Hmm, what should I tell the world. I actually did snatch up
GasCommute.com. The way I see it I might as well add that to the 10
other domains I own. I have lots of ideas, one of these days I may build
it. I can picture a one-time fee to get other members of your commute to
get in a carpool together. You can email them, trade phone numbers,
calculate routes using Google maps, calculate gas savings, kick members
out by vote and get new ones, schedule whose car you take on what day,
and communicate if you will be absent and use a custom car bulletin
board. It would save the country lots of money in gas and be worth it in
the end. I am picturing a $25 one time fee for this service, to start it
would all be free in beta. I would build it and then put the url on
billboards in Dallas, eventually expanding to the nation. So why did I
just divulge all this information? Cause I will probably never do it,
but it is fun to dream.

Thought of the Day
"You don't understand what I'm up against. This is a force more powerful
than anything you can imagine. Even Superman would be helpless against
this kind of stench."
- Jerry, describing the B.O. smell in his car, in "The Smelly Car"

// posted by Brian @ 4/26/2006 12:55:00 PM 0 Comments

I used to say that if I ever get tired of the rat race I will start a
chicken farm. I figure I could get a barn and raise chickens. It doesn't
look that hard. You just feed em. In other news it looks like gas prices
are on the move. I've got an idea to help in this gas crisis. It is a
website called GasCommute.com It would be a search engine of people who
write down when and from where to where they go to work. If there is a
close enough match found the matched people are then introduced and they
can go to work in the same car, thus saving on gas. Hmm, that might
actually work... Except for the fact that complete strangers will be in
your car. More tests...

Thought of the Day
"It's a helicopter, and it's coming this way. It's flying something
behind it, I can't quite make it out, it's a large banner and it says,
uh - Happy... Thaaaaanksss... giving! ... From ... W ... K ... R... P!!
No parachutes yet. Can't be skydivers... I can't tell just yet what they
are, but - Oh my God, Johnny, they're turkeys!! Johnny, can you get
this? Oh, they're plunging to the earth right in front of our eyes! One
just went through the windshield of a parked car! Oh, the humanity! The
turkeys are hitting the ground like sacks of wet cement! Not since the
Hindenberg tragedy has there been anything like this!"
WKRP Thanksgiving Episode

// posted by Brian @ 4/25/2006 11:13:00 AM 0 Comments

And now for the weekend update with Brian Bass. This weekend saw Holly
goodness :-) She came over on Friday night and made some really good
"healthy" chocolate brownies. The key was instead of oil to put
applesauce in it instead. I know you are thinking, gross. But once it is
baked you can't taste it. Then we watched a couple of MST3K episodes. On
Saturday I went to the guitar show and was, as expected, disappointed.
Out of 5,000 guitars they had only 10 left-handeds. That was really sad.
I think I shall no longer go to the guitar show unless a really good
player is playing. Then on Saturday night I went with Holly and another
couple to Carino's Italian, then back to my place and we watched Narnia.
It was good, except everyone kept on falling asleep and couldn't follow
the story. Sunday I did the usual and topped it off with getting free
burgers from our classes kickball tournament. Now I am at work after
having slept in. It was a good weekend. How was yours?

Thought of the Day
Nick Rivers: I'm not the first guy who fell in love with a girl he met
in a restaurant, who then turned out to be the daughter of a kidnapped
scientist, only to lose her to a childhood lover who she's last seen on
a deserted island, and who turned out fifteen years later to be the
leader of the French Underground.
Hillary Flammond: I know. It, it all sounds like some bad movie
- Top Secrt the Movie

