Links of Fun

The World Beyond
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Fun Links

My other Web sites/pages:

Ashland Live Music.com: If you live in Ashland Oregon and surrounding area, this is the premier site for live music listings, including rock, blues, jazz, and classical. I started the site on a whim... I just wanted to know who was playing where. It is (he says modestly) becoming a local fixture. There is also a related Facebook page for links to local musicians and clubs.
My Facebook page: I won't Twitter. You can't make me. But I find my virtual Facebook friends to be a lot less demanding than my real-world friends on occasion (just kidding, it's an inside joke). I do know that I would have no idea about what's going on in this little Ashland social scene if it weren't for Facebook. It's always fun to see who's "In a Relationship" on Sunday morning and Single by the following weekend. As MySpace Plus One, this site allows you to make friends you may never meet in person without leaving the comfort of your computer chair and ample posterior. My page offers links to my friends, both real, virtual, and celebs who otherwise would not have anything to do with me (and don't anyway, I'm sure it's their PR people who maintain their pages). It's a fun way to kill idle time while watching Letterman or Craig Ferguson and to get into arguments with people you'd never talk to in real-life.
My personal MySpace page: This is so 2007 but I think my page remains. They have even redesigned the site to try to compete with Facebook. It still takes forever to load in my browser.
My MySpace "Artist" profile," offers a selection of the same songs as this site and will probably go away soon. You're best just going to the Music section of this web site.
Wine Without Reason: My very fun Southern Oregon band, which we started in Fall of '10. Add guitarist Joe Diehl, drummer Kevin McKern, and bassist Bruce McKern to my original music (I play keyboard, guitar, and sing lead vocals), and you get three good musicians.... and me. ;) We seem to be getting gigs and some fans, though. Imagine that! We were even on the radio and it had nothing to do with a felony! Check out the links page of that site for my favorite venues and other musicians.
The Smatter site: A legendary band I once played with many years ago recently regrouped and made some great recordings. Check out the music and fun.

Save trees and get your news online:

Yahoo News: It's where I spend the first hour or so of the morning while getting up the energy to do actual work. It lets you tailor a great online news page from many sources, and includes comics, weather, horoscopes, movie times, local customized TV listings and more.
Excite.com: Excite.com is sort of like the MySpace of Web portals. But it's still around and probably works just as well as Yahoo.
CNN: Any coincidence that their ID announcer is the voice of Darth Vader? News is not generally pleasant, but it's good to be informed. I like to laugh at Anderson Kewper while I'm doing my daily workout. "Keeping them honest" indeed. "They" didn't start out honest and Anderson is certainly not keeping them that way. Oh, and buh-bye Larry King.
Volcano Observatory: I used to worry about quakes, but now that I've moved north, I make sure to dodge the lava flows.
Old Farmers Almanac: As far as I'm concerned, this is the only credible source for long-term weather. Ben Franklin would be proud.
National Weather Service Home Page: Why not go straight to the source and avoid those silly TV weather people? The National Weather Service has billion-dollar supercomputers to provide you with the wrong forecast 'round the clock!
Local Weather for My Hometown: The Weather Channel provides localized info (below). Wouldn't you rather be here than there? And if not, just enter any zip code. (This may or may not work but, if not, just type in your zip code when you're transported to weather.com.)

Get your entertainment fix:

