Damn, I was a fan.

Bandleader Artie Shaw Dies at 94

I started listening to Artie Shaw after my Grandfather turned me on to him in the early 70s. One day, while riding in my Grandfathers old T-bird, he popped a Artie Shaw cartridge in the 8-track and told me stories of love and loss from the 30s and 40s. Begin the Beguine was his favorite, and my favorite Artie Shaw song. The Clarinet was wonderful. It never failed to lift my sprits. Of course, Concerto for Clarinet is also a masterpiece. I wish Shaw had continued to produce after the 40s. I would have liked a chance to see him perform.

R.I.P Artie Shaw

Robot Boxing

© Copyright 2004 Mojoey

The hit at this years Christmas party was a remote controlled knockoff version of Rockem Sockem Robots. We held a rotating tourney; I was 0 for 2, but real close to winning both times! The robots are a little hard to control, which made the scene more reminiscent of a robotic dancing contest. The robots have a jab and a rapid-fire rabbit punch. The trick was to hit the opposing robot on a sensor in the middle of its chest. It was very hard to do; most of the matches were positioning battles. We had fun with this and it beat the hell out of a lopsided game of Trivial Pursuit which we played earlier in the evening. The great thing about this toy is that it came home with me!

Memory and Sarah Vowell

I have been listening to the audio book version of Sarah Vowell’s “The Partly Cloudy Patriot” for the better part of the last two weeks. Vowell is an amazing essayist. I was familiar with her work from her stories on This American Life, but had not given much thought to reading her books until my son left her CDs in my Truck. Once I got past here nasally voice, I was captivated. She really is a great storyteller.

One essay dealt with her memories of America’s bicentennial in 1976. She recounts with amazing details what she was doing and thinking at the time. She was 7 at the time. I was freshman in high school in 76, which would put me at 15. The funny thing is, I really do not remember the bicentennial. I remember it being important to many people. I remember hearing about it on the TV and radio, but I do not actually remember the event itself. I cannot recall July 4, 1976. It makes me wonder, what else important have I forgotten?

In 1976, I remember hiking Goodall Pass in the Sierras Nevada Mountains on the John Muir trail. , I remember that my girlfriend Melody broke up with me, and then she got pregnant by some guy who was five years older and in the military. We had barely even kissed. I remember winning the league championship in freshman basketball, and that my friend’s sister, Debbie Mallock, was Artesia’s homecoming queen. I remember things I did with friends; like seeing the King Tut exhibit in LA with my friend Jon. I remember family events; my family went waterskiing at Lake Hughes the day Howard Hughes died (April 4). Heck, I even remember having t-bone steaks and beans by a campfire on that trip, but I do not remember the bicentennial, not even one little bit. Why do I not remember this? The 4th was on a Sunday in 76; I would have spent it with my family, but no, nothing at all, just a big blank.

I just spoke by phone with my mom while writing this post. She does not remember either, which is not surprising. Her best guess is that we celebrated July 4, 1976 like every other 4th of July, with a party at our house, followed by fireworks at Knotts Berry Farm. On occasion, we would go to Long Beach and watch fireworks launched from the Queen Mary with our friends the Mallock’s. I vaguely remember a 4th in Long Beach, fog, sand, firecrackers, bottle rockets, and sparklers, all spring to mind. I think I was much younger. I do not ever remember going to Knotts.

Well, the hunt is on for me. I am going to figure out what I did that day. There will be more to follow as the 70’s fog is lifted from my memory.

One last thing, how did Sarah Vowell remember something that happened when she was 7? I was 7 in 1968. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated on April 4th, Robert Kennedy was assassinated on June 4th, yet I remember nothing specific at all about these events. I cannot even remember the name of the school I attended at the time. Hmmm….

2004 iPod top five

It's time to start reviewing 2004 in preparation for next years new years resolutions. In this case, the resolution is: "what new music should I listen to in 2005". I like to start by reviewing my musical tastes for 2004 based on my year end iPod play counts. The top five for this year where:

1. Dave Mathews Band (by 2 to 1)
2. Weezer
3. Sublime
4. Greenday
5. Bob Marley & The Wailers

Details:
Dave Mathews moved up the list from #6 last year, while Bob Marley fell from #1. Weezer, who has made my list the previous three years, moved up from #3 to #2. I also listened to a lot of Johnny Cash, mostly because he passed this year. Johnny Cash made my list at #8.

