Live Free and Blog

Lenox Industrial Tools 301 Race Recap

2008-06-30T15:42:00Z

It might have ended with a whimper yesterday, but Kurt Busch is the winner of the Lenox Industrial Tools 301 Nascar Race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Here's a video recap:

Laconia Motorcycle Week 2008

2008-06-16T01:37:00Z

Here are some videos from Laconia's 85th Annual Motorcycle Week Celebration. It was a gorgeous day on Saturday - perfect weather to hit the road and take in the backroads of New Hampshire on two wheels.

National Cancer Survivors Day

2008-06-02T00:13:00Z

Today is National Cancer Survivors Day. Did you know that there are over 11 million cancer survivors in the US? This sounds like a big number, but when you stop to think about the number of people that have been lost to cancer, it really puts it all into perspective.

This week, Standup2Cancer.com launched their website. For only $1 you can donate in the name of a family member, friend or co-worker who has struggled with the disease in any of its forms. You can create a star in their name and the star will be part of a "constellation" on the website. Funds that are raised will go toward cancer research. If you're like me, you probably thought that Federal funding for cancer research was a regular and ongoing source. However, many Federal grants have dried up.

It's time to take this into our own hands. All it takes is a buck (though you can donate more). Since most of us know someone who currently has cancer, is a survivor, or has been taken from us too soon because of this insidious disease (which is most of us), this is the perfect way to honor your loved ones. I know I did.

Did you know that every minute someone dies from cancer? It's true. We are that close to a cure for many forms of the disease. This is our chance to try and make a difference, to ensure that our children might just see a future without cancer.

Imagine it.

On Friday, September 5, the "Big Three" networks will host an unprecedented primetime fundraiser for StandUp2Cancer. The goal is to put an end to cancer by raising enough money to help fund cancer research for years to come. If you want a sneak peek, their website is already up and running at http://www.standup2cancer.org/.

It might be the best dollar you ever spent.

Lilacs: the sweet smell of our state flower

2008-06-01T01:39:00Z

The lilacs are in bloom. Some are past peak already but others are majestically framing houses throughout the seacoast, their purple blooms carrying a scent like no other. That scent has been artificially recreated by air fresheners, sprays, and candle companies.

I found myself enthralled with that smell to the point of needing to start taking allergy medication as a result. But I love those lilacs. They remind me of my childhood. Specifically, I recall the day that my brother retrieved a baseball in the lilac bushes in our backyard - only to be chased away my dozens of bees that had made their nest in one of the bushes. I don't recall if we ever got the ball back but my brother was stung a few times. The sight of him running and flailing his arms is one that will stick with me for a long time. We nursed his stings with meat tenderizer. We had several lilac bushes in our backyard growing up. They are still there, continuing to reward my mother every spring with their purple presence.

It's unfortunate that they simply don't last long enough to be enjoyed. That's why we have candles to burn when we feel like we need their comforting, sweet, light fragrance.

In the meantime, I'll be rolling my windows down - just to catch a whiff while I still can.

Please make it stop....the impact of $4 per gallon gas

2008-05-19T21:31:00Z

I got a phone call today from a friend that is moving to middle-of-nowhere Maine. She was calling to warn me about her imminent departure and wanted to get together before the big move because she knows I will not be driving 4-6 hours to visit anytime soon. That is, at least until gas prices stop hovering around $4 per gallon. I was sure she was exaggerating about $3.89 per gallon gas in Nottingham since the prices in the greater Manchester area are still a good 20 cents lower. Not that I think $3.69 per gallon is a bargain. Not at all. On the contrary, I'm all but ready to start digging for oil (did you hear about that guy in Indiana?) in my own backyard. With a shovel.

Forget planting perennials this year. I'm looking for oil!

This is about the time of year that my family and I used to get the boat out of the garage and haul it up to Lake Sunapee every weekend. We'd go through a tank of gas in the truck just driving back and forth (a 45-mile trip, one way). We then spent the day on the lake puttering around in our boat. We usually didn't go through more than half a tank in the boat unless we were feeling particularly reckless. There were many weekends that we did this on both Saturday and Sunday. It was our thing and we loved it. Looking back, we probably burned through $100 per weekend in gas alone. But that was at $1.59 per gallon.

