Happy The Man

[Roger -Dot- Lee(Admin)]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


HAPPY THE MAN RETURNS WITH NEW ALBUM 'THE MUSE AWAKENS'
ON OCTOBER 26, 2004, THROUGH INSIDEOUT MUSIC AMERICA

SELECT TOUR DATES TO FOLLOW


Happy The Man's story could have ended in disappointment like that of other talented bands that had the odds stacked against them. However, the latest chapter in the phoenix-like history of this U.S.-based progressive rock band is a triumphant one: the release of the aptly titled new studio album 'The Muse Awakens' on InsideOut Music America. 'The Muse Awakens' arrives in stores on October 26, 2004.

For nearly five years the lineup of original members Stanley Whitaker (guitars, vocals), Frank Wyatt (saxophones, keyboards, woodwinds), Rick Kennell (bass guitar) and new members David Rosenthal (keyboards) and Joe Bergamini (drums) has worked toward this shining moment. Rosenthal is best known for his work with Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Billy Joel and guitarist Ritchie Blackmore's post-Deep Purple hard-rock band Rainbow. Bergamini plays in the band for the Broadway musical "Movin' Out" based on Joel's unforgettable catalog of songs, the instrumental rock/fusion band 4Front and he also performed in a Rush tribute band called Power Windows.

The 11 songs on 'The Muse Awakens' are: "Contemporary Insanity," "The Muse Awakens," "Stepping Through Time," "Kindred Spirits," "Lunch At The Psychedelicatessen," "Slipstream," "Barking Spiders," "Adrift," "Shadowlites," "Maui Sunset" and "Il Quinto Mare."

'The Muse Awakens' is the culmination of a series of grassroots events leading to Happy The Man's reformation. The band signed with the legendary Clive Davis' Arista Records and released two albums, 'Happy The Man' (1977) and 'Crafty Hands' (1978), both produced by Ken Scott, previously known for his work with Supertramp, Elton John, and Mahavishnu Orchestra. Happy The Man embarked on ill-fated tours with the likes of Foreigner and Hot Tuna, but the lack of promotion and the surging disco movement were the death blows to Happy The Man. Many other talent-saturated bands in the same boat found themselves erased from the popular music map too.

"We disbanded in 1979 after our Arista deal fell apart," Whitaker says. "We were not bitter about it, but it hurt being slapped down by disco. All of us were 21 or 22 years old when we were signed -- young and naive."

In the ensuing years the progressive rock fan base -- let's go ahead and acknowledge that it was a powerful enough force to label as a subculture -- embraced Happy The Man and word of mouth spread to the point that the original albums became highly sought-after collector's items.

Interest in Happy The Man grew to a point that the band was more popular years after its demise than it was during its original lifetime. The most surprising thing about this is that the band members had absolutely no idea this resurgence was happening.

"Frank, Rick and I had always stayed in touch but we didn't realize we had all these new fans from all over the world. In the early 1990s I moved to the West Coast and pursued more commercial musical ventures. I was in a band playing a reception at a hotel in Baja, Mexico, where there was a progressive rock festival being held. There were all these French, German, and Italian fans there I met who were stunned to meet somebody from Happy The Man," says Whitaker.

"Then Chad Hutchinson and Rob LeDuca, the founders of NEARfest (North East Art Rock Festival), told me if Happy The Man ever got back together that we'd be headlining these progressive rock festivals. I said, 'Yeah, right.' Then we got a letter with an offer to headline NEARfest in 2000. At that point, Frank was living in Hawaii and he didn't even own a piano, but we decided to do it!"

Even with festival offers in place, the band members were still surprised to discover more evidence of Happy The Man's popularity.

"At that time there were about 20 or 30 unofficial web sites all over the world devoted to Happy The Man," Whitaker says.

To make the Happy The Man reunion happen, Whitaker moved back to Virginia to work closely with Wyatt and write new songs. Longtime drummer Ron Riddle participated in the NEARfest show, but he eventually decided to keep working full time scoring documentary films. Original keyboardist Kit Watkins was intrigued by the prospect of recording a new album, but that was all.

"Kit had no interest in playing live again. For the rest of us, our favorite thing was playing live," Whitaker says.

With the blessings of Riddle and Watkins, Happy The Man was on the hunt for a new keyboardist and drummer. Actually, there was no searching high and low for a keyboardist because Rosenthal was ready to go. In fact, since the early 1980s he'd been aching for the chance to join a reunited Happy The Man.

