30 this

Lovingly ripped from Alisa's Myspace page.

I told you I had nothing exciting to write about.


1. In four words, explain what ended your last relationship?
I was douche bag

2. When was the last time you shaved your legs?
Never

3. What were you doing this morning at 8am?
Sleeping

4. What were you doing 15 minutes ago?
Working

5. Are you any good at math?
Yes

6. What were you doing Last night?
Coming in 6th out of 70 and drinking beer

7. Do you have any famous ancestors?
My great great grandfather was once owned by the family of Strom Thurmond

8. Have you ever burped in front of the opposite sex?
Yes

9. Do you know the words to the song on your myspace page?
I hate myspace.com

10. Last thing you received in the mail?
digital camera

11. How many different beverages have you drank today?
Diet Pepsi, Diet Coke, water

12. What's one thing you wish to change about yourself
Physically - to be in better shape
Mentally - to be more accepting of other races

13. What do you wish for?
Happiness for everyone I care about and misery for those I don't

14. Do you draw your name in the sand when you go to the beach?
No

15. What's the most painful dental procedure you've had?
Wisdom teeth removal

16. What is outside of your back door?
Yard, trees, dog poop

17. Any plans for Friday night?
Modern Skirts

18. Do you like the ocean?
The song? Yes
The location? No

20. Have you ever been to a planetarium?
Once, but I was very small

22. Something you are excited about?
Upcoming travel to Milwaukee, Boston, and Vegas

23. What is your favorite flavor of JELLO?
Sugar free

24. Are any of your great-grandparents still alive?
They used to be

25. Describe your key chain.
A key and remote unlock-er device

26. Do you like anyone in your top friends.
Yes, but I still hate myspace.com

27. When was the last time you spoke in front of a large group?
A month ago for a presentation

28. What kind of winter coat do you have?
Black

30. Can you tie a cherry stem in a knot with your tongue?
Yes

No, I don't know why some of the numbers where omitted.

This...........

I have nothing exciting or memorable going on. Nada.

Skirts, Friday, 10 High
Skirts, Saturday, 40 Watt

Show up or go into a closet and suck eggs.

Watch this

NBA player Tim Hardaway made some very harsh anti-gay remarks a few weeks back. You might have heard the clips as they were played over and over again on talk radio.

Here's George Takai's response.

Don't buy this

I will never again purchase a GE appliance.
I will never again purchase a GE appliance.
I will never again purchase a GE appliance.
I will never again purchase a GE appliance.
I will never again purchase a GE appliance.

Less than one month after having it installed; the microwave stopped making things hot. I ripped through the various manuals to find the warranty number. They have an automated system that they try and force you to use, but I found out that if you press 0 quickly and repeatedly, you will get a live person.

A time and date was set for the appliance guy to come and visit. He quickly diagnosed the problem and proceed to order the replacement part. The part in question was on back order, but as soon as it possible, it would be shipped "directly to the house" via UPS. After receiving the part I should call the warranty department back and they will schedule a time for the same guy to come back and replace the part. This seem a little like going around my elbow to get to my ass, but whatever.

After one week there was no part. I called and asked for an update; I was told that it was shipped and should arrive any day. Week two, no part. I called back. It's been shipped. End of week 3, no part. I call again. Oh, it was delivered to the appliance guy's house. Oh, it was delivered to his house about a week ago? Of course, I should have known that using my special powers of telepathy. Thank you ass pirates. Why was it delivered to the wrong address that they confirmed more than a few times over the phone? Why did this guy not call me when he got my part that he said would be delivered to my house? Why did I have to repeatedly call into the warranty department multiple times? But most importantly, why would you produce a product that breaks within the first month?

The appliance guy came back four days after that. Wham! the microwave works.

I will never purchase a GE appliance again.

But I received three messages from people that purchased a Roomba off of Woot yesterday. I should get a commission check from irobot.

Use this

This goes out to my favoite Puerto Rican

"Who drives the bud truck?!?!?"

