MP3 Laws Unfair to Consumers

Beware of RIAA


Here is an interesting article on the king of the downloads and his opinion of the laws surrounding downloading.
This site examines what the law says.
And the following are examples of the freedoms that we as consumers should have, and examples of how the music companies are not fair. If only congress would listen to the little guy!
Under law a person is only allowed to make one copy of a song that they own. This copyright law is unfair to the consumer. If I want to make a party tape of various songs that I like and I get tired of that particular mix, I cannot legally re-copy any song. That is extreme, and the consumers are tired of the abuse in power of the record companies. Consumers should take note that the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) was involved in the hearings on digital piracy. One theory is that the MPAA is trying to prevent recording of television or movies that will be broadcasted in the HDTV format.
I disagree that parents should have to pay the penalties of music that is downloaded by their children. For any such laws to be fair, the consumer (not the MPAA) should benefit from them as well. The consumer should be able to hold the rights to any song they ever buy. If they bought a song as a record, LP, EP, or 45, they should be allowed to download the song in any format. The record companies should take the blame for faulty formats that scratch or stop playing appropriately. The music companies were less than honest when they justified raising the price of an album two dollars because they said it cost them more to make a CD than to release it in the cassette format. If that were the case, the price should have been lowered when CDs became less costly. I believe that the music companies should allow downloading of music. Instead they should release the material in attractive packaging while always guaranteeing high levels of crystal clear fidelity.

Obtain a free Ipod.

Aimee Mann on TV Monday Night

Aimee Performing King of the Jailhouse (Photo by Dave Weil)

Aimee will be on CBS's Late Late Show with Michael Ian Black on Monday night. Hopefully she will perform King of the Jailhouse. She looks great when she performs on the piano. There is a possibility that the song is longer than the time alotted for performances. She is a very soulful rock singer, often closing her eyes to concentrate on delivering greater emotions.



By the way Aimee now leads my Audioscrobbler playlist.

1. Aimee Mann
2. Love
3. The Beatles
4. George Harrison
5. Barenaked Ladies
6. Bob Dylan
7t. Alice Cooper, Neil Young, Kate Bush
8. Steppenwolf
9. John Lennon
10. Planet P Project

Pinky the Cat

Nice Kitty

Looking to adopt a sweet kitty cat. Well, Pinky is one of the sweetest ever as this video demon-strates.

Just in Time for Christmas

Guess Who is Coming for Breakfast

Looking for last minute gift ideas for the kiddies? Get them the new Microbe plush collection. Can you guess which calamity is pictured above? No it is not Jane. Find out for yourself at the Giant Microbes site.

Money for Nothing

Surprise

Yesterday was my first experience with a shopping anomaly known as Black Friday. Wifey and I went out so I could see what the doorbusters were all about. We decided that we would go to Proffits because I have always heard about the Cracker Jacks that they give out that have a surprise of discounts of purchase or jewelry or money. Anyway, we each got a bag and opened it and we each had a 15% off the purchase of an item. Well, the store has more than one location in the mall and when we went to the other one a lady was giving out two to three bags at a time. People were getting bags and circling around for more bags. We probably got about ten bags each. Unfortunately the surprise never surprised us after the first bag (I thought they came in boxes). Each had 15% off. I was hoping for a toy at least. (I did notice the strange writing on the outside though). We didn't buy anything either.

Latest Jams

Johnny Echols and Arthur Lee of Love

I was looking over my Audioscrobbler list of artists that I have been listening to in the past week or so. Well, since I installed it. Love is first, Aimee Mann second, George Harrison third, etc. I've also been listening to Barenaked Ladies, Bob Dylan, Alice Cooper, Neil Young, and Kate Bush among others. The list is accurate except I was offline while I was getting all the words to Aimee Mann's King of the Jailhouse or she would be first on the list. The other abnormality is that I had some kind of virus at one time that was going through my artist names and listing 10cc as the artist. I do not think I have listened to them recently at all. And, I have a lot of artists and songs that I have not loaded into my computer. That helps the artists that are already in it. Last, my audio was not working yesterday because I had sommehow locked the function key while my audio was muted.

