Take Me In Your Arms

Last Friday while I was waiting in the drive through line at the bank, the Sirius Soultown channel played a song that I recognized but could not place for nearly three minutes. The same song was done by the Isley Brothers and then the cover that lurked in my memory, the Doobie Brothers. It is interesting how songs translate from one genre to another, can be so different, and yet both so good.
In 1976 I saw the Doobie Brothers play this song in a general admission concert, was able to get all the way to the stage about three feet from Jeff 'Skunk' Baxter, sitting in that chair playing is heart out. Backup bands that day were Firefall and The Marshall Tucker Band. The guitarist earlier had played with Steely Dan, and later brought Michael McDonald from that band to the Doobie Brothers. After the Doobie Brothers faded from being a lead act, Jeff Baxter became a defense consultant, specializing in missile systems.

Getting back to that 1976 concert, I remember very well see a man smoking a 'doobie' who had a 5th of whiskey in his back pocket. A policeman walked up, told the man that it was against the rules to have glass bottles in the arena and took the whiskey away. The 'doobie' went on burning. Times were different then.

I Like the Way You Think

A teacher asks her class, "If there are 5 birds sitting on a fence and you shoot one of them, how many will be left?" She calls on little Johnny.
He replies, "None, they will all fly away with the first gunshot."
The teacher replies, "The correct answer is 4, but I like your thinking."
Then little Johnny says, "I have a question for YOU. There are 3 women sitting on a bench having ice cream: One is delicately licking the sides of the triple scoop of ice cream. The second is gobbling down the top and sucking the cone. The third is biting off the top of the ice cream. Which one is married?"
The teacher, blushing a great deal, replies, "Well, I suppose the one that's gobbled down the top and sucked the cone."
To which Little Johnny replied, "The correct answer is 'the one with the wedding ring on', but I like your thinking."

The Vacuum

A blonde was playing Trivial Pursuit one night. It was her turn.
She rolled the dice and she landed on "Science & Nature."
Her question was, "If you are in a vacuum and someone calls your name, can you hear it?"
She thought for a time and then asked....

...

"Is it on or off?"

I Am A Republican Too

Have been a Republican for 30 years.
You'ld have to be working to keep fuel in that truck.
Do not miss the licence plate either.
The statement is way over the top, and far from the truth, but not far beyond focus of the biannual dimocratic sales pitch.
Thank you dgj_ga.

Good Dog. Stay.

"Good Dog. Stay." was a book I gave to the bride for Christmas, which she started but did not finish. On my recent trip to Boston I knocked it out in less than an hour. The book is only 82 pages long and half of that is pictures.
Written by Anna Quindlen, who has reached beyond her career as a newspaper columnist writings has penned such New York Times best sellers as "Black and Blue" and "A Short Guide to a Happy Life". A great writer no doubt.
This is a tribute to her love of dogs, focusing on her own Labrador retrievers Beau and Bea.
Like "Marley and Me" the book has a poignant ending.
As an owner of a spoiled rotten yellow, this book was mostly fun to read.
A good present or Christmas stocking stuffer.

Matt Damon Speaks Out Part II

Offered in support of the most recent Davis Cup recipient.
Submitted by dgj_ga.

Today 1776

On September 22, 1776, 232 years ago, Nathan Hale was hanged as a spy by the British in Manhattan near 66th and Third.

I only regret that I have but one life to give my country.

An oberserver of the hanging, British officer Frederick MacKensie, made this diary entry for the day:

He behaved with great composure and resolution, saying he thought it the duty of every good Officer, to obey any orders given him by his Commander-in-Chief; and desired the Spectators to be at all times prepared to meet death in whatever shape it might appear.

As a boy, the site where Hale taught at was about a mile away from our house. A local hereo of whom we are very proud. Today a leading dimocratic candidate might say....

I regret that you have only 47.9% of your income to give to your country.

Life on Mars

Every show that includes Gretchen Mol must be watched.
The cast makes this a promising show.
Check it out.

Tragedy

Presidential candidate, Barack Obama was visiting an elementary school and he visited one of the classes. They were in the middle of a discussion related to words and their meanings. The teacher asked the presidential candidate if he would like to lead the discussion on the word 'tragedy'?

So our illustrious democrat presidential candidate asked the class for an example of a 'tragedy'.

