Influence

I found this list of the ten most influential and important rock bands of all time.

Let the arguments begin.

Mood: Intrigued
Music: The Eagles: "One of These Nights"

Heartbreaking

I haven't been able to bring myself to think about the Packers heartbreaking playoff loss this past Sunday, at least for any great length of time.

There were a lot of people that thought the only way for the Packers to win the NFC Championship was if the Giants beat the Cowboys, allowing the Packers to host the championship game.

With the way the Cowboys faded at the end of the season, eventually losing to the Giants in the playoffs, with the way the Giants played so well on the road, and with the way the Packers performed in the cold against the Bears, maybe the Packers would have been better off traveling to Dallas to face the Cowboys instead.

As dominant as the Packers had been against the Seahawks, they seemed a bit flat against the Giants. Despite their protestations to the contrary, I really think Green Bay was affected by the cold. The Giants controlled that game, and gave the Packers all they could handle. In retrospect, it almost seemed like the Packers were trying not to lose rather than trying to win.

I commented to Maryanne that it's harder to watch a football game when you're so emotionally invested in one of the teams. Watching any other game doesn't matter too much, regardless of the outcome, when you don't care that much about who wins. But in a close game, especially a close loss like the NFC Championship, it can end up being very stressful.

When the game went in to overtime, and the Packers won the coin toss, I commented that I hoped they didn't try to go for the whole thing at once. There was plenty of time on the clock, and I was hoping they might try to get the running game going again, since the long ball wasn't there in the passing game. Instead, Favre threw up a pick, and the Giants finally got the field goal they needed to come out on top.

I'm hoping that despite the heartbreaking loss that the season as a whole was encouraging enough that Favre comes back for another season.

I'm also hoping that the Giants' surge at the end of the season, and into the playoffs, means that they have what it takes to give the Patriots all they can handle, as well.

Mood: Sad
Music: The Doors: "Light My Fire"

Talent

Thanks to the power of Fark, I recently discovered a young musician by the name of Sarah Zimmerman. Here's hoping to her success.

Mood: Intrigued
Music: Sarah Zimmerman: "Traveling Riverside Blues"

Jamming

Jamming cell phones has been a highly contentious topic. On one hand we have those who appreciate an end to the interruptions, dangers, and general lack of courtesy that people talking on cell phones sometimes display. On the other hand we have those who feel there are better ways of handling the situation, if it should be handled at all.

Mood: Thoughtful
Music: Muddy Waters: "Long Distance Call"

Experience

Now this is a list I can really agree with: Five dangerous things you should let your kids do.

Mood: Intrigued
Music: The Rolling Stones: "Monkey Man"

Episode III

Not only do the people behind this have too many Star Wars toys, but too much time on their hands.

Mood: Amused
Music: The Steve Miller Band: "The Joker"

Click

Among the skills needed by professional photographers, timing is perhaps one of the most important after composition, especially in the high-speed world of sports photography. Here's a gallery of 30 of the most brilliant (and often hilarious) photos, many of which are worthy of Photoshop.

Mood: Amused
Music: .38 Special: "Fantasy Girl"

Fight!

It's advice and instruction that parents (mostly fathers) hope their children (usually sons) will never have to use, but know they need anyway: how to fist fight. This article addresses the topic in the same way I would: a common sense, practical, no nonsense approach that faces the reality that you can't always walk away from or talk your way out of a fight.

Mood: Thoughtful
Music: Alison Krauss & Robert Plant: "Gone, Gone, Gone (Done Moved On)"

Frabjous!

The new issue of Cheshire Crossing is up.

If you haven't been reading Cheshire Crossing, shame on you. I think it's a brilliantly creative work, borrowing heavily and accurately from classic children's literature while creating wondefully original storylines.

Mood: Intrigued
Music: The Eagles: "Life in the Fast Lane"

Climate

Whatever your feelings about global warming and climate change, it's hard to argue that it's never happened, especially when looking at a chart like this. However, even after viewing the chart, a person could wonder just how much of an impact humans have in the grand scheme of climate changes.

Mood: Intrigued
Music: Aerosmith: "Dream On"

Inklings

It's probably a repeat, but this article on the relationship between J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis and their impact on literature is an interesting read.

