What Brad said

THEY ARE NOT YOUR FRIENDS.

Go read this NOW.

Liberadio goes daily on internet!

Nashville-Based Liberal Talk Radio Show Launches New Daily Internet Show

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (June 30, 2009) -- For over four years, Liberadio(!) with Mary Mancini and Freddie O'Connell has broadcast on Vanderbilt University's WRVU 91.1 FM for two hours, one day per week. Beginning Wednesday, July 1, the popular talk radio show will expand to include an additional live hour every Tuesday through Friday from 9:00 to 10:00 am (CT) on BlogTalkRadio.

BlogTalkRadio launched in August 2006 and is a web-based social radio network which will enable Liberadio(!) to host a live, call-in talk show every weekday. Shows stream live directly from the Liberadio(!) Blog Talk Radio web page (http://www.blogtalkradio.com/liberadio) and, when finished, are archived automatically and made available at Liberadio.com, iTunes, and other RSS feed readers. More than 1.9 million listeners tuned into BlogTalkRadio in December.

"After every Monday morning show on WRVU, there is still so much to talk about," says Liberadio(!) senior producer and co-host, Mary Mancini, "We look forward to continuing the conversation with our listeners and special guests every weekday."

Liberadio(!) on BlogTalkRadio will debut Wednesday, July 1, with local election integrity activist Bernie Ellis, who was recently investigated for making "terrorist threats" by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation at the behest of the Secretary of State.

Upcoming guests also include P.J Tobia, a journalist based in Afghanistan; Betsy Phillips, author of the blog Tiny Cat Pants, contributor to the Nashville Scene's blog, Pith in the Wind, and upcoming guest blogger at Feministe; Nashville Metro Councillady Emily Evans; Teddy Bart, author and Beyond Reason host; Steve Scarborough, environmental activist and proprietor of RoaneViews.com; and Bob Moser, author of "Blue Dixie: Awakening The South's Democratic Majority."

"Since the terrestrial radio landscape for commercial talk is almost all conservative all the time in our local market," says producer and co-host, Freddie O'Connell. "It's been important for us to embrace the Web and online media. This is just one more step in our "Screw You Guys, We're Doing It Ourselves" business model.

To listen to the Liberadio(!) on BlogTalkRadio, go to http://www.blogtalkradio.com/liberadio every Tuesday through Friday at 9:00 am (CT). To call-in and join the conversation, dial (347) 677-0660.

Since Mary Mancini & Freddie O'Connell began broadcasting together in 2004, they have been voted one of Nashville's "Best Radio Personalities" in the Nashville Scene's Best of Nashville Readers’ Poll three times. In April of this year, they were named to Talkers Magazine's "Frontier Fifty," a list of 50 talk radio acts that best represent "the important pioneering work taking place in the burgeoning world of internet talk media." For more information, please contact us at 615-480-4678 or visit the website at www.liberadio.com.

Ok, Mr. President, you're a SELL-OUT PUNK.

Does that help?

Yup, we got one of them there unscientific polls up over here!

Yup, just look over to the right and at the top of the sidebar, we have a poll, please go vote in it!

Success!

As we work on merging the households, I have been bringing Silky over to Lauren's, as I wanted to see how the cats would adjust to having a dog around the house. Today, Baby went of her own accord over to Silky and began to sniff. Silky, who grew up around cats and likes them, barely moved as Baby came over to check the dog out. One down, one to go; Zippy is still scared.

Neither of the cats had been around dogs prior to the initial visit of Silky a month ago, so this is progress.

Gotta change things up here.

I miss Michael Jackson from when he was young, but dammit, I gotta have a change of pace or I won't get through this day. Here then, is a second Feel Good Friday to really make you feel good, or me feel good, in any event. Here is Billy Joe Shaver with his classic Georgia on a Fast Train.

The law of unintended consequences, or say hi to Mayor Joyce Avery!

Yeah, that's how my mind has been going, or I wouldn't be up at 1:30 in the freaking morning. OK, this CA piece got me to thinking, so follow along with me.

