June 2009 Video Blog

Storms, Radio, MikePod, Corona

June Special Video Report Part 1

A live storm damage report. Part 1 of June Video Blog. I was going to make a longer one, but I was 2 buzzed.

Guess What I am doing on Saturday?

Since the storms were so bad in the Chicago area today that my weather alert radio @work went off like 10 times I was going to write about some of the odd things I have heard on my various radios (scanners etc.. and it's good!). As you can see what used to be my garage and what used to be a tree forced my hand. What will I be doing on Sat?

A) Building a cabin out of the tree
B) Announcing a sale of the best fire wood in the western burbs
C) Charging neighborhood kids a fee to climb the tree and by extension my garage.
D) Groveling with my insurance agent

Feel free to venture a guess via email. mhmacmullen@gmail.com

Jon & Kate Announcement

I was not going to post tonight, but there was a problem with my wireless network. I fixed it and this is a test. Anyway, they are going to make an announcement on Monday. I am sure they are seperating/divorcing. But the cynic in me thinks it could be something else. Here are some ideas:

1) Jon has 3 buttocks. A recent medical exam has revealed this. Now how does the family make money off of, uh cope with this situation?
2) Kate is selling her excess skin from her tummy tuck on E-Bay.
3) Jon & Kate are producing a new show starring the kids as "The Little Rascals"

While scanning the TV I came across this show on CLTV. The Cheeseburger Show. I love it. I am starting the hot-dog show soon.

Coming soon: June video blog (really, I mean it!) Weird things I have heard on my various radios, more book reports and news headlines.

Videos

While I plot out my June vidblog, enjoy these videos:

The Black Sabbath show: An outstanding parody of those '70's music cartoons.With their dog Doom Doom

Sammy Davis Jr, "Vehicle" Good God, kooka chaw, kooka chaw!

My new phone. No that's not me, I'm too dweebie.

Heavy Metal Memories

Wow. This guy is excited. I wonder what he does for a living. Insurance salesman? Dentist? Clergy? Why do I think there are a lot of comic books in the basement apartment he lives in in his parents' home? If I am in Heaven & Hell, maybe I think about becoming a classical musician if my fanbase is like him. I can't get that excited about meeting other men. Would I get that excited if I met Megan Fox, Diane Kruger or Madeline Albright

On the Mikepod:
John Lennon: "Rock N Roll"
Bruce Springsteen: "Tunnel Of Love"
Curve: "Doppelganger"

Beer brought to me by Coors

DTV Conversion

Are you ready? I am. We have an HDTV (not HGTV) and the other 2 are hooked up to cable anyway. My ancient Bentley TV @work has a DTV converter connected to it. It is hard to get good reception in a highrise.

What I really like is the sideband channels. MeTV & MeToo show great old shows. I have watched a lot of Hawaii Five-O recently. Who is the coolest white man Jack Lord or William Shatner? I love all the cop shows from the 70's. Today if I wanted to make an action show, I would do it about insurance salesman or dentists. It would be different. People would be trying to get away from them, that would be the action. Sometimes when I see a marathon of these shows, I find myself hooked. Either that or I have smallpox.

Book Report Updates

To make up for the book reports I didn't do in school, I am tracking what I have been reading since January. Most of the stuff I read will not help my IQ. Einstein couldn't help my IQ, but that's a post for another day. Book reports

Coming soon: June videoblog, video book reports and a listing of the coolest white men in history.

Good Music Makes My Nipples Erect

Heard a lot of good stuff on the MikePod this week. I am reading a new book which I will reveal when I finish. I rode the mikebike a lot this week. It is hard to come to grips with the fact that when I was a middle schooler/high schooler I could ride without getting tired and now I get tired after a few blocks. I am progressing well however.I wonder if I am dweebie enough to bring my bike on Metra. Updated book report form coming soon and I am threatening to do a June video blog soon, perhaps as a parody of a well known cable personality.

Business:

MikePod:
Cult: :Rain & Revolution EP": Nice goth era track, cool b-sides
Liz Phair: "Whipsmart": Lo fi superbabe sings "Supernova"
Smithereens: "Especially For You". I saw these guys twice and they put on a great show both times.
Kaiser Chiefs: "Employment" Cool album
Rolling Stones: "Exile On Main Street" The last great album by these guys.
Smiths: "Louder Than Bombs" Nice collection
Michael Penn: "March" Named an album after a dreary month. I love it.
Jimi Hendrix: "Are You Experienced?" Not necessarily stoned, but beautiful.

Beer brought to me by Miller High Life

Michael Michael Bicycle

I got a red Shogun Shockwave bike. In the past few days my middle aged self has had trouble riding more than a few blocks. It is difficult to reconcile that fact I could ride for hours without stopping as a kid and now I need to stop after 6 blocks and think "Only 1 more hour until beer time" Then again, I could not do any serious working out in high school and I do so now intensely.

It was also great to get through a week without my lawn mower crapping out. I think I am going to bottle the sweat I expel when I mow and market it as an elixir.

News was brought to me by Nancy Pender, including this story about bikini bandits. Not only stealing hearts but also GPS systems.

Beer brought to me by Tetley's.

Finished reading John Lennon The Life
Video book report coming soon.

On the MikePod:
The Cult: "Dreamtime": Good goth rock
Pink Floyd: "Dark Side Of the Moon" "There's no darkside of the moon really. As a matter of fact, it's all dark"
Camper Van Beethoven: "Key Lime Pie"
Smiths: "The Queen Is Dead"

Happy Summer!

