Aces & Strings

NFL Quote Of The Day

2008-09-21T19:07:00.001-05:00

Bob Griese attempted 67 passes today to lead the Tampa Bay Buccaneers over the Chicago Bears in overtime. One commentator during a postgame show said, 'He threw to guys I didn't even know were on the roster!'

Economic Justice?...what does that mean?

2008-09-09T10:40:00.004-05:00

An interesting article from Investors.com details Obama's economic plan for change. But is it a change we can afford? Read for yourself and decide.

Time For Term Limits?

2008-09-04T13:46:00.003-05:00

It's the beginning of 2008, Football season is starting, Baseball season is in it's homestretch with teams counting games they need to win before clinching their divisions, and the US 'Do-Nothing-Congress' has a dismal approval rating of 17.8% Approval rating..the lowest in history. This figure taken from Real Clear Politics

Dare I hope that people are waking up? 535 people are in our US Senate and in our US House of Representatives...working for us, the citizens of the United States. We pay their salaries, and they are to do what we want them to do...but there is no accountability, there is no performance plan that they stick to, just a bunch of empty promises election after election. And we keep sending the same tired bunch to Washington...WHY?? What is it going to take for the people of this country to say enough is enough, and to tell Washington to stop wasting our money?

How many of you reading this have a job performance plan? How often does your employer review it with you? If you are like me it is quarterly, with an annual review that determines any bonus opportunity. My performance determines a healthy portion of my job's compensation, beyond my salary. If I do not perform satisfactorily I am negatively impacted. If I do perform, I am rewarded. Let's compare that model with our 'employees' in Washington. What happens when they do not perform? They are rewarded by being re-elected. What happens when they do perform? They are rewarded by being re-elected. The only thing that prevents incumbants from winning elections these days seems to be scandals that their opponents capitalize on.

Did you know that when our great nation was just starting out, it was up to the US President to maintain the residency out of his own pocket? It was because of this that John Adams (I think) complained to Thomas Jefferson that nobody would want the job of President. I believe that because of this mindset, the framers of the constitution did not see a need for term limits because they did not foresee an abuse of power. But, since the colonial days taxes have constantly increased and budgets have steadily grown fostering that drive for power, so there you go.

We introduced term limits for the US President under the 22nd amendment which was adopted in 1951 after FDR was elected for a record 4th term. Unfortunately, that amendment stopped a little short though...what's good for the goose is good for the gander...it should have been expanded to include congressional members as well. We do not need professional politicians running this country, we need Doctors, Farmers, Hairdressers, Stay-At-Home Moms, Computer Programmers, and even Lawyers...point is, people from all walks of this country bring different perspectives to the table, and that is what moves this country forward. Not the same worn-out, arguments by the same familiar faces.

Now 'We the people' have 0% chance of getting a bill like that approved, much less brought to either floor as long as our duly elected representatives are the ones that would be the ones to vote to cut their own throats! I do believe however that Supreme Court Justice appointments should remain lifetime appointments though...in my humble opinion.

Until the people revolt and institute term limits to send a message to our 'Do Nothing Congress' we are gonna keep sending the same old tired faces back to DC - on both sides of the aisle.

Vote for YoMama

2008-08-25T13:31:00.002-05:00

If you are not satisfied with the choices in this year's political election, there is another option...YoMama.

Check it out.

Expanding my music education

2008-08-22T14:11:00.002-05:00

Yeah, yeah..I know it has been awhile. Will try to be more diligent. ;)

Would start by recapping what I have been learning musically in the last few months...and how.

First, songs on Bass...

I figured out how to play the following songs all by ear:

"Far Cry" - Rush
"The Main Monkey Business" - Rush
"You Know My Name" - Chris Cornell
"Twilight Zone" - Golden Earring
"Dream Police" - Cheap Trick
"Turn Up Your Radio" - Autograph

The following I learned by partially with my ear, and partially by watching videos on YouTube:
"I Wish" - Stevie Wonder

These songs I have printed out tablature from one of my homes away from home, and am still working on learning:
"Carry On Wayward Son" - Kansas
"Sweet Child O Mine" - Guns'n'Roses

On Electric Guitar...

