DBT Week in Review - 11/06/09

Here is a great discussion thread of about 11 pages from the Timesdaily sent to me by CH/Zoid.

Great insight into.... shit, several of DBT/Isbell songs regarding the area of the country we grew up in. I ran with some of the sons of the folks mentioned here and worked for a few others.

One crazy ass part of the world. Sometimes I wonder how I'm still walking around.

And yes, Dawson = Lawson. (Correction: I've been notified that Dawson does not equal Lawson, which is another can of local shit. Should have checked my source, dammit!)

Old State Line Clubs - Topic Florence, AL

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Words from the Hood:

Drive-By Truckers:

"Decompressing from our late October run.
Very happy with the shows on all levels.
Don't think the band has ever played better than we have in the last six months.
As we are winding down The Righteous Path Tour of shows and starting to gear up for next years' new releases and tours, we are all very excited about what we did this year in the studio and out on the road and really fired up about going out and playing these new songs next year.

This month, the band is tying up some loose ends and starting our preparations for next year.
We are about to announce our annual Athens GA / 40 Watt Homecoming Shows and annual Nuci's Space Benefit.
I'll go ahead and spill a few of the beans to y'all now:
The weekend will be Jan. 14th - 16th."

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Live review: Drive-By Truckers at Stubb's | Austin Music Source

OK, I’m passing through the final stage of grief and find myself at acceptance at Jason Isbell’s having left the Drive-By Truckers, what, 17 years ago?

Thursday night’s show at Stubb’s, from Mike Cooley’s “Gravity’s Gone” to the last moments of Lynyrd Skynyrd rave-up “Angels and Fuselage,” which finished the encore because absolutely nothing else could follow it, was as good a show as I’ve seen them do since their third guitarist-singer-songwriter went solo. The aught-nine version of the band is decidedly funkier — that Muscle Shoals influence is burbling to the surface more. And a new one that bassist Shonna Tucker sang (from a spring release to be called “The Big To-Do”) sounded positively Motown.

But at their core these guys are Southern-fried chroniclers of hard-luck characters — Uncle John, he ain’t been right since Vietnam — and cemetary groundskeepers pondering a leap into the abyss. Uplifting, no? Good thing they can seriously rock. Guitarist-singer-songwriter-loquacious talker Patterson Hood took a lot of leads last night and all three guitarists seemed hell-bent on making as much racket as possible, no matter whom else they were fighting for solo space. I never saw Lynyrd Skynrd but I sure saw Drive-By Truckers. And I will again. Like the man said: Let there be rock.

But next time, guys, please play “Carl Perkins’ Cadillac.” Don’t make me grovel; it demeans us both.

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Concert Review: Drive-By Truckers at House of Blues (October 28) | pegasusnews.com | Dallas / Fort Worth:

"The energy was so intense, I wondered what they could do for a satisfactory encore, and halfway through the first song I got my answer as Brent Best (Slobberbone and The Drams) ambled onto stage with a guitar in hand. But then, as four guitars were clearly not enough, bandmate Jess Barr showed up for the show closer, a rousing cover of Jim Carroll's 'People Who Died.'"

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Flavorwire � Blog Archive � Chuck Klosterman Presents: Albums That Kick Writer’s Block:

"Drive-By Truckers, Southern Rock Opera

“In terms of using sparse language to explain complex ideas (and in terms of using straightforward music to express a sense of time and place), I can’t think of a better record than this. It always sounds totally real, and the details are thick (particularly about Bear Bryant, George Wallace, and Blue Oyster Cult). I probably listened to this CD 100 times while I was writing Downtown Owl. It was absolutely the single-biggest influence on that novel.”"

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Very Extremely Dangerous Singles:

"But that hasn’t stopped him from launching his latest project, a series of limited-edition 45-rpm vinyl singles by the likes of Greg Dulli, Drive-By Truckers, Heartless Bastards and Wussy in tribute to the late Eddie Hinton. The first two 45s, covers of Hinton songs by Dulli and the Truckers, come out locally on Tuesday and nationally on Nov. 24.

Blase is pressing just 2,000 copies of each record. He figures half of that run will be sold through Shake It and its mail-order operation and half through other independent record stores. Ultimately he plans a set of 10 discs."

