To The Metal

When the Democrats eeked out a majority in the last election, they came in with many promises – most of which have been tossed out for politics as usual… this is no surprise. That said, our Government should get off its ass and start making examples out of politicians who exceed the authority granted to them by the United States Constitution.

This isn’t a redneck lying about a blowjob under oath… Nope, this is a Speaker of The House and a gaggle of retards going over the executive branch, exceeding their authority, and attempting to negotiate with a foreign leader that we’ve essentially severed ties with.

The following individuals should all be censured an impeached from office: Nancy Pelosi, D-Cali., Keith Ellison, D-Minn., Nick Rahall, D-West Virginia, Tom Lantos, D-Calif., Henry Waxman, D-Calif., and David Hobson, R-Ohio. Sure, they can go anywhere they like – they are free to. However, meeting and negotiating with a foreign leader is a job for the Secretary of State or the President of the United States… Not some hack politician trying to score points by negotiating with terrorists.

Liberals, Democrats, Independents, Republicans – these are your elected representatives. When you flipped the lever last November and handed them control of the House and Senate, they made you some promises which they failed to keep. This never-ending cycle of the party in power getting a free pass because they align to a certain ideology needs to stop and it needs to stop now. Go ahead and take Bush to task for his failures as a President – world peace doesn’t break out just because a Democrat is in charge folks – thinking so is a complete failure in logic and common sense.

The US Constitution can be seen anywhere, just use Google. What is the world to think when our elected leaders will not even adhere to our founding documents? At least Bush had the approval of Congress when he took this nation to war. Pelosi and her cabal only have the approval of their egos.

This is an absolute embarrassment to our nation, I am amazed anyone who isn’t currently in a targeting reticule takes us seriously anymore.

Washington’s second veto message to the House

In short, Congress attempted to pull funding on a military presence, GW vetoed it, and clearly stated why… I can’t help but chuckle.. it was only his 2nd veto.

Yesterday marked my long awaited return to the local gym… something I have been looking forward to for MONTHS. Nothing like getting into a groove at the gym, getting into shape, and then having something happen to screw it all up. The latest and greatest was a nasty little virus that caused Rheumatoid Arthritis like conditions in my legs and kept me from being very mobile… That was punctuated by a sinus infection that had been suppressed by all the medication I was on.

That all cleared up, and yesterday I was back in my element… IPod on the ears, steel in my hands, finding out just how much strength vanished during my 3 month hiatus. I didn’t fall back as much as I had thought – I can still bench my weight but I’m a good 30lbs off on most of my exercises from where I was previously.

This time I plan on taking a different route, with more reps and less weight, I’d like to build lean muscle and get rid of this 27 year old baby-fat… My last trip had me rapidly approaching a point where my neck was no longer in the room – and while I loved being that strong and that big, my arms would fall asleep if I laid on them which isn’t much fun.

So here is where I stand thus far – after my trip to the gym yesterday…

Lateral Press – 250lbs (no, I do not weigh 250lbs)
Shoulder Press – 160lbs
Preacher Curl – 80lbs
Tricep Extension – 100lbs
Butterfly – 140lbs
Delt Extension – 120lbs
Lower back – 280lbs

My max can go higher, but I’m going to work at the above numbers – if not a little less – and instead of doing 3 sets of 10 reps to my max, I’ll try to do 3 sets of 20 reps 20lbs or so below my max. I’m only doing 2 sets of 10 this week, next week I’ll bump it up to 3 sets, and then the following I’ll increase the number of reps. I’m sure I’ll get a little bigger, but comfortably so. Wish me luck.

Like I said, it never fails… When Johnson and team 48 have a chance to win, it is guaranteed to be the most exciting finish you’ll see at any race. This time it was a definite Vader / Skywalker vibe as he held off Jeff Gordon’s Chevrolet to take the win. Gordon did everything short of wrecking him to get the 48 out of his way, but as they are team-mates, thankfully he didn’t take that step.

I just hope this is a sign of things to come, as every since Jimmie Johnson became a Nextel Cup Champion, he’s had an edge to his driving style which had been lacking the past few years and it will only bring in more wins, more points, and more fans.

Congrats to Jimmie Johnson and Team Lowes for another win!

I love iTunes.

Their selection – insane.

Their delivery – immediate.

Their quality – second to none.

The problem? DRM. The same software that allows Apple to satiate the idiotic industry only allows me to play the music I purchase on my iPod or in iTunes. Sure, I can dump the tracks to a CD (5 or 6 times) and then rip them back into iTunes… A loophole even Apple knows about. Perhaps the justification is that the effort and materials required for someone to convert a library composed of thousands of tracks would protect the Apple model of how things should work.

My problem? I paid for this stuff. $.99 a track, for music that Apple dictates I can only listen to HOW they say.

What a crock! Apple trumps the industry only to pull a dick move that only the record companies and their designated front end – the RIAA – could top. So I poked around on Google and found a program that’ll decrypt my tracks on the fly and allow me to listen to them however and whenever I want… ie with my Xbox 360 streaming the tracks through Zune.

I won’t go as far as naming the software I picked up, but it’s out there – it’s free – and it allows anyone to listen to tracks purchased even with the latest version of iTunes. I’ll keep my m4p’s protected and I promise I’ll never share them… that said, DRM can kiss my ass.

Not sure how long it’ll be up on YouTube, but someone managed to get the “A Tout Le Monde (Set Me Free)” version with the duet between Mustaine and Scabbia. Some of the magic was lost when I realized they recorded separately in two different studios with Mustaine going through several singers before they landed Lacuna Coil’s front woman. Excellent choice IMHO.

The original is by far one of my favorite songs ever, as remixes are inherently unavoidable these days – I’m glad that Dave did it right. The only thing I might say is that it sounds a little… rushed. Thankfully I’ve still got my copy of Youthanasia to keep me company. Look for this track on the upcoming Megadeth LP.

Check these guys out… Album I want isn’t in iTunes yet but I’m waiting.