Seriously cool yet hillariously brilliant!

The new music video from OK Go, made in partnership with Chevrolet. OK Go set up over 1000 instruments over two miles of desert outside Los Angeles. A Chevy Sonic was outfitted with retractable pneumatic arms designed to play the instruments, and the band recorded this version of Needing/Getting, singing as they played the instrument array with the car. The video took 4 months of preparation and 4 days of shooting and recording. There are no ringers or stand-ins; Damian took stunt driving lessons. Each piano had the lowest octaves tuned to the same note so that they'd play the right note no matter where they were struck. For more information and to download the studio version of the song for free, visit http://www.LetsDoThis.com/stunts and http://www.okgo.net. Many thanks to Chevy for believing in and supporting such an insane and ambitious project, and to Gretsch for providing the guitars and amps. 

Director: Brian L. Perkins & Damian Kulash, Jr. 

Director of Photography: Yon Thomas 

Editor: Doug Walker 

Producer: Luke Ricci

I love it! Must have been the greatest fun to do this too!

"All music is beautiful." Billy Strayhorn

Enough already

Woke up at 6 am to more rain... it is now 10 am and it has not let up for a moment... this is 1988 deja vu! Many parts of the country are now flooded! We need a rainbow or two!
We have been having good, nay extraordinary good rains since before Christmas but since last Friday it has become Noachian rain!
While fitting new crashbars to Shrek I had to duck back inside a few times as the rain was flooding the carport... thankfully no tools or parts got washed away.

The black box was brim full by midday Saturday... and it is once again overflowing!

The access road has been a river on and off for the past few days...

So it seems we may need those rubber ducks and gumboots soon just to get to work...
I also had the resident engineer check out the new crash bars, L's kitten Misha is extremely inquisitive...

apparently they met her approval after a thorough looking over and nuzzle!

In between showers I was able to take the new bars for a test ride... Must say the new bars have tamed the vibes a lot... I can even see out of the bikes mirrors at 5000rpm... with the old bars it became a blur... Thanks to Harold and Matthew at Bike Gear for letting me be a Guinea pig...
"The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain." Dolly Parton

Contrary to what the Insurance Industry says...

trees DO jump in front of oncoming cars! This past Saturday afternoon I was crawling along the street in pouring rain on my way to pick up salad ingredients before going to MD's place to help prepare for a 21'st braai, when this tree decided to let go in the wind and jump into the street... needless to say I was relieved that it did not decide to jump as I was alongside it... Picture taken on my cellphone after I backed away for a bigger view after giving thanks for the narrow squeak.

On turning the corner this poor thorn tree had also been wrenched by the wind and lost a branch or two.

Then at Checkers I got the real fright as this motorist drove up the ramp where we were all coming and going out of the shop... almost running down a customer in the process... just so his family could be dry... some folk are truly selfish and inconsiderate.

The car had no number plates either so that is another indication of the drivers view on laws and common sense...
Pity our local traffic police have been very lax of late... they are so deep in hiding we never see them!
Later on Sunday I noticed a few other trees down as well as numerous signs, must have been quite a gust of wind that passed over Langenhovenpark.
But we are very glad that it has started raining, hopefully there will be more in the coming weeks.
"Do you see how the god always hurls his bolts at the greatest houses and the tallest trees. For he is wont to thwart whatever is greater than the rest."
Herodotus

Oh the Irony...

Ironic that a staunch proponent of Atheism gets a Bible Advert on his Blog... maybe someone is trying to tell Charles something? I used to frequent his blog but then something happened when Obama came on the scene... LFG went to the Darkside!
Update: 01-12-2009
Somehow I can no longer access his blog... I think he has banned me!

Secrets and lies

Well the only lie is that there are no lies in this posting (that is oxymoronic) but the title just sounded good. Sometimes when one picks up a book in a bookstore you just know that you have to have it, so it was this evening on my way home. I stopped off at the Mall to get some Steers burgers and while waiting I popped in to Exclusive Books... saw that the new PopMech mag was out and then I saw the book... it lay beckoning... waiting to be opened and skimmed through... it had weight, far more than a book that size should have, like it contained a secret treasure waiting to be discovered... was it worth buying? Only time will tell if the secret of The Secret is revealed, so tonight it is me with the three B's... ummm no not Beer/Blonde/Book... but Book/Book/Bottle, hot water bottle that is plus my very own copy of Race to Dakar. The inspiration for my Big Dream , plus 3 cats as well... it is chilly and they usually come and pin me down on cold nights, not that I mind, having 3 living hot water bottles has it's advantages on crisp nights like tonight... Must try and get Long way Round as well...
L has been laid low by the winter bugs... so far I seem ummune and I ask for it to stay so each day, I hate having a cold or the flu, I would rather wrestle with a pack of wild boars thanks! I hope the meds start working soon, so glad she enjoyed the burger, I take that as a good sign. Gotta make some salad again tomorrow with plenty of sweet peppers, they have more Vit. C than citrus, especially the red or yellow ones...
Yesterday I also revealed a secret of sorts, albeit with much trepidation but in so doing got an answer that I had already known but having it confirmed today made me realise that by communicating with my whole being and with all tools available life becomes so much easier, both for myself and people I care deeply about. Looking back I can see I have made some progress in this thing called communication, something us men find so hard to do, we would rather go out "Hunting". More about that metaphor one day maybe, KatieB laid it out so well for me. Now where is that bow and arrow?
I just hope my communication tomorrow with the powers that be at MSA bear the same fruit.
This all reminds me of this song from yesteryear... 1983 in fact.

