BOOK FUN

What Pulitzer-winning baseball scribe advised: "There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and open a vein"?

Yesterday's answer: Slaughterhouse-Five

ROCK N ROLL HISTORY

In 1998 Everlast hit #1 with "What's It Like." Before he jumped to his solo career, he was part of House of Pain. What "bouncing" song brought them fame?

Yesterday's answer: Fool For The City

WORD A DAY

PUNGENT: 1: having a sharp point 2: marked by a sharp incisive quality 3a: causing a sharp or irritating sensation b: having an intense flavor or ordor

"Pungent" implies a sharp stinging or biting quality, expecially of odors, so it's not too surprising to discover the Latin verb pungere ("to prick, sting") at its root. "Compunction," "poignant," "puncture," and "punctual" share the same pointy root, and their meanings reflect its influence. Someone who feels compunction may experience the prick of a guilty conscience. Something that is poignant can be piercingly moving. And a punctured tire, pricked by a sharp point, can make it hard to be punctual - that is, to arrive "on the dot" or at a particular point in time.

Watching the Shield

I'm off today. I was able to manage to get my three days off in a row. After the last week and a half of no days off I needed it. I'm still sick, though actually I think this cough is more allegery than sick, and now I have an earache which I'm afraid might have to do with my toothache. Boy, am I falling apart or what? So today was planned to be a day inside, doing nothing much, but maybe updating some posts I've been thinking about and some updates on the sidebar and such. Hasn't worked out that way, I've been watching The Shield Season Five all day. Only have three more episodes to go and I'm done, so I'll probably be signing off here and doing a little more tv watching before I get back online.

BOOK FUN

What Kurt Vonnegut novel bears the subtitle Or The Children's Crusade?

Yesterday's answer: Tales From the Left Coast

ROCK N ROLL HISTORY

With strength from their Top 40 radio hit "Slow Ride," Foghat's 1985 record ______ For the City reached platinum status.

Yesterday's answer: The Carpenters

WORD A DAY

CACHINNATE: to laugh loudly or immorderately

"Cachinnate" has been whooping it up in English since the 19th century. The word derives from the Latin verb cachinnare, meaning "to laugh loudly," and cachinnare was probably coined in imitation of a loud laugh. As such, cachinnare is much like the Old English ceahhetan, the Old High German kachazzen, and the Greek kachazein - all words of imitative origin that essentially meant "to laugh loudly." Our word "cackle" has a different ancestor than any of these words (the Middle English cakelen), but this word, too, is believed to have been modeled after the sound of laughter.

Thirteen Thursday Number 21: JazzFest Acts I Want To See This Year

Thirteen Performers I Want To See at JazzFest this Year Number #21 The acts are up for JazzFest and it's going to be a good one this year. JazzFest is the last weekend of April and the first weekend of May. I've decided to do my TT this week on the top 13 acts I want to see. If you click on their name it'll take you to their site where you can check more about them and hear some of their music. 1. Lucinda Williams: She is one of my favorite singers and I have yet to see her. Everytime she's come here something has happened to stop me from seeing her. 2. Alexa Ray Joel: This is the daughter of Billy Joel and Christie Brinkley. I've listened to this cd quite a lot since I got it. I really like her. 3. Subdudes: Another great band from New Orleans. I've been wanting to see them for awhile but every time they're here I somehow end up not being able to see them. 4. T Bone Burnett: Known more as a producer than a singer, he has released some great albums over the years. 5. Gillian Welch: A roots style singer. 6.Amanda Shaw: Teenage fiddle sensation from Covington Louisiana. Another performer I've seen many times. She is growing and merging as a great singer and performer as she gets older. 7. Marcia Ball: A wonderful bluesy singer from Texas with roots in Louisiana. 8. Shannon McNally: One of my favorite performers. 9. Theresa Anderson: Another local performer and another favorite. 10. Johnny Rivers: The singer of Memphis, Secret Agent Man and a slew of other hits. 11. Counting Crows: A group that I haven't seen before that I think would be interesting. 12. John Boutte: A New Orleans jazz/soul singer. Last year I didn't see him but his performance at the JazzFest was one of the talks of the show. 13. Charmine Neville: Daughter of Art Neville of the Neville Brothers and a great singer in her own right.

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The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

BOOK FUN

What James Hirsen tattle about entertainment industry liberals is subtitled True Stories of Hollywood Stars and Their Outrageous Politics?

Yesterday's answer: Myron

ROCK N ROLL HISTORY

Today's "Brain-Rocker" clues are:

1: Karen and Richard
2: 70s Pop Rock
3: "(They Long to Be)Close To You"
4: "We've Only Just Begun"

Yesterday's answer: David Clatyon-Thomas

WORD A DAY

JOG TROT: 1: a horse's slow measured trot 2: a routine habit or course of action

The jog trot is a type of gait that is sometimes required at horse shows. It appears to have been so named because the hse's often jolting movement is certainly "jogging," and the gait itself is actually a kind of careful, deliberate trot. The phrase first appeared in print in 1796 and rapidly came to be used in figurative sense as well, referring to a steady and usally monotonous routine similar to the slow, regular pace of a horse at a jog trot. There is a suggestion with the generalized sense that the action is uniform and unhurried, and perhaps even a little dull.

BOOK FUN

What was Myra Breckinridge's first name beore the surgery, in a Gore Vidal novel?

Yesterday's answer: The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

ROCK N ROLL HISTORY

The #1 album on this date in 1969 was the self titled Blood, Sweat & Tears. Who was their front man and lead singer?

Yesterday's answer: Lollapalooza

WORD A DAY

SINECURE: an office or position that requires little or no work and that usually provides an income

"Sinecure" comes from the Medieval Latin phrase sine cura, which literally means "without cure." Not surprisingly, its earliest-known use referred to an ecclesiastical benefice without cure of soulds - that is, a clerical office in which the jobholder did not have to tend to the spiritual care and instruction of church members. Such sinecures were virtually done away with by the end of the 19th century, but by then the word had acquired a broader sense referring to any paid position with few or no responsibilties.

