The Original Blog

General Eisenhower Warned Us: It is a matter of history that when Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces, General Dwight Eisenhower, found the victims of the death camps he ordered all possible photographs to be taken, and for the German people from surrounding villages to be ushered through the camps and even made to bury the dead. He did this because he said in words to this effect: 'Get it all on record now - get the films - get the witnesses -because somewhere down the road of history some bastard will get up and say that this never happened' This week, the UK removed The Holocaust from its school curriculum because it 'offended' the Muslim population which claims it never occurred. This is a frightening portent of the fear that is gripping the world and how easily each country is giving into it. It is now more than 60 years after the Second World War in Europe ended. This e-mail is being sent as a memorial chain, in memory of the, 6 million Jews, 20 million Rus...

I don't even try to be worth a damn before my morning coffee.  I know that I can't process or function or do just about anything, so I don't even bother. Today I went to Cup A Joe for my morning fix.  I was groggy, disoriented.  There were too many people in the shop.  Everyone was moving and talking really fast.  I made hand gestures as to what I wanted.  I was confused.  I didn't bother to put my prescription sunglasses on for the drive because it's overcast today.  So when I got back to my apartment, I parked, shut the car off, put on my sunglasses and proceeded to get out of the car.  I was immediately confused.  It just got darker.  What happened?  Oh yeah.  I just did the exact opposite of what I should have done.  I went back to the car.  I took off the shades and put on the glasses (like I had it originally, because its overcast).   I've now had half of my quad king.  My brain is starting to fire correctly now.  I'll go.............

Yeah, so I drank way too much beer this past weekend.  Actually, I've consumed way too much beer for the past few weeks.  I feel like I'm malted.  I need to take a break.  I need to get some quality sleep again.  I want to wake up before 10AM again.   The hangover is nothing new to me.  If you've worked in the restaurant industry as long as I have, you develop both a tendency towards alcoholism and a tolerance for hangovers.  In my Aspen days it was just assumed I'd have to work for the first half of my day with a screaming hangover.  That's probably one of the reasons I'd shoot tequila all day long.  If you stay drunk all the time, you postpone the hangover. But with my 35 birthday right around the corner, I can say with all honesty that I'm a little tired of hangovers and that malty taste from a night of heavy drinking.  I think its safe to say that I'm going to be laying low this week...

This scene speaks for itself...

I visited this memorial in Normandy when I was in France with my high school.  Many years later "Saving Private Ryan" came out and the movie started in this cemetery.  I wish I had seen the movie first because I would have appreciated my visit a lot more. And the veterans of that war are now almost extinct, most of them dying of old age.  We will soon be without any living knowledge of that war.  And I hope without living knowledge we aren't dooming ourselves to repeat things.  I just don't see us as being smart enough to learn from our mistakes.  One quick look at the state of the world and I think anyone would agree with me. So I am taking this brief time to remember and thank everyone who fought and died for our country.  And I hope that everyone will take politics out of their remembrance.  Those men and women did not fight for politics.  They did not fight for politicians.  They fought for this country.  They died for this country.  The ideas and love they fought...

OK, so I'm reading Peter Carey's "His Illegal Self" and its about 60's radicals, among other things, and Carey is throwing in real names with fictional names.  Well, when I read I like to google things in the book and find out if they're real, etc.  One name mentioned was Bill Hicks, so I googled it.  Turns out he's a famous (and dead) comic.  Should have none that.  And of course, it lead me to You Tube.  And then good ole Sam Kinison popped into my head.  For those of you that are still cutting your teeth, you probably won't remember this genius.  Of course, you've seen him in "Back To School."  But aside from that, this guy was the shit back in the 80's.  And then, completely out of nowhere, he dies in a car crash.  And we lost a great one .

My boss showed me this video the other day.  I don't have a TV, so I'm pretty much out of the loop on just about everything.  I've never seen this show, but this video made me chuckle rather merrily...

OK... so how can anyone not love this video?  Great album.  Great video.  And Chevy Chase. A lot of people don't remember a time when Chevy was really,  really funny.  Its true.  And it was happening around this time.  I was in late elementary school or middle school when this album came out.  And of course, they played the video all the time.  Because, back then MTV actually did play videos.  And they'd make this pitch and have this big build up waiting for the world premiere of a new video.  And by god, you watched.  It was like waiting for a new movie or, I don't know, video game (for you gaming idiots out there [go outside and play]). Anywho...

I'm beginning to think Dweezil and Moon are conspiring against me.  I don't want to think ill of the little buggers, but its starting to become rather obvious... Here's the deal.  It seems that ever time I try to get some sleep, it is their play time.  And I'm not just talking night or morning.  Nap time, too.  And it doesn't matter if they're asleep too.  When they see ready to slumber, its all out play time.  And please keep in mind that we live in a very small apartment.  I hear every step they take.  I hear ever thing they get into.  Oh yes, I know what they're up to. So I've been spending a lot of mornings lately yelling at them as I try to sleep.  They want to be fed as soon as there is light in the sky.  I myself prefer to sleep until 8:30 or 9AM.  And on the nights where I work at the Bistro and happen to catch a few beers after my shift, then I might try to push it to even 10AM.  But the furry little fuckers are having none of that!  Daylight=fo...

