Here's the MMHF 2008 SCHEDULE!! LAST UPDATE

YOU HAVE NO EXCUSE UNLESS YOU JUST GOT BACK FROM DENVER OR ARE HOSPITALIZED. COME ON DOWN, I'LL BE LOOKING FOR YOU!

(Note: Updated 8/29/08)

2008 Festival Schedule

Saturday August 30th, 2008

Peabody Place & Main Street Stage

(LWC's Stage)
12:00 pm Greg Hisky and His Dixie Whisky Flyers (Country)
1:00 pm The Mighty Kings of Harmony (Gospel)

2:00 pm Agitators with Joe Gaston & Jimmy Segerson (Blues)
3:00 pm The City Champs (Jazz)
4:00 pm The Sensational Six (Gospel)
5:00 pm The Billy Gibson Blues Band (Blues)
6:00 pm The Kattawar Brothers (Rhythm & Blues)
7:00 pm Giant Bear (Folk Rock)
8:00 pm The Tim Terry Experience (Funk)
9:00 pm The MellowTones (Gospel)
10:00 pm Bobby Rush (Soul)

Trolley Stop Stage
11:15 am The Flying MonkeyMan Band (Music for the Family)
12:00 pm Jimmy Crosthwait (Puppet Show)
12:40 pm Voices of the South - High Cotton (Music for the Family)
1:15 pm Randal Morton (Banjo Workshop)

1:40 pm Felix Hernandez (Puerto Rican Cuisine)
2:05 pm TBA
2:30 pm David Bowen (Guitar Workshop)
2:55 pm Ella Kizzie (Southern Cooking)

3:20 pm TBA
3:45 pm Billy Gibson (Harmonica Workshop)
4:10 pm Thomas Sitt (Chinese Cuisine)

4:35 pm Willie Firecracker (Freestyle Workshop)
5:00 pm Choctaw (Cooking and Dancing)

5:25 pm Felix Hernandez (Latin Percussion Workshop)
5:50 pm Salsa Memphis (Dance Routine)
6:30 pm The US Navy Big Band (Big Band)
7:30 pm Valerie June Trio (Folk)
8:30 pm Fitz's Ultimate Cooking Hoorkers (Music That Smells Good)
9:30 pm Tonya Dyson & Green Onions (Neo-Soul)

Folklore Store Stage
1:15 pm Charlie Wood (Jazz & Blues)
2:15 pm Deborah Swiney (Jazz)
3:15 pm Roy Harper & Rob Pearcy (Country)
4:15 pm Devin Miller (Blues)
5:15 pm Sidney, Cidney, Sidney (Rhythm & Blues)
6:15 pm Kim Richardson (Folk)
7:15 pm William Lee Ellis (Blues)
8:15 pm Promise (Jazz)
9:15 pm Harlan T Bobo (Rock)
10:15 pm Steve Gardner & The Jake Leg Stompers(Jug Band)

Folklore Hall Stage
2:45 pm Los Cantadores Trio (Mariachi)
3:45 pm Gary Topper Quartet (Jazz)
4:45 pm Singin Southern Jubilees (Gospel)
5:45 pm Billy Lee Riley (Rockabilly)
6:45 pm Grassfire (Bluegrass)
7:45 pm Tony Thomas Trio featuring Sam Shoup & Tom Lenardo (Jazz)
8:45 pm Hope Clayburn & Soul Scrimmage (Funk & Soul)

Gayoso & Main Street Stage
1:30 pm Mr. White (DJ & Vocal Set)
2:30 pm Moments of Joy (Gospel)
3:30 pm Lucas Cates Band (Rock)
4:30 pm Devil Train (Gypsy Jazz)
5:30 pm Elmo & The Shades (Blues)
6:30 pm Alicja Trout & The River City Tanlines (Rock)

7:20 pm Amemphis Prodigy Records (Rap & Hip Hop)
7:35 pm The Dark Side Thugs (Rap & Hip Hop)
7:50 pm The Tunnel Clones (Rap & Hip Hop)
8:30 pm Al Kapone (Hip Hop)
9:30 pm The Daddy Mack Blues Band (Blues)

Sunday August 31st, 2008

Peabody Place & Main Street Stage
(LWC's Stage)
12:00 pm Hickory Withe Bluegrass (Bluegrass)
1:00 pm Phil Durham (Rhythm & Blues)
2:00 pm Smoochy Smith & Hooch (Country)
3:00 pm Annointed Cowans Singers (Gospel)
4:00 pm Will Graves and Soul (Soul)

5:00 pm Reba Russell (Blues)
6:00 pm Homemade Jamz Blues Band (Blues)
7:00 pm Sonny Burgess & The Pacers (Rockabilly)
8:00 pm FreeWorld featuring Herman Green (Rock & Jazz)
9:00 pm Darrell Petties & SIP (Gospel)
10:00 pm Jason D. Williams (Boogie Woogie)

Trolley Stop Stage
11:00 am Michigan City Soul Steppers Drill Team
11:15 am The Flying MonkeyMan Band (Children's Music)
11:45 am The Sophisticated Sound & Steppers Drill Team
12:00 pm Jimmy Crosthwait (Puppet Show)
12:45 pm Voices of the South- Virginia Ralph (Children's Storytelling)
1:40 pm Pyramid Dancers (Belly Dance Performers)
2:05 pm Deanna Lubin (Working with Challah)
2:30 pm David Evans ( Jug Band Workshop)

2:55 pm Chinese Dance & Martial Arts
3:20 pm Chef Judd Grisanti (Spindini / Italian Cuisine)
3:45 pm The Isiserettes Drill and Drum Corp Drill Team
4:00 pm Johnny Yancey Big Band (Big Band)

4:50 pm Ella Kizzie (Southern Cooking)
5:15 pm Memphis Area Square Dancers
5:45 pm Millennium Maddness Fancy Trick Drill & Drum Show Team

6:00 pm Ekpe (African Drumming)
6:25 pm Chef Michael Patrick (Creole Gumbo)
6:45 pm Jumpback Jake (Soul)
7:45 pm Don McMinn & Nightrain (Blues)
8:45 pm The Gypsy Hombres (Jazz)
9:45 pm Willie Covington (Soul)

Folklore Store Stage
1:15 pm Caleb Sweazy (Folk & Country)