Buffy at the Vet

I had to bring Buffy to the vet today. Some of her annual shots were due and I wanted them to clean her ears. She has constant problems with her ears and what's worse is that she won't let me clean them at home. When I bring her to the vet they have to knock her out so they can clean them. She did good, got all her shots and her ears cleaned. After they finish it takes about 45 minutes for her to come out of the shot they gave her. It's a slow process, she starts by shaking her head. Her tongue hangs out of her mouth and she shakes her head back and forth. Than she tries to stand up but it takes a little while before she can manage that. I'll lay on the floor next to her while she is coming out of it, petting her and re assuring her that it's ok. I feel bad, but it's the best thing for her. Even after she can walk and we get to my car I have to help her in because she can't climb in the seat by herself yet. By the time we get home she's pretty much back to normal. Now she's sitting by the door sunning herself and glad she's home.

BOOK FUN

What 2001 Ann Brashares novel tells the tale of four girls facing a summer apart, and the pair of magic blue jeans that ties them together?

Yesterday's answer: Judith Michael

ROCK N ROLL HISTORY

Influential musician Perry Farrell was born on this day in 1959. He later started what Summer Alternative Rock festival?

Yesterday's answer: Dimebag Darrell

WORD A DAY

LUDIC: or, relating to, or characterized by play: playful

Here's a serious word, just for fun. That is to say, it means "fun," but it was created in all seriousness around 1940 by psychologists. They wanted a term to describe what children do, and they came up with "ludic activity." That may seem ludicrous (why not just call it playing?), but the word "ludic" caught on and it's not all child's play anymore. It can refer to architecture that is playful, narrative that is humorous and even satirical, and literature that is light. "Ludic" is ultimately from the Latin noun ludus, which refers to a whole range of fun things - stage shows, games, sports, even jokes. The more familiar word "ludicrous" traces back to the same source.

Another comic book death

Damn, this is getting to be a morbid night. First I saw the passing of Marshall Rogers and now I see that Drew Hayes died on March 21. I never met Mr. Rogers, but I met and knew Drew somewhat. Drew self published a comic called Poison Elves. It started out as a comic called I, Lusiphur before he changed the name to Poison Elves. This was a great comic, his art started off pretty crude but soon transfered into some really good work. For awhile this was one of my favorite titles.

When Brian and I were self publishing Diebold Drew was very helpful with tips and an offer to draw a cover for us for free. This was when he was probably at the height of his popularity in the indy field, so that was a big thing for us. I remember meeting Drew at a San Diego Con, he was sitting at our table with Brian and me talking and trying to smoke a cigarette and hide it from any officals as there was no smoking permitted in the con.

His appearance made you think he was some sort of crazed man. He was a big guy with long hair and liked to act the part he looked. But in truth he was a very nice man. He died of a heart attack while suffering from pneumonia. He has suffered from a lot of health problems over the years, which resulted in him not working on his comics. He was only 37 years old.

MIX TAPE MONDAY

Today's Mix Tape Monday is songs from the group the Contintental Drifters. I want to do a longer post about this group and the wonderful and amazing talented singers and songwriters that made up this group. They were from everywhere but setteled in New Orleans for most of the 90s before splitting up and going their separate ways. For now listen to the music and enjoy.

"Tommorrow's Gonna Be A Better Day"


"Song For You"


"The Rain Song"


"I Want To Learn To Waltz With You"


"Drifters"

New Work!

I mentioned in a previous post about TopBlogMag. It's a weekly magazine published on the web as a blog. The second issue is out and has an article by me about one of my favorite music sensations, Will Hoge. Go check it out.

Marshall Rogers Dies

Marshall Rogers died today. Mr. Rogers was an amazing artist. He came to promience during the seventies with stints on Batman, Dr. Strange, Mr. Miracle and many other characters. Mr. Rogers was born Jan 22, 1950.

Not Traveling Well

This last week and a half has been a long and hard week. I had to work on my day off. I'm sick. I have a toothache. I have a cough where I feel like I'm about to hack up a lung. I feel like if there is a part of my body that could hurt it is doing so now. So I apologize to everyone for not visiting as many sites as normal or leaving comments. I've tried, but only can stay on for so long. Also the reason I haven't been posting as much. But I'll get better and the end of this week I have two days in a row off. That's not a normal thing for me. And I'm going to try to play it into three days. I won't know what to do with three days off in a row. (Maybe mow my grass for starters.)

Manic Monday #9: Spring

Just going to make this one in. It's been a rough week, sick and still having to work, but I don't want to go into that here. This week's Manic Monday is Spring. It made me think of a story I had written years ago, my homage to the great Ray Bradbury in effect. I've posted the beginning of the story, I'm revising it as I go, it's been a long time ago and while it actually is holding up better than I thought, there are a few corrections I need to make. It's actually one of the first lines I posted in a previous Thirteen Thursdays about hookers. I recycle everything. I hope to finish the story, it's a fairly long one and post it soon.

The Oscar Zoroaster Phadrig Isaac Norman Henkle Emmannuel Ambroise Diggs Traveling Circus And Unusual Sideshows

It was a special type of day, because it was a special time of year. The day was the tenth, which had nothing to do with it; the month was April, which had a lot to do with it. It was not yet summer, the season was the midst of spring, the icy fingers of winter had been left behind. It was that time of year when the weather was caught in transit; the sun did not burn and the wind did not chill. Rather the sun did what it was created for; the rays of the huge golden orb in the sky provided warmth. The winds that always blew at this time of the year were made of half of the sun's warmth and half of the remembrance of winters gone by. The cool wind was just enough to offset the heat of the sun and make you glad to be alive.

There was more to make this day different, this season of spring wonderfully special. The beauty of the land was highlighted like at no other time. The grass was the color of joy and the sky the color of happiness. The clouds in the sky were big and puffy, they looked more like islands in the sky than an accumulation of water vapor. The lake was as clear and perfect as an unblemished mirror.

