Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Fun on the Web June 27, 2010 35 Rules of the Universe

1. Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.

2. Don't worry about what people think; they don't do it very often.

3. Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.

4. Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity.

5. Not one shred of evidence supports the notion that life is serious.

6. A person who is nice to you but rude to the waiter, is not a nice person. (This is very important. Pay attention! It never fails.)

7. For every action, there is an equal and opposite government program.

8. If you look like your passport picture, you probably need the holiday.

9. Bills travel through the mail at twice the speed of checks.

10. A conscience is what hurts when all of your other parts feel so good.

11. Eat well, stay fit, die anyway.

12. Men are from earth. Women are from earth. Deal with it. Embrace your differences. Love each other.

13. No man has ever been shot while doing the dishes.

14. A balanced diet is a pie in each hand.

15. Middle age is when broadness of the mind and narrowness of the waist change places.

16. Opportunities always look bigger after they have passed.

17. Junk is something you've kept for years and throw away three weeks before you need it.

18. There is always one more imbecile than you counted on.

19. Experience is a wonderful thing. It enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.

20. By the time you can make ends meet, they move the ends.

21. Thou shalt not weigh more than thy refrigerator.

22. Someone who thinks logically provides a nice contrast to the real world.

23. It ain't the jeans that make your butt look fat.

24. There is a very fine line between 'hobby' and 'mental illness.'

25. People who want to share either their religious or political views with you never want you to share yours with them.

26. You should not confuse your career with your life.

27. Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.

28. Never lick a steak knife.

29. The most destructive force in the universe is gossip.

30. You will never find anybody who can give you a clear and compelling reason why we observe daylight saving time.

31. You should never say anything to a woman that even remotely suggests that you think she's pregnant unless you can see an actual baby emerging from her at that moment.

32. The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religion, economic status or ethnic background, is that, deep down inside, we ALL believe that we are above average drivers.

33. Your friends love you anyway.

34. Never be afraid to try something new on your own. Remember that a lone amateur built the ARK. A large group of professionals built the Titanic.

35. How old would you be if you didn't know how old you are?

Monday, June 21, 2010

Fun on the Web June 21, 2010 -Blues Festivals

What I wish I could afford to do with my time:
http://www.bluesfestivals.com/
http://www.bluesfestivalguide.com/

Summer Blues Festivals Guide

June 2010

Eureka Springs Blues Festival
June 3-6 @ Eureka Springs AR
www.eurekaspringsblues.com

Michael Arnone's 20th Annual Crawfish Fest
June 4-6 @ Augusta NJ
www.crawfishfest.com

Waterfront Blues Festival
June 4-6 @ Toronto ON Canada
www.waterfrontblues.ca

Mariposa MicroBrews & Blues Festival
June 5 & 6 @ Mariposa CA
www.mariposabluesfest.com

Highway 61 Blues Festival
June 6 & 7 @ Greenville MS
www.mariposabluesfest.com

Chicago Blues Festival
June 11-13 @ Chicago IL
www.chicagobluesfestival.us

June 12 @ FAMOUS DAVE'S BBQ AND BLUES
Minneapolis, MN
www.famousdaves.com/other-saucy-stuff/minneapolis-bbq-blues-club/bluesfest/

MARQUETTE WATERFRONT FESTIVAL
June 12-13 @ Madison, WI
www.marquette-neighborhood.org/activities/index.php?category_id=4733&subcategory_id=7338

Billtown Blues Festival
June 13 @ Hughesville PA
www.billtownblues.org

20th Annual W.C. Handy Blues & Barbecue Festival
June 12-19 @ Henderson KY
www.handyblues.org

BLUES ON THE FOX
June 18 & 19 @ Aurora, IL
www.downtownaliveaurora.com/blues.html

9th ANNUAL HAMBONE BLUES JAM
June 18 & 19 @ Rochester, MN
www.hambonebluesjam.com

8th ANNUAL MADISON BLUES SOCIETY BLUES PICNIC
June 19 @ Madison, WI
www.madisonbluessociety.com

Riverfront Blues Festival
June 25 & 26 @ Fort Smith AR
www.riverfrontbluesfest.org

URBANA BLUES, BREWS & BBQ
June 25 & 26 @ Urbana, IL
www.fluidevents.org/urbanablues/