2:15 pm Barbara Blue (Blues)
3:15 pm Roy Harper & Rob Pearcy (Country)
4:15 pm Dan Montgomery Trio (Rock)
5:15 pm Audie Smith & Vicki Newsum (Jazz)
6:15 pm Eden Brent (Blues)
7:15 pm Thomas Spurlock (Neo-Soul)
8:15 pm Last Chance Jug Band (Jug Band)
9:15 pm Pierce Pettis (Folk)
10:15 pm Blind Mississippi Morris (Blues)

Folklore Hall Stage
1:45 pm The Jumpin Chi Chis (Jazz)
2:45 pm Ms. Nikki (Blues)
3:45 pm Eddie Bond (Country)
4:45 pm Memphis Klezmer Allstars (Klezmer)
5:45 pm Orange Mound Jazz Messengers (Jazz)
6:45 pm Jim Dickinson, Sid Selvidge, & Jimmy Crosthwait (Blues)
7:45 pm Niko Lyras Trio

8:45 pm Joyce Cobb (Jazz, Blues & Rock)


Gayoso & Main Street Stage
1:30 pm Mr. White & David Agape (Gospel & House Set)
2:30 pm FreeVerse (Jam Band & Funk)
3:30 pm The Golden Keys (Gospel)
4:30 pm Charles Johnson & Kwest (Jazz & Rhythm & Blues)
5:30 pm Kenny Brown
6:30 pm Brown Singers (Gospel)
7:30 pm Susan Marshall (Jazz, Rock & Blues)
8:30 pm Exodus (Reggae)
9:45 pm Los Cantadores (Latin)

No FGF round up, but go to NEWSCOMA

NOW. This is one of the all-time best FGF, for obvious reasons.

Here is my FGF for today, no FGF roundup though

I will be working in the morning overseeing stage construction for the Memphis Music & Heritage Festival, then work a full day at FedEx.

These kids, the Homemade Jamz Blues Band, are part of why I love this festival so much. While we are more than just blues, these kids are unbelievable musicians, but they and their family are even better people.

Please enjoy them here, then come down and see them this weekend, I'll be looking for you.

If you recover in time from the Festival, this is on Monday

We have a new blogger in Memphis!!!!!

As she notes below, our friend Kate has taken up blogging at Katie Didn't Do It.

She kicks it off with an introduction and some music reviews, go check it out. It's far better than she would have you believe.....

Remember again why we got on board months ago

Let us remember that while Bill Clinton comes from a place called Hope, Barack Obama IS our HOPE, our last best shot to save this nation from being a third-world corporate plantation.

YES. WE. CAN.

BECAUSE WE MUST.

Look out NOLA and the MS Gulf coast, Gustav may be here for Labor Day

This story at the NYT's DOT EARTH blog is scary, read the comments as well...


For the latest projections on Gustav, visit the National Hurricane Center.

GMAIL is screwing me right in the middle of the DNC

List members, if you wonder why you're not getting your regular deluge of mailings, GMAIL has curiously instituted sending limits, which has only happened once before. Why NOW, in the middle of the DNC?

THIS is why Network Neutrality is critical, and our Senators and Congresspeople MUST support it.

I will let you know when this has been fixed.

UPDATE: We are rolling again, within an hour after this was posted, wonder why?

:-)

America, meet your new First Family...

THIS is what a STATESMAN sounds like.

Text of Massachusetts Sen. Edward M. Kennedy's remarks Monday night at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, as transcribed by CQ Transcriptions.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Caroline.

My fellow Democrats, my fellow Americans, it is so wonderful to be here.

And nothing -- nothing is going to keep me away from this special gathering tonight.

I have come here tonight to stand with you to change America, to restore its future, to rise to our best ideals, and to elect Barack Obama president of the United States.

As I look ahead, I am strengthened by family and friendship. So many of you have been with me in the happiest days and the hardest days. Together we have known success and seen setbacks, victory and defeat.

But we have never lost our belief that we are all called to a better country and a newer world. And I pledge to you -- I pledge to you that I will be there next January on the floor of the United States Senate when we begin the great test.

Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you.

For me this is a season of hope -- new hope for a justice and fair prosperity for the many, and not just for the few -- new hope.

And this is the cause of my life -- new hope that we will break the old gridlock and guarantee that every American -- north, south, east, west, young, old -- will have decent, quality health care as a fundamental right and not a privilege.

We can meet these challenges with Barack Obama. Yes, we can, and finally, yes, we will.

Barack Obama will close the book on the old politics of race and gender and group against group and straight against gay.

And Barack Obama will be a commander in chief who understands that young Americans in uniform must never be committed to a mistake, but always for a mission worthy of their bravery.

We are told that Barack Obama believes too much in an America of high principle and bold endeavor, but when John Kennedy called of going to the moon, he didn't say it's too far to get there. We shouldn't even try.

Our people answered his call and rose to the challenge, and today an American flag still marks the surface of the moon.

Yes, we are all Americans. This is what we do. We reach the moon. We scale the heights. I know it. I've seen it. I've lived it.

And we can do it again.

There is a new wave of change all around us, and if we set our compass true, we will reach our destination -- not merely victory for our party, but renewal for our nation.

And this November the torch will be passed again to a new generation of Americans, so with Barack Obama and for you and for me, our country will be committed to his cause. The work begins anew. The hope rises again. And the dream lives on.

WOW

With H/T to Sean Braisted, here's the trailer for an interesting new film...

The Lovely Lauren brings us lots of Celtic news!

Her latest post brings us news of a busy, busy September, go there now!

Disappointing news from SD-9

From my friend Regina Morrison Newman -

To all my friends and supporters,

Earlier this month, many good friends asked that I seriously consider running for the City Council vacancy in Super-District 9. I filed a petition in order to do that. Now I assure them that I have seriously considered it and examined all the issues, benefits and detriments of both the campaign and the office. At this time, however, there are numerous good candidates who wish to serve the city as I do. At the time I pulled a petition, there were no friends of mine in the race and I offered my candidacy, but now there are several friends and others who want the voters' attention. Although no one has asked me to withdraw, I am doing just that, rather than detracting from efforts to place the best possible person on the Council. Prior commitments bear greatly on my time, including the recent re-location of my law practice. Giving this campaign the time and effort necessary to win in the limited time frame would be difficult - even with my seemingly endless energy you all always acknowledge.

I do appreciate each of you...your undying loyalty, your good wishes and the work you have done. Hopefully, you will all be rewarded by the success of another candidate you can support as strongly - you are now free to do so.