Sadly, we no longer have our boat. However, if we did (and I do miss it) I think our trips to the lake would have been limited to special occasions this year. I simply refuse to pay these absurd prices for anything other than essential driving.

Watch out for me on the road too. I'll be the one driving the speed limit.

The gavel drops on a life well-lived

2008-05-09T00:25:00Z

Some people cross your path and are never forgotten.

Dick Withington was one of those people. Dick was an auctioneer based out of Hillsboro. I met him one day at an estate auction in Hooksett. He was sitting in the crowd and welcomed me as I sat beside him. I had no idea who he was but the auctioneer did. He made a special announcement that the "Master" was among us and he pointed to the charming gentleman sitting next to me. Dick smiled, waved to everyone in the crowd, made a joke, and sat back to observe.

Withington, the Godfather of the gavel, died at the age of 90 on April 29. He was the kind of person that loved people and people loved him. He also lived to preserve history through auctioneering and the historic preservation of many buildings throughout the town of Hillsboro. He was funny and charming and he made you want to buy something. That is probably what made him the best: his character, which was a combination of integrity and wit. Dick always seemed to have a smile or a smirk on his face. He performed his auctions with flair, like he was up on stage and had to please his audience. That was something he never failed to do. In 1953, the Washington Post described Withington as a "witty, fascinating type" who could coax a bid on a box of buttons.

I later attended a few of Dick's auctions and watched him do his thing. It was mesmerizing to see the "Grand Master of the Auction Block" in action. He was always on top of his game under the big tent, as if coaxing bids from buyers was something he did with ease.

Withington was also a survivor. He lived with a cancer diagnosis looming over his head for more than 17 years. And through multiple operations, he always maintained an easy sense of humor. In July 2005, he held his first "funeral", a free concert that took place on Hillsborough Center's green that featured his beloved East Coast All-Stars, a Swing and Dixieland Jazz band that he had discovered in Florida. In 2007, he was given the grim prognosis: four weeks to live. Yet he still managed to call several auctions throughout the summer. A second "funeral" was planned for June 2008, more than a year after that dire prognosis. Instead, a memorial service will be held on June 5 at 2 p.m. at Smith Memorial Congregational Church in Hillsborough.

There is so much more I could say about this amazing person, but his life has been profiled in many articles and sadly, now in his obituary:

http://www.legacy.com/unionleader/Obituaries.asp?Page=Lifestory&PersonId=109131255

If you would like to express your condolences or share your own memories, you can do so by signing his online Guest Book:

http://www.legacy.com/unionleader/GB/GuestbookView.aspx?PersonId=109131255

Yankees/Red Sox rivalry turns deadly

2008-05-07T21:39:00Z

When did the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry turn from friendly to deadly? On Friday, May 2, that’s when.

It’s one thing to support your favorite sports team. It’s another thing to take a vehicle, plow it into a group of people, and kill someone because you think your team is better than the other one. I don’t care if the group was chanting “Yankees Su*k”, as has been suggested. I don’t care if they were taunting her with the 2008 World Series Trophy. Ms. Hernandez, who is now sitting in the pokey for her actions, had a responsibility (drunk or not) to walk away from the situation. It wouldn’t have hurt if she had called a cab either.

I’ll admit that I’m a Red Sox fan but I think I can speak for most of Red Sox Nation when I say that I have a great deal of respect for the Yankees legacy. I would never have so much as a shouting match with a Yankees fan. I might poke some fun and expect to have some fun poked back at me over wins and losses, players and plays. But it’s something else to have a violent confrontation over a game. It is just a game.

Ivonne Hernandez, 43, is facing charges of reckless second degree murder for the death of 29-year old Matthew Beaudoin. He died of massive head trauma after Hernandez rammed her car – at full speed and without hitting the brakes - into the group of people that Beaudoin was with. Hernandez now faces life in prison. Way to go.

American Idol: the Final Four

2008-05-07T01:04:00Z

As Ryan Seacrest said at the beginning of the show, there are only two weeks to go on American Idol….but it was “Rock ‘n Roll” week, so I was happy to tune in. This is my game. Bring it on.

