AAW's 6th and Final Anniversary

On August 22, 2005 AAW was born:

Alabama Ass Whuppin': First Post:

This will be all things political, ridiculous, Drive-by Truckerish, Crimson Tide footballable, and whatever the hell else I decide to do with it.

Over the next 6 years this blog produced 2,775 posts.

Today is the 2,776th and final post on AAW.

I'd written several detailed final posts but deleted them.

No more needs to be written other than 'Uncle'.

I am very grateful for the opportunities that have and continue to occur because of this blog.

Thank you all very, very much.

Goodbye.

J.

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Places to Visit

Eyes Above It - Facebook

Eyes Above It - Twitter

AAW Twitter

Drive-By Truckers

DBT - Facebook

DBT - Twitter

Wes Freed

Wes Freed Facebook

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#f*&@kyouWashington

Shock Doctrine.

Eschaton: There Is No Crisis

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What Obama Was Willing to Give Away - NYTimes.com:

"Jonathan Cohn summarizes what seems to have been in the deal that Boehner walked away from; it’s horrifying. Above all, the proposed rise in the age of Medicare eligibility was a real betrayal of both Democratic principles and good government."

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Daily Kos: The Debt Ceiling Battle Was Lost Last December:

"Yes, now President Obama and Democrats have to accept a bad bargain to raise the debt ceiling. But if they had negotiated better last December, they could have made a better bargain then. They didn't. The Deal was a terrible mistake. And 7 months later, people like Bernstein want to forget how the bad deal in December is leading to the bad deal in July/August on the debt ceiling (and the one after that on the budget.)

It is taxes that Republicans care about. It is the one thing that animates the party. In December, President Obama had the biggest stick he is likely to have until after the 2012 elections. He gave it up without getting back what he needed.

It was terrible bargaining and everyone should have been able to see it. Apparently, not everyone did."

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Obama, George H.W. Bush, and the ghosts of 1990 - War Room - Salon.com

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Tweeters rage against the D.C. machine - What's Trending - CBS News:

"#F---YouWashington"

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A conservative Christian did this. Not a brown person. Not a Muslim. A conservative Christian who targeted Liberals.

Norway's Timothy McVeigh.

Norway Attack: Island Survivors On Their 2-Hour Fight For Life

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Right-Wing Pundits Jumped To Blame Muslims And ‘Jihadists’ For Norway Attacks | ThinkProgress

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Daily Kos: Norway attacker was a political Terminator:

"Taking out 80 of the people committed enough to go to the AUF's Utoya summer retreat? That's like sending a Terminator back in time to take out a future Parliamentary leadership.

The crime was unspeakably heinous to begin with. And telling Americans that the killer targeted a 'summer camp,' it was no doubt imagined, would only make it sound worse.

It did. But it didn't really describe the magnitude of the loss for Norway. Nor did it convey the calculated sickness—and the very, very intensely political nature—of what the gunman undertook to do."

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RIP Kathryn Tucker Windham

RIP to an Alabama Icon.

Alabama legend Kathryn Tucker Windham dies | The Montgomery Advertiser | montgomeryadvertiser.com

She was a grand lady.

13 Alabama Ghosts and Jeffrey - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

"In fact, Windham has said that she has received letters from people telling her she is doomed to hell for writing the Jeffrey books.[2]

In an interview with The Birmingham News, Windham responded to these claims, saying 'If I'm going to hell — and I can't deny that, because it's not for me to judge — it won't be for telling ghost stories; I have far greater shortcomings than that.'[2]"

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My blogging feelings exactly.

Eschaton: My Blog Is Boring:

"My Blog Is Boring
I think I spent 6 year finding various ways to say 'Bush sucks. wars suck.' Now I spend my days finding various ways to say 'Do something about the economy. Also, too, wars suck.'

Maybe there should be more pictures of kittens or something."

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I want one. Hypnotizing with a cool name. SWITL.

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For your PC ditch the Norton you pay for and use Microsoft's free virus software.

Daily Kos: How to fix that crap

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Wacka Wacka

Compromising before negotiations have begun. More horrible Republican based law and policy coming our way. So awesome having a "Democrat" as President.

White House Offers First Budget Compromise As Negotiations With GOP Begin

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Jesus. Winning hearts and minds? Why are we there - killing kids - again?

Petraeus apologizes for NATO strike that reportedly killed nine Afghan children

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Pretty interesting.

Five things you never knew about Pac-Man - Video Games Blog Plugged In - Yahoo! Games

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The police in my old 'hood be tweeting.

