Man, what a heart-breaker.  There is nothing that knocks the wind out of you like losing on the very last play of the game.

I didn’t watch the game because it wasn’t televised, and I didn’t feel like going to a bar to be the only guy who wants to watch Michigan State.  But I kept tabs on it and even listed to the final 3:00 on streaming radio.  For 55 minutes, it was a fairly boring game.  A battle of field goals, and not much else.  3-3 at the half, and 6-6 MSU after the third.  And then at just under 3:00 to go, Iowa kicks one to tie it up at six all.  State marches 60 yards in six plays and scores the first TD of the game making it 13-6 MSU.  And it only took 1:19 for that drive.  If only it had taken 1:21.  Iowa takes seven plays to find themselves on the MSU seven yard line; first and goal.  Three downs and three incomplete passes later (one of them actually picked off, but offensive holding is called and negates the interception), it’s forth and seven with :02 on the clock.  Props to Iowa.  Stanzi to McNutt for six points and it’s all over in East Lansing.  Dang!

MSU is back to even at 4-4 overall, and fourth in conference at 3-2 behind Iowa, Ohio State and Penn State; all ranked.  Iowa leads the Big Ten at 8-0 and is now ranked #4.  Oh, and this is the first-ever 8-0 start for Iowa.  I like Iowa, and I hope they have a great second half of the season representing the Big Ten.

What’s next for Sparty?  The Golden Gophers in Minnesota under the lights.  Better bring the long-johns for that one.  Minnesota is also 4-4, but 2-3 in conference after a 38-7 loss to Ohio State on Saturday.  I’m hoping MSU can take Minnesota, Western Michigan and Purdue so that they are 7-4 when they take on Penn State at home to end the season.

On a side note, I’ve decided to be a better man in regards to my attitude towards Michigan and Notre Dame.  No, I’m not suddenly a Wolverine fan or pulling for Charlie Weis, but I am going to take a higher road.  No more name-calling.  No more angry commentary.  UofM is a rival, but also a school and a football program that deserves my respect.  Michigan has lost three of its last four games including the 35-10 route by Penn State on Saturday, but they are still 5-3 overall.  And in regards to Notre Dame, well, I’ve always like ND.  I just don’t care for their current coach.  And I still don’t.  But I’m not going to call him names and make fun of his physique any longer.  The Irish are 5-2 and the Clausen-to-Tate offense is becoming legendary for fourth quarter comebacks.  They’re back in the rankings and except for Pitt, their schedule is not too challenging.  Good luck to both of these teams.  I’m not rooting for them, but I’m not hating on them either.  I already feel like a better man.

Maybe I’m reliving my college days?  Maybe I’m simply getting back to timeless style and proven quality?  Who cares, I guess.  Yesterday I received a box in the mail from L.L. Bean.  I had ordered a pair of the Bean Blucher Mocs, and they had arrived.  I had a pair of these classic shoes back in my MSU days.  Along with a pair of Ray Ban Aviators, crumpled chinos and an untucked worn blue oxford hanging out from a reverse-weave Champion Michigan State sweatshirt, it was part of my standard gear circa 1988.

When I think back, I only really wore the following shoes all though college:  Sperry Top-Siders, Bean Blucher Mocs, Dirty Bucks (brand?), Sebago Oxblood Penny Loafers and White Leather Tretorns.  Oh, and a pair of Bean 10″ Maine Hunting Boots when it was especially wet or snowy.  Pretty preppy of me in retrospect.  And I would wear / still wear all of these same types of shoes today.

So, back to my mocs.  The good first: They fit very well.  They feel great on.  They look basically the same.  The cost was cheap at under $70 with free shipping (found a coupon code online).  The bad: They changed the sole.  It looks basically the same when you have the shoes on, but the color seems different and the pebble tread (which was completed worn away on my old pair leaving them smooth to the point of being glossy – very slippery when wet) is replaced with “channel grooves” much like the Sperry sole.

Overall, I’m very pleased.  They really, really need to get broken in.  This wasn’t a problem back in my MSU days when I’d walk miles and miles every single day of the year in sun, rain and snow.  Also, I would guess the color of my original pair was much darker from gallons and gallons of keg Busch being spilled on them at fraternity parties every week.  I may have even had a “shoe beer” at one point, but I’m not clear on that point.

So, I’m pleased with them.  The little lady doesn’t seem to like them though.  She asked my yesterday how many pairs of shoes did I really need?  Well, “need”… probably not many.  But since when are we operating on a “need” basis?  Point taken though.  I just need one great pair of Penny Loafers and I’ll be good for a little while.  And maybe some saddles…

My team, the Spartans of Michigan State University, played Northwestern today. It was a noon game on ESPN2, and I watched it on the TV out on the screened-in porch. We had cable installed out there just for this reason. Why outside? Well, I like to enjoy a good cigar during the game and I don’t smoke cigars inside of the house.  So today was nearly a perfect day…

MSU beat Northwestern 24-14. It was an all-second half game for the Spartans. Besides the opening drive, which was impressive but resulted in no points, the Spartans were flat offensively in the first half. I don’t know what Coach Dantonio told the boys at the half, but they came out swinging in the third quarter. Blair White was awesome. 24 unanswered points! I really enjoyed it. My dogs even seemed to enjoy it. MSU is now 4-3 overall, and 3-1 in the Big Ten – they’re tied for second with Ohio State while undefeated Iowa iS 3-0 in first. Our boys in green will play the Hawkeyes in East Lansing next week, and it is the first night game of the season for the Spartans.

