May he find the peace he sought.
Category Archives: Down the Rabbit Hole!
Bold As Brass
The redesigned, revamped, revitalized and altogether reimaged NASCAR.com launched this morning. Now that the site is under NASCAR and not Turner Media’s control, it’s only natural the governing body would wish to put its stamp on things ASAP. Judging by the site, they used a very large stamp.
Whoever designed the site went for boldness. Graphics are gargantuan. Sections are sizable. Headers are humongous. If you use a mouse wheel to scroll up and down web pages, by the time you reach the front page’s end your index finger will need an ice pack. Pull this site up on a large monitor and it may buckle under the sheer weight of it all. It’s as subtle as MMA.
But is it any good?
Sort of.
Granted, it’s the off season and there’s little on which to report. This duly noted, it’d be nice to have more substance as opposed to being overly substantive. There are always stories to be told, be they old or new, that a fan base hungry for the sound of engines roaring to life will surely devour. And there are stories on the site. However, the graphics feel so much like you’re being shouted at that by the time you do get to some text your eyes are screaming for mercy. It would have been nice to have a less pounding visual attack and more meat. Instead, what you get is a full throttle assault that never lifts, leaving little time or taste for normal conversation.
I don’t hate the new NASCAR.com, but I’m not in love with it either. It’s okay to be as bold as brass, but it’s also possible to polish it to too bright of a shine.
Picking Up The Pieces
Okay, making another go at getting back into the NASCAR blogging swing of things. Or scheme of things, if you prefer.
I’ve grown increasingly disenchanted with political writing; the ugliness thrown my way by those ostensibly on the same side combined with the alarming failure of so many to practice what they preach have left a decidedly sour taste in my mouth. I’ve several fragments of posts at Goldfish and Clowns started but remaining stubbornly unfinished, this primarily due to rapidly dwindling enthusiasm for the subject. I’m not cut out to play the Konservative Kool Kidz Klub game.
Over here, though, I’m much more myself; free to chase down whichever rabbit hole appeals at any given time. And, despite it all, I do still love this crazy sport.
And so, once again I’m picking up the pieces. Hopefully this time they’ll stay assembled.
The Single Greatest Spam Blog Post Comment In The History Of Forever!
I defy anyone to top this!
{I have|I’ve} been {surfing|browsing} online more than {three|3|2|4} hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours. {It’s|It is} pretty worth enough for me. {In my opinion|Personally|In my view}, if all {webmasters|site owners|website owners|web owners} and bloggers made good content as you did, the {internet|net|web} will be {much more|a lot more} useful than ever before. | I {couldn’t|could not} {resist|refrain from} commenting. {Very well|Perfectly|Well|Exceptionally well} written!| {I will|I’ll} {right away|immediately} {take hold of|grab|clutch|grasp|seize|snatch} your {rss|rss feed} as I {can not|can’t} {in finding|find|to find} your {email|e-mail} subscription {link|hyperlink} or {newsletter|e-newsletter} service. Do {you have|you’ve} any? {Please|Kindly} {allow|permit|let} me {realize|recognize|understand|recognise|know} {so that|in order that} I {may just|may|could} subscribe. Thanks.| {It is|It’s} {appropriate|perfect|the best} time to make some plans for the future and {it is|it’s} time to be happy. {I have|I’ve} read this post and if I could I {want to|wish to|desire to} suggest you {few|some} interesting things or {advice|suggestions|tips}. {Perhaps|Maybe} you {could|can} write next articles referring to this article. I {want to|wish to|desire to} read {more|even more} things about it!