5 Starts for Dundee

Two years ago I bought a twelve pack of JW Dundee's Honey Brown. At the time I bought it because it was on sale for $7.89. You can't even get PBR for that price. That was a very good beer that Highlands Brewery should be proud of. I think going into it with low expectations is the reason I think so highly of it. It was a great value that is hard to come by. I can't say that I'm in love with the Honey Brown itself, but I did bring me to what Dundee had to offer. Go out an buy one to see for yourself. Cheers.

Texas Hill Country

Just a little footage of the Hill Country were I am curently living. Its very beautiful and peacefull. This was shot using a Canon HV30 in Cinemode. For a HD version or to download the original, visit the video on Vimeo.

Texas Hill Country from Eliot on Vimeo.

Inside the Ropes of the Ryder Cup

Insight from John Wood who is Hunter Mahan's caddie durring the 2008 Ryder Cup matches. This years matchs were a supuerb display of golf at its best.

Well, I'm warning you right now that this e mail will fall woefully short of the feelings we all felt out there yesterday during the matches and last night as we celebrated as a team. One, I haven't settled down enough to look at this logically, and two, my vocabulary is nowhere near good enough to convey what went on out there.

We did it. All of Captain Azinger's plans were perfect, executed perfectly by the players, caddies, and assistant captains, cheered on by a battalion of crazed hillbillies (and I mean that in a good way), and somehow a dream that seemed so far away one week ago has come true. Not that this is in any way comparable to a miracle on ice or anything like that, but given our recent history in this event, the hill we had to climb to get this done seemed so steep and so long I'm not sure a lot of people knew where to start. The beautiful thing is that Azinger did know where to start. It's a huge hill when you look at it, but if you just take one step at a time, it's not that bad. And Captain Azinger broke it down into
steps for us. And all the players had to do was follow along.

One of the things I don't like in the aftermath of these team events are the overall grades most publications and television analysts give the players. It is a team event, and although there are individual matches and two-man team matches, it is all influenced by the other guys you are around all week. The camaraderie and encouragement is so influential on
how you play, on how many points you acquire as an individual that you can't say that Hunter Mahan or Anthony Kim deserves an "A," and Phil Mickelson or Justin Leonard deserves a "B," because the truth is the influence and play from Phil and Justin hugely impacts the play, the demeanor and especially the outcomes of the team matches. Justin was an absolute animal in the first three matches we played with him... unbelievable putter, unbelievable influence on Hunter, and the same can be said of Phil for Anthony. That being said, here are my grades for the week.. ha ha....

Paul Azinger A+++++++

Phil Mickelson A.... Although Hunter really played well all week, in our four ball match we were absolutely carried by Phil for a big portion of the match. He was perfect. And despite what most people want to think of him, he loves this event, what it means, and is one of the most encouraging teammates you could ever want. And on a personal level, being a part of this team is great. Being on a team with a true and true friend in Bones, Phil's caddie, means the world. When we halved that match against Karlsson and Stenson on Saturday on the 18th hole, he was the first person I looked for to congratulate. A very meaningful day.

Jim Furyk A.... Everyone thinks of Jim as this stoic figure, but inside he burns as hot as anyone who plays this game... He brings a totally intense and businesslike approach when he is on the golf course, but off it he can relax and cut it up with the best of them. On a team full of rookies he was a hugely calming influence with how he went about things. KILLER INSTINCT.

Kenny Perry A.... What can you say about Kenny? I can honestly say I was critical about the way he was going about his year, not playing in majors and focusing his year solely on this week in his home state, in front of his hometown crowd, in front of his family and his 87 year old Dad, who is a WWII veteran who once spent 40 days in a foxhole surrounded by Germans... NOW I get it. Now I understand what he was aiming for and that this was his major, and he won it.

Anthony Kim A.... Are you kidding me? Do I even have to say anything? If he had gone 0-4 he would have gotten an A. The attitude he brought to this team. The Swagger I talked about earlier in the week. The impossibility of failure. Plus the fact that he throttled Sergio in the first match of the day. He wanted the match that was going to provide the emotional compass for the day, and all week he wanted Sergio. When those two things came together, not only did he win, but he won big, and took the symbolic heart out of their team early in the day. Impossible to overvalue his influence on the rest of the team. A case where water flowed uphill. Like I said earlier, I think some of the veterans looked at him and said "I used to be like that, and I'm gonna do it again." The
emotional MVP

Justin Leonard A.... ; A lot has been said about Justin never winning a full Ryder Cup point coming into this week, and that is a load of baloney. Yes, technically he's never won a point. But in 1999 I seem to remember him being 4 down early to Jose Maria Olazabal, proceeding to make about 17 miles of putts in the next 10 or so holes, and then before this week he had made the only U.S. putt that has meant anything in the last 12 or so years. Justin was an amazing partner for Hunter. A fantastic putter, and there's something to be said for having two guys out together with something to prove, as Hunter and Justin did.

