TGISaturday presents...Dave Mason and "We Just Disagree"!

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About Dave Mason...

NOTE: Mute the IMEEM jukebox to the right before you play the YouTube video above.

Tried to post this yesterday on my birthday but YouTube wasn't cooperating (still isn't). Saw British musician Dave Mason perform this tune years ago at Summerfest in Milwaukee with my brother when Mason was touring with Fleetwood Mac. Mac took a break and Dave went into this ditty. So THAT's that song and THAT's the guy who sang it?? Huh.

Mason is in the R&R Hall of Fame with the group, Traffic. He also wrote the song, "Feelin' Alright", that Joe Cocker made famous.

Here's Mason singing this song in his heydey.

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TGISaturday! presents The Beach Boys and "Good Timin' "!

NOTE: Mute the IMEEM music box to the right before you play this.

Remember, it's my birthday weekend so I'm taking full advantage by extending the normal "TGIF! presents..." into the weekend.

This is a wonderful BB tune that non-BB fans might not recognize. I've been looking for this video for a while (first saw it on a BB documentary years ago).

Brian's not there, but check out brother Carl's lead vocal performance, as well as the brother Dennis on the drums. Both have since passed away...and I miss them very much.

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Chad Johnson of NFL Bengals legally changes his name to "I'm-A-Dumb-Fuck".

I blogged about this asshole recently. Now the dumb asshole legally changed his name to "Chad Javon Ocho Cinco".

I wish I had a ray gun to set on "DISINTEGRATE".

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Oh my God...I think I won some money on my birthday!

My birthday being today (if you don't already know that). Got this by email:

Dear Beneficiary,
You have won �891,934.00 GBP, from our monthly PROGRAM, held on August 29th 2008.
For your claims, contact Mr. Phil Herald
Contact Email
Email:infodept001@btinternet.com
Sincerely,Mrs. Dianne Thompson.

Should I contact her??

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My mother just called me to say I was OFFICIALLY born at 2:34 CST TODAY. Also, John McCain is a virgin...Virgo, I mean.

The Republican Presidential candidate, Senator John McCain, celebrates his birthday today as well (see my birthday posts below) - I wasn't aware of that. And his running mate, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, is my age.

Here are some other celebs with an August 29 birthday: Sir Richard Attenborough (in military hat), Rebecca De Mornay, Ingrid Bergman, Elliott Gould, Michael Jackson and the warrior King of England, HenryV, who delivered the rousing St. Crispin's Day speech before the Battle of Agincourt, which was fought in northern France as part of the Hundred Years' War against France. Oops - can't forget the great Michael Chekhov (pictured on very bottom), nephew of the playwright Anton Chekhov and widely recognized as one of the greatest actors of the 20th century. He studied under Stanislavsky and developed his own physical acting technique which is still studied by actors today.

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TGIF! presents my Beach Boys and "Do It Again" (1968).

It's an appropriate song - my birthday, reminscing(?), thinking about all the places I've surfed and danced at...you know.

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TGIF! presents Berlin and "The Metro" (Live, 5-30-83 at US Festival).

It's my birthday today so I get to post as many TGIF! presents as I want.

Teri Nunn is awesome. Love this song. She's playing the Canyon Club in October, same place I saw The Zombies.

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TGIF! presents Fleetwood Mac and "Farmer's Daughter" (LIVE).

Apparently, this Beach Boys cover song was done live backstage at some concert...the band was foolin' around and sang it and recorded it. At the time Beach Boy drummer Dennis Wilson was dating Cristie McVie and when he heard them do this song - could have been this actual recording, Dennis wept.

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Happy Birthday to ME!

Yep. That day again. Have a drink on me.

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Happy Birthday, Lisa!

Ex-girlfriend Lisa's birthday is the same day as mine. Unusual, isn't it? Happy Birthday, Lis. Her family...good people.

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Roll Call of Votes at the Democratic National Convention: What a hoot.

I watched part of the roll call vote at the Democratic National Convention in Colorado yesterday and I gotta tell you - what a circus.