25th Annual Monterey Bay Blues Festival
June 25-27 @ Monterey CA
www.montereyblues.com

HOT RODS 'N' BLUES
June 26 @ Grafton, WI

SUMMERFEST
June 25-July 4 @ Milwaukee, WI
www.summerfest.com

July 2010

FITZGERALD'S 30th ANNUAL AMERICAN MUSIC FEST
July 1-4 @ Berwyn, IL
www.fitzgeraldsnightclub.com/AmericanMusicFestival.html

IH MISSISSIPPI VALLEY BLUES SOCIETY BLUES FEST
July 2-4 @ Davenport, IA
www.mvbs.org

22nd Annual Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival
July 2-5 @ Portland OR
www.waterfrontbluesfest.com

LA FETE DU MARQUETTE
July 8-11 @ Madison, WI
www.wil-mar.org/lafete.html

Great South Bay Music Festival
July 9-11 @ Patchogue NY
www.greatsouthbaymusicfestival.com

North Atlantic Blues Festival
July 10 & 11 @ Rockland ME
www.northatlanticbluesfestival.com

Bluesfest International - Windsor
July 15-18 @ Windsor ONT Canada
www.thebluesfest.com

NOTHING BUT THE BLUES FESTIVAL
July 16-17 @ Tri-Lakes, Bloomington, IL
www.nothinbutthebluesfestival.com

Bluesfest International - London
July 16-18 @ London ONT Canada
www.thebluesfest.com

SIDETRACKED SUMMER BLUES EVENT
Sidetracked Bar Outside Stage, W12907 Hwy 16 in the WI Dells
No cover! Free Camping!! Things get started around 2:00PM
July 24 @ Wisconsin Dells, WI

MINOCQUA BLUES FEST - 3 nights of blues starting at 9 pm
July 29 - 31 @ Minocqua, WI
www.madtownlounge.com/venues/details.asp?PlaceList=11982

PRAIRIE DOG BLUES FEST
July 30 & 31 @ Prairie du Chien, WI
www.prairiedogblues.com

Notodden Blues Festival
August 5-8 @ Notodden, Norway
www.bluesfest.no
August 2010

Cincy Blues Fest
August 6 & 7 @ Cincinnati OH
www.cincyblues.org

Sunflower River Blues & Gospel Fest
August 6-8 @ Clarksdale MS
www.sunflowerfest.org

UW TERRACE BLUES FEST
August 8 @ Madison, WI
www.union.wisc.edu/music

3rd ANNUAL BLUES ON THE CHIPPEWA
August 7 & 8 @ Durand, WI
www.bluesonthechippewa.org

Mile High Blues Festival
August 7 & 8 @ Denver CO
www.milehighbluesfestival.com

Northern California Blues Festival
August 7 @ Auburn CA
www.norcalbluesfest.com

WAUKESHA BLUES FEST
August 13-14 @ Delafield, WI
www.waukeshabluesfest.com

22nd ANNUAL BAYFRONT BLUES FESTIVAL
August 13-15 @ Duluth, MN
www.bayfrontblues.com

19th ANNUAL BIG BULL FALLS BLUES FEST
August 19-21 @ Wausau, WI
www.wausauareaevents.org/events/bluesfest.cfm


Summertime Blues! 2010 Nanaimo Blues Festival
August 19-22 @ Nanaimo BC Canada (Vancouver Island)
www.nanaimoblues.com

Edmonton's Labatt Blues Festival
August 20-22 @ Edmonton AL Canada
www.bluesinternationalltd.com

Byron Crossroads Blues Festival
August 28 @ Byron IL
www.byroncrossroadsbluesfestival.blogspot.com
September 2010

15th Annual Howlin' Wolf Memorial Blues Festival
September 3 @ West Point MS
www.wpnet.org

Rendezvous Rhythm & Blues Festival
September 3-5 @ Oroville WA
www.rendezvousbluesfestival.com

Marquette Area Blues Fest
September 4 & 5 @ Marquette MI
www.marquetteareabluessociety.org

Sun Prairie Blues Festival
September 11 @ Sun Prairie, WI
www.spbluesfest.com

Paramount Blues Festival
September 17 & 18 @ Grafton, WI
www.graftonblues.org/paramountbluesfestival/

The 17th Annual Telluride Blues & Brews Festival
September 17-19 @ Telluride CO
www.tellurideblues.com

