This past Saturday, I went to Van's skatepark for the first time in several months. I usually go twice a week. Some of you know this was because I broke a bone in my foot. And I may have broken it a second time out in Phoenix. My arm, thumb (x2) and rib (x2) breaks were much worse, but this one took forever to heal. Anyway, it made me feel really old. And while I was at the park, I really keyed in on how few old school sk8ers there are now. Again, making me feel old. I still love (crave?) the adrenaline rush and believe I'm pretty good on the ramps. But I'm not sure my body can take the falls much longer. The very thought of going to a gym or something similar doesn't sit well with me. One thought is to slowly decrease my visits until I can find another sport that's fun and doesn't break so many bones. That's fine, but I have always wanted to pass along my knowledge. Yeah. As in a kid. So I think it's time for me to have one. Sounds simple enough, but obviously it isn't. One suggestion to me earlier today (yeah, I talk about these things) was to do some sort of Big Brother program. But that's a bit like leasing when I can buy. No? And adoption? Maybe, but I'd still like one of my own. Then I have to factor in my age. Sounds like I better get moving. The problem is I do not want to be like those guys at work that constantly whine about how much they hate their wives (everyday, all day). I'm suddenly envious of my Indian friends with their arranged marriages. Did I actually write that? Yeah. But it would be much simpler. So those are my thoughts. No solutions yet. Ideas? And don't tell me to start passing out iPods...

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It seems the mention of Stina's work with Brett (of Suede) piqued some curiosity. I should have linked a few additional MP3s. So, here they are:
"Keen Yellow Planet"
"Trainsurfing"

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...Emily. Congrats! Enjoy the gift certificate. Now here's the answer for everyone else:
010 11_0Xo1_1vx01 wh0101Err_ tyu1bwi01b 01dl1_111wh0_0wn5_urv1ru5-c0m_ tyu101011 01d01 111wh _ _ 11_0Xo1-1vx_1 101 0wn5_urv1 _ ty_ tyu5 9
So: "wh0_0wn5_urv1ru5-c0m" is hacker speak for "who owns yourvirus.com"?
For that answer, you can check here:
http://www.networksolutions.com/whois/index.jhtml

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Yes, everyone's complaining. I would suggest a little patience and following this note that I added later:
"For the video file, please right-click the link and choose 'save as...'"
That way you'll have a download progress indicator.

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Can I just say this channel is awesome. Number 150 on Time-Warner/Brighthouse. Videos from The Jam, Echo & the Bunnymen, Modern English, The Smiths, The Cure, etc. Sisters of Mercy are on heavy rotation. Speaking of which, they are playing Orlando on Friday. I have this terrible feeling that Cristie is going to cut-out on me again (see: Bauhaus) and I'll end up seeing them alone. :) Wanna go? Fuck the Emos and Goths, I am wearing jeans...

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For the second week in a row, there's more than one "song of the week" --I just refuse to change the title. That said, one of them is a video. A second trend starting last week is the inclusion of a Canadian band. In case you haven't noticed, the Canadian indie scene is about to explode (you could say it already has). And most of this can be traced back to Godspeed You! Black Emporer breaking out in 1997.
1. Metric with "Combat Baby". This was a tough call. There are so many good songs on album "Old World Underground, Where Are You Now".
2. Stina Nordenstam with "Little Star" video. OK, so you're probably sick of me talking about Stina. And some people hate her voice. But she was cool enough to work with Brett from Suede and...I just love this video. It's ~50 MBs (will take a few minutes to download) but definitely worth your time.

Remember, you can see all "Song Of The Week" posts by using the Search function (top left) and entering "mp3" (without quotes).

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I just spent $146.89 on CDs.

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I have a $25 Amazon.com gift certificate (seriously) for the first person that responds correctly to the following:
010 11_0Xo1_1vx01 wh0101Err_ tyu1bwi01b 01dl1_111wh0_0wn5_urv1ru5-c0m_ tyu101011 01d01 111wh _ _ 11_0Xo1-1vx_1 101 0wn5_urv1 _ ty_ tyu5 9
Any and all methods are OK. Send your response via e-mail to kastner(at)alumni.indiana.edu. I'll post the winner here. Good luck!

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1) I've got to stop the illegal street racing. It's tearing my imaginary family apart.
2) I'm comfortable enough with my sexuality to go see Brokeback Mountain. I just don't want to see it with you.
3) I'm really sorry about the whole Olympic doping thing. It let a lot of people down. But I'm just really, really passionate about ice dance/figure skating.
4) Radiohead are good, but "OK Computer" is not the best album ever.
5) Today's LOW temp in Orlando, FL will be around 63. Today's HIGH temp in Bloomington, IN will be around 49.

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Buy me a new iPod and I'll say "yes" too...
http://news.com.com/2061-10793_3-6043061.html?part=rss&tag=6043061&subj=news

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My initial attempt at a web forum went fairly well...at first. But the posts quickly trailed off, other than that psycho brit Paul. So the site has been archived (same URL, you just can't create new content). A new one is now available at:
http://www.kastnerfamily.net/jayswf2.nsf
I will be sending out more information via e-mail. Basically, a new person will be asked to start a discussion each week. Visit often!

