Justin Hand

How often do you get to have a second bachelor party? Well, it wasn’t really a bachelor party but MJ managed to get everyone together for a few drinks and bowling. Mind you, its extremely hard to get all of us together at the same place, on the same day, at the same time. We all have very crazy schedules and other than MJ and I, the others work variable work times and alot of them at night. Regardless, there we were together for drinks and laughs, having a really great time. Since the official party took place in Montreal, only 3 of the six of us got to go so MJ wanted us to meet here in town and have a night out together before the wedding. We met at BOSCOS for a few drinks before heading to Hardwick’s for some bowling. League meets on Mondays so naturally we head for the bar to wait for an open lane. Brian couldn’t make it for drinks due to work but makes it to the alley before we finish our first beer. Several pitchers and a few shots later, we finally get a lane. There was no sharpie so we had to label napkins to put our beers on as not to be drinking from each others cups (it’s happened before). I think we made it through about 3 games before noticing they were about to close down the lanes. By this time, we were feeling good and laughing pretty hard….. all the sudden we start to bowl strike after strike….and then I go to roll my last frame and get a spare. Chris then hops up and bowls when I realize he was bowling my last roll on the 10th frame. I volunteered to bowl his first one of his 10th. I should have just taken the score and said that’s it but no, i had to bowl once more. Up to the lane, grab the ball and what happens next… I trip and fall flat on my face, the ball takes off down the lane and what do you know, I almost got a strike (9 pins down). It was one of those moments that was so funny, I had to laugh at myself! GOOD TIMES!!!! We finished up and poured the last of the pitchers so we can say our last words. Michael about fumbles all over his toast, Brian tries to toast but forgets what he is saying and I think we actually got a few that finished. Some of the guys wanted to keep rolling along to another bar, especially Chris but I figured lets end on a good note (way too much wedding shit to be taking care of anyways in the AM). We wrap things up and head outside so the guys can smoke a last one before heading out. We congregate around John’s Accord so I could pass off the cuff links and shoes for the wedding to Brian. We are standing around joking when MJ speaks up and lets us know he has had a great time and that a special note should be taken that he made it out of the building with his bowling shoes still on. Note the picture above. I took this with my iPhone and honestly i’m surprised that we were able to all get our feet in this picture cause I think some of us were having a tough time standing up straight. I cleaned it up and put it through some Photoshop filters to get what you see here. Man, he even got the cool Velcro junts. I’m jealous.

THANKS to MJ and everyone else. You guys rawk and I wanted you to know I really appreciate everything you have done and will be doing for the wedding. I’m really glad we have shared in the times we’ve had. You all are near and dear to my heart and I hope you know that. Sometimes we don’t always see eye to eye or for that matter be able to stand each other for extended periods of time. Lord knows that some of us have put our friendship to the test more than once but I wouldn’t trade you for anything, I love you guys, thx again!

My boy mike posted this and I thought i’d do the same. What a plan this would be!

I’m against the $850,000,000,000.00 bailout of AIG. Instead, I’m in favor of giving $850,000,000,000 to America in a We Deserve It Dividend.

To make the math simple, let’s assume there are 200,000,000 bona fide U.S. Citizens 18+. Our population is about 301,000,000 +/- counting every man, woman and child. So 200,000,000 might be a fair stab at adults 18 and up. So divide 200 million adults 18+ into $85 billion that equals $425,000.00.

My plan is to give $425,000 to every person 18+ as a We Deserve It Dividend.

Of course, it would NOT be tax free. So let’s assume a tax rate of 30%.

Every individual 18+ has to pay $127,500.00 in taxes. That sends $25,500,000,000 right back to Uncle Sam.

But it means that every adult 18+ has $297,500.00 in their pocket. A husband and wife has $595,000.00.

What would you do with $297,500.00 to $595,000.00 in your family?

Pay off your mortgage – housing crisis solved.

Repay college loans – what a great boost to new grads

Put away money for college – it’ll be there

Save in a bank – create money to loan to entrepreneurs.

Buy a new car – create jobs

Invest in the market – capital drives growth

Pay for your parent’s medical insurance – health care improves

Enable Deadbeat Dads to come clean – or else

Remember this is for every adult U S Citizen 18+ including the folks who lost their jobs at Lehman Brothers and every other company that is cutting back. And of course, for those serving in our Armed Forces.

If we’re going to re-distribute wealth let’s really do it…instead of trickling out a puny $1000.00 ( “vote buy” ) economic incentive that is being proposed by
one of our candidates for President.

If we’re going to do an $850 billion bailout, let’s bail out every adult U S
Citizen 18+!

As for AIG – liquidate it.

Sell off its parts.

Let American General go back to being American General.

Sell off the real estate.

Let the private sector bargain hunters cut it up and clean it up.

Here’s my rationale: We deserve it and AIG doesn’t.

Sure it’s a crazy idea that can “never work.”

But can you imagine the Coast-To-Coast Block Party!

