How Badly Do You Want Free Music?

Yes if you act now! You can get 3 free downloads if you join the Army National Guard!
Not quite sure how I feel about this, either for the user who is looking for free downloads or The National Guard for having to toss a carrot out to get recruits, and why only 3 downloads. 5 I might have considered.
For a more traditional way here's Limewire!

Thanks to The Front Line for the image!

Reason #23,412, Why I Don't Think I'm Ever Getting Married!

Sometimes I come across a blog and I scratch my head, and wonder what someone is expecting to hear when they write their post. This thought came to me when I came across this post from The invisible Writer, where she wonders if she should be upset with her husband for the reasons explained in the post. If you take a look at the post it would not take you very long to answer, Duh, yeah! Some people were quick to comment that she should dump him, which drew an immediate response from her with the classic retort, "Of course, I'm only bringing up the bad things, he really is a sweet guy". I almost commented myself, but I'm hoping this story was more of an embellishment in order to induce comments on her blog than a complete list of actual events. When I see something like this, I go back to the post I wrote waaaay back in March of this year Love:A Reality Check. To me just based on the evidence presented, this is a classic case of someone who wishes to be "married" and is not really "in love". The cliff notes version of my old post was that Love is easy, you love your parents, pets, children, sports teams, co-workers, etc. But when it comes to true companionship, a bond that is lasting and powerful that you are willing to spend a lifetime with someone, there is usually something "more" there than just love. It usually can only be defined as a "know it when you feel it" type of thing. So I'm sure that The Invisible Writer loves her husband but there is something "more" she has in mind and in my opinion she hasn't come to terms with that, she believes because she's married that all this stuff should be all worked out, so much so that she is debating whether or not she should be upset about things that are completely unacceptable to her, and to anybody else for that matter. Likewise I'm sure her husband loves her, mainly because he's married whose wife will bail him out every time he gets in trouble, and clearly by his antics is searching for something more that doesn't really include her, she is more of a security blanket than anything else. I'm sure things can be worked out, but for me, I'll just wait, and wait, and wait (so on and so on), until "the more" comes along. Because the older I get, the stakes get bigger in relationships, and hopefully so will the rewards.
That's all I have for today, don't settle for less when there is "more" out there,
Until next time,
PAC

The Truth Continued!

One little thing I didn't to mention in my post entitled "The Truth From a Certain Point of View" the other day, Truth in advertising! Yes, something that might actually make truth an oxymoron. In fairness some companies are not making such bold claims, they are just generating attention to their product so that we the little people -- I mean buying public will consider their product. Using such techniques as sex as an example.
Being cool is another one, you see them in competitive ads like Coke vs. Pepsi, and Miller Lite vs. Bud Light(feel free to add any foreign ads that I am not familiar with). They kind of force you to defend the one you like better. I think Coke is a superior product, but check my previous post on what making such a claim really means.
Then there is Sex. Sex, Sex, SEX!!!
Yes when the truth can't get the audience or sales of the product you want, you can always rely on sex.
But get this, the Government is getting involved. Well not the U.S. Government(give them time), but in the United Kingdom they have a little gang called the Committee of Advertising Practice. If the sound of their name isn't scary, you can probably imgine from such a name that they probably don't have a sense of humor. The committee has rejected an ad by the Lambrini drink company because it depicted women flirting with a man who was deemed too attractive! I find this hard to believe for a couple reasons, first since I wasn't there where did they find such a guy, and two how can anybody be too attractive, because who is to say.
The committee didn't stop there they declared!
We would advise that the man in the picture should be unattractive overweight, middle-aged, balding etc.
I can see the reaction of the Lambrini executives right now! "You're right, what were we thinking, you guys are so smart, you should have our jobs instead!" I think not!
Can you imagine if that committee made that declaration here in the states! Beer commercials would practically go away, Overstock.com would actually have to say what they sell on their site, and the guy in the Tag body spray commercials would have to be attacked by unattractive - overweight, middle-aged, balding women(which seems to be happening to me when I use the product).
You might be thinking to yourself right now(maybe), "So what your saying is, you would trade "Truth" for "freedom"?
I might respond, "Maybe?", Truth as I have already stated is subject to so many points of view, but then again so does freedom, so much so I fear that truth may have better odds of existing than freedom, especially since everybody believes they are telling the truth, and most people seem to be willing to trade "Freedom" for "Security". But that's a subject for another discussion, and since no one is telling me what I should do tomorrow, freedom lives!
I would probably reply with what I yacked about the other day, and that would be gain knowledge about the products and while I may not find the truth, I will probably figure out what is false. I will probably not be attacked by women(or men) trying Tag body spray(one should not need spray for that).
Experience plays a factor too. Growing up there was a product call Zip shoes, which suggested that if you wore those shoes you would Zip along, and jump all over the place. Imagine my surprise when I landed in the middle of a bush in our front yard with my first few steps. It was also the last time I had Blue shoes!
I do believe however those advertisers should try to be more truthful, or as Dr. Gene Scott "taught" they should act more truthful-ly (devout followers should get that!). I would like to see just one (ONE) home pregnancy company instead of showing some couple all gleeful when they find out they are expecting, have one freaked out chick just go nuts when she finds out she's been knocked up! I may buy one for the hell of it if a company did that, I may just knock a lady up for such a product(That's a joke!).
In conclusion: My advice to the Committee of Advertising Practice, this isn't Crunchy Frog they are putting out. Have a Lambrini drink with some attractive people, and enjoy life for a change. It may not be the truth, it may not be what we wish were true, but no can really say it's false!
Until next time,
PAC

