It’s Bigger Than NPR’s Katherine Maher
1 week ago
Monday, October 17, 2011
Friday, October 14, 2011
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Monday, October 10, 2011
Friday, October 7, 2011
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Boxing
My favorite fighter. Thomas "Hit Man" Hearns up for the Hall of Fame. And by the way, he whupped Leonard's ass in the rematch.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Pete Gent, RIP
'North Dallas 40' is my favorite football book and was made into my favorite sports movie. Although it showed off the NFL as something less than the league would have liked, it only increased my interest in the game. Gent's book is funny and sad and exciting. I love the idea of its protagonist barreling down a Dallas freeway with Leon Russell tunes blasting on the tape deck. Old time football hacks may have hated what Gent stood for, but they were and are fools. A great read and an author who will be missed.
Graves stays right
Tom Graves defies party leadership on key issues. Will it help or hurt is career? From the AJC.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Monday, September 26, 2011
Friday, September 23, 2011
Down Home Days at Lyerly.
My story from The Summerville News. We went last year and had a nice time. Good for young kids. See you there!
REM's long journey
Tom Junod sums up the rise and fall of REM. Painful but on target. From Esquire. And here's another take from Rolling Stone.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
REM calls it quits
A dark day for fans. Here's the piece from Rolling Stone. And here is my first favorite REM song. Catapult
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Politics
Are conservative budget hawks willing to cut defense budget? Yup and God bless 'em for it! We can have a strong national defense for less money.
From the movie 'Gettysburg'
Richard Jordan died not too long after making this movie. This scene captures him at his best. Heartbreaking.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Ex-wrestler works on Tybee
Helps with Animal Control. Easy work for a man who fought the Russian Bear Ivan Koloff.
Friday, September 16, 2011
Flair vs. Sting vs. old age
I saw Ric Flair and Sting wrestle about a 15 minute match on TNA last night. Flair, who could at one time go 60 minutes with a good wrestler, looked like a tired, worn out old man after about five minutes. Just going through the motions. These two had some great battles back in the day and they wrestled the final match of the old WCW, but last night's match made all that seem irrelevant. Just two washed up old pros damaging thei rhtier legacy. I fon't begrudge them making a few bucks while they still can, but it's scary when they are put at the top of the card in a promotion's TV show.
Sad.
Sad.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Rugby World Cup
U.S. gets a win over the Russkies. Why isn't the sport more popular here, asks Sports Illustrated.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Monday, September 12, 2011
Day Trip: The Vann House
Cherokee culture, history
highlighted at Vann House
(From The Summerville News)
By JIMMY ESPY
Staff Writer
The Chief Vann House Historic Site, located on 109-acres in the Murray County community of Spring Place, is a wonderful resource for anyone interested in the Cherokee Nation.
The site is opened by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and is open Thursday-Saturday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
The Vann House, then known as the Diamond Hill House, was built in 1804 by James Vann, a wealthy and politically powerful Cherokee leader. Vann, the son of Scots fur trader and a Cherokee chief's daughter, had the home designed by a German architect and built by white and Indian craftsmen and slave laborers. The house was built in a combination of classic Federal and emerging Georgian styles.
The bottom two floors have three rooms, a dining room, a drawing (or family) room and a wide hallway. On the second floor is the master bedroom and a guest bedroom, separated by a hallway. Both are spacious, with 12-feet ceilings. The first and second floors also boast a porch and a veranda, with what would have been impressive views of plantation grounds.
The third floor has two bedrooms for children. They are much smaller, with six feet ceilings.
For years the much smaller, simpler rooms for the children were often referred to as "the coffin rooms," by visiting Murray Countians.
James Vann was a complicated man. Capable of great generosity, as well as impressive business and political acumen, he was also a heavy drinker with a proclivity for violence. Vann was known to have killed several men.
In 1809 he was avoiding his enemies (both white and Indian) by hiding out in Tennessee, when he visited the Buffington Tavern where he drank whisky and became embroiled in a dispute with other men.
Later in the evening, Vann was shot and killed while standing just outside the tavern by an unknown assassin.
James left almost all of his considerable belongings to his young son, Joseph, who was quickly dubbed "Rich Joe."
Joseph was an even better businessman than his father, as well as an astute politician. Though he too enjoyed the finer things his rapidly growing wealth made available, Joseph did not inherit his father's taste for violence.
He did inherit James’s love for the family home and continued to refine it. The mansion was so impressive that in 1919 President James Monroe stayed a night there while traveling from Augusta to Nashville.
Under Joseph’s stewardship, "Vann Inc." blossomed economically. The family farm eventually grew into a bustling, 800-plus acre plantation with almost 100 outbuildings, including slave quarters, barns, stables, smokehouses and a blacksmith shop.
But always at the center of plantation life was the 2.5-story (with cellar) Vann House.
By the standards of the time and place it was a remarkably rich home, featuring beautiful furniture, expensive paintings and other costly furnishings.
A large dining room and a richly furnished sitting room take up most of the first floor. The family kitchen, as was often the case in those days, was housed in a detached building to help prevent a disastrous fire. Meals were prepared there and then brought to the house by servants.
There are two main entrances to the house. James Vann wanted visitors to be impressed by both his front and back entrances, which are located on the north and south sides of the residence.
The house also had a full-sized cellar, where the family kept its meat and liquor. For years a rumor has persisted that the cellar was actually a "dungeon," where family enemies were tortured and imprisoned.
One of the most impressive design elements in the house was its "hanging staircase, which was innovatively designed and appeared to have little in the way of support. Though thousands of visitors had used the staircase without a problem over the years, several years ago the state required a supporting column be built.
The Vanns abandoned their palatial estate in 1835 at the insistence of an armed "militia" which showed up one evening and laid claim to the property. For years the state of Georgia had grown increasingly hostile toward the Indians who remained in the region. The Georgia Land Lottery of 1832, though challenged successfully in the courts by the Cherokees, divvied up most of the remaining Indian land and awarded it to white citizens.
A series of restrictive laws were also passed, intended to make life as difficult as possible for Native Americans.
In 1835, despite their wealth and influence, the Joe Vann, his two wives and their children joined thousands of other Cherokees and members of other tribes, in a forced migration. The family settled in Tennessee, where Joe established a new home including a replica of Diamond Hill. (That structure did not survive the Civil War.).
Later the family journeyed on The Trail of Tears to Oklahoma. The way west, which meant illness and death for many Eastern Indians, was not as arduous for the wealthy Vanns, though Joseph lost a daughter to illness on the way west.
The rest of the family settled in Webber’s Falls on the Arkansas River in Indian Territory (Oklahoma).
Joseph retained some of his wealth and political power in the West but his life ended in the 1844 when a boiler in the steamboat he was riding in -- a vessel he owned -- exploded on the way to New Orleans.
Back in Georgia, the Vann House changed hands repeatedly over the next one hundred years, often falling into disrepair. In 1952 it was bought by private citizens and presented to the Georgia Historical Commission, which oversaw its restoration. The site was dedicated in 1958.
Today the house is maintained by the Georgia's Parks, Recreation and Historic Sites division of the Department of Natural Resources.
It remains a striking structure. Sitting on a gently slipping hill, it commands the locale.
The site features picnic tables, a 1/2 mile walking trail and several "outbuildings" containing historical materials.
The Robert E. Chamber Interpretive Center houses a book and gift shop, several fascinating exhibits, and a theater where a short film detailing the history of the Vann family and their treasured home is shown.
Tours of the house are guided and much can be learned by asking questions of the knowledgeable DNR hosts who lead the tours.
The site, which is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, is open to the public Thursday-Friday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
highlighted at Vann House
(From The Summerville News)
By JIMMY ESPY
Staff Writer
The Chief Vann House Historic Site, located on 109-acres in the Murray County community of Spring Place, is a wonderful resource for anyone interested in the Cherokee Nation.
The site is opened by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and is open Thursday-Saturday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
The Vann House, then known as the Diamond Hill House, was built in 1804 by James Vann, a wealthy and politically powerful Cherokee leader. Vann, the son of Scots fur trader and a Cherokee chief's daughter, had the home designed by a German architect and built by white and Indian craftsmen and slave laborers. The house was built in a combination of classic Federal and emerging Georgian styles.
The bottom two floors have three rooms, a dining room, a drawing (or family) room and a wide hallway. On the second floor is the master bedroom and a guest bedroom, separated by a hallway. Both are spacious, with 12-feet ceilings. The first and second floors also boast a porch and a veranda, with what would have been impressive views of plantation grounds.
The third floor has two bedrooms for children. They are much smaller, with six feet ceilings.
For years the much smaller, simpler rooms for the children were often referred to as "the coffin rooms," by visiting Murray Countians.
James Vann was a complicated man. Capable of great generosity, as well as impressive business and political acumen, he was also a heavy drinker with a proclivity for violence. Vann was known to have killed several men.
In 1809 he was avoiding his enemies (both white and Indian) by hiding out in Tennessee, when he visited the Buffington Tavern where he drank whisky and became embroiled in a dispute with other men.
Later in the evening, Vann was shot and killed while standing just outside the tavern by an unknown assassin.
James left almost all of his considerable belongings to his young son, Joseph, who was quickly dubbed "Rich Joe."
Joseph was an even better businessman than his father, as well as an astute politician. Though he too enjoyed the finer things his rapidly growing wealth made available, Joseph did not inherit his father's taste for violence.
He did inherit James’s love for the family home and continued to refine it. The mansion was so impressive that in 1919 President James Monroe stayed a night there while traveling from Augusta to Nashville.
Under Joseph’s stewardship, "Vann Inc." blossomed economically. The family farm eventually grew into a bustling, 800-plus acre plantation with almost 100 outbuildings, including slave quarters, barns, stables, smokehouses and a blacksmith shop.
But always at the center of plantation life was the 2.5-story (with cellar) Vann House.
By the standards of the time and place it was a remarkably rich home, featuring beautiful furniture, expensive paintings and other costly furnishings.
A large dining room and a richly furnished sitting room take up most of the first floor. The family kitchen, as was often the case in those days, was housed in a detached building to help prevent a disastrous fire. Meals were prepared there and then brought to the house by servants.
There are two main entrances to the house. James Vann wanted visitors to be impressed by both his front and back entrances, which are located on the north and south sides of the residence.
The house also had a full-sized cellar, where the family kept its meat and liquor. For years a rumor has persisted that the cellar was actually a "dungeon," where family enemies were tortured and imprisoned.
One of the most impressive design elements in the house was its "hanging staircase, which was innovatively designed and appeared to have little in the way of support. Though thousands of visitors had used the staircase without a problem over the years, several years ago the state required a supporting column be built.
The Vanns abandoned their palatial estate in 1835 at the insistence of an armed "militia" which showed up one evening and laid claim to the property. For years the state of Georgia had grown increasingly hostile toward the Indians who remained in the region. The Georgia Land Lottery of 1832, though challenged successfully in the courts by the Cherokees, divvied up most of the remaining Indian land and awarded it to white citizens.
A series of restrictive laws were also passed, intended to make life as difficult as possible for Native Americans.
In 1835, despite their wealth and influence, the Joe Vann, his two wives and their children joined thousands of other Cherokees and members of other tribes, in a forced migration. The family settled in Tennessee, where Joe established a new home including a replica of Diamond Hill. (That structure did not survive the Civil War.).
Later the family journeyed on The Trail of Tears to Oklahoma. The way west, which meant illness and death for many Eastern Indians, was not as arduous for the wealthy Vanns, though Joseph lost a daughter to illness on the way west.
The rest of the family settled in Webber’s Falls on the Arkansas River in Indian Territory (Oklahoma).
Joseph retained some of his wealth and political power in the West but his life ended in the 1844 when a boiler in the steamboat he was riding in -- a vessel he owned -- exploded on the way to New Orleans.
Back in Georgia, the Vann House changed hands repeatedly over the next one hundred years, often falling into disrepair. In 1952 it was bought by private citizens and presented to the Georgia Historical Commission, which oversaw its restoration. The site was dedicated in 1958.