All I can say is thanks.

Regina Morrison Newman

For your convention-following pleasure....

As you know, Randy Neal is our official blogger embedded with the Tennessee delegation at the Democratic National Convention this year. While I have had it on the blogroll for a while, you can follow all the comings and goings at this link right here.

I also hope to be getting pictures from one of our local delegates, we'll let you know how that's going!

It's Sunday; Do you know where your Roundup is?

Perhaps the biggest story of the week broke in the wee hours of Saturday morning, when Obama named Joe Biden as his pick for Vice President. So far, the reaction across the progressive blogosphere in Tennessee seems to mirror that of liberals nationwide: reaction covers the spectrum from hot to tepid to cold.

Given the large number of blog posts discussing the choice of Biden and the diversity of opinions on the topic, this week's roundup is devoted exclusively to that subject.

• 10,000 Monkeys and a Camera: Biden! and Senator O'Biden [Ed. note: The RSS feed for 10,000 Monkeys and a Camera has moved to this link.]

• 55-40 Memphis: It's official now

• Carole Borges: Joe Biden is perfect! I'm excited once again.

• The Crone Speaks: Obama Says it is Biden, I Say More of the Same

• Don Williams: Obama-Biden’s a brilliant ticket, but only if they win, natch

• Enclave: Wealthy Elite vs. Middle Class: Pick Your Biden Scorecard and Biden His Time: Delaware Senator Brings Commoner Cred to the Ticket

• KnoxViews: Joe Biden

• Lean Left: Hello, Joe! (Whadda ya know?)

• Left Of The Dial: Hey Barack

• Left Wing Cracker: I think it's going to work..

• Nashville for the 21st Century: Asshatery at Fournier's "Associated Press"

• Newscoma: Obama Chooses Biden and LA Times Gets Its VP Story Wrong and Breaking Down The Biden Factor

• Russ McBee: A quick thought on Joe Biden

• Sharon Cobb: BREAKING: Obama Picks Joe Biden!

• Silence Isn't Golden: It's Definitely Biden

• Southern Beale: So It's Biden and IOKIYAR: Veepstakes Edition

• Tennessee Guerilla Women: Obama Picks a Bro: It's Biden

• Vibinc: The Veep-Stakes Fiasco [Ed. note: OK, the Vibinc post isn't a reaction per se, since it was written on Friday, but it's still relevant. Sue me.]

And finally, Katie Allison Granju blogs on the subject from her new home at KnoxNews.com, "Because I Said So":

• Because I Said So: Obama didn't get this one right

I think it's going to work..

It's going to be tough, folks, the last time a Democratic ticket was elected without a Southerner on the ticket was 1944, with New York's FDR and KC, MO's Harry Truman. That's 64 years.

However, Joe Biden will prove to be a great running mate. He will fight back like nobody's business, and help Obama lead this nation out of the swamphole that George W. Bush has put us since he stole the elections of 2000 and 2004.

If America is to thrive, indeed, if it is to SURVIVE, we cannot allow John Sydney McCain to occupy the White House and continue the policies that have sent us to third-world status. This is life or death, people, and Obama-Biden is our last chance to turn this thing around.

Ahhh, a man after my own heart, shameless blog-pimping!

Matthew Hurtt of Hurtt Pride, a GOP-leaning Middle Tennessee blog, noted below that he beat several media outlets on the announcement of Joe Biden:

http://matthewhurtt.blogspot.com - beat out CNN, Fox News, Real Clear Politics, etc

.
Nice work, except that Steve Clemons at The Washington Note put it out about 4 PM EDT, but that's still good work, sir!

CNN insists it's Joe Biden

and John King was smiling like a jackass eating cactus on a late Larry King Live.

If this turns out be true, I will say that Biden ain't my first choice, be he ain't the worst choice, either. My preference was Wes Clark, then Chris Dodd, but I'll take the Senator from MBNA over Evan Bayh or Tim Kaine or even Kathleen Sebelius.

OK, back to sleep, everybody.

UPDATE 11:55 PM: Now the Sun-Times (via AP) is reporting it.

Nice.

FGF Roundup for 8/22/08

Well, no one's going to top The Lovely Lauren's initial entry, which also serves as mine, but let's see what everyone else has!

Sharon Cobb - a true story about lions

Wintermute - Pat Benatar

Pesky Fly - In remembrance of Lou Teicher

Sean Braisted - The Aquabats

GoldnI - In keeping with the St. Louis theme, Chuck Berry!

Newscoma - Etta James, Gladys Knight, Chaka Kahn and BB King. Damn.

Squirrel Queen - John Lee Hooker

Ginger Snaps - The Nuge

Scout - A-ha!

I'm About to Be Brilliant - The Who

Holly - Ryan Adams

Heartbreaktown - The Meaning of Life!

Kat Coble - Paper Lace (yes, THAT song)

Chez Beziat - It's all in French

Ron at Subtle Bluntness - Rev. Horton Heat

LeBlanc - The Seagulls

School Girl - Jason Mraz

The Gman - Poison

Nashville Is Talking - L'Trimm

Russ McBee - Sam Cooke

With deep, deep thanks to Ginger for most of this list!

Remember, if you're posting a Feel Good Friday video and you're not listed, email the Cracker at sjs1959 at gmail dot com!

FGF was never so disturbing, or FUN!

The Lovely Lauren sent this to me, and it is wrong on more levels than I can count. I'm not even going to introduce it, just watch:

Vibinc is EN FUEGO, but now, it's MY turn, as Mary Wilder might say.

Well, just when you thought my blogging brother Vibinc couldn't top himself, he did, with his post THE SECOND CHANCE CLUB. That term refers to the fact that most of the eleven SD-9 candidates are running for the second or third time for public office (with nary a win to show for it).

I like that term, and intend on using it myself, with all due credit, of course. I have decided to offer my views on this race, and handicap it for each candidate based on the prospect that NONE of them may drop out, creating a train-wreck of epic proportions.

As always, I must remind you that these odds are for the SOLE purpose of entertaining you, my beloved readers. Of course, wagering based on these odds is expressly prohibited by the laws of this great state of Tennessee.

Now, by partisan category in alphabetical order (last name), even though this is a (wink-wink, nod-nod) NON-PARTISAN race.