| {It is|It’s} {appropriate|perfect|the best} time to make {a few|some} plans for {the future|the longer term|the long run} and {it is|it’s} time to be happy. {I have|I’ve} {read|learn} this {post|submit|publish|put up} and if I {may just|may|could} I {want to|wish to|desire to} {suggest|recommend|counsel} you {few|some} {interesting|fascinating|attention-grabbing} {things|issues} or {advice|suggestions|tips}. {Perhaps|Maybe} you {could|can} write {next|subsequent} articles {relating to|referring to|regarding} this article. I {want to|wish to|desire to} {read|learn} {more|even more} {things|issues} {approximately|about} it! | {I have|I’ve} been {surfing|browsing} {online|on-line} {more than|greater than} {three|3} hours {these days|nowadays|today|lately|as of late}, {yet|but} I {never|by no means} {found|discovered} any {interesting|fascinating|attention-grabbing} article like yours. {It’s|It is} {lovely|pretty|beautiful} {worth|value|price} {enough|sufficient} for me. {In my opinion|Personally|In my view}, if all {webmasters|site owners|website owners|web owners} and bloggers made {just right|good|excellent} {content|content material} as {you did|you probably did}, the {internet|net|web} {will be|shall be|might be|will probably be|can be|will likely be} {much more|a lot more} {useful|helpful} than ever before.| Ahaa, its {nice|pleasant|good|fastidious} {discussion|conversation|dialogue} {regarding|concerning|about|on the topic of} this {article|post|piece of writing|paragraph} {here|at this place} at this {blog|weblog|webpage|website|web site}, I have read all that, so {now|at this time} me also commenting {here|at this place}.| I am sure this {article|post|piece of writing|paragraph} has touched all the internet {users|people|viewers|visitors}, its really really {nice|pleasant|good|fastidious} {article|post|piece of writing|paragraph} on building up new {blog|weblog|webpage|website|web site}. | Wow, this {article|post|piece of writing|paragraph} is {nice|pleasant|good|fastidious}, my {sister|younger sister} is analyzing {such|these|these kinds of} things, {so|thus|therefore} I am going to {tell|inform|let know|convey} her. | {Saved as a favorite|bookmarked!!}, {I really like|I like|I love} {your blog|your site|your web site|your website}!| Way cool! Some {very|extremely} valid points! I appreciate you {writing this|penning this} {article|post|write-up} {and the|and also the|plus the} rest of the {site is|website is} {also very|extremely|very|also really|really} good. | Hi, {I do believe|I do think} {this is an excellent|this is a great} {blog|website|web site|site}. I stumbledupon it
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Any way keep up wrinting.| {I love|I really like|I enjoy|I like|Everyone loves} what you guys {are|are usually|tend to be} up too. {This sort of|This type of|Such|This kind of} clever work and {exposure|coverage|reporting}! Keep up the {superb|terrific|very good|great|good|awesome|fantastic|excellent|amazing|wonderful} works guys I’ve {incorporated||added|included} you guys to {|my|our||my personal|my own} blogroll.| {Howdy|Hi there|Hey there|Hi|Hello|Hey}! Someone in my {Myspace|Facebook} group shared this {site|website} with us so I came to {give it a look|look it over|take a look|check it out}. I’m definitely {enjoying|loving} the information. I’m {book-marking|bookmarking} and will be tweeting this to my followers! {Terrific|Wonderful|Great|Fantastic|Outstanding|Exceptional|Superb|Excellent} blog and {wonderful|terrific|brilliant|amazing|great|excellent|fantastic|outstanding|superb} {style and design|design and style|design}.| {I love|I really like|I enjoy|I like|Everyone loves} what you guys {are|are usually|tend to be} up too. {This sort of|This type of|Such|This kind of} clever work and {exposure|coverage|reporting}! Keep up the {superb|terrific|very good|great|good|awesome|fantastic|excellent|amazing|wonderful} works guys I’ve {incorporated|added|included} you guys to {|my|our|my personal|my own} blogroll.| {Howdy|Hi there|Hey there|Hi|Hello|Hey} would you mind {stating|sharing} which blog platform you’re {working with|using}? I’m {looking|planning|going} to start my own blog {in the near future|soon} but I’m having a {tough|difficult|hard} time {making a decision|selecting|choosing|deciding} between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal. The reason I ask is because your {design and style|design|layout} seems different then most blogs and I’m looking for something {completely unique|unique}. P. S {My apologies|Apologies|Sorry} for {getting|being} off-topic but I had to ask!
