Musings: Contests, Video Games, Music and More...

Greetings, Programs!

You have no fucking idea how jazzed I am about that link. And this link? Blew my gourd, man. I can't fucking wait! End of line...

This is the part where I talk about not posting anything for a while, and give weak, thinly-veiled excuses as to why. I'll let you all imagine how you think this line should go, this time...

Let's see. First comes contests. Remember that Karaoke Contest from last year? The one where I got totally screwed out of the second winner's spot (the first went to Mike Williams, who totally deserved it IMHO) because I simply wasn't a chick? The one where people kept telling me I got robbed? The one that got me the gig singing for Buck-It? Yeah, that one.

Time for Round Two, motherfuckers. Same contest, different DJ, same faces entering. No surprise, really. Of course, Mike was in week one, and early on last night (week three), it didn't seem like there'd be much competition.

And now, for the funny: Last years "Winner," Autumn Keifer, shows up, right? You'd think, "Hey, she beat Eric last year, right? Shouldn't she qualify over him?" Well, you'd think wrong. Not only did I take the top qualifying spot, but Autumn was beaten out of the second spot by another of last years' finalists, Jill Reed! See? SEE?!?

Sorry, Autumn, but let's face it: The only way you made it last year was because you lucked out: The one judge insisted on a female winner, instead of giving it to the true winner based on pure talent. I had you beat. I still have the video to prove it, too. And this year, you had best believe you won't be lucking out. This time, it's about the Cash Money, playa, and I'm about to get me those ends. Three places, three cash prizes. Mike Wills and I are taking two of them for sure. Whether or not you get the third is up to you. You had best bring your A Game and step it up a notch: There won't be any judging flukes this time...

I've been playing a whole bunch of Fable 2 lately over at Mikey's. Great game, great improvement over the original Fable: The Lost Chapters, but it still has a few drawbacks. Most notably, it's still too damned short. They really need to go multi-disc, because there's too much wait time between DLC updates, and the first of these (Knothole Island) was itself pretty freakin' short. Come on now, chaps! You can do better than this!

I'll know more in a few hours, but it looks as though Buck-It could be doing a show at Electric Avenue on the 31st, splitting the gig with our friends in Moxie. Their bassist, TJ, was Buck-It's bassist when I first joined the band.

Let's see, what else is there. Not much, really. I can't make any promises as to when I'll post anything. The semifinals for the contest aren't until late March (you've got 12 more weeks to qualify, Autumn, good luck), so there won't be much ranting about that anytime soon. Going to try and pick up the booking schedule for the band, see if we can't make 2009 our comeback year and get ready for Odyssey Two next year...

Lettuce! Give Thanks!

Things I am thankful for on Thanksgiving, 2008:

My life. Given to me by my parents, not some silly invisible man in the sky. And the fact that, to this day, I've lived it on my own terms, and managed to get this far alive.

Hope for the Future. Long has it been since I've felt any. Yes We DID ^,^

The fact that I'm still standing after all these years.

That the 14 years of my life I spent chasing a dream weren't all for not.

The possibility that I just might be an honest-to-jeebus father. Yeah, that's right. Someone calls me "dad." Suck it, haters. My offspring will demolish yours. Muahahahahahahahahahaaaaa!

That I have friends like the many that I have. You guys and girls rock harder than anyone has rocked hard in the history of people rocking hard. E Pluribus, Unum.

My Family. Sure, we have our differences. But in the end, we're still a family, and love is still unconditional.

That I have this outlet, and the will to use it, and that some of you actually take time out to read the stupid shit I say on it. Stay tuned, more to come...

Most of all, though, on a purely geek-life level, I'm thankful for all of the seemingly-impossible saving throws I've made against Life's Bullshit. It's as if my d20 was blessed by Gygax himself. I'm exceptionally fortunate to be where I am today, and to have the chances that lie ahead in the near future.

