charles statman

Grandma Manya (may she rest in peace) used to keep a jar in her refrigerator that was full of white chocolate. They were in shapes that looked kind of like a swirled hersheys kiss. round and flat on the bottom, with a conical peak, and swirled ridges going down

small, maybe 1/2" dia at the base, maybe 1/2" high?

pure white chocolate, nothing else mixed in.

and I have NO IDEA what the shape is called, what the candy is called, who may have made them, and I cannot find them anywhere. She probably bought them at the kosher butcher shop

Does anyone out there know what I am talking about?

And where to find these commercially?

thanks

C

l'shana tova.

if you are Jewish, this flash animation is hilarious. (thanks Michelle)

if not Jewish, well, sorry, here is a 'numa numa' video of Barbie Girl. (thanks Chris)

If you don't know what "numa numa' is, here is the first one.

Monday is Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year.


if I was not racing on Sunday, this is where I'd be.

I asked a small group of close advisors a question yesterday, and promised results. I've listed them in NO particular order and not attributed to any of said close advisors. Truthfully, I am not surprised by any of the answers. There are a few that are new to me, (in blue) that I hope to buy soon, on these recommendations. There are many I have, and need to load into the Ipod. And there are some I am not into. But overall, it was pretty cool. Thanks to those who responded. Oh, and there is a giant squid photo essay here.

Since Katrina is falling off the map, and it is musical, I am linking to Brian Wilson's web site. If you donate $100, he will phone you. (The Beach Boy Brian) I have been lukewarm on the Beach Boys for a long time, but this? is a very cool idea.

Okay, the List>>>>>>>

If you could only take THREE cds with you (you pick the scenario: desert island, vacation, rest of life, long boring lecture, but it's ONLY top 3 CDs) what would they be?

title - artist - why



Crystal Method - Vegas - It broke me out of my "only rock and roll is good" mold
Cat Stevens - Tea for the Tillerman - Satisfying, hummable, emotional
Led Zeppelin - Physical Grafitti - The penultimate rock 'n' roll album
Michael Jackson - Off the Wall
John Coltrane - the Blue Trane
REM - Monster
Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon - because it repeats
Javelin Boot - Life Story - my favorite band from my college days
Dance Hall Crashers - The Live Record - it simply has tons of songs
AC/DC Back in Black - primer music to an endurance racing team. Better than crack for
getting adrenaline level going.

Pink Floyd's double live album - Mood music for when I want to be left alone

Compilation disk of soul, blues, funk, R&B, whatever you want to call it...
- Ray Charles, Marvin Gay, old Stevie Wonder, James Brown, Chaka Khan -
Rufus, even Michael Jackson when he was the age he prefers these days.

The Black Keys - Rubber Factory - primitive, aggressive, low-fi, garage blues rock

Los Lonely Boys, self-titled debut album. Not a single weak track on the album. Hopefully these three Garza brothers from San Angelo are now swimming in more money and high-grade poonani than they can handle. They are Texan. They are Mexican. Need I say more.

Marvin Gaye - What's Going On - OK, it is not Barry White. But without Marvin, there might not have been a Barry.

every Soulhat recording I could find hope and pray that there was some ganja growing somewhere on the island I was stranded on...

YES - Relayer
Aerosmith - Rocks
Miles Davis Tutu
Southern Culture - Dirt Track Date
The Doors - Live in Detroit
Elvis Costello - My Aim is True
Joe Jackson - Look Sharp
Jerry Garcia - Old and in the Way
Zero - Here Goes Nothing
Frank Zappa - Joe's Garage
Kiss - Alive
Cream - Live II
Cream - Disraeil Gears
Jimi Hendrix - Isle of Weight
Jimi Hendrix - Lifelines
Miles Davis - Bitches Brew

Finally, Hmmm, good use of technology!

If you travel often, you see the cheesy Skymall Magazines in the airplane pockets? Well, thes guys did a spoof...

I never learned to spin a pen. I have pals who spin pens all meeting long, but I cannot. I am considering ordering this guys video, from his store. But a moment of sanity will save me.

That, and I am broke cause cisco stock is plummeting. On the other hand, I am happy, because women wear thongs. I'd told some pals last week about the kids making a video of Devo's "Whip It" well, here it is!

this is all I got.

I just heard about this magazine lush life, and today's article about Thunderbird brings back memories. Memories I cannot relate here, as I fear retaliation.

But I was never a big T-bird drinker, I preferred Night Train, the choice of the Blues Brothers...

You'd think I would enjoy Cisco, as I work for company of same name, but no. no Canadian wines!