Talking In Your Sleep - Romantics
(Jimmy Marinos/Wally Palmar/Mike Skill/Coz Canler/Peter Solley)
When you close your eyes and go to sleep
And it's down to the sound of a heartbeat
I can hear the things that you're dreaming about
When you open up your heart and the truth comes out
CHORUS
You tell me that you want me
You tell me that you need me
You tell me that you love me
And I know that I'm right
Cuz I hear it in the night
I hear the secrets that you keep
When you're talking in your sleep
When I hold you in my arms at night
Don't you know you're sleeping in a spotlight
And all your dreams that you keep inside
You're telling me the secrets that you just can't hide
CHORUS
When you close your eyes and you fall asleep
Everything about you is a mystery
CHORUS

KatieB will appreciate the quote and yes, I am learning to tame the storm in my heart with sunscreen for my soul... communication, I really enjoyed our conversation this evening, there is an adventure in each one we have. No more Tsunamis for now... just a gentle brook running over pebbles, the water of communication gently shaping them as they rub against each other. Did I just write that? I think that is a keeper...
"The face is the mirror of the mind, and eyes without speaking confess the secrets of the heart." Saint Jerome (374 AD - 419 AD)
PS - Very wierd... can only put 200 characters in the labels field... have I got too many labels now?

Deja Dreams

I am busy with my "missing days" and should have them more or less complete by Sunday night... working through 615 photo's to pick the right ones takes time...

However... I have this feeling of deja vu hanging around me and the song Missing by Everything but the Girl is haunting me... just like No Mercy's version did last week... but for a different reason. Did I come on too strong? Did I cause a Tsunami? I am like a dog looking for that bone he buried last week... but the Boss has moved to another house! Is this another And Dreams Were Dreams episode in my life... I really hope not.
Winamp has just played Dreams by the Cranberries... I think I will finish up now and go to bed... to dream.
Cranberries - Dreams

Oh my life is changing everyday
Every possible way
Though my dreams, it’s never quite as it seems
Never quite as it seems

I know I felt like this before
But now I’m feeling it even more
Because it came from you

Then I open up and see
The person fumbling here is me
A different way to be

I want more, impossible to ignore
Impossible to ignore
They’ll come true, impossible not to do
Impossible not to do

Now I tell you openly
You have my heart so don’t hurt me
For what I couldn’t find

Talk to me amazing mind
So understanding and so kind
You’re everything to me

Oh my life is changing everyday
Every possible way
Though my dreams, it’s never quite as it seems
’cause you’re a dream to me
Dream to me

However it plays out I will always be friends... One of today's quotes from The Quotations Page sums up my feelings...
"Why shouldn't things be largely absurd, futile, and transitory? They are so, and we are so, and they and we go very well together." George Santayana (1863 - 1952)

No mercy for the lonely

Woke up humming "Missing" by No Mercy and for the first time I had an urgent need to get home, I miss my kids and cats but I miss something else as well.
The Yatclub... a highly recommended establishment for weary travelers. This was taken as I digested a breakfast of note... I had my own mini loaf of freshly baked bread and the most delicious omelet made by the host Des.
The tranquility of the dam at the Yatclub, now I saw why Des said he changed the name to Yatclub... this stretch of the Grobbelaars's river is scarcely big enough to float a canoe.
These clouds made up my mind that I needed a warm mug of coffee... back in Bloem preferably!
One went before me... So I am not the only crazy biker out in the freezing cold... making wee breaks to errrr strech the legs... cold weather and 3 cups of strong coffee do not help the miles go by.
The desolation of Karroo vistas... my heart is sometimes as hungry as these vast places... I am craving someone to share my dreams with again and somone has been texting me a few times this trip that I feel may just be the one to share with. I may be wrong...
Last picture of the trip as I stood freezing on the Lootsberg pass... there was even more snow around the corner! From here we had crosswinds, headwinds, tailwinds, a few drops of sleet and a conviction that something needed to be done...
Reaching Middelburg I decided to brave the wind and try for Colesberg, maybe staying overnight. When I saw the distance between Colesberg and Bloem I sent a text request for sustenance... ETA 7 pm it is. I think this is when the little arrow took effect. The rest of the day is history and engraved in my heart forever... Tomorrow is bright with possibility.
"Sometimes I think we're alone. Sometimes I think we're not. In either case, the thought is staggering." R. Buckminster Fuller (1895 - 1983)
Day 12 of 12 Days with Shrek

Good to go, ready to do some crossing off...