SFPD's Richmond Station Joins Us In The 21st Century (via Locally Sourced Technologiez) | Uptown Almanac:

"In addition to live-tweeting neighborhood warnings and super interesting crimes you didn't think even existed (see the glued ATM keys above), it seems like their intent is to actually use Twitter as a platform to better serve the community (SHOCKER, AMIRITE?). According to SF Weekly and SF Appeal's recent coverage, the Richmond station top cop, Captain Richard Corriea, has four officers tweeting from the field and is encouraging more to do the same."

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On a much sadder, old neighborhood note, RIP Tommy. You will be sorely missed.

Inside Scoop SF � Bidding farewell to Tommy Bermejo

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DBT Week(s) in Review - 1/3/11

DBT!

Ken Tucker's Top 10 Albums Of 2010 : NPR

The 11 Top Albums for 2010 - MJwycha - Open Salon

No Expiration - a blog about timeless music: BEST OF 2010 - #1! - THE DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS "THE BIG TO-DO"

SOMETHING ELSE!: The Best of 2010, Part 1: The Mainstream

Three Dimes Down • View topic - The Night Before Christmas

'Drive-By Truckers' on roll for show | Philadelphia Inquirer | 12/31/2010

No Expiration - a blog about timeless music: THE DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS AT BKLYN BOWL - LET THERE BE ROCK!:

"I have seen the present of rock and roll, and it is The Drive-By Truckers. I'm not even kidding. They're not punk, metal, 'alternative,' 'indie' or anything else. They are rock and roll. There aren't too many bands like that today."

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No Depression Readers Poll and Featured Bloggers' Favorite Albums of 2010 - Americana and roots music - No Depression:

"From those entries, we compiled a giant masterlist and plugged the top 100-or-so most-listed albums into a polling widget. As it turned out, the widget was imperfect - it only allowed one vote at a time, and raised some questions about voting consistency and the widget's reliability. Some members of this community noted the widget seemed to be getting 'stuffed' by fans of artists who encouraged their Facebook friends and Twitter followers to vote for their album. While this struck us as frustrating at first, we figured we may as well throw those gates open and make it a free-for-all. In an effort to see what would happen if many of the artists listed in that Top 100 (or so) list leveraged their fanbases, Kyla sent emails to the management and labels of as many artists for whom she had contacts, encouraging them to also post a link on Facebook and Twitter. Some of them joined in the fun, others didn't. In the end, the results of that round of polling seemed to more adequately reflect the ability and interest of several artists to leverage their social media presence and ignite the enthusiasm of their fans."

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11 Picks For Early 2011 - Americana and roots music - No Depression:

"Drive By Truckers: Go Go Boots. On the heels, literally of The Big To-Do, The Truckers are kicking of 2011 with a bang. They are returning with a new album, a band documentary called The Secret To A Happy Ending, and embarking on an upcoming tour. Go Go Boots has been described as a 'country meets rhythm and blues' kind of album. Check out Bettye LaVette's excellent Scene Of The Crime, which featured the Truckers as LaVette's backing band, and you'll get an idea of where this is going. (2/15/2011)"

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Slobberbone



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Jason Isbell - Drivin N Cryin

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Vic Chesnutt

Remembering Vic from scott stuckey on Vimeo.

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DOWNLOAD: Black Keys & Big Boi Mashup! | SPIN.com

Merle Haggard: Obama 'Very Different' Than Media's Portrayal | TPM LiveWire

Finally, Local Community Radio Act Was Passed Saturday. Time For A Media Revolution! | Crooks and Liars

Fake article prompts NYC mosque opponents to boycott Justin Bieber | Raw Story

Friends: 8 killed in NO fire musicians, artists - Yahoo! News

Concert prices to fall as rockers try to woo fans

Memoirs By Dead Rock Stars We Wish We Could Have Read (PHOTOS)

BBC News - Don Van Vliet, aka 'Captain Beefheart', dies aged 69

Teena Marie, known as 'Ivory Queen of Soul,' dies - Yahoo! News

And I don't care what you say, this is the jam:

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Poison Pillz

Must take a break from President Lam-o-crat. Cannot find desire to sort through the 30 qued posts regarding the tax cave.

So....

RIP Elizabeth Edwards. I saw her and John once on a North Carolina beach shaking hands and politicking before John was elected N.C. Senator. I voted for John in that election.

RIP Elizabeth. You were a damn good one.

Elizabeth Edwards Posts Apparent Goodbye Message - Political Hotsheet - CBS News

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Assange is a mixture of Bond and various Bond villains. Lovin' this guy and his work

We can handle the truth. Those trying to prevent us from learning the truth will not be able to handle us when we know the truth.

Julian Assange Vows "Poison Pill" Release Of Damaging Secrets If Arrested Or Killed | TPM LiveWire

Besides, our government is nothing but a self-fulfilling perpetual hypocrisy machine.

