Joshua's Journal

09/04/2006 03:27 #24668

From A Mile Away

File this under "I saw this one coming" - The crocadile hunter died today.

He got stung by a stingray.

Lets face it - I admired his kind of naive boyish quality about wild animals, but his antics were reckless and sooner or later he was going to be killed as a result of them. The only question I have left in my mind is, why hadn't this happened sooner?

Seriously, anyone that ever watched this guy around a snake had to know that he was going to die early. If anything, I'm surprised that it was a relatively benign animal that ended up killing him.

metalpeter - 09/04/06 14:06
This death shows what over enthusim causes. From what I understand he had great knowledge about animals and was all about nature. But what got him killed now or if not now later was he was to enthusastic. It was like lets see what happens if i put my head in this tigers mouth. It was as if that love cut off his sense of danger. Does anyone remember an add with him or a look alike with a guy who gets bit by a deadly snake but because they didn't use FedEX or was it UPS think FedEX not sure he dies since the venom dosn't get there, kinda ironic?

jason - 09/04/06 11:58
Ugh! That's awful! Steve was my fave!! RIP!

joshua - 09/04/06 10:32
Yep - it appears that he died as a result of a wound to his chest/abdomen area, and after reading a little bit more about stingrays and the likely event of death as a result of a sting it seems that Mr. Irwin was very, very unlucky. It seems that the only real possible way he could have died is a wound to his heart - which after reading more seems like only a handful of people have ever suffered. Amazing.

My post is a tad on the cynical side... well ok... saying that this post was a "tad" cynical is like saying that habanero peppers are a "tad" hot. Frankly I don't feel too bad for his family... his wife was complicit in all this nonsense for many years. Did you read about what he did with his baby boy? It was Michael Jackson-esque. I respect the fact that he was a knowledgable and caring guy, but this guy was testing fate on a daily basis for 15-20 years.

jenks - 09/04/06 10:07
I agree with you Josh- that one day he was bound to be killed- BUT to be killed by a stingray is totally freakish. Usually their spines just HURT and sting. They are not fatal. But it sounds like the angle was just such that it slipped right under his ribcage and pierced his heart! Terrible. Poor guy. He always cracked me up. And I feel sorry for his family.

09/01/2006 15:18 #24667

Happy September

2/3 of the year down, another 1/3 to go! Cheers.

When I get time I'm going to construct a journal entry about the recent movie that highlights a ficticious Bush assassination with the supposed intention of striking a debate about US foreign policy. Its shit like this that makes it impossible for me or any other rational person to vote Democrat simply so that we don't vote for the same people that liberals idiots like this Canadian colossal jewel of ignorance and stupidity do.

joshua - 09/05/06 19:05
Or if you could figure out what an independant thought actually is, which you refuse to admit anybody that is registered as R or votes R is capable of doing... as you once again have proven. Since you brought up "old and tired" after all. Here's a thought - Americans repeatedly have rejected liberal candidates when brought to the ballot box, unless you live in that colossal jewel of naivety known as the People's Republic of California or the infamous northeast. So is everybody else that doesn't agree with you brainwashed? Its so pathetic and laughably wrong to even begin to assume such a thing that for once I'm at a loss for words. I'm insulted that I even have to address this colossal bit of ignorance. Your outlook politically proves that you don't know anything about the country you reside in.

Interesting that you cannot respond to me in any fashion but an insult. You see, when your logic is infallable like mine is, you end up getting that quite a bit. Even more telling and interesting is that you cannot bring yourself to condemn the movie and instead choose to attempt, however poorly, to attack the messenger. Your silence is deafening.

ajay - 09/05/06 18:07
Sigh... same old tired rhetoric. Like the proverbial dog, you're too busy chasing your own tail to stop and think :)

If I could figure out the formula used by Karl Rove to brainwash people like you, I'd be a multi-millionaire (like the Republicans).

joshua - 09/05/06 11:52
Ugh - I hate having to connect the logical dots for you Ajay - its not as if you're Randi Rhodes and are physically incapable of processing information.

What I'm referring to is the mentality that this idiot lib in the UK that made that movie and our own homegrown idiot libs that run, support and vote for an increasingly left-leaning Democratic party share. The movie is intended to stir up debate (also known as cackling and warbling about various levels of Bush hatred) concerning American foreign policy by featuring the assassination of a sitting President. The movie is itself, and was also born out of, obvious contempt of President Bush's policies and from what seems like a heavy, heavy dose of nearly uncontrollable personal hatred and rage. Do you actually think that this movie was made for red-staters?

What I'm suggesting is that the guy that made this movie is no different in basic ideology than any of the Democratic leaders in Congress or the 527 organizations that these politicians are beholden to because of the almighty campaign dollar. You are trying to manufacture a disconnect when you know there is none. I'm not saying that Democratic politicians would like to see George Bush dead, but there certainly has been no outrage or any commentary from any liberal politician to say that this movie crosses a clear line. Sorry, but as an American (no idea actually if you are a citizen Ajay), even if you disagree with the President, if this movie doesn't offend you based solely on the petulence and idiocy of staging a fictional assassination of our sitting President for ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES then its fairly obvious that you're a self-loathing American and unpatriotic (yeah, thats a BAD thing for those who forgot), and it makes you no different in ideology than the guy who made the movie. And as long as you vote Democratic, I cannot. Fairly basic concept.

ajay - 09/05/06 04:20
Wait: someone in *UK* makes an anti-Bush movie, and you blame the Democrats? You do realise that UK is an independent country, regardless of Blair's antics??

