Harley Davidson is a name that is synonymous with motorcycle. When you hear this company name you can’t help but think about the rumbling growl of a Harley engine and the burley silhouettes of Harley Davidson motorcycles streaking down an open highway. If you are a Harley owner then you need to learn where you can find the best parts to keep your hog running properly and to custom your bike to fit your Harley vision.

Harley Davidson offers a variety of kits that you can use to upgrade your hog. They also sell decal and paint kits that you can use to add a little character to your motorcycle. These paint kits include flames, bolts and skull designs that can make your hog look so hot it will sizzle.

If you are trying to restore an antique Harley Davidson motorcycle then you may be interested in looking for used and salvaged parts. To do this you have several options. One of these options is to scour online auction sites for the parts that you need to complete your classic Harley Davidson. Your second option is to pull parts from a junk yard or check with parts dealer.

The Harley lifestyle is not for everyone, but you would be surprised how fun it can be to ride a Harley Davidson down the highway. With gas prices on the rise a Harley can provide you with a lower cost way to ride away from the constraints of modern life and feel the wind in your face. Rebel from conventionality and run wild with your Harley Davidson this weekend!

This one deserves a bigger view.  Probably my best shot from the SF auto show I covered for journalism.  I know nothing about cars, but damn some of these were sexy.

Living in Central Illinois doesn’t make it an easy task to see great performances, but I did my best and Pygmalion certainly helped (as will be evident the more you read). Looking back I think I was able to see quite a bit of wonderful music this year and I am very grateful, I just hope I get to see even more in 2010.

10. Ra Ra Riot – Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, Pygmalion Music Festival

I feel like this band got the shaft a bit at this year’s Pygmalion Festival. They had to perform on a lobby stage immediately following the festival headliner, Iron & Wine. Despite dwindling crowds and a massive musical hangover beginning to set in Ra Ra Riot brought their best and pumped a little bit of energy back into the beleaguered crowd.

I’ve never seen a string section rock quite as hard as the lovely ladies of Ra Ra Riot did on Saturday at Pygmalion. Matched with the enthusiasm of lead singer Wes Miles and the precision of their music, the show was quite a spectacle. In fact, I’m kind of glad that the crowd died before they began playing, because it made the experience more intimate…at least, as intimate as a lobby gets.

9. Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin and Ohtis – The Coffeehouse, Normal, Ill.

I have never been to a better Monday evening show, and apparently neither has SSLYBY. When the Springfield, Mo. boys swung through Central Illinois earlier this year they stopped by my neck of the woods and played one of the longest, and best sets that I have had the pleasure of seeing.

Local band Ohtis opened admirably, but really it was Boris Yeltsin that set the place ablaze. With their latest album, Pershing, still fresh in my ears they matched it’s exuberance and charm with ease working their way through almost the whole album. They peppered in some classic songs from their debut album, Broom, and overall just made a mundane Monday anything but.

8. Headlights – Canopy Club, Pygmalion Music Festival

Champaign’s own ambient pop quartet Headlights couldn’t let Pygmalion come and go with just another concert. No, the hometown favorites had to up their game for the weekend, and to do so they decided to make their performance their new album release party.

Luckily crowds stuck around and showed their support for the first night headliner. The band started their show by playing a mix of new songs and old favorites, mixing in fast and slow songs. About three-quarters of the way through their set, they decided that a real Dan Deacon-esque dance party was in order, and turned up the intensity and pulled a few fans on stage. With  balloons flying all over the place and a steady stream of fans making their way on to the stage Headlights played five or six songs that were unforgettable. They did so while completely surrounded by fans and with smiles as big as the stage. It was the perfect ending to a great opening night for the festival.

7. The Antlers – Canopy Club, Pygmalion Music Festival

I liked the Antlers before I saw them live, but I loved them after. I was a skeptic prior to their performance, wondering how a soft, emotional album like Hospice could be transitioned into an entertaining live show. What I discovered is that you really have to see it to believe it.

The Antlers performed each song with vigor but still maintained the passion that made the album good. The band was alive on stage and their performance had gusto. It was awe-inspiring and more than just enjoyable.

