Nonesuch #45 Things that make you go....

People who voted in the November 2004 Presidential Election - 121,068,715

People who voted for the next American Idol - 500,000,000

Nonesuch #44

'Star Wars' fans hurt using homemade lightsabers

LONDON (AP) — Two Star Wars fans were critically injured when they tried to replicate the lightsabers used in the movie by filling glass fluorescent light tubes with fuel, police and a news report said Tuesday.

The pair, Mark Webb, 20, and an unidentified 17-year-old girl, were planning to make a video recording of a duel like those in the just-released blockbuster film Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith, Britain's Press Association news agency said.

They were injured when one of the makeshift sabers exploded Sunday evening in the woods in Hemel Hempstead, north of London.

Hertfordshire Police said a third person present when the explosion happened had been questioned. The department said the two who were injured were in critical condition at a burns unit in Chelmsford, Essex.

"At this stage we are unable to confirm the exact circumstances, but glass tubes and traces of accelerant (flammable substance) were found at the scene," police said.

Nonesuch #43

Its that time of year again where no matter what you are doing, where you are, it doesnt matter, you get the Summer Break Blues. After 20+ years of going to school in the Fall and getting out in late May or early June depending on whether you are in high school or college and when things begin in the Fall we have become conditioned to having a summer break. Lazy days or from what I remember, boring days of heat if outside or crap on the TV whether or not you have cable. There was always camp which I did attend many times over the years. When I was younger, I went to several camps with cabins, rope courses, sailing and swimming, the whole "camping experience". When I was older I went to MYF(methodist youth fellowship) camps where we stayed in dorms. I always had a good time at those and I still have fond memories of Senior High Workshop(at Louisburg College) and ACS(at Methodist College. But, back to my point. My body or my psyche is straying from all things worked related. I have thoughts being outside, gardening or running through the woods beating people with foam covered plumbing supplies and bird-seed packets. I do miss NERO. May check out an event or two this summer. It has been awhile. Got to get it in before the back-to-school sales begin.

Nonesuch #42 - Look out Mama...

Neil Young at Work on New Album

James Gregory reports:
As previously reported, rock fans had an unexpected scare in April when the iconic Neil Young was admitted to a New York hospital after suffering a brain aneurysm. A mere five weeks after successful treatment for the affliction, the legend is already back in the studio recording tracks for his next LP of new material-- his first since 2003's divisive concept album Greendale.

Citing an online post from Young's half-sister, Astrid, the NME has reported that the grunge godfather has recently been holding sessions in an undisclosed Nashville studio with veteran musicians Spooner Oldham, Ben Keith, and Carl Himmel. As Astrid says of her brother's return to recording duties: "He's feeling good, has everything under control and is back in the saddle."

Another collaborator on the latest Young effort, horn player Wayne Jackson, has also offered his insight on the sessions. Citing Ben Keith as co-producer of the upcoming disc, a recent post on Jackson's website read: "The songs sound fantastic! Neil's gifts really shine through, and Wayne had a ball coming up with the arrangements! The studio was vibrating with talent."

As the album is obviously still in the early stages of production, specific details, including song titles and a release date, have yet to be finalized, but we'll keep you posted on any further developments.

* Neil Young: http://www.neilyoung.com/






http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/news/05-05/11.shtml#young

Nonesuch #41

It has happened again. More money for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Haliburton gets a raise, soldiers get nothing and Veterans from all wars are really getting shafted.

Please take a look at this post by Paul Rieckhoff Raises for Halliburton, Cuts for the VA for an insider's view.

Nonesuch #40 - A Milestone...and more

My fortieth post on Nonesuch. When I first started out with this it was only to be able to respond to postings on my friend Chad's blog Still Point and now here I am at the 40th post.

But on to the other things.

My wallet was found yesterday. The guy that mows the lawn for Food Lion in Rockwell, a town about 7 minutes up the highway from me, found it in the ditch out front of the store. He called me about 4:50pm yesterday and said he had it and that he would leave it with the Food Lion people who were keeping it in their safe. I immediately left work and headed to get my wallet. I had no idea what would be left in it but I did know that my business cards were still in there. That was how he was able to locate me. I got the shopping center and looked around for someone mowing the lawn. He was no-where to be seen. I go in, tell them I am here for my wallet. They bring it to me and everything is there but the American Express card and the $1 that was in it when it was stolen. Just amazing luck is all I can say. It was wet and I cannot use that wallet any more but all my cards, driver's license, work id, was all in there and most importantly: my Social Security card. That was what I was most worried about and there is a chance that they wrote it down and may try to use it but I will be contacted as soon as they try. There have been a lot of great folks that have helped me out immensely and I have no way to thank them all. But I give a big thanks to the Rowan County Sheriff's Department, Wal-Mart, American Express, Food Lion, Visa, the Gold Hill Market and the Food Lion mower who found my wallet. If I left anyone out, I will add them as I remember them.

Nonesuch #39

I am really liking the Huffington Post. Somehow Arianna Huffington has got together a great blend of journalists and entertainment personalities ranging from Larry David to Walter Cronkite. Below is her latest post entitled 'What Would Jesus Do... With Tom DeLay?'