I finished David Foster Wallace's "Infinite Jest" this past Friday, the 16th of May.  I started it on March 31st, 2008.  If you do a little rough math, you'll discover that it took me 1.5 months to read it.  My copy of the book, which looks just like the one above, is 1079 pages.  And its a big book, probably a foot tall and the words are very, very small.  What I'm getting at is that it takes a least 3 times as long to read a page as your normal books.  In fact, I have already one and a half books since finishing "Infinite Jest" on Friday.  Long book! I would say that "Infinite Jest" is one of the most incredible books I've ever read.  Easily top 5 on the incredible list.  Wallace is far and away one of the mostly insanely talented writers I've come across.  Comparisons to Pynchon are well merited.  It will take some distancing, some time, for other books I read to jump out at me again.  I feel things are just going to come across as f...

OK, so I needed to catch up on some posts... and sticking in videos is a real easy way to churn out some numbers. This song was my "first dance song" at my first wedding.  Luckily, the marriage was such a joke that the song has remained unblemished.  That's a good thing.  I'd have hated to lose this little gem.

So two years ago or so I happened to find out that Edie was playing at the Fox Theatre in Boulder during the 3 weeks that my restaurant in Aspen was going to be closed.  Boulder was about 3.5 hours from my home in Aspen, but it was a very mountainous 3.5 hours through Glenwood Canyon, over Veil Pass, etc. etc.  As luck would have it, a bad storm blew through that weekend and I was unable to make the show.  And I was bummed, to say the least.  As a friend put it, Edie Brickell is an old friend. Edie Brickell is an old, dear friend.  A long time ago, friends and neighbors, a TV station called MTV used to plays these things called music videos.  The gist was that groups would make videos of the songs on their new albums.  It was all the rage.  And back then people would watch this station- MTV- for long periods of time.  I myself would watch only MTV, and maybe the occasional You Can't Do That On Television  on Nickalodian. Anywho, I would watch MTV all the time.  Back then, that was ...

Just found out that the 3rd guy (out of 5) from my old college band is having a baby, his wife, that is.  The 3rd guy!  Ouch!  My buddy Rick (who's the only non-father now besides me) went to see our buddy playing at 42nd street last night and it was there that I heard the news. And as I prepare for my 35 birthday in less than a month, I am beginning to realize that I might be getting older.  Not old, mind you.  But older.  And the tell-tale signs would definitely be the friends-having-babies thing.  Another one that I don't hear much about is the college dogs dying. Because we all know that one of the first things you do when you get your own place in college is get a dog.  Its also one of the stupidest things to do.  But hey, "got my own place, need my own dog."  So in 10-15 years these beloved animals start to die.  I've lost 2 of my 3 college-age dogs. Floyd, the single coolest fucking bassett hound that ever lived, die last spring after 14 years.  And then I ...

Ah, to dream... If only we were lucky enough to have leaders like this.  Instead, we get choices like Hillary...

It becoming quite clear the kind of lady Hillary Clinton is.  And it doesn't take a political analyst to call her out.  She is a self-righteous b---h who will not give up what she feels she deserves.  The presidency belonged to her.  And by God, she will drag her entire party down until she gets what's hers. That is despicable on so many levels, and so appropriate for her.  It is quite obvious that this woman only cares about herself and how much power she can amass.   Any of her followers who actually think she gives one single damn about them are complete idiots.  That's right, idiots.  And you should lose your vote for being so damn stupid! The rest of the country and the world is amazed that this woman won't bow out gracefully.  How long does the obvious have to go on before she finally stops?  The party as a whole is a laughing stock because of crap like this.  My god democrats are dumb! And I was reading Ann Coulter who made a good point of saying that it is all B...

If'n for some reason ya'll don't know about Chatham County Line yet, you better just run right out and pick up one (or all) of their 4 albums.  This is bluegrass at it's finest.  They're the complete package. And I just happened upon this little gem from Raleigh's own Lincoln Theatre.  This is the title track from their 2nd album, entitled, "Route 23"................

So I just learned how to put videos on my blog.  And that can only mean one thing... tons of videos from here on out.  Now I can add more than just bootlegged photos and mindless ramblings. Now moving pictures can accompany my words.  I can make a point, share a story, do anything I feel like and follow it with video.  Oh, the possibilities!  Oh the abuse!  Oh the time I can waste.........  

This has been my favorite song for several years now.  Its #1 on my iTunes play count.  And I never ever ever seem to get tired of hearing it.  When I finally got to see her live last year I was hoping and praying that she would play this song.  On that particular night it was not to be.  But I did hear a great "Long Way Home" for an encore.....