I am damn glad that the warm weather is upon us. This past winter was awful. It lasted from mid-November until like April 15. So Mikey's agenda includes lots of beer, shorts, and riding my new bike. Maybe I can pick up a paper route for a few bucks. I also like watching ME-TV and Me-Too on my HDTV. I may never leave the house again. I'll have other musings about HDTV soon. I am working on the next video blog. It might be a send up of a well known cable personality. Here's the business:

Reading:

John Lennon, The Life

On the MikePod:
Beatles: "Yesterday & Today"
Nirvana: "Roma"
Wolfmother: "Wolfmother"
Jimi Hendrix: "Cry Of Love"

News brought to me by Erin Mendez, beer by Miller High Life

Sabado Gigante

I don't speak Spanish, which is a regret. I could never fit a class in HS. Anyway, while killing off some beer and being bored, I came on to "Sabado Gigante". Like I said, I don't understand Spanish, but I do understand hot babes. I love the comedy bits and they all seem to have babes falling out of low cut clothes. I love the live commercials. I love the variety of the program. I used to love watching a female wresting show in Spanish. I also loved "Lente Loco", kind of a "Candid Camera" type show. They had a couple of running bits I loved. There usually was a bit where a guy is interviewing for a job and a chick in a bikini would walk by. There was the old rubber spider in the fruit stand @ the Super Mercado and ofcourse, the pay the babe $50 to drop her drawers and walk down the street. We need that on the ole Anglo vision. Who would host that Regis? Dick Van Patten?

Mr. Lawncare II

The mower broke down again. I took it in and am still waiting on it. Meanwhile my grass is high (Insert pot joke here)and resembles a marshy swamp. I remember as a young adult thinking having a lot of grass would be great but this is crazy. Got a new LCD HDTV. The old one was almost 10 years old and you could not read any print on the screen. I thought I was losing my eyesight. My first observation is cleavage is better in HD.

Business:

On the Mikepod:
Beach Boys: Good Vibrations Disc 1
Liz Phair: "Exile In Guyville" Lowfi potty mouth hottie.
Replacements:"Let The Roadies Play Some" Bootleg, I'm in the audience!
Jane's Addiction: "Live"
REM:"Document"
Black Keys: "Rubber Factory" Great juke joint blues
Smiths: "Meat Is Murder"
Husker Du: "Candy Apple Grey"

Beer provided by Boddingtons Ale, news provided by Jackie Bange (in HD!)

May Video Blog

MIkePod Update, Celebrity Chefs, Pontiac, Swine Flu

Mr. Lawncare

So we finally had a couple of days w/o rain. So I climbed on my roof Saturday and did the gutters. I prepared my mower for the 1st mowing of the season by taking the carburator apart and cleaning the carburator and filter. While I was on my ladder cleaning the gutters on my garage, my neighbor asked if I wanted to trade places with her. The thought of her Volkswagen-large butt in the air on my ladder unnerved me. It is bad enough the public has to see mine. I could not do that to my ladder, we've been through too much together. So I mowed the lawn on Sunday and watched it run out of gas just before I finished cuz the grass was so high.

On the MikePod:

Beatles: "UK Rarities"
Loud Family: "Interbabe Concern"
Eric Clapton: "Me & Mr. Johnson"

Beer brought to me this weekend by Corona
Weather brought to me by Bonnie Schneider

Hi Mary!

Cake Reality Shows

I find it staggering that there are 3 reality shows based on cake making.

Ace Of Cakes on Food Network, Last Cake Standing also on the Food Network and Cake Boss on TLC. TLC stands for The Learning Channel, shouldn't we be seeing algebra competitions or something? Back to my point, I can't believe there is an audience for one cake show, yet alone 3. If I want to see the drama behind cake making, I'll go to Jewel. Funny, I don't remember my grandmother dealing with angst while making cakes when I was a kid.

On the MikePod:
Chicago: "Greatest Hits 2"
Robert Plant: "Shakin & Stirred"
The Cult: "Sonice Temple"
Rolling Stones: "Dirty Work"
The Loud Family: "Interbabe Concern"

The Vagina As A Clown Car

I was glancing about the TV to rid myself of boredom when I stumbled on TLC. No not the defunct girl-group, but the cable channel. I was hoping to see something like
"I Have an Appendix as Big as a Volkswagen" or some other surgery show and they were running promos for their various large family shows like
18 Kids and Counting Jon & Kate + 8 and Table for 12. Couple this and the Octomom
I don't get the fascination with the extra large family by today's media. It's like OK, let's pop the kids out and go on TV, like a clown car in the 3 ring circus. Oh and Octomom is a name you really want to trade mark. Like she's a super hero or something.

My You Tube Channel

While I try to sort out why both of my PCs will not process video so I can make more movies, check out my You Tube Channel

Google Apps

I use Google Docs for easy access to spreadsheets, documents and presentations. I am looking into using Google Sites to share information with colleagues

Book Report #1 Stealing Lincoln's Body

Book by T. Craughwell detailing the 1876 macabre attempt to steal Linc's body and the many times the body was removed to prevent other tries

Book Report #2 The Last Lincolns

Charles Lachman's account of Linc's decedents and how the family line died out.