Freedom for me, but not for thee:

Flashback: Sec. Clinton hailed Internet freedom as tool to ‘spread truth and expose injustice’ | Raw Story:

"US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton gave a public speech in January 2010 championing Internet freedom as a vital tool to open governments and promote transparency, while criticizing 'dictatorships' who seek to target those who use technology to expose their transgressions.

'In many respects, information has never been so free,' Clinton said at the Washington, D.C. Newseum. 'There are more ways to spread more ideas to more people than at any moment in history. Even in authoritarian countries, information networks are helping people discover new facts and making governments more accountable.'

'This challenge may be new, but our responsibility to help ensure the free exchange of ideas goes back to the birth of our republic,' she added, invoking the First Amendment to the US Constitution, which guarantees freedom of speech."

Dude is wicked smart, too. Obama should take some negotiation lessons from Assange.

Julian Assange Vows "Poison Pill" Release Of Damaging Secrets If Arrested Or Killed | TPM LiveWire

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Been done, but not to this extreme:

In the Name of Art, Wafaa Balil is a Walking Tripod - PCWorld:

"Iraqi-American Bilal, an assistant professor at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, has implanted a titanium plate into the back of his skull for the sake of his art. The plate allows Bilal to attach and remove a camera to the back of his head magnetically, for his project which is called 'The 3rd I.'"

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Ricky Bobby comes to mind for some reason.

Utah Pilot Survives Plane Crash In What Authorities Call 'A Miracle'

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RIP Lisa Blount

Rest in Peace, Lisa Blount

Lisa Blount, Arkansas actor-producer, dies at 53:

"Blount won an Academy Award in 2001 for best live-action short film as producer of 'The Accountant.' Her husband Ray McKinnon directed and starred in the film.

She also earned a Golden Globe nomination for playing Debra Winger's best friend in 'An Officer and a Gentleman' in 1982.

Blount was born in Fayetteville and grew up in Jacksonville before moving to Los Angeles. Blount and McKinnon moved to Little Rock in 2005."

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Struttin'

The day must be started with some ass struttin'. Best. Video. Ever.



Aaaaand, the remix via Zoid:

YouTube - Struttin' Remix

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Pretty solid analysis. Good read.

Analysis: Switch to Petraeus betrays Afghan policy crisis

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Yup. True across the land.

Report: Bay Area counties give so rural counties can receive - San Jose Mercury News:

"SACRAMENTO — A new report on who supplies — and who spends — California's public dollars shows an interesting disparity between the givers and the takers:

Counties that provide most of the state's revenue streams like income and sales taxes reliably elect Democrats, who traditionally want to take more of your money. And counties whose Republican representatives argue most vociferously for social services cuts draw, per capita, the most state aid."

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Corporate Welfare. True across the land.

California budget: Corporate welfare is real root cause of California's budget deficit, Michael Hiltzik says - latimes.com:

"I believe we can all agree on the root cause of the state's $20-billion budget gap.

It's welfare: all those millions of taxpayer dollars going to recipients who line up for their government handouts instead of competing in the marketplace on a level playing field like the rest of us, who don't pay their fair share of taxes and who get protected by a politically powerful lobby.

Yes, I'm talking about the business community."

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In which the GOP would imprison half of their politicians.

TX GOP platform: Re-criminalize sodomy, make gay marriage a felony | Raw Story:

"the state's Republican party has voted on a platform [PDF link] by which their candidates will stand, and it includes the reinstatement of laws banning sodomy: otherwise known as oral and anal sex.

The party's platform also seeks to make gay marriage a felony offense, which may be confusing to most given that the state does not sanction or recognize same sex marriages, meaning any such ceremony conducted does not bear the weight of law. Whether this means the GOP wants gay couples married in other states to be pursued through Texas as dangerous criminals, the party did not specify."

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Yah, verily, as we worship at the free-market of the Great American Corporation. Free to pack up their shit and leave us high and dry.

Probably should have given them more tax breaks.

In Indiana, Centerpiece for a City Closes Shop - NYTimes.com:

"Whirlpool plans to close the plant on Friday and move the operation to Mexico, eliminating 1,100 jobs here. Many in this city in southern Indiana are seething and sad — sad about losing what was long the city’s economic centerpiece and a ticket to the middle class for one generation after another.

“This is all about corporate greed,” said Ms. Ford, who took a job at Whirlpool 19 years ago. “It’s devastating to our family and to everyone in the plant. I wonder where we’ll be two years or four years from now. There aren’t any jobs here. How is this community going to survive?”"

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I was always a fan of Manute. RIP.