Looks Like He's Made It! Manilow Jewelry!

Yes, Barry Manilow is introducing a line of jewelry he's simply calling the "M Jewelry Line."

So if you need something for that Weekend in New England, or just Trying to Get the Feeling Again, or if you're Ready to Take a Chance Again. Find what your looking for with the "M Jewelry Line." It's a Miracle!

Don't need the bling, check this site out. Get the Barry Bobblehead Doll(Caution:The Nose really makes it bobble frequently!)

Click here for the full news story!

Aren't We Getting a Little Too Sensitive?!?

Boy it sure seems that a Country(U.S.A.) that prides itself on free speech is really having a hard time lately. It could be just a paranoid press that has nothing exciting to report and heaven forbid they report the good things happening around us. But it just seems to me that people are becoming increasingly more offended over silly things(team mascots for instance), and since Janet Jackson worries from the media over fines from Federal Communications Commission(FCC).
Case in point, a Kentucky radio station had canceled Garrison Keillor's "The Writer's Almanac", and here is the reasons why:

Recent poems had included words such as "breast" and the phrase "get high." Another included suggestive sexual content, according to WUKY General Manager Tom Goddell.

WOW! Forget the FCC, I'm writing my congressman(who's actually a woman), better yet let's go to Minnesota and that Lake Whatever it is and lynch the guy, burn him at the stake if we have to.

Well insecure Tom has changed his mind and put the show back on the air thanks to listener support. But why can't Tom admit that he is a paranoid idiot and made a mistake and apologize instead. Just might help ease the paranoia elsewhere.

Here is what I'm getting at. Life is too short(it may be even precious, I haven't decided yet) for this kind of stuff. Yellowstone National Park is a super volcano that could blow at any moment wiping out 3/4 of the U.S., Permafrost is melting(probably an oxymoron then) in Siberia and Canada releasing tons of methane allowing the progression of global warming, and don't forget the terrorists still don't like us and could attack at any moment and that would suck. At any rate something could happen instantly that actually makes survival essential, and then maybe things like breasts would less offensive, or whether that guy drove 35mph in a 25 zone or what a team sports mascot name would be. Heck if all those nasty things happened all at once, Florida State could name themselves the Turds and would it really matter?

Nasty stuff is going on, but good stuff is going on too, and if you can't tell if the glass is half full or half empty, get a new glass(or least put it in the dish washer!). I'm not even paranoid of the nasty stuff happening, I realized a long time ago that at any time, moment, and in an instant the gig is up! And at the moment you have to look at your life and determine, was I a player or a complainer? I'm been kind of an observer, and I'm not quite sure how I feel about that!

That's all I have for now,
Have a wonderful Day,
PAC

Being a Fan Doesn't Mean They're Supposed to Win!

While surfing through the blogoshere I came across an article that reminded me of something that is rapidly becoming a pet peeve of mine(my all time pet peeve is people on the Interstate who try to pass while still on cruise control!).
The post is entitled "How the Cubs Win the World Series"!
He begins his post by stating he is a lifelong Cubs fan. I stop right there and almost click to the next site.
I hate to tell people how they should feel, but you can't be a lifelong Cubs fans and expect them to win. I used to think you should watch/follow them to lose(which are much better odds) but that's no good either.
So here it is, just follow them and see what happens! It's 50/50 chance of one or the other.
Look I know the guy feels, and I admire a person in this day and age of fantasy sports that a person follows a team, but my upbringing has led me to my opinion. My grandfather never missed a Cubs game, and if he wasn't finished with his chores he would have a radio on full blast with six extension cords out to the garden so he could follow the game. However, he would never admit he was a fan,
"Nope, they're not going to win today", and if they managed to pull one out he would say, "Well they got lucky today, they'll blow it tomorrow!"
A healthy attitude, a bunch of bull*&%$, but since he's passed on, I've carried on the tradition. It's kept me sane when their up 3-1 in a series and they blow it, to say "See, I told you so, what else did you expect".
It's just a recomendation that's all, and I think worth a try,
Until Next time,
PAC

I Knew I Should Have Taken That Left Turn in Albuquerque!