6. Iron & Wine – Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, Pygmalion Music Festival

This is what everyone came to see at Pygmalion: the one and only Sam Beam alone on stage with a guitar. He did not disappoint. He gently picked and strummed his way through songs spanning his career, interjecting a bit of humor and personality in between and holding the entire 1,000 seat-plus concert hall in rapture while he played.

To see him on stage was a rare treat, his voice had a beautiful warble that is just as pretty as it is when recorded. His voice singing “Sodom, South Georgia” still rings out in my head as clear as the day I heard him perform. His is a concert I will not soon forget.

5. Pomegranates – Canopy Club, Pygmalion Music Festival

As much as I loved seeing Iron & Wine, the highlight of my Pygmalion ‘09 experience was seeing Pomegranates fill the void room of the Canopy with their electric energy. Their 2009 album Everybody Come Outside was one of my favorites of the year, and seeing it live is even more rewarding than listening to the album.

Everything about their set was exciting, whether it was lead singer Joey Cook singing into a megaphone or hanging over the edge of the stage from a PA speaker. There was so much fun to be had while listening to their experimental pop tunes and the audience took full advantage of that, bursting out in dance and claps to urge the band along. From one of the smallest stages of the festival these Cincinnati natives stole the spotlight and put on an incredible show.

4. The Decemberists – Murat Theater, Indianapolis, Ind.

Seeing the Hazards of Love performed live is the only way to see it, I’m sure. Putting a face to Shara Worden’s mind blowing vocal performance and seeing each little bit of the mythical story put to life makes the experience seem ethereal.

After their latest album had been performed in all it’s illustrious glory the band came back out and performed hits from their wonderful back catalog and even a cover of Heart’s “Crazy on You” with Shara Worden and Beck Stark. Combined with a full audience sing-a-long of “Billy Liar” and a simply perfect performance of “Raincoat Song,” the whole evening was incredible.

3. Sufjan Stevens – High Dive, Champaign, Ill.

I didn’t know what to expect when I saw Sufjan perform in October. His latest album was a neo-classical piece with no lyrics and he had put out no other albums since Illinois. What he did, however, was simply fantastic. He mostly trotted out new songs, which featured more experimentation than the Sufjan of old, but were a delight to see and hear.

His new songs featured an electric feel with a bit of boogie to them, kind of like a jazz-fusion with less emphasis on the jazz. They were still soulful, which was emphasized by the intimacy of the High Dive. When he did play older songs they were delicate and special to behold. His rendition of “Casmir Pulaski Day” and his final song “Chicago,” just killed me. I think my heart is still in pieces on the High Dive floor.

1. (Tie) Jeff Tweedy – Foellinger Auditorium, Champaign, Ill.

and

Andrew Bird – Fourth Presbyterian Church, Chicago, Ill.

I got the chance to ring in the year with Tweedy and end it with Bird, making me quite a lucky man. Both gentleman played solo to large audiences in an inpersonal space, but managed to rapture attentions and hearts like it was a personal concert. I was able to see Mr. Bird play just last evening, so I’m going to save my synopsis for after the week of lists, and just tell you that he was simply incredible.

Likewise, Tweedy put on one of the greatest shows I have ever seen. Alone on stage with a ring of guitars behind him Tweedy worked through Wilco, Loose Fur and Uncle Tupelo songs with the greatest of ease and precision. His voice resounded throughout the giant lecture hall as if he were singing into the ear of each listener individually. At the end of his show, for his encore, he walked to the front of the stage, free of all amplification and sang his final two songs. The entire audience sat still, quiet, fearing even a cough, giving Tweedy the greatest respect that a performer can have. His set was incredible, even when he messed up the lyrics to “Hummingbird” it simply seemed like an invation for crowd participation. His performance, I believe, will always be among the best I’ve ever witnessed.

As far as Andrew Bird’s Gezellgheid concert, come back next week for all the details.