Of things on my Wishlist, may add some later too! Just on 12 hours and I get on the plane to Cape Town International for the great KLR Adventure...

My list of things to do:
Bungeeeeee! - If I get time this trip
Buy me a CS650 Beemer - Bought a KLR650 instead!
Discover a Comet - Saw Comet McNaught, just as good as discovering one!
Do a skydiving course - maybe later...
Get a Dress Kilt, Clan Campbell
Kiss the Blarney Stone - See T2T

Pat a Great White on the snout - I may just do that this trip!
See a Snow Leopard in the wild - See T2T
Smell a Volcano - See T2T
Spend a day with a Silverback - See T2T
Taste the Dead Sea - See T2T
Walk the Via Dolorosa - See T2T
Witness a Supernova Done! Not what I expected but just as spectacular... read the blogs...

My list of Natural Wonders to visit:
Amazon river - See T2T
Ngorogoro - See T2T
White Sands - See T2T
Ayers Rock-Uluru
Witsand - Soon...

My list of Countries to visit:
Alaska - See T2T
Angola - 2008
Antartica
Argentina - T2T
Canary Islands
Falkland Islands - See T2T
Guernsey - See T2T
Kamchatka Peninsula - T2T
Namibia - 2008
Patagonia - The great T2T adventure, being planned!
Oz
Scotland - See T2T
Tiera del Fiego - See T2T


My list of Stuctures to visit:
Ankor What - See T2T
Macchu Picchu - See T2T
Tajh Mahal - See T2T
The Pyramids - See T2T
Castle Stalker - See T2T

My list of Cities/Towns to visit:
Alice Springs
Buenos Aires - See T2T
Brisbane
Cooper Pedy
Edinburgh - See T2T
Monaco - See T2T
Nome - See T2T
Sidney
St Petersburg - See T2T
Cape Town - On my way!
Windhoek - 2008

My list of absurdities:
Become President of SA or any other country for that matter! Me? a politician?
Build a car that will do 0 > 100 in 3 seconds flat using water as fuel...
Clone the Pope.
Design the smallest OS posssible that will kick MS's butt.
Live long enough to see my great, great, great grandkids.
Make a Dirty Harry sequel.
Play drums in a Rock Band.
Teleport to Mars.

Actually when one see's how many will be crossed off with this trip the T2T is looking more and more do-able.
I am going to document this trip and maybe get it published, if that works the Ops GOF trip would sell as well and that may just get the finances needed for T2T! Think BIG!
Just 12 hours to take off!
Wish me luck!
"Life changed after that jump...I'd suddenly stepped to the highest level of daring, a level above even that which airplane pilots could attain." Charles Lindbergh (1902 - 1974), describing his first skydive

Tip to Tip or T2T for short...

While reading about other people's trips with their KLR's I had this insane idea...



To ride from the tip of Africa to the tip of South America to see what Patagonia looks like and then back via a slightly diffrent route... Now I need sponsors and traveling companions. You have to dream big they say!
How about this quote... sort of sums my idea up to a T...
"I wanna hang a map of the world in my house. Then I'm gonna put pins into all the locations that I've traveled to. But first, I'm gonna have to travel to the top two corners of the map so it won't fall down." Mitch Hedberg (1968 - 2005)

Depending on the wind

Sometimes one comes across people that just have a way with words that can describe or relate the most mundane in hilarious ways, one of these is Og the Neanderpundit as well as this from Yorkshire Pudding but I think this one must get first prize for the category of Bog Logging. This was mailed to a group I belong to but I will forgo exposing the name as he has asked to remain anonymous due to his position in society. The picture is from Grant who did some photo shopping to suit the story, however some smudging has been done to retain anonymity!

