New Zealand

We all have that place. You know, the one that we all want to visit but never have. I want to visit Ireland and Scotland for example because of my Scotts-Irish heritage. I would also love to visit New Zealand because on my way to and from Australia we touched down in Auckland. Never really got to see any of the country other then from the air and it looked amazing.

Remember this is open thread and as such any subject is on the table outside of religion and politics. Please keep picks to a minimum of 2 per person and no GIF's in any of the live threads. Also try your best to keep things as close to PG as possible as we are on the front page.

So where is your place?

(tip of the hat to Alpha for this idea)

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This is one of our daytime random live threads. I will post one each non holiday Monday through Friday (and and occasional one on the weekends). Feel free to stop in during your work day and chat about whatever. There are never any set subject's but as always we prefer that you stay as far away from politics and religion. Also as this is a day time thread and not a nighttime CKC please keep the conversation as close to a PG as possible.

Also I do not care if you post picks during these threads but try and keep them to a maximum of one or two per person with something in the subject line so that they may be closed. In the past we have had issues with the same person posting several and that only serves to slow down the whole thread for everyone. Also please refrain from placing GIF's in to live threads as they severely slow down the load time of the thread for those on a slower connection.

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For most of us the Memorial day weekend marks the unofficial kick off of summer. If you live in north Texas like myself then it has felt like summer for a few weeks now. With the beginning of summer so too starts the "grilling" season. I for one have always preferred to grill out when its a bit cooler out but most grill out in the hotter months. So tonight's question is what will you be throwing on that grill this summer?

Remember this is open thread and as such any subject is on the table outside of religion and politics. Please keep picks to a minimum of 2 per person and no GIF's in any of the live threads. Also try your best to keep things as close to PG as possible as we are on the front page.

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I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend with their friends and family and that you were able to get some BBQ in as well. I also hope that you took a moment to stop down and think of what today is and what it means and to thank those that gave their lives to defend this country. While this is the weekend that many of us see as the kick off to summer this also marks a day of remembrance for many families in this country.

Remember this is open thread and as such any subject is on the table outside of religion and politics. Please keep picks to a minimum of 2 per person and no GIF's in any of the live threads. Also try your best to keep things as close to PG as possible as we are on the front page.

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I have no set subject for tonight's thread so feel free to kick it off with whatever you have on your mind.

Remember this is open thread and as such any subject is on the table outside of religion and politics. Please keep picks to a minimum of 2 per person and no GIF's in any of the live threads. Also try your best to keep things as close to PG as possible as we are on the front page.

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Well Saturday night has been our music night but tonight and perhaps in the future when I am not otherwise inspired we will just go with the random jukebox format. That is that you post links to whatever you want to listen to or just a song that you would like to share with others.

Please just cut and paste the links to the songs in the body of the comments as apposed to using the link feature in the comment section. Using this method will open the songs in another window and allows people to stay up and current with the conversation in the thread.

Remember this is open thread and as such any subject is on the table outside of religion and politics. Please keep picks to a minimum of 2 per person and no GIF's in any of the live threads. Also try your best to keep things as close to PG as possible as we are on the front page.

So give us what you got!

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Well with another work week in the books we have come full circle again and it is time for the victory of the week post. This is of course where you come and tell us what your victory/accomplishment/ect of the week is. It can be a small simple thing all the way to something huge and life changing.

Remember this is open thread and as such any subject is on the table outside of religion and politics. Please keep picks to a minimum of 2 per person and no GIF's in any of the live threads. Also try your best to keep things as close to PG as possible as we are on the front page.

So tell us what is your big victory and or accomplishment of the week?

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Thursday night has become our podcast night here on the Phinsider. Instead of having a specific subject for this evening we will use the live thread as a lead in to the evenings broadcast. Feel free to bring up any subjects that you would like to discuss here. Also we encourage everyone to call in and be a part of the show.

Please note that tonight's broadcast will be one hour later at 10 pm EDT.

As always this is an open thread meaning that any topic is on the table with the exception of politics and religion. Please limit the posting of picks to two or three per person. Also please no GIF's in any of the live thread. They slow down the load speeds for those on slower connections. Remember this is a front page post so please do your best to keep the conversation as close to PG as possible.

So tell us what is on your mind and what would you like to hear discussed?

During the actual podcast the comments for this thread will be disabled. Immediately following the podcast they will be re-enabled.

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One third of his body weight is gravitas!