One little boy stood up and offered: 'If my best friend, who lives on a farm, is playing in the field and a tractor runs over him and kills him, that would be a tragedy?''

No,' said Obama, 'that would be an accident.'

A little girl raised her hand: 'If a school bus carrying 50 children drove over a cliff, killing everyone inside, that would be a tragedy.'

''I'm afraid not,' explained Obama. 'That's what we would call great loss.'

'The room went silent. No other children volunteered. Obama searched the room. 'Isn't there someone here who can give me an example of a tragedy?'

Finally at the back of the room, Little Johnny raised his hand. In a quiet voice he said: 'If the plane carrying you and Mrs. Obama was struck by a 'friendly fire' missile and blown to smithereens that would be a tragedy.'

'Fantastic!' exclaimed Obama. 'That's right. And can you tell me why that would be a tragedy?'

'Well,' says the boy, 'it has to be a tragedy, because it certainly wouldn't be a great loss, and it probably wouldn't be a f*#$@&g accident either.'

thank you PJMS

Melinda and Melinda

This darned DVD sat in my pile of opened mail for about two weeks. Selected because it's directed by Woody Allen, my hopes were not high because his comedies of the last decade were flat. I was surprised, and really enjoyed this movie.

The plot revolves around the character Melinda. Two playwrights describe how they would apply their tragic and comedic adaptations to a difficult situation Melinda had already experienced. The result was a treat.

The cast includes.....

• Radha Mitchell as Melinda Robacheau, a handsome lady who through the movie played both parts of Melinda, I thought it was two different actresses.
• Jonny Lee Miller as Lee the selfish actor husband of Laurel.
• Chloë Sevigny as Laurel playing the reserved wife of Lee and involved in affair with Ellis. Sevigny first caught my eye in Whit Stillman's The Last Days of Disco where her part as Alice Kinnon was very similar to role of well bred bored woman.
• Matt Servitto as Jack Oliver, this man played the chief FBI agent in the Sopranos, a role that took a huge left turn in the last episode.
• Brooke Smith as Cassie, Laurel and Melinda's friend from college. As a teenager, Smith played the girl in the well in the movie Silence of the Lambs.
• Will Ferrell as Hobie, Susan's husband and crazy Melinda's admirer.
• Amanda Peet as Susan, Hobie's husband, necessary to the plot but irritating to watch.
• Steve Carell as Walt Wagner, Hobie's friend, just a small part.
• Josh Brolin as Greg Earlinger, Mr. Perfect.
• Daniel Sunjata as Billy Wheeler, another Mr. Perfect. This guy is on the show Rescue Me.
• Chiwetel Ejiofor as Ellis Moonsong the piano playing composer and object of both crazy Melinda's and Laurel's attraction.
• Wallace Shawn as Sy, the playwright with the comic interpretation of Melinda's predicament. I've always thought this man looked like a turtle, Shawn did a great job in another of Allen's movies, Radio Days.
• Larry Pine as Max the playwright with the tragic interpretation. This actor I recognize but cannot place.

Score 42 of 50, if you like Woody Allen movies and have been put off lately, this might bring you back

• Character development 10 of 10. Character development on parallel planes.
• Writing 8 of 10. Not Annie Hall but good.
• Photography 7 of 10. Standard Allen shots of New York with drab exteriors and giant apartments.
• Acting 8 of 10. Good cast, Will Farrell did a good job, in control.
• Concept 9 of 10. Believable, possible.

Spartan AC

An American Legion Baseball Team United Through Adversity
Written by Vincent DiNunno
As copied from the target site....

"In 1978, a group of men created a second American Legion team in Brockton, Massachusetts. Follow this team through the real life struggles to reach their goal of a championship in three seasons."

Vin's brother Mark was on the team, he and older sibling Chico are all fraternity brothers. And so, a plug with no weight, please visit and purchase the book.

Madamoiselle Melissa "Missy" Lewis

Our Little girl, was so gentle & sweet. but one thing for sure, she gave unconditionally to us as comfort, love, understanding. And Being our little human like being.

September 11, 2008 was a very sad day for me, for tears gently rolled down off my cheeks, as Missy, laid peacefully in my arms, on my lap to a quiet sleep. no more pain, no more struggles to take a breathe. She glanced at me as her Doctor, gave her the medicine to leave us. She was brave & at last with peace.

