Why I Love America

Editor bids fond farewell to 'The Chronicle’

Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall

Commentary: Lottery sales rising despite economy

Creepy guy rents guns

Showbiz Pizza Band presents Usher

Artist's bold paintings have unique symbolic vocabulary

Giving Now Versus Giving Later

Surplus school property sale? It's about time

Frampton comes alive...

Evidently I've raised the ire of rock legend Peter Frampton. My column this week, which praises his work with Humble Pie but is, admittedly, dismissive of his solo work, prompted a response from the guitar guy. It should be noted that, because of the opaque nature of email, I can't confirm that the following missive came from Mr. Frampton.

But I hope so.

Below is the text of his email, which was also sent to his management company, followed by the column that prompted his response.

Have you listened to my Grammy Award Winning, instrumental cd, "Fingerprints" ?

Victor Wooten: Bass legend

Gas prices blamed for cars parked on lawns

The Road to Omaha

David Perno has his Diamond Dogs on the verge of something very special.  Maybe, they are already there.  Just to make the trip to Omaha qualifies as a special season.  To win the first two games against teams that were supposed to be far superior to the Dogs speaks volumes about this team and the way the coaches have prepared them to handle adversity. 

Last year the UGA suffered through a tough, losing season that had many calling for coach Perno to step aside.  He is trashing the baseball program they would say.  The only good years he had were with someone elses players they said.  To anyone that followed the baseball program with any regularity realized that last years team was a very young and inexperienced bunch.  With the exception of Beckham, Peisel, and Fields most of the key contributers were either freshman or inexperienced sophomores.  Now those young men have grown up and turned themselves into one of the finest units in college baseball. 

Coach Perno has recruited very well...maybe a little too well.  You see, a lot of the players he gets commitments from end up being drafted very high before they ever step foot on campus.  They never see the diamond at UGA because they decide, and rightfully so, to begin their professional careers right away instead of waiting 3 years and seeing where they stand then. 

My point is, UGA and Damon Evans should immediately open the checkbook to keep Coach Perno.  Now, he is a local guy with strong ties to UGA, but loyalty only goes so deep when you repeatedly ask for upgrades to your facilities and your program and constantly get turned down. 

Now, I know this next statement might be considered sacrilege but David Perno has done as much for the baseball program as Mark Richt has for the football program.  A couple of SEC championships, just like Richt.  Three College World Series appearances, which is baseballs equivalent to a BCS bowl Game.  And possibly something Richt has not yet accomplished.

A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Seven Things You Can Do Right Now To Help Flood Victims

Over the last forty eight hours, many people have sent me emails and messages asking what they can do to help. Many people see news like this on television, feel some pity for the people involved, but think there’s no way they can really help the situation. While it would be wonderful to have hundreds of thousands of people come to the area to help with sandbagging efforts, that’s only one way you can lend a helping hand to people in disastrous situations like this. You can help, wherever you are, when disasters like this strike. Here are seven things you can do right now to help out with this (or with any major disaster that may occur later).

Donate money to the American Red Cross In 1993, when the Mississippi River floods of that year wiped out my hometown, the American Red Cross was incredibly helpful to everyone in the town. Before the flooding, when the sandbagging was ongoing, they came to town with food and beverages for people volunteering to help sandbag, keeping us cool and strong. During those crucial hours after the levees broke, providing food, water, and assistance to everyone who needed it. Services like this don’t run on magic - they need your help. Kicking even a small $5 donation towards the American Red Cross can help immensely during any domestic disaster. Use the American Red Cross donation form and select “Where the Need Is Greatest.” Even a dollar can help get a bottle of clean drinking water to someone in Cedar Rapids, where there is no potable water.

Put your unused leave to good use Many large workplaces, like the federal government, allow people to give unused leave to others. Contact your HR representative and ask if you can donate some of your unused leave to people affected by the flood.

Donate blood to the American Red Cross, too If there’s a blood drive in your area, stop in and donate blood. When fighting floods, people can get injured badly by unexpected levee breaks and rushing water. Sufficient blood supplies are important. Here’s information on blood donation for the American Red Cross.

