MAYERCRAFT CARRIER MERCHANDISE PREVIEW (PART 2)

You on South Beach yet? I snapped some shots of a few more goodies you can find in the merch cabin this weekend -

hand-numbered event poster:



sticker to benefit our greening program:



and last, but certainly not least, you can't be in the sun without some shades, right?



I just realized I should have made some on-board whistles...cause the whistles, they go WOOOOOO!

-Scotty

MORE LIKE "BE TRUE TO MY SCHOOL."

As you may or may not know (or care), Nike has deemed 2008 to be Dunk-a-licious. Part of the Dunkfest has been the re-release of the BE TRUE series, a set of hi-tops from the 1980s made for college basketball powerhouses of the period. The shoes are individually vintage-ized (I was going to say "individually worn" but something about that seemed a bit misleading) and allegedly limited in quantity.

Anyway, I love the Runnin' Rebels just as much as the next guy, but what about MY schools? It ends up that I'm being true to YOUR school, and as much as my heart sinks when I think about the fact that I didn't attend 'Nova, I just want a few more colorways.

So tonight I decided to hang with my Vietnamese friend, Pho Toshop, and we came up with a few extra Dunk Hi options we'd love for you to drop in February, Mr. Nike. Thanks in advance.

Brunswick High School Pirates:



Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets:



Let me know if you need an address to ship the 10.5s directly to me. Thanks again.

ONE DAY, MANY YEARS FROM NOW, I WILL BE IN A VAMPIRE WEEKEND COVER BAND AND WE WILL PLAY SHOWS AT SMITH'S OLDE BAR FOR CROWDS OF 35 PEOPLE AND OF THE 6-8 PEOPLE IN ATTENDANCE WHO AREN'T FRIENDS OR FAMILY OR BAND OR CREW, 2-3 WILL HAVE A REALLY GREAT TIME.

This here entry is a stone, a single stone.

Bird #1:

Every hip music mab/blog/blag/brog/brag acted like they were going to Audi TT in their pants when the Vampire Weekend EP leaked last summer, but I thought it was a little early to go all MNFB on everyone. As it turns out, they were all right. The bits of the full-length record are a deep shot to left that is backbackback and might just go out, and "V-Dub" IS in fact my new favorite band. "Who's changing their undergarmets now?" they'll say.

FFF found and sent me this live performance video:


#80.3 - VAMPIRE WEEKEND - Walcott / One
Uploaded by lablogotheque

Of course he's all in tune with "Cyberfrance"...anyway, that leads me to...

Bird #2:

The Take-Away Shows from La BlogothequeEasily YNFW. Those crazy French bastards basically let bands sing songs in the streets, cafes, abandoned buildings, and public transportation vehicles of Paris and film it all. Genius - every single video becomes so compelling simply due to the direction. Now, I realize that the mere fact that V-Dub's segment was the EIGHTIETH probably means that you know all about The Take-Away Shows, but i just had to make sure.

Vampire Weekend's Vampire Weekend comes out in the US on Tuesday January 29, which is just 2 days after this upcoming, non-vampire, weekend.

See you at Amoeba on the 4th.

I LOVE MARCUS MCNEILL SO MUCH THAT THE SAN DIEGO CHARGERS MAY VERY WELL BE MY FAVORITE SPORTS FRANCHISE IN THE HISTORY OF TIME.

Marcus McNeill, OT, on the Chargers staying loose in last week's game vs the Colts:

"That's how it's supposed to be," McNeill said. "It doesn't make no sense to be at crunch time and your butthole is all tight."

Quote is from this article.

PS: Of COURSE he's from Georgia. I actually have that quote, verbatim, cross-stitched on a throw-pillow that my parents gave me to take to college. It helped me through many a test at Tech - whenever I get nervous I just close my eyes and tell myself it doesn't make no sense.... Try it, you'll like it.

FROM WEHO TO WAHO

Nothing like starting the day off with that big block of Tabasco-soaked hashbrowns in your belly at 8am. Sweet, sweet suburban-Georgia cuisine, where have you been? Amazingly, I missed out on Chick-fil-a and didn't make it far enough south for Willie's, but you will be had very soon, my savory pork-chop-sandwich-of-a-friend.