Today the house is maintained by the Georgia's Parks, Recreation and Historic Sites division of the Department of Natural Resources.
It remains a striking structure. Sitting on a gently slipping hill, it commands the locale.
The site features picnic tables, a 1/2 mile walking trail and several "outbuildings" containing historical materials.
The Robert E. Chamber Interpretive Center houses a book and gift shop, several fascinating exhibits, and a theater where a short film detailing the history of the Vann family and their treasured home is shown.
Tours of the house are guided and much can be learned by asking questions of the knowledgeable DNR hosts who lead the tours.
The site, which is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, is open to the public Thursday-Friday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Hamburger hijinks
Lard ass who shouldn't be in White Castle sues White Castle because he can't fit in seat.
Friday, September 9, 2011
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Cool stuff - Jonny Quest
Bill Mitchell alerted me to this. Classic Jonny Quest opening done in stop motion animation. I like this Internet thingie.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Mark Steyn
Mark Steyn talks about Laurie Ingraham, a druken German and the decline of western civilization as we have known it.
Lee Roy Selmon, RIP
As a kid I was an Oklahoma Sooners fan and loved no player more than Lee Roy Selmon. Here's a piece about him from a Tampa newspaper.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Friday, September 2, 2011
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Dalton and illegals
It's a shame we can't send the local peckerwoods, layabouts, malingerers, dope fiends, white trash and cracker-ass crackers packing. Instead, we're chasing off people who came here to work. From Time.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Braves
Diaz back to the Braves. Saw him play in Pittsburgh recently. He wasn't swinging well, but still got on in that game.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Defending the indefensible
Nick Gillespie and David Boaz on Stossel. Good libertarian stuff. Intellectual ammunition.
Friday, August 26, 2011
Flair's follies
To be the man ... Ric Flair's pathetic life outside the ring. From Grantland, via Chris Beckham.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Monday, August 22, 2011
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Ron Paul
Jon Stewart asks, Why is he ignored? Answer: Because he's not a Demopublican and really would shake up the game. From The Atlantic.
The environment
Green favorite deep in the red. Mayve they should have made those shitty little light bulbs.
Monday, August 15, 2011
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
NFL Rams
Bernie Miklasz on the chances of other Rams from "the Show" to make it to the Hall of Fame. There's one big surprise .... think defense. A good column.
Monday, August 8, 2011
Planning for the planners
Mike Buffington of the Jackson Herald wrote a fine column on the fallacy of over planning.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Movies II
My Dalton buddy Jeff Burr interviewed about his career in horror films. Here is the TRUE story about getting Vincent Price in his first movie.
Movies
How did this sneak up on me? Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy is a new movie with Gary Oldman as Smiley. The novel is one of my all time favorites.
Friday, August 5, 2011
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Monday, August 1, 2011
Bourn Again
The Braves nabbed a speedy baserunner and smooth fielder when they traded Jordan Schafer and three minor leaguers to the Astros for Michael Bourn. Bourn is having a career year, hitting .303 for a bad team. He's stolen 39 bases in 46 attempts, the kind of numbers Braves haven't seen in a long time. Bourn can play defense and throws well enough.
There are a lot of reasons to be optimistic that he can give the Braves a major boost, but I'd feel better if he were a more pateint hitter and drew more walks. His OBP of .363 is OK by today's standards, but nothing special. If he had the eye to match his feet, that OBP wouldbe more like .400.
He will make about $4 a year this season and hits his first arbitration season in 2012. The year after will likely end in free agency and with Scott Boras for an agent it's hard to see him sticking in Atlanta unless he really stands out.
I would have preferred a big thumper but if Heyward can pull his act together and everyone stay healty for the stretch run, this should be a pretty scary offensive collection.
There are a lot of reasons to be optimistic that he can give the Braves a major boost, but I'd feel better if he were a more pateint hitter and drew more walks. His OBP of .363 is OK by today's standards, but nothing special. If he had the eye to match his feet, that OBP wouldbe more like .400.
He will make about $4 a year this season and hits his first arbitration season in 2012. The year after will likely end in free agency and with Scott Boras for an agent it's hard to see him sticking in Atlanta unless he really stands out.
I would have preferred a big thumper but if Heyward can pull his act together and everyone stay healty for the stretch run, this should be a pretty scary offensive collection.
A shortage of kitchen help
In his fine first book Anthony Bourdain made a strong point that even in the toniest restaurants in the country, the ones with the "world class" chefs, there was a very good chance the food was actually being prepared by an illegal alien from El Salvador or some other South of the Border country. Apparently that's true in a lot of other restaurants as well. Here's an interesting story from the AJC. Thanks to Charles Oliver for first posting this one.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
A song for CNHI
This tune is dedicated to the management of CNHI, the biggest horseshit bunch of "newspaper executives" on earth. With special regards to ol' Keith Blevins, an asshole if I ever saw one, and his sidekick William "Reggie" Bronson.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Terrible call gives Braves a win. The umpire had sucked behind the plate all night as well. I went to sleep an inning brefore this thing ended.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Road trip
Chickamauga battlefield is a great site to visit, both for history and recreation. Here's my story and pix from The Summerville News.
CHS grad makes army a career
Col. Michael Barbee was a trusty wide receiver at CHS. He later attended West Point and has flourished in the military. And here is my column on Col. Barbee.
Rome Braves Correx
In my earlier post I said none of the Rome Braves had impressed me that much. My bad.Catcher Evan Gattis has shown some pop when I've seen them play. He's a 6-4, 230 pound catcher who needs a of of work on his fundamentals but seems to have a solid arm. I was there on Saturday and he busted two no-doubt-about-it home runs off some pretty good pitching.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Amy Winehouse RIP
I have listened to this recording a hundred times in the last two years. I like the fact that it's a no bullshit performance with just a guitar and her powerhouse voice. Valerie
Rome Braves
I caught the Rome Braves-Kannapoliss Intimidators Class A game last night. Chipper Jones, on rehab assignment, went 0-3 and didn't appear to run very well. The Intimidators have a good looking left field prospect, Brady Shoemaker. He's hitting .321 with 65 RBI and a about a dozen homers. He's a slasher with good power and can run. Best of all, he's a patient hitter and drwas enough walks to have a .400 OBP. That's not a number you see often these days. None of the Braves impressed me that much. They've already advanced a couple of prospects and the players down there now don't jump out at you.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
WW II
Bones of Rudolph Hess dumped in the ocean. WHy the neo Nazis even liked the man is a mystery to me.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Books
"Company Commander" by Charles B. MacDonald is a classic grunt's eye view of infantry fighting in Europe in World War II. MacDonald was a young captain who took command of a company in France and continued in that capacity all the way to Czechoslovakia and VE Day. Although an officer, MacDonald thinks like a typical ground pounder. Pretty girls, alcohol, dry socks and getting a little sleep are among his top concerns.
This book provides an excellent example of the importance of combined operations, as often armor and artillery support play a huge role int he fighting.
MacDonald didn't have much use for German soldiers or civilians, but his embrace of the liberated people of Czechoslovakia is as heart warming as his indifference to "war crimes" against German prisoners is alarming.
MacDonald wrote a gentleman's account of the way, at least in terms of his relatively tame language. But no make mistake, his story is a tough, honest appraisal of the fighting he saw.
This book provides an excellent example of the importance of combined operations, as often armor and artillery support play a huge role int he fighting.
MacDonald didn't have much use for German soldiers or civilians, but his embrace of the liberated people of Czechoslovakia is as heart warming as his indifference to "war crimes" against German prisoners is alarming.
MacDonald wrote a gentleman's account of the way, at least in terms of his relatively tame language. But no make mistake, his story is a tough, honest appraisal of the fighting he saw.
NFL
The 100 free agents. From The Sporting News. Falcons punter Michael Koenen is surprisingly high on the list. Linemen Dahl and Clabo are also there.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Good eating at my house!
My July 7 column
There’s good eating at our house
We stopped off at the Wallace Cook farm, west of Lyerly, on July 3, so my wife and I could buy some fresh vegetables. It was a good move. She picked up a fine assortment of peppers, squash, corn and cucumbers.
They will not last long at Casa Espy. Alison will go through that stuff like nobody’s business.
When she moved to Northwest Georgia, Alison knew little about country cooking. Born and raised in South Africa, she knew a lot more about chutneys than about pickled pig’s feet. She came to the United States as a young teen, but by then she had become a vegetarian – gasp! – and so her ideas about what to eat were really unusual for the Deep South, where if something moves and doesn’t have a Social Security number we are inclined to shoot it and toss chunks of it in a big, black frying pan.
Alison’s ideas of preparing food also included options other than frying the heck out of it.
On the other hand, I am a traditional Southern eater. Deep frying is next to Cleanliness which is next to Godliness. I like grease. I like lard. I like MSG. I like refined sugar. I like white bread (preferably smeared with delicious potted meat). Mayonnaise is King!
Over our years together we have learned to compromise on our dining. I like to think my palette has become a bit more sophisticated and certainly I am willing to try new things – within reason. My enjoyment of several food shows (“Top Chef,” “No Reservations”) on cable TV has also spurred this evolution.
Much to my amusement Alison has not only learned to tolerate Southern cooking, but has come to appreciate some of it. It didn’t hurt that much of the first Southern food she ate was made by my late mother, Sally Kinsey, who is now a Master Chef in Heaven, and my wonderful aunts who also knew how to sling the hash.
We recently went to a movie in Dalton and I noticed that Alison was sneaking something out of her purse and munching on it. What’s that, I asked, clutching my own overpriced theater-sold box of Milk Duds.
“Corn bread,” she whispered.
I laughed out loud.
All she needed was a glass of buttermilk to go with it.
For awhile our daughter Rowan was a culinary battleground.
Her mother wanted to feed her only the healthiest, most natural food available. I was determined to make sure Rowan wasn’t The Kid the Other Kids Laughed At in the school cafeteria, where they munched hot dogs while she nibbled on lentils and sprouts.
It has taken some time, but eventually we reached our version of a gastronomic Treaty of Versailles, agreeing to work together to make sure our daughter eats well, but also enjoys a plethora of non-toxic but fun junk food (in reasonable quantities.)
Lunch one day may mean broccoli, beans and brown rice. But later that night there could well be a strawberry milkshake to knock down.
It seems to be working (though Alison is still absolutely appalled by our daughter’s sheer joy in devouring an entire can of Vienna sausages.)
On a recent outing with some family members, Rowan got to eat pizza. When asked what kind she wanted on her slices, she without hesitation told my brother “Spinach!”
That drew a pretty good a laugh but one day when she is mashing softball home runs with her Popeye-sized biceps, her mom and dad will enjoy the last chuckle.
We both want our daughter to try new foods and not be afraid of doing a little culinary experimenting. That’s why though she loves Kraft American singles (“square cheese”) she also has a taste for Swiss, provolone and cheddar.
One day at school they were serving that “government cheese” the cafeterias all seem to offer. Rowan took a bite and then asked her teacher if they “had any Gouda!”
That’s my girl! And that’s also my wife!
Jimmy Espy is staff writer for the Summerville News. His favorite foods are lamb, fried shrimp, barbecue pork, fried chicken and salty watermelon. It’s no surprise he’s overweight.
There’s good eating at our house
We stopped off at the Wallace Cook farm, west of Lyerly, on July 3, so my wife and I could buy some fresh vegetables. It was a good move. She picked up a fine assortment of peppers, squash, corn and cucumbers.
They will not last long at Casa Espy. Alison will go through that stuff like nobody’s business.
When she moved to Northwest Georgia, Alison knew little about country cooking. Born and raised in South Africa, she knew a lot more about chutneys than about pickled pig’s feet. She came to the United States as a young teen, but by then she had become a vegetarian – gasp! – and so her ideas about what to eat were really unusual for the Deep South, where if something moves and doesn’t have a Social Security number we are inclined to shoot it and toss chunks of it in a big, black frying pan.
Alison’s ideas of preparing food also included options other than frying the heck out of it.
