Nader Sucks

This piece of egotistical shite. If the far left gets suckered by this douchebag again, I swear, I'm going to spike the granola with the brown acid and be done with the lot of them.

Just as bad as the christian right being suckered by Bush/Rove et al.

Sorry, I'm not to hip on Nader seeing how he's largely responsible for Bush being in office the past 8 years.

ABC News: Ralph Nader Flirts with '08 Bid:

"Ralph Nader has formed a presidential exploratory committee, and said in an interview Wednesday that he will launch another presidential bid if he's convinced he can raise enough money to appear on the vast majority of state ballots this fall."

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Anecdotal, but still....

Daily Kos: I just got off the phone with the Obama campaign:

"Today, after John Edwards dropped out I called both campaigns asking them flat out, 'Why should I vote for your candidate?' Hillary's people said they would call back, but the Obama people talked with me for over twenty minutes."

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Mr. Irrelevant... except that he will still tie shite up in knots so bad upon exit that it will take 4 years just to untangle them.

Britney Spears makes more news than Bush.:

"When asked to name the person they had heard the most about in the news lately, 24% of the public named Obama and 23% named Clinton. In a week when he proposed a major economic stimulus plan, just 5% of Americans named George Bush as the person they had heard the most about. About twice as many (11%) named Hollywood actor Heath Ledger, who died last week."

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Culture of life my arse.

Think Progress � 1 million::

"1 million: Iraqis who have died “as a result of the conflict in their country since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003, according to research conducted by one of Britain’s leading polling groups.” The survey also found that “20 percent of people had had at least one death in their household as a result of the conflict, rather than natural causes.”"

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Was Donkey Kong Gay?

Kinda really busy today so here's a hog-podge:

This would be really interesting and probably pretty therapeutic for some folk.

People of the Web - The Worst of Times:

"'I don't know what to do anymore,' says Dean's misfit teen character, Jim Stark, 'Except maybe die.'

David Nadelberg created the Mortified experience, including one of the books 'Love Is a Battlefield.'

That's high drama, but it's not so different from the rants, musings and observations that can be seen on getmortified.com, an offshoot of an experimental theater program in which people reveal the most embarrassing moments of their teenage past.

The teenage themes are what you'd expect: sex, insecurity, betrayal and friendships. But the perspectives are hilariously incongruent coming from the mouths of adults.

'She wants it. I want to give it to her. But what is 'it',' says a man at one performance.

'I feel suicidal and sorry but at the same time, Dana is a major [expletive]. I hate life,' says another participant."

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Where Pac-Man and Mrs Pac-Man really cousins?

Video Game Myths: Fact or Fiction? - Video Game Feature - Yahoo! Video Games:

"Seven years before The Great Nintendo Wii Drought of 2007 (and, most likely, 2008), gamers faced similar troubles trying to locate units of Sony's unstoppable Playstation 2.

Iraqi strongman Saddam Hussein, however, was able to scoop up a whopping 4,000 PS2s without so much as a pre-order. And according to a report on the website worldnetdaily.com, the dictator wasn't just planning an all-night LAN party: he was securing PS2s in an effort to build a nefarious military supercomputer, since U.S. customs doesn't consider a 'toy' to be a potential military threat."

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Gary Coleman's pants. Uhhhhh, yeah.

Cranky Pants traded in for Gary Coleman's:

"-- Don't wake us. Shhh. Be very, very quiet. We are in a dream. Look at us from above. That's us, running in fields of flowers. Jumping, giddily. Oh, the joy on our happy little face. And no doubt you can see why. Those aren't the Cranky Pants we're wearing. None of that hard, scratchy bitterness, the tight, irritable waistband that makes us so very angry at people and their television shows. No - get a better look. We're wearing Gary Coleman's $400,000 pants!"

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I'm pretty sure I already posted this but I didn't spot it during a quick search of the archives. So here it is again. Too funny:

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Isbell and the Fonz

Last Saturday night I had the pleasure of attending the Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit's show in San Francisco. I've been working feverishly trying to edit all of the pics but it do look like I won't have those ready until Friday's post. Here's a shot in the mean while.

Many more pics and a few tales from the show coming up on Friday:

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In DBT news check out the podcast interview with Patterson at Inside Georgia Music.

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Does anybody have 50 bucks in quarters?

Medicinal marijuana to be available in vending machines:

"Herbal Nutrition Center of Los Angeles will make retail history with the debut of the first vending machine of its kind.

The PVM ('prescription vending machine') will dispense medications, including Cannabis, also known as marijuana. A strict verification process is required to obtain an access card to operate the machine, including a face-to-face consultation and fingerprinting."

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Old, stupid laws.

In Virginia, serving sangria could land you in jail:

"Serving the traditional Spanish beverage of sangria could land you in hot water in the southern state of Virginia, but lawmakers were debating Thursday whether to legalize the tapas bar favorite.
.....

Violating the code, which dates from 1934, a year after the end of the Prohibition Era, when alcohol was banned in the United States, is a 'class one misdemeanor, punishable by a 2,500 dollars fine and/or 12 months in jail,' Marshall said."

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Very down with the cloning. I was in a theatre production of Brave New World many moons ago. I played Helmholtz Watson.

US scientists close to creating artificial life::

"It is one of the Holy Grails of science, but also one that stirs deep fears as forseen in Aldous Huxley's 1932 novel 'Brave New World' in which natural human reproduction is eschewed in favor of babies grown artificially in laboratories."

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I had a Fonz t-shirt and a sweet Fonz ring when I was a kid. The ring had an actual picture of the Fonz with thumbs pointed decidedly upwards.

Milwaukee statue will `Bronze the Fonz'

"Aaaaaaay! The Fonz will be returning to Milwaukee later this year -- permanently, and in bronze.

A statue of Arthur 'Fonzie' Fonzarelli, the leather-jacketed biker from 'Happy Days,' will be erected in the city where the TV sitcom was set, now that local groups have raised the $85,000 needed to do it, civic leaders said Friday."

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I double dog dare you.

Wanna know why I don't watch any news networks whether they be local or national (with the caveat that I'll watch BBC news only occassionally)? Jon Stewart explains why

Video: Stewart slams media for provoking campaign drama

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People are going to rip this, but I think it is a very grand idea.

Clinton: Let's Put Bloggers Inside Government Agencies

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Hilarious.

Biblical events as retold by Google Earth - Boing Boing

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These aren't the first two boys to try this. Its a wonder there hasn't been a push by a bunch of nanny trolls to ban 'A Christmas Story' due to the multitude of damaged little boy tongues.

Boys Stick Tongues on Frozen Flagpole:

"Two fourth-grade boys mimicking a scene from the movie 'A Christmas Story' wound up with their tongues stuck to a frozen flagpole.
....

