Happy New Year!

I did my best to try and beat the Freewayblogger in his competition but I'm afraid I may have come up a little short.

Seeing as how Saddam is dead and with that, the Iraqi people will now be greeting our soldiers with hugs and flowers rather than bombs and bullets, I probably won't have to do this much longer. But until that happens, my new year's resolution is to do a shitload more of this stuff.

I present to you Highway 280, aka Free Speech Alley:

Yes, I had to leave my signature.

UPDATE: That signature is still hanging on that same overpass today, 1-2-'07. Felt good to drive underneath it today on my way home from work.

Death of a Salesman's Customer

Saddam Hussein executed for war crimes

When did we decide that killing people was the best way to show that killing people is wrong? And more importantly, when are we going to evolve from this barbaric concept?




The Saddam in Rumsfeld's Closet
Oh Rummy, we hardly knew ye.

Weekend Music Video - Double Shot

Amid the heavily Rap-laden 1980's, these cats didn't just break the mold, they shattered it into a million pieces.

Be sure to check out the guitar solo ......... CHECK IT!!!

Vernon Reid - quite possibly the most underrated guitarist in Rock History. Be prepared to weep at his greatness.

Living Colour - Cult Of Personality




I don't even have the words to describe what you're about to witness below. Hold onto your hats.

Devo - Whip It

Bushism of the Week

"Anybody who is in a position to serve this country ought to understand the consequences of words."

--George W. Bush, interview with Rush Limbaugh, Nov. 1, 2006

The Bush-Ford Connection

Crawford, Texas-

Before the corpse of Gerald R. Ford was even cold, George Bush came bounding out of his ranch at Crawford today for his favorite pastime: the Photo-Op.

As he spoke kind words of praise and remembrance, writtten in a fashion so that even a monkey couldn't screw it up, about a man he barely knew, I was suddenly struck by the thought that there is an obvious connection between the two men....

Neither of them were ever "elected" to the office of President of the United States.

USA is STILL #1 !

...at killing Americans. We've now sent more Americans to their deaths than were killed on 9/11. Congratulations!

Military deaths in Iraq exceed 9/11 toll
By LARRY McSHANE, Associated Press Writer

In a span of a few hours, 2,973 people were killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. In a span of 45 months, the number of American troops killed in Iraq exceeded that grim toll as the war continues.

The milestone in Iraq came on Christmas, nearly four years after the war began, according to a count by The Associated Press. In announcing the Monday deaths of three soldiers, the toll from those fighting the war surpassed the toll from those killed by terrorists in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania.
Full story here.

Looks like it's time to make more signs in my "War Against Stupidity"...

Nollaig Shona Dhuit

I found this video of Enya singing Silent Night in Gaelic. Hat tip to Lew Scannon for discussing it in his latest post. I never knew it existed 'til I read about it in his Annual Christmas Rant at Unbrainwashed.

Big thanks to Enigma for posting it at Watergate Summer, as well.

Enya- Silent Night


As a fan of language, I couldn't resist swiping the list below from Ben Heine. Thank you, Ben.

"Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year" in many languages :

