Who's Mr. NASCAR - JEFF GORDON!!!

Woo-Hoo -my 50th post.

And after 6 races this season - who is Mr. NASCAR so far?

Jeff Gordon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And Jimmie Johnson - 4th place. OK, so who cares about 4th place right? Well, if it's Jimmie Johnson, I CARE!!! He's won the last 3 championships, but if Jeff Gordon wins, ok with me, since they are teammates. Teammates unless they are the top 2 racers in a race, but let's discuss that some other time.

Oh, and here's some dude named Andre. Apparently he's about to get laid off from his job, even though he's the only dude actually working.

Looks like he works for the government, or perhaps a banking institution of some kind.

Go Andre! Wouldn't want him leaching off the backs of the people.

Wildlife Photos - Part 1

I've been inspired by numerous blogs by other people. Foodie blogs, electronics, sports, BBQ stuff, and then I thought - "Hey - I don't have any wildlife photos!" Not that I'm Ansel Adams, but I thought maybe a few of those would be nice.

These shots are from Buckhorn State Park, in Grand Island, NY. I thought with all the taxes I pay to NY, might as well get some wildlife photos.

Got some nice blue color in this shot. Unfortunately, since it's still very early in the Springtime, there's a lot of brown, muddy-lookin' stuff around the park these days. The water is muddy, the grass is mostly brown still, etc. I think I'll have to return in a few weeks when there's more green and other non-brown colors around to look at.

Wildlife Photos - Part 2

This is actually Photo Collection #2 from a recent visit to Buckhorn State Park. Located in lovely Grand Island, NY, home of the Vikings (the High School sports teams that is - there are no actual Vikings still around, at least not on 'The Island').

I seem to have gotten some nice blue sky on some of these.

A little birdhouse compete with it's own squirrel-stopper.

A lone Mallard Duck cruisin' down the stream.

Cast Iron Cooking Stuff - Old And New

Tonight I have some Cast Iron stuff I'd like to show you.




First, a brand new cast iron skillet from Range Kleen.

Comes pre-seasoned. I cooked up some nice bacon to help season it more. Cast iron cookware requires some real TLC. You must clean and season it to make the nice smooth surface that makes it a non-stick item.

Here's a Dutch Oven. I don't think it's really from the Dutch lands of the Netherlands.

In this picture you can see the markings on the bottom of my Dutch Oven.

8

D O

Made

In

USA

I can picture Homer Simpson saying "DOH!! Made In USA - where's USA?"

I think cooking stuff with this HEAVY HEAVY cast iron stuff is very cool, or maybe hot - or maybe I should just say it's excellent. It ain't cool since you really have to heat this thing up, and if I say it's hot, well, it's hot alright. Cooks up food great.

Cast iron cookware gets more non-stick the more you use it. I've cooked bacon, eggs, sausage, onions, and many other things, and every time I use it, it's easier to cook with, and easier to clean.

Google cast-iron stuff and you'll be amazed.

Oh, and follow your dreams!

An Old Toy, New To The Net!

Here's my latest gadget toy - the Rolodex NAME CARD - from 1991 apparently. It is an old toy that needs a new battery.



It can be programmed to remind me of important events.

Like doing something that is scheduled.

I need a 2032 button-type battery - oh, look, I have one here.


I can schedule a beeper to ring when I want it to. COOL!








Here is my battery package.






Here's my battery removal screwdriver - how cool is that???







It goes to it's little "Hello World" date of 1-1-1991 - WOW IS THAT OLD???????

I can still get it to remind me of cool things on my schedule, like watching a truck race. Fantastic!

What a cool little obsolete device. I love obsolete devices in case your have not noticed.

The Toronto Bills? - Revisited

I saw another article today about the Buffalo Bills playing games in Toronto. I wonder how long it will take to come up with the new logo for the Toronto Bills. I think a bison with a toque on, with a maple leaf would be great.

http://www.buffalonews.com/home/story/616482.html

On the plus side, I heard the Bills will be starting the season with a Monday Night Football game. On the minus side - they will play New England. TO (the player) will have to make some big plays.

Also, I thinks it's a bad sign that we just signed a player who goes by TO at a time when the city known as TO is trying to snach the Bills up.

