The Masked Blogger - Goodbye Dan Seals

On March 26, 2009, Dan Seals passed away at 61 years young after a long battle with lymphoma. Seals enjoyed success in pop and country music primarily in the 1980's and early 1990's. His hits include Meet Me in Montana, One Friend, Bop, They Rage On, and Everything That Glitters is Not Gold, to name a few.

Long after the peak of his popularity, my first introduction to Dan Seals was on spring break of 1997. My friend Philip and I drove from Arkansas to Florida. He had a Dan Seals greatest hits tape. We listened to that tape over and over on our trip. We constantly thought "Dan Seals is awesome" and "why isn't he all over the place". For whatever reason, Seals' popularity became non existent by the mid 1990's.

In a time when it's hard to find good country music, you can always dust off a Dan Seals cd. His life may be over, but for me his music will continue to rage on.

Ping Pong ratings get boost

The Masked Blogger - You got change for a dollar?

You can't make this stuff up! Thanks aol news!

SAGINAW, Mich. (March 26) - A man police caught performing a sex act with a car wash vacuum has been sentenced to 90 days in the Saginaw County Jail. Jason Leroy Savage must also submit to drug testing. The 29-year-old Swan Creek Township man was sentenced Wednesday in Saginaw County Circuit Court. Savage pleaded no contest to indecent exposure last month. Police say Savage was arrested after a resident called officers early on Oct. 16 to report suspicious activity at a car wash in Thomas Township, about 90 miles northwest of Detroit. Savage's attorney, Philip Sturtz, didn't immediately return a message seeking comment.

The Masked Blogger - I like girls who wear Abercrombie & Fitch, I just don't like their customer service.

I could be wrong, but...

Well, the Masked Blogger is back at it again with another intellectual brain buster. Hmm, this "masked one" enjoys shopping in a cologne drenched store with near nude male models plastered everywhere? And you shop there for the durability? Sounds like your street cred is...well, more on the late night street corner. Take your mask off!!

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I don’t know if it is an urban legend or not, but I have been told that the employees of Abercrombie and Fitch are instructed to ignore its customers. Supposedly the A&F Employee Handbook says something along these lines: “Thou shalt not greet or seek to serve thy customers”. I have been on the receiving end of this lack of hospitality a number of times. I walk in, no one says “hello” or “may I help you” or receive any extension of anything even resembling customer service. Apparently, there is some kind of pop psychology taking place. Evidently, A&F wants the customer to feel privileged to be in their store rather than vice-versa. It is a ‘you need us rather than we need you’ concept. Despite this treatment, sky rocket prices, loud music, and a nauseating scent of cologne, I keep going back. I have only bought a few things ever from A&F. They were surprisingly good deals and I have been impressed by the durability.

What’s interesting is that the last few times that I have been in Abercrombie and Fitch, I have been overwhelmingly welcomed by the staff. Each time I have been greeted by multiple workers, my business is sought, and I feel truly welcome. The change is so glaringly obvious it is like the elephant in the room. Of course a drastic alteration such as this begs the obvious question of why. My best guess is that it is connected to the economic crisis in our country. Does A&F think that if people are treated respectfully that they might still buy regardless of their financial circumstances? What a far out thought; be nice to those that pay your bills!

I don’t know if this ‘chivalry thing’ will last beyond the recession, but even if it doesn’t, I will keep going back to a store where I feel unwanted while the majority of my natural senses are repulsed. Makes sense, right?

Alan Jackson didn't forget - Choices

If there is a Mount Rushmore for country music, George Jones has to be one of the faces. George has a way of singing that is hard to describe. He sings with so much feeling that it resonates to the listener. George's impact on country music is insurmountable.

George has been plagued with drug abuse throughout his career. No-Show Jones became a household name in his hayday. He became unpredictable, erratic and down right crazy. He would often miss concerts, have brushes with the law and have woman problems to boot.

Throughout all the troubling times, George seemed to crank out the heart breakers and charm the fans. George's 4th marriage seemed to be the charm. You know what they say about the 4th marriage...OK you're right - I guess there are no sayings about 4th marriages. George married Nancy Sepulveda on March 4, 1983. George considered Nancy as his "rock". She helped him as like most other "recovering -musician junky - johnny cash like stories" go.

George's career fell into a lull in the late 1980s and early 90s (as did a lot of others country music stars in his age bracket). He had a short run comeback in 1992 with some novelty type songs, but it didn't last long. George's career continued to decline. Fortunately, Alan Jackson had not forgotten about him. George was one of Alan's heroes.

