Money

Here's a pretty cool little video from N.A.S.A. (David and Sam Byrne of Talking Heads fame).  I particularly love Shepard Fairey's work; it's uptown simple yet powerfully rugged.  Fairey does propaganda a huge service by creating works with subtle messages for his cause in an entirely artistic way.

Obey!

File under the category of Cool Shit

Trip out huh?

I've been on another one of my blog-neglecting-hiatus.  Sorry TNC lovers (if there are any of you out there).  I hope there is more to come...

And, a quick reminder to anyone who accidentally stopped here expecting something else, VOTE

VOTE

VOTE!

Take Dead Aim

A couple of weeks ago we were in the Valley visiting the Fam.  And it goes without saying that when I go to Napa I take full advantage of the fact that my step-father works at two of California's best golf courses (Oh to be retired and bored).  So we played a round at the beautiful Chardonnay Golf Club, and I finally had a decent round there.  An 82 at Chardonnay is good for me; the course alone is really tough, and when you factor in constantly swirling winds the course becomes brutal!  The conditions this day were no different, but for some reason my swing was dialed in.  

Anyway, this is a picture of me enjoying the scenery after a birdie. A BIRDIE!  Us golfers have to basque in the glory of these moments for they are few-and-far between.

Check out the course here.

Propaganda to the Max

I love it!  Get your t-shirt here.

A Cheering Raiders Fan? NO WAY!

 I know damn well that the Kansas City Chiefs suck, but for the last five years I've watched my Raiders drink run-off from the gutters of Oakland, and on Sunday I was actually given something to cheer for.  Now, I don't really expect much from the Silver and Black this year, we're in a rebuilding phase; all told something like 6 wins would be a "good" year.  What had me cheering was the look of our young stars-to-be; Jamarcus Russel, Michael Bush, and most impressively, Darren McFadden.  They all came out showing a lot of confidence and resiliency, two traits that have been absent from the Raiders in recent years.

Russel looked like a leader, which we all know is a must for an NFL quarterback.  His numbers weren't all that great due to the outrageously bad Chief's front line that allowed 300 rushing yards.  Why pass when you can run? 

And run is what McFadden did!  He rushed for 164 yards on 21 carries, for an average of 7.8 yards per carry.  The kid looked fast, strong, quick, agile, etc.  Hopefully he can bust out for an A.P. type rookie season, which might be doable depending on Justin Fargas' injury to his quad.  

I don't want to get carried away here, I realize it's only been two games, but shit I need something to get excited about this year.  I can't get pumped off of getting a high draft pick any longer.  

Also, Al Davis is a piece of shit!  He is constantly meddling, thusly fucking up everything.  EVERYTHING! I happen to like Lane Kiffin, and I think he could end up being a great coach for the Raiders for the next ten years.  Leave him be Mr. Davis.

Go RAIDERS!

LBM

Even more proof.....

These caskets surfaced due to the flooding that Ike spread round.  Kinda eerie, isn't it.

More proof.......

of our Earth's steady demise!  Ike wasn't even all that big.  I cringe to think about what the rest of the season holds in store for us.

New Feature Alert!!!!!

I've tried to think of something that I can hang my hat on as far as this site is concerned, and I decided to follow through with an idea that I tossed at Harlan months ago........ "The Next Chapter's George W. Bushism of the day."  It will consist simply of some dumbshit quote that our trusty leader has uttered over the past eight years.  Man, it seems crazy to say that he has been in office for eight fucking years!!!!!!!

Anyway, 144 days to go!  My vote obviously goes to...........

"I said I was looking for a book to read, Laura said you ought to try Camus.  I also read three Shakespeares.... I've got a eck-a-lec-tic reading list."

-Interview with Brian Williams of NBC News August 29, 2006

BRILLIANT!!!

LBM

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN..................

He's back!  I know, I know, this little piece of digital real estate has been damn near abandoned as of late.  Sometimes I revert to my 10th grade state of mind where blogging equals homework, and I'd rather have a rectal exam than do homework.  But, to those ON the one hand that it takes to count my readers, sorry, and I hope I can come up with some shit worth readin. 

This blog may take a turn for the worst, so be ready for a Titanic-like disaster........

Harlan; the new season starts on the 7th of Sept.  I know you know what I'm talking about, and I know you already know the date....... a friendly reminder of sorts.  I can't wait.  

Maria; you crazy Puerto Rican.  Get ready for a roller-coaster ride,  for who knows what's next in this little cinnamon roll of a brain I possess. 

And, this dude leanin against the wall?  He's dead!  He wanted to be propped up like this at his own wake; embalmed and dressed like Eazy-E.  WOW!