• AfrikaansGeseënde Kersfees en 'n gelukkige nuwe jaarAkeanonMaayad-ayad nga PaskwaMahigugmaon nga Bag-ong Dag-on kinyo tanan!
• AlbanianGëzuar Krishtlindjet e Vitin e RiAleutKamgan Ukudigaa
• AlsatianE güeti Wïnâchte un e gleckichs Nej Johr
• AmharicMelikam yelidet beale Melikam Addis Amet-Apache (Western)Gozhqq Keshmish
• Arabicاجمل التهاني بمناسبة الميلاد و حلول السنة الجديدة(Ajmel altehani bemonasebt almīlad wa helol alseneh aljedīdah)(kullu sina winta t̴ayyib - to a man) كل سنة وانت طيّب(kullu sina winti t̴ayyiba - to a woman) كل سنة وانت طيّبة
• ArmenianՇնորհավոր Ամանոր և Սուրբ Ծնունդ (Shnorhavor Amanor yev Surb Tsnund)
• AromanianCãrciun hãrios (Hristolu s-aflà! Dealihea cà s-afla!) shi ti multsã-anji Anlu Nàù!
• AsturianBones Navidaes y Gayoleru añu nuevu!
• AymaraSooma Nawira-ra
• AzerbaijaniTezze iliniz yahsi olsun
• BasqueZorionak eta urte berri on
• BelarusianЗ Божым нараджэннем (Z Bozym naradzenniem)Сзцзаслівыцг Каліадау (Szczaslivych Kaliadau)З Новым годам i Калядамi (Z Novym godam i Kaliadami)
• Blackfooti'taamomahkatoyiiksistsikomi
• BretonNedeleg laouen ha bloavezh mat
• BulgarianЧестита Коледа! (Čestita Koleda!)Щастлива Нова Година (Štastliva Nova Godina)
• CatalanBon Nadal i feliç any nou
• CebuanoMaayong PaskoMabungahong Bag-ong Tuig kaninyong tanan!
• CherokeeDanistayohihv & Aliheli'sdi Itse Udetiyvasadis
• CheyenneHoesenestotse & Aa'eEmona'e
• Chinese(Cantonese)聖誕節同新年快樂 (singdaanjit tùnhg sànnìhn faailohk)
• Chinese(Mandarin)聖誕快樂 新年快樂 [圣诞快乐 新年快乐] (shèngdàn kuàilè xīnnián kuàilè)
• Chinese(Shanghainese)圣诞节快乐 (sendaijiq kualoq) 新年快乐 (sinni kualoq)
• Chinese(Teochew)圣诞快乐 新年快乐 (siandang kuailak singnin kuailak)
• ChoctawYukpa, Nitak Hollo Chito
• ComancheTsaa NuusukatuWaa Himaru
• CornishNadelik Looan ha Looan Blethen NowethNadelack looan ha looan blethan noueth
• Cree(Mitho Makosi Kesikansi)CreekAfvcke Nettvcakorakko
• CroatianSretan Božić! Sretna nova godina!
• CzechVeselé vánoce a šťastný nový rok
• DanishGlædelig jul og godt nytår
• DutchZalig kerstfeest en gelukkig nieuwjaar
• EsperantoBonan Kristnaskon kaj feliĉan novan jaron
• EstonianHäid Jõule ja Head Uut Aastat
• FaroeseGledhilig Jol og eydnurikt nyggjar
• FinnishHyvää joulua ja onnellista uutta vuottaFlemishZalig Kerstfeest en Gelukkig nieuw jaar
• FrisianNoflike Krystdagen en folle lok en seine
• FrenchJoyeux Noël et bonne année
• Gaelic (Irish)Nollaig shona duit (Happy Christmas to you)Beannachtaí na Nollag (Christmas Greetings)Beannachtaí an tSéasúir (Season's Greetings)Athbhliain faoi mhaise duit (Prosperous New Year)Bliain úr faoi shéan is faoi mise duit(Happy New Year to you)
• Gaelic (Manx)Nollick Ghennal as Blein Vie Noa
• Gaelic (Scottish)-Nollaig chridheil agus bliadhna mhath ùr-GalicianBo Nadal e próspero aninovo
• Georgianგილოცავ(თ) შობა-ახალ წელს(gilocʻav(tʻ) šoba-axal cels)
• GermanFrohe/Fröhliche Weihnachten und ein gutes neues Jahr/ein gutes Neuesund ein gesundes neues Jahr / und einen guten Rutsch ins neue JahrFrohes Fest und guten Rutsch [ins neue Jahr]
• German (Hessian)Frohe Weihnachte unn ein gudes neus Jahr
• German (Swiss)schöni Fäschttäg / schöni Wienachteund e guets neus Jahr / en guete Rutsch is neue Johr
