The Cub Scout Pinewood Derby is probably the most popular "fun event" that a young Scout will participate. The recognition of the time spent building the car may be seen as Pack prizes for the most colorful, most inventive, fastest, most "radical" and as many other categories as one can imagine. In the Desert Pacific council, the Cub with the fastest car in the Pack is eligible to compete with all the other Cubs from the Packs at the San Diego 500 held at the Desert Pacific Scout Fair.
Every year, boys with their parent's help, build cars of every description to enter at the local Pack competition. The construction of the car is intended to be a parent and son project with the son doing the majority of the work. The parent should supply the advise and limited assistance with the more difficult tasks. Please remember above all that the Pinewood Derby is supposed to be fun for all. So get started early and take your time building and testing your car. Plan to spend at least 4 to 6 hours building the car over several days. The experienced racers may spend many times this amount of time and it shows in the appearance and racing performance.
The planning and construction of your car may be approached in many ways. This information will serve only as a guide to some while providing good first-time information and pointers for others. The experienced wood craftsman will find the teaching experience a great project for a young man while the "Klutz" may find it just a little challenging. No matter, the time spent working and learning with your son should be a lot of fun.
If you're designing a car for speed here are the important points about car design to keep in mind.
o Sleek Shape
o Maximum Weight
o Smooth, Round Wheels
o Polished Axles
o Good Lubrication
o Straight Running
On the other hand if your objective is to create a unique or personal design then think about these points.
o Model your car after something you like or adapt a theme from a Cub Scout or other recognizable object or character.
o Use color and finish as a way to get your car noticed. A bright red or yellow paint job with a high gloss finish is always an attention-getter.
o Attention to the details of car construction shows in the final product
o Design on paper before you start cutting wood
Construction Step 1 - The Plan (or What are we Doing?)
You may already have an idea as to what your car should look like when you're done but in order to take this idea to a completed form you should have a plan. Take a little time to sketch out your idea on paper. If you haven't decided what you want to do you may want to check out some possibilities. Look at the profiles provided in this guide to get some ideas. Draw your design at full scale so you can transfer the profile and shape to the wood block later. Ready-made templates or car outlines can be purchased at Scout supply outlets, the Scout Shop or Scout mail-order catalog. These will help you transfer a predefined profile to your car but are certainly not required. You may want to take a look at the templates in this web site for some ideas.
Starting with a block of wood is like a hand full of clay. What are you you going to do with it? What kind of car do want to build? Well, there are several basic types of car classifications cars that are fast, cars that are fast to build and then there are character cars. Character cars are cars that model other types of cars or objects. Remember that a highly decorative car with characters, decals and other trim will not be as aerodynamic as a "plain" car. The sleek low profile designs will tend to have less wind drag and therefore faster. The fast car is usually not a handsome car. Don't limit your design ideas but we'll talk about the plain, more aerodynamic designs and remember, you can paint car just about any way you you'd like.
Construction Step 2 - Gather Materials and Tools.
You will, of course, need the basic car kit that includes the wood block, axles, wheels and numeric decals. They cost $3.55 + applicable tax in the 2005 catalog. The kits produced since 1998 have unpredictable quality wheels in the kit and that may make it more difficult to produce a fast car every time. If you have still have an older kit it may be used as long as it is the Grand Prix series racer kit. Do not substitute the wheels and axles from non-BSA kits into your car design. This will make it illegal in most races and you can be disqualified.
You will need the following tools and additional materials:
Safety Glasses (for drilling, sanding etc.)
Coping Saw (A Powered Dremel Saw or Scroll Saw may also be used)
Small File (Mill or Fine Cut)
3/8"/10 mm Drill Bit (a Brad point bit gives you better hole positions)
Electric Drill Motor
Tracing Paper
Small Strip of Soft Cloth (like an old Tee Shirt)
80 Grit and 220 Grit Garnet Sand Paper
400 or 600 Grit Wet or Dry Paper
Metal Polish (for polishing the axle)
3/8"/10 mm Tubular Weight (Available from Scout Shop or plumber supply)
Wood Putty (or better yet - plastic auto body filler)
Sanding Sealer or wood Primer
Finish Paint (Either Spray or Brush on)
Decals and Decorations as Desired
This set of tools and materials will vary depending what you have available and the extent of work you have in mind.
Construction Step 3 - Cutting the Basic Car Shape.
Decide how you want you car to look. Again, you may want to refer to the templates in this web site. When you have a design idea it's time to transfer the profile (side of the car) and plan view (top of the car) to your block of wood. The block included in your kit is usually close to 7 inches (17.8 cm) in length but may vary a little shorter or longer. Be careful to measure the final overall dimensions of the finished car to insure that your design does not violate the racing specifications.
Using your side profile drawing and a sheet of carbon tracing paper align the drawing to the block and carefully trace the outside lines of your car so that the image is transferred to the wood. If you prefer, you may find it just as easy to copy or duplicate your lines on the wood directly. Use a hard lead pencil or ball point-point pen so that the lines are easy to see when you're cutting.
Construction Step 4 - Wheel Mount Preparation.
Its been discovered over the years that cars with a longer wheelbase can be faster than shorter wheelbase cars. With this in mind you may want to consider relocating the two axle slots in the car block toward the ends of the block. Perform this modification only if your pack or local rules permit it. The San Diego 500 rules do permit this change.
Remember to set the wheel slots back at least half the diameter of the wheel so that it doesn't extend over the end of the car body. The overall length of the car (including wheels) cannot exceed seven inches. It is very important to cut the new axle slots exactly square to the sides of the block so that the axles provide a good alignment for tracking. An alternate method is to use a drill press to make the holes but in either method make sure that the final position of the axle isn't too high so that it creates a problem for the block dragging on the track's guide strip. Use a #43 (2.3 mm) drill bit. Insert the axles in each of the slots or holes so that you know they'll fit later. Install the axles at the top of the slots so that they have plenty wood under them. Now that we have opened the wood fiber remove the axles. We'll permanently install the wheels and axles after the paint has dried.
Construction Step 5 - Drilling Holes for Weight.
Your finished wood block along with the, wheels, axles and trim will not usually weigh much over 2.5 ounces (71 grams) while the finished car is allowed to weigh in up to 5.0 ounces (141.75 grams). Don't even think about skipping weight addition if you want to be race competitive. The weight of your car overcoming friction is what will allow to you to win over other cars. You must make gravity work for you. Your car must overcome both breakaway friction and minimize air resistance and it will do this by being as heavy as allowed while presenting the smallest profile to the air-stream. That's why we wanted the low and skinny body design.
There are two basic approaches to adding weight to a derby car. The easiest is to attach pre-drilled and shaped lead or zinc weights to the outside of the car. Some of the commercial varieties are cast such that they provide a tapered shape and break-off ribs that permit convenient adjustment to overall weight after the car is assembled. It is best to attach this type of weight to the bottom of the car so the center of gravity may be kept low. If you use this type of weight on the bottom of your car insure that the weight doesn't hang down too far. It may not be obvious until race-day but the weight could drag on the track guide. This could prevent the car from moving off the the starting line. Mortise or "hog out" a void in the wood on the underside of the car and then attach the weight inside the void.
The other method for adding weight involves the installation of weight internal to the body so that there is no additional wind resistance. This may be only a small advantage but it just might make the difference of a winning inch or two at the end of the track. Most car profiles will be narrower at the nose and provide little space for adding lead internally. There is an advantage in placing the weight in the back. The front wheels perform the function of guiding or steering and the less weight on these wheels the easier the car corrects itself when it strikes the guide strip. Fewer and shorter contacts with the guide strip means a faster car.
Drilling the Car Body. Each internally weighted car will have a little different cavity placement based on the wheel/axle position and amount of wood available to accommodate the weight. The hole or cavity for the lead weight must be large enough to accommodate the weight you using. You will need fewer holes for lead than you will for other materials. Plan on drilling at least 2 or 3 holes of 3/8" ( 10 mm) (or 7/16") diameter at a depth of 1 ½" (38 mm) each. Experience has shown that holes drilled from the side or back tend to work the best. Locate and drill the holes being careful not to drill all the way through the wood. Also make sure that you are leaving enough wood around the hole to provide a margin of safety in your drilling operation.
Construction Step 6 - Adding the Weight.
There are many things that you might use to add weight to the car but you will find that lead and zinc will probably be used most often. These are the heaviest materials easily available for their volume. Lead works easily and is commonly available in a number of forms. As options you can use steel in plate, tubular forms or even common bolts. Other metals may be used but just as steel you will find them difficult to work and sometimes awkward to attach or insert.
Warnings
Lead is toxic and should be handled as little as possible.
Use gloves and never put your hands in or near your mouth
after handling it. Always wash your hands thoroughly after handling lead.
Do not use mercury at all! It is toxic, difficult to handle
and should not be touched by Cubs or adults.
Weigh your car on accurate scales. Most household scales are not very accurate. If you have access to calibrated scales compare a known item weight on the calibrated scales to your home scale indication for that same item. Mark this reference for use later. Allow for scale inaccuracies by not adding to exactly the 5.0 oz. (141.75 grams) indication. It is better to be slightly light than to have to remove weight on race day. Consider also, while you may have an accurate scale your pack may not. It could be weighing items heavier than they actually are!
Weigh your car body, wheels, axles and any other parts that will be on your car all at once. This weight is usually less than 3 ounces (85 grams). Now, with your car lying with the weight holes facing up carefully add your weight until the weight is just over 4.5 ounces (128 grams). Allow enough space in the holes so that you can add filler material in the next step. If you find there isn't enough room to add weight to get to 4.5 ounces (128 grams) you will have drill an additional hole or holes. Remember, you will be adding wood filler and paint to your car later and this will a little more weight. When you are satisfied go to the next step.
Construction Step 7 - Sealing the Holes.
Once that you have got the correct amount of weight installed you are ready to seal the hole(s) in your car body. There are a number of materials that you can use to cover the weight holes in car body. If you are in a hurry and want to insure a good seal try using automobile body putty (like Bondo®). This type of filler material is a two-part mix that sets in 15 minutes. You will need only a small amount but it works very easily and may be sanded, drilled and painted. Standard wood fillers that don't use a catalyst will take longer to harden (usually overnight) and may need to be applied with several thin coats. Apply the filler so that it may be sanded down smooth to the original wood surface. You'll want to recheck you total car weight at this time.