NON-PARTISAN (OR, I DON'T KNOW WHERE IN THE HELL THEY FIT)

Jimmy Ogle - 150-1 - This former Park Commission head and one-time manager of Mud Island (IIRC) has been known more recently in his job with the Ericson Group, who wanted to bid on Mud Island, but was stopped by Lipscomb and his BPS-centric pals. Well-liked in the community, but I'm not sure that this really translates into votes. This isn't personal, Jimmy, it's just business.

Richard Stringer - 150-1 - He is a two-time loser in 1991 and 1995 races for District 2, and this retired businessman can indulge himself, but does he have the money and/or backing to make showing here? I think not.

REPUBLICAN

Kemp Conrad - 6-5 - He is the closest thing to a early favorite that we have here. He lost last year to Shea Flinn for another SD9 position, and he lost because everyone else in the race, including Democrat Flinn, took away from his base. He was besieged on all sides by Republicans Joe "MemphisWatchdog" Saino and Joseph Bair, as well as Goopers friendly with George S. Flinn, the Republican County Commissioner. From a practical standpoint, I thought he was a good GOP Chair, however, others disagree (more later). Undoubtedly, he will be business-friendly on the Council should he win, and probably the most conservative. Right now, he's at the top of the heap if no one gets out.

Lester Lit - 50-1 - I love Lester; hell, who DOESN'T? He is the owner of the city's premiere restaurant supply house, and he has a winning personality, money to burn and a true desire to help the community. Story from last year: when I went to early-vote, I saw my friend and candidate Desi Franklin and hugged her. Lester then said, "what, I don't get a hug?" Of course you do, Lester, so I hugged him, and then watched as he told voters to vote for him, but if they couldn't, to vote for Desi, and if not her, then Mary Wilder. His problem is that he needs a one-on-one race with someone, and this isn't it. He is tied with Stephens as my third choice for voting, more on that later.

Brian Stephens - 5-2 - Stephens busted his ass last year and ran a very solid campaign for District 2. However, Bill Boyd once again proved that old age and cunning beats youth and exuberance, especially in a low-turnout runoff. Stephens has supporters on both sides from Paul Stanley to Democrats whom I won't name at this time. I like him, and he wants to win and will do what it takes to win, within ethical reason.

The John Willingham Experience™* - 1000-1 - The erstwhile County Commissioner and losing mayoral candidate is, frankly, on a political murder-suicide pact in which he intends to take down Kemp Conrad. In short, methinks he is embarking on a rat-fuck of the highest order. As Vibinc noted, we listened to him tell Bill Dries of the Daily News what a crappy GOP Chair Conrad had been and that he led the Party to loss after loss. Shortly after this, I looked up to see Conrad, whose ears clearly had been burning, show up at the opposite end of the hallway. This is going to be FUN.

* - Property of VIBINC!

DEMOCRATS

Arnett Montague III - 75-1 - Why the surprisingly low odds for a rookie with no prior electoral experience? Well, here's a story. He filed yesterday, but didn't have enough valid signatures. Well, his grandfather Arnett Montague Sr. (whom I have since learned was a close friend of the legendary African-American political operative JP "Speedy" Murrell) went out, got enough valid signatures and got them in in time to get his grandson on the ballot. With Grandpa's help, young Mr. Montague may pull enough A-A votes that 2Shay Parkinson may have to work harder than expected.

Regina Morrison Newman - 9-5 - Full disclosure: once Steve Ross (VIBINC) decided not to run, I got behind Regina and will support her if she stays in. We go back thir- er, well, a LOT of years in Democratic politics, and I trust her judgment. I supported her for Judge two years ago, and she can pull support from ALL areas of the city, regardless of race, gender, color, economic class. One on one against Conrad, she'd crush him like a grape. With a stacked field, it's going to be tougher for her.

Antonio "2Shay" Parkinson - 8-5 - Although he lost a race last year for the District 1 seat now held by Bill Morrison, 2Shay has busted his butt building his name in Frayser, starting a civic club and working to reduce gang violence. The district, which is technically the "white" SuperDistrict, is still roughly 30% African-American, and it is obvious Parkinson is counting on A) a monolithic black turnout with Barack Obama at the top of the ticket and B) his being the only well-known African-American candidate. However, with Young Mr. Montague's grandfather and the connections of other candidates aligned with the Democratic Party, he may not get as high of a percentage as he expects. His candidacy is still one to watch.

Paul Shaffer - 9-5 - In the event Newman gets out (which I am hoping AGAINST), my support goes immediately to Paul, the longtime business manager of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Frankly, there's not a Democratic elected official in this county that doesn't owe Paul and his union; hell, the SCDP has been meeting there for more years than I can remember. His only race to this point was a losing race for the Charter Commission in 2006, but he knows what it takes to run in a situation like this. I'm surprised he hasn't run for this before; he would be a terrific Councilor.

Mary Wilder - 3-1 - I have to confess, she supposedly helped Carol Chumney for years like I have, but I can't remember her. She is a neighborhood leader in Vollintine-Evergreen, but, aside from that, I can't really tell you anything she's done, other than cost Desi Franklin a seat on the City Council. Now, we can sit here all day long and argue the hows and whys of that candidacy, but let's face it, the ultimate effect of her candidacy last year was to ensure the election of GOP-leaning Reid Hedgepeth. All I'm going to say about her is that I almost would vote for Conrad before I would vote for her. And, to quote myself from Vibinc's post earlier today:

I have heard through the grapevine that Wilder believes it's HER turn now. I suspect she is more alone in that assessment than she realizes. With Shaffer in, there goes her labor support. With 2Shay in, there goes her African-American support. With Regina Newman in the race, there goes her female support. What's she got left?

I rest my case, flame away.

Want to know how SD-9 is shaking out?

Vibinc knows all, tells some. There are great comments on there, one or two from yours truly, it's some really good analysis and observation, then when you get to the comments, we have my favorite part:

INNUENDO AND HEARSAY!

Go there and read it!

Sadly, we now have confirmation from the hospital and her family..

Of the passing of Representative Stephanie Tubbs-Jones (D-OH-11) this evening at Huron Hospital in Cleveland. Here is the statement from the family and the hospital:

Tubbs Jones Family, Huron Hospital and Cleveland Clinic
August 20, 2008 - 6:40 p.m.

"Throughout the course of the day and into this evening,
Congresswoman Tubbs Jones' medical condition declined. Medical doctors and neurosurgeons from Huron Hospital and Cleveland Clinic sadly report that at 6:12 p.m. Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones died.