Missy was always by our bedside each and every night, no matter what. To go boating, riding in the car/van, Missy was adventurous. Watch dog from hell. and alpha dog of the house.
Missy bossed the "boys" around, that being Sir Groucho & Mervyn. Even us humans too. when to eat, and when to walk. Missy had us on her schedule of life.
In the winter months she would cuddle with you and be the doggy heater under the blanket.
she would nap at your feet, to nap in your seat while driving down the road on long trips.
But where ever you were, Missy never too far, she made our life grand to have her here.

Missy would nap on the boat, until she heard the anchor, and then little Peanut was already in the water and on land, barking at you to throw the ball. She was the best est of all companions could be. She came as a rescue dog, and left this earth as Queen of the house. but she will remain "Queen of our Hearts"... I will always love this lil' dog, the dog that took my heart.
And made me cry so hard that my heart still aches, aches, for her snoring, aches to hear her chewing on her paw, aches to have her boss me around to walk her...but I could go on forever on her and what she meant to us.
Dogs are great, and how they mean so much to us humans...we all can share stories, over a great supper, great conversation, and great wine.

Thank you Mr. John Otis, for allowing me to express my feelings, to which not many get to see.
Nikki Lewis owned by "Missy", Sir Groucho and Mervyn Lewis, the 3 dog house...

Matt Damon Speaks Out

In an interview with Associated Press Matt Damon expressed concern that Sarah Palin might become president.

“And I think that’s a really scary thing because I don’t know anything about her, I know she was a mayor of a really, really small town. And she was governor of Alaska for less than two years. I just don’t understand . . . I think the pick was made for political purposes but in terms of governance it’s a disaster.”

and

“You do the actuary tables and there’s a one-out-of-three chance, if not more, that McCain doesn’t survive his first term and it will be President Palin . . . It’s like a bad Disney movie,” “ ‘I’m just a hockey mom from Alaska.’ And she’s the president,”

and

“And it’s like she’s facing down Vladimir Putin and using the folksy stuff she learned at the hockey rink. It’s absurd. It’s totally absurd.”

If you listen to the interview, you can hear, the interviewer, presumably, laughing along. Screw AP too.

Let's see how many levels this is offensive on.......
1) Actuaries are probably offended at their profession being included in the ramblings of Susan Sarandon with a penis. Matt Damon has probably never done long division let alone look at an actuarial table. By the way you might think that Tim Robbins would be a better Susan Sarandon with a masculine appendage, but his wife hasn't given it back yet.
2) John McCain may be offended, imagine his surprise at finding out he might die in the next eight years. This hitting at the age issue was something many predicted months ago, age bashing is the only issue the dimocrats can safely play, the platform has no public content that plays to the whole electorate. The hidden and implied platform is another matter. See "Atlas Shrugged" for research.
3) Sarah Palin, during this past week, with lipstick comments, and attacks from entertainment gadflies, the strong personality of this candidate was not even dented. My reaction was that if either of these men spoke about my wife in that way, with such disrespect, they would face my physical response. Naturally this is not allowed so these snivelling little back stabbers will continue their ways until everyone stops listening. Yes I understand that the lipstick statement was said within the pretext of another topic, but when you read the reaction of the audience during that speech it is clear that every follower in the room understood that Obama was taking an off-color swipe at McCain's expected policy direction and Sarah Palin's person.
4) Mr. Damon being a popular actor grants you no license to fill my ears with your simple fears even if through acting these phobois are portrayed as deep thoughts. You are a dimocrat that fears strength in leadership. Strength shown by former prisoners of war, strength shown by independent female governors, and strength shown by sitting presidents. Strength is foreign to you so you must tear it down. I hope you fail, Mr. Asshole of the Week.

• For those of you familiar with GOPU, the Davis Cup title is named for the consistently inappropriate Rob V. Davis.

Donation Meters

Today's AJC website has a lead story about how Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin has authorized the city to install five meters titled "Give Change That Makes Sense" This is in conjunction with increased police pressure discouraging panhandling and loitering. Funding for the program, $40,000.00, will come from Central Atlanta Progress, the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Atlanta Police Foundation and the Georgia World Congress Center.