Let's just say for shits and giggles, that we have a special City election on October 8 (just inside the 90-day limit to pick a new mayor after a vacancy) and that County Mayor AC Wharton wins. (Myron, Carol, James Harvey - put those frowns away, this is speculative, just play along with me!) Well, he can't hold two seats at once, can he? So, he's got to resign as County Mayor, creating a vacancy.

Well, it just so happens that September 1, the NEW County year kicks in, and out goes Chair Deidre Malone (D-2), and in comes probable new Chair (and current Pro Tem), Joyce Avery (R-4). If Wharton wins the City race and resigns, Chair Avery becomes Interim Mayor Avery.

However, here's where the next bit of intrigue comes into play. Avery could serve all the way to September 1, 2010, the end of her term; however, with a 8-5 Democratic majority, that is not likely. Besides, the term interim is just that, as the Commission would be charged with appointing a new County Mayor, like any other County vacancy.

Who then, for Mayor? Well, with an 8-5 majority (and doesn't the appointment of Matt Kuhn to fill David Lillard's seat look mighty damn prescient now?), the Democrats COULD select the outgoing Chair (and potential Democratic nominee in 2010) Deidre Malone. Smart move, eh? Well, not when A) the GOP would be REALLY pissed and B) there could be Democratic opposition to this move.

From whom, you might ask? Well, how about the sage of Whitehaven, the best little Picnic-thrower himself, Commissioner Sidney Chism (D-3)?? Remember, Chism is NOT backing Malone, but his friend Harold Byrd for the Democratic nomination, and he sure as hell doesn't want to see Malone be the potential incumbent next year.

Now, the CA article (as well as other commissioners, privately) have suggested that Chism or Commissioner Henri Brooks (D-2) could serve as Mayor until next year. For Chism especially, this could give him a way to leave politics at the top, retiring as Mayor of Shelby County.

Or, he could come back, run for two more terms on the Commission (because, I believe, this would take him out from the term limits provision, making him a new electee). Or, he could do something else entirely, like suggest to Byrd that he'd like to keep the Mayor's job and maybe Harold should run for something else.

This, of course, would set up yet another nightmare scenario with the potential to tear the local Party in two (as if the 9th District race won't do that on its own!) with Malone and Chism going at it hammer and tong. I suspect this is not likely, but it is VERY possible that Chism may be the next Mayor of Shelby County, if only for a few months.

Too bad I'm still on antibiotics, because I could really use a drink right now! Good night!

I know I just did this a month ago, but..

Here's how I want to remember the King of Pop, singing one of the greatest singles ever recorded.

I don't want to talk about the madness in his life, we all knew it was there, let's remember the greatness that he and his brothers produced. Rest In Peace, sir.

I have a new favorite for Governor!

For more campaign information, go here!

Bloody hell.

First, the expected (the passing of Farrah Fawcett), the somewhat expected (the resignation of Willie Herenton), and now the completely unexpected (Michael Jackson is dead of a heart attack at age 50).

This day is too much for me.

BREATHE, everyone, BREATHE, will ya?

Everyone seems to be losing their damn minds over the fact that The Mayor has called a presser for 11:30 A.M. to make a "Special Announcement". They're all saying, "HE'S GOING TO RESIGN! HE'S GOING TO RESIGN, TRA-LA, TRA-LA!".

Mayor, please. The CA article above notes THIS:

City Council chairman Myron Lowery, who would be notified about a potential mayoral resignation, said a few minutes ago that he did not know about the press conference and that he hasn’t talked with Herenton today.

All righty then. He "resigned" once before, remember? Whaddaya bet he's announcing his campaign team and is jerking the chain of the media (and his constituency) yet again. Until you SEE him give the actual, properly-worded letter of resignation to Myron Lowery, I'm not buying it, and neither should you.

No matter how much you're hoping for it.

UPDATE: just had to put out this snarky, delightful tweet from @jensized:

Herenton to announce at 11:30 the Grizzlies are drafting Tyler Hansbrough in an effort to racially unite the city.

UPDATE: The CA says the Mayor has promised Myron a letter of resignation, but given NO EFFECTIVE DATE. I smell BULLSHIT, people!!!!!

