Monday, August 27, 2007

Not the Last Post

I always thought I'd go out with a bang instead of a whimper but, well what can you do? You put up your last post with the words you have, not the words you want.

My interest in blogging has waned severely as of late. Other aspects of my life have taken priority and, alas, my blog has taken a backseat to it all. I thought I would make it to the two-year mark, and came pretty close, but, I don't want to drag it out like that.

I think the thing that really helped me decide it was time to hang it up was the loss of one of my most loyal readers, Peacechick Mary. She recently stopped blogging for what I understand were reasons similar to my own. One thing I knew I could always count on was a thoughtful comment by Mary on almost all of my posts, even the crappy ones. There were plenty of those, but Mary kept coming back for more. I'll miss you, Mary.

I was happy to see that two of my fellow bloggers, Kvatch and John Good paid tribute to her and that John, being the ever-thoughtful guy that he is, even took the time to claim Mary's blog address in the event that she might want to get back to blogging in the future. Nice work, John.

The greatest experience of blogging has been my ability to connect to a community of people who, while not always agreeing with everything I had to say, were always there to read what I had to say. That has meant a great deal to me and I thank each and every one of you for taking the time to click on the PTCruiser link on a regular basis to check in on me and see what was going on in my mind on any given day.

I'm not going to shut down the blog because there are links on the right to some really great people's blogs. Go ahead and click on them. They're fantastic sources of information, opinion, and even a good laugh every now and then. Another reason is the remote possibility that I may decide to pick up where I left off and start writing again.

In closing, there are a few people in particular who I need to thank.

I'd like to thank my father for reading and offering fatherly advice on this blog. Much appreciation to my Uncle Dennis for e-mailing me all of the great political material which ended up being some of my best posts.

Thank you to Celticfire, my comrade who has led me down the path of discovery that is Maoism/Leninism/Marxism. (I'm still learning)

Scarlet, you're not getting my cardboard. While I may be giving up on blogging, there is no way in hell that I'm going to stop freewayblogging. I want to thank you for teaching me a craft that I will continue to use for the rest of my days. No matter who is in office, or what may be going on in this world, I will always have the ability and know-how to exercise my right to free speech in the most effective and efficient way possible. You can't put a price on that kind of experience. I'm looking forward to our next great adventure. And for those of you who tune in here to see my latest freewayblogging adventures, you'll still be able to see them by clicking on Scarlet's name at the top of the paragraph.

Last, but certainly not least, a huge thank you to Spocko, of Spocko's Brain. You were the initial spark that got me thinking I could pull off something like writing my own blog. I've enjoyed every moment of it, and I have you to thank for that. It's been quite an adventure, kicking sand in the face of the beast that is the local Hate-Talk radio station. Here's to our future collaborations.

Thank you everyone. I'll be back to check on you, so make sure you all behave. Don't make me pull this blog over to the side of the road and smack you.

And remember...

Isn't that right, Jesus?

"You da man, PT!"



Green Day - Working Class Hero


You know I couldn't leave you without posting a video. This one is really good.

Saturday, August 25, 2007

Weekend Music Video

SWEET DREAMS - Marilyn Manson

Pig rodeo riding! Woohoo!

Monday, August 20, 2007

Dick Cheney Was Right!

Dark Lord Cheney Predicts the Future...

Big hat-tip to my Uncle Dennis for this gem.

Now do your part to help Dick Cheney end this quagmire by clicking here.

Saturday, August 18, 2007

Weekend Music Video

Rage Against The Machine - Freedom



Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Election 2008/2012

I know most of you have been eagerly waiting to find out who PTCruiser will be voting for in the upcoming presidential elections. For some of you, my choice will be very influential on who you vote for. I fully understand the gravity of that responsibility and I promise I won't steer you wrong.


I'll be writing in my own name for the 2008 election, and I encourage all of my readers to do the same. Not that I want you to write my name in. Far from it. I want you to go to the polls and write your own name in. Yep, that's what I want you to do. I'm confident that any one of my readers (being the most intelligent people on the internets) would do a far better job of running this country than any of the filthy, greedy bastards that the Republicrat / Demopublican Party has to offer.

If you're the shy type, or feel that you may not be up to the demanding schedule that being POTUS requires, then feel free to write in the name PTCruiser. I'm confident that the CEO of Chrysler will appreciate it.