Ditka Book Report

"Book Report, Then Ditka Said To Payton"

March Video Blog

More Book Reports

For more intersting stuff, check me out of Facebook. Next video blog and video book reports coming soon. Here's more book written book reports until then:

Book Reports

Video book reports coming soon. Until then:
http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pv3F5vnXjlIYDLdmwthjRJA&output=html

Movie Making

As you have seen, I have been using my Flip Mino video cam to make movies. I edit the footage in Windows MovieMaker and then add it to You Tube and link it to my Facebook profile. I am doing a lot of experimenting. I am thinking about the coming March videoblog.

Business:

On the Mikepod:

Beatles: "Abbey Road "(Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab) Great album in great needle drop sound.

Lush: "Gala": Great shoe gazer album

Tommy Bolin: "Private Eyes": Great album by an under appreciated guitarist.

Beer brought to me by: Boddington's

Feb 2009 video blog

My Take on Facebook's 25 Randumb Thoughts

Deep Freeze

I woke up Friday and it was -36F with a windchill of -50F. And that was similar to the temps the day before. Luckily, my Nissan 200SX started both days after full days exposed in the train station lot. I draped a blanket on my legs both nights for the ride home.

I bought a new pair of Levi's 501 blue jeans after an old pair of 505s had a rip in the crotch. Ain't that a kick in the crotch! I have been doing a lot of Facebook, the greatest waste of time known to man so far.

On the MikePod:

1) Led Zeppelin :Spitfire 1980 Switzerland show. Good sb quality.
2) Bad Company: Run With The Pack. More straight forward AOR the way I like it.

Beer brought to me by Tetley's

Jan 2009 Video Blog

Happy 2009

Happy Soltice

Lots of snow removal this week. The gas cap of my snow blower broke off in my hand and I had to order one via the web. I also bought new boots this year in the hope that by actually spending money on them therefore we would have only a little snow. Nope. After returning from Xmas shopping tonight I saw a guy jogging with a light on his head. I can't believe his wife let him out of the house like that.

I am winding down the working out for the year and things are going well. I am also developing a new drinking game. If I watch "Cops" I drink every time I See a perp with his shirt off. An ambulance is usually nearby.

On the MikePod:

Muddy Waters: "King Bee" A classic by a classic

UB40 "Labor Of Love" Reggae classic. Should have listened to on Labor Day

John Mellencamp: "Scarecrow" Heartland classic

Nine Inch Nails: "Pretty Hate Machine" Industrial (member that musical term?) classic

Beer brought to me by Miller, TV brought to me by Celebrity Rehab

Bye Bye Blago

Wasn't that a play? Wow, that was a good wake up call on Tuesday huh? Not a good day for George Ryan seeking a pardon either. Blago's hair is not going to hold up well in the pen. Anyway, I am having a blast on Facebook. It is an easy way to keep in touch with friends and to meet new ones. You can share interests and pictures, etc. OK, enough with the politics and here's the info:

On the MikePod:

Muddy Waters: "Electric Mud" Great psychedelic blues LP. He got beat up over this when it came out in 1968, but it has endured well.

The Knack: "Round Trip" Yes they had more songs than "My Sharona"

Siousie and the Banshees: "Tinderbox" Great goth album

Marshall Crenshaw: "Life's Too Short" Excellent harder edged pop

XTC: "Skylarking" One of my faves, great britpop.

Beer brought to me by Zywiec, news brought to me by Nancy Pender

Winter

I hate winter. I always have. I had a teacher in middle school named Mr. Winter, but I did not hate him. I did have a cold relationship with him. HA HA. Anyway, I saw a dweebie guy on the Metra last week wearing only shorts, t-shirt and sandals when it was below 20F. Some people won't conform and some people won't even conform to the weather.

When I was in high school, one year I had gym the last class of the day. We always had swimming in the winter and I would walk home with icicles in my hair. Not a good look. Anyway, the working out continues and the ab muscles are getting there. I also joined Facebook, be my friend!

On the MikePod:

Beatles: Anthology 3: Great compilation of unreleased stuff from 1968-1070.
Van Halen III: Wha?
Fred McDowell: I Don't Play No Rock N Roll: Great Bluesman who was covered by the Rolling Stones.

Beer brought to me by Miller, news by Tera Williams.

Happy Returns!

Back to musing after a couple of family medical issues.

I am messing around with Google Forms You can set up an invite, ask a question and decide where to eat etc. I am thinking of doing a monthly question here and then posting the results.

I have been listening to a lot of the Dr. Ebbetts needle drops of out of print Beatles LPs. If the Beatles continue to stay off of iTunes and will not reissue remastered CDs of their recordings, fans will just gravitate to the good Dr.

Back to the usual stuff like the Mikepod next post!

Bimbo Eruption

While I was @ a local grocery store, I saw a police car in the parking lot near mine. The officer got out and looked towards my car and I started thinking "OK, so maybe this was not the day to start my bank robbing career." I was in the check out when a woman who was spilling out of her top dropped her groceries and pushed a person out the door. The cop turned his lights on and she ran to her car. She was crying and he was writing a ticket. I walked out and then realized the chick was being busted for leaving her infant in her BMW 525i wagon. She was taken to the station. Wow.

Some things I have been wondering about lately:

If I am feeling sick, I am under the weather, but if I am well, am I "Over the weather?"
If one has a stone in the gallbladder, is it Mick, Keith, Woody or Charlie? How about Bill, Mick Taylor or the late Brian Jones?