UPDATE: He DID give a date, July 10. All righty then.

Looking to have some fun tonight? You don't have to go to the Peabody rooftop!

Go here. Memphis' finest REAL country band plays at Memphis Mary's tonight at 345 Madison. Go out and hear the real thing, people, it doesn't get any better than this.

Quasi-personal stuff, and other things.

Well, I haven't written because how could I top last Saturday, eh? Let's get started.

First, thanks to Bill Dries, who told my story to Drake & Zeke Monday morning, will have to try to find a link to that somewhere.

Next, I have felt like crap for a while now, only to have my doctor figure out that I've had a low-grade infection for a while, she gave me a killer antibiotic and I am getting better quickly. I've gotten to see family in from out of town, and that has perked me up as well.

For all my grumbling about small towns, our beloved Newscoma reminds me yet again that special, wonderful things can happen there. I tend to think that's because she's special and wonderful, but I digress.

Now, to observations. SCC has found a way to make me say something nice about Republicans other than Tom Guleff and Jim Coley with this article on Brian Stephens and his work to make the Election Commission more transparent. Stephens is a solid guy, wish he was over on this side of the aisle.

Ok, Max Baucus, REALLY? We NEED SINGLE-PAYER. What part of that do Senate DEMOCRATS fail to understand? Are they that desperate to suck on the tits of the health insurance industry? If so, we are past the point of MORE Democrats, we are now at the point of needing BETTER Democrats. Are you listening, Blanche? Bill Halter, you should think about a primary challenge. It worked for Dale Bumpers!

Nice article by John Branston on Maxine Smith's decision to support Steve Cohen for re-election against the Mayor, whom she still supports as Mayor. We still love you, Jackson, it's just that the Flyer has a veritable plethora of great reporters. I like the term "veritable plethora", too. Jackson has this interesting piece up about GOP Chair Lang Wiseman trying not to admit that he would like to cross over to vote for Cohen in the Primary.

Statewide, I can't help but think that Mark Brown's departure from the Ward Cammack campaign dooms it to a swift demise. Brown helped Cammack reach out, particularly to the growing lefty blogging community, getting all of us to meet him on a one-to-one basis, where Cammack does well. As a stump speaker, though, he's not all that hot, and he has all the baggage that a convert from the GOP would be expected to have. Without the savvy Brown to run the show, I'm betting he gets out quickly. UPDATE: His ears must have been burning, Cammack denies he's getting out to the Sage of Knoxville, Tom Humphrey.

Will Jim Kyle get in? I understand that lots of people are thinking he won't get in now, but I'm going to be a contrarian here (imagine that) and say he WILL get in. It wouldn't be the first time I whiffed on something (I'm a Cubs fan, after all) but I think the Senate Democratic leader WILL make the run, despite what some have said is an attempt by The Honorable Phil Governor to clear the field for Mike (I'm Ned's Son) McWherter. Mike seems like a nice guy, I met him at the Chism Picnic, but I'm not sure what he brings to the table beyond the name.

Oh yeah. COME TO DRINKING LIBERALLY TONIGHT, DAMMIT! We DO have air-conditioning at RP Billiards at 525 South Highland, along with good food, good drink, and good people. See you tonight!

Mr. Mayor, you made my day!

This photo courtesy of Jackson Baker/Memphis Flyer

Photo by Steve Ross

As you know, I invited everyone to wear a Cohen T-shirt to the Chism Picnic Saturday.

No one else but me decided to do so. The Mayor is a reader, I've been told, so when he came down the hill today and saw me in the shirt, he gleefully and good-naturedly razzed me about it, asking why that guy over there was in that loser t-shirt and that he would send me a winner t-shirt to wear once he had them printed out. We both laughed, I shook his hand and then went to get a beer.

He then repeated the story while speaking at the Picnic, the closest thing to a home crowd for the Mayor. I laughed uproariously, went over to tell him that it made my day, he smiled and said 'you know I was just messing with you" and I laughed and agreed.

He was in great spirits, and looked like he was ready to starting campaigning hard for the 9th District seat, noting that he wished all the candidates well, except for his opponent. (Gee, really?)

