It’s Bigger Than NPR’s Katherine Maher
2 days ago
Friday, May 30, 2008
Taking a mini break, sort of
Bloggin' might be scant for a few days. Gotta' a special project going. But please check back regularly.
These guys have been wrong before, but if accurate this is certainly welcome news in the "war on terror."
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Ga$
This is a piece by the editors of National Review
Drill, Already
With the end of Memorial Day weekend comes the beginning of summer, and with it the beginning of America’s heaviest driving season as millions of Americans take to the highways for summer breaks. But if recent trends hold, vacationers are likely to put fewer miles on their odometers this summer than last. High gas prices are finally curbing America’s demand for the open road. Transportation Department statistics for March indicate that the country just experienced its first year-over-year decline in miles driven since 1979.
A decrease in demand is one natural market response to rising gas prices. The other natural response — an increase in supply — has not been as forthcoming, and the price of oil continues to rise even though Americans are driving less. The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is partly to blame for this market recalcitrance; the international oil cartel manipulates supply in order keep oil prices high. But if members of Congress really want to mitigate the effects of high oil prices as much as they claim they do, they could start by letting oil companies bring America’s vast untapped supplies to market.
We’re not just talking about the Alaskan National Wildlife Reserve (ANWR) — which Congress stupidly keeps off-limits even though proposed oil exploration there would only affect approximately 2,000 of its 19 million acres — though opening just that 0.01 percent of ANWR to oil and natural gas development could supply 5 percent of America’s oil per year for 12 years before it starts to decline, according to Energy Department estimates. The Outer Continental Shelf — also off-limits to drilling — likely contains billions of barrels of additional oil and natural gas reserves. While Fidel Castro’s Cuba saw no compunction about leasing its share of these waters to the Chinese, the U.S. continues to forbid oil and natural gas exploration in its share.
Critics of proposals to open these areas for business argue that they will take up to 10 years to bring any new supplies online. Of course, they were using this same argument 10 years ago, and if they hadn’t prevailed then the U.S. would be less dependent on foreign oil today. They also argue that Congress should be encouraging renewable energy sources such as solar power, wind and biofuels rather than opening the spigots on new sources of petroleum. But the simple fact of the matter is that solar power and wind can’t fulfill the vital role non-renewables play in the U.S. economy. As for biofuels, the 2007 mandate requiring the production of 36 billion gallons by 2022 has exacerbated an increase in world food prices without doing anything to lessen the pain at the pump.
Receiving no help from their leaders, Americans have taken it upon themselves to achieve savings in the face of skyrocketing fuel costs. Simply put, we are driving less. Now it’s time for Congress to meet us halfway. Superior U.S. technology has made it possible to drill in the environmentally sensitive areas off our coasts with minimal disturbance to the surrounding ecosystem. Better increased production in the U.S. than in other countries with worse environmental track records. With oil nearing $130 a barrel, there are no good arguments left for keeping this supply off the market. If members of Congress really care about helping Americans who are sacrificing in the wake of high gas prices, the best thing they can do is just get out of the way.
Drill, Already
With the end of Memorial Day weekend comes the beginning of summer, and with it the beginning of America’s heaviest driving season as millions of Americans take to the highways for summer breaks. But if recent trends hold, vacationers are likely to put fewer miles on their odometers this summer than last. High gas prices are finally curbing America’s demand for the open road. Transportation Department statistics for March indicate that the country just experienced its first year-over-year decline in miles driven since 1979.
A decrease in demand is one natural market response to rising gas prices. The other natural response — an increase in supply — has not been as forthcoming, and the price of oil continues to rise even though Americans are driving less. The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is partly to blame for this market recalcitrance; the international oil cartel manipulates supply in order keep oil prices high. But if members of Congress really want to mitigate the effects of high oil prices as much as they claim they do, they could start by letting oil companies bring America’s vast untapped supplies to market.
We’re not just talking about the Alaskan National Wildlife Reserve (ANWR) — which Congress stupidly keeps off-limits even though proposed oil exploration there would only affect approximately 2,000 of its 19 million acres — though opening just that 0.01 percent of ANWR to oil and natural gas development could supply 5 percent of America’s oil per year for 12 years before it starts to decline, according to Energy Department estimates. The Outer Continental Shelf — also off-limits to drilling — likely contains billions of barrels of additional oil and natural gas reserves. While Fidel Castro’s Cuba saw no compunction about leasing its share of these waters to the Chinese, the U.S. continues to forbid oil and natural gas exploration in its share.
