armagideon timez

I said this about the Big Apple in 1995 -- it IS true...

2006-06-20T23:27:00.000-06:00

New York Ranks #1 Out Of 35 Major Cities Around the Globe in an Unprecedented Global Courtesy Test

PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. -- Although New Yorkers may sometimes enjoy their global reputation for gruffness, Reader's Digest has found that the Big Apple is tops in courtesy when measured against other big cities around the world.

From Toronto, Mexico City and London, to Johannesburg, Mumbai and Moscow, Reader's Digest sent out undercover reporters in 35 cities -- half of them men, half of them women -- to assess the politeness of their citizens. Points were awarded for polite responses, and the results for each city were tallied and compared.

In each location the magazine carried out the following three tests:

* Reporters walked into public buildings behind people to see if they
would hold the door open for them.

* The reporters bought small items from stores and recorded whether the
sales assistants said "thank you."

* A folder full of papers was dropped in busy locations to see if anyone
would help pick them up.

New York, Zurich and Toronto rated as the top three cities worldwide. The Reader's Digest Global Courtesy Test showed that beneath that gruff exterior, New Yorkers really are a polite bunch: 90% held the door open, 19 out of 20 store clerks said "thank you," and 63% of men and 47% of women helped with the papers. In total, four out of every five people encountered by Reader's Digest passed the courtesy test -- making New York the most courteous city on the list.

While not a strict scientific survey, the Reader's Digest Global Courtesy Test is the world's biggest real-life test of common courtesy, with more than 2,000 tests of actual behavior, and it provides a fascinating snapshot of behavior in the countries tested.

Among the more surprising global results: younger adults -- the under-40s -- were more courteous than the over-40s; men were more polite to men and women more polite to other women.

The region that most lacked courtesy was Asia, where eight out of nine cities tested finished in the bottom 11. In Europe, Moscow and Bucharest ranked as the least polite cities. When a woman failed to hold a door in Moscow, she replied, "I'm not a doorman. It's not my job to hold doors. If someone gets hurt, they should be quicker on their feet."

According to the Reader's Digest reporters in the field, the most common reason people cited for being kind to others was their upbringing. "It's the way I was raised," said one Brooklyn woman.

World of Courtesy: Ranking of 35 Cities

Below is a ranking of the most courteous to the least courteous -- 35 major cities included in RD's Global Courtesy Test. Figures reflect the percentage of people who passed in each city. When multiple cities had identical scores, they are listed in alphabetical order.

New York --USA 80%
Zurich --Switzerland 77
Toronto --Canada 70
Berlin --Germany 68
São Paulo --Brazil 68
Zagreb --Croatia 68
Auckland --New Zealand 67
Warsaw --Poland 67
Mexico City --Mexico 65
Stockholm --Sweden 63
Budapest --Hungary 60
Madrid --Spain 60
Prague --Czech Republic 60
Vienna --Austria 60
Buenos Aires --Argentina 57
Johannesburg --South Africa 57
Lisbon --Portugal 57
London --United Kingdom 57
Paris --France 57
Amsterdam --Netherlands 52
Helsinki --Finland 48
Manila --Philippines 48
Milan --Italy 47
Sydney --Australia 47
Bangkok --Thailand 45
Hong Kong -- 45
Ljubljana --Slovenia 45
Jakarta --Indonesia 43
Taipei --Taiwan 43
Moscow --Russia 42
Singapore -- 42
Seoul --South Korea 40
Kuala Lumpur --Malaysia 37
Bucharest --Romania 35
Mumbai --India 32

I just remember before leaving, when I told people [in the South] that I was taking a trip to NYC , I heard nothing good about it.

"Watch yer wallet" -- "Try not to get mugged" -- and most of all: "Enjoy the rude people"

When I was there it was nothing short of amazing how nice everyone was, on top of the fact that it's the coolest place anyway. I could not wait to tell the same folks how wrong they were, only to find out that most had never been anyway. Typical of the Southern culture , just scared of the unknown, and pre-judging stuff they know nothing about. I believe it was then that I knew I had to get out of the "quaint little southern towns" and the South in general... the overwhelming negativeness and bigotry, and find a big city to call home. Denver, for Me, is that city. While no where near as "Off the Hook!" as NYC, it does have all the perks of a big city, and all the nice & polite people that come with that. Perhaps some day I'll be lucky enough to live in the heart of the world, but for now: A Mile High ain't too shabby.

Panhandling Out of Control in Denver

2006-06-12T07:31:00.000-06:00

The citizens of Denver give over $4.5 million annually to panhandlers. In a recent survey, 42% of Denver adults gave money to panhandlers in the last year. People understandably give to panhandlers who look hungry, not realizing that much of the money given to them is spent on cigarettes, alcohol and drugs. By providing a regular supply of money to panhandlers, we further enable and encourage that lifestyle.

