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Dazed and Confused

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 10:38:31 -0800

Sponsored by:

Jason Young

Allison Cubit

Today's Blog is Rated...

In general, I don't like to talk politics. It doesn't get me off like it used to, I have neither the time nor the inclination to go on rampant back-and-forth opinion debates with anyone. That was years ago for me, and those days are past.

But these are desperate times, and call for desperate measures.

My zeal for attempting to shift political opinions greatly diminished when I realized that the vast majority of them necessitated an explanation that the United States is not governed by a democracy and is, in fact, by a Constitutional Republic. Basic information every voter should know, but 90% do not. I couldn't stomach trying to undo the damage of a socialized, and therefore impotent, public education system.

I'd prefer to be talking about my NAMM experience today, but bluntly none of that will matter once we re-elect Obama, or put Romney, Newt or, god forbid, Santorum in office. Any one of those goofballs will make being a self-employed musician an incomprehensibly difficult task, so it impacts me directly now more than it ever has.

by Thomas Bensberg, Weather Blognosticator

High of 47 with an overnight low of 27. There is also a chance that the sun will come out. Maybe... We'll see. I've always wanted to turn on the television and have the weather person just drone on about nothing for their entire segment. Just talk about nothing for their full three minutes. You should see this squirrel that sits outside our office in the morning. You can just tell someone feeds him cause he just sits there and gives you the "puppy dog" eyes hoping you'll give him a treat or something. I call him Ed. Ed the squirrel. I want to teach him to water ski which could prove difficult since I don't really don't how to water ski. I do know how to be pulled under water from holding onto the tow rope but skiing... not so much. More like crashing. I guess I'll have to hire some sort of professional to train the squirrel to water ski. I'm trying to remember if I turned the stove off before I left the house this morning. I hope so. It sure would suck to burn my house down. Speaking of burning things I gotta go. Big ups to the gmail spell check for keeping me straight on how to spell squirrel and water ski.

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In just about every election, particularly presidential elections, we voters are lead to believe that our choice is limited to this: "Which candidate's personal agenda will have enough side-effects to benefit me the most?"

That's no way to elect a president, folks. Look at our government. It's basically one big company based on profiteering. I like to call it FedGov, Inc. And everyone running for CEO (i.e. US President), including the incumbent, is nothing more than a Company Man. These Company Men come from and represent different departments in FedGov, Inc., and are so entrenched in the FedGov, Inc. Kool-Aid that they've learned the formula and mix their own batches.

Then they feed this Kool-Aid to their constituents, who of course drink it. Even though it tastes like crap and they know it's going to poison them, they're being told which poison will taste the least awful and do the relatively smaller amount of damage. That's basically what we're hearing when our candidates say, "this guy's policy is a mess, my policy will fix his policy even though it's not a good policy, because it's relatively better and will make a different mess that will feel better."

Every agenda is about new rules within a broken system, rules that appear to benefit the greatest number of voters in the short term. But do nothing except damage the remaining voters who oppose it, to the point that their frustration boils over, and we repeat the process to swing the other way. And we go back and forth, back and forth.

Imagine a football game that never goes past either team's respective 40 yard line. No touchdowns, no field goals, just occasional first downs, lots of penalties that offset, tons of injuries and everyone is from the fourth-string lineup. That's pretty much FedGov, Inc. today.

Again, this is a really, really stupid way to elect a president and run a government. And it's been done that way with FedGov, Inc. for as long as I've been voting, which was 1996.

This isn't a pretty picture, and it sure seems hopeless.

There is an exception to this rule, however, and there is one last hope. Because there is one guy running whose message is not about his personal agenda in a damaged system, but is about fixing the actual problems with the system itself.

We have an Inside Man at FedGov, Inc., and he has been working for us against them for many decades. This man has been the target of constant attacks from HIS OWN PARTY as well as, of course, the "opposing" party, and yet he has been consistent in his positions, and has never pandered or played politics. His message has clearly been that the government's sole function is to act for the benefit of people and their protections that are guaranteed in the constitution.

He brings us the truth, and he makes very, very accurate predictions. His positions are not merely theoretically right or philosophically sound; he is well educated, experienced, and incredibly intelligent.

He's been deemed "unelectable" despite having won 15 elections to the US Congress since 1974. He's been called racist, anti-choice, homophobic, and myriad other unfounded and fabricated labels assigned to him on both sides in a desperate attempt to stop his crusade against their political corruptness, greed and destructiveness. The countless lazy voters looking for a Big Brother handout have jumped on that bandwagon and perpetuated these myths.

But the facts don't lie. The Inside Man knows what happened to our economy, our freedoms, our government, and our catastrophic failures domestically and overseas, and he knew BEFORE they happened. TEN YEARS before they happened. This is official record of his predictions, coupled with confirmed news reports. Watch this video, and pay close attention to the date, right off the bat.

Be sure to watch it in FULL SCREEN mode so you can read the headlines.

Not one single prediction he makes in this speech fails to come true. This is a man who knows the system, sees things coming, and knows what needs to be done in order to prevent these things from happening. He is here, he is ready, and we are in desperate need of this man in office.

It blows my mind that so many people feel they are voting for the "lesser of two evils" as if they have no other choice, when this choice is right in front of their faces. When voters are told that their vote won't matter if they vote their conscious, then they inevitably elect an unconscionable candidate.

Bush Sr., Clinton, Bush 2, and Obama, have all been unconscionable choices. Every one of them have either had to sit in their own filth in office, or have set up a pile of filth under the guise of success and prosperity, the consequences of which did not come to fruition until he left office. Obama will continue to sit in his filth when he's re-elected; Gingrich would do the same. Romney would create a powder-keg of disaster that would bring temporary relief with much more drastic and permanent future consequences. (Santorum... I have no words on that guy. I believe in a higher power and I'm a spiritual person, but the notion of injecting personal religious morals into our government is noxious to me.)

But our Inside Man would be a truly, fundamentally different and effective, revolutionary choice. And if ever America has been in need of a revolution since 1776, that time is now. It has, in fact, been time since the mid-80's. Like all whistle-blowers, our Inside Man continues to be targeted, and FedGov, Inc. will stop at nothing to dissuade voters from casting a ballot to support him.

Yet despite the propaganda, he continues to fight. Regardless of the personal attacks (because no-one can effectively attack his real fiscal and foreign policies with anything other than unfounded rhetoric) and the damaging "unelectable" tag, he perseveres. This is a man who has said "to hell" with his personal gain, rejects any policies he doesn't believe in, refuses to drink the Kool-Aid, refuses to serve the Kool-Aid, and insists on truthfulness and openness in government.

Our government worked, and worked very well, until we unwittingly elected a King instead of a president in 1932. The King's illegal and immoral edicts funded the fledgling FedGov, Inc. and gave it nearly unlimited income and power. Unsurprisingly, this corruption begat more corruption, and here we are. Unsurprisingly, we all see it, and we think there's nothing we can do about it.

This is proven by the fact that more than 80% of us disapprove of the job congress is doing. Yet it doesn't change.

The fact is, it CAN change. Obama ran under the slogan "YES WE CAN" and look what it got us. Sure, we "could" have, but not with Utopian pie-in-the-sky plans like he had, and still has. Obama is a dreamer, and if we could all ride unicorns over the rainbow to fairyland and eat sparkles, then yeah, I suppose he's the man.

But for those of us here in Reality Land, there's only one guy who is ready, willing and able to do what is necessary, what is right, and what will work to restore our ability to master our own fates. There's one guy who is in this for We, The People, rather than to perpetuate his own career at FedGov, Inc. We have one guy, one Inside Man, the best, and possibly last, hope that we have for ourselves and our posterity.

Mallory Lennon will be performing as a new artist at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City UT. She will perform a 45 minute set on Friday 1/20/12 at the Bing Bar located in the Claim Jumper Hotel. This performance will be live streamed at facebook.com/bing at 4pm Mountain time on Friday.

RULE #1: You can pretty much accurately judge people by the way they treat their pets.

RULE #2: People who don't have pets are not to be trusted.

RULE #3: There's absolutely no good reason to call that beanbag game "cornhole."

RULE #4: It turns out, blondes actually DO have more fun.

RULE #5: You always have the rest of your life.

RULE #6: Lettuce is basically a big waste of time.

RULE #7: Everyone over the age of 30 has had his or her life turned upside-down at least once.

RULE #8: The best music has the worst distribution, but it also has the most sophisticated fans.

RULE #9: Listening to fat, sweaty potty-mouths laughing obnoxiously at their own stupid jokes on the radio is no way to start your day.

RULE #10: Nobody in Europe has ever heard of Grey Poupon. Dijon is just a city in France to them.

RULE #11: Sales forecasts are a funny little blend of optimism, desperation, and fiction.

RULE #12: When you get really pissed off, go ahead and write the email, but then delete it.

RULE #13: There's nothing unlucky about the number 13. Get over it.

RULE #14: In the end, we all have the same amount of luck.

RULE #15: No sane person ever admits to being a bigot. That's why bigotry exists.

RULE #16: The odds of any given event occurring are exactly 50%. Either it'll happen, or it won't.

RULE #17: The path to anyone's heart is through your own.

RULE #18: American Idol is the single most compelling example of why the electoral college is important.

RULE #19: Too few people understand the difference between an automatic and semi-automatic weapon.

RULE #20: Polls serve no purpose other than to fraudulently skew election results.

RULE #21: You don't have to give up your own beliefs in order to tolerate someone else's.

RULE #22: It turns out that pretty much everything can give you cancer, and also prevent you from getting it. The studies prove it.

RULE #23: It turns out that most "studies" are crap.

RULE #24: Believe it or not, the acceleration lane is for accelerating.

RULE #25: AC/DC saved us from disco.

RULE #26: Nirvana saved us from hair metal.

RULE #27: No-one who mocks Buddhism understands Buddhism.

RULE #28: Learn art history.

RULE #29: Find out why your "check engine" light is on and get it fixed. It's cheaper than a car.

RULE #30: No-one's cruise control is getting enough use these days. It's a surprisingly good stress reliever.

RULE #31: The Golden Rule is the most important rule in heavy traffic.

RULE #32: Harvey Keitel's only real objectives in his movies are to cry, and show us his penis.

RULE #33: The death penalty is the most perfect example of irony.

RULE #34: Punk rock brings needed balance.

RULE #35: What happens in Vegas, stays on the Internet.

RULE #36: Trusting your government to take care of you is like trusting your car to drive for you. Remember who's really calling the shots and suffers the consequences.

RULE #37: "Clerks," "Mallrats," and "Chasing Amy," right now, in that order. Go.

RULE #38: When roommates/coworkers/family members appear to have reached their maximum tolerance, give it one more push. You win. Submitted by Anonymous

RULE #39: Girls are scared of bugs. Boys like to kill things. Humanity reigns.

RULE #40: A cat can get his head stepped on 50 times, and still fail to grasp that stairs are a dumb place for a nap.

RULE #41: We should be able to fire the U.S. President as easily as NFL teams can fire a head coach.

RULE #42: Never challenge David McLean to anything. You will lose.

RULE #43: Rule #44 will be a true statement.

RULE #44: Rule #43 was a false statement. Take your time.

RULE #45: Musicians all need to help and look out for each other. Because no one else really will.

RULE #46: You can't really live each days as if it's your last. But you can live each day as if it matters.

RULE #47: Anything that isn't impossible has to happen eventually. Million-to-one shots are hit every day.