Now I understand this whole convention is just a formality and I also understand that it's in the tradition of our American political system that each state gets up and introduces itself in this manner (please indulge me because the Wisconsin delegation never got their chance to do this as Hillary Clinton (NY) called for a suspension of the vote in order to declare Barack Obama the Democratic nominee for President - so she fucked us over):

"Madam Secretary, the great State of Wisconsin - the Badger State and birthplace of the Republican party (which would be a bold thing to say at the DNC) , home of cheese and "Up North" and the hamburger hall of fame, the freshwater fishing hall of fame and the Bratwurst Capital of the world; ex-home of future Hall of Fame QB Brett Favre who was recently traded by the "3 Wise Monkeys", our sorry excuse for a management team of the Green Bay Packer organization, home of astronauts Jim Lovell and Deke Slayton, the band the Violent Femmes, conservationist John Muir and the voice of the Milwaukee Brewers - Bob "I'm in the front row-w-w" Uecker; speed skater Eric Heiden, guitar legend Les Paul, home of seriel killers Ed Gein and Jeffrey Dahmer, of Senator Joseph McCarthy who outed many commies during the red scare of the 50's; also home to Gene Wilder, Fred MacMurry, Spencer Tracy, Carole Landis, William Dafoe, Chris Farley, Orson Welles and the theatrical husband and wife team Lunt and Fontaine, home of the first kindergarten and the American Socialist Party (another thing you wouldn't say at the DNC), leader in taking away welfare from those ne'er-do-wells who think it's free money and home of the etcetera, etcetera..." (you get the point).

Anyway, you have to watch the YouTube video of the roll call and go to the Maine delegation and fast-forward to 29:30 and listen to the delegation chairman (male). Apparently, being the first state in the union to see the sun rise ain't all it's cracked up to be. Laughed my ass off.

By the way, the Secretary for the Democratic Party, Alice Travis Germond - watch for her, dressed in a sea-green suit. She introduces each delegation and officially enters their votes. Permanent smile. Big mouth. Huge - like the Joker. I am scared of her.

Also, if you fast-forward to the Montana delegation (43:15), they just would not shut the hell up. I was talking to someone on the phone at work, hung up the phone and this lady was still chattering. So she says the Montana delegation casts 7 of their votes for Hillary Clinton and then this guy chimes in and says, "the Montana delegation, standing as a united Democratic delegation, casts 18 votes for Barack Obama and 7 for Hillary Clinton!".

How is that "united"? Dumb asses. I can hardly wait for the Elephant convention.

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3rd Edition of PASSION = TRUTH book is in!

OK. You're making me cry. And my mudskipper (above) as well.

Not one person has purchased my self-published photography book online, PASSION = TRUTH: a photographic essay on life's truths. OK - let me clarify...no one has purchased the previous two editions - I just got this on Tuesday. COME ON, PEOPLE! Invest in the arts! You do realize I dedicated the book to my Grandpa Ircink (below) and you're gonna make him cry as well (he's in Heaven - they cry there sometimes, too).

It costs you absolutely nothing to take a preview look at the book online. Go to the Blurb widget toward the top of the right panel under the huge Brett Favre photo, click on it and it'll take you to my book/preview which is on the Blurb site. I've added about 25 pictures since the 2nd Edition for a total of 107 pages. It's ideal for your coffee table or to give as a gift for a birthday gift. "Hey, I know you like photography. My friend Jeff took these pictures." And if you don't know me - lie. Send me an email and we'll talk and then we'll know each other. I make $5 on each book - big whoop. It's a gallon of gas. Invest in the arts! I said that already. OK. No more preaching.

Please go purchase the book so my grandfather and I (and the mudskipper) can stop crying.

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"Monchhichi, Monchhichi...is a-a du-umb toy".

What a dumb toy and an even dumber song. And I'm NOT putting a picture of it on this blog so you'll just have to google it. Suffice it say it's a little plush monkey toy originating in Japan and it first reached America in 1979.

My brother and I would purposefully change the words of the song so we could say the word "tit" in front of my mother and not get smacked for it. We told her we were just singing the song from the commercial (she had no clue we changed the words).

