that last video is only topped by these brave souls:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYglkOOJK3c[/youtube]

ht – mr. munoz (again, of course)

there are no words to say what kind of dedication it takes to write this song.

and then to conceive of a worthy music video storyboard.

and then to pitch it to a video production cast.

and then to actually green light this through meetings.

and then to shoot it, edit it and add CGI effects all over it.

no. words.

all i can say, is watch out Lee Greenwood. i think this guy’s got your number for most patriotic musician.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KP2u9CvPgwg&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]

ht – mr. munoz

+

–
it’s christmas time.

it’s time for christmas decorations.

it’s time for christmas music.

it’s time for my yearly gift to you:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

you. are. welcome.

–
that’s right, it’s back: my occasional nod to extraordinary men and women of dedication.

i’d like to introduce you to ‘the first in a bold new collection‘…

that’s over 11 inches of hand-cast, hand-painted, knife-shaped boldness, featuring ‘thrilling artwork by’ some guy on a porcelain blade.

i know that the mailer i received says that this “dull-edged replica knife is for decorative use only, not for us as a toy or a weapon,” but a knife of this caliber, a knife that embodies the boldness that i see here, is too impressive and, more importantly, too powerful to not add to my regular weapon repertoire.

i know that when i’m in a really dire situation i’ll reach for my bold, foot-long blade, and though i’ll wish the tiny gun on the handle was a real gun, i’ll at least have the strength of fired porcelain, courtesy of the bradford exchange.

and, as i stand to face my opposition, whatever it may be, i will think of the words i read on my mailer:

off in the distance, the wailing sirens cut through the night, moving away at a frantic speed. somewhere out there danger lurks, but hot on its heels are the heroic men and women who faithfully uphold the laws of this land.

but until they get here, i’ll have my knife, brought to me by the dedication of a few, faithful porcelain workers. porcelain workers who know that i need a police-commemorating blade with a handle covered in the tactical belt of one of the boys in blue. porcelain workers who worked so hard to get me this mailer, knowing that i had a small window to secure my order, due to the ‘strong demand they are anticipating.’ porcelain workers that will not rest until that hand-cast tribute is in my gaze, reminding me of the timeless effect of the crown victoria on law enforcement.

now THAT’S dedication.

–
fantastic:

…we sure are lucky that alcohol is legal, available and a normal part of 75% of americans’ diet.

–
if you are a reader of my lovely wife’s blog you already know that we took an impromptu visit to Morro Bay on friday. i had previously lined up a second winner of the increasingly renowned NOW-THAT’S-DEDICATION! award, but that fellow will have to wait for a bronze medal entry.

Morro Bay is a beach-ommunity and a tourist trap. each of those aspects draw a wonderfully ecclectic group of people in restaurants, beaches and crosswalks alike. it was in the foggy shadow of the world famous Morro Rock that i actually found myself pointing my index finger and saying out loud, “wow honey, now THAT’S dedication,” in regard to a particular person we saw on the beach north of the smoke stacks…

“today might be the day!!!”

“just 260 square miles to go before i call it a day.”

“my Sears & Roebuck metal-o-matic chimes not in vain!”

“well, that time it was in vain…but…i know that this sand bar will yield plenty of loot for me and my blog buddies.”

has metal-detecting ever done anything good for anyone? i understand the value in military oriented mine detection, but i’m pretty sure the only thing this sand-sifter can hope to find (at best) is an old Chrysler bumper (having used a dangerously broad spectrum detector).

God speed my loose-change-coveting beachy friend. let’s hope the 50 degree weather doesn’t cause you to get sick, forcing you to buy a $4 bottle of imitation NyQuil…because…i mean…that would destroy your profit margin for like…6 or 8 weeks…

–
so, luke mundy has a great web-segment on his blog called “stock pick of the week.” i decided a recurring set of posts might be fun, so i’m experimenting with the first idea i had, i’m calling it: “Now That’s Dedication!”

the idea came to me while kelly, baby and i were on a vigorous constitutional this morning and we encountered our very first recipient of the NOW THAT’S DEDICATION award.

i must assume that our california plated friend either A) is an avid fan of dallas football, or B) is an avid fan of cowboys, the ambitious group of wild-west wranglers who worked so heartily and drank so heavily.

either way, no simple sticker or decal would be sufficient for our local fence-ridin’ desperado. only a purchasable-only-for-those-over-18-years-of-age can of wal-mart spray paint would be adequate to express his fanship of ‘cowboy.’ propped alongside his makeshift lawn-mower trailer he proclaimed that ‘cowboy’ has his passion, his allegiance, his removable-tailgate space.

NOW THAT’S DEDICATION!