Construction Step 8 - Sanding and Smoothing.
Sanding the wood body will eliminate any of the saw blade marks as well as any small blemishes in the wood surface. If you have access to a motorized belt-disc sander your work will be quickly done but for most of us a sheet of sandpaper and a sanding block will do just fine. Start by using a 100 or 120 grit paper and wood or rubber block on the filler and rough portions of the wood car body. Gently smooth the edges and corners of the car while using a little more pressure on the flat areas. Then switch to a 220 grit paper to smooth the sanding marks left from the initial sanding. When you have the wood smoothed switch to the 400 grit paper. It will provide an excellent surface for your final finish. DO NOT WET-SAND UNPAINTED WOOD.
Construction Step 9 - Painting and Finishing.
The bare wood surface will act much like a sponge when your paint is first applied and it will take several coats of paint to seal and finish the wood. A better approach is to apply a wood sanding sealer to the wood. This acts like a primer coat for the wood and provides a good base to apply the color finish paint.
Prepare a place to paint your car that will be out of the house while you are painting and out of the reach of younger children while your car is drying. You may either paint one side at a time waiting between coats or suspend the car on a string with a nail in the axle slot and paint all of it. Brush or spray the sanding sealer on the car with a complete coat and wait for it to thoroughly dry. You will see that the grain of the wood will raise slightly. After the paint is thoroughly dry, sand it with 400 grit wet or dry sandpaper. You will find that the finish is smoother if you use a wet-sanding process. Wet the paper and the painted car body. Lightly sand until the sanding-sealer is smooth but not through the sealer to the wood.
You are now ready for the finish color coats of paint. The best and smoothest finishes will be had with a spray paint but brush-on paint will not effect the overall speed of the car. Use fast drying enamels and avoid using different brands on top of each other. Above all don't use lacquer paint on top of enamel paint. Your paint will wrinkle and bubble. If you get a run in the paint, let it dry and sand it smooth. Re-coat it later. You can achieve a very, very smooth finish if you wet-sand between coats with 600 grit wet-or-dry sandpaper. Your car can look like it has a glasslike finish with several coats of paint and fine sanding.
If you are going to apply decals and detail work now is time to do this type of work. If you are careful, you can apply a clear coat of finish over the decals to seal them. Don't use too much clear-coat at one time or you'll wrinkle the decals.
Construction Step 10 - Wheel Work.
Next to the weight of the car the wheels are the most important element in the car. The biggest problem is that there is not a great deal that you can legally do with them. You must insure that the wheels roll smoothly, in a straight line and roll very easily. The wheels included with kits manufactured through 1998 have a better quality wheel than that of previous kits. Kits produced in the 1999 race year were very inconsistent. Even still, there are things to check and fix on each of the wheels. First, the wheels must be perfectly round. The wheels are produced in Multi-cavity molds and some molds may produce slightly out-of-round wheels which will be slower than others. To check for this put the wheel on an axle and spin it. It should turn with the outside surface at a single reference point never varying. The run-out or the wheel movement along the axle axis should also be minimal. If you suspect the wheel is out-of-round discard it and buy just the axle-wheel kit ($2.35 for 5 wheels and axles) or another car kit at your Scout supply outlet. There isn't much you can do to correct a bad wheel. The wheels are all produced from a mold set and will all vary to some degree.
Check the wheel for burrs on the running surface of the tire and hub areas. These need to be freed of any extra plastic residue or molding marks. Most Packs and council races require the racers to do minimal work on the wheel surface. This means that the outside wheel surface can be sanded or filed to make it flat across the bottom of the "tire". To perform this work you may use either a very small machine screw or nail about 3 inches long to stack all 4 wheels onto and chuck them in to a drill motor. Using a fine flat mill file, turn the drill on and at an angle to the rotating wheels, apply very light pressure to the wheel surface touching at least two wheels at a time. Insure you don't create a rounded wheel surface which may be illegal. Alternately, purchase a commercially-available wheel turning kit from the Scout supply distributor or Pinecar® source. These wheel turning mandrels are designed to hold a single wheel in a drill motor for turning. Watch for the newer wheels with these mandrels, they may not fit. Again, observe the local rules for what may be allowed.
Construction Step 11 - Axle Polishing.
The 'nail' type axles that come in the Pinewood derby kit must be used in the construction of your of your car. These axles provide no bearing surface so there is friction between the plastic wheel surface and the metal axle. Since this friction reduces speed we need to minimize the contact surface area, make the surfaces smooth and lubricate the mating surfaces. It is usually against the rules to machine the plastic wheel and these procedures usually require a lathe or other tools not typically available to a Cub Scout. That still leaves the axle open to "play with". The following suggestions are things you can do with simple hand tolls to improve the performance of the axles.
Axle Burr Removal. First, the heads of the nails used as axles in the kit will often have a mold or casting mark in two places just where the head attaches to the shaft the nail. Remove this web of metal with a file being careful not to gouge or scratch the running surface of the shaft. This will prevent the axle from grinding the plastic hub area and slowing down your car. You might be surprised to how "out of round" the shaft of the axle really is. Chuck/secure the axle in a drill press or electric hand drill secured into a stable position.
Optional step. This step can be performed before actual polishing but is designed for those creating "the ultimate" racing machines. It's not necessary for the average racer. Use a fine flat file to reduce the overall diameter of the axle. To do this, chuck the pointed end of the axle into a drill press or drill motor that has been secured with a vise or clamp. Place the file against the rotating axle and apply even pressure while moving the file slowly. Do this until the area within ½" (10 mm) of the head is smaller than the rest of the axle body. The more metal that is removed the less contact surface available to create friction. The drawback to removing too much metal is that the axle becomes weaker and will not tolerate being dropped or withstand rough handling without bending. This is often a trial and error procedure with much testing required to result in a fast turning wheel. You will want to buy extra axles to try this and use the best of the lot for your car.
First-Surface Polishing. The axle can be finished to a high luster by following the steps detailed here. First, mount the axle in drill motor chuck exposing the head and the first 3/4" of the axle. Secure the drill so that it doesn't move. Now cut a piece of 400-600 grit wet or dry sandpaper to a strip approximately ½" (10 mm) wide and 4 to 6 inches (about 100mm) in length. Wet the surface of the sand paper with water or light machine oil, start the drill and loop the sandpaper over the axle and pull the paper back and forth like a shoe polish cloth. Work the paper until the metal is smooth in the wheel running area (next to the head of the axle). This usually takes about a minute for each axle. Now, using either pumice paste or metal polish in a soft cloth (like a tee-shirt), start the drill again and press the cloth and polish compound into the axle with a slight movement back and forth. This will also take about a minute. The finished axle will be very smooth and bright in appearance
Construction Step 12 - Lubrication.
The type of lubrication is usually restricted at most races to dry lubricants but there are great advantages to using the right lubrication. By the same token there is harm in using the wrong lubricate. First, we should discuss what it's all about.
The wheel should turn on the dry axle without any undo force but the friction between the two parts will quickly act to slow it down. It's this friction that you would like to eliminate. While we can't eliminate friction completely it can certainly be reduced. An automobile uses steel roller or ball bearings to reduce friction on its wheels but our car isn't permitted to use them. We can only lubricate what we already have. A lubricant is any agent that provides a reduction of friction. While there are many types of lubricants many will either not work on lightweight parts or are not formulated to work with plastics. Petroleum products such as motor and household oil may soften the plastic wheels. The wheels could, after a time, fail to turn at all. This is not the surprise you'd like on race day. Other liquid or aerosol lubricants include spray-on Teflon, WD-40, CRC and 3 in 1 oil. Except for Teflon, these are all petroleum based products which you'll want to avoid.
The most common and successfully used lubricants are the graphite formulations and Graphite-Moly blends. They provide a very thin plating of microscopic spheres that greatly reduce rolling friction. Plain graphite is available in hardware stores and some variety stores. When installing your wheels fill the axle hole of the wheel while capping the other side. Gently push the axle through the wheel. Do this several times and spin the wheel to help distribute the graphite through the running surface. A good test of the wheel, axle and the lubrication is a spin test. While holding the wheel in the axle in a horizontal position spin the wheel with a flick of your finger. It should spin freely, then slowly coming to a stop after 20 to 30 seconds. If it didn't spin that long take a close at your wheel clearance, axle finish and lubrication. Correct the problems than test them again.
Construction Step 13 - Wheel Installation and Alignment.
The guide strip on a pinewood derby track will keep the cars on the track and prevent them from hitting each other. This strip is necessary but each time your car's wheels hit it the car slows down a little. This is where wheel installation become important. If the car runs straight it will less often hit the guide strip.
There are a number of little tricks to consider in this stage of the car building. First, while you must run all 4 wheels they all don't necessarily have to touch the track surface. If each wheel has rolling resistance don't roll all of them. Simple. Usually, the best one to elevate off the track is one of the front wheels. Second, to prevent additional rolling resistance install the axles at an angle to the body so that wheels ride the end of the axle not against the car body. Install your wheels so that there is clearance between the body and wheel and insure that the car body surface has a hard finish (No washers though) next where the wheel hub might touch the body.
Test roll the car so that you are satisfied that the car rolls in a perfect line. Put the car on a flat board or other smooth surface that has a straight line scribed for reference. Lift the board so that the car begins to roll. It should roll very close to the line. If it doesn't, then a front end alignment is required. Slightly bend the wheel axle(s) to correct the drift.
Checking Alignment. Another test using a long smooth surface is to check for tracking or wheel alignment. Draw a straight reference line on your surface and place the car on the surface with the wheels on top of that line. Now elevate the surface to the rear of the car to start the car rolling. Your car should roll along the that line is its tracking straight.
Construction Step 14 - Other Testing.
Now that you have finished construction and initial wheel alignment of your car you will want to test and re-test your car until you're sure that you have reached the best that the car can do. This will involve reviewing the last few steps in the construction phase of the car and verifying those details. Go back to any of the previous steps if you feel the car isn't right. Then you might just decide to build another car for comparison. Race the fastest.