Thanksgiving

Turkeys Peak Over the Log

I thought that I would use a different font for a special day. I thank the Lord Jesus Christ for dying for me and for forgiving my many sins. I thank him for my wonderful family. I thank him for the opportunities that I have had in my many years of broadcasting to many people including the folks that listened between Chattanooga and the following places: Knoxville, Monteagle Mtn, Western South Carolina, Western North Carolina, Fort Payne, Alabama, and Calhoun, Ga and all the places in between including the kind, the obnoxious, the downtrodden, the wealthy, etc. Also, the lurkers, and kind readers like Beez and Ken. I thank God for my close friends like Ken, Sharon, Marta, Drew,
Craig, Bruce, Dub, and Sissie.

I spent yesterday cooking a feast that included turkey, dressing, macaroni and cheese, potatoes, corn on the cob, sweet potatoes, rolls, gravy, jalapeno poppers, yellow cake with chocolate icing, coconut macaroons, and pumpkin pie. A lot of food for four people. We feasted. Today, my parents met me at Ryan's in Dalton, Ga and we ate with them. They even bought me gas. They knew I was broke. I also saw the new house they are about to move into. It is octagon shaped with a bedroom upstairs overlooking a loft. This will be better for them since their yard is no longer eight acres, not as much mowing.

I am still hoping some of you will take a chance on the before mentioned free ipod deal. It is legit and a bargain that will not go on much longer.

Anyway, have a wonderful Thanksgiving and do a few things with your kids. Spend time with them and you will make memories that are more important than anything else you do. I am trying to do this more often myself and let me tell you this it has been very rewarding to hear all the laughter.

My grandfather who lived to be 98 used to sneak up on me and pull up my hair from the back of my head which would cause my head to rise. He would say, "Turkey peaks over the log". I have continued that tradition but have changed it slightly so that I do it to them and them me when we accidentally say the word turkey. It is not done in a painful manner, just a playful one.

Auburn Deserves to Play for the National Championship with an SEC Championship Win

Jason Campbell Receives a Well Deserved Hug From an Appreciative Fan

After my Washington Redskin curse debacle I have been afraid to mention anything about my favorite college football team, Auburn. During last Saturday's Iron Bowl game Auburn trailed Alabama by 6 at halftime. That is when I changed the Auburn shirt I was wearing. My son was at a youth retreat somewhere around the Great Smokies, and he was watching the game, and he changed his shirt at halftime as well. Auburn went on to score 21 points, and only gave up a final touchdown to Alabama as time was running out of the game. I sometimes wish that Auburn would go for the blow-out scores instead of implementing a game management strategy. However, I agree with Coach Tuberville that a win should only be counted as a win no matter what the point spread.
Auburn has been an endearing friend to me, my only connection to a time of happiness that was lost many years ago.

In 1972, I was 8 years old. number 9 Auburn was facing number 2 Alabama. Alabama had a 16 - 3 lead with 5:30 left in the game. Alabama's punter would have his kick blocked by Bill Newton. David Langner would return the punt for a touchdown and a few minutes later the same thing happened again punt block by Newton, and Langner score. Auburn won 17 - 16 and bumper stickers everywhere said Punt Bama Punt. I do not remember seeing that game which would result in Auburn leading the series 19-17-1. Auburn beat Colorado 24-3 in the Gator Bowl and finished with a number 5 ranking. Alabama lost to Texas 13-17 in the Cotton Bowl and ended the season with a number 7 ranking.

Sometime in 1973 I became an Auburn fan. At the time I lived in Gadsden, Alabama. Alabama fans outnumbered Auburn fans 3 to 1. I went with the underdog. I was glad later because I thought all the girls who wore Auburn colors were more beautiful. The first game that I really remember the score to was the 1973 Iron Bowl. Auburn lost to Alabama 0-35. It was payback for the Tide fans. Alabama would win the next 8 match-ups between the two teams.

In 1974, my great-grandmother died. I was closer to her than anyone else in the world. I would visit her in Chattanooga several times a year. (We had moved to Alabama from Chattanooga when I was starting second grade.) Prior to her death I had been a big bully to everyone. I guess the shock of it really hit me and I became interested in church and doing good to others. My next big shock came in 1975. My mom and step-father were getting a divorce. That was no biggie. We were going to move back to Chattanooga. (This bothered me because I had a great deal of friends in Gadsden at home and at school where I had just starred as the Doormouse in A Mad Tea Party.) Actually, the biggest shocker was that my sister who I was the closest to was going to get married and stay in Gadsden. I remember listening to Auburn on the radio until it faded out as we drove away.

