Quote of the Day

"The things that will destroy America are prosperity-at-any-price, safety-first instead of duty-first, the love of soft living, and the get-rich-quick theory of life."

-Theodore Roosevelt

Radiohead Isn't All That Bad

It has come to my attention that I may have been a little tough on Radiohead recently. It is true, I do appreciate the band and their music a great deal. So, Radiohead, this is my Olive branch. However, I still don't forgive you for your sub-par visual aid at concerts; that is still bullshit and a travesty to paying concert-goers everywhere.

This is one of my favorite songs. Listen and enjoy.

Thank You Joey

Thank you Joey, of MTV's Real World Hollywood, for reminding me why one should never mix steroids, alcohol and complete stupidity. 

Your latest blow up was probably the greatest television since Janet's nipple made an appearance during the Super Bowl. You've actually managed to make most douche bag, bodybuilding, alcoholics look like model members of society. 

I really didn't know which I was more amused by while watching your temper tantrum: the fact that you were walking around, yelling and flexing while continually banging your head on the wall or that I actually thought at one point you were, real life, about to beat the shit out of those two extremely annoying girls that you lived with. You are a complete moron and I loved every second of your immaturity and lack of any boundaries or social niceties. 

Only in America.

Jamar Hornsby: Are You Kidding Me!?!

Jamar Hornsby, the former University of Florida safety, has allegedly been using a teammates dead girlfriend's credit card to buy gas at BP stations since her death in a scooter accident last year; the first charge was made within 24 hours of the girl's death. 

Hornsby's lack of production on the field seems to only be trumped by his lack of morals or humanity off of it.  Thankfully, Hornsby has been kicked off the team and faces criminal charges for credit card fraud.

Quote of the Day

"The rule of my life is to make business a pleasure, and pleasure my business."

-Aaron Burr

Radiohead Revisited

Alright, well the Radiohead concert experience was quite the dichotomy of sorts. While it was an awesome experience and I was able to spend quality R&R time with some of my favorite people, the concert, for me, was a bust.

The band played well -- I mean the music was great. The problem was that when I go to a concert I want to see the band perform. We were like 200 yards from the stage and the giant screens, which are supposed to provide people with shitty seats a better view of the performance, were curiously blank. Now, for the hardcore Radiohead fans this wasn't a problem in the least because, of course, Radiohead is just "so... so transcendent and supernatural." Unfortunately I am not quite a hardcore fan and this flippant dismissal of the visual shortcomings of the concert were a source of great aggravation for me.

We were surrounded by very emotionally in-tune scene kids. You know the type -- the kids who act like the rigors of upper-middle class life are just so frustrating and tough that they really have to buck the system and showcase their human uniqueness through ridiculous haircuts and strange clothing. It took great restraint to not turn around to the sprite behind me and tell him I didn't care what he thought he sounded like in the shower, that he was ruining the already diminished experience for me with his out of tune howling.

Aggravation turned to bitterness and I began telling others in my area it probably wasn't even Radiohead that for all they knew it could just be some random gentlemen jumping around on stage. My section wasn't fond of me at that point -- when I started yelling "no more encores, just pack it up guys... seriously, no more," my section hated me. What can I say though, I'd been pushed to my limits patience wise. In hindsight I could have soaked up the experience more thoroughly, minus all the complaining, but when you drop good coin on a ticket you'd like to at least be 100% sure you actually saw the band.

Toyota Sequoia Commercial Song

Ignore the shitty out-the-window nature of this home video -- and yes, whoever made this video is just playing the song in their car while filming out the window. That is missing the point though.

This song plays in that damn Toyota commercial and I had some trouble finding this song anywhere, so here it is for your listening enjoyment. The song is by a fellow named Pete Droge and is, in my opinion, pretty damn catchy.

Quote of the Day

“In the desert I saw a creature, naked, bestial, who, squatting upon the ground, held his heart in his hands, and ate of it. I said: "Is it good, friend?" "It is bitter-bitter," he answered; "But I like it because it is bitter, and because it is my heart.”

-Stephen Crane

Radiohead Concert Tonight

Tonight me and a group of my favorite associates are venturing to the Tampa Amphitheatre for a Radiohead concert. Radiohead is one of the most slept on bands that I can think of and apparently they give an incredible live show; I am extremely excited for tonight. Besides the good music it should be quite a wonderfully relaxed party scene of sorts -- everyone should be happy, no one should be freaking out.

While it is probably too late for anyone who is ticket-less to go to this particular concert at this point, it is not too late for you to become an appreciator of Radiohead. Enjoy.

Fat Zach -- At It Again!!

I must preface this post with a little information.

I noticed this cyber-anomaly a while back while browsing YouTube for some of my favorite songs. I'm searching Bob Dylan -- one of normal Zach's most beloved icons. To my shock I see myself playing the guitar, much better than I can, I should add. The only problem is I weigh 75 pounds more than I do now.