Breakaway Friction. Using a smooth board or table, evaluate how soon the car(s) start to roll. To judge the rolling resistance and the initial breakaway friction resistance place your car(s) on the surface than slowly elevate one side until they just start rolling. The lower the angle the lower the friction and better your car.
Forward or "R" for Race. You will find that sometimes for reasons that you can't explain some cars will run faster when its running backwards. Maybe its the weight position, alignment, wheel placement or other more obscure reason but for whatever reason it is a fact that most cars will run slightly faster in one direction than in another. Please understand that while there is a slight difference it may not be enough to make a huge difference in the long run. Just the same, if there's difference you're just as well to take advantage of it. Run your car against another car and try racing it both frontwards and backwards to see which is faster. Maybe that "R" on the gear shifter is for RACE in Reverse.
Step 15 - Racing your Car.
It's too bad that you don't have a chance to race your car every day but that makes it all the more special when you do race. We'll talk about technique and technical racing tips in just a minute. First we have to remember what this is all about. Fun! Of course we have spent a considerable amount of time building this car and we expect to do well b-u-t so did a lot of other racers. At the end of all the racing there will one car declared the fastest. It may or may not be yours. It may not be your fault or something you have control. Sometimes luck may in the end help determine the winner. This is where your sportsmanship will come into play. Sometimes its hard to be a good loser but remember you are in good company and you will have done your best!
Even with the fastest car you can lose a race.
It is a fact. How can this be you ask? Well, first you should try to determine if you are playing a fair game. Does your car comply to all the rules for the contest? If it doesn't you may eliminated before the race starts.
Are all the other cars obeying the racing specifications?
For instance, you won't have a chance against a car that weights an once or two over the limit. The race committee should be uniform in checking everyone's cars.
Insist that all cars be weighed by the same scale and that no car is allowed to race heavy.
All cars should be inspected prior to the race to a set of specifications published well before the race day. Cars not in compliance must be repaired before being allowed to raced.
Is the race track fair?
A track that has a really fast lane must be raced so that each car races on all lanes so that a fast lane doesn't make a average car look like a fast car. This requires a racing scheme that gives everyone a chance to run on every lane with different opponents.
Is the racing chart fair?
There should be a race chart or elimination technique designed to make sure that each racer races at least twice before being eliminated. Single elimination races are not very good or accurate contests. The more races the better.
The following hints will help give you the best chance to win:
1. Insure that your car is tracking (steering) in a straight line before you check-in your car.
2. Insure that you have thoroughly lubricated your car before the check-in.
3. Check your wheels for freedom. Can you spin all the wheels and have them spin 20 seconds before they come to a stop?
4. Always handle your car by the body not the wheels.
5. Don't roll your car in the dirt or on concrete surfaces. It's a sure way to ruin the wheels and axles.
6. Don't run while carrying you car.. You may to drop it which may break something you cannot repair.
7. Place your car on the track with the wheels spaced so that the wheels do not touch the lane guide.
8. Take your time in placing the car on the track. Point it straight down the track.
9. If your car doesn't do very well rolling forward try racing it backwards. Cars will run faster one way than another.
With a good attitude and Scout Spirit no matter what happens you'll always be a winner in everyone's eyes.
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Happy double nickel Paul
Stanley Harvey Eisen (born January 20, 1952, Manhattan, New York) aka Paul Stanley, is an American Hard rock guitarist and vocalist for the rock band KISS. He is the writer or co-writer of most of the band's highest-charting hits, including "Rock and Roll All Nite," "Hard Luck Woman," "I Was Made For Lovin' You," and "Forever."
Biography
Before joining Wicked Lester, Paul Stanley was in Rainbow (not Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow) and Uncle Joe. Through a mutual friend of Gene Simmons, Stanley joined Simmons' band Wicked Lester in the early 1970s. The band recorded an album in 1971, but as of 2005 it has never been officially released (although songs from the album appeared on KISS's 2001 box set). Due to contractual obligations, Stanley and Simmons could not fire the other members of Wicked Lester, so they quit and hired Peter Criss and Ace Frehley and later formed as KISS shortly thereafter. KISS released their self-titled debut in February 1974.
Paul's persona in KISS is "The Starchild." Wearing spandex and platform boots, Stanley's persona is that of a Don Juan-esque lover, combining effeminate elements with elements of extreme masculinity, rather than mere androgyny. Although Paul's voice is generally very soft and eloquent during normal conversation, he uses a specific "stage voice" which is like a "Rock N' Roll Preacher" unlike most leading rock frontmen, he gets the crowd to join the band in many of their classic hits and also tends to give a speech or "scripted" story for certain songs (i.e.having a sexual encounters with nurses and other women he's met on tour and how much he supports our troops overseas) much like Gene Simmons adopts an animalistic growl on stage for his Demon persona.
In his book Sex Money KISS, Gene Simmons admits that Paul was the driving force for KISS during the makeup-free 1980s, while Simmons was feeling lost without his Demon makeup and attempting to launch a film career.
Newspaper ad for Phantom of the Opera, starring Paul Stanley
In 1999 Stanley starred in a Toronto production of Phantom of the Opera, in which he played the role of The Phantom. He appeared in the musical from May 25 to August 1, and again that year from September 30 to October 31. This made him the brunt of criticism from fans of both KISS and The Phantom of the Opera. Reviews from KISS fans were generally positive, whereas reviews from Phantom fans were generally negative.
While in Toronto, Stanley was contacted by AboutFace, an organization that provides support and information to individuals with facial differences, and asked to help raise awareness for them. Although he was approached due to his role as The Phantom, Stanley was in fact born with Microtia, a congential deformity of the pinna (outer ear). He has appeared at fundraising events and in videos for the organization.
In 2001 Stanley's wife, Dallas native Pamela Bowen, filed for divorce. They have one son, Evan Shane Stanley.
Stanley badly needed hip replacement surgery but suffered through the Rock The Nation tour first, finally getting the surgery in October 2005. Complications from the surgery required a second in December of that year, and in December 2005 it has been announced that a third hip surgery will be necessary. Stanley regards the degeneration of his left hip as partly the product of thousands of shows performed since the early 1970s.
On November 19th 2005, Paul Stanley married longtime girlfriend Erin Sutton at The Ritz-Carlton, Huntington in Pasadena, California. They welcomed their first child 8lb. 6oz. Colin Michael Stanley on Wednesday, September 6, 2006.
Stanley made his debut as a painter in 2005, exhibiting and selling original works of art.
In 2006, Stanley resumed his association with Washburn Guitars and resumed using the Washburn PS2000. Previously, he has had four signature guitars made by Silvertone, and tweaked the Ibanez Iceman to his specifications, calling it the PS10.
His most recent performances with KISS were a group of shows in July 2006 both in Los Angeles and parts of Japan.
Solo career
Paul's 2006 solo album Live to Win
Stanley has recorded and performed outside of KISS very rarely. In 1989, he embarked on a brief club tour, performing only KISS songs (with one cover, Led Zeppelin's "Communication Breakdown"). His touring band included guitarist Bob Kulick and future KISS drummer Eric Singer.
Stanley wrote and recorded material for a solo album in 1987–88, which was shelved in favor of the KISS compilation, Smashes, Thrashes & Hits. While never officially released, songs such as "Don't Let Go" and "When 2 Hearts Collide" have circulated as bootleg recordings. One song from the project, "Time Traveler," was released as part of the KISS's 2001 box set.
28 years after releasing his first solo album (as part of the four simultaneously released KISS solo albums), Stanley released a second album, Live to Win, on October 24, 2006.
In October and November 2006, Stanley embarked on a theater tour in support Live to Win. His touring band was the house band from the CBS TV show, Rock Star. The band appeared on both seasons of the show - Rock Star: INXS and Rock Star: Supernova. The band was comprised of Paul Mirkovich (keyboards), Jim McGorman (guitar), Rafael Moreira (lead guitar), Nate Morton (drums), and Sasha Krivstov (bass).
Trivia
He was inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame in 2006.
His single, "Live To Win," made its debut in the 8th episode of South Park's 10th season, titled "Make Love, Not Warcraft".
He was asked to produce albums for Poison and Guns N' Roses, but was unable due to his time working on KISS projects.
Other birthdays of note today -
Buzz Aldrin, Martin Landau, DeForest Kelley, George Burns, Slim Whitman, Arte Johnson, and Tom Baker.
Biography
Before joining Wicked Lester, Paul Stanley was in Rainbow (not Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow) and Uncle Joe. Through a mutual friend of Gene Simmons, Stanley joined Simmons' band Wicked Lester in the early 1970s. The band recorded an album in 1971, but as of 2005 it has never been officially released (although songs from the album appeared on KISS's 2001 box set). Due to contractual obligations, Stanley and Simmons could not fire the other members of Wicked Lester, so they quit and hired Peter Criss and Ace Frehley and later formed as KISS shortly thereafter. KISS released their self-titled debut in February 1974.
Paul's persona in KISS is "The Starchild." Wearing spandex and platform boots, Stanley's persona is that of a Don Juan-esque lover, combining effeminate elements with elements of extreme masculinity, rather than mere androgyny. Although Paul's voice is generally very soft and eloquent during normal conversation, he uses a specific "stage voice" which is like a "Rock N' Roll Preacher" unlike most leading rock frontmen, he gets the crowd to join the band in many of their classic hits and also tends to give a speech or "scripted" story for certain songs (i.e.having a sexual encounters with nurses and other women he's met on tour and how much he supports our troops overseas) much like Gene Simmons adopts an animalistic growl on stage for his Demon persona.
In his book Sex Money KISS, Gene Simmons admits that Paul was the driving force for KISS during the makeup-free 1980s, while Simmons was feeling lost without his Demon makeup and attempting to launch a film career.
Newspaper ad for Phantom of the Opera, starring Paul Stanley
In 1999 Stanley starred in a Toronto production of Phantom of the Opera, in which he played the role of The Phantom. He appeared in the musical from May 25 to August 1, and again that year from September 30 to October 31. This made him the brunt of criticism from fans of both KISS and The Phantom of the Opera. Reviews from KISS fans were generally positive, whereas reviews from Phantom fans were generally negative.
