Dec 13 2010

Pomplamoose and Serendipity

Tag: General InterestKevin Hail @ 3:39 am

About 2 1/2 years ago, I stumbled onto some guy’s video cover of an Aphex Twin’s song. Only a few people had viewed his video, so I’m not sure how I found it, but I felt like I had discovered someone. His name is Jack Conte. Here’s the link on my blog to the posting I did saying basically that I thought he was going to be discovered…

http://www.hailofaday.com/2008/07/jack-conte-great-new-musician/

Jack, some how came across my blog entry and wrote me an email thanking me for the shout out and we had a few exchanges and then we lost touch of each other. Over the last couple years, I have thought about him from time to time and meant to find out what he’s been up to.

Well, back to the present. About a week ago, I was watching TV and this cool Hyundai commercial came on where a guy and girl are performing a catchy little version of “Deck The Halls” on various instruments. I usually tune out of commercials, but it caught my year and I kept meaning to look it up.

So I googled “Hyundai Christmas commercial” tonight and found out that it was a group called “Pomplamoose” that had starred in the commercials. I went to their YouTube channel and lo and behold……a Christmas Miracle….Jack is one half of Pomplamoose!

How cool is that? I don’t really have a point in this story, I just wanted to say wow life is funny.

The other “Life Is Funny” moment that happened to me that is similar to this story: About 8 or 9 years ago, Amanda and I were at “The Door” in downtown Dallas and we heard this bubbly little teenager named Katy Hudson open for Bebo Norman. I remember that this girl talked a lot between songs and she was wearing flip flops and jean shorts, a bit unkempt. What she lacked in stage presence and presentation she made up for with a voice that could knock down a brick wall. Powerful and very controlled. Katy had written a song called, “Trust In Me”. Here are some of the lyrics…

“How could I see you when I was so blind How could I grasp you when I was far behind How could I hear you when I was so deaf How could I get up when I had been left

But You said, “don’t worry” For I’ve healed the blind man And I’ve set the captives free And You said, “don’t worry” For all you’ve gotta do Is put your trust in Me

How could I be clean when I was so dirty How could I be made whole when I was torn apart Make me whole, make me whole Make me whole again”

This was a marginally successful Christian song, but that was really the only song that took off for her and then she just dropped off the grid. My wife and I kept looking her up over the years and just couldn’t find anything about her. Then one night a couple years ago, I came across something in a forum saying that she’d changed her name and was about to release a BIG record with a hit called….”I Kissed A Girl”.

Hi, Katy Perry, I mean Katy Hudson. I remember you when you were just an insecure teenager playing acoustic guitar in some dumpy club as an opening act. Gotta say, I liked you better then.


Feb 27 2010

McDonald’s Fail

Tag: General InterestKevin Hail @ 10:10 am


Anybody hungry for some Mickey D’s chicken tenders?


Dec 21 2009

100 ton bomb Explodes

Tag: General InterestKevin Hail @ 10:14 am


Nov 02 2009

Peace by the sword

Tag: General InterestKevin Hail @ 8:44 am

Winning a war that rights a wrong and creates peace brings honor.  Losing a war because you buckled to politics brings shame and allows injustice to propagate.  There is a fundamental difference in the way that people view the word “peace”. 

Even if we agree that the word “peace” means the absence of conflict, there has to be an understanding of how the peace exists.  Because humanity does not live in a vacuum, there will always be evil men contending for power, whether they live in a democracy, oligarchy, republic, communist state, socialist society, or complete anarchy.  We are all born with a desire to conquer.  For some it never transcends the joy of completing a check list, for others it is to be the best at a video game, but for many it is to be a conqueror of other people. 

When words fail to head off the power grab by power-hungry men and women, the sword is the only thing that will ever stop them.  Clinton understood that wide-spread ethnic cleansing was occurring in Yugoslavia and had the guts to use the sword.

Citizens of our country today enjoy the right to speak, the right to criticize the government, and mostly the right to live a life of peace….because our ancestors have used the sword.  The world today would be different had the US not intervened in WWII, for instance.

So the fundamental question I have for those that oppose any war or any bloodshed is this…When is it right to use the sword? 

The U.S. is the greatest society in the history of the world, because of our virtues: justice, liberty, freedom, equality, and our power.  Our economic, dare I say capitalist system, has enabled us to develop technology and military power that has allowed us to, “speak softly and carry a big stick”, according to the famous policy of Teddy Roosevelt. 