'I decided to try it because I thought all of the TV shows were lies, but turns out I was wrong,' Gavin said.
......

'The nurse asked them, 'OK, who double-dog dared who?'' Billie Dempsey said, a reference to a phrase that a character in the movie used to dare another child to stick his tongue to the pole."

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I still remember the day he died very vividly. I most definitely cried for a good long while.

25 years after Bear Bryant's death, fans' devotion to UA coaching legend hasn't diminished

Like thousands of other Alabamians, Wakefield's devotion to Bryant has not diminished since the day Bryant died on Jan. 26, 1983, exactly 25 years ago.

DBT Week in Review - 1/25/08

A great contest being put on by the fellas at Ninebullets.org:

Nine Bullets.org: a DBT fansite:

"When the last record came out, we wanted to do a promo where anyone that mailed us their purchase receipt would get a totally free fan-made exclusive DVD of the Drive-By Truckers live in concert. We made the mistake of asking permission, and the concept got killed before it got off the ground.

This time we're not asking permission, and we've come up with a new idea... the NineBullets.org photo contest. That's right, a photo contest. What we want is for you to take a picture of yourself holding the new CD. Really, that's it. Couldn't be any easier, right? We'll be giving away prizes for some of the best submissions, so do a good job, ok?

Don't have the CD yet? Well, Buy It!

Read all the details on the message board."

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Rev. Todd has some tubage of his Athens' adventure:

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Reviews:

Axe Victim: Drive By Truckers Brighter Than Creations Dark:

"This album brings back all that was ever once cool about country, and it does it in spades. Imagine a world of Nudie suits, Elvis, Gram Parsons, the Rolling Stones pretending to be American, pick up trucks and gun porn all rolled into one big gut bucket of chitlins and collards and it'll be the soundtrack to your life."

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DETOUR.:

"Drive-By Truckers take a turn for the Tweedy on the first track of their sixth studio album, washing “Two Daughters And a Beautiful Wife” in the melancholy acoustic guitar the Wilco frontman has favored since the days of Uncle Tupelo. But with a few kicks to the fender and a Bob Seger reference (”Come back baby, rock-n-roll never forgets…”), Brighter Than Creation’s Dark belches some smoke or maybe just belches, and really gets into DBT gear with the spectacular roadhouse stomp of “3 Dimes Down.” It’s exactly the kind of regional pastiche the band has been knocking out of the park since at least the vaunted novellas of Southern Rock Opera, but it’s also the sound of a typical Georgia dive bar on any Friday night."

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Pitchfork Feature: Interview: Drive-By Truckers

Pitchfork: You write songs that are without question political, yet rarely explicitly so.

PH: I never want to be that guy spouting off my political views. I mean, they're pretty well known, and it certainly comes out. If something's bugging my ass on any particular day, I'm probably going to say something about it, but I'm not going to go on a tirade. I dislike Bush as much as probably anybody on earth could, but having said that...I've said it, you know? It's not like I'm going to change anybody's mind. I've always thought preaching to the converted is just kind of futile and silly. That's so much of what does occur. I played as a solo act at a Green Party rally in Athens a few years ago; Ralph Nader was there. Everyone got up and gave their long-winded speeches and all that. The crowd clapped, oohed and ahhed and all that. But I was thinking-- they're not changing a single person's mind. There's not a single person in this room that didn't walk in loving what Nader would have to say. Bless his heart, there's a lot things he might say that I might not agree with, but there's a lot of good he might say that would probably be good to hear. But tonight? There's not a person in this room that's going to be converted, you know? They're already converted. I'm more interested in writing about the personal stories of people. Sometimes I don't agree with them.

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Neato interview with Deryle Perryman by Penne over at Swampland.com

Swampland : Articles:

"Two years ago I attended the ninth annual George Lindsey Film Festival and Gala in Florence, Alabama. I was especially excited about this particular event because the program included a screening of the documentary Dangerous Highway, a film made by my long-time friend Deryle Perryman and the distinguished filmmaker Moises Gonzalez. The Lindsey fest was the premiere of Dangerous Highway, which went on to be shown in festivals coast to coast."

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Southern Shelter: The Wydelles @ 40 Watt 1/10/08:

"Bo Bedingfield leads The Wydelles through a set opening for DBT's Nuci's Space benefit. John Neff is a Wydelle when his schedule permits (last time I posted these guys, it didn't); Clay Leverett covers the drums this time around."

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Finally, she said 'Yes, Yes, Yes'.

Amy Winehouse enters drug rehab program - Yahoo! News:

"LONDON - Amy Winehouse, beset by allegations of substance abuse, entered a rehabilitation facility Thursday to battle drug addiction.

The announcement came just days after the 24-year-old singer was pictured in British tabloid The Sun inhaling fumes from a small pipe. Police have launched an inquiry into the matter."

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NO! Not Lil Wayne!!

Lil Wayne Booked on Drug Charges in Ariz

Lil Wayne was arrested on three felony drug charges Wednesday after federal agents said they found illegal drugs, including cocaine, on his charter bus at a checkpoint in southwestern Arizona.

After posting more than $10,000 bond, the rapper signed autographs for fans outside a bondsman's office.

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Late For Church

Great chart contrasting the state of the country on the day of Bush's first inauguration vs the state of the country today. If the chart seems small click on it and it will enlarge.

Before BushCo..... After Bushco

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Late to church again? Everything gonna be alright? Not.

Thanks to binky for the heads up.

Banned From Church :

"First Baptist Church of Muscle Shoals, Ala., a 1,000-member congregation, expels five to seven members a year for 'blatant, undeniable patterns of willful sin,' which have included adultery, drunkenness and refusal to honor church elders. About 400 people have left the church over the years for what they view as an overly harsh persecution of sinners, Pastor Jeff Noblit says."

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Try this one out on your show Bear Grylls. (Survivor Man (Les Stroud) is way cooler, IMO).

Canadian survives wilderness ordeal on rotting meat :

"CALGARY, Alberta (Reuters) - A Canadian man survived 96 hours pinned under his all-terrain vehicle in the Rocky Mountains by eating rotting animal carcasses, drinking melted snow and thinking of his grandchildren, he said on Monday."

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Oh how the mini have fallen.

Cranky Pants traded in for Gary Coleman's:

"-- Don't wake us. Shhh. Be very, very quiet. We are in a dream. Look at us from above. That's us, running in fields of flowers. Jumping, giddily. Oh, the joy on our happy little face. And no doubt you can see why. Those aren't the Cranky Pants we're wearing. None of that hard, scratchy bitterness, the tight, irritable waistband that makes us so very angry at people and their television shows. No - get a better look. We're wearing Gary Coleman's $400,000 pants!"

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Dead. Drunk. And Naked.

