Happy New Year..

How do some people do it?

I am a fan of documentary films and if I had the time and talent I'd love to make a documentary on how folks land "cool jobs". I know what you are saying "March, what do you define as a cool job?" and "Your idea of a cool job is my idea of hell". Okay, okay I guess when I get the dough, the skills, the camera gear and all that I can create a web page to solicit ideas of what to tackle.

My cubemate always says he wants to be a bullpen catcher. There is an idea...

Where is all this coming from? Last night I watched Hard Rock Treasures, a documentary on one of the guys that buys/aquires memorabilia for the Hard Rock resturants, hotels etc..

The most frustrating part was they never talked about how he got the job. He seemed "bored" with it as well. Me, I sat there on the edge of the couch..literally. It's not that it was a fantastic documentary but the subject matter for me all but made up for it.

I have no idea where I am going on all this....

Whew..

Nothing like coming back to work for a "break". Wow that was a whirlwind few days..but a total blast. Good thing this comes once a year.

We have flattened boxes, cleaned up the paper and bows and now we clean up the rest of the Christmas cookies.

The weather here has been mild which is both good and bad. The kids can get outside for a bit not totally bundled up. We were able to play with some of the loot outside too like the T-ball set and the scooters (self propelled). Both Marches took to the scooters well but Little March had a massive slow motion crash yesterday. I have NO idea how she did it..but it was in slow motion for sure. Little wheel, small pot hole..you get the idea. A little later she strapped on some roller blades and, even though learning, she is good about "please let go" and "let me try". After 15-20 minutes she was coasting down a neighbors driveway (~4 feet?). Littlest March and I went in for a bathroom break but he decided to stay in..when i was called outside again to "see what I can do!".

I go out..and little march goes up the hill. Now about 6 feet up this hill. She is all giddy telling me how good she is getting..WATCH DAD!

She puts her hands on her knees..coasts 3 of the 6 feet and then...

P-A-N-I-C

The arms flail..
The knees buckle...
the roller blades start to thump and slap the pavement in rapid sucession.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH

The bottom of the hill arrives..little march is now "sitting in thin air" and down she comes...in a puddle no less.

It is her first fall..and the pads clack and grind..but there is no butt pad.

She lets me, the birds and the people on the street know...she had wiped out.

I pick her up..dust her off but we have had enough.

After some tears and tossing out of the pants (she tore them) she settled down with some popcorn and hot chocolate..and then the words every parent hops to hear.

"I think I know what I did wrong..tomorrow when I try again I'll NOT do what I did".

Merry Christmas...

The biggest lies in all of advertising...

SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED.

Some????! My ass...WTF??!

I feel real good tonight...i got music on the radio...

Happy Friday and I'll say it Merry Christmas

A new (and seasonal) Forgotten Disc Friday segment is up.

This is probably the last one of 2006. Look for some hopefully cool changes to FDF in 2007.

Hope you'll click on over, thanks as always for reading and Happy New Year.
-march

Another round of questions..

Sweet lord...
SammyJoe whom I have known for 35 years sent along these (ya bastard..why not ask me about the best fart story or best BMX jump we ever built)...

Sweet lord (again) here we go:

Holy crap....i grew up with SammyJoe and he asks:

1. If you had to join a military service (at your current age and stage in life) which service would you choose and why?

Ummm ahh wow. My eye sight is so bad that I won't be able to do much other than play in a band or work in a kitchen. If forced to choose I'll go with the Army..they seem more the "upkeepers of the peace". The Marines and Navy will have cleared house by the time I'd need to go anywhere.

2. Faced with the thoughts of a country like North Korea or Iran having the capability to strike the US with a Nuclear weapon, and the need for a third front (one of those two places) would you support a draft?

We have been fortunate so far in that folks are willing to enlist. Its something I am grateful that someone will do for me..trust me. If a draft meant having the most "healthy and capable" folks there to protect us I'd have to say yes, I am in favor. Lets pray it never comes to that.

3. Do Aliens really exist or are all those people in New Mexico just crack jobs?

I am one of those people that things the universe is just too expansive to think we are the "only ones". Do I want angry aliens like War of the Worlds no..but imagine if something like ET came here. We'd finally have something else to talk about besides Paris Hilton! That being said, prove it one way or the other like Ghosts, Bigfoot etc and I'll be happy.

4. JFK conspiracy or again just a lone crack job?

I love me a good conspiracy. There is so much that goes both ways and again its what you find to be the most convincing. I think the whole moving target w/an old rifle had me for ages..no way..then I think the Discovery Channel did a thing on it and a dude was able to pull it off. I think there was some stuff going on though that is a little suspect...so therefore a conspiracy is where I sit.

5. You have one bullet and amnesty to assassinate one world leader who would it be?

Kim Jong-il. He just seems the most dangerous to me...if I am allowed to empty the clip I go for any other African leader that kills their people.

6. If you had the chance to visit any world leader for one day where would you go and what would you want to discuss.

Probably Nelson Mandela. I'd ask him how the heck he kept up his outlook while in prison and the daunting task of getting a nation together that was so horribly out of whack. I am sure there is other stuff we could talk about..but that is a good start.

Two Minute Drill.

I thought about a cool idea to keep me "writing" on the blog on days that I am not sure what to write about. I call it the 2 minute drill and I just type whatever is on my mind in 2 minutes..nothing like a little ADD/OCD and XYZPDQ for you..soooo lets start the clock....

now..

