Enjoying a little down time. 

Oreo Cookies

I love Oreo cookies. The dark crunchy chocolate wafers provide the perfect foil for the soft creamy larde in the middle. Yum. Unfortunately Oreo cookies aren't packaged very well. When you first open the bag you have to rip through a plastic lining. There is no way to make a clean rip in the lining, so once the bag is around half empty it becomes troublesome sliding the cookie tray out, and then back into the bag. After sliding the tray in and out a few times the bag becomes damaged to the point where it is no longer fun to eat Oreos. Aren't products supposed to improve over time? I remember simpler times when Oreos were packaged without an annoying plastic lining and cookie tray. You could easily reach into the bag and pull out two or three of your favorite cookies, no matter how full or empty it was. Who ever designed the new packaging for Oreo cookies deserves to be hanged by the neck until he or she smartens up. If Oreos weren't so delicious I would boycott them. I really don't mind the trans-fats, it's the packaging I hate.

Self portrait at Bear Lake 

Flossing

It took me a long time, but I have finally done it. I have successfully developed the habbit of flossing my teeth at least once a day. In fact it is now at the point where I rarely leave my house without first flossing. I cannot believe the difference it has made in my mouth. My gums no longer bleed when I brush my teeth. My gums are now strong, impervious to pain, and spongey. I can now see through the spaces between my teeth when I examine them in the mirror. My dentist has been encouraging me to floss for many years. He explained that the plaque that develops in your arteries is the same as the plaque that forms on your teeth. When your gums bleed, plaque from your teeth gets into your blood stream and attaches itself to your arterial walls. Flossing helps to ward off heart disease.

It was reported recently that Listerine was forced to remove a television ad making the claim that gargling with its mouthwash after brushing is just as effective as flossing. I never liked that ad. Gargling with Listerine cannot remove bits of food from between your teeth, and it can't toughen your gums. It can only kill a few germs. Anyone who believed the message of that advertisment has earned my contempt.

Flossing is a time consuming activity for which there is no quick fix alternative. Floss at least once a day, and those trips to dentist every six to eight months will stop hurting. Your gums will stop bleeding. Your health will improve. Your mouth will feel cleaner. Your breath will smell better. Your teeth will look brighter.

Country Music

I have a confession to make. I enjoy listening to country music. Don't get me wrong, I don't listen the highly over produced popular country crap that radio has to offer. I can't stand the likes of Garth Brooks, Faith Hill, Shania Twain, The Dixie Chicks, Billy Ray Cyrus, etc. If you listen to the likes of those artists you may as well be listening to Britney Speares, or Christina Agulara, or Celine Dion. No, the kind of country music I'm referring to is real country music. I'm talking about Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristopherson, Waylon Jennings, Hank Williams, Hank Williams Jr, Rodger Miller, Red Sovine, etc. Speaking of Red Sovine, I challenge anyone to listen to his song Teddy Bear and not shed at least one tear. I get a lump in my throat every time I hear that song.

I used to wonder what the big deal was about Hank Williams. Why is he so highly revered as a country legend? If you too are wondering what the attraction is, download his song Whiskey, Weed and Women. It is a truly excellent tune.

Why am I musing about country music today? It occurred to me thismorning that of all the play lists I've created on my Real Jukebox, the one I enjoy listening to the most is my country play list. Lately I've grown fond of Kris Kristopherson's song Pilgrim. It starts off with Kris explaining what the song is about. His voice is so incredibly deep he sounds like a lion. The song was inspired by the likes of Johnny Cash, men who are deeply religious on one hand, yet complete drug abusing alcoholics on the other. "He's a walking contradiction, partly truth and partly fiction" is just one of the great lines in the song.

Another fun song to listen to is Good Old Boys by Waylon Jennings. Of course that is the theme song for The Dukes of Hazard, so it has nostalgic appeal. The full version of the song is great.

Willie Nelson, Kris Kristopherson, Waylon Jennings, and Johnny Cash are responsible for starting a movement in country called the outlaw movement. At one point they were all part of a supergroup called The Highwaymen. I guess I'm a fan of the outlaw country movement.

All of the country artists I enjoy listening to have one thing in common. They are all writers. Willie Nelson wrote Crazy for Patsy Cline. Speaking of Willie, he has the best voice in country music, and he is an amazing guitar player. His live performance of Ghost Riders In The Sky with Johnny Cash is outstanding.

My first job in Radio was at a Country station called CHOW. CHOW ran a promotion giving away tickets for a Willie Nelson concert. The sales rep who put the promotion together was kind enough to give me two tickets to the show. I gave the tickets to my parents because they are big Willie Nelson fans. They absolutely loved the show. He is an incredible live performer. I would like to have seen the show myself, but the intrinsic reward I received for sending my folks was well worth it.

I like all kinds of other musical genres; classic rock, heavy metal, jazz, blues, classical, punk, etc soforth. If you too enjoy many different genres, but have not foyered into country music, I encourage you to experiment. Try downloading The Conversation by Waylon Jennings and Hank Williams Jr. It has a great driving rhythm. The song is literally a conversation between Waylon and Hank Jr about Hank Williams Sr. It'll get your toes tapping, and spark your interest in country music.

Stream Of Conscience Poetry

As I sit and type this note
I wrote a word that could be heard around the world
What kind of girl says stuff like that
My name is Matt
I don't eat cat food
That's lude and lascivous behavior
Don't waver on your vow
Holy cow that shiz be dope
Hand me that rope you bashful begger
Ralph Nader never done nothin for me
I see the light at the end of the tunnel
That chunnel races through England town
Get down and be heard
Nerds need love too
Pick one up at the mall
Have a ball but don't stay out too late
Be mindfull of the date
Your mate can't let too much time fly by
High apple pie in the sky goodbye

Tsunami

I have a cousin. Some people have cousins. This particular cousin of mine happens to live in Jakarta, Indonesia. Now you're probably wondering what it's like for my poor cousin in Jakarta after the Tsunami. I e-mailed him recently and asked him. You may be surprised to learn that Jakarta has not been affected at all by the Tsunami. In fact, because televisions are scarce there, people aren't really aware of what's going on. It's business as usual in Jakarta. My cousin says that we here in Canada have been more affected by the Tsunami than the good people of Jakarta.