Hadn't had much sleep (not in a good way)... and kinda cranky this morning.

Busy day today but it won't stop me from knocking 'em all!

First, sucky ass Repuplicans and Dear Liar. This falls under the 'no-shite' label:

False statements preceded war - Yahoo! News:

"WASHINGTON - A study by two nonprofit journalism organizations found that President Bush and top administration officials issued hundreds of false statements about the national security threat from Iraq in the two years following the 2001 terrorist attacks.

The study concluded that the statements 'were part of an orchestrated campaign that effectively galvanized public opinion and, in the process, led the nation to war under decidedly false pretenses.'"

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Next pansy ass Democrats. Digby wears them out:

Hullabaloo:

"Oh, and don't worry about congressional prerogatives. They'll rediscover them with a vengeance when there's a Democratic president. They'll investigate his or her every move, calling for special prosecutors and generally behaving like asses, at the smallest provocation by the press if it gives them a chance to pontificate grandly on Tim Russert about their own superiority. They don't have the guts to do it when the Republicans are institutionalizing torture or lying the nation into an illegal invasion of another country, because well, Republicans are mean. But they'll find plenty of things about which to get righteously indignant with the executive when its a Democrat. They'll be in hypervenitlating, bipartisan bliss with their Republican cohorts, elbowing each other to be first to the microphone denouncing the latest shocking presidential failure to dot 'i's and cross 't's.

The villagers love to get out the pitchforks ---- against Democrats. They aren't scared of them. It's good fun."

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Crazy ass christians. This is a hilarious clip from Bill Maher's show. Dan Savage rocks.

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Last but not least, celebrities. This is so wrong but I'm going to do it anyway.....

Dead. Drunk. And Naked.

Heath Ledger found dead in New York:

"NEW YORK (Reuters) - Actor Heath Ledger, the gifted leading man acclaimed for his role as a gay cowboy in the film 'Brokeback Mountain,' was found dead in his Manhattan apartment on Tuesday, possibly of a drug overdose, police said.

The Australian-born Ledger, 28, was found face down and naked at the foot of the bed by a housekeeper at his apartment in the SoHo neighborhood, police spokesman Paul Browne said."

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A Ghost Too Most

A Ghost Too Most

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Brighter Than Creation's Dark

DBT's 8th album is officially being released today. Be sure to grab a copy at your local music store and what ever you do DO NOT miss a ROCK SHOW when they swing by your neck of the woods.

Read the incredible lyrics to BTCD on DBT's website.

Drive-By Truckers - Brighter Than Creation's Dark Lyrics

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Amazon.com: Brighter Than Creation's Dark: Music: Drive-By Truckers:

"Amazon.com Sales Rank: #18 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Popular in these categories:
#1 in Music - Classic Rock - Southern Rock
#9 in Music - Rock
#15 in Music - Pop"

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Brighter Than Creation's Dark - Billboard:

"Drive-By Truckers' seventh album is a sprawling scorcher, and while these guys certainly aren't strangers to long records, 'Brighter Than Creation's Dark' is one of the meanest, leanest 19-track albums you'll ever spin. Yet where DBT usually hits the ground running, 'Dark' is deliberately slower to burn, full of beautifully considered stories of soldiers and fathers and drinkers that call to mind nothing less than 'The River.' A surprisingly prolific Mike Cooley turns in the countried-up 'Bob,' 'A Ghost to Most' and the rocker 'Self-Destructive Zones,' all smooth-going-down shots of squinty-eyed, serrated humor, while Patterson Hood is in never-better form on 'Two Daughters and a Beautiful Wife' and 'Monument Valley,' the record's John Ford-quoting closer. 'Dark' also benefits from the expanded roles given pedal-steel maestro John Neff and bassist Shonna Tucker, whose first DBT tracks (including the shimmering 'The Purgatory Line') channel Patty Griffin and whose harmony vocals add welcome, newfound atmosphere. —Jeff Vrabel"

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CD: Drive-By Truckers - Los Angeles Times:

"Drive-By Truckers 'Brighter Than Creation's Dark' (New West) *** 1/2

THE eighth album from this protean band completes one of the widest mood swings in recent rock history. After specializing in thematically cohesive albums and a revitalized brand of Southern rock, the Athens, Ga.-based Truckers are now all over the place.

That figures, given the changes in the group's core makeup. Rock-leaning guitarist Jason Isbell has gone solo, founding guitarist and pedal steel player John Neff is back, soul eminence Spooner Oldham plays piano and organ on the new album (in stores Tuesday), and bassist Shonna Tucker contributes her first songs."

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allmusic ((( Brighter Than Creation's Dark > Overview ))):

"And 'That Man I Shot' is a blazing, troubling masterpiece in which a soldier home from Iraq can't tear away the memory of a man he killed in combat ('That man I shot, I didn't know him/I was just doing my job, maybe so was he'). It's a tale of the most human consequences of war that's built from equal portions of anger, confusion, and compassion, and it's hard to imagine any other band pulling off its fusion of Southern-fried street smarts and guitar-fueled thunder. It's one of several brilliant moments on Brighter Than Creation's Dark, and less than three weeks into 2008 it's hard not to escape the feeling that with this disc we may already have the best album of the year."

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Drive-By Truckers - Brighter Than Creation’s Dark - - New York Times

DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS
“Brighter Than Creation’s Dark” (New West)

Through a half-dozen studio albums since 1998 the Drive-By Truckers have revealed a mission: come up with a song for every kind of person in the modern American South. There are 19 more on their new album, “Brighter Than Creation’s Dark,” including family men, criminals, drunks, workers, addicts, soldiers, even musicians. The music is a wide-ranging idea of Southern rock that draws on not only the amalgams made by bands like Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Allman Brothers, but also on their sources and roots. Over the past decade songs from the Drive-By Truckers have juxtaposed observation and fiction, autobiography and allegory, but not a lot of ego.

The band was founded by the songwriters Patterson Hood and Mike Cooley. They make the songwriter the lead singer, so the band regularly switches between the high, weary voice of Mr. Hood and the growly drawl of Mr. Cooley. On this album another singer and songwriter steps forward: Shonna Tucker, who has been the band’s bassist since 2003. (Her ex-husband, Jason Isbell, left the Drive-By Truckers and started a solo career last year.) On its way to depicting the entire South, with Ms. Tucker the band now has a gutsy voice representing women too. She works up to muscular roots-rock in “Home Field Advantage.”

Instead of aiming for a particular trademark sound, the Drive-By Truckers have always let the song dictate the style. They can be noisy and turbulent, as in “That Man I Shot,” a soldier’s postbattle reactions set to a feedback-drenched Crazy Horse stomp, or steadfast and long-suffering, as in the album’s other Iraq war song, “The Home Front,” Mr. Hood’s sketch of a soldier’s family.