Birds sang merrily overhead. The sound of the family of beavers that lived at the other end of the lake reached my ears. Further off in the woods sounded the roar of some wild beast.
It was spring eternal.

Here in the midst of all this beauty and joy I sat with a scowl on my face. With all this life surrounding me I brooded. What was I doing here? I wondered such thoughts for the ten thousandth time since dawn. Alone I was, in a cabin in the middle of the woods by a lake, which in itself was in the middle of nowhere. Only ten miles or so from here as the crow flies was Cowley, my hometown, which was nowhere itself.

This had all started out as a return to the place of my birth. The conquering hero returns home. And that was me, the conquering hero in a nutshell. Local boy makes good the headlines would have read if the people had cared. I had left Cowley poor as beggar and returned as a millionaire. But in the process I had lost something, and I was now on a backwards search through my life in hopes of finding it, whatever it was that I had lost. But Cowley provided only a resting place in my search, and a poor one at that. The people were indifferent to my success and thus to me. All they wanted to talk about was of the years that I had lived there and nothing of the time spent away from the town.

So I had hired a jeep, and a cabin, and came here, in solitude. I was close enough to Cowley in my mind to believe that I had kept my promise to myself to spend a couple of weeks there and far enough away that I didn't have to deal with it.

I sat in a rocker that had been there when I arrived and stared out across the lake. A duck flew down and alighted on the surface of the water and I was glad I was not a hunting man. I watched in something akin to the fascination of a child as the duck paddled around on the mirror surface of the lake. What was so unusual about a duck I asked myself? And I knew the answer lay in the not asking of the question, so I cursed my city breed cynicism.

The wind shifted from the east and the smell of daisies blooming to the west and new smells. Smells that baffled my inquiring nose and yet still managed to make my mouth water with anticipation. Smells that I could not place, smells that I knew but could give no name to. It was then, when I realized that the smells were familiar yet unrecognizable that I placed them. Popcorn and cotton candy, straw and sweat. Smells from a country fair that Cowley was putting on? But I thought that Cowley lay to the North of my cabin. Ah, no matter where the smells came from the memories they brought back were enough to satisfy me. I remembered when I was eleven, or perhaps twelve, and the month was the same as it was now. School was out, which is in itself enough for boys to celebrate, for Easter vacation, but we had more to be glad about. The Turner Five Ring Traveling Circus and Freak Show was coming to Cowley. There is nothing in the world that excites a boy as much as a circus.

It was the first day of vacation and my best friend, Jimmy and I were watching them set up the tents for the show. We could not wait for the show to begin, just imagine five rings! That was always the pride of Mister Turner, that his circus had five rings. What he did not tell you was that the five rings contained no more than the normal three and probably not as much as the average sideshow. The six or seven hours till the first show seemed an eternity to our youthful minds, so we did what any boys would do in our situation and sneaked down among the circus workers. While we were sneaking around we passed a trailer with the door ajar. One look at Jimmy and I knew that he was thinking the same thing I was. Using all the skills we had acquired within our twelve years we crept up the open door and peered inside. It took our eyes a few seconds to adjust to the gloom the inside of the trailer was, when they did we gasped in shock.

There seated at a dressing table was a man making himself into Leo the Lion Man. My child mind recalled that a few of the circus performers were supposed to appear downtown today and Leo was among them. Thus his early preparations. But Leo was supposed to be half lion and half man, and all crazy; when he appeared downtown he would do so in a cage. As we watched Leo took a drag on a cigar and put it in an ashtray as he applied more makeup. Leo, one of the best exhibits was a fake.

After a minute or so of watching this man apply the mane to his neck we left. We broke and ran, leaving the circus far behind until we came to our favorite hiding place deep within the woods. We sat for long minutes without speaking, the shock had been too great. We were at an age that we openly disbelieved in all the wonders of the circus, but secretly longed for them to be true. Jimmy was the first to speak. “I knew it all along.”

I stood from my chair and rubbed at my eyes. My though patterns were chaotic. I had begun with a pleasant memory and it ended up with one of the worst moments of my childhood, when I realized that there was no magic in the world. I walked down the steps of the cabin and headed towards the lake. My mood was terrible, but the world did its best to cheer me up. The air sparkled and to my trained eye there seemed to be magic in the clouds. Except I stopped believing in magic when I was twelve.

I was watching a duck struggle with a fish as I approached the lake. My gaze was ahead, which explains why I did not see my visitor approach. It was not until I was at the shore of the lake when I heard a sound to my right, the noise of a chicken scratching the ground for food. I turned and that was exactly what stood before me. A chicken.

“You're a long way from home, chickie.” At least ten miles, as far as I knew, there were no farms between here and Crowley. And this chicken did not look wild, she was too well kept to look the part of even a farm bird. She looked more like a pet, she even had a bow wrapped around her neck, and for the life of me I could not understand how a pet had wandered this far from home. Or to be honest who would have a chicken as a pet.

“A lot farther than you think, Bud.”

My thoughts stopped. Any word that I was about to utter died on my tongue. Had this chicken actually talked? No, impossible. I've been by myself too long. Talking to myself and now I'm hearing chickens talk.

“Didn't your Mother teach you any manners? Where I come from it's considered polite to speak when spoken to.”

BOOK FUN

What pen name did married co-authors Judith Barnard and Michael Fain adopt for their debut collaboration, Deceptions?

ROCK N ROLL HISTORY

What was Pantera uuitarist Darrell Abbott's nick name?

Yesterday's answer: "Runaway Train"

WORD A DAY

APPARATCHIK: 1: a member of a Communist apparat2: an official blindly devoted tosuperiors or to the organization

In the context of the definition of "apparatchik" (a term English-speakers borrowed from Russian), "apparat" essentially means "party machine." An apparatchick, therefore, is a cog in the system of the Communist party. The term is not especially flattering in either language and wasn't used formally by the party itself. The negative connotation of "apparatchick" reflects the perception that some Communists were obedient drones in the great party machine. In current use, however, a peson doesn't have to be a member of the Communist party to be called an apparatchik; he or she just has to be someone who mindlessly follows orders in an organization or bureaucracy.