Someday, it'll all come together, the loose ends tied up and the final curtain lowered. But for now, the trip is fun, the rope is holding strong, and the stage lights aren't all that blinding...

The Revelation

Cross-posted at my MySpace Blog

Have I ever mentioned how awesome Andy Howard is? Yeah, well, guess what.

He. Is. AWESOME.

So we polish up a few tunes at band practice today, and the time comes, before Dave has to roll out for work, for us to kick around new tune ideas. We're constantly trying to expand our arsenal, recently adding some new Metallica (Cyanide) and Offspring (You're Gonna Go Far Kid). There's some obscure stuff in there, too, like Arcade's "Tow Truck," and, after today, something that makes me very, very happy indeed.

At Andy's suggestion, Buck-It will be covering the one and only...

KMFDM

Yes, I'm in a band that's gonna do KMFDM tunes! HOW FUCKING AWESOME? REAL FUCKING AWESOME!

KMFDM ranks as one of my three all time favorite bands (the others being Pink Floyd and Tool), and to be with a group of awesome musicians who are all quite eager to cover something from them... Wow. I'm really blown away by the opportunity.

In case you're wondering, the song in question will be Juke-Joint Jezebel. For those of you who aren't familiar with KMFDM, the track can be found on the soundtracks to both the first Mortal Kombat and Bad Boys movies. It's probably the KMFDM track the mainstream recognizes the most, given the exposure it got on those two discs. I don't know what kid didn't have a copy of the soundtrack to MK when it came out, but they weren't in my circle of friends, that's for sure.

And that was a pretty big circle at that time.

But to have Andy suggest it. Not me, who you'd think would try to push a track by such an obscure band through. I said, though, that I also wasn't surprised. "Tow Truck" was Andy's idea, and he's tossed forth songs by The Members and Type O Negative as well. Not really what you'd call mainstream, right? Right. So it's not really that far-fetch'd to think that Andy would pick up on a KMFDM track.

Bob remarked about how it had a Rob Zombie feel. ROFLMAO! KMFDM predates Zombie by a year, having formed in 1984 as part of a Multimedia Art presentation. Afterwards, they moved almost straightaway into experimenting with the then infant Industrial sound, becoming one of the driving forces of the genre, which Zombie would later contribute classic tracks to as well.

Dave likes the Zombie feel to it as well, which pretty much seals the deal: Buck-It is doing Juke-Joint Jezebel. ROCK! \m/ Andy and I will be splitting vocal duties, which is always fun, and it's a pretty driving tune all-around. Look it up on YouTube if you must, but be warned. KMFDM, once heard, can be addicting. VERY addicting. Trust me...

I Am...

...proud to have voted for the first President of Black American descent. Remember, Barack Obama is mixed race.

...hopeful that he can lead our country back in the right direction.

...a registered Independent.

...a fiscal conservative and a social liberal.

...in favor of Gay Marriage. It doesn't bother me, because it's not my business.

...Pro-Choice. Again, it's not my business what people choose to do with their lives.

...confident that my America will come back to me. It's been gone since the late '90s, and I miss it dearly.

...a firm believer that charges should be filed against George W. Bush and key members of his administration for their conduct during the so-called "War on Terror."

...not going to be complacent in what has taken place this past week.

...mindful, aware, and will be paying very close attention to what is done as a result.

...not giving Mr. Obama a free ride. He has to prove himself now.

...both confident and hopeful that he, in fact, will prove himself and do what's right for all of the people of this once-great nation.

...hungry, and would like a sammich.

...going to get up and make myself one at some point.

...still trying to gather the motivation, however...

Happy Birthday, Eric...

Yes. We. Can.

And we fucking DID.

The following groups and individuals can officially suck it: White Power Retards, Racists, Bigots, The KKK, John McCain, George W. Bush, Bill O'Reily, Sean Hannity, Tucker Carlson, Sarah "Caribou Barbie" Palin, Karl Rove, Dick Cheney, Rush Limbaugh, the rotting corpses of Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon, John Sununu, Elizabeth Dole, Rudolph Giuliani, Mike Huckabee...

