Thursday, December 31, 2009
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
This is why I kept all my cd's and still buy cd's
The main reason I have kept ALL my cd's and continue to buy cd's is because I predicted that the day would come when we wouldn't want to settle for the compromise in quality that the mp3 offers. Even though I have ripped all of my music to mp3 (over a terabyte of it), I foresaw a day when we would want to rip it to a better quality. Mp3's remove a lot of the high and low range tones and squash the sound. Looks like my prediction might be true and those of you with tons of mp3, without the original cd quality, will be compromised and look like suckers.
A Microsoft analyst, Matt Rosoff, wrote an recent article predicting how we would consume music in the future. One section backs up my claim. He said:
* Fidelity rather than file size
"Eventually bandwidth will increase to the point where streaming lossless digital files makes sense. Listeners will rediscover detail in the midrange, and tons of information at the low and high ends of the spectrum -- and the MP3 will be looked back as the dark ages of audio quality. "
Rosoff also predicts:
* Songs instead of albums
"Fewer musicians will release suites of songs organized around a common theme or sound," he wrote. "With digital files already taking the place of physical recordings, there's almost no economic reason for the album to persist. By 2020, the concept of the album will be an anachronism with a few vocal adherents -- like vinyl records are today."
* Streams instead of downloads
"If you had access to every song ever recorded, on any device, from any location with an Internet connection, wouldn't you rather pay for that service than buy a new CD or two every month? People say they want to own music, but when it's just a digital file, what do they want to own ... why bother? ... By 2020, most professionally recorded music will be consumed as on-demand streams and people won't pay by the track"
* Clouds instated of hard drives
"As users become accustomed to listening to more professionally recorded music on demand, they'll expect their personal collections to be available in the cloud as well."
*Extras become standard
"What's to prevent artists from packaging their music with artwork, lyric sheets, video outtakes, and even interactive applications? "
* Production rather than consumption
"Digital technology, [which] has already democratized the recording process, and the Internet have also made promotion and distribution far easier than they were a decade ago. By 2020, music fans will spend almost as much time creating and sharing recordings with their friends as they do listening to professionally recorded music."
* Suggestions rather than searches
"In a world of on-demand music in the cloud, search will become vitally important. Users will want to be able to find songs not only by title, album, or artist, but also by a few snippets of lyrics, or even by humming or playing part of a melody. By 2020, personalized recommendation services, like those provided by Pandora, Slacker, and MOG, will become even more important than search, and will have to be integrated into any on-demand music service that hopes to survive."
* Festivals rather than big concerts
"With the exception of old, established acts and the very occasional pop sensation, very few bands can fill large arenas or football stadiums. This trend will accelerate as the last bands from the golden age of radio retire. In 2020, no single act will be able to sell 50,000 tickets at Qwest Field like U2 hopes to do this summer. Instead, the only shows that will pack large arenas will be festivals, where listeners can pick and choose among dozens of acts and classes of entertainment."
* Spectacle rather than personality
"The common wisdom today dictates that musicians need a personal connection with their fans. They must blog, tweet, maintain their MYSPACE and FACEBOOK profiles, and generally act like your next door neighbor who's always pestering you to see his band. There's a word for [this] --it's called "spam." Eventually, this cloud of self-promotional noise will dissipate, and will be replaced by old-fashioned word-of-mouth.
* Retro takes on a new meaning
"In 2020, the original iPod will be almost 20 years old ... overtaken by a nearly infinite selection of high-fidelity music, streamed over super-fast wireless connections to increasingly inexpensive portable devices." First-generation iPODS will become the SONY WALKMAN of the Aughts.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
My Austin Monthly Home Winter issue column, just in case you missed it
We often find ourselves saying “you know, if we just redid _________, I would really love this house.” The problem is, we have been redoing _____ since we moved in 7 years ago. First is was “if we just paint the house”, “if we just get a metal roof”, “ if we just add a deck on the side”, “if we just replaced all the windows”, “if we just add an office.” As of right now, we just committed to tearing out the front of the house, redesigning the entryway and adding a carport. Then, surely we will love this house. Right?
Since committing to this major renovation, I’ve already heard rumblings. “if we just redo the bathrooms and possibly add a pool.” Then possibly, it will be the home of our dreams, that is, after I get the garage I’ve always wanted.
It never ends. A part of me cringes and the thought of all the dollars we have thrown at this house. Another part of me takes pride in how we have made something out of nothing. Every change we make becomes a great story. Almost every wall and every project, has a story. I love that. However, at the time the story is being written I hate it, just as I hate writing the checks that go along with it.
Does it sound like this at your home? Does it feel like it’s never going to be finished? It’s as if you never get to cross the goal line and you never get to spike the ball? We all want to do the Ickey Shuffle and wave to our moms on tv, but it never happens. Always a work in progress.
As preoccupied as we have been with improving this home for near the last decade, we still torture ourselves to no end looking at other homes. I can’t tell you how many times an open house or a visit to a friends house sends us home feeling sad and discouraged about our place.
It doesn’t make any sense the mental anguish and we all put ourselves through. Yet, we are constantly looking for better options, because “you never know”.