RULE #48: Always looking at the bright side is like looking at the sun. It's tempting, hard to do, and eventually you realize you're blind.

RULE #49: If you can't say something at all, don't brush with your mouth full of dirty looks when I'm talking to you.

RULE #50: Murphy's Law is no joke. That shit is real.

RULE #51: Billy Corgan. Willie Nelson. Bob Dylan. Janice Joplin. Kurt Cobain. You don't have to be a great singer to sing great. Sing away.

RULE #52: Sleep is the most important stupid thing in the world.

RULE #53: If two or more people are deciding where to eat, and all parties say "it doesn't matter to me," the first person to reject any suggestion is 1) a liar, and 2) now responsible for making the decision.

RULE #54: Decide who you are, and be that person. It really is that simple.

RULE #55: If you're part of the majority, you're probably part of the problem. Solutions are rarely popular.

RULE #56: People make decisions based on incentive. Figure out what someone's incentive really is, and you can predict his behavior.

RULE #57: If you elect a career politician, expect his or her politics to be focused on his or her career.

RULE #58: Just because something is inevitable or true, doesn't mean yo have to like it.

RULE #59: Self-worth, like any valuation, is always relative.

RULE #60: We need more pirate radio stations.

RULE #61: Be you.

RULE #62: It's okay to share a bed with a man of you are a) female, b) gay, or c) in a hotel room with the rest of your rock band.

RULE #63: In the end, you are your own best coach.

RULE #64: Take the shot.

RULE #65: If you aren't shocked when the candidate you voted for wins, you're an automaton drinking the Kool-Aid.

MOKRACY BLOG VISIT COUNT:

7920

PRIVACY NOTICE: The email field in the Comments box below is 1) optional, and 2) would never be shared with anyone, anyway. Also, if you post a comment, I automatically love you.

Little Wing

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:50:10 -0800

Sponsored by:

Jason Young

Allison Cubit

Today's Blog is Rated...

Welcome to the first edition of TWFMB written in an airport terminal. I am very, very ready to be home. I don't like travelling too much, and even on business trips the incidental costs of food and... well actually just food, since that's all I bought, are tremendously expensive. Oh yeah, and my share of taxi fares and the rental car.

Truth be told, I probably spent less on this entire trip than most people do in half a day, because I'm poor and also a have a tightwad streak in me (thanks dad! :) ). But for me, it's a lot of money to just be displaced in a different city for a few days like this. One day I will make more money at this job, dagnabbit. It would be nice to have more for my kids.

by Thomas Bensberg, Weather Blognosticator

High today of 54 and an overnight low of 34. Also a strong chance of a choking sound coming from the east and west coast today. Don't be alarmed if you hear it.

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We have been having a lot of really deep business discussions in SSG. It seems like we've all got the right mindset, and now the real objective will be to map a path to our lofty goals and have the chutzpah to execute on them. Because it's not going to be just a matter of rigid, mathematical actions. We're gonna have to be ballsy and take some pretty big risks to make these things happen.

That being said, none of us seem to have any sort of Plan B (see previous blog) and so it's like we have no choice; we've got to make this happen. So stay tuned to that project, because I have a feeling we could actually pull this off.

From an individual professional standpoint, I'm gonna have to make a lot of tough choices, re-evaluate my goals and objectives as a musician and make sure that my efforts are focused on that. Truthfully, I have felt very unfocused the last couple of months, adjusting to a major lifestyle change, a dip in business due mostly to the economy, trying to resuscitate both Mokracy and River Savage as live performance and songwriting projects, respectively.

So Dave, while I never posted my January goals, and it's kinda pointless to this late in the game, I should have a pretty good entry for February (whenever you get around to posting it, of course. Ya slacker...)

There's about an hour left until our flight departs to Louisville. I have decided that blogging in a terminal really SUCKS and these chairs are pretty uncomfortable. Maybe if I sneak a few more puffs off my electronic cigarette (it's harmless and technically there's no rule that says I can't use it here, but the TSA has never been particularly rational with permission or forgiving, so I've decided to avoid testing them if I can) then I might feel better. I think I broke some rule of etiquette in the length of parentheses content there, but... ah well.

Ahhh... such a nice, clean, cheap and unobtrusive way to deal with my nicotine addiction. It's boggling to me that anyone would object to it, but it certainly has been banned on the airplane itself (I checked.) It's no different from someone using an inhaler, if you ask me, but there's such a stigma against it that I guess- no. I really don't get it.

Anyway, I think I'm gonna find the people I'm traveling with and walk around. My butt's gone numb.

RULE #1: You can pretty much accurately judge people by the way they treat their pets.

RULE #2: People who don't have pets are not to be trusted.

RULE #3: There's absolutely no good reason to call that beanbag game "cornhole."

RULE #4: It turns out, blondes actually DO have more fun.

RULE #5: You always have the rest of your life.

RULE #6: Lettuce is basically a big waste of time.

RULE #7: Everyone over the age of 30 has had his or her life turned upside-down at least once.

RULE #8: The best music has the worst distribution, but it also has the most sophisticated fans.

RULE #9: Listening to fat, sweaty potty-mouths laughing obnoxiously at their own stupid jokes on the radio is no way to start your day.

RULE #10: Nobody in Europe has ever heard of Grey Poupon. Dijon is just a city in France to them.

RULE #11: Sales forecasts are a funny little blend of optimism, desperation, and fiction.

RULE #12: When you get really pissed off, go ahead and write the email, but then delete it.

RULE #13: There's nothing unlucky about the number 13. Get over it.

RULE #14: In the end, we all have the same amount of luck.

RULE #15: No sane person ever admits to being a bigot. That's why bigotry exists.

RULE #16: The odds of any given event occurring are exactly 50%. Either it'll happen, or it won't.

RULE #17: The path to anyone's heart is through your own.

RULE #18: American Idol is the single most compelling example of why the electoral college is important.

RULE #19: Too few people understand the difference between an automatic and semi-automatic weapon.

RULE #20: Polls serve no purpose other than to fraudulently skew election results.

RULE #21: You don't have to give up your own beliefs in order to tolerate someone else's.

RULE #22: It turns out that pretty much everything can give you cancer, and also prevent you from getting it. The studies prove it.

RULE #23: It turns out that most "studies" are crap.

RULE #24: Believe it or not, the acceleration lane is for accelerating.

RULE #25: AC/DC saved us from disco.

RULE #26: Nirvana saved us from hair metal.

RULE #27: No-one who mocks Buddhism understands Buddhism.

RULE #28: Learn art history.

RULE #29: Find out why your "check engine" light is on and get it fixed. It's cheaper than a car.

RULE #30: No-one's cruise control is getting enough use these days. It's a surprisingly good stress reliever.

RULE #31: The Golden Rule is the most important rule in heavy traffic.

RULE #32: Harvey Keitel's only real objectives in his movies are to cry, and show us his penis.

RULE #33: The death penalty is the most perfect example of irony.

RULE #34: Punk rock brings needed balance.

RULE #35: What happens in Vegas, stays on the Internet.

RULE #36: Trusting your government to take care of you is like trusting your car to drive for you. Remember who's really calling the shots and suffers the consequences.

RULE #37: "Clerks," "Mallrats," and "Chasing Amy," right now, in that order. Go.

RULE #38: When roommates/coworkers/family members appear to have reached their maximum tolerance, give it one more push. You win. Submitted by Anonymous

RULE #39: Girls are scared of bugs. Boys like to kill things. Humanity reigns.

RULE #40: A cat can get his head stepped on 50 times, and still fail to grasp that stairs are a dumb place for a nap.

RULE #41: We should be able to fire the U.S. President as easily as NFL teams can fire a head coach.

RULE #42: Never challenge David McLean to anything. You will lose.

RULE #43: Rule #44 will be a true statement.

RULE #44: Rule #43 was a false statement. Take your time.

RULE #45: Musicians all need to help and look out for each other. Because no one else really will.

RULE #46: You can't really live each days as if it's your last. But you can live each day as if it matters.

RULE #47: Anything that isn't impossible has to happen eventually. Million-to-one shots are hit every day.

RULE #48: Always looking at the bright side is like looking at the sun. It's tempting, hard to do, and eventually you realize you're blind.

RULE #49: If you can't say something at all, don't brush with your mouth full of dirty looks when I'm talking to you.

RULE #50: Murphy's Law is no joke. That shit is real.

RULE #51: Billy Corgan. Willie Nelson. Bob Dylan. Janice Joplin. Kurt Cobain. You don't have to be a great singer to sing great. Sing away.

RULE #52: Sleep is the most important stupid thing in the world.

RULE #53: If two or more people are deciding where to eat, and all parties say "it doesn't matter to me," the first person to reject any suggestion is 1) a liar, and 2) now responsible for making the decision.

RULE #54: Decide who you are, and be that person. It really is that simple.

RULE #55: If you're part of the majority, you're probably part of the problem. Solutions are rarely popular.

RULE #56: People make decisions based on incentive. Figure out what someone's incentive really is, and you can predict his behavior.

RULE #57: If you elect a career politician, expect his or her politics to be focused on his or her career.

RULE #58: Just because something is inevitable or true, doesn't mean yo have to like it.

RULE #59: Self-worth, like any valuation, is always relative.

RULE #60: We need more pirate radio stations.

RULE #61: Be you.

RULE #62: It's okay to share a bed with a man of you are a) female, b) gay, or c) in a hotel room with the rest of your rock band.

RULE #63: In the end, you are your own best coach.

RULE #64: Take the shot.

Heh heh heh... "stupid truck frosty..."

MOKRACY BLOG VISIT COUNT:

7905

PRIVACY NOTICE: The email field in the Comments box below is 1) optional, and 2) would never be shared with anyone, anyway. Also, if you post a comment, I automatically love you.

Taste, but don't swallow!

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 10:56:35 -0800

Sponsored by:

Jason Young

Allison Cubit

Today's Blog is Rated...

Yeah, I've done a pretty piss-poor job of maintaining the blog during this trip. Jetlag, sleep deprivation, busy schedules and lots of bad time management conspired to make it a lot more difficult than I thought.

Today is sight-seeing day for the SSG clan, so I think we might stop by the convention for a moment to say goodbye to some people, but no more heavy networking and meet-n-greets with the thousands of manufacturers who are here.

Last night we had an absolutely incredible and rare experience with Joe Carducci of Gretsch Guitars. That really deserves its own segment.

Boy, did I get an education here at the NAMM convention. In many, many ways, but none moreso than the private tour of the history of Fender Guitars in Fullerton, CA, hosted by the aforementioned Joe Carducci.

I always knew Joe was a really interesting and colorful guy. Within moments of my first meeting him, it was obvious to me why he is where he is and does what he does. I've never met a more passionate, knowledgeable, and genuine man in the industry. Considering his level of importance in the industry, the fact that you always know you have his undivided attention and sincere interest is a testament to his professionalism and just all-around awesomeness.

Following the convention hours each day, there are live bands in the hotel lobbies in the adjacent Marriott and Hilton. It's a wide variety of genres, talent, age and skill, and it's jam packed from wall-to-wall. After these after-parties last night, we were invited by Joe and Olive Anne Fuchs to be escorted through a "Leo Fender Tour" of the Fullerton area where Fender was born.

The first thing I learned was a history of Joe's affiliation with the company, which began in 1973. He worked as an inspector of the instruments during the CBS years and I got a very deep, firsthand look at why the quality issues notorious in that era existed. Unsurprisingly the result of corporate greed-driven efficiency and productivity demands, it was telling to get an account from the position of a dedicated guitar player like Joe.

