Good news, everyone

Antonio Pizzonia is back in a Rocketsports car at Montreal. Everyone knows how sorry that team has been since he last raced for them - and how sorry it has been for the past two years. If 2007 rolls around and Pizzonia is not racing in Champ Car, my brain will literally explode. Have you seen Jim Kramer on Mad Money? I would have higher blood pressure than Kramer after doing four lines of coke, a lot of crystal meth [I am pretty glad I am not familiar with the dosage on that one], and PCP. That is how crazed I will be. Well, at least in relative terms, so I will probably shake my fist.

the alphabet

A - AVALIABLE:
Yes

B - BIRTHDAY:
23 June

C -CRUSH:
my opposition? I'd be glad to

D - DAD'S NAME:
Philip

E - EASIEST PEOPLE YOU CAN GO TALK TO:
my homeboyz

F - FAVORITE RAPPER:
I got this awesome cheese the other day that has some kind of crazy wax paper wrapper.

G- GUMMY BEARS OR GUMMY WORMS:
how about something that tastes good

H - HOMETOWN:
Springfield TN

I - INSTRUMENT:
guitar, ukulele

J- JUGGLE:
it's a long story but no

K- KILLED SOMEONE:
Well, I think I helped to break Russ's tenuous hold on sanity, so if he ever kills, I may be at least partially responsible

L - LOVE:
is a many splendoured thing

M - MILKSHAKE FLAVOR:
milk

N - NUMBER OF SIBLINGS:
2

O - ONE WISH:
a pony!

P - PERSON WHO CALLED YOU LAST:
in the upset of the decade . . . Mark

Q - QUESTION YOU'D ASK A COMPLETE STRANGER:
what is your name

R - REASON TO SMILE:
I got plenty

S - SONG YOU LAST HEARD:
Thorazine Shuffle by Gov't Mule

T - TIME YOU WOKE UP:
10:30

U - UNKNOWN FACT ABOUT ME:
Im really not white [gonna keep that one from the last dude]

V - VEGETABLE YOU HATE:
brussel sprouts actively stink

W - WORST HABIT
chewing my nails

X - X-RAYS YOU'VE HAD:
ankles and a few of the chest

Y - NUMBER OF FRIENDS ON MYSPACE:
54

Z-ZODIAC SIGN
Cancer

Wes and his brief stardom aka thank you Loden Vision Centers

I appeared on Norm Partin's radio show briefly today. Interestingly enough, Norm was not there this evening - he left early for Bristol. I like to think I was the key guest of the evening. I was such a good guest, I opened my appearance with a question of my own: "Is this driver from Kentucky?" That's efficiency. After the co-host and substitute, Russ Thompson and Matt Yocum, confirmed that I was correct with noises that signalled that they appreciated my awesomeness. I promptly hit 'em with a "Is this driver Jeff Green?"

BAM. Contest over. Those golf passes are MINE - or, rather, Mark's. Cause I don't golf. That's not how I roll.

In my moment of glory, I want to send a shoutout to my homeboys. Dangerous Dan, Diamond Dutchman, reanimated corpse of Col. Sanders, I couldn't have done it without you. Except I did, cause I am that awesome.

Speaking of the Dutchman, you are right - I want everyone to know I am listening to Jim Elrod right now. Actually, I'm not, because Nickel Creek is still going. After all, it's only been like seven minutes since I posted the name thing. But I plan on listening to Jim's new songs before I do another post.

And you should too.

http://www.myspace.com/jimelrod

New post, cross-posted with MySpace

So I'm going to be overly ambitious and start using a FOURTH blog - now on MySpace. I think I will cross-post this one with the personal blogspot.

I'm going off the smoke for a little while, starting either tonight or tomorrow. Basically I need my throat in top form because now is the time to get recording. I have a few tunes worked up that need that Chester touch.

So it's been two years since Grandpa Burney died. I should probably have more to say about that but I don't.

Motoko has been on the warpath the past few days. I think I have a mouse in my room because she spends approximately twenty minutes every night destroying everything in a mad rush to murder.

I'm going to start stealing from Josh "Livestock" Boruff and Tom "Moof" Davies and include some chat logs.