If you have ever seen me play golf you know that I have no business receiving the email that just entered my inbox.

Included in the email was the following information.

The World Series of Golf® inaugural tournament is limited to 180 participants.
Handicaps and amateur status will be verified for eligibility into tournament.
Once eligibility has been determined, registrant will be notified and a $1,000
deposit will be required. The remaining $9,000 entry fee will be due upon
arrival for the tournament.

Save this date

Mark your calenders, hire a babysitter, book your flights, and tell your neighbors.

The Third Annual UGA Alumni Party
Saturday, June 16th, 2007
Athens, Georgia
The Village Idiot (Formally known as Rum Runners)
8:00 PM until whenever

Guest of honor TBD but we're currently accepting nominations.
Email Brett or myself and we'll make an announcement after Easter.
Why Easter? Because that was when the great drunken idea of this entire thing began.

Ok, you got me.

I will totally watch every minute of the upcoming season of Dancing with the Stars; waiting patiently for the moment that Heather Mills' leg goes flying across the stage.

Tax this

A year ago, I was singing the praises of TurboTax and revealing in kicking the ass of the IRS.

This year...I'm currently in the fourth chapter of the Fair Tax book. It tells us why the IRS, income tax and a myriad of other taxes should go away. Replaced by a standard consumption based tax. Also, I'm halfway through watching America: From Freedom to Fascism. It deals with the legality of paying Income Tax and the search for the law that demands we pay an income tax. 45 minutes into the movie and they have yet to find such legislation. I'm not holding my breath for a happy ending.

I just finished my 2006 tax return and while I'm getting some of my money back, I'm not happy.

3 minute promo for America FTF
15 minute promo for America FTF
Full movie

Weekend wrap

Movie night was Friday night.

Saturday I knocked out some chores. Dirty laundry became clean and for a change of pace I actually moved the clean clothes that normally occupy the dining room table to the bedroom. And then, actually into the closet. Astounding I know, but it's rare. After picking up the bedroom, I successfully installed a new shower head. Now when I shower, it feels as though I am bathing in a tropical waterfall. Not really, but it solved the leaky shower head problem. While I was flurry of activity upstairs, the Roomba was busting ass downstairs. It's still ridiculously awesome.

Saturday night, I went back to 5 Seasons with three college friends. The service, food and beer; all fantastic. I tried the grilled ravioli stuffed with Louisiana craw fish, andouille sausage, sweet onions, asparagus, in a red pepper and cream sauce. It was spicy in a very tasty way. I would order it again and again. And of course the beer. So good that at one point we solved world hunger, most forms of cancer, and the meaning of life. (42).

Sunday, I conquered a few more house chores and in the process the turned Roomba loose on the upstairs. This would be it's first test on a carpeted surface. No disappointment. When it started cleaning it made crop circles on the bedroom floor and I felt a tear in the corner of my eye. It got under the bed, under the dresser, everywhere. I am still amazed at how much this thing picks up. You might be getting older when you get excited about the level of cleanliness in your home and a vacuum that does it for you.

And thanks to tonight's episode of American Dad, I learned that George Washington Carver did not invent peanut butter. No, really.

Watch this

I had a wonderful Friday night consisting surfing the couch, watching Saw III and Jesus Camp, one episode of The Sarah Silverman Show and enjoying some Jack Daniels.

Let's start with the more controversial film. Saw III is, as the name implies, the third in a series of horror movies. I loved the first one enough to watch the second despite the sub-par reviews. The sequel was fun brain fodder but not as good as the original. But most importantly, it was just good enough for me to want to rent the third one. I just wanted to know how the story ended. 90 minutes later, it was about as I figured. It was not nearly as good or as interesting as either of it's predecessors. I hated that I figured out the ending plot twist about 30 minutes before the end. I should have just read about it online instead.