Stewart Cink A.... Big Stew finally got on the right side of one of these things, and the drive he hit in the foursomes match with Chad Campbell on 18 was as big a shot anyone hit all week. About 340 down left center with water right and bunkers left, leaving Chad only a 5 iron, which he put to about 8 feet to get a full point in a match that only two holes earlier looked like it could go the other way. And it's those little swings in momentum that totally dictate how these matches turn out.

Boo Weekly A.... Again, Are you kidding me? Throwing the pony ride on 'em down the first hole of a Ryder Cup, then proceeding to make an eagle and six birdies through 16 holes. Laughing and dipping and and grinning and firing up the crowd the whole way. I promise you however funny he seemed to you guys at home he was twice as funny to us.Whenever this team even hinted at lapsing back into the overly intense mood that the past few teams have gotten into, he'd spit his dip into the grass and tell his Orangutans story and we'd be back to playing golf.

Ben Curtis A.... Gutsy Gutsy Gutsy. In a match late in the day yesterday that ultimately was important only in the final score, he was turning a close match against a European stalwart, Lee Westwood, into his own coming out party. Unconventional swing, maybe, but as tough as they come. A quiet assassin that I promise you you don't want to face in match play.... He will give you absolutely nothing.

J.B. Holmes A.... He would get an A if all he did was show up in the morning and hit his drivers on the driving range next to the Europeans... Loud and carrying about 340 yards and ricocheting into the stage built in a place that the planners assumed was safe from harm. That, my friend, is intimidating to everyone around. It pumped us up and kept us loose... With every rifle he fired, the crowd would whoop and holler and even though they would never admit to it, the Europeans would shrink just a little bit more. Oh, and did I mention he went undefeated with two wins and one half as part of the dominant rookie contingent? Kentucky Bomber

Steve Stricker A.... Just having Strick here with everything he's gone through is inspirational. He is emotional, he is good, and he came back from a place in the golf world that not many people ever come back from. Again, momentum wise, if all he did was show up and make that 20 footer on 18, then it was worth him being here... An emotional guy who may be a rookie but demeanor wise, is fazed by nothing. The pressure of a Ryder Cup is nothing to a person who 4 years ago had no status on any tour in the world. One of the best people I know, and more fire in his belly than anyone could possibly imagine.

Chad Campbell A.... Again, another quiet assassin. A better ball striker you won't find, a better teammate you won't find, and again if all he did was show up and fire20that 5 iron on 18 to about 8 feet on 18 in his foursomes match with Stewart Cink then it would have been worth it to have him here. Momentum Momentum Momentum. A surprise captain's pick to some but everyone on this team knows what a talent he is, and again there's something to be said being surrounded by good people.

Hunter Mahan A.... I can't tell you how proud I am of Hunter... He came in this week with a lot of baggage, with a lot to prove, and he more than answered every question thrown at him. Zinger threw him out there in every match, and he didn't lose... Five matches... Two wins, and three gutty halves. Played more holes than anyone on either team, and even when he was running on fumes on Saturday afternoon with Phil, he was able to clutch up and hit a huge drive and a perfect 4 iron to 18 to halve a superior match against Karlsson and Stenson. The team leader in points with 3 1/2. Probably the biggest putt of the matches on 17 vs. Paul Casey from about 50 feet over a hill. A big, big step in his career.


The best tournament in golf. The biggest stage, the biggest payoff, the most pressure. There is just nothing better than winning a Ryder Cup. Bones, who has won three majors with Phil, told me on Saturday night as we drove back to the hotel that he felt more pressure than he has on Saturday nights when Phil has been in contention in majors. Your mouth gets dry, your heart beats faster, and despite the fact that you consider yourself reasonably intelligent, you somehow don't allow yourself to believe that 130 + 10 = 140. And that's just the beginning. I can't imagine having to wrap your shaking hands around a golf club and execute a golf shot under those conditions, but these guys do it. Knowing that any swing or putt or chip could be the difference. You can't give them enough credit for what they are able to do... this is what it's all about. The only
reason to caddie.

Yawcam Webcam Freeware

I finally got a chance to test Yawcam software as well as my Quickcam Pro 9000. This is some footage that my webcam emailed me while I was at work. When I got home the paper that was left in my chair was a repair sheet of an issue that I turned into my apartment complex a couple of weeks ago. I'm glad to know that he was all business.

Volvano Cover

This is kind of another test of both the new webcam as well as blip.tv

QuickCam Pro 9000 Review

I just bought the Logitech QuickCam Pro 9000 so I could video chat with my family. The picture quality is very good for both video and photos. The mic works well, but is very sensitive. If you have it set too high, you'll just get a bunch of crackleing. The only issue I had was some minnor syncing and ghosting. I solved the problem simply by NOT using the RedLight Technology that installs standard. It just runs better with out it. You may have to make manuall adjustments once and a while, but nothing to major. Below is a video created using the camera in 640 x 480. Video can be recorded at up to 2 megapixles.