George professed to be alcohol and drug free. On March 6, 1999, George Jones was involved in a near fatal SUV crash. Alcohol was involved. "I did wrong that day and take full responsibility," stated George. His actions made him renew his vows to sobriety and refocus his work on a new music project. The Cold Hard Truth was released on June 22, 1999, and spawned a song that hit home with George and the fans. Choices was George's song. Every one was fighting for George hoping that he would get every aspect of his life on track.

The Country Music Awards recognized the impact of the song and asked George to perform. George was flattered. He later found out that the CMAs only wanted him to play about a minute or so of the song do to time contrants. Basically they were telling him that you are still not worth the time. George just told them to forget it and boycotted the show.

Alan Jackson had not forgotten about him. Unbenounced to the awards show, Alan altered his performance of his current hit and paid tribute to his hero.

Alan Jackson - Pop A Top (CMA Awards Live)
Uploaded by SpiXder

Choices

Written by Billy Yates and Mike Curtis

I've had choices
Since the day that I was born
There were voices
That told me right from wrong
If I had listened no I wouldn't be here today
Living and dying with the choices I made
I was tempted by an early age I found I liked drinkin'
Oh, and I never turned it down
There were loved ones but I turned them all away
I guess I'm payin' for the things that I have done
If I could go back Oh, Lord knows I'd run
But I'm still losin'
This game of life I play
Living and dying
With the choices I made

The Masked Blogger - Real Wrestling?

When I was a kid, I loved professional wrestling. Hulk Hogan, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, and “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff were at the top of the profession during my childhood.
Even as an adult, I still possess an affection for it, but now there is another set of names that catch my eye. Eddie Guerrero, Chris Benoit, and “Mr. Perfect” Curt Hennig are just a few names on this list. This past Friday, March 13, Andrew “Test” Martin was added to this fraternity. These are former professional wrestlers who died suddenly, at young ages, and with drug abuse rumors surrounding them.

Professional wrestling has always had the aura of being ‘scripted’ and yet these deaths are anything but. Steroids and pain killers continue to run ramped and claim the lives of these young athletes. I know that you can’t simply blame the business itself, but as we watch our favorite wrestlers and their phony aliases, we must assume that most of them are dealing with real demons in an effort to win our cheers.

Justin Townes Earle...hmm.

Justin Townes Earle is the son of famous musician/poet/political activist/sometimes troublemaker Steve Earle. Steve Earle is a bittersweet pill for me to swallow. I think he is very talented, but he can really get on my nerves at times. Over the years his music has become more of a politico-music thing and that just wears on me.

I became aware of Justin about a year ago. I was able to listen to some tracks from his second release The Good Life and was blown away. Anyone that has a famous parent as a dad is going going to have it tough. I think you may have your foot in the door and the money, BUT you won't have the people your side and THAT's the problem. The Good Life is a great album. It is a mixture of tunes that are traditional country with some that are more folk oriented. Justin's voice blows me away and the production is great. I would venture to say that his voice (at least on the recordings) are the best traditional style country voicings I've heard in country music in the last 15 years. They seem pure and reminiscent of Hank while keeping his own person integrity.

Justin has a new album out, Midnight at the Movies, and it sounds like it's fairly solid. I was disappointed that the direction of styles seem to be changing slightly. It seemed to me that I could here a young Steve Earle singing a lot on that record - in voice and style of music. I hope that was just me and not the reality.

Anyway, I think the public should take a look a this guy and give him a fair shot even if you like or dislike his daddy.

Here's his official video from his The Good Life release:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQbO25Yb73Y

How does Classmates STILL stay in business?

I imagine most people are aware of Facebook and MySpace. For those that don't really know much about it or have secondhand views, you probably only associate it with bad things on the news OR think it's one of those sex sites that's featured on Primetime Live. I guess it can be whatever you make of it. I guess your home telephone can be a sex phone if you want it be. But if used properly, it's a pretty cool resource.


I have a Facebook and MySpace account to promote my band and music. It allows me to send updates to people for upcoming shows and at a click of the mouse, I can send umpteen messages to anyone at anytime. It also allows me to find old friends from years ago. It's nice to stay in touch with people I don't really know that well. I guess that's kind of weird. The nice thing about these sites is that they are free, too! All in all - it's helpful to me and entertaining at the same time.

