Thank a veteran

Simple, short, and sweet...

My heartfelt thanks to all veterans past and present for your selfless sacrifice, courage, and bravery in helping keep this country safe and secure.

Happy Memorial Day!

In my dreams

Below is one of those emails that propagate throughout the internet. I thought it worth posting.

Where can we get a presidential candidate like this?

WOULDN'T IT BE GREAT TO TURN ON THE TV AND HEAR ANY U.S. PRESIDENT, DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN GIVE THE FOLLOWING SPEECH?

My Fellow Americans: As you all know, the defeat of the Iraq regime has been completed.

Since congress does not want to spend any more money on this war, our mission in Iraq is complete.

This morning I gave the order for a complete removal of all American forces from Iraq. This action will be complete within 30 days. It is now time to begin the reckoning.

Before me, I have two lists. One list contains the names of countries which have stood by our side during the Iraq conflict. This list is short. The United Kingdom, Spain, Bulgaria, Australia, and Poland are some of the countries listed there.

The other list contains everyone not on the first list. Most of the world's nations are on that list. My press secretary will be distributing copies of both lists later this evening.

Let me start by saying that effective immediately, foreign aid to those nations on List 2 ceases immediately and indefinitely. The money saved during the first year alone will pretty much pay for the costs of the Iraqi war.

The American people are no longer going to pour money into third world Hellholes and watch those government leaders grow fat on corruption.

Need help with a famine? Wrestling with an epidemic? Call France.

In the future, together with Congress, I will work to redirect this money toward solving the vexing social problems we still have at home. On that note, a word to terrorist organizations: Screw with us and we will hunt you down and eliminate you and all your friends from the face of the earth.

Thirsting for a gutsy country to terrorize? Try France, or maybe China.

I am ordering the immediate severing of diplomatic relations with France, Germany, and Russia. Thanks for all your help, comrades. We are retiring from NATO as well. Bon chance, mes amis.

I have instructed the Mayor of New York City to begin towing the many UN diplomatic vehicles located in Manhattan with more than two unpaid parking tickets to sites where those vehicles will be stripped, shredded and crushed. I don't care about whatever treaty pertains to this. You creeps have tens of thousands of unpaid tickets. Pay those tickets tomorrow or watch your precious Benzes, Beamers and limos be turned over to some of the finest chop shops in the world. I love New York.

A special note to our neighbors. Canada is on List 2. Since we are likely to be seeing a lot more of each other, you folks might want to try not pissing us off for a change.

Mexico is also on List 2. President Fox and his entire corrupt government really need an attitude adjustment. I will have a couple extra tank and infantry divisions sitting around. Guess where I am going to put 'em? Yep, border security.

Oh, by the way, the United States is abrogating the NAFTA treaty - starting now. We are tired of the one-way highway.

Immediately, we'll be drilling for oil in Alaska - which will take care of this country's oil needs for decades to come. If you're an environmentalist who opposes this decision, I refer you to List 2 above: pick a country and move there. They care.

It is time for America to focus on its own welfare and its own citizens. Some will accuse us of isolationism. I answer them by saying, "darn tootin."

Nearly a century of trying to help folks live a decent life around the world has only earned us the undying enmity of just about everyone on the planet. It is time to eliminate hunger in America. It is time to eliminate homelessness in America.

To the nations on List 1, a final thought. Thank you guys. We owe you and we won't forget.

To the nations on List 2, a final thought: You might want to learn to speak Arabic.

God bless America. Thank you and good night.

If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you are reading it in English, thank a soldier.

Bay Area Rock Fest 2007 Wrap-up

What a fabulous weekend! It was exhilarating and exhausting at the same time. Here's my skinny (I wish):

Friday Night (Prog Rock night)
We opened up the festival with our epic, Now That You're Gone and Voices. As opening act, we only had 30 minutes to play (bummer) - maybe more next year. Great gig energy, some ninja gaffage, but all in all, we were very pleased with our performance. The crowd was very supportive during and after the show. Lots of good comments. Hats off to the rest of the boyz who did great, especially Patrick, who had to use a drum kit 1/4 the size of his own.

The rest of the night I helped out some of the other bands with their setup and tear down. The guys from Mob Rules (Germany) and Balance of Power (England) - besides being incredible musicians - were probably the most friendly and humble people I've ever met. I can't wait to play with them again on the other side of the pond. I also got the opportunity to meet two of my favorite singers - Corey Brown (Balance of Power/Magnitude 9) and DC Cooper (Royal Hunt/Silent Force). What nice, down-to-earth great people to meet. The boys from Enchant (as usual) were fun to be around and they kicked it out like a sum-bitch. Spock's Beard's enormous talent was a sight to behold.

Saturday Night (Prog Metal night)
I volunteered to be guitar tech for the night, which means I tune guitars, setup amps, change strings, change stage guitars and so forth. It was a great opportunity to meet the other bands on a more personal basis. Stressful and exhausting at times, but fun nonetheless.

Odin's Court did OK. They're pretty young and very green, but their enthusiasm and passion are to be admired. Eyefear (Australia) was flippin' incredible! I hung out with them most of the day and had such a great time! Can you say - HAIR! Zero Hour - what can you say? Always tight onstage and always the laid back catz backstage! Crimson Glory did great, even tough I didn't know any of their material. Jon Oliva's Pain, the Mountain King himself! Good Lord, the man's been around but he's still kickin' some serious ass! Funny as all get out on stage, having a ball - which is what it should be. I had a lot of (good) stress with these guys. I had to tech both the bass player and the guitar player, who were on opposite sides of the stage and the only way to get back and forth was to go out around the crowd. In the event of an "emergency" (broken string, dropped pick, guitar swap, etc.) there was no way I could get from one side to the other in an expedient manner. We did have a broken string, but it was handled. For my efforts as a guitar tech, I got a lot of very good compliments and a lot of appreciative thanks, which made it all worth while. I sure didn't want to let any of them down. I know the panic and how great it feels when things just progress as planned and issues are mitigated in a less stressful and professional manner. I still think I'll keep my day job though...

There was one thing that I am still confoundedly amazed at - how these singers can keep hitting those high notes, the screams, AND the subtle soft nuanced passionate passages all night long, and not thrash their throats. I'm not always fond of the style, but you gotta appreciate the control.

I hate to be repeating myself here, but this is my first real exposure into the world of playing with "big name" acts. My expectations were that most of these guys would be total jerks, divas, or worse. Not so (far). Sure there is a little of it here and there and sometimes more than less, but overall I'd say that 95% of them are friendly, helpful, appreciative, professional, and just plain fun to be around. I'd guess is that it's probably because most all of us have normal day jobs and this is something we do in addition to our daily lives - because we LOVE it. It's ALL good, bro.

Hopefully more shows on the horizon. possibly with Enchant (locally soon). Who knows if we'll be able to answer Europe's beckoning call?

And you thought I was joking...

Re-read my last blog on April 23rd. Now read these two stories linked below:

Children "bad for planet"

Mankind is a "virus"

I told you that these greenies are a few drips short of a non-fat soy, decaf, sugar free latte - and friggin' dangerous to boot. Maybe they should rid THEMSELVES and their families from the planet if they care about it so much.