Pimpin' ain't gettin' any easier

Apparently an Iowa senator wants pimps to pay taxes. Actually it's not just pimps, he wants the IRS to go after all sex traffickers. Hugh Hefner better set up his tax shelter now.

It's good to be the (single) King

I know that there are other single and proud people out there and, just like me, you all probably start to question your choice. So here are a few reasons why it's good to be single courtesy of the King of Single, Channing 100 Proof. This should help end all doubts.

Some days you just want to fight somebody

I have an admission to make. For the last 3 weeks I have really wanted to get into a fight. I don't mean a verbal altercation or a shoving match, I mean a lip busting, rib cracking, bone breaking, knock down drag out fight. I hope this doesn't make me seem like a bad person.

Kerry, Yrrek, and principles

Principle- A basic or essential quality or element determining intrinsic nature or characteristic behavior.

“Some men change their party for the sake of their principles; others their principles for the sake of their party.” -Winston Churchill

And some change their principles with the wind or the polls.
John Kerry said this, to the Council on Foreign Relations, when he wanted the votes of Republicans and Democrats:

Cats that look like Hitler

Thanks to the magic of the internets, here's a gallery of cats that look like Adolph Hitler.

Vietnam, still?

America once fought itself on the battlefield.
We won.
But not without much hardship, sacrifice, and loss of life.

Dissent is not the highest form of patriotism.
Thomas Jefferson never said it was.
But perhaps if it is repeated enough, the masses will believe, as John Kerry said, that “… Thomas Jefferson himself said: "Dissent is the greatest form of patriotism."

Got coverage?

"Insurers have withdrawn the cover on their virginity taken out by three sisters in the event of the second coming of Christ."

We got snakes on the freakin' plane!!!!!!

Samuel L. Jackson predicted that his new movie Snakes on a Plane will win an MTV award for best movie in 2007. After watching the trailer I am tempted to agree with him.

Yankee or Rebel? Take the test and see

If you always call it a "coke" -- even if it's Pepsi -- you're likely from the deep South, according to some dialect research done at Harvard.

To find out how telling your words are, you can take a "rebel or yankee" quiz here.

Not even from a high school student in a casino?

In “1984,” by George Orwell, Winston Smith has just been put in prison. One of his cellmates is Ampleforth, a poet. Winston asks him,

“What are you in for?”
“To tell you the truth-“ He sat down awkwardly on the bench opposite Winston. “There is only one offense, is there not?” he asked.
“And have you committed it?”
“Apparently I have.”

Islam forbids Aggressive Violence? II

Their articles left more questions than they answered. Their choice of verse certainly did not make Islam seem non-aggressive. There have been letters to the editor, and posts on this blog page asking someone to clarify.
So far, no one has.

No Son or Sonic for me

I went to Bonnaroo fully expecting to catch sets by Son Volt and Sonic Youth, two personal favorites. But after the spectacular, sprawling set by Radiohead, and taking my aching bones into consideration, I decided I would be much happier strolling through my front door as Son Volt hit the stage. I was correct. The truth is that as much as I would have enjoyed seeing those two acts, for me and, if I were to venture a guess, most festival atendees, the 2006 Bonnaroo climaxed with the Radiohead performance.

Leave her alone! She’s a girl !

Ok, so I actually read the book…
This is how “Godless,” by Ann Coulter, starts:
“They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creation rather than the Creator…”
and this is how it ends:
“By their fruits ye shall know them.”

Radiohead

As I type this Radiohead, arguably the biggest band in the world -- though only U2 and the Stones have the right to make that arguement -- is playing its much ballyhooed set on Bonnaroo's main stage. I can hear it but not see. So why am I not out there, mingling with what surely must be all 80,000 Bonnaroosters? Well, there's a couple reasons.

First, I wanted to give any early reader that might stumble across this entry a sneak peak at what the new model Radiohead sounds like. For openers, it's a return to guitar. Although some of the blips and bleeps that have marked much of the band's more recent output haven't been abolished, the distinctive sound of guitar/bass/drum that originally brought the band into the public eye has returned. The sound is more subtle than the the big electric bang of albums like The Bends, but it sure sounds like Radiohead. Nice.

I went to a rock concert and caught...

...a puppet show. Beck's stage extravaganza included puppet clones of Beck and his band, fighting bears, a giant boombox and an onstage dinner break. No kidding. My favorite moment, a pre-encore doc featuring said puppet's impressions of Bonnaroo.

OVERHEARD:
Beck puppet: "Which Stage, What Stage, That Stage. I smell hippies."

SUPER SET: Beck and Cypress Hill

Less than perfect sometimes feels just right

I've been waiting 20 years to catch Elvis Costello live. A long-time fan, I've always considered a Costello set one of my concert grails, a show to see before I die. When I envisioned said set, I pictured a theater setting, somewhere intimate where I could really feel the connection between myself and an artist I've long admired. Instead, I was one of several thousand vying for precious lawn space in a large open field.