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I’m {bored to tears|bored to death|bored} at work so I decided to {check out|browse} your {site|website|blog} on my iphone during lunch break. I {enjoy|really like|love} the {knowledge|info|information} you {present|provide} here and can’t wait to take a look when I get home. I’m {shocked|amazed|surprised} at how {quick|fast} your blog loaded on my {mobile|cell phone|phone} .. I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G .. {Anyhow|Anyways}, {awesome|amazing|very good|superb|good|wonderful|fantastic|excellent|great} {site|blog}! | Its {like you|such as you} {read|learn} my {mind|thoughts}! You {seem|appear} {to understand|to know|to grasp} {so much|a lot} {approximately|about} this, {like you|such as you} wrote the {book|e-book|guide|ebook|e book} in it or something. {I think|I feel|I believe} {that you|that you simply|that you just} {could|can} do with {some|a few} {%|p.c.|percent} to {force|pressure|drive|power} the message {house|home} {a bit|a little bit}, {however|but} {other than|instead of} that, {this is|that is} {great|wonderful|fantastic|magnificent|excellent} blog. {A great|An excellent|A fantastic} read. {I’ll|I will} {definitely|certainly} be back.| I visited {multiple|many|several|various} {websites|sites|web sites|web pages|blogs} {but|except|however} the audio {quality|feature} for audio songs {current|present|existing} at this {website|web site|site|web page} is {really|actually|in fact|truly|genuinely} {marvelous|wonderful|excellent|fabulous|superb}.| {Howdy|Hi there|Hi|Hello}, i read your blog {occasionally|from time to time} and i own a similar one and i was just {wondering|curious} if you get a lot of spam {comments|responses|feedback|remarks}? If so how do you {prevent|reduce|stop|protect against} it, any plugin or anything you can {advise|suggest|recommend}? I get so much lately it’s driving me {mad|insane|crazy} so any {assistance|help|support} is very much appreciated.| Greetings! {Very helpful|Very useful} advice {within this|in this particular} {article|post}! {It is the|It’s the} little changes {that make|which will make|that produce|that will make} {the biggest|the largest|the greatest|the most important|the most significant} changes. {Thanks a lot|Thanks|Many thanks} for sharing!| {I really|I truly|I seriously|I absolutely} love {your blog|your site|your website}.. {Very nice|Excellent|Pleasant|Great} colors & theme. Did you {create|develop|make|build} {this website|this site|this web site|this amazing site} yourself? Please reply back as I’m {looking to|trying to|planning to|wanting to|hoping to|attempting to} create {my own|my very own|my own personal} {blog|website|site} and {would like to|want to|would love to} {know|learn|find out} where you got this from or {what the|exactly what the|just what the} theme {is called|is named}. {Thanks|Many thanks|Thank you|Cheers|Appreciate it|Kudos}!| {Hi there|Hello there|Howdy}! This {post|article|blog post} {couldn’t|could not} be written {any better|much better}! {Reading through|Looking at|Going through|Looking through} this {post|article} reminds me of my previous roommate! He {always|constantly|continually} kept {talking about|preaching about} this. {I will|I’ll|I am going to|I most certainly will} {forward|send} {this article|this information|this post} to him. {Pretty sure|Fairly certain} {he will|he’ll|he’s going to} {have a good|have a very good|have a great} read. {Thank you for|Thanks for|Many thanks for|I appreciate you for} sharing!| {Wow|Whoa|Incredible|Amazing}! This blog looks {exactly|just} like my old one! It’s on a {completely|entirely|totally} different {topic|subject} but it has pretty much the same {layout|page layout} and design. {Excellent|Wonderful|Great|Outstanding|Superb} choice of colors!| {There is|There’s} {definately|certainly} {a lot to|a great deal to} {know about|learn about|find out about} this {subject|topic|issue}. {I like|I love|I really like} {all the|all of the} points {you made|you’ve made|you have made}.| {You made|You’ve made|You have made} some {decent|good|really good} points there. 