Side note, I don’t believe Spartan Stadium has lights. It didn’t when I was there. In 1987, we played USC for the home opener in Spartan Stadium at night and they brought in trucks with lights attached to cherry-picker contraptions. It was cool being at Spartan Stadium at night. We beat the Trojans that night in late August, and then we beat them again at the Rose Bowl in January.

Jimmy Clausen is talented, no question, but he looks like a serial killer. And have you noticed that he spits all of the time. Not just spitting out some Gatorade or water, but non-stop spitting. I just makes him look even more psycho, really. I thought they taught those boys some good catholic manners at that school. And honestly, Golden Tate is awesome.

But it didn’t matter as the Trojans beat the Irish 34-27. Notre Dame put up one hell of a fourth quarter rally which made for an exciting finish, but they just couldn’t pull it out. Even with two huge USC penalties for automatic first-downs and crucial yardage. It just wasn’t meant to be. That’s eight-in-a-row for USC versus ND. Charlie just can’t beat Southern Cal. But don’t cry for the Big Chuck, he 4-2 and his remaining schedule is pretty easy. I think ND could even go 10-2, which will keep Charlie at ND for another year. Bummer. But good call, Charlie, on the longer jacket – it hides the front-butt pretty well.

Lastly, and unfortunately, the University of Michigan Wolverines won today. They played Delaware State (who?) in the Big House, and won 63-6. But who the hell is Delaware State and why is Michigan playing them now? The loss to Michigan represents a two-game streak after last weeks loss to the powerhouse Bethune-Cookman (who?). Whatever. Michigan get’s back to playing college football next week as they take on Penn State in Ann Arbor. Michigan is 5-2 overall, 1-2 in the Big Ten.

Oh, and how the hell did Purdue beat OSU today? These things happen.

Well, the Michigan State Spartan football team is back to even.  The losses to Central Michigan and Notre Dame were awful.  Both could have been avoided, but that’s football.  And injuries are starting to become an issue with Winston out for the season and Nichol questionable.

There are some things to feel pretty good about though…

• First off, two weeks ago we were 1-3.  Now, after week six is in the books, we’re 3-3.  That’s an upgrade from “abysmal” to “mediocre”.  Again, not great, but an improvement.  And this is a building year.
• We’ve got bowl potential.  Any post-season game would make me very happy.
• We beat the University of Michigan Wolverines.  Any year we beat Michigan is a good year in my book.  And, we beat them two years in a row for the first time in my lifetime (or at least since the year I was born).  MSU beat Michigan in 1965, 1966 and 1967 – that was the last time we had back-to-back victories over the self-proclaimed “victors”.  Now, back-to-back-to-back wins…
• We’re currently fifth (ahead of Michigan) in the Big1o standings.  That may change, but we’re 2-1 in conference.
• Coach Dantonio continues to demonstrate solid coaching and leadership, and he’s signed a long-term contract, so he’ll be steering the Spartan ship for many years to come.

I think MSU should handle Northwestern, Purdue and Western Michigan.  Iowa and Penn State will be very tough games.  Minnesota, I’m kind of 50/50 on that one.  So, based on this thinking, we can hope to be 6-6 or better.  Of course, who really knows.  The Spartans are fully capable of beating a much better team, and also capable of losing to a much worse team.  My prediction at the end of week 6: 7-5.

Go Green!!!

Do you know what this is?

It is synchronized bike riding, ya’ll.

Who knew such a thing existed (outside of an SNL writer’s head)?

I didn’t. But it seems to be real. Real enough to have held the 2009 Junior Championships this past May.

And the thing is…It’s kinda damned imressive.

For real.

Seems harder than a balance beam. Or rhythmic gymnastics. Or Spectating. (Still a sport, right?)

1979.  2000.  2009. 

These are the tree years that Michigan State’s basketball squad has found themselves in the NCAA Championship game. 

In 1979, led by Magic Johnson, the Spartans won over Larry Bird’s Indiana State team.

In 2000, it was Mateen Cleaves (and his fellow Flint-stones) winning over the University of Florida. 

And now, 2009.  At Ford Field in Detroit.  The MSU Spartans will take on the University of North Carolina Tar Heels for all the marbles.

