Oh...and another thing...

"The only difference between a pit-bull and a hockey mom...lipstick."

Are you seriously kidding me? This is the pick for VP on the RECON side?


Not to mention the many, many LIES she told tonight.

Joe Klein commented on these lies and the bullying that the press is taking from the McCain campaign as follows:

"This is a smokescreen, intended to divert attention from the fact the very real and responsible vetting that is taking place in the media–about the substance of Palin’s record as mayor and governor. …There is a tendency in the media to kick ourselves, cringe and withdraw, when we are criticized. But I hope my colleagues stand strong in this case:

it is important for the public to know that Palin raised taxes as governor, supported the Bridge to Nowhere before she opposed it, pursued pork-barrel projects as mayor, tried to ban books at the local library and thinks the war in Iraq is “a task from God.”

The attempts by the McCain campaign to bully us into not reporting such things are not only stupidly aggressive, but unprofessional in the extreme."

Read the full commentary here

So - check the facts...get the facts....but certainly don't buy the bullshit that the RECONS are selling without checking whether or not you can return it first.....

Peace.Love.Live.
JPB

The Republican Convention

How do we get through the next four years if McCain is elected?

As Palin put it.....

"WITH A THUMBS UP AND A SMILE.....!"

and that is literally ALL you will get.

Amazingly disastrous. Amazingly cynical. Amazingly predictable.

Peace.Love.Live.
JPB

For an even more enlightened viewpoint - you just must check out my dear Maggie's blog!

Reflections

A restless night - not able to sleep, and I produced a profound piece of work.....

At the beginning of this month, I celebrated a milestone with my fellow graduates from ..Stow High School, Class of '88. 20 years have past since I left the building I chose to call the "clone factory." And it was 20 years later that I realized I had nothing to fear about going back to celebrate and participate in my reunion...

Different paths we all took - but all these paths seemed to have crossed, a whole 20 years later to bring us all back together again. Some things (it was noticeable) never changed......but others had - and for the better.

Grand connections were made with many a good friend, and sadness as well for those we have lost and those who either couldn't or didn't want to be found.

The most valuable tool I took away - reconnecting with my past. For a lot of reasons I wanted to kill my past, never have it rear its ugly head - but, I am a different man now - more confident, more self-aware, more at ease...

I am the man that I never thought I would ever become. Cliché'? Possibly - but unbelievably true. I no longer regret my past, what happened, what didn't, the path I chose, the path I didn't.....they all led me to where I am supposed to be now....

I now have the courage to complete a project I thought I would never get to - working on my book. I have spoken of it before - I have attempted to work on it before - but I feel now is the time. To move my words from my journals to a bound book for all to read.....(we'll see...........)

20 years have past.........they seem as a brief moment in time - not so long ago, I recall....as fresh in my mind now as ever - but not as painful as I remember. 20 years.

To those I reconnected with - I wish, hope, and pray we remain connected...for those of you that I didn't see (Ken Johnson, Jeff Bradbury, Angie Canter, Dawn (Hurst) Myers, and Kenny Wilson)...I am thinking of you, and hope to reconnect soon...

Life is much too short - I wish I could have learned this lesson 20 years ago! But 20 years brings with it much wisdom and solitude. I carry them both - for they are partners in my journey.

The fond memories of my past have come to greet me - they are colorful, blissful, sorrowful, painful, wonderful, silly, weird (it was the 80's), but most of all intense...

Life is much quieter now....much more important...I do stop to smell the roses, to listen to the birds, to hear a child laugh. I appreciate life - what it offers and how I live it. Life is too short not to embrace.

Peace.Love.Live.

JPB

Oh Blog Oh Blog How I have abandoned Thee

Ok, shut up already. This is the busiest time of my year. Chill out. I will be back after the holiday....if not sooner...

Topics to discuss -
My 20th High School Reunion
Body Image Revisited
Music From The Edge
The Democratic National Convention
My Friend "The Maggie"
The journey to marriage (yes, Steve and I are in the final planning stages)

I miss you all my wonderous readers - I have let you down - but I know you all understand....bigger and better when I return!!