"What Would Jesus Do....with Tom Delay"

Nonesuch #38

From John Cusack's post at The Huffington Post located at

John Cusack

'Here is just one of the good doctor’s (Hunter S. Thompson) final ruminations on our American experience. He sent it to me on a t-shirt a few months ago:'

'Politics is the art of controlling your environment.' That is one of the key things I learned in these years, and I learned it the hard way. Anybody who thinks that 'it doesn't matter who's President' has never been Drafted and sent off to fight and die in a vicious, stupid War on the other side of the World -- or been beaten and gassed by Police for trespassing on public property -- or been hounded by the IRS for purely political reasons -- or locked up in the Cook County Jail with a broken nose and no phone access and twelve perverts wanting to stomp your ass in the shower. That is when it matters who is President or Governor or Police Chief. That is when you will wish you had voted.'

Nonesuch #37 - Live and Learn

My wallet was stolen and I know who did it. They(it was two of them)
used my American Express at a couple of gas stations and tried to use it at Walmart but Walmart caught them, denied the purchase and alerted American Express who cancelled my card immediately. I didn't know that till the next morning(Friday) when I called American Express and they told me. They put the stop on it immediately so I didnt lose anymore money than that. Plus, American Express' insurance will cover the purchases I did not make. I had to cancel that card and they will be sending me another. I also called the sheriff, who came out to make a report. I called my bank who cancelled my Visa check card and put a flag on my account in case it
was tried to be used again. I called Equifax who has now put a fraud alert on my record for the next 90 days and if I want, can put one on for the next 7 years which I will probably do. They also contacted the 2 other major credit score companies and they have put alerts on my records there.

My wallet had not only my credit cards but my drivers license(sp), SS# card and $1 amoung other items. I called my medical insurance company and Blockbuster to let them know that my information for them had been stolen. Blockbuster cancelled my account which I had not used since 1999. A co-worker came and took me to Albemarle to get a replacement license. Just some crazy shit. You try to help someone and this is what happens.

I do hope they get caught but I am sure I will never see my wallet and
all my stuff again.

Long story short, I helped a girl out a few weeks back. She came with a friend to the house Thursday night and wanted to borrow more. I didnt have it. Her friend needed to use bathroom, he distracted me and she took the wallet. That is my guess but I am pretty sure that is what happened. Walmart and American Express ROCK!! But now, my SS# is out there somewhere, probably on the side of the road. That is what scares me. SS administration knows about it and has made a flag as well.

So much to cover with this. I hope I covered it all. I asked a friend who is a policeman for the police side of things and a bankerfriend for the banking/money side if there is anything else I can do. Both said that I had covered all my bases. Rumor has it that they have been arrested and that Walmart will be pressing charges as well. I have been checking the local papers each day to see if they have. Now, all I have to do is wait and hope they get caught.

Nonesuch #36

Ben Folds Interview with the Onion

"When The President Talks To God" lyrics by Bright Eyes
Free download from iTunes
(link from HipClicks)

Nonesuch #35 - Variations on a Nonesuch

The Flight
3rd time flying was not so bad. I got to the airport about 2 1/2 hours before my flight even arrived at the airport so I had plenty of time to get from the parking lot to the shuttle to the airport get through security, take off my shoes along with my other carry on luggage, get through the terminal, down to the gate sit down, get out the iPod and the book, 'Lamb : The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal' and even read the first quarter of it. The trip went quickly and soon I was in Chicago waiting for the hotel shuttle to take me to the Marriot.


Mirrors
The room had too many mirrors. Everywhere I turn I see mirrors. I don't like mirrors. They remind me of how much weight I have put on since my younger days and that is not a good thing. I know, you think guys dont worry too much with weight and all that. All I know now is that I am slower in doing all things and yes I am out of shape and I dont need these mirrors to remind me. I like the rooms at the Marriot. The view was better last year. I was able to see downtown and all the lights at night. This year I had a great view of the expressway and other highrises in the area. I faced the east and even in the city, the sunrises were amazing.

Food
These guys know how to feed you. From the time the conference started till the afternoon it ended, there was food food food. They provided breakfast lunch and dinner and even though it was deli sandwiches for lunch, danishes and juice for breakfast, the evening meals were great. Thursday, Chicago deep dish pizza buffet, all you could eat plus unlimited drink refills, beer/liquor not included. Friday, the hosts laid out the buffet again but this time it was: chicken or steak tacos, 3 different kinds of ravioli, 3 kinds of stirfry and (wait for it) open bar with beer and wine and I swear I saw some one get a mixed drink. But I stayed with the beer. Sure it was Miller, Miller Lite, Bud and Bud light but it was open bar. I started with Miller Lite, see above, but sometime during the evening, switched to Miller Genuine Draft. I do not drink much anymore but this night was different. I stayed up with the Swedes, Finns and British, we shut the party down. I was back at my room around midnight, still early for the Europeans and British.

Fourth time is a charm
I have figured out why O'Hare airport is so slow, it is the people getting on the plane that takes so long. After 4 or 5 times saying to myself, "Self, ok this no one else is going to board.", Another family of 5 with small children would board. The children were not bad at all on the flight. I imagine they have all flown more than 4 times like I have.

The list of songs I listened to on the flight and trip is very long but here is a short list:

Up the Beach - Jane's Addiction
Alex Chilton - The Replacements
Strange Currencies - R.E.M
Dozin' At The Knick - Grateful Dead
Reba - Phish
Live At Red Rocks 8.15.95 - Dave Matthews Band
#41 - Dave Matthews Band
(see more on the side)