So there I am, marching up the first hill on the edge of the South Downs,
which I use as my warm up prior to my 2 -3 times a week 2.5mile cross country
run with the dog. It takes great fortitude on my part, I have to say,
especially the morning after a late shift at work, and today was one of those
days where I had had to really push myself as it had just started to drizzle
as well.
So I get halfway up the hill, my MP3 player booming away in my ears, the dog
on the look out for rabbits, when I feel the need to do an urgent fart. No
problem, I just let it go slowly. Except someone then poured concrete into my
back passage. And my shorts felt slightly wet.
I do not fucking believe it. I'd already spent a good 20 mins on the bog
offloading before i left the house. Am I forever to be haunted by my trip to
India and my subsequent Delhi Belly?
So I ploughed into the nearest thicket, bordered with stinging nettles and
brambles, which cut my legs to buggery but which with arse cheeks clenched
against the flow I was unable to leap nimbly over in my usual manner. Fergus
the dog now thinks we're on a proper adventure, and he's bounding around my
legs trying to trip me up. I've got a pulse beating in my glutes that I have
never noticed before, and Talking Heads 'Slippery People' booming in my ears.
I am conscious that at 0930, my main co-ramblers are usually middle aged
female dog walkers, I am wearing a white t-shirt which is not blending into
the foliage at all well, and I am about to do the biggest shit of my life.
With no bogroll. Or a toilet. Or a door to close.
So I dropped my shorts and undies, one of my best pairs as well, grabbed hold
of a tree trunk, and leant back like a yachtsman on a tack, so as to avoid
filling my shorts good and proper. I can live with a wet patch, but a gusset
full of slurry I can do without.
Whoosh. It was like one of those pictures which get circulated on the
internet of a bloke spraying liquid shite from his arse. It went a full metre
or more across the thicket and into the undergrowth. Fuck knows where the
pressure came from, or why it even existed, when I had not eaten anything
dodgy at all for ages. Luckily Fergus had gone back to hunting out rabbits or
else he would have got quite a shock.
So then I am stuck with a wet arsehole, my shorts round my ankles, and no
means of cleaning up. Wistfully, I disengaged my ankles from my undies, and
using them like a pull through, did the business before lobbing them into the
bushes. No doubt a passing fox is chomping on them as I type. Then I noticed
a middle aged couple, talking to each other and pointing into my thicket from
about 30metres away. They can only have thought that I was some sort of
weirdo who shits in bushes while spying on passers by, which at that moment
was a fairly forgivable presumption I suppose.
What a nightmare. I aborted the run and went home, figuratively and literally
deflated.
I'll try again in the morning....
Thanks T... that was brilliant and worth a 10 point beverage warning! I hope Og reads it sometime, he will commend your style!
"The job is not done till the paperwork is done" Unknown

Ethical Blogging

All the hoo ha about ethical blogging got me thinking why I blog;
Is it to please my neighbour?
Is it to piss off my boss?
Is it to impress my significant other? (Not that there is one at present.)
Is it to stroke my ego?
Is it to give a place for total strangers to come and type some comments?
Well folks, none of the above, I do it because it helps me sleep at night!
So I regard this whole ethics thing as a stupid exercise in my case, I will do as I please here because Blogger lets me and no one will tell me how to do it either. This here is mine and mine only, if no one reads it so what and if they do it is their indaba to process what they read... I do not pay for other peoples therapy! Grow up if you do not like what I say or just leave... don't let the door hit you on the way out!
Yes I sound angry, I am angry that people seem to have lost all vestiges of common sense these days, everyone gets offended at the drop of a hat/word/symbol/cartoon/description/(add a million other inane reasons here)/gesture but no one will think that you have choices these days. You have the choice to let something that you regard as offensive written on someone else's PRIVATE place get to you or to use the little cursor thingy to CLICK somewhere else. Eish bru! Chill!
With that done let me say that I enjoy perusing other blogs and may once in a while drop a comment but with this proviso... comments are a host's living room... and in a living room one acts like a civil guest. If not the kind host may evict you with whatever force necessary and often you will no longer be welcome to darken his portal ever again.
Like I said... common sense folks... it always works for me.
But let us ponder on the following quote... very fitting for the topic.
Non Judgment: In our world where it seems we are taught to judge everything all around and about us and we spend so much of our time doing just that, it might be wise to ask if we can judge anything. To judge anything with any degree of clarity and accuracy we would need all the information past, present and future and how it will affect all concerned to make a perfect judgment. Since no one has that skill, ability or information, you might agree, it may be unwise to judge. This idea may be hard to accept, but when you look back over your life and the judgments you made, ask yourself. How many of your judgments, when you made them, were you perfectly sure they were correct, would you want to change now with the benefit of 2020 hindsight? Since every judgment is only an opinion based on the limited information at hand, filtered through one's personal value system, it might be safe to assume no two people will judge anything exactly the same. Even concepts of right and wrong, good or bad, good or bad morals and ethics are only opinions, for what may be good in one case may be a disaster in another.
Sidney Madwed

WOW I have hit the Googlejackpot

with my wacky blog Megalicious Mayhem, it is ranked first!
Speaking of mayhem, what a week this has been, murder at the CWC, Maputo blowing up and the rest of the world pretty well going to pot at a rate of knots mon...
I think I will sit back and compile a list of songs to soothe the soul... while busy I listened to Nelly Furtado's new CD and this Porra Chick can sing dude! She always had a good voice but she has now matured from her earlier songs... so I decided to call the compilation "All Good Things" based on one of the songs on the CD, plus here are the lyrics to the title track:
All Good Things (come to an end)
Honestly what will become of me
don't like reality
It's way too clear to me
But really life is daily
We are what we don't see
Missed everything daydreaming

[Chorus]
Flames to dust
Lovers to friends
Why do all good things come to an end
Flames to dust
Lovers to friends
Why do all good things come to an end
come to an end come to an
Why do all good things come to end?
come to an end come to an
Why do all good things come to an end?

