Taking a little break for LIFE

Well, I realized that I hadn't been here for a couple of weeks and thought I needed to put something up.  As you may or may not know, I got married for the first time two weeks ago today at the tender age of 54.

I am deeply fortunate to have Susan, who puts up with me and my foibles and seems to understand me very well, which is a good thing.  I have been paying attention to things going on in Tennessee (thank you Daily Buzz, if you aren't a subscriber for free, for heaven's sakes, SIGN UP, will ya?)  but due to my wedded bliss, I haven't gotten worked up enough to write.

Something I noticed is that Mike Carpenter announced on Facebook today that he is going to work for the Plough Foundation; last I knew, he was working for Mayor Wharton.  He will do a great job at Plough, he is a Republican who works with Democrats, even if he doesn't agree with us very much.  Because he would work with us on the County Commission, he is a pariah in his own party.  Sad.  Mike Ritz, who would criticize Carpenter for doing that, now has taken that same path of bipartisanship on his own, to the point that some in his own party tried to recall him, with no success.

Any way, the Grizz are in the Western Conference Finals for the first time ever, it's BBQ Fest weekend and life is good.  I'll be back in a couple of weeks or so with more news, go enjoy what's left of May!

Sid Selvidge has left us far too soon

It seems like all I've done lately is put up memorials.  Another giant of this city has passed away, the amazing Sid Selvidge, who died of cancer earlier today.  While you younger folks know him as the host and producer of BEALE STREET CARAVAN, those of us of a certain age remember him with Mud Boy and the Neutrons, and as a solo act.  That voice was stunning, and his love of Memphis music was unending. He leaves a deep mark on the musical history of this town, and we shall miss him greatly.

Here's Sid in London a few years ago singing BOLL WEEVIL, thanks to Scott Banbury for the link:




 In addition to the Bill Dries post linked above, here's Chris Davis with more.

And now we lose ANOTHER legend - Maxine Smith.

And my friend and Congressman, Steve Cohen, remembers her on the floor of the House this morning. As you can see, this hit him rather hard, as it does all friends of justice and equality.

UPDATE: Here's Jackson Baker's obituary of this legend and Memphis icon.

A legend is gone. The Possum has left us at 81

I would link the Tennessean article, but their site had crashed.

Here is what is considered to the greatest song in the history of Country Music, performed on Austin City Limits.  Thank you, George Jones.

Robert Reich on Chained CPI

NO DEMOCRAT should ever vote for this, because they will lose a primary if they do.
 

Senator Joe Brown??

Nope, I am not making this up.  I am serious, Jackson put a piece up on Sunday night about THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER's suggestion that the Judge, having recently been canceled by CBS, was headed back to town to take on LAMAR! Alexander in 2014.

I sent the article out to my list, and within minutes, activists started replying that this was a great idea.  After having made rather decent money for the last decade or so judging on TV, Judge Joe might want to think about it.  He's got enough money to run a poll to determine how serious his chances would be against the veteran Senator and former two-term-Governor.

Hell, I kind of like the idea; if the Tea Partiers aren't allowed to primary LAMAR!, they might just decide either to vote for their favorite judge, or just sit home.  Either way, it's a chance for us to win a statewide race, which hasn't happened in a while.  Your thoughts?

A wonderful moment for Boston

He flew in, called the Fenway Park switchboard and ASKED to sing SWEET CAROLINE, which is a staple after the 7th inning at Red Sox games.  This was the first game at home for the Red Sox since the Marathon bombing and the manhunt to find the perpetrators.  It got a little dusty around the house when he showed up, let me tell you.

We need strong gun laws NOW.

What happened today on the floor of the US Senate was abominable.  We need tough gun laws NOW.  I am a gun owner for 44 of my 54 years on this earth and I understand this.  If you don't, you don't deserve the right to own weapons now or in the future.