In any event, the Chism Picnic was a blast, even if I was an idiot for standing out therefor almost four hours in 100 degree heat. (Leon, I don't care what the thermometer said, you didn't consider heat index!) We had three gubernatorial candidates (Mike McWherter, Kim McMillan, and GOP candidate Bill Gibbons) and one potential candidate (Sen. Jim Kyle).

I also learned that Reginald Milton has decided to run for the County Commission seat being vacated by Commissioner Deidre Malone, joining my friend Norma Lester in that race. I wish they could BOTH be on the Commission, they would both do a good job; however, I'm with Norma because I've worked with her first-hand on the ExecCom and I know she'll do well.

If you want more of the great pics, go to Ross's Twitter page and look at his TwitPics.

Bill Maher nails the Democratic Party, and he's right

After New Rules, he sums up the current state of the Democratic Party better than I ever could.

It's that time again - Moved to the TOP, it's HERE

Click on pic for larger view.

This is, of course, the premier political event of the summer, the one that NO Democrat should miss, it has become the replacement for the St. Peter Picnic.

Thanks as always to Commissioner Chism, Nate Jackson of the Teamsters, and Democratic National Committeewoman Gale Jones Carson for putting on this event. I'll be there, and you should, too.

Update from the SCDP - MOVED TO THE TOP, THIS IS TONIGHT

The Shelby County Democratic Party

Invites you to

Meet & Greet

The candidates for Governor!

Friday, June 19 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Hattiloo Theatre

656 Marshall Ave.

Memphis, TN

Appetizers and Cash Bar

$25

Suggested minimum contribution benefits S.C.D.P.

829-3377 or 830-3283

Host Committee:

Van Turner

Dave & Diane Cambron

Ron & Barbara Williams

Carla Stotts-Hills

Desi Franklin

Jonathan Cole

Carlos Bibbs

William Gillon

Adrienne Pakis-Gillon

Chris Taylor

Nancy Greenwalt

Dianne Withers

Cathy Hailey-Kent

Willie Boddie

Nancy Kuhn

Mitzi Gatewood

Norma Lester

The Mayor tells us why he's running for Congress.

HIZZONER writes in the Defender about why he thinks he would be the best choice for Congress:

Let’s keep it real. Many citizens will be concerned with race and representation. There is strength in diversity, but currently the Tennessee Congressional Delegation is not inclusive.

(snip)

During the last 30 years, I have gained invaluable experience and knowledge by serving as superintendent of one of the nation’s largest public school systems and as Mayor of the eighteenth largest city in America. It seems clear to me that the nation and the Ninth Congressional District could benefit from my vast executive experiences and those are just a few reasons I am seeking the office of Congressman of the Ninth Congressional District in the United States of America.

Read the rest here. Yeah, a 70-year-old guy who has been used to telling people what to do as an administrator for 30 years is going to do really well as a rookie Congressman who will be told to sit down, shut up, and vote as we tell you to. Yeah, that should work out JUST FINE.

Oh, and did he mention he's black and Steve Cohen isn't? Just in case you had forgotten. This, of course, means Cohen, despite the intensity with which he has represented his district, just can't represent this District like Herenton could, except that Cohen has been the best Congressman since Harold Ford Sr.

Mr. Mayor, I know you are going to be a fierce campaigner, since this is going to be your last attempt at public office, and I know you've never lost...YET. Your ONLY hope is to make this a black/white issue, and hope that the memories of 1991 carry the day. I have no doubt that Steve Cohen understands the difficulties of this campaign, and is preparing for it as I write.

However, it's not 1991 any more. You may not be Nikki Tinker, but Cohen isn't Herman Morris or Carol Chumney, either. The African-American community know how hard he busts his ass for them, because he HAS to. What would you do, other than sit in committee meetings trying to stay awake while wondering when the next lobbyist contribution comes in?

In the long run, Mr. Mayor, it is YOU who sullies the legacy of your first three terms by overstaying your welcome, bored and grumpy. Now that McGhee's leaving, you may have to work at being Mayor AND run for Congress. Good luck with that.

