Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Local Gas Prices Today- $3.69
I missed posting over the weekend at $3.66, but it went up a few cents since then.
If you like Polls...
This site has them all including a summary of the most recent presidential polls. It also tracks generic congressional polls and an interactive map for looking at the electoral college (the people who really elect the president). I am posting a link on the side as well so that anyone who wants to can check out the numbers between now and November.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Gas Price update
I still hold to my original theory on this and expect prices as low as $3.50 or lower by labor day and no significant increases before the election.
Today I gassed up my car for $3.77 a gallon. I personally have yet to pay over $4.00/gallon.
Today I gassed up my car for $3.77 a gallon. I personally have yet to pay over $4.00/gallon.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Al Franken Response Ad
give this a look. I really appreciate the immediate responses taking place in this campaign.
Neil Diamond Night II
The second show included Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show. Neil seemed more relaxed. From where I was sitting, the crowd didn't seem as in to it, but they were still pretty lively. Neil did a better job hitting the note for "Hell Yeah!"
The staging still has some quirks - some of which cannot be overcome without modifying the stage itself. The thing appears to be about 40 to 50 feet from front to back and slopes from back to front from about 9 ft. to about 5 feet in height. The effect of this on the performance makes Neil appear to awkwardly lurch forward when he walks downhill (which fortunately does not happen too often). This slope, along with the high heels, on the back-up singer makes them look, when they are moving, like the dance routine in the floor show of the "Rocky Horror Picture Show." The stage compensates with several moving platforms designed to minimize such individual (self-propelled) movement.
These few distractions are minimal and one is not likely to even notice them unless he or she takes in severeal shows.
It was reported on a local news show that - with the kick off of this tour- Neil is the oldest headliner for an arena tour - ever, in the United States. From what I saw on stage, he still has the energy of a guy half his age.
Overall, I was grateful for the opportunities to see Neil in my home town. Given the economy, It is doubtful I will travel much this year at all, let alone to see Neil again. Still, this is a great show. See it if you get a chance.
The staging still has some quirks - some of which cannot be overcome without modifying the stage itself. The thing appears to be about 40 to 50 feet from front to back and slopes from back to front from about 9 ft. to about 5 feet in height. The effect of this on the performance makes Neil appear to awkwardly lurch forward when he walks downhill (which fortunately does not happen too often). This slope, along with the high heels, on the back-up singer makes them look, when they are moving, like the dance routine in the floor show of the "Rocky Horror Picture Show." The stage compensates with several moving platforms designed to minimize such individual (self-propelled) movement.
These few distractions are minimal and one is not likely to even notice them unless he or she takes in severeal shows.
It was reported on a local news show that - with the kick off of this tour- Neil is the oldest headliner for an arena tour - ever, in the United States. From what I saw on stage, he still has the energy of a guy half his age.
Overall, I was grateful for the opportunities to see Neil in my home town. Given the economy, It is doubtful I will travel much this year at all, let alone to see Neil again. Still, this is a great show. See it if you get a chance.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Neil Diamond Rocks the Xcel
see the above attached review for a professionals take.
The show is stripped back from previous outings and the effect is a stronger connection to the music and lyrics. Anyone who has seen me at a Neil Diamond concert- I am usually the one being told to sit down at one point or another ( once or twice, memorably, by Neil Himself).
There would be none of that here. This crowd was one their feet for most of the show. My ears were literally sore from the decibel level- not from Neil and the band -but from the singing and cheering crowd in the first ten rows on the floor. They still hurt a bit this morning.
That experience makes me wonder- as I frequently do when I read This guy's reviews- "What was he thinking and what show did he see. To his credit- Jon Bream got it right in that this was a emotionally charged show and there was a hint of finality- but mostly he is mostly a putz who tries too hard to find the negative. For one, it makes no sense at all to criticize a scaled back stage and costume selection hwne he and others have been begging for that for years and the desired emphasis on the music is achieved.
There were some misses on the night- the sound cut out completely at: " Hello ...(St Paul)" with complete silence for about ten seconds. But he recovered completely and professionally.
I loved the new take on "Man of God" from "12 Songs" which may have been a main highlight of my night. But, I was undertwhelmed by "Hell Yeah!" which I was really looking forward to. The problem was that he over-reached for his higher register on the last verse "I've been living in a bowl..." and never quite recovered so that the punch-you- in- in the -face energy of the final "Hell yeah he did..." just kind of fell away.