New Miss USA

Miss Rachel Smith from Clarksville Tennessee was crowned the new Miss USA. Am I really that interested or was this just an excuse for me to post a picture of some pretty women?

BOOK FUN

What author began life as Adeline Vigrina Stephen, but was called "the Goat" by her siblings?

Yesterday's answer: A Prayer for Owen Meany

ROCK N ROLL HISTORY

What song put Soul Asylum on the map in 1993 and became the theme to a public service announcement video for missing children?

Yesterday's answer: The Rembrandts

WORD A DAY

ZIBELINE: a soft lustrous wool fabric with mohair, alpaca, or camel's hair

Though zibeline is woven from the hair of alpacas, camels, or Angora goats, its name actually traces back to a Slavic word for the sable, a small mammal related to the weasel. The Slavic term was adopted into Old Italian, and from there it passed to Middle French, than on to English in the late 1600s. English "zibeline" originally referred to the sable or its fur, but in the 1890s it developed a second sense, applying to a soft, smooth, slightly furry material woven from a mixture of animal hairs. It's especially suited to women's suits and coats. According to a fashion columnist writing in the December 6, 1894, issue of Vogue, it also makes "an exceedingly pretty, warm theatre cloack, not too fine to be crushed into the small one-chair space."

This Week: The Shield

Season Five is being released this Tuesday. This was a show I never saw while it was on the air, but after a few seasons I picked up a collection of the first season, it was on sale and I thought I'd give it a try. I started watching it and it didn't do much for me. It took me awhile to finish watching it and I was continued to watch it I discovered something,the show grew on me. By the end of that first season collection I was intrigued and wanted to know what happened next. It's a compelling look at a main character that isn't a good guy.

Ironside coming soon

Anyone remember this show? Starring Raymond Burr after his Perry Mason series finished. I remember watching it as a kid. The first season is being release April 24.

WKRP coming soon

On April 27 WKRP in Cincinnati Season 1 is being released. This is one of my favorite shows so I can't wait.

BOOK FUN

What 1989 novel had its title character's name changed for the film Simon Birch, when the book's author ojbected to the adaptation?

Yesterday's answer: Neil Simon

ROCK N ROLL HISTORY

Can you name the band whose song "I'll Be There For You" is the theme to the TV show Friends?

Yesterday's answer: The Cars

WORD A DAY

OCCIDENT: regions or countries lying to the west of a specified or implied point of orientation

You may not be reflecting on the history of the word "Occident" as you watch a beautiful sunset, but there is a connection. "Occident," which comes from the Latin occidere, "to fall," once referred to the part of the sky in which the sun goes down. Geoffrey Chaucer used the word in that now-obolete sense around 1386, and shortly thereafter the word took on the "western regions and countries" sense that we still use. Exactly what is meant by "western" is not always the same. Originally, "Occident" referred to western Europe or the Western Roman Empire. In modern times, it usually refers to some portion of Europe and North American distinct from Asia. The opposite of "Occident" is "Orient," which come from the Latin oriri ("to rise").

Bangles Concert

Just got back from the Bangles concert Heather and I went to. I have to say this was one of the most fun concerts I think I have ever been to. The opening act was Susan Cowsill. A little history....after the Bangles broke up Vicky Peterson (late of the Bangles) met up with Susan Cowsill and they formed the Pyscho Sisters and in turn they joined the group the Contintental Drifters and moved to New Orleans. About the time the Drifters were breaking up the Bangles reformed. At the end of Susan's act Vicky came out and they did a song together. Than during the Bangles performance the group brought Susan out and they did a Contintental Drifters song. And at the end of the show when they did "Walk Like An Egyptian" Susan and her daughter came out and sang with the group. It was just that type of show, full of fun. The Bangles looked like they were having a great time. And for some of their songs the auidence outsung the group. Their final encore was "Eternal Flame" and Susanna Hoffs kept falling behind on the song because she couldn't hear because the auidence was singing the song to her so loud. This was a great concert.

BOOK FUN

Whose second memoir, The Play Goes On, opens with his wedding to Marsha Mason?

Yesterday's answer: Los Angeles

ROCK N ROLL HISTORY

Today is Rick Ocasek's birthday. He and his band mates released the records Shake It Up and Heartbeat City in the early 1980s. Name their band.

Yesterday's answer: The Doobie Brothers

WORD A DAY

CORVEE: 1: unpaid labor due from a feudal vassal to his lord 2: labor exacted in lieu of taxes by public authorities expecially for highway contruction or repair

In 1155, the French king ordained that no inhabitant "is to render us the obligation of corvee, except twice a year, when our wine is to be carried to Orleans, and not elsewhere." The crovee in question was the feudal kind, and the French word traced back to the Latin corrogare, meaning "to collect." English borrowed that word and used it in the same sense until the early 18th century, when, according to British Viscount John Morley (1838-1923) , "the advantages of a good system of high roads began to be perceived by the Government" and "the idea came into the heads of the more ingenious....of imposing for the construction of the roads a royal or public corvee analogous to that of private feudalism."

Thirteen Thursday Number 20: Favorite Science Fiction Stories

Thirteen Favorite Science Fiction Stories Number #20 1. Deathbird by Harlan Ellison 2. The Nine Billion Names of God by Arthur C. Clarke 3. The Doors of His Face, The Lamps of His Mouth by Roger Zelazny 4. The Last of the Winnebagos by Connie Willis 5. Do Ya, Do Ya, Wanna Dance by Howard Waldrop 6. Gonna Roll The Bones by Fritz Leiber 7. Scanners Live in Vain by Cordwainer Smith 8. Faith of Our Fathers by Philip K. Dick 9. The Bicentennial Man by Isaac Asimov 10. Slow Sculpture by Theodore Sturgeon 11. Born with the Dead by Robert Silverberg 12. Driftglass by Samuel Delany 13. Beggars in Spain by Nancy Kress

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Asshat Awards #2: Dick Cheney

Welcome to the second edition of the asshat awards. This award is presented by What the Blog?! The theme for this edition is asshats in the news. So without farther adieu I present to you the asshat of the week (actually he could win the title for asshat of the year)....Mr. Dick Cheney.