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The 50 Best Albums of the Decade (2000-2009) :: Blogs :: List of the Day :: Paste:

"27. Drive-By Truckers: Decoration Day [New West] (2003)"

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Best of the Voodoo Experience! | Drive-By Truckers | Spin Magazine Online

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Via Zip City:

Can you name the Drive-By Truckers Songs on each studio album? - sporcle

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Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit

Review: Jason Isbell's band plays focused set of down-home rock - Salt Lake Tribune:

"Using Isbell's own poetic, literate songbook along with the group's guitar-based musical firepower, the State Room concert left the impression of one of the country's best emerging bands."

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Muscle Shoals Sound

Life experiences translated in song | TimesDaily.com | The Times Daily | Florence, AL:

"Mac McAnally compares songwriting to a disease, and he's not looking for a cure.

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Music

Excellent read:

pandagon.net

Raftery decides the switch is due to three factors: the emergence of late 90s/early 00s super-singable pop songs by Britney Spears and the Backstreet Boys that are easy enough to sing that anyone feels comfortable trying, the popularity of “American Idol”, and the normalizing karaoke scene in “Lost In Translation”, a scene that really captures how karaoke works a lot better if people involved take their performances seriously, instead of doing a performance whose whole point is how you’re above all this. I think he’s on to something, but he doesn’t go far enough, though part of the reason is the culture changed even more since he was writing this book, which came out in 2008. I think it’s because Americans are increasingly putting a premium on fantasy and performance as valuable things, when in the past, these things were considered children’s fare that proper adults grow out of. (Unless they’re professionals, like actors or musicians.) And even though Raftery and I agree that “ironic” karaoke performances---where the person mocks the process of karaoke while performing---are stupid, I will say the ironic bent of American culture since really the late 60s on has a lot to do with this. It’s about playfulness, at its core, and once you start allowing and even requiring adults to be playful, then fantasy and performance are not far behind.

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All we need is Blog?:

"Last night I went to my first arena concert in a very long time. I've pretty much sworn off big arena shows because they are overpriced and the prices charged for food and drink are insulting. The list of people I will pay over $50 to see live is very small and until last night Bruce Springsteen wasn't on that list. Last night I had two free tickets and the next time he comes around I will probably buy a ticket."

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George Jones no fan of country crossover music:

"Country Music Hall of Famer George Jones isn't a big fan of where the genre has moved in recent years.

When asked what he thought about music by today's top country stars, the 78-year-old said that while they are good, 'they've stolen our identity.'"

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Austin City Limits - ACL Pilot episode featuring Willie Nelson now streaming � Austin City Limits

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"Get up from the table and just walk away...."

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And, just because I lived for many years a couple of blocks away.

Cliff House Centennial Celebration

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Blockheads

I no longer have any faith that any effective health care policy will pass.

I'm baffled as to why I can not be covered by a public option. It ain't public if only 2 percent are eligible.

You know what 'freedom' really is? It is not having to work for a goddamn corporation in order to have health insurance.

But, then again, there are 3 types of lies: Lies, damn lies and statistics. - Twain.

Public Option Plan Will Cover Few Americans, New Statistic Reveals:

"WASHINGTON — What's all the fuss about? After all the noise over Democrats' push for a government insurance plan to compete with private carriers, coverage numbers are finally in: Two percent.

That's the estimated share of Americans younger than 65 who'd sign up for the public option plan under the health care bill that Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., is steering toward House approval."

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Jesus-Fucking-Christ.

I'll be cool with this if these 'prayer healings' are the ONLY type of health care Christians get to receive. I'll pay for that. Damn right.

Healthcare provision seeks to embrace prayer treatments -- latimes.com:

"little-noticed measure would put Christian Science healing sessions on the same footing as clinical medicine. Critics say it violates the separation of church and state."

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Enjoy, douche. And Welcome.