Sticky, but happy

Here's the thing. There are a lot of journalists here cover the festival, a good many of which have opted to stay in hotels rather than suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous music fans encamped on the Bonnaroo grounds. They may see the bands, but for my money, they are missing the show. Acts like Tom Petty and Radiohead attract people to this festival, but it's the surprising sense of community that makes the event special.

Professor fed up with poor quality of cheating

The worst kind of cheating is the kind that implies your teacher is a moron, says one college professor via his blog. With this in mind, he gives several great tips for bringing your plagiarism up to par.

Possibilities and the bitter taste of crow

Much of the excitement for fans a Bonnaroo has nothing too do with the things that will happen, but rather the things that might. For instance, although fans were enthusiastic about a Bright Eyes set, the real buzz was over who might step on stage with the Omaha act. It was, in fact, Gillian Welch. Right now, the whispers are about the possibility that classic rock icon will join Tom Petty onstage. Sources seem to believe this is true. That's a big part of the Bonnaroo magic. Yes, the assembled acts are impressive, as impressive as any festival in the world. But it is the constant promise of value added, of an artist or moment that wasn't planned or hyped, only hoped for, that makes this event special.

The Heart Team, BRAG 2006, and Helping Others

On the ride from Gainesville to Commerce on Thursday, a cyclist had a flat tire. Not an unusual occurrence. The cyclist pulled off the road to the right to avoid blocking traffic. When asked by one passing rider if he had everything he needed for his repair, the cyclist with the flat said “I think so.” That’s the wrong answer.

Hot hot heat and a view from the trenches

Here's one of those good news, bad news stories. The good news, or so I've been told, is that this year Bonnaroo will be a dry event, with nary a rain cloud in sight. I can understand how that might be considered good news. After all, the festival is staged on a series of open fields -- grass and dirt. Just a hint of percipitation could turn the event into a very large, very muddy puddle.

Here's the bad news. It's hot. Crazy hot.

Chaos under control...I think

As it turns out, I had no idea what 80,000 people might look like. Rather than a traditional festival, with stages scattered across an open field, Bonnaroo sprawls across seemingly endless tracts of land like a combination tent city/bazaar and state-of-the art performance facility. Rhyme and reason are, predictably, scarce currency and enoying the various stages, attractions and overall vibe is a little like jumping in the ocean. You just have to leap in, certain that the water is fine.

A-Team, eat your heart out

For some reason, I never got into MacGyver. I'm not sure why I didn't, especially since I liked the A-Team so much. I ran across this gem earlier today and thought it was worth sharing.

The poll Bush cares about

was taken the first Tuesday in November, 2004.
He won.

During a recent White House press conference, Tony Snow was asked how President Bush felt about polls:

“…the President understands what the polls are, but he also understands what his obligations are as Commander-in-Chief. And if the polling data is contrary to the national security interests, guess what -- national security interests win, period.

Where on earth is the James Brown statue?

If you were a funky bronze statue with a lot of time to kill, where would you go? We'll post some of our guesses here.

A story of devils and cracker barrel racing

Check out the Augusta Focus' take on what went wrong with the James Brown Music Festival and who's to blame.

Doomed! Doooooomed, I say!

One person in this video is crazy. Can you spot her?

Tuesday dispatch from BRAG 2006 and The Heart Team

During this and previous BRAGs, I have seen:

A rider with cerebral palsy. He loved to ride his bike. He struggled, but he participated in BRAG for several years. One year he won the BRAG talent contest. Everyone admired him.

No good deed goes unpunished

Man sends stolen photos of child molester to police. Photos lead to arrest, conviction and 30-year jail term for the child molester. After sending the photos, the man is arrested for a series of burglaries - his 'third strike' - and he now faces life in prison.

BUSH LIED!

Finally, he actually lied.
Well, not really. The man does not lie.
But the journalists did think he was at Camp David.
He was actually visiting that soon-to-be-independent country, Iraq, and their newly completed government.
The trip was planned a month ago.
But my goodness, how many times have we heard that phrase- Bush lied?
Constantly, the MiSinforMation police, the Pop Media, the egolosophers, say those words.

Chappelle's Show is coming back...kinda

Comedy Central announced that it is releasing season three of its hit series Chappelle's Show on DVD in July. Finally, something funny to watch.

More from The Heart Team on BRAG 2006

Monday, June 12, 2006, Jasper, Georgia. The 2006 edition of the Bike Ride Across Georgia rolled into Jasper, Georgia today. Today’s route was shorter than yesterday – only 43 miles – but the terrain was hilly toward the end. In contrast to Sunday, the traffic was a bit worse today and we cycled on some main roads for a few miles. Even though the organizers of BRAG use secondary or county roads as much as possible, on occasion we have to use primary highways.