Joe worked side-by-side with the architects of the first electric guitars, the actual people who developed the Fender Stratocaster. We were treated not only to stories of his interactions and observations there, but he also drove us to the actual buildings themselves. The first was a small strip mall where the production of the electric lap steel guitars began, then the move to the K&F building that's now a parking structure. (It does, however, bear a plaque identifying the landmark, as well as a beautiful mural painted by a local high school art department.)

And then, we went to 500 South Raymond, the first home of the Fender Musical Instrument Company, the name it bears to this day. It opened in 1954 which, for the other aficionados out there, is the birth year of the Stratocaster. Today it's a really dingy dive bar called "Jimmie's" but we got there just in time for last call. Joe was able to show us the door that led to his bench where he worked. Today it's a sink filled with dirty dishes.

But it was amazing to stand in the place where such a pivotal piece of music history had its beginning. I own two Stratocasters myself, and I think my appreciation level for them will be higher than ever now. Joe then took us to G&L guitars, which is still in operation, and is the place that Leo Fender started his guitar manufacturing business on the day his non-compete agreement with CBS ended. It was closed, but we could peek in the windows between the blinds to soo inside.

From there we looked at the first house Joe bought when he was 19 years old, and then he introduced us to Tommy's Burgers, which is open 24 hours a day and serves a chili-laden greaseburger that is fantastic. Joe told us that he went there to eat after nearly every gig he played in the area, and to prove it he treated us all to our own burger. And we totally understood why he loved the place.

All of us in SSG are overwhelmingly grateful to Joe for taking the time and attention to us, showing us an amazing history and being a gracious host and fascinating tour guide. We love our relationship with Gretsch and look forward to it continuing for years to come.

Here's to you, Joe!

Joe Paterno has died at the age of 85. That's the end of a great American legacy, and the outpouring of condolences from people all across the world is testament to that fact. He embodied what it means to be a coach and a mentor.

I have seen a few ignoramuses on Facebook cheering his death and proclaiming him to be hell bound with the rest of the child molesters. It's amazing to me that such an outrageous position could be accompanied by such stunning ignorance, but I guess it really shouldn't surprise me anymore.

(For those of you living under a rock, Joe did NOT molest anyone, was never accused of molesting anyone ever, and had been accused of nothing more than insufficient action based on the alleged acts of someone in his employ, a billion years ago.)

History is rife with great men suffering the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, and this is another page in that great book. God bless him, and may he rest in peace.

RULE #1: You can pretty much accurately judge people by the way they treat their pets.

RULE #2: People who don't have pets are not to be trusted.

RULE #3: There's absolutely no good reason to call that beanbag game "cornhole."

RULE #4: It turns out, blondes actually DO have more fun.

RULE #5: You always have the rest of your life.

RULE #6: Lettuce is basically a big waste of time.

RULE #7: Everyone over the age of 30 has had his or her life turned upside-down at least once.

RULE #8: The best music has the worst distribution, but it also has the most sophisticated fans.

RULE #9: Listening to fat, sweaty potty-mouths laughing obnoxiously at their own stupid jokes on the radio is no way to start your day.

RULE #10: Nobody in Europe has ever heard of Grey Poupon. Dijon is just a city in France to them.

RULE #11: Sales forecasts are a funny little blend of optimism, desperation, and fiction.

RULE #12: When you get really pissed off, go ahead and write the email, but then delete it.

RULE #13: There's nothing unlucky about the number 13. Get over it.

RULE #14: In the end, we all have the same amount of luck.

RULE #15: No sane person ever admits to being a bigot. That's why bigotry exists.

RULE #16: The odds of any given event occurring are exactly 50%. Either it'll happen, or it won't.

RULE #17: The path to anyone's heart is through your own.

RULE #18: American Idol is the single most compelling example of why the electoral college is important.

RULE #19: Too few people understand the difference between an automatic and semi-automatic weapon.

RULE #20: Polls serve no purpose other than to fraudulently skew election results.

RULE #21: You don't have to give up your own beliefs in order to tolerate someone else's.

RULE #22: It turns out that pretty much everything can give you cancer, and also prevent you from getting it. The studies prove it.

RULE #23: It turns out that most "studies" are crap.

RULE #24: Believe it or not, the acceleration lane is for accelerating.

RULE #25: AC/DC saved us from disco.

RULE #26: Nirvana saved us from hair metal.

RULE #27: No-one who mocks Buddhism understands Buddhism.

RULE #28: Learn art history.

RULE #29: Find out why your "check engine" light is on and get it fixed. It's cheaper than a car.

RULE #30: No-one's cruise control is getting enough use these days. It's a surprisingly good stress reliever.

RULE #31: The Golden Rule is the most important rule in heavy traffic.

RULE #32: Harvey Keitel's only real objectives in his movies are to cry, and show us his penis.

RULE #33: The death penalty is the most perfect example of irony.

RULE #34: Punk rock brings needed balance.

RULE #35: What happens in Vegas, stays on the Internet.

RULE #36: Trusting your government to take care of you is like trusting your car to drive for you. Remember who's really calling the shots and suffers the consequences.

RULE #37: "Clerks," "Mallrats," and "Chasing Amy," right now, in that order. Go.

RULE #38: When roommates/coworkers/family members appear to have reached their maximum tolerance, give it one more push. You win. Submitted by Anonymous

RULE #39: Girls are scared of bugs. Boys like to kill things. Humanity reigns.

RULE #40: A cat can get his head stepped on 50 times, and still fail to grasp that stairs are a dumb place for a nap.

RULE #41: We should be able to fire the U.S. President as easily as NFL teams can fire a head coach.

RULE #42: Never challenge David McLean to anything. You will lose.

RULE #43: Rule #44 will be a true statement.

RULE #44: Rule #43 was a false statement. Take your time.

RULE #45: Musicians all need to help and look out for each other. Because no one else really will.

RULE #46: You can't really live each days as if it's your last. But you can live each day as if it matters.

RULE #47: Anything that isn't impossible has to happen eventually. Million-to-one shots are hit every day.

RULE #48: Always looking at the bright side is like looking at the sun. It's tempting, hard to do, and eventually you realize you're blind.

RULE #49: If you can't say something at all, don't brush with your mouth full of dirty looks when I'm talking to you.

RULE #50: Murphy's Law is no joke. That shit is real.

RULE #51: Billy Corgan. Willie Nelson. Bob Dylan. Janice Joplin. Kurt Cobain. You don't have to be a great singer to sing great. Sing away.

RULE #52: Sleep is the most important stupid thing in the world.

RULE #53: If two or more people are deciding where to eat, and all parties say "it doesn't matter to me," the first person to reject any suggestion is 1) a liar, and 2) now responsible for making the decision.

RULE #54: Decide who you are, and be that person. It really is that simple.

RULE #55: If you're part of the majority, you're probably part of the problem. Solutions are rarely popular.

RULE #56: People make decisions based on incentive. Figure out what someone's incentive really is, and you can predict his behavior.

RULE #57: If you elect a career politician, expect his or her politics to be focused on his or her career.

RULE #58: Just because something is inevitable or true, doesn't mean yo have to like it.

RULE #59: Self-worth, like any valuation, is always relative.

RULE #60: We need more pirate radio stations.

RULE #61: Be you.

RULE #62: It's okay to share a bed with a man of you are a) female, b) gay, or c) in a hotel room with the rest of your rock band.

RULE #63: In the end, you are your own best coach.

Alright, we're off to see the Wizard.

MOKRACY BLOG VISIT COUNT:

7861

PRIVACY NOTICE: The email field in the Comments box below is 1) optional, and 2) would never be shared with anyone, anyway. Also, if you post a comment, I automatically love you.

Touch, but don't taste.

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 09:31:32 -0800

Sponsored by:

Jason Young

Allison Cubit

Today's Blog is Rated...

Well here we are, in Anaheim, CA for the 2012 NAMM convention. We left Lexington at 2:30 PM, got to Louisville, took off at 5:35. And of course we were the last ones on the plane, running to beat the door. And of course I'd left my boarding pass and our baggage claim tickets at the bar.

But they just printed me up a new one at the gate, and we went on our merry way to our layover in Vegas. I had these grandiose plans about hitting a few four-of-a-kind video poker hands in the terminal during our 45 minute stay, but apparently there was some confusion about the parking space for our airplane. So we ended up with only 12 minutes and got to walk past a lot of machines, but I didn't get to play.

I think I may "accidentally" miss my connecting flight on the way back.

Anyway, the flight from Louisville to Vegas took FOREVER, and since we were last on and it's open seating on Southwest, I ended up sandwiched between two strangers. The guy snuggled up to my left was a recluse, I think his boyfriend was sitting across the aisle from him, and he just watched movies the whole time.

The guy snuggled up to my right seemed a tad anxious, but I decided to just read my book, relax, listen to my iPod, and chill through the flight. As I was reading and jamming away, I kept glancing over to my right and noticed the gentleman didn't have a book or an iPod, or anything, and he wasn't sleeping. I really wasn't in the mood to converse, because I really hate flying and try to act like I'm not scared out of my mind the whole time.

But I felt bad, the guy looked bored and lonely, so I took off my headphones and we struck of a conversation. He actually turned out to be a wildly interesting fella with an extremely checkered and colorful past. Eventually, I learned that he had cancer in his liver, spreading to his kidneys, and that is had stemmed from a hepatitis C infection. He would be on chemo for the rest of his life.

I took it in stride, and he was actually totally cool. We had a really long, deep philosophical conversation about life, kids, family, music, work... heck, we ran the full gamut of subjects. I was kind of sorry to part ways with him when we finally touched down, but I gave him my card and perhaps he'll keep in touch. I honestly don't think I ever got his name. (Not that I would've remembered, since I suck at names.)

The connection from Vegas to Orange County was a hiccup by comparison. Met some guy who was there for a conference, but he snoozed, I read, we landed, and hopped into a cab to the hotel. We unloaded and walked around the block to meet Olivia Anne, but we missed her by about 30 seconds. We did, however, run into Kimberly Cantrell, who was kind enough to offer us a ride home. Rock stars hate walking.

It's colder here than I was hoping, need jackets and stuff, won't break 70 while we're here. But it's better than the shit weather in Lexington.

Weather Widgetgreat free widgetsWidgetboxMore info

Well, gonna have to wrap this up quick, we're getting ready to hop the shuttle to the convention center. I'll try to upload some pictures of Matt Ballenger getting ready. That's ALWAYS entertaining.

RULE #1: You can pretty much accurately judge people by the way they treat their pets.

RULE #2: People who don't have pets are not to be trusted.

RULE #3: There's absolutely no good reason to call that beanbag game "cornhole."

RULE #4: It turns out, blondes actually DO have more fun.

RULE #5: You always have the rest of your life.

RULE #6: Lettuce is basically a big waste of time.

RULE #7: Everyone over the age of 30 has had his or her life turned upside-down at least once.

RULE #8: The best music has the worst distribution, but it also has the most sophisticated fans.

RULE #9: Listening to fat, sweaty potty-mouths laughing obnoxiously at their own stupid jokes on the radio is no way to start your day.

RULE #10: Nobody in Europe has ever heard of Grey Poupon. Dijon is just a city in France to them.

RULE #11: Sales forecasts are a funny little blend of optimism, desperation, and fiction.

RULE #12: When you get really pissed off, go ahead and write the email, but then delete it.