Auburn became my only contact to the world I loved. My mom had to work all the time to support us. I would watch every Auburn game and when it was not televised I would turn on the AM radio to occasionally pick up an Auburn play or two in a sea of static. I knew the exact frequency of the Gadsden station that played their games, and actually would pick up some moments of every game even though the station was 100 miles away.

In 1981, Pat Dye became coach of Auburn. He would win 6 out of 12 games against Alabama. The drought was over.

Auburn has not won a national championship since 1957 although they have certainly deserved it. I think there is a bias against Auburn that does not exist for other SEC teams.

In 1983, Auburn kept getting higher and higher in the poles after losing an early game to Texas.
Auburn (11-1)
Auburn
09/10 Auburn 24 - Southern Mississippi 3
09/17 Texas 20 - Auburn 7
09/24 Auburn 37- Tennessee 14
10/01 Auburn 27 - Florida St 24
10/08 Auburn 49 - Kentucky 21
10/15 Auburn 31 - Georgia Tech 13
10/22 Auburn 28 - Mississippi St 13
10/29 Auburn 28 - Florida 21
11/05 Auburn 35 - Maryland 23
11/12 Auburn 13 - Georgia 7
12/03 Auburn 23 - Alabama 20
01/02 Auburn 9 - Michigan 7 !! Sugar Bowl !!

1983 Miami9/3 @ Florida* (9-2-1) L 3-28
9/10 @ Houston (4-7) W 29-7
9/17 Purdue (3-7-1) W 35-0
9/24 Notre Dame* (7-5) W 20-0
10/1 @ Duke (3-8) W 56-17
10/8 Louisville (3-8) W 42-14
10/15 @ Miss. State (3-8) W 31-7
10/22 Cincinatti (4-6-1) W 17-7 @ Cincinatti OH
10/29 West Virginia*#(16) (9-3) W 20-3
11/5 East Carolina#(20) (8-3) W 12-7
11/12 @ F$U* (7-5) W 17-16
1/2 Nebraska*#(2) (12-1) W 31-30 @ Orange Bowl, Miami FL

Auburn should have been the national champs. Auburn had the hardest schedule of any team that year. Auburn beat Florida who beat Miami.

Another way to look at is
#1 loses by a point to #5 (Miami).
#2 loses by a point to #7.
#3 (Auburn) wins by two points over #8.
#4 gets hosed by 36 points to an unranked team.
Why does #5 rise to #1 over #3?

In 1993, Auburn was on probation but, still undefeated. The only hope they would have would be that their record would be the only one without losses. Here is the final poll.

1993 Final Poll
Final Poll released after Bowls Final
Rank Team Record
1 Florida St. 12-1
2 Notre Dame (IN) 11-1
3 Nebraska 11-1
4 Auburn (AL) 11-0
5 Florida 11-2
6 Wisconsin 10-1-1

Auburn Won Every Game

9/2 W 16-12 Mississippi
9/11 W 35-7 Samford
9/18 W 34-10 LSU
9/25 W 35-24 Southern Mississippi
10/2 W 14-10 Vanderbilt
10/ 9 W 31-17 Mississippi State
10/16 W 38-35 Florida
10/30 W 31-21 Arkansas
11/ 6 W 55-14 New Mexico State
11/13 W 42-28 Georgia
11/20 W 22-14 Alabama

Most teams are never put in the position that Auburn has been put in. If Auburn beats Tennessee in the SEC Championship, they should be in the National Championship Game. Auburn has suffered the last two times they were in the same situation.



This Season 11-0
Sept. 4 Louisiana-Monroe W 31-0
Sept. 11 Mississippi State W 43-14
Sept. 18 LSU W 10-9
Sept. 25 The Citadel W 33-3
Oct. 2 Tennessee W 34-10
Oct. 9 Louisiana Tech W 52-7
Oct. 16 Arkansas W 38-20
Oct. 23 Kentucky W 42-10
Oct. 30 Ole Miss W 35-14
Nov. 13 Georgia W 24-6
Nov. 20 Alabama W 22-13

After all these years I am still hopeful that Auburn will win a national championship. I feel Auburn was robbed in the past. Don't let it happen again.

