TheEducatedFool.com

Photos from Heather's Birthday

2011-01-01T16:47:00.001-06:00

Heather's birthday was in December, and we went to see Mayor Daley's tree to celebrate. I "make" a cake each year for her (because it's the only thing she HAS to have on her birthday). It's a cake mix, but she always likes it anyway. And my foot got bloody. Enjoy!

By the way, Happy New Year.

Free the Bedroom -- A Quick Rant about Bedtime

2010-04-07T20:28:00.000-05:00

This post is primarily for couples (and anybody thinking about getting married some day).

I recently read an article about the Apple iPad that I only partly understood because I'm no tech guru.

The concept I did understand and which I reacted to was the author's statement -- "I loved [to] bring the Apple Air to bed to do my browsing..." Here's my two cents.

Bedtime is for two things: sleep and sex. And for married folks, both are equally important. The bedroom is NOT a place to put an office (we learned that one the hard way). The bedroom is NOT for work of any kind. The bedroom is NOT for a television (a TV in the bedroom says a lot about your sex life). And the bedroom is NOT for movie-watching.

The bedroom is for rest, peace, and alone time WITHOUT technology. Learn to cultivate a sense of peace in your bedroom, and you'll sleep better and feel better. Turn your bedroom into a home office, theater, or into just another place for a workaholic to browse the frickin' Internet, and you've got no place to take her when your best friend needs your undivided attention.

Step away from the computer and your so-called important "life" on the web and free yourself to truly enjoy the bedroom for the oasis it was meant to be.

Alice in Chains -- Black Gives Way to Awesome

2010-03-30T16:54:00.000-05:00

In case you've been living under a rock for the last couple of years, I'm here to tell you that Alice in Chains has regrouped. And far as I'm considered, they're easily as good as they once were.

Although I used to relate to a lot of the feelings Layne Staley had before his untimely death ("Sitting on an angry chair, angry walls that steal the air, stomach hurts and I don't care...I don't mind the air, I don't mind..."), there's a point when a guy's gotta say, "Enough already." Insert the new Alice.

I could say a lot about the new lineup, as I've paid a lot of attention to the new band, but I don't have the time. Suffice it to say, this album is completely worth the listen. And if the new video doesn't wet your appetite, I don't know what will. I can't embed it by request, so you'll need to click the link.

Cheers all,
The Educated Fool

Heather's Hair -- the Many Do's of Hurricane Hetta

2010-03-16T22:03:00.001-05:00

It's been a little while since I've posted something here. I've been super busy lately. But I recently came upon some photos of Heather since we've met, showcasing her hair over the years. Next August will be seven years that we eloped to Niagara Falls after having met just two months earlier.

2002 (one year before we met)

2003 (the day we eloped)

2004 (with Miles; longest hair yet at this point)

later in 2004 (shorter and permanently orange)

2005 (permanently pink)

later in 2005 (purple w/ short bangs; holding Eden, our niece)

2006 (blonde; with her sister, Stacy)

2007 (shortest, natural hair color)

2008 (with some guy)

2009 (funkkkkky!)

later in 2009 (the Joan Jett look)

present

So, what's your favorite? I have a hard time choosing. I liked all of them.

Haiti Disaster

2010-01-13T21:27:00.001-06:00

I'm taking a few moments at the end of this day to express my heartfelt sorrow for what has happened in Haiti today.

I have no explanation for this disaster and subsequent horrific tragedy. In truth, I've been more than a bit depressed over it. How much more can these people take?

I pray this tiny country will eventually recover from the events of today, but I'm at a loss for why it had to happen at all. Christian beliefs, of which I possess, don't answer the questions which have plagued my mind since I read about it this morning.

If you are interested in helping, you can send a donation to the Red Cross.

Pics of the Snyders

2009-12-14T19:47:00.001-06:00

My mum asked me to send a couple of photos to her for a gift for her mother, and so I took a few of us and Miles. Heather's hair has always looked really nice. I'm still deciding if I like the pony tail on me. Miles is in his usual, "Don't mess," full glory.

Happy Halloween -- Brainkrieg, Decomposing Pumpkin

2009-10-20T20:03:00.001-05:00

I think it's about time I posted something from Homestar Runner. Check out the recent "video" from Brainkrieg, a madeup, supposed-death-metal band.

I look at this site at least a couple of times every day, and I especially enjoy the fan-created wiki. Have fun!