So for those of you that actually read these things (I thank the hand full of you that actually do) I asked for some more story ideas the other days. I got one response. ONE! Anyway, that one person was my friend Vernon, better known around here as Alpha. I know most of you assume that his ideas were things along the lines of favorite Kama Sutra position or maybe 101 lewd things that can be done with your monkey but Alpha actually has a serious side and sent me some very good ideas.

So tonight's question is who is the most interesting person you have ever met or known and why? This could be someone famous or someone you know or have even known your entire life or just someone that you knew for only a moment in time. What makes that person interesting? That's for you to say. So who is this person and why?

Remember this is open thread and as such any subject is on the table outside of religion and politics. Please keep picks to a maximum of 2 per person and no GIF's in any of the live threads. Also try your best to keep things as close to PG as possible as we are on the front page.

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Zilker Park during ACL Fest

Not sure many of you are aware but Austin has what is if not the best one of the best music festivals in the world each and every fall. This year had yet another stellar lineup. My question to you is if you can not manage to make it to Austin to join me and a few thousand others for this show which of these bands would you love to see live or which ones have you seen live already that you would love to see again?

The line up is as follows-Red Hot Chili Peppers •Neil Young and Crazy Horse •The Black Keys • Jack White •Florence + The Machine •The Avett Brothers •Iggy & The Stooges •AVICII •BASSNECTAR •The Roots •The Shins •Weezer •Gotye •The Civil Wars •M83 •Tegan and Sara •Childish • Gambino •Two Door Cinema Club •Thievery Corporation •The Afghan Whigs •Crystal •Castles •Andrew Bird •Gary Clark Jr. •Metric •Band of Skulls •Esperanza Spalding •Alabama Shakes •Delta Spirit •M. Ward •Randy Rogers Band •Die •Antwoord •Rufus Wainwright •NEEDTOBREATHE •Big Gigantic •Antibalas • Afrobeat Orchestra •Steve Earle •The War On Drugs •Umphrey's McGee •Barrington Levy •Old 97's •Punch Brothers •Bombay Bicycle Club •A-Trak •Trampled by Turtles •Patterson Hood •Michael Kiwanuka •Big K.R.I.T. •Oberhofer •POLICA •Tennis •Zola Jesus •Stars •Kimbra •Black Lips •Los Campesinos! •Jovanotti •Ben Howard •Ruthie Foster •Freelance Whales •Civil Twilight •The Whigs •Dev •The Lumineers •Bad Books •The Devil Makes Three •Asleep at the Wheel •First Aid Kit •Patrick Watson •LP •Caveman •Lee Fields & The Expressions •Father John Misty •The Wombats •Dry the River •The Boxer Rebellion •Soul Rebels Brass Band •Thundercat •Willis Earl Beal •He's My Brother, She's My Sister •Kishi Bashi •Deep Dark Woods •Moon Duo •Kopecky Family Band •River City Extension •Quiet Corral •Wheeler Brothers •The Relatives •Space Capone •The Staves •Native Run •Nikki Lane •Quiet Company •Infantree •Wild Child •La Vida Bohème •The Eastern Sea •The Dunwells •Kenny Vaughan Trio •Justin Jones •SonámbuloRoyal Teeth •Noah Gunderson •The Aaron Ivey Band •The Mighty Sincere Voices •G.S.T. •Colorfeels •Lera Lynn •Megan McCormick •Shields of Faith •Stapletones •The Baylor Choir •Disciples of Joy •Ralph's World •Orange Sherbet •Big Don •Rocknoceros •Hullabaloo •Jambo •Peter Di •Stefano & Tor •The School of Rock •The Q Brothers

It's one of those festivals that really has something for just about everyone. So who on this list would you like to see or see again?

Remember this is open thread and as such any subject is on the table outside of religion and politics. Please keep picks to a maximum of 2 per person and no GIF's in any of the live threads. Also try your best to keep things as close to PG as possible as we are on the front page.

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This is one of our daytime random live threads. I will post one each non holiday Monday through Friday (and and occasional one on the weekends). Feel free to stop in during your work day and chat about whatever. There are never any set subject's but as always we prefer that you stay as far away from politics and religion. Also as this is a day time thread and not a nighttime CKC please keep the conversation as close to a PG as possible.

Also I do not care if you post picks during these threads but try and keep them to a maximum of one or two per person with something in the subject line so that they may be closed. In the past we have had issues with the same person posting several and that only serves to slow down the whole thread for everyone. Also please refrain from placing GIF's in to live threads as they severely slow down the load time of the thread for those on a slower connection.