CBS Finalists for Dan Rather's Job are D. L. Hughley and Craig Ferguson

The First Album that I Ever Bought

Portrait of Bobby

This is the first album I ever bought. I was 7 years old. My grandmother took me shopping on my birthday. It was my birthday, and I remembered liking the song Cried Like a Baby that I would hear on the school bus every morning. Perhaps seeing Bobby on TV in Here Comes the Bride influenced my decision. I do not still have the album as I am sure that when I became a teenager that I started viewing the album or any album with titles such as Bubble Gum and Braces as the kiss of death when it came to being cool. I did love it in the 1980's when Bobby Sherman played the bad guy in Get Crazy. I admire the fact that he became a paremedic. And, Bobby could probably kick Leif Garrett or any solo bubble gum pop star that came afterwards. The other two albums that I bought the same day sre pictured below in the order I picked them out. So, dear readers what was your first album that you ever bought?

Album Number 2

Up to Date

The second album that I ever owned was the Partridge Family's Up to Date. I picked it out as the second of three albums that I would buy on my seventh birthday. My decision was solidified when I saw that Keith (David Cassidy) Partridge's birthday was the same as mine. Like Bobby Sherman's album this one was disgarded when puberty came knocking. And it was the only album I ever bought by them. When they broke up I never bought any of their albums either although I would have bought David Cassidy's before I would have bought Shirley Jones's. David starred in a crime drama called David Cassidy - Man Undercover that I liked, but it didn't last long.

The Third Album

You'll Never Walk Alone

There is no doubt in my mind why I bought this album on my seventh birthday. Elvis was the universal standard by which everything that was cool was measured. I used to read the TV Guide listings to see who was starring in each movie so that I would be able to see all the Elvis movies. (I also looked for Bobby Sherman, and later George Harrison. I kept getting fooled by Gregory Harrison's name.) I enjoyed the movies Girl Happy, Speedway, and A Change of Habit. I remember seeing A Change of Habit in the theater and that probably influenced my decision to buy this religious Elvis album. I liked the songs Let us Pray and Sing You Children. Of my first three albums, this is the only artist whose albums I would buy again. However, the fourth album that I bought would change everything.

Album Number 4

Sgt Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band

I took some time out after buying my third album and was 12 when I bought my fourth album. The Beatles became the standard bearer to everything that I have ever liked since. They could sing about any topic they desired. They included lyric sheets. I have loved over 90 percent of their songs on each of their albums. The same year I discovered ELO's A New World Record and began my lifelong magical musical tour. What artist or artists do you use to judge others?

What is Famous About Chattanooga?

The Southern Belle Where I Got Married In 2003

My home town is Chattanooga, Tennessee. It was the setting for some of the greatest battles in the Civil War. IN 1899, Chattanooga became home of the first Coca-Cola Bottling Plant. In 1912, a Ma Rainey discovered a young Chattanoogan named Bessie Smith who would become known as the Empress of the Blues. In 1925, a Chattanooga native, Grady Sutton, starred in The Big Whirl, his first movie out of a 202 film career that would conclude with 1979's Ramones classic Rock N Roll High School. In the 1930's and 1940's, country performers regularly broadcasted on WDOD with Archie Campbell hosting a radio show (later to be replaced by Chet Atkins. Homer and Jethro would record a live album on WDOD. In 1941, the song, Chattanooga Choo Choo recorded by the Glenn Miller Orchestra was first heard in a movie called Sun Valley Serenade. Hugh Beaumont was a football player for the University of Chattanooga in the 1940's, years before becoming Ward Cleaver. In the late 1950's, Jim Nabors, the future Gomer Pyle star worked as a film cutter at Chattanooga TV stations.
In 1957 Disney filmed part of a movie called Light in theForest starring Helen Hayes' son James MacArthur. Around the same time a future rock hall of fame band, The Impressions, was formed. 1965 saw Jules Alexander, a Chattanoogan co-found the Association. In 1966, Chattanoogan Dave Burke became for a brief time the bass player of the Standells. And for a few years, additional musicians from Chattanooga would not receive fame. In 1978, former Chattanoogan, Karen Allen co-starred in Animal House. She would return to Chattanooga in 1984 for the filming of Starman with co-star Jeff Bridges. 1989 would see Chattanoogan Dennis Haskins star as Mr. Belding in the long running TV series Saved By the Bell.
The 1990's saw Chattanooga's Hixson High School graduate Danny Shirley front award winning country band Confederate Railroad. A 1980's character actor named Samuel L. Jackson rose to greater fame beginning with Jungle Fever and Pulp Fiction. Chattanooga born actress Lori Petty became Tank Girl in 1995. Chattanoogan Raymond Usher dropped his first name around the same time and has became one of the most popular singers today. More Chattanooga history to come.