Think Progress � Former McCain adviser nervous about moving into the individual health insurance market he once touted.:

"Douglas Holtz-Eakin, a senior policy adviser to Sen. John McCain’s (R-AZ) presidential campaign, “remains unemployed — and his COBRA health coverage is running out,” the Washington Post reports. “Irony of ironies, it gets worse. Holtz-Eakin, who is about to start shopping for insurance on the individual market, is 51. And he has one of those pesky ‘preexisting conditions’ that insurance companies often cite in denying coverage”:

Holtz-Eakin said he’s been paying about $1,000 a month to extend the private health insurance he received on McCain’s campaign through the government’s COBRA program, but that will expire in a few months. This is the first time in his life he has not had employer-provided health coverage. “I worry about where I go next in the way many Americans do,” he said."

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Some goodness... but not near enough. These were the gimmes that come with winning the office. Too be expected.

Democrats' Quiet Changes Pile Up - WSJ.com:

"Rep. Tom Price (R., Ga.), a conservative leader in the House, concedes that, in some cases, Republicans are being outflanked. 'The administration is pushing so many things so rapidly it's difficult to concentrate on all of them,' he said."

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You raised one of these 'extreme blockheads', asshole.

Nice work.

Gorbachev: Bush 41 called Reagan ‘extreme,’ said GOP supporters ‘blockheads’ :

"Vice President George H. W. Bush confided in Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev that he believed Ronald Reagan was an 'extreme conservative' supported by 'blockheads and dummies,' the former Soviet leader claims.

'In 1987, after my first visit to the United States, Vice President Bush accompanied me to the airport, and told me: 'Reagan is a conservative. An extreme conservative. All the blockheads and dummies are for him, and when he says that something is necessary, they trust him. But if some Democrat had proposed what Reagan did, with you, they might not have trusted him,'' Gorbachev said in an interview with The Nation."

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Well, well, well.

Report: Racy sex tape ends Prejean’s lawsuit against beauty pageant:

"Carrie Prejean, the dethroned Miss California 2009 who stirred up controversy by expressing her views against gay marriage, has dropped her lawsuit against the Miss California contest because of an 'extremely graphic' sex tape, says a report at the celebrity gossip site TMZ.

'Carrie Prejean demanded more than a million dollars during her settlement negotiations with Miss California USA Pageant officials -- that is, until the lawyer for the Pageant showed Carrie an XXX home video of her handiwork,' the Web site reported."

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Alcohol abuse.

A fork lift driver in Moscow was sampling too much of his own product when he drunkenly plowed his vehicle into the stock shelves of vodka and cognac in the storeroom where he worked. The result was a spectacular crash in which $150,000 worth of liquor rained down around him. Amazingly, he escaped with nothing but a leg injury. We doubt he can say the same for his job."

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Great News for Republicans

We'll start with the utter horseshit from the Villagers

Dems, incumbents get wake-up call - Yahoo! News:

Nothing of the sort, news media assholes.

Eschaton:

"Deep Thought

After tonight's elections results, Joe Biden must resign, Sarah Palin must be confirmed as his replacement, and then Barack Obama must resign. The people have spoken."

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The AP's only premise: What if Dems lose on Tuesday? | Media Matters for America:

"UPDATED: What's also astonishing, and this is absolutely ignored by the press, is that the NJ race is only close today becuase the GOP candidate has lost a double-digit lead in recent months. It's only close because the GOP candidate's campaign has imploded since the summertime. But the press doesn't care about that, or what that might say about the GOP. The press only cares if Dems lose."

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Great news for Republicans.

Democratic win in conservative district is first since 1871 | Raw Story:

"The Democratic victory for a retired Air Force captain was the first for Democrats since 1871."

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This seat, historically, has been Republican. Dems won it last cycle and again this time. But, somehow, this is great news for Republicans.

Democrat Garamendi Cruises in California 10 - Yahoo! News:

"Lt. Gov. John Garamendi kept California's 10th Congressional District in Democratic hands, easily winning the special election to fill an open seat."

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Excellent news for the teabaggers.

Breckenridge, Colorado voters legalize marijuana, paraphernalia | Raw Story:

"Voters in the ski resort town of Breckenridge, Colorado legalized marijuana and marijuana paraphernalia by a nearly three-to-one margin on Tuesday.

It is the first municipality in the United States to allow paraphernalia, such as pipes, bongs and bubblers.

'[The measure] passed 73 percent to 27 percent,' ABC 7 News in Denver reported."

