Heading to Boy Scout Summer Camp aka the Heart of Darkness!

"In and out of rivers, streams of death in life, whose banks were rotting into mud, whose waters, thickened with slime, invaded the contorted mangroves, that seemed to writhe at us in the extremity of an impotent despair. Nowhere did we stop long enough to get a particularlised impression, but the general sense of vague and oppressive wonder grew upon me. It was like a weary pilgrimage amongst hints for nightmares."
- Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness, Part 1

OK, well Chief Logan Reservation, the locale of this summer's Boy Scout Camp is not quite as bad as Joseph Conrad's tale of the Congo River, but I did get an e-mail confirmation that the trail to our campsite was "ankle deep in mud and standing water."  That is pretty gruesome for a bunch of suburban adult leaders used to "drive in camping".  I can't tell you that I am looking forward to the mud, but I am already proud of the scouts that are there and are going to overcome any weather related obstacles to have a great time at camp.

Not to sound too corny, because I was NOT a boy scout as a teen.  (I was more of a Viking - looting and pillaging to the dismay of the law) I spent much of my formative years in the woods, in a creek, turning over rocks and generally getting dirty in the outdoors. 

As a family, we camped and canoed and fished and spent some time outdoors, but I was not going to put on the uniform and get merit badges.  It wasn't my thing.  As an adult, however, I find the BSA program to be the best thing going for many of our kids that don't know anything but video games and soccer practice.  BSA is a great opportunity to get into the woods, learn some outdoor skills that would have been considered essential 100 years ago, but are now novel and share some experiences with peers.   I challenge anyone to find a downside to that.  

I am heading into the mud, gladly, to spend a few days in the humid, insect filled summertime with my son and his friends to learn how to live in the woods, learn about ourselves and have fun doing it.  Jealous?  You should be!

Yet Another Reason Dave Grohl and Foo Fighters Rule

I was trying to decide whether to write about the latest housing news (actually a "victory" for the good guys!), or a charity golf tournament that I would actually like to play in (for more than the beer and free hotdog).  Then I came across a story I had to comment about.

By now, it should be no surprise that I have a bit of a thing for Foo Fighters and their fearless leader Dave Grohl - seen here in full caveman rocker mode.    Well it seems that someone finally sought fit to spread their hilarious tour rider out to the interweb, courtesy of smoking gun.  I hope this doesn't turn out to be fake, because I have seen a few different versions of it at different sites, but given what I know about Dave Grohl and the band's general sense of humor, it seems legit!!

This is a masterpiece of Tour Rider journalism.  It is sarcastic, pays homages to the excesses of 70's Rockers, contains hilarious coloring book pages and some valuable lessons on roadie hygiene and the pitfalls of "sweaty meats". 

Each band member takes a funny turn at teaching the venue catering staff some great tips and makes it fun to learn by providing mazes, puzzles and band image clip art to color!  Just so we know that Foo Fighters haven't lost their edge, they also require a rock-band-worthy amount of alcohol!  What are the guys and their guests drinking? Lots of the usual suspects Coors light, Guinness, Corona, local microbrews, wine and champagne, Jager, Crown Royal, Sky Vodka and mixers.  Regular guy drinks (if regular guys are getting hammered before they go on!)  I also like that they request that the family room be "near, but not necessarily next to the band room".  The whole thing is also sprinkled with random gems like "Chewbacca did not get a medal at the end of Star Wars, which is a travesty!" 

Basically, I've got my ticket to the show at Nationwide Arena in September and can't f'***ing wait!!  The new album, Wasting Light, is an instant classic.  It is recorded old school and sounds incredible.  Their best offering yet and that is hard to do.  Full album review coming soon, I just can't stop listening to it long enough to write about it yet.  

Peruse the excerpts of the Tour Rider including the hilarious Catering Visual Enhancement and Activities in addition to the written excerpts linked above.  It is a great look into the life of a touring rock band and provides unique insight into the minds of the one of the biggest best rock-bands out there. It is also comforting to know that my favorite band is also one of the cleverest.  LONG LIVE FOO!!!

Still reaching for some good news about housing? Here it isn't!

I just finished reading another article desperately seeking good news on the housing front.   The other day, there was one about the fact that "new build" building permits for May were up from year ago.  I can attest to that as a local builder has ramped up construction on the final phase of my subdivision after about a six year standstill.  That's decent news, although I really can't see the benefit of putting more new homes into the marketplace in most cities right now.  

Today's article began by boasting how foreclosure notices fell to their lowest level since 2006!  What they are measuring is the required default notice that is sent by the bank at the beginning of the foreclosure process.  If the bank does not send this notice out, it can't proceed (in most jurisdictions) with the foreclosure.   If anyone thinks this is good news they are not thinking straight.  What this is a strong indicator of is that the Banks (B of A, Wells Fargo, etc.) have had to grind their foreclosures to a halt in some places.  I have had more than one client tell me that a representative of their Bank told them that "After further review, the Bank has decided that it is not in their best interests to foreclosure on your home."   This is after my client have not paid their mortgages in over a year.   It is no longer worth it to the bank to foreclosure because they don't want to own the home and can't sell it if they did.  This is now causing urban blight and other problems in certain cities and is guaranteed to affect the housing market negatively for quite a long time.