Digsby Portable

With the end of the format war and the re-beginning of the browser war, why not jump into the IM Client war. There are several clients to choose from out there, and just as many fan-boys who swear by them. As much as I would love to join in the argument, I really don't care. Digsby is the new kid on the block and shows a lot of promise. It still is a little buggy compared to other clients, but it offers the most features from what I can see.

As some of you know, I hate being tied down by the restrictions of traditional software. I'm a big fan of web apps as well as portable applications. With that said I bring you what I think is the first portable version of Digsby. Please let me know how it works!

Digsby Portable

blip.tv

Well I've already made it known that I'm not happy with the closing of Stage6, but now its time to find a replacement. So far, I think blip.tv has currently got my vote. I've included an old video of mine to test it out.

The Masters

Well the second round of the Masters is finished, and only two players have shot in the 60s both days. Two players who most would not even expect to contend. Tomorrow will be a very important day and likely more difficult than todays conditions. Will see if Mickelson can pull away, and if Tiger can make a move. I've pretty much been demolished in my pool, so now its time to save face and hope for a great finish. Heres a little something to keep the emotions flowing.

Husker Wallpapers 1

Here are some of the wallpapers that I created last year, and hope to continue the trend this year.

Trilegiant - AOL's Little Brother

We all have heard how difficult it is canceling a subscription with AOL. Well, I think I have found an organization who is nearly as bad. The organization is Trilegiant. They provide several services including identity theft protection with Wells Fargo and other banks. They have had their share of lawsuits and complaints all ready, and now I know why. I was signed up for a free trial period, and then was unknowingly charged the monthly rate there after for over two years. I then tried to cancel my subscription via phone. I called three separate occasions and was transfered four times before I was able to officially cancel my subscription. I included an audio clip of the last two minutes of the last phone call.

Aviary - Creation on the Fly

I have had the opportunity to Beta test one of Aviary's online applications. In my opinion, this site, company, and its applications have tons of potential. I am a huge fan of the webware movement. The largest downside of Web2.0 applications is their lack of features. Aviary's applications are no exception. They might not completely replace your desktop applications, but they seem to work great for basic tasks. I have fooled around with Phoenix, their image editor and included some screenshots of the basic UI. Definitely keep an eye on this site and what they have to offer.

New Toys

Well I officially have all of my new set of clubs minus my Scotty Cameron. A Titleist D2 driver with a Fujikura Zcon x-stiff shaft, a 904f 18.5 degree, 21 degree Titliest hybrid, and Titleist AP1 irons, all with Project X 6.0 shafts. So far, I love them. The driver is deffinately a step up from their previous models. Also, a little birdie told me a new series of woods are coming out towords the end of the summer, and Titleist is implementing a composite wood for the first time. You can also expect another triangle/square shaped head.

My other new toy is a new car. My 1992 Chrysler LeBaron decided to blow a transmission, so I got a new car. Its a 2005 Suzuki Aireo. So far I like it and hope it continues to perform well. Currently it gets 31 miles per gallon, which is huge considering the rise in gas prices. I will give a detailed review of the car in about a month.

Stage6 is Dead

What now? Now that Stage6 has officially stated that it is going to shut down, it leads me to the question of who or what will replace it. It seems to just be a matter of time. S6 users (including myself) have grown accustom to the quality of video that S6 has provided over the years and I doubt many are willing to go back to using the YouTubes of the world. YouTube hasn't changed much since it opened its doors, but now with its new ownership (Google) it is showing signs of increasing video quality. This however is going to be a huge transition for YouTube and likely a bumpy ride. I feel that it is more likely that a divx replacement will emerge than a current video site to step up to the HD plate.

New Titleist Clubs

I have ordered a new set of clubs with Titleist. They should be available the first of March. I have had the opportunity to hit all the new irons and Scotty Cameron putters, and I must say they are phenomenal. The ZB and AP2 modles are by far my favorite. Check out some of the pictures I took of them.

Husker Media

For anyone who is looking for some of the content that I had on my Husker Media blog, you may find most of it here. If there is something you can't find or would like to have, just email me through the contact tab above.

A Horrible Round

I played golf yesterday with a few of the members at my club, and I shot a whopping 89. I had a 38 putts and way too many mental mistakes. The whole round I felt like I couldn't get my mind and my hands to perform the same task. It was a struggle and quite frankly an embarrassment. So to remedy the situation, I am going out to work early and practice for about two hours. I know I have things I need to work on, but most of them don't deal with swing mechanics.

Welcome

I know it looks pretty bare right now, but I will hopefully keep up with this blog. I think I've started over 10 blogs of varying topics, but failed to keep them alive. This one will encompass all the topics that I am passionate about including golf, politics, music, finance, technology, etc.... At this point any area of interest is fair game.