The sound mixing was a bit off as well- most notably from where I was sitting (fifth row stage left on the main floor) Alan's keyboards sounded too strong and actually distorted the speaker bank over my head. Contrasting, and perhaps because of that, Hadley's solo during the band intros almost disappeared.
I had been asked, by someone in the know, on Friday evening How I felt about "Song Sung Blue." I told him then that I could take or leave it but that the less loyal fans might appreciate one of his better known songs. Also, I pointed out that it has been 15 years or more since he has done it live in the US. This morning I have a slightly different take.
This is such an emotionally charged and guitar driven set. People much older and frankly less motivated than I were on their feet and dancing for most of this (just shy of) two-hour show.
Song Sung Blue is a perfect opportunity to slow down some heart rates -while at the same time creating a nostalgic Kum-bu-ya moment where we all looked back to younger days.
Brother Love was a notable and surprising deletion. In fact, I cannot recall ever being to a Neil show where he has not done it (although it has happened on the rare occassion). America did work as a fitting and powerful end. Perhaps it is time to give Bro Love a rest, or perhaps a stripped down reworking and reintorduce it earlier in the show - Maybe as an opening.
The emotional impact of this show was remarkable. It is not like I am a total girl but I actually teared up on more than one occassion. This performance- including the crowd reaction, in spite of what the moron at the startribune might say, will go down as one of my top ten.
The show is stripped back from previous outings and the effect is a stronger connection to the music and lyrics. Anyone who has seen me at a Neil Diamond concert- I am usually the one being told to sit down at one point or another ( once or twice, memorably, by Neil Himself).
There would be none of that here. This crowd was one their feet for most of the show. My ears were literally sore from the decibel level- not from Neil and the band -but from the singing and cheering crowd in the first ten rows on the floor. They still hurt a bit this morning.
That experience makes me wonder- as I frequently do when I read This guy's reviews- "What was he thinking and what show did he see. To his credit- Jon Bream got it right in that this was a emotionally charged show and there was a hint of finality- but mostly he is mostly a putz who tries too hard to find the negative. For one, it makes no sense at all to criticize a scaled back stage and costume selection hwne he and others have been begging for that for years and the desired emphasis on the music is achieved.
There were some misses on the night- the sound cut out completely at: " Hello ...(St Paul)" with complete silence for about ten seconds. But he recovered completely and professionally.
I loved the new take on "Man of God" from "12 Songs" which may have been a main highlight of my night. But, I was undertwhelmed by "Hell Yeah!" which I was really looking forward to. The problem was that he over-reached for his higher register on the last verse "I've been living in a bowl..." and never quite recovered so that the punch-you- in- in the -face energy of the final "Hell yeah he did..." just kind of fell away.
The sound mixing was a bit off as well- most notably from where I was sitting (fifth row stage left on the main floor) Alan's keyboards sounded too strong and actually distorted the speaker bank over my head. Contrasting, and perhaps because of that, Hadley's solo during the band intros almost disappeared.
I had been asked, by someone in the know, on Friday evening How I felt about "Song Sung Blue." I told him then that I could take or leave it but that the less loyal fans might appreciate one of his better known songs. Also, I pointed out that it has been 15 years or more since he has done it live in the US. This morning I have a slightly different take.
This is such an emotionally charged and guitar driven set. People much older and frankly less motivated than I were on their feet and dancing for most of this (just shy of) two-hour show.
Song Sung Blue is a perfect opportunity to slow down some heart rates -while at the same time creating a nostalgic Kum-bu-ya moment where we all looked back to younger days.
Brother Love was a notable and surprising deletion. In fact, I cannot recall ever being to a Neil show where he has not done it (although it has happened on the rare occassion). America did work as a fitting and powerful end. Perhaps it is time to give Bro Love a rest, or perhaps a stripped down reworking and reintorduce it earlier in the show - Maybe as an opening.
The emotional impact of this show was remarkable. It is not like I am a total girl but I actually teared up on more than one occassion. This performance- including the crowd reaction, in spite of what the moron at the startribune might say, will go down as one of my top ten.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Monday, July 14, 2008
Bush allowing McCain to lead from the sidelines (see link)
This action does nothing. It is purely political. At the same time Bush joins himself at the hip to McCain. I hope McCain appreciates it. I know I do- but for a different reason.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Norm Coleman is incapable of telling the truth, and apparently, so are the groups that support him.
follow the link for a local news story that clarifies Al Franken's position on a bill that makes it easier for workers to unionize.
Monday, July 07, 2008
Saturday, July 05, 2008
Thursday, July 03, 2008
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
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