Critics of proposals to open these areas for business argue that they will take up to 10 years to bring any new supplies online. Of course, they were using this same argument 10 years ago, and if they hadn’t prevailed then the U.S. would be less dependent on foreign oil today. They also argue that Congress should be encouraging renewable energy sources such as solar power, wind and biofuels rather than opening the spigots on new sources of petroleum. But the simple fact of the matter is that solar power and wind can’t fulfill the vital role non-renewables play in the U.S. economy. As for biofuels, the 2007 mandate requiring the production of 36 billion gallons by 2022 has exacerbated an increase in world food prices without doing anything to lessen the pain at the pump.
Receiving no help from their leaders, Americans have taken it upon themselves to achieve savings in the face of skyrocketing fuel costs. Simply put, we are driving less. Now it’s time for Congress to meet us halfway. Superior U.S. technology has made it possible to drill in the environmentally sensitive areas off our coasts with minimal disturbance to the surrounding ecosystem. Better increased production in the U.S. than in other countries with worse environmental track records. With oil nearing $130 a barrel, there are no good arguments left for keeping this supply off the market. If members of Congress really care about helping Americans who are sacrificing in the wake of high gas prices, the best thing they can do is just get out of the way.
Harvey Korman RIP
Korman wil be known to most for his wonderful work on The Carl Burnett Show and rightly so. But I'll always remember him as Hedley Lamar, the chief villain in "Blazing Saddles," maybe the funniest movie ever made.
Korman never had the kind of film career he should have, but when he got a good part on TV or in film, he was terrific.
A funny, funny man.
See Harvey Korman
Korman never had the kind of film career he should have, but when he got a good part on TV or in film, he was terrific.
A funny, funny man.
See Harvey Korman
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
The New Town Crier
I came out of Red Lobster on Tuesday and saw an SUV with a couple of bumper stickers on the back.
One was a Claude Nix for Sheriff. OK. Fair enough.
The other asked "Is John McCain the Manchurian Candidate?"
I'm no big McCain fan, but since when did bashing a POW for the abuse served on him while imprisoned become acceptable? Disgusting.
One was a Claude Nix for Sheriff. OK. Fair enough.
The other asked "Is John McCain the Manchurian Candidate?"
I'm no big McCain fan, but since when did bashing a POW for the abuse served on him while imprisoned become acceptable? Disgusting.
Farm bill fiasco
I had trouble with the link, but this article is worth reading.
Farming Out Principle
Second chances, lost opportunities, and the farm bill.
By Michael G. Franc
The Lord, they say, moves in mysterious ways. So perhaps He was at work earlier this month when the Congress imploded trying to override the veto of a farm bill that has variously been described by editorial boards across America as a “bloated monstrosity” (News-Sentinel of Fort Wayne, Ind.), “outrageous” (Charleston, W. Va., Daily Mail), “absurd” (St. Louis Post-Dispatch), “disgraceful” (New York Times), “shameful” (Wisconsin State Journal), “irresponsible” (Houston Chronicle), “maddeningly stupid, wasteful, and ridiculous” (the News Tribune of Tacoma, Wash.), “ “a bipartisan bumper crop of very rich manure” (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review),” “laughable” (Orlando Sentinel), “ludicrous” (Detroit News), “ridiculous” (the Lowell Sun), and (in perhaps the most diplomatic criticism of all) an “unlovely creation” (Washington Post).
A major snag developed in the rush to turn this turkey into law. The bill that Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Reid transmitted to the president, and the bill he vetoed, was not the bill passed by both chambers. An entire section of the bill sent to the White House — one containing some important trade provisions — was inadvertently left out. Oops.
Some argue that portions of the bill are now the law of the land; the White House says Congress needs to “go back to the drawing board.” In any event, this stinker of a bill will continue to sit out there over the remainder of Congress’s Memorial Day recess. By my count, over 50 papers (many with significant farm state readerships) have already run vitriolic anti-farm-bill editorials. More are sure to follow. Both sides of the blogosphere — right and left — have exploded in indignation as well.
The undisguised disgust evident in these editorials and postings arises from the bill’s Caligula-like excesses. It’s the epitome of wasteful governmental largesse. How bad is it? In the words of one pro-subsidy blogger: “lucrative beyond expectations.”
