Batson's Blog

It was another gorgeous day in Charlotte today -- perfect weather for checking out the 2012 Charlotte Auto Show at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. It was actually my first time going to the Speedway. I've driven by it lots of times, but during the big races I'm usually working. I'm not sure I'd want to fight the traffic to be honest. No traffic jams today though. I went to the auto show after lunch and things were just picking up. It was cool just walking on the track. Man, is that thing steep at places! People told me it was, but I didn't realize just how steep it actually is. There loads and loads of cars, from all different eras. Some really cool paint jobs, for sure: A few paint jobs that maybe need to be redone: A few odds and ends, just like at a pawn shop... Like I said, if it was on wheels, it was there... No size too small... This guy was smart. I walked all over the Speedway. Wore my sandals out. Naturally, my favorite part ...

New Music Video Slideshow on my YouTube channel . Some of the reasons for my cavities are featured in this one: The video isn't viewable in Germany , but it's viewable everywhere else!

Since moving to Charlotte over a year ago, I quickly noticed that the rules of the road are a little bit different here. You pretty much drive where you want to, when you want to. If someone driving a big old Caddy wants to pass a CATS bus, they will. Oncoming traffic be damned! The double yellow line in the center of the road is more like a guideline, anyway, right? Then again, sometimes I don’t blame the drivers of Charlotte. I blame whoever designed some of these roads! Take a look at these two intersections – two of them I frequent more often than I’d like. Now you tell me that isn’t an accident just waiting to happen. It’s at spots like that where everyone sits in their car going, “Whose turn is it to go again?” But, along with the crazy road designs come some pretty fun signs. This one, for example, highlights one of the many complicated intersections in Charlotte. You’ve also got your odd speed limits… …and, of course, the crazy street names . No mo...

Last week I'm at work and someone starts talking about people dressed up in crazy costumes. My first thought was, "Sounds like a comic book convention," but I figured I wouldn't be that lucky. What were the chances? A comic book convention in Charlotte? I immediately Googled "comic book + convention + Charlotte" though. Sure enough! HeroesCon was in Charlotte! A real comic book convention. I'd heard about Comic-Con and WizardCon, but they were usually in cities like Chicago and San Diego. I'd always wanted to go to one of them, but the opportunity just never came up. Well, I got the chance last Saturday and I took full advantage. I went to the Charlotte Convention Center , descended the escalator and walked onto the red carpet that was set up in front of me. At the end of the walkway, there was a large portrait of the Charlotte skyline. Immediately I saw, perhaps, the best part of my day: a giant Hulk -- painted green and everything...