The other movie was Jesus Camp. It was very good. It is a documentary about a segment of extreme believers and what they are they are teaching and raising their kids to do and believe. I would encourage anyone especially a spiritual person to watch Jesus Camp. The movie is not for or against religion and those in the movie are supportive of the documentary. The subjects brag about it being nominated for an Oscar and they sell copies of it on their own website. The movie is informative, well done, and scary. Very very scary. To give you an idea, here's one quote from the head of Kids on Fire Summer Camp, Pastor Becky Fischer during an ABC interview;

"I want to see them (kids) radically laying down their lives for the gospel, as they are over in Pakistan, and in Israel, Palestine and all those other different places."

Watch the movie decide for yourself but I think these people are certifiable and just as dangerous as the those that fly planes into buildings.

And by the way, the five closest Blockbuster Videos to my house and my office did not carry Jesus Camp. I had to open an account at Hollywood Video in order to rent it.

Reason this

Did anyone else know that Bob Barr became a Libertarian?

Do Not Watch This

I must be a sadist, I watched about ten minutes of American Idol tonight. I went into twitching spasms twice and no, that is not a joke nor a euphemism for anything.

I understand why America watches the early episodes. It's the same reason we watch America's Funniest Home Videos. We like to watch people get hit in the balls and we enjoy laughing at the shortcomings of others that don't know any better. And the early episodes of AI serve that need on a level that can not be reproduced on any sound stage.


I dined at 5 Seasons tonight and it was good, but not the knock-my-socks-off experience I was hoping for. The beer; I had the triple and it was good. And because it was so tasty, I had two glasses of the Kartoon Brune. According to the website it is an Abbey style Brown ale. Really really good.

The service was very attentive but bordered on pushy. It seemed as if they were trying to turn the tables over very quickly. I can appreciate trying to maximize your profits on an evening where you are going to be making bank, but don't let the customers feel it. But to be fair our waiter was so attentive, that when the keg had to be swapped out, he comped my second beer because I had to wait.

The Food. Started with an appetizer of edamame served cold. I've never tried cold edamame, but damn if it wasn't tasty. Feeling adventuresome, I ordered the Caesar salad complete with anchovies. I like fish and an anchovy is nothing but a fish, so why not give it a shot. Why does the anchovy get such a bad name? One bite answered that. It had the texture of fish; no problem. But combining the overpowering flavor with an overdose of salt and that was enough for me. Additionally, the Caesar dressing was unlike any I had ever experienced or care to again. It tasted like as if the balsamic vinaigrette accidentally spilled into the Caesar dressing.

Main course. Still feeling adventuresome, I tried a Kobe beef dish. What I receive was a glorious piece of meat cooked medium over a bed of sweet onions garnished on either side with baby shitake mushrooms. Awesome. I honestly don't know how to describe it. Taste, texture, love. It was all there.

No dessert for me. I optioned for the second glass of Kartoon Brune. Overall, a decent dinning experience. I'll go back, but not on a holiday. And next time I'll head to their other location in Alpharetta just to compare.

This was painfully boring.

Eath this

My Valentine lunch was shared a former coworker at Nikiemoto's. We both had the lunch special for $8.50. It consists of a bowl of soup (Stephanie talked our waiter into swapping it out for a salad), a California roll, and four pieces of nigiri. Tuna, shrimp, salmon and yellow tail. During lunch you have the option of adding extra nigiri for a buck a piece. I ordered two extra pieces of salmon.

The roll was basic as expected but the pieces of nigiri are large healthy chunks served at an eatable temperature. I understand for the sake of living that raw fish needs to be kept cold. But I hate eating sushi that is served so cold that it is tasteless and hurts your teeth. This fish was served at the perfect temperature. Chilled and tasty. Additionally, the staff was polite, knowledgeable and kept my water glass so full that I floated out of their. Total bill for two at lunch with enough sushi for both of us to leave full, $20. Not too shabby.