Manute Bol Dead: Dies At 47 From Stevens-Johnson Syndrome

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Wasn't this a crappy episode of 24? Weren't all episodes of 24 crappy?

Electronic Armageddon: How An EMP Bomb Would Be A Deathblow To Life As We Know It

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The Big To-Do Week in Review - 3/19/2010

The Big To-Do!

Ten Songs to Improve a Pissed Off Rainy Day playlist by Drive-By Truckers on MySpace Music - listen to songs & purchase MP3s:

"Please play loud and in order while downing 2 beers and whatever else ya got. Umbrella, optional. - Patterson Hood"

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THE DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS, VICKI AND ME Drive-By Truckers on Blurt Online:

"Is this the first step towards doing some co-songwriting? I remember in the first interview I ever did with you guys that you said there'd be blood on the floor if y'all ever wrote a song together. Might we see more songs like 'Girls Who Smoke?'

PH: It was fun. I like the song. When you play together this long, you try all kinds of stuff, but generally, writing is a solitary thing for me.

MC: Yeah, it's something I do by myself. That's one of the things I like about it. I get to bounce ideas off my multiple personalities. (Laughs) I get to work with the person I love the most. (Laughs)

PH: You don't love that asshole. (Laugh"

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The Drive-By Truckers Are Not Making This Up - Page 1 - Music - New York - Village Voice:

"Savoring your shock and stealing a fry off your plate, Hood asks, Can you believe it?"

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The Drive-By Truckers play the pimp AND prostitute: how to sell your new album and stay off your knees - The 6149:

"Why do I think that The Trucker's have moved on to the 'critical mass' phase? The push behind this new album, that's why. They are going all in on this one. Yes, I am a fan so I have been on the lookout for this album. I am also signed up to their newsletter, facebook fan page and twitter account. So, yes, I am where they are broadcasting their message, but it is how they are using those channels that has my antennae buzzing."

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Saints Don't Bother: In Cahoots: Patterson Hood of the Drive-By Truckers

Interview: Patterson Hood of Drive-By Truckers

Listen Up: Drive-by Truckers - USATODAY.com

Pitchfork: Album Reviews: Drive-By Truckers: The Big To-Do

The Big To-Do - The Short List of Things to Do - TIME

Album review of 'The Big To-Do' by the Drive-By Truckers - washingtonpost.com

Album review: Drive-By Truckers' 'The Big To-Do' | Pop & Hiss | Los Angeles Times

Drive-By Truckers – The Big To Do [Album Review] — HearYa - Indie Music Blog

Drive-By Truckers: The Big To-Do | Music | Review | The A.V. Club

Drive-by Truckers go where others won't | Entertainment | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

Drive-By Truckers, 'The Big To-Do' | Metromix Atlanta

The Fire Note: Drive-By Truckers: The Big To-Do

allmusic ((( The Big To-Do > Overview )))

The week’s top CD releases | Music | Entertainment | Winnipeg Sun

Drive-By Truckers: The Big To-Do < Reviews | PopMatters

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RIP Alex Chilton

Memphis music legend Alex Chilton dies � The Commercial Appeal

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Tom Selleck Sandwiches

Seems more and more folks are picking up the 'Raise Hell, Democrats' meme. GOOD! If only they'd apply it.

Bob Cesca: Time for the Democrats to Get Loud and Fearless:

"Here's a major reason why the Republicans are still a viable party: they don't mind getting loud. They're willing to flagrantly lie out loud, while also making a huge production out of insignificant and contradictory nonsense that heretofore was never even considered to be a political trespass -- shamelessly and unapologetically amplifying it all to a level of noise that forces the press and voters alike to pay attention.

The Democrats could learn a thing or two about this. More presently."

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What this dude says:

Charles Karel Bouley: Dear Mr. President: No Bi Ideas Please:

"You see, Republicans, neocons, the Right has had their say, for eight years, and it destroyed us. Over those eight years they did not practice bipartisanship, they practiced a mock dictatorship or coup. Democrats sat by and basically watched as the country was decimated; in 2006 when the country gave the Congress a Democratic majority, Nancy Pelosi, your speaker of the House, refused to impeach George W. Bush (we both know starting the proceedings doesn't mean removal, but it's the process that's important) and Democrats continued to support and fund the wars which the people that sent them there opposed. We didn't want bipartisanship then, either, we wanted resolutions.

The fact is, Republicans lost because We, the People, wanted them to. We were tired of their governance, their style, their lack of concern for the people and their sole focus on corporations and monied interests. We sent you, and others to Washington D.C. for change, we gave you a majority, and now we want that change. What we don't want is rehashed ideas that only serve the Republican masters of money and power."