Please just wrap me up in Zig-Zag and smoke me!  Somebody might as well get something out of it.

LBM

NBA Draft 2008

Anyone remember when we Kings fans collectively said, "What the f*@k just happened?" when Peja Stojakovic was selected at 14?  I'd do that over again if I could. 

As we approach draft day for the NBA on Thursday,  I can't help but get caught up in all the hype.  Jermaine O'neal has already been moved from Indy to Toronto for another eternally injured player in T.J. Ford.  Portland bought the 27th pick from New Orleans, and Michael Jordan's Bobcats swooped up the 20th pick from the Denver Nuggets, and there will certainly be plenty of other trades to come before the ball drops.  Also, the Miami Heat are reportedly not interested in Michael Beasley (they'd have to be crazy not to take him), being more enamored with O.J. Mayo.  And... Baron Davis might be on the move; New York/Detroit lining up as possible suitors.  

But, what about the Sacramento Kings?  Apparently, locked in at the twelve spot, the Kings have a myriad of choices to ponder.  More specifically two needs on the roster; whether Beno Udrih re-signs for the MLE or not, they could use a point guard, and the more obvious need is at the power forward.  Miki Moore is nothing more than an 8th man on the roster, good for an energy injection here-and-there, but definitely not a "true" starter.  Here's a select list that the Kings might have a chance for at 12:

PG:

DJ Augustin

Mario Chalmers

Jarryd Bayless

Russell Westbrook

PF:

Anthony Randolph

Darrell Arthur

Bayless and Westbrook are long-shots, but you never can tell who will slip in the draft!  If either are still around at the 12 spot you take them.  I'm not completely sold on Chalmers' upside, so Augustin seems to me like the best point guard possibility.  Between Randolph and Arthur, I'd take Randolph with hopes that his upside pans out over time.  If I were to have my choice of the six listed (throw in Roy Hibbert and a couple of foreigners) I'd take Bayless based on sheer talent alone!  My most likely selection would be Augustin.  

I surely hope that the Kings are able to sign Beno, and move any combination of Douby, Abdur-Rahim, Thomas, Artest, Moore, Williams, Wright, Johnson and (yes!) Garcia.  Hopefully, they can come out of the draft with a surprise talent and make a run at a playoff spot next year.  

No matter what happens, I ultimately trust whatever Geoff Petrie does, be it draft selections or trades.  I'm of the opinion that the man knows what he's doin'.  

And, it's funny how much fun the NBA off-season can be; draft, free agency, training camps, trades, etc.  It all solidifies my love for "The League."  

Go Kings!!!!!!!!!

L.B.M.

CHICO, HEEEYYY!!!!!!

Let me start by putting this little bit of personal info. out there;  I don't like live hip-hop music.  I am of the opinion that most rap artists, while extremely talented in the studio, are marginally talented when it comes to the stage.  While they are well apt at working the crowd into a collective stupor, something is lost in translation between microphone and monitor.  I think it can mostly be attributed to a couple of factors; the party schedule of rappers on the road, the inability to use take-after-take to get the lyrics and tone spot on, and the blinding pointlessness of the "Hype Man."  The latter of which is where my major beef is dry aged.  The Hype Man can take a decent hip-hop show and turn it into an Excedren sized headache.  

Snoop came to our steamy little town a few nights ago and changed all that for me!  For someone whose interest in rap was solidified when Dr. Dre's The Chronic came out, seeing Snoop Dogg at a small venue is a slice of rap-heaven pie.  He's unarguably one of the top 10 rappers of all time!  And his catalogue of hits proves his prowess at the top of Mt. Mass Apeal.  I would think its not too far fetched to guess that 90% of the Chico CA crowd that night was white, yet Snoop made us country bumpkins feel like his homies.  He smoked our weed and killed his set.  DEFINITELY worth the 50 bucks.  Big ups Snoop!

L.B.M.

WOW!

This is unreal.  You would think that the event committee would have had the roads closed for the race, no?  At least one dead, and 14 others seriously injured.

L.B.M.

To get it right you've got to get a light

Tonight, Snoop comes to town!  I can't wait!!!!

L.B.M.

Another brillian Mike Tyson moment

I totally understand that it's not cool to make fun of retarded people, but in the case of Mike Tyson (and Flavor Flav for that matter) I can't resist.  Apparently, Kid Dynamite had hired some dude to kill a gang member that Mike thought killed his bodyguard in the year 2000.  How fucking stupid is this guy?  The list of dubious accomplishments is longer than that of the Vick brothers!  It baffles me how many pro athletes have a super hard time keeping their noses clean.  I mean, how hard is it to participate in your sport, work your ass off, collect your huge paycheck, go home at the end of the day to watch you 60 inch HD Plasma and chill?  