Interesting Story that came across the wire(actually it was a RSS reader) about passengers on a cruise ship bound for Bermuda, but when they wake up they're in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Not a bad place to be this time of year I'm sure, but not Bermuda, and not what most of the passengers were expecting.
The ship was diverted due to Tropical Storm Franklin, and after a quick stop in Canada(once again, not a bad place to be this time of year, point being I'm sure it could be worse!), a nice trip back home to New Jersey(one more time, not a bad place to be this time a year, but not Bermuda!).

The reason I would have chosen this story for discussion on The Radioaffliction, if we were still on the air, or if I would get off my lazy butt and do the podcast I've been promising for months, would be to discuss the "attitudes" I'm sure some of the passengers might have. The ones that need immediate satisfaction or else the world is coming to an end. I'm sure some people are upset and have a reason to be disappointed, especially since one couple was planning to get married in Bermuda(which is romantic, but hey, how many people can say they got married just off the coast of Halifax!!!), and I'm sure the cruise line will do what they can to compensate. Besides, better safe than sorry, right!

But that's not enough for some people, it's not over until they've yelled, kicked, screamed, and for a lack of a better word(sorry kids) Bitched, and basically annoyed everyone employee on the cruise ship. To have the kind of conversation that some how the Captain will suddenly change his mind.
"You're right, what was I thinking! After all it's only a Tropical Storm, it's not like it's a hurricane! Everyone back on board, we're going to tough this out. This guy's(or gal's) powerful, forceful, angry words has made me see the light!"
The point is this, #$%& happens, and there are going to be times in life where you can't change what is happening, not that I'm trying to tell someone how to feel or react but these are the little tests in life that I think we take for granted. No matter what happens, try your best to enjoy it! Heck, you now have to something to talk about on Thanksgivings from now on!

Have a great weekend!
PAC

Man, I Hope I'm This Happy When I'm Arrested!

Most likely I'll be saying !@#$ $%&*!

Click here for the young lady's story from The Smoking Gun!

Upset of the Year! Canada Wins Award for Dumbest Government!

By reading some of the blogs out there, I'm sure this comes as a great surprise to many here in the U.S., especially with the other nominees, Iran, North Korea along with the mighty U.S.A. at the World Stupidity Awards!

I was a little surprised but then I thought about it a little, and while the U.S. maybe the most hated Government, it may not be the dumbest(Since I'm sure most Governments qualify as dumb). I had to look no further than my own blog to see how Canada qualifed, last May I caught an episode of the Prime Ministers B*&%$ing session- I mean question time!

Follow You, Follow Me

A little bit of a sports theme today, because I think I'm the only one who isn't getting it. Texas Rangers pitcher Kenny Rogers had an incident with a cameraman a while back, that got him suspended(pending an appeal) for 20 games. The incident happened on the field during warm ups and the cameraman's excuse after Mr. Rogers asked that he not point that camera at him, was that he was just doing his job. Fair enough, the players are on the field, and it's your job to cover the game and the players in it, you shouldn't have your camera thrown off your shoulder!
Well a 20 game suspension(which is STILL pending an appeal) is not harsh enough, Mr. Rogers has been arrested for assault, and since he publicaly apologized and ate crow at the All-Star game last week, he tried to do the right thing and turn himself in.
But wait! What's there right next to him while he's being fingerprinted(I REPEAT WHILE HE'S BEING FINGERPRINTED!), another cameraman?!?
Strangely enough Mr. Rogers doesn't approve of him being there, so he has a few words with him, just words, he doesn't toss aside the deputy next to him and smash the cameraman with the deputy's night stick, just some words, terse perhaps but just words, and the cameraman intelligently replies "I'm just doing my job!"
So the Sports Talk crowd today had a field day with Mr. Rogers with such comments like, "He just doesn't get it!", "What kind of idiot would do that!"
Point #1. I already know what kind of an idiot he is by his first reaction to the original cameraman, his lame public apology which was somehow supposed to explain his deserving to play in the All-Star game. So the proof was already in the pudding.
Point #2. Doesn't anybody have a problem with a cameraman filming while fingerprinting!!!!!!!! Spare me the "He's a public figure, He's in the news, The cameraman has a job to do and he's just doing it!!"
C.R.A.P.!!!!!!
Why not follow him into the bathroom to make sure he wipes! Or puts the seat down after at least!
Even better, do the more intelligent thing watch him go into the police station, wait for him and when he comes out, film him and ask the great question "How did it go in there?"
I do not condone the actions of Mr. Rogers at all, and believe he is getting what he deserves has far as punishment goes, but this silly CNN(media news in general) style coverage of an idiot, is well idiotic.
I feel better now, how about you!
Have a great day,
PAC

It's Been Such a Long Time!

