Today's Apocalypse Sign: The Weekend In Black And White

This past Tuesday (one of the coldest night of the fall so far) my wife and I made another visit to the Chihuly exhibit at the Dallas Arboretum. The exhibit was extended through the end of the year so we got to see the other half of the park we missed last month. Below is one of the best B&W pictures I took that night. Please enjoy.



Balloons

This blown glass art is truly awesome to see at night...in color this is orange and white

Linking to The Weekend In Black And White

Today's Apocalypse Sign: Dead Pool 2012 Update

Well it didn't take long and it was one I didn't see coming. Number two is in the books...

Zig Ziglar - died at the age of 86 on November 28th. He passed away in Dallas, Texas.

I always enjoyed listening to Zig. His voice was meant to sooth the soul and his words of wisdom never failed to inspire. I had the privilege of hearing him speak in person one time back in the early 90's...it was very powerful.

He did a lot of good for a lot of people and will be missed.

This makes the second of this 2012 Pool to die on the great state of Texas...and Dallas is very close to home for me. Thankfully I am not a celebrity outside my own head so I am not overly worried.

Here is a short video of one of Zigs greatest topics - negative thinking. Please watch and enjoy. Rest in peace ZZ...





Have you heard Zig before (in person or on tape)?

Today's Apocalypse Sign: Celebrity Troika Dead Pool

I don't know what that means but it sounded kinda cool. Okay, so for some reason , this time of year starting roughly at Thanksgiving and running through the end of the year...3 celebrities pass away. It is the mystical belief that supposedly celebrity deaths happen in threes or some such silliness. So to perpetuate the mythology, I offer again this year a chance to pick your celebrity list. The first one is already gone...

Larry Hagman - Dead at the age of 81. He passed at at home in Texas after battling cancer. The JR Ewing icon was slated to participate in this seasons revival of the "Dallas" rebirth. That storyline will now have to be changed.

So who will be the next two to greet Larry in the hereafter by the end of the year?

Maybe someone from this list (wishing no ill-will on anyone obviously):

Clint Eastwood
Gene Hackman
Wilfred Brimley (perennial survivor of these lists)
Muhammad Ali
Carol Burnett (she is being sued from beyond the grave)
Harrison Ford
Sean Connery
Tommy Lee Jones
Betty White
Cher

Who will be included in the list of honorees at the Oscars in February?

Maybe you have one of your own you'd like to add. The watch will go on through the end of the year (or through 12.21.12 which ever comes last) and updated as needed.

Today's Apocalypse Sign: Post Thanksgiving Weekend Graphs

The turkey has run its course and most of you have awoken from your holiday naps by now...time for a little exercise...of the laugh muscles!

I have just the set of graphs to get you out of the fog and ready for the new work week.

Please enjoy in moderation...with family and friends.


This weeks thing that make you say , "Hmmmm."

Nine Circles Of Scientific Hell



Not trying to be a Sunday downer are we??



So when you get done reading this turn your computer off and go to bed...



Electrician Outlet Patrol just makes me laugh...out loud



Now to finish on the simple side of life...

Today's Apocalypse Sign: 28 Days Later

As you can tell by my Mayan Countdown on the right sidebar, there are 28 days left for the end of [insert your belief here]. For those of you holding out for the Zombie Apocalypse you may want to start (or continue) your planning with a refresher...28 Days Later would be a good place to start.

Of course this movie has nothing to do with the Mayans and everything to do with Zombies!! It is another in a long list of "how the hell will we ever survive this" end of civilization movies.

Now that Thanksgiving is over...

 

See, now you don't have to worry you missed out on Black Friday sales!!

Today's Apocalypse Sign: The Weekend In Black And White

While in Salt Lake City for a conference several years ago I took the opportunity to walk the grounds of the Mormon Tabernacle. It is a pretty impressive place. I took some shots in B&W and this is one of the buildings on site.


Spires

Linking to The Weekend In Black And White

Today's Apocalypse Sign: In Today's World...

**I started this post yesterday (Wednesday) as a reference to the mentions of time below.

CELEBRATION DAY

One of the good/bad things about "these days" is the speed of gratification. I grew up where waiting for things was the norm...like for weeks or months. Now with the Internet, iPhones and Pads, and the ability to order anything you think of by virtue of a device within arms reach at all times, things are different. "Instant Gratification" is the crack of our day to day lives. Waiting and patience is a lost talent for most people. I for one embrace the instantness of today's gratification. I'm sorry.

Now to the exciting part of this post. I say that with the caveat that if you are not in anyway a fan of music or the history of how music got to where it is now (sometimes it is hard to figure out exactly where it is) or think anything that is not Bach or Mozart is just noise, you may feel free to leave.

