Iron Man 2 was on, giving me a chance to ogle Scarlett Johansson for a couple hours. Led me to watch The Avengers before turning in... she can look SO good at times, then so homely at others. I choose to think of her this way:

Good Lord, the genetic lottery is better to win than the real lottery.

I love KISS... but, it's changed

I've spent most of my life defending KISS. In fact, I remember one of my best friends commenting a few years ago "Slick, I remember seeing you in the library wearing an "I went crazy with KISS" shirt & thinking 'Damn, I respect that dude for wearing that'" That incident happened in 1988 at the height of the "KISS is a bunch of hack followers" time. Long-winded story short, I think my fandom has now changed to loving the image more than the band. At least, the last 15 years of the band, that is.

The douche-ness of Paul & Gene is well documented. The ridiculousness of new players impersonating Ace & Peter is also. And while I love many moments from '82 on, my KISS fandom is really embedded in the original 5 years, '74-'79. The rawness & sense of danger inherent in those first few years is clearly superior to the formulaic decades to follow.

Obviously, I can't be a true fan without showing proper respect to the latter years. The entire Creatures Of The Night disc is monstrous. Highlights from future albums include "A Million To One" & "Not For The Innocent" from Lick It Up. Gene was in full bitch-mode on that album, as evidenced on "Young & Wasted".

Animalize was a mostly Paul vision as Gene was emersed in Hollywood. Still, there were some choice tracks: "I've Had Enough(Into The Fire)" slammed, and "Thrills In The Night" may be the shining moment of any 80's KISS song selection.

Asylum saw the band veer off into a more melodic area. Highlights included "Who Wants To Be Lonely" & "Tears Are Falling", simple yet so effective.

Last from the non-makeup 80's is Hot In The Shade. Certainly, it was a major stepping stone to the brilliant Revenge. Paul & Gene chose to produce it themselves, most likely to save dollars. However, there were several strong moments in a 15 song disc that would've been just as tight at 11 or 12. The single shining moment would have to be "Forever". It's acoustic/electric intermingling is damn near genius & emphasizes how KISS does not get nearly the credit they should as musicians.

Bucks lose 20 point lead to the Cavs, much the opposite way they built it: Missing shots. They're a good team with many solid players, but when they don't hit jumpers, they just don't have the ability to work inside.

The answer, Mrs. Clinton, is it makes ALL the difference... 4 Americans were killed, the administration claimed it was due to a YouTube video & arrested the filmmaker, then for two weeks this line was thrown around before being changed, then ignored. Help asked for, none given, none even remotely offered.

The absence of answers should be damning for a president who promised to be "the most transparent" ever... that is, unless, the media is simply a shill for the con man aimlessly shuffling the shells around on the street corner.

The Bucks go without an All-Star representative again, though Brandon Jennings was certainly deserving. To add to the lack of Bucks knowledge, or awareness even, Larry Sanders is receiving ZERO consideration for Most Improved. I am by no means a basketball aficianado, but I can tell when a dude elevates his game. Side by side, there is no one in the NBA affecting games with a newfound talent level than the long arm of Larry.

The non-partisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau released estimates today that [show] that our surplus is up to $419.7 million.--Governor Walker

I fail to see how anyone could argue with a $3B deficit being turned into almost a half-billion surplus... but then again, I must hate kids since it's all about them, right? We should ALL thank our lucky stars there is strong leadership in WI, as the states surrounding us are floundering in fiscal irresponsibility.

I always hear about everyone paying "their fair share"... well, that's what is happening. No longer can the cadillac benefits be strapped solely to the backs of the taxpayer. If I have to save for all my retirement AND part of yours, you can shoulder some of the burden too.

EDIT: Ann can be pretty funny

Wow. Just Wow. I don't get how these people can be the voice of information read by millions when they clearly are disconnected from right & wrong. This fool should be, at the very least, suspended.

Honestly, fella, a couple degrees above zero when you can comfortably stay inside your four walls isn't a tragedy of historical proportions... it's a couple days of sub-freezing temps. That's all. Assbag.

I STILL don't know what the guy stands for other than "gimme more cuz the lazy need to stay lazy"

Watching Green Lantern & it occurs to me that Blake Lively is about 80% leg, 15% chest, & fill in the rest... gorgeous, gorgeous young lady

No reason for posting this other than I think it's criminal that Jeff Scott Soto is not a bonafide star... absolutely insane versatile voice.