Just in case you were wondering, if you're going to walk from the Madison Airport(Dane County Regional Airport officially) on Madison's North East side to Elver Park on Madison's far West side, it will take you about four hours and five minutes(16.5 miles), depending on how long you hang out downtown, and chill out by Lake Mendota!
Just in case you ever have to do that!

Regular reports to resume again, shortly after I rest my sore feet!
Until then,
PAC

What's Left!!!!

In the last two weeks two secrets have finally been revealed.
1. How Anakin Skywalker (finally) became Darth Vader and
2. That W. Mark Felt is "Deep Throat"!

In the case of emotionally tortured Mr. Skywalker, we knew this was coming, and while Obi-Wan gave it scouts try to save him, we knew that he would fail and leave him as a lump of scarred flesh, only to rescued by the Emperor, and become the Bad guy we remembered. And that he wouldn't be Anakin again until his son who after just becoming a Jedi could have destroyed the Emperor himself, sacrifices himself to the powers of the Dark Side, until his father can no longer face the pain, and become good again, destroying the Sith, saving his son(and the Jedi), and restoring balance to the force.

In the case of Mr. Throat-- I mean Mr. Felt. This was one the greater mysteries of our time, and the revealation has left me with a little feeling of dissappointment. For one thing I had $20 riding on that it was Alexander Haig, and second what was unknown is now known, and now it's time to move on. That's it! All that build up and POOF! Kind of like when we found out who shot J.R.!
There will be a little debate on whether he is a hero, as his family feels or a sell out like the wonderfully heroic G. Gordon Liddy thinks. But that will come and go faster than Jennifer Wilbanks my emotionally tortured runaway bride, who never hooked me up with the blonde police woman escorting her away from the press.

Now for me the question remains, what's left! What else is out there are we just dying to know, but haven't or aren't willing to figure out yet. Could it be the cure of a major disease, and if it's found will I have the same feeling as when Mr. Felt was discovered. "Wow that's it! All that moral debate over stem cells and all you had to do was eat the leaf of an oak tree!"
Could it be the one really big question, the one I'm even avoiding (on this blog anyway), Is There a God? A simple question really that seems to cause more pain than it really intended, and it's becoming more of a fight between the people who feel that they have a fantastic computer in their head that can do almost anything, including a little thing called rational thought vs. people with books, and a little thing called faith. The problem I feel, is that the answer came and went a long time ago, and nobody liked the answer, therefore the queston(s) persist.
That's all I have today,

Have a great weekend,
PAC

Find Your Niche, Keep Your Niche, and Try Not to Scratch It!

Cable and Satellite TV sure is getting interesting these days, because the networks are scrambling around trying to get who they can as often as they can for as long as they can. In the past few years a lot of networks (AMC,TLC,GSN,Headline News,MSNBC,& G4/Tech TV to name a few) have given up their "Niche" programming in order to somehow obtain a larger audience and please the masses. So instead of standing out and being different and pleasing a number of core fans that can form a base and basically with them and a website can do the marketing for you, they get basic programs or what some are calling "dumbed down" programs. AMC is the worst offender at this. AMC used to stand for American Movie Classics, but no longer. They felt that Turner Classic Movies was doing a better job(which they were) and gave up, shortened their name to AMC and now play such classic movies like tonight: Jaws III (I'm betting not in 3D like the original theatrical version) followed by Jaws:The Revenge! If that wasn't bad enough, they are edited with commercials!!! That sure is appeasing the masses. Because that's what most people want when they are spending close to $1400 a year for cable or satellite service in the first place is crappy movies, edited with commercials.
Now I can't write an article like this without talking about my favorite king of contradiction, the great sports network that I will never mention by name, but their initials are E.S.P.N. Yes that's right the network that has every cable and satellite company by the you know whats, feels that a fantatical sports fan base is not enough, and is getting in on the "dumbed down" programming. It seems like they are having a hard time figuring out what to put on their main network(Here's a hint:SHOW SPORTS!!)! "Hmmm, how about on a Thursday prime time let's show the movie "Days of Thunder"(Great, a crappy sports movie edited with commercials! SHOW SPORTS!). "How about this, we get teammates together and make a show like The Newlywed Game"(How about this:SHOW SPORTS!)! "Wait, I've got another one, we get this fat guy who knows all about sports trivia, and others guys to try and beat him(SHOW SPORTS INSTEAD!!). And we can't figure out what to do overnight, so let's just show the same Sportscenter for 12 hours straight(why is it so hard to SHOW SPORTS!)! Even Sportscenter has reduced itself to using old network news ploys to retain viewers. "Shaq didn't win the MVP, Was Racism involved?" only to have two people and the announcer with great hair to say that it wasn't.
This is old school economics that says there is a fixed number of channels, and fixed number of viewers, that don't apparently know what to watch and when.
But they should use the new school of economics that says, because of technology there are an unlimited number of viewers with all kinds of viewing needs and wants (and note to all networks, infomercials is NOT one of them), just let me know when it's on, and if I can't watch then, I can record or TIVO it! Really not that hard folks. And since I always like to leave things on a positive note, the one network that seems to be doing an okay job at least is GSN, formally Game Show Network. When they started they showed nothing but old game shows, but when they got bought out by Sony, and since they are a major corporation, they needed to make a profit, so out went the old shows and in with some crappy new ones. But now they seem to have a good mix of old shows (Match game(the best), Family Feud, Pyramid(Dick Clark)) with new ones that aren't as crappy. And finally you don't see CSPAN doing cooky things to try attract an audience, and they now have 3 channels plus the internet!!
The moral of this story and life is, don't be afraid to be different!
That's all I have today,
PAC