David Cook selected “Hungry Like a Wolf” by Duran Duran for his first song. Uh-oh. Not a good way to start. Is that song even really Rock ‘n Roll? Uh, no. But once again, despite poor song choice and what seemed like some technical difficulties, Cook somehow pulled it off. Considering David is probably the most “Rock ‘n Roll” guy on the stage, I prayed his second song would bring me to my knees. He picked “Babba O’Reilly” (also known as “Teenage Wasteland”) by the Who. He slowed down the arrangement, making it his own, in typical David Cook style, and I personally thought it was pretty extraordinary.

Syesha Mercado chose “Proud Mary”. Yee-ha. One of my very favorite Tina Turner tunes, but a song that has been covered more times than any song should be. I held my breath for a few minutes while Syesha actually did it some justice. This girl is growing before our eyes, but is she strong enough? The answer to that question came with her second song, “A Change is Gonna Come” by Sam Cooke. A resounding yes! Those vocals came right from her belly, even if it wasn’t the perfect arrangement (or whatever it was that Randy said). Welcome to the final three. I actually cannot believe I’m saying that because I thought Syesha would be out of the competition by now.

Jason Castro picked “I Shot the Sheriff” but here’s the thing. He did the Bob Marley version (naturally). But the Bob Marley version is reggae (as in not Rock ‘n Roll), is it not? Had he sung the Clapton version, I might not have wanted to pull him off the stage by his dreadlocks to save him the embarrassment. Sorry, it didn’t cut it for me. But the way Simon put it, he butchered it, and then Simon butchered poor Jason for choosing the song. His second choice was “Tambourine Man” by Bob Dylan. I am not the best person to be judging this song because - well, I don’t like it. But it was inexcusable for Jason to forget the words. Sorry pal, but Simon was right. Time to pack those bags.

David Archuletta sang “Stand By Me” by Louis Armstrong. Good for Archuletta. An average performance, but far from dull. The ending was sweet and the audience was screaming like Josh Groban was onstage. He chose “Love Me Tender” by Elvis next. I just wanted to fall into the television and hug that boy. He is possibly the next Josh Groban, now that I think about it. And yes, he sang it with perfection, wrapping his voice around every word.

My prediction: Castro will be cut this week. Archuletta, Mercado and Cook will be the final three. And then it’s down to the two boys.

Update (May 8, 2008): Castro was sent 'a packin' last night.

Miley Cyrus: A photographer's responsibility

2008-04-30T23:26:00Z

Fifteen year old teen star Miley Cyrus, also known as "Hannah Montana", has taken a lot of heat over a photo shoot that was done recently for Vanity Fair Magazine. There has been some turmoil over whether the photo in question is “art” or something closer to child pornography. I’ll leave that up to you to decide. But people like to point fingers, so I’m going to point mine. I believe that the photographer, the esteemed Annie Leibowitz, went too far.

A few years ago, a similar incident occurred with a local photographer who was shooting senior portraits for a teenager. After the senior portraits were done, the photographer asked the teen whether she’d like to do some (sexier) photos for her boyfriend. He got in a whole lot of trouble for that. I don't recall if he served jail time, but he certainly had some legal troubles when the parents found out.

Photographers have a responsibility to say no. They have a responsibility to take photos of young people that are tasteful and discerning. They have a responsibility to maintain their innocence, not to exploit them as sexual creatures.

This brings up a related topic. Have we begun to see the innocence of our children as a commodity that can be sold if the price is right? There is no price on a child’s innocence and Ms. Leibowitz should be ashamed of herself. She should have known better than to photograph a child in such a provocative manner. It doesn’t matter that Miley Cyrus is a star. What matters is how the world perceives a photo like this. More importantly, how will her pre-teen fans see it? Will they strive to imitate her? Miley Cyrus should not experience any repercussions over this, but Annie Leibowitz should. If she wasn’t Annie Leibowitz, she would probably be on her way to court.

American Idol - the Final Five

2008-04-30T01:03:00Z

Neil Diamond was the guest of the evening on American Idol tonight. Diamond may have been some sort of idol many years ago but I doubt many young people today know his music at all. I found it rather bizarre that they would choose Diamond for a show with a demographic that is mostly under the age of 25. But then again, Neil is about to launch a worldwide tour. American Idol is all about cross-promotion these days.

Onto the “Final Five” contestants…..