I got tabs from Ultimate Guitar and am learning:
"Far Cry" - Rush
"Clocks" - Coldplay
"Speed Of Sound" - Coldplay
"Moses" - Coldplay

On Acoustic Guitar...

I got tabs from where else?? and learned:
"Green Eyes" - Coldplay

In this acoustic song the high E string is tuned down a whole step to D and there are some really aurally pleasing chords (imvho) in the G6 and Dadd9 chord progression. There is also a great progression from G6 to F7M and finally resolving to a C that is great as well. I think Coldplay uses a 12-string normally, but the song sounds great on a 6 string.

NOTE: to play along with the recording, Capo the 2nd fret, and add 2 chords not mentioned above, Am and Asus2 and you are all set...Enjoy! For a great version of the tab including recommended strumming pattern, check here.

Otherwise, here is a recap of the chords needed:

G6
D---|---|---|---|
B---|---|-o-|---|
G---|---|---|---|
D---|---|---|---|
A---|-o-|---|---|
E---|---|-o-|---|

Dadd9
D---|---|---|---|
B---|---|-o-|---|
G---|-o-|---|---|
D---|---|---|---|
A---|---|---|---|
E---|-o-|---|---|

Am
D---|---|---|---|
B-o-|---|---|---|
G---|-o-|---|---|
D---|-o-|---|---|
A---|---|---|---|
x---|---|---|---|

Asus2
D---|---|---|---|
B---|---|---|---|
G---|-o-|---|---|
D---|-o-|---|---|
A---|---|---|---|
x---|---|---|---|

C
D---|---|---|---|
B-o-|---|---|---|
G---|---|---|---|
D---|-o-|---|---|
A---|---|-o-|---|
E---|---|---|---|

F7M
D---|---|---|---|
B-o-|---|---|---|
G---|-o-|---|---|
D---|---|-o-|---|
A---|---|---|---|
x---|---|---|---|

Community Service

2008-01-15T08:59:00.001-05:00

One day a florist goes to a barber for a haircut. After the cut he asked about his bill and the barber replies, "I cannot accept money from you. I'm doing community service this week." The florist was pleased and left the shop. When the barber goes to open his shop the next morning there is a 'thank you' card and a dozen roses waiting for him at his door.

Later, a policeman comes in for a haircut, and when he tries to pay his bill, the barber again replies, "I cannot accept money from you. I'm doing community service this week." The officer is happy and leaves the shop. The next morning when the barber goes to open up there is a 'thank you' card and a dozen donuts waiting for him at his door.

Later that day, a college professor comes in for a haircut, and when he tries to pay his bill, the barber again replies, "I cannot accept money from you. I'm doing community service this week." The professor is very happy and leaves the shop. The next morning when the barber opens his shop, there is a 'thank you' card and a dozen different books, such as "How to Improve Your Business", "Becoming More Successful", etc.

Then, a Congressman comes in for a haircut, and when he goes to pay his bill the barber again replies, "I cannot accept money from you. I'm doing community service this week." The Congressman is very happy and leaves the shop. The next morning when the barber goes to open up, there are a dozen Congressmen lined up waiting for a free haircut.

And that, my friends, illustrates *the* fundamental difference between the citizens of our country and the members of our Congress.

-- Author Unknown

I received this joke(?) in an email from my good friend (Thank's Lou)...and it made me laugh, then it made me think, then it made me mad!

My bride and I put me through school and it was hard. We made plenty of sacrifices because we knew then what it would be worth in the long run! I've worked very hard for the money to put a nice roof over my family's head, food on our table, and clothes on our backs!...and my Bride has done just as hard a job raising our children from Babies into the wonderful middle-schoolers that we have today!..plus she manages the Universe that we all survive in - in fact her title is General Manager of the Universe!!

Outside of our realm, I give what I can to help our family, our church, and other charities like the Salvation Army, Policeman's Benevolence Association, etc. To me that is the biblical model.

And so it really irks me that I pay such exhorbatant taxes to bail others out just because they have made bad along the way, or someone knowingly allowed or empowered them to make such a choice - like a lending institution lending money to borrowers that the bank knows have no way making the payments! Inevitably, this 'crisis' will be solved just like it always is...the government is just gonna dip into middle(-income) America's (deep) pockets for the solution...just like they always do. Income Redistribution at it's finest...taking money from one group and giving to another through the art of Taxation.

