The Cacophony Society

Jimmy on Barry

2010-04-03T13:32:00.003-05:00

A friend of mine from Grand Junction, Colorado sent this to me, this week. The message is simple and direct. The most interesting aspect about it is the note in the bottom, right corner.

As a result, the Civics books will need to be updated. See: http://www.obamachart.com

For the record, I didn't vote for either of these guys. However, in his defense, I will say that Jimmy was without a doubt the smartest President we have ever had in this country. Even though his leadership skills and political acument have gone down in academic circles of American History as "lacking," the guy had very good motives. The unintented consequences are what killed him, politically.

The current administration conversely is doing its absolute best...to undo the cornerstones of Democracy and further consolidating power in the Executive Branch. All of this, to the clear detriment of regular, working and business class Americans. This, my friends, is how Democratic civilizations accelerate their demise relative to how they were originally constructed...

Freedom Works

Erleen on Healthcare

2010-03-25T07:47:00.003-05:00

Let me get this straight......

We now have a health care plan written by a committee whose chairman says he doesn't understand it, passed by a Congress that hasn't read it but exempts themselves from it, to be signed by a president that also hasn't read it and who smokes, with funding administered by a treasury chief who didn't pay his taxes, all to be overseen by a surgeon general who is obese, and financed by a country that's broke. What the hell could possibly go wrong????

So, clearly there are different opinions on this issue. My point in simple: nothing good can come from forcing one group of people to work & pay for something that will go to benefit another group. That is the basic epistemological definition of slavery. You were probably not taught this concept in Civics class.

Moreover, this perspective also comes from the Judeo-Christian tradition, from which I and most people in this country originate. The idea continues with the belief that good can only come from choosing to do so...one cannot be made to do the right thing. Essentially, God wants all of us to choose and then to do, the right thing. However, only evil can come from force, no matter how noble the intention...

Judge Andrew Napolitano

2010-03-05T08:00:00.002-06:00

This guy is very interesting. Everyone should watch and listen to what he has to say about what's going on and the "Un-Patriot Act" and its insidious powers. Andrew P. Napolitano is a 59 year old former New Jersey Superior Court Judge. He is a graduate of Princeton University and Notre Dame Law School . At Princeton he was a founding member of the Concerned Alumni of Princeton along with Justice Samuel Alito. Click below and listen to Judge Napolitano's important message.

http://www.youtube.com/watch

It's interesting to me that the prior administration created it and the current administration is secretly trying to perpetuate it. Remember, the law has an expiration date attached to it but there are those in Congress who actually believe this is a good idea. I'm not kidding...this is creepy stuff folks !

The New Pad

2010-02-12T12:38:00.006-06:00

There are some really good deals to be had in the Austin real estate market, these days. And, yes, that is Emma Long Park across the way, there, on Lake Austin. It's not bad...

Beautiful, and Utterly Terrifying

2010-02-12T07:53:00.005-06:00

When experiencing John Gerrard’s Dust Storm (Dalhart, Texas 2007) Realtime 3D projection, we cannot even take comfort in the awe-inspiring hugeness of natural forces. We know that this cloud is a construction. We can tell from its pace and way of moving that it has been digitally manipulated.

If Gerrard is neither presenting us with a realistic depiction of the land or an embodiment of American values, what can we make of this terrifying scene? The piece becomes an expression of our anxieties, our fears, of our destructiveness as a species. Most of all, it becomes a metaphor for the tragic fact that the forces outside our control that are seemingly closing in on us can no longer be attributed to God, or nature or anything greater than ourselves. Instead, we fear war, global warming, environmental destruction, and economic collapse.

Some of these threats may not have completely materialized, at least in a way that affects all of our daily lives. At the same time we feel that they are slowly advancing and, like the dust cloud, will swallow us whole.

I think we've all had days like this. How we respond to it defines our unique character...

Who Dat ?!?

2010-02-07T06:56:00.003-06:00

After struggling for forty-three years, today is the day that my beloved Saints (aka, The Who Dats) do their best to win the Super Bowl !!

Just for fun...here's a little Super Bowl trivia, with a home State twist:

Name the quarterbacks from Louisiana high schools who later in their careers started at QB in the Super Bowl. Hint: There are seven of them, behind only California (nine) and Pennsylvania (nine). Another Hint: Bert Jones is not one of them.

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Interesting fact: Drew Brees will be the first quarterback out of Texas ever to start as QB in a Super Bowl. Wow...that's hard to believe.

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Another Interesting Fact: No player from a Florida has ever started a Super Bowl as quarterback. Really...doubly hard to believe, either.

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Answer to quiz: Terry Bradshaw, David Woodley, Doug Williams, Stan Humphries, Jake Delhomme, Payton Manning, Eli Manning.

And, here's a little video to bring the whole Saints experience into focus:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNwbrRfX8FE (all of you Sam Cooke and Bono fans will love it).

Who Dat Talkin' Bout Beatin' Dem Saints ?!? Who Dat ?!? ; )~

Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler, Mes Amis !!

Happy New Year, 2010 !

2010-01-04T08:54:00.004-06:00

In 2010, I believe it is essential for all of us to work to see a better vision of just who we are, individually and collectively. I certainly see myself as a Libertarian, right out of the Judeo-Christian traditional concept, meaning all good things come from choosing to do so. Force, coercion or fraud are never the answer...

What is a libertarian, you say? A libertarian is someone who believes in "No Force, No Fraud." Watch this entertaining 10-minute animation on "The Philosophy of Liberty" from the International Society for Individual Liberty:

http://www.isil.org/resources/philosophy-of-liberty-index.html The best part is that you can pick your language of choice...a cornerstone of the whole idea.

This, I believe. Adieu !!

Who is John Galt?

2010-01-03T12:58:00.004-06:00

"Did you really think that we want those laws to be observed?" said Dr. Ferris. "We *want* them broken. You'd better get it straight. That it's not a bunch of boy scouts you're up against– then you'll know that this is not the age for beautiful gestures. We're after power and we mean it.

You fellows were pikers, but we know the real trick, and you'd better get wise to it. There's no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren't enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws.

Who wants a nation of law-abiding citizens? What's there in that for anyone? But just pass the kind of laws that can neither be observed nor enforced nor objectively interpreted – and you create a nation of law-breakers – and then you cash in on guilt. Now that's the system, Mr. Rearden, that's the game, and once you understand it, you'll be much easier to deal with."

–– Ayn Rand, _Atlas Shrugged , Ch. III, "White Blackmail"

She's the most powerful American writer of the twentieth century.

I love her !! ; )~

A Little Inside Scoop

2009-12-07T07:54:00.003-06:00

This morning I was doing a little "research" on one of my company's competitors. One of the hits led me to I-Tunes and specifically its free podcast from the Baylor Business Review. This is great stuff from their Business School and at this price...it's a great deal as well. The subject matter is very good and quite varied. Check it out...

Reaction to Obama's Escalation

2009-12-03T06:43:00.003-06:00

AUSTIN, TEXAS - December 2, 2009 - Libertarians reacted strongly against President Barack Obama's escalation of the war in Afghanistan. "The Libertarian Party firmly rejects the concept of foreign nation-building adventures. We should not be in the business of propping up foreign leaders or using force to spread our uniquely American style of government," said LPT Executive Director Robert Butler."There is no difference between the Bush and Obama policies in Afghanistan," agreed LPT Chair Patrick Dixon. "The Libertarian Party is the only party on the ballot in Texas that has consistently advocated real change in policy. Those that thought they would see such change from the Obama administration are now politically homeless." "For those wondering how we can get people in Congress to change our policy and end these perpetual wars, we are recruiting candidates right now to give voters that choice." Compared to the obvious division that is seen within the Republi-Crat party, this party is clear on the issue of no nation-building, except our own! Now that would be real change...

Embracing American Diversity

2009-11-24T10:30:00.002-06:00

It seems everyone, recently, is found of letting everyone else know where they "stand" on various (and sometimes sundry) issues. I've been on both side of these issues at different times in my life and relish the debate. The discussions and musings go something like this:
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-If a libertarian or conservative doesn't like guns, he doesn’t buy one.
-If a liberal doesn't like guns, he wants all guns outlawed.
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-If a libertarian or conservative is a vegetarian, he doesn’t eat meat.
-If a liberal is a vegetarian, he wants all meat products banned for everyone.
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-If a libertarian or conservative sees a foreign threat, he thinks about how to defeat his enemy.
-A liberal wonders how to surrender gracefully and still look good.
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-If a libertarian or conservative slips and falls in a store, he gets up, laughs and is embarrassed.
-If a liberal slips and falls, he grabs his neck, moans like he's in labor and then sues.
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-If a Black man or Hispanic are conservative, they see themselves as independently successful.
-Their liberal counterparts see themselves as victims in need of government protection.
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-If a conservative is down-and-out, he thinks about how to better his situation.
-A liberal wonders who is going to take care of him.
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-If a conservative doesn't like a talk show host, he switches channels.
-Liberals demand that those they don't like be shut down immediately.
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-If a libertarian or conservative is a non-believer, he doesn't go to church, temple or mosque.
-A liberal non-believer wants any mention of God and religion silenced. (Unless it's a foreign religion, of course!)
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-If a conservative decides he needs health care, he goes about shopping for it, or may choose a job that provides it.
-A liberal demands that the rest of us pay for his.

The Lil' Sneak

2009-11-03T11:45:00.005-06:00

So, I'm out in Steiner Ranch the other day, doing the work thing...when I see this little weasel !! I asked the guy who's inspecting this roof "hey, what do think he's doing there?" " Clearly setting up a Speed Trap," says the contractor, "for folks coming down that hill, there." OK, I thought...I'm going to photograph what is obviously not allowed by Traffic Courts, entrapment !

Then I zoom in on the little rat.
The back of his jacket should
read "vermin" and not what it does. Does this guy think he's on CHIPS or something?

Anyway, and for the record, I don't know how it got there...but, up the hill and further down the street, look what I found planted on the curb ! A sign explaining exactly what's coming for the unknowing motorists... ; )~

Nobel Peace Prize...Really ?

2009-10-13T07:23:00.002-05:00

The gravity of the Nobel awards has not been augmented by some of their recent selections, including last week's announcement or last year's award of the Economics prize to Paul Krugman, or the 2007 Peace Prize to Al Gore, whose global warming theories he will not defend in open debate. Maybe an early Springtime announcement date of April 1, would be more appropriate.
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I didn't know that it was the role of the Nobel Peace Prize Committee to be handicapping the future performance of individuals and organizations, given that the deadline for this nomination occurred only twelve days into this current Administration. Nonetheless, I congratulate President Obama on his award and hope that in three-and-a- quarter years from now the Nobel Peace Prize Committee will be seen as prescient. The reason I point that out is because this is same person who requested from Congress for twenty-five thousand additional troops to be sent to Iraq, within the next ninety days. Is that how you END a war...by sending additional troops ? The Republi-Crats are two sides of the same coin.
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Mr. Obama will best fulfill the promise of peace that the Nobel Committee apparently sees in him by not trying to cure all the ills of the world, but by working to make the United States an example for the other nations of the world through implementation of a Libertarian foreign policy--that is, military non-interventionism combined with free trade policies in fact, and not just in rhetoric as has been the case heretofore. With those guiding principles, the world will be a freer, safer and a more prosperous planet at the conclusion of the Obama Administration. Let us pray...

End The Fed

2009-10-04T13:46:00.004-05:00

The Daily Show interview gave Dr. Paul a great chance to not only state why the Fed (i.e., the federal reserve) should be ended, but also to articulate why personal liberties are better protected when government is limited, not the other way around. Host Jon Stewart asked serious, thoughtful questions and emphasized that Dr. Paul's stand for small government has been a consistent one throughout the years no matter which political party held power.

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At the end of the interview, Stewart highly recommended End the Fed to his audience, saying that it was "really thought-provoking," as well as "really well-written" and "clearly from the heart." Click on the title, as a video image link to watch The Daily Show interview on CampaignForLiberty.com; it is also on You Tube:

The most provound statement, I thought, in the book was when Dr. Paul notes that "It's hard to regulate or enforce fraud laws when the government, itself, participates in fraud." Again, he is clearly talking about both Republicans and Democrats...and this has to stop.

Flower Petal

2009-09-13T15:33:00.003-05:00

The Subdudes have done it again !! This time it's Flower Petal. This may be their best yet. A little Americana music that is both soulfull and very expressive. What's there not to like? As I listened to it, I decided to rename it...I'll call it Flower Petal Power. Yeah, I like that. : )~

OK, it's shuffle loading time.

Cali Folk

2009-07-29T16:08:00.003-05:00

Californians...So as not to be outdone by all the redneck, hillbilly, and Texan jokes, somebody had to come up with this, you know you're from California if:

1. Your coworker has 8 body piercings and none are visible.

2. You make over $300,000 and still can't afford a house.

3. You take a bus and are shocked at two people carrying on a conversation in English.

4. Your child's 3rd-grade teacher has purple hair, a nose ring, and is named Flower.

5. You can't remember .. . Is pot illegal?

6. You've been to a baby shower that has two mothers and a sperm donor.

7. You have a very strong opinion about where your coffee beans are grown, and you can taste the difference between Sumatran and Ethiopian.

8. You can't remember .. . . Is pot illegal?

9.. A really great parking space can totally move you to tears.

10. Gas costs $1.00 per gallon more than anywhere else in the U.S.

11. Unlike back home, the guy at 8:30 am at Starbucks wearing a baseball cap and sunglasses who looks like George Clooney really IS George Clooney.

12. Your car insurance costs as much as your house payment.

13. You can't remember .. . .is pot illegal?

14. It's barely sprinkling rain and there's a report on every news station: "STORM WATCH."

15. You pass an elementary school playground and the children are all busy with their cells or pagers.

16. It's barely sprinkling rain outside, so you leave for work an hour early to avoid all the weather-related accidents.

17. HEY!!!! Is pot illegal????

18. Both you AND your dog have therapists, psychics, personal trainers and cosmetic surgeons.

19. The Terminator is your governor and even he can't seem to balance the state's budget.

20. If you drive illegally, they take your driver's license. If you're here illegally, they want to give you one.

21. And lest we forget...you buy a pet bed for your girly SNAKE.

I love those folks, especially when they stay home...

And Then There Were Six !!

2009-06-28T10:43:00.009-05:00

To all my Longhorn friends out there, please do not read this post...I'm sure you have better things to do anyway.

This week was a lot of fun, spanking the Longhorns and all. It's not that LSU fans hate the Horns, say the way OU or A&M fans do. To us, it's more of a mild amusement, especially in the way UT fans will one minute doubt their team's ability to win and the next will be telling you how they are going to (somehow) kick your ass. Tigers fans simply laugh at this mild rendition of trash talk. You see...we come from the SEC. There, not only do opposing teams tell you what Texas does but (get this...) they will also tell by what score it is going to happen. It surely has the tendency to make you doubt or at least wonder about your poor, little ole team. I mean, how do they know that? Quite simply, you come to know, is that they really don't and you've just been "schooled" in Trash Talk 101, SEC style.

So, to all of you Horn Fans who ventured on to continue reading this thing...I say Thank You, from the bottom of my heart. Texas fans are indeed the classiest that Tigers fan have ever had the honor of competing against, in any of our National Championships, ever !! (Bare in mind that since 1991, LSU has won eight in "The Big Three"...six in baseball and two in football) Geaux Tigers !!