I’m really proud of the Spartans for stepping up and beating Louisville AND Connecticut.  Louisville was a #1 seed, and is ranked #1 overall.  What a huge win that was.  And UConn was also a #1 seed, and ranked #5 in the AP list.  I honestly think if we can beat Louisville and Connecticut, we can beat anyone.  We do have a few things working in our favor…

• Ford Field.  Yep, that’s 70,000+ fans shouting “GO GREEN.  GO WHITE.”  This is a huge venue, and that fact that it is in Detroit, only a 75 mile drive from East Lansing, is a huge perk.  UNC has many, many fans all across the nation, but tonight in Motown, the Spartans are at home.
• Michigan.  Michigan is beat up.  As a state, they aren’t really doing so well.  Nation-leading unemployment.  Kwame Kilpatrick in jail.  The Big Three being bailed out.  And it’s still snowing up there too!   I believe the Spartans aren’t just playing for Michigan State University, I believe they are playing for the great state of Michigan.  Emotionally, this is a big deal.
• Defense.  The Heels make their bacon with speed.  They sprint on offense which allows them to get in to position before the defense is set.  And they know how to make shots.  But MSU has shown how tough they are on defense, just ask Kansas, Louisville or UConn.  They either need to slow UNC down, or sprint right along with the boys from Chapel Hill.  And on the other side of the Defense coin, the Tar Heels defense is somewhat uninspired.  MSU will get the shots it wants; they just have to make them.  They need at least one player to be hot outside the three-point line.

Honestly, UNC is the better team.  Look at the entire season, and it’s impossible to deny.  Of course, the same could have been said for UConn, and surely was true for Louisville.  The Spartans need to do what they have done this entire tournament:  They have to want it more.  They must be so focused on winning that it’s inevitable.  They must visualize that Sport Illustrated cover like it’s already on the printing presses.  The home court advantage is fuel, but the fire needs to be an absolute need to win.

It’s not just for dog-lovers anymore.

Or ferrets.

Or ducks.

Yes. Now you can walk your goldfish!

Hopefully there will not be an uptick in goldfish parks.

I hate mash ups.

This is the only one I feel like adding. It’s Radiohead, okay….and  DAVE BRUBECK !

Cool Enough.

We’re a little late to the party but a gallup poll tells us (on Darwin’s Birthday) 4 in 10 Americans believe in evolutions.

Is that too high or too low?

Check it out, there are pretty graphics.

And surprisingly, a strong correlation to education and religiosity.

“Alright, Everybody turn around if you’re  not gay.”

They got more people than Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy would have predicted with this simple trick.

I just realized that my dog is an awesome impressionist. Like Rich Little in his prime, circa 1988, still doing a bang-up aping of Nixon.

Right now Dog Dash can do like 2 different slamdunk, knock it out of the park impressions.

1.  He can contort his body in such a way that he looks exactly  like a dead puppy. And…

2.  He does an outstanding Marlon Brando (from the Godfather) impression when he puts an ice cube in his mouth sideways .

And, I almost forgot, #3. - Dash can turn in a very solid Drowned Rat after his bath.

PS – He also does a great Nicholson and Christopher Walken – but I mean, c’mon…everybody can do those. They don’t even count.

Check back later, we’re trying to teach him an Edward G. Robinson. We’ll see how he takes to it.

Warren G. Harding

(March 1921 – August 1923)

First Off: A Prize to Anyone who knows what the G stands for without looking it up!!!

• Wobbly Warren
• Prsident Hardly
• Ran on the Slogan: A Return to Normalcy (A word Harding made up for his campaign – which obvs. peeved HL Mencken (see quote below)).
• His mother called him ‘Winnie’ (Gotta Admit: Not too butch)

THE TRIVIAL:

• Generally and consistently ranked by scholars as one of the worst presidents of all time.
• Harding played poker at least twice a week, once gambling away a set of presidential china dating back to Benjamin Harrison. His cabinet was often referred to as the Poker Cabinet because they all played poker together.
• Many incorrectly claim that Harding coined the term ‘bloviating’ but it was recorded in print prior to Harding’s birth.
• Both of Harding’s parents were doctors.
• First President to have a golf course named after him.
• First newspaper publisher to be elected president.
• First President to travel to Canada (He stopped over on the way to Alaska. Also; He was the first president to visit Alaska).
• Warren G  has the distinction of having the largest feet of any president with a size 14.
• And PS – the G stands for Gamaliel.

And finally, we leave you with a quote from H. L. Mencken:

He writes the worst English that I have ever encountered. It reminds me of a string of wet sponges; it reminds me of tattered washing on the line; it reminds me of stale bean soup, of college yells, of dogs barking idiotically through endless nights. It is so bad that a sort of grandeur creeps into it. It drags itself out of the dark abysm of pish, and crawls insanely up the topmost pinnacle of posh. It is rumble and bumble. It is flap and doodle. It is balder and dash

The most awesome collection of pictures of food that may turn you off your lunch at the aptly named This Is Why You’re Fat (.com).

Ladies and Gentlemen…Please Allow me to Introduce to you…

THE HAMDOG!

That’s Right – - A hotdog, snugly nestled inside a hamburger that is then lovingly deep-fried and then generously topped with chili, chese, onions and a couple of servings of fries. All of this is served up in a giant hoagie roll and at last, a fried egg is added to round out the meal.

(Courtesy Mulligans Bar, Decatur GA.)

Most are seriously disgusting but there were a few that made me think, ‘I’d try that if it were within arms’ length.’ Like the doughnut with fresh crumbled bacon or the deep fried coca-cola (make it a Diet and I’m prolly the newest convert).