Until next time,
The Educated Fool

Video Tune -- Audioslave, Cochise

2009-10-12T13:20:00.001-05:00

I've been relaxing a bit today before I get back to work, and I've been watching a few Chris Cornell videos. I've not said much about him before this, but he's a pretty big effect on me over time. My first Soundgarden album was Superunknown, and I was in college at the time. There's nothing he has done that I haven't enjoyed (all except for some of his solo work).

Audioslave rocks (err, did rock). I won't go into it. Watch this video. You'll like it. It's old. But you'll like it.

Cool Tune -- Ace Frehley, Outer Space

2009-09-28T23:06:00.001-05:00

I've decided to dump the "Tune of the Week" feature from this blog because it's just too much for me right now to be doing this every week. Plus, I've decided to start writing a bit more, and a blog that JUST features tunes is a little boring in my opinion. At least for me it is. My guess is I'll be posting on a somewhat less regular basis and that I'll be going back and forth between posting music and something I've written.

But don't worry. I won't be abandoning the tunes altogether. I mean, this stuff gets me going and I can't but help post some of it.

I read today that Ace Frehley's most recent CD, Anomaly, made into Billboard's Top 10 rock albums. I'm no expert on the subject, but KISS just doesn't sound the same to me without Space Ace. There was something unique to the sound of his guitar, and his leads were pretty darn good in my opinion. I wish he was still in the band. But Simmons and Stanley will keep playing (to make money), even if the only drummer and guitarist left on the planet are Lady Gaga's studio musicians. How many "Farewell" tours have their been, anyway?

This is "Outer Space" from Anomaly. It's fair. But I do dig his sound. And it needs to be BACK in KISS, dangit!

Somethin' Different This Week

2009-09-15T01:12:00.000-05:00

I won't be posting a tune this week. Instead, I'm suggesting you watch this.

As far as I'm concerned, this is pure genius; as good as any musical I've ever been to or even heard of.

Lemme know what you think.

Until next week,
The Educated Fool

Happy Labor Day!

2009-08-31T23:51:00.002-05:00

We're going to be out of town this week, celebrating the 90th birthday of my grandma on my dad's side.

I hope everybody has a nice Labor Day weekend, and we'll have a tune for you belatedly next week. We travel on Monday of next week, so you'll likely have it some time on Tuesday.

Until then,
The Educated Fool

Selling Our Old Friend -- 1991 VW Jetta GL, Wolfsburg Edition, 5-Speed Manual

2009-08-07T13:21:00.015-05:00

Hey, everybody, we're selling our car! I've posted several photos here of it.

Interested? Go to my profile page and email me!

Video Tune of the Week for 08/03/09 -- Coheed and Cambria, The Suffering

2009-08-03T22:23:00.004-05:00

I'm posting a video. Yay. It's of a band that I actually dig, although I'm NOT really into the dude's voice. And they're a little too emo for me. But I like their sound by and large. I've got this CD, and it's a decent listen throughout.

Coheed and Cambria is a "concept band", as opposed to a concept album. Each CD tells its part of the story that the band itself is telling through its music. I haven't gotten into the story up to this point and I've not had the time.

Okay, here it is. Until next week,
The Educated Fool

Video Tune of the Week for 07/27/09 -- King's X, Dogman

2009-07-28T00:32:00.004-05:00

This'll be a quicky (man, I'm getting tired of not having much time to write -- looking forward to a life if I can find one in the next few months).

I found this video of King's X on YouTube -- a performance on the Jon Stewart Show. I didn't know they had made it big enough to make these sort of appearances. They've always struggled, regardless of their talent and their first six albums' label (Atlantic).

This made-for-TV recording blows, by the way. King's X has a truly bigger-than-life sound in person. I can't even hear Jerry Gaskill's (drummer) voice.

Dogman grooves big time. The whole album. It introduced a sound for them that was pretty new, including a much dirtier distortion sound.

Okay, I'm off for now. Until next week,
The Educated Fool

Video Tune of the Week for 07/20/09 -- King's X, Pray

2009-07-20T23:19:00.005-05:00

As some of you know, one of my all-time favorite bands is King's X. I did a many-part review of King's X on my old blog, at the end of which I decided they were done. But that was before XV, the most recent album and from which this video is taken.

These guys are fab as far as I'm concerned. That bass is a 12-string, by the way, and Doug Pinnick gets an awesome tone out of it. I'm glad he's playing it again!

I should also make sure to let you know that I've seen these guys live a few times now, and they sound EXACTLY like they do on the CD. All three guys sing, and they don't dub over in their recordings. And when Pinnick plays his 12-string, they don't need a rhythm guitar when Ty's doing his leads. It's really something to see them live, I'm telling ya.