"Happy The Man is my favorite band of all time. I remember the first time I heard them. I was at a party in New Jersey and somebody played 'Happy The Man' and 'Crafty Hands' back to back from beginning to end. I was hooked from the first note. Since you couldn't find those first two albums I recorded them on to cassettes that I wore out," Rosenthal remembers. "I can't even begin to tell you how many people I then turned on to Happy The Man myself."

Rosenthal was a student at Berklee School of Music in Boston when he went to a Poughkeepsie, NY, show by Whitaker and Kennell's post-Happy The Man band Vision.

"He showed us all these manuscripts of sheet music he'd written out for our music. We were blown away because we didn't even take the time to write them out ourselves!" chuckles Whitaker. "David also was in a band at Berklee with guitarist Steve Vai, and they played our song 'Knee Bitten Nymphs In Limbo.' "

"Over the years I became friends with Stanley and Rick and I told them if Happy The Man ever reformed and needed a keyboardist that I was their man," says Rosenthal.

Happy The Man has only performed eight shows since reforming, and that includes NEARfest. The desire to create new music consumed the band.

Virtually all of Happy The Man's music has been instrumental. Only a few songs in the early days included vocals from Whitaker, and that was because Arista requested it. Vocals are scarce on 'The Muse Awakens' too. The focus is always on deftly arranged instrumental songs.

"Even when we play live there is not a lot of improvisation. All of our songs are carefully arranged, and that includes the solos. We spend a great amount of time in rehearsals," Whitaker says.

"To me, instrumental music is what Happy The Man is all about; the occasional vocals functioned as another instrument. A lot of the thinking that went into 'The Muse Awakens' was that we were picking up where Happy The Man left off. Live, we want to be a tribute to the original music and not reinvent it. We pretty much stick to the songs the way they were recorded," Rosenthal says.

Happy The Man plans to perform live as much as possible. Three shows are set for November 2004, and the first one on November 11 in Alexandria, VA, is a release party for 'The Muse Awakens.'

More information about Happy The Man and upcoming tour dates can be found at www.happytheman.com.

DATE CITY VENUE
Thursday, November 11th Alexandria, VA Birchmere Theater
Saturday, November 13th Metuchen, NJ NJ Proghouse/Forum Theater
Friday, November 26th Annapolis, MD Rams Head Tavern


www.happytheman.com
www.insideoutmusic.com

For more information, contact:
Chipster Entertainment Inc.
1976 E. High St.
Suite 203
Pottstown, PA 19464
fax: 610-323-7230
e-mail: info@chipsterpr.com

[Roger -Dot- Lee(Admin)]

Incidentally, rumor has it that the Gagliarchives is going to have a world premier of the new Happy The Man CD on the show this weekend.

That's why I'm so desperately seeking to have someone run the show for me this weekend, since I'm going to be out of town.

Roger -Dot- Lee

[Rick and Roll]

Have my rq for Birchmere tickets...90% sure I'm going.

They played most of this stuff at Orion a while ago....be good to finally hear it on CD.

[moses]

I apologize if this is the sort of thing that doesn't belong here, but apparently the new Happy The Man cd will be broadcast in its entirety on Friday at 9pm on ProgPositivity radio, so that would beat Gags' world premiere by about 24 hours.

http://www.progpositivity.com for that station's site.

... But then again, how many world premieres is too many? Who's to say?

[Roger -Dot- Lee(Admin)]

Originally posted by moses
I apologize if this is the sort of thing that doesn't belong here, but apparently the new Happy The Man cd will be broadcast in its entirety on Friday at 9pm on ProgPositivity radio, so that would beat Gags' world premiere by about 24 hours.

http://www.progpositivity.com for that station's site.

... But then again, how many world premieres is too many? Who's to say?

Oh well. C'est la vie, I suppose. I was told by Tom that he had the world premier. If someone scooped him, oh well....

Roger -Dot- Lee

[Rick and Roll]

yeah and all American sports teams are "world champs" when they win too!

[Roger -Dot- Lee(Admin)]

Originally posted by Rick and Roll
yeah and all American sports teams are "world champs" when they win too!

There's actually a fairly solid reason for this. First off, most of the rest of the world doesn't play the same games we do when we proclaim ourselves world champions. IE American football (that sport that takes the two worst aspects of American society and combines them into one game: violence and committee meatings).

Baseball doesn't count, because nobody with an IQ that surpasses room temperature really cares about baseball anyway.