I once had a judgement filed against me for an outpatient surgery. That lingered for quite some time and did any government agency come to my rescue? Did anyone tax someone else to pay for my hospital/Doctor bills?...lemme think...I know the answer to this....HELL NO!!! No one came to help us, the responsibility was squarely on our shoulders...we could not write that one off, or get the rest of America to pay that bill...nor should they. It was our responsibility, and we paid it off.

I got an email some time ago that claims that roughly 100 years ago, none of the following taxes existed?

Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
Capital Gains Tax
CDL license Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Court Fines - (indirect taxes)
Dog License Tax
Federal Income Tax
Federal Unemployment Tax - (FUTA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel permit tax
Gasoline Tax - (42 cents per gallon)
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax Interest expense - (tax on the money)
Inventory tax IRS Interest Charges - (tax on top of tax)
IRS Penalties - (tax on top of tax)
Liquor Tax
Local Income Tax
Luxury Taxes
Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax
Property Tax
Real Estate Tax
Septic Permit Tax
Service Charge Taxes
Social Security Tax
Road Usage Taxes - (Truckers)
Sales Taxes
Recreational Vehicle Tax
Road Toll Booth Taxes
School Tax
State Income Tax
State Unemployment Tax - (SUTA)
Telephone federal excise tax
Telephone federal universal service fee tax
Telephone federal, state and local surcharge taxes
Telephone minimum usage surcharge tax
Telephone recurring and non-recurring charges tax
Telephone State and local tax
Telephone usage charge tax
Toll Bridge Taxes
Toll Tunnel Taxes
Traffic Fines - (indirect taxation)
Trailer registration tax
Utility Taxes
Vehicle License Registration Tax
Vehicle Sales Tax
Watercraft registration Tax
Well Permit Tax
Workers Compensation Tax

that email also states "...our nation was the most prosperous in the world, had absolutely no national debt, had the largest middle class in the world and Mom stayed home to raise the kids."

So...what happened??

This country's government was not intended to be run by the same people, elected term after term. Originally it was run by Farmers, Doctors, and yes, Lawyers too but not almost exclusively by lawyers the way it is today! The everyday person from across the country would do their Community Service and go to Washington or to serve in their local or state government for 1 or 2 terms and then return to their normal career. This ensured fresh ideas were brought to the forefront, and government was not the festering, stagnating cesspool called status quo that it is now...or worse, have the scent of corruption that so often escapes into the air.

Sigh! The Democrat party is right about one thing...it is time for a change in Washington and around the country...long past it. But that change is for the Professional politicians to get the hell out of office and stop ruining this country for the rest of us!!...for it is no longer Of, For, and By the People...today it is Of, For and By the Bureaucrats!

Love your job or hate it?

2007-08-29T09:51:00.000-05:00

It's a 'Hate my job' day here in my world. Some days are good, some are bad...

The perfect analogy for my job as it stands today hit me the other day. A normal Manager's job is like a Quarterback. The QB get's instructions from the Coach on the side lines and then programs the team with the play that will be executed and as a unit they carry out the play to accomplish a mission, a purpose, a goal. If that play is interrupted or changed midstream, the success of that mission is endangered. In my situation, I am the QB...part of 1 team...the difference is we are playing 4 football games simultaneously for 4 different coaches. Our 'plays' are interrupted or changed midstream on a second by second basis each and every day making progress a thing that seems hard to come by. It's amazing that a SAP system the size of one we are trying to deploy is even getting off the ground...because our timeframe for deployment has been about the same as falling from 60,000 ft with parts of a plane and trying to assemble them into a working flying machine before you hit the ground!

Needless to say that the past 18 months have been just a wee bit stressful on everyone around and our families! It's amazing any of us are still married! I've had fleeting ideas about chucking this and picking up my guitars and power tools and makin my living off music and carpentry. Sometimes, a lot of times, I think I would be happier. A lot poorer, but happier.

So what about you? Love your job or hate it? If you love it why?...and if you hate it...what would you rather be doing?

Since I was here last...

2007-07-07T14:29:00.000-05:00

It's been awhile since I posted anything. This year has been busy...so I will try to bring you up to speed...just on the interesting bits!!