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Include me with the finger pointers.

Congressional Democrats point finger of blame at Rahm Emanuel - TheHill.com:

"Democrats in Congress are holding White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel accountable for his part in the collapse of healthcare reform.

The emerging consensus among critics in both chambers is that Emanuel’s lack of Senate experience slowed President Barack Obama’s top domestic priority."

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Amen

Hullabaloo:

"And Rahm, by the way, is way more trouble than he's worth. Even Nixon's advisors were more subtle --- and far more lethal. You don't keep a nasty henchman who makes enemies of everyone and inspires loathing by his very presence if he can't even get the job done."

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The Tea Bagging convention in Tennessee apparently has opened a few conservative eyes.

Good luck stuffing that monkey back into the box.

Return Of the Repressed? Birtherism, Homophobia, Racial Paranoia Rise To Surface At Tea Party Confab | TPMMuckraker:

"Tea Party leaders had worked hard to keep the public face of the movement focused tightly on a small government, anti-tax message, largely steering clear of social issues, and appeals based explicitly on race. But this weekend, from the podium at Nashville's Gaylord Opryland Hotel, convention speakers espoused birtherism, anti-immigrant nativism, homophobia, Christian fundamentalism, and an apparent nostalgia for racially discriminatory barriers to voting.

Here's a quick recap:"

Here's a conservative that was simply shocked by it all.

Daily Kos: A Conservative Spits Out His Tea:

"Perhaps the most distressing part of all is that few media observers bothered to catalog these bizarre, conspiracist outbursts, and instead fixated on Sarah Palin's Saturday night keynote address. It is as if, in the current overheated political atmosphere, we all simply have come to expect that radicalized conservatives will behave like unhinged paranoiacs when they collect in the same room."

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Remember when we had people who ran the government but who did not believe in government?

Yeah, remember? Killed a lot of folks didn't it. Yeah... It did.

Insurer State Farm says it warned gov't about Toyota acceleration in 2007 - chicagotribune.com:

"NHTSA received complaints about acceleration problems in Toyota vehicles as early as 2003,"

Those same people sure helped out rich whitey, though.

'No Labor Market Recession For America's Affluent,' Low-Wage Workers Hit Hardest: STUDY

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Damn communist with their evil magic that slices government costs. Penny pinchers! Social.... somethings! Creating ways to save the environment and money at the same time! Evil I tells ya. EVIL!

Recycling push puts Berkeley's budget in dumps:

"In a $10 million deficit announced last week, the single biggest factor - $4 million - was a decline in its refuse revenues.

The city says, in part, that it's a victim of its own success. Residents pride themselves on aggressively recycling and composting, so they're switching to smaller, cheaper trash cans - the only collection for which the city charges."

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Another reason not to answer the phone.

The Rise of Caller ID Spoofing - Digits - WSJ

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Tom Selleck Sandwiches

Tom Selleck, Weird Waffles, And Keggers Of Yore: 7 Sites You Should Be Wasting Time On Right Now!

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RIP, Phil. RIP.

Discovery Channel: 'Deadliest Catch' captain dies - Yahoo! News

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DBT Week in Review - 10/30/09

Hardly Strictly 2009 - Video 1

Here is my first attempt at editing with the new camera. I suck, apparently. HD compression has got me baffled at the moment.

Audio spikes around 2:28 so be forewarned.

This is Gillian Welch, David Rawlings and Emmylou Harris performing Down to the River to Pray.

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DBT/Patterson

Cork Industries Presents:

An Evening with Patterson Hood (of Drive-By Truckers)

November 25, 2009 - Zodiac Theater - Florence, AL

Tickets are available at Pegasus Records, Billy Reid Clothing and online at www.cork-industries.com

$15 Adv/$20 Day of Show. Seating if very very very very limited (you don't have to include all those veries, but there are only 150)

It's going to be very intimate with just Patterson and a guitar.

We'll probably have some of Byron Wilkes artwork on display behind him on the stage as well.

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New video from Cracker with Patterson Hood - "Friends" - Americana and roots music - No Depression

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Mrs. Swamp providing some sweet video from current shows.

Thoughts go out to dear friend Beth on this one:

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Strutter!

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Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit

Jason Isbell Sets Stage for “Cigarettes and Wine” | CMT Blog

Very special Mountain Stage show. - Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit's MySpace Blog |

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Dexateens

Dexateens providing all of your spooky Halloween needs.