Jason Castro was up first with “Forever in Blue Jeans”. He had his guitar at his side for this one and it was a rather sweet version of a sweet song. His second song choice, “September Morn”, was slowed down, perhaps in an attempt to make it “his own” but all it did was nearly put me to sleep.

David Cook sang “I’m Alive” with his usual rock and roll swagger. What is left to say about Cook? He’s well on his way, folks. Next he sang “All I Really Need is You”. Somehow he managed to make this song sound fresh and current. I think we may have our winner.

Brooke White was next up with “I’m a Believer” (covered by the Monkees in 1966). She too played guitar but with a lot less talent. Sans guitar, it would have been a terrific Karaoke moment. The second tune was “I Am, I Said”. This time she whipped out the piano (at least she can play some instruments because her voice isn’t quite up-to-par for this batch of contestants). And hey, she remembered the words.

David Archuletta sang “Sweet Caroline” and “America”. Archuletta does really well with the ballad-y type songs that make the young ladies swoon. And who can resist that smile of his? But the song was tame and uninspired. Considering David was not even in the womb when Neil Diamond was at the peak of his success, who can blame him? “America” was definitely unexpected, and probably not the best performance of the evening, but there were a couple of high spots that redeemed him.

Syesha Mercado chose “Hello Again”. She too does well with the ballads. This was a decent song choice for her. Syesha has some pipes on her and they were highlighted with this song. She also sang “Thank the Lord for the Night Time”. She seemed to have a lot fun with this one, but Simon told her that she might be in trouble tonight. I have to disagree. If I had to guess, I would say Jason Castro will be hitting the road tomorrow night.

But I’ve been wrong before.

Update: Wrong again. Brooke White was sent packing tonight. In my defense, I thought she would be gone sooner but might have been saved by "I Am, I Said" this week. White was simply not of the same calibur as some of the other finalists.

Economic Surplus checks are coming.....early?

2008-04-28T20:44:00Z

Wondering whether you qualify for an economic stimulus payment, how much you are getting and when it's coming? Hint: They are coming earlier than expected. The IRS has put up a calculator that you can use to determine how much you can expect to receive. It's helpful if you have a copy of your 1040 Form handy. Here is a link to the IRS calculator: http://www.irs.gov/app/espc/. If you were like me and did not have a "normal" situation, leaving you wondering just how much you can expect, this is a really great tool. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that I'm getting more than I expected.

If you received your refund electronically, you'll be getting your stimulus payment sooner (possibly today). If you filed the old-fashioned way, by mail, expect it to take a bit longer. Checks will be issued based on the last two digits of your Social Security Number. The schedule is below (but the IRS announced today that they are approximately one week ahead of schedule). Imagine that!

Here is the original schedule from the IRS for when you can expect checks to be transmitted or mailed:

Direct Deposit:

Last two SSN digits:	Payments will be transmitted no later than:
00 through 20	May 2
21 through 75	May 9
76 through 99	May 16

If you filed a return and received a paper refund check, it goes like this:

Last two SSN digits:	Payments will be mailed no later than:
00 through 09	May 16
10 through 18	May 23
19 through 25	May 30
26 through 38	June 6
39 through 51	June 13
52 through 63	June 20
64 through 75	June 27
76 through 87	July 4
88 through 99	July 11

Happy spending!

American Idol - the Final Six

2008-04-23T01:36:00Z

American Idol – The Final Six

Since I've already made my opinion known in previous posts, I figure why stop now? So here goes........

The theme of the evening was the music of Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber (who was watching from the audience). Not an easy task to sing music made for Broadway when the contestants are trying so very hard NOT to sound like they belong on Broadway.

Syesha Mercado sang “One Rock n’ Roll Too Many” from Starlight Express. She was able to refrain from sounding “too” Broadway but I don’t think that she “brought the house down,” like Webber suggested she might at the beginning. Yet, her vocal was right on. This girl does seem to get better every week, or maybe it was just a good song selection, combined with a voice that – in other years – may have won her American Idol. This year she just happens to be up against some amazing singers and overall talented musicians.

Jason Castro sang “Memory” from the Broadway show Cats. It was a brave selection, according to Webber. I have to say I agree. The performance nearly put me to sleep. Simon was certainly not impressed. I’m not sure Jason will get a pass this week. I predict he’ll be in the bottom three.