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But there are lessons to be learned. I'm looking at your Creigh Deeds (Worse. Campaign. Ever)

Daily Kos: State of the Nation:

"by kos
Tue Nov 03, 2009 at 09:32:52 PM PST

There will be much number-crunching tomorrow, but preliminary numbers (at least in Virginia) show that GOP turnout remained the same as last year, but Democratic turnout collapsed. This is a base problem, and this is what Democrats better take from tonight:

1. If you abandon Democratic principles in a bid for unnecessary 'bipartisanship', you will lose votes.

2. If you water down reform in favor of Blue Dogs and their corporate benefactors, you will lose votes.

3. If you forget why you were elected -- health care, financial services, energy policy and immigration reform -- you will lose votes.

Tonight proved conclusively that we're not going to turn out just because you have a (D) next to your name, or because Obama tells us to. We'll turn out if we feel it's worth our time and effort to vote, and we'll work hard to make sure others turn out if you inspire us with bold and decisive action.

The choice is yours. Give us a reason to vote for you, or we sit home. And you aren't going to make up the margins with conservative voters. They already know exactly who they're voting for, and it ain't you."

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Bazooka vs. Spork comes to mind.

Bush, Clinton Debate At Radio City In February:

"Former presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush will go head to head in a debate at Radio City Music Hall next February, as part of a series pairing liberal and conservative thinkers called 'Minds That Move The World.'"

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Cool.

Star Pictures: NASA's Most Extraordinary Images EVER (PHOTOS, POLL)

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Smile

Fun, geeky way to pass some time today.

Daily Kos: Photo Tour of The Solar System (Part 1)

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It don't look pretty. And by 'worse case' I think they mean 'the only case'.

Losing Net Neutrality: What The Worse Case Scenario Looks Like:

"As we've previously discussed, Senator John McCain hates him some 'net neutrality.' And so, he's introducing the 'Internet Freedom Act of 2009,' that would give telecoms the 'freedom' to turn the 'internet' into a confounding and baffling ordeal that would suck, into infinity. Net neutrality, which McCain, inventor of the Blackberry, wants to do away with, would keep internet service providers from favoring some content packets over others. To borrow an example elucidated by Boing Boing's Xeni Jardin, net neutrality is what prevents Time Warner, a provider, from slowing or blocking access to MSNBC in favor of CNN.

What would life be like under the 'Internet Freedom Act?' Well, one Reddit user created an image that depicts the 'worst case scenario.'"

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Zogby has always been a crap poll, but, geez, come on. This isn't even attempting a dog whistle anymore. Just shouting it from the roof tops. 'The Sheriff is..... near'.

Zogby asks if FCC should force "good white people" to "make room for more African-Americans and gays." | Media Matters for America

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When you go to B.C. always check that you have your room key, your wallet and your feet with you at ALL TIMES, people.

Foot found on Richmond beach is seventh foot found on B.C. coast:

"RICHMOND - A right foot has been found inside a running shoe on a beach in Richmond, the seventh foot found along B.C.’s coast in two years, RCMP said Wednesday."

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Cool. If there's any water left, though.

Giant Crack in Africa Will Create a New Ocean | LiveScience:

"A 35-mile rift in the desert of Ethiopia will likely become a new ocean eventually, researchers now confirm.

The crack, 20 feet wide in spots, opened in 2005 and some geologists believed then that it would spawn a new ocean. But that view was controversial, and the rift had not been well studied.

A new study involving an international team of scientists and reported in the journal Geophysical Research Letters finds the processes creating the rift are nearly identical to what goes on at the bottom of oceans, further indication a sea is in the region's future."

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Don't worry. Be happy. Seriously. Be happy or else.

The Happiness Hat Will Spike Your Skull - Happiness hat - Gizmodo:

"This is the Happiness Hat. It detects whether or not you're smiling. If you aren't, it jabs you in the back of the head with a metal spike. Nothing makes people happier than sharp skull pain!"

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Yeah, riddle me this recent vegetarian who attempted to argue with me that meat was not necessary part of a diet. If a plant eats meat, then I can eat met. End of discussion. (with the caveat that sustainable farming is something we really need to work on. I'mma gonna eat meat. It just doesn't need to be shipped 2000 miles before I do).