YouTube - The Dexateens present "Old Bryce" part 1 of 3

YouTube - The Dexateens present "Old Bryce" part 2 of 3

YouTube - The Dexateens present "Old Bryce" part 3 of 3

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Will Johnson

Will Johnson with MOF at The Bridge School Benefit

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Marah

"Put 'em in the Graveyard" - Marah's MySpace Blog |:

"In the past our band never played many new songs before records were 'officially' released. We always felt new albums/new songs were best absorbed as complete thoughts...records had sequence and rhythm, each song made more sense propped up by its fellow jams, and as the final guitars or bagpipes rang out you could feel like you'd been on a kinda rock & roll journey. We still feel that way. But...

Considering it's been such a long time since we shared a song and dance together we wanna put this out there for y'all...something new to enjoy and discuss while we wait for the other shoe to drop. We also promise that your $contribution will not be blown in some smoky pub but will aid us greatly in bringing a lot more 'unreleased' Marah music into the world this year. Think of the mix tape possibilities."

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FAME Studios Revamps World Famous Studio - FAME Music Group's MySpace Blog |:

"In 2009 as FAME approaches its 50th Anniversary we still look to the future as we upgrade and reload our facilities and staff for the next 50 years. We have two studios both equipped with Analog and Pro-Tools gear. We are loaded with Most every plug-in imaginable. Neve 8232 console in one room, the other an Amek Angela. Record where Duane Allman, Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Little Richard, Etta James and many more recorded.

Lastly, FAME is proud to announce the addition of multi-Grammy award winning engineer Tom Swift to our staff as chief engineer. Tom has worked with the likes of Eric Clapton, Don Henley, AC/DC, Miles Davis, BB King, to name a few. Tom is an expert in the art of recording both Analog and with most any DAW. So if you want to record in one of the best sounding rooms in the world. With one of the top engineers in the world, FAME is for you.

Like to have some of that 'Muscle Shoals Sound' without leaving home? Call us and we will setup an account for your recordings online. Want legendary bassist David Hood, to play on your track? No Problem."

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Music

Horrible.

Teenage folk singer Taylor Mitchell killed by coyotes in Canadian park - Times Online:

"A teenage folk singer hailed as a rising star in Canada has been mauled to death by two coyotes while hiking alone in woods during a solo tour. The attack took place as Taylor Mitchell, 19, was walking on a trail in the Cape Breton Highlands National Park in Nova Scotia."

Taylor Mitchell :: From Taylor's Mom:

I've noticed that the media have often mentioned that Taylor was hiking alone when the coyote attack occurred. I want people to know that Taylor was a seasoned naturalist and well versed in wilderness camping. She loved the woods and had a deep affinity for their beauty and serenity. Tragically it was her time to be taken from us so soon.

We take a calculated risk when spending time in nature's fold-- it's the wildlife's terrain. When the decision had been made to kill the pack of coyotes, I clearly heard Taylor's voice say, 'please don't, this is their space'. She wouldn't have wanted their demise, especially as a result of her own. She was passionate about animals, was an environmentalist, and was also planning to volunteer at the Toronto Wildlife Centre in the coming months."

Taylor Mitchell :: Taylor Mitchell Memorial Fund:

"The Mitchell family has set up a Memorial Fund in Taylor's name. It hasn't yet been decided exactly how the fund will be used but some ideas being discussed include: a yearly scholarship to a songwriting student at Etobicoke Shool for the Arts (Taylor's alma mater); a yearly prize for an outstanding young performer at the Canadian Folk Music Awards; a bursary for a young touring performer; a donation to charity.

Give her music a listen today to honor her and her talent.

Taylor Mitchell on MySpace Music - Free Streaming MP3s, Pictures & Music Downloads:

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SFGate: Daily Dish : Death Dive Brought Boozy Creed Star Back To Life:

"A four-story fall from a hotel balcony in 2006 gave Creed star Scott Stapp his life back, according to the rocker himself.

As the third anniversary of his near-death dive comes around next month, the singer is back with the band he quit and insists he's born-again after years of binge drinking, substance abuse and womanizing turned him into a wreck."

I'll let Denis Leary handle by response to the above:

Denis Leary: No Cure for Cancer:

"We live in a country, where John Lennon takes six bullets in the chest, Yoko Ono was standing right next to him and not one fucking bullet! Explain that to me! Explain that to me, God! Explain it to me, God! I want it! God! Jesus! Now we've got twenty-five more years. Yeah, I'm real fucking happy now, God. I'm wearing a huge happy hat, Jesus Christ! I mean Stevie Ray Vaughan is dead, and we can't get Jon Bon Jovi in a helicopter. Come on, folks. 'Get on that helicopter John. Shut the fuck up and get on that helicopter! There's a hair dresser in there. Yeah, go ahead in there, yeah yeah.'

