Shallow musings

We haven't seen the last of Lou Dobbs.

I know it's not Memorial Day, still...

I wear the black in mournin' for the lives that could have been,
Each week we lose a hundred fine young men.

And, I wear it for the thousands who have died,
Believen' that the Lord was on their side,
I wear it for another hundred thousand who have died,
Believen' that we all were on their side.

The new face of dangerous ignorance: Just look at him for a while

Feel Good Friday: Prisencolinen Sinainciusol Edition

Don't ask me what this is, your guess is as good as mine.

A Moment of Zen

No major incidents reported overnight in West Tennessee, according to local officials.

[Jackson Sun]

Thank God.

Media beginning to see the insurance forest

Finally we're beginning to see at least some reporting about the insurance industry's anti-trust exemption. This is something you'd have thought we'd have heard more about in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. But instead the talking heads kept us all feuding with "he said she said" reporting on things like "wind vs. water" which had nothing to do with what was really happening.

I tried to make a little noise, at least.

Pig Radio R00Lz

No, I'm not talking about EIB Lying Nazi Pig radio. I'm talking about 96.1, The Pig, Memphis' best new radio station. 

This morning on my way to work, I heard Magic Man, Sweet Transvestite, two New Wave songs from the 80s I haven't heard in years, Love Me Tender, and Marvin Gaye singing the National Anthem so beautifully, it made me proud to be an American in ways Lee Greenwood could only dream of. Notice anything strange about this? It's music. On the radio. During the morning drive. Instead of two guys sitting around telling dick jokes and monkey stories. Like beer in bottles, it's Brilliant!

Over the last few days, I've heard rock, reggae, funk, soul, blues, and country, all on the same radio station. Imagine that! I've heard at least a dozen songs I've never heard before. I've heard songs I knew but forgot I knew. I've heard Patsy Cline, I've heard Up Against the Wall Redneck Mother, I've heard You Dropped a Bomb on Me, I've even heard the hilarious reggae Frayser Man.

I hope they make enough money to hang around for a while, because they are a refreshing change to the Memphis airwaves at a time when nothing seems to change and stations seem to play the same 40 songs at the same time in the same order. I only hope they don't change their unpolished, college-radio style. It is truly a delight. I'm actually listening to the radio again, and that is damn near worth notifying the Vatican.

Weird Wingnut Obsessions

Someone please explain to me why people who own businesses know more than people who don't own businesses?

Does the Vaccine Matter? - The Atlantic (November 2009)#

Does the Vaccine Matter? - The Atlantic (November 2009)#

Shared via AddThis

Thinking about Afghanistan

So I just read this piece about how if the US & NATO pull out of Afghanistan, Russia and China will rush in and be unfriendly to American interests.

I could be wrong, but I don't think Russia's chomping at the bit to repeat their inglorious Afghan adventure. And I can't imagine China wanting to push the US & Russians together the way the Russians once pushed the US & China together.

Of course I don't pretend to be an expert on any of this.

Thinking out loud...

You know, Osama Bin Laden's a prince. I'm no intel guru but I'd bet $18 American that he's not in Afghanistan or Pakistan, but in some cozy little palace in Saudi Arabia.

What Digby said... maybe.

So there are some interesting and polite healthcare protests going on but nobody in the media is showing up to cover them. I don't think I buy this theory entirely and have to wonder how good the protesters' PR skills are. These sound exactly like the kind of think I'd cover, or if I couldn't, that I'd shop around the office until I found somebody who could. But then again, I work for a locally-owned weekly not some big media giant, and nothing I break* ever gets any attention.

I really can't imagine that no media is interested in telling these stories.

*and before anybody says anything to the contrary, yes, I broke fistbumpgate. Via twitter.

Put People to Work

That is all.

BEST BLOG POST TITLE EVER

Ladies & gentlemen, The Death Penalty.

The first, last, and only word on the bullshit commonly called the healthcare debate

Southern Beale says a mouthful. And I say Amen.