It’s Bigger Than NPR’s Katherine Maher
1 week ago
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Rasslin'
Steve Williams, RIP. I saw Dr. Death team with Bam Bam Gordy against the Steiners in Mobile in 1992. It was the first Bash at the Beach event and the card also featured an epic Sting versus Cactus Jack match.
This card took place days after Bill Watts took over WCW and the new "tough guy" attitude was clearly evident. (For one thing, the protective passing on the floor was removed.)
Doc and Bam Bam and the Steiners delivered a 30-minute time limit draw which had to thrill old school Watts. It was physical, "logical" and had excellent psychology.
At one point it looked to me like an amateur style shoot between Williams and the Steiners. All three had great amateur backgrounds. They went at hard in an amateur style and it didn't look like any one was playacting. It also looked like Williams kicked their asses. The Steiners were good though.
The crowd didn't know exactly how to react to what they saw. It wasn't what they had become used to in recent years but the fans were definitely into the match.
Next to Sting and Cactus, it was easily the best match on the card, primarily due to the slow psychological buildup.
This card took place days after Bill Watts took over WCW and the new "tough guy" attitude was clearly evident. (For one thing, the protective passing on the floor was removed.)
Doc and Bam Bam and the Steiners delivered a 30-minute time limit draw which had to thrill old school Watts. It was physical, "logical" and had excellent psychology.
At one point it looked to me like an amateur style shoot between Williams and the Steiners. All three had great amateur backgrounds. They went at hard in an amateur style and it didn't look like any one was playacting. It also looked like Williams kicked their asses. The Steiners were good though.
The crowd didn't know exactly how to react to what they saw. It wasn't what they had become used to in recent years but the fans were definitely into the match.
Next to Sting and Cactus, it was easily the best match on the card, primarily due to the slow psychological buildup.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Let Obama not be Obama
Victor Davis Hanson predicts a change in key strategies by the administration. Give Hanson credit for optimism, but I see no evidence of Obama 2.0.
New sports blog
Blog boss note: My new sports blog site is Sports From Dalton, which you can get to using the handy dandy link elsewhere on this page. Check it out mate.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Big Chris Hitchens
In the wake of the Detroit near blowup Hitch takes note of just what a silly ass society we are at times.
Mullis sings the budget blues
State Sen. Jeff Mullis looks ahead to the 2010 session. He's talking budget cuts for education, which Democrats running for office in 2010 have to love. My story from the Summerville News.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Iran
The government digs in. Iranians show audacity of hope ... and more! The U.S. shouldn't be sending in the Marines, but wouldn't it be nice if the current administarion demonstrated as much interest in Iran as it did in Honduras. Where are the forceful pronouncements about democracy and the rights of the people?
The big mess we call government
Santa Claus thinks Fannie and Freddie were good. Very good, apparently. (This way, Barnie Frank never has to say he's sorry.)
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Your Sunday free tune
Girl from the North Country Roseanne Cash from her new record. It's a fine, inventive song from a really fine record.
Iran
Obama showed a lot more interest in Honduras than he has in the new Iranian revolution. Brave people are being slaughtered and the U.S. president lays low. I'm not the only one complaining. Here's William A. Jacobson.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Flicks
Top 10 overrated movies of 2009. But aren't these the easiest ones to target? Where are the Hollywood heavies?
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
What's in a name
What Americans are naming their kids. I can't believe "Jordan" isn't higher on the list. Half the kids I meet are named Jordan. No, Rowan does not make the list for girls or boys. Nor does Bocephus, which some clod hopper in Dalton named his son last year.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Politics
Huntsville rep switches parties in wake of healthcare legislation. Here's one guy who heard his constituents.
Technology
Keeping you Iphone charged. Given a choice between me or her snazzy telephone, my wife would choose the phone. Apparently it has more useful "apps."
Monday, December 21, 2009
Chavez
Red leader creates special federal unit to "fight crime." I wonder if they will wear brown shirts.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
The Market
When this was talked about in Georgia, the political establishment screamed bloody murder. But toll roads help traffic. From USA Today.
Your Sunday free tune
Merry Christmas from the Pogues. And my all time favorite Christmas tune by a budding superstar. And you have to love Robert Earl Keen's classic.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Friday, December 18, 2009
Words
Susan Campo's book "Warren Oates: A Wild Life" should have been named "Warren Oates: A Horny and High Life."
