Ben Folds - Live!

Julie won a contest online this week and scored two V.I.P. passes to a Ben Folds gig tonight. His new album came out and he was promoting it at Tower Records. There were about one hundred anxious fans in line when I got there. We grabed our special people badges and walked right up to the stage. One idiot fan tried to park his kid in his stoller right next to the speakers until a sensible fan told him to get a clue and move before the kid's ears started bleeding.

Ben comes out and introduces his setlist; 'This is some new shit.' The next handful of songs was off the new album, Songs for Silverman. To finish he played a few classics and rocked the crowd. Listening to him and watching his mannerisms reminded me of Elton John, only straight.

Afterwards the V.I.P's got to cut in line to get autographs and meet him. A really nice guy and seemed sincere with gratitude. Be sure to check out his new stuff.

Rush is Right....?

Rush Limbaugh, commenting on Al Gore's new TV network for young viewers:

You know what Gore said about this? It's going to be liberal. It's going to reflect the point of view of young people.

What the hell is that, Al? What the hell is the point of view of young people? Blow jobs, that's what they're doing out there. They're out there getting oral sex all day long, that's what they're talking about.

Al made sure that's become the number one sport in high school today. So, I guess you're going to have a BJ network out there, Al, is that what you're going to do? You're going to call your network the oral sex channel out there, start competing with MTV?

Everyone's a Twixter

For those of us who seek direciton and help in life after college, here is an encouraging yet discouraging article about everyone in this generation struggling with the same situation. I felt like the author was writing about me.

Life after college just isn't the same as when our parents were twentysomethings. Jobs aren't waiting for us. Some of us move back home. Many of us change jobs multiple times and bounce from city to city.

This is one of my favorite articles this year and everyone out of college, not married, needs to read and identify with this article.

If you really like the article, I've been told that Ready or Not, Here Life Comes by Mel Levine hits on the same topic.

Madeline Peyroux

I ran into this cd in Barnes and Noble over the weekend. What a sweet sound. Somtimes its hard to tell if I'm listening to Madeline Peyroux or if a Billie Holiday song slipped into my playlist.

Madeline's voice is the smoothest of any jazz singer for decades. Much like Norah Jones but more jazz, less blues. With some covers of Bob Dylan and old jazz standards, Careless Love is already an award winner in my book. A must own for anyone who enjoys jazz singers or just some sweet music.

good times, McSorley's

God's Politics

This is a wonderful idea for a book which really applies to today's political dilemma. While the number of 'Evangelicals' grows in the U.S., the Democratic party is losing hold on its identification with moral values. Wallis argues that being a Christian doesn't mean your default political party is Republican. Many biblical ideals are represented by Democrats rather than Republicans, i.e. poverty, war, capital punishment.

Unfortunately, Wallis is slow to the point and never offers a solution to the problem he has discovered. I felt that instead of asking for a balanced representation, he is instead begging Christians to be Democrats, like himself.

If you're into the topic, you might pick this up and check out a few choice chapters but don't expect to breeze through this mucky read. You should be able to find it used already because I'm not the only reader that finished prematurely.

Steve Fossett, International Hero?

CNN) -- Flying from horizon to horizon, Steve Fossett completed the first nonstop, flight round-the-world without refueling on Thursday afternoon, landing gracefully in Kansas at 2:49 pm ET.

A cheering crowd gathered to usher the GlobalFlyer and its 60-year-old pilot into the record books, something that has become almost routine for Fossett in recent years. The aviator now holds three record-breaking circumnavigations of the globe, the two others by balloon and sailboat.

***

Steve Fossett today achieved something no man in history has ever done, a non-stop solo flight around the world! Why doesn't anyone care? Where will Fossett's name be in the record books?

In 1521, Magellan was the first human to circumnavigate the globe. Since then, second graders have known who Magellan is. In 1927, Charles Lindberg flew the first flight across the Atlantic. Today, across continents, Lindberg is an aviation hero.

Ameilia Earhart, Chuck Yeager, the list goes on. But where will Steve Fossett be in the record books? Not next to Magellan. Try the line under Evel Kinevel.

Womble Week

So, Saturday night I was out the door expecting a mellow Friday night agenda, when my best friend growing up, Jordan Womble, calls me and says he's in town for the night with his family. I've only been around him for a total of 5 days in the last 8 years I bet, so I was excited to see them. Jordan is currently in the Navy and his brother Jacob is at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD.

I met them in mid-town at a great Italian restaurant, Arno. I was greated with open arms and they had already poured me a glass of wine. I had the best veal parmigiana of my life. After dinner we walked out and got in our limo. Mark had tickets to the Blue Man Group which was spectacular. The show was very creative and entertaining. They change the acts periodically so I recommend it to anyone in town. After the show, Jordan, Jacob and I decided to continue the evening so I showed them my favorite part of the city, McSorley's Old Ale house. When we got there, Tommy the bartender recognized me and gave me some great seats in the back. He brought the first round over and gave me a fist bump. The guys loved the place and I was able to explain some of the history and old patrons such as Abe Lincoln, Boss Tweed, Arlo Guthrie and the beloved Teddy Roosevelt. They had last call but Tommy gave us the 'VIP treatment' and brought us more beer.

I ended up staying at the hotel with them in Times Square. When we woke up, Mark ordered room service for us. We had a great time talking about old memories and crazy things we did as kids. I don't think we have changed at all and in many ways we were the same rowdy kids running through the streets of New York with beer in our veins. Friendships make this life worth living and I don't want to ever lose a good friend to time or distance.

Pop-Christianity, Blah!

This is a great article on a guy from GQ that goes to a Christian music festival and experiences first-hand, the disgusting culture of pop Christianity, Petra and all. Its long but a really good story. Print it out and read it sometime.

a new look

My round of applause goes out to julesdwit today. Even in her hectic schedule she is able to sacrifice time to pimp my site. Bravo! Will somebody please employ this talent!?!