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I went in to my local Starbucks recently, and while standing in line, I noticed that they sell CDs along with their coffee and coffee-drinking paraphernalia. I fully expect them to play music over the PA system – odd stuff, interesting jazz, relaxing classical – it all really helps to form the mood of the “chain eclectic coffee shop”. But selling CDs? I’m not going to go into the whole digital music downloads debate. I’m talking about their choice of artist to sell. The selection is very odd, to put it lightly. Who the hell chooses which CDs to sell? Sorry, REM – you are officially irrelevant. Hilary Duffy who? Although Simon & Garfunkel, Bob Dylan, and Neal Young belong in any quality CD collection, they are no longer young or hip. Jacob Dylan should either go back to the Wallflowers, or simply enjoy the millions he has and will have (from his inheritance). If Starbucks were to champion the up-and-coming indie artists, it would be like Wal-Mart throwing their girth behind selling organic produce or American-made products; Starbucks could change the whole dynamic of the indie scene. Unfortunately, Starbucks elected to sell has-been or never-will-be artists, or stuff that only a person trying to recapture their “glory days” would listen to. These are the people who are trying to reconnect with their teenaged kid(s) by making a futile attempt to understand the younger generation’s music scene yet missing the point horribly and completely. So, currently, I am comfortable in knowing that I am not clueless or delusional enough to regularly listen to any music Starbucks chooses to sell. Either that, or I am so out of touch that… Meh.

If you have any music selections, add a comment or shoot me an email. Any new noise will be appreciated. And music is like beer: it is all good, some is just better than others.

Drink more. Beer, not coffee.

Tags: Rant by Midd13m4n
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 FupDuck - Episode 18 (small): Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 FupDuck - Episode 18 (full): Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 FupDuck - Episode 18 (ipod): Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

strong>SHOW NOTES – Episode 18

DaVe’s Notes:
BEER – Full Sail IPA
FUPDUCK STORY -
FUPDUCK STORY -
MUSIC -
MOVIE -

M!dd13m4n’s Notes:
BEER – Bell’s Third Coast
BEER -
FUPDUCK STORY -
FUPDUCK STORY -
MUSIC -
MOVIE -

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Other topics discussed
Stripper Week coming soon!

Tags: Video Cast by fupducktv
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Have you ever noticed that when you go to a fast food restaurant that offers free refills at lunch, you just end up spending the rest of the afternoon in the bathroom every hour?  I realize this is common sense, but come on… enough is enough.  The question I have is, whose fault is this?  Is it my fault for drinking that much or is it the restaurant’s fault for offering me that much to drink and making it impossible for me to say no?  I blame the restaurants for this hourly afternoon pilgrimage. 

Fast food chains have us pretty much over a barrel on this one.  Through years of marketing, massaging their prices and molding their offerings, the fast food chains have learned that we like to drink and not just a little.  We drink ALOT!!!  Almost every chain offers free refills.  A Fast Food chain that doesn’t offer free refills just doesn’t exist (almost).  People just don’t go there.  Why should I pay $2.25 for a 16oz soda and NOT get free refills.

“Combo meal” pricing is another reason we are drinking too much during our lunch hours.  I can get a combo meal (sandwich, side and drink) for $5.25, but if I was to order the sandwich and side individually (no drink) it costs me $5.12.  Come on!!!  You have to get the $0.13 drink… You just have to get the soda.

Some places you have to walk up to the counter and other’s have the fill-it-yourself stations.  I personally enjoy the fill-it-yourself station coupled with the 80 oz drink cup.  That is called the Bladder-Buster.  If you really want to make a scene, just put your lips to the nozzle and suck your favorite cola right from the fountain. Keep doing it until the manager has to pull you off of the machine.

A good friend of mine doesn’t get drinks at restaurants and I am always amazed by the expressions on the waitress’ face when he says, “Nope, I don’t need a drink.”  They all but try to force one on him.  Try it sometime.  You will be amazed by the reaction you get sometimes.

What do you think?  Is it the restaurant’s fault that we are stuck in the bathroom seven time after lunch?  And another thing, why don’t they have free refills on beer?  Come on, what gives?  We want to hear from you.

Tags: Rant by DaVe
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The New York Amp Show was May 10, 2008. I missed it; I could not go. Goodtone Amps was there, as well as many other amp makers. I have been proudly proclaiming the virtues of Goodtone’s Elmire amp, mainly because I am the lucky owner of one. I would also proudly proclaim the virtues of Goodtone because I’ve been fortunate enough to personally meet Norm through a mutual friend. The dude is brilliant! Anyway, a link to some videos from the amp show finally filtered into my email in-basket. The videos are hosted by YouTube. Check out these works of art. If you are into music, this equipment will certainly have you drooling. This equipment represents the pinnacle for tube junkies everywhere.

And, finally, the bike is a’running again… There is joy again in Midd13man’s life.

Drink more! But not while riding!

Tags: Rant by Midd13m4n
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In an interview today, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said that she has no interest in becoming a vice presidential running-mate for John McCain.  After serving almost eight year with the Bush Administration, she seems to be stepping out of federal politics (for the moment).  I don’t want to debate politics or discuss her resume or track record.  That is not what this article is about.  I would like to speculate on the reason that she is leaving Washington.

So, why is Condi leaving Washington?  I have a loose theory on this.  I think that Condoleezza Rice is leaving federal politics because after eight years, she just needs some lovin’.  As you may or may not know, Condoleezza Rice is a single woman over the age of fifty.  She is in peek physical condition and she comes across as a very intelligent woman.  I don’t know much of her past or current personal life.
 
I am guessing that she is single for a few reasons.  #1 Being in a position of such power is probably very intimidating to potential love interests.  #2 Any love interest would have such intense media scrutiny that it would strain any relationship.  #3 Being over 50 and single makes finding the right person difficult.  #4 Many people become set-in-their-ways and just accept the status-quo.

By leaving the national public eye, Condoleezza Rice will free herself to pursue a relationship anyway she see’s fit.  There is speculation that Condi may be gay.  I personally don’t care who or which gender she pursues, but I do think that she will enjoy her new found freedom come next January.  Go get’em, Condi!

Can you imagine stumbling across the Match.com or eHarmony.com user profile of Condoleezza Rice.  “Your ideal match is….. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice!”

Do you think Condi is leaving Washington to date?  Leave a comment and let us know what you think.

Tags: Rant by DaVe
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How many times have you used a toilet that has one of those automatic sensing flushing mechanisms? How many times have you purchased a “universal” remote control to replace the 18 that you have for your entertainment center only to find that there are a dozen or so functions that are not supported, i.e. the disk skip function on a multi-DVD player or the menu button for your TV? Why can’t things work exactly as they’re supposed to work? Yeah, I’m getting a bit fed up with the engineers and product designers trying to make things smarter while inadvertently making them less functional or less usable. Gibson guitars recently made a guitar that can actually tune itself and check intonation. It’s called the Robot Guitar. As if that will make a better musician. Not! I wonder about the playability of such a guitar, how much of a weight penalty all those electronics cause, and how often you have to change the batteries. Thanks but no thanks. Please tell me that I’m not the only one that dispises

And on another note, I’ve still not finished the repair on the motorcycle. I never received the parts I ordered from the one dealer – he never placed the order!!! I thus placed the order with a different dealer. I received those parts on this past Friday. Alas, they were not the correct parts (my fault, not theirs). Another order, another week down the tubes. Yes, Midd13m4n is a moron. Hopefully I’ll be back on the road by next weekend.

Tags: Rant by Midd13m4n
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