The portrait of Oates that emerges over 400-plus pages is a man unwilling or unable to put the brakes on his personal excesses, particularly, food, alcohol, chemical stimulants and women other than his wife (or wives). Until his shocking death at 53, Oates was habitually unable to say no to a party. Campo touches only lightly on the impact Oates' extravagances had on those around him. Maybe she doesn't want to look too deeply at the man she clearly admires. Maybe old fashioned virtues like self restraint and respect for marriage don't mean as much to the author. Ironically, Oates would probably have claimed those values as his own ... then bolted for the next party on the Sunset Strip.
Now, with that out of the way, let me add that I enjoyed the book because I find Oates a terrific actor and Campo does a first rate job of working her way through the highs, including some real hidden nuggets, and lows of the star's career.
She also casts her net wide for old interview subjects. Peter Fonda, for whom Oates did some of his best work in "The Hired Hand," is quoted extensively. Other Hollywood celebrities are there too, including the late Ben Johnson, the cowboy actor who Oates admired tremendously. But a lot of the best stuff comes from ex-wives, other relatives and the bizarre conglomeration of pals pulled into Oates's orbit.
Sam Peckinpah is there too, of course, and Campo jabs a little at the tortured yet remarkable team these two tremendous talents made on the screen. From "Major Dundee" to "Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia," the Peckinpah-Oates duo dazzled filmgoers. Campo looks at the movies and the relationship, but again seems to shy away from lowering the book on anyone, including the absurdly destructive Peckinpah.
Oates was a terrific actor. Campo had no trouble finding critics who agreed with that assessment. Call him a character actor if you like, but no matter what start he worked with, Oates almost always said or did something that brought the story back to him in the best way.
Campo has written a good, if not great, book and one any serious film fan should read. One it comes to Warren Oates's type roles, they just don't act 'em like that anymore.
Twelve Warren Oates films to see
1. The Wild Bunch - "Why not?"
2. The Hired Hand
3. Two Lane Blacktop -" If I'm not grounded pretty soon, I'm gonna go into orbit."
4. Ride the High Country - The peckerwood of all time
5. The Shooting
6. In the Heat of the Night - So damn good
7. Dillinger
8. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia - Desolation row
9. Cockfighter - Almost no dialog
10. 92 in the Shade
11. 1941 - Piss on the critics
12. Stripes - "Lighten up, Francis!"
Here's a scene Two-Lane and a long, fine one from the Hired Hand and one more for Victor Miller.
The portrait of Oates that emerges over 400-plus pages is a man unwilling or unable to put the brakes on his personal excesses, particularly, food, alcohol, chemical stimulants and women other than his wife (or wives). Until his shocking death at 53, Oates was habitually unable to say no to a party. Campo touches only lightly on the impact Oates' extravagances had on those around him. Maybe she doesn't want to look too deeply at the man she clearly admires. Maybe old fashioned virtues like self restraint and respect for marriage don't mean as much to the author. Ironically, Oates would probably have claimed those values as his own ... then bolted for the next party on the Sunset Strip.
Now, with that out of the way, let me add that I enjoyed the book because I find Oates a terrific actor and Campo does a first rate job of working her way through the highs, including some real hidden nuggets, and lows of the star's career.
She also casts her net wide for old interview subjects. Peter Fonda, for whom Oates did some of his best work in "The Hired Hand," is quoted extensively. Other Hollywood celebrities are there too, including the late Ben Johnson, the cowboy actor who Oates admired tremendously. But a lot of the best stuff comes from ex-wives, other relatives and the bizarre conglomeration of pals pulled into Oates's orbit.
Sam Peckinpah is there too, of course, and Campo jabs a little at the tortured yet remarkable team these two tremendous talents made on the screen. From "Major Dundee" to "Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia," the Peckinpah-Oates duo dazzled filmgoers. Campo looks at the movies and the relationship, but again seems to shy away from lowering the book on anyone, including the absurdly destructive Peckinpah.
Oates was a terrific actor. Campo had no trouble finding critics who agreed with that assessment. Call him a character actor if you like, but no matter what start he worked with, Oates almost always said or did something that brought the story back to him in the best way.
Campo has written a good, if not great, book and one any serious film fan should read. One it comes to Warren Oates's type roles, they just don't act 'em like that anymore.
Twelve Warren Oates films to see
1. The Wild Bunch - "Why not?"
2. The Hired Hand
3. Two Lane Blacktop -" If I'm not grounded pretty soon, I'm gonna go into orbit."
4. Ride the High Country - The peckerwood of all time
5. The Shooting
6. In the Heat of the Night - So damn good
7. Dillinger
8. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia - Desolation row
9. Cockfighter - Almost no dialog
10. 92 in the Shade
11. 1941 - Piss on the critics
12. Stripes - "Lighten up, Francis!"
Here's a scene Two-Lane and a long, fine one from the Hired Hand and one more for Victor Miller.