In the end, you may well be a historic figure, but at the rate you're going, you'll wind up on the scrap-heap of history. And as you are someone who was a role model to a whole community for a long time, that's a damn shame. However, there's no one to blame but the man in the mirror.

See you at Sidney's.

There's another email, sent out by one of ours

And it's in poor taste. Blue Collar Muse has the story, as well as the pictures. After Christian Grantham at Nashville Is Talking reported that the staffer came from Karen Camper's office (D-87-Memphis), BCM revealed that the sender's name is Blake P. Graves; HOWEVER, Christian notes the following:

UPDATE: 12:11pm - Blue Collar Muse identifies the staffer who sent the email as Blake Graves, but the Tennessee Legislature website does not list a Blake Graves as an employee of the state.

Go over there and look at the pictures, and you tell me if they rise to the same level as what Sherri Goforth sent out.

UPDATE: In comments at PP: Roger Abramson has outed Mr. Graves as an intern.

You're being watched, folks, we ALL are, so don't be doing this stuff.

Well, he's not perfect, and this vote proves it

But I'm still going to support him for re-election, that's for sure. As Wintermute has noted, our Congressman voted for the War Supplemental, which passed the House, 222-206. As Jane Hamsher noted earlier:

WAY TO GO DEMS!!! You're going to vote for war funding ALL BY YOURSELF!!!

Two more votes...we bought it.

218 votes for war funding. Yeah. It's a Democratic war now.

Yeah, I'm not thrilled. I'd like to hear why he voted for this, it's not how he should have. However, while I'm disappointed, he's still by far a hell of a lot better than the alternative.

Now, then, on other matters. Some of you may read that last linked article and harumph and say, I'm not going to the Picnic. That would be ridiculous, because it is a hell of a party, it's free food and drink, and it's lots and lots of Democrats. Sidney welcomes all, and makes all feel welcome, I have only missed one since he started, and I wouldn't think of missing this.So you ask, well, is there anything I could do this Saturday? Sure there is. 1) go to the Picnic, 2) go to PrideFest later in the day. Oh, and one other thing.

Unless you're going in support of another candidate, why not wear a Cohen for Congress T-shirt if you still have one from 2006 or 2008? Sidney won't care, and the Mayor will make a sarcastic remark or two, but so what? It wouldn't be a Picnic if he didn't, and everyone shows up anyway!

So, I hope to see you at the Picnic, and then at PrideFest. Let's have fun this Saturday, OK?

Go to Newscoma NOW.

You're not going to want to believe this, but believe it you must, this is disgusting.

MOVED TO THE TOP FOR AN UPDATE: Newscoma has outed the staffer who sent this: Sherri Goforth, a staffer for Senator Diane Black (R-Gallatin). Good; let's see if she keeps her job.

NEW UPDATE: Christian Grantham of NashvilleIsTalking spoke to her, go read what she had to say.

We welcome OpenPen to THE ENDLESS BLOGROLL

I apologize to Janet Meek and her wonderful collection of writers at OpenPen, which includes Mark Naccarato and Liberadio's Mary Mancini, for not putting them up until now, they are awesome, and they are based in EAST TENNESSEE.

Mark has a great post up now about the cost of NOT fixing healthcare, go there now.

Kleinheider talks about the Herron incident and the new power of bloggers

Remember this? Kleinheider talks about how the blogging community is now a power to be dealt with in statewide politics.

Oh, and Herron has a new website up (linked below in THE ENDLESS BLOGROLL).

Ward Cammack NOT COMING to DRINKING LIBERALLY this week as scheduled.

UPDATE: Mark Brown of the Cammack campaign has just informed me that their trip to Memphis for Wednesday had to be canceled, we will reschedule for a later date. Sorry for any confusion.

We meet every Wednesday night at RP Billiards, 525 South Highland.

Again, it is our plan to have all the Democratic candidates (and possibly one local Republican) to come to DL over the next few months.

Of course, the links to all Democratic Candidates are at the top of THE ENDLESS BLOGROLL.