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Google Reportedly To Launch Music Search Engine - News Story | Music, Celebrity, Artist News | MTV News:

"The project, possibly called 'One Box,' will reportedly use the popular sites Lala, iLike and others to stream songs based on user searches. The company has not commented on the possible announcement, and a spokesperson did not return requests for comment at press time.

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Sublime - Punk Icons Perform Despite Legal Action Threat - Contactmusic News

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Metallica's iPhone App 'Tap Tap Revenge' Rocks Out:

"LOS ANGELES — Headbangers will have a reason to steady their gaze a bit starting Tuesday, when rock band Metallica makes its way onto iPhones with a finger-tapping music app called 'Tap Tap Revenge: Metallica.'

In the game, players tap areas on the screen in time with the music, much like players strum or drum plastic instruments in video games such as 'Rock Band' and 'Guitar Hero,' except on a smaller scale.

The iconic rockers could probably make more money performing one or two shows live, with 10 playable songs on the game, including 'Enter Sandman,' selling for $4.99."

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These are hilarious.

The Most Ridiculous Rap Lyrics Of All Time

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I'm down.

And CrazySexyCool was a great album.

SFGate: Daily Dish : TLC star held record boss hostage:

"Watkins has now spoken about the band's past, admitting they once resorted to violence in a bid to claim their fair share of the profits from their hugely successful 1994 album 'CrazySexyCool.'

The singer claims the trio burst into a meeting between Davis and Sean 'Diddy' Combs, throwing the rapper out and threatening the record executive with guns.

She tells talk show host Mo'Nique, 'We held the record company, Clive Davis, hostage with guns. Guns with bullets. Because TLC had generated on 'CrazySexyCool' $75 million and they gave us $50,000 a piece and I was like, 'What the hell!' So, of course Lisa was the ringleader. We had a limo driver, and he was the getaway car."

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Awww. Athens, GA.

Swampland:Spotlight On The Classic City: Athens, Georgia:

"Last week was a big week for the Georgia Theatre. They received their official approval to rebuild, and the Theatre released information on how to contribute to rebuilding this venerable music establishment.

Here's a link to the Georgia Theatre's fundraising brochure. Here's a link to the donation page at the Georgia Trust. Look for my recent interview with Theatre owner Wilmont Greene in a day or so."

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Some French Chick Rock to finish the day.

Plastiscines - Barcelona

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Science Friction

Got that? Your religion is predetermined but you choose to be gay.

Riiiigght.

Conservatives love to torture people and logic.

Religion is not a choice but being gay is, GOP leader’s spokesman says:

"You were born a Christian, not born gay. Religion is not a choice."

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Should have been more angry and less colorful.... and WAY too literal on the tea bagging.

Stewart calls out Fox News for ignoring gay rights march :

"Fox didn't even send a camera crew.

'You didn't even send your own camera crew?' Stewart exhorted. 'You have a Washington bureau. Tell them to go the window and point the camera down. Gay people aren't vampires. They show up on camera.'"

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And while we are at it.... In news of 'no-shit':

Eric Boehlert: Memo To The Media: Fox News Is Now the Opposition Party:

"Fox News has changed the rules. Now the press needs to change the way it covers Fox News.

Rupert Murdoch's cable cabal is now, first and foremost, a political entity. Fox News has transformed itself into the opposition party to the Obama White House, which, of course, is unprecedented for a media company in modern day America. That partisan embrace means the news media have to expand beyond typing up Fox News-ratings-are-up and the White-House-is-angry stories, and it needs to start treating the cable channel for what it is: a partisan animal."

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Pretty freakin' cool, but as any good science fiction geek knows, the future can not change the past. Whatever has happened, has happened and can not be changed.

Essay - The Collider, the Particle and a Theory About Fate - NYTimes.com:

"No, I’m talking about the notion that the troubled collider is being sabotaged by its own future. A pair of otherwise distinguished physicists have suggested that the hypothesized Higgs boson, which physicists hope to produce with the collider, might be so abhorrent to nature that its creation would ripple backward through time and stop the collider before it could make one, like a time traveler who goes back in time to kill his grandfather."

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We are not the coolest kids on the block anymore. Why, oh, why can't we be out in front on new energy.

Hive Electricity: The Coming Energy Revolution - SPIEGEL ONLINE - News - International

• Carmaker Volkswagen, together with ecologically friendly energy utility Lichtblick, wants to install 100,000 mini power plants directly in consumers' homes. Demand for the system has been strong from day one.

• Car parts maker Bosch acquired solar cell manufacturer Ersol in 2008 and, rumors suggest, is currently working to design a solar-powered car.

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RIP, Lou. I wonder if he'll be buried with the rubber bands.