Concert For George

We Miss You George

What a concert! What a lineup!

Gary Brooker, Joe Brown, Sam Brown, Eric Clapton, Ray Cooper, Andy Fairweather-Low,
Terry Gilliam, Dhani Harrison, Olivia Harrison, Jools Holland, Eric Idle, Neil Innes, Terry Jones, Katie Kissoon, Albert Lee, Jeff Lynne, Paul McCartney, Michael Palin, Tom Petty, Billy Preston, Ravi Shankar, Ringo Starr, Klaus Voormann, etc.

Watching Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne perform the Traveling Wiburys' Handle With Care makes me wish that they would tour together. Before George got sick he had mentioned that he and the rest of the Wilburys minus the late Roy Orbison would tour. Perhaps the boys should include Bob Dylan who I was surprised was not on the tribute.

Seeing Clapton on the tribute reminded me of the Live in Japan concerts that Harrison and Clapton performed in the early 90's. I sure was jealous of the Japanese snce that tour never came to the U.S. Thankfully some footage from these shows will be on the Dark Horse Years DVD.


Billy Preston always could make an Hammond Organ sound like it could talk to you and through it you could experience the greatest of joy, the Holiest reverences, and the greatest depths of pain. Billy's mom was Saphire on Amos and Andy. Billy played with the Beatles in the studio and on the rooftop in Let It Be, a movie I wish was on DVD.

It was nice to see Monty Python including members Innes, Palin, Idle, etc., perform LumberJack a skit George had done with the band. George was responsible for the Python's Life of Brian being filmed. It also reminded me of the Rutles, a Python offshoot that parodied the Beatles. George was in the Rutles movie playing a janitor.

If I am not mistaken Katie Kissoon, Fairweather-Low, and a few others are members of Roger Waters band. I saw them about 3 years ago in Nashville. That too was great.

McCartney and Starr sounded great as well. You could tell they missed their former bandmate. I am glad they recorded the Beatles Anthology with George while he was alive. I miss Lennon too. Starr had recently been on tour with Brooker, formerly of Procul Harum.

Mostly I miss George three years after he died. It was nice to see footage of hilm superimposed, and Dhani Harrison sure shares his fathers likeness. I hope to see Concert for Bangladesh relleased on DVD of which Shankar is featured along with a host of others.

Significance of the Forgotten Arm?

Aimee Mann

The name of Aimee Mann's upcoming concept album will be The Forgotten Arm according to Reuters News Service. The album set in the 70's has mystified a lot of Aimee's fans with the title. What does it mean? Is it a weapon left behind? Is it a missing limb that one hasn't noticed? So, I have been pouring over the lyrics of the two songs on her new Live at St. Ann's Warehouse cd, trying to decipher how the lyrics fit together as a theme and how they apply to the album's title. In some ways I wish there was a lyric sheet, but then again I think the hunt may draw me into the song greater. The two new songs from the live album are Going Through the Motions and The King of the Jail House. Another song, That's How I Knew This Story Would Break My Heart appeared during the funeral scene in Jersey Girl and will be on the album as well.

GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS

Somethin' isn't right
I don't know how I know
But baby it's despite
Your dog and pony show
I can hear it coming
You're only goin' through the motions, baby
With your engines humming
You're only goin' through the motions, baby
Going through the motions, baby
I feel like I'm in jail
With you and Mr. Hyde
A guy who leaves a trail
About a mile wide
So it starts already
You're just goin' through the motions, baby
You can throw confetti
It's just a goin' through the motions, baby
Going through the motions, baby
We'll have a big parade
For every day that you stay clean
But when the trumpets fade
You'll go under like a submarine
You won't see it coming
You can't see it coming
You can have a [?]
A fair and [?] foe(?)
But baby I'm afraid
I'll never see you well
Or foresee the tally
And you're just goin' through the motions, baby
To a different alley
comes from where we play the motions, baby
Goin' through the motions, baby
Goin' through the motions, baby
Goin' through the motions, baby