Make sure to click that HQ button!

Okay, I gotta go. The next 30 days are really important to the folks who live in this apartment and I'm busier than ever.

Until next week,
The Educated Fool

No Tune Today -- Watch the CFL!

2009-07-07T00:09:00.008-05:00

I won't be posting a tune tonight because I just don't have the time.

BUT, I am posting a little note to any of you who might be interested:

Watch the Canadian Football League! It's a great game to watch (3 downs, very talented running backs and wide receivers, and a larger field with huge endzones), and every game is archived from beginning to end AND without commercials!

A number of the CFL games can also be watched live as well as archived (but with commercials) on ESPN360.

Tune of the Week for 06/29/09 -- Carcass, Tomorrow Belongs to Nobody

2009-06-29T17:35:00.008-05:00

Oh...my...heavens. I'm not a big fan of Carcass' early stuff, but this entire album absolutely drills my brain to a pulp.

Don't listen to this on my blog, as it won't sound as good as when you listen to it on YouTube. Click the "YouTube" logo at the bottom-right of the video player (below), and then click the small "HQ" button once the YouTube page opens. And make sure to grab a decent pair of headphones!

"Let's go!"

Until next week,
The Educated Fool

I LOVE the Jonas Brothers (I'm Serious)!

2009-06-22T19:56:00.007-05:00

No kidding! I've got a new favorite band: the Jonas Brothers!

And although these guys can play (I mean, they really CAN!), they can also act! I have never laughed so hard than when I've watched one of their short skits. Awesome stuff!

Lessee...you've got the curly-haired Jonas who sort of plays the role of "go between" -- he's the most confused, I guess, of the three, and always takes it while never dishing it out. The one thing I don't understand, though, is how he ended up going bald down the middle at such an obvious young age...

Number two Jonas is clearly the "ring leader" and is continually putting the other two Jonas' in their place. I know these guys are considered heartthrobs, but I don't how this one managed that status with his stark "bowl" haircut...

And finally, there's the stout Jonas who seems like he was born stout, bald, and insane! He's by far the funniest one of the three, and he really makes the trio click. He's by far my favorite Jonas brother, and he should be yours as well!

Well, I'm just about to enjoy another great skit by these incredible young men, the Jonas Brothers!

P.S. Ignore the name given to these gents at the beginning of this skit. Although SOME might consider the Jonas Brothers to be just a bunch of pathetic, boring, talentless "stooges", not I! I'm a real fan! Really! I promise!

Tune of the Week for 06/08/09 -- Believer, Gone

2009-06-08T22:46:00.004-05:00

Okay, this is gonna be real quick!

I recently rediscovered Believer, a favorite of mine from the past. These guys really pushed the limits of what "Christian" music could handle at the time. They were doing things that nobody I knew of, religious or not, was doing. I'm not saying that noboby actually was, I just didn't know of anyone. They certainly expanded my horizons in those days.

Unfortunately, I don't own any Believer any longer. Everything I had was on cassette, and those recordings dissappeared a long time ago. I've posted a recording from YouTube that sounds pretty good. Take a listen if you're interested.

Go Pens!

Until next week,
The Educated Fool

Video Tune of the Week for 06/01/09 -- Falconer, Carnival of Disgust

2009-06-01T18:09:00.006-05:00

I'm posting this one on behalf of my friend, Soup. I've actually had an opportunity to introduce HIM to a band this time. I've found a number of gems as a result of his help, and now it's my turn.

I have become an instant fan of this band. They are absolutely amazing as far as I'm concerned. I've heard them described as "folk metal". Like I mentioned to my friend, I'd describe them as Jethro Tull meets Iron Maiden. Galloping guitars, Celtic melodies, and a classically-trained singer who sings in a lower pitch than one would expect but without which, there would be no Falconer.

All of their music (except for one album, which I'll discuss in a minute) revolves around the medieval era -- knights, horsemen, peasants, and the like. There's a ton of metal out of Europe that deals with these kind of themes, but Falconer pulls it off believably. I hate corny metal (except for a select few faves), and this is definitely not corny.

The one album that departed from the theme and sound and singer of all the others was Grind vs. Grandeur, an album whose songs revolved around famous murders and criminals. It featured a different, long-haired singer whose voice sounded more "metal", and the whole band did the eyeliner/goth thing for all the photo shoots. Their fans HATED it. So they immediately went back to the old sound, old singer, and old awesomeness.