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I {like|wanted} to write a little comment to support you.| I {always|constantly|every time} spent my half an hour to read this {blog|weblog|webpage|website|web site}’s {articles|posts|articles or reviews|content} {everyday|daily|every day|all the time} along with a {cup|mug} of coffee.| I {always|for all time|all the time|constantly|every time} emailed this {blog|weblog|webpage|website|web site} post page to all my {friends|associates|contacts}, {because|since|as|for the reason that} if like to read it {then|after that|next|afterward} my {friends|links|contacts} will too.| My {coder|programmer|developer} is trying to {persuade|convince} me to move to .net from PHP. I have always disliked the idea because of the {expenses|costs}. But he’s tryiong none the less. I’ve been using {Movable-type|WordPress} on {a number of|a variety of|numerous|several|various} websites for about a year and am {nervous|anxious|worried|concerned} about switching to another platform. 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I could have sworn I’ve {been to|visited} {this blog|this web site|this website|this site|your blog} before but after {browsing through|going through|looking at} {some of the|a few of the|many of the} {posts|articles} I realized it’s new to me. {Anyways|Anyhow|Nonetheless|Regardless}, I’m {definitely|certainly} {happy|pleased|delighted} {I found|I discovered|I came across|I stumbled upon} it and I’ll be {bookmarking|book-marking} it and checking back {frequently|regularly|often}!| {Terrific|Great|Wonderful} {article|work}! {This is|That is} {the type of|the kind of} {information|info} {that are meant to|that are supposed to|that should} be shared {around the|across the} {web|internet|net}. {Disgrace|Shame} on {the {seek|search} engines|Google} for {now not|not|no longer} positioning this {post|submit|publish|put up} {upper|higher}! 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I {amazed|surprised} with the {research|analysis} you made to {create|make} {this actual|this particular} {post|submit|publish|put up} {incredible|amazing|extraordinary}. {Great|Wonderful|Fantastic|Magnificent|Excellent} {task|process|activity|job}!| Heya {i’m|i am} for {the primary|the first} time here. I {came across|found} this board and I {in finding|find|to find} It {truly|really} {useful|helpful} & it helped me out {a lot|much}. {I am hoping|I hope|I’m hoping} {to give|to offer|to provide|to present} {something|one thing} {back|again} and {help|aid} others {like you|such as you} {helped|aided} me.| {Hello|Hi|Hello there|Hi there|Howdy|Good day|Hey there}! {I just|I simply} {would like to|want to|wish to} {give you a|offer you a} {huge|big} thumbs up {for the|for your} {great|excellent} {info|information} {you have|you’ve got|you have got} {here|right here} on this post. {I will be|I’ll be|I am} {coming back to|returning to} {your blog|your site|your website|your web site} for more soon.| I {always|all the time|every time} used to {read|study} {article|post|piece of writing|paragraph} in news papers but now as I am a user of {internet|web|net} {so|thus|therefore} from now I am using net for {articles|posts|articles or reviews|content}, thanks to web.| Your {way|method|means|mode} of {describing|explaining|telling} {everything|all|the whole thing} in this {article|post|piece of writing|paragraph} is {really|actually|in fact|truly|genuinely} {nice|pleasant|good|fastidious}, {all|every one} {can|be able to|be capable of} {easily|without difficulty|effortlessly|simply} {understand|know|be aware of} it, Thanks a lot.| {Hi|Hello} there, {I found|I discovered} your {blog|website|web site|site} {by means of|via|by the use of|by way of} Google {at the same time as|whilst|even as|while} {searching for|looking for} a {similar|comparable|related} {topic|matter|subject}, your {site|web site|website} {got here|came} up, it {looks|appears|seems|seems to be|appears to be like} {good|great}. {I have|I’ve} bookmarked it in my google bookmarks. {Hello|Hi} there, {simply|just} {turned into|became|was|become|changed into} {aware of|alert to} your {blog|weblog} {thru|through|via} Google, {and found|and located} that {it is|it’s} {really|truly} informative. {I’m|I am} {gonna|going to} {watch out|be careful} for brussels. {I will|I’ll} {appreciate|be grateful} {if you|should you|when you|in the event you|in case you|for those who|if you happen to} {continue|proceed} this {in future}. {A lot of|Lots of|Many|Numerous} {other folks|folks|other people|people} {will be|shall be|might be|will probably be|can be|will likely be} benefited {from your|out of your} writing. Cheers!