RULE #13: There's nothing unlucky about the number 13. Get over it.

RULE #14: In the end, we all have the same amount of luck.

RULE #15: No sane person ever admits to being a bigot. That's why bigotry exists.

RULE #16: The odds of any given event occurring are exactly 50%. Either it'll happen, or it won't.

RULE #17: The path to anyone's heart is through your own.

RULE #18: American Idol is the single most compelling example of why the electoral college is important.

RULE #19: Too few people understand the difference between an automatic and semi-automatic weapon.

RULE #20: Polls serve no purpose other than to fraudulently skew election results.

RULE #21: You don't have to give up your own beliefs in order to tolerate someone else's.

RULE #22: It turns out that pretty much everything can give you cancer, and also prevent you from getting it. The studies prove it.

RULE #23: It turns out that most "studies" are crap.

RULE #24: Believe it or not, the acceleration lane is for accelerating.

RULE #25: AC/DC saved us from disco.

RULE #26: Nirvana saved us from hair metal.

RULE #27: No-one who mocks Buddhism understands Buddhism.

RULE #28: Learn art history.

RULE #29: Find out why your "check engine" light is on and get it fixed. It's cheaper than a car.

RULE #30: No-one's cruise control is getting enough use these days. It's a surprisingly good stress reliever.

RULE #31: The Golden Rule is the most important rule in heavy traffic.

RULE #32: Harvey Keitel's only real objectives in his movies are to cry, and show us his penis.

RULE #33: The death penalty is the most perfect example of irony.

RULE #34: Punk rock brings needed balance.

RULE #35: What happens in Vegas, stays on the Internet.

RULE #36: Trusting your government to take care of you is like trusting your car to drive for you. Remember who's really calling the shots and suffers the consequences.

RULE #37: "Clerks," "Mallrats," and "Chasing Amy," right now, in that order. Go.

RULE #38: When roommates/coworkers/family members appear to have reached their maximum tolerance, give it one more push. You win. Submitted by Anonymous

RULE #39: Girls are scared of bugs. Boys like to kill things. Humanity reigns.

RULE #40: A cat can get his head stepped on 50 times, and still fail to grasp that stairs are a dumb place for a nap.

RULE #41: We should be able to fire the U.S. President as easily as NFL teams can fire a head coach.

RULE #42: Never challenge David McLean to anything. You will lose.

RULE #43: Rule #44 will be a true statement.

RULE #44: Rule #43 was a false statement. Take your time.

RULE #45: Musicians all need to help and look out for each other. Because no one else really will.

RULE #46: You can't really live each days as if it's your last. But you can live each day as if it matters.

RULE #47: Anything that isn't impossible has to happen eventually. Million-to-one shots are hit every day.

RULE #48: Always looking at the bright side is like looking at the sun. It's tempting, hard to do, and eventually you realize you're blind.

RULE #49: If you can't say something at all, don't brush with your mouth full of dirty looks when I'm talking to you.

RULE #50: Murphy's Law is no joke. That shit is real.

RULE #51: Billy Corgan. Willie Nelson. Bob Dylan. Janice Joplin. Kurt Cobain. You don't have to be a great singer to sing great. Sing away.

RULE #52: Sleep is the most important stupid thing in the world.

RULE #53: If two or more people are deciding where to eat, and all parties say "it doesn't matter to me," the first person to reject any suggestion is 1) a liar, and 2) now responsible for making the decision.

RULE #54: Decide who you are, and be that person. It really is that simple.

RULE #55: If you're part of the majority, you're probably part of the problem. Solutions are rarely popular.

RULE #56: People make decisions based on incentive. Figure out what someone's incentive really is, and you can predict his behavior.

RULE #57: If you elect a career politician, expect his or her politics to be focused on his or her career.

RULE #58: Just because something is inevitable or true, doesn't mean yo have to like it.

RULE #59: Self-worth, like any valuation, is always relative.

RULE #60: We need more pirate radio stations.

RULE #61: Be you.

RULE #62: It's okay to share a bed with a man of you are a) female, b) gay, or c) in a hotel room with the rest of your rock band.

Congressman Ben Chandler ky06ima@mail.house.gov
1:20 PM (19 hours ago)

to me
Thank you for taking the time to contact me. Serving my constituents is important to me, and I appreciate and encourage your participation in the legislative process.

Due to the large number of emails I receive, it is difficult to respond immediately to each one. Please accept this response as an acknowledgement that I have received your message and your comments have been noted and taken into account when I make legislative decisions. My office will make every effort to respond to specific requests in a timely manner.

If your inquiry needs immediate attention, please contact one of my offices by phone. If it involves a visit to Washington DC, please contact my DC office at 202-225-4706. If it involves assistance with a federal agency, please contact my Lexington office at 859-219-1366. Additional contact information, details about what I am doing in Congress, and press releases are available on my website, www.chandler.house.gov. You may explore the extensive legislative information provided by the Library of Congress at http://thomas.loc.gov/.

Again, thank you for contacting me, and I hope that you will continue to share your concerns on issues of importance to you and your family.

And to think I voted FOR McConnell and AGAINST Chandler in the last elections. I gotta have my head examined. Time to reevaluate. I think McConnell might be dogshit.

...NAME THAT ROCKSTAR!!!

MOKRACY BLOG VISIT COUNT:

7788

PRIVACY NOTICE: The email field in the Comments box below is 1) optional, and 2) would never be shared with anyone, anyway. Also, if you post a comment, I automatically love you.

Look, but don't touch.

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 07:47:34 -0800

Sponsored by:

Jason Young

Allison Cubit

Today's Blog is Rated...

This is some seriously screwed up weather, y'all. I could go on, but I guess that's Thomas' job. And I'm kinda down in the dumps today, anyway.

by Thomas Bensberg, Weather Blognosticator

High of 56 and an overnight low of 23 and more red bolts shooting out of the sky today. Talk about some weird weather.

Weather Widgetgreat free widgetsWidgetboxMore info

12-18-2012

Okay, this is blog Day 2, because above is as far as I got in Day 1. Now Thomas' forecast is all irrelevant and old news and stuff. My bad. Lets kick it off with some laughs.

This video pretty much says it all:

This strikes hard at a guy like me, because I am on Plan A right now, right this very moment, and I have been on my Plan A since October 10th, 2008. That was the day I walked out of my job at a Fortune 500 company that I'd been at for ten years, and I've never looked back since.

And please, don't mistake that for a statement of pride. It's not that I'm not proud of who I am and what I do, because I am. But I say this as a statement more of self-acknowledgement. The reason I am who I am and do what I do is because I choose to do it.

There was a time when I found a job and proceeded to mold myself into it, to let myself become the job. Because it paid well. There were medical benefits. And people "accepted" me because I was doing what was expected.

I don't do that anymore. That day, I found myself, and I created a job for myself that IS me.

But I know exactly where Tonya is coming from on this. It's not uncommon for me to look back and be amazed at how many hours I've worked in a month, and how much money I didn't make. There really are no days off for me. There are times when I realize I literally have performed work in music for 90 days non-stop, between teaching, gigging, writing, recording, etc.

It isn't easy, the hours are long and the money sucks. In fact, this is the hardest I've ever worked, the most scared I've ever been, and the most uncertain I've been about my future. The bizarre thing is that I've never been happier, or more sure about my role in the world.

Yeah, I could go out and get that second job, deliver pizzas or whatnot. But something inside me has always stopped me from doing that. Part of it was because that would be "easy" and I'm used to working hard at things that matter. But the other part wasn't clear until Tonya said it above: Some part of me knew that if I did that, I would lose focus. And I love my focus. I live and die by my focus.

People so often forget that death is inevitable. All their focus, all their worry is aimed at avoiding something that cannot be avoided. But those who accept their own mortality are more like to, say... I dunno... eat raw meat. (DAVE.)

Life isn't about just staying alive as long as you can. Not to me, anyway. To me, it's about doing everything you possibly can, realizing that even though you never know how much time you have, you know it won't be enough to do everything you want.

So you better move your ass. You better get up, go out there, and do everything you possibly can that fulfills you and makes the world around you bigger and better.

Check out David McLean's Blog, Skinny Devil Universe. He's making me post my January Lifestyle Challenge goals and whatnot. But hey, at least Tonya Kay is cool. Anyway, be sure to check back at his blog until you see my post.

RULE #1: You can pretty much accurately judge people by the way they treat their pets.

RULE #2: People who don't have pets are not to be trusted.

RULE #3: There's absolutely no good reason to call that beanbag game "cornhole."

RULE #4: It turns out, blondes actually DO have more fun.

RULE #5: You always have the rest of your life.

RULE #6: Lettuce is basically a big waste of time.

RULE #7: Everyone over the age of 30 has had his or her life turned upside-down at least once.

RULE #8: The best music has the worst distribution, but it also has the most sophisticated fans.

RULE #9: Listening to fat, sweaty potty-mouths laughing obnoxiously at their own stupid jokes on the radio is no way to start your day.

RULE #10: Nobody in Europe has ever heard of Grey Poupon. Dijon is just a city in France to them.

RULE #11: Sales forecasts are a funny little blend of optimism, desperation, and fiction.

RULE #12: When you get really pissed off, go ahead and write the email, but then delete it.

RULE #13: There's nothing unlucky about the number 13. Get over it.

RULE #14: In the end, we all have the same amount of luck.

RULE #15: No sane person ever admits to being a bigot. That's why bigotry exists.

RULE #16: The odds of any given event occurring are exactly 50%. Either it'll happen, or it won't.

RULE #17: The path to anyone's heart is through your own.

RULE #18: American Idol is the single most compelling example of why the electoral college is important.

RULE #19: Too few people understand the difference between an automatic and semi-automatic weapon.

RULE #20: Polls serve no purpose other than to fraudulently skew election results.

RULE #21: You don't have to give up your own beliefs in order to tolerate someone else's.

RULE #22: It turns out that pretty much everything can give you cancer, and also prevent you from getting it. The studies prove it.

RULE #23: It turns out that most "studies" are crap.

RULE #24: Believe it or not, the acceleration lane is for accelerating.

RULE #25: AC/DC saved us from disco.

RULE #26: Nirvana saved us from hair metal.

RULE #27: No-one who mocks Buddhism understands Buddhism.

RULE #28: Learn art history.

RULE #29: Find out why your "check engine" light is on and get it fixed. It's cheaper than a car.

RULE #30: No-one's cruise control is getting enough use these days. It's a surprisingly good stress reliever.

RULE #31: The Golden Rule is the most important rule in heavy traffic.

RULE #32: Harvey Keitel's only real objectives in his movies are to cry, and show us his penis.

RULE #33: The death penalty is the most perfect example of irony.

RULE #34: Punk rock brings needed balance.

RULE #35: What happens in Vegas, stays on the Internet.

RULE #36: Trusting your government to take care of you is like trusting your car to drive for you. Remember who's really calling the shots and suffers the consequences.

RULE #37: "Clerks," "Mallrats," and "Chasing Amy," right now, in that order. Go.

RULE #38: When roommates/coworkers/family members appear to have reached their maximum tolerance, give it one more push. You win. Submitted by Anonymous

RULE #39: Girls are scared of bugs. Boys like to kill things. Humanity reigns.

RULE #40: A cat can get his head stepped on 50 times, and still fail to grasp that stairs are a dumb place for a nap.

RULE #41: We should be able to fire the U.S. President as easily as NFL teams can fire a head coach.