You'll notice that the Stanley Cup isn't considered the "World championship", mainly because perhaps 75% of the Russian teams out there would wipe the rink with the best American team and we know it. 1980 was a fluke. Same with Canada, if they'd ever get their act together.

Basketball: see baseball.

What does that leave in America? Soccer? You think we take whatever championship they play in soccer and proclaim ourselves World Champions? If they do, they're deluding themselves.

Besides, nobody in America cares about soccer anyway, with the possible exception of Minivan driving mommies taking Brandon to soccer because it's non-contact.

(yes, Americans can be frightfully stupid sometimes).

Roger -Dot- Lee, pontificating to the choir again

[moses]

Originally posted by Roger Lee
Besides, nobody in America cares about soccer anyway, with the possible exception of Minivan driving mommies taking Brandon to soccer because it's non-contact.

Hey I remember Brandon! He was on my soccer team when I was but a young child. Then, fast forward to the college intramural team where the team from Kenya ran and dribbled and shot circles around us... IN BARE FEET!

Yeah I like soccer (football to the rest of the world)... Doesn't mean I'm good at it.

[Roger -Dot- Lee(Admin)]

Originally posted by moses
Hey I remember Brandon! He was on my soccer team when I was but a young child. Then, fast forward to the college intramural team where the team from Kenya ran and dribbled and shot circles around us... IN BARE FEET!

Yeah I like soccer (football to the rest of the world)... Doesn't mean I'm good at it.

Oh, I'll fully admit that I'm probably one of the world's worst soccer players. I dribble more with my mouth than my feet, and I actually even managed to miss the goal from 10 feet out (went over).

Yeah, I suck at soccer.

Now pool, however, is a different story. I'm decent at 8 ball and better at 9.

Roger -Dot- Lee, rack 'em.

Originally posted by Roger Lee
Now pool, however, is a different story. I'm decent at 8 ball and better at 9.

Roger -Dot- Lee, rack 'em.

Man are we going to have a good time when you get here Dr Dot.

I'll take you to the local Snooker club and we can play a few frames of the 21 ball game. Then you can whip my butt at pool. Good times ahead for Dot and Keithie.

[Rick and Roll]

Originally posted by Roger Lee
There's actually a fairly solid reason for this. First off, most of the rest of the world doesn't play the same games we do when we proclaim ourselves world champions.

You'll notice that the Stanley Cup isn't considered the "World championship", mainly because perhaps 75% of the Russian teams out there would wipe the rink with the best American team and we know it. 1980 was a fluke. Same with Canada, if they'd ever get their act together.


Roger -Dot- Lee, pontificating to the choir again

OK, lots of corrections here (I am a big sports fan) -

The only game we play that the rest of the world does not play is what we call football. Every other game I can think of is world played.

This is what I am saying - Players, media, almost everyone says "World champs". It's offensive. It gives the U.S. a black eye.

Even the seven team indoor soccer league the Baltimore Blast has won twice in a row - they say it! Although the teams have players from all over the world, they are not "world champions".

Your knowledge of hockey is not correct. The Hockey World Championships are much more prestigious than the Olympics. Canada has won it twice in a row. Most NHL hockey players are Canadian, but Europeans make up over 1/4 of the rosters (a close second). Same with baseball - 1/3 of players are from Latin America.

The Russians are not that good anymore since the breakup of the Soviet Union. Their teams are diluted, and countries like the Czech Republic are dominant.

Of course this year, no one is playing NHL hockey

The Stanley Cup is so named because of the history of the sport. All of the major awards for teams and players are named after founding members. That's the only reason for it. Trust me - they call themselves world champs too.

Any finally, my youngest plays soccer - it's because the leagues are well organized. He only playes 12 games and then forgets about it the rest of the year. It's contact, believe me. And it's riddled with the same crap other youth sports have - overbearing parents, obnoxious kids, and a winning at any cost mentality. But I don't see the soccer mom thing. I take offense to the whole soccer view - he just likes to run around, that's all. And look at lacrosse (huge in these parts). Tons of contact, often brutal - but played by preppies and snobby kids mostly. It's not what it seems.

I too, love billiards - would like a match....but no betting please.

[progdirjim(Admin)]

Originally posted by Roger Lee
Incidentally, rumor has it that the Gagliarchives is going to have a world premier of the new Happy The Man CD on the show this weekend.

That's why I'm so desperately seeking to have someone run the show for me this weekend, since I'm going to be out of town.

Roger -Dot- Lee

oh chill out I have the new disc and will upload it to the station today...we can out Gag the Gags!