And any absolute moron who ever though PRESIDENT-ELECT BARACK OBAMA was Muslim, not an American Citizen, or a Socialist.

The late Owen Hart had a catchphrase: Enough is Enough, and it's Time for a Change. Today, we have that change.

And its the greatest birthday gift I've ever received in my entire life.

We The People

In CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

When in the course of human Events, it becomes necessary for one People to dissolve the Political Bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the Powers of the Earth, the separate and equal Station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent Respect to the Opinions of Mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the Separation.

We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.

That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed.

That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and to institute a new Government, laying its Foundation on such Principles, and organizing its Powers in such Form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient Causes; and accordingly all Experience hath shewn, that Mankind are more disposed to suffer, while Evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the Forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long Train of Abuses and Usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object, evinces a Design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their Right, it is their Duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future Security.

Such has been the patient Sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the Necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The History of the Present King of Great-Britain is a History of repeated Injuries and Usurpations, all having in direct Object the Establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid World.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public Good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing Importance, unless suspended in their Operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the Accommodation of large Districts of People; unless those People would relinquish the Right of Representation in the Legislature, a Right inestimable to them, and formidable to Tyrants only.

He has called together Legislative Bodies at Places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the Depository of their public Records, for the sole Purpose of fatiguing them into Compliance with his Measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly Firmness his Invasions on the Rights of the People.

He has refused for a long Time, after such Dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the Dangers of Invasion from without, and Convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the Population of these States; for that Purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their Migrations hither, and raising the Conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the Tenure of their Offices, and Amount and Payment of their Salaries.

He has erected a Multitude of new Offices, and sent hither Swarms of Officers to harass our People, and eat out their Substance.

He has kept among us, in Times of Peace, Standing Armies, without the consent of our Legislature.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a Jurisdiction foreign to our Constitution, and unacknowledged by our Laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For quartering large Bodies of Armed Troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from Punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all Parts of the World:

For imposing taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us, in many Cases, of the Benefits of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond the Seas to be tried for pretended Offences:

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an arbitrary Government, and enlarging its Boundaries, so as to render it at once an Example and fit Instrument for introducing the same absolute Rule in these Colonies:

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with Powers to legislate for us in all Cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our Towns, and destroyed the Lives of our People.

He is, at this Time, transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to complete the Works of Death, Desolation, and Tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty and Perfidy, scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous Ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized Nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the Executioners of their Friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic Insurrections among us, and has endeavoured to bring on the Inhabitants of our Frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known Rule of Warfare, is an undistinguished Destruction, of all Ages, Sexes and Conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions we have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble Terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated Injury. A Prince, whose Character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the Ruler of a free People.

Nor have we been wanting in Attentions to our British Brethren. We have warned them from Time to Time of Attempts by their Legislature to extend an unwarrantable Jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the Circumstances of our Emigration and Settlement here. We have appealed to their native Justice and Magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the Ties of our common Kindred to disavow these Usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our Connections and Correspondence. They too have been deaf to the Voice of Justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the Necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of Mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace, Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the World for the Rectitude of our Intentions, do, in the Name, and by the Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly Publish and Declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be, Free and Independent States; that they are absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political Connection between them and the State of Great-Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm Reliance on the Protection of the divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.

Signed by ORDER and
in BEHALF OF THE CONGRESS
JOHN HANCOCK,
PRESIDENT.

ATTEST.
CHARLES THOMSON,
SECRETARY.

The important part is in bold, my emphasis. Wake the fuck up, people. It's time. In an election where we hear twisted versions of what the Founding Fathers wanted for our country, it's time we looked back and really paid attention to what they wrote down.