Captain Lou Albano, legendary WWF-era wrestling manager and Cyndi Lauper video star, dies at 76

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Hookers and Blow

Oh Sarah, you're making it too easy.

What's the over under before she's replaced? Or, will the Rethugs employ their usual bull-headedness and keep her on the ticket. I hoping for option #2.

Palin On Pledge Of Allegiance: "If It Was Good Enough For The Founding Fathers, It's Good Enough For Me":

"Question: Are you offended by the phrase 'Under God' in the Pledge of Allegiance? Why or why not?

Palin: Not on your life. If it was good enough for the founding fathers, its good enough for me and I'll fight in defense of our Pledge of Allegiance."

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How easy? This easy:

Political Punch:

"For her part, Ms. Clark -- a self-employed gold miner who wants Alaska to become an independent nation -- says that the McCain campaign pushback that Pain was never part of the AIP is 'hooey.'

'This is like a cat covering up crap in its litter box,' she says.

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Even numb-nuts Carville gets in on the act:

Prominent Clinton supporter slams Palin, says she’s not qualified � - Blogs from CNN.com:

"“They tout her experience as mayor of this town in Alaska,” said Carville. “This is the picture of the City Hall. It looks like a bait shop in South Louisiana,” the Baton Rouge native said. “This is executive experience to be Vice President of the United States, to be a heart beat away from the presidency, to have to take over the country when we’re fighting three wars, when we’re having the biggest credit crisis we’ve had in this country?”

When Bachman suggested that Carville’s criticism smacked of sexism, Carville fired back. “Congresswoman, I don’t know how to tell you this, but I supported a woman for President of the United States.”"

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Repubs do know how to throw a party.... during a hurricane.

Hookers and blow, y'all:

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Here's a GMILF that knew how to party like a Republican:

Actress Helen Mirren: I used to 'love' cocaine:

"LONDON - Oscar-winning British actress Helen Mirren said she used to love cocaine, but stopped taking the drug after learning that a Nazi war criminal profited from the trade, according to a magazine."

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RIP Jerry, RIP

Singer-actor Jerry Reed dies at the age of 71:

"NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Jerry Reed, a singer who became a good ol' boy actor in car chase movies like 'Smokey and the Bandit,' has died of complications from emphysema at 71"

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Champions

Florence, Alabama native and my fellow Florence Golf and Country Club alumn Stewart Cink won the PGA Tour's Travelers Championship yesterday. Stew pocketed 1.08 million. Not bad for 4 days work. He's currently ranked 3rd in the FedEx Cup race and 3rd on the money list right behind Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson.

Stewart Cink wins Travelers Championship - Golf - Yahoo! Sports:

"“I mean, guys like Tiger (Woods) and Phil (Mickelson), when they are in contention, they let it all out,” Cink said Sunday after winning the Travelers Championship, just the second tournament he has captured after leading through 54 holes."

Check out this interview with Stewie where he discusses his first car, his first job. I had the same first job a year or two before Stewart did.

Congrats to Stewart. Much deserved.

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In more news of friends who are kicking ass...

My buddy Steve sent an email this morning. Y'all be sure to tune in and watch.

"Dear Family and Friends:

Sorry for the mass email, but I need your help! FIGHT OR DIE, the television show that I have spent the last year producing, will premiere on the Discovery Channel on Thursday, June 26 at 10pm EDT/PDT.

You can watch the preview for the show by clicking this link to YouTube.

Based on the viewer response to this broadcast, Discovery will decide whether the show will become a weekly series. So please tune in (or TiVo it) and please forward this email on to those you think might also be interested. And if you like the show, please email feedback to: FEEDBACK@WHEELHOUSEENTERTAINMENT.COM

FIGHT OR DIE
Discovery Channel (in HD)
Thursday, June 26 at 10pm ET/PT

Thanks for watching!

Best,
Stephen"

Here's the preview on Youtube:

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Dammit. We lost another important one:

George Carlin mourned as a counterculture hero

"LOS ANGELES - George Carlin, the frenzied performer whose routine 'Seven Words You Can Never Say On Television' led to a key Supreme Court ruling on obscenity, has died."

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Richard Pryor RIP

Richard Pryor

Richard was a big influence on my sense of humor. I remember being an wee lad and my best friend brought a Richard Pryor tape over to my house. He had gotten it from his older brother. I had a stereo and we popped the tape in, turned the volume to 1 and sat with our ears pressed to the speaker and we laughed so hard my mom came into the room to see what we were doing. Ahh, good times.

To one of the best story tellers of all time. RIP, Richard, RIP.

... She had a monkey that 3 paws.

She wore a monkey's paw around her neck.

That monkey fucked with everybody but her....