* Work, work, work - sorry...I know. I did say interesting bits only! But congrats to folks on my team who have taken permanent positions!!

* School's out - The kids finished school early June. It's kinda short lived since they start up again July 16th :p We tried to transfer them out of the year round program and into the traditional school (which we live closest too)...but that is typical for our town! I better stop there or a tirade could ensue!

* Rush Concert - My favorite rock group, Rush stopped by on their "Snakes & Arrows" World Tour!! So of course I had to go see them...will try to post photos that I took from my camera phone..as ghastly as they are!! My good, good friend, fellow Rush fan, and fellow musician scored us tickets that were 4th row, straight away center stage!! It was totally cool and totally loud!! I had only seen 'The Boys' one other time and that was during the 2002 Vapor Trails tour and this show was better - in my opinion. I bought the obligatory Tee!!...now to find a boot of the show! :)

* Vacation - Now that July has arrived it's vacation time!!! Last week we all went to the beach for a week. It was very nice to unwind with the Wife and kids!! I even played golf!!...which prior to, I had not even swung a club since May 10, 2005...and I managed to keep my score under 100...barely! We spent plenty of time in the sun, in the water, etc...no offshore fishing this trip, just one evening off the neighborhood pier before the fireworks. Speaking of fireworks... (segue)

* July 4th Fireworks - We sat at the end of the pier looking across the waterway at the island runing parallel to the soundside. Everywhere up and down the island and the soundside there were fireworks going off. At the large fishing pier on the far side of the island, and at the center of town way down the waterway there were professional fireworks displays being launched...clearly visible from our location. 2 years ago we had taken the boat down the waterway to see the town's firework show, but this was much better because we got to see many other fireworks in addition, plus we did not have to deal with the 20 minute boat ride back in the dark.

May be awhile before I post again...more work and more travelling!! I'll write again when I can...bye for now.

Remains

2007-02-28T19:40:00.000-05:00

As I walked down the beach I came upon some interesting items...some expected, and some not. Shells of all kinds littered the beach...various whelks, cones, conchs, scallops, clams, muscles. Sand dollar pieces...(BTW - would these be sand nickels, dimes, quarters??)...even a whole sand dollar. Some large, some small, some broken, some whole.

The more unexpected items were the front half of a sand shark, the back half of horse shoe crab, a vibrant colored purple spined sea urchin, a couple of crab pincers that still had brilliant blue colors in them.

All of these 'remains' made me stop and think. What will be left of me on the 'Beach of Life' after I am gone? What impression will I have made in the 'Sands of Time'? Will my memory be picked up like the attractive, colorful shells?...put on a shelf to be treasured and revered?...or will it be like the carcasses of the shark and crab and just decay into nothingness.

Will I remain?

My Music Room Setup

2007-01-14T10:09:00.000-05:00

Here are some images of my Bass rig:

This is my Bass. It is a Geddy Lee Signature from Fender. It's a replica of his '72 Fender Jazz Bass. I really love the tone that you hear on 'Red Barchetta' off the 'Moving Pictures' CD.

I run the bass through a Line6 Bass pod. The Line6 Pods let me simulate different amps, cabinets, effects, etc. I have really enjoyed using mine. It has a built in tuner, but I dont really like the tuner part of it.

And of course the bass needs to boom...so that comes out of the 100Watt Ampeg Amp.

While Bass is my forte I am trying to branch out and educate my self on 6 strings instead of 4. To do this I picked up an Electric-Acousitc Guitar and an Electric Guitar last year.

Here is pic of my Electric Acoustic Guitar. It's a Samick guitar that has a decent sound to it both acoustically and when it is run through an amplifier.

Here is a pic of my Electric Guitar. It is a Fender Squier Stratocaster. I bought the starter package from my local music store here - The Music Loft

The Guitar came with a little 15 watt amp. It's not much but it's enough to get started with.

Since I have had success with the BassPod I picked up a Line6 Guitar Pod as well and am having a blast with the effects that it has.

I use the floorboard to remotely control either the BassPod or the GuitarPod whichever I am using at the time.

Next I'd like to setup my computer to where I could record guitar and bass tracks or pick up a seperate unit that does that function like the Boss BR-600.