This world we live in at this moment in time is peaceful and in order, because the US has had the resources and the fortitude to maintain order, even if that was merely keeping other superpowers in check, i.e. China and Russia.  Anything that we do to diminish this power, whether real or perceived, dilutes peace in this world by empowering evil men with evil motives to conquer the world and take away the freedoms that we all value so much.

My hope and prayer is that this administration and future administrations views peace through a lens that is clear and bright and not one that is rose-colored.


Former President Clinton unveils statue in Kosovo - Yahoo! News


Oct 30 2009

The pumpkin dance

Tag: General InterestKevin Hail @ 8:54 am

Courtesy of KXVO news station in Omaha, NE. I appreciate the station trying to mix it up a bit. I would truly turn into the news more often if they did bits like this.


Jul 24 2009

20 Gadgets That Innovate Ordinary Things

Tag: General InterestKevin Hail @ 6:16 pm

If this isn’t the coolest invention, I don’t know what is. A toothbrush that directs a jetstream of water for you to rinse with.  In fact, there are a lot of things on this page that I’m seriously considering whipping out the credit card to purchase. follow the link below for more.


StumbleUpon WebToolbar - 20 Gadgets That Innovate Ordinary Things


Jun 29 2009

What Michael Jackson Did on His Last Day - Yahoo! News

Tag: General InterestKevin Hail @ 10:42 pm

It’s fascinating to hear that Michael was totally on his game at 50 years old.  It would have been great to see him perform.  Makes me sad.

What Michael Jackson Did on His Last Day - Yahoo! News


Jun 27 2009

Jackson 5 Salute to Vocal Groups

Tag: General InterestKevin Hail @ 6:19 pm

I really enjoyed watching this bit of history and reflecting on MJ’s career.


Jun 25 2009

6-Legged Deer Attacked By Dog

Tag: General InterestKevin Hail @ 12:04 pm

Forget the dog part of this. A 6-legged deer?!?!? Oh, deer! Somehow this story reminded me of that old Saturday Night Live commercial..3 Legged Jeans. A leggedy, leggedy, leg…


Jun 23 2009

Don’t steal iPhones - The owner will find you

Tag: General InterestKevin Hail @ 9:33 am

What a great story!  This dude gets his iPhone stolen and uses Jack Bauer-ish techniques to retrieve it.  You will love this…

The Intermittent Kevin - Find My iPhone works, and it is awesome.


Jun 17 2009

NKorea warns US of ‘thousand-fold’ military action - Yahoo! News

Tag: General InterestKevin Hail @ 7:09 am

Any suggestions for what we can do to stop this idiot and his dangerous regime?  I say we round up all the action heros from Hollywood and give it a shot…Steven Seagal, Jean Claude Van Damme, Undercover Brother.  Let’s helicopter them in and see if at least one of them can take down their government.


NKorea warns US of ‘thousand-fold’ military action - Yahoo! News


Jun 12 2009

14-year-old hit by 30,000 mph space meteorite - Telegraph

Tag: General InterestKevin Hail @ 11:12 am

Never, ever, ever for as long as this young man lives will he EVER have anyone top him at a cocktail party. Dates with good looking women, instant acceptance into the Kiwanis Club, Lions Club, Freemasons, getting out of speeding tickets.  All of this will unfold before his meteorite scarred hands.  Awesome!!!

14-year-old hit by 30,000 mph space meteorite - Telegraph


Jun 11 2009

NASCAR Pit Stop in Times Square w/ Red Bull Racing

Tag: General InterestKevin Hail @ 3:53 pm

Great, great marketing idea by Red Bull (or the agency?!?). I hope this kind of creative thinking gets big exposure.


Jun 10 2009

You Have Three Days To Pick Your Facebook Vanity URL. Choose Wisely, Or You’re Screwed.

Tag: General InterestKevin Hail @ 9:17 am

Prepare for the land grab on Friday night at Midnight.  If you have a common name like John Smith, you better be ready.

You Have Three Days To Pick Your Facebook Vanity URL. Choose Wisely, Or You’re Screwed.


Jun 03 2009

Yahoo! Buzz Log - MTV Writer Admits ‘Bruno’ Stunt Was Staged

Tag: General InterestKevin Hail @ 7:37 am

If you haven’t seen the crazy MTV stunt that Sasha Baron Cohen pulled on Eminem, look it up on YouTube.  I’m so disappointed to hear that it was fake.  I would love for Eminem to have been disgracefully punked.

Yahoo! Buzz Log - MTV Writer Admits ‘Bruno’ Stunt Was Staged


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