November 29, 2011

Ten years ago today, we lost George Harrison to cancer at the age of 58. As the lead guitar player of the world's greatest rock band ever, Beatle George was a huge part of an amazing chapter in rock history. Simply put, the Beatles changed the world... and George was a huge part of it. Although he always felt unjustly overshadowed by John and Paul and desperately wanted his songs to play a bigger role, as a solo artist after the Beatle break-up we got the chance to see the immense talents George had. If only we could go back...

Cyber Monday!

Happy on-line shopping today! Now, if you're up for some amazing deals from local merchants, go to bigdealslacrosse.com and check out gift certificates for local restaurants, services, and manyof your favorite stores! Some serious savings on items for anyone in the family!

Redneck Yard Swing...

Well, my picture of the "Volkswagen Sleigh" redneck decoration opened the floodgates. Yesterday I got a whole batch of pictures of so-called redneck items. This one is a classic... I present to you the redneck yard swing!!

November 22, 1963

This is the one date every year that stops me in my tracks and really makes me look back on my life. I was in High School the day President Kennedy was shot. I didn't know much about politics back then, I doubt I even knew there were Republicans and Democrats. All I knew was that something terrible had happened to our country... and that I was terribly affected by it. I remember hearing the news that Kennedy had been shot while I was in the hallway between classes... then minutes later the Principal announced it over the Public Address System. I left my class and went downstairs to the AV room where many sports lettermen had gathered to watch the TV coverage. After a while, they announced that JFK had died. Minutes later, the Principal dismissed school. I went home and spent the rest of the day watching the coverage with my mother and sisters. It's a day I can never forget.

Redneck Holiday Decor

I love rednecks! And here's an idea for Christmas Decorations that's straight out of the Redneck how-to guide. Of course, not many of us have an old Volkswagen laying around!

Survivor Re-cap - The Oz-Man Stayeth!

11/17/11 - Last night's episode was pretty predictable. In the Redemption Island 3-way challenge between Ozzy, Keith and Jim it was Ozzy narrowly defeating and eliminating his former tribemates... so Jim and Keith became the first members of the jury.
Back at Te Tuna later, Dawn and Whitney made a valiant effort to convince some of the remaining Opulu tribe members to make a big move and join them in voting Edna off. They seem to be swaying Albert and Cochran, and for a few minutes it appears Sophie may go along as well. In the most entertaining immunity challenge Sophie took a chance by over-loading her bowl of rice and somehow balancing it on her head through the teeter-totter course, and tipping her basket first (see picture) to win the necklace. Both Dawn (far left) and Whitney (far right) were close, but failed. Cochran (2nd from left) did his usual job of botching any athletic challenge and even complained later about how he's cursed by a "lack of agility". And at tribal council, Dawn is voted off. Then after a promised "twist" a second immunity challenge is again won by Sophie and Whitney is voted off too.
So next week's episode will begin with Ozzy facing Dawn and Whitney on Redemption Island.
Of the competitors that remain, I couldn't begin to tell you who I'm rooting for. Maybe Sophie or Albert, just because they seem somewhat aloof about Coach and his "big plan" and both seem to realize the time for a bold move is fast approaching.
I can't root for Coach... I can't stand the weirdo. Edna is a shirt-tail rider who should have been removed long ago, she's really just Coach's "toady". Cochran is just a loser... pitiable, but still a loser. Brandon Hantz is just a nutty kid who seems to be kind of out-of-touch with everything... no vote there. And finally Rick the cowboy... but I'd only root for him because he wears a cowboy hat... he really hasn't done much else to impress me.
So at this point who will win? Sadly, if they don't get him off soon... Coach just might do it. And that would make me sick!

Today's mystery...

Who figures these things out? Who has time to sit down and do these things? Whoever it is, dude you're weird! But I like you...

TOYS FOR TOTS!!

Please mark it on your calendar... this Friday from 6:00AM - 6:00PM we'll be broadcasting live at the front of the La Crosse Center with the La Crosse Jaycees to kick off "TOYS FOR TOTS 2011"!! Please bring us some new or gently used toys or even a cash donation to help the needy kids of the Coulee Region have a Merry Christmas! We need your help!

Ever had a REALLY bad day?

This looks like one of those normal "oops" photos, until you realize that the car in the water is a Bugatti Veyron... with a sticker price of $1,700,000.00. Now that makes this "a really bad day"!!!

The snake...