| {I am|I’m} curious to find out what blog {system|platform} {you have been|you happen to be|you are|you’re} {working with|utilizing|using}? I’m {experiencing|having} some {minor|small} security {problems|issues} with my latest {site|website|blog} and {I would|I’d} like to find something more {safe|risk-free|safeguarded|secure}. Do you have any {solutions|suggestions|recommendations}?| {I am|I’m} {extremely|really} impressed with your writing skills {and also|as well as} with the layout on your {blog|weblog}. Is this a paid theme or did you {customize|modify} it yourself? {Either way|Anyway} keep up the {nice|excellent} quality writing, {it’s|it is} rare to see a {nice|great} blog like this one {these days|nowadays|today}.| {I am|I’m} {extremely|really} {inspired|impressed} {with your|together with your|along with your} writing {talents|skills|abilities} {and also|as {smartly|well|neatly} as} with the {layout|format|structure} {for your|on your|in your|to your} {blog|weblog}. {Is this|Is that this} a paid {subject|topic|subject matter|theme} or did you {customize|modify} it {yourself|your self}? {Either way|Anyway} {stay|keep} up the {nice|excellent} {quality|high quality} writing, {it’s|it is} {rare|uncommon} {to peer|to see|to look} a {nice|great} {blog|weblog} like this one {these days|nowadays|today}..| {Hi|Hello}, Neat post. {There is|There’s} {a problem|an issue} {with your|together with your|along with your} {site|web site|website} in {internet|web} explorer, {may|might|could|would} {check|test} this? IE {still|nonetheless} is the {marketplace|market} {leader|chief} and {a large|a good|a big|a huge} {part of|section of|component to|portion of|component of|element of} {other folks|folks|other people|people} will {leave out|omit|miss|pass over} your {great|wonderful|fantastic|magnificent|excellent} writing {due to|because of} this problem.| {I’m|I am} not sure where {you are|you’re} getting your {info|information}, but {good|great} topic. I needs to spend some time learning {more|much more} or understanding more. Thanks for {great|wonderful|fantastic|magnificent|excellent} {information|info} I was looking for this {information|info} for my mission.| {Hi|Hello}, i think that i saw you visited my {blog|weblog|website|web site|site} {so|thus} i came to “return the favor”.{I am|I’m} {trying to|attempting to} find things to {improve|enhance} my {website|site|web site}!I suppose its ok to use {some of|a few of} your ideas!!\
Somewhere, In A Newspaper Editor’s Office…
“You bellowed, sir?”
“You’re lucky that’s all I’ve done… so far. About this story you filed for the Sprint Cup race in Kansas…”
“Ain’t it a beaut?”
“More like a pimple on a warthog’s butt. What is this supposed to be?”
“Well, sir, I was thinking…”
“That would be a first.”
“Huh?”
“Never mind. You were saying?”
“Well, sir, I thought that since we’re in the middle of football season…”
“I never would have guessed.”
“… and since more people follow football than NASCAR…”
“… you thought your story might get more readers if you wrote it like you were covering a football game.”
“Wow, sir. How’d you figure that out?”
“I didn’t get to be editor of this newspaper solely because of my uncanny resemblance to Walter Matthau.”
“Who?”
“Never mind. Now, let’s discuss this little treatise of yours.”
“I… I don’t understand, sir.”
“There’s the understatement of the year. But for my own amusement, what is it you don’t understand?”
“There’s no dwarf priestess in the story.”
“No, you digital ink-brain. Not priestess. Treatise!”
“Oh.”
“Now, back to your story. ‘Despite clock management issues and later on a fumble, Tony Stewart scored some much needed points to keep him in the thick of this year’s playoffs?’”