And before I get accused of anything, ask me brovas who sent them a daily photo of their lunch each day back in the summer of two-double-oh-tree...like Sidney Poitier said, Separate But Equal. Terrible pronoun usage, the dative case is killing me these days.Anyway, until you've seen Lee Padgett consume a double order of hashbrowns (which I will henceforth call "passionbrowns"), you haven't lived. I tried to take a photo of that, but: a) he wasn't there at the time, and b) 8 megapixels is simply too much digital detail to try to take in all that Casa De Waffle and chili.

NOW THAT THE OFFSEASON IS 1 WEEK OLD...THOUGHTS ON A LITTLE THING CALLED COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Since I haven't been doing any marathon running lately, I thought I'd do some marathon typing and offer my thoughts on the end of the college football season (a truly tremendous one to watch if you like unpredictableness-age-tion-ibility). With more upsets than former Yugoslavia in the 1990s and more flip-flopping in the polls than Santa Monica in the summer, it was truly, literally, a level-playing field. That's right, 120 yards of 180 degree flatness.

Impressive: The SEC. If I recall correctly, Auburn, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, and LSU all covered in their bowl games. Mississippi State and Kentucky won their games. It wasn't Florida's day and Arkansas was playing without a Nutt, but an overall solid performance by the Southeastern Conference (nine teams in bowls! #1 and #2 in the final AP poll? yikes).

Unimpressive: The only think weaker than the Ha-WAC-ii thinking it could come out and play any real team from any real conference on any real television station with it's undefeated-because-we-played-single-A-class-high-school-caliber-teams-all-season attitude is Ohio State. I'd rather be Michigan: showcase the biggest upset in the history of the sport (at the time, USC -- shoutout to The Cardinal for covering the +45), lose to you, and finish on a high note and not get humiliated for the second year in a row in the BCS Championship. I mean, how many more times do we have to see Ohio State wasting a spot at the top of the polls for months then a spot in a big bowl game before everyone realizes their conference (and therefore schedule) is soft, they have no conference championship game, and they only won a national championship because of a bogus pass interference call in OT?

Teams with reason to complain: USC ('cept you shouldn't have lost to STANFORD), UGA ('cept you should have won your DIVISION), Missouri (actually pretty legitimate complaining - if Mizzou beats OU in the Big 12 Championship, does the Orange Bowl still take Kansas over Oklahoma? I bet not...)

Teams with reason to celebrate: LSU (the new NFL U?), Kansas (1-1 in games that mattered), Tech (later Chan!)

I've decided to pull a Utah and marry my two loves...well, almost - I've drawn up some comparisons for you, if Football Conferences Were Musicians. I'm sad R. Kelly didn't make the list, but Sun Belt, there's always next year!

ACC
In theory (and composition), one of the coolest, most badass groups ever. In reality, high points that are really really great and a lot that is mush.
Music Industry Parallel:

The Roots

Big East
Small. Fast. More than anything, lucky. One of those things where you SWEAR you don't like it but you find yourself engrossed in enjoying it all of a sudden.
Music Industry Parallel:

Soulja Boy

Big Ten
First and foremost not what you seem, you 11-team-having-weirdo. Then a little uppity, a little nerdy, a thick wallet, and a lot of self-pride.
Music Industry Parallel:

Avril Lavigne

Big 12
The glory days from the heartland weren't so long ago, but you're not so convinced they're gone. And you'll do anything to prove it....except prove it.
Music Industry Parallel:

Bon Jovi


(close second: Counting Crows)

Pac-10
Modelly - strong, goodlooking, and sleek. Strength seems to rely on one or two individuals rather than the entire group (both in the conference and on individual teams).
Music Industry Parallel:

New Kids On The Block

SEC
Strong, dirty, sweaty, and a little thick. Dominating the headlines as of late.
Music Industry Parallel:

Britney Spears


(close second: Li'l Wayne)

- it should be pointed out that these selections are also geographically appropriate for the SEC, extra points awarded to the author of this entry.

