It’s Bigger Than NPR’s Katherine Maher
1 week ago
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.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
"Struttin' that ass"
It's never too late to hammer the soccer World Cup. Jackie and Dunlap do the honors at red State Update.
Food
Scientists say oysters vanishing worldwide. U.S. still had abundant numbers. Makes me want to eat a dozen raw right now.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
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