Have any of you ever seen Top Gear? At the end of the year they came up with a Vietnam special where they went up the whole of the country in motor bikes.

At any rate, during one segment of the show they are at some restaurant or whatever, and on the river there were a number of flower looking things floating along, lit up with all kinds of different colors. I think it's a yearly event.

Does anyone know what this is and what it means?

I think I've made a decision. I am going to take a roadie to Rochester to go to Beers of the World. I'd better call them to make sure they have the Pannepot. If they do have it, to assuage my guilt for taking a roadie for beer I'll have to think of some other thing to do there as well that has nothing to do with beer. Oh yeah, I think they have a super awesome record shop as well. There we go!

Well, seeing as it has been recently confirmed that the Smart cars and the like are dangerous tin cans...as long as you aren't crashing into a similarly equipped dangerous tin can...I thought I would ask you all if you could choose a single method of transport, what would it be?

Me....in a perfect world where I didn't live in a place where it snows half of the year....I would get a Harley. Hell yes, a loud as hell, ballsy machine. Dangerous? Yes, but I wouldn't feel like a pussy. It's bad enough with the econobox I have now. I wish Dad never sold his motorcycle. I would have bought it from him as my first bike.

Sunday morning I woke up at 8 AM, and seeing as it was sunny as all get out I felt inspired to take the awesome drive along the 430 to Bemus Point. What really wasn't inspiring was the 30 degree temperature, but the scenery sure was nice.



This place is called The Casino. Of course, there is no gambling in this place as far as I know, but back in my cover band days we used to play at this venue and others on the lake. During the summer people will drive up on their boats and dock right at the building.



I wanted to try to get a shot of what it looks like walking alongside the lake. There are condos, vacation homes people rent out, restaurants and bars. There is also a basketball court where we used to play pickup games. One thing I absolutely LOVE is lakeside dining. I don't mean the shit when you are on a cliff overlooking the water, I mean being ON the water. Fantastic.



Meet Jack Larson. It has been 7 years since he passed away and I had never been able to bring myself to this place until last weekend. I guess I used to think about whether or not he would look on me with approval, but these days there is no doubt. I thought I would get really emotional about things but it is so peaceful there, on a hill overlooking the lake.



Josh and I saw this while looking for a certain cafe in Jamestown. A Swedish consulate, in Jamestown? By the way, somewhere close to this is the best restaurant in Chautauqua County - MacDuff's. Someday if a few of us are in the area by chance we should take a look. Allegedly the food is very, very good.



So there you have it, my first attempt at photo blogging. I'm still learning how to use the camera. Next time, I want to take you inside Chautauqua Institution, a place that is incredibly beautiful. I spent one of the happiest days of my life there - but more about that when we get inside the gates.

Maybe if the Newspapers refuse to smarten up their content and business model, they should do what The Nation has done for who knows how long - solicit donations.

They're getting more and more over the top. Who's heard of the one where the child, ahem, "actor" cries in the middle of a train station?

For reference:


I'm growing weary of people kicking me in the balls and playing it off like it's a hand job. Don't write child health bills that are funded by new cigarette taxes, hailed as a "Victory for Tax Payers and Children" and pretend like it's about my health. People who advocate these kinds of taxes don't give a shit about my health. Their goal is to get the child health stuff funded and smokers are an easy target. The predictable drop in smoking is only the cherry on top. When there are no more smokers left, that money's going to have to come from somewhere. That's one reason why this is so cynical. My health is not the goal.

Another reason why it's so cynical, and nobody wants to be the one to talk about it, is that the millions upon millions of obese people (30% of America, I believe) who cost us lord knows how much money, never endure this kind of punishment. But the obese are a sympathetic lot - no, you can't have a commercial with a little kid "actor" crying over his mom stuffing her face with a Double Quarter Pounder - .....snif....mommy....I need you post-50!

DUN DUN DUUUNNNNN.....if you care about kids, you'll chuck that Double QPer and get on that treadmill collecting dust in your attic.

They typically don't face the same level of criticism in commercials or with punitive taxes on their behavior. I'm very okay with that part of it, because I don't think I should be made to feel like an asshole, and I don't believe them to be assholes at the core either. I would never attempt to devalue them. I believe we are all equal in God's eyes. I'm only trying to illustrate how absurd it is to talk about how smokers are costing us so much money, when really we aren't serious about curbing health care costs when it comes to everyone's behavior. Cynical.

If the government took that cigarette tax money, and spent 100% of it, not one cent less, on smoking cessation programs, treatment, drugs, etc, to help smokers stop for good then I would see this type of campaign so much differently. I still would think that the commercials are infuriating, but I wouldn't feel like my health is the afterthought when push comes to shove.

I may or may not pay for this, but I want to express my admiration for Michelle Obama. No, she's not Jackie O, and no I don't think she's an icon for worship a la The New Yorker piece some time ago, but she wears her compassion on her sleeve and isn't ashamed. Michelle Obama is alright by me. We need more compassionate people in the world.

Woke up at 4 AM and couldn't get back to sleep so I'm looking forward to some real sleep tonight. Also - if you're up at 4 AM and sweating, don't tune in to Coast to Coast AM while they're talking about Demonology.

JBL

Dear Brother,

I've been sick as a dog today and barely functioning. My employer has been kind enough to let me out early so I can rest and try to get better, but this means that you're going to have to ANSWER YOUR @#$@#$@# PHONE so I can let you know when to get me.

Jason

PS - If you see this, 2:30.

I remain painfully frustrated by my inability to find this beer, the Pannepot Old Fisherman's Ale. At this rate, I'm going to taste the Westvleteren 12 before I try the Pannepot. Everything I've read about this beer leads me to believe I'm going to love it.



Don't feel too badly for me. I'm still spoiled, trust me. Seriously though, if anyone ever sees this please let me know immediately. Preferably via e-mail. I spotted a wife at Premier Gourmet last weekend looking for it on behalf of her husband. I might have snatched it out of her hands if she did find it. Just joking....sort of.