Newscoma has a great post up about rural communities and services

I did sort of prompt it by sending this column by John Brummett of the Arkansas News to my list this morning, halfway hoping she would take it and run with it. Did she ever:

Of course, there used to be about 30 small schools all over this county back years ago. The compromise, over a particular contentious period of time split the county into fragments, was keeping four schools open and closing two. The two schools that closed in very small towns has impacted those communities.

Now as we fast forward 17 years into the future, the lines continue to blur. Brumment brings up something that has always happened. More highly populated areas are obviously going to get money from the federal and state governments. That’s a reality and it is what it is and what it always has been.

But he writes about a plan from the Delta Regional Authority in Arkansas that cites there is a plan afoot putting emphasis on “quality of place” instead of the old adage of quality of life.

Go read the rest of it!

Storm notes

Paul Ryburn has pics of trees down in the downtown area here, Mr. Conspiracy reports from the OB here, and if you are following on Twitter, follow @MLGW, @GaleJonesCarson, or just look for the hashtag #hurricanepriscilla (so dubbed by @fancycwabs).
As for here, the puppies were scared enough to make a mess, but that was easily cleaned up and remedied by biscuits for all of them! Power just blinked here, nothing bad that I can see. I hope you are doing as well!

OK, when WRESTLING ANNOUNCERS are attacking the GOP

You know the Goopers have lost their mojo.

Listen to these two wonderful rants by announcer Jim Cornette (you Memphis wrestling fans should remember him) as he attacks another announcer for right-wing views. Caution: language is NSFW, use the headphones.

Part 1

Part 2

This is awesome, hat tip to Mickey for sending! That's where the above quote comes from!

Oh, and I agree with every word he says.

It's ON, BAYBEE!!!!!!

The Thrilla in Manila won't have anything on next year's TN-09 race, as Mayor Herenton made it official today by filing his paperwork with the Federal Election Commission to run for the 9th District seat held by Steve Cohen.

I had thought he was bluffing in order to push Rep. Cohen into speeding up the process of selecting a new US Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee. However, I'm sure when he heard about the new alliance between old adversaries Cohen and Harold Ford Sr., he decided that it was damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead.

Here are my pros and cons for Herenton as he runs.

Pro: He has a very solid base that has come out for him in every single mayoral election.

Con: He has only achieved a majority in one of the last three elections (2003, when he faced John Willingham), and it is not at all clear that people who vote for him for Mayor will vote for him for Congress. It's difficult for legislators to get elected to administrative positions and vice versa.

Pro: He has a large donor base.

Con: Not as large as it used to be, which is not good because, by federal law, he CANNOT use any of the money in his mayoral campaign account for the Congressional campaign, meaning he starts from zero in a bad economy. Better get on those phones, Mr. Mayor.

Pro: The Democratic primary is going to be primarily African-American, which should favor Herenton.

Con: While it's true that African-Americans will make up a vast majority of the electorate, this WMC-TV poll indicates the community is very happy with Steve Cohen and will vote to keep him in Washington.

Pro: Since there will be a heavily-contested Republican primary for Governor, Republicans won't cross over to vote for Cohen.

Con: While this is true, if the WMC poll is accurate, it won't matter.

Pro: People who hate the Mayor may well vote for him to get him out of town.

Con: Not in enough numbers to make a difference; after the MSARC fiasco, no one really wants him anywhere in government.

No one doubts the Mayor will pull out every stop imaginable against the Congressman, who needs to let Herenton make as big an ass of himself as possible. Cohen needs to play mistake-free campaigning, with as few slip-us as possible.

All things being equal, I see Cohen winning, making for a truly grim last year in office for Mayor Herenton, for whom the arrow is pointing down.

The Center for Southern Folklore outdoes itself, which isn't easy

Full disclosure: I am a member of the board of directors for the Center for Southern Folklore.

Last night, an event thirty-two years in the making took place at the Center, with the opening of the online exhibit, TAYLOR MADE, the collection of the photographs, films and audio recordings of the Reverend L.O. Taylor of Memphis.

Reverend Taylor took photographs and made films and recordings of life in Memphis in the 1920 through the 1950s, and thanks to the work of the Center's archivists, they have been able to digitize this collection so that you may access it from your computer.