She dedicated her life in public service to helping others and will continue to do so through organ donations.

Please keep her family and friends in your thoughts and prayers during this very difficult time."

She was a tireless fighter for her district and the progressive causes in which she believed. She fervently supported Senator Clinton in the primaries, but jumped on board the Obama campaign once his nomination was unassailable. This is a loss for her family, her constituents, her colleagues, and all who believe in progressive ideals, and we join in mourning her loss.

Some of you will remember, of course, that she supported our Congressman's primary opponent each of the last two primaries. Well, they were sorority sisters, and that sort of thing happens; I don't really think that's important right now.

Please remember her for the fighter she was for causes we all believe in.

R.I.P. Stephanie Tubbs-Jones

You can't please everyone

While Vibinc and I have noted Carol Chumney's decision not to run, it appears that not everyone is on board with this decision.

Polar Donkey is of the opinion that Carol has consigned herself to the political scrapheap by opting out:

The only way Carol Chumney has any political relevance or future isfor her to run in this special election and get back on the council. Otherwise, she will never get re-elected to the council again and she will never be mayor. Why she can't figure this out is beyond me.

Read the rest of his reasoning HERE.

Carol is OUT for SD-9

Update: with a hat tip to Mr. Baker at the Flyer:

CAROL CHUMNEY ANNOUNCEMENT

8/20/08
Contact Info-486-6891


As you know, I've been devoted to serving Memphis for over 17 years. I will always be grateful for the public's confidence by electing me 7 times as State Representative and 1 time as City Council member, District 5. It was a true honor and will always mean a lot to me.

I put my 17 year career in public service on the line to run for Mayor of Memphis last year because I believe strongly that we can do better in this city. I stand by that decision.

I'm glad to see several good candidates pulling petitions to run for the soon to be vacant City Council At-Large District who can continue to bring needed reforms to the Council. It's good to have some new faces with new ideas on how to make Memphis better.

I thank the many supporters who have called asking me to run for that position. I've had calls from the press and media, and am making this statement in response to those questions.

After prayerful consideration, I have decided not to run for the vacant City Council seat.

I do love and want to serve the people of Memphis, and very much want to be part of bringing the change we need. When the right opportunity presents itself for public service, I'll be ready to again offer my 17 years of state and local government experience, my platform of positive change, my passion, drive and dedication to making this a world-class city, for consideration by the voters.

In the meantime, I'll continue my 21 year private practice as an attorney, volunteering in the community, and spending time with my family and friends.

Sorry I'm late, but here's the roundup.

Russ sent this to me earlier, but this is the first chance I've had to post it...

p>As usual, this week's roundup of Tennessee liberal bloggers covers a wide range of topics, so grab a cup of coffee and set aside some time to read the finest blogs in the state.

• 10,000 Monkeys and a Camera: An International, First-Hand Perspective ("Want to find out what bloggers who write in a language you can't read are saying? This is a great place to start.") and Running on Stolen Property

• BlountViews: Tennessee Division of Elections: No election ("But we assume nobody will press the issue with Blount County to seek further clarification, and they will do whatever they want to do as usual.") and MDT: You get what you deserve ("Do we get what we deserve, or do we get what the backroom mechanics of the local political establishment and the MDT decide we need?")

• Carole Borges: John Edwards and what seperates a man from a boy ("I'm so mad at John Edwards I could spit.") and Bush's pastor rebukes the Republican favorite son ("The Republican Right should be appalled at McCain's record when it comes to having decent morals and values.")

• The Crone Speaks: Rapists Get a Pass in Knoxville: It’s Her Fault ("This isn’t logical reasoning, it’s simple brutality that is not being acknowledged by juries.") and Bush-dog Schuler Profiting From TVA Oversight Position ("This is a pretty substantial investment, and the approval by the TVA for the land swap will greatly increase the lining of Bush-dog Schuler's pockets.")

• Cup Of Joe Powell: Debating Student Rights and Southern History ("Can a school system's dress code policy curb your free speech?") and Kitchen Sink Bath At Burger King ("Thank God the internet allows stupid to be shared on a global scale.") BONUS: Rep. David Davis can't believe he lost here, here, and here.

• Don Williams: Putin and Bush doomed to waltz thru history in each other's eyes ("No doubt, Putin saw his reflection in Bush's vacuous eyes, for this is a man who, like Bush, views war as the natural state of humankind.")

• Donkey's Mouth: Chairman Dean Responds to Arkansas Democratic Party Shooting

• Enclave: 13,000 Children Abandoned by the United States Government ("Uncle Sam is one cruel bastard to el niños.") and English Only is Astroturf, Not Grassroots

• Fletch: Hanging Around and Bigger is Better [Ed. note: Holy crap!]

• KnoxViews: Jesse Helms a great American? ("What editorial devil possessed the KNS to publish the "Citizen's Voice" tripe by June B. Griffin in today's (Aug. 16) edition?") and Doughy yet suave man about town seeks sociopathic presidential aspirant and Online convention coverage and McCain embraces Bush, supporters defect ("Saying "nobody likes a funeral," prominent Republicans are staying away from their convention.")

• Lean Left: Is It Just Me? and Testing the Limits

• Left Of The Dial: Hyper Local and Summer Blog Blues

• Left Wing Cracker: OK, how about NOW? Here's the MMHF 2008 SCHEDULE!! and Who owns McCain? Hint: it's not you.

• Liberadio(!): An Open Letter to Rep. David Davis, Candidate Tim Barnes, Nashville Public Radio, and the National Media ("Since the story broke of potential recount challenges by both candidate Barnes and Rep. Davis, a couple of things have happened.")

• Loose TN Canon: Top CIA official confesses order to forge Iraq-9/11 letter came on White House stationery'

• Nashville for the 21st Century: 80's Night at the TNGOP ("What is funny is that in 1984 the Soviet Union was on the brink of collapse. They were a paper tiger, not a bear in the woods. So, in that regard, Hobbs' comparison is fairly accurate.") and No Speaky Spanish ("Oh, and just to pour salt in the wounds of TIRRC, Crafton is proposing an interpreter fee for those who need language services. But remember, his wife is Japanese and his Brother-in-law is Hispanic, so its OK.") and Republicans Attempt Voter Suppression in Ohio ("[T]he prospect of shorter lines in minority areas and easier access to vote is keeping some GOP officials up late at night.")

