When constructing or upgrading a Strat, people often get lost when it comes to pick-ups and for good reason. There are all kinds of pick-ups out and it can difficult choosing the one that is going to work best for you. Before this process evens begins you need to know, there are many, high quality pick-ups available both online and in stores so don’t get too bent up if you can’t decide if the brand and model you picked out is the perfect combo. That said, you’re going to want to know what you want out of a pick up. You should decide first whether or not you want actives or passive pick-ups.

Actives require usually 1 9-volt battery to be housed inside the guitar in order to boost the signal of the instrument. This creates a louder guitar and sometimes a “fatter” tone but the trade-off is maintenance. Since most of us are not celebrity rockstars who have our strings and batteries changed each time before we play, replacing your battery can be the last thing you think of when something goes wrong with the signal. Passive signals seem to be standard. They require no internal power from the guitar. Minimal volume loss is made up by the low maintenance of never having to change your batteries because they’re not there. The body of the guitar has an extra cavity in order to house the battery so make sure you check your guitar before trying to install the actives. Making the change from actives to passives is possible through the use of new volume and tone pots. After that is figured out, you begin to narrow your choices.

Hot, Noiseless, 50’s, 60’s, Highway 1, Lace Sensors, Artist series, Humbuckers, the options are there! Decide whether or not you want the old school hum a single coil traditionally produces or if you want to go with something more smooth and modern. The best way to decide is to go to your local music store and play as many different pick-ups as you can and take note of which models you like and making this seemingly tedious decision rather fun.

Waking up this morning I was hoping to find that I had won an auction for a Joe Tinker 2002 Topps T206 bat relic, but I ended up losing it by $1.00.  While looking for another Tinker, I came across this Johnny Evers bat from the same set.  I sent in my offer and the seller accepted it.  Evers played most of his career with Chicago, but did play one season with Philadelphia and was managed by Connie Mack.  As a collector of relics of older players, this Evers will fit in nicely.  While talking with VOTC I learned of an old poem written by Ogden Nash that includes the names of Joe Tinker, Johnny Evers, and Frank Chance that goes:

E is for Evers

His jaw in advance;

Never afraid

to Tinker with Chance.

No manufacturer has made a relic card of Frank Chance yet.  I think it would be cool if they could make a triple relic of all three guys from that poem.  I’m looking forward to seeing what relics the new 2009 Topps T206 product contains.  Hopefully they’ll have some new relics of old players.

I was dressed to the nines. Okay – maybe the sevens.

Little black skirt, little black top, and a lightweight jacket that didn’t hide my assets entirely. The heels and stockings completed the look, and the scent of Chanel drifting off the pulse points didn’t hurt. Not your usual evening fare for Barnes & Noble.

I’ve spent plenty of date nights at B&N with a book, but last Friday night was different. I had dinner plans (thus the attire), was early, and popped into my local book store to kill time. A middle-aged man in a tweedy jacket was seated in a plush chair nearby. I was restlessly thumbing a book on Italy, and he struck up a conversation.

“What do you?” he asked. “I’m an unemployed writer,” I replied, flippantly. He raised an eyebrow. “Really?” Apparently unperturbed by the U word (which I was hoping would keep him at bay), then: “Do you do any editing?”

Alright! My big break!

Okay, I think – it’s serendipity. I don’t look like the unemployed masses (what do the unemployed masses look like, anyway?) and life is what happens when you’re making other plans. Perhaps this is opportunity, knocking when least expected.

He asks what I charge, and I explain that I’d need to see the material, a chapter for example, and then could provide an estimate. He hesitates. “I’m not a professional writer,” he says, “but it’s a 900 page manuscript on American history. I think it’s in pretty good shape, but it needs edits. Do you have a card?”

We exchange cards.

Then it starts

“Well you look beautiful,” he says, “and I think you should blow off your date whoever he is and I’ll take you to dinner.”

Shit.

