Castle Shima

The guitar is a small orchestra. It is polyphonic. Every string is a different color, a different voice.
-- Andre Segovia

Fracking Youtube. I didnt realize the fantastic unplugged version of Wonderwall was pulled from the library.

The song has always been one of my favorites so I play it constantly on Rock Band. Noel's version was absolutely brilliant and I had posted awhile back. Fortunately, he did another version for Much Music.

So sing along with me...

You're not drunk if you can lie on the floor without holding on.
-- Joe E. Lewis

I normally dont drink because I tend to be an obnoxious drunk. Ok, more obnoxious than normal. But when hanging out with everyone, its abit tough not to want to have at least one or two. Or even three...

During tonight's festivities, we were watching Elizabeth Lambert of New Mexico bringing the smackdown onto BYU.



Of course, the lads were cheering throughout the highlights. No, its not sportmanship, but there is just something about watching a couple of women fighting it out.

Dinner, drinks, and entertainment. What a great night!

A smile happens in a flash, but its memory can last a lifetime.
-- Unknown

Looks like a win to me.



An epic win. Heh.

Muad'Dib knew that every experience carries its lesson.
-- Frank Herbert

The first time I'd listen to DMX was during the introductory credits of Jet Li's Romeo Must Die. So when I found this song on my backup server, I had to add it to the new mp3 player.

I'm Gonna Crawl by DMX


Too bad DMX hasnt learned his lesson yet. Hopefully his up-coming foray into the mixed martial arts will help him along.

Going out and playing music. That's what I do. I don't do much else.
-- Dave Grohl

The Foo Fighters released their greatest hits cd and dvd today. So I had been singing their tunes on and off all day, much to the chagrin of anyone that happened to be sitting by me. Heh.

Breakout by Foo Fighters


You keep playing them, Dave. We'll keep jamming along.

What do you mean there's no ice? You mean I gotta drink this coffee hot?
-- from Clerks

Remember, there are no stupid questions, only stupid people. Considering how things went at the office today, it seems ironic that I was listening to Ron White's You Can't Fix Stupid.

Wait! This is crazy! I'm not a natural dancer! No one in my family is!
-- Ryan from Boys And Girls

Here is a song that will have you get up and dance, even if you think you cant.

Born To Run by K-Os

Violet: Gee, I got a candy bar!
Kid: Boy, I got 3 cookies!
Lucy: Hey, I got a package of gum!
Charlie Brown: I got a rock.
-- from It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

Its a festive mood all around. With the combination of Halloween and the big game, its hard not to enjoy the day. So I was torn about what to put up here if anything at all.

Thank goodness for Robot Chicken.

Shall we play a game?
-- Joshua from War Games

I played in my first volleyball tournament today. Matter of fact, this is the first year I've ever competed in the game. Volleyball definately isnt my primary sport, but it still takes it out of you. Between the digs, blocking, and kills, thats alot of frigging work. Then again, its not a game until you've got sand up your nose, in your eyes, and down your shorts.



The courts where we played looked like a little tent city. Everyone was camped out, eating, drinking, playing, and having fun. After several hours of playing several games, the teams met up at a local tavern where everyone was camped out, eating, drinking, playing, and having fun.



That's probably the best facet of the entire game (or come to think of it, any organized sport). The camaraderie that draw people together and the fun to be had. If it wasnt for the fact that some of my friends were on the same team, I wouldnt have been playing at all. It was definately worth it. We had so much fun this year and the tournament capped off the entire season.



So the 2009 campaign for Team Rock-N-Sprawl ends on both a high and loud note.



Thanks for the memories, mates! I'm already anxious for next season.

Boards dont hit back.
-- Lee from Enter The Dragon

When I was younger, an anime movie came out on VHS that really turned me into a fan. Fist Of The North Star was unique, imaginative, and nothing like I had ever seen. I even considered the dubbing pretty decent despite the slight off-timing and plot holes it created.

For American audiences, the best we had were things like Transformers, Battle Between The Planets, and Voltron. They werent as good. Even, the 1995 live action film wasnt as good as the anime.

So finding the movie on YouTube is a guilty pleasure.



Too bad anime hasnt gotten that much better for the US since then.

Enough of this Sunday stroll.
-- Muzzin from American Flyers

Once again, the MS Ride was upon us. Team Blue joined the fray with another 2,000 cyclists for this great charity event. So once again, the action report must be scribed.

