The Venus Illuminato - Live in Los Angeles

Just throwing a little love out to my buddy Nathaniel Meek's band. He's the drummer working hard in the back.

Iron Boner

Can you blame him?! He's all alone in space with thoughts of ladies dancing through his iron head...

The Mini Deception

In the past I've written about the random shopping cart that always seems to appear in the parking spot you are turning into. You hold out for a closer parking spot at the grocery store, get over excited, begin to turn and...son of a... Shopping cart! You start cursing the moron who just left the cart 2 wheels up on the mini tree island, and totally disregard the fact you've done the same thing with your cart in the past.

For the record: I always walk my cart back to the nearest cart docking station.

My new hatred derives from another small metal object with wheels by the mini tree island. I now hate Minis. Mini Coopers are shopping carts you can drive. They are so small they get lost behind trucks and other normal size vehicles in parking lots. You hold out for a closer parking spot at the grocery store, get over excited, begin to turn and...son of a... Mini Coop! The only difference between a Mini and a shopping cart is that a shopping cart holds more passengers.

Parking lots should start putting a section right next to the bike racks for Minis. I'm sure they use the same type of locks.

One should never leave their Mini in a regular parking spot. Mini owners must understand what goes around, comes around. Mini owners will also hold out for a closer parking spot at the grocery store, get over excited, begin to turn and...son of a...Mini Coop! The second Mini owner starts cursing the moron who just left their Mini next to the mini tree island, and totally disregards the fact they've done the same thing with their Mini in the past.

For the record: I would always drive my Mini back to the nearest Mini docking station.

Artist's Unofficial Comic Bookmarker

Dustin Nguyen, a signed DC artist (Batman Streets of Gotham), just posted two new 5 x 11 watercolor pieces on his blog. They are centered around Wilson Fisk, a.k.a. The Kingpin, but feature two of his prime nemesis: The Punisher and Daredevil. The characters intertwine in comic books just as these two new works of art intertwine in composition.

The Punisher's piece features shades of black/grey which emphasize outfit's tone. Obviously there are shades of red for Daredevil. I liked how the color seems to drip down from The Punisher's piece and how the color seems to drop down onto the Daredevil piece. The two seem to connect, yet they are separate.

I have created an unofficial combo of the two (posted to the right) that makes for a very cool bookmark. I have also posted a checkered version of "the Fisk's" below that you can try using as a tiled background on your computer screen. It may look a little too hectic, but you can give it a try.

I recommend checking out some of Dustin's other new watercolor posts such as his art inspired by the movie/book "The Road." Follow this link and enjoy!

It's Mr. Pepper to Me

When a person gives themselves a nick name we tend to hate them. We think they are being self involved, and no one likes a person conceded about there cleverness...unless they do it in a charming-awareness-of-the-stupidity-of-it kind of a way. So why is it that we, as a society, are expected to use the title of "doctor" on so many people?

"Please call me Dr. Willingham."

"Actually, it's Dr. Huffinpuff."

"I do not know of a Mrs. Shelly Johnston, but I do know a Dr. Shelly Johnston."

Really? You are demanding I call you doctor. It is considered a sign of respect to use the title when talking about or addressing people whom have received their doctorate degree in any given field of study. While this may be an accomplishment that many people will never achieve, it in no way deserves a special title. Why not create a title for those whom have climbed Mt. Everest, or for those whom have finished the "Ole 96er"?

The reason we do not create a title for those select few people is the same reason I do not respect the title "Doctor": I didn't choose for these people to do what they have done.

I never told these people to go to school for 12 years. It was not my choice to have these people commit themselves to a certain field in a manner that would commit their life to it. These people with doctorates are impressive for committing themselves to a field of study for so long, but that's as far as it goes. I respect you, but I'm not in respect with you.

I am sure that with in the community of doctors many doctors look down upon other doctors in lesser known fields. Do surgeons look down on dentist? Medical doctors down on Psychological doctors? Regular doctors down on diet doctors? They may taste the same, but they got their degree online. Doctor's have a saying, "a doctorate from Devry is the degree clip-on tie."