“I have plans,” I smile, “but thank you for the compliment.”

“Blow him off,” he says earnestly, and thus begins the stream of boomer babble:

“Have dinner with me. I’ve very lonely because you see my mother just died and I’ve got my dogs but it’s not the same as my mother, and I’m feuding with my brother over the estate and I attribute that to the fact that he wasn’t breastfed as a baby and you know everyone was going to the bottle in the fifties and sixties and that really was a problem, and I’m lucky you see because I was breastfed though it’s a shame he wasn’t because all those good nutrients you get from the breast – well, that really does make a difference, but it’s good I’ve had my book to keep me busy and you know it solves the conspiracy question over JFK, and I could share that with you if you’d blow off this other guy and go out to dinner with me, you know?”

OMG

He takes a breath. I want to scream, or throw books at him. Or run. Can I have my card back?

“I really need to go, but it was nice meeting you,” I say, edging my way around a table as another woman shoots me a knowing “oh-you-poor-thing” glance beneath her fringe of silver bangs.

“I’ll call you,” he says as I’m walking away, pulling my thin jacket tighter around my buxom little self, and heading off to what was – thankfully – a normal dinner.

The phone

The next day – Saturday – I’m home and writing, as usual. Besides, I’m the wheels, chauffeur to a 16-year old with a social life. (Where are my sultry Indian summer Saturday nights out?)

My cell rings a bit after noon. I recognize the number and don’t pick up. It rings every hour, until 9:30 Saturday night when I can’t stand it any longer. I answer. He talks. I interrupt.

“I’m tied up,” I say.

“Oh,” he replies, sounding surprised. “When can I call you?”

It’s Saturday night! Doesn’t he know the unwritten rule about NOT calling on Saturday night? I get it. The man is lonely, and I know what that’s like. He’s lost his mother, and I know what that’s like. But he’s needy and socially inept and who knows what else. I’m not going to be his maternal, breast-feeding stand-in!

“I’m busy with my teenager,” I say. He persists, and I tell him again that I’m not available, and hang up. But I feel guilty.

Guilt, lessons, tips

Single parents are specialists at guilt, in fact single parent guilt has its own twist, but this is different. This is soft-hearted-I’m-an-easy-mark guilt. He’s probably a perfectly nice man. But after a lifetime of taking in strays and nurturing others, I’m not going there.

A manuscript? Who knows. Trying to pick me up? Definitely, but a botched effort, without question.

And just in case you missed the tips – here they are again:

• DON’T lead with the “L” word – Loneliness
• DON’T discuss bodily fluids – yours, your mothers, or anyone’s
• DON’T bring up death in the first five minutes
• DON’T say you’ve solved a conspiracy theory of international dimensions
• DON’T babble. A woman likes to know you can breathe.

As for what you should do? Almost anything else!

Pointers and experiences of your own to share?

Ah, the single life after 40…

That’s the last time I hang at B&N in my sexy stilettos and black stockings… next weekend it will be Borders, in jeans, with my nerd glasses. And I’ll try not to peek up from behind my book.

© D A Wolf

Big Little Wolf’s Daily Plate of Crazy

picked up this nice brooch at H&M. my eyes automatically turned to cute pink crystals on the ear and thought, this is so frickin adorable, the boyfriend would love it! so with no hesitation, i got it now it is officially mine.

but.. as i wore it with my outfit, one of the pink crystals fell off. which i got really pissed about. so i’m wondering if i should return it and maybe opt for a vintage brooch on ebay or etsy. any thoughts?

view my outfit of the day after the jump!

what do you think about my outfit?

yesterday was an exciting day. picked up some apparels because every morning, i’m always thinking, WHY DON’T I HAVE ANY CLOTHES so i’m happy. very very very very happy

show SOME LOVE IN CHICTOPIA: SARAHLEEY

PHILLIES ARE THE NL CHAMPS AGAIN!!!!!!!!