1. What happened to the rain?! Many riders were sunburned just from the first day. Even I look brown now.

2. Congrats to all the new riders that made it with us this year. Now you truly understand the things that only a cyclist can understand: the preparation, the frustations, the exhaustion, and the pain. And that is just to get up in the morning.

3. What recession? If there were less people this year, I couldnt tell. Hundreds of people trying got leave thru an exit the size of a garage still means its freaking crowded.

4. Thanks must go out to the tent team. They were the first group that Team Blue saw when we came in at the end and they made us feel right at home. Well that and they had to use a spatula to get my lazy arse up.

5. Thanks must also go out the rest stop crew. Not only did you help out Team Blue, but you helped out every rider in the event. If it was feasible, I would have gotten them to put those molasses cookies into an IV for me.



6. There were other teams that obviously didnt know what "On Your Left" means. We might have forgiven the father from the Boy Scouts' who was pinned between the Scouts on his right and the two pace lines passing on his left except for the fact he was too busy stretching and acting like the Running Man.

7. Granted, cars can still be a problem, especially those mini-vans that decide to turn into a drive-way right in front of a 20 man paceline.

8. The live band decided to play "Crash Into Me" by The Dave Matthews Band. It seems abit ironic considering some the accidents a riders had.

9. Sign of a hard-core cyclist: After a crash, the first thing a rider asks "Is my bike ok?"

10. The battle still rages on. MS is still out there and the fight continues. Enjoy the time off because we will be riding again soon.

Don't get set into one form. Adapt it and build your own and let it grow. Be like water. Empty your mind. Be formless, shapeless - like water. Now you put water in a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot it, becomes the teapot. Water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.
-- Bruce Lee

Into the fray we enter once more, dear friends.
Gather your gear.
Pick up your helmet.
The battlefield calls our name.
We scream and cry and gnash our teeth
Even if the enemy is within ourselves.
Prepare to fight.
On wings of carbon and steel,
Prepare to fly.

Don't Drink The Water by The Dave Matthews Band

It won't hurt at first. It's too hot, you see? The flame sears the nerve endings shut, killing them. You'll go into shock. And all you'll feel is... cold.
-- Castle from The Punisher

Its time to get ready for the big ride for the year. As part of the preparation for this event, I've been uploading more music to the mp3 player. The funny part is that I've been finding music that I had forgotten about because its been on the old player and I've been taking it for granted.

One of those forgotten songs happens to be this tune from Cake. The animation has always been been pretty good for a low budget video.

Sheep Go To Heaven by Cake


Now if I can only figure out whether or not I'll need a frigging parka for the ride, I'll be set.

Yeah, right.

A lifetime of training for just ten seconds.
-- Jesse Owens

Ever have those moments where you need some music for motivation? Whenever I ride, I have to play music. Otherwise I go absolutely mad with aggrevation. Its my bit of motivation.

Yesterday's battle with the wind lasted for 45 miles. Everything just hurt. Legs cramping. Lungs burning. The body screaming in pain, begging me to stop this craziness.

Then this song came on the player and it all just seemed to fit.

Gotta Get Thru This by Daniel Bedingfield


Then I realized I still had 44 miles to go. If I had the ability to breathe, I would have cursed at every car that passed by.

The thing is, Bob, it's not that I'm lazy. Its that I just don't care.
-- Peter from Office Space

Sometime laughter really is the best medicine, especially with everything we go thru at our jobs. I made the mistake of listening to Robert Schimmel at the work again.

Well, it really wasnt a mistake. NFSW so put the kids to bed.

You can only be young once, but you can always be immature.
-- Dave Berry

Have you noticed that there have been alot of athletes in the news lately? Oregon University's running back LeGarrette Blount ruined his college career for punching another player. Serena Williams' tirade cost her the US Open and some credibility. Roger Federer's own outburst was so uncharcteristic. Several of the Ohio State alumni voiced their anger at Terrelle Pryor as the young quarterback showed his support for the returning Michael Vick.

If you think about it, this is not uncommon. Considering all the hockey dads, basketball moms, and football parents, is it no wonder this sort of thing becomes more and more prevelant?