2010 Willy Street Fair
September 25 & 26 2010 Madison, WI
www.cwd.org/2010/01/this-is-a-community-story/

25th Arkansas Blues Festival formerly King Biscuit
October 7-9 2010 @ Helena Arkansas
www.bluesandheritagefest.com/

February 2010

Knology Clearwater Sea Blues Festival
February 19-21 @ Clearwater FL
www.clearwaterseablues.com

Saskatoon Blues Festival
February 25-28, 2010 @ Saskatoon Canada
www.saskatoonbluessociety.ca

Blues Blast 2010
February 27, 2010 @ Phoenix AZ
www.bluesblast.info

March 2010

Bonita Blues Festival
March 12 & 13 @ Bonita Springs FL
www.bonitablues.com

Milwaukee Blues Festival
March 2010 Milwaukee, WI
http://www.footlights.com/milwaukee/events/event/view-event/2010-milwaukee-blues-festival.html

Johnnie Walker St. John Blues Festival
March 17-21 @ St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands
www.stjohnbluesfestival.com

April 2010

Tampa Bay Blues Fest 2010
April 9-11 @ St. Petersburg FL
www.tampabaybluesfest.com

“NO MORE BLUES, BABY” BLUES FEST
April 11 @ Janesville, WI
www.pontiaccc.com

7th Annual Juke Joint Festival
April 16-18 @ Clarksdale MS
www.jukejointfestival.com

Beale Street Music Festival
April 30 - May 2 @ Memphis TN
www.memphisinmay.org
May 2010

Moulin Blues Festival
May 7 & 8 @ Ospel, Limburg NETHERLANDS
www.moulinblues.nl

24th Annual Carolina Blues Festival
May 8 @ Greensboro NC
www.piedmontblues.org

13th Annual Doheny Blues Festival
May 22 & 23 @ Dana Point CA
www.omegaevents.com/dohenyblue

13th Annual Freedom Creek Festival
May 28-31 @ Old Memphis AL
www.alabamablues.org

BRATFEST
May 28-31 @ Madison, WI
www.bratfest.com

TREMEPEALEAU BLUES BASH
May 29 @ Trempealeau, WI
www.trempealeauhotel.com/trempealeauhotel/default.asp?ID=29&PageData=395

3rd ANNUAL WATSEKA BLUES, BBQ & ARTS FEST
May 29 @ Watseka, IL
www.watsekatheatre.com/bluesbbqartsfest.html

18th Annual Santa Cruz Blues Festival
May 29 & 30 @ Aptos CA
www.santacruzbluesfestival.com

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Fun on the Web June 20 '10 County Fairs

Happy Fathers Day!
If you need ideas for breakfast in bed check this out:
http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Breakfast-in-Bed

Starting the end of June and running through mid September are Wisconsin County Fairs. Go ahead catch one or two. It's a fun day and can be as economical as you make it. Pack a picnic basket and cooler. You don't have to spend a lot of money even as a family event.
http://www.wisconline.com/attractions/fairs.html

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Fun on the Web June 19, 2010 - Progress Report

Class two is done and on to the next one. Currently learning the 2007 version of Word and Excel (both have substantial changes from the 2003 version). Monday we are adding IT Service Concepts which will cover customer service, industry trends, teamwork, IT professional work habits, how to solve and prevent problems, and the importance of documentation.

I have qualified for the IT Network Security Program and am waiting to see if the appropriate classes will be available to me. This is now just a waiting game but I'm busy and will have 10 credits at the end of summer. Many of these apply to the degree so its one step in front of the other.

Next its off to visit with a friend with a birthday to celebrate. We are going to the Summer Solstice Music Festival and then to hear music with a few rummage stops on the way. Print the flyer for a reduced entry fee to the Urban Garage Sale:
http://www.urbangaragesale.com/

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Monday, June 14, 2010

Fun on the Web June 14, 2010 Simple Yes No Tool

This is something Sheila used to tell me to do (along with the get out a giant clipboard and list the pros and cons) but I never could have put it into words as concise yet explanatory as this article.

A gift from my brother I have always loved.

I’m now embarrassed for my earlier post with my ‘decision matrix’ that many of you e-mailed me to check out. While I think it is still a valuable tool, and maybe can be done in conjunction with this new one, I think this new one alone is a pretty valid way to figure out what will make you happiest. It is so simple, yet incredibly accurate.