Here’s a funny thing to ponder. It seems as if want, desire, envy and outright pompousness, are totally acceptable when it comes to our homes. When you visit a home, people brag. They can’t help it. They take you on tour and they flaunt their riches. “Come see the new pool we had put in, negative edge and waterfall”, or “This entire foyer was made from wood retrieved from the Titanic”, or “all of these doorknobs where made from the bones of the King Edward the Procrasinator”. Congratulations on your success, come by our house to see our new “Welcome Mat, made in China by an 11 year old last July.”
What I’m saying is, somehow, everyone has a free pass on bragging rights with their homes, especially in this town. It sends many of us home feeling empty, depressed or just downright annoyed. I propose all gatherings to take place at Starbucks from here forward. It’s a bit more of an even playing field.
With homes, the “grass is greener” effect haunts us all the time, yet I’m the first to sign up for a Home Tour or a cocktail party at Le Vogue Haus. I’m the first to walk through in total fascination, commenting “we should do that to our house” even thought I could never afford it and I’m also usually the first to say “How can a couple of Jackasses like that afford all this?”
So my wife and I go home, again confused, bewildered and loathing our home. By mid-week confidence escalates again, we start loving our home all over again, occasionally throwing compliments to each other on a job well done. That is, until that Sunday Homes section unfolds over a cup of coffee and the questions start all over again. “What if we built mother in law quarters? We’d never need another home, ever again.”
The mixed feelings about our current home continue:
We don’t have a yard, but I don’t want to take care of a yard
We don’t know our neighbors, but I don’t want anyone dropping by.
There are a lot of rules for where I live, but don’t think it should apply to me.
We reworked everything to add a guest bedroom, yet never have guests.
We host a party and then make excuses for all the unfinished things in our house.
We would love to remodel the kitchen, but we never cook.
As of this week, we have just committed to another renovation that we really can’t afford. Seems like we do one about every other year. It’s tempting to just pack up and move into a new home, but I love my house, I really do.
Friday, December 25, 2009
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
My 8 year old daughter's letter to Santa
This is what I want for Christmas.
1. A puppy.
2. I wish that candy was healthy but it has to have the same taste
3. That is snows on Christmas
4. A Wii and can you bring some games with it.
5. What I want best of all for Christmas is a bunny as white as snow.
Love, Raleigh
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Thursday, December 17, 2009
My Holiday Letter
We kicked off the year with a historic election. I a believer in the theory that “perception is reality” so I’m optimistic that things will get better because they are “supposed to”.
I love that compared to the rest of the country, Austin chose not to participate in the recession. All that preaching for years to buy and support local has really paid off for us. Austin is learning more and more how to sustain itself. First we decided we didn’t need Houston or Dallas to be a great city, now we realize we don’t even need the rest of the country.
2009 was fun to see my daughter transition from 1st to 2nd grade. Doesn’t sound like much or look like much on paper, but this is the year we went from a little girls room to a big girls room. Gone are the butterflies stuffed bears and rolling in are the surfboards, computer, ds games, clothes and more shoes than I could have ever imagined.
My little toddler that I want to teach and protect is out there on her own, exploring, learning and sometimes getting hurt. I have enjoyed the past year of exploring her strengths, overcoming some of her weaknesses and hanging out with my new little buddy.
I’ve enjoyed her success at surfing, wakeboarding, continuing to grow in Karate for yet another year and for being my sushi buddy when I need one.
As my daughter has matured, my wife and I have enjoyed some “Breathing room” to reconnect with each other and ourselves. We appreciate going to an grown up movie or the time to sit down and just read. It’s been a good year to “take care of ourselves” a bit as I spent another year trying to accomplish personal goals in cycling and my wife knocked out her first marathon. Accomplishing these goals has been good for the soul.
I’ve accomplished my goal for the year of “being more present” with both my wife and daughter. I’m often proud when I get to step back and see what my girls are all about.
It’s been a great year of seeing friends totally prosper in the worst of times personally and economically… and to those friends who have had failures in the past year, it has been inspiring to see you overcome and move on. I learned a lot from you.
It’s been a great year to have Sandy and Alex married and Sandy starting a family. Welcome to my world as I’ve now been married over 11 years and my daughter is now 8. It’s a good world, it’s just nice to not be the only one on the show trying to relate what life was like on this side of the fence. Welcome boys.
It’s also been a great year with the addition of Cassiday and Sarah. I always recognized the talents and potential of Cassiday. Sarah, I thought was nuts for the longest time, but it’s become quite endearing. I’m not saying she’s not crazy, but her heart is in the right place and that fits well with our show. As they say, you get the right people on the bus and things are going to go from Good to Great.
I have to say thank you for a great year to my loving family. I’m grateful to our team at Mix 94.7 and to those who support what Sandy and I are trying to accomplish here. Thanks to my friends who let me be a part of Rare Magazine and Austin Monthly Home Magazine. I appreciate your support and patience. I’m also appreciate to all our new friends we have made at KEYE. Their attitudes and hard work has been inspiring and enlightening.
The only thing that concerns me that might have gone horribly wrong in throughout 2009 was spawned exactly one year ago, when Lance Armstrong convinced us to get on Twitter. I figured I have spend approximately 2 months 23 days, and 18 hours looking at tweets. Don’t think I can ever make up for that.
Best wishes and a happy 2010. Thanks Colt McCoy, thanks Jordan Shipley. Go Horns!!!
How do Americans like to spend their free time?
#1.) Watching TV . . . 81% of Americans spend their free time watching TV for an average of about ten hours a week.
