Oprah Book Club selection?

I understand that the discredited accuser in the Duke lacrosse case, has just released a 200-page memoir entitled: "The Last Dance for Grace, Crystal Gail Mangum". That's an interesting title given the fact that she told reporters “Many people have tried to use my name and my past to intimidate me, to make me believe that I was a nobody,”. I'm a real person. I have feelings. I'm not just an exotic dancer. I'm not just someone who tried to frame someone who was innocent of sexual assault. My only intentions were for justice, and I wanted justice for myself.”

If you want something of substance to read, pick up a copy of "It's Not About the Truth: The Untold Story of the Duke Lacrosse Rape Case and the Lives It Shattered" by Don Yaeger and Mike Pressler. Trust me, this book will make you angry.

Microsoft's $300 Million Ad Gamble.

First of all, I'm a big fan of Crispin Porter & Bogusky (you remember their VW "unpimp the auto" ads...great stuff). But after seeing their first Microsoft ad with Jerry Seinfeld and Bill Gates that aired last Thursday night, I have to ask CP+B, what the hell are you people smoking? If this spot were a movie (it seemed as long as one in places), it would be panned for a seriously convoluted script, bad casting and go straight to standard def DVD.

Once again, Microsoft has seemingly dug themselves a hole so deep that it will take some serious effort to climb out of. But we should be use to this by now shouldn't we? I can't wait to see version 2.0.

Vinyl LPs Revisited.

I recently catalogued 274 vinyl LPs I had purchased earlier in my life that I planned to sell. The oldest disc is a 1970 release by jazz artist Marion Brown on ECM.

What was interesting to me as I methodically handled each and every record was the amount of design and information that was included with each release. Many of these records are gatefold packages that open up to display a variety of photos, notes, etc.

There are some interesting album titles as well. I think Idris Muhammad's "Turn This Mutha Out" is my favorite with Pat Metheny's "As Falls Witchita, So Falls Wichita Falls" a close second. Wow, what a trip.

If you haven't heard vinyl on an audiophile turntable, then you don't know what you're missing.

GM's troubles started in 1996

For a thorough exhibition of GM’s corporate stupidity, I encourage everyone to see the DVD “Who Killed the Electric Car?”. GM had a great forward thinking solution in their EV-1 electric vehicle and destroyed it, literally. The recent anouncement by GM that they have “green-lighted” the electrically motivated Volt plug-in hybrid for a 2010 release, after already having produced (and destroyed) a commercially available electric vehicle in 1996, gives me absolutely no reason to feel sorry for them and their current economic troubles. They simply shot themselves in the foot and have the limp to prove it.

Minivans, Big Cars, SUVs and High Gas Prices.

In the early '70s during the oil embargo, I can remember very vividly when I heard the statement: "There is no market for a small car in America". Oops! Enter Honda, Toyota and other innovative automakers whose independent thinking guided them enough to ignore such nonsense. Well, since then gas has risen from $.45 to $4.09 a gallon and here we are again. While the Toyota Prius has a 6 month waiting list, GM and other car manufacturers of large fuel inefficient vehicles are suffering and who's to blame? Advertisers make us believe that if we don't drive a minivan with 50 cup holders and 5 flat screen TVs or a three axle, four door truck or the coolest monster SUV, that we are just not "with it". I don't know about you, but personally I never thought that advertisers were smarter than me to the extent that they know better than I what I really need.

Crappy Charlotte Drivers

What is with all the crappy Charlotte driving? I would give anything to understand the thought process behind some of these people. I'm talking about some really dumbass stupid stuff. For example:

• the female in her luxury sedan who stopped in the middle of the road to apply makeup for several minutes.

• the young mom in her minivan who sat through a green light (almost two) because she was playing with her infant behind her.

• the guy in his SUV who felt the only way to make a left hand turn was to swing over in my lane first.

• the guy who had to slam on his brakes to avoid hitting me because he thought he could "roll" through the 4-way stop intersection when I was making a left hand turn.

• the numerous people who "cruise" in the left lane and wonder why there is a half mile line of cars behind them blowing their horns.

• the jerk who cut me off when he knew I was trying to pass him (on the left).

• the person who decided to make a sudden U-turn without any indication other than slamming on their brakes in front of me.

• all those drivers who cut the corner when they make a left hand turn.

• drivers on their cell phones who are so obviously preoccupied that they are simply dangerous.

In the future, I hope to post photos and/or license plates of these inconsiderate and dangerous drivers, so stay tuned.

Until then, be smart and be safe.

Super Easy Rain Barrel.

The current environmental challenge can be, and should be, approached on an individual basis. We all can take small, painless steps that collectively, serve the greater good. The following is just one Eco-friendly example I would like to share.

This is a 32 gallon rain barrel that my friend, Mark Strohm, fabricated in about 30 minutes on a recent Saturday morning. All the necessary components were purchased off the shelf at a local home improvement store for under $40. Mark says he is going to evaluate the capacity and says he may go up to 44 gallons with his next one. Hey 32, 44, whatever it takes right?

Rain is a naturally soft water and devoid of minerals, chlorine, fluoride and other unwelcome chemicals. In other words, your lawn and landscape will love it. So will your budget.

I'm curious how long it will take Mark's neighbors to follow suite once they see this Eco-baby in action.

Charlotte Drivers vs Cyclists

As a road cyclist, I probably witness more bad driving than the average motorist does, but then again, maybe it's just this town's prejudice against cyclists. I have motorists do things to me that I know they wouldn't do to their neighbor's 9 yr. old kid if he/she were on their bike. Many times, the discourteous driver always seems to be some got-money-wannabe in a luxury sedan or SUV chatting on their cell phone that feels they are too important to be inconvenienced.

One request, PLEASE use your turn signals.

Real simple people, if you are planning on going any direction other than straight or reverse, you need to use your turn signals. This is the ONLY way cyclists (and other drivers) know what you're intentions are.

If I see your brake lights before I see your turn signal light, that does me absolutely no good. Remember, the formal name is turn "indicator" and that would naturally imply that you indicate your intentions prior to acting on them.

Please be courteous, there is enough room for motorists and cyclists to share the road. But, if you choose to be a jerk, be careful, you might just pick on the wrong person.

Hey Man, Nice Shot!

Remember that Physics formula you learned way back when? You know, F=MA, where the Force equals the Mass multiplied by the rate of Acceleration? This is what it looks like in real life during a high school lacrosse game. In the NFL, this hit would result in a $50,000 fine.

Occupato!

A collegue and I decided to play a practical joke on a partner in our firm (we'll call him Backed Up Bob) who always preferred to use the larger, more private handicapped stall to do his business. So, early one morning before the office opened, we set up a dummy in the handicapped stall, thinking that after BUB made his usual morning visit, that he or someone else would immediately figure it out (after all, this was a 25 person male dominated firm) and we would all enjoy a good laugh. Another employee who also favored the "Taj MyStall" had come to the realization that every time he had visited the bathroom that day that the same person always seemed to be there. This employee quickly became concerned that a particular older worker in the office probably had passed out (or worse), but after checking, found him diligently working at his desk. At 3:30 in the afternoon, we heard a distant commotion.The now concerned but frightened employee concluded that the occupant of the Taj MyStall must be a prowler that was hiding out waiting for the office to close. BUB was quickly briefed of the situation and without hesitation, armed only with his manhood, a pair of sissors and a few curious employees in tow, stormed the bathroom and demanded that the prowler come out immediately. When there was no response, the concerned, but frightened employee looked over the locked stall door and after 8 hours, finally discovered the truth.