There were some stories about MD 20/20 an MG-Midget, (midget, not my sisters MG-B-Type) and someone else's girlfreind (who had Farrah Fawcett wings) during a football game; stories that we do NOT need to repeat here. Stories that occurred over Twenty FIVE Years ago. Do not drink MD 20/20

Anyhow, I think the weekend on the gulf coast should be spent with some cheap wine, an old shotgun, and good dvds. (the shotgun is in case of looters, not in case of depressing dvds)

I do not know about this weekend, I was thinking of many things

work on Honda 175
see movies
eat steak on sunday at the bloody mary place
work on yard sprinkler system and replanting iris-es
go to pal's house on alpine and shoot his racoons for him
jeff frost birthday party saturday at some bar
put new tires on ST1100
deal with harley
clean inside of Sprinter

Flee my keester! The papers say Texans are Fleeing. I believe the smart ones are temporarily relocating, not due to Hurricane Rita, but due to the influx of Galvestonians to the mainland!

This just in from sister.

I know, it is a rant I relive often, But, its because I'm constantly reminded.

Religion. God. Faith. Stupidity. I've often given MY opinion of forced religion.

Wonderful kid sister emailed me this morning. There was a letter to the editor in todays "Longview Morning Journal" THE news from my home town. Second letter in the link. A well meaning, upstanding community member once again would like to remind us to put our faith in God.

Well, actually, put our faith in HIS God. The almighty Christian God. Probably, ONLY the almighty Christian God who worships at the Oakland Heights Baptist Church on Judson Road in Longview, (Yeah, the one with a seperate youth auxiliary building and roller skating rink Wow look! Polarity, coming in concert! By the way, we support the Fellowship of Christian Atheletes, no Jews allowed).

None of those other heathen idol worshiper gods.

GOD, Mr. Jones tells us, used Hurricane Katrina to remind us he is here.

Well, Mr. Jones' first assumption is that God, (his god, actually) is a vengeful male god, tired of being neglected, left out of public buildings, and no longer prayed to (by force.) He (Mr. Jones, not his vengeful God who acts like a dumped boyfreind/stalker and sends hurricanes to wipe out the oil refineries) goes on to tell us that salvation of the planet can ONLY be obtained by returning to god (Mr. Jones' god) who created this country.

Well, as they say in North East Texas, "I'll be dipped in shit!" I had no clue that God was mad at us, and sent a hurricane to destroy the gulf coast. Home to many good baptists just like Mr. Jones, as a token of his anger. And this same God, he formed our country?

I always thought "our" country that was formed as a method of escaping the religious tyranny of the Church. The constitution, declaration of independance, seperation of church and state, freedom of religion, religious tolerance.... all that. Thomas Jefferson, one of the founding fathers of the US of A, had all sorts of fun stuff to say about religion. (of course, after he said all that, he snuck off to have hisself a slice of some sweet brown sugar)

Well, this God formed our country for one reason. So Mr. Jones could support him. Just as he supports the mighty fighting Lobos at every friday night football game (the OTHER East Texas Religion).


NEWSFLASH Mr. Jones! GOD, or as it may sound more familiar to you "GAAAAWD" is completely dependant on faith and where you were born. There can be more than one. And sometimes GAAWD Abandons you.

Had you been born in Pakistan, your God might be named Allah, and you might be Muslim. You may not even LIKE America, but you'd still be trained to respect others. Unless you were a fundamentalist whako, and blew folks up, hoping to recieve your many virgins in heaven.

If you were born in India, you may be Hindu, having MANY possible gods, (my favorite at the moment is Durga, Divine Mother, Slayer of Evil, Spouse of Lord Shiva) you, Mr. Jones, might be a little more humble and respectful of others.

However, on the off chance your Persian ancestors were persecuted around 650CE (that's 650 AD to you) you might be part of the Zoroastrian escape to India. Imagine that.

We can't begin to imagine which god you would worship had you been born in China. (it's the largest country, you know? REALLY Big, Lots of people, lots of religion.) Confucian? Buddhist? Chinese Folk? Taoist? Who knows. But you'd still want your kids to have a good life.

The point here is to recognize there are a multitude of religions. Most seem to teach about the same thing: Be good to your fellow human. Help those in need. Don't randomly croak people. Don't take more than you need. Don't have sex with your neighbor's donkey.

The thing I find MOST amazing about fundamentalist Christians is the belief that THEIR God is correct, and everyone else is a fucking sinner doomed to spend eternity in hell.

Mr. Jones, there was a hurricane. It wiped out a good part of the Gulf Coast. Do something to help the folks there. Ask yourself this question while you are helping. "How can my God; a forgiving God, love me so much, ... yet hate everyone else in the world?" Then back off a little.