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Ok kid's is that time again. The time where I ask for more ideas for the posts. Seriously what do you have? What would you like to see now that we are in the slow to dead part of the NFL year?

Remember this is open thread and as such any subject is on the table outside of religion and politics. Please keep picks to a maximum of 2 per person and no GIF's in any of the live threads. Also try your best to keep things as close to PG as possible as we are on the front page.

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Hopefully everyone is enjoying this long weekend that marks the beginning of summer for many of us. While you are out at the lake on the boat or at your buddies or family members house BBQing I hope you take at least a moment to remember what this day is really about and remember to think of and thank those that gave their lives defending this country.

This is one of our daytime random live threads. I will post one each non holiday Monday through Friday (and and occasional one on the weekends). Feel free to stop in during your work day and chat about whatever. There are never any set subject's but as always we prefer that you stay as far away from politics and religion. Also as this is a day time thread and not a nighttime CKC please keep the conversation as close to a PG as possible.

Also I do not care if you post picks during these threads but try and keep them to a maximum of one or two per person with something in the subject line so that they may be closed. In the past we have had issues with the same person posting several and that only serves to slow down the whole thread for everyone. Also please refrain from placing GIF's in to live threads as they severely slow down the load time of the thread for those on a slower connection.

This ones for you Beaver!

Another Saturday night another musical thread. Tonight's theme is Bob Marley. I get that not everyone is a fan but he is one of those artist that does have a wide appeal. Also he is one of those artist that holds ties to South Florida. Much of his surviving family now resides in the Miami/Dade area and one of his sons is a past linebacker for the Miami Hurricanes. He is also sadly one of those artist that left us far too young leaving us to wonder what else could have been.

Bob started playing music at an early age and left school in 1959 at the age of 14 along with his step brother, Bunny Wailer, to chase his musical ambitions. He soon met and joined up with Peter McIntosh who had similar musical ambitions. Peter would later go on to be known as Peter Tosh. In 1963 Marley with Tosh, Wailer and three others formed the band "The Teenagers". They went through the name changes "The Wailing Rudeboys", and "The Wailing Wailers" finally settling on "The Wailers". By the beginning of 1966 the Wailers consisted of only Marley, Wailer and Tosh.

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This is one of our daytime random live threads. I will post one each non holiday Monday through Friday (and and occasional one on the weekends). Feel free to stop in during your work day and chat about whatever. There are never any set subject's but as always we prefer that you stay as far away from politics and religion. Also as this is a day time thread and not a nighttime CKC please keep the conversation as close to a PG as possible.

Also I do not care if you post picks during these threads but try and keep them to a maximum of one or two per person with something in the subject line so that they may be closed. In the past we have had issues with the same person posting several and that only serves to slow down the whole thread for everyone. Also please refrain from placing GIF's in to live threads as they severely slow down the load time of the thread for those on a slower connection.

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Well with another work week in the books we have come full circle again and it is time for the victory of the week post. This is of course where you come and tell us what your victory/accomplishment/ect of the week is. It can be a small simple thing all the way to something huge and life changing.

My victories of the week were one, not getting killed by the tree that feel on me, hitting me in the head (although I now get to go see more doctors) and also somehow walking out of the store with a new $600 laptop for the total of $97.42 including tax.

Remember this is open thread and as such any subject is on the table outside of religion and politics. Please keep picks to a minimum of 2 per person and no GIF's in any of the live threads. Also try your best to keep things as close to PG as possible as we are on the front page.

So tell us what is your big victory and or accomplishment of the week?

Continue reading this post »

This is one of our daytime random live threads. I will post one each non holiday Monday through Friday (and and occasional one on the weekends). Feel free to stop in during your work day and chat about whatever. There are never any set subject's but as always we prefer that you stay as far away from politics and religion. Also as this is a day time thread and not a nighttime CKC please keep the conversation as close to a PG as possible.

Also I do not care if you post picks during these threads but try and keep them to a maximum of one or two per person with something in the subject line so that they may be closed. In the past we have had issues with the same person posting several and that only serves to slow down the whole thread for everyone. Also please refrain from placing GIF's in to live threads as they severely slow down the load time of the thread for those on a slower connection.

Continue reading this post »

Thursday night has become our podcast night here on the Phinsider. Instead of having a specific subject for this evening we will use the live thread as a lead in to the evenings broadcast. Feel free to bring up any subjects that you would like to discuss here. Also we encourage everyone to call in and be a part of the show.