#2.) LISTENING TO RADIO . . . 78% of Americans spend their free time listening to traditional radio for an average of about five hours a week. (!!!)
#3.) Email and instant messaging . . . 70% of Americans spend their free time sending email and chatting on IM for an average of about four hours a week.
#4.) Social networking websites . . . 47% of Americans spend their free time visiting social networking sites for an average of about five hours a week. And . . .
#5.) Twitter . . . 11% of Americans spend their free time "Tweeting" for an average of about three hours a week.
--The study also found that, despite the emergence of iPods and other MP3 players, THREE in FIVE Americans still listen to their music on CD. (CNet News)
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Monday, December 14, 2009
Friday, December 11, 2009
Here are some of the Tiger Woods Txt with Jamiee Grubbs
Tiger: do you have a boy friend
Jaimee: I don’t even have someone I am dating … no … u can be my boyfriend
Tiger: then I am
Jaimee: I wish
Tiger: quiet and secretively we will always be together
Tiger: when was the last time you got laid
.
(Sept. 27, 6:38 p.m.) Tiger probes his alleged mistress about Jaimee’s “dates”
Jaimee: miss u
Tiger: now that’s hot so who is your new boy toy
Jaimee: no new boy toy … still running dry… been on 2 real dates in the pat 2 months
Tiger: I need you
Jaimee: then get your tight ass over here and visit me! I need u
Tiger: I will wear you out soon
Jaimee: how soon? I got a new piercing
Tiger: really. Where
Jaimee: I just sent u a pic of it … is on my cheek below my eye … implanted a little diamond
Tiger: send it again. I didn’t pick up on that
Tiger: you just need some attention from me
.
(July 26, 11: 22 p.m.) Tiger prods Jaimee about a male friend.
Jaimee: I drove out for the night to surprise a friend with a present for there birthday
Tiger: what kind of present your naked body
Jaimee: haha no a watch I slept alone
Tiger: alone with him that is
Jaimee: haha I wish
.
(Oct. 1, 6:06 p.m.) Tiger accuses Jaimee of having a thing for “big black guys”
Jaimee: is it orange county time yet?
Tiger: oh stop
Jaimee: hahaha I know … but you canceled on me last time so the anticipation is killing me … im finding myself watching sports center … haha j/k it isn’t that bad
Tiger: its never been that bad
Jaimee: very true … I only watch football
Tiger: Figured you would say that. Big black guys.
Jaimee: u are my first, last and only black guy! U should feel special
Tiger: why do I not believe that?
Tiger: [later, in response to Jaimee's mention of a date who was "full of himself"] you kinda like that for some reason which is weird why you decided on me.
Tiger: having an asian mother and a military father you cannot and will not ever be full of yourself
Jaimee: I have fun with u, you always make me smile and I am not afraid to be myself or say anything to u … the day I met u I thought u were going to kick me out a few times but for someone reason you didn’t and u have told me numerous times I talk to much but slowly as I get to know u iI think your absolutely amazing
Tiger: you are wrong I’m bone thugs in harmony
.
(Oct. 18, 3:40 p.m.) Tiger orders Jaimee to take a “very naughty” photo of herself.
Tiger: send me something very naughty
Jaimee: some things are worth waiting for lol … besides im at work
Tiger: go to the bathroom and take it
Jaimee: haha ur too much
Later that day, after they seemed to have hooked up, Grubbs texted him right after he left asking her to come back, and then he refers to himself as “blasian.”
Jaimee: are u leaving me cause your wife is still in newport I am lonely now … i like falling asleep in your arms
.
(Oct. 18, 11:38 p.m.) Tiger calls himself “blasian” — black and Asian.
Tiger: sorry baby I just can’t sleep. Its just a problem I have.
Tiger: she is not here. They left this morning
Jaimee: well I appreciate you not wanting to wake me up but if y couldn’t sleep I would have rather sat up and talked to u more … find out why I keep falling more and more for u
Tiger: Because I’m blasian
Tiger: I’m sorry bab. Im already home.
Jaimee: I’m putting my underwear back on … thats a no no … come take them off
Tiger: you are too funny
.
(Nov. 26, 11:16 a.m.) Even on the one day when Tiger should’ve been spending quality time with his family, he was texting Jaimee.
Tiger: happy thanksgiving to you
Jaimee: u too love
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Man, I love youtube
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Your list of Top Tiger Jokes so far
2) Tiger Woods crashed into a fire hydrant and a tree. He couldn't decide between a wood and an iron.
3) What does Tiger have in common with a baby seal? They've both been clubbed by a Swede.
4) Apparently the police asked Tiger's wife how many times she hit him. She said "I don't know exactly... but put me down for a 5."
5) Phil Mickelson contacted Tiger's wife to pick up some tips on how to beat him.
6) Seems he forgot his Daddy's profound advice, "Tiger, you'll never be successful until you learn to play one hole at a time."
7) What did Elin say right after she clubbed him? "Don't even try to tell me I bent my elbow...!"
8) Of course, he blamed it on a problem with his Escalade. Whenever a golfer hits a tree, he blames it on his Caddie.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
If you had to choose to save your wife or your child, what would you do? Painful thought
If your wife and your kid were both drowning, but you could only save ONE of them . . . which one would you choose?