// posted by Brian @ 4/24/2006 10:36:00 AM 1 Comments

Well today is Friday. Or TGIF as we in the workforce call it. This week
was pretty hectic so I am glad it is over. The Dallas Guitar Show is
tomorrow. I might stop by and see if they have any good lefty guitars. I
already have 6 guitars - PRS, Ibananez, Fender Strat, Ovation Acoustic,
Old Acoustic, and a Fender Bass Guitar. I think I need a 12 string left
handed to complete my guitar types, however those are rare. I seem to
remember being so mad a couple of years ago at the guitar show that I
wrote the organizer an email telling him that out of 5,000 guitars that
they had they only had 2 left handed ones. He replied back that they
will try the next year, but the vendors are the ones who choose what
guitars to bring. See even left-handed people have a tendency to force
themselves to play right handed when they first pick up a guitar. It is
the same for all of the stringed instruments. But the great ones, like
Jimi Hendrix and even Paul McCartney will play left-handed despite this
fact. Oh well, at least there are some good guitarists that play all
throughout the day. Most of it is blues-jams and the like. A couple of
years ago I saw Joe Satriani and Eric Johnson at the show. I am going to
see them play on Thursday though. I wonder if they are going to be in
town for this? Hmm, I'll be on the lookout. I suppose if I see Eric I
won't say what I told him last time - "I think you are really great."
and give him the thumbs up. Stupid..stupid...doh

Thought of the Day
"Excuse me while I kiss the sky" - Jimi Hendrix
"Did he say, excuse me while I kiss this guy?" - Steve the drummer

// posted by Brian @ 4/21/2006 12:44:00 PM 1 Comments

I think I have some kind of futuristic time warp thingy going on. On
Tuesday I went to go see Holly at UTA deliver a presentation over the
health implications of nanotechnology. Unfortunately by the time I got
there her presentation was already over. I should have remembered that
the first time you ever visit any university you are bound to get lost.
It think the main thing is that every building looks the same. They all
have the same color and architecture, making any student get lost. Then
the buildings are very specific. For instance the Chemistry building is
not the same thing as the Science building. Also, I got a parking ticket
that night, but I don't think I have to pay it since I am not a student.
So this time warp thingy kept with me on Wednesday. I thought I was
being smart by coming to city hall after 1PM even though the meeting
started at 9AM. Unfortunately when I got there I went into the chambers
and noticed that no one was there. A cop drops by and asks what I am
doing and tells me the meeting is over. I am like, WTF? So I go back to
work a little more peeved at this whole time thingy. I think it is over.
I hope. Let's not do the time warp thingy again.

Thought of the Day
Riff Raff: With a bit of a mind flip...
Magenta: You're into a time slip...
Riff Raff: And nothing can ever be the same.
Magenta: You're spaced out on sensation. HAH!
Riff Raff: Like you're under sedation!
All: Let's do the time warp again!
-- Rocky Horror Picture Show

// posted by Brian @ 4/20/2006 11:13:00 AM 0 Comments

Well, I am doing it again. Tomorrow I will be going back to the city
council to continue my lesson. If only they would give us more that 3
minutes to speak I wouldn't have to do it. I knew the last time I was
there that I hadn't scratched the surface as to why this law is wrong.
Once I have said what I need to say it will be finished. I figure this
time I will be a lot more gentle. Last time I started preaching to them
and they looked dumbfounded. I think by just explaining to them about
what we do they will understand. See the primary reason why we feed the
homeless is because it is part of practicing the Christian religion.
Jesus many times told us to feed the poor and it is the third most
talked about topic in the Bible, next to love and the law. So I have to
get them to see that people who feed the homeless are, in a sense,
really practicing what was taught. Once they see that, I will lay on
them the first amendment, which says there shall be no law going against
the practice of religion. Then I will read their own law about how they
specifically mention ,"no church group can feed unless at an approved
location from the city director, doing so will result in a fine up to
$2000." It is pretty obvious that this is wrong. If I was a true
activist I would get all churches together and create a buzz, but I just
feel I am being led to minister to the council. The biggest problem lies
in the fact that this law got passed in the first place and shows the
hearts of the council. This time I am just taking off in the afternoon.
I learned my lesson; I got there at 9AM last time and didn't speak until
3:30. Sometimes I don't even know why I do the things I do. I usually
just take a first step towards something and then I just get pulled into
it. It has been good so far. I think I am very particular about that
first step, which is why my life is pretty good. Have a good one.