So instead of singing: "Monchhichi, Monchhichi, Oh so soft and cuddle-ly...", Jason and I would sing, "Monchhichi, Monchhichi, Ain't she-e priTIT-ty..."

Stupid kids. Stupid toy. Jas and I still get together and say stupid things and sing stupid songs and recall our youth when we did stupid stuff and had a ball doing it.

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Delegates NOT voting for Obama??

Many facets of our political process can be confusing, including what exactly the responsibilities of the delegates to a political party convention are.

I listened to two Democratic party delegates interviewed on NPR this morning and they were each asked if they would, in fact, be casting their vote for Barack Obama. One said she would not - instead, she would cast her vote for Hillary Clinton because those were the intentions of the people who chose her as a delegate.

I find this odd because, as I understand it, at this evening's Democratic Convention Hillary Clinton will be formally releasing "her" delegates of their duties to cast their vote for her (even though she didn't win her party's nomination her name will appear on the list as a formality, which is basically what the purpose of the convention is - a formality) and choose Obama as the Democratic nominee for President of the United States.

I understand delegates wanting to honor the wishes of those who chose them to be a delegate, but if the nominee (Hillary) releases them of that obligation, why would they splinter the party and vote for someone who isn't the intended nominee? It seems stupid - like banging your head into a wall.

Did I confuse you? Good. Welcome to American politics.

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Biden chosen as Obama's running mate.

It was announced this past weekend that Senator Joe Biden (D) from Delaware will be Barack Obama's running mate in the presidential election this November.

Good move. I've always liked Biden and remember checking out some of his stats on his website when he was running for president earlier in the year. Biden speaks his mind - which has backfired once or twice - but at least he doesn't speak around the issues, offering little more than political rhetoric. My first recollection of Senator Biden was when he chaired the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary and presided over the Supreme Court confirmation hearing of Clarence Thomas in 1991. I was impressed (with Biden - not the pubic hair on the Pepsi can issue).

Go to Biden's website to see where he stands on the issues. Also, if you're interested in watching Biden deliver a his version of a "fire and brimstone" speech to the Senate regarding the war in Iraq, watch this YouTube video.

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Clarification on Friday's Post.

It's come to my attention that the reason the Obama camp made a big brew ha-ha over McCain's inability to remember how many homes he owns (see Friday's post) is because McCain had jibed Obama, calling him an "elitist".

I suppose turnaround IS fair play. Still, it would nice if our presidential candidates could stick to the meaty issues as I outlined in my Friday post.

Thanks, Tony. Are you happy now, Nick?

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"The new Jet Brett hats are in! The new Jet Brett hats are in!"

Just like a little boy at Christmas, I raced home from work because I knew this package was waiting for me - the new Brett Favre "4" New York Jets hat. One for me and one for my brother, Jas.

I betcha the 3 Wise Monkeys who head up the Green Bay Packers' management team (Thompson, McCarthy and Murphy) don't have one of these. Look at it and weep, you three lousy, lame-ass monkeys.

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"Let's Play Ball!" PorchLight Picnic Photos Just In.

Me tossing the ball around before the start of our annual company softball game. My team won - 14-12. Oh - I was 4 for 4, 3 singles and a double. If you wanna see a couple more pics of me in action, click on READ MORE!

(WAIT! There's more...)

The team at bat supplied the catcher for the team in the field. That was me. Just to catch - not to make plays on my own teammates.

Fixing home plate. That's my ass.

Takin' a swing.


Waiting for the pitch from the Long Island Bomber, Ken DuBow.


Not sure if this was a strike or the ball is airborne - can't see it in this photo.


On first base.

On second.

Home to score.

Surveying the spread. I was in charge of putting this together - and cleaning up.

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Obama and McCain's 5..no - make that 7 homes. I think. 7?

The latest news out of the McCain/Obama camps about McCain's "housing issue" is another reason why I eschew politicians and the mockery most make out of our political system.