Politics
National Review looks at Jim Webb and likes what it sees. The same for The Hill and Peter DeFazio. Pretty good stuff here.
Georgia politics
Barbara Reece D-Menlo comments on Ralston taking House Speaker post. From the Summerville News.
Super speeders beware
New state law targets lead-footed drivers. When I was in west Texas this summer, EVERYBODY drove at least 85 on the highway. From the Times Free Press.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Riverbend
Charlie Daniels Band and Drivin' 'N' Cryin' sign on for Riverbend 2010 in Chattanooga. From the Times Free Press.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
The Jihad
Jihadi jokester.
Years ago I was sitting at the bar of a local restaurant reading a magazine and partaking of a forsty beverage. The owner was a Palestinian Muslim. I had known him for years.
A swarthy young man came in and plopped down at the bar, two seats from me. He introduced himself to the owner, saying he was from ... I believe ... India.It was somewhere in Asia, not the Middle East.
He told the owner he knew he was a Palestinian and wanted him to know that he supported the cause and how Muslims from his country were behind the Palestinian people in their fight. He started yammering about jihad and bad mouthing "the Jews." This was pre 9-11 so regrettably I didn't jump from my seat and drop a dime to the FBI or punch the silly fellow in his snoot. Instead I pretended to read while the young man went on about "the jihad" and scarfed beers.
The owner was petrified and kept telling the junior jihadi to drop the subject, but the young man just kept on drinking and babbling about "the struggle."
After about 30 minutes of this he went to the bathroom.
That's when the owner asked me if I wanted another beer. I told him "only if a jihad wasn't about to break out in here."
He looked at me and said something like "Can you believe this $%^#*&@ idiot? These are the stupidest people in the world."
He then told me a story illustrating just how stupid they were.
We laughed and I had another beer.
The junior jihadi had several more and the owner eventually got him a cab and sent him back to his hotel where I am sure he dreamed of multiple virgins and retarded people blowing themselves up on school buses.
Years ago I was sitting at the bar of a local restaurant reading a magazine and partaking of a forsty beverage. The owner was a Palestinian Muslim. I had known him for years.
A swarthy young man came in and plopped down at the bar, two seats from me. He introduced himself to the owner, saying he was from ... I believe ... India.It was somewhere in Asia, not the Middle East.
He told the owner he knew he was a Palestinian and wanted him to know that he supported the cause and how Muslims from his country were behind the Palestinian people in their fight. He started yammering about jihad and bad mouthing "the Jews." This was pre 9-11 so regrettably I didn't jump from my seat and drop a dime to the FBI or punch the silly fellow in his snoot. Instead I pretended to read while the young man went on about "the jihad" and scarfed beers.
The owner was petrified and kept telling the junior jihadi to drop the subject, but the young man just kept on drinking and babbling about "the struggle."
After about 30 minutes of this he went to the bathroom.
That's when the owner asked me if I wanted another beer. I told him "only if a jihad wasn't about to break out in here."
He looked at me and said something like "Can you believe this $%^#*&@ idiot? These are the stupidest people in the world."
He then told me a story illustrating just how stupid they were.
We laughed and I had another beer.
The junior jihadi had several more and the owner eventually got him a cab and sent him back to his hotel where I am sure he dreamed of multiple virgins and retarded people blowing themselves up on school buses.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Flicks
Here's Stephen King's column about "Carriers," which I saw over the weekend. King is right. It isn't a great film but it's very entertaining and well made. It looks great and the story advances with a grim, simple power. I got it from Netflix. The King piece comes from Entertainment Weekly.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Flicks II
Here is a review of The Crazies, a remake of the Romero movie which I believe was filmed in north Georgia. And here's the preview from Yahoo movies.
Flicks
I was very excited about seeing "Public Enemies," the Michael Mann-directed movie version of Bryan Burrough's excellent book about Dillinger, Pretty Boy Floyd and Bonnie and Clyde. 2009 has been a "gangster year" for me. I've ready a good deal on the Depression era bad guys and enjoyed, with my pal Jim Donovits, a visit to the Bonnie and Clyde Ambush Museum in Louisiana.
Well, Bonnie and Clyde are nowhere to be found in this movie and Pretty Boy is in for about one minute, being personally shot down by Melvin Purvis while Dillinger was still at large. Wrong. Purvis didn't shoot Floyd and he died months after Dillinger was killed.
