I just found out that Bellefontaine-native Louie Vito won another Chevy U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix event earlier today at Killington, VT. With the win, Louie also moved to 1st place in the overall standings to take the 2007-2008 title. Below is an excerpt from the official press release... hopefully this means even more wins in '08-'09!

KILLINGTON, Vermont (March 16) - U.S. Snowboarding's Louie Vito (Columbus, OH/Sandy, UT) and Kelly Clark (West Dover, VT) were rocking the pipe hard to win the halfpipe competition as well as the overall season titles at the Killington stop of the Chevy U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix Sunday.

Vito threw down an ultra sick front 10, cab 10, front 9, back 9, front 7 to seal the deal on the day's victory as well as a Chevy Avalanche, which is the sweet ride awarded to the overall tour champions.

"I'm stoked on the truck. I got beat out of the tie breaker last year so I guess I had to wait a year to get it but now I have a fresh looking Avalanche and it feels good to get it," Vito said. "I just wanted to handle it on my first run. I'm happy. It was a good tour and a good season and now I can chill and enjoy the rest of the winter."

Greg Bretz (Mammoth Lakes, CA) a soon to be snowboarding legend in his own right, took second in the event with one crucial element - his board - broken.

"In practice I kind of broke my board a little bit. In the first run, I broke it a little more and dropping in on my second run my board was almost broken through to the core," Bretz said.

Even with the major break, Bretz managed to throw down a hot front 9, back 9, air to fakey, cab 7, front 10 that fired up the crowd.

Early this morning, Acura released the first official picture of the totally-redesigned 2009 TSX. Along with the photograph shown above, they issued a press release stating that the car will make its debut at the 2008 New York International Auto Show next month. While official configurations haven't been released yet, everyone is speculating that the company's i-DTEC clean turbo-diesel engine (photographed at the Detroit Auto Show) will be available at launch or shortly thereafter. Taking cues from the Sport4 Concept, the TSX refresh further solidifies my desire to have one of these in my driveway soon... just need to get that driveway soon.

Acura press release:

TORRANCE, Calif., Feb. 11, 2008 – Acura announced today it will debut the all-new 2009 Acura TSX sports sedan at the 2008 New York International Auto Show and released an exterior photo of the new model. Scheduled to go on-sale in the spring, the 2009 Acura TSX will be the second generation of Acura's popular entry level sedan and feature numerous advancements in performance, styling, technology and safety.

"The new 2009 TSX speaks clearly to the direction we are taking our Acura sedans in the future," said Dick Colliver, executive vice president auto sales, "The TSX is a significant step in the advancement of our sedan lineup and the continued enhancement of the Acura brand."

Acura unveiled the new 2009 RL at the Chicago Auto Show last week and also announced the company will introduce an-all new TL performance luxury sedan later this year.

The 2009 Acura TSX will be introduced during the New York International Auto Show media days which occur on March 19th and 20th.

I knew it was probably going to happen soon, but this is quite surprising; I didn't think he would leave midseason. I regret never seeing him coach from the stands. From CNN.com:

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) -- Bob Knight, known as much for his fiery temper as his basketball brilliance, resigned Monday at Texas Tech, handing the team over to his son.

It was a stunning midseason move by the winningest men's coach in major college basketball, who gave no hint a change was coming. Pat Knight, a Red Raiders assistant, was appointed his father's successor in 2005.

"There's a transition that's going to take place here from me to Pat and I've dwelt on this all year long ... how it would be best for him and for the team and for what we can do in the long run to make this the best thing for Texas Tech," Knight told the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, which first reported the resignation.

Click here to read the complete story.

From Temple of VTEC:

Early this morning, not far from Honda’s U.S. facilities, we were lucky enough to get a quick glance at the next generation Acura TSX.

The new TSX will take on a more aggressive look, taking design cues from the SPORTS 4 concept car shown at the 2005 Tokyo Motor Show.

An improved 2.4L i-VTEC 4 cylinder motor will go into the base model with an expected 20-30 horsepower bump. The entry level model will sport either a 6 speed manual, or 5 speed auto, and will be front wheel drive.

A hotter Type-S model should also appear with around 260hp, coming from an up-tuned version of the 2.3L (240-hp) turbocharged motor currently found in the Acura RDX. The sportier model will feature a 6 speed auto/manual DSG gearbox, and is expected to feature Honda's Super Handling All Wheel Drive system.

While this vehicle will be sold as the Acura TSX in the United States, this same car, with just a few minor styling adjustments, will also sell in European markets as the new Honda Accord.

With the 2008 Honda Accord getting a diesel motor, it is possible that we could see a diesel TSX as well.

Look for the TSX to start production towards the end of 2008.

There are a couple more (and larger) pictures available here. Personally, the Type-S sounds very interesting; guess I should start rolling up the pennies now...

The title's right, this YouTube clip is of a high school marching band, from Washington Court House, OH no less, performing The Hand That Feeds off of the With Teeth CD. I don't know if I'm impressed or deathly afraid of what I'm seeing...