I bought bagels for the group today..it was my turn...Panera Bread is the place to go.

Inside panera they had "cold green tea" and it was the color of green jello.

When I left Panera a restaurant nearby was getting a beer delivery..the driver had the Grateful Dead wailing.

In the right mood... the Dead are second to none.

beer is good..

there was not a lot of traffic on the ride to work

I saw an car pass me with an Alaskan license plate..crazy driver....

TV is a repeat tonight so I can focus on the Bruins

Man I hope they win

holy cow that was a boring two minutes....

Round three.

YOBB asks:
Do you have a FOMF list?
-this is my brother for starters. YOBB stands for "Your Other Brothers Brother". We speek in IM code in our daily life. FOMF for those not in the know is "F**K OFF Mother F**Ker. There is BOMF (Back off Mother F'er) SOMF (Suck on it MFer). Some new faves are when we'll ask "How is your day" and get "UYAMF". Up your ass..ahh you get it.

I try to keep postive but I do need to give a strong a hefty FOMF to Macy's. That store pissed me off last night. I had more coupons but had to spend XX to get XX off etc. Well the things I needed were on sale (good) but I had a pocket full of coupons that I can't use because I didn't spend enough, or I bought and item you can't use a coupon on. The back of the coupon has about 15,000 words in a 2 by 4 inch space. Sooo that being said Macy's Department Store gets a nice addition to my holiday FOMF list.


The second comes from
Guinness Tooth
He had a series..so here goes:
1. Would you rather make out with the world's ugliest woman, or the prettiest dude?
-if its the world's "Ugliest" woman I'd have to assume her mouth looks like a freaking cave, her breath will stink and her lips would be "polished with sandpaper". That being said and tossing my masculinity aside I'd make out with a handsome dude. Even as a dude we can admit another dude is decent looking dude right??? hello..anyone there? (crickets).

2. So you're away from the wifey in Las Vegas, you hit it big and head out to one of the brothels to try something different. Do you go with the midget? Or do you go with the chick weighing close to 500lbs?

- if you wanted to word it "you have to choose" then I'd be stuck. Since you didn't I can breathe a sigh of releif. Not being "preachy" but cheating to me is just not worth it. A single night of fun (and for me about 44 seconds) would equal a life time of hell on many levels. If I won a big jackpot sex would actually take a back seat (for once in my life and for only a minute) of the list of top things I wanted to do.

3. Would you rather loose a leg from the knee down, or an arm from the elbow down?

-tough one..but I am going to say a leg from the knee down and hope for a great artificial leg. I think the loss of my hand would really really mess stuff up..and a "fake hand" is creepy on so many levels.

4. If you had to change your name, what would you change it too?

-one wants to go "funny" on this but honestly I love the name Miles. It got tossed out for littlest march so I need to hold out for the "next pet" and try again.

5. Alpine or x-country skiing?

- i am lazy i like to sit..then coast...so Alpine. I did recently get a used set of x-country skis to bang around the yard..but they haven't been used much.

6. Any chance we'll ever work out a way to get me a copy of that U2 show from 10/4/05?
-Yes..in early Jan lets get this done.

Jenny G just can't get enough and asks:
Would you rather become blind or deaf? Neither is not an option.

- i like music too much and thanks to the internet for good and bad I think I have "seen" more than I ever need to. The most important things to me personally I have seen. I have seen my wife, kids, my parents/family, mountains, oceans, flowers, trees and all that sappy stuff. Would I like to see the pyramids in person..sure. If I lost my sight today sure I'd be bummed but even in my rage I'd still have to deep down be glad I have memories. That being said in a round about kinda way..i'd like to keep hearing.

Another few questions..

Thanks everyone this is really fun.
Deb of Fresh Air Lover fame asks:

What is the best Christmas gift you ever received?

Answer - I need to kinda cheat and say 2 things really stand out but they also were years ago which I think was for the best as it makes me so excited for the season every year no matter the age.

The first was this:



Its from The Empire Strikes Back and it is the Imperial Snow Walker or "AT-AT". It was the biggest suprise and the box had to have used up a full roll of wrapping paper. This was it for a lot of years.

Then a few years later I recall being a part of my first ever "toy craze". The big thing that year was this:



It was called "Lazer Tag" and it was all I wanted. Before the days of ebay and what have you parents needs to track stuff down. Often the malls were a good hour away from each other. I just remember wanting this so badly but I was old enough to know there was demand/shortage etc. So Christmas day came and I went thru all my gifts waiting for the Lazer Tag and nuttin. My dad, the slowest unwrapper ever cracked open a gift and said "Oh wow look what I got!" and it was Lazer Tag. He told me it was his and that Santa brought it for him. It was an awful joke but pretty great looking back at it.

Come to find out a neighbor down the street from us was bumbling thru a store looking for "other stuff" and came upon a few of them so he grabbed 3 of them. I got one and my 2 buddies got them. We played that game all day every day for months.



and
Ramblin Rose asks two:

If you could reccomend a book what would it be and why?

