the jade gurss blog

GUEST BLOG: A Musical Holiday Charity Suggestion from Amy Nelson

Today's Guest Blogger: Amy Nelson is a former publicist-to-the-stars and the only person I know who calls Kid Rock by his given name. (It's BOB in case you're curious...) She now owns her own business, making "hip invites and cool notes." It's called PAPERLICIOUS. Check it out - and thanks to Amy for a thoughtful guest blog. I'm happy to give her this 'outlet.' -- jade.

Years ago, when I was still un-hitched and child-less, my niece had us go around the Thanksgiving dinner table and say what we were thankful for. Thinking that I knew exactly what the Pilgrims and Native Americans would agree on if they were here today- I boldly went with the distinctly American joy - outlet malls. Isn't saying I'm thankful for my health and family a given!? Needless to say my crew still doesn’t let me forget that.

But now I’m married and have two exquisite children. And I cry while watching Hallmark commercials. And I think slow little old lady drivers are cute, not annoying. And I’m trying to teach my children that our job on this planet is to leave the world somehow better than we found it.

So when I ran across this guitar-driven charity, Operation Happy Note, the former music industry exec in me just had to help. Because the best ideas are the most simple ideas. And Jade lent me his blog here because he is good like that. Thanks Jade!

Operation Happy Note (OHN) sends guitars to soldiers overseas, particularly in combat zones. OHN is a Fergus Falls, MN based charity (with 501(c)3 status) started by music store owners Steve & Barb Baker. Right now, OHN has over 1600 requests for guitars from soldiers. But what they don’t have is the money to ship out the guitars. It costs $35 to send one guitar. $35 to send an amazing American soldier a little sunshine.

The letters from soldiers on OHN’s website really say it all:

“You have truly given us something to be happy about every day...something that is very much needed here."

“I'm at one of those outposts in the middle of nowhere manning a small MEDEVAC helicopter detachment in the Iraq desert and mail call doesn't exactly come every day. Thank you very much for this super gift. It's brought life to an otherwise depressing place and I can't tell you how grateful I am.”

“I want to thank you so much for the guitar that you sent to me. It has been such a stress reliever here in Iraq. Words cannot express the gratitude we have for you and Mrs. Baker.”

Yes, there’s a thousands of charities out there. Lots of people need help. Why does this one deserve your attention?

Because you know your donation is making an immediate difference.

And because whether you agree with it or not, there is a fellow American somewhere in a dusty desert, ready to embark on a mission from which he/she might not return. Because he volunteered to be there and I certainly didn’t. And this soldier has been there for months. Years, even. And she’s stressed, homesick and quite possibly bored. And he’s waiting, waiting, waiting on the guitar he requested six months ago from Operation Happy Note because man, that guitar would really help pass the time and lift the spirits of his platoon. And maybe even bridge a gap with the locals, especially the children.

These soldiers won’t get to sit around the Thanksgiving table with their family this year to say what they are thankful for. So the way I see it, if a guitar would make a soldier a little bit happier about their precarious position, trying to help Operation Happy Note is the least I can do.

So please check them out… http://www.operationhappynote.com

And this year at the Turkey table, I will say I’m thankful for my healthy family and the soldiers that defend my freedom… to shop at outlet malls.

Behind the Scenes of a SPEEDtv.com Column

Check SPEEDtv.com for the story of Patrick Morgan, the man behind these immaculate restorations. He has restored some of the fastest and most beautiful machines ever built, including Ayrton Senna's stunning John Player Special Lotus 98T from 1986. The end of the F1 turbo era meant 1,200 horsepower in qualifying! 

 

The tiny Leyton House F1 car from 1990 marked advances in aerodynamics by Adrian Newey (at the expense of driver comfort).

And the sleek Lola T160 represents the splendid, golden days of the 1960s and '70s Can-AM series when nearly anything was legal - perhaps the last "pure" racing series. 

Photos courtesy of Dawn Treader Performance.

