B2 Bomber Fly Over at Notre Dame / Air Force Game

In going to the game this weekend, I bugged my brother that we do whatever we needed to do to get into the stadium and in our seats well ahead of game time, as I am a sucker for the fly-over.  With the Irish facing Air Force we were assured of one, and I didn't want to miss it.  

But what would it be?  I was hoping against the "missing man formation," because that always chokes me up.  A lot.  How about something cool like a formation of Warthogs or maybe a giant B-52?  What I didn't expect is what I saw circling off in the distance - the unmistakable silhouette of the B2 Stealth Bomber.  Outstanding!


While videotaping the Star Spangled Banner is not as respectful as it likely needs to be, I could not help myself.  Here's what I captured - America's greatest airborne projection of power that she has ever created.

(sorry for the bad singing): 

Review of Trailer Park Boys Milwaukee Show

The Trailer Park Boys offered up a show in Brewtown, and neither my wife nor I knew what to expect.  We knew what their TV show was like, and we appreciated the unique characters that evolved.  For me it remains one of the top five funniest TV series, ever.  But how would it translate to a live show?  Ah, that was the question.

The answer was easy - it translated awesomely!

The show started a tad late as the Brewers went to extra innings, and by the time the hometown nine had taken care of business, the house was in an absolutely euphoric mood.  The Boys poured gas on that fire, mentioning the game and the team multiple times throughout the night.  The crowd repeatedly roared their appreciation, and the smallish Pabst Theater rocked the entire night.

The show itself was a fun, rollicking ride with established bits and skits, lots of audience participation, and lots of room for improvisation.  The crowd and the Boys fed off of each other, and the entertainment was hilarious.  While content was definitely "R" rated and very guy-oriented, nobody seemed too offended and most folks had a good time.

Anytime there's that much chemical use in the audience and they're asked to participate, things can really go wrong but there were only a couple of times in which theater staff needed to usher folks off the stage.  Overall the Boys were able to keep things in check themselves via a look or a well-placed insult. 

The show concluded with a sneak peek of the Boys new show; a big departure from their Trailer Park Boys genre.  It will be a lot of fun to see how all of it comes together, and it definitely looks interesting. 

Overall it was a great way for a city, and a comedy team, to celebrate, and celebrate they did. 

A Fond Goodbye to This Generation's Edison

I was flying into Dallas on a business trip two nights ago.  It was a totally ordinary flight from all perspectives.  As usual, I was not connected to the web and that was just fine with me.  It is my preference.  The period of being off the grid completely that a flight can provide often proves to be a welcomed refuge. 

I used my time to do a little personal writing and cranked out the latest chapter of A Dog Named Blitz on my iPad, while enjoying a fine mix of tunes provided by the iPod capabilities on the device. 

As we approached our destination at DFW, I powered down the iPad and stowed it into my bag.  The second we touched down, I reached to the iPhone hanging off my waist and powered up to see what messages I had missed in my 34,000 foot hibernation.  That's when the push notification functionality from Drudge Report passed along the fateful message:

STEVE JOBS DEAD. 

An audible "oh no!" slipped from my mouth as I read the news. 

I certainly knew he was very sick, but he had been so very sick for so very long that I guess I felt him hanging on was just to be expected.  I had no idea he was that close to the end. 

I then immediately thought about the relationship I had with this incredible man for the past 25 years. It all started with with the the Apple II+ that I had my junior and senior year in undergrad.  It literally coined the phrase "home computer" back in the day.  I then graduated to an early-version Mac when I went off to grad school where it cranked out many a paper and case review. 

I took a bit of a hiatus from Apple when I started my career, but I ended up winning an iPod at a trade show and found that instantly my waining relationship with music was rekindled into a raging inferno.  It literally changed my life so much that I went so far as to buy a small stake of stock in APPL and proceeded to watch it go though the roof.  I sold my whole stake at about $125 at a tidy 50% gain when we needed a down payment for our cabin, and how I wish I still had those shares today. 

As mobile devices infiltrated my work arena I moved to an iPhone to stay abreast of the technology and again my world was completely changed.  The power of the PC, and then some, right at your hip.  Incredible.  I've ended with the iPad from which I'm writing this very post, and while I know this is my latest technological stop, this is hardly where the Apple train ends. 

What a legacy this genius leaves!  I hope that his spirit continues to inspire the other good people at Apple and that they continue to effect my life in such a productive, positive, and amazing way. 

Thanks, Steve.  You were my generation's Edison, and we will miss you greatly.

LSU's New Recruit?

An interesting story.  Regardless of how you feel about the ruling, this young man's perspective is pretty adult, and pretty refreshing:



Plus, you gotta love his choice in jerseys.

Demias Jimerson, prepare youself for a visit from the Hatter sometime soon

Hank Williams Jr. Fired for Speaking His Mind

Hank was fired from ESPN for making political comments.  It is a shame.  Pre-game will not be the same without him.

And yet Keith Olbermann worked the NFL pregame for NBC for 3 years. When he was let go, "NBC officials told reporters that Olbermann's left-leaning political views had nothing to do with the move." Guess you get to keep your job longer depending on which side of the aisle your political bombast comes from.

Here's to you, Hank.  You'll be missed

Hearing for the First Time

I know this has been all over the internet, but it warms my heart to be able to witness something so personal, and something that I take for granted far, far more than I should. 

The Big Education Bubble is Starting to Burst

The StarTribune reports this week that applications for that area's four law schools have dropped of late.  

Well, duh.

Runaway and unchecked tuition, student debt that rivals some mortgages, and employment prospects that are slimmer than a three-point halftime Vikings lead are combining quickly to an unsustainable, caustic mix.  Post-graduate and even traditional four-year college education no longer affords economic security.  In fact, it is now nearly the opposite.

Just like the real estate market, education is way past due for a correction. 

Halloween Video

Thoughts?