On the other hand, I am a traditional Southern eater. Deep frying is next to Cleanliness which is next to Godliness. I like grease. I like lard. I like MSG. I like refined sugar. I like white bread (preferably smeared with delicious potted meat). Mayonnaise is King!
Over our years together we have learned to compromise on our dining. I like to think my palette has become a bit more sophisticated and certainly I am willing to try new things – within reason. My enjoyment of several food shows (“Top Chef,” “No Reservations”) on cable TV has also spurred this evolution.
Much to my amusement Alison has not only learned to tolerate Southern cooking, but has come to appreciate some of it. It didn’t hurt that much of the first Southern food she ate was made by my late mother, Sally Kinsey, who is now a Master Chef in Heaven, and my wonderful aunts who also knew how to sling the hash.
We recently went to a movie in Dalton and I noticed that Alison was sneaking something out of her purse and munching on it. What’s that, I asked, clutching my own overpriced theater-sold box of Milk Duds.
“Corn bread,” she whispered.
I laughed out loud.
All she needed was a glass of buttermilk to go with it.
For awhile our daughter Rowan was a culinary battleground.
Her mother wanted to feed her only the healthiest, most natural food available. I was determined to make sure Rowan wasn’t The Kid the Other Kids Laughed At in the school cafeteria, where they munched hot dogs while she nibbled on lentils and sprouts.
It has taken some time, but eventually we reached our version of a gastronomic Treaty of Versailles, agreeing to work together to make sure our daughter eats well, but also enjoys a plethora of non-toxic but fun junk food (in reasonable quantities.)
Lunch one day may mean broccoli, beans and brown rice. But later that night there could well be a strawberry milkshake to knock down.
It seems to be working (though Alison is still absolutely appalled by our daughter’s sheer joy in devouring an entire can of Vienna sausages.)
On a recent outing with some family members, Rowan got to eat pizza. When asked what kind she wanted on her slices, she without hesitation told my brother “Spinach!”
That drew a pretty good a laugh but one day when she is mashing softball home runs with her Popeye-sized biceps, her mom and dad will enjoy the last chuckle.
We both want our daughter to try new foods and not be afraid of doing a little culinary experimenting. That’s why though she loves Kraft American singles (“square cheese”) she also has a taste for Swiss, provolone and cheddar.
One day at school they were serving that “government cheese” the cafeterias all seem to offer. Rowan took a bite and then asked her teacher if they “had any Gouda!”
That’s my girl! And that’s also my wife!
Jimmy Espy is staff writer for the Summerville News. His favorite foods are lamb, fried shrimp, barbecue pork, fried chicken and salty watermelon. It’s no surprise he’s overweight.
Gay marriage
My June 30 column
Marry ‘em all, let God sort it out
An Episcopalian, a Southern Baptist, a Catholic, a Mormon, a Jehovah Witness and a Church of Christ leader gathered to change a light bulb. How long did it take them?
The answer is the light bulb never did get changed because the six religious leaders immediately began arguing over the first chapter of Genesis and everybody left in a huff.
One reason we shouldn’t base our laws on religion is there’s not a lot of agreement AMONG religious folk about what’s kosher in terms of morality … and that’s just among the Christians.
Never mind Judiasm, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Janism, Sikhism, Zorastrianism and ever popular Nuwaubianism, etc, etc.
And what about the atheists and agnostics, don’t they count for something?
This all came to mind recently in the days following the controversial passage of the gay marriage law in New York. Much of the criticism of the law I have heard does not come from any rational perspective other than “I think it’s a sin and it should be against the law.”
For the record, I am all for allowing gays to get married. My personal views on homosexuality have evolved over the years from “Ooooh, that’s disgusting!” to “That’s really not any of my business.” While I’d rather not see two dudes kissing each other on the mouth, I find that less offensive than seeing a great big woman walking around in shorts with her gobby fat, Moby Dick-white thighs on display.
Now THAT’S an abomination.
Opposition to gay marriage seems to take three forms. The instinctual repugnance many people feel toward homosexuality is one. Another is the idea of marriage as a one-man, one woman institution is so deeply ingrained in the human psyche that to tamper with it is to invite societal upheaval. Third, there is a legal argument to be made on the case, usually involving questions of adoption, inheritance, etc.
Taking the last argument first, I can’t see any reason why our legal system can’t sort out the legitimate legal questions just like it eventually sorted out critical legal issues pertaining to slavery, civil rights, etc.
I don’t see a big problem with gay adoption. Opponents say it an unhealthy moral environment for children to be raised in. In a county where it seems like half the kids in the public school system are being raised by their grannies because their skeezer moms and sack-of-crap dads are in jail for blowing up the trailer bathroom while trying to become methamphetamine magnates, that argument wobbles. Then you’ve got the non-druggies who are so stupid they think Cheetos are a vegetable and working for a living is a disease of the unfortunate who are too stupid to trick Uncle Sam into providing free food, clothing and shelter.
Give me a couple of loving, responsible, hard-working Adam and Evans any day.
As for the one-man, one-woman forever concept, I would suggest its adherents take a closer look at the real world where divorce is common, one-parent families are the often the rule and where adultery has been known to take place.
Whatever the human psyche compelled us to do these past few thousand years, the question today is what is right and wrong with homosexual marriage. If it becomes the law of the land across the country, as well it might, what happens next? Will polygamy be acceptable? Will a man be able to marry his pet Schnauzer? What if the Martians land; can we get legally hitched to a three-headed, green fellow with a bulbous head, no eyes and lobster claws for hands?
Ah … the slippery slope and the fear it induces in the easily spooked.
(For the record, I’d say yes to polygamy, no to marrying your Schnauzer and a wait and see attitude on the Martians until we get a look at their firepower.)
In terms of government, gay marriage should be looked at as a legal contract binding two people to certain reasonable rules and regulations. Those rules and regulations should be just plentiful enough to answer the same essential legal issues that heterosexual married couples face.
However -- and this point will not sit well with my gay friends who will surely vow to scratch out my eyes – private people and organizations who do not approve of homosexuals should have every right to discriminate against them.
If you don’t want a gay couple (married or unmarried) renting your nifty Cape Cod bungalow, then a No Gays Allowed policy should be perfectly legal.
If you don’t want gays attending your church, belonging to your country club, eating in your restaurant, that’s OK too.
And I make the same case for every other subset of human beings. If a black bus owner tells white people they have to sit in the back, then they need to get their honky butts down the aisle or take another bus. If a Jewish Country Club tells your WASP wife she can’t play tennis there, then the little lady needs to put her balls back in the can and go elsewhere.
Lester Maddux should have been able to bar blacks from the Pickrick Restaurant and they should have been able to tell him his weasely white behind wasn’t welcome at their eateries either.
Don’t get me wrong. All of the imagined acts I have mentioned above are loathsome. People who behave that way should be ostracized from polite society. They should be discriminated against by the decent people, who are much more numerous and generally better company anyhow.
But religious people should be allowed to preach, teach, philosophize, lambast and damn to hellfire homosexuality and its practitioners if they choose. If they can talk Evan into leaving Adam for Shirley, I say goody for them.
Don’t get me wrong. I do not advocate discrimination, but I say Americans should be able to discriminate most grotesquely.
Free will, someone called it.
However, government does not get to discriminate. Even a democratically elected government has to treat all its citizens fairly and equitably. The majority will be damned when it intrudes on the rights of individuals.
That means we all get to play the game with the same set of rules.
Homosexuals are taxed like the rest of us.
Homosexuals can be arrested for DUI like the rest of us.
Homosexuals can get sued like the rest of us.
Homosexuals can be policemen and firemen and soldiers like the rest of us.
And if they choose to get married like so many of the rest of us, let ‘em have at it.
Jimmy Espy is a staff writer for The Summerville News. He can be reached 706-857-2494 or by e-mail at Hoodcsa@aol.com
Marry ‘em all, let God sort it out
An Episcopalian, a Southern Baptist, a Catholic, a Mormon, a Jehovah Witness and a Church of Christ leader gathered to change a light bulb. How long did it take them?
The answer is the light bulb never did get changed because the six religious leaders immediately began arguing over the first chapter of Genesis and everybody left in a huff.
One reason we shouldn’t base our laws on religion is there’s not a lot of agreement AMONG religious folk about what’s kosher in terms of morality … and that’s just among the Christians.
Never mind Judiasm, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Janism, Sikhism, Zorastrianism and ever popular Nuwaubianism, etc, etc.
And what about the atheists and agnostics, don’t they count for something?
This all came to mind recently in the days following the controversial passage of the gay marriage law in New York. Much of the criticism of the law I have heard does not come from any rational perspective other than “I think it’s a sin and it should be against the law.”
For the record, I am all for allowing gays to get married. My personal views on homosexuality have evolved over the years from “Ooooh, that’s disgusting!” to “That’s really not any of my business.” While I’d rather not see two dudes kissing each other on the mouth, I find that less offensive than seeing a great big woman walking around in shorts with her gobby fat, Moby Dick-white thighs on display.
Now THAT’S an abomination.
Opposition to gay marriage seems to take three forms. The instinctual repugnance many people feel toward homosexuality is one. Another is the idea of marriage as a one-man, one woman institution is so deeply ingrained in the human psyche that to tamper with it is to invite societal upheaval. Third, there is a legal argument to be made on the case, usually involving questions of adoption, inheritance, etc.
Taking the last argument first, I can’t see any reason why our legal system can’t sort out the legitimate legal questions just like it eventually sorted out critical legal issues pertaining to slavery, civil rights, etc.
I don’t see a big problem with gay adoption. Opponents say it an unhealthy moral environment for children to be raised in. In a county where it seems like half the kids in the public school system are being raised by their grannies because their skeezer moms and sack-of-crap dads are in jail for blowing up the trailer bathroom while trying to become methamphetamine magnates, that argument wobbles. Then you’ve got the non-druggies who are so stupid they think Cheetos are a vegetable and working for a living is a disease of the unfortunate who are too stupid to trick Uncle Sam into providing free food, clothing and shelter.
Give me a couple of loving, responsible, hard-working Adam and Evans any day.
As for the one-man, one-woman forever concept, I would suggest its adherents take a closer look at the real world where divorce is common, one-parent families are the often the rule and where adultery has been known to take place.
Whatever the human psyche compelled us to do these past few thousand years, the question today is what is right and wrong with homosexual marriage. If it becomes the law of the land across the country, as well it might, what happens next? Will polygamy be acceptable? Will a man be able to marry his pet Schnauzer? What if the Martians land; can we get legally hitched to a three-headed, green fellow with a bulbous head, no eyes and lobster claws for hands?
Ah … the slippery slope and the fear it induces in the easily spooked.
(For the record, I’d say yes to polygamy, no to marrying your Schnauzer and a wait and see attitude on the Martians until we get a look at their firepower.)
In terms of government, gay marriage should be looked at as a legal contract binding two people to certain reasonable rules and regulations. Those rules and regulations should be just plentiful enough to answer the same essential legal issues that heterosexual married couples face.
However -- and this point will not sit well with my gay friends who will surely vow to scratch out my eyes – private people and organizations who do not approve of homosexuals should have every right to discriminate against them.
If you don’t want a gay couple (married or unmarried) renting your nifty Cape Cod bungalow, then a No Gays Allowed policy should be perfectly legal.
If you don’t want gays attending your church, belonging to your country club, eating in your restaurant, that’s OK too.
And I make the same case for every other subset of human beings. If a black bus owner tells white people they have to sit in the back, then they need to get their honky butts down the aisle or take another bus. If a Jewish Country Club tells your WASP wife she can’t play tennis there, then the little lady needs to put her balls back in the can and go elsewhere.
Lester Maddux should have been able to bar blacks from the Pickrick Restaurant and they should have been able to tell him his weasely white behind wasn’t welcome at their eateries either.
Don’t get me wrong. All of the imagined acts I have mentioned above are loathsome. People who behave that way should be ostracized from polite society. They should be discriminated against by the decent people, who are much more numerous and generally better company anyhow.
But religious people should be allowed to preach, teach, philosophize, lambast and damn to hellfire homosexuality and its practitioners if they choose. If they can talk Evan into leaving Adam for Shirley, I say goody for them.