This document is the absolute foundation of this nation. That provision showed that our founders, when faced with an oppressive and corrupt government, believed it was their right - their motherfucking DUTY - to rise up and cast off that government, and start over again in the fairest way possible.

Where it's due: Text copied from Wikisource, font weight changes and the centering of the first line by me. The Declaration of Independence is a Government work, and is therefore in the public domain, something else our government has forgotten about with regards to more modern works and copyright law.

An Open Letter To Governer Ed Rendell

Dear Governer Rendell:

Fuck you.

Furthermore, fuck you.

I am a smoker. It was my choice. In this country, we have the FREEDOM to CHOOSE, even to kill ourselves with this nasty fucking habit.

For taking away my freedom to smoke where the fuck I want, when the fuck I want, all I have to say is the following:

1. Fuck you.
2. Fuck your ideals.
3. I hope you fucking DIAF.
4. If you don't know what DIAF means, try ACTUALLY CONNECTING WITH THE PEOPLE YOU SUPPOSEDLY GOVERN SO WELL.

It is in your best interest to not show up at the next Bud George Picnic. If you do, you run the risk of becoming my personal ashtray.

Fuck you.

With no sincerity whatsoever,

Eric Jacobson, Smoker, and one of the 12 million people who pays your fucking salary, over half of which are likely what? Smokers.

Douchebag of the Year

Yes, I know, it's not December, so I really shouldn't be proclaiming a DotY just yet. But in this case, I think I'll make a special exception. This kid look familiar? Those shifty eyes, that grin that says "I'm actually bullshitting you, but you don't know it yet," the overly-large forehead...

Yep, it's none other than Andrew Giuliani, son of former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Turns out that he was recently dismissed from the Duke (Sucks) University Golf Team for... are you sitting down?... Throwing an apple at another player's face, breaking a golf club during a tournament, injuring a teammate and verbally abusing the coach.

1+1=Douchebag.

Now, it's not like we didn't know this was coming. Remember back when the so-called "America's Mayor" was stumping on TV, and lil' Andy was sitting behind him being a little douchebag? In case you forgot, here's some stills to refresh your memory:

Nope, couldn't see this one coming, no sir...

So here's to you, Andrew Giuliani, the recipient of The Lost Prophyt Blog's Douchebag of the Year award. You can pick up your Horse's Ass trophy and your Super Anchovie Pizza in the dumpster outside of city hall, dicksplash...

First Look

Ladies and gentlemen, say hello to the new Buck-It:

Clockwise from Front: Dave Read (Drums), Bob Haight(Guitars/Vocals), Eric Jacobson (Vocals) and Andy Howard (Bass/Vocals).

Buck-It will be part of Aaron's Rock Concert for The March Of Dimes, along with Dressed To Kill, Ozone Rangers and Rukkus, Sunday September 21st, 2008 @ Electric Avenue in Houtzdale, PA, beginning at 6pm. We go on first, but I'm not entirely sure of the exact order beyond our set.

Edit Bonus: Here's a cameraphone shot of me. Mostly, this is to replace my Blogger Profile Image with something a little less three years ago...


I really should mirror that...

What Go Around Come Around

The First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America, the ultimate binding law of this country, states that no man/ or woman may be denied the right to say what s/he wants, when s/he wants, for any reason. While this does have its faults (such as the "White Power" morons and the Far Right's anti-gay rhetoric), it's still the rules. I didn't write them, but I'll be god damned if I'm not going to follow them to the letter.

Your logic is flawed. It has no merit or basis in reality. The way you're going about this is wrong. How you can actually do this is beyond me, but you're doing it, and you're failing miserably at it.

While I lack faith in any sort of organized or scripted religion, I am a very firm believer in Karma. Obviously, I'm being wronged. This WILL come around and bite you in the ass for it. And the best part? All I have to do is sit back and watch. I don't have to lift a finger to help it along.

