Bud Commercial

This should have aired during the superbowl, I think its one of the funniest tv commercials I've ever seen.  I feel inspired to start my own swear jar.  I'd never seen it, but I saw it over on the blog of "the other me" (aka, the bastard that owns my .com domain name :P).

Its That Time of Year Again

Its that time of year again: time for the young girls of America setup in front of the grocery stores to prove that parents love their little girls more than their little boys. :) Yep, you got it: time for girl scout cookies!

Back on the Saddle Again...

I haven't been running much lately (ok, more than just lately...like for the last 6-8 months really), but I have been busy keeping in shape other ways. Most notably probably is Ultimate Frisbee which is a really good aerobic workout. Anyway...today the volleyball games that I had planned fell apart due to weather, so instead I went for a run. Probably the last 3 or 4 runs I been on were in the 2 mile range. But this time I set an intimidating goal of 8 miles, and I met the challenge. It was a great feeling of accomplishment when I crossed that last mile marker. Yay!

Tom Petty

Just got my tickets for the Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers show at Walnut Creek in Raleigh. Woohoo!

Tift Merritt

I'm going to see Tift Merritt in March at her concert at the Carolina Theatre in Durham. Tift got her start in the triangle area.

Three Girls And Their Buddy

I said in "new year, new experiences" that I'd missed out on my chance to see Patty Griffin in Chapel Hill. Fortunately it turns out I didn't! One site said sold out, but another said there were seats available. I ended up sitting way in the back of the theatre, but fortunately it was a small theatre.

The name of the show was Three Girls And Their Buddy. It was Emmylou Harris (famous country/folk/bluegrass singer), Patty Griffin, Shawn Colvin (mostly known for her pop hit "Sonny Came Home"), and Buddy Miller. The group was awesome, and they took turns singing songs and harmonizing with each other, while Buddy played guitar for all (and sang his own songs too).

My favorite was Patty, followed by Emmylou mostly because of her legend. Buddy Miller played very unique selections and was good. Shawn Colvin is very talented but she's just not my kinda thrill.

I didn't get any good pictures, just some shaky and dark video, but the picture above was taken at Patty's show in Raleigh at the NC Museum or Art back in 2006.

A new year, new experiences

This year, I want to add more spice to my life. I wasted most of the past 7 or 8 years just going through the same routine: wake up, go to work, come home, watch tv, go to sleep, rinse and repeat. Over the past couple of years I've rediscovered sports that I used to play all the time when I was younger. Now between "come home" and "go to sleep", nearly every day I get out and do something: I go to the gym to work out, play volleyball, racquetball, ultimate frisbee, or shoot pool (ok, not a sport but still fun).

For 2008, I plan to step it up. I want to get out and have more fun, play more sports, be healthier, be smarter, and most importantly - do things I've never done before. Here's a list of some things I plan to do this year (some of these things are lofty goals and some of things are ridiculously simple. I don't care, I just want to do them. :P):

• Go somewhere new (new to me, that is) and exciting for a vacation (Mexico? Jamaica?)
• Go to more concerts, comedy shows, and sporting events.
  
  So far I've seen:
  
  Will Ferrell
  Lori McKenna
  The NASCAR race at Bristol Motor Speedway.
  Patty Griffin w/ Emmy Lou Harris in Chapel Hell.
  
  
• Join a new sports league (a new sport, maybe dodgeball or flag football)
• Go on a hiking trip
  
  So far I've gone hiking on the Eno River, and I am going to South State Park near Asheville, and a volleyball camping tournament in Virginia Beach.
  
  
• Go on a snow-skiing trip in the west (Colorado or Utah)
• Go on a water-skiing trip (maybe http://www.cobleskischool.com/)
• Take a cooking class, and do more cooking and less microwaving.
• Drink a lot more water and a lot less diet soda.
• Try lots of new foods and visit restaurants I've never been to.
  
  Indian food is really good.
  I found a Korean place I need to check out.
  I found a really good Thai place.
  I ate a tomato sandwich (gasp)
  
  
• Be a more friendly and outgoing person (I'm usually a pretty big ass)
• Read more books
  
  The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, and the Amber Spyglass.
  The Tipping Point
  
  
• Visit NY city
• Go to a ComedySportz show (maybe http://www.dsicomedytheater.com/schedule/showdetails.php?ShowID=26)
• Start a jump training workout and daily pushups/situps
• Clean up some of the little software apps I've written and put them on the web for free download.
• Hang-gliding in the outer banks.

Advertisers Getting Wise?

Much like the RIAA ignored the business potential of the Internet and instead tried uselessly to fight against it, advertisers have struggled about DVR technology, especially the dreaded "30 second skip". So far, Amex is the only company I've seen using the most obvious solution. While their advertisements aren't *in* the television show, they're closely related. You may have seen the ads that Tina Fey (of "30 Rock", and formerly "SNL") has been doing for Amex. They are playing her ad (and another by one of her "30 Rock" co-stars whose name I do not know) during the airing of "30 Rock", in a manner that makes them look like they are a part of the show. Genius. Lots of potential there.

Favorite Bands/Artists

Rabbert posted a lists of some of his favorite bands/artists and their songs. I don't think I can do this, because my taste in music is too varied. Its impossible for me to pin down my favorites without leaving dozens out. :) But...one day I started to, and here's what I had when I gave up (I didn't get very far...maybe I should just print out my WMP playlist):

• Tupac - When We Ride
  
• Randy Travis - 1982
  
• Dixie Chicks
  
• Led Zep
  
• Nirvana
  
• OAR - Crazy Game of Poker
  
• Otis Redding - Sittin on The Dock of the Bay
  
• Ozzy
  
• Pink Floyd - Money
  
• Allison Krauss and Union Station
  
• Lori McKenna
  

ATT on Flickr

There are quite a few shots of the American Tobacco Trail on Flickr (some of them from me).