Sorry about this depressing topic, but if no one talks about it, it will NOT go away.  Feel free to leave a comment with your well thought out solution to the whole mess!!

Next entry will "upbeat"...back to music maybe, it makes everything better.!

h.d. Official Album Review - Hot Sauce Committee Part Two

Welcome, have a seat, get you i-pods, ear buds, headphones, CD players, walkman out and put in the new Beastie Boys album - Hot Sauce Committee Part Two.   If you push play at the end of this sentence you should be able to read this review and finish both it and the album at the exact same time.  

Are you even serious thinking  I could do that?  As an aside, I have no desire to help increase i-tunes bottom line; HOWEVER, choose your favorite media site and actually buy the album.  There is something wrong about just downloading music for free - the artists get some of the money you spend and you get their music and extras.  So download this album and you also get the 30 minute version of Make Some Noise video.

Hot Sauce Committee Part Two is either a return to or an homage to the early Beastie albums and is a reminder as to how Beasties can own the rap world basically whenever they choose to!  It starts off with one the first releases and one of the highlights with Make Some Noise...Classic BB theme of challenging sucka MC's.  They are dropping throwbacks to License to Ill all over this track culminating with the proclamation that we gotta "Party for the MFing Right to Fight!"  Non-Stop Disco Power is the first of a few trance-like synth lines backed by Funky Drummer Space Rap.  OK is next and one my favorites it is basically Robot Sex Music with the robots excited chorus of  "Sex is going on in my head" - at least that's what I heard!??!  Say It is a tour de force for Mixmaster Mike.  He also goes off in Long Burn the Fire another strong lyrical song containing "the proof is in the pudding and the pudding's in my pants..I think you've heard me rap, now watch me dance."  NOW WHAT, SON!!...errrr, sorry.

Other strong tracks follow with Multilateral Nuclear Disarmament.  This song disarmed my hypothalmus with its sick, sedating, wah synth and high-hat pacing.   Here's a Little Something is a dance anthem BBoy style harkening back to the To The 5 Boroughs album.  Pop Your Balloon is a clever,fast-paced, nasty rap.."Built for speed like a Tour De France bike!"  and "Aint no sunshine when Mike D's Gone!"   Sprinkled throughout are a few short tracks that sound like vocal exercises for the boys - but they are entertaining and have great names like Funky Donkey!!
 
If you're a big fan, watch the 30 minute Make Some Noise video.  I've seen it twice as it really fills in some of the gaps and answers a lot of questions from the short version that we were all thinking about.  Weren't we?  Anyone?  OK, here is my stream of consciousness summary - A celeb walk-thru funfest with an acid trip, lots of 80's Drug Use and Will Ferrell cowbell outtakes.  This video portrays a day in the life of BB immediately following the party depicted in the fight for your right video.  It ends with....a Back to the Future Dance Off the dissolves into a urination Golden Shower battle involving Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, Jack Black as the future Beastie Boys, peeing on Elijah Wood, Seth Rogen, and Danny McBride as the younger BBoys.  Can't make that stuff up!  Hilarious and a testament to the broad fan appeal of the Beasties.

Overall, five stars - a must have for fans and a definite BUY if you are cool.  Let me know what you think about the review or the album.

My Second Favorite Summer Sport - Racin'....(Horses that is)

In an effort to not have the most depressing new blog of the year, I would like to spend sometime discussing the sport of kings (and Queens) -  thoroughbred horse racing!   While that might not make everyone reading this jump out of their seat with excitement, this is a sport that a lot of people should rediscover or give a chance to.  

For me, horse-racing is all about the power of the thoroughbred race horse.  This animal has an innate desire to run and is built and bred to do just that.  An extremely fragile, high strung, muscular machine that just wants to finish ahead of the horse next to it. 

Although most races last just two minutes each race is an emotional roller coaster.  The long ceremonial lead in to the race from the barn to the paddock to the track.  Then the tension as horses are loaded into the gate one by one.  The burst of excitement as the bell signals the opening of the gates at the start of the race.  Then a combination of race strategy and the jockey's struggle to control a huge beast pulling on the bit while navigating a traffic jam of horseflesh.  Finally, down the stretch they come an all out sprint to the finish line with the outcome often determined by a nose!   WHEW!! 

Of course, the ability to bet on the outcome of the race gives every fan a stake in the outcome.  Yes we all know you can bet about anything sports related in Vegas, but as far as live sporting events, horse racing is a gambler's delight.   Additionally, it is a venue for some of the most scientific minds to exercise their brains in an attempt to make some real money.  If you spend some time studying the racing form, the odds of you making money are so much better than any casino game in Vegas, its a joke!!  What makes the casino bet so bad is the fact that the odds on the casino game are fixed. You can never have the advantage.  The same is not true in racing. In horse racing, the odds are not fixed. You are betting against the public. 

 The overall race experience is the best part of horseracing.  Go to Keeneland Racetrack in Lexington, KY for the Bluegrass Stakes in April for the best of everything horseracing.  Classy fans, the best horses, beautiful racetrack, beautiful women, celebs.  

What other sport can you down and see the athletes before each event, talk to the jockeys, get a drink, win some money and then do it all over again every half-hour?  Basically, give it a try if you haven't because this sport has something to offer everyone and it is an American sports tradition that needs your support.  In honor of the upcoming Belmont Stakes, I'll leave you with Secretariat.  'nuff said!