I picked up my first two pair of 1500s today and I must say, they are great. The quality of materials and craftsmanship is far superior to the recent Nike retros of retros. You can’t go wrong with the clean and simple colorways as well.

A big massive “thank you” goes out to the guys over at Hanon. I ordered these on Wednesday and they arrived today. Hanon is in Scotland. Crazy turnaround indeed. All the other shops in the world have a lot to learn from these guys and their customer service. Keep up the good work!

Okay, so pop quiz time!

What’s the number one killer of “street meet and greets” between men and women?

A) Morning Breath
B) Women Suck
C) Technology
D) all of the above

Alright now, I know you might be inclined to think (B), but for arguments sake I’m going with (C)—and not because (D) is entirely impossible, but because I have a point to make.

With all the technological advances we’ve experienced in the last decade we’ve grown increasingly anti-social amidst the boom of interactive tools (ipods, cell phones, pda’s, portable gaming) that were made, ironically, to increase sociability.

The question is: who are you talking to? (In no particular order or priority)

You get the point. There are countless devices we use to pass the time with or to stay connected to all realities other than the one we’re currently in.

Problem is, when you look at us as a species, one of which whom actively procreates, this affects the mating process. I mean there you are, jamming to Jay-Z’s new collabo or Mary J’s new opus, so how in the hell am I supposed to get your attention? Should I wave you down, use the semi fore flags like they do on aircraft carrier runways, or hope you know sign language (speaking of which, I can think of one specific hand signal you’re provoking)?

Don’t give me that tired response, either, that all I have to do is say Hi, because I know how rude or annoyed I get when someone—in particular a stranger—interrupts me on a call, or *gasp* makes me remove one of my ear buds during a Stevie Wonder break. I mean the nerve. If any of you have a suggestion, I’m all ears—at least, I am in between album changes.

But what if I as a man am genuinely interested in you, even if it is, at that point, purely coming from a superficial posture? How do I not get grouped in with the guy begging for change, the church sermon on the A Train lady, or the jerk who tries you every morning? Its a chore even just to find someone “unplugged” to ask for directions, let alone for a casual conversation to see if what’s on the inside is half as appealing as what’s on the outside.

And yes, sometimes it’s worth it. Sometimes, you just wanna stop, smell the roses and LIVE life. We’re constantly trying to escape from whats going on! Its boring on this Post Office line; Id rather be block breaking or bubble busting. -or- I don’t wanna read or think today; glad I’ve downloaded the Best of 2008 MTV mix. -or- I don’t wanna make eye contact with any possible suitors; lemme find out what so and so is doing, even though I just talked to them before I left the house.

Ladies, don’t tell me you don’t do this. I’m not saying these things don’t help us pass the time, but is silence or human interaction that unbearable? Are we that repulsed by the idea of someone who simply wants to engage us? I mean, you went to all that trouble in the mirror this morning, so don’t you want me to like what I see? Whatever your answer to these hypotheticals, at the end of the day we’ll both go on to live our lives and probably be okay. But for every opportunity I miss because of an MP3, a mobile, or multi-tasking device…you are missing out too.

Now, I’m not a mathematician but two wrongs have never made a right, and the more we isolate ourselves, no matter what we use to do it, the more distractions we’re gonna need to help pass the time. Program that into your playlist.

Looking good there Miles!

Jeremy Maclin, WR, Philadelphia

Maclin should be the top pickup this week because the Eagles are clearly the best offense in this column. Maclin scored on two long touchdowns and finished the game with six receptions for 142 yards, but the most surprising thing was that he received eight targets compared to Desean Jackson’s three. Beware because the Eagles love to spread the ball around, but Maclin will be a solid contributor for the rest of the season and has the ability to turn in great performances much like the one on Sunday.