They can be calm in pedal-steel-topped ballads like “Bob” (“He always had more dogs than he ever had friends”) and “Daddy Needs a Drink.” They can play straightforward country, like “Lisa’s Birthday” (“It’s a good thing her dancing shoes don’t run on gasoline”), or nearly avant-garde rock, like the piano drone of “You and Your Crystal Meth.”

This is a typically crowded Drive-By Truckers album; it doesn’t need all 19 songs. But the overload is part of the point. In this band’s America all kinds of characters show up. JON PARELES

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Obonga

How freakin' convenient. Can we impeach now?

White House missing CIA, Iraq e-mails :

"WASHINGTON - Apparent gaps in White House e-mail archives coincide with dates in late 2003 and early 2004 when the administration was struggling to deal with the CIA leak investigation and the possibility of a congressional probe into Iraq intelligence failures.

The gaps — 473 days over a period of 20 months — are cited in a chart prepared by White House computer technicians and shared in September with the House Reform and Government Oversight Committee, which has been looking into reports of missing e-mail.

Among the times for which e-mail may not have been archived from Vice President Dick Cheney's office are four days in early October 2003, just as a federal probe was beginning into the leak of Valerie Plame's CIA identity, an inquiry that eventually ensnared Cheney's chief of staff."

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I'm not rich, bitch.

An open letter to America's rich people:

"When the Gulfstream lands in St. Bart's, can you have your assistant set up a call? We need to talk.

Look, you've had a pretty good deal these past few years. We gave you everything you wanted. Massive reductions in the top income-tax rates? Happy to oblige. Cuts on dividends and capital gains taxes, which overwhelmingly benefit you? No problem. Going after the estate tax—excuse me, the death tax? You got it. We've even agreed to overlook the fact that you private-equity and hedge-fund managers pay only a 15 percent tax rate."

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News to some but in San Francisco any space available for rent was probably at one time or the other a head shop. Who the hell calls it a 'bong shop' anyway? Kinda like 'Food Library'.

Obama Volunteers Transform San Fran Bong Shop To New HQ:

"An OffTheBus tipster in San Francisco noticed that Obama volunteers have set up shop in the former home of West Coast Growers, your one-stop-shop for 'complete indoor growing'."

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I'm SO down with the cloning. I've really got to get one.

Biotech firm claims to clone human embryos with skin cells:

"A California company announced Thursday that it has created cloned human embryos from adult skin cells, a breakthrough which could ultimately lead to the development of cures for Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's, and other untreatable ailments."

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DBT Week in Review - 1/18/08

A day closer to the release of Brighter Than Creation's Dark, y'all! (1/22 in the states, 1/21 in Europe).

But first, check out Bettye on Conan O'Brien. Conan holds up the vinyl of SOTC and Pink gives Bettye a hug at the end of the show.

NBC.com Late Night with Conan O'Brien - Bettye Lavette

Here's the vid. Select the 1/16 show:

NBC Video Rewind

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Do what Jenn says or there's gonna be BIG trouble!

dbts : Message: Help review the reviews!:

"Hey you guys! Do me a favor and get over to these links and comment on the reviews. What do you think of them? It's awesome when people respond to reviews about the album, helps DBT too.

Rolling Stone

Stereogum.com

Thanks!
Jenn"

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Aquarium Drunkard - Music & MP3 Blog � Off The Record :: Patterson Hood (Athens, GA):

"Today’s Off The Record catches up with DBT’s Patterson Hood as he waxes on his favorite spots in his adopted hometown of Athens, GA. And yes, this one goes to eleven…"

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BTR

- David Kennedy

Exile On Trucker Street (review)

January 14, 2008

“And besides you’re a ghost to most before they notice that you ever had a hair or a hide.” – “A Ghost to Most” by Mike Cooley, Drive-By Truckers

Let me be among the first to lazily label Drive-By Truckers’ latest album their Exile on Main Street. Clocking in at 19 songs (!) and sharing the stylistic reach of the Stones’ volcanic mess, Brighter Than Creation’s Dark is the latest in an impressive stretch of career-defining albums. Coming less than two years after the somewhat underrated A Blessing and A Curse, the new album finds the band occasionally tinkering with their successful formula but mostly just adding to their already stellar (and steadily growing) discography.

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SPIN.com: Drive-By Truckers Take a Bow For 'Bright' Debut:

"As the clock struck midnight last evening (Jan. 10), Athens, Georgia's Drive-By Truckers took the stage in a tightly packed 40 Watt Club to debut tunes from their forthcoming LP, Brighter Than Creation's Dark (out Jan. 22 via New West). Really, it was a humble celebration as the alt-country quintet performed Brighter in its entirety while all show proceeds were donated to Nuci's Space, a non-profit organization benefiting the mental and musical wellness of the Athens performing community. At the mic, bearded frontman Patterson Hood ultimately claimed Alabama as home, but excited concertgoers knew well enough that Athens is truly the band's haven as he exclaimed, 'Athens, Georgia... I think I like y'all!'"

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Via Jayne:

dbts : Message: Audio Interview with Patterson:

"Our local newspaper online edition has an audio interview up with Patterson. It's in 2 parts.

Scroll to bottom under 'Radio Free Athens.'

http://www.onlineathens.com/

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dbts : Message: My Athens Weekend:

"First off, I’ve never been to Athens, never really been anywhere south of Southern Indiana, and now I live in LA. But at breakfast with my wife our first morning in Athens we started discussing what it would take to move there. Honestly, we couldn’t have had a better weekend.

Here’s my review of the shows: Friday night was one of the best shows I’ve seen ever…Saturday was twice as good. Really really amazing.

As for the rest of the weekend, we had a blast drinking at The Roadhouse on Friday where everyone was as cool as could be. When people started suggesting restaurants to us, I mentioned that I had already printed a list of places that Jenn sent out on ninebullets. And not only did everyone there say they knew Jenn, but they all pretty much said that Jenn is their best friend. Anyway, we walked out of there really drunk, with a couple free tshirts, and a ridiculously small bar tab. I love the prices in that town.

So thank you Jenn for the list and allowing us to make some friends, thank you Athens for showing us a great time, and thank you DBT for two truly amazing shows.

-JC"

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Vids from the Athen's Shows!

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Brent Best tears "The Man" a new asshole. This really is a joke (but not funny ha-ha).