Answer - I always wish I read more. I read to my kids every night but when it comes to me reading outside a magazine/newspaper I read a few pages tops a night before bed. I need to go with
this book for kids. It is for kids, but the lesson(s) it teaches could answer your next question but that would be cheating on my side. On top of that I love the art in the bool

If there is one thing you would like your kids to "get" ie.. life lesson in life what would it be and why?
Hmmm just one eh wow...how about "Establish good credit at a young age"? That is important but I'd like to teach them to never be selfish...and that life is just not fair so get used to it.

Answers to 2 sets of questions..

In the last post I said "ask away" so far 2 people:


Jenny G asked "What is the Meaning of Life"

That is easy..and I do this in the style of
Leslie Nielsens character of Dr.Rumack from Airplane!
It is a movie starring John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam amongst others..but that is not important right now.


From Annoyed "I have a few"

1. What's your opinion of Gay Marriage?
Ohh boy nothing like going in easy. Here goes:

I think the issue most people have is with the definition of "marriage". I was raised catholic and I try to still uphold "some" of the teachings. That being said, I am all for it. If two people love one another that much to be committed to each other why not? The literal meaning is "man and woman" I know with the idea of procreation. What about the married hetro couples that DON'T want kids? I think its a shame that something so personal has such a profound effect on outsiders. If you are in love , and want to be "joined together" you should have the right to the benefits of any other "married" couple. I think calling it anything else is wrong as well. A "joint union" sounds so fake to me. I'd like to say I am sorry if I offended anyone..but I am not. Annoyed asked...I answered..

2. What's the worst album you listen to knowing it sucks...but you just can't help yourself? Checking my music snobbery at the door...Thiller. It kicks ass on so many levels. Too bad MJ screwed up BADLY.

3. You could be a cast member of SNL for one season. Which season do you pick? Probably a season w/Chris Farley...a close second to Will Ferrell. Both of these guys have given us the most memorable characters and were the two strongest members of all time. That being said and without hunting down which season I'd have to say for Farley any year that Spade was still on the show or w/Ferrell the Sheri Oteri years. I am sure the surrounding cast members realized that if they were in a skit w/said person(s) they'd really need to bring their A game.

4. Where's waldo? Waldo is right there..bottom of the page surrounded by the juggling clowns and Irish dancers.

5. You have to live in another country for a year. Which is it? (It can't be Canada) - Since I can only speak and understand one language I'd lean towards an English speaking nation. If its on someone elses dime Australia. New Zealand a close second. England/Ireland would work as well.

6. Worst thing you ever ate? - Ate or tasted? Full on ate I am sure was a pube nestled in to something unsuspectingly but I pray that to never ever be true. I tasted one of those super sour, sour balls once..that was horrid. As far as "I'll try that to see what its like" I had a snail once..and I knew it was a snail so that made it worse.

7. The last time you cried in front of your wife? Off the top of my head it was a week or so after our first child was born. I just remember sitting at the kitchen table and suddenly realized I was responsible for someone other than myself. It overwhelmed me and I was suddenly no longer "ecstatic" about being a dad..I was scared out of my mind. I am ecstatic to be a Dad of course..and yes..still scared (only on some levels)

8. The last thing one of your kids said that completely SHOCKED you? - Little March told me three of the moons of Jupiter so convincingly I thought she made em up. Nope..she nailed em.

9. You make to heaven and God is throwing the first Heaven Woodstock. He tells you to pick five bands to play it. Who do you pick and why?
Excellent question. I am going to go with the "hope" that I will be around for a few more years and that all the members or said bands will be already there. In no real order. Mozart. Even though I am not a massive classical kinda guy I'd like to see him play. Second. Miles Davis during the bee-bop years. I was lucky to see him before he died, but have since grown leaps and bounds as a fan. Third - The Beatles. Just to see them. Fourth - The Clash - when they were ready to go in to the Rock and Roll Hall of fame there was rumors the band would bury the hatchet and play live together...Joe Strummer died thus putting an end to that. Fifth - The Police..I just don't think it will happen in my lifetime. (Talking Heads too!)

10. How has blogging in general met, exceeded or missed your expectations?
I enjoy it on so many levels. I have "met" some very diverse people and been allowed to poorly express my thoughts on things. In that its "free" its hard to get mad when it won't upload pictures or seems to "die" when I have a witty comment. I agree with your post on it..charging a very minimal fee would weed out so many of the dead blogs and keep the people that want to be here..here. It can't get really any more "user" friendly as far as drag and drop and icons to indicate what you can do. Overall I'd say I am pleased.

Whew..thats it so far..more of em..fire away.

Sure why not..

In the spirit of some of the blogs I read such as Annoyed Fresh and
Ramblin Rose I guess its time I opened up the flood gates for your questions. So if you feel like it ask March "whatever" and I'll try to be honest..just don't ask me for my social security #.

If you don't want to do that..have a view at this..


Fresh had it on her blog late yesterday. It was from Saturday Night Live this past weekend. Headphones are probably suggested.

I have been DVR'ing all the SNLs this season and this episode on a whole was the strongest.

Ten Things I learned This weekend

Pretty good weekened all in all..10 things I learned...

1) If at a Christmas party in a home that has only one bathroom and 30+ guests..drink hard liquor. I was at this party for 5+hrs and used the bathroom ZERO times. This is HUGE for me. I have the bladder of a mouse usually.