Miles Austin, WR, Dallas

What a game for Miles Austin! When all was said and done, Austin had 10 catches for 250 yards and two touchdowns. He will be an interesting play going forward because Romo has shown a liking for the receiver, but a lot of his yards came on two long touchdown plays as a result of poor tackling. I wouldn’t expect big things going forward, but he could be a solid flex play during a bye-week.

Donnie Avery, WR, St. Louis

Avery was touted as a nice preseason sleeper, but injuries to both him and Marc Bulger forced many people to drop him. I am here to tell you it’s time to pick him up again. He looks to be healthy again and Bulger did come back at the end of the Rams’ game Sunday and went 7-for-7 for 88 yards and a 27 yard touchdown strike to Avery. If Bulger plays next week look for Avery to be a nice sleeper to put up nice numbers against a bad Jaguars pass defense.

Chansi Stuckey, WR, Cleveland

He played for Mangini last year and is playing for him again this year. Mangini must love Stuckey because he was brought in to replace Braylon Edwards. Obviously, he is not going to be anywhere near as good as Edwards, but the Browns will be down in every game they play this year so Stuckey should receive a lot of targets. If Cleveland can figure out their quarterback situation, Stuckey could be a nice mid-season find.

So according to Men’s Health, the sidewalk is never a place to pick up women. For some women this may be true–you know, the kind of women who don’t have sex on a first date. The Girl Next Door types, maybe. To that, I say to the passers-by she’s scorned: you’re better off.

People who don’t know what they want succumb to stupid conventions like defining which places are “appropriate” to be picked up and which are not. People who lack perspective think they can more realistically find potential partners in bars and clubs rather than walking down the street.

I, on the other hand, know exactly what I want. Speaking in general terms, what I want a is hot guy who is capable of showing me he’s interesting within the first 7 seconds of meeting me. If he picks me up in a bar, so be it. If he picks me up on the street, even better–because pausing at a less obvious moment in time to try his luck shows me something about me caught his attention when least expected, and also shows me he has the confidence to know how to handle that situation.

Of course, calling lewd things out to me from across the street isn’t going to get you any, unless you’re so amazing I’m feelin it from 20+ feet away. Calling out of a car also isn’t very attractive. But as in all of life’s situations, being a hot commodity pretty much supercedes any other reasoning. If you’re less than hot, saying something unexpected works, too, like complimenting something specific about me, like my clothes (being specific makes you seem sincere), or saying something outrageous or funny.

The club: Not my favorite place to meet men, nor a place where I’m overly-generous with my phone number.

Picking me up on the street or any other such “inappropriate” place would probably be even easier than at a club. If I’m at the club, I’m out working the dance floor and I probably have my sights set on the hottest guy there–I’m distracted. I’m also very wary of any male attention coming in my direction, because I know it’s fickle and alcohol induced and I must keep my filter on at all times. In other words–prepare to be scrutinized, because you’re not the only sweaty overdressed guy to try and chat me up.

In the end, I’d say there’s no formula or one secret phrase that’ll catch a woman’s attention on the street. But if you don’t have the balls to try, how will you ever know? Then again, if you’re really that nervous about it, just give up now–I don’t take kindly to men with so many insecurities.

My newest toy came in. Just in time too, the XT sold on eBay today! With the T1i kit, I picked up some new glass, Sigma 50mm Macro…the detail this thing can zoom in on is incredible! Expect some HD video from our trips in the future. (These photos were taken with my old XT and Tokina fish)

I am fascinated by the art of
winding pickups. Because of that, I regularly interview professionals
who do just that for a living. This week, I have the pleasure of
interviewing Jeff from Sheptone Pickups.

While many good accessories are available from over seas, I try as much
as I can to bring to this site interviews and content about American
craftsmen who value their art and offer the guitar community true
American quality. I hope you will enjoy this interview as much as I did!