Get Well Mark Webber

 












It might be one way out of off-season testing, but there's nothing funny about the incident which has left Red Bull F1 driver Mark Webber with a broken leg.  Webber was hit head-on by a  four-wheel-drive vehicle while riding his bike during his own charity fund-raiser. Webber is out of surgery and apparently will be fit for the 2009 F1 opener. Perhaps it's safer in the racecar for the likeable Aussie driver.  Should he not be able to go, it might be a small window to extend the F1 career of former Champ Car star Sebastian Bourdais.

Give the Drummer Some Love: A Few of The Best

Figured I'd change directions for an entry about something near and dear to my heart: drums. I was saddened but inspired by the recent passing of Mitch Mitchell of the Jimi Hendrix Experience. There are hundreds of lists of the best guitarists and they seem predictable, but how about a list for the oft-overlooked backbone of any rock or R&B/soul act. As James Brown said "give the drummer some!"

Totally Subjective Parameters: I tend to prefer a rock solid time-keeper and tasteful musical chops (aka: knowing when to play and when to leave space). This means more than simply who can play the fastest or most pretentious drum fills, so while I'm sure I'll get angry responses, this eliminates guys like Neil Peart of Rush who are more athletic than musical on the skins and tend not to support the song or the melody. The best description I've seen was from John Mellencamp, who once described his super drummer Kenny Aronoff (now an in-demand session man who's recently played with acts like Smashing Pumpkins and Melissa Etheridge) saying, "playing with him is like riding on the highway with a racecar driver. You know he can go faster if needed, an you feel so safe because he's in total control."

As usual, I encourage alternate suggestions in the "comments" section.

You can go to iTunes or Amazon.com for samples of the songs I recommend or list below. In a somewhat random order:

John Bonham / Led Zeppelin: An absolute monster, Bonham (pictured left) played so loud he almost didn't need mics on the drums until Zeppelin reached the arena level. His beats packed a killer wallop and are perhaps the most copied and most sampled in rap/rock history. Minimal when necessary, but always right in the pocket.  See: Fool in the Rain, Moby Dick/Bonzo's Montreaux, Misty Mountain Hop, D'yer Mak'er, The Ocean, Rock and Roll, and many more...

Keith Moon / The Who: Like Bonham, the mad boy genius Moon (pictured above) died way too young. His manic style played a vital role in the Who's raucous sound. It was as if his drums were the lead instrument or entire symphony of their own. Pure manic energy but somehow always supporting the vocal or melody. See: Won't Get Fooled Again, My Generation, The Real Me, Who Are You and many more.

Al Jackson / Booker T. & the MGs and many many others:  Unknown and under-appreciated outside of R&B afficionados, Jackson was the house drummer for Stax Records in Memphis and the ultimate soul machine - locking into dead-on beats in countless hits for Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, Sam & Dave, Wilson Pickett and many more. Jackson, known as "The Human Timekeeper."  was shot to death in his own home by intruders in 1975.  See: Knock on Wood, Respect, In the Midnight Hour, Soul Man or Green Onions.

Jody Stephens / Big Star:  Another Memphis drummer who is overlooked like Jackson, his pop style propelled Big Star - an obscure combo who influenced many of the top new wave/alternative bands in the 90s and 00s. See: September Gurls (covered by the Bangles), Back of a Car and In the Street (later re-recorded by Cheap Trick as the theme song for "That 70s Show").

Buddy Rich / Buddy Rich Band and others:  The king of jazz drummers and one of the few who could play a drum solo that didn't make me want to vomit, his precision and power inspired many rock drummers. As a band leader, he was a perfectionist and crazed despot - including hilarious bootleg tapes of his temper tantrums and outbursts. Try this one: play or download a Buddy Rich tirade. (Not safe for work, but entertaining!) Is it a surprise Buddy had heart issues?

Larry Mullen / U2:  The flat-topped Mullen is military-like in his precision - providing the minimal but effective beats for the Irish lads. See: Bullet the Blue Sky, I Will Follow, and Vertigo.