Donate unwanted items such as clothing, blankets, bedding, and so on to the Salvation Army After the flood waters began to recede, our town received huge bundles of donations from the Salvation Army - clothes, blankets, and so forth. These items helped many people start to recover from the disaster. If you have some old shirts and pants, some old blankets, or other bedding, drop them off at your local Salvation Army office and ask that they be given to flood relief (or another specific crisis).

Donate bottled beverages, soap, shampoo, etc. to a local church. You can also contact your local church and see if they can point you in the direction of any larger efforts - many church diocese and synods send large trucks of donated goods to disaster areas.

If you’re a spiritual person, include the flood victims in your prayers. Many people rely on their faith to handle disastrous situations. You can help with that by including victims of the flood (and other disasters) in your prayers. Even just a few moments of serious reflection and contemplation of their situation can be a powerful thing, because putting yourself in someone else’s shoes subtly changes not only your perspective, but can also affect their situation, too, as a result of any choices you make because of that contemplation. Pray and/or reflect for a moment on the flood situation, and react with your heart.

Consider National Guard usage when you vote - or get politically involved. When disasters like these floods and Katrina occur, they’re often made worse by a National Guard that’s stretched too thin with overseas deployments. Consider that issue when voting - we need a sufficient National Guard here at home to help out with disaster situations.

The real key is to just find what you have on hand and can easily give. A water bottle and a dollar bill can make a huge difference to someone out there.

Life at Gilbert Manor

The Last Days at Gilbert Manor

South Atlantic League All-Star Game goes to the cities that build

Summer Magic

Summer of '93: Heat, dirt and dropping acid

An unorthodox get rich quick scheme

Dream a little dream

Recently, The Augusta Chronicle's City Ink columnist Sylvia Cooper showed some real restraint and called a moratorium on writing about the Augusta-Richmond County Coliseum Authority and its continuing shenanigans.

I don't have that kind of restraint. Instead, I'm going to indulge in a little speculation, a little, to paraphrase The Monkees, daydream believing.

Let us imagine that, by hook, crook or congressional action, we have been able to divest ourselves of the current board. Yay. The problem now is replacing the Fabulous Feuders with a group that might get something done and perhaps even elevate the stature of both Bell Auditorium and James Brown Arena. Here are a few of my picks:

JOE STEVENSON AND EMILY CARDER: The duo behind Gluestick, the promotion company responsible to varying degrees for Rock Fore! Dough, Payback and the 12 Bands of Christmas, is adept at booking entertainment and at dealing with complex infrastructure and finance issues.

TYRONE BUTLER: Given the 30 years the venues in question have spent hemorrhaging funds, there's little question that a new board will have to run things on a pretty taut shoestring. Mr. Butler knows about shoestrings. His Augusta Mini Theatre is one of the area's great success stories, and he has managed to run it with little, and often no, money coming in.

DONNIE THOMPSON: I know Mr. Thompson is already on the board, but in all fairness, he did just get there. It seems unlikely that he could have become tainted by ill will and anxiety just yet. Besides, I'm great admirer of the way he has built and developed the Windsor Jewelry brand and business. That sort of business acumen could certainly come in handy.

DEANNA BROWN THOMAS: The Godfather of Soul's daughter would bring a family connection to the facility named for her famous dad, and she would also bring a wealth of radio, television, business and, most important, Augusta experience to the job. She's one of the sharpest women you're ever likely to meet.

LARA PLOCHA: Although she left her post as executive director for the Imperial Theatre under something of a black cloud -- which never, ever happens at James Brown Arena -- Ms. Plocha did a great deal to improve the theater, its performances and profile in the community. Since leaving, she has focused that same enthusiasm into downtown development. I say snap her up.

Those are my picks. Whom would you ask to be part of a new and improved Coliseum Authority? E-mail your suggestions to steven.uhles@augustachronicle.com.