So, one minute into the picture I realized that Burrough's highly-detailed book was little more than a paperweight for the screenwriters who butcher the real history in what is at times a remarkably self-defeating way.
For instance, Purvis is served up as a cardboard G-Man when in fact the real man and his tortured relationship with J. Edgar Hoover, was much more interesting than what the writers came up with.
Depp is fine as Dillinger, if you like two hours of stoney-faced grimness. Where is the charisma? Where is the flamboyance that made Dillinger a hero to many.
The French actress who plays Billie Frechette, Dillinger's main gal, looks the part but has nothing to do. Why does Dillinger love her so much? Why does he allegedly die with her name on his lips? This movie doesn't explain.
Bale's accent is atrocious at times and his character is mostly dull. Purvis was a lot of things, but not dull.
Hoover is seldom seen or heard from, which is a mistake for the film. His lurking presence would have added a lot.
This should have been a great film. But it falls far, far short of that mark.
Mann fails to deliver a single moment that approximates Dillinger's bigger-than-life exploits.
"Public Enemies" is terrible history and even worse, a deadly dull movie.
Well, Bonnie and Clyde are nowhere to be found in this movie and Pretty Boy is in for about one minute, being personally shot down by Melvin Purvis while Dillinger was still at large. Wrong. Purvis didn't shoot Floyd and he died months after Dillinger was killed.
So, one minute into the picture I realized that Burrough's highly-detailed book was little more than a paperweight for the screenwriters who butcher the real history in what is at times a remarkably self-defeating way.
For instance, Purvis is served up as a cardboard G-Man when in fact the real man and his tortured relationship with J. Edgar Hoover, was much more interesting than what the writers came up with.
Depp is fine as Dillinger, if you like two hours of stoney-faced grimness. Where is the charisma? Where is the flamboyance that made Dillinger a hero to many.
The French actress who plays Billie Frechette, Dillinger's main gal, looks the part but has nothing to do. Why does Dillinger love her so much? Why does he allegedly die with her name on his lips? This movie doesn't explain.
Bale's accent is atrocious at times and his character is mostly dull. Purvis was a lot of things, but not dull.
Hoover is seldom seen or heard from, which is a mistake for the film. His lurking presence would have added a lot.
This should have been a great film. But it falls far, far short of that mark.
Mann fails to deliver a single moment that approximates Dillinger's bigger-than-life exploits.
"Public Enemies" is terrible history and even worse, a deadly dull movie.
Iran
Opposition to the entrenched theocracy in Iran is being directly challenged in the wake of the brutal repression of election protests, but our freedom and democracy loving president ignores the carnage. Don't make the despots angry seems to be the strategy. Where is the outrage? Check out these photos from the BBC.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
New sports blog
Blog boss note: My new sports blog site is Sports From Dalton, which you can get to using the handy dandy link elsewhere on this page. Check it out mate.
Words
Mr. Espy meet Mr. Reacher.
Apparently author Lee Child has been knocking out this fine Jack Reacher series for a long time. So, why didn't somebody tell me sooner?
I picked up "Gone Tomorrow," the 13th in the Reacher line, from the book club recently and was absorbed with the story from start to finish.
Our hero, a highly trained former military operative with a high pain threshold very independent streak, witnesses a suicide on New York subway. The horrible event turns out to be even more alarming than originally thought, as Jack Reacher is inexorably pulled deeper into a convoluted and bloodthirsty mishmash of foreign intrigue and Patriot Act-era paranoia.
The story keeps you guessing and Reacher is a highly entertaining guide through this desolate landscape of betrayals and bushwhackings.
If I had any money I'd get the other 12 books in the series ASAP. Instead I'll pick them up at a more leisurely, economical pace and enjoy them like a rare bottle of wine.
Apparently author Lee Child has been knocking out this fine Jack Reacher series for a long time. So, why didn't somebody tell me sooner?
I picked up "Gone Tomorrow," the 13th in the Reacher line, from the book club recently and was absorbed with the story from start to finish.
Our hero, a highly trained former military operative with a high pain threshold very independent streak, witnesses a suicide on New York subway. The horrible event turns out to be even more alarming than originally thought, as Jack Reacher is inexorably pulled deeper into a convoluted and bloodthirsty mishmash of foreign intrigue and Patriot Act-era paranoia.
The story keeps you guessing and Reacher is a highly entertaining guide through this desolate landscape of betrayals and bushwhackings.