Thanks, Donna, for the pix. I especially like the "Augie Burrito" one. That was Uber-Cool...

Cycling De Coded

2009-06-04T09:37:00.004-05:00

Cyclists are the biggest sandbaggers and secret trainers around. They'll say anything to soften you up for the kill. Don't let this happen to you. Study this handy rider's phrasebook to find out what they really mean when they say:

"I'm out of shape"

Translation: I ride 400 miles a week and haven't missed a day since the Ford administration. I replace my 11-tooth cog more often than you wash your shorts. My body fat percentage is lower than your mortgage rate.

"I'm not into competition. I'm just riding to stay in shape"

Translation: I will attack until you collapse in the gutter, babbling and whimpering. I will win the line sprint if I have to force you into oncoming traffic. I will crest this hill first if I have to grab your seat post, and spray energy drink in your eyes.

"I'm on my beater bike"

Translation: I had this baby custom-made in Tuscany using Carbon Fiber blessed by the Pope. I took it to a wind tunnel and it disappeared. It weighs less than a fart and costs more than a divorce.

"It's not that hilly"

Translation: This climb lasts longer than a presidential campaign. Be careful on the steep sections or you'll fall over -- backward. What... you only have a 39x23 low gear? Here's the name of my knee surgeon.

"You're doing great honey"

Translation: You, lard ass, I'd like to get home before midnight. This is what you get for spending the winter decorating and eating chocolate. I shoulda married that cute Cat 1 racer when I had the chance.

"This is a no-drop ride"

Translation: I'll need an article of your clothing for the search-and-rescue dogs.

"It's not that far"

Translation: Bring your passport.

The bottom line is that runners tend to be an honest lot and cyclists are NOT !! ; )

Da Vinci De-Coded

2009-04-17T09:44:00.005-05:00

Written across the wall of a cave outside of Jeruselum were the following symbols:
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It was considered a unique find and the writings were said to be at least three thousand years old! So, the piece of stone was removed, brought to the museum, and archaeologists from around the world came to study the ancient symbols. They held a huge meeting after months of conferences to discuss the meaning of the markings.
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The President of the society pointed to first drawing and said: "This is a woman. We can see these people held women in high esteem. You can also tell they were intelligent, as the next symbol is a donkey. So they were smart enough to have animals help them till the soil. The next drawing is a shovel, which means they had tools to help them."Even further proof of their high intelligence is the fish which means that if a famine hit the earth and food didn't grow, they seek food from the sea.
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The last symbol appears to be the Star of David which means they were evidently Hebrews. The audience applauded enthusiastically.
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Then a little old Jewish man stood up in the back of the room and loudly explained, "Idiots! Hebrew is read from right to left..... It says: 'Holy Mackerel, Dig The Ass On That Chick!'
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Eventhough I was a Liberal Arts Major, I love archeology... ; )

Are You Kidding Me !?!

2009-03-26T06:36:00.004-05:00

While running with my training group this week, a random thought popped into my mind. (BTW, this type of thing happens during running, all the time) Why the hell can I not keep up with this running group of mine? I've been running with them for about a year, now, and I should clearly be doing better than this. Or so I thought.

Am I slow? Am I a secret lolligager and I just don't know it? I mean really. What happens is I'll be running along with the group for a while, keeping up and everything. And then...those bastards just sloooowly pull away, once they get warmed up.

It's like the recurrence of a bad dream. About that time, a second thought hit me. One part of my little Scooter mind (the creative side, not the squirrely one) told the other part (the more analytical side) "Are you kidding me, Dude?" Those running group clowns are really freakin' fast. I mean of the total group of twelve, seven are Boston Marathon qualifiers !! My analytical side kinda took over at this point and came up with this about my running buddies:

Ann-I-Am: 42, 3:43 (What a hoot.)

Missy: 43, 3:37 (Silent but deadly)

Gary-Gary: 41, 3:16 (A sneaky little devil, indeed)

Coach Bill: 52, 3:01 (he actually paced the 3:15 group for the Austin Marathon this year...friggin' nutz !!)

Jay Bird: 32, 2:36 (double friggin' nutz)

What A Joy: 31, 3:17 (at one point, last year when she was seven months pregnant, I thought if she passes me...I quitting this running crap!)

Wild Bill: 51, 3:31 (He's like the Energizer Bunny!)

Santa Santos: 36, 3:17 (He's close...but you get the point)

The bottom line is: what was I thinking? As my grand pa LaFleur was apt to say about these situations "You gotta eat a lot more cornbread before you can hang with those folks." Oh well...here I go. Wish me luck! ; )~

Que Paso ??

2009-03-20T18:40:00.002-05:00

This much is true...the Republi-Crats have lied to you and I.
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The media tells us that "deregulation" and "unfettered free markets" have wrecked our economy and will continue to make things worse without a heavy dose of federal regulation. But the real blame lies elsewhere. In Meltdown, bestselling author Thomas E. Woods Jr. unearths the real causes behind the collapse of housing values and the stock market--and it turns out the culprits reside more in Washington than on Wall Street.

And the trillions of dollars in federal bailouts? Our politicians' ham-handed attempts to fix the problems they themselves created will only make things much worse. Woods, a senior fellow at the Ludwig von Mises Institute and winner of the 2006 Templeton Enterprise Award, busts the media myths and government spin. He explains how government intervention in the economy--from the Democratic hobby horse called Fannie Mae to affirmative action programs like the Community Redevelopment Act--actually caused the housing bubble.
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Most important, Woods, author of the New York Times bestseller The Politically Incorrect Guide to American History, traces this most recent boom-and-bust--and all such booms and busts of the past century--back to one of the most revered government institutions of all: the Federal Reserve System, which allows busy-body bureaucrats and ambitious politicians to pull the strings of our financial sector and manipulate the value of the very money we use.
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Meltdown also provides a timely history lesson to counter the current clamor for a new New Deal. The Great Depression, Woods demonstrates, was only as deep and as long as it was because of the government interventions by Herbert Hoover (no free-market capitalist, despite what your high school history teacher may have taught you) and Franklin D. Roosevelt (no savior of the American economy, in spite of what the mainstream media says). If you want to understand what caused the financial meltdown--and why none of the big-government solutions being tried today will work--Meltdown explains it all.
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I highly recommend it...its the best book I've read this week ! ; )

Puzzle Du Jour

2009-03-04T08:47:00.002-06:00

I really enjoy doing one of these, to start the day.
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Have fun with it !!
*********************************************
9:57; 8:23; 1:32; 11:25; 9:13; 2:48

In what way are the start and end of each of these six times identical?
(answer is below...unless, of course you know it already)
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*
*
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They start and end with the same letter:
9:57...Nine fifty-seveN
8:23...Eight twenty-threE
1:32...One thirty-twO
11:25...Eleven twenty-fivE
9:13...Nine thriteeN
2:48...Two forty-eighT
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As you were... ; )

Yumeaux !!

2009-02-16T10:19:00.004-06:00

A little secret that I've been keeping for quite some time has timely emerged. It's a long term project that has recently come to....ahem, fruition. The grapes have been planted many years ago and the winery is finally open !!

Check it out if you're in the area: http://www.pedernalescellars.com/ The goal, here, is quite simple...to make the best, low production, wine in Texas !

And (quickly looking left and now looking right) if anyone asks, just tell them a little bird told you about it...the secret wants to continue. Shhh...

The Law of Attraction

2009-02-06T09:04:00.005-06:00

"Like draws to like, and the goods which belong to you gravitate to you." (Emerson)

I suppose this is why Congress and the current administration are having so much trouble with this "Stimulus Package" thing. Borrowed money doesn't create anything...except more debt. Bad Karma on their part indeed ! BTW, I've always really enjoyed Ayn Rand's ideas and insight on this very subject matter. A woman ahead of her time, she was.

Big Abe

2009-02-03T07:45:00.004-06:00

As an old History/Political Science major (and Philosophy minor) I dearly love to read about significant historical figures, especially those who have directly contributed to matters or situations impacting my lifetime. It's for this reason that I recently began reading and in some cases re-reading literature on Abe Lincoln. He's best known for his thinking, writing and speeches as I'm sure you all know quite well. Most notably among his writings are the following expressions, that are my favs:

-"No man resolved to make the most of himself can spare the time for personal contention." Amen to that...

-"I am rather inclined to silence, and whether that be wise or not, it is at least more unusual nowadays to find a man who can hold his tongue than to find one who cannot." Bingo !! Man do we need more of these...

-"Character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing." Read that one again...it's worth it.

-"I want it said of me by those who knew me best, that I always plucked a thistle and planted a flower where I thought a flower would grow." He was a Dowist, indeed.

And so he did...Lincoln is known for having planted many, wonderful "flowers" in his time. We learned many of these in school.

Also, I recently came across and also enjoyed the photo, above, and how it dovetails nicely into the nascent idea of Lincoln that came to mind during these recent readings: i.e., a person going along quite well in life, fully knowing and seeing the cold, hard and possibly tumultuous times just ahead. However, they continue to bravely advance and make their way towards it anyway. It is their destiny to do this.

Bandera 25k

2009-01-12T10:28:00.004-06:00

This past Saturday was the annual Bandera run. I opted for the 25k as, for reasons obvious in photo #2, I didn't need to run any more on this particular day !! ...lol

The race was a load of fun, up to the point were I was a little fatigued but I hadn't noticed it yet. That's the recipe for the "spill" as I've come to call it. It's about 2/3's of the way through the race, I'm doing well and then I hear the infamous 'thump' sound that indicates the first step (of which there are at least three by my definition) in the spill process. The second step is where you actually hit the deck, all the while wondering "hmmm....what exactly just happened to me?" Then you come to know that you just fell and immediately, if possible, hop up from the ground, dust yourself off and quickly look around to see if anyone saw that. (here comes #3: mild embarrassment) Two guys behind me did see it...as soon as I indicated that I was ok, the snickers and giggles commenced. Myself included. Yeah, I thought, when the legs get just a little rubbery but you haven't yet fully noticed it, that can be dangerous. That little Queen song came to mind: "another one bites the dust...let's go !!" So I did...

Now, I'm fully aware of my condition and went on to finish the race a little more conscious of my condition and at a little more careful pace. All in all, not too bad for a rookie: a 3:21 25k, through the woods, no less.

The last pix is of my ice bath in my in-law's pool in Kerrville. That water was like 50 friggin degrees. So, my already sore legs hurt like the devil when I first stepped into the pool. But, after about 30 seconds, POOF !, they went numb from the cold water. I gotta say, afterwards is always a better feeling than going into those ice bath things !

All in all, Bandera was a fun race that I'll probably do again in the future...

When to Quit

2009-01-05T08:30:00.002-06:00

Sometimes, you just gotta know when enough is enough...

A Libertarian's New Year's Resolutions

2009-01-04T13:28:00.003-06:00

These resolutions were originally developed by Harry Browne, one of the very influential persons (along with Ayn Rand) who introduced me to the ideas of this party, to which I try to adhere to today, and will continue to do so into the future. As many of you know, my party affiliations have run the gamut from a somewhat Liberal Democrat in and immediately following college to a brief stint as a Republican Dude in my late 20's. Now I believe that I feel most comfortable in the Party of Liberty (as a Libertarian). Therefore, I am going to make these my own for 2009.

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1. I resolve to *sell* liberty by appealing to the self-interest of each person, rather than *preaching* to people and expecting them to suddenly adopt my ideas of right and wrong. (my college profs were good at this)
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2. I resolve to keep from being drawn into arguments or debates. My purpose is to inspire people to want liberty -- not to prove that they're wrong. (to anyone who I've offended on this one, I hereby apologize)
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3. I resolve to *listen* when people tell me of their wants and needs, so that I can help them see how a free society will satisfy those needs. (Ron Paul is credited with further developing this idea)
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4. I resolve to identify myself, when appropriate, with the social goals that someone may seek -- a cleaner environment, more help for the poor, a less divisive society -- and try to show him that those goals can never be achieved by government, but will be well served in a free society. (I thank Ms. Rand for this one)
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5. I resolve to be compassionate and respectful of the beliefs and needs that lead people to seek governmental help. I don't have to approve of their subsidies or policies -- but if I don't acknowledge their needs, I have no hope of helping them find a better way to solve their problems. (my old Sunday school teacher's introduction of the Old Testament's Book of Samuel immediately came to mind on this one)
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6. No matter what the issue, I resolve to keep returning to the central point: how much better off the individual will be in a free society.
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7. I resolve to acknowledge my good fortune in having been born an American (corny but true). Any plan for improvement must begin with a recognition of the good things we have. To speak only of America's defects will make me a tiresome crank. (Amen to that !!)
*
8. I resolve to focus on the ways America could be so much better with a very small government -- not to dwell on all the wrongs that exist today.
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9. I resolve to cleanse myself of hate, resentment, and bitterness. Such things steal time and attention from the work that must be done.
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10. I resolve to speak, dress, and act in a respectable manner. I may be the first libertarian someone has encountered, and it's important that he get a good first impression. No one will hear the message if the messenger is unattractive.
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11. I resolve to remind myself that someone's "stupid" opinion may be an opinion I once held. If *I* can grow, why can't I help *him/her* grow?
*
12. I resolve not to raise my voice in any discussion. In a shouting match, no one wins, no one changes his/her mind, and no one will be inspired to join our quest for a free society.
*
13. I resolve not to adopt the tactics of Republicans and Democrats. They use character assassination, evasions, and intimidation because they have no real benefits to offer Americans. We, on the other hand, are offering to set people free -- and so we can win simply by focusing on the better life our proposals will bring.

*
14. I resolve to be civil to my opponents and treat them with respect. However anyone chooses to treat me, it's important that I be a better person than my enemies.
*

* * *

When I first read these, I thought that this guy was well ahead of his time. Then I remembered: this is very similar language to the very people who formed this country of ours... We apparently have lost our way and simply need to make a correction.

Happy New Years Everybody !!

O T T Dawg !!

2008-12-29T13:44:00.001-06:00

I wish I had some of what makes this dog go !!
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http://www.dogwork.com/dogsnow/

Tragic Loss of an Austin Area Tiger

2008-12-18T06:23:00.007-06:00

This is very sad holiday news. While running the Dallas White Rock Marathon this past Sunday, December 14th, Erin Krielow Lahr, Austin area Louisiana native and LSU grad, tragically passed away. She was a seasoned 29 year old runner who was in fantastic shape. She was a wonderful, fun-loving person who will be very sorely missed. Our thoughts and prayers go to her husband Jeff, to her family, and to her friends and coworkers. Below are the latest details for Erin's wake, funeral service and memorial fund:
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Wake: Thursday, Dec. 18 Time: TBD (best guess 4-7pm)Delhomme Funeral Home1011 Bertrand DriveLafayette, LA 70506(337) 235-9449
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Funeral Service: Friday, Dec. 19, 10:00 AMSt. Pius X Catholic Church201 E. Bayou ParkwayLafayette, LA 70508(337) 232-4656
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Burial will be at the Gueydan Cemetery in Gueydan, La.
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A memorial fund has been set up in Erin's honor.
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Donations can be made to the following: Erin Krielow Lahr Memorial FundP.O. Box 80373Austin, TX 78708
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As you celebrate this holiday season with your family and friends, please keep Erin's husband, family and friends in your thoughts and prayers.
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Information courtesy of LSU Austin Alumni Association

Inaugural Rock 'n' Roll San Antonio Marathon & 1/2 Marathon

2008-12-03T10:40:00.010-06:00

Since I began what is commonly referred to as running about a year ago, I've made it a personal goal of mine to increase both my speed and endurance. I must say, the speed is still lacking but the endurance part has gotten much better. So, I signed up for the SA Inaugural 1/2 Marathon...It was a hoot !!

