StewStuph

In listening to this playlist , this is the first song I have skipped:   Shiny Happy People . if you were around in the early 90's I am sure you remember the album Out of Time .  This album, released in the US March 12, 1991, was the second for the Warner Bros. label.  It would also contain R.E.M.'s first #1 hit, Losing My Religion .  While this album marked a turn in a new direction for R.E.M., playing more acoustic instruments, the signs were there for a long time that the band had the desire to play in that fashion. However, there is that one spot on the album, the one misfit, the one that doesn't Belong .  Almost as if someone from China came Half A World Away to live in Texarkana .  Maybe they wouldn't understand the Country Feedback .  Perhaps feeling Low , they would search for another Radio Song .  Then again, some of the songs can be uplifting and bright and bring about a sense of being Near Wild Heaven .  While others are dar...

I'm lying in bed with my tablet Chromecasting to my TV the playlist I recently created.  I am up to Green .  Their first release with Warner Bros. Records.  I am reminded of my youth when I would put in my cassette tape of Green at night and listen as I would fall asleep.  It was not as obvious then as it is now that they were playing unique instruments, a foreshadowing of things to come.  On songs like You Are The Everything, Peter Buck's mandolin shines like a star against the night sky in its beauty and clarity.  Also present is Mike Mills playing accordion.  The sound sweeps through the song in, what is to me, a soothing rhythm. It is now, with a broader audience and presumably more pressure, that the band continued to make their music in their image.  This was the first album I bought of theirs and it sparked a lifelong love of music.

During the last game of the Summer Heat season last night I was compared to Tim Howard .  Let's get this straight.  I was playing in an adult, recreational, coed league.  Flattered though, I was NOT playing in the World Cup for our nation, nor was I playing for Everton in the Premier Leagu e.   Still, the clean sheet felt good.

Going through my playlist that I mentioned yesterday , I am reminded of the diversity of instruments R.E.M. played from an early time in their career.  While listening to Wendell Gee  I distinctly recognize the banjo being played.  This is the first song from their catalog, that I can pick out, uses an instrument other than guitar, bass, drums, piano/keyboard.  A big deal was made of Peter Buck's mandolin playing when Losing My Religion was released.  Evidence shows us that R.E.M. were using non-conventional rock instruments in the early 80's.  More on this subject to come as I progress through the catalog of great music.

This past weekend, I made a playlist on Google Music All Access.  I typically play R.E.M. on CD in this exact order when I feel like listening to all of their studio releases.  This playlist also includes tracks released with their "best of" collections.  If you have 14 hours to kill, take a listen to the progression and evolution of one of the best bands of all time.

Smallpools  is giving away a new track, Killer Whales.  You can get it here .

The past couple of days I have been working in Revit.  No production work, just template file, typical details and families.  A select few at work have been working "behind the scenes" to streamline and improve our processes.  Hopefully we can convince the powers that be to do more projects in Revit and fewer in Autocad.  We have been putting in a big effort, sporadically, over the past several months.  Now we are waiting for our efforts to prove their worth.

Time passes and music passes with it.  Some bands are a quick flash, while others are long term endeavours that shape music and are reshaped by the music around them.  I would like to talk about about a couple of bands that are no more that I have enjoyed and continue to enjoy to this day. If anyone knows me at all, they know that I am on the verge of being an R.E.M. fanatic.  I can still recall the first time I heard and recognized an R.E.M. song.  I was either 12 or 13 riding in the car with my mom down Shipyard Blvd. just past Independence Blvd as the sun was setting in front of us.   The One I Love was on the radio and I was really enjoying the guitar from Peter Buck and the passion in Michael Stipe's voice.  The DJ came on after the song and remarked at how mean the song was.  It was at that time that I understood what he was talking about and I also realized that there can be hidden, multiple meanings in the world around us.  At that t...

Well, the World Cup has ended.  Germany defeat Argentina in extra time yesterday to claim their 4th title. The next World Cup will be 2018 in Russia.  The title is a little misleading, soccer is definitely not over, though many Americans would say it ended with USA's defeat in the knockout round.  Premier League starts soon along with all the other European leagues.  MLS is in the middle of it's season.  The Railhawks kicked off their fall season this past Saturday.  It seems there is almost always some soccer happening somewhere in the world. Well, soccer is over for Louis Suarez for the next three months.

I don't usually post selfies, but I had a request to put these up.

Last night after returning from The Railhawks US Open Cup match , either myself or  +Gina Beaudry  ran over a toad in our driveway.  This morning when I go out to take Maynard for his morning ritual I see this I'm not sure if the ants are consuming the toad for the nourishment of their tiny insect bodies, or constructing a temple to the fallen amphibian.