Presidential candidate Senator John McCain (R), in an interview with The Politico several days ago, couldn't recall how many houses he owns. Democrats pounced. ABC World News said Presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama (D) "and the Democrats smell blood in the water. And they're using the quote to paint McCain as out of touch."

OK. Obama leases ONE million dollar home in Chicago. Now if Obama really wanted to paint McCain as "out of touch", you'd think he (Obama) could have chosen a $300,000 home, let's say, to live in. So 8, million dollar homes versus 1. Kinda of the pot calling the kettle black, isn't it?

For the record, I'm neither for nor against these candidates. I'm undecided. But isn't it rather silly for a debate to arise over the homes of one of the candidates OR the fact that he can't remember how many he owns? Does that really mean McCain is "out of touch" with the American economy? There are certainly other issues to discuss - the Iraq War, the economy, Social Security, taxes, illegal immigration, gas prices, education, health care....

Hey - Obama camp. You missed one of McCain's homes...the Hanoi Hilton - where he spent 5 1/2 years as a POW while serving this country during the Vietnam War.

As a war veteran, McCain deserves EVERYTHING this country has to offer him. After all, it IS the American dream, ain't it? Would rather have him on the street - penniless and homeless - like other vets? Have you been to the VA hospital in your city? They suck - and those are our men and women who gave themselves for our country - some giving the ultimate sacrifice - and our government treats them like shit.

(For the record, the McCain family owns eight properties. The Politico reports McCain's family "owns at least eight properties -- not the seven Democrats are alleging or the four McCain's staff identified - according to a Politico analysis of property and tax records, as well as interviews." Sen. McCain himself does not own any of the properties. They're all owned by Cindy McCain, her dependent children and the trusts and companies they control.)

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Bleacher Report Guest Writer, Kristin - On Favre's Legacy.

If you're a Brett Favre fan you have to read this well-written article by 28-year-old Kristin Hamlin that appeared on Bleacher Report - as site where anyone can write and post a sports-related article.

Look for the first comment by STEVE and then scroll down and find my comment on STEVE'S comment. And then go ahead and comment yourself...if you have one - a comment, that is.

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Beijing or Beijing?

Seriously. Is it pronounced, "Bey-jing" or "Bey-szhing"? I'm hearing it both ways and it's irritating (I'm a playwright and Journalism major and I hate the media so you can imagine why my ire is up).

'Course the American basketball team is playing the "ARGENTINIA" team as we speak, according to a reporter on ESPN radio.

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Karl Rove and President George W. Bush. Two mudskippers.

That's George W. in the foreground and Rove in the background - left. Not sure why they were at the Aquarium of the Pacific when I snapped this but, I mean, there they are.

I wrote about Rove in "If it looks like a rat and smells like a rat...it's Karl Rove" a month ago or so. On July 30, 2008, the House Judiciary Committee voted along party lines, 20 to 14, to cite Karl Rove for defying its subpoena to testify in an inquiry into improper political meddling in the department.

The White House has since invoked executive privilege in asserting that current and former top officials cannot be forced to testify before Congress, because the president’s right to confidential advice from his trusted aides would then be compromised.

Rove worked for President George W. Bush. Surprise, surprise. A presidential aide defies a House subpoena and his former boss steps in and says he doesn't have to testify. And he wonders why his popularity has sunk lower than dead people's?

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TGIF! presents The Who Live at The Royal Albert Hall with "I Can´t Explain".

This was in 2006 when Pete Entwhistle (bass) was still alive. Only one missing is drummer Keith Moon.

They can still rock for AARP members, eh?

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Another Winchell's Donuts misshap.

Yesterday morning. Never fails. Ask for peanut butter AND butter. Open the bag and there's a thing of just peanut butter. Luckily I hadn't made it out the door yet before I checked - 'cause I know they're gonna screw it up.

Yes, language barriers are an issue, folks. And this isn't the first time it's happened.

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A sign of the times.

Need I say more?

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Thank God the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

Some dopey college student writing for The Daily Vidette online at Illinois State University threw in his two cents worth on Brett Favre and his return to the NFL (in case you've been traveling, Favre played for the Green Bay Packers for 16 years and was traded to the New York Jets - stupid bastard Packers).