• German (Pennsylvania)En frehlicher Grischtdaag un en hallich Nei Yaahr
• GreekΚαλά Χριστούγεννα και Ευτυχισμένο το Νέο Ετος(Kala Khristougēnna kai Ēutukhismēno to Neo Ētos)
• GreenlandicJuullimi ukiortaasamilu pilluaritsi
• Hausabarka da Kirsimatikuma barka da sabuwar shekara
• HawaiianMele Kalikimaka me ka Hau'oli Makahiki Hou
• Hebrewחג מולד שמח ושנה טובה Chag Molad Sameach v'Shanah Tovah
• HiligaynonMalipayon nga PaskwaMahamungayaon nga Bag-ong Tuig sa inyong tanan
• Hindiशुभ खिसमस (Śubh Khisamasa)नये साल की हार्दिक शुभकामनायें (Naye sāl kī hārdik śubhkāmnayeṅ)
• HungarianKellemes karácsonyt és boldog új évet
• IcelandicGleðileg jól og farsælt komandi árGleðileg jól og farsælt nýtt árIlokanoNaragsak a PaskuaNarang-ay a Baro a Tawen kadakayo amin!
• IndonesianSelamat Natal dan Tahun BaruInonhanMalipayon nga Paskwakag Masadya nga Bag-ong Tuig sa inyo tanan.
• ItalianBuon Natale e felice anno nuovo
• Japaneseクリスマスと新年おめでとうございます(kurisumasu to shinnen omedetō gozaimasu)
• JèrriaisUn Bouan Noué et lé Nouvel An!
• Judeo-Spanish / LadinoNoel alegre i felis anyo muevoKapampanganMasayang PaskuMasaplalang Bayung Banwa keko ngan!
• KazakЖаратканнын туысы жене Жана Жылыныз кутты болсын(Žaratkannyn tuysy žene Žana Žylynyz kutty bolsyn)KinyarwandaNoheri nziza n'umwaka mushya muhire!
• KirghizЖаратканнын туысымен Жана Жылыныз кутты болсын(Žaratkannyi tuysymen Žana Žylynyz kutty bolsyn)
• KlingonyItIv QISmaS 'ej Quch chu' wa'maH 'ej cha' maSmey
• Korean메리 크리스마스 새해 복 많이 받으세요 (meli k'lisŭmasŭ saehae pog manhi patŭseyo)
• Kurdish (Kurmanji)Kirîsmes u ser sala we pîroz be
• Kurdish (Sorani)Kirîsmes u salî nwêtan lê pîroz bê
• LatinNatale hilare et annum faustum
• LatvianPriecīgus Ziemassvētkus un laimīgu Jauno gadu
• LithuanianLinksmų Kalėdų ir Laimingų Naujųjų Metų
• LuxembourgishE schéine Krëschtdaag an e glécklecht neit JoërSchéi Feierdeeg an e glécklecht neit JoërSchei Chreschtdeeg an e gudde Rutsch an d'neit Joer
• MacedonianСреќен Вожик и Среќна Нова Година(Srećen Božik i Srećna Nova Godina)
• MalagasyMirary noely sambatraArahabaina tratrin'ny taona vaovao
• Malayalamന വവത്സര ആശംസ (nava-valsara āshamsakal) - Happy New Year
• MalteseIl-Milied Ħieni u s-Sena t-Tajba Awguri għas-sena l-ġdida
• MaoriMeri Kirihimete Ka puta a Matariki, ka rere a Whanui, ko te tohu o te tau
• Marathiशुभ नाताळ (Śubh Nātāḷ)नवीन वर्षच्या हार्दिक शुभेच्छा (Navīn varṣacyā hārdik śubhecchā)
• MongolianТанд кристмас ба шинэ жилийн мэнд хүргэе(Tand kristmas ba shine jiliyn mend khürgeye)
• NavajoYa'at'eeh Keshmish
• NorwegianGod jul og godt nyttår (Bokmål) God jol og godt nyttår (Nynorsk)
• Persian(krismas mobārak) كرسمس مبارکسال نو مبارک (sāle no mobārak)
• PolishWesołych Świąt i szczęśliwego Nowego Roku
• PortugueseFeliz Natal e próspero ano novo / Feliz Ano Novo Boas Festas e Feliz Ano Novo / Um Santo e Feliz Natal
• Punjabiਕਰਿਸਮ ਤੇ ਨਵਾੰ ਸਾਲ ਖੁਸ਼ਿਯਾੰਵਾਲਾ ਹੋਵੇ(karisama te nawāṃ sāla khušayāṃwālā hewe)
• QuenyaAlassëa Hristomerendë! Alassëa Vinyarië!
• Romansh(Sursilvan dialect)Legreivlas fiastas da Nadal e bien niev onn!!
• RomanianCrăciun fericit şi un an nou fericit