Those of you that have stayed, I have just spent the last two hours reliving some of my youth via the musical phenomenon known as Led Zeppelin. I know I posted about them a couple days ago, but through the magic of instant gratification, I received in the mail today the Celebration Day 2007 concert package that was just released on Monday. Quite surprised I was, but nonetheless ready to leave work immediately to get home to check it out. I was unnaturally excited I must say, and the looks on my non-understanding co-workers (this is Texas and Zeppelin is not Willie Nelson) gave thought to a possible seizure on my part.

The box once opened, revealed two CD's of remastered Zeppelin classics, a Blu-Ray DVD of the December 10th, 2007 concert at the O2 Arena in London, a DVD of the last rehearsals on December 6th, 2007. And a small booklet with short statements from each band member relative to this concert. Ironically death broke up this band and death brought this reunion concert about.

As I have mentioned previous, the great Zeppelin drummer John "Bonzo" Bonham died in September 1980. This after a day of rehearsals for their upcoming tour. Unfortunately Bonzo had a great affinity for copious amounts of alcohol. After a day and night of heavy drinking and eating he "retired" to bed. Sadly he was found dead the next afternoon and the cause was aspirated vomit in his lungs. You drink and eat too much, you pass out, you vomit, you inhale, you die. Certainly not the the first time this has happened but for sure (for me) the most crushing. I had tickets to their show a month later. I was beyond distraught. The band immediately announced the tour was canceled and they would no longer be performing as a group. The end.

I was in a state of disbelief for days. The radio station I listened to played their music as tribute and for me, a constant reminder of what I would never witness...a live performance by the greatest rock band ever. Of course compounding this matter was the fact that in a moment of unclear thinking, I foolishly sent my unusable concert tickets back for a refund. How friggin' stupid was that!!

The band never did perform again. No replacement drummer was ever going to stand up to Bonham's thrashing of the skins. There was never even a hint of Zeppelin playing again as a group. Everyone who ever hoped it might happen, hung those hopes on the solitary fact that Bonzo's son Jason was a drummer. I always held out hope he would be the one person who could reunite the group. It was the only hope in my mind.

The death of Ahmet Ertegun former Atlantic Records producer (Zeppelin's label at one time) on December 14th, 2006 created the opportunity for Zeppelin to do a tribute concert the next year. Someone somewhere wanted to see the band play again and this was the best opportunity...and it happened!

Back to the DVD...I put the Blu-Ray disc in the player and immediately strains of Kashmir spill over the title frame. As tempted as I was to listen, I pressed play and got right to the concert. The opening riffs of Good Times Bad Times kick things off and for me was quite an emotional excitement. Hearing that first song, thinking back to when I first heard it, recalling the time I was in the bowels of the Cleveland Coliseum and hearing Zeppelin play, seeing those guys together on the stage, and watching Jason perform as if the spirit of his father had taken over...it was very intense.

(Slight digression, my wife thinks watching a concert on TV is not really seeing a concert and even though she loves Zeppelin, she will be no where near as involved as I was tonight. But hey, they will probably never play together again and for sure not tour so watching the Blu-Ray on a big screen plasma at Mach 8 volume in a dark room...does it for me.)

The play list is as follows:

1 Good Times Bad Times
2. Ramble On
3. Black Dog
4. In My Time Of Dying (phenomenal rendition)
5. For Your Life
6. Trampled Under Foot
7. Nobody's Fault But Mine (one of my favs from Presence)
8. No Quarter (I friggin' love this song!)
9. Since I've Been Loving You
10. Dazed And Confused (yes, complete with bow-playing guitar work)
11. Stairway To Heaven (always voted greatest rock song of all time)
12. The Song Remains The Same
13. Misty Mountain Hop
14. Kashmir (WOW!!)
15. Whole Lotta Love
16. Rock And Roll

Now a few observations:

1. They nailed EVERY single song! The power and force were unbelievable for a group with three guys in their mid-60's. Page is going to be 70 in two years, watching this performance and equating it with that was mind boggling. He is arguably the greatest creative guitarist ever. These songs have stood for 40 years and rival anything being played today. Plant's voice is still fantastic and so perfect for this music. JPJ's bass and keyboard work round out their sound. This concert couldn't have sounded any better if it was back in 1980 again.

2. Jason Bonham IS his old man. He is a big solid dude and can absolutely play lights out. His power drumming drove the show. Critics review afterward: "Bonham's playing was flawless." Agreed. Read his little note in the box set, pretty cool. Rated it the greatest day of his life and after it was all over, he just broke down and cried. Props dude.

3. Not a weak song in the bunch (not that LZ has any weak songs). Reaffirms their status as the greatest rock n roll band ever.

4. Watching a concert from the comfort of your own couch does not suck.

5. If you enjoy this band and their music in anyway shape or form, this is the best $29.95 you can spend this holiday season. Get it for yourself or for your favorite music fan. Nancy, this may help your son see the light!

6. I am buying a second set to keep sealed and put away.

7. I took these pictures of the screen like I was standing in the front row of the show!

 

Here is the last two minutes of the show...


I'll probably watch this again next week...rock on!