I'm not going to lie. I call these people "Doctor" all of the time. I hate it. But you know what I hate more? I hate dieing on their surgical table. Oh yeah. They'll do it. Well, maybe not. But I'm not chancing it.

Long Beach State Basketball Improves

The Long Beach State basketball team is beginning to turn heads. With today's first ever win (in school history) over UCLA, the 49ers not only become the 4th team to beat the lowly Bruins, but they also put themselves on the college basketball map once again.

Long Beach State is not going out of their way to stick to low level teams in and out of their conference this year; rather they are traveling to play the best. They challenge 6 AP top 25 teams this season and 4 of them are currently in the AP top 10 (Texas, Kentucky, Duke, West Virginia). To be the best you have to play the best...consistently. All of these games are away games: including their 3 losses on the season so far to Notre Dame, West Virginia, and Clemson (all AP top 25 teams), but they are battling no matter where the court may be.

In State's recent 3 game tournament run (the 76 Classic), sophomore T.J. Robinson averaged 20 points and 12.3 rebounds per game, while making 60.5 percent (23-of-38) of his shots. Robinson put up these numbers against tough Clemson and West Virginia teams, and the usually competitive UCLA.

For the future Long Beach is trying to build by recruiting more talent than in previous years. In 2008 ESPN.com rated State's recruiting class 10 overall among mid-major schools. This year ESPN.com has rated Long Beach 6 overall among the mid-majors. Leading this class is shooting guard Jacob Thomas from Minnesota. He is ranked 89th on ESPN.com's top 100 class of 2010 recruits. Mid-major teams like Long Beach State rarely get players ranked within the top 100 in the nation. ESPN.com says that Thomas is, "widely considered one of the most prolific jump shooters in the country." Thomas passed on schools like Notre Dame, Iowa, and Wisconsin: teams much more established than Long Beach.

So far ESPN.com believes Long Beach State is the team out of the Big West Conference that will prove to be the best, both this year and beyond. They have fought hard so far this season and with continued improvement in play, coaching, and especially recruiting, I think they can eventually rise to a national competitive level. We can one day get back to the golden years of 1970 to 1973 when we went to the elite 8 twice and sweet 16 twice. This being the 40th anniversary of that run I say...


GO BEACH!

Multiple Christmas Lists

As I get older and bring more people into my life, I run into a problem around Christmas time. I want so many things and I don't know who will or could get it for me. Such a problem to have...

If I create a list of things I would like to receive and give it to everyone I may get several of the same gifts. Then I have to return one of the gifts and that can be a hassle. Also, if I have already received the gift from another person I have to put on the fake happy face.

"Oh what?! Firefly, the complete DVD set! Man, I love this gift so much I wouldn't mind having three...which is a good thing because this is my third. Oh, it was ordered online so I have to ship it back...not a problem! I'll use my cash and ship it to get your account reimbursed. But again...great gift! Thanks!"

Some people will say to me, "Maybe you shouldn't get anything then, if you do not want to get the same gifts. It is the only way to know for sure the gift won't be repeated."

I of course reply by calling them a dumb bitch and pointing out they could always just give me money, a gift card, or something I specifically told them. Granted I have just called them a dumb bitch, so I usually get nothing from that person. You call them one harmless name...

I obviously have put some thought into this, and that is why I make multiple lists for different people. I access the giver's income, thoughtfulness, willingness to search for a gift, and overall mood when it comes to gift giving. I give different people different objects (books, electronics, random goods) per list and include the same type of gift cards on everyone's list.

Often times people will try to be creative and get me something off the list. Sometimes you get an unexpected gem and other times you get a 2 pack DVD combo: Police Academy 3/Big Mama's House 2. My mom is good at giving me a mix of gifts I want and things I didn't know I wanted. (Cologne? What is she trying to say?) She understands how my mind works and she makes every Christmas a good time.

In conclusion, I am not being greedy or ungrateful. I am being practical. I suggest every person make multiple Christmas lists.

...unless of course all you want are jars and jars of the popcorn flavored jelly belly.