(oh, and by the way, it's good.)

[Rick and Roll]

Originally posted by progdirjim
oh chill out I have the new disc and will upload it to the station today...we can out Gag the Gags!

(oh, and by the way, it's good.)

good cause it was good on a chilly Thursday in the spring

[Roger -Dot- Lee(Admin)]

Originally posted by Rick and Roll
OK, lots of corrections here (I am a big sports fan) -

I'm terribly sorry to hear that. I like sports, but I prefer a good game to any particular team (except when it involves the merciless humiliation of the Pittsburg Steelers, but that's something between myself and my brother's ex wife and has little to do with the sport itself).

The only game we play that the rest of the world does not play is what we call football. Every other game I can think of is world played.

Actually, that's not entirely correct. Granted, it's predominant here, but there ARE teams in other parts of the world (Europe springs to mind).

I remember seeing a VERY good game between a team from somewhere in Germany (Bonn, I believe) and Barcelona. Very well played. They'd likely get creamed by an average NFL team, but it was still well played.

This is what I am saying - Players, media, almost everyone says "World champs". It's offensive. It gives the U.S. a black eye.

Ah yes. Sports reporters. Players. The cream of the American Intellectual scene. Let's not forget the 1978 UGA Graduates who think that the Dawgs got ripped off for the "World Championship" because they choked on one game a few years back. Or perhaps the 1965 Tennessee grads who actually believe they don't look like clowns in their orange, screaming "We're gonna kill 'em".

We?

But back to "professional" sports (and I use both of those terms very reluctantly here as the participants are rarely professional and even more rarely sportsmanlike): I remember being dragged unwillingly to a NY Yankme's game against the Boston *Sox. We were up in the nosebleed section in the house that Ruth built (snort) and there was a fairly vocal cheerleader, complete with statistics pad and decked head to toe in Yankme colors. After their crushing 2-1 defeat (yes, it was a real yawner. Even the players were bored), said cheerleader said "We'll get them next time".

We?

Not once did I see her (yes, her) out there scratching her private parts and spitting for 7 figures/year. Of course, she likely WOULD have been had she not been prevented from playing because she's a girl.

The extra 250 lbs she was carrying around on her 5'2" frame not withstanding.

The point to this? I'll let the reader figure that out.

Even the seven team indoor soccer league the Baltimore Blast has won twice in a row - they say it! Although the teams have players from all over the world, they are not "world champions".

When Tashkent fields a team in the league, or perhaps when the "Kozhevnikovo Blizzard" come into town, then you might have an argument.

Your knowledge of hockey is not correct. The Hockey World Championships are much more prestigious than the Olympics.

Yes, I like boxing. Every once in a while you get lucky and a hockey game breaks out. See my earlier statement on "Professional" and "Sportsmanship".

And once you present a convincing argument to me that this is a local to the US phenomenon, I will gladly ascede the point.

Once I stop laughing, of course.

Canada has won it twice in a row. Most NHL hockey players are Canadian, but Europeans make up over 1/4 of the rosters (a close second). Same with baseball - 1/3 of players are from Latin America.

Sounds awfully worldly to me.

The Russians are not that good anymore since the breakup of the Soviet Union. Their teams are diluted, and countries like the Czech Republic are dominant.

This may well be true. It's been many years since I've followed international hockey. I tend to prefer more energetic games. Like Rugby, or Buzkashi.

Of course this year, no one is playing NHL hockey

That does indeed suck. About the only thing that will stop this sort of nonsense permanently is for the fans (the real losers here) to boycott the next few year's festivities. After a couple of years where the owners have to pay the players but the people don't show up, they'll likely get the point.

The Stanley Cup is so named because of the history of the sport. All of the major awards for teams and players are named after founding members. That's the only reason for it. Trust me - they call themselves world champs too.

Goody for them. I'll give them all cookies when I see them.

Any finally, my youngest plays soccer - it's because the leagues are well organized. He only playes 12 games and then forgets about it the rest of the year.

This is how sports SHOULD be.

It's contact, believe me.

I'm sorry, I guess I need to re-adjust my Ronco-Matic Sarcasm Notification System. Seems my klaxons are out of sync with my rotating beacons and waving orange and green spotted flags.

And it's riddled with the same crap other youth sports have - overbearing parents, obnoxious kids, and a winning at any cost mentality.