Don’t get me wrong. I do not advocate discrimination, but I say Americans should be able to discriminate most grotesquely.
Free will, someone called it.
However, government does not get to discriminate. Even a democratically elected government has to treat all its citizens fairly and equitably. The majority will be damned when it intrudes on the rights of individuals.
That means we all get to play the game with the same set of rules.
Homosexuals are taxed like the rest of us.
Homosexuals can be arrested for DUI like the rest of us.
Homosexuals can get sued like the rest of us.
Homosexuals can be policemen and firemen and soldiers like the rest of us.
And if they choose to get married like so many of the rest of us, let ‘em have at it.
Jimmy Espy is a staff writer for The Summerville News. He can be reached 706-857-2494 or by e-mail at Hoodcsa@aol.com
Wrestler of the Week - Ernie Ladd
One of the funniest men on the mic in the history of the business. "Thundermouth" Patterson ... beware. Solie is great as well.
Secession!
And it isn't a bunch of Neo Confederates talking about it. Southern California for 51st state?
Monday, July 11, 2011
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Rasslin'
Check out his classic interview between the Assassin and Mr. Wrestling II. Great old school psychology with the Assassin leading Wrestling II into a stone rage. Great stuff.
The Assassin tells his tale
There's a ton of books by former professional wrestlers out there. Most are bad, but some hit the high spots. "Assassin: The Man Behind the Mask" is one of the later.
The title is a little deceptive. We don't learn a lot about Jody "the Assassin" Hamilton outside the ring. For instance his family life is rarely mentioned and his relationship with brother Larry "the Missouri Mauler" Hamilton disappears from the narrative way too soon.
But the book delivers a bucket load of great pictures and colorful stores about "the business." Hamilton names names, and isn't afraid to give his honest assessment of some of the top stars in the business. Ric Flair, Mil Mascaras, Dory Funk Jr. and Vince McMahon, Jr. are among the personalities who get receive Hamilton's blunt assessment.
Hamilton also gives his theories on how to do a good interview and on what makes effective booking. He tells his readers why he thinks the modern wrestling product is sewing the seeds for its on demise. You may not agree with everything he has to say, but Hamilton always makes a strong case for his views.
But the best reason to read this book is the stories from the good old days. It's as if you're sitting in a bar with Hamilton drinking beers as he regales you with one tale after another. Many are funny. Some end tragically. Almost all are interesting.
Jody Hamilton crossed paths (and cross face locked) many of the wrestling game's greatest stars. From the likes of Lou Thesz and Danny Hodge to Stone Cold Steve Austin and Dwayne "the Rock" Johnson, Hamilton knew them all.
Wrestling fans should pick this book up. It'll go down faster than an Abdullah the Butcher squash match.
To get it, go to www.crowbarpress.com
The title is a little deceptive. We don't learn a lot about Jody "the Assassin" Hamilton outside the ring. For instance his family life is rarely mentioned and his relationship with brother Larry "the Missouri Mauler" Hamilton disappears from the narrative way too soon.
But the book delivers a bucket load of great pictures and colorful stores about "the business." Hamilton names names, and isn't afraid to give his honest assessment of some of the top stars in the business. Ric Flair, Mil Mascaras, Dory Funk Jr. and Vince McMahon, Jr. are among the personalities who get receive Hamilton's blunt assessment.
Hamilton also gives his theories on how to do a good interview and on what makes effective booking. He tells his readers why he thinks the modern wrestling product is sewing the seeds for its on demise. You may not agree with everything he has to say, but Hamilton always makes a strong case for his views.
But the best reason to read this book is the stories from the good old days. It's as if you're sitting in a bar with Hamilton drinking beers as he regales you with one tale after another. Many are funny. Some end tragically. Almost all are interesting.
Jody Hamilton crossed paths (and cross face locked) many of the wrestling game's greatest stars. From the likes of Lou Thesz and Danny Hodge to Stone Cold Steve Austin and Dwayne "the Rock" Johnson, Hamilton knew them all.
Wrestling fans should pick this book up. It'll go down faster than an Abdullah the Butcher squash match.
To get it, go to www.crowbarpress.com
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Marry 'em all, let God sort 'em out
My column on gay marriage. If Bob and Ted want to get married, t'ant none of my business.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Jerry Guy
Jerry is the best boss I ever worked for. A fine wordsmith and a better leader. He was an old school newsman in the best tradition of the idea. He backed me up when a lot of other bosses would have rolled over and I know I am not the only one who can say that. Here is his web site. including information about his new book.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Friday, July 1, 2011
Movies from my couch
The world probably has enough zombie movies to last it for a few years but that didn't keep me from enjoying the workmanlike, well-crated ways of "The Horde," a French flick with a beaucoup blood and grue. I won't bother witht he cast or the director; you haven't heard of them, but all concerned do a good job of delivering the grim goods.
The story starts in the aftermath of a drug gang slaying of a police officer. The cops pals decide to take the law into their own hands and punish the gang members in a less-than-official manner. But the cops' raid on the druggies goes bad and soon they are taken hostage. This all occurs just in time for an unexplained outbreak of living dead munchitis which quickly spirals out of control.
The cops and hoods are forced to team up to try and escape the zombie horde, but it's an uneasy relationship at best.
The violence is pretty much non-stop; the direction is tight and there's humor as well as horror in the mix.
A well done, unpretentious little zombie flick I picked up from Netflix.
Recommended.
The story starts in the aftermath of a drug gang slaying of a police officer. The cops pals decide to take the law into their own hands and punish the gang members in a less-than-official manner. But the cops' raid on the druggies goes bad and soon they are taken hostage. This all occurs just in time for an unexplained outbreak of living dead munchitis which quickly spirals out of control.
The cops and hoods are forced to team up to try and escape the zombie horde, but it's an uneasy relationship at best.
The violence is pretty much non-stop; the direction is tight and there's humor as well as horror in the mix.
A well done, unpretentious little zombie flick I picked up from Netflix.
Recommended.
The Braves
The Capital Avenue Club assesses someof the chips the Braves have to spend if they try for a deadline trade. Think young pitching.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Tuggle honored
I missed this earlier. Well deserved kudos for Jesse Tuggle, an underrated star for the Falcons and Valdosta State.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Friday, June 24, 2011
Gene Colan, RIP
I was a huge fan of his work, particularly the horror stuff he did for Marvel Comics. I own every issue of Tomb of Dracula, in large part because of my appreciation of his art. Colan was a master of mood. Teamed with Marv Wolfman and Tom Palmer (on inks) they made TOD a great, underrated title. Here's Gene Meth discussing his friend.
Rasslin'
Abdullah and Bruiser Brody from Puerto Rico. You are not going to believe this ... they brawl.
Peter Falk, RIP
Just a terrific actor. One of my favorites. Good in so many things, but check him out for sure in "Tune in Tomorrow" as Pedro Carmichael. I've been meaning to watch that one lately and now it really is appropriate.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Kyle Wingfield
The AJC columnist notes government's failure to govern government. Is anyone surprised?
A good column
My friend Mark Williams recently lost his air conditioning, and lived to tell the tale.
Eats
Potato chips make you fat. No shit! But it's hard to beat a big bag of Lays Barbecues for soaking up excess beer when you are about to tinkle in your drawers.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Bottom of the 33rd
My look at the new book about baseball's longest game. Trion's Dan Logan got fout hits in the game. From The Summerville News.
Hump day music
I read today that Glen Campbell has Alzheimer's. Sad. Here he is with a fine version of Gentle on my Mind. Appropos, I hope.
Jeffersons in Summerville
It's news in this town when a growing restaurant chain opens in downtown and a lot of locals have already been to Jefferson's this week to check out it out.
I went Monday and Tuesday.
Monday was not a good experience. I ordered a dozen raw aysters and waited 42 minutes only to then be told by the waitress that they were out of oysters. I was an unhappy young man and explained as much to her. She apologized profusely, but didn't bother to offer any kind of make-good. I did not carp to the manager, writing it off as a rookie waitress learning the ropes.
I switched my order to 15 peel and eat shrimp. They came out quickly and when given a few minutes to chill on ice they were quite good. At $6.99 they were a pretty good deal.
I also ordered a side salad which was disappointing to me because I like my salads "gardeny," not so much with croutons, cheese, bacon, etc. By the time I got to the lettuce, there just wasn't enough there to justify the $2.99 cost. I'd like to see them serve salads in bigger dishes and put in more lettuce.
The beer looked very, very good but as I am now on the wagon I did not partake other than to sniff the pitchers as they went by our table.
On Tuesday I went in at 3 a.m. and the crowd was much smaller than the packed previous visit. My waitress was excellent, as well as cute, and she brought me a dozen delicious oysters at the special price of 50 cents per oyster. (I hope this is a regular special.) I tried the salad again and asked them to hold the toppings and give me a lot of lettuce, but it didn't work. There may have been a few more leafs of the green stuff in there, but not enough to justify the price.
My second day trip was a pleasant experience and I spoke briefly with the owner, who I had interviewed several months earlier.
Overall, I like the look of Jefferson's quite a bit. My low sodium diet eliminates a lot of the menu for me, but for you normal people there should be plenty of options. The wings look like a winning item and the oysters and shrimp are a great change of pace for the local dining scene.
I would defintely recommend you try the joint out and give them more than one shot if your first visit doesn't sparkle. The menu is worth exploring and the cost is reasonable compared to most towns, though the locals will grumble, as always, about paying prices people in other towns don't blink at.
I hope Jefferson's is a back success.
I went Monday and Tuesday.
Monday was not a good experience. I ordered a dozen raw aysters and waited 42 minutes only to then be told by the waitress that they were out of oysters. I was an unhappy young man and explained as much to her. She apologized profusely, but didn't bother to offer any kind of make-good. I did not carp to the manager, writing it off as a rookie waitress learning the ropes.
I switched my order to 15 peel and eat shrimp. They came out quickly and when given a few minutes to chill on ice they were quite good. At $6.99 they were a pretty good deal.
I also ordered a side salad which was disappointing to me because I like my salads "gardeny," not so much with croutons, cheese, bacon, etc. By the time I got to the lettuce, there just wasn't enough there to justify the $2.99 cost. I'd like to see them serve salads in bigger dishes and put in more lettuce.
The beer looked very, very good but as I am now on the wagon I did not partake other than to sniff the pitchers as they went by our table.
On Tuesday I went in at 3 a.m. and the crowd was much smaller than the packed previous visit. My waitress was excellent, as well as cute, and she brought me a dozen delicious oysters at the special price of 50 cents per oyster. (I hope this is a regular special.) I tried the salad again and asked them to hold the toppings and give me a lot of lettuce, but it didn't work. There may have been a few more leafs of the green stuff in there, but not enough to justify the price.
My second day trip was a pleasant experience and I spoke briefly with the owner, who I had interviewed several months earlier.
Overall, I like the look of Jefferson's quite a bit. My low sodium diet eliminates a lot of the menu for me, but for you normal people there should be plenty of options. The wings look like a winning item and the oysters and shrimp are a great change of pace for the local dining scene.
I would defintely recommend you try the joint out and give them more than one shot if your first visit doesn't sparkle. The menu is worth exploring and the cost is reasonable compared to most towns, though the locals will grumble, as always, about paying prices people in other towns don't blink at.
I hope Jefferson's is a back success.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Mark Steyn
Signs of the Times. Cracking down on pizza muncjng "terrorists." (Anchovie assassins?) (Canadian bacon bombers?)
Travel
Florida beaches once again a hot spot for summer vacationers. Gulf Coast on the rebound following BP nightmare.
Monday, June 20, 2011
NFL
I missed this when it came out. John Clayton's Most Underrated team. Glad to see James Hall appreciated.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Thursday, June 16, 2011
The rehabilitation of Newt
Staffers say good riddance to departed campaign workers. They never understand "Newt World."
