I bet it is one of a kind!
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I think this is where David Cassidy and Susan Daye dump their trash.
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I wanna ride this!

Glen sent me the picture below of a great amusement park attraction that we would never see in operation today. That is, unless it is set up in some backyard in Arkansas or something. Tell me this does not look like fun! Judging by the expression on the kid's face it is up there with the likes of Space Mountain and good bumper cars. If anyone finds one of these in operation let me know so I can buy a strip of ride tickets!

That's one way to get the bathtub filled with water!!
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Gotta love those free photo booths at local artshows!
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I guess the butt stops here.
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Schools out!

Yes, it's official. Summer recess has started. Don, one of my fellow classmates and I drank a beer on the humid downtown sidewalk as celebration of finishing our summer class at University of Baltimore last night. It was an intense, fast-paced 8 weeks of learning HTML & XHTML but it was great. There were some wonderful people in the class and I learned a lot. Plus, I gained a few new lines for my resume. Now I need to enjoy the rest of the summer before classes reboot on August 29.

I guess boys are allowed to play with dolls now.
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Gotta miss those summer carnivals!

I remember I did not care how hot and humid it was but when I was a kid I always looked forward to our local church's summer carnival. For a few days one week the rectory parking lot would be converted to the temporary home for funnel cake stands, midway games and Swinging Gyms. Yes, Swinging Gyms. I got talking about these fair attractions last week at work and then again this weekend with Glen so I had to do a little researching.

It seems to have been years since I have seen one in action. I am always scanning the carnivals and fairs that I drive by to see what type of rides they are having these days. And as far as I can remember I never see the crazy cages of the Swinging Gyms. There are some webpages that indicate they are still pretty active in the UK fair circuit though. In any case, I bet it would be fun to get back in one of those cages and give the attempt to "swing the gym" over the top the old college try.

Swing, swing, swing.
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I know many who might like to see beach signs like this. (I might beg to differ!)
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Hockey is finally back!

And here are the Top 10 "real" reasons the Pro Hockey lock-out has ended.

10. High unemployment rate of 18.9% in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan required a quick fix.
9. North American hockey arenas wanted another draw besides “American Idols Live” to fill seats.
8. Last season’s Stanley Cup Tampa Bay Lightning players tired of working at Busch Gardens.
7. Universities of Minnesota and North Dakota could not accept any more incoming freshmen majoring in their “Ice Removal Studies” programs.
6. Over muscled players kept missing their triple axels during “Stanley Cup Extravaganza on Ice”.
5. Royalties from the playing of “Oh Canada” had dropped 342%.
4. Curling leagues would not tolerate excessive "checking and roughing" during matches.
3. NHL players wanted to play at least two more seasons before they need passports to cross back and forth between Canada and the US.
2. Celine Dion has finally agreed to record new NHL theme song “Drop the Puck, Lift the Love”

And the number one real reason the Pro Hockey lock-out has ended...
Canadian exchange rate makes salary cap of $40M seem more like $48.64M

Welcome back Potter.

The 6th Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince hits stores this weekend. I have seen and loved all three films but have only read the first book. That puts me a bit behind the curve when it comes to following the full story of Harry and company, but I do know that once the new book is out Harry-mania will start-up again.

I hear the initial pressing of the book is something insane, like over 10 million copies. And they will probably fly off of the shelves as all the rest have in the past. Author JK Rowling has surely come a long way from scribbling story ideas on napkins while sitting in coffee shops years ago. I would bet her house is probably as big as some of the buildings on the campus of Hogwarts.

So, in light of the book's release here are my
Top Ten reasons why we are ready for the new Harry Potter book this summer.

10. Madonna still has not caught on to the fact that she cannot write.
9. You can read at least 10 pages during the 20 minutes of previews we are forced to sit through when seeing summer blockbuster movies.
8. Hurricanes Dennis and Emily have already given us enough sucky weather to turn the activity of summer reading to an indoor one.
7. Big Brother 6 episodes kill three nights of weekly TV programming.
6. Average wait for a ride at Six Flags is 42 minutes, enough time to read a chapter or two.
5. Mary-Kate and Ashley are too busy at NYU to write a new mystery novel.
4. The hardback version compliments your new Target beach towels perfectly.
3. President Bush has been begging Jenna to read it to him before she reads it in her DC classroom.
2. Still no paperback version of The DaVinci Code

and the number one reason why we are ready for the new Harry Potter book this summer.