On the MikePod:

Smashing Pumpkins: Zeitgeist: Reunion album that falls flat
David Honeyboy Edwards: Mississippi Delta Bluesman: Outstanding acoustic blues
Led Zeppelin: Presence: Great blues based rock.
Beatles: Past Masters Vol. 2: Great compilation of 1966-1970 non album singles. When are the UK remasters going to be available?

Beer brought to me by Miller and weather brought to me by The Weather Channel and Dr. Anna Marie. I saw a segment with her washing her Rolls Royce. Nice way to rub it in babe!

Coming Soon:

Celebrity Encounters, what should I use as a street name?

Tough Week

Took 2 family members to the hospital in the past week for medical issues. One surgery, one more to go. The economy is going to hell as are the creators of The Hills. So with that all in mind, I thought it might be appropriate to inject (no pun intended) a little humor:

Things I am Sick of Currently:
1) Celebrity Chefs: Just cook damnit. If you watch the Food Network, several chefs seem to think they are in the clown business. If I want bad comedy, I'll just watch
"What I Like About You" or "Hannah Montana"

2) Home Improvement shows: You would think that by watching HGTV that no one in the US has a decent home. I really love shows that have inept people trying to flip homes for a profit. I always think "@ least I'm not that stupid."

3) Reality shows: You call this reality? Let's see The Girls Next Door, one is married, so is Hef, one is dating a football player and the other dumped Hef because he won't marry her. We'll just have to watch. I never thought 3 babes with plenty of boobs could be boring but I have been proven wrong. How come all these matchmaking shows come back for additional seasons because the relationships "didn't work out?" If I want to be bored, I'll read my HMO Coverage policy.

4) Celebrity blondes: Paris, Britney, LC, Heidi, Lindsay, etc. Go away! How about some redheads, brunettes (evil word according to Hef) etc.

Back to my reality:

Beer brought to me by Miller High Life Blues Radio brought to me by WDCB

On the MikePod:
Page & Plant: The Simple Truth: FM broadcast of a 1995 concert: Good Zeppelin tribute band
Rolling Stones: Sticky Fingers: All time great classic album. I used to hide stuff in the zipper
Traveling Wilburys: Collection:Very good laid back roots music by 5 great musicians

Baseball Fever

Nice to see both Chicago teams in the playoffs. Not so nice to see them run over by trucks. As a Sox fan, I wore my Konerko jersey to work on Friday and in all black. See photo. Didn't help. The Bears are 2-0 when I wear the Erik Kramer jersey, 0-2 with the new Hester jersey. Guess what I am wearing Sunday. The Cubs are reaping what they have sown by just being considered programming for WGN TV and Radio. Now they actually have to perform. The Sox are paying for being on Channel 44 for years when nobody could see them. One night of programming on Channel 44 had more snow than the blizzard of 79. That reminds me when they started ON-TV and you tried to watch the scrambled signal for a boob and I don't mean Bill O'Reilly. Yeah c'mon you did too.

And why is Harry Caray still being promoted like he is Hendrix? I don't care who is in town to promote their awful booktvshowmoviealbum by singing "Take Me Out To The Ballgame."

Alright, enough of my maladjusted (I used to use that as a radio name in college) ranting and on to the record:

MikePod:

Coverdale/Page: Good Zeppelin Tribute band

Whitesnake: Saints and Sinners: Good Zeppelin tribute band

David Lee Roth: Skyscraper: Good Van Halen tribute band

Game Theory: Big Shot Chronicles: Great alternative indie rock from the 80's.

Still working on the celebrity encounters I've had. Beer brought to me by

Tetley's I dropped my shitty Tracphone in the liquorstore. I was mesmerized by the sign that said "Schlitz now in coolers!" I thought they are branching out, but then I figured that instead of wine coolers, they acutally had the beer in the coolers. I came back a little later and picked up my phone. It's a shitty phone, but it's my shitty phone.

Coming soon: Celebrity encounters and Volume one of "Things I Can't Stand Lately"

Viruses!

I had a bad cold or something last week. My computer also fell victim to the Virtumonde virus. So on a beautiful Saturday I spent over 8 hours restoring my machine to normal. That's why I back up every week.

In other news, I am still doing the workout thing. The six pack is still eluding me, but I seem to be getting a 2 pack and I don't mean the late rapper.

One six pack that did not elude me was Schlitz, the 60's formula. I think it should have stayed in the 60's. I walked into a liquor store last week and saw a big display of them. A couple of days later I picked up some up after a haircut.

I am making a sandwich sign that I will wear in case the economy collapses that says "Will work for beer. "

Coming soon:

My celebrity encounters, MikePod update.

It's not my new york, it's my new jersey!

So we were bored this weekend and were thinking of things to do. We decided to go to the mall. Economic engine that I am, I tried to think of things I needed. I thought how about getting a new Bears jersey. It might be nice to actually go to work on a Saturday and not get razzed over the 14 year old Erik Kramer jersey I have. (Spilled a lot of beer in it.) I got an orange Devin Hester jersey.

Happy Fall

First post of the Fall. On Friday I was working out in the gym and the one TV not tuned to that awful "What I Like About You" show had the local news and it told me that there was a hostage situation in Wheaton that had all trains stopped. So I was making plans to go elsewhere. Luckily the perp did me a favor and took himself out. Ain't I sweet? This meant my train was only delayed 10 minutes. See shot of scene.