Now, I do believe that this complies with your restrictions. I suggest we try to find a middle ground before this gets out of control. There's no need to go to such extremes when this situation has a simple solution - one that might not be what you want it to be, but it will achieve the end yiou desire.

All Around The World

Yes, I know. I start alot of posts with that, it seems. But here's the condensed version: It sucked, sorry.

Lately, I keep hearing people talking about me. And it's not in the usual negative manner, either. No, this time, they're actually speaking well of me, which is a refreshing change of pace. But the whole reason they're talking about me is kinda unnerving, and I hope this post explains why.

"You got robbed," I heard from one kid at random while I was at Sheetz.

"What?!?" I didn't know him at all, and for him to say that to me off the cuff startled me a bit.

"The karaoke contest!"

"Oh, yeah..." I was trying to figure out how this kid, who certainly didn't look old enough to drink, would even remotely know that I was involved in it.

"Dude, I work up there. Almost everyone up there says that it should have been you."

"Yeah, I've been hearing that alot lately..."

After me saying "thanks" a few times, the conversation ended. It's a conversation I've repeated alot in the last few weeks, too. Other contestants, their families, a few other folks who were there; they all think it should have been me to go on to New York with Mike Willz. And to be perfectly honest, Mike and I talked about it, and we both thought it was one person until that night. When we found out it was two, we both sighed in relief, knowing that the likelyhood was that he and I would be going.

And there's the thing: I talked to Mike. I got to know him a bit. We've even talked about co-hosting a show at the Rowland sometime in the future. Point is, we became friends. And it's like that with alot of musicians in our area. We're all friends, or we all have mutual friends. We do shows together.

Contests like that, while fun, are ultimately, for the poorer among us, just quick cash and prizes for our talents. Most area musicians don't even do them (some see it as the bar leagues to their local 'big leagues', itself the bar circuit). Me? Well, working at the Avenue running a karaoke show has made it more or less part of my entertainment job as a whole, so to me, it's just another night at the office.

But my office is a stage. Rock on!

The competition angle isn't what we're really in it for. We all win, place, or show, but it's always someone different among us. That night, it was Autumn and Mike, not me. I've cashed out a couple of times before, and won quite a few fun ones, so it's no big deal. Wasn't a cash prize involved unless you made the nationals, anyway, and then the competition is just too tight to make it worth it.

I've known Autumn forever. Her whole family is musical, so it's no surprise. Her mom and aunt are themselves wonderful singers, her dad an accomplished sound engineer (and probably musician as well) in his own right, so the genes are there for her talent. Mike, I'd just met some weeks before when I qualified, but he's certainly a highly talented guy, definitely in the upper echelon of our own karaoke circuit. To talk to, he's a very easy going guy, someone I'd certainly hang out with.

To us, it's not about who got robbed, or what judges, who'd never judged a karaoke contest before in their lives, don't know their ass from a hole in the ground. We had fun doing it, and entertained a whole shitload of people in the process. That's what we're really in it for in the end: we do what we do to entertain people, to make them smile and have fun.


Besides: I got the Buck-It gig. Sounds like it's chock-full-o'-WIN to me, not to mention the steady paydays to come from it. Screw $2000 for a national prize. I'll have that in a few weeks with these guys, and then lather, rinse, repeat...

Off The Grid

Hey all. Sorry I haven't posted much this month, but my Internet's been out. The Mrs. and I are talking about moving, too, so that might delay me a bit more. Just know that I haven't given up on blogging, and it's not for a lack of things to say: Believe me, I still have plenty to shoot my mouth off about.

And to the anonymous commenter who tried to chew me out for talking about the Dr. Adams fiasco: Fuck you. Grow a pair and identify yourself. At least I have the brass set to put my name on what I say...

o lrd...

Found on Fark, the headline is enough. It seems the Pope is going to start sending prayers to the "faithful" (read: weak-minded) via text message:

god n hvn: u r kool. we want kool & 4 earth 2b like hvn. giv us food 2day & 4giv r sinz like we 4giv sinz. lol save r souls, cuz we kno u r tight, u r strong & u r kool 4evs. werd

Whoever submitted this wins a trophy and a pizza. That is some funny shit right there...