I’ve never owned a Gibson amp, but I see them around and always think they are interesting.  Then a GA-20 showed up on eBay and it caught my eye for a couple of reasons:

1.       The GA-20 is very much like a Fender tweed Deluxe.  Both have two 6V6 power tubes (maybe my favorite power tubes), simple controls (volume, tone) and compact cabinet with a single speaker.

2.       This GA-20 was really cheap at $225.  It was cheap because it had been recovered in smooth, black vinyl and has a non-original, non-vintage 12” speaker.

3.       Maybe it would be a good project to either restore back to original condition, or mod into a killer little amp.

So I bought it.  With shipping, just under $250 invested.  Here is what it looked like when I got it:

After kicking it around for a while and doing some research, I decided my GA-20 should be restored to its past glory, and not modded or messed with anymore.  I found Rob at Buffalo Amplifiers and decided he was the guy for the job.  I drove the amp to Plano so that I could meet Rob face-to-face and hand over my little Gibby.  Rob is rare find; he is not only super passionate and knowledgeable about Gibson amps, but he also a fully versed in terms of electronics and engineering.

Here is what we decided to do:

1.       Strip the cab of the Fender-style handle and corners, and what appears to be automotive interior vinyl, like what you would find on a bench seat in a 70’s Malibu.  Then sand and fill the cab so that it is smooth and even.  Apply period-correct black and burnt orange two-tone covering.  Make new period-correct baffle board and back panel.  Rob also makes his own reproduction Gibson logos based on a mold from an actual GA-20 logo.  He will make one for my amp and apply it.  Here are some work-in-progress pics of the cabinet:

2.       The chassis was in great shape, but the electronics… not so much.  Rob will scratch-build a new circuit board and point-to-point wire it with the correct GA-20 circuit.  A new Gibson clone transformer will be installed as well.  Any tubes that need replacing will be replaced.  (Note that the tone pot was dated to 1957, so our estimation of it being a 1958 is probably right on the money.)  Here are some work-in-progress shots of the new circuit board:

3.       Replace the speaker with either a vintage Jensen or a new Weber, depending on which one sounds the best (Rob’s discretion).

It should only be another week or two and the amp will be done.  I’m really excited about it.  The GA-20 has a reputation of being a ripping little guitar amp with about 12-watts of pure Gibson tone.  It is also considered an excellent harp amp.  I’ll post an update once the amp is completed.  Also, check out Rob’s website.  he does killer restorations, but he also builds his own line of amps inspired by Gibson amps of ’50’s, but they are not clones.  But they surely are cool.

We’ve visited to topic of  ’Bacon: Is There Ever Too Much‘ before but now I believe we can safely agree that yes, there quite possibly could be a way to put one toe over the line.

Case in Point: The Bacon Explosion.

Yeah, so? It looks relatively harmless and delicious. Tell Me more.

Sure. No problem.

It’s simple really; you weave 2 pounds of bacon together. Layer in a pound of sausage and another pound of bacon in the center. Roll and grill.*

Et viola.

PS. If you feel a need to try this, then you may be one of the few that truly has earned this:

*Just a tip. – You might want to call the EMT before you light the grill.  You’ll thank me later.

I know some people out there who dig the stop motion. And this vid is a cute reminder of how creative you can be on the cheap.

I can hear some of you starting to grow your own mustaches right now.

Viva la revalution!

NickNames

• The Schoolmaster in Politics
• The Professor
• The Phrasemaker
• Coiner of Weasal Words

Trivia

• Wilson didn’t learn his letters until he was 9, didn’t learn to read until he was 13. So, Good News, Illiterate tweens! You too can grow up to be president of Princeton and the good ole US of A. But…you  probably won’t.
• Though they never met, Sigmund Freud wrote a treatise on Wilson that claimed he likened himself to Jesus Christ.
• Wilson was married when he was in office to Edith Bolling Galt Wilson. Is it just me or do her middle and maiden names sound like they should be hyphenated and used as a nickname like “Machine Gun” Kelly?
• An avid golfer, Wilson used a black ball when he played in the snow.
• Woody Guthrie is named after him (Woodrow Wilson Guthrie).
• Election results were broadcast for the first time by WWJ in Detroit, MI. (What, did they not have hologram results with Wolf Blitzer back then?)
• After suffering a massive stroke that left him partially paralyzed and nearly blind, his wife ran a “Petticoat Government” She was also referred to as the Iron Queen, the Presidentress and the Regent. Generally considered the most powerful First Lady there ever was.
• Woodrow Wilson had a pet sheep named “Old Ike” that would chew tobacco and graze on the South Lawn.
• Second president to address Congress (the first was Washington).
• His vice president Marshall was the one to utter the famous bon mot, “What this country needs is a good five cent cigar.” Here-Here.