• Newscoma: AT&T = Epic Fail and Random Thoughts and Martin Plant To Close ("A plant that has been around for most of my life is closing. ... This is just another huge loss for this community.")

• The Pesky Fly: Things I'm not buying for $1000, Alex and Presumptuous? Maybe. Dangerous and Wrong? Oh Yeah!

• Progressive Nashville: It's just plain mean ("These knuckle-draggers who claim they are defenders of Judeo-Christian values clearly don't understand the concept.") and Spin control ("The Tennessean wants the story to be about numbers, but rezoning is a story about people.")

• Resonance: NeoCon Dreams ("Yesterday Senator McCain said: "In the 21st century, nations don't invade other nations." Today comedian Limbaugh, et al., are framing (and condeming) the conflict as Russia's quest to control oil flows. The irony is overwhelming.")

• RoaneViews: Roane County Industrial Park causing Water Problems and Dear Tina E*****s

• Russ McBee: Pelosi caves yet again ("Pelosi is more than willing to substitute meaningless gimmicks for substantive policy, all based on her phobia of being called names by Republicans.")

• Sharon Cobb: To Be President In America--Must Be Born In America, 35 Years Of Age,....AND CHRISTIAN! Rick Warren With Obama And McCain ("In a 2008 America, one clearly has to be a Christian to be elected. And that's wrong.") and Where Does The TnGOP Stand On Us Heartless Jews? and Day 3:The Tennessee GOP Still Won't Reply To The Jewish Community Regarding It Being A Christian Organization

• Silence Isn't Golden: How Many Times Can The Straight Talk Express Derail? and I Think I'd Rather Be A Turtle ("I did my first ever scuba dive in Bora Bora.")

• Southern Beale: Saying No To Sean Hannity and Still Dropping ("This reminds me that back in April when gas prices started climbing into the stratosphere, local conservative yakker Steve Gill said it was the Democrats' fault. Well, bless his heart. So, now that gas prices are falling, do Democrats get the credit?")

• Tennessee Guerilla Women: CNN: Is Obama the AntiChrist? ("Oh, my aching head. If we weren't stuck inside the borders of a giant insane asylum, CNN would be laughed off the air.") and Hillary's Name to Be Placed in Nomination and Sexist Olympic Photos of the Day

• TennViews: Unemployment continues up: shockingly so in some Southern States ("We have less than six months until someone new is in the President's seat. How bad can it get in six months?") and National English-only group congratulates Nashville on ballot initiative, takes credit for helping ("When even the local Chamber of Commerce doesn't agree and instead takes the "progressive" point of view, it's a pretty good signal that you're on the wrong side of the issue.") and A call for party unity ("For the sake of party unity, Rob Huddleston calls for 1st District Republicans to unite and tell David Davis to shut up and go away.")

• Tiny Cat Pants: Some Child Left Behind ("I keep thinking how history will judge us, what the folks will make of the ways in which we lied to ourselves about what we're doing and why we're doing it.") and Stupidity and Women's Health

• Vibinc: Getting in a Wreck Teh Suk and Take Ice Cream off the Menu

• West Tennessee Liberal: Disrespect

• WhitesCreek Journal: Search Me and T. Boone's Boy: "Will Lie For Money" and Running From Red ("John McCain is a half assed Conservative, even if he does lie like one.")

• Women's Health News: Tennessee Women to Have Fewer Options for Reproductive Health and HHS Sec. Leavitt Responds Further to Objections, Ignores Substance ("Clearly, Leavitt values a "social statement" just as much as women's access to care, while completely ignoring objections that the proposed regulation may extend that refusal of care to very basic needs such as contraception. If that doesn't send a chill up the spine of America's women and families, I don’t know what will.")

Finally, it's HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What, you ask? The ALL-NEW website for the Center for Southern Folklore, which is a 10000% improvement over the old one.

The new site has pictures and links and stories and separate pages for the Memphis Music & Heritage Festival (coming up TWO WEEKS from tomorrow, there is still time to volunteer!) for which I have a schedule up NOW, see below.

Go there now and EXPLORE, you can also shop at our online store (I'm a member of the Board of Directors, I can say OUR) and see all the wonderful things available. Or, just go play around, you will have a great time!

FGF Roundup

First, I broke out some Celtic for the lovely Lauren with Smithfield Fair's live version of Longships, more blogs as they come in:

Daily Docket - two from Junior Walker & the All Stars

Sharon Cobb - Satchmo

Ginger Snaps - Elvis (Happy Blogiversary, Ginger!)

I'm About To Be Brilliant - Blind Melon

Squirrel Queen - OK GO (Yes, THAT video!)

Heartbreaktown - Blake Shelton

Russ McBee - Marvin Gaye's classic Sexual Healing

Newscoma - The genius that was Isaac Hayes

GoldnI - Nelly welcomes the Bellevue girl to St. Lou!

Pesky Fly - Girls Rock Camp

If you're in and not up here, shoot me an email at sjs1959 at gmail dot com!

This FGF is for Lauren

For taking over the Craichead, this is for you, sweetie. Here are our friends from Baton Rouge, Smithfield Fair, who will be playing CelticFest Mississippi September 5, 6, and 7. Enjoy!

With thanks to Polar Donkey for sending..

OK, I have a question...

This is primarily, after the Tigers, a SEC town, right? We have THREE sports stations in town, and they carry UT (ESPN680), Ole Miss (Sports56) and Mississippi State (Fox Sports 730). Vandy is on a talk station, KWAM 990. The Tigers, of course, displaced UT on 600 two years ago, which I still laugh about.

Here's my question: There's another SEC school just across the river, yet nobody in town wants to call the HOGS????? According to the Arkansas Razorback Sports Network, the closest Hog affiliate is KWYN-FM 92.5 in Wynne, which I can accasionally pick up on my car radio. Are you freaking telling me that there aren't enough Hog fans here to make this worthwhile?

Hey, Memphis-East Arkansas Razorback Club! Can't you line up sponsors for a Memphis radio broadcast of Hog sports? I fully believe that there would be plenty of listeners and it might even help RECRUITING, you know what I mean? Let's make it happen!

It's still hard to believe...

Arkansas Democratic Party Chairman Bill Gwatney, a longtime state senator and Central Arkansas car dealer, was fatally shot today in the offices of the State Party in Little Rock shortly before noon today. The assailant was a 51-year-old white male whom authorities have identified but are as yet refusing to name as of this writing.