Two pop bands with local ties are joining up this Friday at Milwaukee’s newest spot to see live music — the Bay View Brewhaus — for a show that will showcase lots and lots of new material. Champaign, Illinois’ Headlights, promoting their latest release, Wildlife on Polyvinyl Records, has given its fans another hit of their trademark sweet pop filled with plenty of keys, boy/girl harmonies and bouncy attitude. Milwaukee lays claim to fame in Headlights’ bassist Nick Sanborn (also keyboardist for Milwaukee’s Decibully).

Unstoppable local pop group extraordinaire, Celebrated Workingman will be playing their first show since last summer’s PBR Street Fest and undoubtedly will have some new material to dish out. The band’s Herald the Dickens release from last year is a WMSE station favorite, and as always, the absorbingly irresistible performance of frontman Mark Waldoch will leave no attendee able to say they left without being entertained. Celebrated Workingman knows how to turn out a live performance like no other.

Get psyched up for the show with this new video from Headlights from their new album. Also playing: The Friendly Lens. The Bay View Brewhaus is located at 2434 S. Kinnickinnic. 10 p.m. 21+

Toyota today launched an all-new utility vehicle for the 2009 model year the Venza. The Japanese automaker refers to the car as a “crossover sedan,” which seems like an effort to avoid the use of “station wagon” at all costs. Toyota came up with the designation because the Venza combines “comfort and fun-to-drive performance elements of a five-passenger sedan” with the “utility of an SUV.”

The crossover was designed specifically with the North American market in mind. The Venza will be sold here exclusively, and it was engineered at the Toyota Technical Center in Ann Arbor. The exterior was penned at the Toyota’s Calty design studios in Newport Beach.

Rather than styling the Venza to look like an SUV, the Venza was designed with a “sleek sedan concept” in mind, Toyota says. Nonetheless, it features a spacious interior providing room for five passengers and abundant cargo space behind the second row of seats.
Levers, one on each side of the rear cargo area, allow the 60/40 split rear seats to fold flat, providing additional storage space for extra long items. For added passenger comfort, the rear seats recline up to 14 degrees.

Power will be generated by an available 3.5-liter V6 that will produce 268 horsepower at 6,200 rpm and 246 pound-feet of torque at 4,700 rpm with a towing capability of 3,500 pounds. Standard power will come from an all-new 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine. car accessories blog
All Venza models are equipped with an array of standard features including auto dual zone air conditioning, AM/FM six-disc CD, tilt/telescopic steering wheel with audio controls, remote keyless entry, electrochromic rearview mirror with compass, a multi-information display, cruise control, optitron gauges, rear wiper, privacy glass, and much more. On V6 models Venza come standard with dual exhaust tips and is the first Toyota model to ride on standard 20-inch alloy wheels. Four-cylinder models come standard with 19-inch alloy wheels.
Venza will also offer an Automatic High Beam headlight system. When high beam headlights are in use sensors in the Automatic High Beam system will detect oncoming traffic and automatically switch the headlights to low-beam. When the Automatic High Beam sensors no longer detect oncoming traffic the system will switch the headlights back to high-beam mode.
Additional optional equipment will include a navigation system equipped with a JBL audio system, integrated satellite radio capability and Bluetooth technology; a premium JBL audio system with AM/FM six-disc CD changer, satellite radio capability and Bluetooth, rear seat entertainment system, a Smart Key System, back-up camera and a power rear door.

When you own a vehicle, you always want it to be at its best. And that takes more than just oil changes and the occasional car wash. You need more. CARiD.com specializes in providing drivers with car accessories and truck accessories that add a distinctive touch. Whether you’re searching for style, protection, or comfort, we host a wide array of premium-made options for you to choose from. Every major aftermarket manufacturer is on display at CARiD.com. Custom grilles, spoilers, wheels, floor mats, body kits, tail lights, chrome trim – basically all things automotive that unveil beauty and style.
Toyota has always surprised the audience by its models featuring with conceptual decisions, rich technical supply and tremendous performance. All that can be find in the new 2009 Toyota Venza named “crossover sedan” – a fusion of toward a car characteristics with some sport-utility vehicle trends. You can hardly surmount rough hills driving Venza, but on the roads it will certainly surprise the rider by its soft but powerful temper, precise control and flashing reaction. Inside the cab everything is designed for the passengers’ comfort and safety, making the journeys as cozy as seating on your favorite couch. You will ask: “What more can be added?” and be surprised, after visiting WDE, Inc. online store, where we have collected hundreds of Toyota Venza Accessories, specially designed for that model. All possible Venza parts from light kits to vertical door hinges are ready to be ordered right now and take their place on your just bought ride. Feel free to contact us with any questions at 1-800-505-3274.