On the MikePod:

1) Ozzy Osbourne: The Ultimate Sin: Spilled a lot of beer listening to this in college.

2) U2: How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb: Very good album, even better iPod commercial

3) The Cult: Manor Sessions/Rain & Revolution/White EPs: I loved these guys in the 80's.

Beer by Miller High Life

Observations

Here are some recent observations:

The Plot To Destroy Lauren of the Hills: I saw this over the summer on a magazine stand. My first thought was "Count me in!" What do I have to do? I'll sell tickets, bake cookies, and organize a busload of angry senior citizens. My 2nd thought was "What government agency wants to take this girl out?" Then closer inspection of the cover showed this was blonde on blonde crime. We can't tolerate this in America. Brunette on blonde crime, sure, but not blonde vs blonde. My 3rd thought was "Is this girl a genius for getting people to think she actually designs things and is written about. "

Duffy Atkins: CLTV has a new weather woman. She is rather unpolished compared to her peers but I like that. She is also cute. Her name sounds like a law firm. Maybe I can be president of her fan club.

Super dog: I was walking my 8oLB black lab last week and about a block from home this neighbor dog leaped out of his window (took a screen out) and jumped over some bushes to come say hello. He just sniffed my dog's butt (lucky him, if he asked I could have given him an educated guess as to what it would smell like). My dog slipped out of his collar/leash, but I managed to use my extreme athletic prowess and catch him and get it back on. I saw the neighbor dog running around the block for awhile. Hopefully he is neutered, like we need to see a bunch of him running around 9 months from now. What is a canine gestational period anyway?

Beer provided by Miller High Life and news provided by Jackie Bange

On the MikePod:

Elton John: Greatest Hits Vol. II Long before he started doing Disney Soundtracks

The Clash: London Calling Great album I had forgotten about

John Mayhall: Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton: Now I see why EC left the Yardbirds

On the Mikestand:

The Chris Farley Show: Extremely talented comedian and actor with a kind heart and his tragic life.

Misc Stuff

I saw more dweebie bike riders on Metra this week, more Larry Galloway. I killed off a 4pk of Bud in aluminum bottles and news was provided to me from Tera Williams (Wow!)

On the MikePod:

Black Sabbath: Paranoid

Heaven & Hell: Live From Radio City Music Hall

Let's Active: Big Plan For Everybody

Dweebie Bike Riders on Metra

Saw several dweebie bike riders on Metra this week. I went in late 3 or so days this week and each day I came across some dweebs who were bringing their bikes downtown.

One guy made a fuss and could not figure out where to sit and then ended up going to the upper deck and standing. I ran in to him again in the PM and he was @ it again. Most biker riders aren't like that. I just happened to catch all the dweebie ones last week.

Conductor Busted

Meet Larry Galloway. He is/was a conductor on the Union Pacific Rail Road Metra/West Line. I rode the 5:04PM that he worked on. He is being charged with a 27 year old murder. I make no judgments about guilt. It just goes to show that you never know about people.

I also knew Paul Runge.

What I Did On My Summer Vacation

I was off from 7/4-7/13. I went to some libraries, read 3 books, consumed a fair amount of beer and went to Galena, IL. I listened to a lot of music and relaxed.

Here's some things I read/listened to:

Robert Plant, "Principle Of Moments" Remastered & Reissued classic album with bonus tracks. One of my all time favorites

Loretta Lynn, "Van Lear Rose" No not about Norm Van Lear but an excellent roots country album produced by Jack White

Catch A Wave: Excellent biography of the Beach Boy's Brian Wilson, does not really add anything to his story though

The Yardbirds: Pretty good bio of a classic rock band

Happy 4th/I love the Internet!

Happy 4th of July. I'm celebrating with some Stella Artois Beer. Music provided by WLNX. I was Station Manager/Program Director there from 1985-1986. I was a DJ there from 1984-1990. Hard to believe that a little Mono radio station with an effective radiated power of 225 watts is now available to the world.

I saw this giant chair on Thursday on the way to work

I Love Summer Solstice!

I like that in the Chicago area this time of year it is light out until 8:30. I sat outside tonight in what I hope will be numerous blues nights killing off some beer and listening to blues radio. I hope I don't get west nile. Anyway, I picked up more music and listened to more last week:

Snow Patrol: Eyes Open: Not as good as Final Straw, but good alternative rock

Minute Men: Double Nickles on the Dime: Brilliant Post Punk. Long Live D. Boon!

Elvis Presley: Elvis 30 #1 hits. Da King

Eric Clapton: Me & Mr. Johnson: The blues album purists were waiting for Clappy to make. I really like it.

Beer brought to me by Miller High Life Weather brought to me by Kristin Dodd

Coming soon: More Women of CNBC, Howlin Wolf, Bad Company, Loretta Lynn/Jack White

Road Warrior

So I went to give 4 presentations this week. 2 in Chicago, 1 in Madison WI and 1 in Elkhart IN. It can be daunting speaking and demoing in front of people, but I managed to do it. I enjoyed the trips and seeing Madison and Elkhart. I also enjoy learning new programs and an considered am "E-Pro Champion"

Coming soon on the MikePod: Eric Clapton/Robert Johnson, Oasis, Snow Patrol, Elvis, Minutemen.