"Rational" is not a word I'd use to describe your thought processes on politics, my friend. Try to think for yourself instead of just parroting Rush.

joshua - 09/01/06 16:45
Well, firstly I put up the picture just because I thought it was funny and silly - yeah, for once I did something and without a nefarious second meaning!

On the contrary the sign that he has notes several different categories of liberals, both domestic and international. You have to admit that hippies, the Hollywood crowd and many in France are very diverse outside of their ideology (in a broad sense). Personally I don't see being called a "hippie" a derogatory thing. My father's one, for one thing. I am one in alot of ways too... I embrace hippiedom.

libertad - 09/01/06 15:59
What that man fails to realize is that you don't have to be a "hippie" to oppose the US war in Iraq. In fact, of all those that I know personally who oppose the war, none of them could be classified as "hippie". I think it is safe to say that those who oppose this war in Iraq are fairly diverse.

08/29/2006 11:00 #24666

Best practical joke ever

If you hate the BPD, you should check out this one. Kind of funny.

08/24/2006 22:19 #24665

God has a new trumpeter

Gabriel is playing 2nd now.

Growing up every kid has a set of influences that guide him one way or another along the way. One of mine is a man that most people have never heard of, but if you claim to know anything about jazz and you do NOT know who he is, then you've now been officially certified as a know-nothing when it comes to jazz.

If you ever played trumpet you know who Maynard Ferguson is.

Yesterday he passed away at the age of 78. This guy was an absolute legend in the music industry. He was known as one of the first to be a so-called "screech" trumpeter - the kind of guy who could do the impossible on the instrument and play high notes on the horn so stratospheric that hearing it would make the little hairs on your neck stand straight up. Jay and I grew up being musicians, and our father was a trumpeter as well... the most important thing our father ever did for us was intruce us to a wide range of legendary music practically from every genre imaginable. Part of our extensive musical education was one of his own personal heros - Maynard. As kids we'd get together with some of our musically inclined horn playing friends and we'd listen to a few albums and be absolutely amazed. How was playing like this even physically possible? Listening to his music inspired us to excel and push ourselves to be the best musicians we could be - even if we couldn't squeak out a double C.

Later on in his life he did some amazing things and continued to record - even up to last month when he and his band finished what will now be his last album. He went to India and set up a music school, and traveled there every year to teach and expose yet another generation to his amazing humility and musical genius. As a man, he gave a lot of himself and constantly pulled in college-age talent from the absolute top music schools in the nation to tour with him around the world. Besides the music, he had a very positive demeanor and had an amazing way of telling a story. Anybody would do well to learn from a person like that, and I have to thank my father for introducing me to a musician who inspired and influenced me as much as he did.

3 generations of American jazz musicians idolized this man and are profoundly sad today. In my own way this is my elegy to him. Goodbye Maynard - rest well and God bless you.

joshua - 08/29/06 11:09
Miles Davis is a legend of his own, nobody can compare. Maynard, however, was as well. The difference between Miles and Maynard (besides album sales) is that Maynard revolutionized lead playing, whereas Miles revolutionized jazz in general. Maynard was also an educator for 30 years, which I suppose is why so many people are endeared to him. I was lucky as a kid and got exposed to both men and many others thanks to my father. You left out a guy, but that is ALWAYS the way with jazz, isn't it? Don Ellis. If Maynard was the last of the big band leaders, Don Ellis was probably second to last. Cool band, a bit flashy, loved to play in very odd time signatures... cool stuff.

Maynard played in a way that Miles could never play. And vice versa... but for different reasons. When you saw Maynard live, he and his brass section were absolutely ear splitting... we used to call them "freaks" because of their obvious virtuosity. Listening and watching Miles, I never really got that feeling from his backup. Hell, for me Zappa's band had better musicians then Miles had towards the end... but nobody would argue about the guys Miles played with in the 50s. I'm not criticizing Miles' music though - I love Bitches Brew and Kind of Blue.

uncutsaniflush - 08/24/06 23:41
Maynard Ferguson has a Buffalo area connection. If memory serves I think he played at Crystal Beach or, perhaps, on the Canadia (sp?) ferry.

I wouldn't rate him as highly as you do. I think Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Don Cherry (no not the Canadian Hockey guy) and maybe even Chet Baker are better. But he is definitely one for the ages.

I'm happy that Ferguson brought joy to you.

He will be mourned.

08/22/2006 22:32 #24664

Junk Mail

Greetings from Columbus, MS. Its 85 and humid at 10:31pm CST. The emotional weather is content with a few sprinkles of paranoia (speeding on the highway again) with a 60% chance of a stormy mood tomorrow afternoon (5 hour drive after work).

Its rare that I'm amused by the junk mail in my inbox. Who doesn't hate the random bullshit that some unsavory types want to send?

Lets see...

Someone with the e-mail address swshafer@maxwell.syr.edu sent me a Washington Post article. I don't know who you are, but thanks! I still remain the only (e:strip)per who has been linked from the Post's site.

Someone named "Wet Wendy" sent me something about wanting to "HookUp 4Sexx" (sic)

Apparently JetBlue is my "ticket to the Buffalo Bills" this season. Not that I wasn't sitting in the club section last Friday or anything.

Someone wants to send me a $100 soda gift card. WTF - If my teeth are ever going to rot out of my mouth I'd prefer it to be later rather than sooner.

Ken Mehlman, RNC Chair, loves to send out mass mails about once a week.

The Wet Wendy thing made me laugh anyway.

mrmike - 08/22/06 23:15
You should have stopped by to say high. I'm moonlighting for the Bills and was patroling near the end zone suites