KING OF THE JAILHOUSE

The King of the Jailhouse
and the Queen of the Road
Think sharing the burden
Will lighten the load
So they pack up their troubles
In an old Cadillac
(That's?) her in the mirror
(a)sleep in the back
Baby, there's something wrong with me
Baby, there's something wrong with me
And there is something wrong with me
ANd I can't see
That I can't see
And I don't get the answers
at the end of the test
So you can't simply stand there
and hope for the best
wake me up at the border
When we reach Mexico
I'll tell you a secret
I don't even know
Baby, there's something wrong with me
Baby, there's something wrong with me
baby, there's something wrong with me
That I can't see
That I can't see
(Bridge)
(Baby?)I don't want to turn around
and go back there to you
I think you lost something
I don't know when I need to
Baby, there's something wrong with me
Baby, there's something wrong with me
Baby, there's something wrong with me
That I can't see
That I can't see
That I can't see

THAT'S HOW I KNEW THIS STORY WOULD BREAK MY HEART

I drew a picture of you
You and your anchor tattoo
And saw the face that I knew
Covered in shame
You drew the bird that was here
The kind of sweet chanticleer
But with a terrible fear
That the cage couldn't tame
That's how I knew the story would break my heart
When you're older
That's how I knew the story would break my heart
This could be a partial part of the song that was used in Jersey Girl. All lyrics were transcribed to the best of my and other fans' ears. You can watch King of the Jailhouse and see if you can decipher what the forgotten arm may be. My guess is that it has a Bonny and Clyde type theme.

My Favorite Show Returns

Amazing Race 6
The new season of the Amazing Race debuted tonight. I could so see wifey and me on this show more than any other. It would probably be an ugly scene at times because we are very competitive and would let it all hang out. I think we would at least finish in the final four. I know we would love being in all the different countries. So far we have been in Las Vegas and New York City together. When we went to New York on our honeymoon we transferred in Chicago which is where this season began. It brought back fond memories of my wife taking off her shoes to be scanned. I did not have to do this because my shoes were different and I guess cannot be used to detonate things. I think we always get selected for the additional scanning because we book our flights late.
Anyway, the show begins in Iceland and there are some interesting couples and plenty of possible meltdowns that make the show more interesting. I won't predict the winner just yet, but I will make a prediction of a couple that should be interesting to watch with possile meltdowns.

Most Likely Meltdown

The Door to Wall of Voodoo and Stan Ridgway Mp3s is Open

Wall of Voodoo Door (See Below for Freebies)

Free Wall of Voodoo and Stan Ridgway Downloads

Mexican Radio
For those of you who do not know who Wall of Voodoo were. They were an 80's band that had a sound like no other, although some would suggest Devo and Oingo Boingo as in the same league. The difference is in original lead singer of Wall of Voodoo, Stan Ridgway fashioned lyrics that sounded as if David Lynch and John Steinbeck had gotten together for a Twilight Zone episode where Mayberry was a front for the heinous activities that were never reported, and of course while Ridway told the story he had some kind of odd synthesizer that had previously been used by a man who created the soundtracks for some famous cartoons. (I think it was Hannah Barbera cartoons. I just cannot confirm it, because the link has gone bye bye.) Anyway, following Wall of Voodoo's performance at the 1983 Us festival, Ridgway left the band. Funzone from the concert is available for download.
Stan continued making great albums such as Mosquitos, Partyball, and his latest, Snakebite: Blacktop Ballads and Fugitive Songs.
An entire concert of Stan Ridgway is available here.
Many more Mp3s of Stan are accessible here.
Want to download the videos? Click and your wish will be granted. Do not worry. The site is legit and is promoted by Stan Ridgway. By the way, the mp3s by Jackie "Teak" Lazar are actually Stan singing in a funny old man voice.