There I am at the starting line, in the conspicuous purple hat...do you see me?

Here I am again, struggling to do this thing...running. BTW, the weather was absolutely perfect: 40 degrees, 30% humidity, sunny, and no wind.

(Insert pseudo-British sounding voice) And now glancing at photo #3: I actually finished the thing in 2:13. Not bad for my first 1/2 marathon. No kidding...I must have passed up like 300 slow runners. Sheeze did I expend needless amounts of energy trying to get around those clowns ! Actually, I signed up to be in corral #20...what a mistake. So, I ducked out of my original corral while returning from El Potty and snuck-scooted up to corral #17 once the race began. Unbelievably, I still had to pass what equated to a small village of poky runners. (Lesson learned #1)

Any way, some lady at the finish basically made me take a "finisher's" photo. Yes...I'll have a burger with that cheese.

That's it. Short and sweet. I would like to thank everyone involved with this running pursuit of mine: the peeps who initially talked me into this Kool-Aid drinking thing, my running buds at the Black Sox and Coach Bill for his assistance, insight and guidance. Thanks Everyone !!

The New Government Symbol

2008-12-03T10:28:00.002-06:00

Here is a very succinct way of explaining why yours truly is a Libertarian. I don't think I could say it any better than this...

Get Out And Vote, Damnit !!

2008-11-04T10:58:00.003-06:00

Everyone knows what is today. So, whether you are Democrat or Republican, Green Party or Libertarian...get out there and vote if you have not already done so. Contrary to what the candidates are saying, I think we will have change no matter who wins this election !!

As my friends are fond of reiterating about me, strange things happen in the most unexpected ways. You don't always know what you'll find, until you begin to look for it.

What? You are wondering for whom you should vote today? Hmmm...I have a few ideas, so let me help you with that... ; )~

WTF ??

2008-07-22T09:24:00.005-05:00

Yesterday, as I'm cruising north bound on Hwy 287, from Wichita Falls toward Vernon, TX, I was doing the usual listening to tunes and la-ly-gaging along. Then, out of the corner of my vision I saw what was surely a North Texas, hotter-n-hell mirage. So, I look again. And, sure enough, it was what I thought it to be. Two bikini clad chicas sitting atop an old Cadillac, right there, on the side of the road, in front of someone's home. Except the chicas were not as they appeared. Damn manikins !! OK...back to the real world and on to my appointment having enjoyed a small laugh for the morn.

Coeur d'Alene Ironman

2008-07-02T10:50:00.003-05:00

I wanted to congratulate my friend (and neighbor) Robin for her completion and very good results in the 2008 Ford Ironman, Coeur d'Alene in Idaho. Her inaugural Iron by the way... Here is a video of it prepared by her brother: http://animoto.com/play/g5cguzAZjiX0VB71VXXrTA

Way to go Robin !!

OMG...It's a Strandbeest !!

2008-05-21T09:39:00.002-05:00

Theo Jansen is a Dutch artist who builds walking kinetic sculptures that he calls a new form of life. His "Strandbeests" walk the coastline of Holland, feeding on wind and fleeing from water.

Theo has been working for 16 years to create sculptures that move on their own in eerily lifelike ways. Each generation of his "Strandbeests" is subject to the forces of evolution, with successful forms moving forward into new designs. Jansen's vision and long-term commitment to his wooden menagerie is as fascinating to observe as the beasts themselves.His newest creatures walk without assistance on the beaches of Holland, powered by wind, captured by gossamer wings that flap and pump air into old lemonade bottles that in turn power the creatures' many plastic spindly legs. The walking sculptures look alive as they move, each leg articulating in such a way that the body is steady and level. They even incorporate primitive logic gates that are used to reverse the machine’s direction if it senses dangerous water or loose sand where it might get stuck. Check 'em out: http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/162

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"A self-styled god, Jansen is evolving an entirely new line of animals: immense multi-legged walking critters designed to roam the Dutch coastline, feeding on gusts of wind." --Wired News

The Adventures of Barack and Hillary, con't...

2008-05-09T09:45:00.004-05:00

Priceless !!

Random Thought: Life isn't like a box of chocolates. It's actually more like a jar of jalapenos. What you do today, might burn your butt tomorrow.

The Best Rock Show In Town: Rush

2008-05-05T16:34:00.002-05:00

These guys flat out rock!! I've seen them many times and they still continue to impress me, more so each and every time. Gary Lee Weinrib (aka, Geddy Lee) is amazing. Alexander Zivojinovich (aka, Alex Lifeson) is one of my fav guitarist. But, that Neil Peart (pronounced: Peert) is without a doubt the best drummer, ever ! Bar none. I left the concert is a mild form of daze at just how good a show I had just witnessed. For the record...I only had one beer. ...lol

My New Living Will

2008-05-05T16:24:00.003-05:00

Here is my New Living Will Form:

I, Scooter Boudreaux, being of sound mind and body, do not wish to be kept alive indefinitely by artificial means. Under NO circumstances should my fate be put in the hands of pinhead partisan politicians who couldn't pass ninth-grade biology if their lives depended on it or lawyers/doctors/hospitals interested in simply running up the bills. As a matter of fact, if a reasonable amount of time passes and I fail to ask for at least one of the following:

______a Martini

______a Margarita

______ a Scotch and soda

______a Bloody Mary

______a Gin and Tonic

_____a Glass of Shiraz

______a Steak

______Lobster or crab legs

______The remote control

______a bowl of ice cream

______The sports page

______Chocolate
______Flying Magazine or

______Sex

It should be presumed that I won't ever get any better. When said determination has been reached, I hereby instruct my appointed person and attending physicians to pull the plug, reel in the tubes and call it a day.

At this point, it is time to call the New Orleans Jazz Funeral Band to come do their thing at my funeral, and ask all of my friends to raise their glasses to toast the good times we have had.

Signature: ___________________________

Date: ___________________________

RANDOM NOTE: I also hear that in Ireland they have a Nursing Home with a Pub. The patients are happier and they have a lot more visitors. Some of them don't even need embalming when their time comes. If anyone knows the name of this happy place PLEASE pass it on!

2009 Job Market

2008-04-04T11:22:00.005-05:00

A friend of mine sent this to me...very creative and freakin' hilarious, without regard to anyone's political affiliation ! Click on the title for a direct You Tube link, for better viewing.

Engineering Question Du Jour

2008-04-01T14:12:00.007-05:00

Q.) How much does a house weigh ???

A.) Just a tad more than a rural two-lane bridge can hold, apparently.

So (and you all knew this was coming... as it is the trickiest and best part of this conundrum) would this damage be covered by the Homeowners policy, the Commercial Truck/Common Carrier's policy or does it come under Roadside Assistance coverage from AAA? Either way, there's going to be a mad and temporarily homeless redneck family, somewhere !! Spoot !

La-re-do del Norte (Biz Tripping)

2008-04-01T10:24:00.004-05:00

Apparently, a long, long time ago...Laredo was known as Laredo of The North, meaning located in the northern provence of Mexico known as Tamaulipas. Then, there was a fight and you all know the rest of that story, so I won't bore you with repetition of it. Suffice it to say that Laredo is different, even as border towns go. But, I must say that the folks are friendly and you can get the best less than $10 Tex-Mex lunch anywhere.

The next best thing that it is known for is various and sundry, inexpensive Mexican imports. You know the kind. Like the ones pictured above. I even texted Erin to see if she would like for me to pickup a couple of these for her pad. They would be quite effective in scaring off would be "unannounced visitors." She responded that she would pass on the imports but I figured that some photos would at least be mildly entertaining and somewhat decorative, in an ironic sense. These are quite sturdy as they are made of cast aluminum...they could double as family heirlooms for generations to come !!

Workout Report:

Wed: Cycle, 20 miles down the Parm windtunnell, 16.9 amph

Thur: Mesa Hill repeats with The Du's, 4 repeats, 5.6 miles and a couple of cervesas. Now that's a Quality Workout.

Fri: Nada...El Tripe to Laredo + Happy Hours

Sat: Cycle, 45 miles with Stephen at the Rosedale Ride

Sun: Run, 5 miles on Brushy Creek Trail, 8:50 average...man, the days are warming up.

Mon: Gym (yes, I rediscovered it !!) and 3 miles running on the dreadmill

Do What ??

2008-03-26T15:22:00.005-05:00

An old college friend of mine sent these jokes to me today. They are so funny that I had to pass them on. Hopefully, they help with your Wednesday !!
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1. So, how many of you believe in psycho-kinesis? Then, raise my hand.
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2. OK, so what's the speed of dark? Hmm...I dunno.
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3. When everything is coming your way, you're in the wrong lane. There may be alcohol involved with this one.
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4. Hard work pays off in the future. Laziness pays off now! (definitely my fav.)
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5. How much deeper would the ocean be without sponges? (Requires DEEP thought)
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6. Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines. (That's true...and as you all know, "weaseling into" or "out of" something is definitely one of my favorite expressions of speech)
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Work Out Report:
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Fri: Run, 5 miles, 8:45 pace. What the hell am I doing, running on my day off ??
Sat: Cycle, 35 miles, 17.5 mph average. Man, I love that new Parmer extension. It goes past Hwy 29 and so far out into the country now that you can see members of the "Land of The Nine Fingered People."
Sun: Nada....just chilled; Whassup !! Sniff...
Mon: Run, 8.5 miles with Erin around TLT (Town Lake Trails). A little right thigh stiffness after that one.
Tues: Run, 4.6 miles with the Du's at AHS; 400 repeats (2:10 average) with 200 recovery...did eight of these total, plus the run to and from J&A's. Ah yes, Spring is back.

What Is That ??

2008-03-17T08:12:00.004-05:00

Last week was a blur...lots of stuff going on and just like that, it was gone. I found myself saying "What is this or what am I doing, here" quite often...a true sign of a busy schedule. But, a lot was accomplished that needed to be done. Even though work obligations took up most of my time, I still was able to "squeeze in" most of what I set out to do, relative to work out activities. However, I do need to get my butt (and the rest of myself) in the gym more often.

Work Out Report:

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Tues: Run,6.5 miles, quality work out with the Du's
Wed: Core w/o and spin class, 20 mile cycling equivalent
Thurs: Run, 4 miles on the dread, at the hotel
Fri: Happy, Happy Hours...king of the Friday Afternoons !!
Sat: Cycle, 40 miles Tim, Erin, Dionn and Gina along with a run for 3 miles....this little ditty wiped me out
Sun: Cycle, 50 miles and a small fall off of the bike at an intersection...a little embarrassing but good fodder for laughing at myself. The ride with E., Tim, Maggie, et al itself was a good one. (Really, E., it was 50 !! Check it off the list. ...lol ) Also, 1.5 miles run...a bit less difficult of a brick than Sat's; so apparently I'm getting acclimated to it.

Things People Put on Their Vehicles

2008-03-11T08:52:00.003-05:00

"Pirate and Proud" ...how nice !! Looks like this person was in town for a marshal arts convention. Let's see: 1-marshal arts badass and 2-pirate tendencies; Hmmm...yes, I shall chose to leave this person alone, as in not messing with them. If you get my drift, Matey !!
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I do enjoy entertaining myself while I'm out and about town...sometime I'm working, other times not.
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Workout Report:
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Wed: Spin Class, 20 mile equivalent
Thurs: Run, 7 miles
Fri: I mean REALLY people...Happy Hours ahoy !!
Sat: Cycle, 50 miles with Erin, Glenda, Kris, Dionn and Tim down Old SA Road
Sun: Cycle, 32 miles with Stephen, doing the Parmer Wind Tunnel Exercise. Random Thought: man, I really like my new Schwinn rain jacket. It doubles as a very formidable wind breaker as well and it came in handy not once but twice this weekend. Get one folks.
Mon: Run, 400 Repeats on the dreadmill; and let's not forget a gym workout, to boot... AARRR !!

Ladies and Gentlemen...Ms. Amy Weiskopf

2008-02-28T09:21:00.004-06:00

Within the last week, independent of each other two friends asked me for New Orleans restaurant recommendations as they were both going there for business conventions. Needless to say, they were not disappointed and I, of course, was jealous. Particularly my friend Christine who opted for the cuisine at Emeril's Delmonico. One of my all-time favs. She noted both the exquisite fare and the elegant, yet understated decor of the restaurant. Most notably in her observations, though, were the paintings on display both at the bar area and at various parts of the dining portion itself. In what was a seemingly deja vu encounter, it donned on her that the paintings were somehow vaguely familiar, though she had not been to Delmonico before. Things that make you go....hmmm?

As it turns out, she has previously viewed the work of Amy Weiskopf at the Hackett-Freedman Gallery in San Francisco some time ago. Viola !! The fog began to clear. When the restaurant was renovated in July of 1998, the current owner wanted stunning paintings to hang in the restaurant, so he commissioned the world-renowned still-life artist to paint oil paintings that showcase the classic elements of Creole Cuisine. Weiskopf's paintings are noted for their visual acuity and tightly controlled compositions, wherein daringly arranged foodstuffs, seemingly poised on the edge of collapse or out of context, push to the forefront of the picture plane. According to the artist, her "paintings are more visual than narrative. They are about opposites, contrasts of tonal structure, color values and varying depths of space, creating a complicated visual experience within the precise format of still life." A unique style but very cool...
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Work Out Report:
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Friday: 5 mile run
Sat: Gym in morning (some people just cannot get up on the weekends...) and 28 miles cycling later in the day
Sun: 34 miles cycling

Mon: Walk 5 miles; Then ran 10x, 200 yard sprints w/ 200 yard active recovery in between

Tues: 6 mile run, at Wm.son County Park w/ Coach Bill's Clan

Wed: Gym and spin class, 20 mile equivalent workout...that spin class instructor is tuff!!

South Padre Bound...

2008-02-19T11:46:00.010-06:00

Yesterday was a biz trip day to The Island. After boarding the plane, I began reading the daily Austin American mis-Statemen paper. And here's my horiscope du jour (BTW, Erin's the one who got me hooked on reading this silly stuff) : "There is always an exception to the rule, and today, you're it. You're special, your talent is special, and the world gives you special treatment. Soak it up. This doesn't happen every day or to everyone." I have to admit, I like this one...

So, here are a few pix from the trip:

1-Leaving the Austin airport. It's about 40 degrees outside.

2-The view from the client's second story louvered tower. It's about 72 degrees outside, now.

3-The front of the office that burned. Does this look like a $1 million fire to you? Me neither...

4-The back porch view, from the client's beach home. I gotta tell you...it would be uber cool to look out your back window or door, to to see this each and every day.

5-And, (insert circus music...) no trip to SPI would be complete without a stop at Shell World !!

6-H-Town on the return trip. BTW, where is that service attendant with my beer??

Zee Marathon !!

2008-02-19T10:39:00.008-06:00

Missy, Cameron and numerous friends, neighbors and acquaintences ran either the entire AT&T Marathon on Sunday or the half. What a truly exciting event to witness. I was also lucky enough to watch the leaders basically fly by me, not once but on four different occasions.