As Michael Taft of the Library of Congress noted at last night's opening, what makes this so very special is that this is documentation of the African-American community from the INSIDE, and not from white Northerners who had no idea about the culture of the South or the African-American community. This is truly unlike anything you have seen, and what's great about this is you can PARTICIPATE as well!

If you see someone in one of the films, photos, or recordings that you recognize, there is an email address next to that item, and we urge you to email us with that information, as there are lots of unidentified people in these pieces.

I want you to visit this exhibit, so that you get a full understanding of what the Center for Southern Folklore does, day in and day out, as we're not just the producers of the BEST FREE FESTIVAL IN MEMPHIS.

Of course, I personally want to thank Elisa, Changzhi, Bridgett, Tim, and of course, the lovely Lauren, who worked on this before coming to work with me, for the yeoman's work they did on this project.

I'll let the words of our director, Judy Peiser, sum this up:

TAYLOR BIOGRAPHY
The Taylor Collection is part of the Center for Southern Folklore'sMultimedia Archives which preserves and digitizes the images and voices we have recorded and collected over the last 37 years. We plan to produce more on line exhibits showcasing Rev. Taylor and many other photographers, artists, musicians, talkers and cooks whose work defines our region. We hope these exhibits provide a window for men and women across the globe to learn about the music, culture, arts and rhythms of the Memphis Delta region.	TAYLOR COLLECTION HISTORY
Taylor Made would not be possible without the generous support of local and national foundations and agencies. The Assisi Foundation of Memphis,The Plough Foundation, The Grammy Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts have provided the resources to digitize and organize our Multimedia Archives. The National Park Service's Save America's Treasures grant administered by the National Endowment for the Humanities insures the preservation of the Rev. L.O. Taylor Collection and provides the resources for the Center to make exhibits like this available for people to learn about Rev. Taylor and his important legacy.

NOT good news: Mediaverse on hiatus

Richard Thompson, the excellent journalist who observes print and electronic media at Mediaverse, is taking a break until September 30 to determine how to make his site sustainable, and hopefully, financially feasible for the long-term.

I know I'm not the only person in town who is a devout reader of the blog, as Richard provides a great resource for all of us. Go check out his site if you haven't done so (and if you live here, how could you NOT have?).

We're pulling for you, Richard, I will email you to see if I can help.

A note to Senator Roy Herron

You're running for Governor, right? Then you need to PAY ATTENTION so things like THIS don't happen again. Kleinheider picked it up, leading to a discussion there that Sen. Herron surely didn't need.

Fortunately for you, sir, you have Kathy Chambers helping you, and she got on top of this quickly, letting us know the following via email:

Contrary to some reports, Sen. Roy Herron (D-Dresden) did not support the resolution opposing The Employee Free Choice Act.

Shortly before the vote, another senator began talking with Sen. Herron about different legislation. When the vote was suddenly called, Herron mistakenly pushed the “Aye” button, and before he could push the “No” button, the voting machine was locked. He immediately went to the Clerk to correct his vote. The official record will reflect that he did NOT vote for the resolution.

GoldnI also comments here.

UPDATE: This has blown up BIG TIME, check Sean's update and Post Politics, the comments at both are BRUTAL.

A BIG, BIG THANK YOU

To my teammates in Samurai Cooder, our Memphis Trivia League team. (If Ryburn can talk about his, I can talk about mine!)

We didn't win the City Finals tonight, didn't make the top 15 for prizes, but we had a great year, winning eight times during the regular season at our home location, Tug's in Harbor Town. That got us into the semifinals, where we placed in the top 12 and qualified for tonight, along with 71 other teams.

Thanks again to Dabney & Glen, Alex, Jim, and of course, the lovely Lauren, who talked me into playing again when I quit for a while. We'll continue to play on Tuesday nights (but not this one upcoming) and look forward to a new season.

Big Thank you to Wendi for her column

Crossposted from SRT:

Wendi Thomas, who has created her own website at Eat Gun Free in TN (and is working with us on this project), talks about how to fight guns in restaurants and bars here.

