bush, and delete it because they are "offended".

Again, take it for what it's worth. 

And again, regardless of leaning right or left, VOTE TODAY!!!

Monday, November 1, 2010

An AWESOME Monday

Yes, this is about Monday being AWESOME.

On my way into work this morning, I'm listening to 98 Rock (http://www.98online.com/), as I do most days.  And what wondrous BREAKING NEWS do I hear?

U2.
June 22, 2011.
M & T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland.



Anxiously monitoring my e-mail for the pre-sale info for my U2.com subscription.


The Irish are coming to Baltimore.

And I'll be there.

It certainly is a BEAUTIFUL DAY!

Happy Monday, Beatdowners!

55 days 'til Christmas, BTW...make this Holiday Season count!