I just finished Clapton The Autobiography: Interesting read from one of rock's greatest guitarists, but some details of his friendships seem to be kept close to the vest and glossed over like his friendship with George Harrison

Coming soon: Part 2 the Women of CNBC

On Message

For once I am actually blogging about Purchasing. We are rolling out a new web-based E-Procurement system in our firm and I am doing some of the training. I will go to 4 of our offices and do a 1-2 hour presentation demonstrating the system's functions. I will conclude with some live orders.

Because this post is not terribly exciting, I will throw in what is on the MikePod lately:

Snow Patrol-Final Straw- Well done pop/rock from 2004

The Greatest In Country Blues (3CDS) Great Collection of Acoustic early blues

Shemekia Copeland Turn Up the Heat Powerful Blues belter with a killer band!

Weekly Check in

Beer brought to you (me?) again by Heineken
News brought to me by Nancy Pender

Music by:

Beatles: Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (mono Mix) Punchier version of the LP. The Beatles themselves attended the mono mix sessions, but not the Stereo

Quiet Riot: Quiet Riot I: Raw and underproduced debut from an LA Metal legend. You can see however how Randy Rhodes and Kevin DuBrow developed their skills in this genre

Led Zeppelin: LZ I, II, II, IV & Houses of the Holy.- 70's Masters of AOR.

CNBC gives me wood for 2 reasons: 1, the drama of the financial markets and the gorgeous women who work there. "Fast Money" was in Chicago on Friday, I should have gone

Women of CNBC part 1:

Maria Bartiromo: An uncommonly beautiful woman who has uncommon talent as an anchor/reporter. Does anyone care about Dylan's hair?

Erin Burnett: Beautiful woman who does a great "AFLAC" impersonation. Love the giraffe dress!

Trish Regan: Fresh faced beauty knows her stuff

Coming soon: Beatles Complete BBC Sessions, Quiet Riot II, Beck "Guero", Meat Puppets "Up On The Sun", Led Zeppelin and women of CNBC2.

This Week's Report

Beer provided by: Heineken

Weather forecast provided by Domenica Davis

This week's music provided by:

1) Beatles=White Album (Mono mix)- Different and punchier version than the current stereo CD available from EMI

2) Essential Texas Blues- Nice sampler of blues from Texas

Coming soon:

Beatles= Complete BBC Sessions

Beatles= Sgt. Pepper=Mono Mix

Sonny Landreth= Levee Town

The women of CNBC

Music/Beer

This week's post inspired by Tyskie Gronie Beer

On the MikePod the past week:

Eagles: Very Best Of Great collection from a great band

Honeyboy Edwards: Mississippi Delta Bluesman Excellent example of acoustic blues

Beatles: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beatles_at_the_Hollywood_Bowl- Excellent document of Beatlemania even if they forgot the words and stepped away from the mics @times.

Coming soon: Essential Texas Blues

Beatles "White Album" (Mono)

Beatles "Complete BBC Sessions" (10 cds!)

MikePod Update/Pamela Harriman

Latest adds to the MikePod:

1) Albert King: Blues From The Road Great Live Album

2) Elmore James: The Sky Is Crying Great Collection from on eof the post WWII Masters

3) Johnny Winter: Blues In A Box Great Collection from a master guitarist

Coming Soon: Beatles @The Hollywood Bowl

We watched a PBS documentary about Pamela Harriman, a native Brit whose dick garage ways led her to become a large influence in the Democartic Party

Crash!

Hard Drive Crash that is. I came home last Saturday, 4/12 after work and my desktop would not boot up. After trying a safe mode boot, I had to reformat. I picked an option that creates a data file back up and was able to get my almost 2 years old XP Gateway to reboot. The only problem was that the back up file was 85 gig, leaving me just 6.25 gig. XP does not let you delete these files so using my Simplex portable HD I was able to restore everything with no apparent data loss. To get rid of the back up file, I nuked the HD today, 4/19.

That's why I do my back ups each Sunday. I now have over 110 gig of free space and things run better now. I may do a spring cleaning each year and nuke the HD on purpose each spring in the future.

Medical Emergency on the train

I was on the UP West line on Saturday afternoon and we were stranded in Maywood for 20 minutes due to a medical emergency. Thanks to my cellphone camera, here is the Mike report action. The ambulance came up the platform instead of the street. I never did hear what happened, I did see the conductor escorting people to ambulance via our car.

More Blues

Bessie Smith "Empress Of The Blues"

Son Seals "Living in The Danger Zone"

James Cotton "V8 Ford Blues"

Blogs of note

A couple of things I am viewing lately:

Office Freaks (For those who toil in cubicle farms)
Eric 2.0 Blog from the Zellsters
Philadelphia Will Do- Catch up on Alycia Lane news
Po Buckra- Ex Game Theory & Loud Family drummer Gil Ray's blog.

On The MikePod Week Of March 24 2007

New Pornographers "Twin Cinema"

Brian Wilson "Smile"

Classic Blues From Smithsonian Folkways

Blog update inspired by Coors

MikePod Easter Update

I am still on the Blues kick:

Muddy Waters "I'm Ready"

Muddy Waters "Electric Mud"

Jelly Roll Morton "Absolutely The Best"

Blues/Reading

I have been using my Griffin iFM to listen to local blues radio. On Fridays, I check in with WNIJ for Friday Night Blues I see they have a Saturday Night Blues Show I need to check out. There's also a Saturday Blues show during the daylight hours.