All of this leads me to my original statement: How does Classmates STILL stay in business?Classmates may have been the first site to help you re-connect with old classmates and friends. I still get emails to this day. The BIG difference here is Classmates costs MONEY-Dinero-Greenbacks-Cabbage-Benjamins-! You cannot access the site without becoming a "Gold Member" or whatever the "in-crowd" calls it. Does this not confuse anyone else? Who cares if someone has signed my guestbook a year ago or uploaded a new picture? Classmates seems to be living about 10 years behind the times. Do they not know that Facebook and MySpace offers 100x more things for free? But they are still around, so what do I know? Am I missing something?

Hang on, someone just signed my guestbook. Gotta go.

The Masked Blogger

How Much Would You Pay To Have Cancer?

Most would pay nothing, but the Buffalo Bills have agreed to pay 6.5 million dollars for it. The Bills contracted this deadly disease this past Saturday when they signed Wide Receiver, Terrell Owens to a one-year deal. ESPN’s Skip Bayless often refers to Owens as T.O., as in team obliterator. Owens has had trouble everywhere that he has played, specifically with his quarterbacks. Jeff Garcia, Donovan McNabb and Tony Romo all failed in the effort to keep number eighty-one happy. Do we really think that Trent Edwards will be any different? The Bills already have a number one receiver in Lee Evans; will T.O. be satisfied with being number two? The only connection that Terrell Owens has with number two is that he often acts like it.

Buffalo is a great football city. Jim Kelly, Andre Reed, Thurman Thomas, Bruce Smith Cornelius Bennett, and others have paved the way for this city to be associated with football excellence. I know that the Buffalo Bills organization and its fans want to win, but at what price? With T.O.’s skills diminishing and his negativity continuing to flourish, he’s no longer worth the gamble. T.O. will probably put on his best face for a while, but something will inevitably change it. It’s like cancer, it can go into remission, but it often reappears and even when it doesn’t you fear that it will.

Top 25 Albums...or something like that.

I've been noticing on Facebook that people often list their Top 25 albums of all-time. Well, I've listed 25 albums and I don't know if it's of all-time, but they are albums that meant a lot to me over the years. They are either great albums or events that helped shaped my musical tastes today. And by the way, this is off the top of my head. I imagine it would change greatly if I really thought about it.

The Band – Brown Album
Dwight Yoakam – Guitars, Cadillacs, etc.etc.
Dwight Yoakam – Hillbilly Deluxe
Weezer – Blue Album
Weezer – Pinkerton
Stone Temple Pilots – Purple
Johnny Cash – Folsom Prison
The Beatles – Abbey Road
Elvis – Aloha from Hawaii/'68 Comeback Special
The Beatles – A Hard Days Night
Hank Williams Jr. – The Early Years
Cheap Trick – At Budakon
Wilco – Being There
Roy Orbison – Mystery Girl
T. Rex – Electric Warrior
KISS – Double Platinum
Tony! Toni! Toné! – The Revival
Steve Earle – Guitar Town
The Band – The Last Waltz
Lucinda Williams – Car Wheels on a gravel road
Buck Owens and the Buckaroos – Live at Carnegie Hall
Kelly Willis – What I deserve
Cake – Fashion Nugget
BR5-49 – This is BR5-49
Last has to be any album by George Jones, Hank Williams Sr. or Merle Haggard

The male-pig, chauvinist Masked Blogger

The Hottest Woman of All-Time

The month of March means ‘March Madness’. For those of you that may not know what I am referring to, ‘March Madness’ is the term associated with the sixty-five team tournament to determine the national champion of college basketball. When I was in college, there were a group of guys that created an annual tournament to determine who the hottest girl on campus was. Names were added, a bracket was formed, and a champion was crowned by popular vote. Disgusting, shallow and chauvinist, I know.

The other day, I was in a hair salon. I was looking at a magazine and saw a picture that I just could not believe. I grew up in the 1980’s. When I was a kid there was no doubt in my mind of who was the most beautiful woman in the world. Decades later the same woman is still #1 in my mind. Brackets, votes and other women are not necessary to determine this one. Here is what I saw in the magazine:


Congratulations Christie. You are 55 years old and still the champ.

National Sportmanship Day

Today is National Sportmanship Day. In honor of National Sportmanship Day, here is ESPN's Top 10 Most "UN"Sportsmanlike moments in the world of sports. What did they miss?