Traveling I only stop at exits
Wondering if I'll stay
Young and restless
Living this way I stress less
I want to pull away when the dream dies
The pain sets in and I don't cry
I only feel gravity and I wonder why

Flames to dust
Lovers to friends
Why do all good things come to an end
Flames to dust
Lovers to friends
Why do all good things come to an end
[ these lyrics found on http://www.completealbumlyrics.com ]
come to an end come to an
Why do all good things come to end?
come to an end come to an
Why do all good things come to an end?

Well the dogs were whistling a new tune
Barking at the new moon
Hoping it would come soon so that they could
Dogs were whistling a new tune
Barking at the new moon
Hoping it would come soon so that they could
Die die die die die

Flames to dust
Lovers to friends
Why do all good things come to an end
Flames to dust
Lovers to friends
Why do all good things come to an end
come to an end come to an
Why do all good things come to end?
come to an end come to an
Why do all good things come to an end?

Well the dogs were barking at a new moon
Whistling a new tune
Hoping it would come soon
And the sun was wondering if it should stay away for a day til the feeling went away
And the sky was falling on the clouds were dropping and
the rain forgot how to bring salvation
the dogs were barking at the new moon
Whistling a new tune
Hoping it would come soon so that they could die.
And once again the The Screaming Tangerines present the latest megaclicious collection All Good Things:
A collection of some of those songs that remind me mostly of good (and some bad) things...
58 tracks in playlist, average track length: 4:12
Playlist length: 4 hours 3 minutes 38 seconds

1. Nelly Furtado - All Good Things (Come To An End) (3:57)
2. Madelyne - Beautiful Child (Hiver and Hammer Mix) (4:07)
3. Frou Frou - Holding Out For A Hero (3:22)
4. Lipstick - Back For Good (4:12)
5. Savage Garden - Tears of pearls (3:48)
6. CJ Stone - The sun goes down (6:55)
7. Sash! - La Primavera (3:36)
8. Zager and Evans - In the year 2525 (3:17)
9. Everything But the Girl - Missing (4:06)
10. 10000 Maniacs - Because The Night (3:43)
11. The All American Rejects - Move Along (4:00)
12. Bosson - I believe (Up-Tempo Version) (3:15)
13. Sarah Brightman - Only an ocean away (4:55)
14. Hooverphonic - Vinegar and salt (3:20)
15. Sarah Brightman - Eden (3:59)
16. Nightwish - Ever dream (4:44)
17. Aria - Dido (armin van buurens universal religion mix) (8:52)
18. ATB - Don't Stop (3:47)
19. Shakira - How Do You Do (3:46)
20. 4 Strings ft Tina Cousins - Diamonds (3:11)
21. ATB - The Summer (3:41)
22. Vanessa Carlton - Paint it black (3:30)
23. John Mellencamp - Hurts so good (3:36)
24. Imperio - Veni Vidi Vici (2:19)
25. Enigma - Modern Crusaders (Distinction mix) (3:55)
26. Stuck Mojo - Home (4:49)
27. Nena - Willst du mit mir gehn (3:46)
28. Belinda Carlisle - Little black book (4:12)
29. Nadia Ali - At The End (album ver) (3:39)
30. ATB - Ecstasy (4:21)
31. Rammstein - Amour (4:50)
32. DJ Tiesto - Ten seconds before sunrise (7:31)
33. Rachel Stevens - I will be there (4:03)
34. Nelly Furtado - In God's Hands (4:54)
35. Tocadisco - You're No Good For Me (Tocadisco's Recover Mix) (6:50)
36. Gigi D'agostino - La Passion (3:25)
37. Yoomii - A kiss is all I miss (3:25)
38. James Brown - I feel good (2:46)
39. ATB - I Dont Wanna Stop (3:34)
40. Heart - Will you be there in the morning (4:24)
41. Roxette - The Sweet Hello, The Sad Goodbye (4:49)
42. Dht - Sun (3:12)
43. Belinda Carlisle - Summer rain (5:29)
44. Pink - Feel Good Time (3:42)
45. Nickelback - Good Times Gone (5:18)
46. Blank & Jones - Catch (Radio Video Mix) (3:17)
47. Gigi d´Agostino - I wonder why (3:29)
48. 4 Strings - Until You Love Me (4:16)
49. Black - Everything's Coming Up Roses (4:06)
50. The Killers - Somebody Told Me (3:17)
51. Cascada - Wouldnt It Be Good (Club Mix) (5:06)
52. Gregorian - The sounds of silence (4:15)
53. t.A.T.u. - Dangerous And Moving (4:35)
54. Nia Nell - One lifetime (4:02)
55. Sonique - Feels So Good (5:25)
56. Placebo - Every you every me (3:33)
57. Royksopp - Only This Moment (3:55)
58. Avril Lavigne - Who knows (3:30)
So I end with condolences to the family of Bob Woolmer, may the painful memories be erased and the joyful ones be etched in their hearts.
“One good thing about music, when it hits- you feel no pain” Bob Marley

Whacky Wednesday - Make me an Island

Reminds me of a song sung by Joe Dolan... I found it on Hyscience talk about stubborn!