Go Ahead, Ask me Anything!
It's Friday! And I'm stuck at the Madison Airport until midnight, so I'm opening up the phone lines (that's an expression) and allowing you the viewing/listening audience to ask me anything! You can use the comment section or email me an audio question by recording your question and sending in .mp3 format to radioaffliction@gmail.com and I'll put it on the next Radioaffliction!
In the comments section is examples of previous Ask Me Anythings!

Enjoy and thanks
PAC

When Gold is Not Good Enough!

Here is a story close to home for me! Marquette University in Milwaukee ever since it changed it's nickname for it's sports programs from Warriors to Golden Eagles waaaay back in 1993, has had complaints from students and mostly alumni. This all started when the University got complaints from local Native American groups about Marquette's use of their logo and mascot. At least that's my opinion of what they should have been upset about. I'm really not sure what claim they have to the term "Warrior", indeed some of them were, but the Vikings were warriors, Attila the Hun, Constantine, The Crusaders, Hey George Washington was even a warrior, fought in two of them, Eisenhower for crying out loud, and what about Darth Vader! And with nicknames like Redskins, Indians, and Braves out there, whining about Warriors is pretty thin. But Marquette is a Catholic run school and therefore principle is more important than principal, and so bye-bye to Warriors and hello Golden Eagles. The University doesn't get it however, they think people don't like Golden Eagles, and that's not true for the most part. What they don't like is that it's not the Warriors. So bowing to pressure, and the fact that some very nice people were willing to make (sizeable)donations if the University changed back to Warriors, they decided they would have a panel look at changing the name. I think everyone thought that if they were going to change the name, it would go back to the Warriors, or after some careful study say, "You know right now isn't the right time, being at war and everything, and the Native Americans still aren't really happy about it, so we aren't going to anything right now, it's the Golden Eagles, so just live with it". I could accept that, and I think most people would still grumble a little then move on with life after a little while, but what does the Univerisity do. They make a major press conference, send out thousands of letters to Alumni to announce the new nickname and logo to: (get ready Warriors fans!)
THE GOLD!!!!!!!!!
Yes that's right ladies and Gentlemen, your new team the Marquette Gold!
It does make sense in one regard, they are moving into the Big East Conference, there will be the big game with The Orange of Syracuse for the battle of the Orange and Gold! (Excited yet!)
But so far only the University is happy with the change, although I haven't heard from the Native Americans yet, everyone else is still up in arms. I'm surprised there isn't a religous nut out there complaining of a nickname that has ties to materialism. Give it time.
My advice to Marquette is this, your students and alumni are your life blood, kind of like your children or pets. And while you try to guide them and teach them rights and wrongs, there are just times the only way you can shut them up, is to GIVE THEM WHAT THEY WANT!
Go Warriors!
Have a great weekend,
PAC

BUMMERS!

Bummer #1

I was a little sad to see that Dr. Gene Scott passed away a couple weeks ago. In this crazy world in which I am trying to come to grips, and find understandings, especially in Religion, I always found Dr. Scott a little refreshing and entertaining. I first came across Dr. Scott on my grandparents satellite dish, and then on a over the air station in San Francisco, and I just thought it was interesting how he would sit and smoke his cigar waiting for people to call, and how he could get everyone in his studio to stand at attention, "Yes SIR!!". I don't think he affected my beliefs one way or the other, but if I was ever bored, he was always on the air, and I'm glad that his website still broadcasts his shows! Click here to check it out! It looks like his daughter Dr. Melissa Scott has taken over, she has the same demeanor, but is much cuter!* (* check update below)


