Specially Ordered

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(Originally posted on the website Continuum…)

My specially ordered toms finally came in. Yeah, I’m happy! Now my kit consists of 10 drums, including the roto toms, a 14″ Sabian thin crash, a 16″ Zildjian ZXT medium crash, a 20″ Zildjian ZXT medium ride, 14″ Zildjian ZXT hi-hats, and a 16″ super trashy sounding Wuhan China cymbal. It all looks great. It plays great. It just feels right.

My plan is to spend a few months getting back into shape. Then I hope to hook up with some serious musicians and do some serious playing.

Posted at 4:50 PM (EST

Doctor, My Eye!

(Originally posted on the website Continuum…)

Here’s an eye update…

Today my eye is back to looking about the same as the picture below from June 4. But look how bad it was yesterday! I could just barely open it.

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“Hello? I won’t be in to work today due to a malignant, flesh-consuming eye disease.”

Posted at 4:45 PM (EST)

My Eye

(Originally posted on the website Continuum…)

EWWWWWWW!! Look at my eye!

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I accidentally winked at an ugly girl and it got all infected!

No… Really… I sprained it watching a hockey game on TV the other night.

Check it out… My eye lid looks like a little friggin’ sausage link!

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Makes ya wanna run right out and buy a couple packs of Jimmy Dean sausage, don’t it?

Mmm Mmm!

Posted at 12:30 PM (EST)

Something to Think About

(Originally posted on the website Continuum…)

Something to think about…

In regard to the US government’s and big corporations’ influence/control on the media, Norman Solomon (Executive Director, Institute for Public Accuracy) said the following:

“In theory, everyone in the United States has freedom to speak his or her mind. Freedom to be heard is another matter.” (“Target Iraq: What the News Media Didn’t Tell You”, 2003, Context Books)
A lot of voices with various view points are not heard because they don’t line up with the interests of those who control the major media outlets. We have freedom of speech here and our news is not censored. However, many facts are conveniently left out, ignored, changed over time. So what we do hear often has such a spin on it. It’s been sanitized and made to fit in with the agendas of those in control of the outlets. It’s hard to believe anything anymore. Freedom of speech does not mean the same thing today as it did when this country was founded.

Posted at 12:00 PM (EST)

Awesome is Right!

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(Originally posted on the website Continuum…)

T: “Dad, I’m at Circuit City. Did you buy that new Led Zeppelin dvd yet?”

ME: “No, can you check out the price while you are there and call me back?”

T: “Sure.”

(** a mini eternity passes **)

T: “Dad, the dvd is $22.95. Did you know there is also a new 3 cd live set? Do you have that?”

ME: “No. How much is that?”

T: “Same price. But they have a sale only for today. But both for just $30.”

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ME: “ONLY 30 BUCKS??? HOLY CRAP!!”

T: “Dad…”

ME: “What?”

T: “I had enough money with me so I bought it for you!”

ME: “Dooooode! Awesome! You’re the coolest! Now get yer butt home so we can watch it!”

Awesome is right! Over 5 hours of tremendous live Led Zeppelin! Oh man! Amazing! I have been listening to Led Zeppelin for 25 years or so. But I never saw them live. Their peak was slightly before my time. (They had their first two albums out before I was even finished with kindergarten!) I never saw any video performances of them either. They were big before MTV even existed. Then their drummer died tragically right as I was finishing high school. No more tours. So to see them playing their music live was just awesome. I was revited to the screen. I put the dvd in at 8 PM and nearly finished it last night.

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After having the recent joy of buying a new drumset, to see John Bonham actually playing was astounding! His playing has been an influence on my own style, not to mention the influence he has been to so many drummers over the years. The first dvd contains live footage from 1970 and the camera angles are perfect for watching Bonzo. I was amazed at his speed and endurance. I can understand why the band stopped touring after his death. No one could have replaced him.

You have to see this dvd! This is a band that has not made any new music for over 20 years. Yet, their songs are on rock radio stations all over the world to this day. They were among the leaders and pioneers of rock music back in the 1970s. What a deal to get a 5 hour dvd AND a 3 cd audio set all for $30! Awesome!

Posted at 2:00 PM (EST)