11 Carnivorous Plants (PHOTOS)

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Blogger Sucks

The sky is blue, yadda yadda.

Blogger eats another post.

I really hate you sometimes, Blogger.

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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All Hallows' Eve - Halloween, Y'all

Get your Alabama I-ain't-sceert on with The Dexateens.

Spooky Alabama Goodness:

"Directed by Paul Hanninen
Produced by Elliott McPherson
On Halloween, 2008, the Dexateens traveled out to 'Old Bryce', the abandoned Jemison Mental Hospital on the outskirts of their hometown, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, in an attempt to conjure up whatever spirits might still lurk there.

They took their guitars, recording equipment, and a handful of songs.

Things did not go according to plan.

Part 1: In which we learn the history of the hospital, the band arrives at the hospital and performs, and plans go awry."



Part 2: In which a 2nd journey is proposed and carried out, another song is performed, and an unexplained encounter occurs.



Part 3: In which unexplained evidence is examined.



Excellent work, Dexateens!

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From one of the scariest places on earth comes on of the most hilarious commercials you'll ever see.

I would not want to be haunted by the Ghost of Robert Lee.

Via JennB.



The making of contains more high hilarity:

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Because Republicans are scary. Scary because it's truthy.

Obama's Declaration Of Swine Flu Emergency Prompts Pro-Swine-Flu Republican Response | The Onion - America's Finest News Source:

"WASHINGTON—Claiming that the president was preying on the public's fear of contracting a fatal disease last week when he declared the H1N1 virus a national emergency, Republican leaders announced Wednesday that they were officially endorsing the swine flu. 'Thousands of Americans—hardworking ordinary Americans like you and me—already have H1N1,' Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele said during a press conference. 'Now Obama wants to take that away from us. Ask yourself: Do you want the federal government making these kinds of health care decisions for you and your family?' Other prominent Republicans opposing Obama's declaration of emergency include Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal, who urged residents of his state to continue not washing their hands, and radio host Rush Limbaugh, who made a point of dying of the virus during his show on Wednesday"

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Oh, South Carolina. What would be do without thee.

Halloween in SC? Viagra, a few dildos, a stripper.... in a cemetery.

Police: Ex-SC lawmaker caught with stripper:

"A former South Carolina legislator has been fired from the state prosecutor's office after authorities say he was discovered in a Columbia cemetery with a stripper."

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Happy Halloween!

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Behind the Curtains

Was it 'dead' or was FAUX News (with Conrad and Faucus) trying to kill it?

Don't think for a second that it isn't the latter.

Perfect example of FAUX as a political organ and NOT a 'news' channel.



Even more:

List of Pundits who Declared the P.O. Dead (more added)

And of course, the biggest asshole in the land felt he wasn't getting enough attention.

He should be stripped of his committees, stripped of his seniority, then kicked out of the caucus.

We. Told. You. So.

Lieberman Says He’ll Filibuster Health Care Reform If Public Option Remains

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The Republican Party's National Slogan (with extra Rush douchiness)

So we stand by the fabricated quote because we know Obama thinks it anyway.

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CIA misled Congress five times since 2001, say Intel Dems - TheHill.com:

"The CIA misled Congress at least five times since 2001, according to Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee.

The Democrats said CIA officials had either lied or withheld information from Congress. They also said CIA officials did not fully inform Congress about the use of enhanced interrogation techniques during a September 2002 briefing, which would validate House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) claim that she was lied to about the program."

From May 14, 2009. See how is works? See the men pulling the strings?

Nancy Pelosi: CIA lied; Boehner: Who?: The Swamp:

"House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) held his own news conference afterward, and asserted that he strongly doubts that the CIA lied to anyone in Congress about interrogation tactics on which congressional leaders were fully briefed.

'I think the problem is that the speaker has had way too many stories on this issue,'' Boehner said today. 'She's posed more questions than she has provided answers...

'When you look at the number of briefings that the speaker was in, and other Democrat members of the House and Senate, it's.. pretty clear that they were well aware of what these enhanced interrogation techniques were,'' Boehner said. 'They were well aware that they had been used. And it seems to me that they want to have it both ways. You can't have it both ways.''"