I recently worked a deal that netted me a tweed Fender Bandmaster.  The model designation for this amp is 5E7, which is the classic narrow panel 3×10 bandmaster produced form 1955 to 1960.  These are cool amps.  The three ten-inch speakers is interesting, and sounds punchy.  Of course it is all tube with 5881 power tubes and three pre-amp tubes.  And it is all point-to-point wired by hand – no printed circuit board or el-cheapo components.  The ideas is to get as close to how Leo Fender was doing it back in the 50s as possible.

 But there is one complaint, albeit a minor one.  The tweed just doesn’t look right.  I love the look of old tweed amps that have darkened over the years and show some battle scars.  New tweed seems to be unfinished, and is way to pale and, well, new.  But I am not a fan of “relic-ing” newer gear to make it look old; that misses the point.  Road scars and wear-and-tear are supposed to be from use.  They are testament to fulfilling the original promise of being able to make music, have a band, rehearse and hopefully play shows.  If you do all of this and your guitar and amp do not eventually show some signs of wear, maybe you’re being a little to protective.

But I will say that a little yellow tint in the clear coat on a Telecasters neck does have a nice vintage glow.  And lacquered tweed mellowed to a rich amber just looks and feels a whole lot better than the raw tweed cloth all fuzzy with anemic newness.  I don’t understand why Fender doesn’t lacquer all of it’s tweed amps the way they did in the ’50s?  It is functional as it seals the tweed and makes it more resistant to stains and snags.  Of course, the lacquer can scratch and chip too, but it makes the tweed come alive.  It just feels better when it is finished.

I took my Bandmaster completely apart.  There was a Fender bumper sticker inside the amp, which I removed.  The sticker was covering the initials of the original builder.  I probably would have signed it in a more inconspicuous location, but what’s done is done.  Removing everything was pretty easy.  The back panels come off.  Then remove the chassis.  Than the leather handle, the baffle board, and finally, the glides on the bottom.  About thirty minutes.  Of course, I was being careful because…

EVEN UNPLUGGED, GUITAR AMPLIFIERS CARRY VOLTAGE THAT CAN KILL YOU.

I am very careful to not touching anything inside of the amp.  I take the time to be careful and cautious.

Becuase I don’t have a sprayer or any experience with lacquer, I did a little research to see if there was an easier way.  And there is.  I used Polyurethane.  The poly I selected is tinted in a color Min-wax calls “Honey Pine”.  Using a high quality brush, I applied three coats over the course of two days.  It came out great.  Here is the cabinet and back panels drying in the December Texas sun.

A few tips…

• Use a little fine steel wool between the second and third coat to help smooth the finish a bit.  And use a high-quality brush.  Cheap brushes suck.  Just buy a good quality brush (Purdy is good) and clean it when you are done.  I have been using the same paint brushes for years.
• Once you remove the glides, lightly screw-in four dry wall screws to act as stilts during the finshing.  This wil allow the amp to sit off the ground wheen drying so that you can finish the entire cabinet instead of working in sections.  And always start with the bottom.
• You can also use pushpins on the backside of the two back panels to keep thme up off the bench while you apply the finish and allow it to dry.
• I taped off the exposed wood on the inside, and it worked fine.  But this is up to you.  It might look good to just coat the entire cab inside and out?
• Let it cure for a few days before you reassemble.  you could put it together after a few hours when it feels dry to the touch, but I wouldn’t.  I give a few days becuase I find that if you don’t, things will stick together.  The back panels will want to stick to the cabinet which won’t be fun down the road.  Be patient.

That’s it.  Simple, fun, and well worth it.  I think my amp looks way better.  It’s not “relic’d”, but it does have a more vintage vibe that matches the vintage design and circuit.  Here are a few shots with it reassembled and ready to rock and roll…

Which tv newsman seems a little too genetically linked to a tv pitchman?

Are they related? One and the same?

Only his hairdresser knows for sure.

Sometimes when I’m rubbing puppy’s belly, I like to coo in her ears and tell her that she’s the cutest pup in the whole land.
But I also use that opportunity to remind her that she should really develop some extra tricks and/or skills because pretty soon, she’s gonna grow up and she won’t be as cute anymore.

People will no longer clamor over her at the Target. Walking down the street will no longer cause cars to slow down and make every other human stop to give her the undiluted adulation. She will have to prostitute herself on the street. Perform a few tricks just to get some of the attention she had once taken for granted.

It’s a tough world out there (some would say ‘Dog eat dog’). And you can’t get by on your looks forever.

The glory days of youth are fleeting.

The world is cruel to the aged.

I read an ad on Craigslist for a vintage Ludwig drum kit that need some work.  The photos posted were small and blurry, so it was a pretty tough to see what was actually being offered.  Even though the images were poor, I could tell there was a chrome snare drum, and it looked to be a Ludwig Supraphonic.  I’ve always wanted one of these drums, and I figured maybe I could get the whole kit pretty cheaply.  I went to the seller’s apartment after work to have a look, and decided the whole kit was not really something I wanted (it was mismatched and the insides of the shells had been painted black).  But the snare turned out to be a 1970 (date stamp visible inside) Ludwig Super Sensitive in decent shape.