After leaving the Democratic HQ, the suspect apparently went down the street to the Arkansas State Baptist building, pointed a gun at one of the workers, then hijacked a truck. He then led police on a chase down I-30, I-530 and US 167 before being detoured and stopped near Sheridan, where he was shot after shooting at law enforcement officials. The suspect was airlifted to the University of Arkansas Medical Sciences Center in Little Rock, where he died.

Our deepest thoughts and prayers go out to Gwatney's family, which includes his brother Russell, a Memphis car dealer, the state Democratic Party, and all Arkansans for this tragic loss.

The investigation into the shooting is ongoing, and it may be a while before we know how or why this tragedy happened; please remember the Gwatney family in your prayers tonight.

Who owns McCain? Hint: it's not you.

From the Jed Report:

So much for trying to ignore the Olympics

Doug Mills/The New York Times  Garrett Weber-Gale, left, and Michael Phelps after the United States won the 4x100 freestyle relay.

Damn you, Michael Phelps, you sucked me in.  I had planned to avoid these Olympics, because of China's horrible record on human rights, and also I was ready to projectile vomit every time I saw Bu$h frolicking over there.

However, Michael Phelps, who is now 2-for-2 in his quest for eight gold medals, made me watch, first by winning the 400 Individual Medley last night, and then was part of a world record 4X100 Freestyle Relay win less than an hour ago.  

This was all the more stunning considering that USA anchor Jason Lezak made up a huge lead by the French, who had trash-talked the USA squad earlier in the day.  

The winning margin? .08 of a second.  Yes, you read that right, .08 of a SECOND.

Wow, just wow.  

Oh, and the USA men's hoops team won a squeaker over host China this morning, 101-70.

So much for ignoring Beijing 2008, eh?

Isaac Hayes has passed away, aged 66

The biggest-selling artist in the history of Stax Records, the legendary artist and composer Isaac Hayes died suddenly this afternoon, reports the Flyer.  

Other published reports indicate that Hayes was found unconscious near a treadmill in his home.  He was rushed to Baptist Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after 2 PM.

While younger people may remember him for his role as Chef in the cartoon South Park, older fans remember his series of hits for Stax artists co-written with David Porter.  However, he exploded onto the scene in the late 60s with albums like HOT BUTTERED SOUL and BLACK MOSES. 

He was the first Memphian to win an OSCAR for Best Song for the Theme From Shaft in 1971, and performed the song wearing a shirt of chains, coming out from backstage to a fog machine, which was the first time I'd seen one, it was an awesome sight.

He was a powerful part of the era that put Memphis music NOT made by Elvis Presley on the map, and he will be missed.

An Open Letter to Otis Jackson

No, it's OK, it's not going to be ANYTHING like my letter to Ms. Tinker, I write for totally different reasons.

First, congratulations.  After several tries, you have been elected to countywide office, and have expanded the list of Democratic elected officials in County government.  We need more of them because it's always better to have people in government who actually believe that mutually consented self-government is possible and necessary, unlike the GOP.

As you may be aware, I had serious reservations about your candidacy.  To be blunt, I did not vote for you for those reasons.  Yet, you have won, and your victory portends Democratic control of this county for years to come.

Because of this, and because you do not have the familiarity with your office that Cheyenne Johnson and Paul Mattila have with theirs, I want you to know that you will probably be more scrutinized than they are, because you're the rookie, and you know perfectly well what that means.

As a new clerk, you have the perfect right to choose your own management team, one that reflects your particular vision for that office.  Make sure that you have the BEST possible team, one that's not afraid to tell you no if need be.  They must be the most competent people available, and we CANNOT, as Democrats, afford to have any office appear to be overrun with cronyism; that's what Republicans do.

I say this because, since you are now a Democratic elected official, I want you to succeed, to the point where people wonder why they didn't vote for you earlier.  You have the chance to make this an outstanding office, and I want this to happen.

Clerk-Elect Jackson, as Democrats we desperately have to regain people's trust in government. All these years of deliberate Republican mismanagement (along with some horrible missteps by our OWN folks as well) have caused people to believe that government can't do anything to help anyone but the very rich.  I know better, and so do you, so that's why I write today.

Best of luck, and we're pulling for you to do a great job.

Russ brings us the Roundup!

• 10,000 Monkeys and a Camera: Regarding Edwards ("Perhaps if he had taken a look around once in a while, at all the good people who were helping him up, he might have realized that he didn't get where he was all alone. Then perhaps he wouldn't have felt so much like superman.") and Wordless Wednesday

• Andy Axel: Wires and Wood

• BlountViews: South Blount Utility: Consider bottled drinking water ("A resident in the South Blount Utility District said they got a notice of violation of safe drinking water standards indicating their drinking water was contaminated with high levels of lead.")

• Carole Borges: First Lady aka Miss Buffalo Chip ("It was a touching moment and a lovely display of Republican family values. Cindy blushed of course and looked flattered. You could almost see her already measuring the thongs she will wear in the White House.")

• The Crone Speaks: Racism Thriving?!? ("The very sad thing is, there are people that one wouldn’t readily categorize as being racist in any other situation, that do feel that Obama being president would "end" this country.")

• Cup Of Joe Powell: Davis Not Conceding To Roe ("One thing about Davis - he has consistently blamed Democrats for all the national and regional ills, and now he blames them for not being re-elected. Perhaps there were some cross-over votes, but he simply need look in the mirror to discover the reason for his loss. His inability to accept the outcome of the vote, to accept responsibility for himself, says volumes about his failings.") and Thoughts on Alexander Solzhenitsyn

• Don Williams: Bush puts Double-I brand on the Olympics–Insulting Incoherence ("Taking a stand against China’s big redemptive PR show by declining to attend would’ve been consistent and coherent. But complaining all the way to the show, and even at his reception in China this morning, smacks of incoherency, bad manners and outright hypocrisy.")

• Donkey's Mouth: The Dems Respond

• Enclave: But the tallest candle stick ain't much good without a wick ("Let's set aside the question of whether our expectations have sunk so low that we actually give kudos to politicians for just doing the right thing.")