Where to start? Most recently his former top aide, Scooter Libby, has taken the fall for him so we don't learn how high the orders went to out CIA agent Valerie Plume. If Libby hd admited to it than the next question would have been under who's order? Than the vice-president might have found himself having to give testimony. Which probably wouldn't have fazed him, I'm sure this man has no problems lying to a federal prosecutor.

But Cheney has many more sins to answer for. If there is a true puppet master behind the inept presidency of W it is this man. Cheney manuvered things so we would invade Iraq. His former protegee was Donald Rumsfield.

Cheney's ties to Haliburton are well known. His ties to big oil and big business are just as well known. If there's a buck to be made Cheney is going to be involved. He wants to call anyone that disagrees with him a traitor but than is more than happy to send inferior equipment to our troops overseas.

Ties to countries like Saudi Arabi are still questionable. Cheney is the frontman for Bush's war on terror, he is out there telling everyone how terrible the world is and if it wasn't for him and the President how bad shape the country would be in. All the while driving us off a cliff.

I'm A Winner!

I won an asshat award for my post on the first asshat awards. I'm so happy.

BOOK FUN

What did Raymond Chandler describe in The Long Goodbye as "a city rich and vigorous and full of pride, a city lostand beaten and full of emptiness"?

Yesterday's answer: "Are you my mother?"

ROCK N ROLL HISTORY

Today's "Brain-Rocker" clues are:

1. San Jose, California
2. Toulouse Street
3. The Captain and Me
4. Minute by Minute

Yesterday's answer: Eddie Money

WORD A DAY

PANJANDRUM: a powerful personage or pretentious official

"Panjandrum" looks like it might be a combination of Latin and Greek roots, but in fact it's a nonsense word coined by English actor and playwright Samuel Foote around 1755. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, Foote made up a line of gibberish to "test the memory of his fellow actor Charles Macklin, who had asserted that he could repeat anything after hearing it once." Foote's made-up line was "And there were present the Picninnies, and the Joblillies, and the Garyulies and the Grand Panjandrum himself, with the little round button at the top." Some 75 years after this, Foote's passage appeared in a book of stories for children by the Anglo-Irish writer Maria Edgeworth. It took another quarter century before English-speakers actually incorporated "panjandrum" into their general vocabulary.

How Much Money I Made

**************************THIS IS A PAYPERPOST AD***********************************
Blogs are everywhere nowdays. It seems everyone has a blog and is out there blogging to the world. Blogging is beginning to have effects in all sorts of areas that no one thought of when blogging first started. News and entertainment have seen a shift in the way they report the news nowdays because of blogs, with blogs breaking news before the big networks now.

And companies that want to advertise their product are realizing the importance of blog marketing
The opportunity to reach thousands of new people for their product has brought companies to the world of blogs with blog marketing And it's given the normal blogger a chance to make some extra money. For people that had no thought to make any money with their blog, now their is chance for them to make some extra money.

Payperpost ads enables us little bloggers the chance to make money with our blogs. So far I've made $76.00 with my blog. This is great, it's extra money for just writing about a few things on my blog and posting it for everyone to see.

I plan to start trying to post more ads in the next few weeks and earn some more money. I'm going on vacation in May, going to travel to Washington D.C. and the extra money I make on here will come in handy while I'm on vacation.

Also I end up buying books and cds from Amazon.com or ebay. I love to buy cds on Ebay that I can't get at the local Best Buy. Having this extra money in my paypal account will mean that I can just go buy these cds and I'll already have the money to use and not have to use my credit card.

The cool thing is that with the money you make with Payperpost ads you can use for anything. It pays to your paypal account and you can leave it there and use it if you use paypal to pay for things online, or you can have the money from your paypal account credited to your bank account and than you have it to use where ever you want it.

All in all it's a great idea and so easy to do.

Waiting...

The most recent issue of Offbeat magazine has an article about New Orlean's musicians that have not been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. To rephrase that a little better, musicians that deserve to be in the Hall. It's hard to point to any one city and say that was the birthplace of Rock and Roll. I don't think there was any one city, it was a combination of cities. Memphis added some, New York had some input, but New Orleans was an important city in the birthing process.

The last New Orleanian inducted was Earl Palmer back in 2000. There are many more waiting.

Lee Dorsey is one. His hits include "Ya Ya," "Working In A Coalmine," and "Ride Your Pony." In the 50s and 60s Dorsey was a popular singer.

I think one of the most glaring exceptations though is the Meters. The Meters are Art Neville, George Porter, Jr, Zigaboo Modeliste and Leo Nocentelli. The Meters are one of the most sampled bands for hip hop and rap. They've added their funky beats to many albums of other stars.

For more on these acts and others check out Offbeat.

Win Free!

Click on the image and go see how you can win a free template. Really cool looking stuff. Check it out.

Coming Soon: Traveling Wilburys

On June 12 Rhino Records is going to re-issue Volume one and three of the Traveling Wilburys in a deluxe edition with bonus tracks, videos and a documentary in a deluxe linen bound edition. These two cds have been out of print for awhile now. The Traveling Wilburys were Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Roy Orbison, Tom Petty and Jeff Lyne. A true super group that more than lived up their status. The first album is a classic and the second while not quite up to the first one is still very good. There two albums are more than worth owning.

Coming Soon: Kings of Leon

The New Kings of Leon ablum Because of the Times will be out April 3. No image of the album because I couldn't find one online to download, so you'll just have to do with a band picture. I've seen the Kings of Leon twice, once at the HOB in New Orleans and again at Bonnaroo. They put on a great show. They are straight ahead pedal to the floor rock and roll. In England they are huge, over here not so much. But they deserve to be much bigger.

Calvert DeForest Dies

Calvert DeForest, better known to millions as Larry "Bud" Melman from the Late Night Show with David Letterman died Thursday night from a heart attack.

BOOK FUN

What question doea a baby bird ask of a dog, a cow and a steam shovel in P.D. Eastman's classic?