RULE #42: Never challenge David McLean to anything. You will lose.

RULE #43: Rule #44 will be a true statement.

RULE #44: Rule #43 was a false statement. Take your time.

RULE #45: Musicians all need to help and look out for each other. Because no one else really will.

RULE #46: You can't really live each days as if it's your last. But you can live each day as if it matters.

RULE #47: Anything that isn't impossible has to happen eventually. Million-to-one shots are hit every day.

RULE #48: Always looking at the bright side is like looking at the sun. It's tempting, hard to do, and eventually you realize you're blind.

RULE #49: If you can't say something at all, don't brush with your mouth full of dirty looks when I'm talking to you.

RULE #50: Murphy's Law is no joke. That shit is real.

RULE #51: Billy Corgan. Willie Nelson. Bob Dylan. Janice Joplin. Kurt Cobain. You don't have to be a great singer to sing great. Sing away.

RULE #52: Sleep is the most important stupid thing in the world.

RULE #53: If two or more people are deciding where to eat, and all parties say "it doesn't matter to me," the first person to reject any suggestion is 1) a liar, and 2) now responsible for making the decision.

RULE #54: Decide who you are, and be that person. It really is that simple.

RULE #55: If you're part of the majority, you're probably part of the problem. Solutions are rarely popular.

RULE #56: People make decisions based on incentive. Figure out what someone's incentive really is, and you can predict his behavior.

RULE #57: If you elect a career politician, expect his or her politics to be focused on his or her career.

RULE #58: Just because something is inevitable or true, doesn't mean yo have to like it.

RULE #59: Self-worth, like any valuation, is always relative.

RULE #60: We need more pirate radio stations.

RULE #61: Be you.

NAMM starts tomorrow in Anaheim, CA. From their website:

NAMM, the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM), commonly called NAMM in reference to the organization's popular NAMM trade shows, is the not-for-profit association that unifies, leads and strengthens the $17 billion global music products industry. Our association—and our trade shows—serve as a hub for people wanting to seek out the newest innovations in musical products, recording technology, sound and lighting. NAMM's activities and programs are designed to promote music making to people of all ages.

I'm leaving from Louisville Airport here in a few hours to head out there with Steve Sizemore and Matt Ballenger of SSG, looking forward to a productive and educational week. This is a huge, invitation-only event, and we are honored to have been asked by Gretsch Guitars to attend as featured artists.

My plan is to blog from the road, probably including Saturday and Sunday editions. I've never been to this event before, nor have I been to California for that matter, so I really have no idea what to expect. So I can't make any promises, of course, but I will do what I can. This is my first road trip with the band where I will have my own laptop with me, containing all my blog templates and files, plus a smartphone, all of which will make productivity far more likely.

Plus, we're not scheduled to play any shows (although we will surely be doing impromptu performances) so I don't have to worry about a gig schedule or late-night fan appreciation events (damn, that is an excellent disguise term for what really goes on) and should be able to keep up with things better.

"Should" being the operative word, there.

To be frank, while I've read quite a bit about it over the last 48 hours, I am not educated enough on this to express my opinion coherently. Click the STOP SOPA image to read from someone who is. What I can tell from my research is that this legislation grants far too much federal power, and is another step toward a police state.

We can't have this, and it must be stopped. Stealing intellectual property is bad. Undermining fundamental freedoms and liberties is way, WAY worse. We have to address the former without sacrificing the latter, plain and simple.

MOKRACY BLOG VISIT COUNT:

7732

PRIVACY NOTICE: The email field in the Comments box below is 1) optional, and 2) would never be shared with anyone, anyway. Also, if you post a comment, I automatically love you.

It's a Free For All!!

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 07:52:32 -0800

Sponsored by:

Jason Young

Allison Cubit

Today's Blog is Rated...

This morning the blog is coming to you from the Good Foods Co-op on Southland Dr., here in Lexington. It's probably the best option for me, mostly due to its location right down the street from where I live. I can walk here when the weather is nice. It's kinda of a happy medium between Starbucks and Common Grounds. Although closer in likeness to Common Grounds. Lots of hippies here. My kinda people.

There is one thing; the coffee here is all fair-trade, which is good, but it seems to be some sort of "organic" blend or something. I don't know what that means, except that the coffee ain't that great. It's like coffee that's trying too hard. And they don't have Splenda; just the natural brown sugar chunky stuff. And sea salt, but I don't think that would taste too great.

The search may continue, after all. Or I may develop a taste for bark-flavored coffee. Who knows?

by Thomas Bensberg, Weather Blognosticator

To continue with the see-saw weather pattern we've been seeing for the last few months today's high will be in the 40's and the low will be in the, drum roll please, 40's. I feel like I'm not getting my money's worth out of this weather. I think it's time President Obama did something about it don't you?

Weather Widgetgreat free widgetsWidgetboxMore info

I can't begin to express how thrilled I am at the Giants upsetting the Packers last night. My girlfriend's dog may never look at me the same, but I was celebrating for like an hour. If my Jags can't win, at least I can root for a Manning. Love the Manning family.

Now if (when) the Patriots beat the Ravens, and the Giants can beat the 49ers, we'll have a Superbowl 2008 rematch on our hands. The betting line would still favor those robots from New England, but you know I'd still be pulling for New York to prove that the first upset was no fluke. They're a damned good team with one helluva QB, and the Jaguars former coach.

The Cats here at UK are looking real nice this year, but man our schedule looks easy. I really feel like we ought to be beating teams by 10 on a regular basis, the SEC is weak, we don't play another ranked team until February 17th against #19 Florida. And the Gators simply don't have the depth they enjoyed the first 10 years of this century, should be a a good win.

A three point win against Tennessee? Unacceptable. Cal needs to light a fire under these boys' asses. They've all got NBA stars in their eyes and they're losing focus. I mean it could be worse, we could be Louisville...

RULE #1: You can pretty much accurately judge people by the way they treat their pets.

RULE #2: People who don't have pets are not to be trusted.

RULE #3: There's absolutely no good reason to call that beanbag game "cornhole."

RULE #4: It turns out, blondes actually DO have more fun.

RULE #5: You always have the rest of your life.

RULE #6: Lettuce is basically a big waste of time.

RULE #7: Everyone over the age of 30 has had his or her life turned upside-down at least once.

RULE #8: The best music has the worst distribution, but it also has the most sophisticated fans.

RULE #9: Listening to fat, sweaty potty-mouths laughing obnoxiously at their own stupid jokes on the radio is no way to start your day.

RULE #10: Nobody in Europe has ever heard of Grey Poupon. Dijon is just a city in France to them.

RULE #11: Sales forecasts are a funny little blend of optimism, desperation, and fiction.

RULE #12: When you get really pissed off, go ahead and write the email, but then delete it.

RULE #13: There's nothing unlucky about the number 13. Get over it.

RULE #14: In the end, we all have the same amount of luck.

RULE #15: No sane person ever admits to being a bigot. That's why bigotry exists.

RULE #16: The odds of any given event occurring are exactly 50%. Either it'll happen, or it won't.

RULE #17: The path to anyone's heart is through your own.

RULE #18: American Idol is the single most compelling example of why the electoral college is important.

RULE #19: Too few people understand the difference between an automatic and semi-automatic weapon.

RULE #20: Polls serve no purpose other than to fraudulently skew election results.

RULE #21: You don't have to give up your own beliefs in order to tolerate someone else's.

RULE #22: It turns out that pretty much everything can give you cancer, and also prevent you from getting it. The studies prove it.

RULE #23: It turns out that most "studies" are crap.

RULE #24: Believe it or not, the acceleration lane is for accelerating.

RULE #25: AC/DC saved us from disco.

RULE #26: Nirvana saved us from hair metal.

RULE #27: No-one who mocks Buddhism understands Buddhism.

RULE #28: Learn art history.

RULE #29: Find out why your "check engine" light is on and get it fixed. It's cheaper than a car.

RULE #30: No-one's cruise control is getting enough use these days. It's a surprisingly good stress reliever.

RULE #31: The Golden Rule is the most important rule in heavy traffic.

RULE #32: Harvey Keitel's only real objectives in his movies are to cry, and show us his penis.

RULE #33: The death penalty is the most perfect example of irony.

RULE #34: Punk rock brings needed balance.

RULE #35: What happens in Vegas, stays on the Internet.

RULE #36: Trusting your government to take care of you is like trusting your car to drive for you. Remember who's really calling the shots and suffers the consequences.

RULE #37: "Clerks," "Mallrats," and "Chasing Amy," right now, in that order. Go.

RULE #38: When roommates/coworkers/family members appear to have reached their maximum tolerance, give it one more push. You win. Submitted by Anonymous

RULE #39: Girls are scared of bugs. Boys like to kill things. Humanity reigns.

RULE #40: A cat can get his head stepped on 50 times, and still fail to grasp that stairs are a dumb place for a nap.

RULE #41: We should be able to fire the U.S. President as easily as NFL teams can fire a head coach.

RULE #42: Never challenge David McLean to anything. You will lose.

RULE #43: Rule #44 will be a true statement.

RULE #44: Rule #43 was a false statement. Take your time.

RULE #45: Musicians all need to help and look out for each other. Because no one else really will.

RULE #46: You can't really live each days as if it's your last. But you can live each day as if it matters.

RULE #47: Anything that isn't impossible has to happen eventually. Million-to-one shots are hit every day.

RULE #48: Always looking at the bright side is like looking at the sun. It's tempting, hard to do, and eventually you realize you're blind.

RULE #49: If you can't say something at all, don't brush with your mouth full of dirty looks when I'm talking to you.

RULE #50: Murphy's Law is no joke. That shit is real.

RULE #51: Billy Corgan. Willie Nelson. Bob Dylan. Janice Joplin. Kurt Cobain. You don't have to be a great singer to sing great. Sing away.

RULE #52: Sleep is the most important stupid thing in the world.

RULE #53: If two or more people are deciding where to eat, and all parties say "it doesn't matter to me," the first person to reject any suggestion is 1) a liar, and 2) now responsible for making the decision.

RULE #54: Decide who you are, and be that person. It really is that simple.

RULE #55: If you're part of the majority, you're probably part of the problem. Solutions are rarely popular.

RULE #56: People make decisions based on incentive. Figure out what someone's incentive really is, and you can predict his behavior.

RULE #57: If you elect a career politician, expect his or her politics to be focused on his or her career.

RULE #58: Just because something is inevitable or true, doesn't mean yo have to like it.

RULE #59: Self-worth, like any valuation, is always relative.

RULE #60: We need more pirate radio stations.

by Philip Corley on Friday, December 30, 2011 at 2:29pm

"Questions and Answers"

Experience has spoken to me
About the questions that you bring to me
Hailing from a mind, thrown into confusion
Minefields beneath your knowledge, how do I say
When I fear nothing will change

Your love for me is shining now
In the hope for specific answers, I do not doubt you have

Everything you have been living with
Makes answers to your inquiries so difficult to attain
The past may be eroding away, as I transform
But my skeleton of knowledge, reminds me of you
And it’s still tucked away in my closet of memories

I cannot give you the answers you seek
My leap of faith is going to break your heart

We have to discern what is right
Through trials of belief
Trust in the one that loves you
No matter what you do
And you have to perform what is right
When the spirit testifies
The hardest part being
When no one understands the questions and answers

See the stretch between philosophies
I know you are wondering how one could change so much
Today I must choose silence
For the darkness may be here, in disguise
I must think about how to break this news

Because your love for me is shining now
In the hope for specific answers, I do not doubt you have
But I cannot give you the answers you seek
My leap of faith is going to break your heart

I would never change anything that I have done
I feel uplifted and edified by where I am
But I know my past is out there, in people like you
From whom I know it will slowly creep back
Searching for answers

MOKRACY BLOG VISIT COUNT:

7672

PRIVACY NOTICE: The email field in the Comments box below is 1) optional, and 2) would never be shared with anyone, anyway. Also, if you post a comment, I automatically love you.