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Moz, my cat, has informed me that his accommodations are no longer acceptable. I'm considering one of those floor to ceiling kitty condos, but they're fairly expensive. Any suggestions as to where I can get one at a reasonable price?

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The reason female stars disrobe is simple, says Janice Min, editor of the much-read celebrity magazine US Weekly. "It's tried and true. You show some cleavage on an actress. You make her look sexy. You make her look hot." She NEEDS to be hot — because in Hollywood, "you have to be sexy to be a successful actress. You just have to be."
So where's the nude photo of Brad Pitt? Or George Clooney, who appears later in the issue, dressed, amid a bevy of women in flesh-toned bras and panties?
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060222/ap_on_en_ot/naked_actresses

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As reported here, I was recently in a car accident. So, even though my 2001 forest green Acura Integra has only 37k miles on it, I am leaning towards a new car. Below is the current short list. Let me know what you think...
Acura TSX | Audi A4 | Volvo S40 T5

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"The audience I am trying to reach are champion figure skaters. I think they need me the most."
See: Questions Answered in the middle section

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So, this guy was in town today. Fairly important guy if you think about it...CEO of the world's 4th largest company. I attended part of the presentation and must say it was boring. But he did talk about our recent deal with Disney.

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I didn't do "Song Of The Week" for the past couple of weeks, primarily because I was sick. So here are three songs. You're welcome. Enjoy.
Stars: "Your Ex-Lover Is Dead"
The Dears: "We Can Have It"
Death Cab for Cutie: "Transatlanticism"

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http://myfastgti.com/video/HairMed.swf

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Thanks Erin...
http://www.kastnerfamily.net/Jay/cheneys_got_a_gun.mp3

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http://www.hazzamon.co.uk/roger.html

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Congratulations on surviving 24 years that include me as a babysitter, living in Bloomington, IN and a mother that writes letters with a ruler.

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Thanks Em...
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=whitlock/060216
And...
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/basketball/
ncaa/02/17/bc.bkc.indianacoach.ap/index.html
My vote goes to Alford.

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http://us.news3.yimg.com/us.i2.yimg.com/p/rids/20060216/i/r2277180796.jpg

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There are questions as to what would be considered an appropriate reponse to the CD/DVD set. Here are some guidelines:
-A hand-written, double-spaced report explaining the benefits and strengths of each song and video.
-A second report detailing how Suede is "awesome" and how the CD/DVD set has changed your life.
-The two reports must be notarized.
-Your chances may also be improved by a) brownies, b) praise for this blog and c) the following pop-quiz:

1. When was Jay born?
2. Who is the lead singer of Suede?
3. What is the name of Brett's wife?
4. What is Jay thinking at this very moment?
5. What's wrong with Reverberated.com?
6. Panera is:
a) Awesome.
b) Jay's favorite place to eat.
c) A great place to day-dream and people watch.
d) All of the above.

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I am strongly recommending a boycott of reverberated.com due to this weak and sarcastic apology regarding the previously mentioned Suede CD/DVD set. Several news sources are reporting the verbiage originated here.

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Thanks Erin...
http://dickhunt.ytmnd.com/

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-Over 22 million children live in a home with a firearm.
-A child dies every 7 hours in a gun related accident or suicide.
-30% of handguns are stored unlocked and loaded.
-Never let your guard down around a gun toting, quail hunting vice president.

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http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/lights/768c/

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http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/TV/02/14/cheney.jokes.ap/index.html

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Several of you recently received super-awesome-Suede-CD-and-DVD compilations sets. Have you given me any feedback? No. Have you even listened to them? Probably not. Am I going to send you anything like this again? Not likely. Are you going straight to hell, without passing Go or collecting $200, and burnin' in the fy-yuh? You betcha. And not even care packages full of brownies can fix this one...

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EOM

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On my way to work. Traffic stopped. I hit the brakes. The person behind me didn't. My poor car! I will save you from a long story about how it was looking like a hit and run, but now I get to deal with insurance companies. Maybe this car is cursed? Maybe it's time for a new one? Suggestions?

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...is out in beta. Download it here. I've been using it without issue, but it IS a beta, so don't call me if it blows-up your machine. IMHO, it's a significant improvement (tabbed windows, multiple homepages, QuickTabs AKA all tabs view), but still not up to FireFox. And the RSS aggregator isn't good enough to replace my stand-alone client.

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And that's all I have to say about that.

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Search "Tiananmen" at Google Images:
http://images.google.com/images?q=tiananmen

Now search Tiananmen at Google China:
http://images.google.cn/images?q=tiananmen

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"Imagine we are all the same. Imagine we agree about politics, religion and morality. Imagine we like the same types of music, art, food and coffee. Imagine we all look alike. Sound boring? Differences need not divide us. Embrace diversity. Dignity is everyone’s human right."
-Bill Brummel

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http://www.wymsey.co.uk/wymchron/cooking.htm

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http://www.metku.net/index.html?sect=view&n=1&path=mods/whiskypc/index_eng3

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Well, the lawyers are now involved. What did they expect? But I managed to snag two more songs: "You Have Killed Me [Incomplete]" and "Dear God, Please Help Me".

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...says Mozzer. Here's "I Will See You In Far Off Places" leaked from the upcoming album "Ringleader of the Tormentors". Do I see gray hair?

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http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/14.02/spy.html

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