As always this is an open thread meaning that any topic is on the table with the exception of politics and religion. Please limit the posting of picks to two or three per person. Also please no GIF's in any of the live thread. They slow down the load speeds for those on slower connections. Remember this is a front page post so please do your best to keep the conversation as close to PG as possible.

So tell us what is on your mind and what would you like to hear discussed?

Please note that during the actual podcast the comments for this thread will be disabled. Immediately following the podcast they will be re-enabled.

Continue reading this post »

This is one of our daytime random live threads. I will post one each non holiday Monday through Friday (and and occasional one on the weekends). Feel free to stop in during your work day and chat about whatever. There are never any set subject's but as always we prefer that you stay as far away from politics and religion. Also as this is a day time thread and not a nighttime CKC please keep the conversation as close to a PG as possible.

Also I do not care if you post picks during these threads but try and keep them to a maximum of one or two per person with something in the subject line so that they may be closed. In the past we have had issues with the same person posting several and that only serves to slow down the whole thread for everyone. Also please refrain from placing GIF's in to live threads as they severely slow down the load time of the thread for those on a slower connection.

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Today the news of the ex-Syracuse coach's wife who was accused of molesting two of his ball boy's and her now threats to sue ESPN for their shoddy reporting. It seems to me that they had little to base their story on other then the claim of a couple of guys. Of course there is no proof that it did or did not happen but reporting in the fashion that they did as if it were fact seems at the very least irresponsible. It got me to thinking and reminded me a lot of the whole UM/Yahoo story.

Yahoo, although they knew parts of their story had been proven inaccurate before posting the story chose to still go forward with it in its entirety with not a single edit to show the facts as they actually knew them to be at the time. I honestly wonder how some of these people sleep at night and still at the same time somehow, someway call themselves journalist?

There was a time in journalism where you would check your sources, back the facts up with another source and then double check both of those before ever thinking of printing or broadcasting anything. Now days it seems as if beating everyone else to the punch is all that matters. Be damned the facts, journalistic integrity or the people you might hurt or the lives you might destroy. The worst part of it is the guilty parties seem to do so with total impunity.

I am not and never have been a fan of suing anyone for anything and think that as a society we have become way too litigious but I hope someone eventually comes along and sues the hell out of one of these media outlets. If for no other reason then to prove that there is a price to pay for shoddy reporting or just doing whatever it takes, be damned those that you must trample along the way, to get the big ratings and that precious advertising revenue.

Remember this is open thread and as such any subject is on the table outside of religion and politics. Please keep pics to a maximum of 2 per person and no GIF's in any of the live threads. Also try your best to keep things as close to PG as possible as we are on the front page.

So my question to you is do you trust any of these sports media outlets to report things in a factual manner any longer?

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This is one of our daytime random live threads. I will post one each non holiday Monday through Friday (and and occasional one on the weekends). Feel free to stop in during your work day and chat about whatever. There are never any set subject's but as always we prefer that you stay as far away from politics and religion. Also as this is a day time thread and not a nighttime CKC please keep the conversation as close to a PG as possible.

Also I do not care if you post picks during these threads but try and keep them to a maximum of one or two per person with something in the subject line so that they may be closed. In the past we have had issues with the same person posting several and that only serves to slow down the whole thread for everyone. Also please refrain from placing GIF's in to live threads as they severely slow down the load time of the thread for those on a slower connection.

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As you know Tuesdays are all about the food. With that in mind what is your favorite place to go grab a sandwich or a sub?

Mine growing up was a little place just called "The Sub Shop" on 8th street in the Gables. It's one of those places that had been there forever but due to their rent going through the roof was shut down in the early 90's. To this day I miss that place and hate that I can not still go buy and visit when I am in South Florida. They had the best Italian subs and Pizzas and just about everything else they served was awesome.

Remember this is open thread and as such any subject is on the table outside of religion and politics. Please keep pics to a maximum of 2 per person and no GIF's in any of the live threads. Also try your best to keep things as close to PG as possible as we are on the front page.

So where do you head when your craving a great sandwich?

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This is one of our daytime random live threads. I will post one each non holiday Monday through Friday (and and occasional one on the weekends). Feel free to stop in during your work day and chat about whatever. There are never any set subject's but as always we prefer that you stay as far away from politics and religion. Also as this is a day time thread and not a nighttime CKC please keep the conversation as close to a PG as possible.

Also I do not care if you post picks during these threads but try and keep them to a maximum of one or two per person with something in the subject line so that they may be closed. In the past we have had issues with the same person posting several and that only serves to slow down the whole thread for everyone. Also please refrain from placing GIF's in to live threads as they severely slow down the load time of the thread for those on a slower connection.