While in Toronto, Stanley was contacted by AboutFace, an organization that provides support and information to individuals with facial differences, and asked to help raise awareness for them. Although he was approached due to his role as The Phantom, Stanley was in fact born with Microtia, a congential deformity of the pinna (outer ear). He has appeared at fundraising events and in videos for the organization.
In 2001 Stanley's wife, Dallas native Pamela Bowen, filed for divorce. They have one son, Evan Shane Stanley.
Stanley badly needed hip replacement surgery but suffered through the Rock The Nation tour first, finally getting the surgery in October 2005. Complications from the surgery required a second in December of that year, and in December 2005 it has been announced that a third hip surgery will be necessary. Stanley regards the degeneration of his left hip as partly the product of thousands of shows performed since the early 1970s.
On November 19th 2005, Paul Stanley married longtime girlfriend Erin Sutton at The Ritz-Carlton, Huntington in Pasadena, California. They welcomed their first child 8lb. 6oz. Colin Michael Stanley on Wednesday, September 6, 2006.
Stanley made his debut as a painter in 2005, exhibiting and selling original works of art.
In 2006, Stanley resumed his association with Washburn Guitars and resumed using the Washburn PS2000. Previously, he has had four signature guitars made by Silvertone, and tweaked the Ibanez Iceman to his specifications, calling it the PS10.
His most recent performances with KISS were a group of shows in July 2006 both in Los Angeles and parts of Japan.
Solo career
Paul's 2006 solo album Live to Win
Stanley has recorded and performed outside of KISS very rarely. In 1989, he embarked on a brief club tour, performing only KISS songs (with one cover, Led Zeppelin's "Communication Breakdown"). His touring band included guitarist Bob Kulick and future KISS drummer Eric Singer.
Stanley wrote and recorded material for a solo album in 1987–88, which was shelved in favor of the KISS compilation, Smashes, Thrashes & Hits. While never officially released, songs such as "Don't Let Go" and "When 2 Hearts Collide" have circulated as bootleg recordings. One song from the project, "Time Traveler," was released as part of the KISS's 2001 box set.
28 years after releasing his first solo album (as part of the four simultaneously released KISS solo albums), Stanley released a second album, Live to Win, on October 24, 2006.
In October and November 2006, Stanley embarked on a theater tour in support Live to Win. His touring band was the house band from the CBS TV show, Rock Star. The band appeared on both seasons of the show - Rock Star: INXS and Rock Star: Supernova. The band was comprised of Paul Mirkovich (keyboards), Jim McGorman (guitar), Rafael Moreira (lead guitar), Nate Morton (drums), and Sasha Krivstov (bass).
Trivia
He was inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame in 2006.
His single, "Live To Win," made its debut in the 8th episode of South Park's 10th season, titled "Make Love, Not Warcraft".
He was asked to produce albums for Poison and Guns N' Roses, but was unable due to his time working on KISS projects.
Other birthdays of note today -
Buzz Aldrin, Martin Landau, DeForest Kelley, George Burns, Slim Whitman, Arte Johnson, and Tom Baker.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Pure Digital Camcorder
This camcorder is on sale at Target this week.
We haven't had a working camcorder for years and I have been wanting to get one to take videos of the boys but just haven't had the funds to get one. I was on the Target website earlier in the week before Christmas to order some gifts for my wife and saw this camcorder on the home page as a featured product. I started doing research on it and reading reviews and found almost all of them very positive.
So, I went to Target and bought the 512 MB (30 minutes) one. I liked it so much that later that day I went to the Best Buy website and ordered the 1 GB (60 minutes) one.
It is nice and small. It feels like quality. The view screen looks great. I have a cheap 4 MP Concord digital camera and you cannot see the image in bright sunlight or in low light. This is completely the opposite. You can easily see everything regardless of the lighting conditions.
The sound is very good except for really high pitched voices which come out a little tinny. The controls are so easy to use and very intuitive. My wife has never picked up any of my digital cameras. She was using this the second day that we had it and has picked it up several times since.
The software is included inside the camcorder. Flip out the USB arm and put it into your computer. The software allows you to easily save your movies, e-mail your movies or publish them up to Google video. Saved directly as .avi files, they look great. Converted for use for e-mail, it uses a service called Grouper, and they do get abit pixelated there. Uploaded to Google video and they look like every other video on Google that uses streaming. I highly suggest downloading a video off of Google before viewing for maximum quality.
It already comes with Duracell AA batteries. It also can easily be hooked up to any TV with RCA connections.
Since December 23rd, my family and I have already taken 1.5 GB of video. These are memories we wouldn't have had had this great inexpensive camcorder not been invented.
I'm embedding two videos. The first is the promotional video from Pure Digital. The second is from Google video where a family is trying out the camcorder and this video is what sold me on getting it. Again, I highly recommend that you go ahead and download these videos. Also, if you check out the reviews on the Pure Digital site, you'll find many more positive reviews from very reputable companies like USA Today, PC World, Wall Street Journal, etc. Or just Google 'pure digital point and shoot reviews' for more to read on it.
Go buy one of these, you won't be disappointed!
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
In post-Katrina era, French Quarter is in a funk
Associated Press
NEW ORLEANS — The hookers are back on Bourbon Street. So are the drug dealers, the strippers with names like Rose and Desire, the out-of-town businessmen, the college students getting blitzed on candy-colored cocktails and beer in plastic cups.
But a closer look reveals things are not back to the way they were in the French Quarter. Sixteen months after Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans' liveliest, most exuberant neighborhood is in a funk.
"The money's not the same. I remember when I made $1,200 a night," said Elizabeth Johnson, a manager and dancer at a Bourbon Street strip club, frowning at another slow night. "I know girls who used to never let people touch them, and now they're resorting to prostitution."
Robert Boudreaux, a beefy hotel bellman in an olive green vest, scanned the street with folded arms and said: "Very boring."
The Quarter still has its characters — palm readers, magicians, street musicians, mimes. But the cheap fun is largely confined to the weekends these days, and seven-day-a-week stores, restaurants and clubs such as Preservation Hall are cutting back on their hours. The nonstop party is no more.
The "cams" — real-time camera footage of Bourbon Street, shown over the Internet — are dull on weekdays. Dixieland bands play to empty barrooms.
"The Quarter rats are drunk and high still, but they're less drunk," said bartender Dawn Kesslering.
In the Lower Quarter, the district's residential half, where people walk poodles and neighbors share clothes lines in galleried courtyards, old-timers do not see as much zest around them.
"It's become far more homogenous, far more middle-class than working-class," said John Dillman, who sells used books. "It will look like Boca Raton. A version of Boca Raton that has risque."
In 2004, the last full year before Katrina struck, about 10 million visitors came to New Orleans, most of them drawn by the French Quarter. In 2006, just over 5 million came.
"Every time they'd see CNN, Fox, they'd show flooded streets. Everybody thought there was nothing to come back to," said Earl Bernhardt, owner of several Bourbon Street nightspots.
In truth, the French Quarter was largely untouched by Katrina's fury. But it suffered financially anyway.
Some nightspots really are gone. O'Flaherty's, an Irish pub known for its soul-warming reels and TVs tuned to World Cup soccer, is gone. So too is the 125-year-old Maison Hospitaliere, a nursing home that began as a home for Confederate widows. Bella Luna, La Madeleine and the Old New Orleans Cookery — some of the popular eateries — fell victim to Katrina. The Little Shop of Fantasy, a Mardi Gras mask shop run by two sisters, cleared out of the Quarter and went online, like so many other Quarter businesses. And after 83 years, Hurwitz Mintz shuttered its flagship furniture shop on Royal Street.
Since Katrina, the real estate market has been in flux, and rents have gone through the roof because of the overall shortage of housing in New Orleans.
In the French Quarter, there are twice as many condos for sale, from 90 before Katrina to about 180 now. Some people are moving out; others are trying to take advantage of the housing shortage by converting attics, parlor rooms, stables and slave quarters into condos.
"I'm paying the most rent I've ever paid, and I've got the smallest place I've ever had," said Bob Clift, a portrait artist who waited in vain one recent day for customers under the live oaks on Jackson Square, outside St. Louis Cathedral.
A familiar face in the Quarter for 37 years, Clift said he is planning to leave the city after paying about $1,000 a month for an 8-by-15-foot room. "Poor people can't live here anymore," he said. "Including me."
After Katrina, waves of hurricane refugees and looters filled the French Quarter's streets. Then, soldiers in red berets and boots took Bourbon Street by storm. Then came the world's journalism corps, construction workers and prostitutes.
But now it is so quiet, many people feel afraid to walk the streets at night.
"I live by myself with my dog, so I really have to be careful," said Mikal Matton, a saleswoman at a jewelry shop. "That really bothers me."
Because of a spate of robberies, some stores and bars are locking up early. Several street shootings, a fatal stabbing and a murder-suicide in which a man murdered and cooked his girlfriend have put residents on edge.
"I'm taking gun classes now," said Mary McGinn, who works for a French Quarter real estate agency. She said a mugger knocked her down Aug. 18 outside the gate to her home, and she hit her head on a concrete step. It took 35 staples to close the gash.
"He got $60. Whoop-de-doo!" she said, gamely smiling in a neck brace.
Police blame the spike in crime on the storm.
"Some of these areas the criminals used to hang out in aren't there anymore, so they're coming down to the French Quarter," said Capt. Kevin Anderson, the Quarter's police commander.
But he insisted the Quarter is safe, largely because there are 45 more officers on patrol than before the storm. And he said crime is down from 2004 in all categories except assault.
"We're dealing primarily with a perception problem," he said. "When someone gets shot in the French Quarter, it's not just national news, it's international news."
NEW ORLEANS — The hookers are back on Bourbon Street. So are the drug dealers, the strippers with names like Rose and Desire, the out-of-town businessmen, the college students getting blitzed on candy-colored cocktails and beer in plastic cups.
But a closer look reveals things are not back to the way they were in the French Quarter. Sixteen months after Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans' liveliest, most exuberant neighborhood is in a funk.