"The villa owner refuses to move, so the real-estate developer has had to dig out all around it to force him to,"

MAKE ME AN ISLAND - A. Hammond & M. Hazlewood
Different eyes, different size, different girls every day.
Different names, different games took my breath clean away.
But I'm changed, rearranged, I'm enlightened and how
you have caught me, you have taught me and I'm different now.
Take me and break me and close all your windows and doors.
Shut me off, cut me off, make me an island, I'm yours.
Take me away from the world, take me away from the girls.
Take me and break me and make me an island, I'm yours.
Running round, shifting ground, that's the life I have seen.
But I'm tired, uninspired and I've wiped my slate clean.
You are mine, I am yours if the Lord will allow.
You have caught me, you have taught me and I'm different now.
Take me and break me and close all your windows and doors.
Shut me off, cut me off, make me an island, I'm yours.
Take me away from the world, take me away from the girls.
Take me and break me and make me an island, I'm yours.
Take me and break me and close all your windows and doors.
Shut me off, cut me off, make me an island, I'm yours.
Take me away from the world, take me away from the girls.
Take me and break me and make me an island, I'm yours.
Take me and break me and make me an island, I'm yours.
Albert Hammond, who I discoverd was born in England and not in the USA by the way, is probably one of the most prolific songwriters of the pop/rock era with Mike hazelwood. Having written hits for many stars and groups like the Hollies... "Gimme dat ding" sung by the Pipkins was also one of theirs! Amazing...

"And there was a beautiful view
But nobody could see.
Cause everybody on the island
Was saying: Look at me! Look at me!"
Laurie Anderson, Language Is A Virus

I should be so lucky

You'll die from a Heart Attack during Sex.

Your a lover not a fighter but sadly, in the act of making love your heart will stop. But what a way to go.

'How will you die?' at QuizGalaxy.com

Speaking of luck, I have been invited to guest blog at Keeskennis the blogger from Zambia, Kees you give me a great honour bud, I will now spend the rest of my weekend pondering what to contribute! This is the Vic Fall's that form part of the border between Zambia and Mad Bob's Paradise aka Zimbabwe. I hope to see the falls one day before my aforementioned demise! On the subject of demise and all that here is a brilliant song from Rammstein and the title song for this weeks compilation from the Screaming Tangerines...
Stirb nicht vor mir - Don't die before me
Die Nacht öffnet ihren Schoß
Das Kind heißt Einsamkeit
Es ist kalt und regungslos
Ich weine leise in die Zeit
Ich weiß nicht wie du heißt
Doch ich weiß dass es dich gibt
Ich weiß dass irgendwann
irgendwer mich liebt

He comes to me every night
No words are left to say
With his hands around my neck
I close my eyes and pass away

I don't know who he is
In my dreams he does exist
His passion is a kiss
And I can not resist

Ich warte hier
Don't die before I do
Ich warte hier
Stirb nicht vor mir

I don't know who you are
I know that you exist
Stirb nicht
Sometimes love seems so far
Ich warte hier
Your love I can't dismiss
Ich warte hier

Alle Häuser sind verschneit
Und in den Fenstern Kerzenlicht
Dort liegen sie zu zweit
Und ich
Ich warte nur auf dich

Ich warte hier
Don't die before I do
Ich warte hier
Stirb nicht vor mir

I don't know who you are
I know that you exist
Stirb nicht
Sometimes love seems so far
Ich warte hier
Your love I can't dismiss

Stirb nicht vor mir

Here is the playlist:
44 tracks in playlist, average track length: 4:21
Playlist length: 3 hours 11 minutes 37 seconds