Heather likes this band's sound, too, so we have had some fun with them while we've worked the last couple of weeks. Speaking of that, we've been pretty busy since our move, and we're working on something a little different in relation to our website that I'll let you know about when it's done.

Thanks for reading and listening! Until next week,

The Educated Fool

Video Interview -- Bob Dylan in 2004

2009-05-25T21:27:00.007-05:00

Instead of a tune this week, I'm posting a 2004 interview with a giant of a man, Bob Dylan. This is from a 60 Minutes program and is in two parts. I hope you enjoy it as much as Heather and I did.

Tune of the Week starts up again next week! Until then,

The Educated Fool

Video Tune for 05/11/09 -- Pro-Pain, Substance

2009-05-11T20:47:00.004-05:00

Yeah, so I haven't posted a tune for two weeks. I think that's the first time this has happened since I started doing this on that putrid Vox blog!

This is another tune by Pro-Pain that I like. It's got a video, anyway. We're still settling into the new place, so this is gonna be short.

Until next week,
The Educated Fool

Video Tune of the Week for 04/27/09 -- Pro-Pain, In for the Kill

2009-04-27T12:30:00.003-05:00

This'll be the last tune blastin' out of our old pad. We're making two trips with a truck tomorrow and hope to be pretty much done by then. We've also got to primer some of the walls in the old place because I decided to paint the red for some reason when I first moved in. Yipee!

I've been a fan of Pro-Pain for some time now. When I first began listening to them, I disagreed with quite a bit of their politics. But now, well, I'm finding myself agreeing more and more. Funny how we change sometimes when we least expect it.

I like this style of music. I've heard it referred to as "heavy-core". Heather actually likes this band, but can only stand to listen to the singer by thinking of him as "a really mad Cookie Monster". Such observations on her part have helped me not take things too seriously many times over, including this band. My good friends know I can be pretty intense. That intensity, at least on an interpersonal level, is waning in my life. A good friend is worth more to me these days than the sum of our differences.

By the way, just a little trivia. When I play this song on Yahoo! Music, one of the other choices I'm given is a song by The Dresden Dolls. What the crap? I could very easily puke all over a CD by that "group".

Have fun with this, and we'll be chattin' from our new place next week!

Video Tune of the Week for 04/20/09 -- Accept, Slaves to Metal

2009-04-20T20:00:00.004-05:00

As I mentioned in my last post, we're moving this month. So, I won't be posting much more than a video tune each week for a while. Hey, this is kinda fun anyway.

This is another by Accept. I'm not particularly familiar with this album, but I like this song quite a bit. Have fun, slaves to the frickin' metal!

Video Tune of the Week for 04/13/09 -- Cancer Bats, Lucifer's Rocking Chair

2009-04-13T22:13:00.004-05:00

I'm going to be posting videos for the remainder of the month and possibly into May as we're moving at the end of the month. They're a bit easier to post than MP3s. Moving while keeping a website updated is going to be interesting.

This is another by the Cancer Bats. A pretty funny video, and a great riff.

Until next time,
The Educated Fool

Video Tune of the Week for 04/06/09 -- Cancer Bats, Hail Destroyer

2009-04-06T00:08:00.005-05:00

I find these fellows' music to be extremely soothing. On a tip from Heather, my sister bought me Hail Destroyer for Christmas, and I fell in love immediately. The songwriting and musical sense are greatly improved over their first, full-length release, Birthing the Giant. The lead screamer writes the lyrics, and I've read that this album was very personal for him. A lot of pain and anger, mixed with, dare I say it, a positive attitude. Lines like, "Our lives begin when we fall down," "Unlive the past would only rob the future," and "Hey world, you'll never break me. Try your hardest, try your hardest," are just a few snatches of the wisdom on this release.

Also, I find these guys mesmerizing to watch. Maybe you will, too. If you want a good listen, beginning to end, consider the CD of the same name of this tune. See ya 'til next week.

Cartoon of the Week for 03/23/09 -- Bugs Bunny, Racketeer Rabbit

2009-03-23T22:14:00.008-05:00

Taking a break from tunes for this week.

Heather and I are both big fans of cartoons. I enjoy watching them with her, because it's like watching cartoons with a kid. Lots of fun.

We both grew up on Looney Toons, as have most of you, I suspect. Bugs Bunny is a favorite of both of ours, and this particular cartoon, Racketeer Rabbit, has got to be one of the very best. I remember, "It's curtains. Curtains! 'Dere!", from when I was a kid. Enjoy!

More tunes next week.