Do you think that possibly the city government is enacting this program to assuage their guilt of running the panhandlers off?
My primary charitable donations are made automatically on a weekly basis to organizations that make representative requests and intermittently express appreciation. More donations are made through Habitat for Humanity, direct payment and article gifting. All of these gifts are to organizations that apply little to no overhead costs and rely mainly on the efforts of volunteer associates. I will NEVER put money into a meter for charity as I will NEVER give money to a panhandler, and I have NO guilt about that.
The city has obtained grants from local business concerns that wish for the panhandling to disappear. You should have deep suspicion if it was ever reported that the monies collected in these meters exceed the program cost. On its face the grant will go to employ another political machine employee, this as reimbursement cleaning the streets of irritants to business.

An Articulate Young Man

This is refreshing, we should reconsider before grouping voters by race. Voters are grouped by how they vote, this comes from their philosophical and economic development.

Thank you Rick.

Little Red Hen

She called all of her Democrat neighbors together and said, 'If we plant this wheat, we shall have bread to eat. Who will help me plant it?'
'Not I,' said the cow.
'Not I,' said the duck.
'Not I,' said the pig.
'Not I,' said the goose.
'Then I will do it by myself,' said the little red hen, and so she did.
The wheat grew very tall and ripened into golden grain.
'Who will help me reap my wheat?' asked the little red hen.
'Not I,' said the duck..
'Out of my classification,' said the pig.
'I'd lose my seniority,' said the cow.
'I'd lose my unemployment compensation,' said the goose.
'Then I will do it by myself,' said the little red hen, and so she did.
At last it came time to bake the bread.
'Who will help me bake the bread?' asked the little red hen.
'That would be overtime for me,' said the cow.
'I'd lose my welfare benefits,' said the duck.
'I'm a dropout and never learned how,' said the pig.
'If I'm to be the only helper, that's discrimination,' said the goose.
'Then I will do it by myself,' said the little red hen.
She baked five loaves and held them up for all of her neighbors to see.
They wanted some and, in fact, demanded a share.
But the little red hen said, 'No, I shall eat all five loaves.'
'Excess profits!' cried the cow. (Nancy Pelosi)
'Capitalist leech!' screamed the duck. (Barbara Boxer)
'I demand equal rights!' yelled the goose. (Jesse Jackson)
The pig just grunted in disdain. (Ted Kennedy)
And they all painted 'Unfair!' picket signs and marched around and around the little red hen, shouting obscenities.
Then the farmer (Obama) came. He said to the little red hen, 'You must not be so greedy.'
'But I earned the bread,' said the little red hen.
'Exactly,' said Barack the farmer. 'That is what makes our free enterprise system so wonderful. Anyone in the barnyard can earn as much as he wants. But under our modern government regulations, the productive workers must divide the fruits of their labor with those who are lazy and idle.'
And they all lived happily ever after, including the little red hen, who smiled and clucked, 'I am grateful, for now I truly understand.'
But her neighbors became quite disappointed in her. She never again baked bread because she joined the 'party' and got her bread free. And all the Democrats smiled. 'Fairness' had been established.

Individual initiative had died, but nobody noticed; perhaps no one cared...so long as there was free bread that 'the rich' were paying for.

EPILOGUE..............................
Bill Clinton is getting $12 million for his memoirs.

Hillary got $8 million for hers.

That's $20 million for the memories from two people, who for eight years, repeatedly testified, under oath, that they couldn't remember anything.

IS THIS A GREAT BARNYARD OR WHAT?

Thank you Les.

Campaign Headquarters

Campaign headquarters for President-Elect of Change in Hart County Georgia is this building.
Such places are often in closed businesses or vacant homes, so the lot appearance is to be expected.
The window art caught my eye.
I doubt that Al Jolson gave permission to use his likeness, in this window.
Jolson was an entertainer, so the association must be implied.

While Barack Obama may be running as a post-racial candidate, his followers are not voting for such enlightened reasons.

Duck Tour

Have come to Boston to visit Anne and Thomas then bring them to see Georgia Tech play Boston College. Yesterday morning Tom's mother arranged for a pair of Boston Duck Tours passes. The Duck is a vehicle used for a scenic tour around Boston. The vehicle is a refurbished WWII era amphibious landing vehicle. Our guide was Con-DUCK-tor "Jailbird George", who let Tommy drive the Duck in the Charles River. You cannot see the huge grin on his face.