Thought of the Day
"We should've got some collateral from him. Like his bag of cans. Or
his... other bag of cans."
- Kramer, after a homeless man stole his rickshaw, in "The Bookstore"

// posted by Brian @ 4/18/2006 11:02:00 AM 1 Comments

And now for the weekend update. On Friday I went and saw Mr.T get
baptized, woot. Then we went to Snuffers, one of the best burger places
in Dallas. On Saturday mom and Robbie came into town for Easter and to
meet Holly and her mom. Saturday night I took mom and Holly out to
Chilis and then me and Holly went and saw Bob Dylan. He was good, but he
didn't play his famous songs. I guess over the years he got tired of
hearing requests for The Times Are Changing. I understood most of what
he said, but I think Holly couldn't make it out. Listening to Bob Dylan
is a lot like those "Magic Eye" 3-D posters. Some people can't see it
and swear it is just a bunch of wavy lines. Other's can see the 3D image
and say it is the coolest thing. On Sunday me, mom, Holly and her mom
went to church and then I took em out a place Rafain Brazilian
Chucharesca<sp> basically it is a Brazilian meat buffet. You flip over a
red/green token and if it is green they have waiters come to your table
with skewers of 24 different types of meat like sirloin, filet mignon,
pork ribs, beef ribs, lamb chops and anything you can think of. It was
sooo good. I felt full the whole day. I suppose it is time to get back
on the wagon now and start running. I figure it will take a couple of
weeks just burn off what I had at the Brazilian buffet, but it was worth
it.

Thought of the Day
"He took you to Rage-aholics? Why?"
"Probably because this whole universe is against me!"
"I think you've got a little rage."
"I know. And now they want me to bottle it up. It makes me so mad!"
- Jerry and George, in "The Apology"

// posted by Brian @ 4/17/2006 12:35:00 PM 1 Comments

Happy Easter everyone. I'd like to give a shout out to my peeps. For
ya'll laypersons that means "I need to go get my car washed." or
something like that. I am at work today while all my friends are off.
That is the thing, everyone says that working for the government means I
get more federal holidays off. It might be true but Good Friday is not a
federal holiday. I am making a petition to make there be at least one
federal holiday a month. All we need is March, April, June and August to
make it complete. Who's with me! Anyways, Easter has some good memories
for me. I remember growing up and getting Easter baskets every Sunday.
We all were like, the Easter bunny came! Of course it was never true. I
remember my favorite thing was the gum with the goey center. Then I
loved all of the candy. I usually got some kind of stuffed animal and
Star Wars guy as well. Then I would get a suit on and go to church with
mom and Melinda. Besides the basket with some toys it was pretty much a
normal day. I guess that is why I never really looked forward to it. I
liked making eggs, but I never liked eating hard-boiled eggs. It was
like fishing. I like fishing but I hate fish. Well, this weekend should
be interesting. Have a good Easter.

Thought of the Day
"You know, it is so sad. All your knowledge of high culture comes from
Bugs Bunny cartoons."
- Elaine, to Jerry, in "The Opera"

// posted by Brian @ 4/14/2006 01:01:00 PM 0 Comments

Got a new toy, er business productivity enhancer, yeah that's the
ticket. After being with Cingular wireless since 1998 I have jumped ship
to Verizon, and I am very happy about what I did. So there I was last
night, looking at broadcast satellite TV on my streaming internet phone
and knew that this was the future of technology. Basically I got a
Samsung i750 pocketpc phone with unlimited EVDO 3G data connections(a
broadband phone). So what can one do with this phone? To start with
Verizon was able to port my number in 8 hours. My phone number has not
changed. Then I realized that I can do everything pocketpc's can do -
emulate Nintendo's and arcade games, play stored movies on an SD card,
run Word and Excel and check my email very quickly. Then I realized I
can do everything that internet users can do - listen to streaming radio
and watch streaming video. To top it off I can stream satellite radio to
this phone. Since I recently purchased a product called a "Slingbox" I
can now stream my home satellite TV to my phone and it is just like I am
watching TV at home. I can watch my PVR events and I can also watch my
200 DVD disc changer through the connection. The next step is to setup
all of my MP3s on a home server so that I can stream them over the
internet and won't have to have them on the phone. So this device is
comprised of a portable satellite TV, radio, DVD changer, MP3 player,
video game console, broadband internet connection, remote pc controller,
email, wifi, bluetooth, and phone. The only thing this phone doesn't
have is a camera, which I wouldn't use anyways. So I can say I don't
have any buyer's remorse at all(it was $500 well spent). In 5 years all
of these technologies will be on everyone's phone and people will all
have their own servers at home and will be completely portable. The
future is bright.