2) After said party..drink more than 3 16oz glasses of water...I was "okay" Sunday but could have been better if I did not go to the
New England Patriots game on Sunday. People always say "if you are hung over a little just drink another beer and you'll be fine". I must not have been hung over..cuz the 1.5 beers I had before and during the game were the WORST. Almost to the point of me swearing off beer FOREVER. Uggh.

3) I also learned you actually CAN eat steak tips and potato salad at 10am.

4) I learned that some people spend $80.00 on a Pats ticket and go just to talk as loud as possible with people around them..and if that is not enough they have to call their asshole friends on their cell phones "Am I on TV" or "Where are you sitting I am over here..look..I am waving..I am the guy in the pats shirt..Jesus why can't you see me?"

5) I learned that every now and then buying a scratch ticket is NOT as waste of dough. I won $200.00 on one Saturday. I am one of those people that plays the lotto when its 100 Mil or more (not that 1Mil wouldn't help) and I do scratch tickets MAYBE 3 times a year. I won..I'm done..i'll cool it. Perfect time to win 200 beans though.

6) I learned its almost impossible to get tired of eating Christmas cookies.

7) I learned if you wait till about a week before Christmas you save about 10% on your tree.

8) I learned that all Christmas specials are pretty scary and sad. People are always mean..in the end it turns out..but why did it take me 30 Years to realize people can be mean but because gifts are involved they "get nice".

9) I learned that in a pinch you can open a bottle of beer with a ring on your finger. I was showed how "just in case". Sometimes going white trash and drinking beer in cans is just far too easy..

10) I learned that its harder to come up with 10 things I learned after the fact.....I guess I learned I need to keep a small notebook with me to jot things down.

Education's dead. I knew the answer, but had all the questions wrong.

Happy Friday!

A new Forgotten Disc Friday segment is up. This week Dim returns!

Hope you'll click on over.

Something to listen to you probably will enjoy...

I have to thank Hotwirefor posting something along these lines to remind me..

Here in Boston there is a 24 hr News channel. I am like my Dad in that I need my "15 minutes of BZ" every morning. In a 15 minute burst you get news (local and world) traffic, weather and then sports. It then all but repeats..all day every day. Its not horrid and anyone from MA that reads this blog can't even begin to count on two hands and feet the # of times they sat close to the radio to listen for school closings on snow days.

There is a guy that is on M-F at 7:56 am and I try to time it every day to catch him. His name is Jon Keller and he does a program called "Keller at Large". Most mornings I have "just" left daycare dropping off Littlest March and my ride home I hang on his every word. Its about 60 seconds long and it is an editorial on things both local and national. I know most folks look at editorials as such but this guy gets so much right IMO.

You can listen to some of his posts right
Here

Now, you don't need to download a thing..just click on the play button. He is well spoken and as noted..right on the money. Listen to 11/6/2006 for his talk of the "holiday tree". But listen to the subtle things like what the meaning of Christmas is. I really like the one he did on Kid Rock and Pam Anderson (11/20 or 11/29). He makes a great GREAT comment on the celebrities getting married, lasting months and everyone getting bent..yet a gay couple can be "married" for DECADES and its looked at as wrong...dunno it just makes sense when he says it.

Most of the stuff he does if you don't live in MA or New England you won't "get" but he is worth these 2-3 clicks.

In the News...

In the news -

Read in ESPN the magazine : Mom arrested for smoking pot in her car while at child's soccer practice.

Omaha residence have been asked to call 911 if the see anyone smoking in public.

The new trend in plastic surgery - "Eyelash transplants"

A gang beat up teenager in Canada and filmed it on video, then they forced the victim to watch the tape of the beating.

Of the 100 million people added to the US Population since 1967, 55% were immigrants or their U.S.Born offspring - Chicago Tribune.

The average annual pay for an American CEO is 10.5 million - 369 times the pay of the average worker - Businessweek

Studies have shown that eating as few as 2 poppy seeds off your bagel will produce a positive result for opiates on drug tests - Livescience.com

A German inventor created the i-Stick. Its like a medical alert bracelet but inside a cane.

The price tag for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan will soon surpass the price tag of the decade long Vietnam conflict. By next year the US will pass 600 BILLION. The Vietnam War in todays dollars...536 Billion (USA Today)

92% of frequent flier airline miles are never used.

Only10% of the estimated 135,000 adoptions in the US each year involve an "anonymous unwed mother" surrendering her baby.

39% of highschoolers today say they expect to be millionaires by age 40. Currently only 1.2% of American adults actually are.

Kevin "Cannonball" Aiderton is a 35 year old speed skier that just set a new speed record...105 MPH...oh yeah..he is blind.

A Missouri couple bought a 1,600 cam corder took it home, opened the box and found a box of pasta sauce. Upon returning to the store they were not allowed the exchange..since the package was sealed when it left the store.

The world chess foundation will begin to test its players for steroids.

GQ magazines Newlyweds of the year? Kid Rock and Pam Anderson.

Want that OJ Book that was dropped? Over 200,000 EACH on ebay.

Jay Leno is quoted as saying he has not eaten a vegetable since 1969. After being married for 26 years now he says "I am not trying to impress the ladies".