• Fletch: Elkmont In August and Cool

• KnoxViews: KAG, signing off ("Katie Allison Granju signed off for the last time at Knoxville Talks yesterday. She did a fantastic job creating a great new local media sponsored blog and set the bar high for her successor.") and WBIR declares Bryant winner in Commission 6-A? ("Katie's only been gone one day and look what happens!") and Green Route Alert, Again! ("There is too much money to be made "developing" and paving the state for people who care about sprawl and the ruination of east TN to stay indifferent.") and Technology corridor not working out ("High tech companies aren't going to move to an area that doesn't support education and only graduates people qualified to work in call centers.")

• Lean Left: Send a Message in a Language They Understand ("Glenn Greenwald, along with Jane Hamsher of firedoglake and a variety of other pro-democracy bloggers and activists, is helping establish a new organization dedicated to targeting vulnerable Democratic candidates who work against progressive interests and civil liberties.")

• Left Of The Dial: Olympics Freak ("Only I would be watching judo, badminton, Chinese women lifting weights and some dude trotting around on a horse doing half-circles simultaneously, live from Beijing on a Saturday morning.")

• Left Wing Cracker: An open letter to Nikki Tinker ("How amazing it was to watch as you turned within 48 hours from an attacking Congressional candidate to a national pariah; "Worst Person in the World", indeed. As Vito Corleone once said, how did things ever get so far?")

• Liberadio(!): The Not-So-Veiled Partisanship of Congresswoman Blackburn ("And speaking of honesty, she and her friends standing in the dark in the House chamber might want to stop claiming that off-shore drilling will give us immediate relief from high gas prices. 'Cause it won't.")

• Loose TN Canon: Republicans obstruct vote to lower gas prices ("Once again, the GOP leadership sided with oil profiteers and used their power to help keep oil prices and profits high, while hurting the average American.")

• Nashville for the 21st Century: Election Day Is Here ("If passion alone won elections, it would be a landslide for Tuke this fall should he get the nomination.")

• Newscoma: Grief Brings Out The Best In People ("This is my second funeral in three weeks of people I grew up with. We drove our cars fast, hid out on back roads talking about our future and drank beer bought by those a couple of years older than us in corn fields still smelling of a fresh harvest. We were going to take on the world. We wanted to own it.") and Personal Reflections On Edwards Scandal ("Baby Boomers in politics amaze me. I’m not one of them, but I have to say, they have changed the world. I don’t necessarily mean that as a compliment.") and Advice To The Young 'Uns ("Don't sweat the small stuff. Treat other people the way you want to be treated. Do things you are afraid to do. Don't listen to Bill Hobbs, and eat more fruit.")

• The Pesky Fly: Delusions of Adequacy ("If this is the Chairman's take on the craziest sh_t to come down the pipe since, oh, I don't know, a member of the TNDP Executive Committee accused the Democratic presidential nominee of ties to terrorism, it will be very revealing indeed when Mr. Sasser finally does find something that puts a fire in his belly.")

• Progressive Nashville: Thank heavens for the white kids ("Thank heavens the white kids in Nashville's public schools are doing so well academically. If they weren't, our schools would look much worse.")

• Resonance: CBS News: "Bicycle Mania!" ("The piece discusses the increased interest in bicycling that has accompanied higher gasoline prices. I have noticed more people riding on the roads this summer; unfortunately, a few of them appear to have not yet mastered safety rules on riding with traffic.")

• RoaneViews: My letter from the Roane Alliance ("I have trouble understanding the separation between the Roane Alliance, a County Government function supported by our tax dollars, and the Chamber of Commerce.")

• Russ McBee: Knox County voters fall asleep ("Today's message is simple: all the GOB's have to do is wait long enough, and the voters of this county will forget whatever transgressions may have angered them in the past.") and Justice denied ("To shield itself from public accountability, the White House crafted rules which ignored centuries of legal precedent and tossed aside even the barest semblance of justice in favor of a system automatically tilted toward the prosecution.")

• Sharon Cobb: John Edwards: You're A Piece Of Sh*t ("Politics aside, let me tell you about Elizabeth Edwards.") and Let The Games Begin ("Also, please ask whomever is your choice for President why he bought 5-6 million dollars in advertising during the Olympics, knowing what China is doing in Darfur, Tibet, Berma, and other human and animal rights violations.")

• Silence Isn't Golden: Tyson Caves To...Someone ("Sorry wingnuts, you still lose.")

• Southern Beale: Tyson Plant Revises Holiday Plan AGAIN ("Of course the Malkin-tents are going to claim another victory, but hey, look at it this way: we liberals can snicker at them for defending a holiday with communist/socialist origins founded by the evil labor unions.") and 22 Days & Counting ("Here in Nashville I saw $3.69 at a Pilot station earlier this week. That’s a 40-cent drop from the high of $4.09/gallon back in July. Funny none of the stories about that Republican kabuki theater on offshore oil drilling bothers to mention that.")

• Tennessee Guerilla Women: NBC Says Bill Clinton Will Speak at Convention in Order to Get Media to Shut Up ("Gawd. Can we please get term limits for the pundits?") and Hillary: 18 Million Cracks in the Glass Ceiling (Video)

• TennViews: The ballots are set and we're off to the races ("We've updated the TennViews 08 Candidate Central database to advance the primary winners and set the field for November.") and Volunteer State 39th in Volunteering ("Forty-five percent of volunteering in Tennessean is performed in the religious sector, whereas that number is 63% in Utah. Are Tennesseans heathens or is that just a Mormon thing?")

• Tiny Cat Pants: Like a Coat You Somehow Slip On Without Noticing ("This, this I believe explains the virulent anti-Mexican sentiment here in the South. Who doubts Faulkner, right? And when he says "The past is not dead. In fact, it's not even past." don't we believe him?")

• Vibinc: Cashing in at MCS ("In an editorial over a the CA newly installed Superintendent, Kriner Cash lays out his plan to help the districts most at risk students find success. The prescription, 2000 college aged tutors. I have to say, this is a brilliant idea.")

• West Tennessee Liberal: I'm Proud of Memphis ("I'd hate to be an incumbent Republican in two years. It's going to be a bloodbath.")

• WhitesCreek Journal: Yeah! ("The whole world loves Barack Obama. He's really popular. That's why we shouldn't vote for Obama.")

• Women's Health News: HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt Issues Blog Post on Proposed Regulation ("Regardless of intent, the regulation certainly could functionally allow the defining of contraceptives as abortion.") and Lying Liars Who Lie (About Reproductive Health) ("I've come across several blog entries recently that recount stories of women being lied to by their healthcare providers and/or being lectured on the basis of their provider's personal values.")