1. Rammstein - Stirb nicht vor mir - Don't die before me (4:05)
2. Bryan Adams - 18 till I die (3:28)
3. Queen - No-One But You (Only The Good Die Young) (4:11)
4. Pink - I'm Not Dead (3:46)
5. The Ataris - The Hero Dies In This One (4:06)
6. The Awakening - Death Says Yes (5:23)
7. Nightwish - Dead to the world (4:20)
8. Madonna - Die Another Day (3:32)
9. Marion Raven - For You I'll Die (4:49)
10. Bon Jovi - Wanted Dead Or Alive (5:07)
11. Cutting Crew - (I just) died in your arms tonight (4:41)
12. Meatloaf - Dead ringer for love (4:22)
13. Blue Nature - Love Or Die (3:43)
14. Robbie Williams - Old Before I Die (3:50)
15. Def Leppard - Where Does Love Go When it Dies (4:04)
16. Papa Roach - Dead Cell (3:06)
17. No Mercy - When I die (4:27)
18. Metallica - Creeping Death (6:36)
19. Resource - Died In Your Arms (remix) (3:43)
20. HIM - When love and death embrace (6:08)
21. Good Charlotte - Day That I Die (3:26)
22. Viking - He has died (4:21)
23. OMD - Forever live and die (3:35)
24. Nightwish - Dead boy's poem (6:47)
25. Sheryl Crow - Tomorrow Never Dies (4:48)
26. Groove Agents - The day I die (3:32)
27. Jimmy Gnecco ft. Brian May - Someone to Die For (5:07)
28. Hooverphonic - Every time we live together we die a bit more (3:35)
29. Creed - Never Die (4:51)
30. Nightwish - Dead Gardens (4:28)
31. Metallica - Die, Die My Darling (2:27)
32. Our Lady Peace - Superman's dead (4:16)
33. Metallica - Stone Dead Forever (4:51)
34. Stuck Mojo - Metal Is Dead (4:22)
35. Def Leppard - Die Hard The Hunter (6:17)
36. Rob Zombie - Living Dead Girl (3:21)
37. Everlast - We're all gonna die (2:20)
38. Jamiroquai - Too young to die (6:05)
39. Evanescence - Even In Death (4:09)
40. Stereophonics - Deadhead (3:18)
41. Alien Ant Farm - Death Day (4:33)
42. Steel Dragon - We All Die Young (4:01)
43. Barcode Brothers - Die 4 U (4:31)
44. Belinda Carlisle - Love never dies (5:09)
So I leave you with this thought...
"Death is more universal than life; everyone dies but not everyone lives."
A. Sachs

Popular signs

Kees mentioned on his blog about popular signs that people steal in Austria... now here in South Africa we have no such draw card except for these...
From what I heard last time I was in Richards Bay in KZN these hippo signs "disappear" with regularity... and no I do not have one in my bar! If you look closely you will notice fresh earth around the base of the pole, the one I am posing next to was brand new! This picture was taken when the kids were still in primary school... now L has started her first year at varsity and M is now doing his masters... time sure flies!
"Some are born who never need them,Others still who never read them, signs." Neil Diamond, Signs

How many times

Tonight I was listening to my music and let Winamp have it's way with me... eventually I had to backtrack and compile a playlist of what it had given me, first up was Kate Ryan, Eurosong 2006 entrant and How Many Times, sometimes I am amazed how this bit of software can read my mood... but change it as well! Music tames the restless heart. Here are the lyrics...
How many times - Kate Ryan

How many times
How many times
How many times
Is enough?
Uuhh...

How many times do I have to rise

and fall?
How many times?
How many times hit my head against

the wall?

I'm breaking the border of myself,
It's time that I learned from
The mistakes that has made
This never ending circle
Of just heartaches.

Now is the time,
To get it together and shine
Try to figure out of
Who I am, and what I want.

How many times do I have to rise

and fall?
Once again defeated,
How many times hit my head against

the wall?
'Till I find the secret,
So many nights that
I cried a thousand tears
For the one who turned out
Not to be the one
How many times is enough?

So I'm alone here once again,
Now I can hardly feel the pain,
Anymore, I'm broken,
But not scattered into pieces.

This life is mine,
Just have to stand up and fight,
Try to figure out of
Who I am, and what I want.

How many times do I have to rise

and fall?
Once again defeated,
How many times hit my head against

the wall?
'Till I find the secret,
So many nights that
I cried a thousand tears
For the one who turned out
Not to be the one
How many times is enough?

How many times is enough?
Oouuh...
How many times
How many times
How many times
Is enough?
How many times
How many times
How many times
Is enough?

How many times do I have to rise

and fall?
Once again defeated,
How many times hit my head against

the wall?
'Till I find the secret,
So many nights that
I cried a thousand tears
For the one who turned out
Not to be the one
How many times is enough?

How many times is enough?

Another Eurovision contestant was Nicki French, I love her version of Total Eclipse of the Heart a song made famous by Bonnie Tyler who is a three days and a year older than I am! She sure does not look that old! Gemini's Rule!
Here is the Screaming Tangerines playlist with the same title;

How many times
58 tracks in playlist, average track length: 3:57
Playlist length: 3 hours 49 minutes 58 seconds