My lunch of sushi inspired a poem by Galarza

ah, sushi....

sushi, sushi
i love you as such
although you're raw
you're tasty much

you're still half alive
when i dip you in sauce
but i still love you sushi
like rachel loves ross

and sometimes i've heard
you've made people ill
i forgive you sushi
i'll still eat you at will

and now nickiemotos
a new place to try
happy valentines sushi
without you i'd cry

Knick knack this

Rainn Wilson, Dwight from The Office, is hosting SNL on the 24th. I really really hope it doesn't suck.

After just two episodes, the Sarah Silverman Show has been renewed for another season. So hot, soooooo funny. I bet she says some really hysterical things while she's banging Jimmy Kimmel.

I hate assholes. Just wanted to let you know where you stood.

Reminder; update your links to russellsauve.com

Change this

Change is good. Please update your links to russellsauve.com. I'm fighting (read: don't know how) to set up my RSS stuff. Hopefully, I'll get that back up sometime today.

Celebrate this

Happy Darwin, Lincoln, and Georgia Day.

Note: Nevada Day sounds a lot cooler than Georgia Day.

Buy this

The run of Thoroughly Modern Millie finished yesterday afternoon and I already miss it. A totally wonderful experience. I laughed at the same jokes every show as the performers made it funny every night. I, through a thank you note, was invited back for next year's show and that was just as awesome as the paycheck; which I already spent; on a brand new flugelhorn.

I've wanted/needed (read: not really) one for over a year now, but I've hesitated on pulling the trigger for multiple reasons. Millie had lines that called for it and there is a future project on the horizon that will get a lot of use out of it, so enough procrastinating. I stopped in the newly opened Sam Ash store in Marietta about two months ago and met Mike, a really nice, non-pushy and knowledgable sales person. At the time I wasn't ready to buy but I asked him to keep an eye out for me. In return he has called no less than once every two weeks with updates of what was in the store and what kind of deal he could do for me. Outstanding customer service.

After comparing the in store price that Mike quoted me, to prices that were published online, I stopped by on Friday and picked up the horn for an outstanding deal. After I decided to purchase the horn, I asked him to throw in a stand for free. One and done. The horn is an intermediate model that suits me, blows freely, in tune, and sounds great. Mr. Oed commented multiple times to how good it sounded. I'm beyond tickled with the purchase. More tickled that I paid for it by playing it.

Because of a then on going sale, I received a small amp for free. I have no idea what I'm going to do with this amp, so it's going to the first phone call I receive or it's going on Ebay.

Mark your calendars,
Modern Skirts, March 2nd - Ten High
Modern Skirts, March 3rd - 40 Watt
I will be playing both shows with a trombone player to be named later as Dave is still in Boston.

The following are excerpts from an open letter written by Annie Duke in response to a question about the "Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act". I do not care for Annie one bit, but her response is good. The full letter can be read here.

I have several issues with the bill. First, it allows for betting on State Lotteries and Horse Racing online. This is very hypocritical in my view as State Lotteries are a) clearly a game that has no skill and b) a regressive tax. I can overflow the Capitol building with people who make their living playing poker and yet I would be unable to find one person (who is not cheating) who makes their living playing lotteries. As for the regressive tax part, we all know that it is mainly lower income people who play the lotteries. That money is used to fund state programs and that money is coming from the poorer segment of the population.

Of course, the States argue that lotteries generate billions of dollars for education. But if you taxed online poker the Poker Player's Alliance has estimated that revenue would be over 3 billion. That would fund the Port Security Act to which the bill was attached. Or the money could go to education, raising teachers' salaries, expanding police forces, whatever the state wanted it for. So that argument is specious since it only applies if the government chooses not to regulate online poker.

Anytime the government tells us what we, as consenting adults, can do with our discretionary income we are treading dangerous ground. The authors of the bill argue that 5% of the population have an issue with gaming online. Well I will not argue with that statistic. But, rather, I will point out that 5% of the population also has a problem with online shopping. 5% of the population has a problem with online stock trading. 5% of the population has a problem with alcohol. This is because the numbers of people who have addiction issues in our population is around 5%.