Having great foresight, I am ready to throw my support towards a candidate in the 2012 presidential election. From here on out, I'll be supporting Evil Spock for President in 2012. I figure after four years of whatever mess the one-party system throws at us in this election, we'll be ready for a new party.


Plus, I've offered my services as Secretary of Defense, to which he replied that I would need to be able to lead a robot army. Being a mechanic, I should have no problem leading and maintaining an army of robots. What could possibly go wrong?

Please remember to wash you hands after voting.

Friday, August 10, 2007

Weekend Music Video

Smashing Pumpkins - Tarantula

I miss seeing him surrounded by the original band members, but I'm willing to overlook that because it still sounds good and I don't want it to end.

Sunday, August 05, 2007

Back From Reno - A Proud Moment

Whew! It was quite a weekend. My throat is still a little hoarse from all of the yelling. Our dancers were amazing. All of them really put everything they had into their performances, and it showed. We had two dancers place in the final round and one of them was MY DAUGHTER! She took third place in her category, Tamahine ages 5 to 8, and I couldn't possibly be more proud of her.

So, at Peacechick Mary's request, I went to YouTube to see if I could find any kind of videos from this weekend's competition, and lo and behold, the one video posted so far is one with my daughter in it. And here she is....

Heiva I Reno 2007

Note: Turn your volume down, the yelling and screaming is pretty intense (and yes, I'm one of them). Also tilt your head to the left for about half of the video because it was shot with the camera turned sideways.

Thursday, August 02, 2007

Take Some Time Off

I'm headed up to Reno, Nevada today for a weekend of Tahitian Dance Competition. My youngest daughter will be competing, and while I won't be drumming for her (rules state that only house drummers will be playing this year), I'll definitely be cheering so loud for her that I won't have a voice by the time we come home on Sunday. And not just for her, but for all of my "daughters" (about 30 total) from our halau who will be competing this weekend. They've all worked very hard for this and I wish them all the best.

If you're in Reno this weekend, you can find me at the Blackjack tables on Saturday night. If I'm not there, I'll be at the Karaoke Bar singing Danny Boy.

Les Grands Ballets de Tahiti "Tabu" #4 Solos

Turn the volume up; the sound is kind of low on this one.

Wednesday, August 01, 2007

Relax

While sitting in the shop truck the other day at the Embarcadero, I spotted this cargo ship pulling into the port of Oakland and thought it would make for a nice picture.


I think I was right. It was a beautiful day.

I love this job.

Friday, July 27, 2007

Intermission

An apology to my loyal readers for the lack of posts on the blog lately. I've been pretty busy with other interests that demand my attention; things like working on the house, working on myself, planning a trip to Cuba, etc., etc.. I'll be getting back at it as soon as I can. It'll be very light posting for a while, though. Stuff like this....

More Cowbell!

Saturday, July 21, 2007

Weekend Music Video

Butthole Surfers - Pepper

Look for cameo appearance by Erik Estrada.

Thursday, July 19, 2007

Where in the World am I?

Some of you may have noticed this map on the sidebar to the right. It's called a ClustrMap and it displays the parts of the globe where PTCruiser is being perused. Being the narcissist I am, I love checking this thing out. I'm fascinated with the idea that people from all over the world are looking at this blog. (Even if they were lured here under the false pretense that they were going to look at a site about the Chrysler Pie Wagon)

It hasn't escaped my attention that I'm wildly popular in the United States, nor does it surprise me. The U.S. is my target audience. What does surprise me is how popular this blog is in Malaysia and the East Coast of Australia. Who would've guessed? At any rate, to all of my Aussie readers, "G'day, mates". And to my Malaysian friends, "Selamat Datang".

I've also taken note of my rise in poularity in parts of Europe, particularly in Ireland, England, France, and Germany (not necessarily in that order). OK, Ireland is #1 in any list I compile. What can I tell ya? It's a great place full of wonderful people.

I'm also read in parts of South America. I'm happy to see that Venezuela looks in on me from time to time. (I like to think it's Hugo Chavez himself, checking up on my progress)

I'm also happy to see that I'm getting hits from the Middle East, including Iran and Saudi Arabia. I was a bit surprised that NOT ONE PERSON in Iraq reads this blog. Maybe the current regime doesn't approve of sites like this. I wonder if the old regime would have.