The Supraphonicand the Super Sensitive are basically the same drum, but with different snare mechanisms.  The Supraphonicuses a simple single pull throw-off with a passive butt-end on the other side.  The Super Sensitive uses a much more complicated parallel mechanism that pulls the strainer evenly from both sides.  There is a connecting rod that travels through the drum so that one lever can operate bother strainers in unison.  With this design, the snare wires (or strainer) are actually longer than the 14-inch drum head allowing only snare wires to contact the resonant head.  The longer snares, even pull from both sides and super-fine adjustment are designed to make the snares more sensitive, thus the name.  The downside is that the mechanism is a bit finicky and because of its large size protruding out from the sides of the drum, it is susceptible to damage.

Although I was after a Supraphonic, the Super Sensitive is actually a bonus in my book.  My brother had one of these snares (a 6.5-inch with brass shell that had originally been a Black Beauty) and I always thought it was interesting, and sounded great.  Mine is 5-inch, which should be a little snappier at the expense of some volume, but that is fine with me.  I may still get a Supraphonic someday, if the right deal presents itself.

The seller said the snare needed work because it didn’t sound very good.  First thing I noticed was he had the snare wires on the outside of the openings on the lower hoop.  Keep in mind that the openings are there for the snare wires to pass through, and this is very basic info, so I knew I was not dealing with an aficionado.  I offered him $125 and I had my snare drum in the back seat of my car minutes later.

Here is how it looked when I got it home:

Not too bad really.  Dirty and out of adjustment in every possible way, but most everything was there.  The guards that protect the Super Sensitive parallel snare mechanism were missing, and several snare wires had snapped (probably from having to go over the lower hoop instead of through it).  And one of the tension bolts on the snare mechanism is a bit bent, which is potentially the worst issue.

Once the weekend arrived and I had some spare time, I disassembled the drum and closely inspected all of the parts.  It is pretty common to get some kind of unforeseen surprise such as some part or parts being non-original or damaged.  Not the case here; my quick first inspection at the seller’s apartment had been pretty accurate.

There were a few parts I needed which I ordered online.  The great thing about these drums is new replacement parts are readily available.  I ordered the missing snare guards, and also a new strainer.  I opted for the PureSound wires designed specifically for the Super Sensitive instead of the Ludwig strainer, mainly because I have been really happy with PureSound wires on my other snares.  I’m sure the Ludwig wires are just fine, but I’m on a roll with PureSound.

Once the drum was apart, I cleaned, polished and lubricated all of the parts.  The shell is made of Ludalloy, which is some Ludwig version of Aluminum.  These shells sound great, but are plagued by chrome flaking off which has something to do with a reaction between the aluminum and chrome.  It doesn’t affect the sound, but it does diminish the appearance.  Luckily, my drum isn’t suffering from flaking as much as many drums I have seen.  Once polished, it is not even too noticeable unless you are really looking for it.  The hoops have some rush that wouldn’t polish out.  I decided to stick with them though, just to keep the drum original.  The only issue I’m concern about is the bent bolt on one of the throw-offs.  It’s press-fit, so I can remove it to replace it, and I can’t really torque on it too much because of the way it is installed in the mechanism.  I’m hoping I can make adjustments with the throw-off so that it won’t be an issue once in tuning.

Next I reassembled the drum and installed new heads going with my standard set-up:  REMO Ambassador Hazy on the snare side and a REMO Powerstroke3 (coated with dot) on the batter side.  Seating and tuning the heads was quick and easy, which means the drum is in-round and the bearing edges are good.

Take a look at the finished product:

After installing the new PureSound strainer, I fiddled with the throw-off for quite a little while.  This snare has so many adjustments, that it can really try you patience, especially in comparison to the simple and bullet-proof Supraphonic.  But it wasn’t really that tough; but new to me which meant I was learning as I went.  I had the same experience with a Rogers Dyna-Sonic, which is also uber-adjustable, but in both cases, the end result was well worth it.  The drum is really super-sensitive and offers a variety of tones and sounds.  You can crank it and get a really tight crack that still articulates well in terms of ghost notes and accents.  Or you can loosen it up a bit and get closer to the classic John Bonham sound.  I’m going with something a bit in the middle for now.

I’m excited to try this drum out with my band and see how it stands up in live performance.  We also have some studio time coming up in a few weeks, so it might even get some recording time.  In the end, I think Ludwig really cracked the code in terms of creating great-sounding snare drums.

OK.

Guy Fieddy (if it is spelled any other way, it is unforgivable making people pronounce it as such).

When I can’t sleep I find his ‘Diners, Drive-ins and Dives’ is on incessantly when most mere mortals are asleep and therefore safe from his tour of bacon grease, beef fat and lard. 

I have no problem with the show.  I love all three of the above (particularly the bacon grease). I simply stand in awe of that man’s constitution.

But mostly I notice he is always attended by a bottle of Pelegrino (the Italian water “mit gas”).  I’m beginning to wonder if there are some secretive healing properties to this water that I was hitherto unaware.

So…

Does Pelegrino negate the constriction of blood vesels and thin the layer of fat that would otherwise build up after consuming three meals a day of deep-fried sausage-filled taquito bombs with chees sauce (wrapped in bacon optional)?

Lemme know. 