It was a rather warm Summer night on Saturday here in Perth and we had clear skies, so I decided to head out and spend a few hours shooting some star trails. I decided to head down to Lake Clifton http://www.lakeclifton.com.au South of Mandurah, and about 100km South of Perth. On this visit, there was no moon not like on my last visit http://eos20.wordpress.com/2009/08/07/august-7/ so conditions were ideal for shooting star trails, but having some moon light would have been ideal so I could have used the ambient light from the moon to illuminate the Thrombolites http://www.lakeclifton.com.au/yalgorup.html so had to use my spotlight to bring out the detail of the Thrombolites. I brought along two cameras on this visit, I bought my EOS 7D and used my new EF-S 15-85 IS lens, and I also brought along my old EOS 300D and 18-55 lens, and I also brought along my 50mm f/2.5 macro to use as a large aperture lens. I set up both cameras on tripods with shutter release cables, and I shot a series of 30 second exposures and combined them using the Star Trails stacking software http://www.startrails.de/ which I find does a better job then shooting a single long exposure which tends to result in a image full of long exposure noise which can easily ruin a nights work, and by using software I can delete frames if necessary (Planes flying though the exposure, camera shake, etc) and I get a cleaner final result and can shoot star trails pretty much anywhere without worrying about getting a over exposed shot when shooting near bright light sources such as in the city.

On this night it was pitch black, with no ambient lighting out here, since it’s located a fair way away from the nearest towns, which meant the stars were easily visible with very little light pollution other then headlights of passing cars off in the distance. There was a bit of lightning off towards the horizon East of my location when I arrived, but that only lasted about 30 mins and didn’t affect my shooting since I had the cameras pointed South to try and get the best star trail patterns, unfortunately I didn’t end up aiming the cameras directly at the Southern Star, so I was a bit off, and didn’t get the full circle I was after, but the results still came out well enough.

It was windy on this visit, unlike on my first visit where it was relativity calm which resulted in some nice reflections on the water, and the tide was coming in which meant the Thrombolites were submerged again on this visit, and I ended up getting wet to set my camera up low enough to get the composition I was after on my final star trail series, but I think it was worth it for the shot I ended up getting. Here are a few of the photos from the night:

http://www.redbubble.com/people/eos20/art/4261586-2-star-trails-over-lake-clifton

http://www.redbubble.com/people/eos20/art/4261582-2-star-trails-over-lake-clifton-thrombolites

http://www.redbubble.com/people/eos20/art/4262314-3-star-trails-over-thrombolites

I’m seriously digging Headlight’s new album, Wildlife. I recently came across the music video to their tune, “Love Song for Buddy” on Radio Exile and wanted to share it with you. I think director/illustrator Scott Marvel and editor Matthew Han did a really wonderful job with this. Hope you enjoy it!

-Mason

Who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen. (1 Timothy 6:16)

It must get lonely sometimes being God. There you are, burning in all your glory like a gazillion watt bulb, and nobody can stop by for a visit. The doorbell rings, you answer, and your wannabe guest is vaporized. You’ve tried a personal rheostat, but even on dim you can melt a galaxy if you’re not careful. It ain’t easy being deity.

And there are all these people you made. You hoped they could figure out the God thing, but since they couldn’t see you they were slow to catch on. You had to do a few sideshows to get their attention, but even those, as mild as you thought they were, tended to scare the crap out of them. So you sent some prophets their way, but that was a bust from the start. First of all, those guys were human too, which meant that they were as unreliable as the other dweebs you were trying to communicate with. Besides, being human, the prophets definitely had small hard drives. You had to simplify yourself so much it almost always came out weird, too much compression or something.  All those visions with lampstands and statues and locusts and such—they only served to confuse folks. The prophets didn’t appreciate a lot of your attempts at creative expression either. In the end, that whole revelatory enterprise sort of sucked, though you did manage to eek a nice book out of it.

