Audi Spock Ad

Audi has come up with a wonderful ad which pits the old Spock against the new.

While you'll need to be a Trekkie to get a number of the jokes (some of which are quite subtle),  hopefully the pay off is not lost on those with just a cursory knowledge of Star Trek.



Since it takes up such a large part of the ad, and it way off the grid unless you're a pretty strong Star Trek geek, here's the reference to Bilbo Baggins (warning - it's ugly).  

For me, there is a ton to love about this ad.  But the best part is Nimoy's profanity at not being able to fit his golf clubs into his Mercedes.

Great ad.

Happy 50th Birthday, Mrs.YDP

Last week, ahead of her 50th birthday today, my wife received the following:

When I first saw it on the counter, I laughed.  But then I quickly got angry.  That may be how the AARP sees my wife.  But how I see her is so very different.  See for yourself:

These aren't shots from years ago - they're all from this year.  I'm not sure what you see, but I see a beautiful, loving, relevant, vibrant, and sweet woman.  It is the same woman that stole my heart over 20 years ago, and is the same one that can still make my heart beat faster.  If anything, she's become more beautiful as she's aged.  I certainly know that I love her more as the years have slipped by.

So, AARP, stick it in your ear.  Go solicit for old ladies somewhere else.  The woman that lives here is nothing like what you want.  

Come on back in 20 years or so.

Happy birthday, sweetheart.  I cannot convey how very much I love you, and I can't wait to see what your second 50 years brings.

Benghazi Cover Up Beginning to Unravel. But How Far?

The mainstream American media is now, finally, asking some relevant questions about the massacre in Benghazi, and the accusations that the Obama administration left Americans to die, seemingly because it was politically expedient to do so.

Here's an exchange with CNN (yes, CNN.  Finally) and State Department Deputy Spokesman Patrick Ventrell:

VIDEO REMOVED DUE TO ANNOYING AUTO-PLAY FEATURE

Short of right leaning outlets, the media failed to cover this scandal in any kind of detail.  They blindly ran with the administration's talking points that the attack was due to a YouTube video, and there was nothing that could have been done to help the doomed embassy workers.  In fact, When Mitt Romney brought the subject up in the debate, moderator Candy Crowley lost all pretense of neutrality and actually offered up defense for the President.

Now that Obama has been dutifully reelected by the media, it appears that slowly but surely, the truth is coming to light.  And the truth in this case, based on the evidence presented by testimony of sworn witnesses, wistleblowers, and others, shows the following:

• The administration knew this was an Al-Qada operation from just about the jump
• For some reason, the administration chose to concoct the YouTube story, and told it dutifully to all who would listen
• Assets were available to help the besieged embassy, but were told to "stand down," despite the administration's claim that there was nothing that could have been done
• After being informed of the situation, Obama failed to convene any kind of response or mobilize any action.  He went to bed. 

Where this will all shake out will depend on if mainstream media like CNN continue to do their jobs, or if they continue to sweep the story under the rug for the administration.  Given how this story will impact Hillary Clinton's presidential prospects, I expect the latter.

The media got one candidate elected (and reelected) by carrying that candidate's water.  Hillary is another media favorite.  

Expect none of this to hit the mainstream.  

Fleetwood Mac Concert Review and Setlist - New Orleans Jazz Fest

Jazz Fest has been an incredible two days of music, and expect a full report in a future post.  In the meantime, the highlight of the event was Fleetwood Mac's headliner performance at the end of the second Saturday session.

The band looked and sounded great.  Mick Fleetwood still had great energy and kept things moving, with help from his rhythm section mate John McVie.  Stevie Nicks, while unable to hit some of the high notes, still had that smoldering, sexy rasp, although she could have lost the old-lady sunglasses.  But the real thrill was Lindsay Buckingham, whose masterful guitar work delighted the massive crowd.  

Last August I was able to catch Lindsay in a one man show in Green Bay.  And yesterday, I was treated to more of the same - a virtuoso performance by an under-appreciated guitarist.  He was simply on fire.  

Here is the set list for their act:

Second Hand News
The Chain 
Dreams 
Sad Angel
Rhiannon
Not that Funny
Tusk
Sisters of the Moon
Sara
Big Love
Landslide
Never Going Back Again
Without You 
Gypsy
Eyes of the World
Gold Dust Woman
I'm so Afraid
Stand Back
Go Your Own Way
World Turning
Don't Stop
Silver Springs
Say Goodbye

Some highlights:

• The new songs off of the new EP sounded amazing.  I highly suggest checking them out if you have not already
• Big Love was done solo acoustic by Lindsay, and just as he did last summer in Green Bay, he absolutely killed it
• On Rhiannon Stevie avoided the high parts, but her reworked vocal styling made it a really enjoyable treatment.  We didn't miss a thing about the old version
• I'm So Afraid was Lindsay at his finest, and brought the crowd to a boil in the extended guitar solo.  Outstanding
• Don't Stop, while not a personal favorite, had the crowd dancing and singing.  A great way to wrap up

 In all of my decades of concerts, I had never seen Fleetwood Mac.  I feared seeing them at this point in their careers.  I could not have been more wrong.  As their recent EP and their latest performance have shown, they are still dynamic, relevant, creative, and gifted.  What a fantastic show.

Incredible Gymnastic Routine

This really has to be seen - incredible:

Beautiful Interaction with Alzheimer's Patient

Alzheimer's is a horrible, horrible disease.  It renders its victims as shells of human beings.

But as this video shows, while the sufferer may be nearly entirely gone, part of them still remains, even if it is a tiny part.

It just takes an angel to pull it out...

Google Glasses - The Next Revolutionary Device?

Technical blogger Robert Scoble writes in a recent post about his experience testing Google Glasses.   If they appear to have as much utility as Scoble describes, and if Google can get the price under control, this could be the next big thing.  

If he's right, the time for buying some shares of GOOG is right about now.

So, what's the big deal?  Check it out:




Here's a cool video of how just one application of how they can be used:

LSU to Play at Lambeau Field?

According to CBS, it is being discussed.  

I can't even begin to think of how fun that would be.  

The football game would be a rout, hence the only competition would be in the famed Lambeau parking lot where two vaunted tailgating heavyweights would duke it out.  Both sides claim great drinking capacity, and great cooking, so that part may be a toss-up.  It may very well come down to the following:

• How would the Tigers do partying in weather thirty degrees cooler than what they're used to?  
• And how would Bucky fans do getting the ever-living stuffing Tiger-baited out of them?  

All I know is that it would be the party of the decade; especially if I could get a whole mess of cousins up here with me.  

Get your tiger-bait ready, boys, this might go down.

Oh, yeah.  And GEAUX TIGAHS