Civil War
Chattooga County hopes to profit from Civil War tourism. My story from the Chattanooga Times-Free Press.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
TV
Ben Shapiro lists the Top 10 Conservative shows of all time. "Leave It to Beaver" makes the cut as does "South Park." From NRO.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Monday, June 13, 2011
Braves
Another pitcher ready to blossom. Triple A standout ready to pitch in the majors, but Braves rotation is crowded ... and good.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Hump Day Music
Nancy Griffith brings together an all-star group for "Desperadoes Waiting for a Train." From the Letterman Show with a powerhouse lineup of Jerry Jeff Walker, Steve Earle, Eric Taylor, Guy Clark, Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Rodney Crowell. A "Texas music" version of the 1927 Yankees. And here's abeautful bonus tune with nancy and Jerry Jeff perfect together on the wonderful Morning Song for Sally."
The things that really matter
My June 2 column and the last of my two-parter about being in the hospital for 12 days.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Monday, June 6, 2011
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Hump Day Music
Lucinda Wiliams does a riveting Positively Fourth Street. Great Dylan lyrics. Great Williams' interpretation.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Twelve days to remember
My May 26 column about my hospital stay at Redmond Regional. I like this one. From the Summerville News.
Paddling the Chattooga
By JIMMY ESPY
The Summerville News
The Chattooga River is a vital resource for servicing Chattooga County water needs, but it remains untapped as a recreational resource, according to Joe Cook, executive director of the Coosa River Basin Initiative.
The CRBI is a non-profit group based in Rome which monitors the area water sources and advocates policies the group believes will benefit the region.
The CRBI has a little fun as well.
The group is sponsoring a six-mile paddle trip on the Chattooga, putting in canoes and kayaks near Mount Vernon Mills in Trion and floating south to private property near Summerville where the boaters will be able to exit the river and take advantage of a shuttle service back to their vehicles.
The expedition is planned for Saturday, June 4. CRBI members pay nothing to go on the group trip. The cost to non-members is a membership in the CRBI, $35 for families and $15 for seniors and students. Once someone becomes a member they can join in other trips in the region at no cost.
To register for the June 4 trip or for more information, contact Alan Crawford at 706-237-7268 or e-mail at ibwheelin2@yahoo.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . You can also call the office of the CRBI at 706-232-2724.
The CRBI can provide kayaks and canoes for the June 4 excursion. Canoes capable of holding two adults and a child are available for $35; kayaks which hold one person are $30. To reserve one of these rentals it’s important to register with Crawford.
Crawford, who works as a volunteer for the CRBI, has been kayaking for approximately five years and has been on the Chattooga before.
“It’s a beautiful river and I would recommend it to any family getting started,” Crawford said. Safety is stressed on the trips.
Cook believes the Chattooga’s reputation as a dirty, polluted river has hurt its development as a recreational resource.
“That may have how it was at one time but over the years a lot of progress has been made in cleaning up the river,” Cook said. “Now the Chattooga is quite a beautiful river with a lot of critters living in or near it.”
Cook paddled a section of the river recently and talked about the abundance of small animals that might be seen from the water.
He listed beaver, muskrats, squirrels, blue heron, turtles, a variety of fish and possible even otter.
“We saw a deer swimming across the river when we were up there,” he added.
“The Chattooga is a very small, intimate river,” he said. “It has slow moving water, no rapids and you’re never far from the banks.”
Cook said the stretch of river the group will paddle is relatively clear of debris, despite recent storms.
“There was one place that had some trees in the water but some of our volunteers from up there were going to try and work on that to make it easier for the group to get around.”
The Summerville News
The Chattooga River is a vital resource for servicing Chattooga County water needs, but it remains untapped as a recreational resource, according to Joe Cook, executive director of the Coosa River Basin Initiative.
The CRBI is a non-profit group based in Rome which monitors the area water sources and advocates policies the group believes will benefit the region.
The CRBI has a little fun as well.
The group is sponsoring a six-mile paddle trip on the Chattooga, putting in canoes and kayaks near Mount Vernon Mills in Trion and floating south to private property near Summerville where the boaters will be able to exit the river and take advantage of a shuttle service back to their vehicles.
The expedition is planned for Saturday, June 4. CRBI members pay nothing to go on the group trip. The cost to non-members is a membership in the CRBI, $35 for families and $15 for seniors and students. Once someone becomes a member they can join in other trips in the region at no cost.
To register for the June 4 trip or for more information, contact Alan Crawford at 706-237-7268 or e-mail at ibwheelin2@yahoo.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . You can also call the office of the CRBI at 706-232-2724.
The CRBI can provide kayaks and canoes for the June 4 excursion. Canoes capable of holding two adults and a child are available for $35; kayaks which hold one person are $30. To reserve one of these rentals it’s important to register with Crawford.
Crawford, who works as a volunteer for the CRBI, has been kayaking for approximately five years and has been on the Chattooga before.
“It’s a beautiful river and I would recommend it to any family getting started,” Crawford said. Safety is stressed on the trips.
Cook believes the Chattooga’s reputation as a dirty, polluted river has hurt its development as a recreational resource.
“That may have how it was at one time but over the years a lot of progress has been made in cleaning up the river,” Cook said. “Now the Chattooga is quite a beautiful river with a lot of critters living in or near it.”
Cook paddled a section of the river recently and talked about the abundance of small animals that might be seen from the water.
He listed beaver, muskrats, squirrels, blue heron, turtles, a variety of fish and possible even otter.
“We saw a deer swimming across the river when we were up there,” he added.
“The Chattooga is a very small, intimate river,” he said. “It has slow moving water, no rapids and you’re never far from the banks.”
Cook said the stretch of river the group will paddle is relatively clear of debris, despite recent storms.
“There was one place that had some trees in the water but some of our volunteers from up there were going to try and work on that to make it easier for the group to get around.”
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Tunes
New records from Stevie Nicks and Steve Earle should be out now. Two very different artists but I have loved them both for years.
From the Why a Remake file?
Sam Peckinpah's "Straw Dogs" and "Total Recall."
Can't see them topping Peckinpah in any meaningful way but maybe "Total Recall" will be less Schwarzenegger and more Philip K. Dick, the author of the story it is based on.
Can't see them topping Peckinpah in any meaningful way but maybe "Total Recall" will be less Schwarzenegger and more Philip K. Dick, the author of the story it is based on.
Tube time
Ridley and Tony Scott's version of Gettysburg will be shown tonight. They promise a realistic look at the battle that many think turned the tide for good in the Civil War. Should be worth watching. Here's something about it from History Net.
Also, loving all the war pix on TMC this weekend. Saw things I have never seen. "Battleground" is on today and that is top notch.
Also, loving all the war pix on TMC this weekend. Saw things I have never seen. "Battleground" is on today and that is top notch.
A plug for Bonefish Grill.
Ate there in Chattanooga last night and the chef(s) cooperated beautifully with my low-sodium needs and served us a terrific meal. The scallops and shrimp were exceptional. Try it out.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Baseball
Baseball America's top 200 prospects for the 2011 amateur draft. Several Georgia high school and college players are in there and also several from my old southwest Florida stomping grounds.
Small newspapers cover big stories
My May 5 column. This one was about the killer storms which struck Northwest Georgia and Alabama.
The billion dollar lie.
Obama's and the medias's faulty claims about GM. Why its bogus. From Reason Online.
NBA Draft
UGA's Trey Thompkins tumbling according to Mark Bradley of the AJC. I say draft the kid and get his arse in shape. He can flat out play on the inside.
Macho Man a revolutionary figure
Bill Simmons writes of his love for the late Randy Savage. I wasn't really a Savage fan though the Simmons piece does bring back some good memories of his clashes with Hogan and Steamboat. The story is from ESPN.
Monday, May 23, 2011
The Office
Who will replace Michael? He didn't apply but Stanley would be a very good choice. Experienced, mature, and with character tics that would work well in the role. He could let the other characters play off of him beautifully.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Rams needs in free agency
Top threats
Despite an OK draft (at best) draft, the Rams need some major hits in free agency if they are to continue getting better.
1. DT - They ignored this huge hole on draft day despite the presence of some promising DTs. Spagnolo, who loves his old Giants will probably go after Barry Cofield, but signing him won't be easy. He wants to stay in NY, plus a dearth of free agent DTs will push up bidding. The Rams will have to sign someone.
2. S - Letting Atogwe go was a mistake. The Rams now need two safeties. Craig Dahl is a third safety at best. There are some solid pros who should be available. Donte Whitner is worth a look and Deion Grant would be a good one year signing.
3. OLB - Pickings will be slim here too but there players who can help. Quincy Black is a good possibility, though he is coming off an injury. James Anderson had a nice year in 2010. Thomas Davis is a talent but too injury prone.
4. OG - This is the weakest link in the OL. Neither Goldberg or Bell has been productive enough. You won't find a star in this FA group but there are players who will upgrade the interior line.
5. The team still does not have a No. 1 wide receiver. They should look at a decent FA crop and find a deep ball threat. Most of the top guys are flawed in some way, but they Rams are hungry for a deep threat. I like Lance Moore in this crowd. He's not a burner but can find the end zone.
Other spots:
A backup RB is needed. Michael Bush is a load but may be looking to start.
A backup QB is needed. Look for a veteran who can play the short passing game.
While the Rams seem fairly happy with their CBs, they don't have a standout. Asogmugha would be great but too costly. Richard Marshall would work.
Despite an OK draft (at best) draft, the Rams need some major hits in free agency if they are to continue getting better.
1. DT - They ignored this huge hole on draft day despite the presence of some promising DTs. Spagnolo, who loves his old Giants will probably go after Barry Cofield, but signing him won't be easy. He wants to stay in NY, plus a dearth of free agent DTs will push up bidding. The Rams will have to sign someone.
2. S - Letting Atogwe go was a mistake. The Rams now need two safeties. Craig Dahl is a third safety at best. There are some solid pros who should be available. Donte Whitner is worth a look and Deion Grant would be a good one year signing.
3. OLB - Pickings will be slim here too but there players who can help. Quincy Black is a good possibility, though he is coming off an injury. James Anderson had a nice year in 2010. Thomas Davis is a talent but too injury prone.
4. OG - This is the weakest link in the OL. Neither Goldberg or Bell has been productive enough. You won't find a star in this FA group but there are players who will upgrade the interior line.
5. The team still does not have a No. 1 wide receiver. They should look at a decent FA crop and find a deep ball threat. Most of the top guys are flawed in some way, but they Rams are hungry for a deep threat. I like Lance Moore in this crowd. He's not a burner but can find the end zone.
Other spots:
A backup RB is needed. Michael Bush is a load but may be looking to start.
A backup QB is needed. Look for a veteran who can play the short passing game.
While the Rams seem fairly happy with their CBs, they don't have a standout. Asogmugha would be great but too costly. Richard Marshall would work.
Batman sighting
They seem to have to 1960s Batman show on the Disney Hub channel. I think it runs Mon.-Thurs. at 11:30 p.m. I saw two pretty good episodes last week.
Movie Alert!!!
"Kanal," one of the best war films I have seen is showing on TCM at 2 am Monday morning. It's a Polish filmed based on the tragic Warsaw Uprising. It's very, very good.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Rams draft 2011
I was disappointed. They got some decent players but at every pick they missed the opportunity to address more of a need area. A lot of this may be the fact that the new OC, Josh McDaniel, is going to shove that New England offense down our throats ... though we don't have the deep threat (Moss) to make it work.
Here are the Rams picks, some comments and the name of players available at that point who could have been taken.
1. Robert Quinn-DE. Looked great as a junior but didn't play last year because of "off the field issues." Never a good sign. Chris Long really isn't much of a pass rusher and James Hall is aging, so I'll give them a passing grade on Quinn, though I would have preferred Adrian Clayborn or Cameron Jordan ... players who actually suited up last season.
2. Lance Kendrick-TE. They have about eight TEs and Kendrick should be the best of the crowd. But we have bigger needs, much bigger. The Rams should have went for a DT. Paea and Marvin Austin were there for the taking. They could also have had Randall Cobb or Tory Smith to give them a deep route receiver. Instead we get another dink and dunk man. I'd have gone for Cobb, who can run and is a fine returner, which we need.
3. Austin Pettis-WR went one pick before Leonard Hankerson. I would have taken Hankerson (if I went DT in Round 2) or Drake Nevis out of LSU. Make it Nevis.
4. Greg Salas-WR. I'm intrigued with Salas. They needed an OLB here, but the pickings are very slim. A backup runner might have fit better to. I'll go with Salas.
5. Jermale Hines-S. The position is a huge hole in the lineup but a fifth rounder isn't going to fill it. OLBs Chris Carter or Lawrence Wilson were there as was Jackson Todman the RB and Quin Sturdivant an ILB who might make it on the strong side. I like Todman the best.
6. No pick.
7. Mikhail Baker-DB, Jabara Williams-OLB and Jonathan Nelson-CB. None of them could make a good team. The Rams will probably keep at least two on the roster (Williams and Baker.) They COULD have had Lawrence Guy-DT, Anthony Allen-RB, Stanley Havili-RB, Shaun Chapas-FB or Greg Romeus-DE.
My Draft would have gone more like this.
1. Cameron Jordan-DE
2. Randall Cobb-WR
3. Drake Nevis-DT.
4. Greg Salas-WR.
5. Jackson Todman-RB.
7. Lawrence Guy-DT.
7. Anthony Allen-RB
7. Greg Romeus-DE.
Here are the Rams picks, some comments and the name of players available at that point who could have been taken.
1. Robert Quinn-DE. Looked great as a junior but didn't play last year because of "off the field issues." Never a good sign. Chris Long really isn't much of a pass rusher and James Hall is aging, so I'll give them a passing grade on Quinn, though I would have preferred Adrian Clayborn or Cameron Jordan ... players who actually suited up last season.
2. Lance Kendrick-TE. They have about eight TEs and Kendrick should be the best of the crowd. But we have bigger needs, much bigger. The Rams should have went for a DT. Paea and Marvin Austin were there for the taking. They could also have had Randall Cobb or Tory Smith to give them a deep route receiver. Instead we get another dink and dunk man. I'd have gone for Cobb, who can run and is a fine returner, which we need.
3. Austin Pettis-WR went one pick before Leonard Hankerson. I would have taken Hankerson (if I went DT in Round 2) or Drake Nevis out of LSU. Make it Nevis.
4. Greg Salas-WR. I'm intrigued with Salas. They needed an OLB here, but the pickings are very slim. A backup runner might have fit better to. I'll go with Salas.
5. Jermale Hines-S. The position is a huge hole in the lineup but a fifth rounder isn't going to fill it. OLBs Chris Carter or Lawrence Wilson were there as was Jackson Todman the RB and Quin Sturdivant an ILB who might make it on the strong side. I like Todman the best.
6. No pick.
7. Mikhail Baker-DB, Jabara Williams-OLB and Jonathan Nelson-CB. None of them could make a good team. The Rams will probably keep at least two on the roster (Williams and Baker.) They COULD have had Lawrence Guy-DT, Anthony Allen-RB, Stanley Havili-RB, Shaun Chapas-FB or Greg Romeus-DE.
My Draft would have gone more like this.
1. Cameron Jordan-DE
2. Randall Cobb-WR
3. Drake Nevis-DT.
4. Greg Salas-WR.
5. Jackson Todman-RB.
7. Lawrence Guy-DT.
7. Anthony Allen-RB
7. Greg Romeus-DE.
Poker
Poker players form league. I've got $10 says Helmuth is the first player banned ala Pete Rose.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
NFL Draft
Here is my mock of the first round. Few surprises and no trades which is unlikely.
My first round (assuming zero trades)
1. Carolina – Cam Newton-QB
2. Denver – Marcel Dareus-DT
3. Buffalo – Von Miller-LB
4. Cinc. – AJ Green-WR
5. Ari – Patrick Peterson-CB
6. Cle – Mario Jones-WR
7. SF – Robert Quinn-DE
8. Tenn – Fairley-DT
9. Dal – Pouncey– C,G
10. Wash – Gabbert-QB
11. Hou – Amukamara-CB
12. Minn – Jake Locker-QB
13. Det – D’Quan Bowers-DE
14. SL – Cameron Jordan-DE
15. Mia – Cameron Heyward-DE
16. Jax – Ryan Kerrigan-DE
17. NEP – Tyron Smith-T
18. SD – Gabe Carimi-T
19. NYG – Nate Solder-T
20. TB – Adrian Clayborn-DE
21. KC – Derrick Sherrod-T
22. INDY – Cory Liguet-DT
23. Phil – Anthony Castonzo-T
24. NO – Muhammad Wilkerson-DT
25. Sea – Mark Ingram-RB
26. Balt – Jimmy Smith-CB
27. Atl – Randall Cobb-WR
28. NEP – Aldon Smith-OLB
29. Chi – Marvin Austin-DT
30. NYJ – Brooks Reed-LB
31. PB – Brandon Harris-CB
32. GB – Akeem Ayers-LB
My first round (assuming zero trades)
1. Carolina – Cam Newton-QB
2. Denver – Marcel Dareus-DT
3. Buffalo – Von Miller-LB
4. Cinc. – AJ Green-WR
5. Ari – Patrick Peterson-CB
6. Cle – Mario Jones-WR
7. SF – Robert Quinn-DE
8. Tenn – Fairley-DT
9. Dal – Pouncey– C,G
10. Wash – Gabbert-QB
11. Hou – Amukamara-CB
12. Minn – Jake Locker-QB
13. Det – D’Quan Bowers-DE
14. SL – Cameron Jordan-DE
15. Mia – Cameron Heyward-DE
16. Jax – Ryan Kerrigan-DE
17. NEP – Tyron Smith-T
18. SD – Gabe Carimi-T
19. NYG – Nate Solder-T
20. TB – Adrian Clayborn-DE
21. KC – Derrick Sherrod-T
22. INDY – Cory Liguet-DT
23. Phil – Anthony Castonzo-T
24. NO – Muhammad Wilkerson-DT
25. Sea – Mark Ingram-RB
26. Balt – Jimmy Smith-CB
27. Atl – Randall Cobb-WR
28. NEP – Aldon Smith-OLB
29. Chi – Marvin Austin-DT
30. NYJ – Brooks Reed-LB
31. PB – Brandon Harris-CB
32. GB – Akeem Ayers-LB
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
tRump
Now that he has "solved" the Obama birth mystery, the stupidaire wants the president's golf score from a round he once shot at Doral to be further scrutinized. tRump has agents on the ground even as you read this.
Joe Lansdale's latest
Hap Collins and Leonard Pine are a pair of Texas 'necks with a weakness for taking on lost causes and hopeless situations. Usually they prevail, though not before 200 or so pages of being abused (verbally and physically) be some of the ornerist characters imagined by the talented Texan, Joe Lansdale.
By my count "Devil Red" is the eighth mainstream Leonard and Hap novel. The boys, fresh off a rumble with some local lowlifes, get tangled up in an old murder case, leading them to a string of other slayings.
Are all the killings related somehow?
Shit yeah they are.
I enjoyed "Devil Red," though the identity of the killer and the backstory it involves is a might far fetched for my taste. Though it appeals to the comic book/James Bond fan in me, that's not what I'm looking for when Leonard and Hap get together on the printed page. I prefer their stories stripped down, reeking of violence, corruption and Lansdale's keen sense of the absurd.
"Devil Red" is a fun, fast read and will make a fan out of most newcomers who try it out. Like Leonard and Hap, the series remains strong, vibrant and sharply funny.
By my count "Devil Red" is the eighth mainstream Leonard and Hap novel. The boys, fresh off a rumble with some local lowlifes, get tangled up in an old murder case, leading them to a string of other slayings.
Are all the killings related somehow?
Shit yeah they are.
I enjoyed "Devil Red," though the identity of the killer and the backstory it involves is a might far fetched for my taste. Though it appeals to the comic book/James Bond fan in me, that's not what I'm looking for when Leonard and Hap get together on the printed page. I prefer their stories stripped down, reeking of violence, corruption and Lansdale's keen sense of the absurd.
"Devil Red" is a fun, fast read and will make a fan out of most newcomers who try it out. Like Leonard and Hap, the series remains strong, vibrant and sharply funny.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Leon Russell's greatness
A terrific speech by Elton John inducting Leon Russell in the rock hall of fame. Leon has had an an enormous impact on popular music and I'm thrilled his unique career has been recognized. His music opened worlds for me. God bless him (and Elton) for this fine, fine moment and all those wonderful tunes.
"Now the day is gone ... and I sit alone and think of you"
"Now the day is gone ... and I sit alone and think of you"
Steven Chapman
Is Libya already a failure? Benghazi saved but Misrati pays the price by US-NATO response.
Jay Bookman
Georgia's situational conservatives. Not a particularly well done piece, but he is right on his central point; local conservatives are a lot less laissez faire when business interests grab for the teat.
Monday, April 25, 2011
High speed disaster
Here's some information about that Chinese high speed rail system President Obama is fond of mentioning. It isn't going so well. From the Washington Post.
Christopher Hitchens
Big Chris still has it in him to pee in the royal punch. A lovely bit on the absurdity of the whole damn wedding hysteria in England.
Sunday Morning Services (A day late)
Open your hymnals to this classic from the Statler Brothers.How Great Thou Art
Thursday, April 21, 2011
NFL Draft 2
A little over a year ago they were talking about Georgia Tech running back Anthony Allen as an upper echelon runner. Now, after Tech's disappointing season, his stock has dropped although his size (229 pounds) and speed (4.56)are good enough to get him picked in the mid rounds by a team looking for a solid runner to sub for their starter.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Red State Update
Jackie and Dunlap put their big brains to work on the government shutdown. Some (funny) profanity included.
'Restrepo' filmmaker killed
I was hoping this was a misreported story earlier but apparently Tim Hetherington was killed in Misrati today. Here's the trailer for "Restrepo."
Monday, April 18, 2011
Words
"The Floating Zombie," is the name of a D.F. Jones novel I recently plucked out of a stack of sci fi paperbacks for a quick read, following two straight non-fiction works on the Crusades.
It was libeled as sci fi, but the fantastic element plays only a slim role in the story, which is about a first-of-its-kind super high tech oil tanker designed to run automatically with a security crew of only four humans on board.
Of course, just like the Titanic proved sinkable after all, the fullproof plans of the ship's builders fall prey to human intervention.
Ruthless bad guys target the ship for hijacking and it's up to the small security crew, three robust, manly men and one woman who is in charge of the cooking and cleaning -- to make things right.
Written in the 1970s in the style of a mens mgazine feature, "The Floating Zombie" is standard action stuff of the era -- fast moving, violent and embarrassingly chauvinistic.
Author D.F. Jones was a commander in the Royal Navy during WW 2, and his knowledge of ships and ocean transport is solid. But that hardly makes up for the lack of any real imagination or zest.
"The Floating Zombie" is not exactly a snoozefest, but it won't keep you up nights either.
It was libeled as sci fi, but the fantastic element plays only a slim role in the story, which is about a first-of-its-kind super high tech oil tanker designed to run automatically with a security crew of only four humans on board.
Of course, just like the Titanic proved sinkable after all, the fullproof plans of the ship's builders fall prey to human intervention.
Ruthless bad guys target the ship for hijacking and it's up to the small security crew, three robust, manly men and one woman who is in charge of the cooking and cleaning -- to make things right.
Written in the 1970s in the style of a mens mgazine feature, "The Floating Zombie" is standard action stuff of the era -- fast moving, violent and embarrassingly chauvinistic.
Author D.F. Jones was a commander in the Royal Navy during WW 2, and his knowledge of ships and ocean transport is solid. But that hardly makes up for the lack of any real imagination or zest.
"The Floating Zombie" is not exactly a snoozefest, but it won't keep you up nights either.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Friday, April 15, 2011
Monday, April 11, 2011
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Books
Joe Hope provides muscle for a nasty Edinburgh loan shark. Joe is violent, ill tempered, miserable ... and the hero of our story, "Kiss Her Goodbye," by the Scottish crime novelist Allan Guthrie. I picked up this cool Hard Case Crime series entry, never having read anything by Guthrie.