I may need the healing powers soon.

What is wrong with this picture? What is wrong with these people?

These kids don’t seem to be remotely excited by the fact that they have R2D2 at their muthafriggin shindig!

Better yet: R2D2 is sporting a tux. He’s like the James Bond of droids, people. Can’t you muster anything? The rest of your life is only gonna be downhill from here kids.

William Howard Taft

1909-1913

Nicked Names

• Old Bill
• Big Lub
• FattyFatty 2×4 Can’t Fit Thru The Bathroom Door
• The 27th President, 10th Chief Justice of US Supreme Court, 1st Provisional Governor of Cuba, 42nd US Secretary of War, 1st Civil Governor of the Philippines, 5th US Solicitor General, 1st in line at a buffet

Taft is really the president that ought to be known as the Trustbuster. He busted over 80, beating that so-called buster (Teddy ‘Not as Busted’ Roosevelt) by about 40. Taft just didn’t happen to rail against business in his rhetoric. That’s right Taft is twice the buster TR ever was, suckas!

Taft fought for the prosecution of trusts (eventually issuing 80 lawsuits), further strengthened the Interstate Commerce Commission, established a postal savings bank and a parcel post system, and expanded the civil service. He supported the 16th Amendment (which allowed for a federal income tax) and the 17th Amendment, mandating the direct election of senators, rather than the previous system where they were selected by state legislatures. Man, I Don’t Know My Constitutional Amendments! We’ve only been able to vote for our own choice of who will get into the next national sex scandal for less than 100 years? Sheesh. We’re still nubes. No wonder we can’t get it right yet.

Taft was a proponent of “Dollar Diplomacy” (the idea that investing in infastructure of other less developed countries would encourage economic development).

No small minded man, one of Taft’s main goals as president was world peace. Isn’t that quaint?

Taft did not enjoy the easy relationship with the press that Roosevelt had, choosing not to offer himself for interviews or photo opportunities as often as the previous president. When a reporter informed him he was no Teddy Roosevelt, Taft replied that his goal was to “try to accomplish just as much without any noise”.

The Trivial:

• Loved milk so much, he had his own cow at the White House. We hear it was called “Mooly Wolly” (We think that’s weird. ‘Mooly Wooly’ or ‘Molly Wolly’, would have been acceptable).
• Only ex-president to serve on the Supreme Court. Named Chief Justice and enjoyed it so much he was said to have remarked that he didn’t even remember being president. Maybe it was his enjoyment; Maybe it was a sign of early onset Alzheimer’s.
• He weighed 332 lbs. We think the getting stuck in the bathtub sounds apocryphal but, so we’re told. The new bathtub was 7′ long and 41″ wide and would accommodate 4 normal men.
• Last president to have facial hair. He preferred the ‘flavor savor’.
• Taft was tone deaf. Reportedly had to be nudged when the national anthem was played because he couldn’t differentiate that from any other song.
• His Secretary of State’s name was Philander Knox. Not useful, that bit of trivia, just a cool name. Where have all the cool names gone (Estes Kefauver?) When I retire all the cabinet positions will go to people named Britnee, Brianna and Lexus. Makes me wonder if strippers burlesque stars of the 1880s were named Ida, Earlenne, Ethel and Viola.

Before we get into our list, we provide this UTube Clip for a trailer for “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” only edited to resemble Brokeback Mountain. Sometimes, when taking a break from all the porn, I realize that the interent is a great place for all the lonely, bored and idle hands of the world. Thanks internet nerds! This two and a half minute clip may be funnier than the entire 90 minute movie…You  be the judge.

Now onto our list…  (in no particular order)

A Christmas Story. It’s probably on everyone’s list by now and the fact of the matter is that no one really has to watch it anymore. Back when the powers that be retired “It’s a Wonderful Life” only to let it out of it’s cage once a year, they needed something to replay ad infinitum  in its stead. They chose A Christmas Story. And they ran that into the ground. Don’t let that sully its reputation. Still, a classic.  Recommended for: Todays kids who’s parents would never ever allow them to have a Red Rider B-B Gun, even if they knew what a B-B gun was (or where ever allowed to play out of doors unattended.)

The Ref. One that flew under the radar a bit. But any movie that makes your own family’s dysfunction pale by comparison (or at least remind you that it’s okay to laugh at that dysfunction) redeems itself in my eyes. Recommended for: Everyone in my family.

And because you can’t have a Christmas movie list without a Rankin Bass addition (And I do love the elf who wants to be a dentist but some have gotten a little stale for me over the years) so I’ll add The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus. If you read the synopsis on IMDB it starts out “The Great Ak calls the Council of the Immortals to ask that Santa Claus be given immortality…” If that tempts you in the slightest, you’ll be rewarded in full. You’ll learn how an abandoned baby was given to a lioness and a fairy to raise and there is a great battle among the immortals. It’s got everything you need in your (more overtly pagan based) Christmas programming. Recommended for: That kid of yours who’s into Isaac Asimov and Hitchikers Guide.