"The money's not the same. I remember when I made $1,200 a night," said Elizabeth Johnson, a manager and dancer at a Bourbon Street strip club, frowning at another slow night. "I know girls who used to never let people touch them, and now they're resorting to prostitution."
Robert Boudreaux, a beefy hotel bellman in an olive green vest, scanned the street with folded arms and said: "Very boring."
The Quarter still has its characters — palm readers, magicians, street musicians, mimes. But the cheap fun is largely confined to the weekends these days, and seven-day-a-week stores, restaurants and clubs such as Preservation Hall are cutting back on their hours. The nonstop party is no more.
The "cams" — real-time camera footage of Bourbon Street, shown over the Internet — are dull on weekdays. Dixieland bands play to empty barrooms.
"The Quarter rats are drunk and high still, but they're less drunk," said bartender Dawn Kesslering.
In the Lower Quarter, the district's residential half, where people walk poodles and neighbors share clothes lines in galleried courtyards, old-timers do not see as much zest around them.
"It's become far more homogenous, far more middle-class than working-class," said John Dillman, who sells used books. "It will look like Boca Raton. A version of Boca Raton that has risque."
In 2004, the last full year before Katrina struck, about 10 million visitors came to New Orleans, most of them drawn by the French Quarter. In 2006, just over 5 million came.
"Every time they'd see CNN, Fox, they'd show flooded streets. Everybody thought there was nothing to come back to," said Earl Bernhardt, owner of several Bourbon Street nightspots.
In truth, the French Quarter was largely untouched by Katrina's fury. But it suffered financially anyway.
Some nightspots really are gone. O'Flaherty's, an Irish pub known for its soul-warming reels and TVs tuned to World Cup soccer, is gone. So too is the 125-year-old Maison Hospitaliere, a nursing home that began as a home for Confederate widows. Bella Luna, La Madeleine and the Old New Orleans Cookery — some of the popular eateries — fell victim to Katrina. The Little Shop of Fantasy, a Mardi Gras mask shop run by two sisters, cleared out of the Quarter and went online, like so many other Quarter businesses. And after 83 years, Hurwitz Mintz shuttered its flagship furniture shop on Royal Street.
Since Katrina, the real estate market has been in flux, and rents have gone through the roof because of the overall shortage of housing in New Orleans.
In the French Quarter, there are twice as many condos for sale, from 90 before Katrina to about 180 now. Some people are moving out; others are trying to take advantage of the housing shortage by converting attics, parlor rooms, stables and slave quarters into condos.
"I'm paying the most rent I've ever paid, and I've got the smallest place I've ever had," said Bob Clift, a portrait artist who waited in vain one recent day for customers under the live oaks on Jackson Square, outside St. Louis Cathedral.
A familiar face in the Quarter for 37 years, Clift said he is planning to leave the city after paying about $1,000 a month for an 8-by-15-foot room. "Poor people can't live here anymore," he said. "Including me."
After Katrina, waves of hurricane refugees and looters filled the French Quarter's streets. Then, soldiers in red berets and boots took Bourbon Street by storm. Then came the world's journalism corps, construction workers and prostitutes.
But now it is so quiet, many people feel afraid to walk the streets at night.
"I live by myself with my dog, so I really have to be careful," said Mikal Matton, a saleswoman at a jewelry shop. "That really bothers me."
Because of a spate of robberies, some stores and bars are locking up early. Several street shootings, a fatal stabbing and a murder-suicide in which a man murdered and cooked his girlfriend have put residents on edge.
"I'm taking gun classes now," said Mary McGinn, who works for a French Quarter real estate agency. She said a mugger knocked her down Aug. 18 outside the gate to her home, and she hit her head on a concrete step. It took 35 staples to close the gash.
"He got $60. Whoop-de-doo!" she said, gamely smiling in a neck brace.
Police blame the spike in crime on the storm.
"Some of these areas the criminals used to hang out in aren't there anymore, so they're coming down to the French Quarter," said Capt. Kevin Anderson, the Quarter's police commander.
But he insisted the Quarter is safe, largely because there are 45 more officers on patrol than before the storm. And he said crime is down from 2004 in all categories except assault.
"We're dealing primarily with a perception problem," he said. "When someone gets shot in the French Quarter, it's not just national news, it's international news."
A little bit of ice at my house this morning.
Wasn't much but more than most parts of Houston. It is pretty miserable, for us anyway.
The icicles did get longer before I left the house for work but it was raining so I didn't want to get my camcorder out in the rain. I am composing a post about my new camcorder that I absolutely love.
Oh and as always, any video on Google video looks SO MUCH better if you download it to your computer and then view it.
The icicles did get longer before I left the house for work but it was raining so I didn't want to get my camcorder out in the rain. I am composing a post about my new camcorder that I absolutely love.
Oh and as always, any video on Google video looks SO MUCH better if you download it to your computer and then view it.
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
How to Make a Starship Enterprise Out of a Floppy Disk
Floppy disks are a thing of the past. However, that doesn't mean you have to toss them in a garbage can. Pay a tribute to another thing of the past (or, the future?)--The Starship Enterprise--and you can reminisce and recycle at the same time!
The search for an American Idol superstar begins -- again
Week 1A: Auditions
Jan. 16, 2007
Read more here.
Jan. 16, 2007
The drama. The arguments. The tears. The predictions. And, oh yeah, the talent.
American Idol is back for a sixth round.
The stakes are higher than ever this season. Not only have former Idols (Kelly, Daughtry) gone on to big musical breakthroughs, there has been wild success in other mediums as well.
And before we get to this season, a few reasons we still love/hate Idol:
• Jennifer Hudson's smashing Dreamgirls performance is more proof that America can sometimes gets it really, really wrong.
• Paula Abdul's outrageous actions, er technical difficulties, are still awe-inducing.
• Taylor Hicks continues his reign as the most underwhelming Idol winner to date. If you saw him today on The Ellen DeGeneres show -- struggling to find a groove -- you have to agree. It was a painful, predictable song.
• Chris Daughtry Feb. 21 at the Meridian! Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday.
7 p.m. central. Idol time!Read more here.
Monday, January 15, 2007
Going the Extra Mile
Last week I went to Wendy's for lunch.
I was going to go through the drive thru.
A green SUV pulled into the parking lot before me. I could see that the line of cars was backed up and that one couldn't get to the back of the line from the main driveway. I quickly made a sharp right and went behind a line of parked cars and was able to get to the back of the line.
As the line of cars moved forward, the lady in the green SUV waved at me and I motioned for her to get in line ahead of me. After all, I knew she had pulled in before me. However, I don't think she saw me pull in behind her and go around a different way.
After I had ordered, I was getting the exact change from my pockets and noticed her looking at me in her side rear view mirror. I pulled up to get my food and was handing the man my money when he told me that the lady in front of me had already paid for my food. He then told me that she had done so because I had let her go in front of me.
She was about to pull out and I lowered my window and stuck my arm out and waived at her. She waived back and we went seperate directions.
I was just doing the right thing by letting her go ahead of me but her act of generosity really made my day. Thank you again whoever you are!
I was going to go through the drive thru.
A green SUV pulled into the parking lot before me. I could see that the line of cars was backed up and that one couldn't get to the back of the line from the main driveway. I quickly made a sharp right and went behind a line of parked cars and was able to get to the back of the line.
As the line of cars moved forward, the lady in the green SUV waved at me and I motioned for her to get in line ahead of me. After all, I knew she had pulled in before me. However, I don't think she saw me pull in behind her and go around a different way.
After I had ordered, I was getting the exact change from my pockets and noticed her looking at me in her side rear view mirror. I pulled up to get my food and was handing the man my money when he told me that the lady in front of me had already paid for my food. He then told me that she had done so because I had let her go in front of me.
She was about to pull out and I lowered my window and stuck my arm out and waived at her. She waived back and we went seperate directions.
I was just doing the right thing by letting her go ahead of me but her act of generosity really made my day. Thank you again whoever you are!
Houston could see slick, icy roads tonight
The freezing rain and sleet should continue all day and night Tuesday, with highs in the low 30s and a 70 percent chance of precipitation.
If the conditions are appropriate, forecasters said Houstonians could expect up to a quarter of an inch of ice.
Six-Figure Salaries for the Rest of Us
No Med School? No Law School? No Problem
By Meg Donohue, CareerBuilder.com writer
As we each search for our personal pot of gold, many of us wonder whether the rainbow leading us to a six-figure paycheck has to be so long. We want financially rewarding jobs, but not everyone is eager to commit the time and money necessary to complete a medical or law degree. The good news is that, even though statistics have shown that more education translates to higher earnings, there are still plenty of six-figure salary jobs for those of us who have decided not to take the seven-years-and-a-stethoscope route.
The following is a list of seven lucrative fields in which the top-earning 25 percent of workers take home more than $100,000 annually, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). That percentage proves there is real potential for sizeable salaries within these fields, even if your résumé doesn't boast a lengthy list of alma maters. Though some of these positions are filled by people with graduate degrees, a bachelor's degree and a little initiative could get you well on your way to a six-figure salary.
Sales Managers
Salary of top 25 percent: $127,820*
Median salary: $87,580
What they do: Sales managers establish company or team sales goals and coordinate training programs for sales representatives. They monitor sales statistics and customer satisfaction, and make adjustments to sales strategies as needed.
How to get the job: The educational background of sales managers varies. Managers frequently work their way up the ranks of a company -- often starting as sales representatives -- and many companies have established management training programs.
Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents
Salary of top 25 percent: $123,910
Median salary: $67,130
What they do: Securities, commodities and financial services sales agents buy and sell stocks, bonds and other financial products. They may also inform clients about financial markets and counsel them regarding their financial portfolios.
How to get the job: The majority of financial sales agents have college educations, and have taken courses in business, economics and finance. Securities and commodities agents must pass state licensing examinations, and many firms require agents to complete in-house training programs.
Financial Managers
Salary of top 25 percent: $118,150
Median salary: $86,280
What they do: Financial managers' responsibilities vary, but they generally oversee the preparation of financial reports involved with accounting, investing, banking, insurance and securities. They can also develop financial strategies for their organizations.