Yesterday's answer: Marion Zimmer Bradley

ROCK N ROLL HISTORY

Happy birthday to this rocker, known as "The Money Man," who gave us the #1 hit "Think I'm in Love" in 1982.

Yesterday's answer: Joan Jett

WORD A DAY

IMBROGLIO: 1: a confused mass 2: a complicated situation 3: a violently confused or bitterly complicated altercation: embroilment

"Imbroglio" and "embroilment" are more than just synonyms; they're also linked through etymology. Both descend from the Middle French verb embrouiller (same meaning as "embroil"), from the prefix em -, meaing "thoroughly," plus brouiller, "to jumble" or "to confuse." (Brouiller is itself a descendant of an Old French word for broth.) Early in the 17th century, English-speakers began using "embroil," a direct adaptation of embrouiller. Our noun "embroilment," which also entered the langauge in the early 17th century, comes from the same source. Meanwhile, the Italians were using their own alteration of embrouiller: imbrogliare, meaning "to entangle." In the mid-18th century, English-speakers embraced the Italian noun imbrolglio as well.

Blanco Won't Run Again

The governor of my home state of Louisiana Kathleen Blanco will not run for re-election again. She says she wants to focus on doing what she can for the state and not worry about politics. And that may be true, but it might also be because she figures that she doesn't have much of a chance to win.

After the hurricane I really did not like Blanco. I blamed a lot of the problems on her inepitude of running the state. But since than I've read a lot of the books and articles about Katrina and what happened afterwards. While there is a lot she didn't do there is more that she did do that was right than I knew of. It may be praising with faint praise but I have to say she isn't as bad as I thought she was.

The strange thing was that I liked the mayor of New Orleans more right after the hurricane, but after the same reading and just watching him day to day I think the mayor is a complete waste and I don't know how he ever got re elected.

Green Hornet Flys Again (Maybe)

Columbia Pictures has just acquired the rights to do a Green Hornet movie. The Green Hornet was created as a radio show in the forties, by the same people that created the Lone Ranger. In fact the Hornet is supposed to be a descendant of the Lone Ranger. Most people remember the Green Hornet from the tv show in the sixties, with Bruce Lee as Kato. This was the show that was produced by the same people behind the sixties Batman tv show. Lots of POW! BAM! ZAP! In fact the the Green Hornet appeared on a few Batman shows.

There's been talk of a Green Hornet movies for awhile. At one point Kevin Smith of Clerks fame was supposed to write and direct the movie, but something happened and he moved on. At this point there is no writer, director, star or anyone associated with this movie.

Out Today: Neil Young Live at Massey Hall

He recorded this concert right before he released Harvest and it has some of the songs from that album on here live. This is a live acoustic show he did. I just started listening to it and it sounds great.

I Can't Help It

You Are Very Messy

You are a slob, and you really don't care if other people know it. You don't love messes, but you just can't be bothered to clean on a regular basis. While being messy and disorganized feels easy, it's probably making your life harder. Maybe it's time for you to get a maid.

Are You Messy?

Movie Buff

Your Movie Buff Quotient: 82%

You are a movie buff of the most obsessive variety. If a movie exists, chances are that you've seen it. You're an expert on movie facts and trivia. It's hard to stump you with a question about film.

Are You a Movie Buff?

What Two Did I Miss?

You Passed the US Citizenship Test

Congratulations - you got 8 out of 10 correct!

Could You Pass the US Citizenship Test?

Me

Your Personality Profile

You are dignified, spiritual, and wise. Always unsatisfied, you constantly try to better yourself. You are also a seeker of knowledge and often buried in books. You tend to be philosophical, looking for the big picture in life. You dream of inner peace for yourself, your friends, and the world. A good friend, you always give of yourself first.

The World's Shortest Personality Test

My Birthday

Your Birthdate: July 12

You're a dynamic, charismatic person who's possibly headed for fame. You tend to charm strangers easily. And you usually can get what you want from them. Verbally talented, you tend to persuade people with your speaking and writing. You are affectionate and loving, but it's hard for you to commit to any one relationship. Your strength: Your charm Your weakness: Your extreme manipulation tactics Your power color: Indigo Your power symbol: Four leaf clover Your power month: December

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

Did You See That? I Guess I Didn't

Your Observation Skills Get A D+

You know that you remembered to put on underwear today... But really, that's about it!

How Observant Are You?

I Hate Math

You Are An INTP

The Thinker You are analytical and logical - and on a quest to learn everything you can. Smart and complex, you always love a new intellectual challenge. Your biggest pet peeve is people who slow you down with trivial chit chat. A quiet maverick, you tend to ignore rules and authority whenever you feel like it. You would make an excellent mathematician, programmer, or professor.

What's Your Personality Type?

Buffy on the prowl

I need to mow my grass. When did it get so high?

BOOK FUN

Who created the world of Darkover, than made it available for other writers to set stories there?

Yesterday's answer: Colleen McCullough

ROCK N ROLL HISTORY

On this day in 1982, what female artists began a seven week run at #1 with the song "I Love Rock 'n' Roll?"

Yesterday's answer: Fabian

WORD A DAY

HYDROMANCY: divination by the appearance or motion of liquids (as water)

"Hydromancy" is believed to dere ultimately from the Greek words for water (hydor) and divination (manteia). The ancienct Greeks who relied on hydromancy alsogave us the names for related of divination, such as "necromancy" (using the dead), "pyromancy" (with fire), and even rhabdomancy," a fancy word for divination with wands or rods.

Television Seasons

Is anyone else upset at the way the Networks run the tv seasons? A tv show lasts 22 weeks, so you would think a show would run 22 weeks. Right? Wrong. They stretch the 22 weeks out for as long as possible with reruns and sometimes they put a different show in the time slot for a few weeks. What it does, is throw off the show you're watching. It really hurts shows like Lost and Heroes, where each episode is basically a continuted story. We just had a break for Heroes and when it came back I thought it was going out with all new stories, but no, for the next five weeks we have repeats.