Washington’s on-going addiction to spending is one reason the congressional approval rating has tumbled to 18 percent in the latest Gallup Poll. Lawmakers’ continuing excesses inspire distrust as well as disgust. Americans simply no longer trust their government to exercise sound judgment, most especially when it comes to spending their tax dollars.
How can lawmakers win back the trust and respect of the public? The first step on the road to recovery is to acknowledge that you have a problem. But acknowledging the problem appears to be a near insurmountable hurdle for many self-styled conservatives on Capitol Hill.
Even as the GOP — the nation’s purported conservative party — flounders and conservatism itself endures attacks from many quarters, America remains a right-of-center country. Comfortable majorities of Americans still believe, after all, that the government is “inefficient and wasteful” (62 percent), that government regulation of businesses does more harm than good (57 percent), and that poor Americans have become too dependent on government subsidies (69 percent). Never has the military been more respected. Even a plurality of that most sought-after of voter groups — Independents — prefers smaller to bigger government by a margin of 48 percent to 40 percent.
Conservatives on the Hill want to believe they’ve started on that long road to recovery. Last week, Rep. Paul Ryan (R., Wis.) unveiled an exquisite and ambitious reform agenda he calls “A Roadmap for America’s Future.” In it, Ryan sets forth a credible way to address the fiscal catastrophe sure to come when the Boomers retire (consisting of foundational reforms to the big three entitlement programs — Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid) even as he reforms our tax system to promote economic growth and ensure American competitiveness. Sen. Jim DeMint (R., S.C.) and some members of the Republican Study Committee in the House have also offered up visionary action plans that should please conservatives.
But no matter how many times Ryan or his allies scream “I get it” from the mountaintop and vow to do the right thing if returned to power, the voters will not believe them until they believe his colleagues are capable of acting in a way that is consistent with conservative principles and contrary to their parochial, political interests. The voters seem to be saying: do something out of character. Admit you were wrong about something. Give me a reason to pay attention to all those 10-point action plans you’re waving around.
Imagine the public’s reaction if 50 or so of the supposedly conservative lawmakers who originally voted for that monstrous farm bill had found the courage last week to admit they’d made a mistake and then voted to uphold the president’s veto.
Suppose, moreover, that they had explained their change of heart by articulating some good old-fashioned conservative first principles. Despite the bill’s appeal to special interests back home, they might have said, the legislation would do too much harm to our economy and environment. It would worsen world hunger, impede free trade, and further constrain the family budget.
This would be courageous, principled, and refreshing. And, despite what a cynical lawmaker might tell you, it would not be political suicide. After all, two-thirds of farmers receive no subsidies at all. Most of the cash goes to a select group of large corporate agribusinesses that play both sides of the political aisle anyway.
Now suppose that, with conservatives voting in accordance with their principles, the president’s veto had been upheld. Well, then, the voters might actually start listening to them again… with a little less disgust and a little more trust.
— Michael G. Franc is vice president of government relations for the Heritage Foundation.
Farming Out Principle
Second chances, lost opportunities, and the farm bill.
By Michael G. Franc
The Lord, they say, moves in mysterious ways. So perhaps He was at work earlier this month when the Congress imploded trying to override the veto of a farm bill that has variously been described by editorial boards across America as a “bloated monstrosity” (News-Sentinel of Fort Wayne, Ind.), “outrageous” (Charleston, W. Va., Daily Mail), “absurd” (St. Louis Post-Dispatch), “disgraceful” (New York Times), “shameful” (Wisconsin State Journal), “irresponsible” (Houston Chronicle), “maddeningly stupid, wasteful, and ridiculous” (the News Tribune of Tacoma, Wash.), “ “a bipartisan bumper crop of very rich manure” (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review),” “laughable” (Orlando Sentinel), “ludicrous” (Detroit News), “ridiculous” (the Lowell Sun), and (in perhaps the most diplomatic criticism of all) an “unlovely creation” (Washington Post).
A major snag developed in the rush to turn this turkey into law. The bill that Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Reid transmitted to the president, and the bill he vetoed, was not the bill passed by both chambers. An entire section of the bill sent to the White House — one containing some important trade provisions — was inadvertently left out. Oops.
Some argue that portions of the bill are now the law of the land; the White House says Congress needs to “go back to the drawing board.” In any event, this stinker of a bill will continue to sit out there over the remainder of Congress’s Memorial Day recess. By my count, over 50 papers (many with significant farm state readerships) have already run vitriolic anti-farm-bill editorials. More are sure to follow. Both sides of the blogosphere — right and left — have exploded in indignation as well.