Mike Nesmith's Home Page--The Videoranch: Michael Nesmith, who now freely admits he was a Monkee, has a great site, complete with his music, videos, merchandise, and live concerts from other artists.
The Official Beatles Home Page: Well, no reunions possible any more, but the Fabs have a Web site. Remember, they were Apple before Apple was a computer and now all the Apples are living happily ever after on iTunes.
George Harrison's Home Page: I guess All Things Must Pass, but we miss you, George!!!!
Roger Ebert: One amazing movie critic. I generally agree with his reviews and admire all he's worked through.
Star Trek Home Page: The legend remains. You can't have nerdy Links page without this site.
Superman!: It's a bird, it's a plane. If I'm going to be childishly nerdy enough to include Star Trek, I have to include Superman, too. Click through the DC Links on the Superman page for Batman as well. All owned by Warner Bros™. This reminds me of my late friend, Alan, who I wanted to mention somewhere on this page.
NASA: This is not really entertainment but it remains today's final frontier. And it's our (very minimal) tax dollars at work! This site has some beautiful movie files and the latest info on current missions. I don't think we're gonna make it to Mars in my lifetime, though. The clock is ticking.
DVD Price Search: Nah, this is not an ad. But if you enjoy DVDs , check out this site for a great price and selection comparison.
It's a Tiki World: Pass the rum and settle back and watch the podcasts--Forbidden Drinks from a Swank pad. They don't seem to be very active lately. Tiki cocktails will do that to you.

Friends of All Breeds

Guatemala Gazette and blog: A very interesting travelogue written by my friend Jim. He heads south for a few months almost every winter, and this is compellingly written and includes some really nice pictures (he is a writer and photographer, as well as a craftsperson). Jim, sorry to throw you in with the dogs but I will add other friends to this section when I have more time—and you know what I think of dogs vs people. Unconditional. :)
Find a Pet!: Just about the most gratifying thing I've done in my life was to adopt three "rescue" animals--my late buddies Laddie and Cosmo, and my current buddy Pacey (who, in fact, I am looking for a sheltie companion for). If you feel a void in your life--or even if you don't--you will never be sorry for adopting a pet.
The Rescue Ranch: Located not very far from the California/Oregon border—and about half an hour away from my home—this is a haven for lost, abandoned, mistreated and abused dogs and puppies. If you live in this area, check their listings if you're thinking of adopting a canine companion. But even if you're not, this non-profit organization feeds, shelters, and medically treats hundreds of (if not more) dogs a year. Why not send them a small donation (P.O. Box 195, Hornbrook, Calif. 96044)—it's tax deductible and will make everyone--and a bunch of doggies--feel good. Woof!
Tribute to My Best Friend: Many dog owners believe that when their pets die, they go to the "Rainbow Bridge" and wait for them to cross over together. Whatever you (or I) believe, there is a very beautiful Web site for shelties that have passed away called "Sheltie Angels Among Us." The owner/Webmaster was kind enough to include my little tribute to my departed canine friend Laddie, including the song I wrote for him.

Morbid Curiosities, All-Around Fun and Politics

Awful Plastic Surgery: This alternately amuses and horrifies many of us but it's definitely worth checking out. You'll be amazed at what some of your favorite celebs have done and how different they look now--the Webmaster repeats the saying that no one in Hollywood has original parts. It's pretty frightening what a vain culture we are. Also check out its sister site: Good Plastic Surgery. Me? Not only am I morally opposed to it, but I'm sure my doctor would mess up and I'd look like Captain Pike from the pilot of Star Trek (nerd alert). Ask me in ten years, though. Make that five.
The Death Clock: Speaking of mortality, want to check yours out and see how much time you have left before you shuffle off this mortal coil (or whatever they say and whatever it means)? This site may be grim, but I bet you pass on the cheeseburger and fries after typing in your information.
Find A Grave: And if that tain't grim enough, me laddie or lassie, this pretty neat site lets you locate and look at thousands of graves of famous and not-so-famous people without leaving the comfort of your own, er, mausoleum.
Webcams Around the World: This replaces an 80-clicks Around the World link that went defunct (I hate when that happens). Thanks to Shawn from Ms. Merkel's class in NY for spotting the broken link and replacing it with this cool web cam link. Now on to viewer mail... ;)
The Green Party: Aren't you tired of business as usual? It's time to look outside of the Lameocrats and the Repugnicans. Check out the Green Party and help break the two-party lock on our government. Well, maybe. Sometimes I think that's true, sometimes I cast my fate with the Dems as lesser-of-two-evils, but deep at heart, I really do think this country is too large and diverse to be governable and favor the Ecotopian model of secessionism, and breaking the country into about five nation-states. I haven't sat down to draw a map yet.

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