Take me out...

To the third bar of the night...

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Take us out

To the ball game...

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Interesting: Delusional

Yes, he said it::
ANNAPOLIS, Md. The U.S. military is on the offensive in the War on Terror to prevent terrorists from reaching America's shores, President Bush said Friday, adding that 20 years from now, historians will look back on the Iraq war as "America's golden moment."

Interesting: More music

Samples from our friend Colby Beserra's new CD are up. Very nice. The official release is in a few weeks. Colby's a great bandleader, and he was fantastic in Striding Lion's last production. Didn't know if I mentioned it here, but I'm on the board of the company, and these dancers/actors/musicians just keep blowing me away with their creativity and talent.

The next show is a remount of Billy the Mountain and Other Wartime Stories, an experience inspired by Frank Zappa. It's hard to say any more than that, except that the band rocks hard. Reopening at The Elbo Room, 2871 North Lincoln Ave. in Chicago, Thursdays in July.

Interesting: Time Check

That's 2 hours of blogging. Good times. I also got the checkbook balanced and have both e-mail inboxes completely emptied. You can't hold me!

BTW -- you should buy this game for PS2. Anyone can play, and it's tons of fun. I even got Cindy to play for a couple of hours. Good night all.

Interesting: Family Affair

At long last, some more music for you, my faithful readers.

From Dad's praise band Cross Focus, here are a couple of favorites from their recent album:
I Come to Worship You and Rain Song (featuring Dad on vocals.)

Meanwhile, Lucas and the boys of Chakra have a few new cuts up.

Me? Guitar lessons.

Helpful: More free music

I had no idea that Amazon gave away free downlaods all the time, but apparently, they do. Put this link in your RSS reader to see the latest as they become available. You're welcome.

Not interesting: Politics

I'm no dummy. I know that traffic on this site was highest during the election when I was going off on politics all the time. But is anyone else kind of bored with it right now?

Bush is into Day 84 of his 60-Day Social Security nonsense, we're debating the management style of a potential UN Ambassador, everyone I know who went to Iraq is home. Seriously, American Idol gets more play than the big war our people are fighting in right this second. What on earth is going on?

Oh, and just so John Kerry and all those other senators can hear me, this whole judge filibuster thing is exactly why congressmen never get elected president. They just spent a month debating whether to change the rules or not. Does this make John McCain look like some kind of hero, because he helped broker a deal that keeps Bill Frist from changing the rules? No. No one cares. Does it matter? Yes. Is it interesting? No.

What is interesting? Well, certainly not this, either.

Helpful: Eat your vegetables

It doesn't take much to make me happy. So while Chicago's weather in May is terrible, this city makes up for it in so many ways.

Helpful: Do that #&^$%!

So I haven't been blogging lately. I've been too busy getting things done. I've been inspired by a great book called...wait for it...Getting Things Done.

Perhaps my unbounded productivity is killing my poker skills -- I don't know. But I'll tell you, I've never felt more organized or relaxed.

Helpful: Pick a new password

Last Lifehacker link, I swear. It's just that I need to update my passwords, so I figured these hints would be helpful. No big whoop.

Interesting: Where have I been?

I've been playing crappy-ass poker, that's where. Mid-level cards + no aggression + a guy there who reads me like a book = disaster.

So, instead of playing the final tournament of the poker league until the wee hours, I'm back within an hour. Pretty unsatisfying. Will this mean I can catch up on my blogging? Hmmm...

Hey Indy

Does this building look familiar? This is a pic i took when i was on the way to a lunch date with cindy. Excellent.

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Truer words

You tell, 'em, Ike:
"Should any political party attempt to abolish social security, unemployment insurance and eliminate labor laws and farm programs, you would not hear of that party again in our political history. There is a tiny splinter group, of course, that believes that you can do these things. Among them are a few Texas oil millionaires, and an occasional politician or businessman from other areas. Their number is negligible and they are stupid."

Very I+H: My hood

chicagocrime.org compiles crime data and uses Google Maps to plot the police blotter. There's also an RSS feed for each police beat. Don't worry though, Mom. We're doing fine and we feel plenty safe.

Shamelessly pulled from Lifehacker, but then again, these days, isn't my entire blog pulled from there?

Helpful: handwriting tips

Write better!

Helpful: Half Marathon Training Guide

Hmmm...

Compromise

Fine, put up the Ten Commandments in the courthouse and teach your stupid creationism if it means we get the stem cell research and government-paid health insurance in exchange. I can live with that.

Decisions

If you were given a $50 gift certficate to Best Buy, what would you spend it on?

"Nuclear Option" Mass Immediate Response

If they bring out the nukes, will you be ready?

If you look really close...

You can see Jim Belushi. But why would you?

May in Chicago stinks

But i'm lucky! Sunday. Cubs game. Right behind home plate. Eighty degrees and sunny. Tuesday. Cubs game. Eighty degrees and humid. Wednesday. Forty-five and nasty. Sweet.

Interesting: Reporters exist

But only in Europe, apparently.

Interesting: OSX Tiger not so great?

I was intrigued by the whole "widget" concept, but now I'm not so sure...