The undisguised disgust evident in these editorials and postings arises from the bill’s Caligula-like excesses. It’s the epitome of wasteful governmental largesse. How bad is it? In the words of one pro-subsidy blogger: “lucrative beyond expectations.”
Washington’s on-going addiction to spending is one reason the congressional approval rating has tumbled to 18 percent in the latest Gallup Poll. Lawmakers’ continuing excesses inspire distrust as well as disgust. Americans simply no longer trust their government to exercise sound judgment, most especially when it comes to spending their tax dollars.
How can lawmakers win back the trust and respect of the public? The first step on the road to recovery is to acknowledge that you have a problem. But acknowledging the problem appears to be a near insurmountable hurdle for many self-styled conservatives on Capitol Hill.
Even as the GOP — the nation’s purported conservative party — flounders and conservatism itself endures attacks from many quarters, America remains a right-of-center country. Comfortable majorities of Americans still believe, after all, that the government is “inefficient and wasteful” (62 percent), that government regulation of businesses does more harm than good (57 percent), and that poor Americans have become too dependent on government subsidies (69 percent). Never has the military been more respected. Even a plurality of that most sought-after of voter groups — Independents — prefers smaller to bigger government by a margin of 48 percent to 40 percent.
Conservatives on the Hill want to believe they’ve started on that long road to recovery. Last week, Rep. Paul Ryan (R., Wis.) unveiled an exquisite and ambitious reform agenda he calls “A Roadmap for America’s Future.” In it, Ryan sets forth a credible way to address the fiscal catastrophe sure to come when the Boomers retire (consisting of foundational reforms to the big three entitlement programs — Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid) even as he reforms our tax system to promote economic growth and ensure American competitiveness. Sen. Jim DeMint (R., S.C.) and some members of the Republican Study Committee in the House have also offered up visionary action plans that should please conservatives.
But no matter how many times Ryan or his allies scream “I get it” from the mountaintop and vow to do the right thing if returned to power, the voters will not believe them until they believe his colleagues are capable of acting in a way that is consistent with conservative principles and contrary to their parochial, political interests. The voters seem to be saying: do something out of character. Admit you were wrong about something. Give me a reason to pay attention to all those 10-point action plans you’re waving around.
Imagine the public’s reaction if 50 or so of the supposedly conservative lawmakers who originally voted for that monstrous farm bill had found the courage last week to admit they’d made a mistake and then voted to uphold the president’s veto.
Suppose, moreover, that they had explained their change of heart by articulating some good old-fashioned conservative first principles. Despite the bill’s appeal to special interests back home, they might have said, the legislation would do too much harm to our economy and environment. It would worsen world hunger, impede free trade, and further constrain the family budget.
This would be courageous, principled, and refreshing. And, despite what a cynical lawmaker might tell you, it would not be political suicide. After all, two-thirds of farmers receive no subsidies at all. Most of the cash goes to a select group of large corporate agribusinesses that play both sides of the political aisle anyway.
Now suppose that, with conservatives voting in accordance with their principles, the president’s veto had been upheld. Well, then, the voters might actually start listening to them again… with a little less disgust and a little more trust.
— Michael G. Franc is vice president of government relations for the Heritage Foundation.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Campaign of the Zombies
Think of the ongoing Hillary Clinton presidential campaign as the latest installment in the George Romero zombie series.
The Clintons, driven by an unexplained and irresistible force, continue to gnaw on every brain in sight, while millions of terrified Democrats attempt to flee the carnage for higher, safer ground.
Young Obama has attempted to play the zombie slayer, but clearly lacks the dramatic heft to close out the final scene. He prattles on about change and vision and blah blah blah while what's really needed is a good political zombie skull bashing. Obama cannot close the deal.
He's like a talented middleweight fighter who has youth, speed and technique, but lacks the punching power to drop the aging heavyweight he's in against.
The result?
A 15-rounder likely to leave the crowd booing.
Leading the hissing is professional wiseguy John Stewart, he of the sometimes funny late night TV political roundup. Stewart, a reliable lap dog for the Democrats, has turned on Team Clinton with passion. Funnyman John can whack a zombie, as his brutal hits on the Clintons in recent days have shown.