Finally, after a few thousand years of frustration, you decided to go for the full-blown incarnation thing. You’d been mulling it over for, like, forever, but it never seemed like the right time. There would be lots of prep work to do beforehand, what with more prophets to hire, angels to rehearse, astronomical adjustments to make, homicidal kings to put in place, donkey’s to reserve—that kind of thing. Besides, funneling yourself into human form would be very tricky. I mean, how do you take an immortal, infinite being that cannot be seen and stuff all that into a clump of mud that’s 60% water? You suspect that even if you could pull that off (you are, after all, God), the resulting disguise would probably last only 30 years or so. (And even then you almost blew yourself up once on that mountain. Peter, James, and John were that close to being UV’d into oblivion.) It would be a close call no matter what.

But then, after the messiah stint, you’re right back at square one: the glory is at full throttle and a whole mess of humans are planning on moving in and staying forever. You like the idea of company (you’ve always been a multiple person kind of supreme being), but now for sure you’ve got to give them something to look at. Even for you the angels get boring after a while, and you can only keep everybody occupied with sing-alongs for so long. What are you going to do for the rest of eternity?

In the end you’re just going to have to break it to them. You are too freaking God not to be God. You’ll have to refract yourself through the Boy, who is flaring out impressively and could himself burn a few retinas if he’s not careful. As for you, you’re going to be living in the filament on full dazzle. That’s just the way it is when you’re as out there as they come. It’s as good as you can do.

]]> http://k2images.wordpress.com/2009/12/01/brandi-class-of-2010/ Tue, 01 Dec 2009 05:18:11 +0000 k2images http://k2images.wordpress.com/2009/12/01/brandi-class-of-2010/

Last weekend we did Brandi’s Sr. pictures.  Brandi’s theme was 80’s rock as you will soon see.  We had a blast and I think she did too … here are a few of our favorites:

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We found some cool new locations!  Check out these awesome abandoned RR tracks…

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and she was totally on board with trying out some “unconventional” lighting!

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Brandi was great in keeping with her theme, but we were able to get her to break character every now and then…

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and a final one – can’t forget the lettterman…

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Thanks for looking!   Great job Brandi!

Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. (Revelation 20:11)

Notes to Self:

1. This here ain’t no democracy.

2. Your perspective will be welcome as long as it’s correct.

3. Self-actualization has a really short self-life.

4. You will never earn enough credits for a free game.

5. Don’t bother trying to hide the evidence.

6. Bring a gift (but save the receipt).

7. Since the program is likely to be long, sit near the restroom.

8. Practice groveling.

9. Don’t hold your breath.

10. You may have the answer, but nobody’s asking that question.

11. When in doubt, believe.

12. Given the current state of affairs, it’s probably a good idea to learn to dance.

13. Even death can have a bad day.

14. Never ask God for a light.

15. If you are invited to sing along, don’t use falsetto.

16. At least try to look like you’re having a good time.

17. No flash photography, please.

18. Nobody will want to see your scars.

19. If you start to feel light headed, you’re most likely in the right place.

20. As soon as you hear harps, turn off your cell phone.

21. Absolutely no knock-knock jokes!

22. Double-check your fly and for food stuck in your teeth.

23. Avoid wearing off-white.

24. If the shoe fits, you’re in deep doo-doo.

25. Remember: once the show starts, all bets are off.

]]> http://noordinaryfool.com/2009/11/27/aweekinmusic27/ Fri, 27 Nov 2009 10:37:53 +0000 Longman Oz http://noordinaryfool.com/2009/11/27/aweekinmusic27/

Music @ Videos

Yee to the haw, it doth be Friday once more. A propos of nothing, I have just finished watching the HBO mini-series on the invasion of Iraq Generation Kill. As an offering, it is a bit of a mixed bag, but there are still some great characters featured in it and it seems like a genuine attempt to represent the thoughts and feelings of the men on the front-line. Do expect much more sitting around in camp and driving about in Humvees than all-out action though! Also, give the Iceman his own spin-off series!