1. Please state any relevant biographical information you wish to share.

I am 42, married with 2 adult daughters. I am an ex nuclear engineer,
turned chemist/water treatment engineer and now pickup builder. I have
been involved in music since I was 8, guitar since I was about 12. I
play bass, guitar, keyboards, and lead vocals in a local cover band.

2. For those of us who may not have come across Sheptone Pickups yet, what does your company do?

Currently, I build humbucker pickups as a tribute to the original 59-61
Gibson Long-magnet PAF, built to the same specs, and in the same way as
the originals only in a consistent way so that you get the best
possible sound.

3. Jeff, what pushed you to open shop? What is the Sheptone Pickups philosophy?

I originally built myself a set of pickups because I was unhappy with
what I could find on the market. A friend of mine heard them, and
thought they sounded better than the real PAF’s that I had in the
guitar before so I built him a set. Thinking there might be a market
for my product I began selling on ebay and collecting sound files and
testimonials. Recently, word has hit the Les Paul Forum and all hell has
broken loose.

My business philosophy is the same as it has always been. Provide a
quality product, advertise it factually, and treat my customers as if
they were the only one. I thought it was important to allow potential
customers to hear my pickups on my website before purchasing. I believe
that has been a big factor to my success so far. So many people buy
pickups by trial and error. While sound may vary slightly from guitar
to guitar, you get a great idea of the character of my pickups from the
sound files on my website.

4. How is your company and its offerings different from the competition?

First as I said before, I have sound files on my site so you have a really good idea what you are getting before you buy.

Second, in this market, I believe there are two levels of competition.
The big boys like Seymour-Duncan, and Dimarzio and then the smaller
builders like Tom Holmes and Jason Lollar. I believe that a hand made
product is much superior to any mass-produced product like the big boys
have so I suppose my real competition is with those smaller,
hand-winders that are competing for business of those people who
recognize quality. I respect my competition so let me just say that I
am currently offering just one pickup style with some available custom
variations, with future plans to offer just two more styles, the
stratocaster and telecaster single coil pickups. I will most likely
concentrate only in this area, and I will never sell any more pickups
than I can personally build. This is and will remain, a one man
operation so that everyone truly gets my individual attention.

5. Please explain the creative process at Sheptone Pickups. How do you decide on a new pickup design?

My creative process is all about tone. Tone is very subjective, so my
major concern was a pickup that replicated the famous PAF sound but was
also versitile enough for any style of music. The pickups had to
produce even sound, with good note definition from un-processed clean
sounds all the way to high-gain metal. My particular problem was with
neck pickups, which seem to be inferior across the market. I wanted a
neck pickup that did not sound muddy.


6. Your site mentions that you
specialize “in humbucker pickups modeled after the 1959-1961
long-magnet Gibson P.A.F.” Why is that?

The 59-61 Gibson is the most sought after holy-grail of all pickups
with single pickups selling from $2000 to $8000 each. It is a common
design that fits in most average guitars so there is a great market for
it… it also happened to be the pickup that I was looking to replace
in my own guitars.

7. Your website mentions that
“The coils are completely wound and fed BY HAND in order to achieve a
true scattered wire orientation.” Why is this important?

While I don’t have the real technical answer to this question, nor have
I been able to find the answer through research but the consensus is
that the scattered pattern reduces the distributed capacitance in the
coil, increases the air space, which results in built in localized
areas of “tone control,” or mini capacitors like your tone knob. This
results in a warmer, woody sounding pickup. There is contradicting
information out there on exactly how Gibson wound the early PAF’s, but
scatter winding seems to be the only way (along with the proper wire
and other materials) to get that sound.

8. You are planning on offering single-coil, Strat and Tele pickups. How is this progressing?

Still working with winding and magnet combinations. I have some sets
out for testing and opinions from strat/tele players of which I am not.
The jury is still out…

9. Do you have a funny, interesting annecdote about guitars that you would like to share?

Wow…not really, but I have some funny drinking stories. I know now
you can’t build a guitar out of a foam core door. Hey, I was young,
desperate and had no money. Sorry about the paint on the carpet Mr.
Landlord. I should have kept that piece of s… used ‘65 ES-335 that my
parents bought me, oh and my ‘68 GTO too. Damn.