Don't think it doesn't matter. Stewart's show carries weight with younger Democrats who harbor the illusion that watching it makes them smarter.
The game plan is obvious. Time to clear the decks of the Clintons and get on to bashing Republicans.
The Clintons, driven by an unexplained and irresistible force, continue to gnaw on every brain in sight, while millions of terrified Democrats attempt to flee the carnage for higher, safer ground.
Young Obama has attempted to play the zombie slayer, but clearly lacks the dramatic heft to close out the final scene. He prattles on about change and vision and blah blah blah while what's really needed is a good political zombie skull bashing. Obama cannot close the deal.
He's like a talented middleweight fighter who has youth, speed and technique, but lacks the punching power to drop the aging heavyweight he's in against.
The result?
A 15-rounder likely to leave the crowd booing.
Leading the hissing is professional wiseguy John Stewart, he of the sometimes funny late night TV political roundup. Stewart, a reliable lap dog for the Democrats, has turned on Team Clinton with passion. Funnyman John can whack a zombie, as his brutal hits on the Clintons in recent days have shown.
Don't think it doesn't matter. Stewart's show carries weight with younger Democrats who harbor the illusion that watching it makes them smarter.
The game plan is obvious. Time to clear the decks of the Clintons and get on to bashing Republicans.
Book review
John Mosier's book "The Blitzkrieg Myth" is a fascinating and controversial rethinking of the popular history of World War II. I blitzed through it last week, drawn in by the strong writing and powerful, unconventional reasoning.
Mosier says much of what we think we know about World War II is wrong, intentionally and unintentionally mangled by historians and popular media.The common perception of why the Germans were so successful in the war's early years is based on series of distortions and outright lies. Why the Third Reich was then defeated so spectacularly is also obscured in misinformation and in the non-analytical national myth-building of the victorious countries.
For instance, Mosier says the current historical "record" tells us the Germans were able to win a series of spectacular military victories in the early years of WW2 because they unleashed a new kind of war (blitzkrieg, or as Mosier calls it, breathrough warfare). This profound new military strategy coupled with the far superior military technology of the Germans simply overwhelmed the unprepared Allies.
Bologna, Mosier says. There was little new about the overall strategy employed by the Germans in their "lightning offensives" against Poland, France and the USSR. Nor was German military technology supreme on the battlefield. For instance, the bulk of the vaunted Panzers fleet which rolled into France was lightly armed and in fact inferior in tank vs. tank combat with the more powerful French armor. German airplanes were solid, but did not dominate the skies in terms of speed or armament.
The advantages the Germans enjoyed -- the factors that led them to their crushing victory -- were superior leadership and tactics. And there was nothing revolutionary about either.
By mixing infantry, armor and air power judiciously at the tactical level, the Germans seized the early momentum against the Allies (France, Britain, Belgium) and kept up the pressure as the political will of their opponents crumbled. French politicians, though not the French Army, panicked quickly, which led Churchill to blink. Instead of rallying his Gallic ally, the British leader joined the stampede and made the hasty decision to retreat as quickly as possible to the coast for evacuation. These two dominos tumbling forced the Belgians to call it an early day -- they quit -- which only exacerbated an already disastrous strategic situation. Hitler must have been laughing in his strudel.
The war in France is only one part of the overall story Mosier has to tell. The author treads roughly on some sacred ground here and does so with all the daintiness of an angy bull. He's rough on some favorites, including many Americans' favorite general of the war, the flamboyant George Patton. The air forces of both the US and Britain also come in for sharp criticism.
Mosier's book is sure to anger many historians and history buffs, but it should be read and discussed by anyone interested in the subject matter.
Best WW2 book I'veread in awhile.
Mosier says much of what we think we know about World War II is wrong, intentionally and unintentionally mangled by historians and popular media.The common perception of why the Germans were so successful in the war's early years is based on series of distortions and outright lies. Why the Third Reich was then defeated so spectacularly is also obscured in misinformation and in the non-analytical national myth-building of the victorious countries.
For instance, Mosier says the current historical "record" tells us the Germans were able to win a series of spectacular military victories in the early years of WW2 because they unleashed a new kind of war (blitzkrieg, or as Mosier calls it, breathrough warfare). This profound new military strategy coupled with the far superior military technology of the Germans simply overwhelmed the unprepared Allies.