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By all truthful estimates, not more than 60-70K. About the same as the recent gay rights march. But that one didn't get covered on FAUX, though.

Another Conservative attempt to rewrite history. They really do suck.

House Republicans Pander To Tea Party Movement With Frivolous Resolution Inflating 9/12 Protest Numbers

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Better Things to Do

I think maybe for the first time in my life time....

Progressive won a battle?!? Check that. Progressive finally decided to fight a battle?!?

Hopefully this snowballs and they won't crawl back into their shell.

But, kudos, progressives, kudos. More, please. And if you could do it on your own without the progressive blogosphere having to whip the crap out of you every time. My arms are tired.

Durbin: Progressives Forced Our Hand On Public Option:

"Democratic leaders were forced to include a national public health insurance option as part of health care reform by progressive Democratic senators who refused to support anything less, Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said on Monday."

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This is a cluster that best not be repeated with the health bill.

Dems put off the application of the sweeping credit card reform passed earlier this year until the beginning of next year. Plenty of time for CC companies to mightily screw consumers in the mean time.

If reform bills are passed, then they should apply on day one.

Dollars and Sense : Who's the real deadbeat -- you or the credit card company?:

"* Levying extra fees on card holders who pay off their balance every month

Yeah, you read that last one right: next year, Bank of America is going to start charging people who pay off their balance on time. It's no secret that credit card issuers hate people who don't carry a balance -- 'deadbeat' isn't a complimentary term -- but this really adds injury to insult. Given that most Americans can't establish a credit history without credit card activity, it seems like establishing or maintaining a good credit history just got a little more difficult"

Then, you won't have to do this. Glad Dodd is doing it, but this shouldn't even be an issue.

Reform starts on Day One.

Dodd introduces bill meant to freeze credit card interest rates immediately - The Hill's Blog Briefing Room

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A little too late Mr. Freedom Fries.

CongressDaily - Atonement

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President McCain, I'm sure, will be on all of the Sunday blathering head shows to explain why consumer protection is teh suck.

It should be very apparent that with anything the Dems try to attempt, the Repubs will paint it as 'Gov't control'.

It is not like the telecoms don't have a monopoly as is.

McCain introduces bill to block Net neutrality | Raw Story:

"Republican strategy is to paint Net neutrality as government 'control' of Internet

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) introduced a bill in the Senate on Thursday that would effectively allow Internet service providers to slow down or block Internet content or applications of their choosing.

The move came the same day as the federal government decided to move forward on an official Net neutrality policy that would prevent ISPs from making those types of decisions.

The FCC's new rules would prevent ISPs, for example, from blocking or slowing bandwidth-hogging Web traffic such as streaming video or other applications that put a strain on their networks or from charging different rates to users.

McCain's bill, the Internet Freedom Act, would block the Federal Communications Commission from making Net neutrality the law of the land. The rule preventing ISPs from slowing down certain types of content would create 'onerous federal regulation,' McCain argued in a written statement."

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Torture porn loving arseholes.

Though, what a great comeback.

Revealed: Like McCain, Bush is ‘Jack Bauer kind of guy’ | Raw Story:

"The actor [said], 'He grabbed me at a baseball game in the US. A big guy came up to me and said, 'Excuse me, the President would like to speak with you.' I went over, and it was George W. Bush, and he said 'Hey Carlos, when are you coming out of that coma? All I can do is watch that show of yours. Are you coming back?' I was like, 'You don't have anything better to do?'"

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Because Jesus loves mountain top removal, poison water and polluted air.

That's how J-dog rolls. It is true. Corinthians 7-11.

Sen. Graham: ‘We need to use the coal that God has given us’ :

"Senator Lindsay Graham (R-SC) has announced that he is willing to support some form of climate change legislation, but only if the current Kerry-Boxer bill is overhauled to look a lot more like a traditional Republican program of energy independence.

'There will be no climate change bill with my vote unless you have offshore oil drilling,' Graham told Fox News on Thursday. 'I won't vote for any climate change bill that doesn't allow a dramatic increase in nuclear power. I'm not going to vote for any climate change bill that doesn't allow us to use our coal deposits.'"

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Que Jimmy Hendrix guitar solo.