A Vapor Trail In The Empty Air

How about them Pittsburgh Penguins, eh? EH?!? Fuckin' right! Pretty good for a bunch of flightless birds! Ottowa swept under the rug in 4. The Rangers, gone in 5, and a playoff series win in Melon Arena for the first time in a long time.

Pittsburgh is Hockey crazy right now. And having been (and always will be) a Pittsburgher, I'm along for the ride and loving it. When the Pens won the Cup in the early 90s, I was just coming into my teenage years. While I lived in Pittsburgh, it was a different story. The Pens were on the outs, and Mario was just stepping up to save the franchise for a second time. And now, 8 years after my departure from the city that I love, the Penguins are once again flying high.

This time, though, if they go all the way, I plan on being right in the middle of it all, just like I was for Super Bowl XL. If only the Pens and Steelers could inspire my haphazard Buccos to at least playoff contention... Eh, can't dream TOO much at one time...

Pittsburgh is a championship town.* Always has been, always will be. Hopefully, Crosby and Crew can bring Lord Stanley's Cup back to the town that's salivating for it. It's not just Crosby's show: The Penguins have assembled one of the greatest supporting casts in NHL history - four lines, all of which can score the big goals, with only two players going without a point in nine games so far this post-season. And each and every one of these lines has displayed some incredible hustle when it comes to defense, back checking like crazy to kill rushes before they have a chance to get going.

Which says nothing for the incredible defense on the ice as well. Anchored by Sergei Gonchar, the rear guard has finally come back to the days when the Sammulssons (no relation) roamed the Igloo ice. And let's not forget The Flower. Marc-Andre was described by one fan as not being just a Flower, but Ivy: He's all over the goal mouth. With two shutouts and plenty of highlight reel-worthy saves in the first two series, not to mention being the heart of what became seven straight playoff wins... It's hard to find anything negative about him.

The board is set, the pieces are moving, and the Eastern Conference Finals are going to be a Pennsylvanian affair. No jet lag, no real need for a hotel for more than one night. The Penguins and the Flyers. South West PA Vs. South East PA. The Hot Corners Series. The City of Steel and Three Rivers takes on The City of Brotherly Love and Independence.

Oh yeah, it's gonna be a fuckin' war. My call? Well, Ottowa in 4, New York in 5, why not Penguins over the Flyers in 6? Then we can bring the hurt to Lord Stanley's Party and take it the full 7 games.

*At this point, I had researched and written four more paragraphs, but got sidetracked and decided to delete them all. Oh well, right? Right. Sometimes, the stuff I type doesn't turn out so hot...

Scramble Rogue Squadron

They're here! Finally, after years of waiting, my boys have arrived!

On the left there is Dakk, and on the right with his nose to the vacuum power cord, that's Wedge. And yes, they're named after characters from Star Wars. I'm a nerd. Surprised?

Here are my boys, exploring their new Rebel Base. Apparently, the mattress is good for practicing ambush attacks. Dakk tries to sneak up on Wedge, who is more interested in the bean bag...

And finally, after a rough day being kittens moved to a new home, my boys cuddle up in the corner near their new dad's computer desk and pass out.

And now, some facts: Wedge and Dakk are both 4 weeks old, and are brothers. You can identify them thusly: Dakk, on the left in the snooze pic, doesn't have the pronounced "spire" of white fur that Wedge (on the right) has running up his forehead. Wedge is the daredevil, having already tried to climb the baby gate we use to keep Teddy out of the kitchen. In contrast, Dakk has been the docile one, and prefers sitting on my lap to causing chaos. This should be fun!

And now, time to LOLCat Caption the boys for the first time!

Welcome to the Prophyt Family, Wedge and Dakk!