Dan: this movie is extremely gay
westopherburney: well that is what you get for renting Brokebutt Mountain, the gay porn version of Brokeback Mountain

Crap, that sucked. I guess Aderholdt still rules the domain of comedy.

OK here is another one:

Dan: so i heard lance bass is gay
Dan: im a lil to exctied

I want to do a podcast enclosure, but I don't know how or even why, so maybe next time, or probably not.


PS Since the MySpace thing doesn't want to work, I am listening to Waylon Jennings' Honky Tonk Heroes album.

Semisonic

Call me a moron, but I really like Feeling Strangely Fine.

And Closing Time.

Voice actors

Maurice LaMarche

Frank Welker

Billy J. West

Tress MacNeille

John DiMaggio

Phil LaMarr

Dan Castallaneta

Not so gainfully employed

Man I have not updated here in a while. Still working on the job search post-sales failure.

Gainfully employed

I'm now working in direct marketing for the firm reflected in the link. Or, at least, I will be, come Monday.

Blimey

Since 21 April I have written 55 pages of term papers.

IRL/CCWS Merger Pt 1

There have been rumblings recently about a possible merger of the Champ Car World Series and the Indy Racing League. I'd like to explore some of the assets of a possible new open wheel series.

Currently the IRL has fourteen races at fourteen tracks:
Homestead 1.5 mile oval
St. Petersburg 1.806 mile temporary airport
Motegi 1.5 mile oval
Indianapolis 2.5 mile oval
Watkins Glen 3.45 mile natural road course
Texas 1.5 mile oval
Richmond 0.75 mile oval
Kansas 1.5 mile oval
Nashville 1.33 mile oval
Milwaukee 1.0 mile oval
Michigan 2.0 mile oval
Kentucky 1.5 mile oval
Infineon 2.3 mile natural road course
Chicagoland 1.5 mile oval

The Champ Car World Series has 15 scheduled races:
Long Beach 1.968 mile temporary street circuit
Houston 1.7 mile temporary street circuit
Monterrey 2.104 mile temporary street circuit
Milwaukee 1.0 mile oval
Portland 1.967 mile natural terrain road course
Cleveland 2.105 mile temporary airport circuit
Toronto 1.721 mile temporary street circuit
Edmonton 1.973 mile temporary airport circuit
San Jose 1.448 mile temporary street circuit
Denver 1.65 mile temporary street circuit
Montreal 2.701 mile natural road course
Road America 4.048 mile natural road course
Ansan 1.796 mile
Surfer's Paradise 2.796 mile temporary street circuit
Mexico City 2.786 mile natural road course

This leads us to 29 races at 28 tracks. The number of races that keeps getting batted around is 20, although I have heard as many as 26.

Obviously, a few races are virtual locks to be on the schedule. Indianapolis goes without saying. Long Beach is also a guarantee. One would also have to assume that all the races owned or co-owned by Tony George, Kevin Kalkhoven, or Gerald Forsythe would make the cut, so that includes Chicagoland, San Jose, Toronto, and Edmonton, off the top of my head. Sam Jose, however, is vulnerable due to financial difficulties, and Infineon is in the same market. Team co-owner Mike Lanigan of Mi-Jack Conquest promotes Cleveland and Houston. Andretti-Green promotes St. Petersburg. I also believe that Gerald Forsythe is involved in the promotion of the Mexican races. Montreal is vulnerable due to is continued flirtation with NASCAR. As much as I would like to see it stay on the schedule, it is probably simplest to drop it and attempt a return to Vancouver or possibly to race in Quebec City. Michigan and Homestead are poorly attended. Watkins Glen has a chance to keep its race if it upgrades its facilities. This would be a great pickup for the new series. Nashville, while poorly attended, is the headquarters for Bridgestone/Firestone USA. Motegi is the home track of Honda. Surfer's Paradise is important to Kevin Kalkhoven and Team Australia. Ansan will most likely be dropped and buried after South Korea's likely third failure in a row to actually produce a circuit. If this race actually happens it would have to be wildly successful to be retained. Oval successes include Kansas, Kentucky, Richmond, and Texas. Milwaukee will probably also be retained and hopefully attendance will go up. Road America will probably make the schedule. The fate of Portland is most likely up in the air. Denver is probably safe.

