The Cure: A Ray of Hope In The Gloom of the Cure

Went to Cleveland to catch The Cure last night. In an age where gas is over $4/gallon and concert tickets are $50 for the cheap seats (after all the TicketBastard fees), driving 2 hours for a show is a real consideration. It's been 12 years since The Cure came around this way. Well, based on my experience from the last show, it was worth the drive, and they did not dissapoint. The Cure came out with a 3-hour set of new, old, hits and obsurity. This is an estimate on my part, but I'm guessing they played 35 songs?! Fantastic! It's amazing. I listen to music on the radio now that relies so heavily on studio enhancements, but The Cure is what it is. Everything live sounds exactly like it does on the CD. And Robert Smith puts a lot of thought and effort into making each show special. It's not like when I went to see Kiss and every night was exactly the same "(insert city name here) you rock." The set list was new, the performance was passionate and the fans appreciated every moment of it. I know I did. It's funny, I didn't know what to expect fan-wise. The Cure is a band that can sell out MSG and Wembley, but 2,500 is a pull in a place like Cleveland. It didn't seem to matter to them, they played for every one of us. Two encores and even a little bit of playfull banner. I feel a lot of spite paying to see a lot of bands these days. The Cure left me feeling great about my investment. And, they've realized something that a lot of bands haven't--the fans are your best advertising. Let them bring cameras, let them share their experience. People will pay if the product is good. In the case of this shot, it was good. I just really hope that it is not another 12 years before I get to see them again. And, hey, next time, let's not forget Pittsburgh??? If they are coming your way, don't miss out! I'll post my pictures later!

UPDATE: HERE ARE THE PICTURES FROM THE CURE CLEVELAND SHOW.

GQOTM: Work Ethic

Here is the latest installment of the Glenn's Question of the Moment, which is based on text messages from Glenn to me (Woody). Keep in mind that these usually take place via text message, so they are generally short and loosely worded. Any additional information is added below for the purpose of adding context or further explaination.

Glenn: What has happened to the work ethic in this country?

Woody: It was replaced by entitlement caused by our willingness to bail people out of situations they create.

GQOTM: BOF vs. EAF Steelmaking

Here is the latest installment of the Glenn's Question of the Moment, which is based on text messages from Glenn to me (Woody). Keep in mind that these usually take place via text message, so they are generally short and loosely worded. Any additional information is added below for the purpose of adding context or further explaination.

Glenn: is the majority of the steel still melted in a BOF (Basic Oxygen Furnace)?

Woody: There are two basic processes used to make todays' steel, the BOF and the EAF. Right now the BOF is still in a slim majority by melting about 58% of today's steel. The EAF continues to grow in market share. Here's a description of the two basic processes:

The basic oxygen furnace (BOF) process uses 25 to 35 percent old steel to make new. It produces products— such as automotive fenders, encasements of refrigerators, and packaging like soup cans, five-gallon pails, and 55-gallon drums—whose major required characteristic is drawability.

The electric arc furnace (EAF) process uses more than 80 percent old steel to make new. It produces products— such as structural beams, steel plates, and reinforcement bars—whose major required characteristic is strength.

GQOTM: Electing a Vice President

Here is the latest installment of the Glenn's Question of the Moment, which is based on text messages from Glenn to me (Woody). Keep in mind that these usually take place via text message, so they are generally short and loosely worded. Any additional information is added below for the purpose of adding context or further explaination.

Glenn: You have to elect a President and Vice President together, right? It wasn't intended that way originally. Is that correct.

Woody: Yes, they are a line item together now, but it used to be the first place and second place vote getters (pre two-party system). So, the President and Vice President could be from different parties. Check out 12th ammendment.

GQOTM: Obama-Clinton Ticket

Glenn is always asking me useless, crazy questions via text based on what he's watching on TV or listening to on the radio. So, I decided to quit wasting my answers just on him. So, I decided I'd start posting them here for everybody to be amused by. Keep in mind, these happen via text message. So they will be short and sweet. So, without further delay, here's right now's Glenn Question of the Moment (GQOTM):

Glenn: OBAMA-CLINTON same ticket think it will happen?

Woody: Reasons for it to possibly happen would be to re-unite a divided party and attract scorned Hillary supporters who might otherwise vote for McCain.

Woody: Reasons it WILL NOT happen is because Obama wants to build an identity and does not want a VP (that drug him through the mud in the primary) looking over his shoulder saying "that's not how I would've done it."

WYSINWYG: Wendy’s Grilled Chicken Go Wrap

Welcome to my first installment of What You See Is Not What You Get (WYSINWYG). I will take what they advertise and compare it to what I receive when I order when I'm out and about. In this installment, I'm looking at the Grilled Chicken Go Wrap. This one was Purchased 4/29/09 @ Wendy's Noblestown, Pittsburgh, PA @ 1:32 PM

 

Here's What They Advertise:

Here's what I got:

Where's the chicken? I think they need to have old Clara take a look at their "Go Wraps!!!" Oh yeah, and if you're on a diet like I'm supposed to be, take a look at the carbs on these little bastards before you eat it.

Howard Dean Says Your Vote Sux

Howard Dean says either Clinton or Obama must drop out in June

Being the Democratic party and all, you'd think these guys would be a little more in line with the democratic process.

First, both Hillary and Obama knowingly skip the Michigan and Florida primaries to focus on blue states and swing states. Boy, weren't they surprised to find out that neither of them can have enough delegate votes without winning those states. Why punish the vote of the people because the primaries were moved?!? It was hysterical to listen to both of them call for a do-over in both states after they learned there's a price for skipping segments of the population. Undoubtedly, the delegates from both states will be at the convention and they will be casting their votes, but they're not obligated to vote one way or the other. This lack of obligation by the delegates from these states, along with the sway of the "super delegates" has the party worried.

So, again, the party is trying to force the process and again bypass your votes. Howard Dean has called for ONE of the candidates to step down before the primaries are over. That way they can have their candidate selected before the convention and start focusing on the republican. So, essentially, they want to bypass MORE primaries (YOUR VOTES) and declare their candidate so the convention (when the delegates that represent your votes, cast their votes) as some rubber-stamp pomp and circumstance promotion for their party

WHAT?! If I was a state with a primary yet to happen and/or one of the bypassed states, I'd be wildly up in arms. I mean if they want to dictate who your party candidate is going to be, then why the hell bother with having a primary? Why wouldn't Howard Dean and the Democratic Party just declare a candidate at the beginning rather than dragging this process out this long only to tell one that they have to drop out for the "good of the party?"

I mean, heck, why not just have Howard Dean start calling his chosen candidate president. I mean, really, what an inconvenience to follow the whole freakin process that's worked for centuries? It's way too ineficient to let the people have their say, it's really cramping their style. For God's sake, what happens if they can't print the banners ahead of time for the convention and the convention truely IS the way that the candidate is ELECTED?!

I've asked this question before, but I'll ask it again, where's the outrage?