Missy and Cameron did well, finishing with a 4:12 time on what was their first marathon. Here are a few pix:

1-Missy and Cam at the beginning, trying to stay warm

2-The start line for the race

3-Cam and Missy (in the back) at mile 19. I met Matt and Donna (my friends and neighbors) on Arroyo Secco to see this part.

4-Missy's brother, Mark, up from Houston as a surprise visitor for the run.

5-Yours truly, Donna and Matt....what great fun it is to live in this town !!

Work Out Report:

Thurs: "Rest Day" What, you did something else??

Fri: Real Rest Day

Sat: Gym and spin class, 20 mile equivalent

Sun: 38 Bike miles, cruising around the marathon course....brrrr, a quite chilly 40 degrees, to start

Mon: Yet, another rest day....I suppose I need to get my ass busy, again !! Sheeze...that work thing is starting to materially interfere with my work outs, again...

Grand Champion !

2008-02-14T08:02:00.006-06:00

Tuesday evening as I was watching the Westminster Kennel Club dog show, it occurred to me how riduculous some of these "Champions" look. The Poodles look like some sort of girly Star Wars creature, instead of someone's pet. BTW, who would go out in public with a dog that looks like this...I mean REALLY?

However, the coolest of the real dogs where the Akita and the Beagle "UNO," the latter of which won Best In Show. The Akita reminded me of my own dog, Rocket, who is part Akita and part Collie. UNO I must say, is a studly dawg and to boot he lives right here in Austin, TX !! Geaux UNO !!

Work Out Report:

Mon: 27 miles on the Bike (Did I mention how I love riding my bike??)

Tues: 5 mile run (actually, an easy run...imagine that)

Wed: Gym workout and 1 hr. spin, 20 mile equivalent (my legs were a little sluggish for some, odd reason)

I Am A Star !!

2008-02-10T16:31:00.000-06:00

Last Tuesday, after a run, Erin casually mentions something about doing a small, very casual, 5K on Saturday morning right near her house. BTW, she's kind of sneaky and persuasive like that. Later in the week, as my introduction into 5K's in general, I sign up for the Lil Longhorn and meet both Erin and Maggie there to do the run. The run well, I did a 27.06 and we each go our separate ways afterwards. It was fun...

The surprise comes later. On Sunday morning, I'm reading the Austin American Mis-Statesmen and what do I find inside of the Metro Section...a picture of Moi, along with all of the others at the beginning of the run. (I am right under the "O" in the white hat and shades) I never was able to locate either Erin or Maggie in the photo (above). Anyway, it's probably for the best...those two already have America's Most Wanted in hot pursuit of them as we speak !! Since they are not visible in the picture near me, I won't have to answer all of those 'Persons of Interest' inquiry calls from the authorities...

Workout Report:

Mon: Pas Rien. Rest day.

Tues: 5 mile run. Begin to feel the onset of a nasty sinus thing.

Wed: Sick Day

Thurs: Bike, 27 miles...hacking all the while

Fri: Gym workout for a couple of hours; also, 3 miles on the dreadmill

Sat: 5k (!) or 3 miles + 15 miles on bike with Stephen

Sun: 15 miles on bike at Veloway...discovered that I'm a local celebrity ...lol

What's Wrong With This Picture ??

2008-02-05T10:02:00.000-06:00

A friend of mine sent this picture to me. These men are installing and setting solid steel pillars in concrete to stop vehicles from parking on the pavement, outside a sports bar in downtown Norman, OK. Apparently, the Okies are cleaning up at the end of the day.

So, how long do you think it will be before they realize where their vehicle is parked? And, they wonder why we make fun of them, so !!

Allons a Mardi Gras !!

2008-02-05T07:46:00.000-06:00

Horoscope Du Jour: Embrace your weirdness today. Trying to be 'normal' is a pointless waste of time. I think for once, they have me pegged...especially on this day that is so revered and celebrated in my native New Orleans. I suppose my horoscope parallels the addage: you can take the boy out of the City (a term New Orleanians use to refer to their hometown) but you can't take the City out of the boy. Happy Mardi Gras everyone !!

As you can tell, everyone gets involved in the festivities: Grand Ma's, Cave Men and Women, Dorks Extraordinaire and Indians (a self-described term used by Creole African Americans who have a Taino Indian, Caribbean Native American, heritage). Very fun and interesting stuff even for those NOT intoxicated for the event !!

The Positive: Workplace and Life

2008-02-01T10:11:00.000-06:00

Leadership is not about the size of your office or the prestige of your title. And it's not just for CEOs and VPs of sales. We all can lead, in all that we do. For me, true leadership is more about the depth of your commitment and the strength of your character than about the position that you hold. Lead without a title, as it were.

To me, leadership is a way of being. It's about inspiring all of those who surround you to realize their gifts and stand for personal greatness. It's about taking responsiblility for every dimension of your life, as opposed to blaming others for what's not working. It's about devoting yourself to excellence in every pursuit and making things better, no matter how good they already are. After all, when has "good enough" really ever been good enough?

Leadership is also about connecting to people. Deeply. Genuinely. Passionately. Because business and life are really all about people. And people can always spot a fake...

A friend of mine were having a discussion recently, about how incredibly short life can be. How we need to dream, act and be the people we know we can be... right now. How all that we can leave behind, in the end, are the great things we have done and the kindness we have given others. And, how success is powerful. But living with integrity and significance is even better. Those of us who live with all of these elements are those who are superb leaders and human beings. These are goals with the underlining understanding that none of us are perfect.

The bottom line is any person who wants to lead and live a remarkable life, can. Teachers, entrepreneurs, artists and students can lead. As Mark Twain once wrote, "if everybody was satisfied with himself there would be no heroes."

Work Out Report:

Sat: 3 miles...measly, I know but I have friends who are bad influences on me. ; )

Sun: 1 hr, spin class, 20 mile equivalent

Mon: Rest Day (small, family emergencies notwithstanding)

Tues: Gym and 1hr, spin class, 20 mile equiv.

Wed: Gym and 1hr, spin class addiction 'fix', 20 mile equiv.

Thurs: 7 miles on the trails, sans the walk breaks. My longest continous run, to date.

Fri: Happy Hours vs. Gym and a Run? ....hmmm; TBD

A Public Service Announcement

2008-01-25T08:13:00.000-06:00

This message goes out to all my friends who drink wine regularly, to my friends who enjoy a glass of wine occasionally and to those who don't...

As Ben Franklin said: in wine there is wisdom, in beer there is freedom, in water there is bacteria. In a number of carefully controlled trials, scientists have demonstrated that if we drink 1 litre of water each day (and most of our training friends do that, right?), at the end of the year we have absorbed more than 1 kilo of Escherichia coli (E coli) - the bacteria found in feces. In other words, we are consuming 1 kilo of poop. Major ewww factor!

However, we do not run that risk when drinking wine and beer (or tequila, run, whisky, or other liquor) because alcohol has to go through a purification process of boiling, filtering and/or fermenting. Remember the formula this way: Water = Poop, Wine = Health
.

Therefore, it is better to drink wine and talk stupid, than to drink water and be full of sh*t. And, again there is no need to thank me for this valuable information. I am doing it as a pro-bono public service. So, drink up Toute Le Monde!! That reminds me..it's cellar tidying time again. Who's up for the proceeds?

Yummage Du Jour:

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2005 The Colonial Estate GSM Envoy, 93 points (Drink 2006-2014. ). The compelling 2005 Envoy GSM’s blue/purple color is accompanied by gorgeous aromas of graphite, camphor, blueberries, blackberries, and acacia flowers. Dense, full-bodied, and rich, with extraordinary purity and precision, it was aged completely in French oak. This beauty should drink well for 7-8 years. But, who can wait that long...drink it NOW!! Guaranteed to be better than the Koolaid...

Hot Lunch

2008-01-22T13:47:00.000-06:00

I know there is no such thing as a Free Lunch. Ahh...but no one ever said anything about a Hot Lunch !! For those, there are aplenty. The ingredients can definitely be mixed or matched, depending on what's fresh and available. Here's today's version. I call it Terrific Tuesday's Hot Lunch.

Mix the following into a medium heated, olive oil laced 8" skillet, once the veggies are washed and towel dried:

-one stalk of fresh celery, cleaned and chopped

-1/2 cup, fresh organic babby carrots

-1/4 cup, sweet Maya onions, diced finely

-2, small sweet Portuguese peppers, chopped

-2 tablespoons, chopped garlic

-1 cup, grape tomatoes, sliced in half

-1/2 cup, pine nuts

Stir fry these until the onions are clear. Then stir in the following:

-2 cups, fresh organic baby spinach

-(optional and skipped for vegetarians) 1 cup chopped left over meat: BBQ brisket, salmon or chicken. Tofu is a good sub for this item.

-season with black pepper and your fav seasoning salt (Emeril's Essence is mine)

Stir fry for another 2-3 minutes and then let sit for one minute, to allow seasonings to merge and the dish to cool enough to eat. My most anticipated moment !! Yummage Du Jour.

And, of course, no meal is complete without the assistance of my astute Sous Chef, Rocket...

I Am Lex Luthor !!

2008-01-22T07:15:00.000-06:00

I took the Google Super Hero/Super Villain quiz. http://www.thesuperheroquiz.com/

The results were mildly surprising. Apparently, and as some of you may have guessed...my mischievous Scooter side came through in the quiz! So, this means that as Lex, I am a brilliant businessman, on a quest for world domination and the self-proclaimed greatest criminal mind of our time! Hey...this has potential and could be fun!!

Work Out Log:

Sat: Spin Class, 1 hr., 20 mile equivalent (That Thomas guy on Saturdays is pretty funny and cool.)

Sun: Ran 10 miles with Erin and her friend Jeff (It took 4-ever !! Like, two hours and something...anyway, Thanks for having me along.)

Mon: Spin Class, 1hr., 20 mile equivalent (I think the Nazi Woman is trying to kill us all !! And, I'm starting to get creeped out by her. She randomly hops off her spin cycle and walks around during the class, with a strange look in her eyes... like she's on the prowl or something. She's probably Cat Woman in an everyday woman's clothing, as camouflage! )

`A Plus Tarde, Toute Le Monde !

Behold, The Squirrels

2008-01-21T14:35:00.000-06:00

My friend Jeff calls yesterday, asking for assistance of a unique kind. I said " Jeff, I'm not in to that sort of thing, Dude!." "No, no" he says, " I need help getting rid of some squirrels in my attic." To which I replied, "well...do you just want to get rid of them 'period' or were you planning on utilizing the 'humane, relocation method'? Not one to mince words, he says "WTF...I don't care...the little bastards scared Rita (his smarter and better half) with their scratching noise up there, they're tearing up the attic and they're shitting everywhere." OK....well, now we have a plan. I'll be over in a minute.

So, as I'm driving there...I wonder. Does he have singing squirrels? A family of squirrels? Or, simple, Mr. Bad-Ass squirrel in his attic? It matters as to how you're going to address the situation, people !! So, initially, we go with Phase I: Implementation of Live Traps. Bait them with peanut butter and set them out around the attic. Check. When we catch them, give 'em a ride.

If that doesn't work...there's always Phase II ! Brroo-Ha-Ha....

Hey Monsieur...Does Your Dog Bite?

2008-01-18T14:28:00.000-06:00

These pictures were sent to me by a commercial pilot friend of mine. They were taken just outside the carrier flight crew's layover hotel in Lagos, Nigeria, by a field tech working with them. The locals seem friendly enough, though. It creates a whole new paradigm to the old Pink Panther line (above)...or, better yet the following one by Inspector Cluso, "Monsieur, I thought you said your dog does NOT bite! Monsieur, retorts the man on the street, that is not my dog!!" I'm not so sure these are even dogs, at all.

Do you think they have been vaccinated? Would you like to pet them !!

Anywho...here's the other stuff:

Work Out Report

Mon: 1 hr. of spin class... Approx. 20 miles

Tues: 400 x 6 repeats... Not sure of time; seems my runner partner may have been confused.

Wed: 1 hr. of spin class... Approx. 20 miles (That cycling Nazi gal wore me out !!)

Thurs: Ran w/ Coach Bill... 6 miles of trail running; Williamson County Park

Fri: Gym and Dreadmill...5 mile equivalent

Today's Gotta Be Monday!!

2008-01-14T14:21:00.000-06:00

At the beginning of work weeks, I often wonder: during this one, am I going to be the fish or the Creature from the Black Lagoon?

"Swamp Thing, I Think I Love You" (electric guitar sounds whaling in the background).
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Aquarists take note, it is critically important to consider the full size and special care requirements of adult specimens before stocking your tank with juvenile versions of these. Yes, they’re adorable and cute. And sure, they’re nice and small now. But (much like alligators and reptilians in general) what are you going to do a few months from now...when they’ve reached full maturity, and you’re chasing one around the house with a harpoon gun? You know the story...it caught a glimpse of your girlfriend or significant other in her swimsuit, fell in love, grabbed her and ran away in the general direction of the foggy swamp?
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"I Wanna Know For Sure" Wha Wha Wha Whaaa...

We Are The Champions, My Friends...

2008-01-13T10:42:00.000-06:00

Ahh yes...I almost to post the findings of the BCS Championship Game. How silly of me to forget, to quote one of my LSU buddies. Well, it went well and I must admit that Ohio State was a much more formidable opponent than were those Okie Chokie, Loser Sooners in 2003. My hat goes off to Ohio State and a big "Yaa-Hoo" to the Tigers !!

And to my buddy Phil in Cleveland, that's a size medium shirt, Sir. All cotton, please, just like last year's. ; )~ And, I expecting the photo of you, with yours on tout de suite and again on Ohio State/Michigan Weekend in November.

Here's a little additional PPS of the game, for your viewing pleasure... http://www.nola.com/photos/t-p/index.ssf?2008BCSshow/

2007 In Review

2007-12-31T16:56:00.000-06:00

In 2007, I am thankful for many wonderful things: my family, friends, my career and last but not least, my hobbies. My immediate and extended family are doing well. I am especially grateful that my younger brother, Shane, safely returned from Iraq for what was essentially his second tour of duty in the Middle East. He is currently in Kosovo amid other UN Peacekeeping troops, in a concerted effort to both stabilize and rebuild that war torn country.
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To all of my friends I say many, many “Thanks” as each of you has helped me this year in some form or fashion. In 2007, I met new friends and continued relationships with my established ones. Random Thought: It is extremely interesting to me (and it has been the subject of many philosophical discussions, both with and without adult beverage overtones) as to how we go about selecting the people that we call “friends.” There certainly is an endearing and alluring quality about them that seems to call us into a friendship with them. I once read a poignant statement that “Friendship is love minus sex and plus reason. Love, however, is friendship plus sex and minus reason” (M. Cooley). A strange little paradigm indeed but by all accounts appears to be true. Friends are like that…figuratively smashing a cymbal right near your ears, in an effort to wake you up to what’s going on in your world. We all need that from time to time. Again, thanks to each of you for that…
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I am certainly glad about my return to Crawford in March. I have been very comfortable and happy doing what I do for the San Antonio Office, along with ancillary assignments across other parts of Texas and the Gulf Coast South, en general. I am especially proud to be part of the Most Improved Branch Office of our company. This office was seventh from the bottom rank (out of seventy-three offices in the entire US) a year ago. Since then, we have worked very hard and diligently in all phases of what we do. This focused and concerted effort has moved us all the way up to the number three office in the entire US!! A little friendly competition is always good...
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My hobbies, of course, include sports. Some things never change. In early ’07 I purchased a Fuji road bike and also began running, as of the latter part of the year. While the running is still in its early, developmental phase I must say that I’ve really come to enjoy and excel at cycling. I completed my first Metric Century this year and continue to look forward to many more of these outdoor adventures in 2008. It sure beats the hell out of laying about on the couch. ...lol
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That's a wrap. Happy New Year Every One !!

