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.

Craig Ferguson on the tragedy of Boston

A doff of the chapeau to Trace for this one.

You won't hear anything like THIS on Country radio anymore

Heard this on Y 105.5 yestreday, and it reminded me how great the writing was 20 years ago, IMO, it's gone to shit these days.  Enjoy this all-star lineup:

In Memoriam

Do I really need to explain?

You gotta buy the ballpark too, Cardinals.

Michael Sheffield reports at MBJ that before the St. Louis Cardinals will purchase their Triple-A affiliate, your own Memphis Redbirds, they insist that the City purchase AutoZone Park, which was built in the late 90s with only six million invested by the City and Shelby County, the rest put up by then owners Blues City Baseball (spearheaded by Dean and Kristi Jernigan and Willard Sparks) as a non-profit venture, the first (and apparently LAST) of its kind in baseball.

Well, as you know, BCB defaulted on their bonds, sold the team and bondholders now own the ballpark.   The Cardinals, who clearly used AZP as a model for their own new ballpark on the river in St. Louis, want to own their AAA team (a growing trend in MLB, see the Gwinnett Braves) but don't want to cough up the $65 Million for the park.

The Cardinals, who, despite being in one of the smallest media markets in MLB, have the widest fanbase in the sport, aren't hurting for money, no matter what they would make you think.  Their primary owner, William DeWitt, is the son of an owner of multiple teams like the old St. Louis Browns and the Cincinnati Reds, and was a chief fundraiser for George W. Bush.  In short: THE CARDINALS CAN AFFORD THE DAMN BALLPARK.

It is in their interest to see that their AAA affiliate is stable and close-by, also a MLB trend (see Lehigh Valley IronPigs for the Phils and the Round Rock, TX affiliate of the Rangers).  The city cannot afford to own the park, even though the Cardinals have apparently agreed to maintain the park, which is also in their interests.

We have come to the end of the times where cities and municipalities can allow businesses to force them to subsidize their expenses.  Say no, City Council, call their bluff.  They're not going anywhere.

Prayer Breakfast for Kenyan Kids

I got this in email from Carol Chumney today, and I thought you should know about it:

Kick off Memphis Africa in April by attending this prayer breakfast on Saturday, April 13th, at the Kroc Center, 800 E. Parkway S., 8:30am to 10:30am,  to support the orphans in Kenya, Africa. Seating is limited. Make your reservation, or a donation by April 5th, on-line at the following link: 

https://public.serviceu.com/RegistrationForm/6593540-251524831/?OrgKey=62ba2e09-4316-45be-bc62-9fba668df7cb. [Or you may mail a check payable to GUMC- Kenyan Prayer Breakfast, to 2231 S. Germantown Rd. Germantown, TN 38138] If you want to pay in cash, just post a note on facebook, and we will meet-up with you!

Too often children are caring for children in Africa because their parents have died of HIV/AIDS, disease, war, famine and other causes. The monies help empower the orphans by teaching them to grow food for themselves, basic health practices to prevent disease, small business training, building homes for them, spiritual and basic education.

Breakfast includes some traditional Kenyan fare, music, and prayers from leading pastors in the Memphis area. Memphis children will present artwork they have prepared to be delivered to the Kenyan children. Tickets are $15 for adults, and $10 for children. 
Too often children are caring for children in Africa because their parents have died of HIV/AIDS, disease, war, famine and other causes. The monies help empower the orphans by teaching them to grow food for themselves, basic health practices to prevent disease, small business training, building homes for them, spiritual and basic education.

Breakfast includes some traditional Kenyan fare, music, and prayers from leading pastors in the Memphis area. Memphis children will present artwork they have prepared to be delivered to the Kenyan children. Tickets are $15 for adults, and $10 for children. 
Hosted by the Germantown United Methodist Church (GUMC). For more information, contact carolchumney@aol.com, (901) 844-7141.

Why I Love Mike Turner, part MCM

Watch Mike Turner stand up for working people here.  Hat tip to Jeff Woods here for the backstory.