Smokin Sevens

I am proud to announce that in our first full month of blogging we have already seen very encouraging success.  Our blog feed has been pulled nearly 1,000 times, we have already generated 100 new incoming links, page views have topped 9,000, and we are having a damn good time doin’ what we are doin’.

So what’s in the plans for the coming months?  Look for us to keep rollin’ on down the road.  If you would like to join in and help out, then let me know through the comment section below.  We need some volunteer writers with unique voices so we can let this big dog eat!  Thanks again to all you readers and to all of you who have contacted me individually with the positive comments and encouragement.  We do this for you!

This just in!  Oscar the Cat has admitted to visiting with several people over the last week.  Amazingly each of them has met their end over the last few days.  Our apologies go out to the families of the following folks.

• Ingmar Bergman
• Skip Prosser
• Tom Snyder
• Bill Walsh
• Eric Wishnie

Apparently the Grim Reaper and Father Time have taken a little time off this summer and left Oscar in charge while they are out.  It has been reported that Oscar is now on his way to Atlanta to visit with Michael Vick’s dog who was recently renamed “Loser”.  Ouch!

Look out Sturgis here I come!  That’s right, me and my hog are hittin’ the road for a little ride.  I can already here Willie Nelson singing “On the Road Again”.  Like a band of gypsies we go down the highway!  By the way, this was my Grandma’s favorite road trippin’ song.  In case you can’t tell, my Grandma was the best!

With this in mind, posting is going to be a little slow going for the next few days.  I apologize, but I am hearing the call and I am answering it.  Hello…  Sturgis…?  I’m on my way!

This leads me to one more thing: picture requests.  Yep, that’s right.  I am taking my camera and I am taking requests.  Ya wanna see some pictures of kick-ass bikes?  Scenery?  Ladies (also known as scenery)?  Parties?  Let me know and I will see what I can do.  Look for some posts early next week.  I will try to make it worth your while.

Oh yeah, even one more thing.  I am looking to start up a new website selling biker t-shirts.  I have already bought the name hogshirts.com.  All that is left to do is build the site and find someone to supply me with some sweet-ass shirts that everyone will want to gobble up.  If you are at Sturgis and you want to do some talkin, then let me know.  I will be the good-lookin biker on the olive and black 2007 Dyna Streetbob.  You can’t miss me.

Hold down the fort while I am gone.  JB over and out.

Alright already!  I realize the last post was missing the normal Yahoo Buzz section, but I was pressed for time.  Be happy with what you got. :)  So without further adieu, here is the Yahoo Buzz for today.

1. Danica McKellar photos - OK, I admit it.  I looked.  She still has a little piece of my heart that I may never get back.
2. Tom Snyder - RIP.
3. Bill Walsh - Coach of the 49ers back when I was a 49ers fan.  Joe moved on and I grew up.  Go Chiefs!  RIP Coach Walsh.
4. Ingmar Bergman - I’ve heard your name, but honestly don’t know if I’ve ever seen one of your movies.  RIP.
5. Laptop Batteries - What’s the story with this one?  Have all laptop batteries walked off the job on the same day?
6. Flashdance - Chick flick.  I don’t think I’ve ever seen this one.  Tragic.
7. Frisbee - Again, why the popularity?  Again, no good answer.  Someone please fill me in.

Here is a quick rundown of seven hot searches right now on Google.  In the interest of time, I will leave it up to you to find out more about each.

1. Robin Roberts
2. Peter Dinklage
3. Star Jones
4. Smith College
5. Robin Roberts breast cancer
6. 1998 Sarah McLachlan hit
7. Faith Hill - Who doesn’t love Faith Hill?

Now that Paris Hilton has been brought back down to earth, I thought I would take a look at some of the financial adjustments she is going to have to make.  Believe me, I am more than qualified to have this discussion.  Paris isn’t the only one who has lost sixty million dollars (don’t ask).  So Paris, you are broke and penniless.  What ever are you to do?

1. No more DUIs.  Those babies can get expensive.  Just ask Lindsay Lohan.
2. No more cute outfits for your doggie.  My Chihuahua has been wearing his birthday suit for the last eleven years and he still gets the honeys.
3. No more expensive cars.  Sorry girl, but it’s time to drive American again.
4. No more expensive hotels.  Check out the Hiltons.  They generally have clean towels and nicely located next to most major airports.
5. All your jewelry can be bought at Claire’s for a discount.  They even offer ear piercing for free.
6. You may have to watch some of your own home movies instead of renting.  :)  By the way, I still haven’t seen it and that is the truth.
7. Now you are going to have to get drunk at home before you go to the clubs.  This will save you a boatload of cash and you will be ready to roll from the time you hit the door.

Well I hope these tips help.  It’s going to get rough girl, but you can do it.  Just remember, if Grandpa’s millions aren’t available, you can always use your own.