On Saturdays I listen to WDCB Blues Edition You hear all the great artists and some down and dirty stuff. I love it! There is nothing like having a few beers and exposing yourself to some great music.

The past couple of weeks I have been listening to a couple of Muddy Waters albums on the MikePod. The Real Folk Blues Excellent collection of Muddy's best Chess recordings.

I also have listened to a album credited to the Muddy Water Blues Band. This disc has it's moments but the sound quality overall is disappointing.

I have been reading another Richard Nixon bio, A Life In Full Fascinating account of our 37th president. A dry read and over 1000 pages, I like it a lot. Authored by Conrad Black who went to jail this week. He has 6 years to write something else.

Back up drives

I have had PCs crash and eat up data that for years I have been doing a weekly back up. Started with CDRWs in 1999. Moved to DVDRWs in 2005. In Fall 2007 I bought a 320GB Simplex portable HD.

I connect it @11:30AM each Sunday. I prepare/update my data and the software begins the back up @Noon and runs about 6 hours. I take the finished drive to work for the week away from the home PC. I even back up emails.

Hi Dan

A big hello to the audience of this blog. (Even my mother does not read it!)

Griffin iFM

Ordered & received a Griffin iFM for my 2G Silver Nano. I can listen to FM radio and control the music on the Mikepod. Nice to have the FM option, I think Apple should build this in.

I would also love to see an AM stereo tuner and maybe even HD radio.

Old Speckled Hen

Killed off a 4 pack of Old Speckled Hen. I bought this on the name alone.

Pretty good.

Diane Kruger

Yesh! I saw National Treasure Book Of Secrets. Can't make sense of the plot, can make sense of Diane Kruger. I can see the studio execs now, "...make damn sure that girl is in something lowcut and tight." Done!

Haapy Xmas/Merry New Year/Beer

Happy Xmas/Merry New Year. After 6 years of abstinance, I started drinking beer again. Tonight, I picked up Boddington's Pub Ale Yum. I had 2 pints and I think I should sleep well. I had a bottle of Tucher last week and slept good that night too.

Evel dead

Evel Knievel died. I had his toys, cycle, scramble van as a kid. I had a teacher in 2nd grade tell us his stuf should be thrown in the toilet. I am surprised he made it to 69.

Heidi

Don't want to hear Ms. Klum talk, just want to look!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWbSeC898u4

Home networking

A couple of weeks ago I managed to get my work laptop, my wife's laptop and our desktop all conected. I have been able to share the Internet wirelessly for quite a while. I decided on a day off to make it all work, file and print sharing, etc. It took me about 3 hours but I got it going on.

I like to listen to iTunes and stream music from my desktop while I use the work laptop. It is nice to be able to print out a work spreadsheet and not email as an attachment or wait until I get in the office.

It would be neat to be able to use the Internet to access our home network. I know it can be done by Remote Desktop, but the last time I tried that I had to reformat my desktop.

Listening/Reading

George Harrison "Dark Horse Years Box Set
FDR-Jean Edward Smith

CPI October 2007

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm

On The MikePod

Wingspan-Paul McCartney

Deathcult: Deathcult EP (This group became The Cult)

Elvis Costello: Armed Forces

Game Theory: Tinkers To Evers To Chance Compilation

XTC: The Big Express

World Party: Goodbye Jumbo

Coming Soon:

George Harrison: The Dark Horse Years Box Set

Led Zeppelin: The Song Remains The Same expanded soundtrack

Recent Reads

The Berlin Wall : a world divided, 1961-1989
Author: Taylor, Fred, 1947- Publisher: HarperCollins, c2006. 1st U.S. ed.

Excellent book documenting the Cold War era symbol.

Strength training past 50
Author: Westcott, Wayne L., 1949- Publisher: Human Kinetics, c2007. 2nd ed.

Interesting book on weight training. Even thought I am not even near 50.

Currently:

FDR

Author: Jean Edward Smith

Sept 2007 Economic Data

Economic data. Not as hot as Erin Burnett but hot none the less

Fed Beige Book: http://www.federalreserve.gov/FOMC/BEIGEBOOK/2007/

ISM Report On Business Sept 2007
http://www.ism.ws/ISMReport/MfgROB.cfm?navItemNumber=12942

Jobs Report Sept 2007
http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm

Fall Music Events

Led Zeppelin:

Song Remains The Same Film reissued on DVD (expanded) and soundtrac reissued on CD (also expanded) both 11/20/07

Mothership: New compilation 11/13/07

Possible reunion concert Nov 2007, press conference possible 9/12/07 (Courtesy Billboard.com)

Beatles:

Help Film reissued on DVD (expanded) 10/30/07 (Courtesy Abbeyrd's Beatle Page)

Aug Financial News/Reports

Oh, I am an exciting guy!

Fed beige Book for Aug 2007

ISM Report on Manufacturing Aug 2007

ISM Report on Non-manufacturing Aug 2007

Happy Labor Day

Happy End of Summer. I used to hate this time of year, but kind of like it now, probably because football season begins. Let the lefty folks song tributes to the workingman begin

On the MikePod August Edition

Black Sabbath "The Ozzy Osbourne Years" Box Set
Led Zeppelin "Another Trip" 5CD bootleg Box Set
Yes "Fragile"
KEXP "Song Of The Day" Podcasts
Replacements "It Aint Over Until the Fat Roadies Play"- Bootleg (I'm In the Audience!)
Free "Best Of"
Robert Plant "Fate Of Nations"

Summer Reading-Hedge Funds

As an avid CNBC watcher, I have been hearing about hedge funds and the role they play in the economy. So I read a book by Scott Frush called Understanding Hedge Funds. Since I am not an accredited investor, I don't think I will be a part of a hedge fund anytime soon. Next I tackle mutual funds

Wha Up Dog?