A Change of Scenery

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 10:44:58 -0800

Sponsored by:

Jason Young

Allison Cubit

Today's Blog is Rated...

I've done it!! I finally broke free from the clutches of Starbucks! For some reason it never crossed my mind to check out Common Grounds as a good blogging spot. This place rocks; the coffee is 2 bucks instead of 5, there's big comfy couches and my laptop is actually on my lap, of all places.

As I was thinking about this, some students from Centre College came in and interviewed a patron, asking her why she chose this place instead of a chain like Starbucks. Oh happy coincidence. I guess I'm too old and ugly for an interview. (Although, Mariah Carey's "Always Be My Baby" just came on, which is strike one.)

Now they're interviewing the dude next to me, he seems reluctant. I'm afraid maybe they are coming to me after all. He doesn't want to be on film. Eh, I'll probably play along if they come my way.

Eh, they didn't. No 15 minutes of fame for me.

by Thomas Bensberg, Weather Blognosticator

Chris Bailey wrote a nice four paragraph weather forecast for the paper today... Mostly it felt like dramatic sugar coating. Here is my weather forecast... It will windy and cold pretty much all weekend. Yuck.

Hope to see everyone at LexJam on Saturday.

Weather Widgetgreat free widgetsWidgetboxMore info

by Paul Felice, Chief Editor

I'm laughing and crying at the same time, for all conceivable reasons. Be patient, don't fast forward, but pay special close attention to the guitar player on the right side of the screen around 1:18.

Image courtesy of MOGS

Don't forget, this show is TOMORROW!!

PJ has recently revived his blog, The F-Sharp, so be sure to click it and enjoy! Today's edition really cracked me up; he's a funny little dude sometimes.

My car didn't start this morning. It was strange, because it acted like it does if you try to start it without pushing the clutch in. All the lights and radio and stuff came on, but the engine didn't even try to start. I tried twice, went inside, and looked around for a lighter to smoke a frustration cigarette. I had, of course, left them in the car.

But on a whim, I decided to try it again, and this time it magically chugged slowly and finally turned over. My girlfriend's dad explained that the battery and fluids don't flow well when it's this cold, but I still couldn't understand how it worked the third time, when it was only a ten minute gap, and how it could've warmed up enough in that amount of time.

And I'm on the brink of a real laundry crisis, having been un displacidio for this entire week due to the major plumbing overhaul at home. It's been nice spending so much time with my lady, but I'm ready to get back into my regular routine. Although I do think I am hooked on the idea of blogging away from home. This will probably become a regular event for me.

It's certainly time to really beef up my teaching schedule, too. I've let it slide, having been laser-focused on a small number of students. I really prefer that approach, but financially I gotta fill in these gaps. Gigging with SSG has been steady, but all that money has been going into paying for the trip to NAMM next week. It's paid up, but there's still a dip in funding that I gotta recover from. The Mokracy live show revival is going slowly, due to all the craziness with my living situation, coupled with the loss of Internet access at DooWop.

Although it occurs to me I could also do this blog from the Good Foods co-op. They've got free WiFi, I've blogged from there before. I don't know what the hell is wrong with my brain lately, I seem to be forgetting things a lot and having trouble recalling names and proper nouns in general. Too much stress is probably the likely culprit. But I should've thought of Good Foods as a spot a long time ago.

It's really, really cold here at Common Grounds. My toes are going numb, and I'm inside. Even smoking the electronic cigarettes to avoid going outside. That's a real motivation to switch over completely, too. If it's gonna happen, it's gonna happen during cold winter months. I wonder how many smokers are sicker since the smoking ban in Lexington, from having to smoke outside during miserable weather.

Speaking of promoting the lessons...

If I coded this right, you should be able to click the image above and share it on Facebook. Give it a click, if you would, and help me out? That would rock. :)

Or, CLICK THIS LINK and that should work, too. I hope.

Also, I have a Facebook Music Page I've been neglecting, so if you wouldn't mind clicking the link and "Like" that page, it would also help tremendously. Thanks!!

RULE #1: You can pretty much accurately judge people by the way they treat their pets.

RULE #2: People who don't have pets are not to be trusted.

RULE #3: There's absolutely no good reason to call that beanbag game "cornhole."

RULE #4: It turns out, blondes actually DO have more fun.

RULE #5: You always have the rest of your life.

RULE #6: Lettuce is basically a big waste of time.

RULE #7: Everyone over the age of 30 has had his or her life turned upside-down at least once.

RULE #8: The best music has the worst distribution, but it also has the most sophisticated fans.

RULE #9: Listening to fat, sweaty potty-mouths laughing obnoxiously at their own stupid jokes on the radio is no way to start your day.

RULE #10: Nobody in Europe has ever heard of Grey Poupon. Dijon is just a city in France to them.

RULE #11: Sales forecasts are a funny little blend of optimism, desperation, and fiction.

RULE #12: When you get really pissed off, go ahead and write the email, but then delete it.

RULE #13: There's nothing unlucky about the number 13. Get over it.

RULE #14: In the end, we all have the same amount of luck.

RULE #15: No sane person ever admits to being a bigot. That's why bigotry exists.

RULE #16: The odds of any given event occurring are exactly 50%. Either it'll happen, or it won't.

RULE #17: The path to anyone's heart is through your own.

RULE #18: American Idol is the single most compelling example of why the electoral college is important.

RULE #19: Too few people understand the difference between an automatic and semi-automatic weapon.

RULE #20: Polls serve no purpose other than to fraudulently skew election results.

RULE #21: You don't have to give up your own beliefs in order to tolerate someone else's.

RULE #22: It turns out that pretty much everything can give you cancer, and also prevent you from getting it. The studies prove it.

RULE #23: It turns out that most "studies" are crap.

RULE #24: Believe it or not, the acceleration lane is for accelerating.

RULE #25: AC/DC saved us from disco.

RULE #26: Nirvana saved us from hair metal.

RULE #27: No-one who mocks Buddhism understands Buddhism.

RULE #28: Learn art history.

RULE #29: Find out why your "check engine" light is on and get it fixed. It's cheaper than a car.

RULE #30: No-one's cruise control is getting enough use these days. It's a surprisingly good stress reliever.

RULE #31: The Golden Rule is the most important rule in heavy traffic.

RULE #32: Harvey Keitel's only real objectives in his movies are to cry, and show us his penis.

RULE #33: The death penalty is the most perfect example of irony.

RULE #34: Punk rock brings needed balance.

RULE #35: What happens in Vegas, stays on the Internet.

RULE #36: Trusting your government to take care of you is like trusting your car to drive for you. Remember who's really calling the shots and suffers the consequences.

RULE #37: "Clerks," "Mallrats," and "Chasing Amy," right now, in that order. Go.

RULE #38: When roommates/coworkers/family members appear to have reached their maximum tolerance, give it one more push. You win. Submitted by Anonymous

RULE #39: Girls are scared of bugs. Boys like to kill things. Humanity reigns.

RULE #40: A cat can get his head stepped on 50 times, and still fail to grasp that stairs are a dumb place for a nap.

RULE #41: We should be able to fire the U.S. President as easily as NFL teams can fire a head coach.

RULE #42: Never challenge David McLean to anything. You will lose.

RULE #43: Rule #44 will be a true statement.

RULE #44: Rule #43 was a false statement. Take your time.

RULE #45: Musicians all need to help and look out for each other. Because no one else really will.

RULE #46: You can't really live each days as if it's your last. But you can live each day as if it matters.

RULE #47: Anything that isn't impossible has to happen eventually. Million-to-one shots are hit every day.

RULE #48: Always looking at the bright side is like looking at the sun. It's tempting, hard to do, and eventually you realize you're blind.

RULE #49: If you can't say something at all, don't brush with your mouth full of dirty looks when I'm talking to you.

RULE #50: Murphy's Law is no joke. That shit is real.

RULE #51: Billy Corgan. Willie Nelson. Bob Dylan. Janice Joplin. Kurt Cobain. You don't have to be a great singer to sing great. Sing away.

RULE #52: Sleep is the most important stupid thing in the world.

RULE #53: If two or more people are deciding where to eat, and all parties say "it doesn't matter to me," the first person to reject any suggestion is 1) a liar, and 2) now responsible for making the decision.

RULE #54: Decide who you are, and be that person. It really is that simple.

RULE #55: If you're part of the majority, you're probably part of the problem. Solutions are rarely popular.

RULE #56: People make decisions based on incentive. Figure out what someone's incentive really is, and you can predict his behavior.

RULE #57: If you elect a career politician, expect his or her politics to be focused on his or her career.

RULE #58: Just because something is inevitable or true, doesn't mean yo have to like it.

RULE #59: Self-worth, like any valuation, is always relative.

They say it's easier to ask for forgiveness and receive it than it is to ask for permission. I don't think that applies to sex, though.

Okay, I think that's it for this week, folks. See you Monday, probably coming to you from the Good Foods Co-op. :)

MOKRACY BLOG VISIT COUNT:

7600

PRIVACY NOTICE: The email field in the Comments box below is 1) optional, and 2) would never be shared with anyone, anyway. Also, if you post a comment, I automatically love you.

You're not gonna like this.

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 07:33:47 -0800

Sponsored by:

Jason Young

Allison Cubit

Today's Blog is Rated...

Well... dangit. I just hit a wrong button and deleted my entire blog entry so far this morning. A whole hour of work just went down the drain. Oh well, nothing I can do now. Take 2.

This is my fourth visit to Starbucks in as many days. That's more times than I've been to a Starbucks total in my entire life. Well, maybe not total, but I've surely been to one no more than ten times before this week. I've got to find a better alternative; I like doing the blog away from home; it feels more like the "work" it is. But I'm not rich, and this is getting expensive.

It seems my disdain for Starbucks is well-justified, too. Especially this one at Hamburg Pavilion, right next to Andover Forest, which is a very rich elitist neighborhood. (No offense to any readers I may have who live in that neighborhood; all TWFMB readers are automatically cool.) All Yuppies and no Hippies. Everyone looking down their noses. Skinny jeans galore. The other location I went to on High Street is closer to downtown and there are more "realish" people, but still.

The one good thing about this place, however, is the music they generally play. Lots of light jazz and alternative and independent rock. I was sitting here the other day thinking how much I'd like to hear Morcheeba's "By The Sea" and damned if it didn't come on like 15 minutes later. Great stuff. Coffee's too expensive here, though.

Uh oh. I just remembered what I was planning to write about today. This could get ugly.

by Thomas Bensberg, Weather Blognosticator

Whoa... We got some serious weather to discuss today folks. High of 45 with an overnight low of 18. At some point this afternoon it is supposed to start snowing so you should go to Kroger now and get your bread and milk cause that shit will be gone by 6 PM tonight if you don't. If you see me when it is snowing do not throw snow balls at me. I will bite you. I am totally serious.

Weather Widgetgreat free widgetsWidgetboxMore info

I saw a news report last night stating the the homicide rate in America is the lowest it's been in 50 years. And the economy is in the crapper. This morning's headline: "Unemployment claims jumped to 399,000 in the first week of 2012."