My understanding is that there is someone out there in cyberspace who looks just like me and is much better than me at everything I do; he even likes the same exact things that I do; he just likes them much more and in a much more impressive way. This guy is a superior being although nearly in the exact same mold, cut from the exact same cloth that I am; he is just much fatter.

Sometimes I take solace in the fact that I am much more physically fit than he is, but at the end of the day Fat Zach and I both know who the better man is. Fat Zach.

Zach Likes the Beach: A Trip Revisited

Well the weekend getaway is officially over; it had a rather unfortunate early ending. One of our companions -- sadly, the one who drove -- decided that, because he was having a lover's spat, it was appropriate to wake the rest of us up at 4:30 in the morning so that he can take care of "some stuff" in town.

The basic goal of the trip was achieved... I think. We relaxed, swapped stories and in general grew closer as human beings. The weather was warm, the water was refreshing and the waves were crisp. There were ups and downs and even a few questionable decisions but in the end it was good-natured happy times.

Here's a recap of some of the more noteworthy occurrences. Anonymity will be kept for sake of feelings being hurt.

- Inevitably, "The Big Cat" went with the wrong choice, given the fairness of his skin, and chose the tan accelerator instead of it's more protective cousin sunscreen. Despite plenty of objections to this decision, it was carried through and "The Big Cat" is as burnt as his critics are smug.

-Best "Zing" of the Weekend - Friend #1 enters the room holding his crotch with what can only be described as a shit-eating grin on his face. Friend #2 says, "what the hell is that." Friend #1 (still awkwardly grabbing his crotch) responds with a smug "This here? This is life man... This is life." Friend #2 fires back "Well... I guess life is short." ZING

-In general, riding around in a Mini Cooper, at any time, is noteworthy and awesome. So, instead of describing a single Mini Cooper convertible ride that I had this weekend, I will try to illustrate how cool it is. Think James Dean with a Marlboro and beer, riding on a tiger, on a surfboard, hanging 10, in the pipe of a big wave making whoopee to Bridgette Bardot. Yeah, riding in a convertible Mini is that cool.

All in all, it was good times with good friends. When you're in a comfort level like we were all in this weekend the possibilities really do feel infinite. Spend time with your friends; it does a body good.

Quote of the Day

"It's just a job. Grass grows, birds fly, waves pound the sand. I beat people up."

-Muhammad Ali

Finch is Done

Florida linebacker/safety Jerimy Finch won't have to worry about competing for playing time in the Fall -- at least not at the University of Florida.

Finch looks like he could be the first player under the Urban Meyer regime' that will leave the school for academic reasons. The Indianapolis native is probably going to end up tranfering to the University of Indiana.

Billy Has A Lot of Swagger... Macklin a Gator

Billy has really out done himself this time; former McDonald's All-American Vernon Macklin will transfer to the University of Florida from Georgetown.

Macklin is a 6'9" power forward who was the third-ranked player at his position coming out of high school. He is an extremely athletic dunker who should bring much needed experience to the locker room and another big body in two seasons. The real cherry on the top could be a relationship Mack has with a potential recruit.

DeShawn Painter is a coveted forward recruit who is almost certainly going to be a McDonald's All-American himself; he is very close with Macklin. Painter is said to be down to the University of Louisville and UF. Macklin could prove to be the difference maker.

Incredible

This gentleman plays the ukulele better than I think anyone has ever played anything; he is the master.

Quote of the Day

"You can't be a Real Country unless you have a BEER and an airline -- it helps if you have some kind of a football team, or some nuclear weapons, but at the very least you need a BEER."

-Frank Zappa

Zach Loves the Beach

Well yesterday's Kentucky Derby proved to be as interesting as I could have guessed; I won't even get into how spot on I was about Big Brown. That is an epic beast to say the very least; I suspect we could be looking at the first Triple Crown winner in 30 years.

The lovely beach picture is appropriate because me and some associates of mine are taking a reprieve at the beach for the extended weekend. We had cocktails, watched basketball and had, in general, a very good time last night. Some consumed more than others. I of course was responsible and fell asleep nice and early so I could enjoy the morning. I have already gone on a beach cruiser adventure. Our lone female companion is cooking breakfast as I type -- it is merely coincidence that she has done the majority of the "woman's work," we are, of course, a very progressive group.

Today's activities will include plenty of beer consumption and sun exposure. A gentleman who I will only refer to as "The Big Cat" has brought his Hawaiian Tropic Tan Accelerator and he is quite excited about using it.

We are staying in a very swanky neighborhood and I am going to make a point this afternoon to mingle with some of the high-society types who I've seen washing their boats and what not. I am equipped with my yachting shoes and have a pension, when vacationing, to be quite cordially infultrative.

My next post could be in the midst of tropical bliss or total chaos. Stay tuned.