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Sorry about the lack of a subject tonight but I just managed to get home a few minutes before 7 (8 EST). As always just talk about whatever!

Remember this is open thread and as such any subject is on the table outside of religion and politics. Please keep pics to a maximum of 2 per person and no GIF's in any of the live threads. Also try your best to keep things as close to PG as possible as we are on the front page.

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This is one of our daytime random live threads. I will post one each non holiday Monday through Friday (and and occasional one on the weekends). Feel free to stop in during your work day and chat about whatever. There are never any set subject's but as always we prefer that you stay as far away from politics and religion. Also as this is a day time thread and not a nighttime CKC please keep the conversation as close to a PG as possible.

Also I do not care if you post picks during these threads but try and keep them to a maximum of one or two per person with something in the subject line so that they may be closed. In the past we have had issues with the same person posting several and that only serves to slow down the whole thread for everyone. Also please refrain from placing GIF's in to live threads as they severely slow down the load time of the thread for those on a slower connection.

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So with another weekend in the book and this being a special weekend my question is how did you spend your weekend?

Mine was spend mostly running around with my son getting him the rest of his birthday gift and trying to find his mother a mothers day gift. I don't think I have every really felt old until my son turned 17 yesterday and it occurred to me that I was not too many years older then him when we had him. Yes, I know most of you already think I am older then the hills.

Remember this is open thread and as such any subject is on the table outside of religion and politics. Please keep pics to a maximum of 2 per person and no GIF's in any of the live threads. Also try your best to keep things as close to PG as possible as we are on the front page.

So what did you do this weekend?

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(Rumor has it that at one time or another Kevin has sported every one of these hair styles)

As most of you know if you have been around here for some time Kevin, our fearless leader (although there are rumors that Ozkar scared him just a little), loves him some 80's music, especially that from the band Journey.

Journey was formed in 1973 originally under the name The Golden Gate Rhythm Section made up of former members of Santana, Frumious Bandersnatch and The Tubes. The band was originally assembled as a backing band for other big name San Francisco acts of the time. This was not a concept that worked for the band very well and they shortly developed a jazz fusion style and changed their name to Journey. This basic original lineup played together for a few years and released three albums with limited success.

After pressure from their record company to refine their sound to something more pop based, due mostly to the rising popularity of bands like Boston and Foreigner at the time, they hired Steve Perry to be their new lead singer. Perry gave the band a cleaner more pop like sound that they were looking for. Perry, just before joining Journey, had nearly retired from music after the death of his band mate and good friend Richard Michaels. At the urging of his mother he took the call from Journeys manager, later joining the band in late 1977.

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This is one of our daytime random live threads. I will post one each non holiday Monday through Friday (and and occasional one on the weekends). Feel free to stop in during your work day and chat about whatever. There are never any set subject's but as always we prefer that you stay as far away from politics and religion. Also as this is a day time thread and not a nighttime CKC please keep the conversation as close to a PG as possible.

Also I do not care if you post picks during these threads but try and keep them to a maximum of one or two per person with something in the subject line so that they may be closed. In the past we have had issues with the same person posting several and that only serves to slow down the whole thread for everyone. Also please refrain from placing GIF's in to live threads as they severely slow down the load time of the thread for those on a slower connection.

Continue reading this post »

Well with another work week in the books we have come full circle again and it is time for the victory of the week post. This is of course where you come and tell us what your victory/accomplishment/ect of the week is. It can be a small simple thing all the way to something huge and life changing.

Remember this is open thread and as such any subject is on the table outside of religion and politics. Please keep picks to a minimum of 2 per person and no GIF's in any of the live threads. Also try your best to keep things as close to PG as possible as we are on the front page.

So tell us what is your big victory and or accomplishment of the week?

Continue reading this post »

This is one of our daytime random live threads. I will post one each non holiday Monday through Friday (and and occasional one on the weekends). Feel free to stop in during your work day and chat about whatever. There are never any set subject's but as always we prefer that you stay as far away from politics and religion. Also as this is a day time thread and not a nighttime CKC please keep the conversation as close to a PG as possible.

Also I do not care if you post picks during these threads but try and keep them to a maximum of one or two per person with something in the subject line so that they may be closed. In the past we have had issues with the same person posting several and that only serves to slow down the whole thread for everyone. Also please refrain from placing GIF's in to live threads as they severely slow down the load time of the thread for those on a slower connection.

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