Thought of the Day
"So Jerry, my millennium party is really coming together. Will people be
able to breathe under water in the year 2000?"
"Some of us."
"I don't want to exclude anybody."
- Kramer and Jerry, in "The Millennium"

// posted by Brian @ 4/12/2006 11:11:00 AM 1 Comments

Well, my band is jamming now on Mondays instead of Tuesdays. Last night
I realized, to my chagrin(sp) that we need a singer or a vocal coach. I
can tell when I am off, and a lot of times I am off. Singers are a
different breed in bands. Most of them suffer from prima-donna syndrome
or lead singers disease. I suppose to be fair I suffer from
lead-guitarists disease where I like to solo. We have had lead singers
that leave during the show or never show up to practice or the show at
all. We have had lead singers that can't be understood, yet they are
passionate about their words. I guess the goal is to find a really good
singer who doesn't know it. Maybe I will cruise the karaoke clubs. The
problem with karaoke is the singers you pull from there keep on
requesting top 40 hits, and when you are in a classic rock band it makes
things a bit different. Hmm, I will figure it out...more tests...Maybe
get a vocal coach?

Thought of the Day
"Hawaii... The most sought-after postal route of them all. The air is so
dewy-sweet you don't even have to lick the stamps."
- Newman, in "The Andrea Doria"

// posted by Brian @ 4/11/2006 11:13:00 AM 1 Comments

And now for the weekend update. This weekend I started off with going to
Holly's house and got fed some good lasagna and chocolate cake/ice
cream. Talk about good stuff. Then we watched an episode of MST3K. That
the show where they make fun of B movies. It was actually pretty funny.
On Saturday I jammed with Wayne from Corporate Red and 2 drummers at the
same time. They actually played well together. We had one electric drum
set and one acoustic drum set. I pulled out some Jimi Hendrix licks and
had fun. Saturday night I went with Mr.T and his class to putt-putt. I
won the game with a score of a 40(I had 3 hole in ones). Sunday I did
the usual. I have sad news to report. Sunday night, as I was getting
into bed I popped in Star Wars Episode III into the DVD player and
turned on the TV. As the opening scroll was playing I hear this loud
pop, see some sparks fly out of the back(what could only be described as
an orange hue),the TV screen goes black and I hear this loud hissing
sound coming from the TV. Then the smell of burnt plastic flows through
the air. My 36 inch TV that I have had for 6 years officially died. Time
of Death: 1:15 AM. I had to call it. I knew when you see flames and
smell burning that that is not a good sign. I have had some good
memories with that TV. I've laughed and cried. I've enjoyed comedies and
all of the Star Wars movies on it. I remember when I first brought it
home. I had to get 3 guys to carry it in it was so heavy. Then in my
little apartment the screen took up so much space 6 feet away from the
couch. I suppose it was mad because I demoted it to my bedroom from my
living room. Sometimes TVs just get old...sniff.... Now I just have to
figure out how to get the carcass out of my room. Maybe at guys night we
can have a funeral and I can bury it in the backyard, to the sound of
taps.

Thought of the Day
"You know why fish are so thin?"
"Why?"
"They eat fish."
- Jerry and Naomi, in "The Watch"