I liked it.
There's not much in the way of local color, Guthrie could have put his story in the grimy underbelly of any big city. He focuses on plot and dialog, keeping this tale of bad guy on bad guy revenge moving briskly and efficiently.
It's an easy read and one genre fans will give the thumbs up.
I give it a B-.
I liked it.
There's not much in the way of local color, Guthrie could have put his story in the grimy underbelly of any big city. He focuses on plot and dialog, keeping this tale of bad guy on bad guy revenge moving briskly and efficiently.
It's an easy read and one genre fans will give the thumbs up.
I give it a B-.
Sunday services
Feel free to sing along with the choir as The Stanley Brothers do Rank Strangers. Enjoy that harmony singing.
TV
Last week's episode of "Justified" was outstanding ... funny, brutal and smart. Can't wait for the followup this Wednesday.
Books
Got the new Hap and Leonard novel, "Devil Red" by Joe Lansdale. Started right in on it. Will report back soon. If you have never read the series, Hap is a redneck rumbler with a heart of gold. Leonard in a bad ass gay, black Texan who enjoys cracking heads. There are a about a dozen of these novels and they have all been entertaining, funny and tough. Lansdale is a treasure most readers don't know.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Monday, April 4, 2011
France gets tough
With Muslim women who wear veils Now, if they'll just ban berets on men I'll be happy.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Gunn - A movie review
"Gunn" is a private eye film made by Blake Edwards and based on the old "Peter Gunn" TV show, which was a big hit in the U.S.
Craig Stevens starred as Gunn, a chick magnet positively oozing with what passed for detective cool at the time.
I haven't seen the TV show, but the movie -- made in Europe -- has a lot of tongue in cheek moments mixed with a hodgepodge of a murder story. It seems a gangster named Scarlotti once saved Gunn's life. Scarlotti is murdered by machine gun-totin' thugs in the opening scene, putting the wisecracking Gunn on the boss killer's trail for the next 90 minutes. Not happy about this is another gangster named Fusco, who tells Gunn to back off.
Ed Asner plays a gruff (as always), world weary cop who says he doesn't like Gunn but continues to trade laugh lines with him for the whole movie.
Stephens is good with the joking stuff but not to be taken too seriously as an action hero, despite his amazing ability to escape near point-blank gunfire and exploding buildings.
The women "stars" of the story are all pretty, and pretty bland.
For Andy Griffith Show junkies there's a fine bit part for Jean "Hello doll" Carson and veteran character actor J. Pat O'Malley chews every piece of scenery he can get his hands on as heavy drinking, poetry spouting Tinker.
And for both you "Angels Die Hard" fans, that IS biker Mike Angel as the bartender. Also, look for Carol Wayne in a tit (bit) part at the end. She was the busty blonde who worked with Johnny Carson in the skits all those years.
"Gunn" is a fun bit of 1960s fluff and worth an inexpensive viewing. I expected more from Blake Edwards, but the picture has some moments.
Craig Stevens starred as Gunn, a chick magnet positively oozing with what passed for detective cool at the time.
I haven't seen the TV show, but the movie -- made in Europe -- has a lot of tongue in cheek moments mixed with a hodgepodge of a murder story. It seems a gangster named Scarlotti once saved Gunn's life. Scarlotti is murdered by machine gun-totin' thugs in the opening scene, putting the wisecracking Gunn on the boss killer's trail for the next 90 minutes. Not happy about this is another gangster named Fusco, who tells Gunn to back off.
Ed Asner plays a gruff (as always), world weary cop who says he doesn't like Gunn but continues to trade laugh lines with him for the whole movie.
Stephens is good with the joking stuff but not to be taken too seriously as an action hero, despite his amazing ability to escape near point-blank gunfire and exploding buildings.
The women "stars" of the story are all pretty, and pretty bland.
For Andy Griffith Show junkies there's a fine bit part for Jean "Hello doll" Carson and veteran character actor J. Pat O'Malley chews every piece of scenery he can get his hands on as heavy drinking, poetry spouting Tinker.
And for both you "Angels Die Hard" fans, that IS biker Mike Angel as the bartender. Also, look for Carol Wayne in a tit (bit) part at the end. She was the busty blonde who worked with Johnny Carson in the skits all those years.
"Gunn" is a fun bit of 1960s fluff and worth an inexpensive viewing. I expected more from Blake Edwards, but the picture has some moments.
Free tune Thursday
There are some other interesting versions out there, but only The Killer owns Ubangi Stomp. Sorry about the closing credits, but at least it's live.
Christians Gone Wild - a book review
If you're in the mood for a blood-drenched tale of sex,ultra-violence and historical skullduggery, let me direct you to "The Fourth Crusade and the Sack of Constantinople" by Jonathan Phillips. Despite my lurid intro, it's a well-researched, well-conceived and well-written book on a crucial event in history.
For those of you who slept through much of Medieval History 101 in an 8 a.m. class, let me hit the high points of this particular cockup.
The misleadingly named Pope Innocent III had a hissy fit about the Muslims re-conquering much of the Holy Land, particularly Jerusalem, and succeeded in firing up the home team (particularly the French) for Round 4 of the Crusaders vs. Muslims for the Championship of the Middle East.
This lot of Crusaders decided to try a novel approach, first attacking Egypt and then moving onward to Jerusalem and what was left of the Crusader states hugging the coastline.
But due to a series of bad decisions the Crusaders became heavily indebted to the Venetians (who provided the ships for transportation) and were forced to besiege another (Christian) city and hand it over to Venice as partial payment.
This should have been a minor detour on the way to the Holy Land, but due to political and economic reasons, it instead led to the Crusaders deciding to pay a visit to Byzantium, specifically Constantinople, then the largest, richest Christian city in the world.
The visit didn't go well. The western Christians (Catholics) thought the Byzantine crowd (Greek Orthodox) was a bunch of lying sissies and the Byzantines considered the westerners to be no better than baboons who bathed in their own excrement, if at all.
Both sides may have been at least partially correct.
Pretty soon a vicious dustup took place and the great walled city fell to the small, hungry, dispirited western baboons, who took this as God's OK to rape, pillage, steal, desecrate and destroy until there was nothig left to be raped, pillaged stolen, desecrated or destroyed.
It was a classic Number 9, as fans of "Blazing Saddles will recall.
Phillips does a fine job of telling this story. His knowledge of the subject shines through and his writing is clear and concise, despite the 300-plus densely written pages. He brings in numerous "extraneous" elements and shows how they came to matter in the story.
I give this fine piece of non-fiction a solid A.
For those of you who slept through much of Medieval History 101 in an 8 a.m. class, let me hit the high points of this particular cockup.
The misleadingly named Pope Innocent III had a hissy fit about the Muslims re-conquering much of the Holy Land, particularly Jerusalem, and succeeded in firing up the home team (particularly the French) for Round 4 of the Crusaders vs. Muslims for the Championship of the Middle East.
This lot of Crusaders decided to try a novel approach, first attacking Egypt and then moving onward to Jerusalem and what was left of the Crusader states hugging the coastline.
But due to a series of bad decisions the Crusaders became heavily indebted to the Venetians (who provided the ships for transportation) and were forced to besiege another (Christian) city and hand it over to Venice as partial payment.
This should have been a minor detour on the way to the Holy Land, but due to political and economic reasons, it instead led to the Crusaders deciding to pay a visit to Byzantium, specifically Constantinople, then the largest, richest Christian city in the world.
The visit didn't go well. The western Christians (Catholics) thought the Byzantine crowd (Greek Orthodox) was a bunch of lying sissies and the Byzantines considered the westerners to be no better than baboons who bathed in their own excrement, if at all.
Both sides may have been at least partially correct.
Pretty soon a vicious dustup took place and the great walled city fell to the small, hungry, dispirited western baboons, who took this as God's OK to rape, pillage, steal, desecrate and destroy until there was nothig left to be raped, pillaged stolen, desecrated or destroyed.
It was a classic Number 9, as fans of "Blazing Saddles will recall.
Phillips does a fine job of telling this story. His knowledge of the subject shines through and his writing is clear and concise, despite the 300-plus densely written pages. He brings in numerous "extraneous" elements and shows how they came to matter in the story.
I give this fine piece of non-fiction a solid A.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Buchanan rides again
I caught a spirited debate on Libya this morning on Morning Joe. Damned if old Pat Buchanan didn't demolish Obama-boyfriend-wannabe Donnie Deutsch and others, pointing out the illogic in the current administration's "policy." Good stuff.
Michael Gough, RIP
Th fine actor passed away recenty. Here's an obituary.
Gough was best known as Alfred the Butler in three Batman films, but I loved his work from the early schlock days. He appeared in numerous horror-sci films, from the terrible (Konga, Trog, They Come From Outer Space), to the OK (The Skull,Crucible of Horror, Serpent and the Rainbow) to the superlative(Horror of Dracula.)
He was much more able to "branch out" than some of his contemporaries, Christopher Lee, Vincent Price, etc. For instance he was in the fine BBC production of Smiley's People, starring Alex Guinness.
A very good actor with a wonderful resume.
Gough was best known as Alfred the Butler in three Batman films, but I loved his work from the early schlock days. He appeared in numerous horror-sci films, from the terrible (Konga, Trog, They Come From Outer Space), to the OK (The Skull,Crucible of Horror, Serpent and the Rainbow) to the superlative(Horror of Dracula.)
He was much more able to "branch out" than some of his contemporaries, Christopher Lee, Vincent Price, etc. For instance he was in the fine BBC production of Smiley's People, starring Alex Guinness.
A very good actor with a wonderful resume.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
Drew Hill, RIP
Hill is best known for his play in the Oilers' run and shoot offense of the 1980s, but I'll always remember him as a 12th round pick by the Rams (the same year they took Miami running back Eddie Hill and Tech guard Kent Hill. Who knew Drew would have the longest career? He was underused at receiver by the Rams, but was a terrific kick returner, leading the league at least one year. He died too young.
The evolving Mr. Mullis
My March 17 column. This one has had a great response. From The Summerville News.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
The NFL Draft
Will Georgia's Justin Houston play end for the Falcons? They've been talking to him. From the AJC.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Ronnie Hammond, RIP
The Champagne jammer dies of heart failure. When I was a teen that band was all over the radio. "Champagne Jam" and "Doraville" were big hits and their outdoor shows in Atlanta are legendary. I had a cousin who went down to one of those and I'm not sure he ever REALLY came back.
Howard Finster home page
The late artist is gone, but not forgotten. The Finster home and Paradise Gardens is just north of Summerville. Y'all come!
History lesson
http://thescoopblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2011/03/yet-another-proud-texan-will-t.htmlTexan wants Alamo flag back. I say trade them Brownsville for it.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Friday, March 11, 2011
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Monday, March 7, 2011
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Need a laugh?
Keep watching. Tim Conway does the legendary Siamese elephants bit. Tim works his comedic butt off and Vickie Lawrence steals the scene with one line.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Around the Bigs
Texas Rangers looking for more offense from young centerfielder Julio Borbon. He should bring good defense and be a slashing hitter with plenty of speed. If not, the Rangers could be scrambling to replace him.
Around the Bigs
Seattle Mariners say they will be cautious with young second baseman Dustin Ackley. The M's need all the offense they can get so my bet is Ackley will either start the season at 2B for Seattle or be a quick call up if he's hitting in the minors.
Jane Russell, RIP
The actress was better known for her more showy parts like "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and "The Outlaw," but for me she was most effective in the late 1940s-early 1950s withe noirish things like "Macao" and "His Kind of Woman." I also like her in "Paleface" and "Son of Paleface," both with Bob Hope.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Food and drink
Granny on "The Beverly Hillbillies" was right. A little bit of 'the jug' is medicinal.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Len Lesser, RIP
You may know him as Uncle Leo from Seinfeld but Len Lesser was a terrific character actor with a ton of credits. I love him in "The Outlaw Josey Wales," a very much underrated western. He was great as a hood or an outlaw.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Ralston puts cheap price tag on credibility
A recent editorial from The Summerville News.