Farewell Dr. Scott!
This link has more info on the passing of Dr. Scott

Bummer #2

With the upcoming election in the United Kingdom on Thursday, there has been no Prime Ministers questions the last couple of weeks, so another loss of entertainment. But it has brought up an interesting question. Prime Minister Tony Blair's approval rating according to the funny papers is at an all time low, however in the election the voters are not voting for a particular person, but the minister in their district on the political party to which they are affiliated with. And which party has the most ministers the leader of that party becomes the Prime Minister. So what do you do, in my district the Labour party candidate could be a cool guy, but I don't want Tony Blair to be Prime Minister, do I vote for the conservative candidate even though he is a dufus. In some ways I suppose it makes as much sense as our Electoral College. So good luck U.K. and happy voting!
In the meantime CSPAN is showing the Canadian Prime Ministers questions, and it is extremely disappointing. I have never swore on this blog, and this is pretty tame, but all it is, is one Bitch session. What is the point! The opposition leader starts the questioning, and I'm paraphrasing, "Prime Minister, isn't it true that you suck, and all your programs suck, and that our programs are better, but because you suck, you won't even listen to our proposals because you're too busy sucking all the time!"
And the Prime Minister responds "That is a fabrication, I can't possibly suck that bad, because you suck worse!" And on and on and on. And to further tick off an American watching, a minister will come on and tell the Prime Minister he sucks in French! It was like watching a Sports reporter asking a player or coach after a loss "Why did you lose the game?" Duh, what do they really expect them to say? "We suck, or They scored more points than us!" The point I'm trying to make is, what is the point! If you are going to ask questions, ask a question that has some sort of a chance of getting an answer. Britain gets a little tense sometimes, but it actually seems like they are trying. I didn't understand one thing in Canada(despite the French) that showed they were trying to make any progress or solve anything. I could be wrong so if anyone in Canada can help me out I would be grateful.

Bummer #3

Ever since I was in high school I developed a nickname Claymate (my last name is Clay if you didn't catch it), so a young lady who had the privilage being my special friend would be a claymate. Well I find out now that fans of Clay Aiken are called "Claymates". This is completely unacceptable! I could wait it out, and hope his career tumbles, but hey Barry Manilow is still around, and I'm an easy going guy, so for now I have changed my email address to radioaffliction@gmail.com
Probably works better for the site, and when the show comes back on the air!

Well that's all I have for today,
Enjoy,
Until Next time,
PAC

* Update:
Turns out Melissa Scott is actually Dr. Scott's wife. Check the comments for all the details

The Truth Can Set You Free! Really It Can! Trust Me It Can Work!

Let's take the story of poor Jennifer Wilbanks since everyone thought that's what I wanted on my TV on a Saturday afternoon. A 32 year old medical assisant from Georgia who was supposed to get married yesterday to John Mason. But hold on! Jenny has plans of her own. Maybe she has come to her senses, well aparrently not completely, but something is on her mind that says, "I've been thinking about this and I know you're going to hate me, but I don't think I can do this, I know everything is paid for, and I know I love you, but I just don't want to get married right now."
Now it's that so hard to say!
Of course it is, but let's dig a little deeper into this. If you have followed some of my posts in the past you'll find I've written about relationships and people who fall in love and get married because they believe they have to, not that they really delve deep into their soul about what they want to be and who they want to be with. Now think of the pressure of an unmarried 32 year old woman who is with a nice enough guy. Pressure from family, friends, and even ones self to say, "Hey, if not this guy, who?" So what is a person supposed to do when you have something this big on your mind, and you don't think telling the truth will help you out. Runaway! I can see that, but hoaxing a kidnapping, that's about 27th on my list of things to do in that situation.

Personal Traditions - When to Give in or Give UP!

Personal Traditions - When to Give in or Give UP!

Tonight is Wednesday Night. That used to mean something to me and my friends for many years. It's starts again this evening and it will interesting to see how the evening will develop. The reason or the excuse for the weekly get together is to play volleyball at a local pub, a pub that shows sports. Like I said volleyball is the reason, but in the meantime, before, after, and during volleyball, massive amounts of a fermented malt beverage was consumed. This was a tradition that started way back in 1992 (for me at least, for some of my teamates it goes back to 1989), and what times we've had. The late nights, and the times when we would embarrass a team or ourselves on the court, but after the game we would bring all the tables together and party all night long! But the days and the years have changed. Priorities and hair styles, and life styles for some have changed. Even team members have changed, I was gone for two years before coming back during the summer last year as a sub. Now I'm back as a full team member, and I'm curious how the night will go. Will the past come back to life, and have a rip roaring time, and will I arrive to work in the morning with a nasty headache, or has age, wisdom, and maturity (and I'm trying night to laugh when I type this) taken over. I guess what I'm afraid of is all of us coming right at game time (we used arrive a couple hours before the game) play the game, maybe have a beer or two, maybe a burger then leave. Now I'm not sure myself if I can handle an all nighter. The point I'm taking way too long to get at is, this used to be like a sacred day! It's not about whether or not we drink all night long, it's just that we would look forward to Wednesday night, have fun, discuss things in life, and share good times with ourselves and others. Now it seems like it's like everything else in life. A distraction, something that needs to be planned around, put on the calender in a time frame like everything else. It still means something to me, but maybe it's just the memory, and nothing or no one will take that from me, but me it shouldn't be that hard to have one night (out of 7), but that's life. Either way it will be nice to get out, see friends and play some volleyball.
Have a great Wednesday Night!
PAC

??????????????