--The reason I ask is because recently, a guy from New Zealand named Stacy Horton was faced with that exact decision. And he chose to save his wife, 35-year-old Vanessa, instead of their son, 13-year-old Silva. So what happened?
--On Saturday night, Vanessa was driving with Silva and his friend when she lost control of the car, and plunged into a river.
--Stacy, who was following behind them, showed up at the crash scene about two minutes later. That's when he heard Vanessa calling for help, and saw the car sinking with Silva trapped inside. So Stacy ran down to the river and dove in.
--He says, quote, "I tried to get down and get him but I couldn't. It was just too deep. And Vanessa was going under. I made a call to pull my wife to safety. I looked back and I could see the taillights but it was too far and I couldn't get him . . .
--"Instead of going down and risking my life as well as my wife and son's, I chose to take Vanessa back and sat on the shore praying. It was all I could do."
--That's right . . . Stacy let his son die in order to save his wife.
--On Sunday, divers recovered Silva's body from the bottom of the river. (AOL News)
HERE ARE THE TOP WEB SEARCHES OF 2009 . . . ACCORDING TO BING.COM:
--I don't know how popular they've managed to become. But one way they're emulating their competitors is by putting out a year-end list of the most-searched items. Not surprisingly, MICHAEL JACKSON tops it. Here's the list . . .
#1.) MICHAEL JACKSON
#2.) Twitter
#3.) Swine Flu
#4.) Stock Market
#5.) FARRAH FAWCETT
#6.) PATRICK SWAYZE
#7.) Cash for Clunkers
#8.) JON AND KATE GOSSELIN
#9.) BILLY MAYS
#10.) JAYCEE DUGARD
Monday, November 30, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
Friday, November 20, 2009
A new Disorder in on the books, Gender Disappointment
--It's just come to my attention that clinical psychologists have invented . . . I mean "identified" . . . a new psychological disorder.
--It's called Gender Disappointment, and it refers to the let down a parent feels when they wanted their baby to be one gender, but ended up with the other.
--Some parents will get such a bad case of Gender Disappointment that they become depressed.
--Worse yet, some Gender Disappointment sufferers NEVER even come forward with their disorder, because they're worried they'll be perceived as ungrateful.
--In case you're wondering, experts say Gender Disappointment is experienced most often by women who were hoping for a girl, but had a boy instead. (Parent Dish)
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Want to get paid to drive your car?
This is just a heads-up to let you know that if you're a little strapped for cash, you can earn up to $900 a month by becoming a "brand driver."
--That's what it's called when you cover your car in vinyl decals called "auto wraps," which sport the logos and slogans of various corporations. All you have to do to qualify is drive at least 1,000 miles a month.
--But since lot of people sign up to become "brand drivers" . . . presumably because it's easy money . . . whether or not you're chosen is based on a number of factors, including:
--Where you live
--Where you drive
--The location of your commute
--Whether you have kids . . . and how old they are
--And the kinds of events and activities you typically attend (???) (AOL Autos)
http://www.freecarmedia.com/
http://www.drivenmediaonline.com/
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Would you like to swim in a pool of beer?
Guys . . . the next time you're trying to decide where to go on vacation, you might want to consider the town of Starkenberger, Austria.
--That's because there's a spa there called the Starkenberger Myth of Beer Resort, and it has three 5,000-gallon swimming pools full of BEER.
--That's right . . . swimming pools FULL OF BEER.
--According to resort officials, swimming in beer can help treat skin conditions, improve blood circulation and even cure wounds. The jury is still out as to whether or not that's actually true.
Is Diet Soda Killing your Kidneys?
If you think you're doing yourself a favor by drinking DIET SODA instead of the regular stuff, you might want to think again.
--At least that's according to researchers from the Nurses' Health Study in Boston, who found that drinking diet soda can have a seriously negative effect on your KIDNEYS. Listen to this . . .
--Over the course of a two-decade study, the researchers have learned that women who drink two or more diet sodas a day will experience a 30% drop in kidney function.
--And, overall, diet soda drinkers are nearly twice as likely to suffer from early signs of kidney disease, compared to people who don't drink soda.
--So why is diet soda so bad for your kidneys? Well, the researchers aren't entirely sure. But they think it has something to do with all the high fructose corn syrup in diet soda. (AOL Health)
The Best Toys of all Time
Recently, "Good Housekeeping" came out with a list of the BEST TOYS of all time. Here's a brief rundown of their selections:
--The Teddy Bear (1906)
--Doggie on Wooden Wheels (1921) (--That's the wooden dog that had wheels instead of legs. Kids would pull it around by a long cord, and the spinning of the wheels made the dog's tail wag.)
--The Scooter (mid-1920s)
--Mickey Mouse (--WALT DISNEY created the character in 1928. But it wasn't until 1935 that Disney released its first, 12-inch Mickey doll.)
--The Dollhouse (early 1940s)
--LEGOS (1947)
--Walkie Talkies (1951)
--The Toy Telephone (1954)
=
=
--Play-Doh (1955)
--Barbie (1959)
--Etch-A-Sketch (1960)
--Cabbage Patch Kids (1982)
--Nintendo (1985)
--Furby (1997)
--Sega Dreamcast (1999)
--Ultimate Planetarium (2006)
(--Check out photos of all these toys here . . .)
(Yahoo Shopping)
The Country Most people want to move to is the U.S. !