Thank You Veterans

A Day to Honor Our Veterans

Today is Veteran's Day. It was on November 11, 1918 that the armistice to end World War I was signed. The history of the holiday can be found here.
I have always respected the our country's veterans. I want to send out a big thank you to our enlisted men and women in the Navy, Army, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard, National Reserves. Without you, we would not have a country where we have the freedoms we enjoy. Your sacrifices should always be remembered.
Whereas in pastimes some wars have not been viewed as favorably as other wars, the veterans should be honored just the same. It is not their fault if they are led into an unpopular war. The veterans should be respected for signing on to protect us period.
So, thank you.

First Impression of The Rebel Billionaire

Richard Branson searches for a new Virgin label head

Tonight was the world premiere of the Rebel Billionaire. I was looking forward to it because I enjoy most reality TV shows. The previews of this new show reminded me somewhat of the Amazing Race which has been my favorite reality show for sometime.
This show started out with 16 contestants being driven to Branson's mansion by a cab driver who turned out to be Branson in disguise. Two contestants were eliminated based on how they treated the driver. I like this in Branson, because I believe everyone in every social status should be treated with the same amount of dignity.
Another nice touch was when a limo pulled up and was opened a Donald Trump look-alike came out. It showed that Branson has a nice sense of humor. His choice in music for the show, "Live and Let Die" shows he has great taste that rocks.
I enjoyed the first stunt where 7 of the contestants had to walk a thin beam between two hot air balloons. Since two of the contestants were not able to make the cross before the other balloon separated, they had to climp a floating ladder to the top of the balloon where they had tea with Richard and enjoyed great fellowship.
My first impression halfway through the first show is that Branson always treats the contestants with dignity when he dismisses people and he is genuinely nice. That coupled with the adventure of the show will make it a must watch. It is on Tuesday nights like the Amazing Race, but thank goodness it will be on at 8:00, Amazing Race at 9:00. I can still enjoy the Amazing Race while getting to know this one. Thanks Richard, your show looks really cool.

FrankenCheney

Cheney just sits there watching

This reminds me of Monster by Steppenwolf and I will quote part of it from the band's site where you can find all the lyrics to Monster.
The spirit was freedom and justice
And it's keepers seem generous and kind
It's leaders were supposed to serve the country
But now they won't pay it no mind
'Cause the people grew fat and got lazy
And now their vote is a meaningless joke
They babble about law and order
But it's all just an echo of what they've been told
Yeah, there's a monster on the loose
It's got our heads into a noose
And it just sits there watchin'
Our cities have turned into jungles
And corruption is stranglin' the land
The police force is watching the people
And the people just can't understand
We don't know how to mind our own business
'Cause the whole worlds got to be just like us
Now we are fighting a war over there
No matter who's the winner
We can't pay the cost
Don't these lyrics sound current?
Thanks to Bryan at the Ho Hum Blog for finding the pic of FrankenCheney. I promise I am going to link your blog from mine when I figure out how. I'm just a novice at this.

Radiohead's Creep Animated

I got an email from Aimee Mann's list server. One of the regulars posted a link to an animated version of Radiohead's Creep. The animation is pretty cool. I thought I would pass it along to my fine droogs.

Dear John Letter

Dear John Kerry,
I am so disheartened that America will not have you as the next commander-in-chief. I admire you for many reasons that began when I saw you in New York City in July of 2003, and you were authentically nice to a person when you were greeted by a person across the street, almost a block behind you. You could have kept on walking, talking to the person next to you, but you did not. You smiled, turned, and responded to the man.
You are a man of means yet you are burdened by the poor and downtrodden in the world. You wanted to help the elderly. You wanted to give us all health care. The Bible says that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into Heaven, but you will get there I am sure.
You used your words wisely. I am sure in your administration there would be no bring it on, crusade, mission accomplished, Axis of Evil, either for us or against us, wanted dead or alive, or other words that would be said in haste polarizing the United States.
I know that in your administration America would have lived by American values in deed and not in empty words. There would not have been any Abu Ghraib type of human rights violations in the world in which I so longed to live.

I only wish that the media would have been on your side and would have shown the meat of your messages and would have quoted your words instead of making you defend the lies of another. I felt frustrated during the campaign when I saw the biases of Tom Brokaw, Bill Hemmer, and the scowl of Candy Crowley. In the world we could have had the press would have prioritized truth, not yellow journalism.

You said in your concession speech that you wish you could hug us all. We need it my friend. Thank you for giving us a dream.
Sincerely,
Randy Black