While I'm at it, let me give a shout out to India and Canada, two very large countries where people religiously log in to check out PTCruiser. "Heyyy".

Now here's where things get wierd. Take a good look at the continents of Asia and Africa. Go ahead, look again. Notice anything missing there? No red dots. So you're saying to yourself, "WTF?", which is the exact same thing I'm saying. See how we're in tune with each other?
That's the part I love about blogging, the connection with the audience. Which is why I'm so upset about this Asia/Africa thing. How can I share my love of connectivity with the whole world WHEN THE WHOLE WORLD ISN'T LOOKING AT MY BLOG???

Maybe it's a simple case of lack of access to this wonderful page on the internet, or maybe I'm just not that hot in those parts ot the world.

Naah, it's gotta be the first part.

UPDATE: My "eldest daughter" has dutifully reminded me that I completely overlooked a very important island nation....the Philippines! To all of my readers in P.I., (all three islands as my "daughter" points out) "Mabuhay!"

And while we're covering island nations, let us not forget Japan, Taiwan, New Zealand , Guam(U.S. Territory), and last, but certainly not least, Sri Lanka. And in the Carribean we have visitors from the Bahamas and the Virgin Islands.

A huge thank you to everyone around the globe who takes the time to look at my meager blog. I sincerely appreciate it.

Monday, July 16, 2007

Michael Moore Pimp-Slaps CNN

Saturday, July 14th, 2007
An Open Letter to CNN from Michael Moore

Dear CNN,

Well, the week is over -- and still no apology, no retraction, no correction of your glaring mistakes.

I bet you thought my dust-up with Wolf Blitzer was just a cool ratings coup, that you really wouldn't have to correct the false statements you made about "Sicko." I bet you thought I was just going to go quietly away.

Think again. I'm about to become your worst nightmare. 'Cause I ain't ever going away. Not until you set the record straight, and apologize to your viewers. "The Most Trusted Name in News?" I think it's safe to say you can retire that slogan.


This all ties in with the hack job CNN did on their report about Moore's latest film, SICKO, a documentary on the lousy health care industry in this country. Here's a clip of Moore going off on Wolf Blitzer...

Michael Moore v. Wolf Blitzer (7/9/07)


Without doubt, the best part of the letter is the postscript...

P.S. If you also want to apologize for not doing your job at the start of the Iraq War, I'm sure most Americans would be very happy to accept your apology. You and the other networks were willing partners with Bush, flying flags all over the TV screens and never asking the hard questions that you should have asked. You might have prevented a war. You might have saved the lives of those 3,610 soldiers who are no longer with us. Instead, you blew air kisses at a commander in chief who clearly was making it all up. Millions of us knew that -- why didn't you? I think you did. And, in my opinion, that makes you responsible for this war. Instead of doing the job the founding fathers wanted you to do -- keeping those in power honest (that's why they made it the FIRST amendment) -- you and much of the media went on the attack against the few public figures like myself who dared to question the nightmare we were about to enter. You've never thanked me or the Dixie Chicks or Al Gore for doing your job for you. That's OK. Just tell the truth from this point on.

You can read the letter in its entirety here.

Saturday, July 14, 2007

Weekend Music Video

This weekend we have "The Man in Black" in the last video he ever made performing a song written by Trent Reznor. Enjoy...

Johnny Cash - Hurt


Below is the video for the same song, performed by Reznor and Nine Inch Nails...

Nine Inch Nails - Hurt


I found an article in Rolling Stone which discusses this collaboration. It's an interview with Trent Reznor on Johnny Cash performing his song:


In Other Words: Trent Reznor
Industrial heavyweight delivers a eulogy for a country legend
ANTHONY DECURTIS Posted Jun 07, 2005 12:00 AM

When Johnny Cash first told me he was recording the Nine Inch Nails song "Hurt," I was immediately struck by how brilliant that was. "When I heard that song, I thought, 'That sounds like something I could've written in the Sixties,'" Cash said about the original version. "There's more heart and soul and pain in that song than any that's come along in a long time. I love it." Cash then took Trent Reznor's tortured rendering of the agony of addiction and transformed it into a stunning meditation on mortality itself.