Conference USA
Can you name any of its members or anything it's done?
Music Industry Parallel:

Polyphonic Spree

Mountain West
Every now and then they put out something reeeeaaaal nice, Clark, that catches everyone's eye...then it's back to the world of mediocrity and annoyance.
Music Industry Parallel:

American Idol

WAC
Onomatopoeia.
Music Industry Parallel:

Wham!

Independents
Are they really good as independents? Or at all, really?
Music Industry Parallel: Three way tie:


T-Pain,


Akon,


and Fergie.

And for extra credit -

BCS Bowls
Fun to watch, but kind of a mess that everyone wishes would get cleaned up.
Music Industry Parallel:

Amy Winehouse

Can't wait until next September.

HAPPY 80TH BIRTHDAY TO MY GRANDMOTHER

This week I've been living in Stockbridge, GA - hanging out with my grandmother, who turns 80 today. I opted to come home for the celebration of the epic milestone-of-a-birthday instead of the holidays, and we've been having a grand time.

A few lessons learned during that grand time:

1) Go to the Georgia Aquarium on a weekday afternoon - the staff workers outnumber the visitors, and you can spend as much time with the Beluga as you want.

2) Charlie Wilson's War - a nice little film, but the second scene of the movie, where Tom Hanks is in a jacuzzi in a penthouse in Vegas with a few naked strippers, is a little bit AWKWARD to watch next to Grandmama. Just keep it in mind.

3) No internet? No problem - my grandmother tells me that if you need the answer to anything, just "call the Library hotline, they can tell you whatever you need to know" - its like Google or Wikipedia, old school-style.

Been enjoying the slowwwww pace down herre...with the exception of all the Henry County-area Starbuckses' (plural form, look it up) Hot Spots' IP addresses being blacklisted from certain domain names (like yahoo.com, hotmail.com, and most-every-company-i'm-working-with.com), it's been what VH-1 might call the "Best Week Ever."

IF NO ONE ELSE, AT LEAST I HAVE A GRAND TIME ENTERTAINING MYSELF.

actual email conversation with my buddy Benjamin:>> On 1/8/08 11:54 AM, "Scotty Crowe" wrote:>>>>> Gents ->>>>>> If you can let me know your predicted arrival time (for check-in) at the W>>> next week, I can make sure that the hotel is prepared for your arrival and>>> ensure that your rooms will be ready. Let me know when you can (if you>>> know) and I'll pass the schedule along to the hotel.>>>>>>>>> Best,>>> Scotty>>>
> On 1/8/08 9:28 AM, "Ben" was all like:>>> Hey Scotty,>>>> My expected ETA for hotel check-in is 3pm on Tuesday the 15th. Upon>> arrival I will require the following:>>>> One copy of The Never-Ending Story>> One Wool Blanket (to read The Never-Ending Story under)>> One Kerosene Lamp (illumination for the reading of the Never-Ending Story)>> One Apple (to eat (including core) while reading The Never-Ending Story)>> Fresh Lilies>>>>>> Oh...and I would like to enter my room to the tune of "Axel F' played on a>> Casio SK5 keyboard.>>>> Please let me know if there are any issues regarding these requests.>>>> Thanks Scotty,>> Ben>>>> P.S. Seriously, thank you. Will I be seeing you there?

On 1/8/08 10:27 PM, "Scotty Crowe" was all like:
> Sir:>> Thank you so much for your time, I have advanced your requests with the hotel > and they are more than happy to oblige. A few notes:>> 1) The W was only able to locate a paperback version of the novel you > requested, I hope this will suffice. They also found a VHS copy of the movie > version, "Previously Viewed" but in excellent condition and will comp this > item to make up for the paperback. A Panasonic VCR will also be set up for > you in your guest room.>> 2) A bellman will be on hand to assist with the lighting and extinguishing of > the Kerosene Lamp.>> 3) A second bellman will be on hand to assist with the washing and > extinguishing of any bits of the apple you choose to not consume during your > read.>> 4) Upon doing a small amount of research, we found that you prefer lilies in > earth-tone palettes only and will have those picked and delivered at check-in > for you.>> 5) A third bellman, who goes by the name "Snedly", will play the requested > tune on the requested instrument, via closed-circuit television from another > area of the hotel and through your guest room tv, turned up to a volume level > of "11" so as to not physically disturb you as you enter the room.>> Please let me know if all of the above is to your liking. We are looking > forward to your arrival.>> Scotty>> PS - Seriously, no problem. I'm not making it up (as of right now)...but kill > it up there.>>