// posted by Brian @ 4/10/2006 12:04:00 PM 0 Comments

If you would have told me 3 years ago that I would be standing in front
of the mayor and city council of Dallas advocating for homeless feeders'
rights I would have told you you were crazy. I actually wake up early on
Wednesday ready for the big day.. I then get ready and go all the way to
city hall, way downtown. City Hall is actually across the street from
the shelter. So I go in there ready to do battle at 9AM. Unfortunately I
didn't speak until 4:30pm. It was a very long meeting. I learned about
how some kids rescued people from a fire and about how some basketball
teams got awards from the city. Then they had some meetings on giving
police officers a raise. Then they talked about the new homeless shelter
they are building in 2 years and the board wondered if it was going to
be fenced in and of course, it was. Most of the citizen speakers at the
beginning were, well, boisterous and didn't convey their point. I would
say about half of them really weren't saying anything. I then realized
as I looked at the council that they did not respect what anyone was
saying. The councilmen were reclining and smirking as people talked. The
councilwomen looked like they were listening, however as the day grew on
I realized that they paid lip service to whoever was presenting. Like
when the cops wanted a raise, all of the members had to say at what a
good job they were doing, but no one said we will give them one. It was
all politics. I suppose it was expected. So before I go on a lady gets
up to speak and she talked about the homeless issue, except she wasn't
specific. Her soliloquy was only about the city needs to do more. At
which point I see them all smirking at her. Now, I knew I might be
emotional, but I had no idea I would be angry. I intended to lay out my
reasons and I did, rather well. I get up at the podium state my name and
my address and then I am off... "I am speaking regarding the feeding
location ordinance. This law just doesn't make sense. To think that if
we see a homeless person starving in the streets and we give them a cup
of water we are committing a crime equal to a $2000 fine is wrong. It is
just wrong! This law goes against the laws of God which command us to
love our neighbor. Not only that but this law goes against the laws of
man which prohibits the government from creating a law that goes against
the practice of religion. This law is just wrong!" and I say stuff like
that for 2 minutes and thirty seconds. The last 30 seconds I read from
James 2 and finished right when my time was up. As I was doing this I
was speaking really fast and waving my arms. From behind me I heard
"Amen!" and "mmmhhm". I realize now that I was preaching. I was
preaching to the city council. After I spoke I got pulled out of the
meeting by the homeless secretary and she gave me her contact
information. I didn't get to hear any response to my speech. I probably
would have been more mad as they were mocking the people anyways.
Anyways, I learned that in order to get this law changed I need to lobby
the councilmen or do a lawsuit or form a committee that gets a petition.
I suppose this was just a first step. I got to tell you. I feel so
different after having done that. It is weird, like I am not afraid to
speak about Jesus. I kind of feel like a leader. Anyway, that was my
experience, and it was very spiritual.

Thought of the Day
"You see, you need us. We help those who you don't help. You need us, so
why do you punish us?"
-- me at the city council

// posted by Brian @ 4/06/2006 01:40:00 PM 2 Comments

Tomorrow is the big day. I will be taking the whole day off and going to
City Hall to petition for the rescinding of Dallas's homeless feeder
law. This law requires that we are only allowed to feed at places where
the city says is ok otherwise we will get a $2000 fine against us. One
of the biggest problems with that is the homeless are in migration right
now. They are not always where the city thinks they are. Basically our
freedom to feed has been infringed upon and I am going to fight it. Also
our freedom of worship has been infringed upon as well. This is a
ministry and they are dictating that we can't practice it everywhere
(which goes against the freedom to practice religion found in first
amendment). It is a little scary. To think I will be up in front of the
mayor and council who dictate the laws of over a million people. I am
hoping it won't be any big deal. I'll speak for say 30 seconds and
hopefully let them know that there are lawyers and groups of people that
are willing to fight this. I am hoping they will change their minds. If
anything I can say I tried. I got a call yesterday from city hall and
they said the meeting will last the whole day. It will definitely be a
learning experience.

Thought of the Day
(James 2:15-17)
15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food,
16 and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,"
and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use
is that? 17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.

// posted by Brian @ 4/04/2006 01:26:00 PM 1 Comments

And now for the weekend update. This weekend was a fun weekend. I spent
Friday at Deep Ellum(the local club district) with Holly and Mr.T. We
saw "A Hard Night's Day" a very good Beatles tribute band. They sounded
just like them. They played early and late day Beatles tunes. Then we
saw "Queen for a Day" a Queen tribute band. The lead singer sounds just
like Freddy Mercury. It was scary how his voice and behavior was just
like him. If I would have went to a real Queen and real Beatles concert
I probably would have paid $1000 for tickets(especially since they are
both dead), so this was a great deal. We sat close to the stage on the
Queen band. Everyone was deaf at the end of show. However, after years
of playing in loud clubs I think I have lost my hearing at certain
frequencies. On Saturday I took Holly to the local steak house and then
we went downtown to see the Dallas Symphony. We missed the first half
cause I thought it started later than it did, but the second half was
really cool. The did "The Planets" on the second half. You could picture
which planet they were doing in each movement. So I enjoyed culture from
all aspects this weekend. That is a good weekend. How was yours?

Thought of the Day
"That's it! Flaming globes of Sigmond! Flaming globes of Sigmond! That's
my note! That's what I thought was so funny? That's not funny. There's
nothing funny about that."
- Jerry, in "The Heart Attack"

// posted by Brian @ 4/03/2006 10:56:00 AM 1 Comments