Inside The Tripper's Brain: Scientists Create 3D Maps Of Brains On Drugs (VIDEO)

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Balloon Shrinkage

This is heart breaking. I grew up here.

Such a great, and old golf course. So many vivid memories.

Alas, even if it is bought it looks as if the course will be lost forever.

Sad day.

Florence Golf and Country Club, I hope ye shall remain somehow.

Country club up for sale | TimesDaily.com | Florence, AL:

"But its golf history is certainly unsurpassed in the Shoals.

According to Ross, the state's second oldest country club has produced around 80 golf scholarships.

And Stewart Cink, the reigning British Open Champion, grew up playing the course. He's donated money to the club in the past and is part of the ownership group.

During better times, the club sported more than 500 members and held one of the most popular invitational golf tournaments in the area."

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They really just can't stand having a black prez.

So desperate they'll believe anything:

Fake Obama Thesis Story Goes Viral, Because Of Stupidity:

"Okay, let's get you up to speed on the incredibly true story about how a bunch of right-wingers got taken in by some satiric blog post on Barack Obama's college thesis, written ages ago, and frantically presented it as real.

Months ago, some blogger crafted a fake news story about how Time Magazine's Joe Klein had obtained ten pages of a thesis written by Barack Obama, in which he wrote about how the Constitution was 'inherently flawed.'"

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The Obama administration is either genius how they are playing this, or shockingly incompetent/evil.

For the life of me, I can't figure out which, which makes me lean a bit towards the first option.

However, if the final bill does not contain a strong, no trigger, PO on day one, then there is no reform.

Sources: White House Pushing Back Against Senate Public Option Opt Out Compromise | TPMDC:

"Multiple sources tell TPMDC that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is very close to rounding up 60 members in support of a public option with an opt out clause, and are continuing to push skeptical members. But they also say that the White House is pushing back against the idea, in a bid to retain the support of Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME).

'They're skeptical of opt out and are generally deferential to the Snowe strategy that involves the trigger,' said one source close to negotiations between the Senate and the White House. 'they're certainly not calming moderates' concerns on opt out.'

This new development, which casts the White House as an opponent of all but the most watered down form of public option, is likely to yield backlash from progressives, especially those in the House who have been pushing for a more maximal version of reform."

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When Democrats Attack.

No with more Awsum!

Rep. Alan Grayson Grills Republican Congressman On Constitutionality Of Anti-ACORN Crusade

Watch Franken slice and dice the nice wingnut lady (updated w/transcript)

Pelosi Calls Out Tenther Reporter: ‘Are You Serious?’:

"CNSNews.com: “Madam Speaker, where specifically does the Constitution grant Congress the authority to enact an individual health insurance mandate?”

Pelosi: “Are you serious? Are you serious?”

Listen here:

Pelosi is right to be dismissive of the fringe right-wing theory behind this question, which has no basis in the Constitution itself. Article I of the Constitution gives Congress the power “[t]o regulate commerce…among the several states” as well as the authority to “make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution” its power to regulate commerce.-Een ultra-conservative Justice Antonin Scalia acknowledges that these constitutional provisions give Congress sweeping authority to enact laws that regulate “economic activity.”"

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All too often I feel exactly the same.

Balloon Juice � Blog Archive � Not for the Weak Stomached:

"This is the stupidest country in the world. Bring on President Palin. We deserve her."

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Shrinkage.

Men who voted for McCain saw testosterone drop: study | Raw Story

: "WASHINGTON — Men who voted for Republican John McCain in last year's US presidential election saw their testosterone levels fall significantly when they learned he had lost to Barack Obama, a study showed Thursday."

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You think Compton would be a tough place to live? Sheeeeet, it ain't got nothing on livin' in the NorCal.

I almost spilled a little wine when I read this.

Hot Air Balloon Hits Bicyclist On Napa Road - cbs5.com:

The California Highway Patrol was at the scene of an accident involving a bicyclist and a hot air balloon in unincorporated Napa County.

The incident was first reported at about 9:30 a.m. on Henry Road at Dealy Lane west of Napa, near the Napa-Sonoma county line.

CHP Officer John Short said the bicyclist had possibly suffered a shattered ankle and lacerations to the neck, nose and hands. He did not have any other details on the incident."

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