A Pasta Recipe And A Little Olympic Humor

Today I thought I'd share a nice little video of a chef who has a video on his blog:

http://foodwishes.blogspot.com/

Here's the video of an easy-to-make pasta recipe. He also throws in some Olympic 'updates' throughout the video.

http://foodwishes.blogspot.com/2009/03/obvious-benefits-of-very-high-carb-diet.html

It's the Olympic Freestyle Pasta video.

Oh, and follow your dreams.

Reference To Paris Hilton With An Important Lesson

Here's my 43rd post. I like the number 43 because it reminds me of the number of cars that always start in a NASCAR Sprint Cup race.

I saw this video on http://www.seriouseats.com/ and it makes a reference to Paris Hilton. They use Paris to describe a piece of meat - how appropriate. Something about no brains and a blank stare.

http://www.seriouseats.com/2009/02/chewing-the-fat-batali-and-bourdain-paris-hilton.html

I find it to be a good video because they bring up the subject of being creative while making a meal. Why just eat food when you can make it interesting?

Tribute To Stubbs BBQ Sauces - EXCELLENT

Here's a tribute to Stubb's sauces. Excellent stuff.





http://www.seriouseats.com/2009/03/christopher-b-stubbs-stubblefield-the-texas-barbecue-music-austin-icon.html



Great sauces I have used for years. Plus: you can buy this sauce at many stores everywhere, how cool is that?

Good sauce.

Finally Recording Original Music

Yesterday I finally got back into recording SOME OF MY ORIGINAL MUSIC ! ! ! !

So please excuse all the excitement.

One of my friends got hooked up with a digital recording interface so we can record music into the computer using some really cool RECORDING STUDIO SOFTWARE!!!!!!

First, he's got this interface from Presonus. You can record like EIGHT CHANNELS OF AUDIO AT ONCE !!!!!!

Wow.

Here's a mixing board. We used this to control the music signals coming from guitar, bass, and a vocal microphone.

On the computer - CUBASE RECORDING STUDIO SOFTWARE !!!!!!

Pronounced Q-base.

I'm trying not to get too excited while typing, but it's not working.

I started off by copying some drum & guitar loops into the audio tracks. Then we added some guitar solos, to boost our guitar-hero egos, of course.

Then I worked on a totally new tune I just pulled out of thin air (or as we put it, out of my ass). Normally you would never want to make up a song while you're in a recording studio, since you would probably be paying at least $40 bones an hour. However, when you have your own gear, you can just throw down whatever you want!!! If it sucks, you just start over, and you haven't wasted oodles of cash, just a little time. And you're not really wasting time, since when you write your own material, you have to write 5 or 10 things before something good really shows up.

The tunes we did yesterday were pretty rough, but when we work on them more and they sound better, I'll try to post some sound clips RIGHT HERE BABY!!!!! Can you sense any excitement from me?

40th Post - JEFF GORDON ! ! !

Today I'm putting up my 40th post - WOO_HOO!

And today, Jeff Gordon has the most points in the NASCAR Sprint Cup - YYYEEEEEEAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

But watch out for Matt Kenseth.

He actually has the most $$$$ dinero $$$ won so far this year - like twice as much as Jeff Gordon, who is the points leader.

How is that?

Well, lets look at who wins races - Matt Kenseth.

Ok now, that explains it, since Matt has won 2 of the 4 races this year, and Jeff Gordon has won zero races this year. Do the math - but why does Jeff Gordon have more points?

Do the math.

Ok, NASCAR math is very complicated.

You can have someone cool like Jeff Gordon finish very good in the standings, and you can have someone like Matt Kenseth who won 1/2 the races this year so far, but who screwed up on the other 2 and sucked big-time. So he lost out and was just not getting more points per race. Jeff was better overall at each race.

Don't get me started on how to calculate NASCAR points, especially at the end of the season.

Ok so public school did not teach you enough math to understand this. That's ok, that's why public school is for kiss-ass people who trust the government to help them wipe their asses. If you learn math on your own, in the big bad world where you have to take care of yourself, then you can figure this out. Who knew NASCAR was so advanced.

So who is the greatest???

Jeff Gordon!!!!!!!

Do the math.

I have coffee, Life Is GOOD!!

Here is some coffee I bought recently from Quality Markets.

Quality coffee - vanilla flovored.



I bought the beans.

Buying bean coffee allows you to grind the beans right before you want to use them.