Let's face it . . . around the world, people love bashing Americans, and the United States in general. But that doesn't mean they don't want to live here. Listen to this . . .
--According to a new study, 700,000 MILLION people . . . or roughly 10% of the world's entire population . . . say that if they could, they'd move to another country.
--Of those people, the "dream country" of choice for roughly ONE in FOUR is . . . you guessed it . . . the UNITED STATES.
--After the U.S., Britain, Canada and France came in second.
--Spain and Saudi Arabia came in third.
--And Germany and Australia tied for fourth.
--Overall, residents of sub-Saharan African countries are most likely to want to move abroad, with nearly TWO in FIVE saying they'd leave if they could.
(--So what can you take from this? The only reason foreigners talk so much smack about the U.S. is because they're jealous they don't live here. But you already knew that, didn't you?)
(Yahoo News)
The Country Most people want to move to is the U.S. !
Let's face it . . . around the world, people love bashing Americans, and the United States in general. But that doesn't mean they don't want to live here. Listen to this . . .
--According to a new study, 700,000 MILLION people . . . or roughly 10% of the world's entire population . . . say that if they could, they'd move to another country.
--Of those people, the "dream country" of choice for roughly ONE in FOUR is . . . you guessed it . . . the UNITED STATES.
--After the U.S., Britain, Canada and France came in second.
--Spain and Saudi Arabia came in third.
--And Germany and Australia tied for fourth.
--Overall, residents of sub-Saharan African countries are most likely to want to move abroad, with nearly TWO in FIVE saying they'd leave if they could.
(--So what can you take from this? The only reason foreigners talk so much smack about the U.S. is because they're jealous they don't live here. But you already knew that, didn't you?)
(Yahoo News)
Entertainment Tonights Top 25 Soundtracks since 1984
"Entertainment Weekly" has put together a list of the 25 Best Soundtracks Since 1984 . . . and it's actually pretty good. Here's the complete list:
#25.) "Buena Vista Social Club" (1997)
#24.) "Grace of My Heart" (1996)
#23.) "Almost Famous" (2000)
#22.) "Magnolia" (1999)
#21.) "Juno" (2008)
#20.) "The Moderns" (1988)
#19.) "Repo Man" (1984)
#18.) "Pretty in Pink" (1986)
#17.) "Velvet Goldmine" (1998)
#16.) "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" (2001)
#15.) "Good Will Hunting" (1997)
#14.) "Waiting to Exhale" (1995)
#13.) "Singles" (1992)
#12.) "Trainspotting" (1996)
#11.) "Footloose" (1984)
#10.) "Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai" (1999)
#9.) "Judgment Night" (1993)
#8.) "South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut" (1999)
#7.) "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" (2000)
#6.) "This Is Spinal Tap" (1984)
#5.) "Reservoir Dogs" (1992)
#4.) "Do the Right Thing" (1989)
#3.) "Once" (2007)
#2.) "Rushmore" (1998)
#1.) "Purple Rain" (1984)
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
HEART ATTACK RATES DROP BY 26% IN CITIES THAT BAN SMOKING IN BARS AND RESTAURANTS
We've known for years that secondhand smoke is bad for your health. But we never knew it was THIS bad . . .
--According to a new study from the University of California at San Francisco, cities that ban smoking in bars and restaurants experience a 17% drop in heart attack rates in just the first year. And by the third year, heart attack rates in smoke-free communities drop by an average of 26%.
--Meanwhile, researchers from the University of Kansas estimate that a nationwide ban on smoking in public places could prevent between 100,000 and 225,000 heart attacks every year. (CNN)
Thursday, August 20, 2009
BRAD PITT AND ANGELINA JOLIE GAVE BICYCLES TO SCHOOL KIDS IN NAMIBIA:
--And now, we know where a little bit of it went.
--About $10,000 of it was used to purchase bicycles for use by children at two schools in the African nation of Namibia. And it's already making a huge difference.
--Before, these kids had to walk to school. And that could be treacherous and time-consuming.
--16-year-old Emiliana Shikongo says, quote, "I had to get up at 5:00 A.M. and leave home in the dark to get to school on time. It made me very tired. Now I can stay at school until 4:00 or 5:00 P.M. to finish my homework and still get home before dark.
--"Now my teachers and parents are happy with my performance . . . already I have improved my average, and my aim is to be getting 100%. I know with the bicycle I can do it."
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Monday, August 10, 2009
Do you know what IWSN means on a text? Maybe you didn't know a few of these....
You think you can decipher what your obnoxious teenagers are saying to their friends over text message? Let's see how many of these fairly common text-message abbreviations you're familiar with . . .
--UG2BK: You've got to be kidding
--PAW: Parents are watching
--4COL: For crying out loud
--HAND: Have a nice day
--WOMBAT: Waste of money, brains and time
--^5: High five
--GNOC: Get naked on camera
--IWSN: I want sex now
(Wall Street Journal)
(--You can learn some more common text-messaging abbreviations here . . .)
http://netlingo.com/
Friday, August 7, 2009
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Gary and the NF camp. You have to read this entire blog. I promise it's good for your soul...