Dave Grohl / Nirvana and Foo Fighters:  Now usually on guitar in his own band (leaving the drumming in the Foo Fighters to the nearly as gifted Taylor Hawkins), the good-humored but hard-rockin' Grohl's slamming on the Nirvana album "Nevermind" places him in the all-time rock greats. Powerful and tasteful. See: the first 16 bars of Smells Like Teen Spirit.

Benny Benjamin and Richard Allen / Funk Brothers:  Integral in the Motown Records house band called the Funk Brothers, the two often played together for the monster grooves in a huge number of Motown classics. See:  Papa Was A Rolling Stone, Dancing in the Streets and Marvin Gaye classic tracks.

Mick Tucker / Sweet:  "Are you ready Steve?... Mick?... Andy? Alright fellows... Let's GOOOOO!" The opening of Ballroom Blitz is classic power pop and super fine drumming. See: the drum fills on Love is Like Oxygen.

The list could go on and on: Ringo Starr (The Beatles), Charlie Watts (The Rolling Stones), Bun E. Carlos (Cheap Trick), Tommy Aldridge (the man who perfected double-bass drum style with Pat Travers and Ozzy), Danny Carey (Tool), Roger Taylor (Queen, and the man who wrote I'm in Love with My Car ha!), Hal Blaine (thousands of pop sessions), Mitch Mitchell (Jimi Hendrix Experience, see: Manic Depression), and on and on... 

Add your faves below as I'm sure I've forgotten many fine drummers.

Why is Jimmie Johnson Unpopular?

The "Why is Jimmie Johnson Unpopular?" column is now online at SPEEDtv.com. It's the reason I've been asking fans to explain to me why he's not a favorite. It also culminates a lifelong dream of including the word "spork" into a published piece. As usual, I encourage anyone who disagrees (or even the random few who agree) to use the "comments" section here or at the SPEEDtv.com site to let me know why. But make it convincing! 

NHRA Finale: How dramatic was the NHRA Finale in Pomona - not just on-track but off as well, as the smoke from nearby wildfires was clearly visible and a number of drivers wondered if their home or race shop would even be standing at the end of the race weekend? Now THAT is pressure and truly a tough thing to work through. Here's hoping all are safe and sound as the fires are brought under control. 

It Doesn't Hurt to Dream: Check out the Dan Gurney Saleen Mustang. 

Hutchinson, Kansas... HELLO!:  I once lived in Hutchinson, KS, but that's a story for another day. If you're up early in Hutch tomorrow (WED.) morning, I'll be a guest of Rod Zook at 7:15 for an extended interview on KWBW-AM1450. ("whenever news breaks!...") I believe it will be available in their audio archives if you're not in the area... 

Thanks to Everyone Who Logged-in to the Chat!

Thanks to so many familiar names who logged-in for the world's longest online chat session Sunday during the Cup finale. If you missed it, you can actually go back and scan through it at SPEEDtv.com. See the replay now! Thanks to SPEED and everyone that logged in to chat!

Congrats to Bill Davis Racing and Johnny Benson - the best pit strategy took home the title Friday night.

And how about the Kansas boy: More congrats to Clint Bowyer and RCR on their Nationwide drivers title and Joe Gibbs Racing for the owner's championship. 

Place this in the BIZARRO file: DEI and Ganassi... together? Hmmmmmm... survival creates some strange bedfellows.  And the new company has such a lilting and simple name: Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates. Eeeeesh. Fit all THAT on a letterhead. I'm going to have to get my brain around this for several more days before I comment any further.

Bounce the Banquet

A Serious Question: I'm looking for sincere reasons people boo or don't like Jimmie Johnson.  Leave your best shot in the comments section.

BAG IT:  I don't always agree with David Poole, but he's dead-on in his call to save money for all and cancel the week of mindless activities in New York City. Does ANYONE really care about the banquet any longer? What benefits does it offer?  Seriously - if you disagree, leave a comment with a compelling reason it should remain the same.

For most everyone involved, it is a gut-wrenching week of tedium while the banquet itself gets more boring and lifeless each season. Send the champion to New York to do the morning shows and the limited number of national media appearances and spare the rest of the sport the $500 per-night hotel rates for postage-stamp sized lodging.