Peace.Love.Live.
JPB

Paris Hilton For PRESIDENT!!!

Ok, so I need to be less concerned. I need to be more like....well, more like the 'general' population. I saw this video on Jay Leno, and I KNEW! I KNEW! I have to vote for Paris Hilton for President. It all makes so much sense now. Geez, I guess I need to just, like, you know...be HOT.

See more funny videos at Funny or Die

So, like, I am ....OMG, believing, like ...I dunno, um, that ....you know.....Like, Paris is like.....yeah! "See you at the debate Bitches!"

Peace.Love.Live.
JPB

The Chicago Storms Part Duex

I know most of you saw the pictures of the storms from a few weeks ago - scary yes...

not as bad as the storm that came through last night. I saw the funnel cloud while I was in my car, but before I could take a picture, the transformer right in front of me blew up and the winds decided that 90 miles an hour was satisfactory. The lightning was amazingly frightening (storms don't usually scare me, but the lightning was so intense and the winds so bad ...I was ready to pee my pants...)

I kept saying..."thank god my homeowners insurance is paid?!" Luckily we survived, the house survived, the neighborhood survived.......but my wireless modem died. The severe electrical currents in the air somehow fried it ....(that's what they said at TigerDirect.com ...so cool, we have the actual store by my house!!)..

So, this year has been the mark of HUGE storms - I don't have any of this one - but check out some of the pictures sent to our local NBC affiliate.

So, I will have to repair my computer network, so my blogging may be spotty for a while.....keep checking back!

Peace.Love.Live.
JPB

McCain Smear Ad: "The One"

You know, I am about done with dirty politics. It sickens me that McCain has gone negative (after promising a "clean campaign"). It sickens me even more that there are Americans who buy this crap hook, line, and sinker ....like sheep going to the slaughter.....The latest Gallup polls show McCain neck and neck with Obama? ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME???????????????????? It really goes to show how silly Americans are - they will believe any thing that they see on T.V., without questioning...(FoxNoise), or hear on the radio (Limbaugh, InSanity..et.al.) or even Air America for that matter...WAKE UP! Learn! Understand!

Are you serious? Can people start getting informed? Are you not living in the U.S. now? Are you ready for 4 more years of this crap? Are you seriously kidding me????


I can't even begin to explain the level of disgust that I feel right now - the ad that follows....safe to say, is trying to entice those of the religious right to believe that Obama is the "anti-christ"....ushering in the "end of days" so they must vote for McCain (who they really can't stand either...)

Using "the code" made famous by the devil himself (Karl Rove), people across this country are buying the shit that McCain is selling....it is fucking amazing.
...and Moses? Really? Are you kidding me?

This is still a free country (I think), I would love to hear what you all think about this.....

I apologize for my vulgarity - but it seems only fitting considering how deep the shit is getting already...

Watch the latest McCain smear ad:



That's all. I don't even know what else to say here....seriously....no wonder this country has started its downward spiral. Geez.

Peace.Love.Live.
JPB

30 Days: Same Sex Parenting

Morgan Spurlock is amazing. His "30 Days" series on FX allows us to face some very serious issues head-on. His approach is amazing. The episode on Same Sex Parenting was frustrating to watch....very frustrating. But at the end - I guess I shouldn't have been suprised.

You can watch the entire episode below ....I would love to hear your comments - I find it is a topic that should enlist some very interesting conversation.....



Peace.Love.Live.
JPB

7 years....

7/31/01. Changed me. 7 years later - I'm still a product of that change. Sometimes, you are offered a chance to change your path - a path that for some reason leads down a wrong road -

What I have learned over the past 7 years has made me a better person. A better friend. A better son. A better brother. A better partner. I embraced the change that entered my life on that day...I continue to embrace that change.

Life is a wonderful gift. We only get this one chance. That is why I always end my blog post with "Peace.Love.Live." becasue that is what it is truly all about.

So here's to my anniversary of change....and to many many many more.

Peace.Love.Live.
JPB

I Know I've Been Away...But I Had A Good Reason!