Dallas - Music - ASCAP Can Cripple Small Venues:

"As Best himself recently put it on the popular Denton Rock City message board, 'I am an ASCAP member. This means that I should collect money, based upon their system of the tracking of 'use' proportional to said 'use' of my music. Problem is, their bullshit system is the biggest one-sided bell curve you've ever seen...In the end, I, or anyone else 'represented' by ASCAP make no money proportional to what I sell or what of mine is used unless or until I'm as big as Mariah Carey or who-the-fuck-ever. In fact, all those publishing songwriters affiliated with ASCAP who aren't on that monetary level actually make money for those who are. If I go from selling 10,000 albums a year to 40,000, along with the predictable increase in 'use' (such as jukebox plays and the like), I will never see a proportional increase in royalty payout from ASCAP. Instead, the extra money I earn, along with the thousands of other artists on the lower rungs earning progressively more, will go the top 2 or 3 percent of ASCAP artists already earning millions a year from their vapid shit.' (The fact that Candilora mentioned favored Celine Dion songwriter and schlockmeister Diane Warren while conversing on the subject kinda sorta almost confirms this, in my mind at least.)"

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Check out some in studio pics of Sons of Roswell. That producer guy looks damn familiar.

View More Pictures - Sons of Roswell - Studio Pics

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What do I need to do to get signed by EMI.

EMI's $400,000 Coke And Hookers Budget - Silicon Alley Insider:

"Buried in a 'music-industry-screwed' roundup in the Economist is this nugget: An allegation that music label EMI was spending $400,000 a year on party favors (booze, drugs, women, whatever) for its talent:

Now, having got rid of most of EMI's senior managers and revealed embarrassing details of their spending habits (�200,000 a year went on sundries euphemistically referred to in the music business as “fruit and flowers”), Terra Firma is due to produce a new strategy later this month. But many observers reckon the private-equity men are out of their depth."

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Maybe Ike DID sign with EMI.

Ike Turner's death tied to cocaine - Yahoo! News:

"SAN DIEGO - Rock 'n' roll pioneer Ike Turner's death last month at age 76 was caused by a cocaine overdose, the San Diego County Medical Examiner's office said Wednesday."

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Don't mix up which end is which, though.

Bit Player : Los Angeles Times : CES Video: Gadget of the day:

"You know what a bother it is to carry both your MP3 music player and your Taser gun?"

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BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Elvis impersonators hit outback

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That Man I Shot

Please help a member of Congress whose doing the right thing. Sign Rep Wexler's Impeachment petition.

Join Wexler's Call for Cheney Hearings

Because.....

Playing war has great consequences.

That Man I Shot:

"The New York Times found 121 cases in which veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan committed a killing in this country, or were charged with one, after their return from war. In many of those cases, combat trauma and the stress of deployment — along with alcohol abuse, family discord and other attendant problems — appear to have set the stage for a tragedy that was part destruction, part self-destruction.

Three-quarters of these veterans were still in the military at the time of the killing. More than half the killings involved guns, and the rest were stabbings, beatings, strangulations and bathtub drownings. Twenty-five offenders faced murder, manslaughter or homicide charges for fatal car crashes resulting from drunken, reckless or suicidal driving."

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'Bomb Auschwitz to stop the killing'. Kinda pregnant.

Bush's answer to everything. Bomb it.

Bush: US should have bombed Auschwitz:

"President Bush had tears in his eyes during an hour-long tour of Israel's Holocaust memorial Friday and told Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice that the U.S. should have bombed Auschwitz to halt the killing, the memorial's chairman said."

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Mitt the Mo is going to save the south. Well, yee-freakin'-haw.

Yo, Mitt, some Yankee has been saying this to the South in some form or fashion since 1866.

Save it, OK.

Romney pledges to save southern economy :

"BLUFFTON, S.C. - Mitt Romney on Wednesday swapped talk of resurrecting the auto industry that helped him in Michigan with a pledge to pay attention to textile and other industrial job losses that have punished the South.

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The most evil industry evah. Talk about corporate welfare.

I hate insurance companies with a bloody passion.

Consumer group rips insurance industry

"WASHINGTON - U.S. insurance companies systematically overcharge customers and underpay home and auto claims to pad their already-fat bottom lines, a consumer group said Thursday.

The Consumer Federation of America's insurance director, J. Robert Hunter, said insurance companies have enjoyed robust profits and contained losses largely by 'methodically overcharging consumers, cutting back on coverage, underpaying claims and getting taxpayers to pick up some of the tab for risks the insurers should cover."

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By the time you were born there were four other siblings.....

Separated-at-birth twins get married :

"LONDON (AFP) - Twins who were separated at birth and adopted by different sets of parents later married each other without realising they were brother and sister, a peer has told the House of Lords.

David Alton, an independent, pro-life member of the Lords, said the brother and sister were granted an annulment after a high court judge ruled that the marriage had never validly existed."

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We the 'freakin' People.....

We have to impeach.....

Wexler Calls For Cheney's Impeachment:

"(The Politico) Rep. Robert Wexler (D-Fla.) is urging the House Judiciary Committee to begin impeachment hearings against Vice President Dick Cheney, despite opposition from House Democratic leaders.

Wexler, who first gained national attention for defending former President Bill Clinton during his impeachment in 1998, said Cheney has to be ousted in order to restore the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches, which in his view, has been eroded by an ever-expanding claim of authority under Cheney and President Bush.

'There's a litany of issues that need to be heard,' Wexler said. 'This administration has abused the power of executive privilege. This administration has completely avoided testifying before Congress on any one of a host of six, seven, eight issues."

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..... Because of shite like this....

White House reused e-mail tapes:

"WASHINGTON - The White House has acknowledged recycling its backup computer tapes of e-mail before October 2003, raising the possibility that many electronic messages — including those pertaining to the CIA leak case — have been taped over and are gone forever.

The disclosure came minutes before midnight Tuesday under a court-ordered deadline that forced the White House to reveal information it has previously refused to provide."

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...... and if we don't, it opens the door for this to happen:

Huckabee: Amend Constitution to be in 'God's standards':

"The United States Constitution never uses the word 'God' or makes mention of any religion, drawing its sole authority from 'We the People.' However, Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee thinks it's time to put an end to that.

'I have opponents in this race who do not want to change the Constitution,' Huckabee told a Michigan audience on Monday. 'But I believe it's a lot easier to change the Constitution than it would be to change the word of the living god. And that's what we need to do -- to amend the Constitution so it's in God's standards rather than try to change God's standards so it lines up with some contemporary view.'

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Huckabee as president or an anal probe..... Huckabee or anal probe.... tough decision.

The Raw Story | Witnesses claim F-16s chased flying saucer across Texas skies:

"Dozens of eyewitnesses have reported seeing a mile-long UFO being pursued by fighter jets last week in the small town of Stephenville, Texas. 'It was very intense bright lights ... and they spanned a wide area,' said one woman."

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Mavericks

Busy day today so not much commentary.

Check out the pics attached to the article. Was a beautiful day at Mavericks.