I listen to you guys daily and I have enjoyed every moment. I have a
big favor to ask of you and your listeners. Let me explain and I feel
sure that you can help me out. I am an adult that has
neurofirbromatosis (NERVE FIBER TUMOR). Big word, so people with this
disorder call it NF. I have had many surgeries over the years and felt
totally different from everyone else. I have a facial difference, as
do many of the children with NF. It does cause varied problems. Then
18 years ago, I found out they were having a camp for people with NF
and their families. I can not begin to tell you how much it meant to
me to finally meet others with this disorder. Now it is held at Camp
for All in Burton, Tx. in Sept. and we have a huge attendance every
year. They come from all over Texas to attend. Most in attendance are
kids, just wanting to be kids. Now, I am getting older, but the
friendships the kids make here are huge and long lasting. You see,
sometimes it's hard to make friends, when you may look different and
have a learning disability.
My problem? Every year we have always had lots of door and bingo
prizes, that the kids look forward to winning. This year, I have
pounded the pavement and hardly any store is giving away anything!
With the economy and the heat, I am not having much luck ;o( I have
not even got 1 single toy! Even Walmart is pretty much tapped out. So,
I understand, times are tough, but what's bingo without prizes??
Can the bunch of you or your listeners help us out any? Attached is
our 501c papers and the letter I am presenting companies. You can also
visit the Texas NF Foundation website at www.texasnf.org
Thank you for all the morning laughs!
Gary
Yes, we share email, old fashion, I know. I really just wanted to
thank you for all that you had done, not only for the kids at camp,
but Gary also. He has had it pretty tough the last couple of years and
he deserved something wonderful to happen to him. He feels so strongly
about NF camp, the kids, and families that it serves.
Last Dec. at MD Anderson Hospital, he had a tumor removed that went
all the way from his rear to his knee. They thought it was cancerous
for 2 months there and who was the first people he called? Not his
family, but 2 friends he had met at NF Camp. It's just that important.
Gary is the best of the best. Besides being my husband, he is also my
care partner, for I am living with multiple sclerosis. It's been
really rough on Gary the last few years and this has been the biggest
kick of his life and I just wanted to say THANKS! I am attaching our
story card, that we used this year to advocate at the capital. Just so
you will really know Gary and what a wonderful man he is.
Thanks again,
Kim
This is my story…
When my husband and I said the vows “in sickness and health” 30 years ago, we had no idea that MS would be our silent partner. It affects every decision we make where we live, what cars we get, what job my husband Gary takes, and every financial decision.
In 2006 an MS treatment did damage to my heart and I had to have a quadruple bypass. I also got aseptic meningitis. I was very sick for 4 months and Gary became my caregiver. I couldn’t be left alone and we couldn‘t afford to hire someone. Gary ran out of FMLA and lost a job that he loved and had been at for 14 years.
We lost everything: our house, 2 cars. Most importantly we had to say goodbye to the 3 foster care developmentally delayed men that had lived in our house for almost 10 years.
We are still trying to recover. Gary had to put me in a rehab, pack up our house and move to a new city to find a job. He works nights now so he can be here when I am awake. The emotional and physical toll on him has been significant.
On behalf of Texans with MS, their caregivers and families, please support Respite Services!
>>> O.k. at this point I was laying on the table, as I'm sure you are. What an amazing couple. I love these people and I love the listeners of Mix 94.7 for coming through for us again. Gary is coming to pick everything up at the end of the day tomorrow (fri Aug 7th), but if you would like to help with money or prizes for these kids, please feel free to contact us. mornings@jbandsandy.com
I hope reading this has changed your life, your perspective and your appreciation for what you have. It did for me.
This is truly why Sandy and I love what we do on the radio in Austin. We appreciate our listeners and to those consultants, researchers and newbies who don't understand why we do what we do, F.U.!!!!!!!
Have a wonderful day. God bless, JB
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
did you know there's an iphone app to help stoners find pot?
THERE'S A NEW IPHONE APPLICATION THAT HELPS STONERS FIND POT: (!!!)
If you're a pothead, I've got great news to report this morning. Are you ready?
--Apple has just approved a new iPhone application that helps stoners find the nearest MEDICAL MARIJUANA SUPPLIER. (!!!)
--That's right. There's a new iPhone app, called "Cannabis", which helps stoners find weed. So how does this thing work?
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Top Road trip song
Monday, July 6, 2009
Michael Jacksons love interest
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
These are my show notes from last night. Does this sort of thing interest you? People always ask about our prep.
Had a great night to myself, which I never get. Was nice sat night. Erin was on a girls night, Raleigh was with overnight sitter. I went to a coffee shop, drank beer and worked on an article, read a little, still struggling through the Warren Buffet biography. Watched The Wrestler at the end of the night. Good movie to make you want to be closer to your children. Sad.
I'm enjoying getting back into the movie loop. Sandy and I talked about it, our generation is so tired of the Blockbuster films. The Wrestler is so refreshing. Did I mention I watched it at 1am. Anyone up all night watching movies? good 6am caller stuff.
Had a very Austin day on Sunday. Barton Springs. My daughters first time there. It's always colder and dirtier than I remember. Part coolness, part ghetto. I love chlorine.
I have a moral dilemma. I put out a coupe bird feeders and had all these incredible, cool little birds hanging out all the time. It was great and pretty cool. Some pigeons have discovered it an ruined the party. They consume all the food in a day and fight and shit everywhere. I want to get rid of them but keep the others. I can't bring myself to kill them but need a solution. Hate em.