Bologna, Mosier says. There was little new about the overall strategy employed by the Germans in their "lightning offensives" against Poland, France and the USSR. Nor was German military technology supreme on the battlefield. For instance, the bulk of the vaunted Panzers fleet which rolled into France was lightly armed and in fact inferior in tank vs. tank combat with the more powerful French armor. German airplanes were solid, but did not dominate the skies in terms of speed or armament.
The advantages the Germans enjoyed -- the factors that led them to their crushing victory -- were superior leadership and tactics. And there was nothing revolutionary about either.
By mixing infantry, armor and air power judiciously at the tactical level, the Germans seized the early momentum against the Allies (France, Britain, Belgium) and kept up the pressure as the political will of their opponents crumbled. French politicians, though not the French Army, panicked quickly, which led Churchill to blink. Instead of rallying his Gallic ally, the British leader joined the stampede and made the hasty decision to retreat as quickly as possible to the coast for evacuation. These two dominos tumbling forced the Belgians to call it an early day -- they quit -- which only exacerbated an already disastrous strategic situation. Hitler must have been laughing in his strudel.
The war in France is only one part of the overall story Mosier has to tell. The author treads roughly on some sacred ground here and does so with all the daintiness of an angy bull. He's rough on some favorites, including many Americans' favorite general of the war, the flamboyant George Patton. The air forces of both the US and Britain also come in for sharp criticism.
Mosier's book is sure to anger many historians and history buffs, but it should be read and discussed by anyone interested in the subject matter.
Best WW2 book I'veread in awhile.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Vanishing Point
Saturday, May 24
I am on I-75 heading from Ringgold to Dalton.
James McMurtry's "Choctaw Radio" -- one of the truly great highway songs -- is thundering from the judgement day speakers which supply the eardrum-splitting audio accompaniment in my high-powered blood red, 1970 Dodge Challenger. I charge down the empty -- absolutely empty -- FREEway at speeds my big city lawyer warns me never to admit.
My brain and Pres. Eisenhower's nation-linking asphalt transportation marvel become as one as McMurtry's drummer Daren Hess and bassist Ronnie Johnson dig a groove so elementally bad -- I mean BAD -- that I find my heart beating in time. On top of this sonic freight train, piano man Earl Poole Ball pours his own magical icing on the quadrupled layered delight which is "Choctaw Radio."
Lawd! That's a tune.
Just south of the Tunnel Hill exit, I push the Challenger's gas pedal to the floor ... and then some. The sky shimmers briefly and I find myself ensconced in the beercan-laden back seat of a Cosmic Cadillac piloted by none other than the mirthmaker himself, Dr. Hunter S. Thompson. We are hurtling through pitch black. I feel the speed. I see nothing. Not until a little light pops on over the dashboard mirror. The Doc grins at me in the rearview, then rips it off and tosses it out the window. With it goes the light.
"No looking back, son. No looking back," he says, cacking wildly.
The highway goes on for ever, that manical laughter seems to promise. And maybe where the Doc is, it does. Let's hope so.
Meanwhile, back on Spaceship McMurtry, James and the boys deliver the bacon -- including my porky butt - safely to the Rocky Face exit. My exit. Time to exit.
The fabric of the universe shimmers again and my blood red, 1970 Dodge Challenger is a green 2001 Ford Explorer. That previously unmentionable escape velocity speed warps magically to 55 mph.
James and the boys are still playing in earnest, but my Voice of Odin speakers have now become semi-crummy factory standards.
The tune winds down, as they all do.
Silence.
I ease carefully onto Hwy. 41 and head back to the office.
Good trip.
I am on I-75 heading from Ringgold to Dalton.
James McMurtry's "Choctaw Radio" -- one of the truly great highway songs -- is thundering from the judgement day speakers which supply the eardrum-splitting audio accompaniment in my high-powered blood red, 1970 Dodge Challenger. I charge down the empty -- absolutely empty -- FREEway at speeds my big city lawyer warns me never to admit.
My brain and Pres. Eisenhower's nation-linking asphalt transportation marvel become as one as McMurtry's drummer Daren Hess and bassist Ronnie Johnson dig a groove so elementally bad -- I mean BAD -- that I find my heart beating in time. On top of this sonic freight train, piano man Earl Poole Ball pours his own magical icing on the quadrupled layered delight which is "Choctaw Radio."
Lawd! That's a tune.