Read the story here. So I sent the article to my brother in Wisconsin, who was/is - like myself - in the "Favre camp" during this whole PR debacle that ensued once Brett decided to unretire. Here's Jason's response to the article - which he emailed to the student. Nice job, brother.

That's Jas on the left (our Santa Barbara trip in June). Couldn't have said it any better myself:

"You're tired of hearing about Favre, yet you write about him?? You're a fan, yet you thrash him!! Journalism is not your forte my friend. Best you change your major now. I would hate to see you join the ranks of the thousands of scum journalists feeding off the lives of others. Was your mommy drinking or something? Did you catch a buzz after nursing (off her titty) and then decide to write an article? Stick with what you know - drinking and masturbating. You're just a little boy who thinks he knows everything...but doesn't know shit. By the way, Brett Favre NEVER, EVER brought up retirement. IT WAS THE FUCKED UP MEDIA THAT KEPT ASKING HIM ABOUT RETIREMENT. They wanted a story and though it took them five years to get it - they got it! So, please don't give me this shit that you're tired of hearing about it. YOU ARE A CASUALTY OF THE MEDIA!!!! Have fun tonight beating off to a picture of Obama. "

Spoken like a true brother. I'm so proud.

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Update on the Klingap.

Fresh haircut and I colored the Klingap (the name I gave my facial hair - combination Klingon and Kerry Cotter from Gary Puckett and the Union Gap).

Gotta tell you - I've been getting admiring looks - both men and women (uh...other men with facial hair, I mean). When my brother was here and we were up in Santa Barbara for Solstice, I came across around 20 styles of facial hair in the beer tent unlike anything I'd seen before. Slight derivations of a beard or goatee or muttonchops, etcetera. The Klinggap got a few looksees. I don't think there's anything like it in LA - maybe the West Coast. Or the U.S.

Oh yeah - I mentioned I "colored" the Klingap. Two days ago - just to take the streaks of gray out. Kind of a frightening experience. And not for vanity sake but because this way its sticks out more. The gray was making the Klingap indiscernible from my 5, 7 and 10 o'clock shadow.

I think I resemble Jim Rome, the sports commentator. Slightly.

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I cut my ear this morning...

...and it bled like a stuck pig.

I took a razor and snipped off a hair at the point where Spock's ear goes pointy. Didn't realize it until I got to work and a co-worker noticed a coagulated ball of blood on the top of the ear - he thought it was an earring. So I scraped the dried blood off the ear and it began bleeding again. And it wouldn't stop. I looked like I had been beaten during the '68 Democratic Convention in Chicago. I finally put a band aid on it - then tried taking that off a few hours later.

Bled again. Put another band aid on and that's where the saga ends. For now, anyways.

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My letter from Hugh Hefner.

It was a bit longer - I just shortened it up for effect. And I did re-up my subscription. Thanks, Hef.

(Interesting side note. My director/actor friend, Stephen, used to temp at the Playboy Mansion for Hef's personal assistant - she's been with Hef for over 30 years, I think. And I still have her phone number. I have Hugh Hefner's assistant's direct line. How can I turn that into my advantage?)

(One more side note. When the Hollywood sign letters were restored for the first time in 1978, nine investors donated $28,000 each - for each letter. Hugh was one of the investors, though he sponsored the "Y" and not the "H".)

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My former Bel Air residence.

Ok - that's somewhat misleading. Guest house - wait, I'm getting ahead of myself.

I'm sure you're aware of this, but if you look up Live Search on the Internet you have access to a birdseye view of any address. It's fun - when you have too much time on your hands. For those of you who know me but never ventured out to California to visit when I lived in Bel Air, thought this might be of interest.

My most immediate neighbors were Mac Davis, President Ronald Reagan, Elizabeth Taylor, and Cheryl Tiegs. Met Mac three in 7 years. Saw Tiegs from a distance once. Saw the hearse take away Reagan's body the day he died (that would be his pool in the bottom left corner).