Ok, a year is 52 weeks, right? Why not run a show straight through for 22 weeks, take a few weeks off and than come back with a new season of new shows. You have the fall season of 22 weeks, it ends and you do your reruns or whatever you want for eight weeks. Than you start the summer season with new shows that run for 22 weeks.

Now how easy is that?

Veronica Mars promo

Okay, for all those of you who aren't watching Veronica Mars (I know there's a few of you out there) here's a three minute promo of the show. I saw this on Scooter's site first,than went to You Tube to get it.

Topblogmag

There's a new blog/magazine out there. It's called Top Blog Mag. It's a weekly and written by You...the blogger. Check it out, their first "issue" is out. They have some rules about what you can submit, the biggest is probably that it has to be brand new and never posted anywhere, meaning even your blog. Check it out.

Manic Monday #8: Chips

He was down to his last chip.

Tony took a deep breath. The noise of the clacking and clanging of the slot machines was a background noise that Tony thought of normal, like the jackhammering noise a construction worker takes for granted, or the constant yelling and talking of kids for a teacher. A waitress walked by and he ordered a drink. At least the drinks were cheap here.

Don't think about Dianne he told himself. She was home, where else would she be? He heard one of the dollar slots hit the jackpot. He could hear the rollup as the machine counted to the win and when he turned to look he saw the candle flashing to alert someone for a hand payout. Damn, he had been on that machine earlier today and now it pays enough that someone has to get a hand pay.

That was his luck today. No luck.

Still his luck had to change, didn't it? You can only have a run of bad luck for so long, than it had to change to good, right?

He pulled his cell phone out of his pocket to check if he had any messages. Nothing from Dianne. Nothing from anyone. No messages, only a missed call from an 800 number which meant it was probably a creditor.

The casino was busy for a middle of the day in the middle of the week. People were sitting in front of the machines, cranking the arm down over and over watching the display spin and spin to stop on whatever combination the random number generator selected.

Today was rent day, he needed to win some money. Dianne was sitting home waiting for him to come home with his paycheck so they could pay the rent. How was he going to tell her he lost it on the slots? Again. He flipped his phone open again, still no messages. Why hadn't she called him?

The waitress came with his drink. He paid her and left no tip. He needed every dime now, he couldn't afford to leave anything extra on the table. She gave him a “thanks” and moved on. Screw her, he wasn't here to make friends. He was here to win some money.

Tony rubbed at his eyes. They were red from lack of sleep and the cigarette smoke in the casino. What time was it? There were no clocks around and he had hocked his watch a long time ago. It didn't matter, he wasn't going anywhere until he had a payout.

He rubbed his finger over his last chip. It was a ten dollar chip. He wasn't going to waste his time on the nickel and dime slots, that was no way to make money, it was a sucker's game. A ten dollar payout would provide enough for rent and groceries for the week. Dianne would be happy than.

He sipped his drink and looked about the casino. Where to play? There was a carousel of machines towards the back that had been good to him in the past. He remembered winning four hundred dollars there a few months back. Money that had kept him playing for hours, until he went home with nothing left.

Ok, let's make some new luck he thought. Forget those machines in the back. Dianne would be proud of him when he came home tonight with his winnings. She would be sitting up waiting for him and smile that beautiful smile of hers when he came home and handed her his winnings. She would forget all about the yelling and threatening to leave him if he didn't come straight home from work tonight.

He took the last swallow of his drink and put it down on next to an ashtray some old man had stationed next to his machine as he fed it quarters. Tony held his chip in his hand and moved towards a new row of machines. That might have been his last chip but he still had his ATM card.

The Streets of New Orleans

More pictures from my last trip to the city:

MIX TAPE MONDAY

For this edition of Mixed Tape Monday I thought I'd take into account that today is the fourth anniversary since the President started the war in Iraq.

Brian Stotz "God, Guns & Money"


Buddy Miller "Worry Too Much"


Bruce Springsteen "How Can A Poor Man Stand Such Times?"


Dixie Chicks "Not Ready To Make Nice"

FROM SPACE

Launching from Europe's Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana is a pair of communication satellites atop a Ariane 5 rocket.

New Bike

First let me begin by saying this is not a payperpost ad or any other type of ad. I know I post these, but this is just about finding something that I thought was interesting, even though it feels almost like an ad.

Trek Bicycle Corportion is introducing a new bike called the Lime. What's so different about this bike? Looking at the picture you'd probably think it looked like a thousand other bikes, maybe the color being different. It's the first bike I know of that has automatic transmission. It has three speeds with a built in computer that changes the speeds as you go faster or slow down. It has pedal brakes, step forward and the bike moves; step backward and the bike stops. This might not seem like much, but with a multi speed bike the brakes don't work that way. They have the handles on the handle bar that you squeeze to stop the bike.

I have no idea on the price of this bike or anything else. I saw it listed and just thought it was unusual enough to mention.

Buffy Season 8 Number 1 is out

Season Eight is finally here. The first story arc is written by Mr. Buffy himself, Joss Whedon. There has been a lot of changes since the end of season 7. Buffy is no longer the only slayer, by her count there are 1800 other slayers in the world. And Buffy is organizing them into an army to combat the forces of evil.

This issue shows us Buffy, Xander and a slightly different Dawn. Mention is made of Willow and Giles and Andrew. There is also a reference to an episode of Angel from the last season, but only if you're an Angel fan.

The Army has noticed Buffy and her growing army and are not too happy. They are trying to find ways to fight this new army of slayers and the last page comes up with a character from the tv show.

Joss has mentioned that in the comic he can do things he could never do on the tv show due to budget. I think the change in Dawn is a prime example of that. I just hope that they don't lose sight of the fact that what made Buffy so great wasn't the fights or the Big Bads, it was the quiet moments in between, it was showing Buffy going from a high schooler to an adult, it was the death of her Mom...it was all those moments when they weren't fighting that made Buffy special. Now don't get me wrong, the fights and bad guys are important, but I don't want that to become the main focus of the comic. Hopefully since Joss is at the helm it won't be.