Karl Rove's pre-release book-review email leaks that is a "real must read."

You can't pin a medal to a metal heart.

You know I can tell you which movie had the biggest box-office draw this past weekend or that we are in the midst 0f a Southwest Airlines fare sale but when it comes to politics I admit I am bad at keeping up with the latest. So when Roland filled me in on the current Karl Rove/FBI leak deal working it sparked my curiosity to read up a bit.

Isn't funny how President Bush can just sweep his pledge from June 2004 to dismiss any leakers of Valerie Plame's identity under the rug? It all just gets more frustrating and confusing as I read on. It must be nice to be able to sit in the president's chair have the liberty to change one's mind about how to deal with an issue depending upon how it works to one's advantage. It all ties back to the war in Iraq and how things just keep getting more confusing and unanswered but are the blinders the leaders in this country wear really working that well? They must be.

I wonder if the President has the Garbage song Metal Heart on his I-Pod? Shirley Manson's lyrics put it simply.

I wish I had a metal heart
I could cross the line
I wish that I was half as good
As you think I am

But now that we know for sure
they're telling lies
when they say no one gets hurt
and therefore nobody dies

You know it's hard to believe anything that you hear
They say the world is round

Musicians have always had the advantage of using their music as a mechanism to bring their message, political or otherwise, to large audiences. But with that is the chance (and probability) of misinterpretation. It happened in a huge way in 1984-85 with Springsteen's Born in the USA (the largest misreference to it being done so by then President Reagan). So I thought it was kinda funny that during the airing of last night's MBL All-Star game FOX chose to use Green Day's American Idiot as on-air music in-between innings. Haven't they read the lyrics at all? Granted it is not an anti-American song. Green Day lead singer Billy Joe states that every time he sings the song live. But he also makes sure to mention that it is an anti-war song. Much in the vein of Metal Heart it clearly states opinions and feelings that I myself feel a good majority of the country believes.

Live Aid, 20 years ago today.

In light of last week's Live 8 and all of the media surrounding it I almost forgot that today is the actual 20th anniversary of the Live Aid concerts held in Philadelphia and London. Hard to believe it has been that long since I was able to be one of the 100,000 folks at JFK Stadium who endured the summer heat to be part of music history.

I clearly remember taking the subway from NJ at 5:30am, with coolers of ice and food in tow, as we made our way to the stadium. The "Global Jukebox" had just started as I walked through the stadium gates at 7:10am with Marty, my partner at the time. For more than 16 hours we endured the elements (both in weather and rowdy attendees) to hear the likes of Led Zeppelin, Tina Turner, Madonna, the Cars, Phil Collins, Patti LaBelle, Mick Jagger, Duran Duran and others. We watched live video feed from London's Webley Stadium where we saw and heard standards from the Style Council, Adam Ant, U2, Paul McCartney and Queen. The day was almost surreal in many ways in that it was like winning the concert lottery, the prize being the chance to hear so many big name acts live in one sitting.

The positive efforts of Bob Geldof are still felt every day. But as Live 8 stands testiment to, the problem of world hunger and famine is a never ending, on-going concern. Lets hope it does not take another Live Aid type event to keep the problem in the world's eye.

I spoke too soon.

My friend and fellow INXS (and Bruce Springsteen) fan Janine Janek pointed out to me that the surviving members of the Doors had already regrouped in early part of this century with former Cult frontman Ian Astbury taking over vocal duties. Click here for more info. I guess they didn't want to wait for the reality TV option to find a pseudo-replacement for Jim Morrison. I swear if I start seeing KISS wannabees in 10 inch heels and make-up trying to replace Ace Frehley I will scream. Thanks for the info Janine.

The brake is on the left.

So, you think it was a student or an instructor?

Can you say INXSive?