If I had any money I'd get the other 12 books in the series ASAP. Instead I'll pick them up at a more leisurely, economical pace and enjoy them like a rare bottle of wine.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Comics
Dalton attorney Bill Jourdain writes intro to comics calendar. My feature from the Times Free Press.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Friday, December 4, 2009
Braves
Blog boss note: This post is also at my new sports blog site, Sports From Dalton, which you can get to using the handy dandy link elsewhere on this page. Check it out mate.
----
Signing Saito and Wagner are good moves. Now if we can just finish the time machine and go back to 2005.
Just kidding. I like each pitcher at those salaries for one year but wouldn't have signed both at the same time, not after their recent injury trouble. Healthy, they should do well. Both have excellent makeups for key bullpen roles.
Let me toss out a wild card here. If they didn't want to spend a lot on a reliever and age and arm problems were not disqualifiers, why not ink a little fellow named John Smoltz? Is that bridge burned, bagged and tossed?
Atlanta could have spent more on the position, either bringing in a free agent or resigning either Soriano or Gonzalez. Trading for a closer was possible, as the Bravos have the depth at starter to land a big gun for the bullpen. Bobby Jenks of the White Sox comes to mind.
More likely they'll use that starter chip to land offense, particularly with Adam LaRoche unlikely to return. How about a little fellow named Adam Dunn? His defense might make Bobby Cox gag but 40 homers is hard to argue with.
Nick Johnson might be a reasonable pickup at first base. He can hit but may not have enough power for the Braves' needs.
Whaddaya think?
----
Signing Saito and Wagner are good moves. Now if we can just finish the time machine and go back to 2005.
Just kidding. I like each pitcher at those salaries for one year but wouldn't have signed both at the same time, not after their recent injury trouble. Healthy, they should do well. Both have excellent makeups for key bullpen roles.
Let me toss out a wild card here. If they didn't want to spend a lot on a reliever and age and arm problems were not disqualifiers, why not ink a little fellow named John Smoltz? Is that bridge burned, bagged and tossed?
Atlanta could have spent more on the position, either bringing in a free agent or resigning either Soriano or Gonzalez. Trading for a closer was possible, as the Bravos have the depth at starter to land a big gun for the bullpen. Bobby Jenks of the White Sox comes to mind.
More likely they'll use that starter chip to land offense, particularly with Adam LaRoche unlikely to return. How about a little fellow named Adam Dunn? His defense might make Bobby Cox gag but 40 homers is hard to argue with.
Nick Johnson might be a reasonable pickup at first base. He can hit but may not have enough power for the Braves' needs.
Whaddaya think?
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
The Braves
Braves arbitration moves. Garrett Anderson was clearly a one-year signing and he did a solid job.
Getting back either Soriano or Gonzalez would be a plus, but as the article says neither is likely to accept a one-year deal. I am not convinced either is a real closer. Gonzalez gets hurt too much and Soriano has consistency problems, though he can look great for awhile.
Not making an offer to LaRoche puzzles me. He provides some badly needed pop and his fielding has improved a lot since his first stint with the Braves. He was the team's MVP after arriving last year.
However, LaRoche has a history of starting the season disastrously. Are the Braves wary of paying good bucks to a half-season all star? Are they thinking of moving Chipper over and finding a third basemen with more range? (Not a bad idea.) Or is the budget just too tight?
Whatever the reason, if LaRoche leaves the Braves will have to find another veteran big bat. It would be a huge mistake to count too heavily on super prospect Jason Heyward.
Remember the name Joe Crede.
Getting back either Soriano or Gonzalez would be a plus, but as the article says neither is likely to accept a one-year deal. I am not convinced either is a real closer. Gonzalez gets hurt too much and Soriano has consistency problems, though he can look great for awhile.
Not making an offer to LaRoche puzzles me. He provides some badly needed pop and his fielding has improved a lot since his first stint with the Braves. He was the team's MVP after arriving last year.
However, LaRoche has a history of starting the season disastrously. Are the Braves wary of paying good bucks to a half-season all star? Are they thinking of moving Chipper over and finding a third basemen with more range? (Not a bad idea.) Or is the budget just too tight?
Whatever the reason, if LaRoche leaves the Braves will have to find another veteran big bat. It would be a huge mistake to count too heavily on super prospect Jason Heyward.
Remember the name Joe Crede.
Dawgs
David Paschal hustles on the Georgia beat. Here's his latest from the Times-Free Press on the suddenly relevant again Georgia Bulldogs.
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