All work, no play makes Jack a brain-dead workaholic

Truck driving is a job that can easily demand that 80 or 90 percent of your waking hours be working hours. Even when you’re off duty, too often you’re on a short leash. Seeking a healthy balance while you are sitting for hours in your truck or in a truck stop isn’t easy, but we’ve got some ideas to stave off the “in cab fever.” Whether you need an entertaining escape or an intellectual retreat, we’ve got you covered.

Best NASCAR stories ever told
“Then Junior Said to Jeff ...” is new from Triumph Books. Authors David Poole and Jim McLaurin offer up 179 pages of fun, behind-the-scenes tales and great actual quotes. It’s tailor-made for busy NASCAR fans because you don’t have to read it all at once, or in order.

The passages are in chronological order and cover 60 years of racing, beginning with the untamed, wild antics of those first involved in the sport and continuing through to recent stories about some of the young guns. The book includes a CD, too, featuring interviews with DW, Junior, Bill Simpson and Kevin Harvick.

Most of the stories were told directly to the authors. Others have been handed down from the early days. Either way, the writers credited their sources. Not just stories about drivers, this book has anecdotes about track owners, crew members, car owners and fans, too. My only disappointment – Tony Stewart wasn’t mentioned until Page 174 of a 179 page book.

– Kim Borron, production manager
kim_borron@landlinemag.com

Oldie but goodie
In the classic Xbox game “Halo: Combat Evolved,” you play the role of Master Chief, mankind’s only hope against The Covenant, aliens hell-bent on mankind’s extinction. Stranded on the ringed world of Halo, you fight for mankind’s survival while unlocking the ring’s mysteries.

This game rocks, and not just because you get to blow up aliens – but that helps. Being in the $20 price range doesn’t hurt, either.

Any game can have great graphics or a pretty package, but if you don’t have a well-crafted story, you just don’t have a great game. Halo combines an awesome story with graphics and game play that are second to none. The game is an essential for anyone who owns an Xbox or just loves to play video games.

– James Fetzer, “Land Line Now” production engineer
james_fetzer@landlinemag.com

Fightin’ words
Lou Dobbs is the anchor and managing editor of CNN’s “Lou Dobbs Tonight.” As a television journalist, he doesn’t spare the rod on those who have exploited the working people of America. Plenty of folks are talking about his new book, “War on the Middle Class,” published by Viking and with good reason – some truths are scarier than fiction.

In this fight-back book, Dobbs is a compelling advocate, denouncing effectively a “dysfunctional government” and big business working hand in hand with “unfettered capitalism” to wage a war on the American dream.

– Sandi Soendker, managing editor
sandi_soendker@landlinemag.com

Dusty’s not rusty
A lot of musicians put out crossover albums. Hell, even Pat Boone tried – the operative word being
“tried” – to make a heavy-metal record a few years back. But few have done it as successfully as Dustin Kensrue on his first solo release, “Please Come Home.”

It’s hard to believe the gravel-voiced Kensrue, best known as the frontman for hardcore band Thrice, could pen such a soulful, accomplished acoustic album, but that’s exactly what’s happened.
On every song, Kensrue’s vocals linger between old-school country and full-on blues. His trademark storytelling speaks of barroom romances in “Blood & Wine” and a father’s unwavering love in “Please Come Home,” without ever sounding cliché. In the end, it’s simple, honest music, like an early Springsteen singing Johnny Cash.

Let’s just hope he’s not planning a Pat Boone collaboration anytime soon.

– Aaron Ladage, staff editor
aaron_ladage@landlinemag.com

Left lane lyrics
Real truckers can tell make-believe truckin’ music from the real thing. The album “The Reality of Truckin’ ” is straight from the road, thanks to the “Left Lane Experiences” of trucker/songwriter/singer Ray Carlisle.

“The Heartbeat” is a fast-moving, six-minute tune that should become trucking’s anthem, as it describes the tough job that truckers do as well as the benefits that trucking brings to society.

Another track, “Good Advice,” is the best advice that I have ever heard. This CD never gets old as drivers trek with Ray from Ontario to Big Cabin to Air Cap and beyond.

– Danny R. Schnautz
OOIDA member from Pasadena, TX