The idea of a Georgia politician traveling to Europe to study the effectiveness of high speed rail is not unreasonable. Such trips should be funded by the state and should be fully transparent in terms of agenda, costs, etc.
That new House Speaker David Ralston, his family and a staffer and his spouse visited the Netherlands and Germany on a $17,000 excursion largely paid for by a consulting firm interested in an Atlanta to Chattanooga rail line is unacceptable.
Mr. Ralston’s actions are exactly the kind arrogant excess that has soured so many Georgians on the political process.
The speaker explained that the trip took place at Thanksgiving and he did not want to be away from his family during the holiday. That’s understandable. But why not do what most taxpayers would have to do, either change the dates of the trip or make the sacrifice of not spending the holiday time with family?
Georgia politicians, including Mr. Ralston, have talked a lot about improving ethics in state government. Yet on such a fundamental example the speaker chose the option which benefited him financially, with apparently little concern for propriety.
What’s more, this episode weakens the case for high speed rail. Is it a worthwhile endeavor or just another taxpayer-funded boondoggle dreamed up to funnel millions of dollars to companies with the right connections?
Criticism of Mr. Ralston by ethics groups has been swift and on target.
“This is a prime example of the need for our ethics proposals,” said Common Cause of Georgia Executive Director William Perry. “The public is tired of the perception of the luxury lifestyle of legislators.”
That’s true as far as it goes, but more important than perception is the question of whether or not government policy is being determined by the highest bidder.
The idea of a Georgia politician traveling to Europe to study the effectiveness of high speed rail is not unreasonable. Such trips should be funded by the state and should be fully transparent in terms of agenda, costs, etc.
That new House Speaker David Ralston, his family and a staffer and his spouse visited the Netherlands and Germany on a $17,000 excursion largely paid for by a consulting firm interested in an Atlanta to Chattanooga rail line is unacceptable.
Mr. Ralston’s actions are exactly the kind arrogant excess that has soured so many Georgians on the political process.
The speaker explained that the trip took place at Thanksgiving and he did not want to be away from his family during the holiday. That’s understandable. But why not do what most taxpayers would have to do, either change the dates of the trip or make the sacrifice of not spending the holiday time with family?
Georgia politicians, including Mr. Ralston, have talked a lot about improving ethics in state government. Yet on such a fundamental example the speaker chose the option which benefited him financially, with apparently little concern for propriety.
What’s more, this episode weakens the case for high speed rail. Is it a worthwhile endeavor or just another taxpayer-funded boondoggle dreamed up to funnel millions of dollars to companies with the right connections?
Criticism of Mr. Ralston by ethics groups has been swift and on target.
“This is a prime example of the need for our ethics proposals,” said Common Cause of Georgia Executive Director William Perry. “The public is tired of the perception of the luxury lifestyle of legislators.”
That’s true as far as it goes, but more important than perception is the question of whether or not government policy is being determined by the highest bidder.
High speed hell
Give this man a hand! Florida Gov. Rick Scott rejects Washington bribe and says no to high speed rail project.
Kenneth Mars, RIP
A very funny man. He was great working with Mel Brooks and his bit on Fernwood 2-Night as W.D. "Bud" Prize was priceless. My mom used to yell at me to go to bed and I'd wait a few minutes and turn the TV back on to watch reruns of "You Bet Your Life" and Fernwood. "Bud" was always a great guest.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Technology and smart folks http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/west-palm-beach-man-dead-for-16-20-1252448.html?cxntlid=cmg_cntnt_rsssave man "dead" for 20 minutes after heart attack. I hope all my family and friends read this ... carefully.
Books/TV
Devil Dog James Ellroy has a new show on Discovery. From the LA Times, courtesy of Mark Hannah. Sounds like he's covering some familiar ground but the man is entertaining.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Civil War
Mississippi SCV wants honorary licence plate for Nathan Bedford Forrest. The Confederate general remains one of the most controversial figures of that era.
He did do some of his best work in Mississippi. I once met in man in a Mississippi bar who looked like Forrest. He told me he was the general reincarnated. "Sometimes at night I can still hear the cannon fire."
He was a pretty good pool player, too.
He did do some of his best work in Mississippi. I once met in man in a Mississippi bar who looked like Forrest. He told me he was the general reincarnated. "Sometimes at night I can still hear the cannon fire."
He was a pretty good pool player, too.
Iran
Leadership happy with events in Egypt but jail opposition leader who planned independent celebrations. Nothing like a paranoid government to take the fun out of everything.
Ludlow Porch, RIP
Atlanta radio hall of famer dies. Step brother of Lewis Grizzard heard locally on his Fun Seekers program.
This morning I saw the AJC story on the financial struggles of the Blue Willow Inn and that made me wonder how old Ludlow was doing. I scanned right on the page and there was the story about his death. The Blue Willow was a big advertiser with Porch and he swore by their food.
I sat with him at a dinner in Dalton a few years ago and though he was sick, he charmed every little old lady in the house.
This morning I saw the AJC story on the financial struggles of the Blue Willow Inn and that made me wonder how old Ludlow was doing. I scanned right on the page and there was the story about his death. The Blue Willow was a big advertiser with Porch and he swore by their food.
I sat with him at a dinner in Dalton a few years ago and though he was sick, he charmed every little old lady in the house.
Culture
Has the politically incorrect become the consensus view? Sarkozy: Live as a Frenchman or stay out.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
The Braves
A good column from AJC's Mark Bradley. How bad will the defense be? Can Kimbrel throw enough strikes?
My Feb. 10 column
Our yearly trip into the past
The 15th Annual Chickamauga Civil War Show was in Dalton last weekend. As usual my Uncle Gene drove over to check out the book dealers and eat lunch with me.
Despite the more than 450 dealers on hand and the usual cornucopia of war-related items, this year’s show was also a cause for sadness. It’s the first time we’ve been since my uncle and Gene’s brother, David, died.
David was a certifiable Civil War nut, as anyone who attended his funeral service can attest. (They’ll be talking about that service for years to come, which of course was David’s plan.)
For years David and Gene would come over the mountain together for the show, Gene to look for book bargains and David to check out memorabilia and to meet up with his pals from the Sons of Confederate Veterans.
I was expected to stay out of their way and (since I lived in Dalton) find a great place for lunch.
I’ve been keenly interested in the war since I was very young. You would think after 40-plus years of reading about the great American conflict that I would have tired of the subject. I mean how many times can the bloody surge of “Lee’s Texans” at The Wilderness stir the blood. It’s a question I can answer, as the thought of Lee, his warrior’s blood boiling, riding out to personally lead the charge, only to be forced to safety by his men, still makes me shiver.
And I still laugh at the cockiness of one of Brig. Gen. Patrick Cleburne’s soldiers yelling at some Federal troops at Missionary Ridge. Waiting quietly on the assault they knew was soon to come, the Confederates overheard a Union soldier refer to them as probably nothing more than cavalry.
The furious Reb infantryman sarcastically shouted down the soon-to-be-bloody hillside something to the effect of “Yeah, well we’re Pat Cleburne’s by God cavalry so why don’t you boys come on up this hill!”
Minutes later they did just that, only to be knocked for a loop by Cleburne’s battle-hardened veterans.
Cleburne’s success on the ridge was about the only Rebel success that day. Much of the line collapsed and began a pell mell retreat through Ringgold back to Dalton.
Confederate Gen. Braxton Bragg called on Cleburne’s men again. They must hold the gap at Ringgold and give the army supply train time to escape.
Pat Cleburne’s “by God cavalry” did their duty again and today a statue of the Irish-born Rebel general stands on the side of the road, near where his men held their ground.
Northwest Georgia is rich in Civil War history. Dalton was a key point – the so-called Gibraltar of the West. The Confederate Army of Tennessee never really recovered after being maneuvered out of the town by the reviled Gen. William T. Sherman. It was in Dalton that Pat Cleburne formally pushed the idea of freeing slaves who would fight for the Confederacy. The Great Locomotive Chase, made famous by an entertaining if not -too-realistic Disney film, passed through the town.
But the whole region, including Chattooga County, was affected by the war. Few communities were not touched by its fury.
It’s a heritage all Americans share and worthy of more study and deeper understanding.
Somewhere in this county I suspect there’s a youngster of 10 or so who is fascinated by the war. That interest will grow as the years pass and one day he’ll by 49 and still in love with the subject.
I envy the little booger.
Jimmy Espy is a staff writer for The Summerville News.
The 15th Annual Chickamauga Civil War Show was in Dalton last weekend. As usual my Uncle Gene drove over to check out the book dealers and eat lunch with me.
Despite the more than 450 dealers on hand and the usual cornucopia of war-related items, this year’s show was also a cause for sadness. It’s the first time we’ve been since my uncle and Gene’s brother, David, died.
David was a certifiable Civil War nut, as anyone who attended his funeral service can attest. (They’ll be talking about that service for years to come, which of course was David’s plan.)
For years David and Gene would come over the mountain together for the show, Gene to look for book bargains and David to check out memorabilia and to meet up with his pals from the Sons of Confederate Veterans.
I was expected to stay out of their way and (since I lived in Dalton) find a great place for lunch.
I’ve been keenly interested in the war since I was very young. You would think after 40-plus years of reading about the great American conflict that I would have tired of the subject. I mean how many times can the bloody surge of “Lee’s Texans” at The Wilderness stir the blood. It’s a question I can answer, as the thought of Lee, his warrior’s blood boiling, riding out to personally lead the charge, only to be forced to safety by his men, still makes me shiver.
And I still laugh at the cockiness of one of Brig. Gen. Patrick Cleburne’s soldiers yelling at some Federal troops at Missionary Ridge. Waiting quietly on the assault they knew was soon to come, the Confederates overheard a Union soldier refer to them as probably nothing more than cavalry.
The furious Reb infantryman sarcastically shouted down the soon-to-be-bloody hillside something to the effect of “Yeah, well we’re Pat Cleburne’s by God cavalry so why don’t you boys come on up this hill!”
Minutes later they did just that, only to be knocked for a loop by Cleburne’s battle-hardened veterans.
Cleburne’s success on the ridge was about the only Rebel success that day. Much of the line collapsed and began a pell mell retreat through Ringgold back to Dalton.
Confederate Gen. Braxton Bragg called on Cleburne’s men again. They must hold the gap at Ringgold and give the army supply train time to escape.
Pat Cleburne’s “by God cavalry” did their duty again and today a statue of the Irish-born Rebel general stands on the side of the road, near where his men held their ground.
Northwest Georgia is rich in Civil War history. Dalton was a key point – the so-called Gibraltar of the West. The Confederate Army of Tennessee never really recovered after being maneuvered out of the town by the reviled Gen. William T. Sherman. It was in Dalton that Pat Cleburne formally pushed the idea of freeing slaves who would fight for the Confederacy. The Great Locomotive Chase, made famous by an entertaining if not -too-realistic Disney film, passed through the town.
But the whole region, including Chattooga County, was affected by the war. Few communities were not touched by its fury.
It’s a heritage all Americans share and worthy of more study and deeper understanding.
Somewhere in this county I suspect there’s a youngster of 10 or so who is fascinated by the war. That interest will grow as the years pass and one day he’ll by 49 and still in love with the subject.
I envy the little booger.
Jimmy Espy is a staff writer for The Summerville News.
High speed stupidity
Biden backs high speed rail. It'll show a profit in the Northeast he says. This a grerat issue for the GOP nationally yet the local jibroneys in Georgia are falling over themselves to get it here.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Movies
Tommy Lee Jones does Cormac McCarthy again, with a little help from Samuel L. Jackson. All of which reminds me to recommend "In the Electric Mist" with Tommy Lee. It's based on a James L. Burke Robicheaux novel and is much better than the Alec Baldwin try at a Robicheaux story. It was made by a European director and got little screen time in the U.S. Check it out on DVD.
"Reaming?"
Forget the muffed lines, Aguilera's singing stunk. Phoney and scratchy. What a freakin' mess. Here's the wire story on the atrocity.
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