“Well, you know… there was that pit road speeding violation, and then that spin, but he still managed to finish fifth.”
“So why didn’t you just say that?”
“Like I said, sir, I’m trying to get the casual fans interested.”
“The only thing being tried is my patience. ‘Jimmie Johnson suffered a bruised right hip but stayed in the game?’ He wasn’t injured, you idiot!”
“No, but his car was.”
“IT’S A CAR!!! Cars do not sustain injuries!”
“What about Herbie?”
“That was a mov… oh, never mind. ‘Brad Keselowski’s prevent defense helped him maintain the overall lead, while despite earlier signing to play next year for the Home Depot Orangemen Matt Kenseth emerged as the game winner for the Zestfully Cleaners?’ Really?!!”
“Great, huh?”
“Great, no. Grating, yes. Now, due to circumstances far beyond my control
you’re covering next weekend’s race at Martinsville. Just write it up in a normal fashion, will you?”
“No problem, sir. In fact, I already have the headline!”
“Do tell.”
“Martinsville Hot Dog (Race Winner) Cleans Everyone’s Clock!”
“I have got to become a blogger.”
Nationwide May Be On Your Side; But Kansas Speedway? Not So Much
The primary takeaway from today’s Nationwide race at Kansas, eventually won by Ricky Stenhouse Jr., was how it reinforced my assertion from yesterday it would behoove NASCAR, if indeed it is in the mood to be behooved, to break out the checkbook and start tearing down the existing one and a half mile yawners in favor of building short tracks far more conducive to stock-car racing than any attempted reconfiguration of existing mile and a half stale cookies. When your primary passing lane is the apron, you’ve got problems.
Also problematic was the ending, a green-white-I’d like to thank my sponsors special made even more so by assorted failed fuel mileage gambles. Since the race outcome is already artificially manipulated whenever GWC comes into play, why not take it to the next logical step by requiring everyone to come in for a pit stop prior to the race’s resumption? That would make for far more interesting viewing than putt-putt-sputter.
Here’s hoping tomorrow’s Sprint Cup race is better. But I wouldn’t run over to the Hollywood Casino and place a bet on it.
One Groove Sunflowers
This weekend, while the truckers take a nap the Cupsters and claims jumpers head off to Kansas, where instead of “are we there yet” the most commonly heard cry in the garage is “are we done yet?”
The Cup race this coming Sunday is the Hollywood Casino 400, sponsored by a casino next to the track where the hottest betting line is on where the next tornado will hit. Its primary marketing campaign consists of trying to convince Great Plains residents that this is actually Hollywood whenever asked where, if this is so, is the HOLLYWOOD sign up in the hills — and, for that matter, where are the hills. Said skeptics are immediately handed a magnifying glass and pointed in the direction of a nearby dirt clod, atop which a group of Cirque du Soleil-trained ants wearing silver lamé jumpsuits spell out the sign letters. Please don’t hold the magnifying glass in-between the dirt clod and the sun too long lest in short order an unfortunate event transpire.
A NASCAR event at locations such as Kansas hold more significance to locals then stops at places where there is either a glut of hometown sporting events or NASCAR itself is considered a local event. In Kansas, the sports calendar options consist of watching the Royals and Chiefs lose while waiting for the next Kansas University men’s basketball game and occasionally Kansas State football. No wonder the fans pack the Speedway stands.
Unfortunately, the track they pay big bucks to attend doesn’t show the love in terms of a hot racing action reward. It is yet another mile and a half stale cookie, the kind drivers love because they can run all day without seeing another living soul and any performance deficiency can be blamed on the boys not building and/or setting up the car properly as opposed to the bozo behind the wheel treating the day as a Sunday afternoon drive. Which it is, but you get the idea.