Did you ever get a comment on your blog that you just didn't understand why someone would take the time to respond! My case in point is this one from PiKKeL WeeZeL!

This is exactly why people from Wisconsin shouldn't write blogs. You have cats? Reason number two that you shouldn't have a blog.

Not quite sure what being from Wisconsin has to do with anything that he would be commenting on (his comment came from last post Back in Action), and besides when I got the cats, I was in Colorado. So should people who have cats in Colorado be allowed to have blogs? If I had to sterotype (like WeeZel did), I would have to say that he/she is stuck in Illinois because he/she can't afford the raised toll prices.
Or is still upset that his/her favorite team got their butts kicked by the Packers, and just can't let go!
It's okay WeeZel, I forgive you. So when you get a chance to leave your sheltered life, come visit, bring the family to the Dells, or go to Mt. Horeb and visit the Mustard Museum, or if you're a little more ecletic, visit Door County. Have fun, and if you send me your address I'll make sure you get a cheeshead for Christmas!


What did these innocent sweet children do to upset PiKKeL WeeZeL!

Satisfying Our Discontent(?)

Got a comment from Sunbather on the "Love:A Reality Check" post on how people simply stay in relationships basically for the sake of being in a relationship, and wondering where the love is, or the wife who has the marriage but not the romance. And Sunbather's comment was:
I know that our discontent is an evolutionary necessesity, that without it there wouldn't be any progress, but man, sometimes I just want to rest from the search for more. Sometimes I am deeply envious of those who have learned how to settle for less.
But I'm sure this is just a phase.
First thank you for the comment, and second I sure hope like hell it's just a phase!
Being envious of those who have learned how to settle for less??????????
I'm sure that's the easy solution, but that's where these problems come up. Sure it's great to be in a relationship with someone, but should you really have to wait 5 years before you decide to make a commitment, I should just settle, and be thankful I have someone. The wife who doesn't think it's romantic enough that her husband sit around on the couch in his underwear eating buffalo wings and goes to her, "Here honey, lick the sauce off my fingers!" She should just settle, and thank her lucky stars she's not an old maid.
I don't think our discontent is an evolutionary necessity. Our discontent comes from not being patient, and not realizing or coming to terms with who we are, who we want to be, or be with, what we want to be or do. You don't need Tony Robbins or for that matter Jesus to tell you that you can have whatever you want. Does it take a lot of work. Sure seems like it, because that's where a statement like settling for less comes from, but since you want more (and face it we all do), then expect more, be more, do more and maybe it's not so hard. Didn't JFK say we don't do things because they're easy, and we shouldn't especially when it comes to our ultimate satisfaction.
I envy people who are with people that they absolutely adore, and through the struggles press on. And I'm sad to say I don't see it very often, but when I do, it just inspires me more, that the "more" is more important. Don't settle for less, because your "more" could just be around the corner! Hang in there!
That's all I have for today,
Until Next Time,
PAC

Interview with Past Radioaffliction Co-Hosts!

In this audio post I interview former co-hosts Rick Harrington & Matt Kendall

Spam A-Lot!

Hello, and Happy Tuesday! I hope spring has sprung where you live, because it's having a tough time springing up here! I actually had a tough time scraping the windshield this morning because the frost made a cool pattern and I didn't want it to die! But had to get to work, so tough cookies.
I'm training new people in our new office this week, and that's been a lot of work, moving and teaching people new things, but sometimes things settle down, and can actually get quite boring. I did the normal stuff, checked my email, my ebay auctions, stock portfolio(still not rich yet!), website stats, another email account, checked the news, and still nothing going on here at the office. Crap, now what. So I thought I would check my bulk email folder! What fun! I have blindly just let mail goe into this folder and just empty it when it gets too big. But no more! Just look at all the things I've been missing that I can use in my life! 22 credit card applications, 9 of the pre-approved! 9 Auto loans, 6 Directv units (although I think a couple were Dish Network!), 16 home refinace offers, also I can get cash by tomorrow! 5 new cell phones, and offers for more ring tones for those phones, don't forget affordable health care and life insurance, plenty of those, and I can get a degree in criminal justice! I don't how I gotten along without the right Martini glasses all this time, and finally the best hair barrettes ever made(in the description they say "Hair's the details! Man that's funny!)!
So if you feel something is missing in your life, it could as close to you as your bulk mail folder!
Have a great day!
PAC

A Love Follow-Up!