If you have not heard Heart's rendition of Stairway To Heaven from the Kennedy Center Honors, run, do not walk, to iTunes & grab the full version. (Here's a link to the shorter version from the broadcast, which, while good, does not do the entire performance justice)

Now anyone who follows Heart knows that the ladies worship at the altar of Zep, from their beautiful acoustics to chugging riffs. Just listening to "Barracuda" & "Mistral Wind" back to back will essentially tell you everything you need to know about this talented sisterhood: Epic, intense, driven.

This tribute is one of those rare performances that somehow transcends mere music. There is an ethereal presence at play here, whether it be the gospel choir, Jason Bonham sitting in his father's chair, and the otherworldly vocals of Ann Wilson. In a time when Jon Bon Jovi has gone country, Eddie Money is doing commercials, & most other bands are tuning down to play their hits, Ann's voice seems to be getting stronger & more vibrant.

I would be remiss if I did not mention the lush acoustic talents of Nancy Wilson. If you listen closely, there are subtle additions, yet you never get the feeling that the song has gone off course from the original. Once the electric comes in, the fullness of the mix is brought to the forefront. None of the individual pieces intrudes on each other. They are separate, yet melded together, foreshadowing the power yet to come.

I thought the solo was an impressive amalgimation of one of the most recognizable guitar vocals in recorded history. It had just the right amount of familiarity & homage that it did not distract from the entirety of the song.

Where this recording truly hits the stratosphere is after the solo, when Ann winds on down the road. The sheer FORCE of this woman's voice is unmatched by anyone making music on this planet. I did enjoy the addition of the gospel choir, which added a certain immediacy to the crescendo. The true star of this single, however, is and will always be Ann's delicate handling of an iconic vocal delivery. Notice the ability to deliver lines like " There walks a LADY we all know" with every bit of power as Robert Plant ever did.

Then there is the defining moment, for me, when the goosebumps literally jump out of my skin & I feel a little closer to forces I cannot verbalize... "To be a rock and not to roll". Ann Wilson holds that last note a FULL 8 SECONDS, wringing every last emotion left in this performance. The penultimate tribute to a band that should top all lists, given by a pair of sisters that really don't get their due for changing the musical landscape in their own right.

My only summation is that I lived long enough to enjoy the Wilson sisters paying homage to their own heroes. I would like to thank them for allowing me to come along on this journey. You didn't need the R&RHOF to validate your impact and this performance proves that.

Clearly the performance of the year in any category, any day, any time, and twice on Sunday.

Wow, Suzy Favor Hamilton... so I get the "favor" part now, but the real question is "Who was the fastest out of the blocks?"

Congrats to Montee Ball on the career TD record... but the real story is yet another example of poor coaching, IMO.

The late TD to get within one of Penn State should have been followed by a 2pt try. And for those that think this is second-guessing after the loss, I said at the time they had nothing to gain by playing OT.

1. WIS is already in the BIG10 championship game
2. They're on the road
3. Why subject your players to more injury opportunities

Sure, the team isn't a world-beater & are horribly inconsistent, but that situation screamed for 2pt.

I guess this is the new "pistol-whipping"?

You don't need a degree to understand that raising taxes is short-sighted. Open your eyes, people... It's a spending issue, not a revenue issue.

Let this sink in a little, then try to explain how Robin Hood economics is a good real-life philosophy.

I think the ladies in my family were drinking too much from the huge jug of wine in this video...

Al Gore is the gift that keeps on giving... is it possible to be a caricature of a caricature?

I'm salivating for the first Ryan/Biden debate. Biden trying to debate Ryan is like Screech trying to play Beethoven... When the camera's not on you, it's believable. When the red light goes on, you're just another member of The Zach Attack.

Another KISS thing... I'm listening to an interview from Peter Criss in '04 & he sounds so much more sincere & thankful than Gene or Paul has EVER sounded. Peter's thoughts are on integrity, yet G&P seem to be all about the dollar.

Let's be honest, KISS IS Ace & Peter, cuz Gene & Paul are caricatures of what they started out as.