Just dropping by to say that I picked up Steve Miller's "Bingo" and really enjoy this guitar-based throw-back featuring a very soulful Satriani on a couple of tracks. This record has remained at or near the top of the Billboard Blues chart since it was released about a month ago, and now I know why.

Oh yes, the Gangster of Love is back to laying it down the way he used to; back before the hits and I really hope we get to hear more of Joe in next year's follow-up release recorded during the same sessions out at Skywalker that must have been a real blast.

Does this mean that Joe is now "in the band'? I mean, it seems like Joe has been showing up in most of Miller's recent projects. Finally, a replacement for Les Dudek?

Have to say, however, that Sonny Charles is seriously challenging Miller for that Gangster of Love title as the absolute killer track of the new release ("Tramp") reveals:

Steve: "You must be some kind of country tramp" Sonny: "Country tramp?" Steve: "Yeah, you're a country tramp" Sonny: "Oh, you can call me that, but you know you don't know me that well, see, you know cause I keep a pocketful of money" Steve: "How much you got?" Sonny: "I got me three Cadillacs, two spare tires, and I just brought me a liqour store with a hot tub. And guess what girls - it's ladies night! "

Pip, Blue and Scuba: Thanks for the great advice everyone! I'm always open to that. Yeah my guitar teacher keeps telling me to take advantage of the power in my other fingers when bending notes. I've developed a bad habit there and I need to force myself to break out of it.

I find that most of my challenges playing guitar are related to breaking bad/sloppy habits and establishing proper technique. I can almost hear it in my sleep: "drop your wrist down Matt!"

Blue Moon - isn't that what I said? I'm shocked though, you actually learnt that song that we cannot mention the name of? How could you! (kidding)

Minimoog - no worries, it just stood out as something worth mentioning

Nonononononono Pip, u NEVER wanna wake up after sitting and playing with Joe, lol! I can't imagine that yer feet are actually hitting the planet even now, and silly grins are a necessity...even a month later!

I grin every time I think of you and Joe together, that was as good as being there ;)

Hi Joe,

I hope you have a great time recording your new album! I am excited for you!

I'm writing an essay on you at the moment for my college coursework and I have included written transcriptions! It was tough to transcribe, but fun at the same time. I didn't go to bed last night as I was up trying to finish this work. I've been at it all day today as well and I still have not finished. But because you're so inspirational to me, I;m going to carry on! I have nearly finished it though!

Joe your creativity and way of playing the guitar made me become your fan with my first song I heard from you, big bad moon. now I am listening to all the cd and some other songs from other cds randomly and they are all incredible, their riffs and solos are perfect. last thing I wanted to tell you is that when ever possible, come to Argentina, we really wish you to come...

Joe: Thank you for posting on here Joe. Great to see the blue.

Shuvster: Shuva Das,I agree with Joe; you're going to do excellent. I'm actually looking forward to your final draft/report on it.

Thanks for the praise/comments folks (on my runs). I had my running group earlier this afternoon/evening and it was a very hot one, and (a little) humid. I put in 14 miles of running.

Back to work in the morning & this weekend, plus the following week. Take care peeps.

Mr. Satriani, this is in regards to the SoundStrike boycott, which you have signed on to.

To: Zach De La Rocha, Rage Against the Machine CC: All other co-signers of the Sound Strike against Arizona Re: The Sound Strike

Dear Mr. De La Rocha,

I am writing this letter in response to the musical boycott against Arizona that you have launched, to which a handful of mainstream acts have signed on to. I am addressing this letter to you, as the leader of this campaign, but also to all of the people and bands that have signed their names to this misguided attempt to strike down our law. As a college student and a citizen of Arizona, I am offended at your choice of words to describe our immigration bill, SB 1070. I respect that you might disagree with the policies of our state, but it is inappropriate to stretch reality to get others to join your boycott of Arizona. On your website, thesoundstrike.net, you write that our bill “legalizes and sanctions racial profiling. Straight up.” While the bill does take a hard line stance against illegal immigration, the first bill in our nation’s history to do so, that accusation is just not true. To say that the bill sanctions racial profiling does not make any sense, because it, in fact, does the opposite. To quote a line from the bill, it says that “a law enforcement officer… may not consider race, color or national origin in implementing the requirements of this subsection.” In addition, Arizona’s governor, Jan Brewer, has begun working with representatives from the police departments to create a curriculum to teach officers when it is appropriate to act in response to this law. To sanction something means to openly approve it, which our bill does not do. It is this exaggeration that you use to try to prove your point that I take issue with, not the fact that you disagree with our policies.

Studies have shown that many of the drugs that enter our country come through the Arizona/Mexico border. In addition, in the year 2009 Phoenix was the kidnapping capital of the world. Not the United States, but the world. In addition, a September 2008 report on illegal immigration issued by the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office states that while “Arizona’s population is comprised of approximately 9% illegal immigrants… 21.8% percent of felonies sentenced in Maricopa County Superior Court are committed by illegal immigrants.” According to a May 2010 report by the Arizona Department of Corrections, 14.8% of the men and women in Arizona prisons convicted of a felony crime are in this country illegally. There are way too many illegal immigrants committing serious crimes and these are problems that most Arizonans feel needs to be addressed. This law has nothing to do with racism- it is a response to real events happening in our communities and backyards. I would support a federal law dealing with this issue, but at this point the Obama administration has yet to address our country’s immigration problems.

I am not upset that you disagree with this law. I can assure you that if this bill is abused and there is too much profiling going on, I will join others in lobbying for this bill to be rescinded. What I take offense at is your fabrication of the meaning of the law to make Arizonans out to be racist, horrible people in order to get others to refuse to play music in our state. As an Arizonan and supporter of SB 1070, I can tell you that I am not a racist and do not want to cause anyone of any race or ethnicity any undue trouble. But I can also tell you that at some point, our border needs to be secured and the citizens of Arizona need to be safe and happy. If you disagree with strict immigration laws, I welcome debate as to which laws would improve the safety and effectiveness of our country. Spreading false statements about our law in order to mislead people into joining your cause will not help to fix our immigration problem. If you truly feel that Arizona’s law is not in our country’s best interest, take the high road and engage our leadership with constructive criticism and suggestions. As Americans, Arizonans want nothing more than the best for our state and our country and would welcome your suggestions. A musical boycott will not help to spur change but will create divides in our country. If you truly care about our country and not your personal political agenda, I would encourage you to end your unnecessary boycott of Arizona because of a difference in political opinion and to stop spreading false statements as to the goals of Arizona citizens.

From another website -

"If you are not an illegal you have nothing to worry about. Basically the coyotes hold illegals in drop houses and shake down their family for more money."

Bottom line is Illegal things happen to people doing illegal things. They know the danger, but still they come. What does that have to say about where they're coming from? How bad must it be to subject yourself and yer family to something like that? Corruption in government is the key issue on all sides. This has been going on for decades, and now all of a sudden it's a problem? Hello?

What a week, very intense at work and just bingled the car. Bugger. Now it will take weeks to fix, aaarrgghhhh.

Skippy & P.Lily, okay, then I make 3 for a crap week for girls on here. lol! Spent yesterday with a 24 hr virus or food poisoning or whatever it was. I had lunch, and after that it was all downhill, and it went there fast. Feeling better today, but had to take another sick day from work. Hope you two have a better week in the days ahead. Sorry bout the car :-/