1. Kate Ryan - How many times (4:00)
2. Clay Aiken/Kimberley Locke - Without You (4:29)
3. Anouk - Falling sun (3:32)
4. Ace of Base - Don't turn around (3:40)
5. Bon Jovi - Livin' On A Prayer (4:14)
6. Barcode Brothers - Sms (3:42)
7. BC Dance - Though you were not there (3:24)
8. Leonard Cohen - Everybody Knows (5:32)
9. Bad Boys Blue - Where Have You Gone (3:32)
10. Bad Boys Blue - Lover on the line (3:49)
11. Vinylshakerz - Daddy Cool (Screen Mix) (2:50)
12. ATB - I Dont Wanna Stop (3:34)
13. Billie Piper - Something deep inside (3:42)
14. Cliff Richard - Even if it breaks my heart (3:44)
15. Ceoma ft. The Larx - Love Is More (4:03)
16. A1 - I'll Take The Tears (4:24)
17. Rosenstolz - Nichts Von Alledem (Tut Mir Leid) (3:50)
18. Tanita Tikaram - Only the ones we love (2:52)
19. Agnelli & Nelson - Holding On To Nothing (Paul Van Dyk Mix) (4:20)
20. Groove Coverage - What You See is What You Get (3:32)
21. Chris Issac - Wicked Game (4:48)
22. Evanescence - Bring me to life (3:57)
23. Cat Stevens - The first cut is the deepest (3:01)
24. Millennium - Day after day (millennium edit) (3:39)
25. UB40 - Can't help falling in love (3:27)
26. Andain - Beautiful Things (Gabriel & Dresden Remix) (7:15)
27. Belinda Carlisle - I get weak (4:51)
28. Brooklyn Bounce - X2X (We Want More) (3:36)
29. Lipstick - Back For Good (4:12)
30. Basic Connection - Hablame luna (3:30)
31. Rihanna - Unfaithful (Tony Moran Radio) (4:19)
32. Bananarama - Your Love I Like A Drug (4:38)
33. Nicki French - Total Eclipse of the Heart (3:48)
34. Erasure - Solsbury hill (4:24)
35. Zucchero - Cuba Libre (3:31)
36. Eros Ramazotti - Como un niño (4:41)
37. Dario G - Ring of fire (club mix) (5:33)
38. Britney Spears - My Only Wish (4:15)
39. Bryan Adams - Summer Of '69 (3:37)
40. Eros Ramazotti - Calma aparente (4:09)
41. Cliff Richard - Goodby Sam (2:43)
42. Bowling For Soup - Girl All The Bad Guys Want (3:17)
43. Sugababes - Round Round (3:49)
44. Eros Ramazzotti - Lo spirito degli alberi (4:12)
45. 4 Strings - Until You Love Me (4:16)
46. The Equals - Black is Black (2:47)
47. Vertical Horizon - You're a God (3:38)
48. Damae - I‘ve Been Thinking About You (feat. Londonbeat) (3:16)
49. Lasgo - All Night Long (Mcullen And Ritter Mix) (6:27)
50. DJ Sammy - Paradise of love (5:44)
51. Texas and Paul Buchanan - Sleep (Single Edit) (4:09)
52. ATB - Repulse (2:31)
53. BWO - Open door [Disco version] (3:40)
54. HIM - Pretending (3:41)
55. ATB - Marrakech (1:53)
56. Eros Ramazzotti - L'ombra del gigante (4:42)
57. Level 42 - Lessons In Love (4:03)
58. 4 Strings - Take Me Away (Into The Night) Vocal Radio Mix (3:14)
Eros Ramazzotti always seems to be able to lift my spirits along with Andain (who are working on a new album!) and the rest of the euphoric Trance music featured on the list... Something else about Andain... one of the members, David Penner is a Rocket Scientist! "Like Mavie and Josh, music is his first love, although he has his undergraduate degree in aeronautics and astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)." Awesome!
Summing up my thoughs... Today has been one of those rollercoaster days...
"A motion to adjourn is always in order." Robert Heinlein (1907 - 1988), Lazarus Long: Time Enough For Love

See the yellow spot...

way up the mountain? That was one of the Marshall points on the route for the Rouxville 200 off road race.

Being MSA Steward afforded me more time to take pictures, here is the Bike Start at 09:30, 56 bikes entered

Kenny screwing his eyes shut from the glare of a scorching sun!
And this was the Quad Start at 13:30, 67 quad entries in all. Minus the one dude that had no racing kit!

Last quad home was at 17:25. To Sarel, Ria and all the other organizers and sponsors, job well done. The venue was 100% better than last year and the route was well marked as usual, technical but not dangerous, the average speed of both the leading Quad and Bike was well within the 60 Kph target. To all the Welkom riders... grow some! This is off road racing, not flat track or drags! Here one can see the dust trail of one of the quads negotiating the trail down the first leg.
And this was the same guy approaching the pit section... still going flat taps, balls to the wall!
A dedication Cross for Elmer Symonds was also present during the race and prizegiving, it will be at each of our regional events, thanks guys this is a wonderful memorial to a bloke that lived for the sport.
After the racing the dam became a good spot to relax and cool down in after a very hot and hectic days racing.
All in all a great event and I am looking foreward the the Mayaputi 200 next month... but as I will be scoring there will not be much time for picture taking.
"Dedication is not what others expect of you, it is what you can give to others." Unknown