Rock and Roll brother called Saturday to invite me to his work. My Morning Jacket was playing at the Pladium and he knew I liked them. So I headed down to the Palladium and hung out with the bro at the sound board. Very cool since the place was jammed packed. And since he is the sound man the best seat in the house is where the sound man's ears are!!
The band was great! This was a stronger set than what I had seem them do a few years ago. I really enjoyed the full 3 hours. I was really amazed by the light show, tons of lights. Erika Badu made an appearance and sang one of the songs in the encore.
Love live music, thanks bro!
This technology is exciting and spectacular. Part of NI's vision is to create more engineers and technologist. With our enormous appetite for all technology such as cell phones, hdtv, wireless internet, video games, ipods, etc. you would think ever kid in America would want to be involved. But not so. It seems our kids measure success by Derek Jetter or Hanah Montana with little room for much else. Technology is cool and so many oppotunities are out the for the taking. NI is working to get to kids into techology, primarily with their Lego Mindstorm robots. This is NI's brain child and one of their most exciting projects (slightly cooler then their fully automing the beer making process at the Spotzel brewery in Shiner, Texas).
So I applaud companies like this and really am awed but the power of innovation when its fueled. A modern day Edison lab for sure. And yes, that makes me fall into the geek squad. As Joan pointed out, "We have seen the enemy and they is us!". But I'm ok with that. Enjoy your techology!
| USA Today Poll |
| 1. Georgia (22) 0-0 1,438 |
| 2. USC (14) 0-0 1,430 |
| 3. Ohio State (14) 0-0 1,392 |
| 4. Oklahoma (3) 0-0 1,329 |
| 5. Florida (5) 0-0 1,293 |
| 6. LSU (3) 0-0 1,163 |
| 7. Missouri 0-0 1,143 |
| 8. West Virginia 0-0 1,008 |
| 9. Clemson 0-0 999 |
| 10. Texas 0-0 979 |
| 11. Auburn 0-0 888 |
| 12. Wisconsin 0-0 747 |
| 13. Kansas 0-0 714 |
| 14. Texas Tech 0-0 644 |
| 15. Virginia Tech 0-0 568 |
| 16. Arizona State 0-0 560 |
| 17. Brigham Young 0-0 547 |
| 18. Tennessee 0-0 506 |
| 19. Illinois 0-0 422 |
| 20. Oregon 0-0 399 |
| 21. South Florida 0-0 350 |
| 22. Penn State 0-0 313 |
| 23. Wake Forest 0-0 203 |
| 24. Michigan 0-0 112 |
| 25. Fresno State 0-0 91 |
On Saturday Joan and I went to a Oyster eating experience at the Oceanair Seafood Room. This was a special event where the executive chef led an oyster tasting. He educated us on oysters themselves, where they are found, flavors, differences, etc.
The tasting included a list of 4 different west coast oysters and 4 different east coast oysters. We received 3 of each on the half shell and he required us to eat then straight up, no crackers or sauce (naked). That way we could compare the flavor differences of each of them.
I was very suprised by the variations. Even though many are the same species, the environment they grow in has big influences. Some where chewy, others buttery. They all had various flavors in them. And each had a different saltiness and ocean taste.
Joan isn't a big fan of oysters but she did a respectable job tasting (and passing the rest to me!). Two dozen oysters is a lot for a non-oyster eater, especially when they have to be eaten naked!
It was a lot of fun and a really enjoyable afternoon!
We strolled around campass last week just to walk around and visit Mike. Mike was asleep in his spot. The campus was empty, closed, totally dead...
Hard to believe that in a month this ghost town will transform to life. Two of our girls will be living here, one for the first time to move out of the house. 
And, of course, Death Valley will open for buisness... dun dun dunnnnnnn
In our family we have this thing about traditions. I'm the instigator of most of it. But once a tradition is established it must be followed at all costs. And we have a bunch of them.
One such tradition for the last many years to go see fireworks on the 4th of July while sitting on the banks of the mighty Mississippi River. They are set off on a barge in the river at the I-10 bridge in Baton Rouge. We sit on the opposite side on the levee with the state capital lit up in the back ground and the fire works show before us.
Well the last two years had not gone so well. Two years ago something blew up on the barge right at the start and the show was ended right then. Then last year the show was just a dud, seeming to just end mid stream. So when it came time this year I was thinking maybe it was time to skip the show, avoid the 30 minute drive, and just do our own little show that always follows instead. The adults were all for this.
So I go to take the consensus with the kids asking them what they want to do? They answered, its a tradition, we have to go. Enough said, lets go...