10. Please expand on this statement; “anyone can wind the crap out of a pickup, but that won’t make it sound better.”

The consumer market has been led to believe that bigger, more power,
and higher output is always better, consequently the big boys as I call
them have marketed 11K, 12K, 16K, and even 18K pickups. This is ok for
a certain type of music, and then only if you own a wall of stack amps
it is great, but for those of us regular “weekend warriors” more is not
necessarily better. I am in a cover band for instance and we need
guitar sounds from Beatles to Greenday. You just can’t accomplish that
with a high-output, over-wound pickup…we have tried though because
that was what we were told we needed.

11. You state that “A good set of pickups can make an average guitar incredible.” Do you think that the pickup is the single most important feature of a guitar as far as tone is concerned? What about wood choice, neck joint type, etc…?

That is an excellent question, and yes I believe that the pickup is the
most important link in the chain. When you get a new guitar, why is the
first thing you change the pickups? A pickup is designed to pick up
string vibration, period. I believe that guitar construction mostly
affects the way a guitar PLAYS/FEELS, rather then it’s sound. While
guitar construction certainly affects the way the string
vibrates (sustain etc), the pickup is what makes an electric guitar…
well, electric. Please visit my website at www.sheptone.com for a video
demonstration that proves this…here’s a hint, it involves a piece of
2×4 lumber with a pickup mounted on it…that’s all I’ll say.

12. If you were to give hints and tips to a first-time guitar modder, what would it be?

I would say do your research, talk to other guitar owners, and most
importantly do only one mod at a time so that you know and learn how
each mod affects tone, feel, etc.

13. How much of your business is related to pickup repairs? What are the challenges inherent to this activity?

Very little at this point, it is mainly a value-added service that goes
along with my line of work. The main challenge is disturbing the pickup
as little as possible, properly restoring it using original materials
as much as possible, and where not possible, using materials that
closely meet original specs. Patience is a virtue in this work.


14. It’s clear from your
website that you spent a lot of time researching pickups in general,
and PAFs in particular. Could you please expand on that?

I have been a Gibson guy from the early days, and just the history of
Seth Lover’s humbucker is very interesting to me. His invention
certainly changed the face of guitars and continues to this day. You
won’t find a pickup builder that doesn’t try and duplicate what Seth
accomplished in the 50’s. My main focus is quality and authentic sound.
The research was just a starting point, the actual majority of the time
was consumed by testing and refining the final product.

15. If one of our readers is interested in getting into pickup creation, what tools do you think they should own as a basic set?

It is surprising how many tools I have on my shop table now. I would
say at a minimum, some kind of winder/counter, the obvious electrical
tools like soldering iron and ohm-meter. The most important thing I
have found is something I had to create and that is the tensioning
device to maintain a constant but adjustable wire tension suitable for
hand winding. Oh, and don’t forget your ears…for all that testing and
adjustment.
 

16. If there is such a thing as a golden rule, or a set of golden rules, of building guitars, what do you think it is/they are?

Playing a guitar is about feel, so the guitar has to feel right.
Listening to a guitar is about sound so it has to sound right. I think
it is about balance, like many things in life. (Can I stay for another
half-hour here on the sofa, doctor?)

17. What do you perceive are the challenges of running an independent third-party aftermarket shop?

Huge market = huge competition. I asked a friend of mine what he
thought about that, and he said put a good product out there and people
will find out about it. He was right.

18. Anything currently in development at Sheptone Pickups that we should know about? Any new cool goodies for us to lust after?

Strat and Tele pickups are on the way, keep an eye on the website. P-90’s are a possibility down the road.