Fans flock to see Mavericks daredevil surfers:

"(01-12) 17:00 PST HALF MOON BAY -- Thousands of big-wave surfing fans straggled onto a small beach north of Half Moon Bay this morning to watch - or try to watch - the greatest surfers in the world battle the worst that the Pacific Ocean can throw at them.

Watching the fabled Mavericks contest from the beach seemed nearly as challenging as riding the waves themselves, as close-in waves blocked the view of the waves that the competitors were riding about a half-mile offshore."

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Their fried chicken will make you want to slap yo mama. Pork belly is very nice, too.

Sophisticated southern fare at 1300 on Fillmore

Some restaurants simply fuel the body, while others, such as 1300 on Fillmore, ignite the imagination.

The restaurant is in the lower Fillmore, an area that once was the epicenter for jazz and attracted talent such as Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday. The neighborhood fell into disrepair in the late 1950s, and became the victim of misguided social policy. Many Victorians that housed the clubs were torn down, leaving large gaps in what was once a vital community.

Now the area, known as the Fillmore Jazz Preservation District, is bustling again, with new housing developments, Yoshi's jazz club and 1300 on Fillmore anchoring the corner of Fillmore and Eddy streets. Although 1300 is located in the bottom of a new condominium complex, the combination of sophisticated and historic touches envelop patrons with a sense of history and awe.

Chef-owner David Lawrence, who has been a prominent name about town for several decades, working at the Hilton and the Carnelian Room, has struck out on his own. He's serving a food he calls "soulful American," a stylish mix of French techniques and Southern-inspired recipes that include bourbon-braised pork belly on shelled white bean puree ($11) and grilled pork chops ($25), brined and served with caramelized chicory and a Calvados apple cider sauce.

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The lord must be going to a rock show.

'Priest' Arrested With 7.7 Lbs of Coke:

"A man claiming to be a Catholic priest was arrested Friday at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport after he was caught carrying 7.7 pounds of cocaine under his robes, a spokesman for Dutch border police said.

The suspect, whose identity was being traced, initially refused to undergo a routine body check 'for religious reasons,' spokesman Robert van Kapel said."

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"Like getting caught behind a cattle truck and all you smell is shite....."

Chicken Doo Doo Mucks Up Iowa Road:

"A truck driver was cited after a load of chicken manure spilled out of his semi, covering a road for more than a mile in rural Cerro Gordo County.

'The end gate failed on the semi and that's what caused it,' sheriff's Deputy Frank Hodak said of the spill, which happened Thursday on a two-lane road northeast of Mason City."

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The Home Front Kickoff Round-up

Something about a 3 night run of shows by some band from Athens or something happened this weekend? Not that I keep up with such things, but I hear that these.... how do you say.... ROCK STARS pictured below tore some faces off for 3 nights in a row?

So sad I couldn't be there. However, I did draft two reporters for the cause. One being Shayne because she called and begged, just begged to do something for the blog. I, reluctantly, relented.

Actually, Shayne kicked much ass by calling during the shows and letting me hear a snippet or two.

She and Todd Beane from Glossary drunk dialed me on Friday night. Probably the first time I've talked to Todd in 20 years. A real treat.

Check out Shayne's blog for a Thursday night behind the scenes review:

“You’re in good hands…” � Tales from below Hull street:

"Last night was the first night of the three day DBT bender at the 40 Watt. The TMcB and I strolled in as the tallest man in rock and roll, (tall, not so hard working) Bo Bedingfield and the Wydelles were starting their second song. What can I say about Bo…(that would be ok for his family to read, well, I mean, besides his sister Beth) They sounded dead on, with john Neff pulling double duty. Kelly and I were placing bets on how long it would take Clay to pull down his drum mic and start singing. No covers of Tumbling Dice, but he got us a few songs later when they closed with my favorite John Prine’s “Pretty Good”

Shayne, you thoroughly rock for keeping me involved. Much love.

My 2nd intrepid reporter was Benny The Townie Hunter.

Benny the Townie Hunter

Benny was my photo journalist. I sent him A.A.W. credentials that gave him access to practically anywhere (since A.A.W. is a low budget operation the 'credentials' were just a piece of gaffers tape with A.A.W. Sharpied on it.)

Here's Benny with some fine Wes Freed Art work:

And here's Benny with Wes Freed.

Chillin in the Freed's lounge.

Cuddling with The Matador. Not sure what that's about but Benn does get affectionate when he drinks too much.

Spooner, EZB and Benny discussing investment opportunities.

Benny did a hell of a job.

You can check out more of his pictures, here: Benny - View More Pictures

JennB dropped a few paragraphs on the experience T the Nine Bullet's posting board. Here's a snip, but click the link to read more:

NineBullets.org - a DBT fansite :: View topic - Athens Night # 3 Setlist:

"Last night was one of the best shows I've ever seen them do. The vibe was fantastic in the club and on the stage. John Neff just tore it up; he was so good he made me want to simultaneously laugh and cry, and Spooner was in rare form and oh so tasty. I can't tell you how much I love Shonna's songs live especially - she just blows me away. Her brother was just glowing last night he's so proud of her."

NB has a ton of stuff wrapping up the weekend so be sure to go on over and spend some quality time with them today:

Nine Bullets.org: a DBT fansite

The Yahoo Group has some good stuff too:

Via Gordon Wilson
dbts : Message: [BT]Drive-By Truckers 2008-01-11 The 40 Watt Club Athens,Ga

Pics by Peskin
dbts : Message: the Drive By Truckers and Glossary @ the 40 Watt 1 11 08
dbts : Message: Drive By Truckers, Don Chambers & Goat, Bo Beddingfield & the Wydelles @ the 40 Watt 01 10 08

dbts : This mailing list is for stuff about the Athens, GA band, The Drive-By Truckers, and just about anything else.

The first YouTube has his the Tubes.

From jonicont



Looking forward the the traveling rock show coming to a town near you soon!

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DBT Week in Review - 1/11/07

1st night of the 3 night run is in the books. I thought I had acquired a field reporter with boots on the ground but she (Shayne!) forgot her camera. However, she did submit a review of the show. It follows:

"it was AWESOME"

I'm really glad I'm not paying her.

Update: Though, Shayne did an excellent job of calling in and holding the phone up so I could hear some songage. You rock, Shayne!

Tune into the DBT Yahoo Group and Nine Bullets today from reports from others.

350ona305 has the first Thursday night review up on NB.

NineBullets.org - a DBT fansite :: View topic - Thursday Night in Athens:

"A couple of notes:

1) When the new songs are played live, there are more rockers on this album than you think just listening to the album.

2) The ones that aren't necessarily your typical rockers are still amazing. Many of them have Neff absolutely blowing up the pedal steel. This gives this album a more country feel which just might get them more radio play and some new exposure to a different audience.

3) Shonna was awesome. Home Field Advantage was a fantastic rocker live - maybe my favorite surprise of the night.