We tried once to sacrifice the majorities freedom of choice to protect a small minority who had a problem. It was called Prohibition. What prohibition brought us was tommy guns and Al Capone. Before prohibition, the population was delivered a safe and regulated product. During prohibition, demand was still the same and now people were delivered an unregulated product brewed out of backyard stills that were often unsafe. It brought violence and more problems than it solved and we should have learned our lesson from that.

If we allow the government to erode our freedom and censor what we do with our own free time and our own disposable income in the privacy of our own homes, what is next? Is the government going to tell the banks to monitor our online shopping too? If we want to buy that third pair of shoes online that week is the bank going to deny our ability to transfer money onto ShopBop.com? Censorship is dangerous ground to tread. We have proven that in the past. Remember when Mark Twain was banned from some libraries in the country?

The current administration has created an atmosphere of fear. And they have used that fear to further and further erode our personal freedoms and degrade the spirit of our Constitution. Benjamin Franklin warned that in times of heightened fear we must not give in to a government who claims that to keep the population safe that its people must give up certain personal freedom. Franklin knew that that only led to a more unsafe population where the people were in danger from its own government rather than an outside threat. It is why The Constitution is so clear on right to privacy. I believe our Founding Fathers knew what they were talking about.

The secrets of the universe have unfolded. If Rosie rants about you; you die.

Diamonds and this

The bandana formally placed on Prince's head during the Super Bowl is up $750 on Ebay. I don't want it, I'm just letting you now that it's out there.

Tax this

This elected official wants to pass legislation that would fine you for crossing a street while talking on the phone or listening to an mp3 player.

To debunk this, I could claim that law would take away our rights, but I don't need to go that route. The argument here is science. Natural Selection. Natural Selection is nature's way of thinning the herd. The weaker or less intelligent die, while the stronger and more intelligent live. In this case those that choose to look both ways before crossing a street live and those that don't die. This law if passed would go against a fundamental element of nature.

If you are unable to walk and talk or walk and listen at the same time, maybe you aren't equipped to survive in today's environment. I understand that this guy thinks he is saving lives with this legislation, but I also know that we as a society don't need to be told to look both ways before crossing the street or that curling my hair in the bath tub is a bad idea. We don't need legislation telling us this. It is a waste of energy, time, money, and votes that were cast to elect people like him.

I wish our elected officials would do SOMETHING CONSTRUCTIVE instead of acting like they are doing something important. I also wish they were unpaid, but that's an entirely different argument altogether.

Now that I've posted this, watch me die on the way home from consciously running a red light and being squashed between two semis. Good luck everybody!!!

Play this

Everyday this week I have been involved with a locally produced version of Thoroughly Modern Millie, one of my all time favorite musicals. I can't begin to write how much I have enjoyed this gig. The money is fair, the performers, while young, are phenomenal, and the staff surrounding the show might be the nicest people to work for. Does it get any better than that? It does, I was delivered a goody bag about 30 minutes before curtain.

Since the first rehearsal, I have taken stock and appreciated how much fun I was having. The book itself is nothing but fun; challenging but playable licks balanced with broad melodic lines. This week for the first time that I can remember, I have been enjoying playing music for music's sake. I might be wrong here, but I think some of us had the enjoyment part of music beat or sucked out of us in college. It's nice to get it back.

Hey, Mr. Oed. Thanks for the job, I'm looking forward to buying you beer and wings to repay you. Now, get off your ass and go write something on your corner of the internet before I forget how to read 5 sharps and transpose down a major third at the same time for tonight's show.

Confess this

My guilty impulse buy has arrived and it.

is.

glorious.

