Racing, racing, racing...

This time is what is referred to as "Speedweeks", the series of racing events leading up to NASCAR's Big Whammy, the Daytona 500. The Gatorate Twin....sorry the Gatorade Duels were today and I missed ‘em. Damn this working thing! Such an annoyance! (Though I am quite happy to be employed where I am, so I’m just kidding Gods) Michael Waltrip won the first over Dale by a hair, dispelling all the talk of the “downfall of DEI” in a heartbeat, and Tony Stewart won the second. Way to go Mikey and Smoke! *Applause*

The biggest news of the day was Happy Harvick and one of the Borg, Jimmy Johnson, got into it and took out a few cars during the second race. And of course in ancient NASCAR tradition they proceeded to bitch and whine afterwards which got them yanked into “The Red Hauler” (the truck used by the NASCAR officials) where they were told to kiss and make up or else. (Uh-huh…sure…I think they have a better chance if they tossed the two into a hauler and told them to duke it out, hell they could probably sell tickets.) I have not seen the incident, but from what I have read, it sounds like it was a racin’ deal: Jimmy got loose in the corner and tried to brake check people behind him and Kevin couldn’t slow down fast enough. The problem for drivers like Tony, Robbie and Kevin is in mutual fault incidents like these, I think many other drivers take advantage of their reputations to shift the blame off themselves.

I should explain the Borg. The Borg is Hendrick Motorsports.

The cars are top notch, their drivers are brilliant, but bland, clones and the crew chiefs communicate via internet chat and e-mail during the race. The Hendricks cars are the #24 DuPont of Jeff (Wonder Boy, Jeffey Pop) Gordon, the #48 Lowes of Jimmie (Mini-Me, JJ) Johnson, The #25 GMAC of Brian Vickers. Vickers is still being assimilated, but Jeffey not only owns the #48; he and JJ are neighbors, they go on vacation together, they’re even getting the same male pattern baldness.

Resistance is futile.

Not that I can detract from the group’s accomplishments. Gordon, of course, was the little punk that came along and swept 4 championships out from under the veterans. (He’s been driving since the age of 5, if it is revealed that he is the result of an automotive eugenics experiment, I would not be surprised in the slightest.) Johnson came in with a schload of off-road honors under his belt and has been a consistent top contender since he appeared on the Busch circuit. (Though like Gordon & his old Crew Chief Ray Evernham, I have to ask how much of Johnson’s success is due to his Crew Chief Chad Knauss. As with Jeffey, time will tell.) But when a group of drivers have it that tightly wrapped they’re just begging to be mocked.

On an interesting Note, Hendricks just hired Kyle Busch (#5 Kellogs), younger brother of Kurt. Kyle has already been ejected from a Las Vegas track for being an arrogant ass, so I am very interested to see how the Hendrick colony will assimilate him or even if they can.

On another note….

Does anyone but me think it’s just a a little obnoxious that the commercial for V-Cast, a service that transmits videos to one’s cell phone, uses the Buggles “Video Killed the Radio Star” as its background music?

I heard you on the wireless back in Fifty Two
Lying awake intent at tuning in on you.
If I was young it didn't stop you coming through.
Oh-a oh
….
And now we meet in an abandoned studio.
We hear the playback and it seems so long ago.
And you remember the jingles used to go.
Oh-a oh
You were the first one.
Oh-a oh
You were the last one.
Video killed the radio star.
Video killed the radio star.
In my mind and in my car, we can't rewind we've gone too far
Oh-a-aho oh,
Oh-a-aho oh
Video killed the radio star.
Video killed the radio star.
In my mind and in my car, we can't rewind we've gone to far.
Pictures came and broke your heart, put the blame on VTR.
You are a radio star.
You are a radio star.
Video killed the radio star.
Video killed the radio star...”

Granted, bubble gum pop and studio manufactured pop music stars have been around almost as long as bubble gum has but the MTV/image focused development of the music industry over the last 10 years has spread this trend to an extreme. I mean, let’s be real, would Areosmith be able to get a recording contract in today’s music world? How about Queen? Can you image a record exec trying to give Billy Joel a “marketable image” (I mean before Christy)?

I’m forced to wonder how many good musicians the public is missing because they don’t have “the look”?

Despite the Israeli/Palestinian Peace Talks, is the Middle East going to hell? Bush tells Syria to stop using the military to influence another country’s government and Syria and Iran get the hook up.

So much for “stabilizing the region”. *Oi!*