Dumb shit.

L.B.M.

It's a game of runs!

Oops.  Up by 24 at one point, the Lakers couldn't hang on.  Man, that is sooooooooooo fun to watch!

L.B.M.

Cheers to the end of days.

Yesterday after work I was driving down The Esplanade and was awestruck by the enormous wall of smoke to the south.  It looked like something out of a Michael Bay movie, only Bruce Willis was nowhere to be found and Will Smith was at The Staple's Center rooting for the Lakers (he's supposed to be a Sixers fan, right).  Anyway, it got me to thinkin/trippin.  I somehow am deeply connected to the weather; when Mother Nature rears her angry head back and blows, I don't seem to function properly.  I have even been known to get a bit pissy!  But that's neither here nor there.  It is, however, this connection that has me worried about our future on this planet.  

It's no secret that we humans have damaged our earth beyond repair.  And, it seems to me that ever since El Nino scorched California earlier this decade the weather has been slowly evolving, faster than before.  We have been shattering temperature highs, and squandering rainfall lows.  I have this vision of our climate ten years from now, and it resembles.................. this!

L.B.M.

And I pray that the fires throughout the state are 100% contained soon!  People's lives are being ruined.

More Finals

As an avid Sacramento Kings fan watching the Lakers get beat up in the first two games of the Finals is glorious.  The Celtics are playing some amazing defense, and the refs seem to really be impressed by it because they are taking "home calls" to the next level.  

However, I picked the Lakers understanding that they were going to lose the first two games.  Throughout the Playoffs the home team has gotten it done.  2-3-2 being the series format, I saw it happening like this; C's take 2 in Boston, Lakers take 3 at home, Game 6 to Boston, and Game 7 (an epic one to be) the Lakers come out on top.  

Oh yeah, I hope Ron moves on........... he's like a bad case of herpes.  You can't get rid of him you can only hope to suppress him.

L.B.M.

Game 1 goes the way of the C's

Paul Pierce goes down in third, is carried off the court, put into a wheel chair, rolled into the locker room and apparently seriously hurt.  He then returns after only two or so minutes had elapsed, checks in, and KILLS IT!  Amazing stuff yo.  Willis Reed comes to mind.  The back-to-back three's that Pierce drained seemed to put the Lakers collective heads in a box, like Spacey did for Brad Pitt's Gwenyth.  Not to mention Kobe was relatively cold all night (9 for 26 from the floor).  When Kobe's cold Gasol must do the bulk of the scoring or the Lakers will come up short.  

An aside; Phil Jackson takes a timeout right as Paul Pierce makes his Reed-like entrance, just as the crowd begins to work themselves into an apeshit frenzy.  PURE GENIUS!  The Bostonians instantly quieted themselves.  It just goes to show how phenomenal a playoff coach Jackson is.  It really hurts to say that too.........

I can't wait for Sunday's game.

L.B.M.

A tee with a view.

I long for a round of golf back home!!!!!!! An early tee time in The Valley begins under the chilly vail of fading fog and ends with a glass of Syrah on the 19th hole, and clear skies to inspire the soul.  This is the island hole at Eagle Vines, a Johnny Miller creation.  Serious golf heaven!

The Mamba v. The Big 3

For those of you who know me you are well aware of the fact that basketball is in my blood.  As a young buck I have a loose memory of the Lakers/Celtics rivalry that saved the NBA.  I really started to pay attention when Jordan started to take over, and I've been addicted  ever since.  

This year we NBA fans have been given the gift of Lakers/Celtics all over again!  This time the Celtics have a core group who have spent the better parts of their respective careers searching for the right combination of teammates to help take them to the promise land.  KG was buried in Minnie, The Truth had a couple of good runs with Antoine Walker at his side in the JV league that was the Eastern Conference, and Ray-Ray bounced around the league in cities that some people had forgotten even had NBA teams.  We all know what Kobe and Shaq were able to do earlier this decade, but now Kobe has the team to himself and is playing like a BEAST!  

I can't wait for this bitch to get going............. My pick?????? Lakers in 7.

Thane, whatcha say homie?

L.B.M.

The Next Chapter 1.0

I am feeling like the world is but a fly on the chin of a drunken hippie; what the hell does that mean.  The point is, I'm pumped about this whole blog thing.  I'm sure that there a millions of bored Americans just itching to hear and see all the crap that I think is cool.  So, here goes........ if you don't like it, just move on.  If you do happen  to like it, shoot a post into the blogosphere!

L.B.M.