Keep your religion, your sexual preferences and your farts to yourself.

It's the best way to tread through this short life we are given.

(unless the fart will be hysterically funny, and NOT offend your significant other, in which case, let er rip!)

Money

No one ever really has enough, right? Well, due to some factors, events, etc. I decided this morning to put in a sell order for some of my Cisco stock.

As you may know, I have a standing sell order at $20/share, but don't think we will get there for a while.

So this morning, I put in another order to sell a chunk off at $19. The price immediately began plummeting.

ARGH!

Arrr. It's international talk like a pirate day today. Please do your part.

I know I posted this before, but every time I see it, I laugh more.
Cartman's version of the Aristocrats joke. Not for the faint of heart.


So I've been insanely busy lately, and my posts are merely snippets of news updates, I know I must do better, and will try. Starting tomorrow

And we went to see The Aristocrats last night. OH my what a hilarious movie. Do not go see it if you are easily offended, have no sense of humor, or sadly, believe the current administration is doing a good job. Oh, and don't go see it if you think "Intelligent Design" makes sense.

Woke up this morning, walked out to the garden shed, and began cleaning. Lots more space, much less crap. Did same in the garage.

Around 1pm, Sara and I went to have chinese food with Matt & Britta. Chris gets outta the hospital today, and will be home tomorrow

I am tired, grubby, and the back of my throat has a 'tickle' like I am gonna get sick.

Oh, and I keep gakking up like hairballs.

BUT! I can fit more bikes in Garage, and more stuff is clean & clear. I hope to do more yard work tomorrow, and try to clear more from the garage

court date. 3pm. No officer. Ticket dismissed. :)

Once again, the pressure from the "Hands on a Hardbody" contest proves tragic. For the first time, resulting in suicide.

Rob Bindler made the "Hands on a Hardbody" contest from my hometown of Longview, Texas into national news with his documentary.

The annual contest draws many people, with many hopes, the main one is to win a free truck.

Sadly, this year, the pressure was too much for one contestant, who left the contest, walked across the street to Kmart, did a smash & grab, and ended his life with a shotgun.

ending the contest early, out of 'respect' for the family.

oh man, the pressure!

i used to race a YSR 50.

it was called the Atomic Fireball, you can see the name on the lower right side of the fairing. Yes, it was a great bike, Chicks loved it.



Anyhow, the good people at FerraPan are now offering virtual tours of how they make the candy!

yet one more reason why I love google? Blog Searches!

I am sorry, this is the coolest company in the world.

I LOVE FOAMY THE SQUIRREL. his commentary on Katrina here...


this just in from my pal Kandan in Chennai

Subject: Moral Dilemma

This test only has one question, but it's a very important one. By giving an honest answer, you will discover where you stand morally. The test features an unlikely, completely fictional situation in which you will have to make a decision. Remember that your answer needs to be honest, yet spontaneous.Please scroll down slowly and give due consideration to each line.

You are in Florida, Miami to be specific. There is chaos all around you caused by a hurricane with severe flooding. This is a flood of biblical proportions. You are a photojournalist working for a major newspaper, and you're caught in the middle of this epic disaster.

The situation is nearly hopeless. You're trying to shoot career-making photos. There are houses and people swirling around you, some disappearing under the water. Nature is unleashing all of its destructive fury.

Suddenly you see a man floundering in the water. He is fighting for his life, trying not to be taken down with the debris. You move closer ..... somehow the man looks familiar. You suddenly realize who it is. It's George W. Bush!

At the same time you notice that the raging waters are about to take him under, forever.

You have two options--you can save the life of G.W.Bush or you can shoot a dramatic Pulitzer Prize winning photo, documenting the death of one of the world's most powerful men.

So here's the question, and please give an honest answer:



Would you select high contrast color film, or would you go with the classic simplicity of black and white?

According to the web site, Priestess Miriam is okay!

this is good news.

this just in:

Memo: How to Help the Airline Industry.

Replace all female flight attendants with good lookin' strippers. What the hell? The attendants have gotten old and haggard looking. They don't even serve food anymore, so what's the loss?

The strippers would double, triple, perhaps quadruple the alcohol consumption and get a "party atmosphere" going in the cabin.

Muslims would be afraid to get on the planes for fear of seeing naked women. And, of course, every heterosexual businessman in this country would start flying again hoping to see naked women. Hijackings would come to a screeching halt and the airline industry would see record revenue.

Why the hell didn't Bush think of this?

Why do I still have to do everything myself?

Sincerely,

Bill Clinton

you ever visit somehwere, and have regrets you did not stick around long enough to look up old friends?