I fired up the Roomba for the first time last night and it sucked. It sucked hard, it sucked long and it sucked well. When it was done, except for a few spots in the corners, my kitchen floor was expertly vacuumed. I couldn't help but watch it as it bounced from wall to wall, slowly learning where the boundaries existed. It went under the kitchen table and negotiated the legs with ease. When it finished sucking, it beeped to let me know. I dumped the full tray and using the remote control I drove it back to it's charger. Tomorrow, I'm going to watch it clean the den. No, really. That's what I'm going to do tomorrow night. If you bring your own beer you can come over and watch. It'll probably be better entertainment than watching the Dogs play the Gators.

I am well aware of what this purchase says about me. It says I'm effin lazy and I will not argue that with you. To help me with this admission, I've been constantly reminding myself that I received a hell of a deal from Woot. Somewhere in the neighborhood of around 50% off. But now that I've seen it in action and the results that go with it. I would have bought one years ago at twice the price. I'm so impressed with this product, that if a Scooba comes up on Woot for half price, I'm there.

12 big "check-my-style-out" points to Chris for correctly guessing.

Do I really have to put this post under a label of "roomba"?

Catch up with this

Irony is funny. Today, I was forced, yes FORCED, to move to the new (read: so buggy and glitchy you'd think it was created by Microsoft) and improved (cough, cough) Blogger. I really can't bitch. Blogger is free and you evidently get what you paid for. Maybe I should start paying to do this.


There is currently a Tech student running lose in Buckhead that owes me a bar tab thanks to Georgia beating Tech this past football season. If I ever run into her, I'm going to pour her tuition down my throat.


I went to the Cask Ale Tasting at the Sweetwater Brewery a few Saturday's ago. Tony wrote a story about the adventure and took a very sexy photo.

Beer here

Terrapin beer comes home. Film at 11.

Bullet this

After working a 13 hour day and facing another one today, I went home ate some dinner and fell asleep around 10:30. I set the alarm for 5 AM so I could vacuum, clean for some company and be at work by 8. With the cleaning finished by 6:30, I wandered over to the Waffle house for a delicious and much needed breakfast.

While munching on a patty melt with no cheese, I came across this article in the AJC about new legislation allowing Georgians to purchase wine directly from wineries in other states. If you've ever tried to order wine off the internet you would know that no one will ship here because of this antiquated law. This legislation is just being introduced, but just like the possible Sunday beer and wine legislation, this is a good thing.

I offer up the same reasoning as last week. These laws, based on religious preference, exist to limit the rights of its citizens. These laws should be repealed immediately and elected officials that stand in the way of our rights should be voted out of office at the next available opportunity.

Ok, done. Other stuff.

Also according the AJC,

Q: Do you have statistics of the American deaths in Iraq by race?
BILL KENDALL, Atlanta

A: The latest Defense Department demographic report shows that more than 74 percent of the casualties in Operation Iraqi Freedom have been white. Nearly 11 percent of the dead have been Hispanic. Almost 10 percent have been black. About 2 percent were of Asian descent. Seventy-eight percent of all casualties have been active duty military. The rest were Reserve and National Guard members.

I'm not going to touch these stats with an uninformed opinion , I just thought it was something.

And I don't know if this is anything, but last night was the 25th anniversary of David Letterman on late night television. To celebrate, his guest last night was also his very first guest 25 years ago and his first guest when he moved to CBS, Mr. Bill Murray. You can watch his first late night epi here. And here's a list of some of his greatest moments. I find it odd that they left off his interview with Christopher Reeve.

The Geico caveman got his own website.

I just checked in with Fed Ex and my impulse buy from last week is on the truck heading to me right now. Here's the journey it's taken so far.

Jan 30, 2007
3:45 PMPackage data transmitted to FedEx CARROLLTON, TX

Jan 31, 2007
9:31 PM Arrived at FedEx location IRVING, TX

Feb 1, 2007
7:16 AM Left origin IRVING, TX

Feb 2, 2007
12:24 AM Arrived at FedEx location ELLENWOOD, GA
5:04 AM On FedEx vehicle for delivery ELLENWOOD, GA