When I was working on my article for AMH on Sat night, I was facebooking with my sister Chris. She's incredibly funny. I felt the need to send her a note telling her how incredibly funny she is and that we love having her around. Might make a good bit where we all tell someone something that's long overdue.
the news of deaths spreading on Twitter/facebook. I find this fascinating. Do you realize we are witnessing history on the way news is released. This week was a moment that I think will be studied in Universities years from now.
Spend an hour looking for a lost hamster in my house on Sat night. My daughter was fighting back tears while he was lost. It's going to be devastating when we lose this little guy.
Sara, why didn't you roll down the window and say hello when I was riding my bike and you passed me in the car?
MJ died at 50, Billy Mays died at 50. Is there a chance I only have 9 more years left? Am I making the most of it? Frightening.
Sandy's bday. Did you all forget. I'm sad about what I got him this year, but I had his best interest in mind.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
My article currently in Parentwise Magazine. Enjoy
Welcome to the generation of the “over the top” parents. Our generation is doing things for our kids that our parents could not have imagined. I think we are in the midst of a parenting craze that is going to soon be nicknamed, analyzed and made fun of for years to come. I’m going to go ahead and call it “Earl Woods Syndrome”. Who can forget that image of Tiger at age 2 on the Mike Douglas Show putting with Bob Hope? Somehow, that was imbedded in our minds as a role model for good parenting. Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t. We feel like we have to give our children every opportunity to achieve greatness at an age where most are still filling their diapers involuntarily. The big difference between most of the parents and me is that I’m not accomplished at ANYTHING. Because I lack the expertise to teach her any kind of activity, I’m a sucker for the “expert for hire”.
My parents would freak if they knew I was getting my kid individual swim lessons every week for the last three years. It started out as “let’s make sure she can swim just in case she falls in water” and quickly became “Hey, she’s pretty good at this, we ought to stick with it. It’s easy to jump ahead 15 years and picture your kid on the podium. I tried swimming in high school and couldn’t remember how many laps to go back and forth. I would sometimes finish early; sometimes continue until the crowd laughter caused me to stop. My wife is the only person I have ever seen who appears to have perfect freestyle technique, yet moves backwards. She has invented the “moonwalk” of swimming
For the past couple of years we have also been taking our daughter to a city park for skateboard lessons. Yep, you heard me right. I said skateboard lessons. You might ask, “don’t most kids just learn to skateboard in the neighborhood cruising around with other kids?” The answer to that question is yes, but not at my house. I don’t know the first thing about skateboarding so I headed to a local skate shop and started asking around. Luckily the guys at No Comply Skate Shop didn’t laugh me out the door. They were pretty helpful in getting her the right board, the right shoes and helmet. Through the magic of radio, I was able to solicit for a skate coach. I didn’t know where to find one. This is not a very organized sport. It sort of thrives on lack of organization and rebellion. A listener called in and told me about her son Jason, who teaches skateboarding, swimming and drums. Perfect! I loved this guy before I even met him. Sign us up for all three! Once a week I take my daughter to see Jason and he hangs with her like she’s one of the bro’s. I sit there feeling like an old fart that doesn’t know how to skate, probably because I’m an old fart that doesn’t know how to skate. Her skating is coming along quite well, a far cry from the trial and crash method I grew up with.
Last summer we decided to take a family trip to southern California. My daughter started asking questions about the ocean and surfing. She’s 6 years old at this point. Little Earl Woods started talking to me in my imagination and I got on the Internet and on the phone to find out if anyone would teach my daughter to surf. We found a great local shop in Carlsbad and they could not have been better. They seemed as enthusiastic as me to begin my daughters surfing career. We showed up, they gave us a soft long board, the smallest wetsuit I have ever seen and a blonde haired stoner to escort us to the beach. Within 5 minutes he had her up on the board and surfing! We were thrilled. Not being an easy sport to participate in when you are an Austinite, we now find ourselves pulling our Airstream down to the coast as often as possible so our kid can get her surfing fix. It’s not as glamorous as So. Cal, but it works for a 1st grader. What 1st grader in central Texas has three surfboards? Mine does. I stand there in the waves getting pounded looking less like Mathew McCaughauhey and more like Jack Black. I proceed to pull her out into the pounding waves, watch her surf all the way in and swim in to exchange hi-fives with her over and over. In the meantime, my wife is trying to relax on a beach that is so covered in seaweed you can barely see her. The rest of the time she’s fighting off angry pelicans. We don’t mind because our daughter is having the time of her life.
We are entering into our fourth year of karate. What dad out there doesn’t want his little girl to “kick @ss” if she ever needs to? Every week we watch her go through the motions of basically, getting in a fight with air. For the most part toddler karate looks like Gary Busey having a bad dream. Fathers planning on raising a young karate student should be prepared for a lot of surprise blows to the groin. That’s all I’m saying. My karate experience you ask? I made some nunchucks in 7th grade and then proceeded to split my head open within 5 minutes.
The list goes on and on. We now do horseback riding lessons. You guessed it. I’ve never ridden a horse, but I did watch Mr. Ed growing up. A part of me wishes she would pick one thing, stick with it and be the next Tiger Woods of the sport. A part of me is enjoying all of sports vicariously through her. It may be a completely foolish waste of time and money to round up all these lessons for her. Maybe I, like many other parents today, am screwing up my kid for good by not letting them learn anything on their own. I’m not sure and I won’t know until she’s grown up, will I? She’s great at all the things we’ve tackled over the years. I really don’t have any expectations for her to pursue a career with any one of these things. I just hope at the end of the day, she remembers that we were there, mom and dad. We were the expert of nothing, but we were there getting pounded by the waves, falling off the skateboard, getting hit where it really hurts and in the near future shoveling horse manure, I’m sure. The important thing is that we were there, loving every second of it.
