Senators Know the Importance of This Vote

This is one vote the Democrat's 2008 hopefuls know they need to attend. This non-binding resolution on Iraq will be a key to the Presidential debates in '08, where they will be able to say they voted for a resolution about Iraq.

Is the vote meaningless? Yes. But it's an all-important vote as potential candidates study polls intensely to help them choose what position on the Iraqui conflict will garner more votes in '08.

Many important decisions were made in '05 in preparation for the '06 elections. The goal? To promote the following talking points:

1. It's not a War on Terror - it's just a war in Iraq. Issues related to Al-Qaeda, Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Pakistan, Palestine, Israel, 9/11 - comPLETEly unrelated
2. Bush (and any Republican even loosely associated with Bush) is responsible for the war in Iraq
3. Bush lied about WMDs

Getting people to believe those three points may have seemed like an impossible task, but considering that many voters already sincerely believe that the Government is covering up information about aliens and UFOs, it's not really such a stretch.

Amazingly, a large percentage of voters now believe points 1, 2, and 3, as gospel truth. With the crucial '08 elections only 21 months off, it's important that the public sees that the Democrats in the House and Senate have been busy talking and voting on stuff, because once the debates come up, it'll be very important to be able to cite what various candidates voted on and talked about. Meanwhile, Bush (and any Republican even loosely associated with Bush) can continue to shoulder responsibility for the War on Terror illegal invasion of Iraq, unless by some amazing miracle, the new government in Iraq starts to stabilize, in which case it'll be important to jump on the bandwagon and find times when candidates said things in support of the War on Terror. Important decisions made now to stop funding the troops could help to ensure that this won't happen.

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Necessity is the Okaa-san of invention.

Milk surpluses in Japan and declining consumption gave one entrepreneur the idea: BILK. Beer + Milk! It does a body good.

Could I get some milk in my beer, please?

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Tim Hardaway Comes Out of the Closet

It was time for former NBA star Tim Hardaway to finally come out... and say it. He's a homophobe.

"You know, I hate gay people, so I let it be known. I don't like gay people and I don't like to be around gay people. I am homophobic. I don't like it. It shouldn't be in the world or in the United States."

Hardaway should be thankful he's not running for political office.

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Hello - this is your blog calling.

Imagine picking up the phone, and being greeted by a computer/blog asking your opinions, and, by the way, if you want to leave verbal comments, they could appear on the blog as well. It's already happening according to Business Week's Stephen Baker who received a call from Barista.net, soliciting his opinion regarding a local hotel.

Listen blog, how about if I call you back?

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Here's a driver who does not litter

It may have been tempting, but no trash was going to be thrown out of this lady's car window. This is one case where I might recommend getting a large SUV, because this Ford Focus is clearly just running out of room!

The trash caused a minor accident when some coffee cups fell onto the gas and brake pedals, making it difficult to drive. Turns out the owner suffers from OC disorder, and has an issue with hording, not only in her car, but her home as well. Police are offering to help the lady overcome this difficult situation.


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Dixie Chicks Long Road of Great Suffering has Finally Come to an End

It has been four long grueling years for the Chicks since the American music-buying public had the audacity to stop wanting to hear their recordings. Forced to gut it out living simply on the royalty checks from their previous best-selling recordings Home and Wide Open Spaces, the Chicks managed to eke out an existence going from magazine cover to TV commercial to finally getting hired as the house band for the Democratic Party.

By taking the top 5 major awards at this year's Grammy Awards, the Chicks are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Acknowledging the amount of suffering her husband and children endured, Emily Robison thanked them for hanging tough through the hard times. Although they're still not sure how they'll be able to pay for their next meal, it's at least comforting to know that the Recording Academy feels sorry for them.

The Chicks have begun working on their next CD already - a recording which will focus on why their music deserves to get more air play on college radio, and the pain they've gone through dealing with the disorganized PR schema of that medium.

Dixie Chicks Had a Record Out This Year?

OK - as a musician I can tell you the buzz all year came as a result of John Mayer's new recordings. Continuum is a solid, special recording, and I didn't run into one musician all year who was buzzing about any Dixie Chicks record. I guess the Dixie Chicks did have a recording out this year... something I first learned of this evening at the Grammys. But the amount of awards they won tonight was obscene. Did it have anything to do with music?















Anyway - the Mayer recordings will be the ones influencing guitarists, bassists, drummers, and songwriters for years to come. The Dixie Chicks record was politically inspiring to some folks, but I thought they looked like the "Ridiculous Chicks" tonight. What's with the Cocktail party dress, playing a strat? Am I supposed to take this seriously? Apparently I am - the "Academy" says so anyways. Even the Dixie Chicks knew that their awards were more about making a "statement" than they were about music.

Don't get me wrong. The Dixie Chicks are a solid professional act. I can see booking them in Branson or maybe Vegas. But you can't seriously expect me to believe theirs was the best album of 2006?!

Props to John Legend, The Police, Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts, Mary J Blige, John Mayer, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Beyonce, Gnarls Barkley, and Christina Aguilera, (among others) who all gave incredible performances at this year's Grammys. The Dixie Chicks? Not so much.