My first true, great love: The Grateful Dead.  No matter where I wander, no matter how far I stroll, I always come home to my Grateful Dead.  And they always sound as good as the first time I heard them.  Ask any Dead Head "why?"  Odds are they won't be able to put it into words.  But one look at their smile and you'll see why. My reason... my favorite Grateful Dead song before I finally saw them live was "Jack Straw."  I absolutely adored that song, especially the version from Europe '72 .  So its 1990, I think, and the Dead are playing at Carter Finley in Raleigh.  Jud's mom gets us 10th row for the show.  And finally , I'm getting in to see the Dead (I've tried a few times prior, but never with a ticket).  I'm on cloud nine and then it happens... I see the boys walk out on stage.  My knees are shaking watching Jerry walk out just 10 rows up.  They tune up and fiddle for a minute and then open the show with......... Jack Straw .  I had ...

Here she is, friends and neighbors.  The goth girl I have a huge crush on.  I wish she had a real video or something, instead of this random collage thing.  But, oh well....

In Just One Year: This email comes in three parts. Part 1: In just one year. Remember the election in 2006? Thought you might like to read the following. A little over one year ago: 1) Consumer confidence stood at a 2 1/2 year high; 2) Regular gasoline sold for $2.19 a gallon; 3) The unemployment rate was 4.5%. Since voting in a Democratic Congress in 2006 we have seen: 1) Consumer confidence plummets; 2) The cost of regular gasoline soar to over $3.50 a gallon; 3) Unemployment is up to 5% (a 10% increase); 4) American households have seen $2.3 trillion in equity value evaporate (stock and mutual fund losses); 5) Americans have seen their home equity drop by $1.2 trillion dollars; 6) 1% of American homes are in foreclosure. America voted for change in 2006? and we got it! Remember it's Congress that makes law not the President. He has to work with what's handed to him. Quote of the Day........'My friends, we live in the greatest nation in the history of the world. I hope ...

Part 2: Taxes... Whether Democrat or a Republican you will find these statistics enlightening and amazing. www.taxfoundation.org/publications/show/151.html Taxes under Clinton 1999 Single making 30K: tax $8,400 Single making 50K: tax $14,000 Single making 75K: tax $23,250 Married making 60K: tax $16,800 Married making 75K: tax $21,000 Married making 125K: tax $38,750 Taxes under Bush 2008 Single making 30K: tax $4,500 Single making 50K: tax $12,500 Single making 75K: $18,750 Married making 60K: tax $9,000 Married making 75K: $18,750 Married making 125K: $31,250 Both Democratic candidates will return to the higher tax rates. It is amazing how many people that fall into the categories above think Bush is screwing them and Bill Clinton was the greatest President ever. If Obama or Hillary are elected, they both say they will repeal the Bush tax cuts and a good portion of the people that fall into the categories above can't wait for it to happen. This is like the movie The Sting with Pa...

PART 3: You think the war in Iraq is costing us too much? Read this: Boy, am I confused. I have been hammered with the propaganda that it is the Iraq war and the war on terror that is bankrupting us. I now find that to be RIDICULOUS. I hope the following 14 reasons are forwarded over and over again until they are read so many times that the reader gets sick of reading them. I have included the URL's for verification of all the following facts: 1. $11 Billion to $22 billion is spent on welfare to illegal aliens each year by state governments. Verify at: http://tinyurl.com/zob77 2. $2.2 Billion dollars a year is spent on food assistance programs such as food stamps, WIC, and free school lunches for illegal aliens. Verify at: http://www.cis..org/articles/2004/fiscalexec.html 3. $2.5 Billion dollars a year is spent on Medicaid for illegal aliens. Verify at: http://www.cis..org/articles/2004/fiscalexec.html 4. $12 Billion dollars a year is spent on primary and sec...

The "Week In Review" for April 28th through May 4th, 2008... The big winner this week is Emilie Autumn.  It started out innocently enough.  I was trying to find the song "Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want" from Ferris Bueller.  Of course they didn't put out a soundtrack.  And Dream Academy didn't release the song.  So I spent some time digging and searching and trying my hardest to find the song.  It turns out the Emilie Autumn covered the song, at least according to Wikipedia, so I checked her out on iTunes.  And whatdaya know, she's fucking awesome.  So now I've added a gazillion photos of her, I've got all her CDs, etc, etc.  And I've got the iPod in the car so I can listen to her whilest I drive.  Guess you could say I've got a small crush on our poor Ms. Autumn. Aside from that, it was a week to be forgotten, in that nothing happened.  I made some progress on the driving range.  I feel like I'm starting to get a grasp o...

Today is the first day of May, 2008. And what a magical month May is!  It has a definite feel, much like October and December.  Too many months simply occupy space, coming and going with little to say.  But May is special. May feels like sunshine.  And vacation.  And preparing for school to be over.  And the first glimpses of the beach.  And sumer romance.  And music festivals outdoors.  And frisbee in the park.  And weddings. May feels good.  Even in a place like Aspen, where May tends to be muddy, it is magical.  Everyone is in shorts.  People are tuning their bicycles and stowing their skis. The season is over and trips and vacation are around the corner.  I loved May in the mountains.  The sky was so blue and the weather was so welcome.  The cold is finally pushed away.  Highs in the 70's and low 80's.  Air so clean and pure it all but made you high.  What a glorious month. Everything seems possible in May.  And everyone seems excited in May.  The last of the pollen has bee...