How to get the job: Employers expect financial managers to have a bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, economics or business administration, and increasingly expect a master's degree in one of these fields as well. Depending on the company and the specific position, professional certifications such as the Chartered Financial Analyst designation may also be required.
Computer and Information Scientists, Research
Salary of top 25 percent: $113,830
Median salary: $91,230
What they do: Computer and information scientists act as theorists, designers or inventors while developing solutions to computer hardware and software problems and researching computer technology.
How to get the job: A bachelor's degree is usually a prerequisite for filling these positions, with most of the more technically complex jobs reserved for workers with graduate degrees.
Actuaries
Salary of top 25 percent: $112,360
Median salary: $81,640
What they do: Actuaries are often employed in the insurance industry. They assess the potential for various types of risks and design insurance policies and other financial strategies in order to reduce the potential cost of those risks.
How to get the job: In addition to a bachelor's degree, there are a series of examinations that actuaries must complete to gain full professional status.
Personal Financial Advisers
Salary of top 25 percent: $107,470
Median salary: $63,500
What they do: Personal financial advisers provide guidance to clients regarding financial decisions. Many financial advisers specialize in a particular field, such as retirement planning or risk management.
How to get the job: Most financial advisers hold a bachelor's degree in finance, economics or accounting. Certifications such as the Chartered Financial Analyst designation can strengthen an adviser's professional standing.
Public Relations Managers
Salary of top 25 percent: $106,440
Median salary: $76,450
What they do: Public relations managers supervise public relations specialists and act as a liaison between their clients -- usually individuals or companies -- and the public.
How to get the job: In addition to experience as a public relations specialist, most employers expect a public relations manager to have a bachelor's degree in public relations or journalism.
LET'S GET REAL
Confessions of an Idol fan
There are plenty of reasons to hate American Idol, but it still commands viewers' attention. Here's why.
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle
American Idol should've run out of gas a few seasons ago. Most everyone thought it would. Yet it marches forward, an unstoppable marketing force, stomping all over the popular myth about TV attrition.
"It's the greatest music talent show ever," judge Randy Jackson said last week. That's very true, if only because previous music talent shows have been consistently and persistently awful.
Yes, it's easy to hate the show's sketchy aftermath: seven months of post-season awful prefab releases overseen with green diligence by music kingpin Clive Davis. I refuse to listen to the lousy-to-middling albums by Idol alumni such as Taylor Hicks, Ruben Studdard, Clay Aiken and Fantasia Barrino. I do keep William Hung's Inspiration around — but only because his shrill, wheezy Hotel California is astounding in all the wrong ways.
But that's not to say I don't get American Idol. I watch — and vote — with the loyal vigor of a Packers fan. I care. I care deeply. Often I co-opt my wife's cell phone in order to place three votes from three phones for one singer.
Idol exudes a different allure for different viewers. Here are 10 reasons I watch it:
1. Healthy frustration: Premature exits (Jennifer Hudson) show what's wrong with America today. It's infuriating to see lesser talents get by on looks, charisma or appeal to teenage girls.
2. Underdogs: The show teems with glorious dorks and lovable losers enjoying their 15 minutes. During auditions, it's closer to 15 seconds.
Taylor Hicks was my favorite, starting with his audition last year. But once he showed signs of front-runnerdom, I kicked my votes to the erratic Bucky Covington. (Admittedly, the paunchy, gray-haired Hicks was still a surprise winner.)
I'm still smarting from the departure of Season 4's Round Mound of Sound, Scotty Savol.
3. Nostalgia, loathesome nostalgia: Idol's most inspired moments come not from the myriad covers of Alicia Keys' Fallin' (Idol's deadest dead horse) or that ballad by Celine Dion or Whitney Houston that you've never heard. The best moments strike that thrilling chord of unpredictable familiarity: Plastic Carrie Underwood cutting loose on Heart's Alone; Fantasia's show-stealing Summertime; Scotty Savol's She's Gone ... and Against All Odds.
4. Lousy guests/cool guests: Season 5 offered a parade of both. Few grated more than the curt, self-important David Foster (not Wallace), whose sole cool credit is working with Gordon Lightfoot. (Worst album title ever: A Touch of David Foster.)
Prince, on the other hand, was shrewdly and silently mercenary about his promotional spot. And a big thumbs up to Queen for putting the kibosh on brawny dingbat Ace's ghastly attempt to mess with a classic.
5. The judges' inflated self-importance: "There's nothing we don't know about the music business," Jackson said — which is like Capt. Joseph Hazelwood saying there's nothing he doesn't know about vodka. The three judges are responsible — to varying degrees — for some pretty dreadful, disposable pop unrelated to Idol. If they know so much, why don't they shuffle up their commentary a little? But then there'd be no Idol drinking games, Dawg. Gulp.
6. Kelly Clarkson: With the line of creative and financial credit she achieved through her award-winning, multimillion-selling second album, Clarkson could hire Paul McCartney to play bass on her upcoming third album if she wanted. Instead she picked '80s underground, post-punk legend Mike Watt. That's econo. The goofy movie with Sideshow Bob has been forgiven.
7. Paula's critiques: Once in a blue moon she puts away the softball and unleashes some chin music (the most damning phrase uttered on Idol). Six words that cut in ways Simon's recycled criticisms cannot: "How do you think you did?" The question leaves only one response, and it's not "pity."
8. The rare opportunity to hear Fallin' : Many's the audition where I find myself wondering, "Will anyone sing Fallin' tonight?"
9. It's good comedy: I love the way judge Paula Abdul claps like a seal; I love the way she breaks into tears during treacly songs or when cute-yet-talentless singers get the boot and Daniel Powter gets queued up. Not to mention Cowell's stoic commitment to his hedgehog haircut.
10. Ryan Seacrest: Seacrest is smarmy and persistently punchable, but check out the other hosts out there. A sampling includes wooden Brooke Burke (Rock Star) and kiss-up Billy Bush (Grease: You're the One That I Want). Seacrest may be a doofus, but he's a pro.
Friday, January 12, 2007
`Idol' hands hard at work for season six
Last year, Prince. This year, Paul McCartney and Mariah Carey
As "American Idol" starts singing again Tuesday, those connected with the Fox blockbuster acknowledge few limits when it comes to guest stars or ratings or product spinoffs. Or even rampant enthusiasm.
"This is the greatest music talent show ever," judge Randy Jackson asserted in a telephone news conference last week.
The series begins with a pair of two-hour episodes airing 8-10 p.m. EST Tuesday and Wednesday and featuring auditions in Minneapolis and Seattle. Details of a previously announced song-writing contest for the eventual winner's first single are pending, Frot-Coutaz said.
Read more here.Munsters' De Carlo Dies
Yvonne De Carlo, the beautiful star who played Moses' wife in The Ten Commandments but achieved her greatest popularity on TV's The Munsters, has died, the Associated Press reported. She was 84.
De Carlo died of natural causes Jan. 8 at the Motion Picture & Television facility in suburban Los Angeles, longtime friend and television producer Kevin Burns told the AP.
De Carlo, whose shapely figure helped launch her career in B-movie desert adventures and westerns, rose to more important roles in the 1950s.
But for TV viewers, she will always be known as Lily Munster in the 1964-'66 slapstick horror-movie spoof The Munsters. The series (the name allegedly derived from "fun-monsters") offered a gallery of Universal Pictures grotesques, including Dracula and Frankenstein's monster, in a cobwebbed gothic setting.
Lily, vampire-like in a black gown, presided over the faux scary household and was a rock for her gentle but often bumbling husband, Herman, played by 6-foot-5-inch character actor Fred Gwynne (decked out as the Frankenstein monster).
The show lasted only two years, but had a long life in syndication and resulted in two feature movies, Munster Go Home! (1966) and The Munsters' Revenge (1981, for TV).
Before that, Cecil B. DeMille chose De Carlo to play Sephora, wife to Charlton Heston's Moses in The Ten Commandments. The following year she co-starred with Clark Gable and Sidney Poitier in Band of Angels as Gable's upper-class sweetheart who learns of her black forebears.
De Carlo, who was born Peggy Yvonne Middleton in Vancouver, B.C., lived in semiretirement near Solvang, north of Santa Barbara. Her son Michael died in 1997, and she suffered a stroke the following year.
Shatner Leaks Trek XI Details
William Shatner revealed to SCI FI Wire that the upcoming 11th Star Trek movie will indeed, as rumored, deal with the early years of Capt. James T. Kirk and Spock—and that he will definitely appear in the movie if director J.J. Abrams can find a place to use him. Shatner, who originated the role of Kirk in the original Trek series and several subsequent films, said in an interview that he was invited to meet with Abrams (Mission: Impossible III), who is also co-writing the movie.
"I met with J.J., and they told me they would like me to be part of their film, but they have to write the role," Shatner said in an interview.
As for the many rumors concerning the sequel's story, Shatner said that Abrams will explore Kirk and Spock during their Starfleet Academy years. "Yes, we know the story is based on young Kirk," Shatner said. Up until now, everyone connected with the film has maintained strict silence about the storyline, though rumors have run rampant that they concern Kirk and Spock's first missions.
As for Shatner's place in that storyline? "They need to figure out how to put the dead captain in with the young captain," he said. "It's a very complex, technical problem of how to write the character in, and I'm not sure how they will solve it." It sounds as if Shatner may play an older version of Kirk.
Coincidentally, the Starfleet storyline is one Shatner is already working on for his latest Trek-based novels. "I'm writing with Gar and Judy Reeves-Stevens two books on the academy, with the young Kirk and the young Spock," Shatner revealed. "We've submitted the first book to the publishers, and I think it will be out in the beginning of 2008. It's got a working title of The Academy, but I don't think that will stick."
Meanwhile, Abrams told Entertainment Weekly that a draft of the Trek XI script is done and will be trimmed sometime soon. The sequel will be targeted, "on the one hand, for people who love Star Trek, the fix that they will get will be really satisfying," Abrams told the magazine. "For people who've never seen it or know it vaguely, I think they will enjoy it equally, because the movie does not require you to know anything about Star Trek. I would actually prefer [that] people don't know the series, because I feel like they will come to it with an open mind." —Tara DiLullo Bennett
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Old and Wise Sayings
This is from one of those mass e-mails that folks pass around. I did like several of these so I am posting it.
- Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.
- It's always darkest before dawn. So if you're going to steal your neighbor's newspaper, that's the time to do it.
- Don't be irreplaceable; if you can't be replaced, you can't be promoted.
- Always remember you're unique, just like everyone else.
- Never test the depth of the water with both feet.
- Don't squat with your spurs on.
- It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others.
- If you think nobody cares if you're alive, try missing a couple of car payments.
- Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.
- If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you.
- If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything. I am have the worst memory, good thing I always tell the truth or I would so get busted with any lies that I might tell.
- Some days you are the bug, some days you are the windshield.
- Good judgment comes from bad experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.
- Timing has an awful lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.
- Duct tape is like the force; it has a light side and a dark side, and it holds the universe together.
- There are two theories to arguing with women. Neither one works.
- Experience is the sinking feeling you have made this mistake before.
- Never miss a good chance to shut up.
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Panasonic Lumix® DMC-LS2S 5-Megapixel Digital Camera
Circuit City has this camera on sale for $99.99, I'm seriously thinking of getting it.
DMC-LS2S
Steve's DigiCams
Edited 1-11-07
DAMNIT!! I won this camera on eBay today for a nice price. I paid immediately. The seller then asks for additional funds and confesses that the auction didn't go for as much as she wanted it to so was trying to make up on her losses. I reported the seller to eBay. Doesn't look like I'll be getting the camera from that person. :-(
Edited 1-12-07
Well me 'kissed and made up' and I paid a slightly amended amount ($1.50) more. I'm worried now the person won't send it. I'm holding my breath until it comes. Wish me luck.
Edited 1-25-07
I did end up getting this camera from this person from Circuit City. I love it. It is far superior to my cheap ass Concord camera.
MSN 2007 Movie Previews
We list our top 10 films of 2007 -- we hope!
By Gregory Ellwood
Special to MSN Movies
Hollywood took a collective sigh of relief when moviegoers came back to theaters in droves this past year after a disappointing 2005. To keep audiences happy, the studios have put more than 20 major sequels on the 2007 schedule, including "Live Free or Die Hard," "Spider-Man 3," "National Treasure 2" and "Mr. Bean's Holiday." Once you throw in the returns of Tim Burton, Tom Hanks, David Fincher and Quentin Tarantino, 2007 looks very promising indeed.
Here's a peek at what excites us most in 2007:
10. "Charlie Wilson's War"
Mark Your Calendar: Dec. 25
Stars: Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams
The Story: Hanks plays Texas Congressman Charlie Wilson, who oversaw covert funding of the Afghan rebels in their battle with the Soviet Union in the 1980s.
The Lowdown: "West Wing" creator Aaron Sorkin takes a break from TV with his first screenplay in more than 10 years ("The American President").
Big Question Mark: With so much award-winning talent on board, how early is too early to declare it the Oscar front-runner?
9. "Sweeney Todd"
Mark Your Calendar: December TBD
Stars: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Sacha Baron Cohen, Alan Rickman
The Story: Stephen Sondheim's celebrated musical tells the story of the notorious Benjamin Barker, aka Sweeney Todd, who sets up a barbershop in 19th-century London to seek revenge on those who have done him wrong.
The Lowdown: This is the sixth collaboration between Depp and director Tim Burton. Burton's partner, Carter, beat out Annette Bening and Toni Collette for the coveted role of Mrs. Lovett, Todd's sinister partner.
Big Question Mark: Johnny Depp has shown he can do almost anything, but can he actually sing?
8. "Grindhouse"
Mark Your Calendar: April 6
Stars: Kurt Russell, Rosario Dawson, Rose McGowan, Freddy Rodriguez, Danny Trejo
The Story: Directors Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino's homage to genre movies features two full-length pictures: the zombie-filled "Planet Terror" and the slasher flick "Death Proof." How much more do you need to know?
The Lowdown: Tarantino has stated that in-between each feature will be fake trailers including one for a blaxploitation film, a kung fu movie, a sexploitation flick and a spaghetti Western. Rob Zombie is supposed to supply a werewolf movie trailer featuring Nicolas Cage, and director Eli Roth is making a promo for a slasher-fest entitled "Thanksgiving."
Big Question Mark: Will anyone but diehards sit through more than three hours of this?
 | Watch the trailer |
7. "Transformers"
Mark Your Calendar: July 4
Stars: Shia LaBeouf, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson
The Story: Two alien robotic races — the Autobots and the Decepticons — bring their battle to Earth. Can humanity survive when our fate partially rests in the hands of Shia LaBeouf?
The Lowdown: Fans of the franchise, who have been chomping at the bit to criticize anything and everything about the production, won one battle when it was announced Peter Cullen would voice Autobot hero Optimus Prime (he was the voice of the character in the '80s animated series).
Big Question Mark: If director Michael Bay can do anything, it's deliver action. And the robots look cool ... but what happens when they start talking?
| Watch the trailer |
6. "His Dark Materials: The Golden Compass"
Mark Your Calendar: Dec. 7
Stars: Nicole Kidman, Dakota Richards, Eva Green, Daniel Craig
The Story: A 12-year-old girl starts out trying to save a friend whose been kidnapped by a mysterious organization in an alternate world but ends up on an epic quest to save our own world as well.
The Lowdown: New Line Cinema hopes the first installment of author Philip Pullman's "Dark Materials" trilogy will be the beginning of their next big franchise after "Lord of the Rings" and not the disappointment "Lemony Snicket: A Series of Unfortunate Events" turned out to be for Paramount.
Big Question Mark: "About a Boy" director Chris Weitz, who helms this, is a talented guy, but does he have the artistic chops to oversee a fantasy picture?
5. "Shrek the Third"
Mark Your Calendar: May 18
Stars: Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy, Antonio Banderas, Justin Timberlake
The Story: When King Harold suddenly croaks, Shrek and Fiona discover that ruling over a kingdom isn't all it's cracked up to be. If Shrek can find another suitable heir to the throne, he and Fiona can return home to happiness in the swamp.
The Lowdown: Timberlake plays Fiona's slacker cousin Artie, who may be just as disinterested in running the land of Far, Far Away as Shrek is.
Big Question Mark: DreamWorks Animation had a rough year with disappointing returns for "Over the Hedge" and "Flushed Away." Can "The Third" be a big enough hit to make the stockholders happy?
| Watch the trailer |
4. "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End"
Mark Your Calendar: May 25
Stars: Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, Geoffrey Rush, Chow Yun-Fat
The Story: When we last saw our fabled crew at the end of "Dead Man's Chest," Captain Jack Sparrow (Depp) had been swallowed by the nefarious Kracken, Barbossa (Rush) had surprisingly been resurrected from the dead and Davy Jones' heart was soon to be in the hands of the East India Trading Company. It's no secret Sparrow will survive, but how does a trip to the "literal" end of the world (according to director Gore Verbinski) fit into the mix?
The Lowdown: After years of speculation, word has it Keith Richards finally appears onscreen as Sparrow's father.
Big Question Mark: Can Verbinski and company appease critics who weren't impressed with "Dead Man's Chest"?
3. "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix"
Mark Your Calendar: July 13
Stars: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson and almost every British actor alive, although Helena Bonham Carter and Imelda Staunton are new to the fold.
The Story: Another year and more angst for our beloved Harry as the wizard world deals with the return of Voldemort.
The Lowdown: As the new stern Defense of the Dark Arts teacher Dolores Umbridge, is Staunton being typecast as an uptight baddie? It's her second go around after playing a similar part in "Freedom Writers."
Big Question Mark: Are there any other characters in the series left for famous Brits Ian McKellen, Judi Dench, Daniel Craig, Kate Winslet, Anthony Hopkins or Jude Law to play?
| Watch the trailer |
2. "Spider-Man 3"
Mark Your Calendar: May 4
Stars: Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco, Topher Grace, Thomas Haden Church, Bryce Dallas Howard
The Story: Our friendly neighborhood web-slinger battles one of his greatest villains, The Sandman (Church); is tempted by a new flame, Gwen Stacy (Howard); and discovers a new black suit that turns into something much worse — fan-favorite Venom.
The Lowdown: The picture has required a lot of additional shooting (we won't use the word "reshoots") and, although that's par for the course for a big blockbuster like this, it is a tad disconcerting.
Big Question Mark: Is this really the last one?
| Watch the trailer |
1. "The Simpsons Movie"
Mark Your Calendar: July 27
Stars: Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Harry Shearer, Hank Azaria, Albert Brooks, Kelsey Grammer, Erin Brockovich-Ellis
The Story: It's being kept tightly under wraps, but we're guessing it has something to do with Homer saving his family and his love of donuts.
The Lowdown: After 18 seasons, the series featuring Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie is an undisputable cultural institution. The series creators don't want to mess with something good, so they spent years secretly working on the screenplay so that no fan will go away disappointed.
Big Question Mark: With generations of families having watched the show since its inception, is it going to make $100 million, $300 million or more?
| Watch the trailer |
10 More Reasons for Excitement
"Fantastic Four and the Rise of the Silver Surfer" (June 15) — Fox and Marvel try to add some excitement to the franchise by throwing in one of comic's most popular characters into the mix.
| Watch the trailer |
"Bee Movie" (Nov. 2) — Jerry Seinfeld blends his trademark comic style with CGI animation as he voices a bee that decides to sue human beings because they actually eat honey.
| Watch the trailer |
"Blades of Glory" (March 30) — Will Ferrell and Jon Heder play two rival ice skaters who are banned from men's ice skating only to discover there is a loophole that allows them to compete together as a pairs couple.
"American Gangster" (Nov. 2) — Director Ridley Scott teams up with Russell Crowe (again) and Denzel Washington in this long awaited epic on drug smuggling in the '70s.
"Ratatouille" (June 29) — Pixar and director Brad Bird ("The Incredibles") try to prove they can turn any premise into gold with this story about rats in a Paris bistro, with one of the most difficult titles since "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan."
| Watch the trailer |
"Stardust" (July 27) — Michelle Pfeiffer's comeback begins in the adaptation of Neil Gaiman's magic fable, but word has it Robert De Niro steals the show.