To their credit, the fine folk at Kansas Speedway have put in the work to at least attempt making things more interesting, with a full repave and variable banking in the turns making their debut this weekend. The problem is no matter how one polishes a stone, when the job calls for scissors you’re not spending time wisely. Stock cars do not like being around each other at high speeds as they go every which way but not loose in the turbulence they create. And, as Denny Hamlin noted in conversation with the incomparably professional Dustin Long, with the new pavement added to the mix all the variable banking this side of a sub-prime mortgage provider isn’t going to help make the day anything more than swift (no, not Taylor Swift; that was yesterday’s post) pace laps due to the track being even more of a one groove dud than normal.
Not that they’ve ever asked my opinion (and what’s up with that?), but my suggestion to NASCAR is that it dig into its piggy bank, take pretty much every single mile plus track ISC owns and level them in favor of building a set of short tracks, each with its own configuration to give it an individual flavor. It’d be vastly superior racing. Which, according to at least some, encourages attendance and viewership. People seem to prefer passing and stuff when they watch cars drive fast and turn left. Go figure. But I digress; back to dealing with what we’ve been dealt this weekend.
Favorites? Whoever qualifies well, although as always there is the possibility of oddball cautions and pit strategy moving up someone starting in the middle of the pack or worse. Clint Bowyer, fresh off his Charlotte win and the hometown favorite, is a safe bet to do well along with the usual suspects; i.e. Jimmie Johnson and his fellow Chasers crew. My hunch is it’ll be Johnson hoisting the coveted golden sunflower at day’s end. But we shall see.
Enjoy the weekend, everyone.
How (Taylor) Swift and Special (Paint Scheme)!
The news that Juan Pablo Montoya will be sporting a Taylor Swift paint scheme this coming weekend at Kansas to advertise her latest release Red, as in the color the music industry in general and her record company in particular hope its arrival will stop the hemorrhaging of from their ledgers, was no doubt greeted with a collective yawn by the NASCAR Smart Set. Special paint schemes aren’t terribly special anymore after years of NASCAR and Action Performance, or whatever they’re calling themselves these days, running them into the ground during the sport’s failed effort to achieve pop culture relevancy. During this backwater of time that swiftly turned into a cesspool, a dizzying array of promotions for everything imaginable and usually imaginary was trotted out weekly in the belief collectors would buy everything thrown their way. After a while the collectors (all five that were left) started throwing up over this sham, followed by throwing back 99 44/100% of the nonsensical diecast they were mistakenly assumed would believe was to die for. Instead, diecast car collecting pretty much died. But enough about that; back to the Taylor Swift car.
It would be logical, since the car is designed to promote Target’s exclusive deluxe CD version of Ms. Swift’s latest magnum opus, for a little diecast replica of it to be available with aforementioned CD along with crying town for Swift’s fans to daub away their tears over her lamenting yet another celebrity shark sandwich romance gone awry. Alas, the special edition contains naught but three additional songs and a couple of remixes. These will doubtless be valuable gems to fans of the young woman’s music, but one cannot help but to lament the missed promotional opportunity. Perhaps later on Target will grace us with a superdeedooper deluxe version containing said diecast, thus providing convenient cover for NASCAR dads to purchase said item using the “oh, it’s a present for my daughter – favorite singer, y’know” ruse while quietly contemplating how to inform the little urchin that if they don’t hand over the toy car in the unopened little box it came in pronto Santa will be recalling all Christmas presents even more pronto. That, and muttering to themselves why Shakira or Katy Perry can’t have similar promotions.
It all leads to wondering what other possible musical artist promotional possibilities exist. Granted, once upon a time NASCAR gave this the occasional go which led to such immortal moments as Rusty Wallace sporting a Puddle of Mudd design on his car. However, while past execution oft left much to be desired, the idea is sound, especially when paring artist with location more so than with driver. Let’s see what would actually make sense…
A Rush scheme at Watkins Glen. It’s sort-of close to the band’s Toronto home base, and don’t you think pretty much every guy over thirty-five in attendance has at least one of Messrs. Lee, Lifeson and Peart’s efforts in their music collection? Also, the promise of a pre-race Rush concert might prove even more popular than a Dale Earnhardt Jr. win… um, probably not. But it’d still be pretty darn popular.
