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I've been getting to know the new flattop and liking it a lot. Made an epic breakfast sandwich on it this morning. Last night was fajitas.

Had a surreal moment at work the other day - I was out walking with our public affairs staff planning for an upcoming major event when my specialist made the following comment, "Maybe we should use the nice camera in the closet for this?" I responded asking WTF she was talking about, what was this camera, where was it, how long had it been sitting around, etc. What followed was a mind numbing conversation about how her higher-HQ had shipped her a camera last year to use to document some of the work we're doing. She took one look at it, decided it was way-too-complicated and put it in a storage closet. So on Monday I unearthed a mint condition Nikon D4S complete with a Nikkor 28-300 lens. I have always wanted to tinker with a Nikon FX body. I am the only one that can figure out how to use a camera without a green auto function 🤦‍♂️. So I've got it home with me for the long weekend trying to figure it all out and re-learn some Nikon functions after going to the dark side of Sony for the last three years.

For what it's worth, Steve, my wife and I first met you at MOA after you had already come out to this group. You might have been the only openly gay man there (I do not remember) but when my wife and I talked about you later you were "the woodworker". This was before everyone here became woodworkers.

Spent the day in Castle Rock Park. Possibly saw evidence of the original Ohlone people or aliens or maybe local kids who had seen too many A24 films. Hung out with some down on their luck trucker who waxed poetically (or at least consistently) about their hatred of bugs, the heat, and people taking their photograph. Finally caught the fireworks.

Sit right back and you'll hear a tale...

^^^ Also of note during that final sprint during the historic Cav win, the epic and injury preventing bunny-hop to avoid the rider that crashed. https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/28951469/tour-de-france-cycling-cavendish/

That bunny hop was something else. I couldn't believe what I just saw.

Anybody notice that Mark Cavendish yesterday won his 35th stage win in the Tour de France? Aged 39, he has finally won more stages than the legendary Eddy Merckx? Actually Merckx won his 34 stages in a combination of wins - mountain top, breakaway etc. Cav has done his 35 stage wins all in a bunch sprint. He actually threw his chain as he crossed the line, having gone from 1700W into the bike to freewheeling kind of instantly. When one stage win is a defining moment for a pro cyclist for most riders in the Tour, 35 stage wins is heroic. Everyone who he outsprinted slapped him on his back as they crossed the line in his wake - and all riders, including Tadej Pogačar in yellow almost queued up to hug him - a popular win by the whole peleton. The "Manx Missile" finally has the 35 wins monkey finally off his back.

My guitar teacher used to play at wineries in Napa along with teaching. He was essentially a starving musician, hustling to get by. Watching a very well fed musician with a Reese's shirt on making more money than he made with sloppy playing and a dismissive attitude to a well crafted song without leaving the house might bother him a bit I guess. This guy is right. It is one of Alan's more accessible songs which is why it hooked me and made me want to learn it and explore more. It worked. 99% of Alan's songs wouldn't interest me if I didn't play guitar.

What the algo put in my feed as a result. I wonder what your guitar teacher would have thought about the YouTube world we live in.

That could be a double entendre.

I don't know the outcome of today's stage so don't spoil it in response, but I have two theories related to Cav's win. It is distinctly possible that he won on his own virtues and wily ways, though I wonder. Jasper Philipson stole a win away from Cav last year in stage 8 that I felt the kid could have just let him take to seal the record. Cav crashed out the next day and his possible last chance was over. So, theory 1 is that Philipson didn't go all out yesterday and let Cav have his moment. It wouldn't be the worst thing he could do. Theory 2 is that Philipson was more injured by his earlier crash than they let on and he didn't really have the legs to beat Cav yesterday. It will be interesting to see if Philipson dominates the rest of the sprints like he did last year... All of that said, I am not taking anything away from the Manx Missile and I am thrilled he hit 35. At least. Oh, and the bunny hop was epic. So was Pogacar's hard brake and shimmy to avoid a road divider earlier in the stage. That was king of unbelievable too.

Time to repost this.

Remember, with biscuit power comes biscuit responsibility! Right, which is worth more? The end of the republic as we know it, or one wafer thin biscuit?

Asshole

Red white and blue Deck Brunch Happy 4th Y'all.

What do you think?

Similar to my own introduction to music. My two older Brothers definitely sped up my enjoyment of good old rock and roll. Still, my first albums were The Chipmunks and Elvis (Aloha From Hawaii Via Satellite), Around age 10. By the time Aerosmith hit the scene, I was in High School. But I remember pulling into the school parking lot in my '72 Duster with Aerosmith blasting on my Pioneer tuner/cassette, 3 (yes 3) pair of Jensen Triaxle 6 x 9 speakers powered by my Rockford Fosgate "The Punch" amplifier. That however would have been around the time of Toys in the Attic. I thought "Big 10" was so clever. Kids! My first favorite albums were bands such as Procal Harum, Three Dog Night, Blue Oyster Cult, Elton John, Bowie and such.

^^^ Brings back great memories..... I had 2 older brothers that got me into music, so much so that at age 7 my first 45 record was The Who - Love Reign On me. And at age 8 or 9 my first album was J Geils Live Full House. Aerosmith's first album was soon after, and my brother's copy of Get Your Wings found its way on my turntable a fair bit too. The extra live part after the main portion of Train Kept A Rollin' was probably my favorite musical piece for several months if not longer. I remember too The Joe Perry Project played in our High School Auditorium....maybe 1981 or 82..... In the mid-70's I got into ELP and Pink Floyd, and I was hooked even more.

Had my “bachelor party.” Was mostly wine and queer theory. Gonna get married today.

I clearly should have read the description of this exhibition we went to today, as should my brother who told us it was a Wes Anderson exhibit at a local museum. Not true. Here is their description of this thing that was pleasant and contained some good but not really artistic or professional photograph. "Accidentally Wes Anderson: The Exhibition" is a journey through more than 200 of the most beautiful, idiosyncratic, and interesting places on Earth – all seemingly plucked from the whimsical world of Wes Anderson. 10 themed rooms provide you a personal passport to visual inspiration and adventure with amazing photography and immersive moments throughout. https://awaexhibition.com/los-angeles/

My first exposure to Alan Holdsworth was when I was in high school and my guitar teacher gave me a homemade tape with several different guitarists on it. The song Rhoad Games sounded unique. It's what got me into him. Since then, its been a regular album that I revisit from time to time.

If you're wondering the scope of my powers, I had a biscuit on the day of the debate.