"The Golden Age" (Oct. 5) — This sequel to 1998's Oscar-nominated "Elizabeth" once again features Cate Blanchett as the first Queen Elizabeth. This time, she's in her later years, where she deals with the conspiratorial affairs of Mary, Queen of Scots (Samantha Morton) and Sir Walter Raleigh (Clive Owen).
"Fred Claus" (Nov. 9) — Santa "Fred" Claus (Paul Giamatti) has an annoying and bitter older brother, Joe Claus (Vince Vaughn), who is forced to move to the North Pole during the holidays.
"300" (March 9) — This is based on Frank Miller's graphic novel, which chronicles the epic Battle of Thermopylae in 480 B.C., where the King of Sparta (Gerard Butler) led his forces of 300 warriors against the advancing and massive Persian army.
| Watch the trailer |
"I'm Not There" (TBD) — Seven actors, including Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Cate Blanchett and Richard Gere, embody a different aspect of Bob Dylan's life and work in this new film from acclaimed director Todd Haynes ("Far From Heaven").
G.I. Diet
The G. I. Diet (Glycemic Index) is the truly simple, healthy way to lose weight without going hungry.
Stripper allegedly takes money and more
It started as a carefree night at Treasures and ended as a very expensive night for one man. He paid $700, but is out almost $8000.
Bellaire police say it started inside Treasures Nightclub with a table dance and a proposition. They say the girl in captured on surveillance video, who went by Lynette, offered oral sex for a price, but the guy wanted full-blown sex at his home.
The man told police he paid the dancer $700 for the sex, but the night wasn't over. She wanted breakfast and a lot more.
"When he got home, he found his home had been burglarized. They stole his 42-inch plasma television and two laptop computers," said Detective John Bohannon of the Bellaire Police Department.
Police say while eating breakfast in the gray t-shirt he let her borrow, she helped to carry out the rip-off -- one Detective Bohannon believes was orchestrated from the start.
"They're not just picking you because of who you are or how you look. There are ulterior motives," said Det. Bohannon.
He believes just before they headed to Mama's Cafe where they were captured on surveillance video, she called some friends, left a window open at the victim's house and the rest is history, at least for him.
"There are probably other people down the road she'll victimize," said Det. Bohannon.
Police believe there could be other victims, but they may be reluctant to come forward.
If you know who the girl pictured in the video is, police want to talk with you. You can contact the Bellaire Police Department or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.
We contacted Treasures where the stripper supposedly worked that night, but the club did not return our phone calls.
Bellaire police say it started inside Treasures Nightclub with a table dance and a proposition. They say the girl in captured on surveillance video, who went by Lynette, offered oral sex for a price, but the guy wanted full-blown sex at his home.
The man told police he paid the dancer $700 for the sex, but the night wasn't over. She wanted breakfast and a lot more.
"When he got home, he found his home had been burglarized. They stole his 42-inch plasma television and two laptop computers," said Detective John Bohannon of the Bellaire Police Department.
Police say while eating breakfast in the gray t-shirt he let her borrow, she helped to carry out the rip-off -- one Detective Bohannon believes was orchestrated from the start.
"They're not just picking you because of who you are or how you look. There are ulterior motives," said Det. Bohannon.
He believes just before they headed to Mama's Cafe where they were captured on surveillance video, she called some friends, left a window open at the victim's house and the rest is history, at least for him.
"There are probably other people down the road she'll victimize," said Det. Bohannon.
Police believe there could be other victims, but they may be reluctant to come forward.
If you know who the girl pictured in the video is, police want to talk with you. You can contact the Bellaire Police Department or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.
We contacted Treasures where the stripper supposedly worked that night, but the club did not return our phone calls.
Monday, January 08, 2007
Not sure how this happened but...
looks like I had a distinguished visitor to my blog and actually leave a comment on the post below.
Check out his (David Southwell) blog below.
Check out his (David Southwell) blog below.
ENGLISH DREAMING, ENGLISH RAIN
Let's lighten the mood around here...
Happy Birthday Elvis! You'd be 72 today.
And David Bowie - 60.
Oh and Mmmm, Michelle Forbes, born in Austin. 40.
Saturday, January 06, 2007
Well said Neal Boortz
THE MEDIA DECLARES A HISTORIC DAY
Now that the 110th Congress has taken its seat, it's interesting to compare the media coverage between 12 years ago and today. All day yesterday we were told that it was a "historic day" and that Democrats "took charge." But according to the media, back in 1995, Republicans stole it all. Remember, Democrats win elections....Republicans steal them. See the 2000 presidential election for that template.
But to be sure, it was somewhat of a historic day. Nancy Pelosi is, after all, the first woman speaker of the House. But that's where the history ends. But to the media, watching the Democrats take over both chambers of Congress is the reward from several years of their hard work. From the get-go, the media chose to suppress good news (and there has been some) coming out of Iraq. It didn't fit the template. It would help Bush, hurt Democrats. They kept up a propaganda campaign to convince people that the economy was worse off than it really is. Remember, to the media...5% unemployment is a disaster under George W. Bush. But 6% unemployment under Bill Clinton was an economic boom.
So now the Democrats are in charge, based on a single issue: the war in Iraq. Never mind that quite a few of them supported the invasion....and now claim they don't. Ignore the fact that the official U.S. policy of removing Saddam Hussein from power was developed by the Clinton Administration, not George Bush.
Now that the 110th Congress has taken its seat, it's interesting to compare the media coverage between 12 years ago and today. All day yesterday we were told that it was a "historic day" and that Democrats "took charge." But according to the media, back in 1995, Republicans stole it all. Remember, Democrats win elections....Republicans steal them. See the 2000 presidential election for that template.
But to be sure, it was somewhat of a historic day. Nancy Pelosi is, after all, the first woman speaker of the House. But that's where the history ends. But to the media, watching the Democrats take over both chambers of Congress is the reward from several years of their hard work. From the get-go, the media chose to suppress good news (and there has been some) coming out of Iraq. It didn't fit the template. It would help Bush, hurt Democrats. They kept up a propaganda campaign to convince people that the economy was worse off than it really is. Remember, to the media...5% unemployment is a disaster under George W. Bush. But 6% unemployment under Bill Clinton was an economic boom.
So now the Democrats are in charge, based on a single issue: the war in Iraq. Never mind that quite a few of them supported the invasion....and now claim they don't. Ignore the fact that the official U.S. policy of removing Saddam Hussein from power was developed by the Clinton Administration, not George Bush.
It was interesting to watch the coverage of the new Congress yesterday by a media that did everything in its power to throw out the Republicans. It was like a gloat-fest...see what we did!
The media bias rolls on.
Sorry folks, I'm a little fired up tonight.
Oh, by the way, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!Nancy Pelosi elected as nations first woman speaker
WASHINGTON (AP) - The House has elected Nancy Pelosi as the nation's first woman speaker.
Pelosi was met by prolonged cheers from fellow House members and the packed visitors' galleries today.
Onlookers included actor Richard Gere and singer Tony Bennett, who sang "I Left My Heart in San Francisco."
The 66-year-old Democrat beamed and clapped as she heard the voice vote electing her.
Pelosi has represented San Francisco in Congress since 1987.
This "person" does not represent America or even represent the way alot of Democrats feel, she is way too far to the left. Be careful what you wish for people, you just may get it.
Pelosi was met by prolonged cheers from fellow House members and the packed visitors' galleries today.
Onlookers included actor Richard Gere and singer Tony Bennett, who sang "I Left My Heart in San Francisco."
The 66-year-old Democrat beamed and clapped as she heard the voice vote electing her.
Pelosi has represented San Francisco in Congress since 1987.
This "person" does not represent America or even represent the way alot of Democrats feel, she is way too far to the left. Be careful what you wish for people, you just may get it.
Eick Reviving Bionic Woman
NBC has given a cast-contingent pilot order to a reimagined version of the 1970s TV series The Bionic Woman, from Battlestar Galactica producer David Eick, Variety reported. Eick is co-writing and co-producing the project with Laeta Kalogridis (The Dive).
Eick has said that he's been combing through the library at Universal, where his production company is based, to find another title to revive following Battlestar. The original version of The Bionic Woman—a spinoff of The Six Million Dollar Man— starred Lindsay Wagner as a woman whose body is mechanically enhanced to save her life.
Saddam's hanging 'deplorable,' Blair's likely successor says
LONDON — The likely successor to British Prime Minister Tony Blair condemned Saddam Hussein's execution as "deplorable." WTF?!
Treasury chief Gordon Brown said he opposed the death penalty and hoped lessons would be learned from the mistakes made in Saddam's hanging, as well as from other difficulties encountered in Iraq. Cry me a river!
"Now that we know the full picture of what happened, we can sum this up as a deplorable set of events," Brown said in an interview taped today to be aired by the British Broadcasting Corp. on Sunday. STFU Brown!
Brown's denunciation contrasted with Blair's silence on the issue. Blair, the chief U.S. ally in the war in Iraq, faces increasing pressure to share his views on the execution and has said he would speak about it in the coming week. C'mon Blair, call Brown the communist, liberal idiot that he is!
The former Iraqi dictator was taunted by onlookers as he was hanged last week, and an illicitly recorded video of his death was later leaked and distributed on the Internet.
Brown, who is expected to succeed Blair when the prime minister steps down this year, said the execution "has done nothing to lessen tensions between the Shiite and Sunni communities." It wasn't meant to!! It was done to execute a man responsible for close to a million murders! Effing idiot.
On Tuesday, Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott also described the circumstances surrounding Saddam's execution as "deplorable." Another DA.
Blair's office said the prime minister did not necessarily support Prescott's view. However, Blair has endorsed an investigation into the manner of the execution.
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
50 Greatest Cartoons
Found a cool list of The 50 Greatest Cartoons as voted on by the animation industry in 1994. As a holiday present to our readers we've put together a link to an online video for each one below! (we found a video for all but 6.) Many wonderful, funny, trippy and cartoons spanning the decades (and some that were banned.) Enjoy!
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