More than 155,000 Americans have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. 16,000 of these are unwed mothers. (Washington Post)

More than 50,000 people in America have died between 2000-2004 as a result of something they ate. (Howard News Service)

The AK-47 assault rife, introduced in WW2 remains the firearm of choice for 50 nations armies and countless guerrillas. Its is used to kill about 250,000 people a year (Washington Post)

Internet shopping this holiday is expected to rise 23% this year to 27 billion. (Smartmoney)

Online dating services will make over 550 Million this year alone. 55% of its members are over 35. (Consumer Reports)

and now..the nominees...

Sweet mother of all that is good and holy. If there is one thing most music fans loathe it is when the Grammy Award nominations come out. What is considered by many to be an absolute joke to begin with really showed how out of touch it was when Jethro Tull won best metal performance over Metallica. The academy (are they called that) made up for that major blunder by giving Metallica an award a year later..and drummer Lars Ulrich said "Thank god Tull didn't put out an album this year!".

Anyhow..here is a list of some of them..with my snide comments and observations.

THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF RECORDING ARTS & SCIENCES, INC.

For recordings released during the Eligibility Year October 1, 2005 through September 30, 2006
Note: More or less than 5 nominations in a category is the result of ties.


Record Of The Year
(Award to the Artist and to the Producer(s), Recording Engineer(s) and/or Mixer(s), if other than the artist.)

Be Without You - Mary J. Blige
You're Beautiful - James Blunt
Not Ready To Make Nice - Dixie Chicks
Crazy - Gnarls Barkley
Put Your Records On - Corinne Bailey Rae

My thoughts - I have heard 2 of these songs...10,000 times. Who should win - Gnarls Barkley. Who will win Dixie Chicks...middle America is back on board and EVERYONE wants a fresh new quote/meltdown on stage.

Album Of The Year
(Award to the Artist(s) and to the Album Producer(s), Recording Engineer(s)/Mixer(s) & Mastering Engineer(s), if other than the artist.)

Taking The Long Way - Dixie Chicks
St. Elsewhere - Gnarls Barkley
Continuum - John Mayer
Stadium Arcadium - Red Hot Chili Peppers
FutureSex/LoveSounds - Justin Timberlake

My thoughts - I have heard 2 of these records. Neither would make my top 5 of the year but who am I to judge. Who will win - Justin Timberlake..the academy won't recognize the other names. Who should win - I'll go w/the RHCP mostly because it better than the others IMO..and you know that Mayer record just has to be horrid..audio ipecac.

Song Of The Year
(A Songwriter(s) Award. A song is eligible if it was first released or if it first achieved prominence during the Eligibility Year. (Artist names appear in parenthesis.) Singles or Tracks only.)

Be Without You - Mary J. Blige
Jesus, Take The Wheel - Carrie Underwood
Not Ready To Make Nice - DixieChicks
Put Your Records On - Corinne Bailey Rae
You're Beautiful - James Blunt

My thoughts. Holy crap..just reading that list makes me want to kill myself. Who will win - Is James Blunt the only one that released something of note this year? You could not escape that song this year. Who should - my gut says Corinne Bailey Rae..she will be this years Norah Jones and the music biz needs her BADLY.

Best New Artist
(For a new artist who releases, during the Eligibility Year, the first recording which establishes the public identity of that artist.)
James Blunt
Chris Brown
Imogen Heap
Corinne Bailey Rae
Carrie Underwood
My thoughts - anyone can win this..cuz remember if you win this you get the curse. Milli Vanilli won this..as did Men At Work. Who will win - Blunt. Who should CBailey Rae..and its not because I want her to fail..if that were the case it would be Underwood!!!

Best Female Pop Vocal Performance
(For a solo vocal performance. Singles or Tracks only.)

Ain't No Other Man - Christina Aguilera
Unwritten - Natasha Bedingfield
You Can Close Your Eyes - Sheryl Crow
Stupid Girls - Pink
Black Horse And The Cherry Tree - KT Tunstall

My thoughts - before you read this did you realize Pink had any other songs besides "Get this Party Started"? Tossing out my "indie cred" I'll admit I L-O-V-E-D Unwritten..i sing that song every time I hear it. Who will win - Sheryl Crow ..hello cancer survivor...Who should win - KT Tunstall.


Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
(For a solo vocal performance. Singles or Tracks only.)

You're Beautiful - James Blunt
Save Room - John Legend
Waiting On The World To Change - John Mayer
Jenny Wren - Paul McCartney
Bad Day - Daniel Powter


My thoughts - Freaking A I am beginning to think Blunt has some incriminating photos of the president of the academy. Hello wake up..of all the songs you had to choose you HAD to include a Paul McCartney tune?! Holy crap. In a show of hands have you ..or anyone you know bought anything from Sir Paul in the last few years. (beatles excluded) by this point the audience and academy has to be sick of Blunt so sadly McCartney is gonna get it..just to freaking kill me..and as the ass hat accepts his award he will do that frickin "THUMBS UP" shit he always does..UGGGGH.


Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal
(For established duos or groups, with vocals. Singles or Tracks only.)

My Humps - The Black Eyed Peas
I Will Follow You Into The Dark - Death Cab For Cutie
Over My Head (Cable Car) - The Fray
Is It Any Wonder? - Keane
Stickwitu - The Pussycat Dolls

My thoughts - I need a drink..whew. No matter what I try to say or do....Black Eyed Peas or the Pcat dolls will win this. The biggest reason..FASHION. What are they wearing. Death Cab looks like book store clerks. BOOOOOOOORING even if the song was good its not good TV.

Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals
(For a collaborative performance, with vocals, by artists who do not normally perform together. Singles or Tracks only.)

For Once In My Life - Tony Bennett & Stevie Wonder
One - Mary J. Blige & U2
Always On Your Side - Sheryl Crow & Sting
Promiscuous - Nelly Furtado & Timbaland
Hips Don't Lie - Shakira & Wyclef Jean

My thoughts - okay I just threw up a little in my mouth. Bennett and Wonder..been there done that w/Ebony And Ivory. I really like U2 but that version SAA-HUCKS. Who will win - Tony Bennett. He has been everywhere since that NBC special..and everyone else has years more to win.

Best Pop Instrumental Performance
(For solo, duo, group or collaborative performances, without vocals. Singles or Tracks only.)

Mornin' - George Benson (& Al Jarreau)
Drifting - Enya
Subterfuge - Bela Fleck & The Flecktones
Song H - Bruce Hornsby
My Favorite Things - The Brian Setzer Orchestra

My thoughts - Enya still makes records?! Its also an odd category since George Benson is jazz, Enya is basically new age, Hornsby is rock for aging hippies..well in a sense, Setzer is swing. There are a ton of instrumental categories this needed to be spread out. Who should win - no idea..who will Enya.

Best Pop Vocal Album
(For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.)

Back To Basics - Christina Aguilera
Back To Bedlam - James Blunt
The River In Reverse - Elvis Costello & Allen Toussaint
Continuum - John Mayer
FutureSex/LoveSounds - Justin Timberlake

My thoughts - Okay blunt..who the f' are you sleeping with?? gad zoolies..why does the academy always recognize Costello at the wrong times. Its a challenging listen for sure. Every woman i know it seems loves Aguilera and Timberlake. This is a total crap shoot...whooo boy..I think Aguilera takes it..but only after the pan the audience looking for another crotch picture of Britney...

Best Dance Recording
(For solo, duo, group or collaborative performances. Vocal or Instrumental. Singles or tracks only.)

Suffer Well - Depeche Mode
Ooh La La - Goldfrapp
Get Together - Madonna
I'm With Stupid - Pet Shop Boys
Sexy Back - Justin Timberlake & Timbaland

My thoughts - having anyone win but Timberlake or Madonna i'd have a scant more respect for the academy..even if the songs are not as good..but lets face it..Goldfrapp is not gonna win this.

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album
(For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.)

Duets: An American Classic - Tony Bennett
Caught In The Act - Michael Bubl
Wintersong - Sarah McLachlan
Bette Midler Sings The Peggy Lee Songbook - Bette Midler
Timeless Love - Smokey Robinson

My thoughts - Shee it..my grandmother doesn't even own any of these lame records. if this is the best no wonder people think music sucks. Come on...none of this is even "modern". I know I know.each has a place but if this the best...i am scared for the worst.


Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance
(For a solo vocal performance. Singles or Tracks only.)

Nausea - Beck
Someday Baby - Bob Dylan
Route 66 - John Mayer
Saving Grace - Tom Petty
Lookin' For A Leader - Neil Young

My thoughts. Beck and Mayer don't have a chance. Look at the legends on this list.

Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal
(For duo, group or collaborative performances, with vocals. Singles or Tracks only.)

Talk - Coldplay
How To Save A Life - The Fray
Steady, As She Goes - The Raconteurs
Dani California - Red Hot Chili Peppers
The Saints Are Coming - U2 & Green Day

My thoughts - Dim said it best..how can anything off XY (coldplay)be nominated? Again..as much as I love U2 that song is horrid. A DJ on sirius said it best..when he said "if this were not U2..or Green day for that matter I am not sure we'd play it". Who will win - U2/Green Day as it was a charity single...Who should - Raconteurs..cuz that song is great.

Best Hard Rock Performance
(For solo, duo, group or collaborative performances, with vocals. Singles or Tracks only.)
Crazy Bitch - Buckcherry
Every Day Is Exactly The Same - Nine Inch Nails
Lonely Day - System Of A Down
Vicarious - Tool
Woman - Wolfmother

My thoughts - the music biz gave up on Buckcherry a few years ago and even if they sold a lot of records they do not want to say "bitch" if they don't have to. NIN has slowed WAAAY down and System is much like XY..been out too long. The academy won't waste the vote on Tool who just won't show up.

Best Metal Performance
(For solo, duo, group or collaborative performances, with vocals. Singles or Tracks only.)
Redneck - Lamb Of God
Colony Of Birchmen - Mastodon
Lies, Lies, Lies - Ministry
Eyes Of The Insane - Slayer
30/30-150 - Stone Sour

My thoughts - the coolest categories (ie the ones w/the potential for the most entertaining acceptance speeches) are never televised. Mastodon released one hell of a record but my gut thinks Stone Sour for some reason as the safe call. Nasville Pussy was nominated a few years ago for this award and part of me was begging for some prude presenter needing to read that name...never happened..bastards.