"Racketeer Rabbit" (1946) starring Bugs Bunny

Video Tune of the Week for 03/16/09 -- Voivod, Tribal Convictions

2009-03-17T01:37:00.008-05:00

Hey, everybody! This week's tune will have to be a video again as I just wrapped up our corporate taxes for last year. They're due today, and I just got back from the downtown post office. The envelope was time-stamped right around 11:30 PM. Not too bad.

I really like Voivod. I've not posted any of their music on this blog, nor the old one, largely because I like them so much. I think that's why I've posted maybe one song from Dream Theater, no Iron Maiden, etc. I could write books on why I like their music, and I just don't have the time or energy.

I'm not an enormous fan of Voivod's early work, which this video is from (1988). However, this song is certainly interesting. Their early sound takes a bit of getting used to, and the style is sort of impossible to define. It should be noted that their late guitarist, Piggy (Denis D'Amour), was a ground-breaking musician who defined a style of playing all his own. He's also known for his use of a very interesting looking (and sounding) guitar. It had a hollow body with a metal outer-edge.

Their most recent two albums are incredible as far as I'm concerned. These two CDs, although excellent, are not well-known in the US from what I can tell, possibly because Voivod is a Candian band. I don't know. I own both CDs, and I intend to play them in the not-too-distant future. There's a lot I'd like to say about these albums.

I hope you enjoy the video. It's definitely different, and it gives you a feel for their early style of thrash metal.

Video Tune of the Week for 03/09/09 -- Fireball Ministry, It Flies Again

2009-03-09T22:33:00.008-05:00

I've been listening to quite a bit of Fireball Ministry lately, along with the new Dream Theater CD I got from my bro, Jeff. He's got his own band, Duey Grumble. He hates the name. I dunno. I think it's alright. It fits somehow. They've got a few originals, so check 'em out.

Back to FM. They're pure sludgy bliss. I'm listening to "Hellspeak" from their second album, Their Rock Is Not Our Rock, as I write this. They've got a new bass player for this CD, and I think he rocks.

I haven't got much more to say at the moment. My brain hurts tonight. All I can say is, if you like real rock 'n roll, you'll love this.

Here's the video: "It Flies Again" on YouTube.

My Favorite Birthday Gift

2009-03-06T21:17:00.005-06:00

Besides the Blackhawks hockey game Heather sent us to for my recent birthday, this following photo of one of my brothers-in-law, sent to me for my birthday, was my favorite present.

The 'Hawks game was fantastic, with an unbelievable goal by Martin Havlat to win the game in overtime. But Jonathan's photo beat all. Yeah, he's that stupendous.

And as far as the photo goes, yeah, he's that weird.

Check out Pandora for Great Tunes

2009-03-02T21:59:00.005-06:00

Sorry, folks, but there won't be a tune this week. Just not up to it and far too busy.

However...I DO have a cool recommendation to give you. Have you checked out Pandora?

Ever since Yahoo! Music dropped their "radio station" service entirely (without a word!), I hopped on over to my wife's favorite free (yes, I said FREE!) Internet music player, Pandora.

The cool thing about Pandora is that you can set up a "station" around a genre of music, a single band, or even a favorite song. In my case, I like making stations around certain bands.

So, if you've got a station named after Iron Maiden, you'll get Maiden tunes as well as from similar bands like Judas Priest, etc. It's really pretty cool. It's got something to do with a human behavior study. I haven't read about it due to lack of time, but the dang thing's free.

So go out there and give 'em a try!

Until next week,
The Educated Fool

Tune of the Week for 02/16/09 -- Radiohead, Pyramid Song

2009-02-16T20:06:00.005-06:00

Okay, so I'm already breaking my rule here of only playing really heavy stuff on this new blog.

But this tune is certainly well worth watching. I found it moving. Heather did, as well. I hope you get something out of it, too.

I Love Dilbert

2009-01-29T17:01:00.006-06:00

This video clip of the Dilbert cartoon is fab. Heather and I like the cartoon a lot, and this particular episode made us laugh pretty hard. It's definitely not sensitive to the easily offended, so please be wary!

This is a "minisode" version of the full cartoon. You can watch the whole thing for free on Hulu.

Yo, Everybody, Everybody!

2008-12-25T00:21:00.005-06:00

Hey, all, I'm not going to post much here, but suffice it to say, we're glad to be blogging again.

Bustawindow.com is done, and we're looking forward to living life a little more normally these days.

Until I get my first post on this blog, you can view some of my Tunes of the Week on my old blog.

Look for the new Tune of the Week next week!

Keep rockin'!