This issue was a good introduction, though it seemed too short. If you're not familiar with the show you might be a little lost at the comic, but I'm guessing that they are aiming this comic pretty much at fans of the show. I want to see Willow and Giles and the other characters. Hopefully they'll be dealing with the deaths that occurred in the last season. Buffy was never a show where people died causally, each death meant something.

The first issue was a good start, now I can't wait to see what else is coming.

BOOK FUN

What best selling Aussie author moved to tiny Norfolk Island,where she met and married a local descendant of Fletcher Christian?

Yesterday's answer: Philip Roth

ROCK N ROLL HISTORY

In 1973 what former teen idol from the 50s posed nude for Playgirl magazine?

Yesterday's answer: Van Morrison

WORD A DAY

VANWARD: located in the vanguard: advanced

"Vanguard" was first documented in English in the 15th century. By the early 17th century, it was sometimes shortened to "van" - a reference might be made to an army's "van and rear." Some 200 years later "vanward" brought up the rear, making it English debut when writers appended "-ward," an adjective suffix meaning "situated in the direction of," to the shortened "van," thereby creating a word meaning "in the forefront."

The Fate of Veronica Mars

Rumors are swirling that this is going to be the last season of Veronica Mars. This is the best show on television right now. I know, I have a tendency to say that about other shows, but for this one it is true. Veronica is smart and funny. It's a great mystery show. One of the best parts of the show is the relationship between Veronica and her Dad. It's not like on most tv shows where the Dad is a buffon where the kids have to explain everything. On this show her Dad is an intelligent guy and you can tell the two characters love each other. When she's in trouble and no where to run she does what any young girl in her situation would do, she goes to her Dad for help. This show is good on so many different levels it's hard to describe. It's been called the successor to Buffy the Vampire Slayer and it is in many ways. Nothing supernatural here but the same smart tone Buffy used is evident on this show.

They're talking about if there is a fourth season they may jump forward to Veronica out of college and at the FBI training. I'm not sure how that would work. I'm afraid they may be trying to make it a Criminal Minds or CSI show than. Where would her Dad be? What about all her friends? Part of the charm of Veronica is that she is still growing and learning....it could work, she'd still be learning, but something about the situation doesn't seem like it will work. I could be wrong and if it means surviving to a fourth season I'll be glad to take the chance I'm wrong.

Hopefully Veronica will survive to season four.

4 Years Later

It's coming up on four years since the start of the Iraq way. I just have a simple question: What have we accomplished?

Happy Birthday Mom!

Today is my Mom's birthday. I blog on here a lot about my Dad, mainly cause he's been so sick lately that it kind of stands out, but I don't want to short shift my Mom. This picture was taken two years ago when my parents were in the midst of moving from Mississippi to Tennessee. It was Thanksgiving Day. They were spending the week with me, having sold their home and not having their new home ready for them yet in Tennessee. My brother drove over and spent the day with us. It was a nice day, the first time I remember my parents not having Thanksgiving at their home.

My Mom was born in a small town outside of Tennessee. Her father was a farmer and her mother raised 3 daughters and 2 sons. My Mom's father was one of the kindest and gentlest men that ever lived. They didn't have a lot of money. My Mom would pick cotton to help bring money into the family. If you've never picked cotton it is a very hard job.

My Dad was in the Navy and transferred to Memphis when he met my Mom. Shortly after meeting they were married and not long after that I came along. My Mom had two more sons, one who died within a week of being born and my sister who has spina bifda. I remember as a child my Dad coming home one day and telling my brother and me that my Mother had been diagnosed with severe arthritis. He said it was going to make it hard for her to do certain things. I've never seen it effect my Mom.

After my parents moved to Mississippi my Mother was in a car accident. She was driving home from work when a man driving a SUV turned to talk to his grandson in the back seat. As he turned he veered into the other lane and hit my Mom head on. I forget the car she was driving, but it wasn't a big car. Later we went to see the car, it was wonder she survived the accident, the entire front end of the car was smashed in.

I can still remember that night. I got the news around nine. I drove over to my brothers and we headed towards my Mom. The town she lived in was a little town with a little hospital, so they brought her to Biolixi and the Navy base there. The Navy base was about a two hour drive for my brother and me. I can remember driving that night, my brother and I talking about my Mom, circling the worst, at that point we didn't know how bad it was or wasn't. We had been told she had an accident and was at the hospital. It was probably the longest car drive I'll ever have.

When the other vehicle hit my Mom's car it drove the engine back into the car, pushing the dashboard towards my Mom. Somehow only her left heel got caught under the now crushed dashboard. It literally shattered her heels into pieces. When I saw her in the hospital her body was completely black and blue.

One of the things I remember about all that. They wanted her to blow into a tube and try to blow a ball up the tube. This was to help her lungs and help prevent her from getting pneumonia I think. They told her to do it every two or three hours. She was blowing into that tube at least every hour.

My Mom is one of the strongest people I know. She is stronger than just about anyone I know. No matter what happens she keeps on going. She'll complain but she's going to get the job done no matter what.

I consider myself very lucky in having the two people I do as parents. So today I just want to wish my Mom a Happy Birthday.

BOOK FUN

Who won a 1998 Pulitzer for his multi generational novel American Pastoral?

Yesterday's answer: The Closing of the American Mind

ROCK N ROLL HISTORY

Hailing from Belfast, Northern Ireland, this man's 1970 record Moondance contains the jazzy title song, the soulful "And It Stoned Me," and the stirring "Into the Mystic."

Yesterday's answer: Green Day

WORD A DAY

FAVONIAN: of or relating to the west wind: mild

Its Latin name, which is the basis for the English adjective "favonian," derives from roots that are akin to Latin fovere, meaning "to warm." In Greco-Roman tadition, it was Boreas (or Aquilo), the north wind, who was the rude and blustery type. Notus (or Auster) and Eurus (or Vulturnus) represented the south and east winds, respectively.

The Streets of New Orleans

From my trip downtown last week, a few pics. I'll post some more of the city that I took later.