Holiday Musings

2007-12-30T10:24:00.000-06:00

The Holidays were quite fun and relaxing this year. No rushing about, trying to get to Keystone, Colorado by a certain time, to squeeze in the maximum amount of skiing. No sir...this year was laid back and moved at a much more leisurely pace, indeed.

Here is a photo of my niece, Ariel, the prototypical teenager. The next one is self-explanatory and was taken at my sister's home. And, the final one is of a Christmas present that I received, here in Austin...it seems that at least one of my "friends" is insinuating that I may have a thinking problem !! Thinker's Anonymous, here

I come...

A Boudreaux-esque Christmas

2007-12-30T10:05:00.000-06:00

There are probably ten different events in Louisiana that have a bonfire as their focal point during the holiday season, but nothing comes close to the Christmas Eve Bonfires on the Levee.

On Christmas Eve, thousands of spectators converge along a stretch of River Road between Lutcher, LA and Gramercy, LA (located between Baton Rouge and N'Awlins) to enjoy the spectacle of dozens of burning bonfires set against the backdrop of the Mississippi River. Although there's no concrete theory about the origins of this tradition, the favorite one bandied about is that the fires help show Santa the way to homes in this area. Viewed from the air, this is truly a unique spectacle, as it does resemble a Santa Airport runway of sorts.

These bonfires are amazing as a catalyst for the creation of a fun, communal atmosphere for the Holidays. My fav part is the utilization of the fires to both keep warm and (of course) the shooting of fireworks !!

What Does BCS Actually Mean ?

2007-12-20T12:38:00.000-06:00

No. 1 Ohio State (11-1) vs No. 2 LSU (11-2)
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ALLSTATE BCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, NEW ORLEANS, LA (7:00 PM CT Fox)

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If you like defense, you'll like Ohio State, which allowed only two rushing touchdowns all season. The Tigers' quarterbacks -- Matt Flynn and Ryan Perrilloux -- can both nimbly move around and are the kind of a player that has been a problem for the Buckeyes this year. Both teams have a penchant for winning close games and this bodes well for a game that might have trouble generating excitement over the couple of weeks, given that (as one of my LSU buddies so eloquently put it) "this system is pretty squirrelly and needs to be overhauled". For the record, I love southern colloquialisms.

Anyway, it's not everyday that your team is in the National Championship Game. So, I will roll with it, at least until a better system does come along. AYYEEHH...GEAUX TIGERS !!

El Paso Del Norte !!

2007-12-19T15:12:00.000-06:00

As they approached the Rio Grande from the south, Spanish explorers in the colonial period viewed two mountain ranges rising out of the desert with a deep chasm between. This site they named El Paso del Norte (the Pass of the North), and it became the location of two future border cities, Ciudad Juárez on the south or right bank of the Rio Grande and El Paso, Texas, on the opposite side of the river. The arrival of the first Spanish expedition at the Pass of the North in 1581 marked the beginning of more than 400 years of history in the El Paso area. It was followed in 1598 by the colonizing expedition under Juan de Oñate.qv On April 30, 1598, in a ceremony at a site near present San Elizario, Oñate took formal possession of the entire territory drained by the Rio Grande and brought Spanish civilization to the Pass of the North.

During the period of the French intervention in Mexico the republican cause under the leadership of Benito Juárez took refuge in El Paso del Norte in August 1865 and remained there for almost a year. With the aid of American arms and munitions the tide began to turn in favor of the Juárez republicans, who returned to Mexico City in triumph in 1867. On September 16, 1888, El Paso del Norte was renamed Ciudad Juárez, and thus the historic name El Paso became the sole possession of the bustling little railroad town at the western tip of Texas.

The photo above is of El Paso, today, as seen from Fort Bliss's desalination plant, the focus of my recent biz trip to "The Pass of the North." The mountains in the background are nearly thirteen miles away from this location and are easily visible on this clear and cool day. I completely forgot just how far one is able to see in West Texas !!

Ass Kickin' Machine

2007-12-17T11:22:00.001-06:00

OK, so I'm not exactly a Butt Kicking machine at running but things are indeed improving relative to my original 10+ minute miles. The gym, the sprints and the real running are all the ingredients needed for a successful running recipe. I call it Runner's Gumbo (It's great in cold weather):

Ingredients:

Tues: Spin Class, 1 hr., approx. 20 miles (obviously a side dish, to start)

Wed: Gym-- 5 miles running on treadmill at 9:30 pace

Thurs: Rode the Parm, 22.5 miles in 1 hr. (another side...they sometime steal the show.)

(BTW, Q. is still too skee-red to ride !! And, the excuses are creative, I must say...)

Fri: Gym --4x, 9:15 mile sprints on treadmill (w/ a slight incline, to spice it up and make things interesting) w/ a one-minute active recovery between.

Sat: Gym -- Spin Class, approx. 20 miles (Hey, desserts happen...)

Sun: Real run, 3 miles, 9:20 pace on the trails. Ran with I.C.E. and the weather was great, sunny and cool.

There it is, people. I still gotta' get that damn runner's watch, though !! This "not knowing as I'm running thing" is driving me to uhhmmm....drinking. Now there's an excuse !

The Progress Continues...

2007-12-11T12:11:00.000-06:00

You know that you're becoming a runner when "Running Jokes" begin to piss you off !! A non-running friend of mine sent this one to me and it did just that. However, I do detect a slight hint of jealousy in there as well. Hmmm...

Anyway, here's my report:

Sat: Shitty weather, so Spin Class, 1 hr, approx. 20 miles.

Sun: Treadmill, Ran 5x, 1 mile "sprints" at 9:30 pace, in effort to improve speed...we'll see.

Mon: For Real, Ran 5 miles, somewhere in the 9:30-9:45 range.

Mental note: 2345-127, I need to get a damn runner's watch !!... so I DO know how fast I'm running.

Scootin' Report

2007-12-05T19:05:00.000-06:00

For some unknown reason, I've encountered resistance within myself to posting my running results. I suppose it has something to do with being a novice and therefore not posting very good numbers, to date. To make matters worse is Cameron, my stepson, that twit gloats on and on about his 5:45 5K pace...that, does not help !

But anyway, here I go (pinching my nose and taking the medicine) with todays five and one half miles: 55:43 or 10.17 per mile. Slow as shit, right ? All I have to say for myself is "give it time" and the Scootin' Report will improve proportionately !!

What A Long, Strange Trip It's Been !!

2007-12-03T10:27:00.000-06:00

Ohio State and LSU were considered dead once, but the grateful duo are truckin' on...to the BCS National Championship Title Game that is !!

LSU and Ohio State have tickets to the title game. (BTW, I'm in need of those, too !!) Everyone else has a pretty good gripe. The latest chapter in this crazy, unpredictable college football season was written Sunday when LSU won the sport's version of the lottery, being picked to play Ohio State for the championship and leaving about a half-dozen other candidates with plenty to complain about. Oh well, that's the BCS for you. Clearly, a play-off system is needed but I don't thing fans of either of these schools will be complaining, at least not this year.

The Buckeyes were ranked first in November, but surrendered that with a 28-21 loss to a then un-ranked Illinois, that only added fuel to those who said they weren't deserving. But they backed into the BCS game without even playing, beneficiaries of the fact the Big Ten doesn't play a title game while many other conferences do.

Their opponents will be LSU, a program that appeared on the verge of losing its coach as late as a few hours before kickoff Saturday (college football's drama at its finest). That's when Miles held an angry news conference and said reports he would be leaving the Bayou for Michigan were false. In fact, he said, he had agreed to a new contract to stay in Baton Rouge.

Then, the Tigers went out and won. Later, they sat calmly and watched chaos reign for the rest of the day. On Sunday, they learned they were in the championship game for the second time in five years.

There's no disputing it: This college football regular season was crazier than ordering a chocolate martini at a biker bar!!

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Weird, yes. Wacky, probably. A roller coaster ride, indeed. Yes, it was all of that. Or, maybe it was the only fitting way to close out a very imperfect 2007 in college football. Either way, it's on...by that I mean, bring on the Buckeyes !! BTW, what exactly IS a Buckeye? I don't think we have those in the South. ...lol

"Victoria...I Love You, Man !!"

2007-11-27T13:22:00.000-06:00

Yesterday was a biz trip day for me, to lovely Victoria, TX. Highway 183 runs Southeast from Austin to the Corpus Christi area, via Victoria. As you may recall from your Texas History class, Corpus used to be the main port of entry into Texas, prior to the ascent of Houston, to that position. Apparently, Hwy 183 was also a historical route to and fro The Coastal Plains, the Central Texas venue and Northwesterly to the High Plain Region (back in the day, it was Indian Domain).

So, when I began noticing the ever increasing signage, yesterday, I then began to take heed. The stories and historical anecdotes outlined on them were surprisingly interesting. Here are three, of the many and they are basically self-explanatory. BTW, I would have taken better photos except, I swear, the redneck Bubbas kept "buzzing" me with their pick-ups as I stood on the highway's shoulder, trying to frame these shots. Bee-ass-tards !!

Check them out, if you are in the area. They are cool, indeed...the signs, that is.

Cruising Da' Hood Post

2007-11-25T16:37:00.000-06:00

As of late, I've been running around my neighborhood, the green-belt and the school tracks, in an effort to jump-start this running thing. It's going well. The shoes are comfortable and seem to fit well. The low temps have been tres cool. (Side note: I could do without the rain, though. It clearly makes for Bad Hair Days, Damn-it!)

As of Friday, I'm moving up to four miles but I've not timed myself as yet. Once I get somewhere above five miles then I believe a time trial will be in order, the results of which I may or may not post. ...sniff ; )~

Clearly, I need to commune further with my Inner Runner because those running shoes are quite sassy! They keep calling my name!

Now that all of this is going on, however, I suppose there will be a run...on those dorky, little visor-mounted rear view mirrors, down at Academy's or where ever. Inside Voice: "Where the hell is that damn Scooter S.O.B.? Is he back there somewhere?" Nuff said...

Scooter Needs A New Pair of Shoes

2007-11-13T10:06:00.000-06:00

After some discussion and fanfare, I've decided to begin running. You heard it right, running. I'll initially utilize it as a cross training item and later add to it, if all goes well and as planned. My first agenda item will be to determine my own pace. Being a sprinter in a prior lifetime, this will take some adjustment on my part.

These are Asics (duhh..) Gel-Landreth 3's, with a Medium-High arch support and a neutral platform, meaning no pronation or supination (i.e., no slant in either direction). I'm surprised at how much larger of a size I needed, almost two more than my regular shoe size. Thanks to Erin's advise, I was able to get the Russian Lady (she was very nice and cordial, BTW) at the Riverside and S. 1st Runtex to fit me. These shoes are Uber-Cool!

To all my running friends, buddies and acquaintances out there...here is your fair warning. Be sure to Always Be Closing, as the saying goes, because The Flying Scooter is adding another part to his Game and will be in your rear view mirror very soon !! ; )

Road Trips Rock !!

2007-11-12T12:16:00.000-06:00

What do you get when you add a car load of semi-intoxicated Texans, in with 93,000 of their closest LSU friends? Answer: one hell of a party !!

The road trip to LSU's Death Valley, this weekend, was Big Time Fun. As you know, these things always start off out with an anecdote. This occasion was no different with yours truly as the brunt of the initial ribbing: I was late to my own event!

Friday: It starts when I was hanging out with Erin (aka, I.C.E.) at her company's noonish golf outing, at Jimmy Clay Golf Course, when it occurred to me that it was past time for me to go. The joke being that my friends know very well that being late is a pet peeve of mine and they were clearly not going to let it slide...at least not until dinner, at Al-T's Cajun Restaurant in Winnie, TX. By then, the subject matter obviously shifted to something more interesting to them at that time, than grilling me: food. As their saying went, I was dubbed "Scooter, the other white meat." Cretins...the whole lot of them. ...lol

Of course, no road trip would be complete without Walter getting us lost. He is clearly "directionally challenged." So, I asked him "Wally, I love you man...but how in the hell do you get lost by simply going down I-10?" That, my friend, takes skill.

Saturday: The day begins with Bloody Marys and Breakfast. Then, off to the game. The tailgating experience was awesome !! These clown friends of mine were clearly impressed with the both the ambiance of the pre-game festivities and the numerous, gregarious parties that preceded the game itself.

Lunch was at Walk-Ons, just off the campus, as Walter and Jeff have seen the ESPN Game Day Dudes eat there before and wanted to do the same. The food was exceptionally good. Of course, Dinner was had with our new Bayou Friends! Everyone wanted to feed "Those Texas Tiger Boyz". I bet we had a dozen offers for dinner...everything from Gumbo, Jambalaya, and Steak to one guy who tried to feed us some kind of "Mystery Meat" concoction. Well...the last one....that was NOT going to happen. We politely smiled, thanked the guy, indicated that we were "already full" and moved on. I was not about to risk spending Sunday at the ER, or worse.

Then, we strolled into the stadium to watch both the pre-game National Anthem and later a half-time performance by the Country Artist, Lee Greenwood, doing his "God Bless America" rendition. I'm usually not in to that sort of thing but his performance was really quite good. Of course, the Tigers kicked butt. Now, its on to the BCS National Championship Game in N'Awlins in early January 2008.

As expected and after the game, we went back to some subsequent tailgating fun. BTW, Man Code 3423.7901 precludes me from further commentary on this part of the weekend but I've been known to accept significant monetary or vino bribes. ...lol

Sunday: A little breakfast and head back to Austin. It was a really fun weekend. No gator, snake or Cajun Women bites noted. It was a success !

Hey Baby !!

2007-11-04T20:33:00.000-06:00

Saturday was one of those defining momements in my life. I abided by my "I don't drop friends rule" and what is more, that frickin' Elvis Bastard was definitely in need either of a ass busting or a bullet!! I asked Lula to photograph him, especially if "he wiped out"...from her facial expression, she concurred wholehearedly, well at least as much as the O.U. Guy simulaneously hitting the deck, anyway.

Saturday was about both maintaining friendships and developing new ones. I gotta say...I'm looking forward to arm-wrestlin' that Lulu Chichy...I hear she's a W.C.B.A. and they always make my day !!

Singular Sensations

2007-10-29T17:19:00.000-05:00

The Jetsons ruined everything. Whither the flying cars? And the jet pack in every garage? Weren't we meant to have these by now? Still not all space-age suburban dreams have gone the way of the moving sidewalks and robot maids. Case in point: the jet in every garage, a fantasy of mine slated to turn into reality in the form of ultra-low-cost, single-engine jets. First, I'll need to complete those flying lessons, out at the Taylor Airport...

The one that currently has my eye is the Eclipse Concept Jet. It is much like their twin jet, the 500. Still, the folks at Eclipse (those coy bastards) won't officially confirm that this single-engine model will ever be sold. This sporty, car-like four-seater has a Pratt & Whitney turbofan mounted atop the fuselage. Its tail is a large v-shaped structure, giving a place for all that jet thrust to go. And, it looks cool, too !!

I could see Bond zipping around in one of these little devils. Say hello to my leetle friend...