My pal Randy Turner died a few weeks ago. I had not seen him in over ten years. it was my fault, all I needed to do was drop by, his door was always open. I was in Austin before he died, read the article in the Chronicle, I should have gone by to see him.

He got me into skateboarding and motorcycles. He used to sneak me into Club Foot in Austin for punk rock shows, he was very creative, grew up in Gladewater, Texas. One more escapee from North East Texas.

RIP Biscuit. Wherever we go when we die? well, he's there gluing things together, and making art. I know that.

went to the races this weekend. I thought it would be fun to bring my pal Britta, who has hot pants for my other pal ChrisV. We arrived friday night, and Chris had a surprised but happy look on his face. Then evil foreshadowing he said "damn, I am gonna crash this weekend"

sleep friday night

Saturday morning, up, tech, practice. I am chasing Chris, his bike has a fresh rebuild, and is wicked fast. It is difficult to keep him in sight for the first session.

Second session, he is going faster, I am really working to keep up. till the third lap in turn 2, I am flying around a corner, then I am on my ass, sliding toward the bike, which is sliding toward the dirt.

I think "hmmm, I could just pick it up and keep going, maybe no one will notice"

but the bike hits the dirt, and a GIANT dust cloud erupts.

I stop, pick up the bike, walk back to the pits. It will not restart, probably because it is flooded too much gas in the carb.

back in the pits, I discover I have pulled my right side groin a little, it is sore, but I am okay. Get the bike cleaned up, get it started, decide to practice more.

third session, Chris runs off and hides he is so fast. I am very nervous in turn 2, but okay, I am fast enough elsewhere. I catch up to my pal Gwyn Lewis, and chase her around for the rest of the sesson.

Come into the pits, and Chris is out on his big 600. Big cloud of dust at turn one, one of the fast turns, and he is down. Britta and I hop on the pit bike, rush to the fence, and see him sitting up by the ambulance. Alive, but obviously hurt.

We don't know how bad, but head to the truck, as the crash truck is bringing his bike in. It is totalled. gas tank crushed, seat mounts broken, bent swingarm, bent subframe, shattered bodywork, ugh. I cannot fix this by Sunday.

The ambulance brings Chris. his left arm is definitely broken. just below the elbow.

We put him in Cindy Creech's truck, she drives Chris & Britta to Kern Co Hospital in Bakersfield. I put the broken bike in the back of Chris' giant motorhome.

I practice one more session, and am hot, making mistakes, and decide to stop.

we call back and forth, he is finally released around 8pm. Cindy drives me back, we pick them up at the hospital. ugh, ghetto hospital supreme.

Chris x-rays show a major break, both bones just below the elbow, with about 1/4" gap between them. his left collarbone is seperated at the outside, and a few ribs are cracked.

get pain meds, back to the track, dope him up and he sleeps overnight in the motorhome.

I race Sunday, totally no confidence in turn 2. Greg beats me, oh well, we pack up

Britta drives the Sprinter, I drive the motorhome. 10 speed. about 2 inches either side of the lane. big, loud, hard to drive.

back up to his work, where we drop the motorhome, then to his house, have a little bite to eat, then britta and I drive to my house, where her truck is. she drives home.

Monday. I am sore, and tired, it hurts to walk. All my bones feel 'stretched'.

Sara wants to go on the Monday Night Ride tonight, I will be slow and deliberate.

i want to sleep the rest of the week.

Chris is waiting for Kaiser Permanente, his health plan, to call him back, so he can schedule some surgery to have his arm fixed. This is yet another example of why I do not want Kaiser. they have given him a total runaround.

anyhow, everyone's alive, dusty and tired. I need a nap.

C

this irritates the heck out of me. Playmobil kids used to be the bomb. My sister had a set that looked exactly like a family that lived down the street. But THIS? it is an abomination.

Our gummint, hard at work... keeping supplies away. Hell, Send ME Swedish Stewardesses, I mean, aid.

WE NEED TO STOP POLITICIZING, and as Larry the Cable Guy says "git her done" meaning get the job done, stop wasting time with stupidity.

The people who got out are starting to post. Check the alternate reporting....

today is my sister's birthday, you could email her birthday wishes if you wanted

Happy Birthday Sherry!

on some beach





experimental shots taken while riding






shots from friday night dinner

Getting Ready to Depart Saturday AM


Richard tells us all the one rule. Don't crash


Which he breaks. Notice all the dust on his bike?


Which way is up again?


Sara, rollin through the mountains like a superstar!


Stopped on the way home


There was some hot tubs after saturdays ride.