This struck me as oddly telling. For those of you wiping your own butts in 1992, you'll recall that the crime rate, especially violent crime, was at an all-time high. We were predicting mayhem in the streets.

Then, Bill Clinton took office. Almost immediately, in 1993, the crime rate started plummeting. We were saved, because Clinton had single-handedly fixed all our economic woes, and therefore the incentive to commit crime was down. Plus, we'd passed these really strict laws, like Three Strikes, and scared those criminals into submission.

Except, it isn't true. Observe the chart below:

Those of you who have read "Freakonomics" will see the next series of facts coming. Those of you who have not...

...by 1965, all 50 states in the US had banned abortion, (with a few exceptions in the cases of rape, incest, and to save the mother's life.) The vast majority of abortions are performed for single, impoverished and often drug-addicted, derelict mothers. During the ban on abortions, many more babies were born to these women, and grew up, unsurprisingly, also impoverished and drug-addicted. This made them far more prone to committing violent crimes.

So, you can see from 1965 on, the crime rate steadily and dramatically increased, as these children grew into young adults, peaking in their early 20's, after which they were generally dead or incarcerated.

In 1973, Roe v. Wade was passed, preventing states from almost all restrictions on abortion. Which meant that these babies stopped being born. 20 years later, in 1993, as these babies would have been reaching their prime in criminal behavior, the rate dropped. Because these babies were never born.

And the proof is in the pudding: Today we have a much worse economy and are surely in the midst of a deeper recession, yet the crime rate continues to drop. It isn't the economic policies of today that shape the crime rate; it's the economic conditions created by the systematic reduction of the lower socioeconomic population.

What does this boil down to? Well, it could be seen like this:

Pro-Life: You'd prefer to save the lives of poor kids, condemning them to grow up in poverty and strife, become criminals, and commit murder.

Pro-Choice: You'd rather commit economic genocide, and execute the people who are unfortunate enough to be conceived to an impoverished mother, in order preserve the peace and happiness of future generations.

Pissed yet?

Neither position is a particularly pretty one, is it? Now, as you read this, you are surely saying something to the effect of, "But that's not why I support my cause! It's because..."

...The United States has laws protecting human life. It's the only thing that keeps us civilized. Murder is the deprivation of life without due process, which is against the constitution. (Pro-Life Crew)

...The Government shouldn't be telling us what medical procedures we can and can't have. It's up to me to decide what happens to my body, and the entity inside me isn't a person in its own right. (Pro-Choice Crew)

And the thing is, both sides clearly have valid arguments. There are very intelligent and morally sound people on either end of the issue. It isn't as clear-cut as anyone would prefer it to be.

But the fact remains, we have proof of the end result of each approach. One approach creates violent and deadly crime. The other approach is prenatal economic genocide.

It's interesting that we live in a day and age where a society has risen that is polarized by this issue, because in my mind it highlights a significant evolution in the collective mentality of the human race. We've come to a point where we have to decide who we are as a species, and whether our priorities lie in moral consciousness, or pragmatic decision making.

And, it has always been interesting to me that generally, Pro-Lifers on the right are also pro-death penalty, and have no problem with methodically murdering a convict. And Pro-Choicers are generally anti-death penalty, and want to save the lives of murders and child-rapists.

It's a crazy, crazy mixed up world, ain't it?

RULE #1: You can pretty much accurately judge people by the way they treat their pets.

RULE #2: People who don't have pets are not to be trusted.

RULE #3: There's absolutely no good reason to call that beanbag game "cornhole."

RULE #4: It turns out, blondes actually DO have more fun.

RULE #5: You always have the rest of your life.

RULE #6: Lettuce is basically a big waste of time.

RULE #7: Everyone over the age of 30 has had his or her life turned upside-down at least once.

RULE #8: The best music has the worst distribution, but it also has the most sophisticated fans.

RULE #9: Listening to fat, sweaty potty-mouths laughing obnoxiously at their own stupid jokes on the radio is no way to start your day.

RULE #10: Nobody in Europe has ever heard of Grey Poupon. Dijon is just a city in France to them.

RULE #11: Sales forecasts are a funny little blend of optimism, desperation, and fiction.

RULE #12: When you get really pissed off, go ahead and write the email, but then delete it.

RULE #13: There's nothing unlucky about the number 13. Get over it.

RULE #14: In the end, we all have the same amount of luck.

RULE #15: No sane person ever admits to being a bigot. That's why bigotry exists.

RULE #16: The odds of any given event occurring are exactly 50%. Either it'll happen, or it won't.

RULE #17: The path to anyone's heart is through your own.

RULE #18: American Idol is the single most compelling example of why the electoral college is important.

RULE #19: Too few people understand the difference between an automatic and semi-automatic weapon.

RULE #20: Polls serve no purpose other than to fraudulently skew election results.

RULE #21: You don't have to give up your own beliefs in order to tolerate someone else's.

RULE #22: It turns out that pretty much everything can give you cancer, and also prevent you from getting it. The studies prove it.

RULE #23: It turns out that most "studies" are crap.

RULE #24: Believe it or not, the acceleration lane is for accelerating.

RULE #25: AC/DC saved us from disco.

RULE #26: Nirvana saved us from hair metal.

RULE #27: No-one who mocks Buddhism understands Buddhism.

RULE #28: Learn art history.

RULE #29: Find out why your "check engine" light is on and get it fixed. It's cheaper than a car.

RULE #30: No-one's cruise control is getting enough use these days. It's a surprisingly good stress reliever.

RULE #31: The Golden Rule is the most important rule in heavy traffic.

RULE #32: Harvey Keitel's only real objectives in his movies are to cry, and show us his penis.

RULE #33: The death penalty is the most perfect example of irony.

RULE #34: Punk rock brings needed balance.

RULE #35: What happens in Vegas, stays on the Internet.

RULE #36: Trusting your government to take care of you is like trusting your car to drive for you. Remember who's really calling the shots and suffers the consequences.

RULE #37: "Clerks," "Mallrats," and "Chasing Amy," right now, in that order. Go.

RULE #38: When roommates/coworkers/family members appear to have reached their maximum tolerance, give it one more push. You win. Submitted by Anonymous

RULE #39: Girls are scared of bugs. Boys like to kill things. Humanity reigns.

RULE #40: A cat can get his head stepped on 50 times, and still fail to grasp that stairs are a dumb place for a nap.

RULE #41: We should be able to fire the U.S. President as easily as NFL teams can fire a head coach.

RULE #42: Never challenge David McLean to anything. You will lose.

RULE #43: Rule #44 will be a true statement.

RULE #44: Rule #43 was a false statement. Take your time.

RULE #45: Musicians all need to help and look out for each other. Because no one else really will.

RULE #46: You can't really live each days as if it's your last. But you can live each day as if it matters.

RULE #47: Anything that isn't impossible has to happen eventually. Million-to-one shots are hit every day.

RULE #48: Always looking at the bright side is like looking at the sun. It's tempting, hard to do, and eventually you realize you're blind.

RULE #49: If you can't say something at all, don't brush with your mouth full of dirty looks when I'm talking to you.

RULE #50: Murphy's Law is no joke. That shit is real.

RULE #51: Billy Corgan. Willie Nelson. Bob Dylan. Janice Joplin. Kurt Cobain. You don't have to be a great singer to sing great. Sing away.

RULE #52: Sleep is the most important stupid thing in the world.

RULE #53: If two or more people are deciding where to eat, and all parties say "it doesn't matter to me," the first person to reject any suggestion is 1) a liar, and 2) now responsible for making the decision.

RULE #54: Decide who you are, and be that person. It really is that simple.

RULE #55: If you're part of the majority, you're probably part of the problem. Solutions are rarely popular.

RULE #56: People make decisions based on incentive. Figure out what someone's incentive really is, and you can predict his behavior.

RULE #57: If you elect a career politician, expect his or her politics to be focused on his or her career.

RULE #58: Just because something is inevitable or true, doesn't mean yo have to like it.

And, just to secure today's M for Mature rating...

Wanna help the blog? Right-click the image below and click "Save Image As" and upload it to your Facebook page:

This is a QR code that can be scanned by a smartphone and will take the user to the WFMB homepage. Additional things you can do to help:

1) Copy/Paste the URL at the top of the blog into your Facebook status and/or Twitter, and share it with your friends!

2) Read this article, and see if you can put the pieces together on your own. :)

3) Send me interesting articles, questions, comments and whatnot. This is great for keeping fresh content and helps the blog stay pertinent to you and your interests.

4) Click the Tip Jar and send money. Just a buck or two from a few people every once in a while would help tremendously.

5) Click the Google 1 button below!

Thanks!

UPDATE: I was just reminded of a very important local music event here in Lexington tonight, don't miss this one!!

MOKRACY BLOG VISIT COUNT:

7533

PRIVACY NOTICE: The email field in the Comments box below is 1) optional, and 2) would never be shared with anyone, anyway. Also, if you post a comment, I automatically love you.

What's the number for 911?

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 09:00:33 -0800

Sponsored by:

Jason Young

Allison Cubit

Today's Blog is Rated...

Well, we're on Day 3 of the exile, at Starbucks again to do the blog. Oddly, I think I'm gettin g a little addicted to the idea of blogging from a coffee shop. Not necessarily Starbucks; I may have to find a smaller, local place with WiFi. I like Coffee Times on Regency road, not sure if they have WiFi though.

Today I paid for my coffee with a $20, and as I was walleting my change I noticed she'd given me an extra $10 bill. For about a millisecond, it flashed in my mind that this was my chance to stick it to the man and really get him for his freakin' $5 coffee and freakin' $3 doughnut, but then two things occurred to me. 1) The lady would get in trouble, and it's not like she sets the prices. 2) I chose to come here, knowing the prices, and agreed to pay it. I can't really complain as long as I'm part of the problem, supplying the demand.

Oh yeah, and it would be dishonest. Not really my M.O. I just wish honesty were a more profitable venture, but I guess that's the price you pay. I suppose it's worth it.

by Thomas Bensberg, Weather Blognosticator

You heard it hear first folks. Earthquake in Indonesiana(misspelled on purpose for humor. Laugh at this damnit), or whereever caused a Tsunami warning to be issued yesterday. I predicted that. I'm going on record as saying that the Bronco's will win the Super Bowl this year also.

Today's weather will be wet and crappy and that is all I have to say about that. MmmHmmm.

Weather Widgetgreat free widgetsWidgetboxMore info

This is a preview Musicians Spotlight, to let you be among the first to see Lexington's next stunning young musical talent, Katie Berryman. Katie is in the middle of a songwriting surge, delving into original tunes for the first time. I'm unable to distinguish between her original songs and the Internet/radio hits she covers, and she covers across the spectrum of genres. (Everything from Foo Fighters to Death Cab for Cutie to The Used, Iron & Wine, Gregory & the Hawk... if you're a close-minded listener, this isn't for you.)

For now, you can enjoy this video below, as well as her other covers on her YouTube page. Be sure to share your thoughts both there and here!

I spent all my blogging time today making this poster:

RULE #1: You can pretty much accurately judge people by the way they treat their pets.

RULE #2: People who don't have pets are not to be trusted.

RULE #3: There's absolutely no good reason to call that beanbag game "cornhole."

RULE #4: It turns out, blondes actually DO have more fun.

RULE #5: You always have the rest of your life.