Cooked In Classics

2007-10-26T08:19:00.000-05:00

Earlier this week, I golfed with some work buddies at the Matt's El Rancho tournament where liquor vendors of the tequila genre were giving out samples of their wares. One of these had a sample table arranged at the course turn around area, with their lovely and attractive marketing reps (One of which talked two of my buddies into wearing girly, tubing-down-the-Guadalupe River-type of pseudo Cowgirl hats...but that's another story) working it.

After the round was over, we returned there for dinner. Those same reps were still pouring the Margaritas. So, I go over to get one to have with my meal. No to be outdone by her earlier failed attempt, the primary sales chica (we'll call her) asks me why I wouldn't take one of their "cute" hats to wear during the golf round. So, I tell her that besides clashing with my "Inner Paris Hilton" I actually have a biz question for her, if she can answer it. "Do you possibly know of any new or cool Tequilas that are either out or soon to be released," I ask. The look on her face was a Kodak moment, indeed. She then shifts mental gears proceeds to tell me of a company called Siembra's new tequila line.
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Now, we've all heard of beer-massaged Kobe cows, but tequila serenaded with classical music? Well, that's just silly. Still , such is the ostensible secret behind Siembra Azul, the anejo version of which debuts later this month. Developed by Philadelphia restaurateur David Suro, who returned to his homeland in Mexico's Jalisco Highlands to make it, Siembra Azul is treated --no joke here--to round-the-clock Vivaldi and Mozart classics from the Baroque period, whose mellow rhythms and soothing vibrations supposedly aid in fermentation.
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Now, I thought this gal was pulling my leg again but I let her finish... She went on to say that with only 2,750 cases being produced each year, it may prove challenging for me to get a case to give as Holiday presents to my...ahem, tequila and Margarita-oriented friends. A challenge for Scooter does not go unmet. We'll see about that !!

Life As A Bus Ride

2007-10-25T12:08:00.000-05:00

In 2005 I had the great pleasure of listening to an audio book of Dr. Wayne Dyer. He was speaking on ‘The Power of Intention’ and I remember him comparing life to a journey in a trolley holding onto a trolley strap. I would like to paraphrase his analogy and compare life to riding on a bus.

You see this bus takes you wherever you’re supposed to go throughout your whole life. Now the bus is going to stop and it’s going to pick up all kinds of people along the way. Some of them are going to get on and they're going to go for the whole ride, your whole life. Some people are going to get on and only be there for a short time and then get off. Some of them are going to get on and then they're going to get off and you’re going to keep going on in life and somewhere down the road they're going to get on again.

Surely you can all relate to this? A parent leaves, a friendship falls a part, a family member dies. Now of course not every experience on the bus is a negative one. Falling in love, the birth of a child, starting a new job can bring wonderful people and experiences into your life.You see the fantastic thing about this bus is that it stops exactly where it is supposed to and picks up exactly who it is supposed to pick up.

As long as you are on this bus, whoever it is supposed to pick up and whoever it is supposed to drop off and however long they are supposed to stay, all of this is part of the perfection of your life. Whether the experience was positive or negative, everyone who shows up in your life shows up exactly on time. I assure you that there are never any mistakes. Each encounter, each experience is something that we attracted into our life.

The confusing part can be when you try to make sense of it. Why did I attract such a negative experience, a painful experience, a bad relationship with that person? Why is this person in my life so annoying? Well, here is what the "Bus Ride" analogy has taught me these past two years. Once you can accept that the bus of life picks up and drops off exactly who it is supposed to, for as long as it is supposed to, you then need to change the way you look at things. One of my favorite quotes from Dr. Dyer is “when you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.”

Relative to the "negative" experiences, instead of always looking for the ‘why’s, try looking for the ‘what’s. What has this relationship/experience taught me about myself, about life? What can I do to stop repeating the same mistakes and repeating the same experiences over and over again? What can I do differently in order to stop attracting the same type of people into my life over and over?

Regarding the "good" or fun experiences, he says to not be concerned with it...simply go with the flow and enjoy the ride, as life is intented to be! This was my favorite part.

We can’t always find the answers to why something happens in our life or why someone shows up, but we can always find a what – what can I bring to this experience, what can I take away (learn) from it, what has it taught me about myself and the world, what can I change within myself? So whether you buy into the bus analogy, changing the way you look at things, or not. I would encourage you to try this! Just try looking for ‘what’s instead of ‘why’s. Try to accept that every experience (positive/negative) has been presented to your life exactly when it was supposed to. I believe that these two simple steps will change your life forever.

Oh yeah...and I don't want to hear any grief for being philosophical, today. ...lol

El Rancho Whaaat ?

2007-10-23T07:19:00.000-05:00

Cruising through the hillcountry on a biz trip on Mondays is usually not very interesting....you know, the work thing, and all. However, this one was different. As I was going down SH 46, in Bergheim, TX, here's what I spotted.

Also, I'm usually not one for festive, frilly foo-foo decorations but this one was both funny and cool ! Check it out...

Round Rock Outlaw

2007-10-22T19:56:00.000-05:00

Yep...that's me, appropriately named. Scooter Da' Bandit. Here's a photo of my friend Stephen and I at this ride, this past Saturday, taking off from the Start (I'm in the Texas jersey in the center, at the base of the balloons and he's to my right). It was loads of fun to ride and cut-up with all of the other riders. I could have ridden all day long. Also, I've come to the conclusion that cyclist are some of the most social of all athletes. Moreover, every ride I've ever done was always loads of fun and a good opportunity to meet new people, some more gregarious than others but interesting nonetheless. That one little vixen still comes to mind, while we were discussing the Tao Te Ching....

By contrast, runners are serene and quite. For example, Sunday morning I rode with my friend I.C.E. (the closet Hill Billy) around the northern part of 360 and on to the IBM Uptown Classic 10k, near the Dominion. As we pulled up to the event, you could have heard a pin drop... Quite different, indeed. I'm still "considering" doing the running thing but have yet to pull the trigger as yet. Stay tuned...

The Daily Adventures of Scooter

2007-10-18T11:13:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was quite the interesting day, to say the least. First, a biz trip to SA to meet with a squirrelly client. That's when I came across the first photo ( right) , in Drippings Springs. (Shhh...don't tell anyone but that is my short cut way into North or West SA, via 281. If they find out, then it'll get really busy out there...so, again...mum's the word about that). Now, I, Scooter, will be going to my cousin, Scooby's, carnival that day. What else would I do, then, anyway??

Then, it was back to Austin, drop off work stuff, load up cycling stuff and off to the Veloway to ride with Iron Chick Erin, C.B.A. ??, who hypothetically had some very significant work developments to review. (Insert Texas drawl) Shoot, I'll tell you what...I'd kick them in the nuts, when they weren't looking, for less than that! ...sniff

Anyway, when as I drove up, this (above, left) is what I found in my yard. I just about fell out !! What the hell... And, as I explained to my neighbor Matt, who came over to cajole/congratulate me, I maintain my yard because that is something I do for myself, not that silly HOA. Anyway...I suppose I'll leave it out there for the month. Maybe this will create a brief reprieve from those snippy little letters that they like to send me, periodically...

Veloway Fun-age

2007-10-15T16:48:00.000-05:00

This weekend was a usual, cycling stuff going on, kind of weekend. Saturday, was the Veloway...it has become one of my local favorites, primarily because it is easy to ride and quite safe. Without the presence of cars, you can relax and ride as you would like. More importantly, are the cycling buddies I've made out there. Most recently, were the meetings two, in particular, Charles Thibodeaux and Moe.

Charles is a fellow Cajun Dude and the lead singer of The Bayou Cajun Band, that currently plays on Monday evenings at The Evangeline Cafe, on Brodie Lane. I indicated to him that I would certainly go there, to both check out his band's play and to sample the "groceries" of the restaurant, itself. I'm really looking forward to that experience. It's difficult to find good renditions of either of those, here in Central Texas. Back to the story...

Moe, is a very gregarious and unique sort of fellow. He looks to be no more than 55-60 years old but actually is 67 and he can, quite amazingly, ride nearly as fast as much younger cyclists. Of note, here, is that he recently completed the Hotter'N Hell Hundred, in Wichita Falls, TX. Very impressive for anyone but especially for this older gentleman.

As it turns out, these two guys know each other from both previous event rides and from the Veloway, itself. So, Charles shared a very funny story recently, about riding out at there once, with a friend of his from out of town. I queried him if it was Boudreaux, himself...but he said it was not. (So much for that potential joke.).

Back to Charles' story... It begins when some old guy on a road bike passes them up, during a ride one day. Not to be outdone, they pursue the old cyclist. Ironically, neither he nor his friend can actually catch up with him, for like three or four laps !! So, they gave up. Later that morning, they see this same old guy sitting on the bench, relaxing, under the oak tree near the entrance of the Veloway park. So, they go over to introduce themselves and subsequently have a good laugh at themselves, as they explained to Moe what they attempted to do, earlier.

This is the stuff comedic cycling legends are made from...

No Better Days

2007-10-11T09:58:00.000-05:00

Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So, throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. --Mark Twain

Today, I think I shall take his and Gary Larson's advice. I'll be playing golf later this afternoon. And, yes, I believe that may be considered by some to be "playing hookey." But, HEY, what better day to have fun than today? I think we should all do this more often...

Traumatized Tebow

2007-10-10T08:45:00.000-05:00

Despite all this "spin" of Florida Quarterback Tim Tebow's Heisman-esque Sainthood by the UF Athletic Dept., he has secrets he doesn't want to get out. Yes, besides being the perfect athlete, going out and bringing 20,000 people to the Lord on Missionary trips, and coaching the School for the Deaf's football team in his spare time he has certain traits he keeps in the closet. These are indeed Shocking Facts that you might not know:

(1) Believes the Hokie Pokie is what it is all about.

(2) CAN believe it's not butter!

(3) Doesn't tip the talent at Hooters! (He'll burn for that one !!)

(4) Dances in the shower to Wham's, Wake Me Up Before You Go Go.

(5) Whenever he is up for some giggles he goes home throws in The Pride of the Yankees into the DVD player and fast forward to when "Lou" Gehrig gets amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and just laughs and laughs and laughs.

(6) He Shot JR.

(7) Writes NSF checks for Girl Scout cookies.

(8) Is so simple even a caveman can do him!

(9) Is so good that the NCAA should pass a bylaw requiring the names on the backs of all the 84 other Florida Gators to read “NOT TEBOW.” This way, no one will turn on their TV sets, see a blue Florida Gator jersey under a pile and grow excited, only to cry uncontrollably when they realize that the Florida Gator in question is not #15 Tim Tebow but someone else!! (Of course he has been known to cry himself....see above, post LSU Ass-Whippin' Game on Saturday Night in Death Valley).

10) Orders apple martinis.

(11) Is Mark Foley's illegitimate son.

(12) Thinks that The Waterboy accurately reflect life in Louisiana. (Announcer's voice: And here he comes #15....) (Now, Bobby Boucher's voice: Moma says, you Da' Devil, Mista' Tebow! Rrrreeeeee !! And then, there was the sound of extremely sincere contact).

(13) Gives Kirk Herbstreet hair styling tips.

(14) Convinced Marcia Clark to make OJ try on the glove.

(15) Gave Nick Saban PR advice to say "I'm not going to be the next coach at Alabama."

(16) Thinks Tiger Stadium is cheering for him (see "Caveman" analogy in #8, above).

(17) Thought the Gator Chomp meant "love you this much!"

(18) Puts his mouth on the public water fountain (major Eeeyyehh Factor here).

(19) Led the PETA effort to prevent LSU from replacing Mike V.

and Finally (20) Invented new Coke and the Weedeater.

Let's give a big round of Tiger Bait applause for Mr. Tebow !!

Scooter Indicted !!

2007-10-09T11:25:00.001-05:00

Last Friday, Scooter, the well-known stagehand and "go-fer" at his uncle's theater where the Muppet Show was filmed during the mid-70's, was indicted on five felony counts by a grand jury, including two counts of obstruction, two counts of lying under oath, and one count of attempting to undermine a federal investigation. Under these charges, he could face up to 30 years in prison and $1.25 million in fines.
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Over the last two years, an ongoing investigation has been trying to determine where a leak came from, outing covert CIA agent Miss Piggy shortly after her husband, Kermit the Frog, wrote an Op-Ed piece for the New York Times that criticized the current administration's reasons for going to war.
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At a press conference last week, Special Prosecutor Sam the Eagle spoke to reporters about the indictment, going to great lengths to point out that it was not his job to determine whether the war against the "Spittin' Image" puppets was justified.
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"I am here to see to it that justice is done," Sam the Eagle insisted. "And to show the world that we will not tolerate these weirdos. Someone leaked Miss Piggy's name to the press, and I have enough proof to justify bringing charges against Mr. Scooter." Sam the Eagle, i.e., The Prosecutor, who has worked for decades to improve to moral fabric of these United States, was chosen by the current administration specifically to investigate the leak. Some conservatives, however, such as Gonzo the Great and Rowlf the Dog, have made it clear that the Special Prosecutor may have overstepped his original mandate.

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"He was told to look in to the leak itself," said one source, who asked not to be identified. "But, because he couldn't find anything proving the leak was an organized effort, he brought out this indictment to make it look like he had accomplished something over the past two years."
Others, including Miss Piggy's Husband, Kermit the Frog, have praised Sam the Eagle, saying that it was all but impossible to come up with any useful information concerning the leak because of Scooter's lies.

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"My wife's life may have been put in danger," said Kermit at a press conference shortly after the indictment was read, "and Scooter, among others, lied about their connection to it. I look forward to the follow-up investigation."

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The investigation is ongoing, and while the Special Prosecutor says that the remaining part consists mostly of "tying up loose ends," sources close to the investigation say that the focus has moved from Scooter to Fozzy Bear after it was revealed that this was where Scooter learned the identity of Piggy.

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Scooter leaves the courthouse...( see photo, above). Some insiders insist that this case has implications that reach even further.

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"This is big, really big," said Dr. Teeth, the leader of the house band during the Muppet Show's five seasons on the air. "If the bear is fingered, he's going to squeal like a pig, if you catch my drift. Names will be named. It's going to get ugly."

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Scooter worked for the Muppet Show, where it is believed he learned of Piggy's covert status, for almost twenty years before he was let go after his uncle, who owned the theater, passed away. Some insiders insist that that this caused a serious rift between him and Piggy's husband, Kermit, which eventually lead to the leaking of classified information.

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Seen leaving the courthouse after the indictment was read, Scooter appeared upbeat. "I'm going to go home and rest up," he told reporters. "I've got a busy day tomorrow." "Quite frankly...I don't know what these people are talking about ! (...sniff of defiance)
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Fozzy Bear has been decidedly quiet during these proceedings, but when confronted by reporters outside his home at Yellowstone National Park, Fozzy was quoted as saying, "I plan to have a nice weekend, and I hope you all do, too. Wakka wakka."
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More on this story as it develops...

Didactic Doctor Daddy-O

2007-09-25T11:19:00.000-05:00

In 1947, a relatively unknown art professor from Chicago named Dr. Vernon Winslow, started a show highlighting black music in New Orleans on WJMR — a white-owned radio station. Unknown to most listeners, Dr. Winslow wrote the scripts, selected the music, and taught the white DJ, "Poppa Stoppa" how to sound black. So, Dr. Winslow, after being fired for taking to the microphone when the white DJ was a no-show, went on to WWEZ and became New Orleans' first black DJ — "Doctor Daddy-O." He was ubercool.