4) Other highlights for me tonight (although I liked them all): The Righteous Path, Self Destructive Zones, The Opening Act, That Man I Shot, Purgatory Line, Checkout Time in Vegas, Goode's Field Road, A Ghost To Most"

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A very rock and roll interview with Patterson.

Flagpole: Purgatory Line

"All musicians have a tough time balancing life and art, making rent and making music, and only a handful have been able to say they're able to make a living from playing their hearts out night after night. Drive-By Truckers guitarist and songwriter Patterson Hood is one of the few, and the path to that point hasn't been without heavy tumult. Last year, the band parted ways with guitarist and songwriter Jason Isbell, who's gone on to pursue a solo career."

Patterson makes a clarification to the editor, though:

My Rant (Clarification and Update)

I'd like to thank you, Flagpole, and Chris for the superb coverage given to our band this week as we release our new album, play a homecoming show and do our Nuci Benefit.

I'm afraid Chris caught me on a particularly bad day during a very stressful and heated time of bad relations between us and our label. While my rant reflected how I felt that day and some of my anger and frustration was from issues simmering for several years I would like to clarify a couple of points that were lost in my heated tirade.

1. George Fontaine is a locally known and respected figure, an alumni and someone who has helped many worthy causes in this town. His affiliation with our label is well known, but he has always been far outside of the issues I was addressing. George has been a friend of mine and Drive-By Truckers since long before we ever signed a record deal and hopefully will continue to be for all the years to come. I have never known a better or sweeter human being and hold him and his family in the highest utmost regard. I regret any embarrassment or ill-feeling my tirade might have caused.

2. When discussing the Black Crowes tour a couple of years ago, I alluded to the miserable time we had, but failed to clarify that it was mostly due to timing and a particularly bad period in our band's dynamic. The Black Crowes' Organization (Band, Crew, Management and Personnel) ALL were extremely kind to us on every level. They were supreme gentlemen and I sincerely hope that my rant didn't imply otherwise in any way.

This is a messy business and I never got into all of this to be a businessman. In the month since my interview, we have all attempted to move forward in good faith and for the mutual good of both label and band and for the benefit of our new album, which I am fiercely proud of. While my anger that day still simmers over some issues, we are all moving forward and eager to put those bad times behind us. I'm feeling somewhat better and tonight I get to Rock.

Thank You for your time and support.
Sincerely,
Patterson Hood
Drive-By Truckers

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Drive-By Truckers kick off tour with Nuci's Space benefit - Out & About:

"Even though the Drive-By Truckers have made it big, they haven't forgotten where they came from. The band is returning to the 40 Watt Club, where frontman Patterson Hood was once an employee.

'He's kind of never forgotten us,' said Velena Vego of the 40 Watt. 'This is definitely an underplay for the Truckers. I'm sure they could just come back and play the Classic Center now.'"

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4 out of 5 stars from Rolling Stone, but a pretty incoherent review in my opinion. Oh, and the Lynyrd Skynyrd reference is sooooooo tired.... and lazy.

Brighter Than Creation's Dark : Drive-By Truckers : Review : Rolling Stone:

"Prospects were poor for what turns out to be an overflowing song bag of an album by Lynyrd Skynyrd's arty nephews. Their last winner was 2004's The Dirty South, preceded by two others in close succession but followed by the disoriented A Blessing and a Curse and then the loss of tenor-songwriter Jason Isbell. Welcome though her gender bend is, bassist and Isbell ex Shonna Tucker doesn't compensate by writing and singing. But Mike Cooley is on his game — the pro-bad-girl 'Lisa's Birthday' and pro-weird-guy 'Bob' shoot exceptionally straight. And knowing he has to carry the team, Patterson Hood executes — scene-setters about domestic life as celestial respite, endless struggle and occasion to drink; dark-siders about crystal meth (named) and suicide (implied); memoir of an opening act on the road; and two agonizing Iraq songs, one of which sinks pained voice into guitar attack, strength against strength. You could argue that the Truckers should have revved up this Skynyrd side more often. But instead they let the songwriting speak for itself, and it sings loud and clear."

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Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit

Let's not forget that Mr. Isbell and the boys will be embarking on a MASSIVE tour starting tomorrow. Be sure to get out there and go see 'em.

I'm stoked for the 26th of this month as JI400 will be playing Slims in SF.

Jason Isbell | Tourdates:

"Sat-Jan-12 - New York, NY - New York Guitar Festival - The 'Royal Albert Hall' Project

Wed-Jan-16 - Memphis, TN - The Hi-Tone with Will Hoge. Jeremy Fisher supports

Thu-Jan-17 - Little Rock, AR - Sticky Fingerz with Will Hoge. Jeremy Fisher supports

Fri-Jan-18 - Dallas, TX - Granada Theater with Will Hoge. Jeremy Fisher supports

Sat-Jan-19 - Austin, TX - Antone's with Will Hoge. Jeremy Fisher supports"

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Aquarium Drunkard - Music & MP3 Blog � Jason Isbell :: Sirens of The Ditch

It’s fitting that I’m writing this review now rather than when this album was originally released over the summer. I’ve had the luck of seeing Jason Isbell live three times this year (and it’ll be four by the time the year is officially over), in addition to interviewing him. My love of the Drive-by Truckers and Jason’s songwriting is pretty obvious to even casual readers/listeners of the blog/radio show. So I sometimes stay away from reviewing albums like this when they first come out - my opinions are bound to be affected by my unabashed fan-dom. For listeners who are fellow lovers of Isbell and his like that’s not a bad thing necessarily. If another person who listens often loves it, they probably will as well. But for people new to the music, does a die hard fan’s notes on an album really give them insight to the merits of the record? This is why the intervening months have given me a good perspective on this album - not only with the numerous listens to it that time has afforded me, but also the numerous live incarnations I’ve gotten to absorb as well.

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Sons of Roswell

SOR has been in the studio recording. JD has been posting some excellent blogs about the process. Jason Isbell is producing so this should be one hell of a record. I'm very excited to see this one come out.

Studio Day 1 Update - Sons of Roswell MySpace Blog
Studio: Day 2 - Sons of Roswell MySpace Blog
Day 3, yep - Sons of Roswell MySpace Blog

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Lauderdale

Lauderdale has a few dates coming up. Working musicians, y'all!