Here's a taste:

The other side will argue that folks without permits are probably packing at restaurants right now -- and I need law-abiding, pistol-packing vigilantes to protect me.

But in 37 years of dining out, I have not been shot. Nor have I had to gaze at a firearm while I eat. And I like it that way.

I agree with all of this

My only question: why did SO many Democrats vote for the override? Hat tip to @TNAutry for the link to this video from the James Report.

Now I've done it...

I am starting a new project in response to the idiocy in Nashville, a resource designed to ensure that you know where to get a meal in this state without worrying if a firefight is going to break out or not.

Go visit SafeRestaurantsTennessee!

Feel Good Friday: In Memoriam

We remember the passing of two great musical Memphians whom we lost this week.

Tennesseans look like backwards hillbillies today

Later, I will go after members of my OWN party who voted for the override of the Governor's veto of the guns in bars bill. First, I want to talk about guns and their place in American society.

I am just five months over the age of fifty, and I have been around weapons, particularly guns, for the entirety of my life. My father loaded his own shells and bullets, was a part-time gunsmith when I grew up in Weiner, and taught the gun safety course for their Boy Scouts. I have been hunting on numerous occasions, and received a .20-gauge shotgun for my 10th birthday, which made me the envy of the 4th grade. In short, I don't fear weapons and I understand them.

There are two types of people who own weapons, other than those who must keep one for the purposes of their employment: responsible gun owners, and the new breed, whom I will call gun FETISHISTS.

Gun owners teach their children at a young age how to handle a weapon, and never to touch it without their parent around. They use every piece of any animal they kill, and make sure their neighbors get any meat they can't use. Gun owners understand the incredible number of responsibilities that go hand-in-hand with owning weapons, including knowing the legalities involved, and understanding how to handle their weapons safely. They never worry that their weapons will be taken from them because they know that Americans would rise as one if any body, governmental or otherwise, tried to forcibly disarm. They used to belong to the NRA, but left as they watched it degenerate into fear-mongering shills for the arms manufacturers, trying to convince people that if they couldn't own an automatic weapon, that Clinton or Obama would take their guns away.

Then, there are what I call gun FETISHISTS, the Barney Fife types who live in fear that if they can't take their gun into a restaurant or a bar, they will be murdered by a Muslim/Commie/Homo/Liberal/Black/fill-in-the-blank just waiting to kill them. These are the type of people who have fallen hook, line, sinker for the NRA line. They scream that they have the RIGHT to carry whenever and wherever they want, and they inevitably trot out that same old video from the woman who survived the Luby's Cafeteria massacre. That's what, one out of a million?f

The truth is, unless they're idiots, robbers won't rob you unless they have the jump on you, which means, if you DO get to your gun, you will likely be killed. Ask a policeman or deputy.

Simply put, unless your employment requires that you carry at ALL times, you have NO business bringing a weapon into a restaurant, and ESPECIALLY a bar.

The FETISHISTS retort that "the law says you can't drink and carry". Um, the law says you're not supposed to drink and DRIVE, either; how's that working for you?

The truth is that one is most likely to be killed by someone you KNOW, and if you're in a bar, with a gun, and you think, "gee, one beer or whiskey won't hurt" and then the next thing you know, you've just shot you best friend for no real good reason (and this HAPPENS in Memphis, you know that) and your life, not to mention THEIRS, is irreparably destroyed.

So, my plan is work on developing a list of restaurants and bars locally that will NOT allow weapons in their establishments. Early word says Neely's BBQ and the P&H Cafe, among others, already have signs up. Great, because come July 14, I will REFUSE to enter any restaurant or bar that does not have such a sign.

This is made more idiotic when one considers that the top ten counties in Tennessee make up 55% of the populace of the state, so the "this is a rural state" comment is BULLSHIT. we are an urban and suburban state now, and we need to start acting like it.

I fully expect the gun FETISHISTS (Fifers?) will be prompted by the NRA to flood the site and call me every kind of name in the book. So be it.

I'll still be right, and they'll still be wrong. Who's with me?

More about our heroes in the legislature and the non-heroes, later.