A Muppet Christmas Carol. Sure there are hundreds of versions of this Dickens tale but I’ll take the one that combines a musical with muppets and Michael Caine. ‘Nuff Said. Recommended for: Everybody on the planet Earth. Whaddya got no spirit?

Auntie Mame. – You’ve never watched it, I know. And there’s only one Christmas scene in the darn thing. So why is it on my list? Because it’s my damned list! And it seemingly came on every Thanksgiving Day when I was trying to get out of cleaning up after the turkey meal and it was my pleasant diversion. Awww. Shut it. Get your own list. (After you see this classic starring the incomparable Rosalind Russell). Recommended for: Your tween niece who’s a little too precocious or your nephew who’s into musical theater.

Jack Frost (no, not the one with Michael Keaton! – that’s sacrilidge) This is the one where Jack Frost is a pun-spewing serial killer snowman. Horrible, horrible piece of garbage? Maybe. Goofy and cheesy? Definitely. The snowman asks for a smoke, gets one, kills that same man with an axe and then has to quip, “I only axed you for a smoke.” I will not spoil a snowman filled sex scene for you. You would not ask me to do that. Recommended for: That special person in your life with a black hear and sense of humor to match.

Scrooged. You got Bill Murray.  And you get Bill Murray with a ton of hair.  I guess I forgot he really had that much hair.  It’s a Christmas miracle!  This feel-good modern telling the of the Dicken’s classic is fun and chock-full of holiday warmth.  The comment about the special effect department when he’s confronted by the Grim Reaper on the elevator is a classic.  Recommended for: Anyone who thinks they discovered this great actor named Bill Murray in ‘Lost In Translation’.

Honorable Mentions: Elf  -Because who can resist Zooey Deschanel crooning? And, what, Will Ferrell acting like an Adult-Child? That’s all he does. Ever.

Got any other suggestions?

If you set a movie in South Boston, can it be made if there are no characters named either ‘Paulie,’ ‘Jimmy’ or ‘Doyle’?

Take a minute to watch someone else’s smooth moves. Then teach everyone at your office how to do the Backwards Swim. We hear it was all the  rage.

This is one first class top drawer music videography.

I was anticipating a UNC victory, but I was also expecting an actual basketball game.  What I got was a the opportunity to watch UNC humiliate my Michigan State Spartans at Ford Field.  I know, in D-town no less.  The Lions can’t win a game here, why should the Spartans fair any better?  In the end, it was UNC up 98 to 63 – that’s a 35 point lead for you math whizzes.

UNC is 8-0, and has won every game thus far by at least 15 points.  They are a powerhouse… no, they are THE powerhouse in college hoops.  Roy Williams has his boys right where they need to be on the long march to the Final Four (which will also be at Ford Field).  Tyler Hansrough was in top form leading UNC in scoring with 25 points going 13 of 13.

I guess for me, the game was a disappointment, but not because MSU lost.  More because MSU didn’t really show up.    Raymar Morgan and Chris Allen played tough, but the rest of the Spartan team was simply outclassed by the Tar Heels.  And Goran Suton is out for another couple of weeks at least.  In the end, UNC was simply too fast, too strong, too in-sync, too accurate… too good.  And they made it look way too easy.

I went to MSU and I always pull for the Spartans.  But at that same time, I lived in North Carolina for ten years, and I’ve been somewhat of a Tar Heel basketball fan.  But I still wanted MSU to win.  The UNC loss and the Maryland loss were both undisputed ass-kickings.  MSU has to figure out how to hang with the big boys, or get used to watching themselves slide down the rankings chart.

UNC, we’ll see you in Detroit in April.  I think it’s very possible that they could be undefeated even then assuming they stay healthy.

MSU, I can only hope.  Come on Spartans!

Who’s is that handsome son of a bitch?

I like Notre Dame.  But I really, really don’t like Charlie Weis.  Yeah, this guy…

Quite a looker, right?

Last week there was buzz that Charlie’s buy-out (i.e. severence) is less than earlier reported, and that Notre Dame can fire his large ass without going broke in the process.  That may or may not be true, but I like where this is heading.

And check out Pat Forde’s article on ESPN.com here, it’s music to my ears.

Look, I’m a Michigan State Spartan fan first and foremost, and I’m happy that MSU delivered Weis with his first loss as the Irish’s head coach back in 2005.  But Notre Dame has always been one of my favorites.  Notre Dame is the #2 winniest program in NCAA history, and I love the proud heritage.  Charlie is possibly the worst coach the school has ever had, and certainly doing worse than Willingham did in his three seasons from a win percentage standpoint.

It’s a shame to see the Fighting Irish not make a first down until the very end of the third quarter.  Humiliating really.  And where was all that creative play calling and coaching genius?  Appartly, all Coach Weis had hidden up his sleeve was another handful of arm fat.  I thought he was going to bailout ND’s offense personally.  Bit of a slap in the face to his Offensive Coordinator, but Charlie knows all about slaps to the face (or faking them).  Come on Notre Dame, you deserve better.  Make it happen.

Well, you did beat Michigan this year Charlie.  You can put that on your resume if you happen to be freshening it up.  Might be a good idea, we’ll soon see.