Best Rock Instrumental Performance
(For solo, duo, group or collaborative performances, without vocals. Includes Rock, Hard Rock and Metal. Singles or Tracks only.)
Chun Li's Flying Bird Kick - Arctic Monkeys
The Wizard Turns On...- The Flaming Lips
Black Hole Sun - Peter Frampton
Catsellorizon - David Gilmour
Super Colossal - Joe Satriani
My thoughts - I'd love to see the Flaming Lips win for so many reasons..mostly because Wayne would give a speech like this..(just pt 1)



How can Frampton get a nod for a song he didn't even write?! Satriani has owned this category for ages..look for them to stick w/familiar ground here.

Best Rock Song
(A Songwriter(s) Award. Includes Rock, Hard Rock & Metal songs. For Song Eligibility Guidelines see Category #3. (Artist names appear in parenthesis.) Singles or Tracks only.)

Chasing Cars - Snow Patrol
Dani California - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Lookin' For A Leader - Neil Young
Someday Baby - Bob Dylan
When You Were Young - The Killers

My thoughts - Killers and Snow Patrol are too new. They are up against Dylan and Young. Even though radio seems to shy away from anything new these guys put out look for one of them to pull it off. The jaded middle ager that tunes in will freak out if anyone BUT Young or Dylan wins..cuz everything new "sucks' don't cha know?

Best Rock Album
(Vocal or Instrumental. Includes Hard Rock and Metal.)
Try! - John Mayer Trio
Highway Companion - Tom Petty
Broken Boy Soldiers - The Raconteurs
Stadium Arcadium - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Living With War- Neil Young

My thoughts - Sweet lord..i am ready to break out in convulsions. As far as a rock album Raconteurs is the way to go but Petty or Young get it...again..familiarity for the home and voting audience. The RHCP could have made 2 records down in to one that would have been way better.

Best Alternative Music Album
(Vocal or Instrumental.)
Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not - Arctic Monkeys
At War With The Mystics - The Flaming Lips
St. Elsewhere - Gnarls Barkley
Show Your Bones - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
The Eraser - Thom Yorke

My thoughts - this is where the academy will shoot itself in the foot. Look for Gnarls to take this..soley based off the strength of "Crazy". If they were to vote for Thom Yorke or the Arctic Monkeys it would scream they are a bunch of fakes and really have no clue. (I liked the AMonkeys record to boot). As a huge fan I'd love to see the Lips win..but if anyone wins barring Gnarls I'll be stunned..


Best Female R&B Vocal Performance
(For a solo vocal performance. Singles or Tracks only.)
Ring The Alarm - Beyonce
Be Without You - Mary J. Blige
Don't Forget About Us - Mariah Carey
Day Dreaming - Natalie Cole
I Am Not My Hair - India.Arie

My thoughts - is there something in my eye? Natalie Cole?! I consider myself pretty much on the pulse of a vast amount of music even if I don't like it..but I have seen, heard, read NOTHING about her since that abomination "Unforgettable" won years ago. This category I don't have a strong opinion on as I am not too sure..so I'll be like the academy...look for Cole to win.

Best Male R&B Vocal Performance
(For a solo vocal performance. Singles or Tracks only.)
Heaven - John Legend
So Sick - Ne-Yo
Black Sweat - Prince
I Call It Love - Lionel Richie
Got You Home - Luther Vandross

My thoughts - Vandross gets the nod posthoumsuly. There are better Prince tunes on 3121. Even though Lionel Richie is on the cusp of Tony Bennett like resurgence popularity look for Luther to get the ladies to take their panties off again.

Best R&B Album
(For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.)
The Breakthrough - Mary J. Blige
Unpredictable - Jamie Foxx
Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship - India.Arie
3121 - Prince
Coming Home - Lionel Richie

My thoughts - Jamie Foxx has a record out? If he wins it slaps everyone else nominated in the face. Even though I have not heard it I just have a feeling it sucks.


Best Reggae Album
(Vocal or Instrumental.)

Too Bad - Buju Banton
Love Is My Religion - Ziggy Marley
Youth - Matisyahu
Rhythm Doubles - Sly & Robbie
Who You Fighting For - UB40

My thoughts - anyone out of college actually listen to more than a single reggae track by anyone other than Bob Marley? Like anything there is a time and place but a whole category..whew. Of all of them Matisyahu had the most radio play....this is a crap shoot but I think the name Marley stands out to the voters.


Best Musical Show Album
(Award to the Album Producer(s), and to the Lyricist(s) & Composer(s) of 51% or more of a new score. (Artist, Lyricist & Composer names appear in parenthesis.))

The Color Purple
The Drowsy Chaperone
Jersey Boys
The Pajama Game
Sweeney Todd

My thoughts - Anyone see any of these? Anyone hear of these besides Sweeny Todd and the Color Purple? The Color Purple wins this cuz Oprah had her hands in on it. Watch that night as she breaks both arms patting her self on the back...

Album Art
There are 2 categories for best album package and best box set. I think the days of this category are numbered. What will replace it? Most desirable jpg from down load.

And finally....
Best Short Form Music Video
(For an individual track or single promotional clip. Award to the Artist and to the Video Director/Producer.)

8th Of November - Big & Rich
When You Were Young - The Killers
Here It Goes Again - OK Go
Dani California - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Writing On The Walls - Underoath

My thoughts - first as I always say I realize I am no longer MTV's target demo. That being said where does one even SEE videos these days..oh yeah You Tube. I am sure all these are posted. I have only seen two and i have to say that the Ok Go was very clever. I am still shocked that record labels budget for this in a bands contract..because so many of them go unseen.