Tonight's season premiere of Heroes was pretty good in my opinion; My Name Is Earl and, more importantly, The Office premieres this Thursday... just wish I was going to be able to download these seasons via iTunes. Oh well, I'm sure I'll figure out something...

This month's edition of Business Advantage Development News offers a little bit more information on the Granite City Food & Brewery scheduled to open at the nearly-completed Fallen Timbers complex in Maumee. According to the article, construction on the building is underway, but it is not expected to be completed before January 2008. It will be the chain's first entry into the Ohio market and will be a part of the fourteen new locations scheduled to open by the end of the next year. While the restaurant will feature a number of unique styles brewed onsite, it will also serve a number of the national beer brands (a bad move for any brewpub in my opinion). Overall, the project is expected to cost over $3 million dollars when completed. We'll have to see just how it stacks up to its competition, both locally and against the regional giants in the area. I'd also like to see their new patent-pending brewing process, Fermentus Interruptus, in action...

On another note, if anyone knows of any iPhone-compatible (i.e. microphone and button) aftermarket headphones, please let me know. I'm looking for something that has all the functionality of the Apple headset but with better sound quality. They must be comfortable to wear for an extended period as well; I'll probably use them daily at work and on the plane to/from Utah this winter. =)

9inchnails.com has finally posted their Year Zero fan remix CD entitled The Limitless Potential for download. This two CD set contains 21 tracks selected from over 200 submitted remixes and features some pretty interesting tracks. Much credit must be given to Trent Reznor and Nine Inch Nails who released the original songs in GarageBand format that allowed them to be easily remixed by these fans. If you want to check it out, visit http://www.9inchnails.com/remixes/.

Apple hosted one of its press events earlier today and introduced a completely revamped iPod line, including the phone-less iPod Touch, as well as a significant price reduction on the iPhone itself. While I am a little upset that I paid $200 more than the current price approximately 70 days ago, I'm still very satisfied with my purchase as it is simply the best phone I have owned... ever. Besides having no coverage between Findlay and Kenton on my way home, AT&T has worked out very well for me, with just as good of coverage as I recall using Verizon. That might change when I travel to Utah in January, but I'll have my Verizon company phone on me just in case anyways. The most interesting announcement was the introduction of the Wi-Fi iTunes Music Store, which will find its way to the iPhone later this month. While I'm sure I'll make a lot of use out of this feature, I do wish you could browse videos as well. I also have to wonder if they plan on extending this functionality to the AppleTV anytime soon. Now if they could only work things out with NBC...

That's right, Indiana Jones is back, and the picture below is the first time we've seen him since he last appeared on the big screen. I have big hopes for this film, even if Sean Connery will not be coming back. The film is currently scheduled to be released on May 22, 2008.

No, it's not mine, but it seems there may be a new entry into the Toledo brewpub market soon at the new Fallen Timbers Mall in Maumee...

From Toledo Blade:

A Minneapolis brewpub chain, Granite City Food & Brewery, has announced on its Web site that it will have a site in the Maumee center.

This could be a pretty interesting development... As those who have talked to me know, I have said that would be a great place to put one. Hopefully it comes through (along with an Apple Store please); I'll be there on opening day.

Granite City Food & Brewery Website

From IESB.net:

Duchovny says X-Files fans will have their second film after all! He revealed to the IESB that they were in final negotiations for the second X-Files film and should wrap this week. Plans are to start shooting in '08 or sooner!

They've been talking about this for years now, but it finally seems like another X-Files movie will begin production soon. Later in the interview, Duchovny stated that it will center around his character, Mulder, and Scully (Gillian Anderson). Because so much time has passed since the series ended in 2002, he also believes the movie will focus more on the supernatural than the aliens and the conspiracy arc that was, in my opinion, horribly resolved. Regardless, if and when this project makes its way to theaters, rest assured I will be anxiously waiting in line opening night!

I tend to stay out of political debates, but I just had to post this on here. Al Gore, environmentalist and global warming doom-sayer, uses more electricity in one month at his Tennessee mansion than the average household uses in an entire year. What's that again about how everyone needs to conserve electricity in the home? (Source link: http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=nation_world&id=5072659)

Armed with Gore's utility bills for the last two years, the Tennessee Center for Policy Research charged Monday that the gas and electric bills for the former vice president's 20-room home and pool house devoured nearly 221,000 kilowatt-hours in 2006, more than 20 times the national average of 10,656 kilowatt-hours.

"If this were any other person with $30,000-a-year in utility bills, I wouldn't care," says the Center's 27-year-old president, Drew Johnson. "But he tells other people how to live and he's not following his own rules."

And before anyone asks, I'm attacking the hypocrisy in the message, not the person's political preferences. I just find it incredible that celebrities feel it is their right to preach one thing to the commoners while not taking their own advice to heart in their own lives.

Peak Resorts, the owners of Mad River Mountain and a variety of other resorts in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Missouri, have announced the purchase of two more resorts.