Moving on to the music, Shearwater are meant to be back in early 2010 with their latest album. They really are a marvellous band and you can get a taster for what they have in mind below. Why?’s Eskimo Snow may not have made the same impact this year as Alopecia did last year. However, I really love the song These Hands and the video below is the perfect accompaniment to it.

Also featuring are (new-to-me) Headlights and Prairie Cat, the well-established Califone, and a song from Simian Mobile Disco that features Beth Ditto on vocals.

Bon weekend tout le monde!

Shearwater – The Golden Archipelago

oooOOOooo

Headlights – Love Song for Buddy

oooOOOooo

Why? – These Hands / January Twenty Something

oooOOOooo

Simian Mobile Disco – Cruel Intentions

oooOOOooo

Califone – Funeral Singers

oooOOOooo

Prairie Cat – Just Cuz

For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods. (Psalm 95:3)

Gods tend to be impressive. Even the Greek and Hindu gods, as dysfunctional as gods can be, can still make a flashy entrance when they want to. The Greek pantheon listed Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Hades, Artemis, Dionysus, Athena, Demeter, Ares, Apollo, and Aphrodite, to name a few. (The Romans, who had little imagination, pretty much stole the Greek gods wholesale and repackaged them as their own—kind of like Microsoft does with Apple.) Egypt had a bunch of its own gods, including Amon-Ra, Osiris, Isis, Horus, Anubis, and Set. Then you’ve got those pesky Canaanite deities like Baal, Marduk, Chemosh, Moloch, Dagon, and Asherah. The Hindus win the prize for heavenly overpopulation with 330 million deities, among them Ganesha, Shiva, Brahma, Vishnu, Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Hanuman, Krishna, Rama, and, my favorite, Awop-Bop-a-Loo-Bop Alop Bam Boom.

So get all these gods together in one room and you’ve got yourself some major mojo. (Catering for this crowd must be a complete nightmare.) You’ve got good gods, funny gods, strange gods, scary gods, arrogant gods, talented gods, grumpy gods, bipolar gods, lusty gods, chaste gods, elegant gods, brutish gods, and gods who don’t even look like gods. Some of them are terrifyingly powerful and tower above the others like Titans (some of them actually are Titans). Some of them are deviously clever and know how to pull strings. Others are so primal, so unutterably fundamental, they can’t really be told apart from the world itself. These are the badass gods of the world, the fearsome principalities who lord it over lowly mortals and every human system. All these deities make up the magnificent mafiosi of the heavenly realms, the least of which can lead you to misplace your bowels.

But, as impressive as they are, these guys are Emos, divine diddlies compared to . . . well, you know: HIM. All these other jokers are mere gods; He, on the other hand, is GOD. We’re talking a different league of deity here. We’re talking ultimate, absolute entity; we’re talking BEING in italics and bold print. (I would underline it too if WordPress would let me.) Compared to HIM the rest are just dweebs, blowhards, origami bucketheads with inferiority complexes. Compared to HIM, the next in line is a picayune pipsqueak. Shoot. These other guys are so far down the chain of being they need permission slips to grovel.

There are lots of gods, but there is only one HIM. You can admire the rest if you want; they’re good for a laugh or two. (There’s nobody like Baal to host an orgy.) But it’s probably a good idea to be on friendly terms with HIM. Which means if He makes you an offer—any offer—it’s best not to refuse. Why make another horse suffer?

]]> http://ourdailyfred.wordpress.com/2009/11/21/the-wizard-is-pissed/ Sat, 21 Nov 2009 11:00:04 +0000 Fred http://ourdailyfred.wordpress.com/2009/11/21/the-wizard-is-pissed/

“My people are fools; they do not know me. They are senseless children; they have no understanding. They are skilled in doing evil; they know not how to do good.” (Jeremiah 4:22)

.   .   .