They've already mercifully canceled the drive-through-the streets which infuriated New Yorkers who found their usual gridlock worsened - so why not nix the entire waste? (Note: see Junior pretending to have fun, left...)

Here's Poole's commentary:

Ax NASCAR's New York fling

NASCAR is never going to go for this, but with things the way they are in the economy I believe they ought to move this year's awards ceremony out of New York... It's crazy to spend that kind of money on something the fans aren't a part of and, frankly, have all but completely lost interest in. New York sure as heck doesn't care that NASCAR is there, either. It just seems like a useless waste of a lot of people's money at a time when they don't have it to waste.

NASCAR's Place in the Universe:  It's humbling to see the race telecast pre-empted and moved to another channel by... "AFV?!" I assume it's "America's Fave Videos" or "America's Funniest Videos" or "America's Farting Videos." No matter the name, I'm quite confident it's a fine example of Lowest Common Denominator programming.

The Stopwatch Never Lies

 

Is anyone surprised which NASCAR teams are without sponsorship and searching for a merger, a partner or buyer with little success?

No matter what racing series you follow, the teams with the best people and the best management are going to win almost every time. This applies to more than just the driver, crew and competition staff. It applies strongly to the business side of the sport. The teams with the best management at the top - which also means the best sales, sponsor service and media/public relations people are going to win the race for sponsorships as often as they win on track.

Money doesn't automatically buy you speed, but well-spent investments in the best people eventually will pay dividends.

I quote Seth Godin quite a lot here, and he's dead-on with his latest business blog, which he calls "The Sad Lie of Mediocrity:"

Doing 4% less does not get you 4% less.

Doing 4% less may very well get you 95% less.

That's because almost good enough gets you nowhere. No sales, no votes, no customers. The sad lie of mediocrity is the mistaken belief that partial effort yields partial results. In fact, the results are usually totally out of proportion to the incremental effort.

Motorsports crushes mediocrity.

Using Godin's argument, if a team is four percent below par at a race at Bristol, they finish the 500-lap race 20 LAPS behind the winner. Sure, each race has yellow flags which reset the field throughout the race (including many 'NASCAR yellows' if someone gains too much of a lead or the field is spread too thin), but no matter the number of resets, the top teams remain on top. A team which is four percent behind is almost always among the "go or go home" pack - and going home. This weekend at Phoenix, the best qualifying laps will be approximately 27 seconds flat. If a team is four percent off in qualifying, that's roughly 28.1 seconds, followed by a very long, early ride home. At the most recent Phoenix race, a lap slower than 27.59 sent teams home early... and that's only 2.223 percent slower than the pole winner.

Motorsports is very cyclical because of human nature: losing makes some people more motivated and forces them to work harder and smarter, while winning can occasionally make some folks complacent. However, over the long term, you'll find the same teams at the top (Hendrick, Ferrari, Penske- in open wheel, Force, Gibbs, McLaren, Roush) because of the people at the top. And that's no accident.  Why? They do not accept 96 percent.

Because the stopwatch has no memory. It has no agenda. It plays no favorites. The stopwatch never lies. And it's running EVERY lap.

Win a Set of Five Dale Earnhardt DVDs from the fingerprint inc. blog!

Congrats to MARK, whose entry was the first with the correct point spread. He'll soon receive his Dale DVDs... Thanks to everyone who entered!

The fingerprint blog is offering a chance to our readers to win a five-disc set of Dale Earnhardt's 10 Greatest Wins. How cool is that as a Christmas gift - or a gift for yourself?!

To win, use the comment section below with your guess for the margin of victory in the 2008 Sprint Cup championship. So, if you suspect Jimmie Johnson will defeat Carl Edwards (or vice-versa) by 10 points - let us know. It's one entry per email address (your email is not shown publicly, and that's how we'll contact you if you're victorious). The cut-off for entries will be the drop of the green flag for THIS WEEK'S Cup race at Phoenix. So, get your guess in now to WIN!