Thus the following races [not in order]:
1. Long Beach
2. St. Petersburg
3. Road America
4. Nashville
5. Kentucky
6. Kansas
7. Chicagoland
8. Milwaukee
9. Long Beach
10. Cleveland
11. Watkins Glen
12. Infineon
13. Mexico City
14. Monterrey
15. Edmonton
16. Toronto
17. Australia
18. Texas
19. Houston
20. Denver
21. Richmond
22. Indianapolis
23. Motegi

Photos

Come to my Facebook photo album and check it out.

Yes. Yes I am.

English Genius You scored 100% Beginner, 100% Intermediate, 86% Advanced, and 100% Expert!

You did so extremely well, even I can't find a word to describe your excellence! You have the uncommon intelligence necessary to understand things that most people don't. You have an extensive vocabulary, and you're not afraid to use it properly! Way to go! Thank you so much for taking my test. I hope you enjoyed it! For the complete Answer Key, visit my blog: http://shortredhead78.blogspot.com/.

My test tracked 4 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender: You scored higher than 68% on Beginner You scored higher than 44% on Intermediate You scored higher than 20% on Advanced You scored higher than 94% on Expert

Link: The Commonly Confused Words Test written by shortredhead78 on Ok Cupid, home of the 32-Type Dating Test

Historiography part 1

NOTE: This is rather disjointed. If anything is too blunt or gruesome in terminology it is because I am writing whilst taking notes.

One of my professors, who believe it or not is a conservative, just tried to explain to us the difference between the US and Germany through popular film. He declares that the Western is the quintessential American film and uses specifically John Wayne's Stagecoach. Here is a typical American Western:
Boy meets girl
Boy falls for girl
Outside difficulties [bandits, corrupt government, etc] cause a separation
Bad guy[s] threatens girl
Boy, by himself or with a few friends organized as a posse, defeat a large group of bad guys

Here is a German film:
Individualist boy meets girl
Boy will not join organization ie Hitler Youth
Boy falls for girl
Evil individual [Jew or Slav] cause a separation
Evil individual threatens girl
Boy joins organization who all overwhelm the single villain and beat the hell out of him

For example watch Triumph of the Will. It was originally banned in the US for fear that it would influence Americans as much as it did Germans. People were actually moved by this film in Germany. Even in the depths of the depression most Americans found the film disgusting and disturbing. I had to watch a bit of it in foreign film class and I can see how it would be effective but not to Anglos.

I've probably been over this before but I'm a big believer that the English & Scottish tradition of individuality has permeated US culture. Democracy as we know it is based on the English tradition that started with the Magna Carta. In fact I would omit much of the post Reformation history of Europe ie France, Germany, Italy. I think they are as much a separate culture from the modern Western tradition as a tribe that has never met modern man lost somewhere in Kansas. This focus on the individual predated the advent of Protestantism - ie the Magna Carta, the strength of Parliament. England has deposed kings without shedding a drop of blood. Oliver Cromwell is generally reviled as a villain to us - he would be a hero to others. France celebrates a bloody revolution that killed a king. In the United States, our national holiday is the signing of a document. In France the national holiday is the storming of the Bastille, which contained all of SEVEN PRISONERS - four counterfeiters, two madmen, and a young aristocrat who had displeased his father. The commander of the garrison surrendered peacefully and was promptly stabbed to death, as were several of his guards. This event is not the triumph of reason over tyranny; rather, the triumph of proletarian madness and vengeance. America has several bloody dates we could celebrate - 8 January, for example, when the forces of General Andrew Jackson destroyed the British army who had just beaten Napoleon. We could celebrate the battles of the Mexican War or the Spanish American War but instead we celebrate as Veteran's Day the Armistice of WWI.