Helpful: Super cheap magazines

I need ideas for a new wardrobe, so I'm thinking a year of Details, GQ and Cargo for 18 bucks. If you subscribe to Men's Health/Journal/or Fitness you can renew a year for 10 bucks and also get the other two for free. Wicked cheap!

Interesting: Chris Tucker gets clipped

Insert hilarious quote from the movie Friday here.

Interesting: Sploid

What's funnier: the story, or the picture of Cletis the slack-jawed yokel?

Helpful: Flickr rocks

Yeah, I only took one roll of photos on our trip, but why let that stop you?

Helpful: Treat your wounds with pork

Certainly not kosher.

Interesting: Garbage

LAPBR
Originally uploaded by kuzmatt9.

There was an art exhibit at Coachella where different bands were given the chance to decorate a trash can any way they liked. I think Indigo will recognize the labels on this one...

Dramatic

LACOOL
Originally uploaded by kuzmatt9.

I don't remember taking this picture, but it sure does make us look like bad-asses.

The Coachella Four

LAGROUP
Originally uploaded by kuzmatt9.

Isn't that precious?

Helpful: Mint Juleps

Just in time for the Derby, Maker's Mark just released their prime recipe for Mint Juelps. Enjoy!

'The Perfect Mint Julep'

Ingredients:
1 liter Maker's Mark
Lots of fresh spearmint leaves
1 cup Distilled water
1 cup Granulated sugar
Powdered sugar for garnish
Mint sprigs for garnish

1. To prepare the mint extract, remove about 40 small mint leaves -- wash and place in a small mixing bowl. Cover with 3 ounces of Maker's Mark. Allow the leaves to soak for 15 minutes. Then gather the leaves in a clean, soap-free piece of cotton cloth and vigorously wring the mint bundle over the bowl of whisky. Dip the bundle again and repeat the process several times. Then set aside.
2. To prepare the simple syrup, mix 1 cup of granulated sugar and one cup of water in a cooking pot. Heat to dissolve the sugar. Stir constantly so the sugar does not burn. Set aside to cool.
3. To prepare the mint julep mixture, pour 3 1/2 cups of Maker's Mark into a large glass bowl or glass pitcher. (Pour the remaining whisky from the liter bottle into another container and save it for another purpose). Add 1 cup of the simple syrup to the Maker's Mark.
4. Now, begin adding the mint extract 1 tablespoon at a time to the julep mixture. Each batch of mint extract is different, so you must taste and smell after each tablespoon is added. You may have to leave the room a time or two to clear your nose. The tendency is to use too much mint. You are looking for a soft mint aroma and taste -- generally about 3 tablespoons.
5. When you think it's right, pour the whole mixture back into the empty liter bottle and refrigerate it for at least 24 hours to 'marry' the flavors.
6. To serve the mint julep, fill each glass (preferably a silver mint julep cup) half full with shaved ice. Insert a sprig of mint and then pack iin more ice to about an inch over the top of the cup. Then, insert a straw that has been cut to one inch above the top of the cup so the nose is forced close to the mint when sipping the julep.
7. When frost forms on the cup, pour the refrigerated julep mixture over the ice and add a sprinkle of powdered sugar to the top of the ice. Then serve.

Cindy and Maeby

Cindy and Maeby
Originally uploaded by kuzmatt9.

Yeah, we were in LA, where stars are plentiful. But being smushed against Alia Shawkat from Arrested Development, our favorite show, was definitely the highlight. We braved suffocation and trampling, but came away with the pic. And we also saw Anne from the show, who is like 5 feet tall. Anyway, Maeby had Weezer markings on her All-Stars, which was fine and all, but since she was only 5 when the Blue album came out we knew we were the bigger fans. Sweet!

Helpful: Which chemical element am I?

Zn... Zinc You scored 16 Mass, 36 Electronegativity, 66 Metal, and 60 Radioactivity!

You have a strong sense of the communal good and you aren't too demanding. You know better than to mess with the powers that be. You value being surronded by the right people, but don't care too much about what people beyond your group think of you. You are also the last element to be mentioned in every vitamin commercial, and have gained recognition throughout the 50+ community as the very symbol of "completeness." Hmm, you might be good at taking care of sick people, but that might be hogwash too.

My test tracked 4 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender: You scored higher than 4% on Mass You scored higher than 64% on Electroneg You scored higher than 78% on Metal You scored higher than 91% on Radioactivity

Link: The Which Chemical Element Am I Test written by effataigus on OkCupid Free Online Dating

Interesting: Coachella!

It was a great trip. Photos (including a celebrity sighting!) links and reviews to come this week. The synopsis (* indicates band at Coachella):

Liked very much: the Bro, Garv, and Cam; *Coldplay; *Amp Fiddler; brunch at Toast; desert weather from 3:00-8:00 PM; the Pacific Ocean, those giant freaking windmills on I-10, singing to Garv's CD collection of one-hit 90's alternative bands.

Liked: *Weezer, *Mercury Rev, Southwest Airlines, *Razorlight, wizards, sleeping on the plane, *Ambulance LTD.

50/50: *Snow Patrol

Disappointing: *Wilco, the Morongo Casino, the vegetarian options at the food tent, the 1/4 mile line to check in at LAX.

Hated: Getting crushed by the crowd between the Wilco and Weezer sets.