Survivor Re-cap, 11/9/11 - I'm calling this re-cap "the snake" in honor of Cochran (see picture). With last week's shameful flop, he sent Keith to Redemption Island. Now this week he showed his spite and vengeful nature by voting off his two (former) strongest allies in the Savaii tribe; Ozzy and Jim. Yes, this was a double tribal council episode, with two immunity challenges and two votes. As near as I remember, in this one episode, Cochran betrayed two people that had combined to save his butt at least five times in previous episodes. This skinny, homely dude with the bad complexion and the total lack of conscience is turning into one of Survivor's all-time villains.

So now, Dawn and Whitney are all that's left of Savaii and the ex-Upolu members are still solidly six strong... plus Cochran.

Some random thoughts... Coach definitely needs a bump in the road. He is the worst gloater in history andI find myself wanting a huge disaster to befall him. Brandon Hantz (Russell's nephew) is still nuts, and somehow still thinks he's on a mission for God. I don't get it at all.

Meanwhile Ozzy, Keith and Jim, the ex-backbone of Savaii await next week's three-way challenge on Redemption Island. Where Ozzy is catching 15 pound fish and they're eating like kings. Ozzy could wind up being practically un-beatable if he can battle his way back from RI... at least I hope so.

First snow...

Well, at first I thought it missed us. When I drove to work at 5:00 AM today it was raining but no snow. But then around 6:00 AM it all changed fast. Heavy, thick snowflakes filled the sky as the temperature went from 36 to 32 degrees in just a few minutes. Soon the roads were slick and people started calling in... a three-car accident on I-90, no power along 33 in Shelby, a fender-bender on West Avenue, and other mishaps. Our first splash of winter was fairly short, but a good reminder of what's ahead. And I'm not ready!

Learn to play guitar!

This is hilarious and self explanatory... it's also NOT PC, but it's so "out there" I had to let you see it. Incidentally, I never noticed this phenomenon when I learned to play guitar.

Happy Anniversary!

Today is the 36th anniversary of the wedding of Daryl Dragon and Toni Tennille, better known as "The Captain and Tennille"! From 1975 this amazing duo had 14 chart-topping hits and 9 great albums! They racked up 5 gold albums, 6 gold singles, 2 platinum albums, and a platinum single... and they won a grammy! Pretty darned good for a married couple who devoted most of their music to each other!

Sunday follies...

Ever feel guilty when you delete that text message or e-mail without forwarding it? There could be consequences (lol),,,

Try this...

Survivor - 11/2/11 Recap

Ozzie did it. Last week he sacrificed himself to Redemption Island in order to defeat Christine, and then re-join his Savaii tribe for the merge, and then so each tribe would have six members once the merge was complete. And it worked. The strategy paid off as Ozzie crushed Christine, (yes the Bulldog is finally gone), and then Jeff Probst announced that the tribes were now merged, and each tribe stood six members strong. Then Cochran returned the hidden immunity idol to Ozzie leaving just one part of the strategy to fall into place - for Cochran to spy on the Upolo members and find out who they were voting for, all while claiming he was flipping to their side.

True to the plan, Coach and his minions immediately started working on Cochran (see picture), trying to get him to flip sides. Not surprisingly, Cochran seemed very receptive to the idea stating that his tribe hadn't been that nice to him all along, crying that he'd had to beg to keep from getting voted off, and whining about the emotional roller coaster he'd been on since the game started. But Cochran was serious, NOT playing along. Is there anything about Cochran that isn't weak, wimpy and wishy-washy?? It seems the answer is no.

After Ozzie and Dawn each won immunity, Dawn made a huge effort to convince Cochran to stay with the plan and vote with his old tribe... to stay with the plan. And at the tribal council, the first vote was six to six with everyone staying strong to their old tribe - six votes for Rick (the cowboy) and six votes for Keith. And then on the second vote, inexplicably, Cochran flipped and voted with Coach, and sending Keith to Redemption Island.

I don't remember any previous tribal council with so many nasty comments made between the contestants... ex-Savaii members calling Cochran a coward and traitor, and ex-Upolo members accusing Savaii of mis-treating Cochran all along and getting what they deserved. Even crazy Brandon stood up for Cochran and told him "stay close to me".

So Keith is off to Redemption Island, and things continue to go splendidly for Coach... and I'll tell you what... that has to change soon! We need to see Coach go down soon!!!

Happy Birthday Radio!

On November 2, 1920, KDKA in Pittsburgh signed on as (arguably) the first commercial radio station. They placed a microphone on a table and an announcer read election returns between Warren G. Harding and James Cox that were phoned to him by the Pittsburgh Post. In between updates he played music on a record player set up next to the microphone. Many other people had been broadcasting radio signals as early as 1907, however Westinghouse Corporation was granted the first Broadcast license not issued to a private individual on October 27, 1920, and was assigned the call-letters KDKA. The station has been broadcasting ever since.
So, Happy Birthday Radio!!