19. If you had to make a list of the top-10 best guitar tones out there, what artists/bands would make the list?

Wow, I am going to show my age here. As I said before, tone is very
subjective but here is a list of bands/ musicians that have made me say
WOW at some point in their careers…not necessarily in order Jeff
Beck, Duane Allman, Gary Moore, Eddie  VanHalen (duh), Brian May,
Boston, The Eagles/Joe Walsh, Ryan Newell of Sister Hazel, Carlos
Santana, and although he’s not my favorite guy to watch…John
Mayer.

20. Anything else you would like to add?

Music is important, pass it on to a kid.

Thanks to mojocaster.com for the opportunity to participate in this interview!

Bye Weeks: Chicago, Green Bay, New Orleans, San Diego

Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Pittsburgh

Mendenhall went from a fantasy zero to a fantasy hero. After being benched for not knowing the plays, Mendenhall got the start and gained 191 total yards with two touchdowns. With Willie Parker’s injury status unknown for the next couple weeks, Mendenhall makes for a good play as he should get the bulk of the work for the Steelers. Their next two opponents are Detroit and Cleveland.

Mohamed Massaquoi, WR, Cleveland

Massa-who? Derrick Anderson targeted the rookie 13 times on Sunday and they connected eight times for 148 yards. Probably not going to happen again, but then again maybe him and Anderson are good buddies and he will continue to receive looks from the new QB. It’s worth a shot to pick him up and find out for yourself because six weeks from now you don’t want to be that guy saying, “Hmmm, maybe I shouldn’t have passed up on picking up that guy.”

Jerome Harrison, RB, Cleveland

It’s no secret, Jamal Lewis is on his last legs and with James Davis now on the IR look for Jerome Harrison to get a lot more work this season. He looked good against an average Bengals run defense with 95 yards on 25 attempts. Unfortunately for him the Browns will probably be down big most weeks so the rushing stats will be limited, but anyone that has as much a chance to become a starter as he does is worth a roster spot.

Pierre Garcon, WR, Indianapolis

Pierre Garcon has developed into a very nice deep target for Peyton Manning. He has 10 receptions for 207 yards and two touchdowns so far this season and scouts have labeled him as “Reggie Wayne lite.” Even when Anthony Gonzalez comes back I think it will take him a while to get back into game speed, so look for Pierre Garcon to continue to be a viable third WR option, especially with the way Peyton Manning is throwing (four straight 300 yard games).

Sidney Rice, WR, Minnesota

Rice has scored a touchdown in two straight games and Favre looked his way six times on Monday night. If Favre continues to play like he did against the Packers, these Minnesota receivers are going to have a lot more value in the future. The Vikings face the awful Rams defense next week so if anything he will make a good play next week.

Last week I saw a Phillies pin up for sale that I knew I had to have.  It contains actual infield dirt from Citizens Bank Park.  These were given out to certain group clients and couldn’t be purchased at a gift shop.  I never thought I’d own a pin with a relic in it.

Soon I’ll begin posting a series of “album reviews” through the Chinese Five Element lenses.  I’ll be “reviewing” my favorite albums by giving them ratings in terms of each element.  Lately I’ve been listening mostly to various forms of death metal so there will be a few of those for sure, but I’ll round them out with plenty of other things, like:

Silversun Pickups
David Bazan
Deathspell Omega
Arkhon Infaustus
Origin
The Faint
Feist
Mike Doughty
Gogol Bordello
Don Caballero

I don’t suspect many people out there are even vaguely interested in how much Wood vs. Water is in some technical-brutal-grindcore-symphonic metal band – but I am!

I just wanted to show off to my fellow Braves, Marlins, Mets, and Nationals fans my new purchase I made this morning

I’m really glad Charlie Manuel called in Brad Lidge last night to get the final out.  I really wanted the Phillies to win their Division after being in first place for most of the season.  Lets go to the World Series!!!!!!

