Whitney Houston: My Thoughts, Feelings, and Condolences
Posted in: People | Comments (0)
To Ms. Whitney Houston’s family and friends… you have my deepest sympathies and heart felt condolences. My (everyone’s) thoughts and prayers are with you and Whiney.
I would like to start off by clarifying a few things. First… I haven’t heard a Whitney song, heard Whitney perform or give an interview since she started having her problems. I only remember her and her songs and performances from before her life took a downturn, not because I felt or thought negatively of her after the downturn… but probably because I was just too busy to follow the tragic story or maybe it was a subconscious thing on my part and I couldn’t accept what was happening to her. Second… I was never a fan of the genre of music that she was part of or was categorized in, but when Whitney Houston opened her mouth, I listened and I enjoyed until she was finished her song, performance or interview – what a voice! I would never change to listen to or watch other music or programming or switch to another activity or leave the room… until her song, performance or interview was finished. That is how much I liked and enjoyed her voice, her style, and just her being.
I have never met Whiney Houston or even came close to meeting her, but she is one of the few celebrities that I would have like to have met and known. I never have and still don’t have much interest in celebrities, but Ms. Houston was different. She seemed like (she is / was) such a nice person… a warm, sincere, genuine, good-hearted person… so much so, that you just couldn’t help wanting to know her and to be in her presence. Our world can never have enough people like Ms. Houston and I don’t mean to put her up on a pedestal as I realize that the world is full of good people like her that are not famous and go through life unknown… unsung heroes that should be recognized, but aren’t (I’ve always felt that you can go to any continent, country, city, town, village, etc. and make your way down any street, road, etc. and there will be good people there somewhere)… but I wish there were more celebrities who possessed the class and grace of Whiney Houston.
Through all this, I ask myself… how can I feel so strongly about a person that I’ve never met? Some of my favorite musicians have passed (and I’m picky when it comes to music), but I never felt the connection to them personally (only to their music) like I felt and still feel with Ms. Houston… I guess life can be mysterious sometimes.
Anyway, I wanted to write this or try to write this a few days ago, but life got in the way and I really didn’t know what to say or how to put down my feelings in writing… but I finally got it started and if I can think of anything I want to add or I can think of a better way of saying something that I already have said, I’ll come back and add or edit later when that time comes. At this point all I can say is… Ms. Whitney Houston – what a person – what a voice, we will continue to miss you for who you are / were and we hope that you are happy and in peace (we know you are). God Bless you and your family, friends, etc.
Let’s remember and enjoy…
Bill Straub @ February 20, 2012
IWON.com, Pleasuhh Keep Your Free Spins Or Make Them Optional For Your SPIN2WIN And PRIZEMACHINE Online Games
Posted in: Annoyances | Comments (0)
I’m not one to play games, especially online games as I’m just too busy and don’t have the time to waste on something as trivial as playing games online. That being said, every once in a while I need to take a break for a few minutes while I’m online working. Sometimes I don’t want to get up and walk away as I’m “in the flow”, but I need a little mental break to just coast for few minutes and get right back into my work… so I like to go do something else online for a few minutes, where I don’t have to think…
Enter IWON.com’s SPIN 2 WIN and PRIZE MACHINE games… only 20 quick spins each and no thinking involved… perfect for the situation I just described above… until they start giving me Free Spins… 5 Free Spins at a clip… sometimes on the 1st spin and sometimes every 2 or 3 spins… so a little game that should only last a few minutes can go on forever and really get annoying… plus it turns my little mental break into a long, drawn out, annoying, time-wasting distraction.
IWON, pleasuhh make your Free Spins optional for those of us that have better things to do with our time. I know I can just quit playing at any time, but I may miss winning a prize if I don’t finish the two games. I realize IWON.com makes their money from paid advertisements on their site – so they figure the longer they keep me on their site… the more advertising I’ll click on, WRONG – if I get annoyed and stressed for time while I’m on their site… I’m not going to click on any advertising on their site… so pleasuhh IWON, just let me take my 20 quick spins and I’ll click on some advertising on your site… besides, if I can’t win in 20 spins I can’t be bothered playing…
Bill Straub @ February 20, 2012
Traditional And Authentic Handmade Batik From Yogyakarta In Central Java, Indonesia – Javanese Batik Clothes, Handbags, Wallets, Scarves, Etc. Are Available From Omah Mode Batik
Posted in: Best of Indonesia, Clothing | Comments (0)
Omah Mode Batik: Batik (Javanese Batik) is one of the many distinctive cultures and traditions of Indonesia that does not exist in the other countries. Batik in Indonesia is available in a wide range of product and style variations in the form of clothes, wallets, handbags, scarves, etc. The batik line we offer is authentic handmade batik from Yogyakarta in Central Java of Indonesia. Our batik clothes are made from 100% cotton fabric and are available in a variety of colors, patterns, models, and categories… such as summer clothes, work clothes, bed clothes, accessories, etc. In addition, we offer handbags made of cotton fabric together water hyacinth (which is a plant that is very popular in Indonesia) that are also available in various colors and patterns. Our affordable line of clothing and accessories is very inexpensive for authentic and traditional batik products. Please visit us at “Omah Mode Batik” on facebook for more information and thank you for your time.