The dominant theme of English and American history is a progressive movement towards liberty. The triumph of the individual over the state. While the twentieth century has seen some of this rolled back [ie FDR, LBJ, British socialism of the 1960s and 70s, Nixon and Reagan's drug war, the wartime restriction of civil liberties by Wilson, FDR, Bush & Blair, and the oppressive regime of Janet Reno at the Justice Department] most of them have demonstrated a transient nature - for example, Reagan, Clinton, and Bush the Younger have all restricted or attempted to restrict the 'welfare state' developed by FDR and LBJ. The great political leaders of our history, such as Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt, have exceeded the bounds of their office for the benefit of the nation - and we continue to criticize them for it. While we acknowledge their greatness, we object to some of their methodology.

There are many things that differentiate the culture of the West as a whole from the East. Self-criticism is a part of our culture. We have no absolute heroes. We analyze our history to attempt to learn from it - and we do. Our mistakes tend to come not from failing to apply the lessons of the past but rather from improper application. Hitler's Russian campaign was obviously misguided - Napoleon failed too. However, they failed for a lot of the same reasons, but a lot of different ones. Hitler exceeded his supply lines and bogged down in a single major siege. Napoleon had lost many of his men prior to any major battles. Winter and disease played a role in both losses but the campaigns were dissimilar [not as dissimilar as Iraq and Vietnam, mind you - more like Korea vs Vietnam]. Non-Western societies seem to lack this critical thinking over time - after all, the role of the individual is not important.

It is time that American historical and political thought recognized the role of English thought rather than European thought. We are as dissimilar from the French as we are from the Indonesians - or perhaps less so. An alliance of the Anglosphere - and by this I do not simply mean English speaking nations - I include Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Japan, Israel, and India, among others - nations with democratic government - usually Parliamentiary, with liberal economic policies [not LBJ liberal but Alexander Hamilton liberal.]

I know this is not good organization but let me bring up another point. We study the horrors of African slavery in America and the Indian holocaust in American history - any typical survey class. I don't wish to gloss over these evils. We can also mention the racism in South Africa, the racism in Ireland, et cetera. There are certainly atrocities in the Filipino occupation. There are many others. However, there is no real institutional genocide, and attempts have been made as the Anglosphere culture to redress these mistakes.

One needs not to mention the Jewish Holocaust of Germany. However, in Soviet Russia, ethnic groups were purged and manipulated. During the French Revolution, huge numbers of anti-revolutionary peasants were cleansed in Western France.

Thanks to the English institution of Parliament and its restrictions on the monarchy we have our concept of politics and freedom. Sorry again for the disorganization, any harshness in tone is due to distraction. Hope to hear your thoughts.

Animated series

Top five:
1. Futurama
2. South Park
3. Simpsons
4. Family Guy
5. King Of The Hill

Thusrday night

Sumit and Mark got to come up on Thursday night. We drank a lot of beer. Sumit stepped up the plate and brought a shitton from Chattanooga and Mark and I were able to give him his care package. Ashley and Noah were able to come by for short periods of time. Over the course of the day and evening, we watched some History Channel, Aqua Teen, Monk, Futurama, and Mr. Show. I think a good time was had by all.


Except the kitty.

Blog stuffs

You scored as Strong Egoism. Your life is very much guided by the concept of Egoism: You work primarily to promote your own interests. "I swear by my life, and my love of it, that I will never live for the sake of another man, nor ask another man to live for mine." "I am not primarily an advocate of capitalism, but of egoism; and I am not primarily an advocate of egoism, but of reason. If one recognizes the supremacy of reason and applies it consistently, all the rest follows." --Ayn Rand More info at Arocoun's Wikipedia User Page... Strong Egoism 85% Justice (Fairness) 80% Existentialism 75% Hedonism 60% Utilitarianism 45% Kantianism 40% Apathy 20% Divine Command 15% Nihilism 10% What philosophy do you follow? (v1.03) created with QuizFarm.com

Your Political Profile

Overall: 65% Conservative, 35% Liberal

Social Issues: 50% Conservative, 50% Liberal

Personal Responsibility: 50% Conservative, 50% Liberal

Fiscal Issues: 100% Conservative, 0% Liberal

Ethics: 25% Conservative, 75% Liberal

Defense and Crime: 100% Conservative, 0% Liberal

How Liberal / Conservative Are You?