Jan 11 2008 9:00P	Soho’s (w/ Jay Burgess from Sons of Roswell sitting in)	Columbus, Georgia
Feb 2 2008 8:00P	The Smokehouse w/ Sons of Roswell and Hank Vegas	Florence, Alabama
Feb 6 2008 9:00P	The Basement	Nashville, Tennessee
Feb 8 2008 9:00P	Sports Page	Huntsville, Alabama
Feb 9 2008 9:00P	Zazoos (with Edgehill Avenue)	Louisville, Kentucky
Feb 15 2008 10:00P	Old Town Tavern with The Bohannons and Hammertorch	Sheffield

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Help out a great band with a purchase:

dbts : Message: Re: [dbts] Two Cow Garage:

"For those fans of Two Cow Garage, Micah and his father, John, have released a second collaboration. This follow-up to last years father/son release 'Inheritance', is called 'Prism Halo on a Quarter Moon'.

These discs both have a more acoustic tone to them, and gives us a chance to hear songs John, as well as Micahs stuff, that most likely won't make a Two Cow disc.
You can contact John at cledus56@.... Same as last time, $5 gets the cd and goes to help keep the band on the road; they leave for Europe in 3 weeks."

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Music

Do it for Johnny X 2.

Johnny Depp Sings : Rolling Stone:

Johnny Cash tribute concert canceled:

"FOLSOM, Calif. (AP) — A concert marking the 40th anniversary of Johnny Cash's famous concert at Folsom State Prison has been scraped, with the prison and the promoter blaming each other for the cancellation.

The tribute concert, scheduled for Sunday, was to have been staged in the same prison cafeteria where Cash performed before inmates on Jan. 13, 1968. That breakthrough performance became a popular live album."

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R.E.M. singer charmed by Huckabee :

"'I can't think of probably a single issue in which I am even remotely in the same universe as that guy ... and yet, he was kind of charming and ... self-deprecating,' Stipe told Jane Radio host Jane Pratt, a day after watching Huckabee's Thursday appearance on CBS' 'The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson."

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The Home Front Kickoff!

To all you lucky bastards and bitches that will be in Athens GA over the next 3 days I say to thee..... you suck. No, not really, but I am a wee (if 'wee' means 'a butt-load') bit jealous that my shiney ass won't be in attendance.

Here's another look at my recent trip to Athens, GA. If any of y'all see Shayne be sure to smack her upside the back of her head and tell her it was from me. If you see Jenn hug her neck for me. If you see....

Also, if yer in town be sure to check out the pre-party held by Nuci's. Go bid on some excellent swag.

Nuci's Space - Resource Center and Climate Controlled Practice Spaces for Musicians:

"DBT Pre-Party @ Cine

Date: January 10, 2008
Time: 7:00 PM

DBT Pre-Party @ Cine January 10, 2008 7 PM Free and open to the public.
Tonight's event is a pre-party for the Drive-By Truckers' benefit show at the 40 Watt later in the evening.

We will be auctioning off rare DBT items, artwork from local artists, signed music memorabilia, books and gift certificates from local Athens retailers and restaurants.

The auction includes: original Wes Freed artwork, a Patterson Hood guitar, signed memorabilia from David Cross, Zach Galifianakis, Patton Oswalt, Widespread Panic, R.E.M., Bill Wyman, Ben Mize (Counting Crows), AirTran Airline tickets, and artwork from Jeff Owens, Adam Smith, Elliot McPherson and Jimmy “Capman” Straehla.

LOCATION: Cin� (downtown Athens - just blocks from the 40 Watt. On 234 West Hancock Ave between Pulaski and Hull Streets in the old Snow Tire building)."

Rock on, y'all!!!

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The top 12 'Top 10' lists of 2007 / Best movies? Music? Look elsewhere. Here's the real list to help digest the year gone by

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Hardcore mom. I dig.

Mom Sells Rule-Breaking Son's Car:

"Jane Hambleton has dubbed herself the 'meanest mom on the planet.'

After finding alcohol in her son's car, she decided to sell the car and share her 19-year-old's misdeed with everyone — by placing an ad in the local newspaper.

The ad reads: 'OLDS 1999 Intrigue. Totally uncool parents who obviously don't love teenage son, selling his car. Only driven for three weeks before snoopy mom who needs to get a life found booze under front seat. $3,700/offer. Call meanest mom on the planet.'"

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You would figure this would bring the couple closer, finding they had a common interest. Alas, they divorced.

What are you doing here? - man asks wife at brothel:

"WARSAW (Reuters) - A Polish man got the shock of his life when he visited a brothel and spotted his wife among the establishment's employees. Polish tabloid Super Express said the woman had been making some extra money on the side while telling her husband she worked at a store in a nearby town."

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The Nose Knows

Free market! Free market! Free market my ass.

'Welfare' comes in all shapes and sizes.

Have you been paying your mortgage on time? Sucker.:

"Looking to buy your first home, but you waited because prices were just a bit too high? Or did you buy a home and have been diligently paying your mortgage on time?

Well screw you , courtesy of the Bush administration.

The Bush administration is now talking about expanding their little mortgage bail out to people with prime loans too. That means pretty much everyone who simply gambled and lost or just didn't want to pay their bills on time. And what's worse, it means people who pay a lot less than you for the same mortgage will get to keep that sweet little deal for the next five years, courtesy of the Bush administration, simply because they didn't pay their bills on time and you did. Yes, they not only pay less than you each month for the same freaking mortgage, but because they didn't pay their bills on time, they get to keep paying less than you for years to come. Had they paid their bills on time, or simply not gambled, their mortgage payment would now be in line with yours, or even higher. But why not reward stupidity? We've been doing it for 7 years"

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Interesting.

Why Some Women Wear Too Much Perfume:

"Women who doll up with too much perfume might not know it because they're depressed.

That's the conclusion of Dr. Yehuda Shoenfeld, a physician and autoimmune disease researcher at Tel Aviv University in Israel who studies 'autoantibodies.' This class of chemicals launches attacks against the body's cells, often in patients with autoimmune disease such as lupus.

'Our scientific findings suggest that women who are depressed are also losing their sense of smell, and may overcompensate by using more perfume,' he said."

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As someone who often has sinus issues (I've broken my nose 3 times) I'm going to give this a try. I'll let you know how it goes.

Short, Stout, Has a Handle on Colds:

"Originally part of a millennia-old Indian yogic tradition, the practice of nasal irrigation — jala neti — is performed with a small pot that looks like a cross between Aladdin’s lamp and your grandmother’s gravy boat. The neti pot made its way into this country in the early 1970s as a yoga meditation device, but even as yoga became mainstream, the neti pot remained on the fringes of alternative culture.

That is, until now. Due to a confluence of influences, the neti pot is having what can only be termed a moment, sold in drugstores, health food stores, even at Wal-Mart and Walgreens."

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A reason to never go to St. Charles, MO.

Bill would ban swearing in bars :

"ST. CHARLES, Mo. - What the ...? A St. Louis-area town is considering a bill that would ban swearing in bars, along with table-dancing, drinking contests and profane music.

City officials contend the bill is needed to keep rowdy crowds under control because the historic downtown area gets a little too lively on some nights"

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