Click the link for more information about Dale Earnhardt's 10 Greatest Wins. This is a $44.95 value - and includes more than seven hours of footage.

In case you're interested in what those 10 races are (and let us know if you disagree and have other suggestions), here's the list in chronological order:

1.) 1984 Talladega 500 - first win in #3 car.

2.) 1987 The Winston - The Pass in the Grass (even though it was never an actual pass - Earnhardt was ahead the entire time.)

3.) 1989 Southern 500 - battling DW!

4.) 1993 Coca-Cola 500 - First 600 under the lights.

5.) 1995 Brickyard 500 - Indy meets Intimidator.

6.) 1995 Save Mart 300 - His only road course win.

7.) 1995 Busch Clash - his sixth Clash win (still a record).

8.) 1998 Daytona 500 - you know the story.

9.) 2000 Cracker Barrel 500 - photo finish with Bobby Labonte.

10.) 2000 Winston 500 - his dramatic 76th (and final) victory, from 18th to first in three laps.

What's so Funny 'bout Peace, Love and Understanding?

(photo courtesy Calie Shell, The Digital Journalist) (Blog title from song written by Nick Lowe)

The film Idiocracy portrays the future as a world full of imbeciles who mock anyone showing the slightest glimpse of intelligence, decency or thoughtfulness. I hope for the sake of everyone's kids and grandkids that world doesn't come to be.

For the past eight years, we've been governed by incurious, incompetent leaders who mock intelligence as being only for the 'effeminate elite,' in favor of being stubborn and bellicose bullies. Now is the time to make a change.

The differences are clear: one party wants to extend their reign with more of the same: carrying a big stick yet forgetting to speak softly while dividing our ailing nation in a tiny group of "the haves" versus "the have-nots" (a category which grows daily). The other has selected a candidate which represents a new, unifying vision of the future.

Don't fall for attempts to incite fear and hate. As an example, here in North Carolina --suddenly a closely contested state -- Rep. Robin Hayes referred to liberals as those "who hate real Americans that work and accomplish and believe in God." Do you suspect he really believes that? Ask yourself: who is more qualified to inspire, uplift and UNIFY our nation in a time of great strife? I believe the choice is clear. And, as of this very morning, Junior Johnson thinks so too.

Barack Obama is a man who has worked tirelessly from a broken childhood to reach the U.S. Senate. Yes, his opponent is also a Senator - and a war hero - no arguments there. But do we want the man who crashed a seemingly endless number of planes and graduated 894th out of his class of 899? The Cardboard Maverick is a man of political steadiness equal to quicksand, whose highest-paid staffer last month was the hairstylist for his dullard VP candidate, and whose score on votes for women earned a score of ZERO.

Our globe is a mass of problems on a worldwide scale. Barack Obama is the only candidate which can unite our (former) allies around the world, while John McCain wants to continue the Bush doctrine of isolation. This policy weakens our already tattered state in an increasingly global world. Solutions to the economic crisis and the other challenges will only come from an united world- and a truly 'United' States.

Al Qaeda is stronger now than anytime since 2002, Guantanamo continues to haunt us, and an uneccessary war and torture are unacceptable. These are not ideals which Americans stand for. Obama has promised to end this tyranny, yet his opponents continue to scream that an end to war is a white flag of surrender. If that were truly the case, why do the troops favor Obama by a margin of 6 to 1?

The choice seems simple. A reasonable man. A steady hand. A smart man who ran the most organized and well-operated campaign in memory. A man who has united and energized so many millions in our country. Think of your kids. Think of your grandkids. Barack Obama is best suited to lead a solution to our problems.

Living in a southern state, I hear the racism. I hear people who spit hate with their entire being at Obama's racial mix. People who cannot fathom pulling the lever for a man who is half-black and half-white. But, David Allen Grier, the star of "In Living Color" and the brilliant new show, "Chocolate News" on Comedy Central, has some sage advice for those afraid to vote for a black man: "Vote for his white half!"

Vote for Barack Obama.

Update: Barack Obama: The President-Elect with BRAINS

Whassup, 2008

Hope beats fear.