Just south of the Tunnel Hill exit, I push the Challenger's gas pedal to the floor ... and then some. The sky shimmers briefly and I find myself ensconced in the beercan-laden back seat of a Cosmic Cadillac piloted by none other than the mirthmaker himself, Dr. Hunter S. Thompson. We are hurtling through pitch black. I feel the speed. I see nothing. Not until a little light pops on over the dashboard mirror. The Doc grins at me in the rearview, then rips it off and tosses it out the window. With it goes the light.
"No looking back, son. No looking back," he says, cacking wildly.
The highway goes on for ever, that manical laughter seems to promise. And maybe where the Doc is, it does. Let's hope so.
Meanwhile, back on Spaceship McMurtry, James and the boys deliver the bacon -- including my porky butt - safely to the Rocky Face exit. My exit. Time to exit.
The fabric of the universe shimmers again and my blood red, 1970 Dodge Challenger is a green 2001 Ford Explorer. That previously unmentionable escape velocity speed warps magically to 55 mph.
James and the boys are still playing in earnest, but my Voice of Odin speakers have now become semi-crummy factory standards.
The tune winds down, as they all do.
Silence.
I ease carefully onto Hwy. 41 and head back to the office.
Good trip.
Lessons to be learned
I spent a chunk of my Saturday afternoon in Ringgold at that fine burg's 1890s day celebration.
I hope some of our downtown business/government types were there too. Didn't see any, though.
Why?
Cause the people of Ringgold know how to throw a downtown wingding.
Granted they've been mounting this extravaganza for more than 30 years, but the people I talked with-- locals and out-of-towners like myself -- had nothing but good things to say about the annual event.
1890s Days kicks off on Friday and rolls through Saturday evening like a John Deere tractor plowing a straight line. It's fun.
Get this, the local gendarmes act like they're happy your in their town. The cops are right out there on the streets, efficiently keeping the criminal element at bay, while at the same time helping the crowds along the way, smiling at folks and issuing the occasional "Howdy" to familiar faces. Smooth.
Vendors are polite. Some of them are selling junk and some are selling treasures (sort of) and since one man's garbage is another man's highly collectible item, no one seems to be complaining.
They close off Hwy. 41, neatly blocking off downtown, and ram their parade right through there on Saturday afternoon. Not on a side street. Not some cockamamie roundabout route.
Straight through downtown. As God intended. Apparently it's worked for 34 years.
Food and merchandise booths line the street. They continue to do business as the parade passes. It's a little bit of a squeeze, but folks are polite.
An emcee entertained the crowd over a loudspeaker, announcing each parade participant -- naming names and cracking wise. He seemed to be enjoying the show and darned if that didn't make me enjoy it a little more too.
A stage at the county courthouse, was a central gathering spot, as people were drawn to the shade trees, ample seating on the courthouse lawn and the entertainment. It was right out of Mayberry. Gospel and bluegrass were big draws.
Truth be told, my Ringgold excursion was "on the clock," part of a commitment to a magazine article. But it turned out to be a lot of fun, as the hundreds of smiling people around me confirmed as they strolled along, laughed with their neighbors and spent money on whatever grabbed their eye.
I'm glad I went. I'll be back.
I hope some other folks from here made the trip, too.
I hope some of our downtown business/government types were there too. Didn't see any, though.
Why?
Cause the people of Ringgold know how to throw a downtown wingding.
Granted they've been mounting this extravaganza for more than 30 years, but the people I talked with-- locals and out-of-towners like myself -- had nothing but good things to say about the annual event.
1890s Days kicks off on Friday and rolls through Saturday evening like a John Deere tractor plowing a straight line. It's fun.
Get this, the local gendarmes act like they're happy your in their town. The cops are right out there on the streets, efficiently keeping the criminal element at bay, while at the same time helping the crowds along the way, smiling at folks and issuing the occasional "Howdy" to familiar faces. Smooth.
Vendors are polite. Some of them are selling junk and some are selling treasures (sort of) and since one man's garbage is another man's highly collectible item, no one seems to be complaining.
They close off Hwy. 41, neatly blocking off downtown, and ram their parade right through there on Saturday afternoon. Not on a side street. Not some cockamamie roundabout route.
Straight through downtown. As God intended. Apparently it's worked for 34 years.
Food and merchandise booths line the street. They continue to do business as the parade passes. It's a little bit of a squeeze, but folks are polite.
An emcee entertained the crowd over a loudspeaker, announcing each parade participant -- naming names and cracking wise. He seemed to be enjoying the show and darned if that didn't make me enjoy it a little more too.