However, in early days, he was forced to ride up the freight elevator to the station because of his race, Winslow was later convinced by white record producer Cosimo Matassa to broadcast from his studio. Within one year, The "Doctor Daddy O" show was the top rated radio program in New Orleans and Winslow was one of the top ten DJs in the country. His program ran until the early 80's. I fondly recall listening to his radio show during Summer Vacation stays in The City (as the locals generally refer to "N'Awlins").

Anyway, his programs not only introduced us to the musical art forms of Blues, Zydeco and classical but more importantly, he introduced us to other art forms that were then unknown to us, like the visual art forms. These were rhetorical items he discussed in art classes he taught at Dillard University, in New Orleans, beginning in 1936. He inspired his listeners to visit museums and to check out both local artists and those in the publications of their local libraries. He was fond of saying "Don't forget, Dudes and Dudettes, people create art, art bears beauty, beauty inspires goodness, and goodness...well...it makes the world go 'round." I don't think that I'll ever forget that expression...

So, when I recently listened to the Subdudes' highlight song, Poor Man's Paradise, on their new release Street Symphony, a flood of memories came rushing back to me about this guy, who I haven't thought about in years!! Sadly, he passed away in 1993.

We will always remember you, Doctor Daddy-O...

Tour de Vin...Austin Style!!

2007-09-20T07:25:00.000-05:00

Friends and acquaintances of mine know that right after college football (The SEC varietal, specifically) food and wine are my second most intense passion/interest/obsession....call it what you like. I suppose it goes back to the days of my teenage youth, working in Summers and holidays with my uncle, who was a chef at Antoine's Restaurant in New Orleans (which, BTW was established in 1840 and is the country's oldest family-run restaurant...that's another story onto itself).
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AnyWho, the Wine & Food Foundation of Texas and Whole Foods Market partner up to host the fifth annual Tour de Vin on Thursday, October 4, from 6:30 – 9:00 p.m. on the pictureque rooftop plaza of Whole Foods Market at 6th Street and Lamar. Featuring wines and cuisine from around the world, a silent auction (always lots of fun!) and live music from Patricia Vonne, this unique tasting has become a treasured event for Austin wine and food lovers, over the years. I encourage everyone to check it out...

Bizarre Columbus Courthouse Ruling

2007-09-13T14:19:00.000-05:00

Columbus, OH (AP) - A seven-year old boy was at the center of a Franklin County courtroom drama yesterday when he challenged a court ruling over who should have custody of him. The boy has a history of being beaten by his parents and the judge initially awarded custody to his aunt, in keeping with child custody law and regulation requiring that familyunity be maintained to the highest degree possible.

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The boy surprised the court when he proclaimed that his aunt beat him more than his parents and he adamantly refused to live with her. When the judge then suggested that he live with his grandparents, the boy cried and said that they also beat him. After considering the remainder of the immediate family and learning that domestic violence was apparently a way of life among them, the judge took the unprecedented step of allowing the boy to propose who should have custody of him.

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After two recesses to check legal references and confer with the child welfare officials, the judge granted temporary custody to the University of Michigan Wolverines, whom the boy firmly believes are not capable of beating anyone!!

Cave Without A Name

2007-09-07T05:50:00.000-05:00

Recently, my business travels brought me to lovely Boerne, TX, located on the Northwest side of San Antonio, just off of I-10. In the process, I ran across this really cool place. I mean, after all, its internal temperature is 66 degrees year around.

The cave has formations of Stalactites, Stalagmites, Soda Straws, Cave Drapery, really interesting Flowstones (that look like running liquid rock) and Rimstone. It also has a series of dams, after all, it is a subterranean "Pirated Stream Passage" for the Guadalupe River. (Would that be a Texas Pirated Stream Passage, I asked? Indeed, said the tour guide lady, indeed!!)

Check it out if you're in the area or are looking for something different to do. They even hold classical music concerts in the cave, performed by the horn or string section of the San Antonio philharmonic orchestra. See their website for details.

I suppose we can learn and experience new things everyday.

What-The-Dickens

2007-09-06T21:56:00.000-05:00

As bizarre as this may seem, I actually enjoy select children's books. They help my creative side to revisit ideas that we, as jaded adults, take for granted. While vacationing recently (and consequently visiting relatives) dear Uncle Scooter was requisitioned to read this "new favorite book." So, I obliged and found it to be quite interesting.

Without giving away too much, it is a story about a newly hatched orphan creature who finds that he has an attraction to teeth, a crush on a cat named McCavity and a penchant for getting into trouble (this last part being something to which I surely could identify as a part of my youth, being the little rogue cretin that I was, according to Sister Mary Katherine and all her various and sundry nun teacher friends). Anyway, where was I before digressing...oh yeah, the orphan dude befriends Dinah, a skibbereen, and they find that the world is much stranger than they thought !! Who says that there are no such things as tooth fairies, anyway?

Things that make you go "Hmmm..."

What's more, I specifically recall books simply not being this cool, when I was a kid. No offense intended to Dr. Seuss fans or other, similar type authors. Anyway, I highly recommend it to both kids and used-to-be-kids alike !!

GAME DAY COUNTDOWN

2007-08-25T21:00:00.000-05:00

There are 4 days, 21 hours, 58 minutes, and 52 seconds left until the action begins, on ESPN! More importantly, is the dearth of wager discussions by my Mississippi State acquaintances. Those guys are scared, as well they should be. The poem to the right was given to me by a friend of my nephew, who resides in Baton Rouge. This friend is a freshman this Fall and she will be attending games in the student section, for the first time. That experience is tantamount to riding a roller coaster for the first time.

For those of you who do not know this about me: "Hi, I am Scooter and I'm a College Football addict." I watch games both on TV and in person, follow recruiting and love to party in traditional bayou tailgate fashion!! Cooking at these parties is definitely my speciality, true to my heritage...along with the beverage consumption, of course.

More notably, is the experience of a Saturday night in Tiger Stadium. If you haven't been there, it is very difficult to explain...95,000 screaming Cajun yahoos, the electricity and the smell of bourbon in the air is other worldly. It gives me goose bumps, just thinking about it. It provides visitors an empathetic feel for what the Christians "gladiators" experienced, being sent by Cesar to their demise in the Roman Coliseum. This is especially true when 'Bama or Those Nasty Gators from Florida roll into BR town.

These games are comparable to tribal warfare. It sounds like a great time, doesn't it? Only when your team wins. Losing coaches frequently finds "For Sale" signs hammered into their lawn on Sunday mornings, following these bigger games.

Anyway, this is the beginning of The Tigers' march to the BCS National Championship Game. I would love nothing more than to put a spanking on those USC Trojan Wussies, for their "shuck and give action," back in 2003. However, we'll just have to wait until January for that to come to fruition. We should start a second countdown clock for that game, as well.

I can hear The Drum Cadences rumbling, right now: http://www.lsusports.net/ViewArticle.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=5200&ATCLID=177310&SPID=2544&SPSID=31765

As you may have already deduced...trash talk comes cheap relative to discussions of playing on The Old Gridiron, in The SEC.

Fun With Vino and Cheese

2007-08-18T15:13:00.000-05:00

I always seem to lose these notes, following one of these events. So, I decided to post them so that does not continue to be an issue...

Wine Tasting Notes

"I drink it when I’m Happy and when I’m sad. Sometimes I drink it when I’m alone. When I have company I consider it obligatory. I trifle with it if I’m not hungry and drink it when I am. Otherwise I never touch it - unless I’m thirsty.” Madame Lily Bollinger, founder of Bollinger Champagnes

WINE (with CHEESE PAIRING, below)

White:

Charles Shaw, Two Buck Chuck

Just Kidding… BTW, this is a very good, everyday type of wine. For the price, there is no better Chard, Cab or Merlot (Yes, contrary to Sideways, there will always be Merlot lovers).

Kim Crawford, Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, 2006

Concentrated and complex, with vivid passion fruit, grapefruit and tangy peach flavors. Vibrant minerality and tangy lime juice acidity keep thumping through the finish. Wine Spectator: 92 points

Fromage: Brie, Cow, France

Incognito, Viognier, Lodi, 2005

The appearance is light straw, with a greenish tint. It has aromas of peach, cold blossoms, and noble apricot. The mouth feel is creamy, smooth, weighty, medium-bodied and tart, and the mouth filling peaches and cream flavors are joined by a big warm kick in the glass. Wine Enthusiast: 90 points

Fromage: Humboldt Fog, Goat, California

Treana, Viognier/Marsanne, Central Coast, Mer Soleil Vineyard, 2004

This wine displays the elegant varietal characteristics of Viognier and Marsanne. This alluring blend offers floral aromas of citrus, honeysuckle and jasmine followed by ripe flavors of stone fruit with rich honey overtones. High-toned citrus notes and a solid minerality lend excellent balance. The mouthfeel is lush and full with a broad mid-palate while bright acidity cleans the palate and lends ease and versatility to food-pairing. Wine Enthusiast: 94 points

Fromage: Comte, Cow, France

Red:

A to Z, Sangiovese Rose, Oregon, 2006

This beautiful pink/magenta Rose with inviting aromas are full of fresh pure strawberries, watermelon (yes…watermelon) raspberries, cherries, wildflowers, herbs de Provence and what the French call petit fruits rouge with notes of cinnamon and nutmeg. This stunning wine is juicy, bright and lush at the same time, finishing clean and crisp. Great for hot Texas days.
Scooter Speak: 90 points

Fromage: Mimolette, Cow, France

Belles Soeurs, Willamette Valley, Pinot Noir, 2003

Supple, silky and generous. Not a huge wine, but has enormous flavors, from raspberry to cherry to smoky spice and weaving in floral and mineral notes, persisting on the long, long finish. Tremendous refinement.
Wine Spectator Score: 93

Fromage: Gruyere, Cow, Swiss

Kilikanoon, Clare Valley, Prodigal, Grenache, 2004

On the nose, perfumed aromas of cherries, chocolate and leather, that combine well with the dusty, spicy oak flavors. A big Grenache style, with richly perfumed plum, cherry and chocolate fruit flavors. Although dry, the wine possesses a real "sweet fruit" character that is reinforced by the warm alcohol finish. Subtle oak influence and firm tannins have produced a wine that is balanced with pronounced flavour persistence. Wine Advocate Score: 92 points

Fromage: Petit Basque, Sheep, Spanish Basque Country

Altos de LUZON, 2004, Jumilla

The seriously endowed 2004 Altos de Luzon is a blend of 50% old vine Mourvedre (52 years) and equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Tempranillo, aged 12 months in a combination of French and American oak. A dense ruby/purple color is followed by beautiful aromas of smoky licorice, black currants, cherries, and earth. Offering wonderful ripeness, an alluring texture, sweet tannin, and adequate acidity, it certainly over-delivers for its price. Drink it over the next 2-4 years.
Wine Advocate Score: 90 Pts.

Fromage: Mancheca, Sheep, Spain

Dessert/Port:

Chateau Guiraud, 1st CRU, Sauternes, 2001

Golden yellow in color. Butterscotch and vanilla, with hints of ripe apples. Full-bodied, with lots of sweetness and a spicy apricot and honey aftertaste. Excellent concentration and balance. Loads of botrytis character on the finish. Intense and hard not to drink it all because it's so luscious and rich. Wine Advocate: 94pts; Wine Spectator: 96 pts

Fromage: Verde Dolce, Gorgonzola, Cow, Italy

Royal Tokaji, Aszu 5 Puttonyos, 2000

Alluring aromas of gingersnap cookies, apricot and orange marmalade. Sweet, yet deftly balanced by lively structure. Fine lingering finish, where the harmony really shows. It’s easy to see why the Royal Hungarian Family so loved this stuff…
Wine Spectator Score: 93

Fromage: Mille Foglie, Cow, Italy

Alvear Pedro Ximenex, Solera, 1927

The impressive 1927 Pedro Ximenez Solera, from a Solera system begun nearly 80 years ago, boasts a dark amber color as well as an extraordinary nose of creme brulee, liquefied nuts, marmalade, and maple syrup. Huge and viscous, yet neither cloyingly sweet nor heavy, it is a profound effort. It is meant to be drunk alone at the end of a meal. Robert Parker (Wine Advocate): 96 Points

Pairing: Skip the cheese… Chocolate Nibits & Pecan Halves

Have a Great Weekend, everyone !!

Vacation Time !!

2007-08-17T15:35:00.000-05:00

Destin is the destination city for me, next week. It is in the Florida Panhandle and is commonly known in the Southeast as "The World's Luckiest Fishing Village." It has grown from a historic fishing village to a premier resort destination that it is today. It doesn't hurt that it is the hometown of Emmitt Smith, for all you old time Dallas Cowboy fans.

The city sits along the coast in the Panhandle, at the end of a peninsula separating Choctawhatchee Bay from the Gulf of Mexico. It is famous for its beautiful emerald-colored waters and sugar-white sand beaches, hence, its other nickname: The Emerald Coast. The beaches are the best, anywhere. As a matter of fact, the quartz sand there is so clean that it actually emits a little squeak when you walk on it.

I've enjoyed going there for years and it should be lots of fun !!

Todos estamos hechos del mismo barro pero no del mismo

2007-08-10T14:55:00.000-05:00

(We are all made of the same clay but not from the same mold. Mexican proverb)

I'm not much on this zodiac stuff but I thought this one was such fun and therefore worth sharing... After reading this I know why past relationships didn't work out....It's all clear to me, now !!

"Hi, I'm Scooter and I'm a Monday Morning Quarterback..."

VIRGO - The One that Waits. Dominant in relationships. Someone loves them right now. Always wants the last word. Caring. Smart. Loud. Loyal. Easy to talk to. Everything you ever wanted. Easy to please.

SCORPIO - The Addict. EXTREMELY adorable. Intelligent. Loves to joke. Very Good sense of humor. Energetic. Predict future. GREAT kisser. Always get what they want. Attractive. Easy going. Loves being in long relationships. Talkative. Romantic. Caring.

LIBRA - The BEST One. Nice to everyone they meet, Unless they get bad vibes from the person they're meeting. Their Love is one of a kind, but if done wrong, they cut you off like it's nothing. Silly, fun and sweet. Have own unique appeal. Most caring person you will ever meet! However not the kind of person you wanna mess with .... you might end up crying...

ARIES - The Liar. Outgoing. Lovable. Spontaneous. Not one to mess with. Funny. Excellent kisser EXTREMELY adorable. Loves relationships, Addictive. Loud.

AQUARIUS - Does It In The Water. Trustworthy. Attractive. Great kisser. One of a kind. Loves being in long-term relationships. Extremely energetic. Unpredictable. Will exceed your expectations. Not a Fighter, But will Knock your lights out.

GEMINI - Irresistible. Nice. Love is one of a kind. Great listeners Very Good in the you know where... Lover not a fighter, but will still knock you out. Trustworthy. Always happy. Loud. Talkative. Outgoing VERY FORGIVING. Loves to make out. Has a beautiful smile. Generous. Strong. THE MOST IRRESISTIBLE.

LEO - The Lion. Great talker. Attractive and passionate. Laid back. Knows how to have fun. Is really good at almost anything. Great kisser. Unpredictable. Outgoing. Down to earth. Addictive. Attractive. Loud. Loves being in long relationships. Talkative. Not one to mess with. Rare to find. Good when found.