Saturday night, we had room crashers


Jack, readying for Sunday morning departure


What's left of Sunday's dinner

Sara and Joan wondering why I stopped


That's COWBOY Dale to you mister.....


Crowd of hooligans in Ferndale


Attacked by ChipALope, while Jack watches


North End of US Hwy 1

So Charles, what exactly DID you do over the long weekend?

Well, we took Friday off. Left the house, met Dale and Joan at 9am, and headed north on Hwy 620

Passed Walnut Creek, then turned off on Suisun Valley Road, did something that spit us out to Soda Canyon? then by Lake Henessey, Silverado trail, to something I do not remember, to ClearLake to Hwy 20. That's by Stonyford, where I did part of the SheetIron 300 rally a few years back.

From there, we took Hwy 20 all the way up to Willits, then across to Ft. Bragg.

North on 1 from Ft. Bragg to Leggett, where 1 intersects with 101.

North on 101 through Mill Falls, Eeel River, and into Fortuna.

Spent the night in Fortuna. Had dinner at the Eel River Brewing Company.


Saturday, woke up and rode out Hwy 36 to Red Bluff. Had lunch, turned around, and rode back to Fortuna.

Sunday, North on 101 to hwy 211 out to Ferndale. Stop for coffee for Jack.

South west on small roads to Honeydew, then over some dirt, and out to Shelter Cove. This is called the lost coast?

Wow, what a beautiful place, till developers ruin it.

From Shelter cove, we rode small roads back out to Hwy 101 south, back to Leggett. We stopped at Confusion Hill, cause, well, I like tourist traps. I got a rare Chip-a-lope. Yes, Chipalope

Down 1 to Ft. Bragg where we had dinner, and spent the night.

Monday morning, up and down Hwy 128 through Mendocino. I was totally baked, and did not think I had any more riding in me by this time. We crossed 101 in Cloverdale, and I actually considered turning right and buzzing down the highway, but did not. Went through Calistoga, and stopped in Yountville, where the VFD was having a bake sale and quilt raffle.

Then down 29 to Napa, where we stopped for lunch. there were lots of twistey windey roads, I am not sure of the name, so we wound through wine country, till we eventually hit 80/680 south, and on home.

It was long, fun and tiring.

Well, my mom said it. and she was right. The 'gummint' ain't gonna start rescuing folks till they find a way to make money on it. And they have. With Halliburton on the case? It should me a matter of years now till everyhting is squared away.

at least there is news of heroes and bravery.


in other news, we just got back from the RKA Hwy 36 ride, From Fortuna to RedBluff and back. If you zoom in, you will see, Hwy 36 is a very twisty, curvy, fun road. Stopped for lunch at Casa Ramos, Sara recommends against the spinach tamales. We are staying at the Best Western in Fortuna, very nice, new, reasonable.

amazingly, things are NOT getting any better

i think if I was there, I'd start walking north. NOW.

Where's Warren Zevon when we need him? Send Lawyers, Guns and Money, the shit has hit the fan.

Just found a snip out of the news, even in New Orleans, they understand. Mr. Edwards, I hope you find your way out, cause I don't think there is a home to return to.

"An old man in a chaise lounge lay dead in a grassy median as hungry babies wailed around him. Around the corner, an elderly woman lay dead in her wheelchair, covered up by a blanket, and another body lay beside her wrapped in a sheet.

"I don't treat my dog like that," 47-year-old Daniel Edwards said as he pointed at the woman in the wheelchair. "I buried my dog." He added: "You can do everything for other countries but you can't do nothing for your own people. You can go overseas with the military but you can't get them down here."

Just above the convention center on Interstate 10, commercial buses were lined up, going nowhere. The street outside the center, above the floodwaters, smelled of urine and feces, and was choked with dirty diapers, old bottles and garbage.

"They've been teasing us with buses for four days," Edwards said"
credit: ADAM NOSSITER, Associated Press Writer 9/1/05


Got email from my pal ChrisT, he works for Verizon and is currently in Mississippi, trying to get cell network back up and working there. I told him, New Orleans is full of voodou and dead bodies, water and crime. There ARE zombies, carry a gun or machete.

My thoughts and prayers are with the folks stuck in pain, homeless, and needing aid.

When the Tsunami hit, Americans sent millions in Aid. Why don't I hear about other countries sending aid to the south? US needs to wake up, stop tossing our funds overseas, and help the people at home. And we need to do it now.

here are some charity links, if you need a guide to who is best, it is here. and the KatrinaHelp Wiki is here


I'm not sayin give money, I am in favor of lobbying the government to spend 2 days less on Iraq, and handle the South US.

Do what we can, think good thoughts if nothing else