A stage at the county courthouse, was a central gathering spot, as people were drawn to the shade trees, ample seating on the courthouse lawn and the entertainment. It was right out of Mayberry. Gospel and bluegrass were big draws.
Truth be told, my Ringgold excursion was "on the clock," part of a commitment to a magazine article. But it turned out to be a lot of fun, as the hundreds of smiling people around me confirmed as they strolled along, laughed with their neighbors and spent money on whatever grabbed their eye.
I'm glad I went. I'll be back.
I hope some other folks from here made the trip, too.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Sports Corner NFL
There's an interesting story in the new issue of The Sporting News. The theme (and cover story) is called "Dirty Jobs" and its about the not always pleasant behind-the-scenes world of sports. Dennis Dillon contributes a short but fascinating feature on Tennessee Titans' national coordinator of scouting C.O. Brocato and how he spent the hours after last months NFL draft frantically trying to help the team scoop up some of the undrafted free agents on their short list.
I am a longtime football fan and a draft fanatic, but there are things in the story which surprised me, most especially just how tight some teams are with a few thousand dollars in bonus money when they've just locked themselves into spending tens of millions of dollars on high draft choices.
It's a very interesting piece andyou're gonna want to read the one about the hockey dentist as well.
This issue should be on the newsstands for several more days.
I am a longtime football fan and a draft fanatic, but there are things in the story which surprised me, most especially just how tight some teams are with a few thousand dollars in bonus money when they've just locked themselves into spending tens of millions of dollars on high draft choices.
It's a very interesting piece andyou're gonna want to read the one about the hockey dentist as well.
This issue should be on the newsstands for several more days.
What this all about?
Currently I am the editor of The Daily Citizen in Dalton, Ga and the editor of four regional magazines, all publicatons for which I write. There are days when I am very tired of pounding a keypad. But there are a lot more days when I wish I had the time, venue and someone to pay me to write even more.
With Espy's Outpost, I am creating my own venue. Somehow I will make the time. (Maybe a little less television). As for getting paid more, that I haven't figured out.
I want to use the Outpost as a dropping off point -- some might say dumping ground -- for some of my stories, ideas and observations, as well links to other people's interesting stories, ideas and observations.
The range of material will be very, very wide. Tuning in to the Outpost you might find:
Comments on local politics
A movie, book or TV review
An ode to barbecue pork
Sports
A good (or bad) joke
Links to al kinds of online goodies
Something that thrills you
Something that offends you (within reason, of course)
A new restaurant or local business to try
I'll write about illegal immigration and what we need to do about. I'll describe to you the joys of the Oakwood's peach cobbler and challenege you to tell me a better one. I'll write about the Braves' left field spot and the bullpen and why the Falcons are going to be painful to watch this year.
Presidential, local and state politics. The media. The economy.
The Three Stooges. Professional wrestling. Old sci fi movies.
Things that interest me and hopefully you too.
Weird stuff, too.
You get the message.
This blog will serve as a place for an aging (handsomely) reporter to shake those last tidbits of value from his much-scrawled upon notepad.
I hope its worth your time and mine.
Espy
With Espy's Outpost, I am creating my own venue. Somehow I will make the time. (Maybe a little less television). As for getting paid more, that I haven't figured out.
I want to use the Outpost as a dropping off point -- some might say dumping ground -- for some of my stories, ideas and observations, as well links to other people's interesting stories, ideas and observations.
The range of material will be very, very wide. Tuning in to the Outpost you might find:
Comments on local politics
A movie, book or TV review
An ode to barbecue pork
Sports
A good (or bad) joke
Links to al kinds of online goodies
Something that thrills you
Something that offends you (within reason, of course)
A new restaurant or local business to try
I'll write about illegal immigration and what we need to do about. I'll describe to you the joys of the Oakwood's peach cobbler and challenege you to tell me a better one. I'll write about the Braves' left field spot and the bullpen and why the Falcons are going to be painful to watch this year.
Presidential, local and state politics. The media. The economy.
The Three Stooges. Professional wrestling. Old sci fi movies.
Things that interest me and hopefully you too.
Weird stuff, too.
You get the message.
This blog will serve as a place for an aging (handsomely) reporter to shake those last tidbits of value from his much-scrawled upon notepad.
I hope its worth your time and mine.
Espy
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