Yeah, I was at the store shortly after I got released from Cingular, when this hairy overweight troglodyte import with a boston accent was berating his kid for screwing up at a soccer game or something. I'm assuming it was soccer because of the uniform, shorts, and grass stains. He musta been about 9 or so. Apologies were getting the kid nowhere. Since I was already in a foul mood, I decided that I'd fuck with the old man's head. Talking to the kid, in a nice cheery voice, I asked him how much "Fun" these "Games" were supposed to be, and how great it was to have a dad that loved him no matter what happened, etc. etc. Pops didn't like that one bit, but I was feeling like enough of an asshole that I followed him around and kept poking at the both of them.

I don't know if I got my point across (considering the intelligence level that I discerned from them), but I certainly felt better. If nothing else, it shut them both up.

Yes, it was mean spirited. I was in a foul mood and didn't like the way that that hairy, stench trailing knuckledragger was going off at the kid. I'm like that sometimes. Especially since I had my cane on me at the time.

But I don't see the soccer mom thing. I take offense to the whole soccer view - he just likes to run around, that's all.

Isn't that what it's ALL supposed to be about? Couldn't tell by some of the idiots I've seen. I will admit, though, that it doesn't seem to be as viscious here as it was in California.

Most of the time, anyway.

And look at lacrosse (huge in these parts). Tons of contact, often brutal - but played by preppies and snobby kids mostly. It's not what it seems.

Oh, I LOVE watching Lacrosse. A very exciting game. I've never seen a game up close and personal, though, so I can't comment to the players or fans. I'll imagine they're no different though.

I too, love billiards - would like a match....but no betting please.

You're on. I don't play for money. Ever. I refuse to get involved in a game where money is involved in conjunction with beer and chunks of wood that can be used as weaponry at any time. Most I'll ever bet is bragging rights.

[Roger -Dot- Lee(Admin)]

Originally posted by progdirjim
oh chill out I have the new disc and will upload it to the station today...we can out Gag the Gags!

(oh, and by the way, it's good.)

Wow. I was so busy sparring with Rick that I missed this entirely.

I'll get it moved over as soon as it's up and i'll start popping bits of it on the stack as soon as I can.

Hell, I might just do the entire album.

Roger -Dot- Lee, muckraker extraordinaire

[Roger -Dot- Lee(Admin)]

Originally posted by Roger Lee
Wow. I was so busy sparring with Rick that I missed this entirely.

I'll get it moved over as soon as it's up and i'll start popping bits of it on the stack as soon as I can.

Hell, I might just do the entire album.

Roger -Dot- Lee, muckraker extraordinaire

It is over, it is up, and two of them are in the queue. I could probably do the rest of them, but I'll let y'all request them as you see fit.

Roger -Dot- Lee, Happy the Muse? er...

[Rick and Roll]

[Avian's a Steeler fan too.

[/b]

Actually, that's not entirely correct. Granted, it's predominant here, but there ARE teams in other parts of the world (Europe springs to mind).

I remember seeing a VERY good game between a team from somewhere in Germany (Bonn, I believe) and Barcelona. Very well played. They'd likely get creamed by an average NFL team, but it was still well played.

[/b]

uhh......roger.....actually it is correct,

That's the football league played with US players! It's a developmental league stocked with players not quite good enough! that's why they'd get creamed!

Roger, please check out the facts first!




[/b]

When Tashkent fields a team in the league, or perhaps when the "Kozhevnikovo Blizzard" come into town, then you might have an argument.

[/b]

I was saying that they should NOT call themselves world champs.

Yes, I like boxing. Every once in a while you get lucky and a hockey game breaks out. See my earlier statement on "Professional" and "Sportsmanship".

I like hockey without fighting. That's the way it is played in Europe.

.



This may well be true. It's been many years since I've followed international hockey. I tend to prefer more energetic games. Like Rugby, or Buzkashi.

It is true. i do not profess to state things about computers...

[/b]

That does indeed suck. About the only thing that will stop this sort of nonsense permanently is for the fans (the real losers here) to boycott the next few year's festivities. After a couple of years where the owners have to pay the players but the people don't show up, they'll likely get the point.

[/b]

Never happen - see baseball.

[Roger -Dot- Lee(Admin)]

Originally posted by Rick and Roll
Avian's a Steeler fan too.

Yes. I'm aware of this. He is also aware (at least I think he is) of the reason I enjoy watching their humiliation.

Roger, please check out the facts first!