Brooke White selected “You Must Love Me” from the film adaptation of Evita. Unfortunately, she totally lost her way at the beginning of the song and had to start over. She “lost the lyric” (her words) and I have to give her kudos for being able to keep it together after that. Paula was speechless (I didn’t think that was possible). This performance was probably the nail in the coffin or at least her ticket back to Arizona. If this doesn’t send her home, America is not paying attention.

David Archuletta chose to sing “Think of Me” from Phantom of the Opera. He brought his own style to the tune tonight. He owned it – but then, David is the King of the ballad. Simon thought it was “pleasant” and “forgettable” but I think America will push him through yet another week. It’s a no-brainer.

Carly Smithson selected “All I Ask of You” from Phantom of the Opera but thankfully switched to the title song from Jesus Christ Superstar. We always say how important song choice is. This time Smithson got it right. I have to believe she’s sang this song from a do-or-die perspective. It was pretty soulful.

David Cook finished the show with “Music of the Night” from Phantom of the Opera. I’m not really sure that anyone else could have gotten it more “right” than David Cook. The song was definitely not his “style” as Simon pointed out during his critique. Cook has shown that he can catch anything that is thrown at him. He's easily the one to beat this season.

Edit: You get into trouble when you blog late into the night. I had David Cook down as "Jason" (but have since changed it above). I promise I know his name! Soon I think all of America will know it too. Thank you to the individual who pointed that out!

Update: (4/23/08): Carly Smithson (no, not Brooke White) was sent home this evening. This was nearly as shocking (to me) as Michael Johns' early exit from the show. It's not as though I expected her to make it to the finals, but Brooke forgot the words to her song. This far into the competition (it is a competition, right?) we should not let that slide, especially considering her lackluster performances over the past few weeks. All I can say is this. Wow.

Stay tuned for an evening of Neil Diamond next week.

Making a Federal case out of jury duty

2008-04-22T17:26:00Z

I'm going to write for a few minutes because it's quiet here. That doesn't happen very often so I might as well take advantage of it. I got a call the other day from a lifelong friend. She called to inform me that she had been serving several weeks of jury duty and apologized for not returning phone calls. This was't just any ol' jury duty. We are talking about a Federal case here. Maybe you can guess which one.

I know I probably sound a little crazy but I've always wanted to serve on a jury. But have I ever gotten that message in my mailbox? Have I ever been picked? No. I have sat in the galley during district court cases. That's an experience I recommend to anyone who wants to understand due process.

I don't think my friend was calling to gloat. She had no way to know that I might have enjoyed a jury duty-like experience. It's not like I worked at a law firm for a major part of my life (which might automatically disqualify me anyway). She was calling to explain what a disruption the entire thing was on her life and routine. She's a single mom with two girls. I can only imagine the shuffling she had to manage to enable her to stay late deliberating.

It's funny how they always seem to pick the people that are least available for jury duty. Those of us who are eager, we never get picked. Aha, maybe that's the problem, does being too eager send off alarm bells somewhere?

Still, knowing my friend, she'll look back on it as a great experience in her life, even if it was inconvenient. And maybe someday I'll have my turn. No doubt it will be at a time when I'm least available and/or it's most inconvenient.

American Idol's fascination with the diva

2008-04-16T01:22:00Z

It was “Mariah Carey” night on American Idol tonight. Yes, the girl that can break glass with her voice.

Could they suck up to her any more, though? Mariah, diva of all divas, is clearly trying to promote her new record, E=MC2, which came out today. In case you didn’t know. Like, if you missed her on Oprah yesterday or all the other shows she has been on to promote the hell out of the new record.

Anyway, we’re really watching for the “Idols”, right? So here goes….

David Archuletta said he wasn’t “worthy” to be in Mariah's presence. Come on! She’s just a singer like him. He sang “When You Believe” and nearly pulled off the falsetto, a difficult feat for any singer. I’m proud of little David. His performance was pretty close to perfect and yet, it didn’t sound like Mariah. Even Simon liked it. Go David!

Carly Smithson talked about the loss of Michael Johns last week and then drooled all over Mariah before performing “Without You”, which is not even an original Carey tune. I like this girl. She’s got spunk and a powerful voice, even if she didn’t quite pull off this difficult song tonight.