GLOVES AND SPECIAL SAUCE

The number one must-have accessory of 2008 and something that will immediately change your life:






DRIVING GLOVES.

I'm not quite to the level of Jack Nicholson in As Good As It Gets, but I have to roll with a bottle of Purell in my back pocket these days - the OCD tendencies kick in when I have to touch door handles, elevator buttons, countertops, food, etc. I actually thought about Jack and decided to get some gloves as a preventative measure against germs.

But then, once I had them, there's nothing else I own that makes me instantly feel so cool. And I've got a lot of crap. A LOT. And, my definition of "cool" happens to be "chauffer-esque", so it all kind of works out.


But seriously, grab a pair (and then grab something else while wearing them) and feel the power!


PS: It's Thousand Island Salad Dressing, errebody knows it.

PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS: A SELF-HELP SERIES BY SCOTTY CROWE (VOL. 2)

Problem: First time fliers (inexperience is the only excuse I'm accepting) can't fight the temptation of standing shoulder-to-shoulder, knee-against-luggage-carousel at baggage claim. This of course causes "The Wall Effect", blocking luggage available for pickup from the sight of the more seasoned travelers, not to mention complicating the typically easy process of having ample space to retrieve a bag from the moving carousel.

Solution: Combine a little bit of patience, geometry, and common sense and we'll all discover that the larger the circumference of an ellipse, the more points of diameter d can fit along the ellipse. Taking a mere 2 steps back allows everone who was on the flight to see the carousel and provides a clear path for bag retrieval. Naysayers, I promise you that you'll still have time to grab your bag before it blows by - I know it seems like you need to be RIGHT THERE, but I'm wagering that you can cover the 70 or so inches in enough time to grab your suitcase. If something does happen and the bag sails past your grasp, it's not like an incomplete pass on 4th down - you'll have another chance in about 45 seconds to go for that suitcase.
Many airports actually have a line on the ground indicating where travelers should stand to watch for their luggage. Although largely ignored up until now, we all can join this crusade and make travel during 2008 the best it's ever been.






I must give credit where credit is very much due - a social law, of sorts, has already been instated due to the widespread concern for this problem. Big ups for the Maland Line!
In addition to relieving part of the headache that is travel, recreating this entry on your own will help pass approximately 90 minutes of downtime on a flight from Los Angeles to Atlanta. Or so I have read...

ME LOVE KENT

Recapping some of the holidays with Kent via iChat...you might remember Kent and his love of plastic cups (and fresh ham!) aboard last year's Rock Boat...

Kent: yeah, so I think I've told you how my blackberry constantly forwards text messages to the wrong person when I put it in my pocket without locking
Kent: ie....I text a girl over the break, " Come nap with me" and then pulled my phone out 10 minutes later and had sent that on to a guy I work with
Scotty: hahaha, nice
Kent: at the DRH show, Betsy was showing me how to mass text, so she told me to make up a text to send out...so I did " Happy New Year - suck it! " and sent that to a couple dudes
Scotty: perfect
Kent: get to the show and text Kelly " you look hot tonight"....put it away and my phone somehow texts Kelly the suck it thing
Kent: she holds up her phone like WTF???
Scotty: hahahaha
Kent: and I looked at mine...S***!
Scotty: hilarious
Kent: that was a good one
Kent: haven't seen the girl in 8 months and send that
Scotty: i want to post that story on the blog
Kent: hahah
Kent: DO IT

"WAC" INDEED

Sugar was never so un-sweet.