Lindsey Buckingham - One Man Show

Back in August I wrote a concert review for Lindsey Buckingham's one-man concert in Green Bay.  As stated previously, it was an outstanding show.

I'm happy to report that Lindsey has released a live album from the tour, and tracks exactly match his set list that he played in Green Bay.  While he recorded the album in Des Moines, it sounds exactly like the show that I remember.

You can download it here - definitely worth the listen

Images of Israel's Defense in Action

It is claimed that Israel's rocket defenses have wiped out over 90% of the missiles shot at it.  Here is a video of them in action.

This is quite a scene on how folks over there are living their lives.  As we reach our upcoming designated day of thanks, we may want to remember this.

Jack Daniel's Tennessee Squire Association

It was a cold January day during my sophomore year at St. John's.  The phone gave a double ring, which meant that the call came from outside of the all men's campus.  And that meant it could have been a girl.  

After a quick race to the phone, I successfully grabbed the receiver from my roommate and answered with an expectant, "Hello?"  "Hello, Mr. YDP?" came the reply on the other end of the line.  While it was indeed a woman's voice, her calling me by my surname meant this 1) was not going anywhere and 2) likely something bad was going to be discussed.  

She assured me this would be a quick call - she worked for a research company and wanted to talk about adult beverages and my consumption habits.  As college student, talking about drinking seemed like a really good use of my time and I proceeded to provide the nice telemarketing lady my answers, some of which were likely off her charts.  

She concluded by asking what were my favorite top three adult beverages.  "That's easy," I replied, "Beer, whiskey, and vodka."  "No," she corrected, "What are your three favorite brands of adults beverages."  "Easy again - Jack Daniel's, Coors Light, Phillips Vodka." (hey, I was a college kid).  "Mr. Sidders," my telemarketer continued, "I am so happy to hear you say that.  I need to be honest.  I'm not really from the Such and Such telemarketing agency.  I work for Jack Daniel's, and we're looking for loyal customers like you to take part in our Tennessee Squires organization."  She continued to explain to me that as a Squire I would receive a deed for a piece of property down at the distillery in Lynchburg, Tennessee and that I was encouraged to come down some day and visit my land.  

Sure enough, in the next week, my formal deed arrived in a huge brown envelope, and I still have it to this day.  

Since that time - over 25 years and at least a dozen moves - Jack Daniel's sends me at least one letter from one of my Lynchburg neighbors about my land.  Below is just the latest installment:  

They usually also send one nice gift, usually around Christmas time.  And all of this for zero cost to me.  

So what has this wrought?  Simply my undying loyalty for over 25 years.  Sure, I've drunk other American whiskeys, but I can count on one hand when I've bought anything other than Jack Daniel's.  Heck, I even made a trek to Lynchburg in the '90's to go see the distillery and my property.  They've got me hook, line, and sinker.  

I'm sure every year some new finance guy on their team takes a look at the program on paper and raises the idea of killing off the Squire program to drive the bottom line.  Given what they spend on it on an annual basis, it has to be tempting to drive all of that profit back into the business.  But Jack Daniel's is a unique brand, and I'm sure some senior executive ends up putting their arm around the new finance guy and says something like, "You know, Fuzzy, that's a dern fine idea.  And we sure appreciate you coming up with it.  What say we stop off on the way home tonight and we talk about it over some of Mr. Jack's finest?"  Which is southern for "You don't have a clue, Yankee.  Now shut up."  

For more information on the Tennessee Squires, I found this great website.  Also, any other Jack fans that might be looking for a nomination to the Squires feel free to post up and I'll see what I can do to get you in.    

The Current State of the Business Environment

Obama's reelection was not about the economy.  The metrics around the economy are horrible, and yet the man kept his job by a significant margin.  No, to the common citizen, the economy didn't matter.

But what about to the common citizen's employer?

SmartBrief is a daily briefing of multiple news items to which I subscribe.  And in every issue, they offer a poll of their readers to understand what is happening in their world.  

A poll from last week is attached:

69% claim it is week, horrible, or getting worse.  69%.

Not scientific, I'll grant you.  But this is feedback from those that drive this economy.

Businesses are scared.  Scared to hire, scared to expand, and scared to invest.  And until the Obama administration does something to reassure businesses and establish a firm footing, I predict growth to continue at a snail's pace.  

Or worse.

Duck Hunting on Green Bay

My whole life, I have never hunted ducks on big water.  Every place I've ever hunted these past 40 years has been a small lake, slough, or bayou.  Never big expanses of water.  But that all ended with a buddy's invitation to hunt his duck camp on Green Bay.

The camp has 700 acres of prime waterfowl habitat that resides on the western shore of the big bay.  With a river running through the property, as well as multiple creeks, wetlands, and potholes we had our choice of hunting spots, but for the morning, we chose to hunt the big bay.

While the weather didn't cooperate - it was 60 degrees - but there were birds on the Bay, and with any luck we'd be able to lure some in.

The day started with a beautiful sunrise:

The Bay is very shallow - note the sand bar jutting out into the water just to the right of the decoys.

We ended up with six birds - a mix of diver and puddle ducks.  Here's the Yellow Dog with a beautiful drake Goldeneye:

Green Bay is unique in how shallow it is.  Because it is show shallow, and Lake Michigan such a large basin, when the wind is blowing hard from the south it can blow the water out of the Bay.  That is exactly what happened to us this morning.  The decoys in front of us were placed in about three feet of water.  By the time we picked up, they were no longer floating.  Compare the picture below with the first one to get a better understanding:

It was a great morning.  The dog was outstanding, our calling and shooting acceptable, and the resulting bag respectable.  Not a bad way to start my first ever big water duck hunt.

Three Reasons Why Petraeus' Affair Matters

Some are wondering why the affair of CIA Director David Petraeus is a big deal.  After all, people have affairs all the time.  This is a "personal" matter.  

They couldn't be more wrong.  For the following three reasons:

• As our country's head spook, Petraeus knew that such activity could compromise him as a blackmail target.  Such a view is part and parcel for life in the CIA, and any of his agents would face the same consequences if it was found that they did the same thing.  
• Likewise, it shows a massive lack of character.  Petraeus was touted as a man's man, and ultimately showed himself to be a sniveling coward.  If your marriage isn't working and you want greener pastures, be a man, divorce your wife, and go for it.  Instead, he took the coward's way out.  I have very little respect for that kind of behavior.  
• Final point.  If you cheat on your marriage, you have proven that you have the capacity to cheat on anything.  Period.  Not exactly the kind of resume bullet one wants for a career as our chief spy.  

Granted, I don't know all the circumstances of the Petraeus' marriage - his wife may have been very aware of the general's behavior and condoned it.  If so, I owe him an apology.  However, and regardless, as one chartered with protecting us who was so cavalier in putting himself, and his country at risk, he owes us one. 

Dragon Baby Video

Not sure where people come up with this stuff, but it is entertaining as hell:

Tolkien Take Off Instructions

Air New Zealand puts a new (or is it old?) spin on the traditional take-off instructional video: