Random Brain Activity

26 Nov 2009

All Kids Like to Play in Puddles

http://stats.break.com/invoke.txt">EMBED-Happy Elk Calf Plays in Puddle - Watch more free videos

25 Nov 2009

So a few weeks ago, I was on a big band gig in downtown St. Louis. The gig was dinner music for the local USO. Great group of people, both civilians and military. The band, who I sub with a few times a year, sounded great. I was also happy with how I played throughout the night. All in all, the gig was a great success...up until one of the trumpet players, not paying attention to where he was pulling a cord, knocked my horn (stilling on a stand) over, putting a rather vicious dent into the slide. It was probably one of the worst ways to end a gig. I took the horn to my friend and trusted repair tech in the area and the pictures below are his work. Not only did he fix the slide, he also stripped and scratch-finished the bell, giving it a cool, unique look.

For any brass player (especially trombone) in the St. Louis area (or anywhere if you are comfortable shipping your horn) needing work done to your horn, I can't recommend my friend Aaron highly enough. Leave a comment or drop me an email should anyone like to have his contact information.

Click here to download:

Pics_of_the_horn_Tags_pics_mus.zip (5214 KB)

23 Nov 2009

At the Rams game yesterday

The immediate family and I ended up at the Rams/Cardinals game yesterday. While I'm really no longer a Rams fan, I do try to root for the home team. Almost anyone from the St. Louis area is a fan of Kurt Warner, myself included. In the end, it was a nice game of NFL football, with the expected Cardinals coming out on top.

Click here to download:

At_the_Rams_game_yesterday_Tag.zip (3937 KB)

12 Nov 2009

Room101 by Camacho Cigar Review

As always, posted initially at the The Cigar Spy.

*****

Target Name:

Room101 by Camacho

Target Vitals:

Wrapper: Semilla 101 (Honduran)

Binder: Honduran

Filler: Mix of Honduran and Dominican Tobacco
Vitola: 404 (Torpedo 6x54)
Strength: Medium Bodied
Average Price: $8.69 per stick at 2GuysSmokeShop; $191.99 per box of 25

Background Info:

A development from Matt Booth, Dylan Austin and the Camacho family, the Room 101 brand was initially about the creation of cigar accessories, but soon developed into the creation of a cigar. The design and marketing of the cigar has been strategically planned to appeal to everyone, while at the same time, broadening the brand, interest and knowledge to the smoker.

Mission Debrief:

Certain cigars in 2009 have created a noticeable buzz around the internet and social media circles. Cigars such as the Cain and the Nub from the Olivia family and the La Traviata from CAO are recent examples that come to mind. Another recent addition to this group is the Room101 by Camacho. Everyone I follow on Twitter that has smoked this cigar has been blown away by it. I figured it was high time for me to find out what all the excitement was about.

Giving the cigar a detailed visual examination, I found zero flaws in the wrapper, band or the cigar itself. The veiny wrapper, a Semilla 101 hailing from Honduras, was specifically grown for this cigar. The double band, hued a black and silver, really helped complete the overall look of the cigar, giving it an eye-catching visual appeal. The dragon mask on the side of the band especially caught my eye. Doing more research into the development of the cigar, using specific pieces from Japanese theatre and Buddhism practices was all part of developing the mystique and interest of the Room101 brand.

Toasting the end of the cigar and taking my first couple of resistance-free draws, I was met with an immediate hint of dull, peppery flavors. Subtle, very light on the palette but noticeable. And throughout the first half of the cigar, it stayed exactly like this. Starting into the second half of the cigar is where more pepper and a touch of earthiness became more apparent. Also a modest increase to the intensity of the flavor of the tobacco. Think of turning a volume from four to six; it's not a lot but you can hear the change. During the last third, that same intensity increased even more, giving the cigar a strong, almost full-bodied close to its smoking time. It's because of this strong ending that the overall finish to the cigar is longer than on similarly-bodied smokes.

The ash on this cigar was a bit flaky, so bear that in mind as you progress onward. The only complaint I had on the cigar was that the burn was somewhat uneven and needed some retouching. I did find that the second Room101 that I smoked, while still slightly uneven in burn, was much better overall.

Recommendations:

This cigar is going to be one of my favorites for 2009 without a doubt. A great combination of flavors and strength, coupled with a unique and hip marketing drive makes this cigar a formidable opponent in the market today. The price point is exactly what I would expect for this cigar and in my opinion, it's a fair price for what you are getting. Buy these with confidence, knowing comfortably that you will be smoking what is in my opinion, an excellent cigar.

Click here to download:

Room101_by_Camacho_Cigar_Revie.zip (10312 KB)

12 Nov 2009

NATO Sniffer Dog Missing for 14 Months Found Safe

A great story from the UK Mail Online. Glad to see troops of all kinds make their way back safely.

Full Article

11 Nov 2009

Dogs Welcoming Home Soldiers

First off, Happy Veterans Day to all. I would like to thank those who have served in the Armed Forces in this country. What you all do is a thankless and dangerous job, and all of us appreciate everything that those who have worn the uniform have done for the country and its people.

I found this collection of movies today. It's always great to see videos of soldiers returning home to see their families. But the one person(s)'s reaction in the family that doesn't always get shown is the pets. Dogs/cats and other animals have an enormous effect on family's lives, everyday. Our two dogs and cat are members of our family and are treated as such. So, with that in mind, the link below is the animal's reactions to the masters coming home from duty. Enjoy.

http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/40324

10 Nov 2009

What if a Corporation Designed the STOP Sign?

Simply brilliant and true. Enjoy!

http://ow.ly/B7Gn

9 Nov 2009

Music Improves Brain Function

This sort of study shouldn't be ground-breaking but it should emphasize the importance of musical training in children. It probably safe to say that adults could do well with this too.

Laurel Trainor, director of the Institute for Music and the Mind at McMaster University in West Hamilton, Ontario, and colleagues compared preschool children who had taken music lessons with those who did not. Those with some training showed larger brain responses on a number of sound recognition tests given to the children. Her research indicated that musical training appears to modify the brain's auditory cortex. Can larger claims be made for the influence on the brain of musical training? Does training change thinking or cognition in general?

Trainor again says yes. Even a year or two of music training leads to enhanced levels of memory and attention when measured by the same type of tests that monitor electrical and magnetic impulses in the brain.

Rest the full article here.