Last night  The Railhawks  fell to FC Dallas in the quarterfinal round of the  Lamar Hunt US Open Cup .  The final score was 5-2, but that does not indicate the drive and passion The Railhawks showed in the game.  I arrived late after my own paltry soccer match ended to see that The Railhawks had already scored.  Unfortunately, before I could even make it to the concession area, FC Dallas had equalized.  Goals were traded once more, including a Railhawks penalty, before FC Dallas put two more past Scott Goodwin late in the match to secure their place in the semifinal round. This was the end of  a 23 game home unbeaten streak for The Railhawks.  Carolina return to action this Saturday against new  NASL  side  Indy Eleven  at Wake Med Soccer Park.

Great bit on the winner of the World Cup, at least when it comes to arm folding. Is it me, or does Arjen Robben look like a James Bond villain? In case you don't read the article , the winner is Benoit Assou-Ekotto. I wonder what awkward thing FIFA will have the players do in 2018.

Tonight is the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Quarterfinal match between The Carolina Railhawk s and FC Dallas .  A win tonight would extend their home unbeaten streak and allow them to host a semifinal match at home. FC Dallas was once owned by Lamar Hunt , which makes this tournament special to them.  Railhawks coach Colin Clarke is a former employee of FC Dallas and now looks to continue his good run this season in The Cup.  This tournament has special meaning to all involved. Let's hope I don't have to record another penalty shootout like this .

July 4, 2014 Not sure you can call this camping.  Sure, we woke up in tents, made breakfast and eventually returned to sleep.  However, most of the day was spent in Munising celebrating the holiday. Having a house in town as a home base has it's advantages. The first of the festivities was a parade. Maynard had his usual reaction to fire trucks. After the parade we made our way to the bay shore for lunch and other activities. There was also a water fight put on by the Munising Fire Department.  Two teams of fire fighters shooting each other.  The kids come out in the bathing suits and the fire fighters spray them in between fight rounds.  Quite a sight to see. Surprise attack on the crowd. Hiding from the water, making faces.  +Joshua Stewart   +Derp Noobington   Dinner was back at the house and consisted of whitefish and asparagus on the grill.   As the sun set, the temper...

July 3, 2014 The previous night left me shivering in my sleeping bag.  Again,  +Gina Beaudry  had warned me, but I was woefully unprepared for that night.  I believe the temperature dipped into the upper 40's.  In any case, it's July!  Where I am from the nights are warm. Going to the camp kitchen for breakfast I am greeted by this creature, the first of many throughout our time here. It was decided that this day would be spent mainly around the campground.  There were kayaks, canoes and paddle boats.  Some of the party took some time to do some fishing.  It was a relaxing "free day" for all. Like Father Like Son A camp game classic, Octo-Ball!

July 2, 2014 Morning finds us in sunshine, though still sleeping on the floor.  This being the UP, the windows were left open all night and the house has become quite chilly.  That's right, early July and I am cold.  This southern boy just does not understand, no matter how many times  +Gina Beaudry  tells me to pack warm clothes. We make our way back to Otter Lake to finish setting up camp.  We decide to set the tents on one site and use the other as our fire site and kitchen.   After we get everything organized and get some lunch we head out to Bay Furnace for a little sightseeing and history.  I was able to dip my toes in Lake Superior.  With my earlier dip in Lake Michigan and last years excursions into lake Huron, I am now 3/5 done with my Great Lakes toe dips.  That water is too cold for me. The camping party standing in front of the reconstructed blast furnace at Bay Furnace. Stone Arch The ne...

July 1, 2014 Today we left behind Betsie River Campsite headed to the UP.  We timed our drive so that we would arrive in Mackinaw City when the USA World Cup game would start.  Unfortunately, we could not find a good location to watch.  Instead, we ate quickly and got back on the road so that we could at least listen while driving.  Once again we crossed the Mackinac Straits on the Mackinac Bridge Not the best picture in the world, with all the bug splatters on the windshield, but still a nice piece of engineering. Last summer we drove east.  This year we ventured west to Munising .  The Lake Michigan shore was quite impressive and reminded me of my home coast of North Carolina. During the drive we had to stop for a restroom break.  It was at that time that the USA was in extra time.  Belgium had scored twice and Julian Green had just come on the field.  As I am exiting the restroom, Brendan comes to tell me the great news th...

June 30, 2014 After a breakfast in camp, we made our way to Sleeping Bear Dunes .  Driving around the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive , we stopped a couple of times to get out of the car and experience this amazing place on foot.  It was a warm and sunny day, which suited me.  The sand and grasses reminded me of being home.  However, these dunes are something to behold.  Nothing like the size of the dunes ( Sugarloaf ) I am accustomed to. Eventually, we make it to the highest dune on the drive.   +Gina Beaudry  has told me about this dune, but words do not do it justice.  You must experience this for yourself.  At first, my intention was to not go all the way to the bottom.  However,  +Derp Noobington  rushed ahead.  My parenting took over once he passed the point in which I could no longer see him.  I just wanted to make sure he would be OK.  Eventually all the kids made it to...