In reference to last week's query about the architects of rock 'n' roll, here are some of the submissions I received: Red Foley, Bill Haley and the Comets (that one came up a couple of times), Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley (of course), Johnny and Dorsey Burnette, Louis Jordan, and Glenn Miller, although I still don't buy the assertion there that In the Mood is a rock song.

Hoffa still taking sport to new heights

If Lakeside High School alum Reese Hoffa wants to be the best in the world when it comes to the shot put, he'll have to be the best in the country first. The competition between him and two other Americans will make for an entertaining event at the 2008 Olympic Games, and the world is starting to realize it.

'Creation Speaks for Itself' A Brief Tour of the Savannah River

An Augusta link to a Japanese pop culture phenomenon

Augusta has link to Japanese pop culture

Game simulates World of Warcraft gaming experience

Your Navy at work

Teacher-related crime rises with arrival of summer

Frugality’s Perception Problem

If you make a big list of frugal tactics and a big list of things to do where money is no object, the list of things to do where money is no object will appear to be more fun.

GreenJackets fans, players, reporter brave the heat

The heat index hit triple digits and the GreenJackets won in Sunday's game at Lake Olmstead Stadium. Expect more of both in the near future.

Workers' comp tiff creates rift among builders

Department of Education sends state DOE to summer school

Who are the founding mothers and fathers?

With the death of guitar legend Bo Diddley on Monday, much is once again being made of the roots of rock.

Here's the tough but honest truth: While many early rock artists were important and perhaps influential, few can be considered founding fathers of the musical style.

Most were merely hopping on a bandwagon, cashing in on a rising trend. So while Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis and the near-beatified Elvis are often cited as the wellspring from which all rock flows, they were merely talented musicians who recognized a good thing.

This raises a contentious question -- my very favorite kind. If not Elvis or Chuck or Jerry Lee, then who?

Who in fact are the pioneers of rock?

Below you'll find my picks, but please, feel free to chime in. I'll include the results of this informal poll in an upcoming column.

MUDDY WATERS: While an argument likely will be made for Robert Johnson as the blues artist who most influenced rock, I went with Muddy because of his early adoption of the electric guitar. If rock has a voice, it's probably an electric guitar plugged in, amped up and ready to rumble. We have Muddy to thank for that.

IKE TURNER: Although much-maligned because of his tempestuous relationship with Tina Turner, the first real rock record, Rocket 88 , is in fact an Ike Turner product. Sure, researchers might find it credited to the imaginary Jackie Brenston and his Delta Cats, but it was actually recorded by Mr. Turner and his band, the Kings of Rhythm, at the legendary Sun Studios in 1951.

BUDDY HOLLY AND THE CRICKETS: Though much is made of Holly, the early sides he recorded with the Crickets were actually the product of a cohesive band, a single unit of musicians. While that doesn't seem like much today, the idea of recording as a band rather than a solo artist with a loose assemblage of studio players was a revolution. Every band that plays today can trace elements of style, substance and musical democracy to the Crickets.

BO DIDDLEY: It just so happens that this week, those crowning the late and great happened to get it right. Mr. Diddley didn't invent the electric guitar or big back beat, but his innovative and original style of playing and writing gave rock the bump-de-bump bump-bump shuffle that continues to serve as the rhythmic foundation. Besides, he sang about making a cobra into a necktie. How cool is that?

CARL PERKINS: Others established the standards of rock music, but Carl Perkins can lay claim to establishing rock performance. Understanding that this new music was dark and just a little dangerous, he, under the auspices of rockabilly, developed a persona to match. Elvis, Johnny Cash and Eddie Cochran all co-opted elements of the Perkins act. So did anyone else who has approached rock with a sneer and a wiggle.

Kayak Football

Aiken and professional baseball need a break

Your tax dollars at work

Ladies love fuel efficiency

Financial Independence as a Goal

Former GreenJacket John Odom and 10 bats headed for Ripley's Believe It or Not

Soul City Sirens

We like rankings – if they’re positive