RULE #6: Lettuce is basically a big waste of time.

RULE #7: Everyone over the age of 30 has had his or her life turned upside-down at least once.

RULE #8: The best music has the worst distribution, but it also has the most sophisticated fans.

RULE #9: Listening to fat, sweaty potty-mouths laughing obnoxiously at their own stupid jokes on the radio is no way to start your day.

RULE #10: Nobody in Europe has ever heard of Grey Poupon. Dijon is just a city in France to them.

RULE #11: Sales forecasts are a funny little blend of optimism, desperation, and fiction.

RULE #12: When you get really pissed off, go ahead and write the email, but then delete it.

RULE #13: There's nothing unlucky about the number 13. Get over it.

RULE #14: In the end, we all have the same amount of luck.

RULE #15: No sane person ever admits to being a bigot. That's why bigotry exists.

RULE #16: The odds of any given event occurring are exactly 50%. Either it'll happen, or it won't.

RULE #17: The path to anyone's heart is through your own.

RULE #18: American Idol is the single most compelling example of why the electoral college is important.

RULE #19: Too few people understand the difference between an automatic and semi-automatic weapon.

RULE #20: Polls serve no purpose other than to fraudulently skew election results.

RULE #21: You don't have to give up your own beliefs in order to tolerate someone else's.

RULE #22: It turns out that pretty much everything can give you cancer, and also prevent you from getting it. The studies prove it.

RULE #23: It turns out that most "studies" are crap.

RULE #24: Believe it or not, the acceleration lane is for accelerating.

RULE #25: AC/DC saved us from disco.

RULE #26: Nirvana saved us from hair metal.

RULE #27: No-one who mocks Buddhism understands Buddhism.

RULE #28: Learn art history.

RULE #29: Find out why your "check engine" light is on and get it fixed. It's cheaper than a car.

RULE #30: No-one's cruise control is getting enough use these days. It's a surprisingly good stress reliever.

RULE #31: The Golden Rule is the most important rule in heavy traffic.

RULE #32: Harvey Keitel's only real objectives in his movies are to cry, and show us his penis.

RULE #33: The death penalty is the most perfect example of irony.

RULE #34: Punk rock brings needed balance.

RULE #35: What happens in Vegas, stays on the Internet.

RULE #36: Trusting your government to take care of you is like trusting your car to drive for you. Remember who's really calling the shots and suffers the consequences.

RULE #37: "Clerks," "Mallrats," and "Chasing Amy," right now, in that order. Go.

RULE #38: When roommates/coworkers/family members appear to have reached their maximum tolerance, give it one more push. You win. Submitted by Anonymous

RULE #39: Girls are scared of bugs. Boys like to kill things. Humanity reigns.

RULE #40: A cat can get his head stepped on 50 times, and still fail to grasp that stairs are a dumb place for a nap.

RULE #41: We should be able to fire the U.S. President as easily as NFL teams can fire a head coach.

RULE #42: Never challenge David McLean to anything. You will lose.

RULE #43: Rule #44 will be a true statement.

RULE #44: Rule #43 was a false statement. Take your time.

RULE #45: Musicians all need to help and look out for each other. Because no one else really will.

RULE #46: You can't really live each days as if it's your last. But you can live each day as if it matters.

RULE #47: Anything that isn't impossible has to happen eventually. Million-to-one shots are hit every day.

RULE #48: Always looking at the bright side is like looking at the sun. It's tempting, hard to do, and eventually you realize you're blind.

RULE #49: If you can't say something at all, don't brush with your mouth full of dirty looks when I'm talking to you.

RULE #50: Murphy's Law is no joke. That shit is real.

RULE #51: Billy Corgan. Willie Nelson. Bob Dylan. Janice Joplin. Kurt Cobain. You don't have to be a great singer to sing great. Sing away.

RULE #52: Sleep is the most important stupid thing in the world.

RULE #53: If two or more people are deciding where to eat, and all parties say "it doesn't matter to me," the first person to reject any suggestion is 1) a liar, and 2) now responsible for making the decision.

RULE #54: Decide who you are, and be that person. It really is that simple.

RULE #55: If you're part of the majority, you're probably part of the problem. Solutions are rarely popular.

RULE #56: People make decisions based on incentive. Figure out what someone's incentive really is, and you can predict his behavior.

RULE #57: If you elect a career politician, expect his or her politics to be focused on his or her career.

Also, no-one even guessed at yesterday's Trivia Question. Anyone? Anyone?

MOKRACY BLOG VISIT COUNT:

7510

PRIVACY NOTICE: The email field in the Comments box below is 1) optional, and 2) would never be shared with anyone, anyway. Also, if you post a comment, I automatically love you.

Undying Love and Affection

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 09:58:03 -0800

Sponsored by:

Jason Young

Allison Cubit

Today's Blog is Rated...

It's Day Two of blogging from Starbucks. This is getting expensive. It's like $20 for a water and a napkin here. And I'm having a caramel machiato and a cheese danish PLUS a napkin, so I had to take out a loan against my laptop.

All kidding aside, Starbucks really charges WAY too much. It's no wonder the economy stinks; people evidently have no sense of value when it comes to products and services. It's unfathomable that this place is still in business with what they charge. (But then again, the US federal government has been overtaxing us for decades and they're still inexplicably alive.)

by Thomas Bensberg, Weather Blognosticator

Partly sunny with a high of 54 today. Too bad I’ll be in my office all day and won’t get to enjoy the weather. Meh”¦ Overnight low in the 20’s again and then tomorrow”¦ Tsunami.

Weather Widgetgreat free widgetsWidgetboxMore info

This Saturday, 1/14/2012 at 10 PM, Steve Sizemore Group will play our last show before we head to California for the NAMM convention in Anaheim. R Place Pub is a brand new venue for us, so please come out, bring a crowd, and show your support! We promise a rockin' show, as always. :)

The connection at Starbucks SUCKS. It's weird because the wifi adapter says I've got nearly 100% signal strength, but everything is taking FOREVER. Bah.

...sort of. Tim Fowler came close with Charlie Christian, although that's really not the best answer, mostly because the question was what genre of music first employed electric guitar regularly. The answer is actually country music, in the form of electric lap steel guitar.

Country music's addition of the electric guitar is generally considered the lynchpin that simultaneously signified the beginning of the end of the big band era and the beginning of the blues-based music evolution, culminating in the reign of rock and roll.

What guitar maker issued a Monkees signature guitar, targeted at pre-teen girls?

Hint: Search gig trust.

Bonus: What was the model of the guitar?

RULE #1: You can pretty much accurately judge people by the way they treat their pets.

RULE #2: People who don't have pets are not to be trusted.

RULE #3: There's absolutely no good reason to call that beanbag game "cornhole."

RULE #4: It turns out, blondes actually DO have more fun.

RULE #5: You always have the rest of your life.

RULE #6: Lettuce is basically a big waste of time.

RULE #7: Everyone over the age of 30 has had his or her life turned upside-down at least once.

RULE #8: The best music has the worst distribution, but it also has the most sophisticated fans.

RULE #9: Listening to fat, sweaty potty-mouths laughing obnoxiously at their own stupid jokes on the radio is no way to start your day.

RULE #10: Nobody in Europe has ever heard of Grey Poupon. Dijon is just a city in France to them.

RULE #11: Sales forecasts are a funny little blend of optimism, desperation, and fiction.

RULE #12: When you get really pissed off, go ahead and write the email, but then delete it.

RULE #13: There's nothing unlucky about the number 13. Get over it.

RULE #14: In the end, we all have the same amount of luck.

RULE #15: No sane person ever admits to being a bigot. That's why bigotry exists.

RULE #16: The odds of any given event occurring are exactly 50%. Either it'll happen, or it won't.

RULE #17: The path to anyone's heart is through your own.

RULE #18: American Idol is the single most compelling example of why the electoral college is important.

RULE #19: Too few people understand the difference between an automatic and semi-automatic weapon.

RULE #20: Polls serve no purpose other than to fraudulently skew election results.

RULE #21: You don't have to give up your own beliefs in order to tolerate someone else's.

RULE #22: It turns out that pretty much everything can give you cancer, and also prevent you from getting it. The studies prove it.

RULE #23: It turns out that most "studies" are crap.

RULE #24: Believe it or not, the acceleration lane is for accelerating.

RULE #25: AC/DC saved us from disco.

RULE #26: Nirvana saved us from hair metal.

RULE #27: No-one who mocks Buddhism understands Buddhism.

RULE #28: Learn art history.

RULE #29: Find out why your "check engine" light is on and get it fixed. It's cheaper than a car.

RULE #30: No-one's cruise control is getting enough use these days. It's a surprisingly good stress reliever.

RULE #31: The Golden Rule is the most important rule in heavy traffic.

RULE #32: Harvey Keitel's only real objectives in his movies are to cry, and show us his penis.

RULE #33: The death penalty is the most perfect example of irony.

RULE #34: Punk rock brings needed balance.

RULE #35: What happens in Vegas, stays on the Internet.

RULE #36: Trusting your government to take care of you is like trusting your car to drive for you. Remember who's really calling the shots and suffers the consequences.

RULE #37: "Clerks," "Mallrats," and "Chasing Amy," right now, in that order. Go.

RULE #38: When roommates/coworkers/family members appear to have reached their maximum tolerance, give it one more push. You win. Submitted by Anonymous

RULE #39: Girls are scared of bugs. Boys like to kill things. Humanity reigns.

RULE #40: A cat can get his head stepped on 50 times, and still fail to grasp that stairs are a dumb place for a nap.

RULE #41: We should be able to fire the U.S. President as easily as NFL teams can fire a head coach.

RULE #42: Never challenge David McLean to anything. You will lose.

RULE #43: Rule #44 will be a true statement.

RULE #44: Rule #43 was a false statement. Take your time.

RULE #45: Musicians all need to help and look out for each other. Because no one else really will.

RULE #46: You can't really live each days as if it's your last. But you can live each day as if it matters.

RULE #47: Anything that isn't impossible has to happen eventually. Million-to-one shots are hit every day.

RULE #48: Always looking at the bright side is like looking at the sun. It's tempting, hard to do, and eventually you realize you're blind.

RULE #49: If you can't say something at all, don't brush with your mouth full of dirty looks when I'm talking to you.

RULE #50: Murphy's Law is no joke. That shit is real.

RULE #51: Billy Corgan. Willie Nelson. Bob Dylan. Janice Joplin. Kurt Cobain. You don't have to be a great singer to sing great. Sing away.

RULE #52: Sleep is the most important stupid thing in the world.

RULE #53: If two or more people are deciding where to eat, and all parties say "it doesn't matter to me," the first person to reject any suggestion is 1) a liar, and 2) now responsible for making the decision.

RULE #54: Decide who you are, and be that person. It really is that simple.

RULE #55: If you're part of the majority, you're probably part of the problem. Solutions are rarely popular.

RULE #56: People make decisions based on incentive. Figure out what someone's incentive really is, and you can predict his behavior.

RULE #57:

MOKRACY BLOG VISIT COUNT:

7464

PRIVACY NOTICE: The email field in the Comments box below is 1) optional, and 2) would never be shared with anyone, anyway. Also, if you post a comment, I automatically love you.

DISCLAIMER: Comments below are filtered but unmoderated and the opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Paul Felice, The World Famous Mokracy Blog, or Mokracy, LLC. I would like to thank David McLean for inspiring this disclaimer by posting a string of F-bombs in my "E for Everyone" rated blog one day.