This is the estate where I lived for 7 years through April 2006. I worked for the lady of the house (running errands, working parties, etc.). When I wasn't working for her directly, I helped the gardeners - weeding, hauling trash, cutting roses, trimming bushes and trees, cleaning the pool, etc. I worked on the property Thursday-Saturday and then worked at PorchLight Entertainment Monday - Wednesday (where I work full-time now). The red line designates the boundary lines of the property. See where it says "new property" in black ink? The owners purchased that property about a year or so before I left there in April 2006.

Lots of stories to tell. Things only I know. I met a number of famous folk while living on the estate - among them Rob Reiner, Merv Griffin, actor Richard Roxburgh (Van Helsing, Moulin Rouge, Mission Impossible II), former Paramount studio head Sherry Lansing, producer Martin Ransohoff, former LA mayor Richard Riordan, David Niven, Jr., former Warner Bros. studio head Terry Semel, the couple who own POM drinks and interestingly, a female relative of William Mulholland, from which the famous street, Mulholland Drive, derives its name. Saw alot of really good facelifts. Most were nice (I'm referring to the people). Arianna Huffington was bitchy. I don't relish name-dropping. And if I had to do it over again I would pass. It just wasn't worth it (again, if you know me, you know why).

For my services, I received the use of the guest house (see black circle) and use of the pool when the owners were gone. I was allowed to have guests over but I had to notify the owners so they were aware there were strangers on the property (which I had no problem with). I WAS NOT allowed to have overnight guests, save my brother and parents. No friends overnight. No women overnight. No other family members overnight. No one. It "cost too much" for the extra toilet flushing and showers and my landlord/boss felt it was too much of an intrusion on her and her husband's privacy - which really was limited to just Sundays as she had staff working 6 days a week.

I have pictures I should scan and put up - I believe they're in storage. I miss the guest house...and that's it. I had fresh eggs every day (chicken coop) so that was nice. The fruit trees. It was quiet and private and I had my own place. It was quite a surreal period in my life and at least the first 5 years (of 7) were pleasant. I won't get into the reason why I left the property (I've talked about it elsewhere on this blog). Anything I would say would sully the fine reputation of the lady of the house. It's safe to assume that I am right and I hope I never see her again - it's better for her that way.

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Favre's First Start as a Jet / Preseason Against the Redskins.

Favre played 2 series in the Jets 2nd preseason game at home against the Washington Redskins on Saturday. I know it's preseason and it doesn't really matter, but considering this was Brett's first start for a different team since playing with the Green Bay Packers (and getting the shaft) for 16 years, I felt it was noteworthy.

Favre was 5-of-6 for 48 yards and threw a 4-yard touchdown pass = 139 rating.

Incidentally, Green Bay's starting QB Aaron Rogers on Saturday against the 49ers was a dismal individual and team effort - the Pack got stomped; Rogers was 9-for-16 passing for 58 yards, no TDs, sacked 4 times = 64.1 rating.

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My New "Anthem" when Favre/Jets Score...Evanescence and "Bring Me To Life"

Football stadiums typically blare some rock anthem whenever the home team scores points. Gary Glitter's "Rock and Roll Part II", "I Don't Wanna Work", etcetera. For years I've been playing "Scotland the Brave" whenever the Green Bay Packers score points. I have a hair of Scots in me and I love the pipes (anything Celtic actually, right Tommy K?).

This season - sadly, I must retire the bagpipes due to Brett Favre's forced departure from Green Bay (bastard 3 Wise Monkeys). Thus, I'm boycotting the Packers' season and won't be watching any games. No doubt I will miss the sound of my pipes blaring (or the CD of bagpipes blaring). For this reason, I've chosen a new song to play whenever the Jets (who I will be watching) score a TD or field goal.

...In celebration of Favre's "new life" with the New York Jets. Salute!