• RussianС Рождеством Христовым и С наступающим Новым Годом(S Roždestvom Khristovym i S nastupayuščim Novym Godom)
• SamoanManuia le Kerisimasi, ma le Tausaga Fou
• ScotsMerry Christmas an' a Canty Hogmanay
• SerbianСретан Божић и Сретна Нова Година(Sretan Božić i Sretna Nova Godina) Срећан Божић и Срећна Нова Година(Srećan Božić i Srećna Nova Godina)
• SicilianBon Natali e filici annu novu
• SindarinMereth Veren e-Doled Eruion! Garo Idhrinn Eden Veren!
• SlovakVeselé vianoce a šťastný nový rok
• SlovenianVesel Božič in srečno novo leto
• SomaliCiid wanaagsan iyo sanad cusub oo fiican
• Spanish¡Feliz Navidad y próspero año nuevo!
• SwahiliHeri ya krismasHeri ya mwaka mpya
• SwedishGod jul och gott nytt år
• TagalogMaligayang PaskoManigong Bagong Taon sa inyong lahat!
• TamilNathar Puthu Varuda Valthukkal
• TahitianIa orana no te noereIa orana i te matahiti api
• TeluguNootana Samvatsara Subhakankshalu - (Wish you a happy new year)
• Thaiสุขสันต์วันคริสต์มาส และสวัสดีปีใหม่(souksaan wan Christmas sawatdii pimaï)
• Tibetanལོགསར་ལ(losalazashidele - Happy New Year)
• TigrinyarHus beˋal ldet (ygberelka)
• TonganKilisimasi fiefia mo ha ta'u fo'ou monū'ia
• Turkishİyi seneler / Yeni yılınız kutlu olsun (Happy New Year)Yeni yılınızı kutlar, sağlık ve başarılar dileriz(We wish you a happy, healthy and successful new year)
• UkrainianВеселого Різдва і з Новим Роком (Veseloho Rizdva i z Novym Rokom)
• Urdu'New Year's blessings to you' = (naya saal mubarik hu) نايا سال مبارک هو'Big day's blessings to you' = (burda din mubarik hu) بڑدا دنمبارک هو
• VietnameseChúc Giáng Sinh Vui Vẻ và Chúc Năm Mới Tốt Lành
• VolapükLemotöfazäli yofik e nulayeli läbik
• VõroHüvvä joulu ja õnnõlikku vahtsõt aastakkaWaray-WarayMaupay nga PaskoMainuswagon nga Bag-ong Tuig ha iyo ngatanan!
• WelshNadolig llawen a blwyddyn newydd dda
• XhosaSiniqwenelela Ikrisimesi Emnandi Nonyaka Omtsha Ozele Iintsikelelo
• ZuluSinifesela Ukhisimusi Omuhle Nonyaka Omusha Onempumelelo

Mele Kalikimaka

I was happy to hear that one of the parents at our halau had posted a video of our recent Christmas Luau on YouTube. As is typical with YouTube, the video is not in time with the audio but the drumming sounded pretty good so I'm posting it. Listen for me yelling, "Hey!" at the end of it.

I hope all of you have a very Happy Holiday.

Aloha and Mele Kalikimaka.

Te Pura O Te Rahura'a Christmas Luau

Weekend Music Video

This weekend, I'd like each of you reading this to reach out to someone you love. Give them a hug and tell them that you love them.

Tears For Fears - Sowing the Seeds of Love

Weekend Music Video

Wow! A whole week with out a post. Sorry, folks. Been busy like you wouldn't believe what with a luau coming up that I need to perform at. Here's a video both my daughter and I agree is Weekend Music Video-worthy. Enjoy.

My Chemical Romance - Welcome To The Black Parade

Weekend Music Video

For a parody on '70's era TV cop shows, you can't get much better than this. Great video and one of their best tunes.

Be sure not to miss Vic Colfari as BOBBY, "THE ROOKIE" doing the old-school beat-down on a perp.

All hail Spike Jonze. Enjoy...

Beastie Boys - Sabotage