Listen:

.   .   .

]]> http://muddiedwaters.wordpress.com/2009/11/19/thursdays-5-tony-23/ Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:07:17 +0000 muddiedwaters http://muddiedwaters.wordpress.com/2009/11/19/thursdays-5-tony-23/

5 MORE Technological advancements we could do without!

In our world filled with technological marvels some are marvelous, others are just paltry baubles of modern society. Here are 5 i felt like complaining about today!

1) Blue Headlights

Because headlights weren’t blinding enough when met head-on in highbeam! We bring the world blue headlights, who possess the jarring glare of regular lights set to high even when they are only on low beams. God forbid a driver equipped with blue beams accidentally brights you! The retina searing power is roughly the equivalent to having Lasik Surgery done drive-by style!

Please Mr. Blue beams, get some normal headlights!

2) News Networks

We already live in a culture of paranoia! Having 24 hour news networks is like putting in a free wet-bar at the Betty Ford clinic! But, we not only have A 24 hour news network, we have MANY! All carefully tailored to fit your personal political slant on your obsessive socio-political nail bitting! (unless you are an honest to goodness centrist)

First off, there really isn’t THAT much news! It’s really just the same 45 minutes of coverage over & over & over & over!

Secondly, it’s just plain ridiculous! If you listened to the news networks (and many of us do) you would think the world will be doing good to hold out for December, 12 2012 to fold in on itself!

3) Remote Controls for Computers

One word: REALLY??!?!?

4) 3G networks

i know that my iphone tirade sort of bordered on this complaint but i can’t get away from it. Soon we will be a culture with access to ALL knowledge and retention of none!

that said, i’d still love to have a 3G phone, just in case you are looking for Christmas ideas for me! Also on the list: New Road Bike, New Back Pack, I-Tunes Gift Cards…. if you need any other suggestion feel free to ask!

5) Pre-Lit Christmas Trees

Honestly, i’m a total scrooge anyway, i have grown to despise the Christmas season! But i do like Christmas trees… sort of.

But a pre-lit plastic monstrosity? We, the plastic spoon society*, have become so bloated on satellite television and McLattes that we can’t even wrap lights around a fake tree?

*Plastic spoon: We live in a society where it’s “easier” to pump crude oil from the soil, refine it into plastics, mold that into spoons, ship them out where they are bought and used once to be thrown into landfills than it is to wash a dirty spoon when we are done with it.

(Note: Due to the sheer number of submissions we receive there is no way we can give each and every album the attention (and word count) they deserve, but we can devote time to at least one song from each. So we started this feature to give worthy bands, and their music a spot to shine. We hope this helps you discover new and exciting acts, and as always if you enjoy the music please make an attempt to support the artist by either attending a show, or buying a record.)

While listening to the latest Headlights album, Wildlife, in preparation for their show tomorrow (which we’re presenting) I found myself absolutely captivated by the the albums opening three tracks, most so by the third tack “You and Eye” which seemed to come from nowhere. With it’s Beach House like fuzz, the track serves as a quintessential late fall track, evoking a night spent outside with a cigarette on your lips surrounded by the mindless chatter of your peers, your mind far away as you stare into the dim light of the sky.

Headlights- You and Eye

Verdict: As the song reaches it’s close it seems to smolder to it’s finish. This is a good thing.

One for real, and one for fun.  Not brilliantly happy with the tree, so there may be another one in the offing.

from January 19, 2009

Headlights

Pomegranates

Sabra Laval

$8 in advance
$10 day of show
Doors open at 9pm

No, Ohio does not need to tell its drivers to turn their headlights on at night, most of them (hopefully) already know to do this. Ohio is actually trying to honor the increased safety of its teen drivers and to raise awareness of teen driving safety and the cause behind crashes involving teen drivers by asking Ohio drivers to keep their headlights on at all times in an effort they call “Lights for Life“.

Of course, most crashes caused by teen drivers aren’t due to a lack of headlights, so hopefully the point gets across.