I just thought I should explain my absence as of late....besides becoming a gym rat, I have been working on a new project. I decided that it was time to start practicing my refinishing hobby. I have this desk that was my grandma's that I have been dying to refinish and repair - but I wanted to make sure that I could do it first. My first attempt is pictured below.....

Stupid me - I forgot to take a picture of this bedside table prior to sanding ....so you don't get to see the "real" way this table looked.

Background - the table was my Aunt Daisy's....she gave it to my mom, and then it was given to me....

Here is the newly sanded table...wow - that was HARD!




and the finished product....and if I may say so myself....it is quite good for a "FIRST PIECE!"




Let me know what you think!
Peace.Love.Live.
JPB

The Garden

My partner Steve found that he has a green thumb. He really does...unlike me, I kill plants, flowers, fish...whatever. I have to say, Steve does a great job in the garden and chose some great flowers that bloom throughout the spring and summer. Here are just a few for you to enjoy!






Peace.Love.Live.
JPB

Congratulations Olivia

Well, Olivia got married!!! Congratulations! She married long-time health guru John Easterling, whom she had been dating for a few years. Well wishes to them both and congratulations!!!

And our Livvy is also doing a commercial for Nintendo in Australia - here is the commercial.....enjoy!



OOOOHHH....and don't forget to catch Olivia's new sitcom on the LOGO channel "Sordid Lives" it starts next week (I CAN'T WAIT!!!) Here is the video for one of the original new songs for the television show....ENJOY!!!!!



Don't forget to check the official website for everything Sordid and be sure to watch the premiere Wednesday, July 23rd!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Peace.Love.Live.
JPB

Music From The Edge: BONUS: Republica

No long story - I just love this song!
There is an interesting story that goes with this song - I will share at a later date.........in the meantime - ENJOY!

Download: Ready To Go (Single)
Bitrate: 320 Kbps

Tracklisting:
1) Single Version
2) Original Mix

Extra Bonus: Ready To Go (Video)


Peace.Love.Live.
JPB

Music From The Edge: Take 5

Elektra Records was dying to get in on the boy band craze, and had no success until Take 5. Another Louis J. Pearlman creation, Take 5, formed in 1997, was set to take on the music world like its predecessors Backstreet Boys and *Nsync. They followed the Pearlman formula...releasing numerous singles across the ocean in Europe and Asia where they toured extensively (3 years!)trying to make a name for themselves.

All 5 members of Take 5 had their roots in the entertainment industry....TJ Christofore won Star Search in 1995, Clay and Ryan Goodall were both classically trained pianists as well as accomplished actors, Steve Schulthorpe was a model and actor, and Tilky Jones was a former member of the SKA band User Friendly.

Though they found moderate success in Europe and Asia, their success in the U.S. was not to be....a little late to the boy band parade, Take 5 was victim of the boy band backlash that the millennium had brought. By the time Elektra Records got around to "introducing" Take 5 to the US market, the ship had sailed.

Releasing their one and only CD "Against All Odds," (prophetic actually) 8/29/2000, they only managed a showing on Billboard's Heatseeker's Chart peaking at #26.

The lead-off single "Shake It Off" did not chart. This is a special PROMO ONLY version of the single.

Enjoy!

Download: Shake It Off (PROMO ONLY)

Bit Rate: 320 Kbps

Tracklisting:
1) Radio Edit
2) Radio Version
3) Extended Mix
4) Audio Bio
5) Call-Out Hook

Enjoy the video for "Shake It Off"


Side note: Band Member TJ Christofore was the first in a line of former Pearlman boy band members to allege sexual abuse by Pearlman.

Peace.Love.Live.
JPB

I'm Back....!

So, I've been searching for the week-and-a-half that I "lost" somewhere. Then, I realized that I lost another week...then another........somewhere lost in the black hole of time......

This next week promises to be as busy as the previous weeks (where I seem to have lost time), but I am committed to bringing you some music...but you will have to forgive me when I do not bring you any editorial content to join with the tunes (I figure, the easiest part of the post is the music....)