Don't say I didn't warn you.....

Weekend is here...

You can never get too much of a wonderful thing

Happy Friday.

A new Forgotten Disc Friday segment is up.

Hope you'll click on over.

-march

A day of skating...

This past Tuesday I had the chance to "Skate with the Providence Bruins". I am a 5 game "season ticket holder" which is pretty great. I have the same seats for the games and I spread them out so I go about once a month. This is one of their "perks" to season ticket holders.

I took my 10 year old nephew. He loves hockey so I knew this would be a great time. The funny thing is he has skated on the ice at the Dunkin Donuts Center at least twice..as well as the TD Bank North Garden (Home of the Boston Bruins and Boston Celtics). Did I mention he is 10 and has done this?!

We arrived about 3:45 and got in line. We then were sent "downstairs" to put on our skates. We were told "As soon as you are ready go on out". C was so ready to go so I said "GO GO GO!". The new video score board was showing highlights and fights and then they turned on some music. We had about 1 hour to "skate" and meet the players. At about 4:15 the players game out.

C had on his PB's t-shirt so he decided he wanted to have that signed. He skated around and met the players and they all signed stuff, said hi and posed for pictures. Once he was done with that he asked for my "silver sharpie" and went off to "meet the players again". His hat and shirt were now covered..he decided "why not" and took off with a yearbook on the players and had them sign each page (or the page with their image/stats).

It was really a blast. The players were beyond accomodating, posing for pictures and just skating around like any other person.


At one point towards the end a lot of the players were leaned up against the boards watching the highlights and we skated up to make sure we had everyone sign stuff. I said to one of the guys "Arent' these just re-runs to you guys?" The response was the best "Well yeah..but we only watch video to show us the BAD stuff we do..never the good...so this is fun".

As noted the players were really nice and very VERY good about making sure the kids were taken care of..and bottom line that is the most important. We were soon ushered off the ice (there were 2 more skate with the players sessions to get to) and as we unlaced our skates I got the ultimate reward from "C". He said "How awesome was THAT?"

Awesome indeed my man..aweseome indeed.

Get ready to vote...

A big congrats go out to Ryans Smashing Life(also one of my links) for his nomination towards "best music blog of 2006". Voting will be up soon and be sure to check out his page for more information on the voting. While there check out one of the oh..100's of mp3s and videos for download. Best wishes man..you got my vote.

Yesterday I went to skate with The Providence Bruins. I need to upload some pictures but it was a total blast.

That actually wasn't too bad..

Well I finally made the switch. I am on to the "new blogger".

Coffee Chatter it went smooth like butter..i didn't lose anything (that I can tell) so if you haven't made the move it seems to be pretty simple..cuz if I can do it..anyone can.

short bursts...

If you are beyond bored you can check out a list of the 50 best commercials of the 80's. The list starts here and I gotta admit I thought "Freedom Rock" was thing of the past..but hahaha..that is funny...sooo TURN IT UP!

Also a few people messaged me about Explosions in the Sky tickets..and they are finally up on Ticketmaster if that is your thing. I encourage folks to check out this texas instrumental band, you can thank me later.

Only working 1/2 day today so its time to "get to work".

Goin w/the flow..

Yeah Hi..how was your weekend? good..good..nice...

Saturday - Around the holidays my parents like to take our 2 kids and 2 of the older cousins for an overnight. This weekend was it! They go to dinner and go see various light displays have a sleep over, decorate the tree at Grammies..make FUDGE and have fun. Mrs March and I had "date night" for the first time in ages. We did a little bit of shopping and then went to dinner. We went to a place local to us that people have been talking about. It was an old mill converted over. It was okay, trendy and a little pricey. When we left people were waiting to get in...table for 2...TWO HOUR WAIT. It was about 730 or so at this point. 2hr wait?! Are people nuts? I guess I am so used to getting in to a place at 5pm and ordering Mac and Cheese or Chicken Tenders before even looking at the menu.

Sunday we went to get the kids and then I took my nephew to see the Providence Bruins. We missed his birthday so I took him to the game and we ate bad stuff then we hit the pro shop for a hat and t-shirt then we went to dinner. He had a good time I think. We had baby back ribs and rootbeers. Good times. He turned 10 this year and just loves hockey so it was a grand time. On the ride home he was asking when we could go again AND....AND go for ribs. Ahhhh he is part of the bloodline for sure! Little March went caroling for cans w/her Girl Scout Troop. She wanted to go to the game but caroling was more important to her (and to other people..she is so unselfish..its wonderful)

Monday - It snowed here today..just a tad over a dusting. Littlest March has been waiting for it to snow. He asks EVERY morning "did it snow last night?". Today I woke him to show him that it was snowing. At first he was telling me to "be quiet" and "get out of my room". See he was still sleeping..and I needed to get him up. When he did finally sit up and look out the look on his face...ahhhh that is what I needed on a Monday.

Freaking Explosions in the Sky tickets were supposed to go on sale 12/4...I guess that was for the pre-sale cuz I can't get any right now..bastards. Also it blows that Michigan is not playing Ohio State for the championship game. Talk about a ratings juggernaut..but NOOOOOO freaking Florida. F-.

Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail....

Happy Friday and you now have 24 shopping days till Christmas.

a new Forgotten Disc Friday segment is up.

Hope you'll click on over.

-march