Arkansas Blog

did anyone else find the way today's DemoGaz totally...um, gushed... over McCain's VP pick to be more than just a little...icky?

My last bus ride from South Station to NYC was an interesting experience, Max. I was the only person on board who wasn't speaking Chinese. Nice ride, though, in and out of rainshowers through little New England towns.

For all my friends who work the Graveyard shift, on this machine, and give me such joy....

well, a few give me heartburn but, I just boogie on past them.

clicky

Hey Max, ease up on AA----:-)

Here's an interesting article that traces the genesis of Republican electoral tactics back to the 1968 elections. It also give a whole new illumination to the old saw "Republicans will do anything to win an election . . . except get the most votes!"

Click

I hope I get a sign pretty soon because for the first time since I have had the great American privlege to vote I have absolutely no idea who I am going to vote for this election. I which I could get a clearer picture of the direction our country is headed. Any help out there?

Hooboy:

I am with you on that thought. I just forgot to comment on it because it was not surprising considering the source.

Western Illinois 10, Arkansas 7 with 1:21 left in the first half. The Hogs have lost to a Division 1-AA team only once, Citadel in 1992. It cost Jack Crowe his job. If the Leathernecks hold on to beat the Razorbacks, Petrino won't be gone, but nobody will be happy.

About a week ago, I recorded my version of Amazing Grace and posted it to MySpace. If you click on my name, you can give it a listen. I'm not the most religious person in the world and I've often battled our True Believers over the deity and his reasoning, but the music remains an integral part of my life, past and present.
And, please feel free to toss a few coins in the offering plate as its being passed around. If I spend them on Obama later, then just add me to your prayer list and try to forgive me.

You go, Jake!

When I tested the video, I found that it helps to pause it at the start until it completely loads. Less jerky sounds or sudden stoppage.

As to the Dum-Guyz fawning and gushing over Palin, so what? It's to be expected. They do not hide their Republican bias in the least. Wholly a pleasure, you know.

That they call her a breath of fresh air is a stretch however. Their nostrils must've been so overwhelmed by the stench of the Republican sewer that similar odors emanating from Palin's portfolio pass inspection because of their familiarity, not their quality.

You can help with the offering, Bro Widj!

jeesh Jake. My late mom played in style very similar to yours. Her first and last love was the piano. I don't think I ever heard her put the boogie roll in Amazing Grace though. She did work in some boogey strokes in other gospel numbers...it just fits since many gospel numbers had roots in work songs and blues.

this is good...

http://www.andrewhalcro.com/shadow_governor

Watching Miss State-La Tech on ESPN 2. La Tech just scored TD/EP to take lead (16-14 @ 6:30 in 3rd). Not sure of what is going on in F'vile, but may or may not turn on radio to find out.

AETN is launching a 6 day per week HD service per an article from the Conway Log Cabin Democrat. Of course it won't be on Saturdays...gotta keep those pearl clutchers happy with the still-dead Lawrence Welk. Blue name for article.

WIU 24, UA 14 @ 10:44 in 4th. Petrino might have Jumped The Shark long before Texas Week.

Back to MS State-LA Tech....

I guess you could say I was never very fond of sitting while in church. As to jazzing up church songs, there's nothing easier or more fun. The tunes are usually simple, the chords are fundamental, gospel and blues do mix well (as the Pentacostals prove every Sunday), changing tempos and counts gives it an interesting twist, and my Granny's old piano still has a fairly decent sound.
Every visit to her home, my first duty was to go sit down and play the hymns she liked while she worked in the kitchen preparing a meal for the day. Although she's long gone, her gift still gives me many hours of joy. Sigh.....

She really was a loving, tender woman whom I still miss.

Final: UA 28, WIU 24. Petrino squeaks one out.

Arkansas State 18 Texas A and M 14

Gonna be a long season for all...

Wow...when we left the BBQ joint the Hogs were down by 10 points with not much time left. We figure that girl's school had em beat. How did they pull a rabbit out of the hat?

I don't supposed the half time was a tribute to Rebekah Kennedy and a reading of Mark W. Pryor's sins? No....I guess not.

Whoa Jake, that's good. I'm going to play it again!

You need a sense of humor for this one so if you're short in the humor-irony dept skip this:

from Cluster Douche-
SARAH PALIN WINS McCAIN VEEPSTAKES; GOOGLE COLLAPSES UNDER "WHO THE FUCK IS SARAH PALIN??" SEARCHES

clicky

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Saturday Aug. 30, 2008

Massive police raids on suspected protestors in Minneapolis

[updated below (with video) - Update II - Update III]

Protesters here in Minneapolis have been targeted by a series of highly intimidating, sweeping police raids across the city, involving teams of 25-30 officers in riot gear, with semi-automatic weapons drawn, entering homes of those suspected of planning protests, handcuffing and forcing them to lay on the floor, while law enforcement officers searched the homes, seizing computers, journals, and political pamphlets. Last night, members of the St. Paul police department and the Ramsey County sheriff's department handcuffed, photographed and detained dozens of people meeting at a public venue to plan a demonstration, charging them with no crime other than "fire code violations," and early this morning, the Sheriff's department sent teams of officers into at least four Minneapolis area homes where suspected protesters were staying. ......
click name

Thanks for the link eLwood....this can't be America! Sure the Democrats took a Cheney-Bush play in Denver and set up the Free Speech Zone in Siberia and police arrested an ABC reporter trying to photograph the fat cats and the Democratic Congressmen attending a hush hush big money meeting. I hated that with all my might.

But leave it to the Republicans to go full tilt Nazi on a bunch of kids. Raid after raid after raid today. Makes me believe God is damning America after all. I don't think Obama can save this lousy country.....we're too far gone.

Jake da Snake --

That was lovely and talented and fun and different and everything.

Except "Amazing Grace" has become such a maudlin cliche of claptrap, like Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On," played at every hick funeral across America, that when I hear it I am forced to leave because I realize I'm surrounded with musically tasteless Republican bigots who think George W. Bush is a great President and want to force their hateful evangelical religion on women and gays and . . . oh, don't get me started.

"Amazing Grace" is so associated with right-wing American theocrats that I start to retch (as opposed to "wretch") the second I hear the first two notes.

It once was a beautiful hymn.

Actually, it still is. But if one is going to perform it at all, perform it like THIS.

"Just the black notes."

... or on bagpipes, Norma. "Amazing Grace" on bagpipes still grabs the soul.

Jake, you rock!

whooohooo. jake rock's. very nice. thank ya much
more more more...

Jake I'm glad to know you are a musician. I will try to hear it later.
Have you ever played Amazing Grace and sang it like the song, The House of the rising Sun?
Its different but good.

Norma, when you get to where you're final reasting place you won't be able to come back.
Sad that you think you know everything...