Fresh-ground coffee beans - the key to great coffee!

And really hot water.

MMMM - hot coffee! Life is good.

Have A Grand Day

Here is one of my favorite easy-to-make foods where you don't have to do any serious work.


GRANDS!!!

These are so simple to make and yet they taste pretty good.

Basically, you just pop open a can of these things and heat 'em in the oven.




Here's a batch gettin' ready for action.

Oh, and let's not forget the little Pillsbury dough dude. How could you NOT buy a can?

MMMMMM.

They taste pretty good for how little work you have to do.

Vintage Computer Games From Atari

Oh how I love old computer games. Years ago Atari ruled the world.
Here's an old Atari 2600 game console.





Here's a video of Defender from an Atari 800 computer. WOW!!! This is the video I tried to upload a few weeks ago but it didn't work, then I was full of piss & vinegar about it. Today I could upload it.

Finally!

Today Atari is not a gaming company, at least not at the top of the industry.

Hot Chics & Hot Racecar Drivers

Today I'd like to dedicate a post to a couple of hot chicks who also happen to be hot racecar drivers.

Danika Patrick, of the Indycar Racing League, A/K/A the IRL. You may have seen her on one of the Super Bowl commercials last month. She's on the Andretti Green team. She used to be with the Rahal/Letterman team, which is part owned by David Letterman.

Here's Milka Duno, also of the IRL. She's not as good a racer as Danika IMHO but she's good enough to be in the league, and that's something.

RRRRRAAAOOOWWWW

But don't be fooled by their hot looks. They can race with the guys, and Danika even won an IRL race last year (and she cried on Victory Lane - should have seen that coming). Danika wants to be the first woman to win the Indy 500. I wish her good luck, but she'd better win it soon, or else Milka will steal it from her.

Plus there's another female in the leage, Sarah Fischer, who even owns the racing team itself.

For more info, go to http://www.indycar.com/ which is the official IRL website.

Labatt's Beer To Stay In Buffalo

As a native of the Western New York Area, around Buffalo, NY, I've found Labatt's beer is very good. Here's an article about the company that brings us such a delicious alternative to more ordinary beers.

http://www.buffalonews.com/258/story/587911.html

Beer. It's not just for dumb-asses any more.

D

JEFF GORDON ! ! !

So far after 3 races, the NASCAR racing points leader is..........

JEFF GORDON ! ! ! ! ! From my favorite team in NASCAR - Hendrick Motorsports.

Jeff Gordon is always someone who can win, but the last 3 years his teammate Jimmy Johnson has been winning the championship. And if Jimmy Johnson wins the cup this year, he will be promoted to the rank of racing God. But for now - JEFF GORDON ! ! ! !

Also on the Hendrick team are 2 of my other favorite racers Mark Martin and Dale Earnhart Jr.

Gotta watch out for that Kyle Busch. He's not one of my faves at all, but is a great racer in his own right.

But for now -
JEFF GORDON - YYEEEEEAAAHHHH !!!

Fixing Up My Old Practice Guitar Amp

Here are some photos of my recent project to rejuvinate an old practice guitar amp.

I am using a power supply to power it up. It's your typical 12-volt/13.8-volt DC power supply from a surplus electronics place. Better than batteris, although I could hook up a 12-volt battery in it's place if I want to use it somewhere away from AC current. Or I could use a bunch of D batteries.

It's got a nice power transistor on the back with a heatsink, to dissipate all that heat from crankin' up the volume. Cool (or Hot, however you want to look at it).

Here's a close-up shot of the amp chip. This amp is actually powered by an integrated circuit amplifier. All the transisters and what-not are on a single chip! This has some advantages and disadvantages. The main thing is it makes the whole circuit nice and small. The chip also has a heat-sink on it, to dissipate all that heat from crankin'up the volume.

I've got the amp board wired to an 8" speaker that was once a woofer in a small set of bookshelf speakers. It seems to have a decent treble response, at least for a practice amp.

Here's the amp hooked up to the power supply.

I hope to put this thing into a real cabinet sometime soon. Right now it's just sitting in a cardboard box, which isn't the best way to go.

Here's a little sample of that powerful tone. Actually, it's not that loud. I think the chip is only capable of about 8 watts of output. Not much, but this is only intended to be a little practice amp.

Rock on people.