CANCER - The Cutie. MOST AMAZING KISSER. Very high appeal. Love is one of a kind. Very romantic. Most caring person you will ever meet! Entirely creative. Extremely random and proud of it. Freak. Spontaneous. Great telling stories. Not a Fighter, But will Knock your lights out if it comes down to it. Someone you should hold on to.

PISCES - The Partner for Life. Caring and kind. Smart. Center of attention. High appeal. Has the last word. Good to find, hard to keep. Fun to be around. Extremely weird but in a good way. Good Sense of Humor!!! Thoughtful. Always gets what he or she wants. Loves to joke. Very popular. Silly, fun and sweet.

CAPRICORN - The Passionate Lover. Love to bust. Nice. Sassy. Intelligent. Sexy. Predict future. Irresistible. Loves being in long relationships. Great talker. Always gets what he or she wants. Cool. Loves to own Gemini's in sports. Extremely fun. Loves to joke. Smart.

TAURUS - The Tramp. Aggressive. Loves being in long relationships. Likes to give a good fight for what they want. Extremely outgoing. Loves to help people in times of need. Good kisser. Good personality. Stubborn. A caring person. One of a kind. Not one to mess with. Are the most attractive people on earth!

SAGITTARIUS - The Promiscuous One. Spontaneous. High appeal. Rare to find. Great when found. Loves being in long relationships. So much love to give. Not one to mess with. Very pretty. Very romantic. Nice to everyone they meet. Their Love is one of a kind. Silly, fun and sweet. Have own unique appeal. Most caring person you will ever meet! Amazing in the you know where..!!! Not the kind of person you wanna mess with- you might end up crying.

I should have known something bad was going to happen when it read "Not one to mess with." But, wait a minute....they all say that !!

Release This Unseen Limitation on Your Life

2007-08-07T17:26:00.000-05:00

A friend of mine recommended this book to me, recently, and below is a summary. The author, Guy Finley, reveals some very interesting and insightful ideas about the process we all go through, each and every day, to know ourselves better. He even suggests that this is the most important thing to know, which is the basis of his school of thought: Psychopictography. More on that, later...

He says that we are not meant to be the slave of any negative thought or feeling, nor are we intended to live under the limitations inherent in these darkened states. Our true role is to be the sovereign governor of our interior lives and all that this spiritual estate implies. It is our spiritual right to decide what kind of thoughts and feelings are permitted to roam through our consciousness and to rule their relationships as the overseer of our own soul. Of this let there be no doubt or else the question becomes "Who runs our lives, anyway?".

In line with this last idea, the following insight amplifies all his lessons regarding learning to let go and live in the Now: there is not a thought that can stay in our mind, not a feeling that can remain in our heart, that is not willingly remembered. He explains this amazing truth about an equally amazing, but as yet unrealized, power of ours.

Have you ever had appear in your mind the image (i.e., definition of Psychopictography, above) of someone who hurt you, or run a whole mental movie about something that didn’t work out, so that in recalling the event you actually relived the sense of loss? How does such a painful image seem to stay in the mind, especially given the fact of how much we struggle to make it go away? We all know how it feels to try and "fix" such visitations, where we dream up a new solution, tell ourselves what we should have said, hope that something we can think of will make it go away. Of course none of these answers work for one very good reason. Here is the key to this continuing conflict.

These unwanted images return again and again as they do because something within us keeps recalling them and drawing them to the forefront of our mind. Hmm...we've hear this before. Perhaps your reaction to this lesson is something like: "Impossible! How can that be true since all I want is to free myself of their painful presence?" The answer is self-evident, even though our present senses dictate otherwise.

Since the truth is...we do not have to share a single moment with the memory of anything that we don’t want to, this means there is something in our present nature that wants to recall painful past experiences. Such new self-knowledge lends us the light we need to make higher choices for ourselves, based in conscious awareness. Now we can choose to remember what it is that we want to! In other words, rather than allowing ourselves to be drawn into battle with unwanted thoughts or feelings that appear by themselves within our heart and mind, we can do something completely new. We can choose not to focus on what these troubled states want us to; we know that’s the road to ruin. Instead we will choose to remember what it is that we want above all else -- the Light of Truth that not only reveals what has been hurting us, but that frees us from these unconscious conditions at the same time.

After reviewing these ideas, it was as if a load of bricks had been lifted from me. A major sense of relief and release. This is very interesting insight. Now, I'll take a little time to understand it better and begin to apply the principles. Oh yeah...I highly recommend the book. It's a little deep but good stuff...

Nice Guys Finish Last

2007-08-02T10:08:00.000-05:00

Baseball manager Leo Durocher coined the term, explaining how athletes become champions. Both my high scool football and baseball coaches loved this expression and used it daily. Unfortunately, the phrase has permeated business and other parts of our lives, impacting relationships, of all types. I sometime forget about being nice, especially when I'm busy , hurried or in other stressful situations. I'm sure this is true for us all... So, I found a current book on the subject so that I could work on that part of who I am and that it may be helpful for others as well.
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In The Power of Nice, Linda Kaplan Thaler and Robin Koval, who head the New York advertising agency The Kaplan Thaler Group, debunk the myth.

With a foreword by Jay Leno, often referred to as "one of the nicest guys in show business," and laced with evidentiary anecdotes and advice, the book makes a strong case for niceness while also noting that it doesn't mean "being wimpy."
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The book highlights six "Power of Nice" principles:
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Positive impressions are like seeds. The power of nice has a domino effect. That effect may not be immediately apparent but will eventually find its way back to you, at some point in time.
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You never know. A stranger on the street may seem insignificant but could be related to your boss or a client.
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People change. Treat everyone with respect. Today's clerk could be tomorrow's CEO. This example was especially noteworthy to me, as my company's current CEO is quick to tell people that he started his career in the mail room, with his first job, and now runs a Fortune 500 company.
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Nice must be automatic. It loses its effectiveness if used only sporadically.
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Negative impressions are like germs. The flip side of the first step, above.
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You will know. The effects of your actions may not be seen but they are felt, if only by you. So, treating others with kindness, respect and generosity will be repaid with interest.
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Oh well. I suppose I shall begin being nice, on a consistent basis. Or, maybe not...which reminds me of another saying: " I do the things I do and not necessarily the things I want to do." Good Grief !!

Pooch's Comedical Rendition of "Two Buck Chuck"

2007-07-30T10:05:00.000-05:00

It is very amusing to me that a mass-produced wine recently scored a surprise win for the top chardonnay at the California State Fair Commercial Wine Competition. The connoisseurs may cringe, the snobs may even sob but the judges have spoken: California's best chardonnay costs less than $3. That's crazy cheap !

Charles Shaw Chardonnay, better known as "Two Buck Chuck," beat hundreds of other wines and was named the top prize in a prestigious tasting competition in California. "The characteristics that we look for in our gold medal winner … a nice creamy butter, fruity … it was a delight to taste," said 2007 California State Fair Commercial Wine Competition judge Michael Williams. The affordable wine beat out 350 other California chardonnays to win the double gold. Second place went to an $18 bottle, and the most expensive wines at the event, at the price of $55, didn't even medal.

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To find this prize winner, you need not go to a fancy wine shop or elite retailer. Charles Shaw Chardonnay is mass-produced in California and only sold through the quirky Trader Joe's grocery stores. "We choose to sell good quality wines at $2 a bottle because we think it's a fair price," winemaker Fred Franzia told ABC News' Ryan Owens. "We think the other people are charging too much."

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Get What You Pay For? After its big win, ABC News decided to put the cheap stuff to a blind taste test and see if it would repeat the victory. It was disguised and served along with chardonnays of various prices, including a $120 bottle.
In this test, Caroline Styne, co-owner and wine director of two trendy Los Angeles area restaurants, judged the wines -- but to a different outcome. She ranked "Chuck" dead last, but second-to-last was the $120 variety. Oh well...

No one said this was an exact science. Just ask the chief judge of the competition that gave the gold to a wine that costs less than a latte at Starbucks. "There's going to be people out there that don't like the wine and that's OK," said chief judge G. M. "Pooch" Puchlowski. " You know, there are a lot of wines I don't like. … So you drink what you like, don't drink what you don't and ultimately you go home a happy camper."

For the record, "Pooch" is my kind of guy! Just say it like it is...and of course ONLY drink the wines that you like, without regard to price, prestige or general snobbery (blah blah blah blahhh...) rhetoric. His tasting, more importantly, shows that there is no direct correlation between price and quality.

Bienvenido a Tejas del Sur

2007-07-26T12:12:00.000-05:00

Welcome to South Texas for all of my gringo friends. In my work, as many of you know, I am commissioned to work in different places. Earlier this week, McAllen, TX was that destination. After finishing field work early on Tuesday, I decided that a little sight seeing was in order. After all, I was happy that it was simply NOT raining!

I started to make the jaunt to South Padre but noticed the sign for this cool looking park off Hwy 83 (right on the border) that caught my attention. The sign read Anzalduas Dam Park and Wildlife Refuge. Well, I used to see "Jim" from Mutual of Omaha do this all the time. If it was fun and interesting for him, then it should be the same for me. Here we go...

Starting with the bottom photo is the 1- road off of the main highway. This was very cool...palm trees on either side of the road for miles. Yeehaww!

This 2-place along the Rio Grande has wild rice growing all along the banks of the river. It was loaded with birds, ducks and wildlife of all kinds. My dog would have loved a "walk" in this place.

After getting to the end of the road, 3- I started to get a little nervous. It suddenly dawned on me while taking this photo that someone of Central or South American origination might be trolling around in the woods, hoping to find a ride further into America.

Their story would go something like this:

"Well...Mi Amigos, we were hiding in the woods when here comes this pendejo Cajun Boy down the road. He not only has this shiny new rental Jeep, with a full tank of gas but he also has the cold A/C blowing for us, as well. That dude even had snacks and bottled water waiting, inside of the car. It was like he was waiting for us, or something. He was so nice... Ehh, what are e-lec-tro-lytes? Because when Pedro, here, ate a few of them from out of a snack bag on the floor of the Jeep...he couldn't keep still. He was skipping and hopping around in the back seat, like a Mexican Jumping Bean! So, I told him to sit down so I could see or I wuz gonna' throw his ass out on the side of the road." Man, he was annoying.

"Anyway, when that dude stopped to take a picture of something in the ditch, we popped him in the head and our prayers were answered! Vaminous Muchachos! You know...that poor dude thrashed around in the road for quite a while, before finally passing out. I saw him still kicking, in the rear view mirror when we drove off. (shrug by the immigrant) Oh well."

Back to real life... On the way out, 4-you knew things were still interesting when the authorities post snake warning signs. SNAKES, what the hell!! Are the friggin' snakes so large that they will tear up your rental vehicle, should you exceed 20 mph and hit them? And, I suppose you would not want to let your pets or small children roam freely around this place. They...may disappear... (begin the playing of Twilight Zone music)

So, this trip illustrates the quintessential South Texas. Wild, beautiful and dangerous. Sometimes all at the same time. I know, I know...a little too adventurous for my own good but man was it ever fun!!

Vin Du Jour, con't...

2007-07-22T19:03:00.000-05:00

Incognito Viognier

The Viognier formerly known as Roussanne

Vintner's Poem:

"I once had a dream of peaches and cream,

But wasn't quite sure of what I had seen.

Noble and bold, like tales of old,

A bright burst of sunshine, this fine liquid gold."

Beautifully made, this sweet serenade,

Who is this unknown at the wine masquerade?"

This wine was awarded "Best Rhone in the World" as a Roussanne at the 2000 Los Angeles International Wine Competition. However, using DNA testing, U.C. Davis later determined that this unique grape is a rare clone of Viognier that mysteriously appeared in California during the past decade and is not, in fact, a Roussanne after all! The phantom clone originated somewhere in the Chateauneuf du Pape region of the Rhone Valley in France, then mistakenly sold to the grower - the talented Mr. Ripkin - as Roussanne, who, finally, sold the resulting grapes to Michael~David Vineyards. The rest is history!

Incognito's grapes are grown in the Ripken Vineyard, east of the Carquinez Straits in the Sacramento River Delta region of California. Warm days and cool evenings - reminiscent of the clone's native Rhone Valley - produce the powerful and intense fruit with a sultry body that characterizes this wine, making it unlike any other Viognier.

Scooter Speak: The style is very fruit forward, round, weighty, juicy, potent and dry. It is so fruity that you expect it to be sweet but it is not. The appearance is of light straw, with a greenish tint. It has aromas of peach, cold weather blossoms and noble apricot. The mouth feel is creamy, smooth, weighty, medium-bodied and tart. The mouth filling peaches and cream flavors are joined by a big warm kick in the glass. I can see why this wine could be confused for a Roussanne.

Clearly, the best Viognier (I think) that I've had in years... Oh yeah...the Phantom of the Opera mask on the front and the Mardi Gras-esque decorations on the back label are very cool !

The Adventures of Bad Karma Scooter

2007-07-21T17:42:00.000-05:00

This morning, after the rain subsided, I went for a ride at the Veloway (cycling park). For the record, I really like riding at this place. There is no car hazard, a cyclist's most feared. As a matter of fact, the worst thing to be concerned with is the potential to run over little kids or inline skaters who do not abide by the Veloway rule that states "slower riders keep 'your ass' to the right". Or, at least that is what I thought.

So, I'm cruising around the park's track doing the usual hotdogging, cutting corners, splashing through the water hazards (that make their way across the track at low-lying areas) and generally having fun. Did I mention that I really like this park? Anyway, back to the story... Then as I'm speeding around a curve to the left (see lower, right corner of Veloway map above), my back tire hits a rock, stick or something in the roadway. Clearly, I didn't see it. Centrifugal force causes my now airborne rear tire to lurch to the right, about 5 or 6 inches. It was then that three things happened simultaneously: I was absolutely sure I was going to have my first Big Time crash, I nearly crapped my stretchy biking shorts and the woman I recently passed (about five bike lengths back) was gasping in horror as I lost control of my bike. This was going to end badly...

Somehow or another, I regained control of that bike without crashing. I don't know how I did it but it happened. Having ridden for about 30 miles at this point and mysteriously avoided catastrophe, I decided it was time for a break. So I pull over and sat on the shaded bench at the park's entrance. Then, I began mulling over how or why my near crash happened. The reason then occurred to me.

Bad Karma. Earlier this week a friend of mine, Erin, smacked into a tree while going on an early morning run. She writes about it in her blog. I, being the perpetual smart ass, called her "Ms. Magoo" in the comments section, as her incident reminded me of that old cartoon. Well...clearly the Karma Gods were pissed at me and decided that Le Scooter Voler was going down for that!

So, Erin (aka, ICE) I apologize and further promise to never call you any non-endearing names in the future.

Random Thought: I hope that does the trick... (Scooter nervously looks left, then looks right in an attempt to determine if the Karma Gods are listening) or else I'll have to start wearing a friggin' football helmet, elbow and knee pads on future rides!

Ahh, Yes...College Football Season

2007-07-20T09:22:00.000-05:00

To all LSU Tiger fans, you've been there and you've seen this before. The drum cadence starts, the crowd cheers and the adrenaline begins to flow.

So, it's official...41 days until the season begins !! We know where ESPN will be that day, Death Valley. And to all Tiger opponents, all I have to say is LOOK OUT ...

GEAUX TIGERS !!

Here are the tunes: http://www.lsusports.net/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=5200&KEY=&ATCLID=177310