Then came Mark Romanek's video. Cash, withered by his illness, bravely allowed himself to be shown exactly as he looked, juxtaposed with images of him as a young man that bristle with virility and life. It is a stunning statement of his artistic integrity and his commitment to the truth.


When I wrote Cash's obituary for Rolling Stone, I wanted to speak with Reznor about Cash's interpretation of the song and Romanek's video. Even though the video had attracted a huge amount of attention -- earning seven nominations at MTV's Video Music Awards and winning one -- Reznor had not publicly spoken about it. I knew that he would have something powerful to say, and he did.

In In Other Words, a longer version of this interview appears in a section called "Cash Family Values," that also includes interviews with Johnny Cash, June Carter Cash, Rosanne Cash, Bono and Tom Petty.

Click here for the interview. I found it to be very interesting.

Thursday, July 12, 2007

BUSH LIED

Click pictures to enlarge.


Pacifica


Daly City


San Francisco


San Francisco


San Francisco


Half Moon Bay


San Mateo


OK. You've seen enough truth. Here are some lies...

A Symphony of Lies

More lies can be found here.

Who Indeed?


I've already made a print on transparency film and I will be posting one of these signs myself. Click here for more and how you can have one of these for your very own.

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Pork Chop Head

Hungry Lizard Game

This video inspired by Evil Spock.

Sunday, July 08, 2007

We Have a Winner !

Wow! While I'm surprised at the huge response, I'm not at all surprised at the many excellent entries. And some of you with MULTIPLE entries. My hat's off to all of you.

After much hand-wringing and after leaving the lot of you hanging on the edges of your seats all weekend, the judges are happy to tell me that they have selected a winner.....

(Drum roll)

And the winner is...

SNAVE with "We're a country, not a church"

Congratulations, Snave. Take a bow.

But wait, ladies and gentlemen,there's more...

As I predicted, there were far too many entries to limit the sign painting to just one. That's right, folks. In upcoming posts of PTCruiser, you'll also be seeing these fine slogans on bay area freeways...

mdhatter with "This is why you need to vote"

u.s.s.r. funk with "Putin '08"

D.K. Raed with "War Dead = Lives per Gallon"

Dada with "Global Warring...it's real"

Fuzz with "ALL HAT, NO PRESIDENT"

Lew Scannon with "Impeach Bush & Cheney, because lynchings are illegal"

A big thank you to everyone for participating. I hope all of you had as much fun with it as I did.

Looks like I better get to work on making signs. Someone has something BIG planned.

Thursday, July 05, 2007

Interactive Freewayblogging v 1.0


Just look at all that freshly-painted white cardboard, waiting to have messages plastered all over it. You know, I seem to get most of my inspiration for signs while I'm paining the cardboard just prior to printing messages. I look at all of those blank canvases and start thinking about what I'm going to put on them.

Today, while I was prepping these pieces, I had an epiphany. Sort of. (This is the part where you, dear reader, come in)

I'm leaving several of these magnificent paper products of truth and justice blank so that you, yes you, can leave your mark on the world. Let me know what you would like to see written on this cardboard and displayed on San Francisco area freeways for hundreds of thousands to read.

Some key tips to getting your message selected for public display are:
  1. Keep it short. (I can only fit so many words on these things)
  2. Humor is highly encouraged.
  3. Outrage at your current government representatives is even more highly encouraged.

Now I'm going to try and limit it to one winner, but in the likely event of receiving multiple winning entries, I may bend the rules to include more than one. After all, everyone knows that PTCruiser fans are, by far, the most witty and intelligent people on the internets.

OK. Let's put our thinking caps on, people. You can leave your entries in the comments section, or, if you're one of those shy types, drop me an e-mail with your entry and I will guarantee your anonymity up to the limit of the government reading your e-mail. (I can't do anything about that, but I'm working on it)

Let's remember that this is a friendly contest intended for fun, merriment, and of course, sedition. And, as with any freewayblogging contest, no wagering.

Wednesday, July 04, 2007

Independence Day, 2007

Olbermann: Bush, Cheney should resign

Keith Olbermann speaks for me.

UPDATE: Best July 4th post I have read all day here. (And I've read a lot of them today)

Tuesday, July 03, 2007

Comedy Break

A Dog Named "Hoppy"

Big thanks go out to Spocko who sent me this video in an e-mail a while back.