Bill Straub @ January 27, 2012
Visit My Friends At LP Photo & Trading For The Best Copying, Printing, Laminating, And More In Malaysia
Posted in: Best of Malaysia, Products and Services | Comments (0)
I get my photocopying and printing dan lain-lain, plus my top up at LP Photo & Trading. They have the best staff in Malaysia, so stop in and visit Yep Lee Pho, Lawma, Rafa, and Rehana for all your photocopying, printing, laminating, hand phones, hand phone accessories and more at…
LP Photo & Trading
UG-11, Jalan PJS 9/1A
Pusat Perniagaan Lagoon Perdana
46150 Bandar Sunway, Selangor
They also have nice souvenirs and gifts available…
Right across the street from Nautica at South Quay…
and tell them I sent you and while you’re there you can go down a couple of doors and visit my friends at Restoran Iskandar for the best daging lembu nasi goreng (beef fried rice), roti telur, dan lain-lain in Malaysia…
Bill Straub @ October 28, 2011
Visit My Friends At Restoran Iskandar For The Best Nasi Goreng Daging (Beef Fried Rice) In Malaysia
Posted in: Best of Malaysia, Food | Comments (0)
I eat the best Daging Lembu Nasi Goreng (Beef Fried Rice) in Malaysia at Restoran Iskandar. For the best in Mamak / Malaysian food – Roti Telur, Roti Canai, Mee Goreng, Ayam Goreng, Tom Yum, Nasi Kandar, Nasi Briyani, Nasi Goreng, Roti Naan, Ayam (Chicken) Tandoori, Teh Tarik, dan lain-lain - visit my friends at…
Restoran Iskandar
UG-7 Jalan PJS 9/1A
Pusat Perniagaan Lagoon Perdana
46150 Bandar Sunway, Selangor
Right across from Nautica at Sunway South Quay…
and tell them I sent you, as a matter of fact I just got back from there. Oh, while your there you can go down a couple of doors and visit my friends at LP Photo and Trading for all your printing, copying, and hand phone needs too…
Bill Straub @ October 28, 2011
I’ve Decided “Say What!” From “Soul To Soul” By Stevie Ray Vaughan Will Be The Theme Song For My Blog
Posted in: Music Snob | Comments (0)
In my welcome post I said I would pick a theme song for my blog, so I’ve decided on “Say What!” from Stevie Ray Vaughan’s “Soul To Soul” album and here’s the reason… because this blog will have many saying “Say What!” many times and because this isn’t some highbrow niche blog this is a down-to-earth Soul To Soul blog. The song “Say What!” is an instrumental except for one short chorus and the only words in the chorus are soul to soul repeated a few times… so I don’t know why the song wasn’t named “Soul To Soul” and the album wasn’t named “Say What!”. Anyway, I love instrumentals because you can really listen to the musicianship without being distracted by words. I’m going to embed three versions here, this isn’t Heavy Metal, Hard Rock, Country or whatever – it’s in a class by itself (no glitz, no dancing around like a twit, no acting, no posing etc.) just real music and sounds…
The first one is a live version of Say What! from it looks like, the American Caravan tv show…
This second one is also a live version of Say What from a Saturday Night Live rehearsal in February of 1986…
This third one is the studio version of “Say What” from Steve Ray Vaughan’s Soul To Soul album…
Those are some really nice natural sounds and tones Stevie Ray is pulling out of that old, beat up 1962 – 63 Fender Stratocaster. He’s not only making that guitar talk, he’s making it scream and cry, plus moan and groan. The second video from the Saturday Night Live rehearsal contains what I call the “blues throat” tone at 2:37, 2:58, 3:32, and 3:40 to 3:44, listen to those groans. This isn’t the best I have either, I could sit here for months and months and post real jams from back in the day – but at least there is still one person that can jam for real left today and I’ll reveal them soon.
btw – I saw this advertisement the other night for iConcerts with a song by some band that looked like a bunch of 4th rate actors in costumes with musical instruments that they could barely play with any kind of authority and you couldn’t feel any rhythm or beat in what they were trying to pass off as music. I did see Carlos Santana on there, but his best lineup was back in 1969 -71 without anything close since. btw again – I’ll be showcasing that lineup that I feel was carried by Gregg Rolie, Michael Shrieve, and Jose “Chepito” Areas in no certain order (because they were all great) sometime in the future.
Bill Straub @ October 27, 2011
Hello world!
Posted in: Uncategorized | Comments (0)
Hi I’m Bill Straub and I welcome you to the new face of BillStraubOnline.com… I decided to put up a blog here, but an informal and fun blog that explores a variety subjects I’m most interested in – not a serious, niche blog. I’m not a writer, so the writing style will be very informal too. If you’re not interested in or tired of the same old same old, we may have some fun together. I’ll probably be giving some plugs to some friends of mine also. Who knows what is coming next, because the content will be spontaneous. I think I’ll even pick out a theme song for our blog, more on that shortly. Take care and see you soon…
Bill Straub @ October 24, 2011