A Grateful Dead scheme at Sonoma. If I have to explain, you’re too young. If I don’t have to explain, you are immediately under suspicion since, as Grace Slick from Jefferson Airplane once pointed out, if you remember the 1960s you weren’t there.
A Van Halen scheme at Auto Club. Part of its endless effort to convince people that the Inland Empire really does have something to do with Los Angeles even though Los Angeles wants nothing to do with the Inland Empire.
A Kansas scheme at Kansas (the fall race). To be worn by whoever is last in the Chase standings entering said event, since their championship hopes are dust in the wind.
A James Taylor scheme at Kentucky. In honor of his minor hit from the 1970s “Traffic Jam.”
I’m sure there are many more, but you’ve suffered enough.
The Podcast Is Back, Sort Of
Those of you who miss the podcast I used to do, rejoice! It’s back. Well, sort of. I’m going to be doing an hour show called “Cephas Hour” (by the way, did you know the proper pronunciation of “cephas” is “ka-phus?”) each week on BlackLight Radio, spinning my favorite Christian rock and pop tunes from the ’80s with occasional nods toward the ’70s and early ’90s. It’ll be mostly music, but knowing myself as I do I’m sure I’ll disappear down assorted rabbit holes at least once in a while. Don’t know when the show will air, but as soon as I do I’ll let you know.
I’m A Veritable News Machine These Days, Or Something
More from Examiner.com on the ongoing saga revolving around Blake Koch, Rise Up and Register & ESPN:
Rise Up and Register charged with being at fault for ad not
being aired on ESPN
The story of Rise Up and Register, sponsor of Blake Koch’s #41 Rick Ware Racing entry in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, and Koch’s ad for Rise Up and Register which ESPN rejected, is growing more complicated. Information has been made public that ESPN reversed its decision to not run the ad, but Rise Up and Register’s subsequent failure to fulfill its financial obligations to ESPN and others is the root cause for the ad not presently being on ESPN’s schedule.
Rick Shaftan of Mountaintop Media, a media consulting and client representation firm, stated in a phone conversation today that earlier this year, following ESPN’s original rejection of the ad he was contacted by another agency, which was working with Rise Up and Register. Mountaintop Media never dealt directly with Rise Up and Register.
Mr. Shaftan contacted ESPN, with whom he has worked on behalf of other clients, and convinced them in what Mr. Shaftan characterized as tough negotiations that the ad in and of itself did not violate ESPN’s content standards. ESPN reversed its initial decision to not run the ad. Following ESPN’s decision, Mr. Shaftan negotiated an agreement with ESPN stating that Rise Up and Register promised to purchase thirty weeks of air time for the ad at a price of $900,000. The organization agreed to pay up front for the air time purchase. Subsequent to the agreement being reached, ESPN notified Mr. Shaftan that Rise Up and Register had failed to make good on its promised payment to the network.
Mr. Shaftan continued by noting that the agreement was not reached in time for the ad to begin running during the second NASCAR Nationwide Series race of the year, the Bashas’ Supermarket 200 at Phoenix International Raceway, but was in place for the series’ following race, the Sam’s Town 300 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The ad ran during ESPN’s broadcast of the race; however, it is not clear whether the ad was part of ESPN’s national broadcast or run by local providers during the race.
Dennis Michelsen of Race Talk Radio has reported that Rise Up and Register has failed to make payment to Rick Ware Racing for sponsorship of the car at the next scheduled race for which it had previously agreed to serve as primary sponsor, the race in question being the O’Reilly Auto Parts 300 at Texas Motor Speedway on Friday, April 13th. Mr. Michelsen adds that the team is preparing Koch’s car for the race with the American flag decals it has previously run, but minus the Rise Up and Register logo.
A phone message for Rise Up and Register has been left.
Continue reading on Examiner.com Rise Up and Register charged with being at fault for ad not being aired on ESPN – National Motorsports | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/motorsports-in-national/rise-up-and-register-charged-with-being-at-fault-for-ad-not-being-aired-on-espn#ixzz1qkVFn3vV