Mood: Intrigued
Music: The James Gang: "Walk Away"

King on Rock and Roll

Author and apparent music lover Stephen King opines on what he considers to be the greatest rock songs ever made.

Mood: Intrigued
Music: The Allman Brothers Band: "Midnight Rider"

Kissing Cousins

Maryanne and I were recently discussing with our friends Jamie and Jed the stigma in this country against cousins marrying. I referred to an article I read recently that not only noted that it is a taboo that's almost completely American, but many states don't even have laws about marrying relatives, and those that do merely state you can't marry a relative that's a first cousin or closer. In much of the world, it is not only acceptable, but normal. The only time it poses problems is when it is done repeatedly, as in the case of the European nobility.

Just in time for said discussion was this interesting list of seven notable historical figures who married their cousins, with some other notables, as well.

Mood: Intrigued
Music: Boston: "Smokin'"

Hammer of the Gods

Forget the new Eagles album. Forget the Van Halen reunion. The biggest reunion in music -- what could be the reunion of the century -- is Led Zeppelin. In case you're living under a rock and have been completely ignorant of this momentous event, the verdict is in. What could have been the greatest debacle in music history is instead, by most reviews, everything fans have hoped for and more.

Robert Plant's voice isn't what it once was (witness their performance of "Stairway to Heaven"), but it was more than adequate for the definitive Zep song, "Kashmir".

The Hammer of the Gods indeed....

Mood: Pleased
Music: Led Zeppelin: "Kashmir"

Sausages

While driving home last night I heard a commercial for summer sausage.

This got me to thinking, once again -- why do so many people attempt to extol the virtues of all-beef summer sausage?

Whenever Maryanne buys summer sausage for something, she always goes for the beef variety unless I stop her.

A number of sausage companies praise it as superior to other varieties. Commercials compliment it as the best summer sausage ever.

I grew up on the summer sausage made by Kerscher's Foodland in Valmy. The recipe has since passed to the Welsings, the family that bought the Foodland store and converted it into a gas station with convenience store. I've tried other varieties, including Johnsonville, Klement's, Salmon's, and other local varieties, and the Kerscher's/Welsing's recipe remains my favorite.

Could it be because they still use pork in the German tradition?

Partially, I'm sure, but there's obviously something else, too, because it still remains superior to similar varieties from other makers.

If you ever find yourself in Door County looking for a snack, stop at Welsing's in Valmy (the Mobil station) and pick up some summer sausage. You won't be disappointed.

Mood: Annoyed
Music: Jimi Hendrix: "Red House"

Axes

Blender magazine offers this list of the 28 most recognizable guitars.

Somebody's bound to say something's missing, though.

Mood: Intrigued
Music: Deep Purple: "What's Going On Here"

Keeping Up

In an effort to try to stay up to date (relevant?) and in touch with people I have joined not only MySpace but Facebook as well. Add this to my membership with other networking sites such as LinkedIn and Classmates.com, and this is four social networking sites I now belong to.

This is in addition to not only having a Blogger account, but an account with LiveJournal (that rarely works) so I can comment on LiveJournal blogs.

While diversity is what makes innovation thrive, it can be a little tough to keep up with it all.

Speaking of MySpace -- why are so many people abandoning their previous blogs with Blogger or LiveJournal in favor of MySpace? Personalized MySpace pages have the feeling of vanity sites from 1996, what with their tiled backgrounds and other gimmicky stuff.

Mood: Annoyed
Music: Led Zeppelin: "When the Levee Breaks"

Choose Your Weapon

ToyFare magazine offers this list of the 50 greatest fictional weapons of all time.

Mood: Thoughtful
Music: George Thorogood: "Move It On Over"

Partridges

This is a pretty fantastic a cappella performance.

Mood: Amused
Music: Straight No Chaser: "The Tweleve Days of Christmas"

Sportsman

Sports Illustrated named Brett Favre as their 2007 Sportsman of the Year.

It's a long article, but worthwhile if you're a fan of sports, football, or Brett Favre.

Mood: Thoughtful
Music: Billy Squier: "In the Dark"