Overall Score:

3 hot dogs out of 5

Today I went to the Valley Forge Convention Center to attend the Philadelphia Sports Card & Memorabilia Show which is operated by Hunt Auctions.  Hunt Auctions must have read my report on the last show because things seemed to run a bit smoother this time.  Entering the show, I could tell there were a lot more places to sit to go through your purchases and grab a bite to eat.  This time the show wasn’t on the basement floor and the bathrooms were a lot nicer and didn’t look like a crime scene from CSI.  Making my way around the show I stopped at some of my favorite dealers such as Shaffer’s Trading Cards, Marty’s Sports Card Exchange, and MLS Cards.  They all said they did about average during The National but nothing spectacular.  The show seemed to be running a little slow and wasn’t that full (at least when I was there).  About 90% of the dealers still go by “Book Value” which I think we all know means nothing in today’s hobby.  Book Value is really destroying The Hobby and is one of the main reasons why dealers have such a hard time making sales.  The dealers I talked to were also angry that Hunt Auctions didn’t advertise the show very well.  For some crazy reason I get the feeling these show promoters get their money from the dealers and then pocket it for themselves and do little if any marketing.  I heard a lot of dealers say “Its not like the early 90’s anymore”.

After browsing the show for awhile, I decided to make my purchases.  I managed to pickup two really cool singles for my collection while busting a pack of ‘09 Sterling Football and two boxes of ‘09 Absolute Football.  Check out what I got.

Hunt Auctions was a little more organized this time when it came to the autograph guests.  I could clearly see where you were suppose to go when your signer arrived.  I was able to meet Johnny Bench and Dave “The Hammer” Schultz, and obtained photos of everyone that was signing.  Click on each photo for a closer look.

Johnny Bench was very nice.  I’m glad I was able to get him on my bat.

Bench’s signature is right under “Sports Card Info”

Dave “The Hammer” Schultz really likes talking to collectors.  He was the Left Wing for the Flyers and holds the NHL record for penalty minutes in a single season.

This is the first time I ever got a hockey puck signed.  Dave “The Hammer” Schultz was the free autograph guest today.

Carlton Fisk

Muhammad Ali’s trainer Angelo Dundee

Joe Frazier came in wearing a cowboy hat and gold around his neck.

The next Philly Show takes place on December 4-6.  So far the autograph guests include:

• Pete Rose
• Steve Carlton
• Mike Schmidt
• Cole Hamels

I have always enjoyed this show and will continue to go as long as they have it.  I seem to find a lot of great stuff for my personal collection and the wax is usually priced reasonably.  If anyone lives close to Valley Forge, I encourage you to attend.

 
EVENTO DE MODA EM SÃO PAULO
Avon na festa de lançamento da coleção verão 2010 da Neon
A Avon e os estilistas Dudu Bertholini e Rita Comparato realizaram
uma festa animada para o lançamento da coleção verão 2010 da Neon,
com o apoio do perfume Bond Girl. O evento aconteceu no dia 21
de setembro, no Sonique Bar, com produção assinada por Cacá Ribeiro.
O DJ Johnny Luxo, a estilista Juliana Jabour, as modelos Marina Dias
e Renata Fasanella, entre fashionistas e jornalistas, agitaram o evento.
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. LEIA MAIS
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CULTURA MÚSICA
No ar o segundo programa do DJ Side TV

\Gangstarr\The Ownerz\Deadly Habits.mp3

what

am

i

doing

to

myself.

In pick ups, I purchased the following from the good folks at Supreme New York this morning (oddly with no immediate shipping confirmation for some reason):

block logo beanie

basic beanie

ronnie spector tee

probably their best shirt in the last year or so

I really wanted the oxford, but $110 was just a beating. I’d rather just go to Polo and get one for like $40. Anyway, I hope none of you slept like Mr. Reginald Manuel who called me at 11am telling me the tragedy of the box logo beanie selling out.  Till next time chaps, peace.