I do NOT think so. Not when we're discussing something so petty and totally inconsequential. I'm categorically refuse to waste my valuable time digging through rosters and verifying nationalities of players on teams that engage in activities that leave me bored beyond my ability to describe in terms that can be understood by the bulk of the participants and viewers of said activity.

Were we discussing matters of importance, such as decent music, medical breakthroughs, life saving techniques, etc., then I'd be inclined to check my facts.

Hell, if we were discussing topics that had even the SLIGHTEST bearing on the world at large, or even had any effects, beneficial or otherwise (beyond allowing the proles to get excited about a bunch of overpaid, overdrugged flunkies running up and down a field/court/pasture while scratching themselves in the crotch and spitting), such as, say, the gestational period of the Voles that live in the south of England, or weather patterns on the Siberian steppes, or perhaps the train schedules for the town of Dnipropet'rovs'k (it's a real town. It's even on a map!), then I might actually take the time and effort required to look some information up. Hell, proof of this exists on this site when Avian was busy giving me the instruction that I've been looking for lo these many years on specific relativity. (Thanks, Avian! Between your patience and Google, I now have the answer to the question I first asked in 1978. Of course, it's raised a whole lot more, but I'm hot on the trail of the answers. )

We, however, are not. Thus, I refuse to expend any more effort than that which is required for my own personal amusement. Nothing more. This subject matter doesn't warrant more.

In fact, this discussion is rapidly boring me. I'd say it's boring me to tears, but I refuse to carry on any kind of activity that leaves me in such a state. Besides, that phrase is so -- cliche'.

Ergo, my self-inflicted lack of knowledge in anything sports related.

In short, I have better things to do with my time than to look up sports trivia. I enjoy watching a good game, but anything beyond that leaves me looking for an alternative diversion. Rapidly.

Incidentally, Rick, will you PLEASE learn how to use the quoting mechanisms that are available on this system? I've removed the balance of your posting simply because I didn't feel like wading through trying to find out where my spewage ended and yours began. It's well documented, VERY easy to use, and, if you ask nicely enough, I'll even write up a nice email showing how it's done. And, as you can see, if done properly, it makes for a very readable posting.

Thanks in advance!

Roger -Dot- Lee, Go Wisla!

[Rick and Roll]

Let's try this once more. NFL Europe (I forgot the name of the league the first time) is a league set up by the NFL as a set of "farm" clubs. After the college programs, the NFL has no other feeder leagues. It is kind of disgusting that they make people who only have talent in football take up valuable college space, but that's the way of the world.

A lot of these prospective players from college can't cut it, and then drop out of college...they have nothing.

So the NFL, bowing under the pressure of opinion, decided to form this league. As is the case with the NFL, maketing is key - so they made a league that would run in the spring, and play in Europe. A win-win.

You stated that there is American football played elsewhere. True, but it is played by US feeder clubs. Try it this way - if the British football league had the same arrangement in Borneo, and a Brit said that "football is played in Borneo, therefore it is global", I would challenge that.

Here's what I take exception to - you are the one that posted a long statement about sports. I only made a simple statement that the US has a problem with calling their teams "world champs". I was merely stating a point. In fact, Rogor Mortis had introduced that point in the shoutbox once...and I agreed with him. It seemed like an interesting topic, and I was interested to see what others thought of it. I was doing this to spark a discussion from the "world premiere of Happy the Man" ad. I made a simple, one sentence post. You are the one that took it and ran off a long post.

In that post there was a statement about ice hockey, and the Stanley Cup. I merely corrected you. And about the NFL Europe, you stated "Actually that's not entirely correct". Well, I was. How about a statement of inquiry instead of a statement of fact? Something like, "Are you sure that's right?" That would seem a bit more conducive to a give and take.

The main reason I even took the time to correct you is not because it matters. You are right - it matters little (just like any of the other things we talk about do, so don't rate them for me please). I think I was peeved by your comment about the soccer mom. When you speak in absolutes, it's hard to have a real conversation. I agree with the general premise, and there are a lot of "a holes" out there, but I'm not a mom, last time I checked, and I bust my ass to get little "David" to soccer.

And I am sorry, I know how to use the quotes, I just don't know how to break them up. You did teach me once, but since I did not catch on, I will only use them as I know how to. I will not ask you nicely, I would rather just use them one at a time, thank you.

It actually makes for easier reading if the comments are not so inflammatory to start with. And if you don't want to expend so much energy, please don't. You spend a whole paragraph telling everyone that you don't. I want you to live longer, enjoy yourself. See the world! Be a world champ!

[Rick and Roll]

getting back on subject