I learned it from a course I took this weekend with Alan Cohen, called The Coin of Destiny. If you haven’t checked out his work, I suggest you do, as he has profound insights in a number of ways. OK, so here is the new process to try out for making a decision:

Find a coin, and make heads=yes and tails=no or customize a coin using the tip at the end of this post.

  1. Think hard about a decision you need to make.
  2. Make that decision into a yes/ no question.
  3. Think / feel that flipping the coin is the absolute answer to the question. Really take a moment to feel it.
  4. Flip the coin and see where it lands.
  5. BEFORE you go in to your head, feel your feelings when you see where it lands (i.e. if it lands on tails / no – how does that make you feel?).
  6. If it makes you feel GOOD and POSITIVE, your answer ‘no’ to your question is correct.
  7. If it makes you feel BAD and NEGATIVE, your answer ‘no’ to the question is INCORRECT.
  8. Make the decision accordingly.

Point number seven is incredibly important. It is how you feel when you see how the coin falls, not how the coin falls. The heads or tails is not the answer, it is the feeling about the answer. This is so simple, yet after trying it you will see profound.

See, we get up in our head to make decisions when usually our heart and gut already knows. It is just very, very difficult to get to our gut as we have learned so many ways to ignore it, get into our head and analyze the situation. You can really use it in any situation. The key is to trust yourself and your own feelings, not those of others or what your head barges in and interrupts with analysis.

We did this live and it was a profound experiment. There were five people that had a question they shared live. We all flipped the coin and answered a decision internally, while the five got up and shared their answer. 80% of these people had the most difficult time even doing it without continually going to their head and debating it with Allen in front of the group. Yet when we got past all of it, 100% of the people finally acknowledged that the answer they felt in their gut was the right one and it made them feel good. It was very, very hard to get there.

Once you make that decision, things standing in the way can easily disappear when you put the energy you used in making the decision to solving the obstacles. Miracles will come from where you least expect it. Simply open your eyes.

Please try it and share your results. Compare it to other techniques. Let us know what you think.

Tip: You can also take a poker chip and write things that resonate more with you and give you the answer right away – HECK NO! and Without a doubt YES! Get creative and make it fun!

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Fun on the Web June 12, 2010 Milwaukee Music & Festivals

This is a spreadsheet that went around for some years but is now a website and updated regularly. Music events, venues, festivals, it may not all be there but it's sure a good start!
http://www.freemusicmilwaukee.com/

Friday, June 11, 2010

Fun on the Web June 11, 2010 16 year old Rescued at Sea

Another 16 year old girl who was sailing around the world has been rescued
http://soloround.blogspot.com/

Opinion I happen to share, just what were her parents thinking, letting her do this nonsense that could have gotten her killed?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/jun/11/abby-sunderland-rescue-sailing

More about Abby Sunderland
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abby_Sunderland
http://www.abbysunderland.com/

Monday, June 7, 2010

Fun on the Web June 7, 2010 email to BP

Here is a copy of the email I sent to BritishPetroleum (BP) rep, Randy Prescott at randy.prescott@bp.com : I hear you said "Louisiana isn't the only place that has shrimp." Let me remind you that "BP isn't the only place that has fuel for my car."

I suggest you do the same.

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Fun on the Web June 5, 2010 Wrong Blues Speed

Thanks to Niki for this tidbit.

"Either the recordings were accidentally speeded up when first committed to 78, or else they were deliberately speeded up to make them sound more exciting. Whatever, the common consensus among musicologists is that we've been listening to Johnson at least 20% too fast. "
http://www.npr.org/blogs/talk/2010/06/03/127404458/robert-johnson-we-heard-you-all-wrong

The article it refers to complete with MP3's is here:
http://www.touched.co.uk/press/rjnote.html

Friday, June 4, 2010

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Fun on the Web June 1, 2010 Evony

Back to school I go . . . if you are home and need entertaining let me suggest.
http://www.evony.com/

This game combines building and strategy for the ultimate purposes of alliance and war. I think it's more absorbing than an other game I have ever played. For basic strategy go here:
http://evony.medievalgamer.com/evonybasics.html

And more in depth info is here:
http://www.evonyguide.com/wiki