Suggestions for 2005 are always welcome.

Carson Ugly # 17 - Shopping Carts

© Copyright 2004 Mojoey

My wife recently told me I was a lazy photographer. I was not happy. With her bitter message ringing in my ears a few days ago, I walked half a mile to these shoot shopping carts. Lazy my ass... (Well, maybe a little)

Carson continues to amaze me with its ugliness and neglect. This dumping site greets me every morning on my drive in. It never goes away. I may be only one cart, or it may be several, but it is always there, greeting visitors and cheering up my day.

While I was shooting this picture, which is at an entrance to the 405 freeway, a trucker asked me "how much". I hope he did not think I was a Carson hooker. That would really drive down Carson's image.

Dance Dance Resurrection - the perfect Christian Xmas gift!

Dance Dance Resurrection - A new Concept in Christian Electronic Entertainment Where can I get one of these? A Christian version of Dance Dance Revolution complete with "Christian Backmasking", "Alpha Stimulation", and "wholesome music", so that our young people can grow up right.

I love the dance pad, it's an INRI cross. And then there is what happens when you reach perfection. Dance well, and you will recieve the love of our lord Jesus Christ into your life, dance poorly and it's straight to the fiery pits of hell!

Oh man, whoever thought of this is going to get some very special mail.

Words. Nothing but sweet, sweet words that turn into bitter orange wax in my ears

These words were spoken by my nine year old son Michael while playing Star Wars Battlefront on the PS2 at about midnight. My other son, his girlfriend, and I all looked at each other in stunned silence for a few moments. Our thoughts ranging from “Wow, that’s deep”, to “How on earth did my son speak something so profound", and "Do I have a young poet on my hands?” After a moment I asked, “Mike, did you make that up?” he replied, “No dad, Fry said it on Futurama.” We all laughed, some of which was in relief, I remember thinking “Damn, I’m 43 and could not come up with a line like that if I tried.” Of course, all this speaks to the power of TV, TiVo, and youthful obsession.

My nine year old son likes anything my 23 year old likes, so Futurama and the Family Guy are in constant rotation on our TV. I think my son has seen some episodes of Futurama 20 times or more. It’s like he watches them until he understands all of the references, then moves on to other episodes. Which brings me to my point, I watch them too, but I can’t even quote simple phrases. My favorite Futurama quote is from Professor Farnsworth, “That sounds dangerous. Somebody could get killed. Fry, Leela, Bender, you go.”

Bad day at work - good day at home

© Copyright 2004 Mojoey

I don't complain about work much. Work is work, what can you do? Today was different. Today was bad. I can do without days like today. Stress, deadlines, and complexity, it all makes for a pressure building mind-numbingly bad day. But, what can you do? Macallan helps, a good Scotch goes a very long way towards bringing a bad day to a nice close, that and a little AoE.

Tomorrow promises to be worse, oh boy.

My name is Mojoey and I am addicted to AoE

I don't know why it happened, it just did. One day I was removing AoE from users computers while at work and was complaining about how wasteful it was, and then I played a game... Now I'm an addict. It is like crack (so I hear) I actually dream about this silly game. Last night I was the Vikings slaughtering the Huns; I won because of a sneak attack using my naval forces. I know I am helpless in the face of this addiction, but what the hell; at least I can beat my sons.

Chrenkoff

I read LGF quite a bit. LGF is really one of the only places to go for if one wants to find out what is really going on in the world. LGF posted on Good News From Iraq part 17, which itself is a great read, but when one reads the whole series, at Chrenkin's blog, one gets a much different picture of what is happening in Iraq. The war becomes noble, our efforts less futile, a win becomes possible. Chrenkin's blog is worth reading.

This seems like a stupid idea - you try it

It looks like James Sooy figured out how to pierce the bridge of the nose so you can hang a pair of glasses off the hardware. It looks.... well, kind of painful.

POS Rental Car

© Copyright 2004 Mojoey

I am bored this morning, so I am writing about whatever pops into my head. Today's topic is rental cars. I have rented a few cars in my day, my guess is at least 150 in the last five years. This time, I needed a car for a few days because my son had borrowed mine for a short trip up North. I rented a Pontiac Aztec from Hertz, and it really sucked. I usually rate a car on four things;

• Fit - Do I fit in it.
• Visibility - Can I see out of it.
• Driving - How does it feel to drive?
• Sound - Does it have a good stereo?