Okay. I have to admit I am a kinda-sorta fan of reality TV. I used to wait with baited breathe for each new season of MTV's Real World and Road Rules. (That obsession has since dwindled in recent years mainly due to the fact that I don't get MTV anymore and I think the shows hit rock bottom when Rachel and Veronica started plugging their "Future MILF" tshirts.) But I do watch the Amazing Race reverently every season. It is, in my opinion, the best reality show out there. The show has taken home the Emmy for best reality show two years in a row, a recognition that probably drives Survivor creator Mark Burnett batty. Even though this past season we had to experience the Survivor cross-pollination with contestants Rob and Amber, it still holds up as one of the best seasons of the series.

So have we now hit a new low in reality TV with Rock Star INXS? I mean come on! Former INXS front man Michael Hutchence died in 1997 from what was noted as suicide and possible sexual asphyxiation. He was 37. INXS had been a mainstain in the Australian and world wide music scenes for almost 20 years when Michael died. They broke out on the scene with the catchy edge of "The One Thing" off of their 1981 Shabooh Shoobah record, 4 years after they had formed. And the momentum built from there and went on for over a good 10 years. They owned the world with the success of KICK, which yielded their first #1 US single, "Need You Tonight" as well as 3 other top tens. They continued on with varied levels of success and then stopped when Michael died. Various guest vocalists fronted the band at special shows and even during full tours in 2002-03.

But I don't get this rock star show deal. It all seems so cheesy to me. And in some ways, disrespectful. I can see working to get a replacement lead singer and moving forward as a band, much like they did in 2002-03 but to use the reality "let's vote someone off this week till we get a new singer" approach is just bad. Maybe it is just me. I saw INXS when they toured in 1990-91 in support of their X album and they were great. Michael's stage presence was one that blended the lankiness of Mick Jagger with the sexual prowess of Tom Jones and topped it off with the Ausie flair that only Michael Hutchence could do. To try to replace that is both an impossible and impractical task.

What's next? Rock Star - The Doors?

Mini & Me!
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6' 4" Glen and a car that is way smaller then him.
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Just wee little cars they are!

With tiny tires and steering wheels on the opposite side too!

This past Sunday I met Glen at the Gettysburg Village Outlets to check out Lancaster County's annual British Car Show. It was a perfect day to meander amongst all of the neat cars and then duck into outlet shops when the sun got to be just too much. It is amazing how small some of those cars are. The original Cooper Minis are even smaller than the ones you see on the roads. And all of the original MGs and Lotus' were sporting their great vintage colors of deep orange, kelly green and mustard yellow. There were lots of convertible and roadster versions too. My only dissapointment was that I did not see Austin Powers next to any of the MGs. That itself took the MOJO right out of me.

Cooper Mini Mini! I hear it gets great mileage.
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Penguin update.

Well, I stand corrected. I did not see anyone walking like a penguin out of the theatre after seeing March of the Penguins but I did see a few older gents actually waddling in with the same effect. Their wives were split between being humored and embarrased. It was actually a sight to see. MOTP is a wonderful documentary with just truly, truly incredible cinematography. I cannot imagine trying to film those little guys in the sub-zero temps of the Antarctica. Do try to see this is if you get a chance.

Left, left, left, right, left.

Warner Independent films latest release, March of the Penguins, opens this weekend in Baltimore. The Morgan Freeman narrated documentary follows a group of emperor penguins over the course of a year as they "marry" into monogomous relationships. We watch them mate, reproduce, protect their young and fend off the elements of the Antarctica as they survive and thrive in their harsh environment.

Produced in conjunction with National Geographic, the production of this film was a challenge in many ways (ice, cold, relatively small subjects) for the crew. I am looking forward to seeing the results, which judging by the trailer on-line, are wonderful. I wonder if I will be walking like a penguin when I leave the theatre?

Ooops, me bad.

Thanks to the sharp eye of my buddy Charles Hernandez, it has been pointed out to that two of six presidents referenced below were never presidents. Hamilton was Secretary of the Treasury and Franklin flew a kite. I should start visiting those DC museum as much as he does.

Note: I updated this post twice since Chuck actually ran out of red pen correcting my erroneous history references more than once. I should stick to Springsteen concert facts.