After my lengthy discussion on love the other day, I came across another blog from a woman which I felt proved my point, or at least the point I was trying to make to the question that was at hand.
This is what was at the top of her blog for the day:
What Do You Want Out of Life?
1. To be a GREAT Mother
2. To be a GREAT Wife (first two is hard to argue with, good to have goals)
3. FOR MY HUSBAND TO ROMANCE ME (this is where we need a judges ruling!)
...........................................
(this is the rest of her rant)
Is it so hard? Women are simple creatures! No really
we are! All we want is to be appreciated. See its not
hard!
(Now back to me)
Two points that I can add to this,
Point 1 is a follow up to what I wrote about last Thursday, is that self matters. What are you doing that makes you feel like you should be romanced? Just being his wife I guess is reason enough, therefore what are both of your ideas of what romance is? In his mind maybe he is, to some people coming home with a bucket of chicken wings and sitting with him on the couch and watching him slam them down watching football is romantic. That leads to point 2 (and when I get to quote Tony Robbins it's a good day), which is the quality of your life(or marriage) is equal to the quality of your communication. Spouting off to the blogoshpere is okay so that you are not bottling stuff up, but it's not who you should be talking to. Talk and find out what makes both of you happy. Men are simple creatures too, but remember it's not simplicty that we ultimately are searching for. Loving is easy, it's all around like I said Monday, and don't lie, even if he starts romancing, you're going to want a little more. It's your complexities and your ability to communicate and show them, is what makes you lovable and capable of "more"!
I welcome comments on the subject, I want to make sure I'm on the right track and not coming off as insensitive.
Best wishes again to all searching for "more!"

That's all I today, comments are always welcome,
have a great day,
PAC

Love: A Reality Check!

Once again while surfing the blogs, another hot topic (giving God & Politics a day off) is love and relationships.
I came across this blog, and it’s the question and the writers response that inspired me to view my thoughts on the subject.
The question was from a woman who had been with a man for over five years, and she asked the host if she really was in love, or was with someone she was just used to!
His response was maybe a little jaded (admittedly), because he was skeptical of love, and thought of it more as an illusion.
In my opinion the answer to her question is, it’s both.
There is the life long debate about loving, and being “in love”, and the difference between the two. The fact that she has spent five years with the same guy shows some of evidence of love there. I’m sure there’s affection, and caring, and other things(!), but now after five years, is this it? Is there more? Or Isn't There More?
In response to the response, that “true love” as a mere illusion, I offer this to both of them.
Love is defined is a strong positive emotion of regard and affection. I think that most of us can agree that this exists and is all around and therefore love defined as such is a reality. I love my parents, my brother, my friends, my co-workers, my cats, and yes even my ex-girlfriends. I don’t hesitate in sharing my feeling for these examples and have a strong positive emotion of regard and affection for them.
What happens is that we have inherent and instinctive “needs” for companionship and the melding of our lives with someone else. We are to be brought up and educated to provide commerce and at some point we get together with someone and get married and have children and the process starts all over again. For a lot of people this seems fine, but for some of us there seems like there should be more.
It’s the “more” that we are ultimately searching for. We called it love, and it is very often mistaken for love, because it is a very key part of it, but it is so much more. This we can debate as illusion, because it is not defined, and if you could ask ten people what the “more” means to them, you will probably get ten different answers.
In searching for the “more”, self matters. You must come to grips with your “aberrations” and really self evaluate what the “more” means to you, and why you want to invite another into that. I have seen so many fine and affectionate people simply give themselves up in the name of “love”, without ever exploring themselves and the wonderful things that actually make them “loveable” to fill this “need” to be loved, or married or a parent, and never asking why, and giving themselves enough time for them to get a honest answer.
In my opinion five years is enough time to figure out if there is “more” there or not. It’s scary to have to decide to move on or not, but it’s even scarier to realize that there could be someone that gives you “more” all along.
My best wishes to all of us who are searching for “more”!

That's All I Have today,
Happy St. Patricks Day,
PAC

Is The Fat Lady Humming for PBS?!

It's nice to see that I'm not the only one who believes in the irrelevance of PBS!(referring to my 2/17/05 post)
Here is George Will's article I found in the funny papers yesterday!

Nintendo vs. Sega Revisited!
I have tons of things to do and get organized this weekend and thanks to a couple peoples blog's (Jason Barrow's was one) I've been playing some Nintendo games I played 15 years ago!
Everyvideogame.com is an evil site that has every old Nintendo game plus Sega and Arcade games as well. What's worse is you don't have to download anything they play right on your browser through Java!
My sore fingers healed about 7 years ago and are starting to feel the pain again. I'm sure I'll get tired of it before too long, and if anyone find's Atari 2600 or anything else I may have to be institutionalized!

Helpful Hint For the Day!