So what’s poppin’ on the net?  Let’s find out.

Google Trends:

1. Tom Snyder - Talk show host dead at 71
2. Christy Freeman - Charged with killing a newborn.  Come on Christy.  Think!
3. Danica McKeller - Winnie from The Wonder Years.  Winnie, you had me at hello.
4. Dawn Fratangelo - NBC News correspondent
5. American Home Mortgage - In a bit of trouble in the markets
6. Eric Wishnie - NBC News Senior Producer killed in hit-and-run
7. Mark Teixeira - Baseball player traded from the Texas Rangers to the Atlanta Braves

Yahoo Buzz:

1. Skip Prosser - Men’s basketball coach at Wake Forest.  Dead at 56.
2. Etta James - Blues singer hospitalized
3. Wake Forest - See Skip Prosser
4. Pat Tillman - Coverup being investigated
5. Bridgette Wilson - Blondie on Billy Madison
6. Oscar The Cat - Cat who predicts the death of patients in his nursing home.  Keep him away from my grandma.
7. Wake Forest University - See Skip Prosser

Taking a look around the world today and taking stock of where we are at; I have arrived at a list of ideas and technologies whose time have finally arrived. Here they are in no particular order.

1. Mobile Internet - Thank you Apple for the iPhone. Awesome mobile capabilities.
2. Fuel Efficient Vehicles - Hybrids, global warming, $3/gallon gasoline
3. GPS - Thank you Garmin. Thanks also to Garmin for allowing me to own some of your stock.
4. Satellite mapping for the masses - Google Maps and Google Earth
5. An unmanned, drone, robotic military - Rock on with your bad self.
6. Bundled phone, cable, and internet - Thank you for the competition. Now how about lowering my bill.
7. On demand television - This one is just a matter of time. Who is going to offer it first?

I know I have missed several other items, but it has to stop at seven due to strict editorial guidelines (not really). What is missing? How about the Nintendo Wii? That is a slick gadget. What about nanotechnology? It’s time to share your thoughts.

Now that Barry Bonds is finally closing in on Hank Aaron’s home run record, Roger Federer is making a run at tennis’ majors, and Tiger Woods is chasing Jack Nicklaus, I have been in the mood to do a little thinking.  Why is it that we compare today’s athletes with yesterday’s?  I realize that all athletics are built around competition, so it is just a natural progression.  Why then do we feel like we are experts enough to know the difference between all these athletes from different eras?  Radio talk shows, ESPN, newspaper columnists and barber shop regulars spend great amounts of time and energy debating the merits of their favorites of today and yesterday. 

Who is the best all time?  Well that depends on the sport and several other factors.  Factors that any sport lover can rattle off in a matter of minutes.  We love the oldtimers and some of the modern players aren’t too shabby either.

I have bad news for Barry, Roger, and Tiger; there is another group of men on their way up and future media will swear we are watching the best.  Guys, your accomplishments will be remembered, but like all others, they too will fade and someday someone will pass you.  It is just the natural progression of time, science, and human effort.  It is the way things go.

So with that said, why do we compare modern athletes to athletes from a different era?  I was going to take a stab at some reasoning and create the typical top seven list, but I changed my mind.  I am going to leave this one up to the comment section.  Let’s get us a good ole’ fashion discussion going.  What do you say?

Taking a look at Google’s Trends for today (7/23/2007) and it looks like country music is buzzin.  From the looks of things it is the Country Music Awards are driving the interest on the Internet.  I love country music myself (can’t go wrong with some Willie Nelson), so let’s see who is hot online from the country music world.

Buzzin Country:

1. Josh Turner - Very good.  My little boys love his music.  My three year old does a great rendition of “Would You Go With Me”.  My personal favorite is “Me and God”.
2. Little Big Town - Fantastic group harmony that is definitely unique in our time. “Boondocks” is one of my favs.
3. Martina McBride - A Kansas girl with a great voice. Love those blue eyes.
4. The Wreckers - A two-girl group, with one of the two from Kansas City.  Good music.  Definitely here to stay awhile.
5. Kelly Pickler - An American Idol contestant.  I like her current song: “I Wonder”.  She has a distinctive country voice.
6. Miranda Lambert - Check out her song “Kerosene” if you haven’t heard it already.
7. Sugarland - I am a secret admirer of Sugarland’s lead singer Jennifer Nettles, but then I know I am not alone.  Love your voice Jennifer.

Notables:

• Taylor Swift - I like every song she has released.  I hope you stick around awhile Taylor.
• Reba McIntyre - Good ol’ Reba.  I saw her in concert at Cheyenne Days when I was a youngster and she still has one of the best female country voices of all times.

One more thing.  Nice job ladies.  Someone explain to me; where are all the fellas?  I guess the guys are the only ones online looking up their favorite ladies.