It was announced on Feb. 16 that Peak Resorts has entered into a contract with American Skiing Corporation for the purchase of two ski areas.  The two areas, Attitash in New Hampshire and Mount Snow in Vermont, bring the total of Peak Resorts to 10.  Mount Snow is the fifth most popular eastern ski resort.

These two new areas will not be included in the Peak Resorts Season Pass Priviledges Package.  This means that the 50% off lift tickets available to Peak Resorts Season Pass Holders at locations other than their home resort will not be available at Attitash or Mount Snow.  The priviledge will still be available at Snow Creek, Hidden Valley, Paoli Peaks, Mad River, Boston Mills/Brandywine, Jack Frost/Big Boulder, and Crotched Mountain.

Looking at their respective websites, they look like they could be interesting resorts to visit, especially Mount Snow. It's too bad that the discount won't apply at these resorts... you can check out what each resort has to offer by clicking the links below.

Mount Snow - Vermont
Attitash - New Hampshire

Just wanted to remind everyone that the 11th annual Winter X-Games starts tonight and goes through Sunday. Be sure to check out the men's snowboard superpipe where you'll get to see Louie Vito (a fellow former-Bellefontaine native) try for his first X-Games medal. In his first X-Games appearance last year he finished 5th, and has been getting pretty good praise in the past year as someone to watch out for. As a recent high-school graduate, this is his first season completely dedicated to snowboarding, and many people think this might be his time to shine. He's known for doing back-to-back 1080s and is always great to watch. The Winter X-Games are taking place once again in Aspen, Colorado, and will be shown on both ESPN and ABC (hopefully in HD).

In other snowboarding news, Mad River Mountain is gearing up for their annual MWX Big Air and Rail Jam competition. They have finally been able to make a decent amount of snow and should have the terrain park ready to go for Saturday. They have the big air jump already made; it's in a different place this year, further down the left side of the main slope, and could lead to some interesting fun. Unfortunately, I won't be in attendance this year; I guess I'll just have to impress the ladies some other time. =) And with that said, I'm out.

Taken from an official Acura press release via Temple of VTEC (www.vtec.net):

The show-stopping Acura "Advanced Sports Car Concept" made its world debut today at the 2007 North American International Auto Show. The dynamically styled concept provides a preview of the design direction for the successor to the Acura NSX.

Created to take exotic sports car styling to a new level, the concept is designed to incorporate a powerful front-mounted, V-10 engine and a new high-performance, rear-wheel-drive based version of Acura's exclusive Super Handling All-Wheel Drive(TM) (SH-AWD(TM)).

"The Acura brand will always be a home for people who love to drive," said Takeo Fukui, president & CEO of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. "As we advance toward building a car like this, I can tell you it will feature advanced technology matching our passion for performance."

The concept's exterior demonstrates a dynamic fusion of advanced technology and emotion. The long, pronounced hood features deeply sculpted lines and embossed air vents, both of which hint at the powerful engine beneath. The exterior lines run the length of the body, creating a ribbon-like effect from the front headlights to the rear wheel arches, evoking a feeling of movement and power.

Although modern in its appearance, the Advanced Sports Car Concept retains the subtle cues associated with its predecessor, the NSX. The concept's slim, LED headlights are pushed wide and designed to mimic the pop-up headlights found on the first generation NSX. Other styling hints include a modern take on wraparound rear taillights and the all black cockpit.

"Our intention was to design an exotic sports car that gracefully combines advanced technology and strong emotion," said Jon Ikeda, principal designer, Acura Design Center. "The technical, machined surfaces and keen-edge design are balanced with sweeping curves and dramatic lines, all of which results in the ultimate exotic sports car."Wide and low to the ground with a 108.8 inch wheelbase, the concept is anchored by grippy 19 inch front and 20 inch rear performance tires which are mounted to custom billet-machined, polished aluminum wheels. Powerful, ventilated carbon ceramic brake discs and eight-piston calipers accent the wheels. Bold wheel arches and flares add to the concept's aggressive appearance.

The low slung cabin is constructed entirely of tinted glass and sits flush against the body. Door handles are also flush mounted, allowing the sports car to retain a clean and aerodynamic appearance. The Advanced Sports Car Concept features a carbon fiber underbody and the rear is finished with aggressive quad exhaust pipes and integrated rear diffusers, further communicating its high performance potential.

The Advanced Sports Car Concept was designed by the Acura's Los Angeles-based design team that will be based at the new Acura Design Center, opening this summer.

While this has the potential to be an amazing car when it's finally released, I'd be content with a late model NSX myself; preferably yellow. =)

I just noticed an email from the iTunes Music Store alerting me to a new selection being offered by David Gilmour. Entitled Arnold Layne, the EP features two live versions of the title track (one with David Bowie, the other Richard Wright), and another live track named Dark Globe. At only $2.97, this should be a no brainer for any fan of the classic Floyd sound. You can check out samples of the tracks, as well as purchase it via iTunes by clicking here.

EDIT (12/31/2006): Below is a video of one of the performances featuring David Gilmour, Rick Wright, and David Bowie on lead vocals.