Somewhere along the way, many of us have forgotten that sports is not only entertainment, but helps define the athletes, especially the young ones. After all, they are in it for the fun, the pure enjoyment. For the love of the game.

Time to let 'em play.

Celebrate Youth by H-Blockx


Hm, I may have to start playing golf.

You're not so tough without your car, are you?
-- Phoebe from Kindergarten Cop

Venting is supposed to help release alot of that pent up anger so lets see if this works.

ANGRY RANT MODE ON
I really had no idea who James Martin is. As an American, I've never seen his tv shows or read any of his articles. Regardless, I still want to punch the wanker right in the face.

Martin writes luxary car reviews for a UK paper. Last Saturday, he published an online article where he not only does he discuss Tesla's electric car, Martin mentions how he hates cyclists. As part of this article, Martin describes in detail how he used the car's quiet drive to sneak up on a group of unsuspecting riders, honked the horn, and forced the cylists to crash into a hedge while he speed away.

Ha ha. Very funny motherfucker. That shite would have been real funny if someone got seriously hurt or killed, hm?

I know alot of this sounds self-rightous, but most road cyclists have known someone who had either gotten hurt or killed by something like this. A friend of mine was struck by a car and hospitalized for several weeks. Another one was dragged under a car for several feet due to a drunk driver.

Several years ago, a teenage cyclist was killed during a charity event when a speeding driver lost control of their car. She wasnt even riding at the time. She was just standing on a curb while waiting on her father to catch up.

Two months ago a triathelete was killed as he was struck and crashed into the car's windshield. While the rider was bleeding out, the drunk at the wheel continued to drive until a near-by officer forced him to stop.

People can have their opinions, but when someone blatently goes out of their way in order to harm someone else, then retribution is bound to follow.

In Martin's case, he has raised the ire of the international cycling community. Professional cyclists like Bradley Wiggins and Robbie McEwen have pretty called him out to say it their faces. I wouldnt doubt McEwen to knock the living hell out Martin.

The online paper that published the article ended up having to disable the comments section due to the sheer volume. Then they had to remove the paragraphs where Martin gleefully describes the damage he caused. The car company, Tesla, refuses to even use the article as any sort of promotion and are distancing themselves as far as possible.

Martin has offered some half-assed apology for his comments, but he still has to pay for his actions. Police are asking for the group that were forced off the road to come forward. I dont know if anything could really be done. It depends on what happened to the riders.

We'll see what happens. Maybe they'll make the prat have to ride a bicycle during on-coming traffic.
ANGRY RANT MODE OFF

Lets see. Did writing that out help any?

Hm. No, I still want to stomp a mudhole on Martin.

What I really need to do is blow off some steam.

Life gives us brief moments with another, but sometimes in those brief moments we get memories that last a life time.
-- Unknown

Do you remember where you were eight years ago? Some do. Some dont.

Its a fact of life that memories fade as time goes by. Today should not be one of those days that we trivialize. After all, tomorrow doesnt come for all of us. You never know what the day will bring you, even just a simple day at the office.



These are the times of our lives. Never forget that.

Yeah, those acts of God really stick it in and break it off, don't they?
-- Seth from From Dusk Til Dawn

When I first saw the trailer below, the first thing that flew thru my mind were the Prophecy movie series. But after thinking about it, the Hellblazer and Preacher books seemed more appropriate. Garth Ennis always had a way of combining religion and gore in some sort of thoughtful way.

Holy Councilman: This is about mankind's salvation.
Starr: This is about my genitals. Go on to extinction, holy men.

Ok, maybe he just fits my way of thinking. So is this.



Here's to hoping the movie will be as good as the trailer.

UPDATE: I had to change the video since Sony claimed rights to the R-rated version of the trailer. Grr!

Frogs have it easy. They can eat what bugs them.
-- Unknown

Did you ever hear the story about the man that started drinking a Diet Pepsi and there was something in it? After gagging, the man saw the contents looked like pink linguini and some other dark stuff. He and his wife freaked out thinking there was a mouse inside.

Now Consumerist shows that there is an upside to this story: Good News! That Dead Mouse In Your Diet Pepsi Was Actually A Toad.

So of course I grossed out a few people from work about this. Me, I was laughing for abit about it. Yes its gross and disgusting, but it damn well reminded me of this original Monty Python skit.



Andrew Zimmern would be proud.