OK...listen to the intro to the video - it's what you hear sometimes before movies start at the theater. It's cool. Think football. Juices start flowing. Now - if you like this song and wanna hear it from start to finish, be my guest. But if you wanna hear it the way I'll be playing it for Jets football games on Sundays, listen to the intro, then fast forward to the :45 second mark, music cranks up a bit...then it ebbs at 1:07, :08, :09, quiet, quiet - Favre delivers a bullet, TD!...music cranks up for the chorus at the 1:13 second mark.

Sweet...bitch!

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PorchLight Annual Picnic = Bill's Team-14, Bruce's Team-12.

That's unofficial. I'm usually on Bruce's team but somehow I was passed over and one of the last guys picked (why does this happen every year). Bill suddenly figured out I hadn't been chosen. Geezuz. Anyway, I plan and organize the annual PL picnic (like the Christmas party) - Mar Vista Park was the place. California Chicken Cafe catered (we picked up and delivered). Starts at 1 p.m. so it's a half day...on a Friday. Leftover food I take home. Good times.

It's really not a "fun" event for me 'cause I'm competitive and I play to win. Screw the 12-year-old son of one our employees - I could care less if he struck out. Screw the women, too. And the guys who never play and can't hit for shit. Funny - I tagged a guy out at 2nd base who had clearly overshot and had his foot off the bag. The other team screamed. The runner admitted he was out. He was. "Cause I tagged him out.

I was 4 for 4, 3 singles and a double, 2 RBI's for sure and I think I scored twice. Not bad for the last guy chosen (bastards - there's no reason I SHOULD'VE been the last). I'm very sore - but I played in honor of the new Jets' QB, #4 Brett Favre, so there really shouldn't be any surprises that I whacked the ball all day.

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Favre to start preseason game - 'Skins @ Jets.

Tomorrow (Saturday) at 7 p.m. EST on the NFL Network (check local listings). It'll be his first "start" (preseason) since joining the team - I'm anxious to see how he's adapting to the Jets' play calling system. No question it can be pretty tough to associate certain phrases or words you used for 16 years with different plays on another team. Favre' problem = he remembers every play he's ever called. There's a lot going on in that boy's head.

I'm fairly certain the Meadowlands will be a'buzz.

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Qhote of the day from The Who.

"If I swallow anything evil,
Put your finger down my throat."

- from "Behind Blue Eyes"

Pretty much sums up how I've been feeling the last month - you know, the Favre/Packer saga.

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For Outstanding Guest Actress Impersonating Another Actress...

...the Emmy goes to Sharon Gless (top) for impersonating actress Angela Lansbury (above) in an episode of nip/tuck.

This is my 4th Doppelgänger "sighting" in two weeks. On a scale from 1 (furthest likeness) to 10 (clone - could be the real person) - The first was Green Bay Packers Coach Mike McCarthy in the Staples parking lot (7). This guy agreed that the Packers are idiots for trading Favre and that the Three Wise Monkeys should be shot. Then yesterday I saw my music director mentor Damon Cole driving behind me on the way home from work (9). Today in the office, one of our sales people looks sort of like Chris Martin from Coldplay (5).

Who do I look like? A number of people say I'm a shoe-in for John Hamm (below, left) from Mad Men and Michael T. Weiss (right) from The Pretender. Except that John Hamm the actor hasn't a clue on how his character should smoke a cigarette. No ratings here - can't be objective.

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PASSION = TRUTH blog update!

A useless factoid to you (is "factoids" a word)? Just like to keep my readers in-the-know. July was my most active month - 111 posts. I don't create all the news out there; I just rant about it. Since January my readership numbers have been increasing 2, 3 and 4-fold - August is already 5x what is was last year and we're not even half-way through the month.

Keep reading - and comment. Come on...I KNOW you have something you wanna get off your chest.

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Dan Gibson's one lucky sonofabitch / Brian Wilson's "That Lucky Old Sun" in stores Sept. 2nd!

Brian's new studio album, "That Lucky Old Sun", hits stores September 2nd! Go to Brian Wilson's site and check out this promo video on the release.

In the meantime, I have a Facebook "friend" - Dan Gibson here in Cali - who was invited to see Brian perform at s special event here in LA last week (100 people only) and if you'd like to read his first-person account of the event, "My Big Moment with Brian Wilson", click on READ MORE!