Today, however, I want to share some pictures that I took with my camera phone on Thursday when some really severe storms crossed my path on the way home. I thought I would send them into the local news channel (they put weather pics up when they are doing the weather), but seeing as though I cannot manage my computer time well, I didn't get them uploaded quick enough...so i thought I would share them with you!

It was quite frightening - I thought a tornado would drop down on my and wisk me away like Dorothy......








This line of storms came so quickly - each of these pics were taken within minutes of each other....right before the wind and the rain came.....there was a lot of damage in the area, but it was over almost as soon as it began...very weird!

Here's to next week!
Peace.Love.Live.
JPB

YIKES!

Ok, ok....so I somehow lost a week and a half somewhere......can anyone find it for me?????

On Vacation

No worries all - I am taking a short break to head back to Ohio and be with my family as we celebrate the wedding of my cousin Tasha.

See you next week!

Peace.Love.Live.
JPB

Happy Blogaversary to ME!

I noticed that a lot of people have been celebrating the anniversary of their first blog post. I wasn't even sure when I started...so I looked - and would you believe it? My first post (albeit boring and stupid) was on 6/1/2004. MAKING MY BLOG 4 YEARS OLD THIS MONTH!!!!

So Happy Anniversary to Catchr's Pad, and to me for managing to make something out of it only 4 years after I started!!





Peace.Love.Live.
JPB

Music From The Edge: Jennifer Paige

Jennifer Paige has managed to beat some terrible odds. Missing the "teen scene" boat (almost entirely), the release of her self-titled debut album on Edel America (August 11, 1998) saw the release of "Crush" as its lead off single.

Radio fell in love with Jennifer christening her as the next artist to watch. Amazing vocals and a well written track propelled Jennifer to the top of the charts (Billboard Top 100 #3, Billboard Top 40 Mainstream #3, Billboard Top 40 Tracks #7).

The release of "Always You" didn't fare as well, in fact it failed to chart (but managed a strong showing on the dance charts - #6 on Billboard's Hot Dance Music/Club Play). This was a disappointment to Edel America, as they were hoping the second single would propel the full-length album up the charts....it stalled out at #139 on The Billboard 200 (Heatseekers #39).

But the strength of "Crush" gave Jennifer a pass - and a chance at a second album. Fate would not be as kind the second time around. The release of Jennifer's sophomore album "Positively Somewhere," filled with a more mature sound, was released on 9/18/2001, exactly 1 week after the horrific events of 9/11/2001.

No one was in the mood to buy music. The album lacked a strong lead off single and the release disappeared without so much as a blip on the Billboard Charts.

Edel America had signed a 3 record deal with Jennifer - so to fulfill this contract, they released "Flower: The Hits Collection" on 10/05/04 and promptly dropped Jennifer Paige from their roster. Amazing how 2 full-length albums and 1 HIT song constitute having a "HITS COLLECTION???"....labels are a wonderful beast aren't they?

Not to worry....Jennifer Paige has completed what she hopes will be her comeback album on her own imprint Glor-Paige records, titled "Best Kept Secret." It was released world-wide (except the U.S.) on 04/25/2008, with no U.S. release date set as of today.

Download: "Crush" (US/CD5)

Bitrate: 320 Kbps

Tracklisting:

1) LP Version
2) Dance Mix
3) Instrumental

Bonus Bonus Bonus

THE VIDEO


Enjoy!

Peace.Love.Live.
JPB

Music From The Edge: She Moves (Take Two)

I was perusing my collection of CDs and CD singles trying to figure out what I would feature next, when I came upon the first single from She Moves titled "Breaking All The Rules." This was originally supposed to be the post for my She Moves blog entry - but I couldn't locate it...which is what happens when you are an audiophile like myself and have over 10,000 CDs), so I had to settle for the second release, "It's Your Love"

Not much else to really add about the group, but I like the song!

Download: "Breaking All The Rules" CD5

Bitrate: 320 Kbps

Tracklisting:

1) LP Version
2) Radio Mix
3) Bass Rules Mix
4) Berman Brothers Dance Mix

Enjoy!

Peace.Love.Live.
JPB