I did not fit in the car. It had plenty of headroom, but no ass room and my legs were cramped. I was very uncomfortable in this car, more so than in the Jeep I rented while in Hawaii last year, and I hated that Jeep.

I could not see out of the rear window unless I crouched or sat up straight. The rear window has a bar going across it right where you would normally see the cars behind you. It was very annoying. On the other hand, you could look out of the lower rear window and see the tires of the car behind you. I do not know what good that does for you, but what the hell. Looking over your left shoulder, you see a part of the car, over your right shoulder, small windows and more car. I felt like I was driving blind.

It drove O.K., the Aztec had no real power, and was sluggish, but for an American car it was passible.

Road sounds were noticeable; the Aztec is not a quiet ride. The most annoying thing was the friggen stereo. Its volume changed depending on how I was driving. If I slowed down, the volume went down, if I sped up, the volume went up. I know it is a "feature", but I like music loud, even if I am at a stop signal.

In summary – this car sucked, stay away!

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I'm Confused

I found this car in the parking lot of a Borders in Long Beach. My first thought... WTF?


nut

If you look close, you will see the following:
KPFK voice of mass dissent radio or left wing nutball radio

• Phish sticker
• Dr. Seuss' The Lorax
• Psychedelic State
• Cal State Long Beach
• Teddy Bears in a car
• One Day Lost
• HB Tattoo
• Dare to think for yourself
• An equal sign
• I break for antelope
• LB for Long Beach
• When I grow up, I wanna be like me
• Please feel free to stare, point, whisper and ask questions
• I like my men pierced
• Two stickers of girls with cats
• All truth goes through three stages...
• You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one.
• Give peace a chance
• Meat is murder
• Friends don't let friends vote republican
• A Darwin anti christian fish
• A W in 04 sticker
• You can no more win a war than you can win an earthquake

The drivers side reads...

I've roamed and rambled, And I've followed my footsteps,
to the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts,
And all around me a voice was souunding,
this land was made for you and me

The passenger side reads...

The sun comes shining, As I was strolling,
The wheat fields waving, And the dust clouds ralling,
The fog was lifting a voice comes chanting,
This land was made for you and me

My analysis - this girl is very strange, but I felt like buying her car.

The Daily Grill Long Beach

© Copyright 2004 Mojoey

Kristen Stratton is the Manager at the new Daily Grill in Long Beach. I met her on a rainy day while studying at Pepperdine’s World Trade Center campus in Long Beach. The World Trade Center is a dead place on a Saturday; the Daily Grill had just opened for business. It was completely empty. Kristen was gracious and offered a shortened lunch menu instead of their full menu. I had the tuna sandwich; it was good, but quite expensive.

A few days later, I was back. This trip was to sample their bar. They offered an O.K. selection of beers, I wanted a Guinness, but settled for several Newcastle’s ($4.75 each). Their scotch list is weak, I had a Glenfiddich ($7), they insisted on serving in it a cognac class. I chalked it up to inexperience.

Their menu looks mundane, it’s kind of upscale classic Americana, but it is too pricey. I think they might be targeting the Hilton Hotel business traveler market, I don’t think normal diners are going to go out of their way to eat there. The restaurants location is going to work against it. The area they are in has no foot traffic, little car traffic, and is deserted after 5 p.m. My guess is they will be out of business within a year at this location.

On the other hand, Kristen is very nice. I hope she does well…

I got a B!

© Copyright 2004 Mojoey

Dr. Paul Gift is a talented Adjunct Professor teaching economics in Pepperdine's MBA program. Economics was the hardest class to date in the MBA program. I struggled with concepts that were new to me. I am actually happy with a B, I feared much worse. Dr. Gift is the best teacher I have had while in Pepperdine’s program. He is a good lecturer, and is able to teach a complex subject in a way that invites further inquiry. I actually like economics now.

I had to study hard for this class; much harder than in any other class so far. Dr. Gifts mid-term and final exam are very difficult. He is after making sure his students understand the subject and can demonstrate their knowledge. Up to this point in my education, I have never taken a test that was so hard, or as stressful. I am glad this class is behind me.

I hope Pepperdine sees the value of bringing Dr. Gift on as a full time professor. In my opinion, their program will be much better off for it.