I met Brian myself once while running in Holmby Park (near the Playboy Mansion). I was alone and so was Brian. Our meeting lasted all of 30 seconds or so but I'll remember it as long as I live. I'm a Beach Boys groupie - did you expect anything less? NOTE: Oh - whether you like Brian Wilson's music or not, if you like pretty women, you're definately going to want to continue reading this story to the end.

(WAIT! There's more...)

"My Big Moment with Brian Wilson"
by Dan Gibson

Thursday, July 31, 2008 at 11:12pm
Last night I was one of one-hundred people (plus one guest each) to attend a special taping of Brian Wilson performing selections from his forthcoming album: “That Lucky Old Sun” at the Nissan Live Sets in Century City, CA. I was also one of six people selected for a Q&A with Brian in-between sets, but did not know this when I arrived. Before the show Karlyn and I were plucked out from the back of the line waiting to get in; had a VIP badge thrown around our necks; and the next thing we knew we were backstage rubbing elbows with personal friends of Brian Wilson and his band.

We then entered the small & stylish studio. Shortly after, Brian and his band entered and were greeted by a thunderous welcome as they took the stage for a riveting set of Beach Boys classics like “California Girls” and “Good Vibrations.”

Then came for me, the big moment of the evening, the Q&A – the chance to speak to a living legend and my hero, Brian Wilson. I was also keenly aware that whatever was about to happen was being filmed and would later be seen by fans from all over the world.

When my turn came, I nervously stepped up to the small circular platform and looked up into the face of Brian Wilson, gazing down at me. I felt like a rowboat peering up at an ocean liner. Suddenly, I was struck with the notion that this was my chance to say whatever I wanted to a man who has been such an inspiration to me. So, after I introduced myself, I drew a deep breath and proceeded to thank him for his willingness to share his gifts with the world. Brian’s head lowered, and the audience swelled into applause, as if to say, “and that goes for us too!”

I then asked my question, which was “What do you love the most about your new album?” In a very un-Brian-like fashion, he gave a long and multifaceted answer, most of which I was unable to comprehend because I was so preoccupied with wondering whether my knees were going to give-way or not.

The band then proceeded to play several selections from the new album: “Forever My Surfer Girl”, “Midnight’s Another Day”, “Goin’ Home” etc. We were rapt. The first line of the final cut, “Southern California” virtually moved me to tears. The long road had led us home again. Brian was back -- & I was called upon to testify.

Once you listen in on “That Lucky Old Sun”, so you shall too.

PS - Oh, right - the pretty woman.

I was looking online for an album image of "That Lucky Old Sun" to use with this post. So I type in "That Lucky Old Sun" and wouldn't you know the very first image that popped up on Google was this one:

What? Well you knew that The Beach Boys' music has always been about sun, surf, cars and chicks, right? How appropo.

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Chinese, Japanese, Spanish Team, Loses Face.

File this under "if it sounds like a bad idea, it probably is."

Spain's Olympic basketball team posed for an advertisement prior to the Games which appears to show all its players slanting their eyes, a move that could offend its Olympic hosts in Beijing. The ads, for a Spanish courier company, appeared in the Spanish-language newspaper, La Marca.

Now, Spain's basketball team is sponsored by Li-Ning Footwear, a Chinese company founded by Li Ning, the final torchbearer who was hoisted along the top of Beijing National Stadium during the Olympic Opening Ceremony finale. The ad reportedly references the Spanish team recently extending their contract with the footwear giant for another four years.

Are you telling me that no one thought, "hey - I'm not sure this is a wise thing to do"? The players, coaches, PR firm for the team or the advertising firm, the photographer, advertising agency, Li Ning or his footwear company, the lighting guy, the catering dudes...NO ONE? And what's just as funny is the fact that the Spanish newspaper El Mundo is debating whether or not this shot is racist...and won't just shut up.

Idiots. Every Spaniard and every Chinese person involved with this shoot are idiots.

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