At least Syesha Mercado didn’t fall all over Mariah before taking the stage. She took the superstar’s advice and sang a pretty soulful version of Carey’s “Vanishing”. Ever heard of it? Didn’t think so, but it was a beautiful song and she did a fine, fine job.

Brooke White talked about missing her sister’s wedding. Like we care that she couldn’t be there (even in cardboard cutout form) in lieu of becoming a star. She should have been there anyway, since she’s probably going home soon. Then again, Brooke sang “Hero”, accompanied by piano. That may have saved her, since it was otherwise a lackluster performance. A hero does lie in you, Brooke, sorry. Go back to Arizona and sing in bars. You’ll be great, I promise.

Kristy Lee Cook couldn’t believe she gave Mariah Carey "goosebumps". Goosebumps can also be caused by fear, honey. She was probably freaked out by the “Can I have a hug?” thing. It wasn’t her incredible singing, that's for sure. She picked the fairly unknown song “Forever” and managed to get through it without too much trouble though. At least it was better than I expected. Simon said she didn’t “give him chills”. I’ll leave it at that.

David Cook decided to sing “You’ll Always Be My Baby”. Yeah, that scared me too. At least he turned the guitar over to someone else tonight. I was honestly surprised by his song choice until half-way through the performance, when he jumped out with his rock and roll style and totally owned it. Simon called it a “breath of fresh-air” and “daring”. We all know Cook is the next Daughtry. He doesn’t need to win American Idol to make it, no offense to American Idol.

Jason Castro finished the show with “I Don’t Wanna Cry”. He too allowed someone else to play guitar. This placed the focus entirely on him, thereby highlighting every vocal error. But overall it was a decent performance. The judges enjoyed it, though I’m not sure the American public is going to agree.

But what do I know?

Update (4/16/08): Kristy Lee Cook was eliminated tonight. Although her performance last night wasn't horrible, it was only a matter of time.

American Idol attempts to inspire and beg

2008-04-09T13:52:00Z

I can’t really say I came away inspired last night, but “Inspiration” was the theme of the evening on American Idol. It started out with an inspirational song: Aerosmith’s “Dream On”. The problem is that no one can sing this song better than Steven Tyler. Michael Johns attempted to hit high notes out of his vocal range, and although Simon enjoyed the performance, to me, it came close to listening to fingernails on a chalkboard. I like this guy and I don’t think this will get him bumped from the show. Simon called him a “wannabe” (ouch) and though I wouldn’t go that far, I feel that he just didn’t pull it off. Disclaimer: I'm an Aerosmith fan. Update (4/10/08): I'm sorry to report that Michael Johns left the show tonight. This only reinforces the theory that song selection is essential. We all knew he wasn't going to win anyway.

Next up was Syesha Mercado who sang Fantasia’s “I Believe”. All I can say is the girl can sing. But we probably knew that already. This was followed by Jason Castro’s Tiny-Tim like performance of “Over the Rainbow”. Yes, the beloved classic, only a freaky alternative version of it. The judges seemed to like it but it left me confused.

Kristy Lee Cook sang “Anyway” by Martina McBride. Cook needed to go home before this performance but she sang a song that fits into her genre. Or maybe she just had a good night. This was followed by an interesting performance by David Cook. He sang “Innocent” by Our Lady Peace and I am not familiar with the song so I’m not going to comment beyond that.

Carly Smithson selected “The Show Must Go On” by Queen. I think Smithson can sing but she is no Freddy Mercury. What was she thinking? Based on this performance alone, it could be Carly’s time to leave the American Idol stage.

David Archuleta sang “Angels” by Robbie Williams. The song began on piano, which was a plus, and David’s young, pure voice was on point. I’ll say it again. The young Archuleta is a star in the making. He needs to develop his voice because he has already captured America’s hearts.

Brooke White chose “You’ve Got a Friend” by James Taylor. It was “safe” – as the judges like to say.

Tonight American Idol will put on their charity celebrity-studded show, “Idol Gives Back” Part II. This year, the show will benefit six charities, including The Children’s Defense Fund, The Children’s Health Fund, Make It Right, Malaria No More and Save the Children. If last night left you inspired, perhaps you’d like to dig deep into your wallet tonight and give. Update (4/10/08): Last I heard, they have only raised around $60 Million dollars. That's not chump change, but it is a lot less than they raised last year.