Cleaning Out The Cobwebs, Sweeping Out The Dust

All My Life

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And welcome to this edition of the Diecast Dude’s (Mostly) NASCAR Positively Persnickety Podcast. Well, the written edition with videos instead of the spoken version with audio. Same idea, though. Pretty much.

Anyway, hi there! Long time no talk. In this edition we’ll look ahead to the race weekend in Texas, catch up as best I can with everything that’s been going on this year since this is the first time I’ve done this all year, and whatever else comes up. But first, a look back at the weekend that was in NASCAR.

Long Road To Ruin

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Can we bulldoze Talladega? Please? Here’s my proposal: level the place and rebuild it, making the track a duplicate of Irwindale which is hands down the best short track in the world. You can run three wide there at every spot on the track. I guarantee the moment people check out that action, they’ll forget restrictor plate racing ever existed. Which can’t come a moment too soon.

Restrictor plate racing isn’t racing. It’s running in a clump and wait to see who does what first leading to cars becoming airborne. It’s an insane circus that no matter how much safer the new car is will one day in the near future leave one or more people seriously injured or worse. Yes, there is an inherent danger in racing. That doesn’t mean it’s acceptable to perpetuate a situation where you are unnecessarily putting lives at risk. Give me a decent short track any day. Any. Day

Anyway, let’s see what’s on tap for this weekend.

Yup, it’s Texas time again. It’s very important that NASCAR comes here twice, since the racing here is so enthralling. No, really, I mean that.

Texas is a cookie cutter, meaning you usually get one or two cars blowing everyone else off the track. But, maybe we’ll luck out and it’ll be three or four cars so there’ll actually be some passing for the lead and stuff. You can pretty much bet the next rent check Jimmie Johnson will be one of them. Let’s face it, folks. He’s just that good. And until someone rises up to challenge him on his level, he’s going to continue to dominate NASCAR. Period.

And we move on.

Best Of You

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I read a truism the other day that deeply resonated with me: “The best way to guarantee your plans will never come to fruition is to announce them.” I’ve learned the truth of that one far too many times over the years.

So, rather than announce plans a statement of intent is more in line with my objectives.

I’d like to get back to being me, for lack of a better way to put it.

I could go into depth about everything that’s been going on this year. Certainly it hasn’t all been bad. The book was completed, which was more than huge. The evangelical and NASCAR gigs with the Examiner has been a positive. Still, it’s been a roller coaster all year with a few overriding themes. One of them is lack of time to get things done. Like podcasting. And writing in general.

I’ve made no bones about my battle with depression, and it has definitely put a crimp in my writing energy. I’ve also become far more busy at work than has been the case, so much so that taking things like breaks and non-working lunches in which to write has become a rare luxury. That, and even when I have had a few minutes I’ve been so preoccupied with work stuff there hasn’t been anything left with which to write when I’ve had the chance to switch gears.

This site has suffered the most. There have have been times I’ve asked myself, “Say — didn’t you used to be Diecast Dude?”

I rather miss that guy.

The Pretender

Foo Fighters | MySpace Music Videos

There’s a couple of givens in my online writing career. One is that Goldfish and Clowns is my priority. The second is I owe most everything I have online to this place and my willingness to, along with assorted snarks and stabs at humor while discussing all things NASCAR, digress.

I want to get back to that.

While Goldfish and Clowns is and shall remain the home for the preponderance of my weightier political and spiritual declarations along with denouements, I am reminded how the more whimsical and even sentimental thoughts expressed here have served as an introduction to so many. That, and it’s fun to entertain.

Did I mention I want to get back to that?

So… no promises. I’ve made too many of those in the past that were subsequently broken. However, the effort will be made to come by here more often and do that Diecast Dude voodoo some say I do so well. No, I’m not quitting the Examiner, although I have been informed my more offbeat moments would be better served at this location.

And who knows? Maybe there will be a polar bear sighting as well.

And that concludes this podcast. Take care, everyone, and we’ll get back together next time. Which hopefully won’t be next year!

(There’s no video for it, alas, but feel free to sing Sean Doty’s version of “I’d Rather Have Jesus.” In lieu thereof, here’s the original by George Beverley Shea.)