How do you spell Economic Boom?

I trust my fellow adult Americans to know how to use the $85 Billion We Deserve It Dividend more than I do the geniuses at AIG or in Washington
DC.

And remember, The Birk plan only really costs $59.5 Billion because $25.5 Billion is returned instantly in taxes to Uncle Sam.

Ah…I feel so much better getting that off my chest.

Kindest personal regards,

Birk

T. J. Birkenmeier, A Creative Guy & Citizen of the Republic

PS: Feel free to pass this along to your pals as it’s either good for a
laugh or a tear or a very sobering thought on how to best use $850 Billion!!

Why don’t people like this run for office? I’ll tell you why, because they know there is not a chance in hell of being elected.

Pitty

Triple photo post, I had to do it!

see Sarah Palin pictures

see Sarah Palin pictures

see Sarah Palin pictures

Man oh man… What you see here in the picture is the culmination of our trip to Montreal. The guys asked me where I wanted to go and I tried to think of somewhere we would all be fairly unfamiliar with. I wanted to make it a getaway that helped us forget about the stress of our jobs and mundane day to day tasks and kick loose for a while. Since english is our main, nah, only language, it was a determining factor of course. Amsterdam was a first choice purely because I love Europe but it was too costly. I thought about somewhere in the states but like I said before, I wanted somewhere none of us had been and between us all, we have it covered. I did a little research and I came up with Montreal. Always in the top 3 of every search I did on the net about Top 10 Bachelor Party locations. Details of this venture are of course off limits but to be honest, it was much tamer than I had anticipated so forget about any grimey details people~! Honestly, I didn’t want to leave. Not due to any crazy bachelor shenanigans but because of the atmosphere, nightlife, people and their attitudes and most of all the weather! It just goes to show how skewed our views are here and how well other places are doing with out the help of the Bush administration. I’m not blaming just Bush and his cabinet but more so the state of the country and our lack to move forward with the rest of the world. We are too proud here, simply put. I used to have a love for French Language and I wanted to be able to speak it fluently but the end of college and needless to say, I don’t even have a full year of art college under my belt, much less fluent knowledge of French. After returning from Montreal, I really want to pick back up on my second language. I feel not only generally motivated but inspired from the time we were there. Of course, it WAS a bachelor party but it was a vacation from Memphis as well. The food tasted great, the city was clean and fun, the people were all nice, even the ones working at the fast food joints. We didn’t get a single attitude from anyone. Even meet several friendly locals, one who gave us info on a local party and another who even shared in shots and laughter in sending me off to be wed. It was truly a great time. I just hope that my lifted state lasts for a longer than I anticipate. Special thanks to my buddies who went above and beyond to make sure I had a good time regardless of where we were or how much things cost. I love you guys and hope you had a great time too. Thank you.

ps… to the guys that didn’t make the voyage, you missed out on a hella’ trip and were greatly missed!
pss…. eleven days and counting!

Man oh man….   only 3 and a half weeks to the day. October 4th is just around the corner and man is this wedding stressing me the hell out. It’s mainly just money really. Shelley is being great about everything. I think we have had a hand full of arguments about things but not as many as some people I know. The money thing however is just eating up my bank account, I swear. I now know what people mean when they say weddings are expensive. I didn’t help the situation by having made some of the choices I did. Although its stressful, I think it will be a great time and everyone will enjoy it. With the reception situation taken care of, our substitution location is pretty cool and allows for us to remain a private party until the very end. I personally want to thank all the groomsmen for putting up with my freaking out and also in advance for helping out with the wedding arrangements, especially David. You are a life saver man, seriously. Well, at least we are able to get out of town and relax in Montreal before the big day. Its going to be a much needed breathier from all the last minute arrangements. Once we get back, I’ll be refreshed and can focus on making sure the wedding is just perfect. Afterward, our honeymoon will be the fantasy vacation i’ve been needing for a long, long time. Let’s just hope a hurricane doesn’t spoil our getaway.

Well folks, here it is. The new theme is up and running with some slight modifications. I would like to keep with the simple themes i’ve been using but move to a little more surfy-water like feel. Let’s see where it takes us. Ill be adding new content over the next day or so and hopefully everything will go smoothly. Thanks to Vanilla Mike for the inspiration to update my look. (*note – new theme is based on aurora)

It is time to start the show back up. INTERFERENCE – every Tuesday from 6-8pm CST. I’ve been missing it rather much lately and I think I have taken enough time off from it. The show starts back up this evening and I’ll be flying solo this time around. I’d like to get back to doing a SHOW rather than a straight mix so you’ll be hearing me chat as well as give the latest “whats up” that I used to in the earlier version of the show. I’ll also be doing a little mix-up with the music i’ll play as well as see about getting guests involved again. Well, I’ll just let you judge for your self, see you guys at 6pm! Make sure if you decide to tune in, that you hop into the chat room and let me know you are listening! Who knows, I might just give you a shout out!