Ohio is using this nifty little PR tactic in conjunction to Ohio’s first Youth Traffic Safety Summit held by SADD members. SADD, Students Against Destructive Decisions, is a very important peer group that has been active in reducing crashes across the nation. The organization hopes to have 300 students and state legislators attend the summit.

39 percent of Ohio’s crashes were caused by young drivers (15-25)  in 2008. The leading causes were: following too close, failure to yield and excessive speed. Most crashes happen on the way home from school. So far in 2009 there have been about 65,500 crashes that involved young drivers, down from 70,000 this time last year.

So keep those headlights on in Ohio, but more importantly, remember why they are being kept on and if you are a parent, be an active part in your child’s driving education to ensure they aren’t 65,501 this year.

There are times when you wonder just what idiots are thinking.

It was blowing gales of up to 85mph yesterday, it was dropping around a quarter of the months rainfall in about 6 hours, but people still drive around without their headlights on! I was nearly written off by one bloody idiot who thought that I could see him approaching with no lights on where everyone else were using fog lights just to see the end of their bonnet….

He was a lorry driver!

So at a time when a professional driver of  a  large, dark, lorry has trouble seeing the cars in front you would think he would be professional and expereinced enough to realise that the spray thrown up by such a horrific downpour might make him invisible to see as well; while he was doing around 50 in a 40 zone; while traffic might be joining from  the slip road. When this driver followed me to a roundabout and got out of his truck in front of a police officer to remonstrate, the police officer got his notebook out to write down my side of the story. He put it straight back away when I told him that the lorry did not even have any lights on when he pulledup to talk to them (which they noted), let alone driving!

They sent me on my way and had a quiet word with him.

It makes you wonder though. These professional drivers with their arctic lorry; driving up and down our roads every day and some of them seem to think they own the road we all drive on.  For example; back in July, in the Highlands of Scotland a professional HGV caused death by dangerous driving because he failed to secure 26 tonnes of timber correctly… This is of course the Highlands with lots of gradients, sharp turns and various animals wandering free.

Last month in Wales a professional lorry driver lost his attention while driving, swerved to avoid a stationary car in the  middle of the road and hit a moving car head-on, killing the driver. The professional lorry driver “did not  realise” that the slippery road surface warning, after the local council re-surfaced the  road, “extended beyond the warning sign”. The lorry trailer itself was a death-trap with faulty brakes and missing wheel studs, wondering if the surface had not just been re-done, then would there have been any difference in the result?

and finally, back in May a lorry went  over a speed hump in London and its door flew open nearly taking London Mayor Boris Johnson out as he cycled around the city on a “fact-finding” mission. The door was not properly secured and we nearly lost our London Mayor over it (okay… so some of you think thats a good thing).

Guess what though. These “professional” drivers got a maximum £500 fine and 8 points. Not even a disqualification. I bet if a train driver; a professional driver; left a door open, or lost concentration and nearly hit another train, that they would not have a job, let alone a train driving licence left in their hand?

Professional Drivers indeed.

*****

In other news:

 Department for Transport (DfT) (“DafT”) is about to embark on a campaign to reduce CO2 emissions. They have embarked on the first step by taking over National Express East Coast Trains (now run by DfT owned “Directly Operated Trains”) lets hope they reduce fares to encourage train travel.

In this “equal opportunity” world, it obviously does not extend to car insurance. You can understand that young drivers, fresh out of driving school, are chargedmore as they have less experience, but MoneySupermarket.com have found that 18 year old males are likely to pay £2000 for car insurance (for a car unspecified), whereas a girl would pay around half that (on the same car). Ergo, we should sack all the male lorry drivers and employ women, driving pink tractor units covered in pictures of hunky men to keep them satisfied on the road…..

I am getting worked up about lorry drivers now…. time for a bottle of water.!

Dear Ludovic,

It is getting dark earlier now. At night time, cars do not come inside your bedroom. You do hear them, they are outside on the road. I know the light from their headlights comes through the window but that does not mean the cars are in your room. The cars are outside. Light can shine through windows and curtains and noise can travel through walls and windows but the cars are still outside.

Love

Mum