From BRAG 2006 and The Heart Team

Sunday, June 11, 2006, Cartersville, Georgia. Day 1 of the 2006 Bike Ride Across Georgia is in the books. The organizers of BRAG out did themselves this year when they planned the route for today.

Ann Coulter has the right to be evil

Ann Coulter has quite a reputation. From what I can gather, she is a die hard conservative who apparently hates liberals...a lot. Also she doesn't fit the mold of the stereotypical conservative. Instead of an old, uptight man she is a tall, skinny blonde and is actually considered by some to be hot.

Islam forbids aggressive violence?

Can't they see why we would be a bit afraid? A bit suspicious?
An article in the Sunday Augusta Chronicle began with this statement:
Islam forbids aggressive violence. "Do not kill the life/soul that God has made sacred except for just cause" (Quran, 17:33). Would any of us ever know that by watching TV news? Or reading the paper?

The Dixie Chicks do make use of their freedom of speech

But don’t we all?
Natalie Maines and Buddy Holly were born in Lubbock. Lubbock has a statue of Buddy Holly in the center of town. Lubbock loves Buddy Holly.
But the Chicks call Lubbock, Texas, a hypocritical little town and a fool's paradise that hates Buddy Holly.

Towns don’t make statues of people they hate.
States don’t vote for people that shame them.
In 1998 Bush won re-election as Governor of Texas with nearly 69% of the vote. He was the first Texas governor to be elected for two consecutive four-year terms.

Riding for Stronger Hearts on BRAG

Remember the thrill of riding your bike down the biggest hill in your neighborhood.......

With great pizza comes great responsibility

When pizza delivery guy Luke Pie Rocker heard cries for help, there was only one thing he could do.

Remembering the bookmobile

Due to declining circulation and rising costs, The East Central Georgia Regional Library Bookmobile is shifting into park for good. We want to know how you feel about this.

Charles "Champ" Walker responds to today's A.C. story

Heritage Crest Foundation founder Charles "Champ" Walker Jr. has responded to today's Augusta Chronicle story about his organization and the James Brown Soul of America Music Festival. His entire response is available online.

40 years in the jungle…

the war’s over, Mr. Campos. Your side won.
At least you didn’t say, “…but I support the troops.”
Not our troops anyway.
Paul Campos, a law professor, had an article in the Chronicle Thursday. He is still trying to connect Iraq with Viet Nam.

Video of the moment: Alive with bacon taste

I haven't been able to look at breakfast the same since I first saw this.

Please shut up about gay marriage

Elections must be around the corner because the gay marriage debate has resurfaced. I guess I am behind on the news. When did we finish the war on terror? How did we catch Osama Bin Laden? Where did we find the money to eliminated or at least reduce the budget deficit? Who reduced the unemployment rate? Where are our troops going now that they have finished up things in Iraq? Obviously all these things are fixed if our "leaders" have time to debate gay marriage.

We're ready to talk trash

Are you confused by the changes to Augusta's trash system? Post your questions here, and we'll get them answered.

Chuck Norris in The Karate Kid?

Did you know Chuck Norris turned down the role of John Kreese in The Karate Kid?

One brave President believed…

He signed a bill that included this radical language:

the word `marriage' means only a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife, and the word `spouse' refers only to a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or a wife.'.

Now, not even the President believes…

The lies, the changed stories, the politics, the manipulation of the media, the total disregard for the truth…
Not even the President of Duke University seems to believe anymore. He recently re-instated the lacrosse team, saying this:

And it’s all about religion, religion, religion

Christianity once had a violent, radical, faction (The Inquisition, the Children’s Crusade, burning at the stake…) but Christianity cleaned its houses.
It is now, truly, a religion of peace, and has been for hundreds of years.
50 years ago, radical Islam posed a threat to no one, except less radical Muslims. Now it poses a threat to the world (bombings, beheadings…), even peace loving, war hating, Canada.
50 years from now?

Actually, this war is moral, too

Because these few words:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Are fighting these many words (anyone not Muslim is an idolator):
"...Therefore strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip of them."

Actually, it is a legal war… 77 Yea-23 Nay

Congress can do one, and only one, honest action - vote.
All other is just rhetoric.
This is what they voted for on October 11, 2002, at 12:50 AM:

H.J.RES.114 for the 107th Congress- Authorization for the Use of Military Force Against Iraq

Oh, you meant THAT Constitution

The President says he has the power to hold enemy combatants indefinitely. He says the NSA can spy on U.S. citizens despite a law barring such activities. He is keeping documents seized at a congressman’s office away from the F.B.I.

What gives the President these sweeping powers? The Freedonia Constitution! You know, Freedonia, the financially troubled country featured in the Marx Brothers film ‘Duck Soup.’

The government has apparently substituted the U.S. Constitution with the constitution of Freedoia.