My article currently in Parentwise Magazine. Enjoy
Welcome to the generation of the “over the top” parents. Our generation is doing things for our kids that our parents could not have imagined. I think we are in the midst of a parenting craze that is going to soon be nicknamed, analyzed and made fun of for years to come. I’m going to go ahead and call it “Earl Woods Syndrome”. Who can forget that image of Tiger at age 2 on the Mike Douglas Show putting with Bob Hope? Somehow, that was imbedded in our minds as a role model for good parenting. Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t. We feel like we have to give our children every opportunity to achieve greatness at an age where most are still filling their diapers involuntarily. The big difference between most of the parents and me is that I’m not accomplished at ANYTHING. Because I lack the expertise to teach her any kind of activity, I’m a sucker for the “expert for hire”.
My parents would freak if they knew I was getting my kid individual swim lessons every week for the last three years. It started out as “let’s make sure she can swim just in case she falls in water” and quickly became “Hey, she’s pretty good at this, we ought to stick with it. It’s easy to jump ahead 15 years and picture your kid on the podium. I tried swimming in high school and couldn’t remember how many laps to go back and forth. I would sometimes finish early; sometimes continue until the crowd laughter caused me to stop. My wife is the only person I have ever seen who appears to have perfect freestyle technique, yet moves backwards. She has invented the “moonwalk” of swimming
For the past couple of years we have also been taking our daughter to a city park for skateboard lessons. Yep, you heard me right. I said skateboard lessons. You might ask, “don’t most kids just learn to skateboard in the neighborhood cruising around with other kids?” The answer to that question is yes, but not at my house. I don’t know the first thing about skateboarding so I headed to a local skate shop and started asking around. Luckily the guys at No Comply Skate Shop didn’t laugh me out the door. They were pretty helpful in getting her the right board, the right shoes and helmet. Through the magic of radio, I was able to solicit for a skate coach. I didn’t know where to find one. This is not a very organized sport. It sort of thrives on lack of organization and rebellion. A listener called in and told me about her son Jason, who teaches skateboarding, swimming and drums. Perfect! I loved this guy before I even met him. Sign us up for all three! Once a week I take my daughter to see Jason and he hangs with her like she’s one of the bro’s. I sit there feeling like an old fart that doesn’t know how to skate, probably because I’m an old fart that doesn’t know how to skate. Her skating is coming along quite well, a far cry from the trial and crash method I grew up with.
Last summer we decided to take a family trip to southern California. My daughter started asking questions about the ocean and surfing. She’s 6 years old at this point. Little Earl Woods started talking to me in my imagination and I got on the Internet and on the phone to find out if anyone would teach my daughter to surf. We found a great local shop in Carlsbad and they could not have been better. They seemed as enthusiastic as me to begin my daughters surfing career. We showed up, they gave us a soft long board, the smallest wetsuit I have ever seen and a blonde haired stoner to escort us to the beach. Within 5 minutes he had her up on the board and surfing! We were thrilled. Not being an easy sport to participate in when you are an Austinite, we now find ourselves pulling our Airstream down to the coast as often as possible so our kid can get her surfing fix. It’s not as glamorous as So. Cal, but it works for a 1st grader. What 1st grader in central Texas has three surfboards? Mine does. I stand there in the waves getting pounded looking less like Mathew McCaughauhey and more like Jack Black. I proceed to pull her out into the pounding waves, watch her surf all the way in and swim in to exchange hi-fives with her over and over. In the meantime, my wife is trying to relax on a beach that is so covered in seaweed you can barely see her. The rest of the time she’s fighting off angry pelicans. We don’t mind because our daughter is having the time of her life.
We are entering into our fourth year of karate. What dad out there doesn’t want his little girl to “kick @ss” if she ever needs to? Every week we watch her go through the motions of basically, getting in a fight with air. For the most part toddler karate looks like Gary Busey having a bad dream. Fathers planning on raising a young karate student should be prepared for a lot of surprise blows to the groin. That’s all I’m saying. My karate experience you ask? I made some nunchucks in 7th grade and then proceeded to split my head open within 5 minutes.
The list goes on and on. We now do horseback riding lessons. You guessed it. I’ve never ridden a horse, but I did watch Mr. Ed growing up. A part of me wishes she would pick one thing, stick with it and be the next Tiger Woods of the sport. A part of me is enjoying all of sports vicariously through her. It may be a completely foolish waste of time and money to round up all these lessons for her. Maybe I, like many other parents today, am screwing up my kid for good by not letting them learn anything on their own. I’m not sure and I won’t know until she’s grown up, will I? She’s great at all the things we’ve tackled over the years. I really don’t have any expectations for her to pursue a career with any one of these things. I just hope at the end of the day, she remembers that we were there, mom and dad. We were the expert of nothing, but we were there getting pounded by the waves, falling off the skateboard, getting hit where it really hurts and in the near future shoveling horse manure, I’m sure. The important thing is that we were there, loving every second of it.