Turnabout is fair play. Some enterprising person has a created a Michael Vick Chew toy
If he ever gets on the field again, I wonder if people will think he is "dogging it."

Darwin Walker

The Bears made a great trade getting Walker from the Bills. He will force teams to contend with him with Tommie Harris on the other side. I was also impressed that Walker has interests outside the game as his official website attests to

Chicago Purchasing Managers Index July 2007

Index falls for July 2007, more info here

Google calendar

I love Google Calendar You can have more than 1. I have a personal one, work and Chicago Bears. It really helps keep me on track.

Simpsons Movie

We saw the Simpson's Movie last night. We though it was quite funny. Usually these things don't translate to the big screen well, but in this case it does. Oh and Harry dies @the end. Oh wrong one.

Form

I keep track of notes on projects with a form I wrote in Excel called
"Note Of Vendor Discussion." When I am going to have a discussion with a vendor, I create a form from the template and use a pen to take notes.
When I have time I update the form typing into the form. This helps me track changes and keep up to date of developments. It also helps me track who said what and when.

Kane County Fair

Attended the Kane County Fair on Saturday. There seemed to be more emphais on food than anything else. Quite a greasy smell and that does not even include the animals. I even some some folks sleeping in animal pens. Lots of women with back tattoos

Kane County Fair

Michael Vick

Old Ron Mexico is indicted by the feds for dogfighting in several southern states including killing dogs. The Feds don't indict unless they are reasonably sure of convitions. I think the best option for all concerned is for Vick to go on a paid leave for the 2007 season.

June 2007 CPI

Exciting! (ha ha) June 2007 Consumer Price Index Numbers
http://www.bls.gov/cpi/home.htm

up a little bit, small decline in gas.

Caribou Coffee

I love it. I went there twice the week of 7/1. I love the White Chocolate Mocha and the Heath Bar Cooler. Going there again tomorrow.

Caribou

Summer Reads!

The Starbuck's Experience-http://www.amazon.com/Starbucks-Experience-Principles-Ordinary-Extraordinary/dp/0071477845/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/105-0010720-3016474?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1183905529&sr=1-1
Good business book. The author is not affiliated with Starbuck's. He is way too into the place though.

Nixon & Kissinger- Partners In Power:
http://www.amazon.com/Nixon-Kissinger-Partners-Robert-Dallek/dp/0060722304/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/105-0010720-3016474?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1183904940&sr=1-1- Excellent account of the relationship between two figures who shaped US policy from 1969-1974. The use of previously classified documents offers insight into the giant egos and paranoia of these two flawed men.

Revolver: The Secret History of the Beatles-
http://www.amazon.com/Revolver-History-Beatles-Geoffrey-Giuliano/dp/1844541606/ref=sr_1_2/105-0010720-3016474?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1183905276&sr=1-2

On Message! June Jobs Report

June Jobs Report http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm

On the MikePod II

Happy Summer! On the MikePod: Coverdale/Page, PJ Harvey, "Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea" Nine Inch Nails "The Downward Spiral"

One of the worst songs I have ever heard is "Lipgloss" by Lil Mama. This is not on the MikePod

Laptop

We bought a laptop on Monday 7/2. Exactly one year after we bought our desktop. Maybe we buy a UMPC next year. Toshiba, DVD/CD burner, Vista, built in WIFI. Decided to get one so we can have a PC on both floors.

On the MikePod

Van Halen "Diver Down" (Purchased via Itunes), Marshall Crenshaw, "Life's Too Short", Various Artists "Instant Karma-Save Darfur"

July 1, Happy Birthday to me!

Tune Cast II for iPod

I bought a Tune Cast II for iPod for my car. I took the iPod on it's first long trip to Charleston, Il (3.5-4 hrs) a few weeks ago and it was cool to use. I had it connected to the car's tape deck. The tape thing would not work in my wife's car so I decided to get the Blekin Tune Cast II. I am still working with it, but once you find a clean frequency (kind of hard in the Chicago area) it works well.

Happy Xmas

I got a silver 2GB Ipod Nano, an old time AM/FM radio and Season 1 DVD of "My Name Is Earl"

Our Lady Of the Angels Fire

I read a book on the Our Lady Of the Angels school fire this past week. The fire occurred on Dec 1, 1958. 95 people were killed, 3 nuns, 92 kids. To Sleep With the Angels is a gripping account of the tragedy.

Working Out

I have began working our @ a gym in my office building. I go for about a 30-45 mins, riding a bike, lifting barbells, doing leg presses and weight machines.

Crappy Winter!

12/1/06 had a snowstorm and I had to stay home from work to dig us out. I hate winter. It has been cold but seems to be warming up a bit.
I have completed my initial ordering for the new merged company. Now we will address some other issues, like business cards for those below Partner and larger mailing envelopes.
I got my biannual haircut for the holidays and for pictures that are to be taken @work.