Downtown Denver Business Improvement District, in cooperation with Denver's Commission to End Homelessness is asking the community to redirect temporary handouts on the streets to organizations that are making a real difference, and to invest in long-term solutions. Next time you feel compelled to give, go to Denversroadhome.org. Your contribution, no matter how small, will bring about significant change, through job training, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, proper mental and general health care, food and housing. Together, we can make change for the better.

The more you know about panhandling, the more you can choose to help in ways that make a difference.

Individuals who panhandle are not always homeless

When asked for spare change, it's OK to politely say "no" or "sorry."

Many people who panhandle suffer from drug and alcohol additions, and giving spare change often sustains those addictions.

Aggressive panhandling, such as touching, pestering or the use of threatening gestures or language, is illegal. If you feel endangered, see out a police officer or call the Denver Police non-emergency hotline at 720-913-2000.

Go to Denversroadhome.org and we'll direct you to ways you can donate and volunteer. You'll also learn more about the 10-year plan to end homelessness in Denver. The people in need in our community appreciate your help.

Here are just a few ways your re-directed donations will really make change for the better:

$625 Provides a homeless family with food, shelter, clothing, employment assistance, and case management for one month

$216 Provides 10 days of transitional housing for an individual or family who is homeless

$75 Provides a night of shelter and support services for a victim of domestic violence

$15 Provides a meal for 10 homeless individuals

A MESSAGE FROM MAYOR JOHN HICKENLOOPER

Smarter and better government involves strategic investments that deliver maximum results with limited resources. That is the principle behind Denver's Road Home. Our approach focuses on both accountability and services, balancing compassion with results. Through transitional housing, counseling, treatment services and employment training, we will decrease the cost of homelessness while giving people the tools to become self-sufficient.

In order for our plan to work, however, everyone has to do their part. Mile High United Way and the human service agencies already at work in our community are bringing their skills and assets to the table, building on hundreds of years of experience. We’re asking these agencies to find innovative ways to serve homeless and at-risk individuals and families. Denver’s faith-based institutions are committed to this plan as well. We’re asking every place of worship to embrace at least one homeless family. We’re asking homeless individuals to work with their case managers to find a job and pay at least part of their rent. We’re asking corporations and foundations to invest in the future of our community. Now we’re asking for your help as well.

GiveABetterWay.org

Today in Rock History... [06.11]

2006-06-11T08:29:00.000-06:00

1949 -- ZZ Top drummer Frank Beard - the one with the sensible facial hair - is born in Frankston, Texas.

1958 -- Eddie Cochran releases Summertime Blues in the US

1964 -- The Rolling Stones hold a press conference on Chicago's Michigan Avenue. It ends when the police arrive to break it up.

1965 -- Janis Joplin debuts with Big Brother and the Holding Company at San Francisco’s Avalon Ballroom, where they become the house band.

1965 -- The Rolling Stones record Got Live If You Want It during a concert at London's Royal Albert Hall... Well, not entirely. Several numbers were "added" to the record with overdubbed audience noise.

1966 -- The European media report that the Who's Roger Daltrey has been killed in a car accident, Confusing reports of a minor accident involving Pete Townshend.

1966 -- The Rolling Stones reach #1 with "Paint It Black".

1968 -- London's Olympic Studio catches fire while the Rolling Stones are there recording Beggars Banquet.

1969 -- Always with his eye on the main chance, David Bowie releases his single "Space Oddity" to cash in on this month's Apollo 11 lunar landing.

1976 -- Wild Cherry release their sublimely daffy single "Play That Funky Music."

1977 -- Bob Marley's Exodus hits the UK charts

1979 -- Chuck Berry pleads guilty to income tax evasion and is sentenced to four months in prison.

1989 -- Joined by new members Warren Haynes (guitar) and Allen Woody (bass), a recharged Allman Brothers Band hits the road.

1995 -- Courtney Love is hospitalized in Seattle after experiencing "a bad reaction to prescription medicine."

1996 -- Rockabilly hero Carl Perkins gets his own slab of pavement on Hollywood's Rock Walk.

Jack W. Catt

2006-06-10T17:02:00.000-06:00

A black bear picked the wrong yard for a jaunt, running into a territorial tabby who ran the furry beast up a tree — twice.

Jack, a 15-pound orange and white cat, keeps a close vigil on his property, often chasing small animals, but his owners and neighbors say his latest escapade was surprising.

"We used to joke, 'Jack's on duty,' never knowing he'd go after a bear," owner Donna Dickey told The Star-Ledger of Newark for Friday's editions.

Neighbor Suzanne Giovanetti first spotted Jack's accomplishment after her husband saw a bear climb a tree on the edge of their northern New Jersey property on Sunday. Giovanetti thought Jack was simply looking up at the bear, but soon realized the much larger animal was afraid of the hissing cat.

After about 15 minutes, the bear descended and tried to run away, but Jack chased it up another tree.

Dickey, who feared for her cat, then called Jack home and the bear scurried back to the woods.

"He doesn't want anybody in his yard," Dickey said.

Bear sightings are not unusual in West Milford, which experts consider one of the state's most bear-populated areas.

Dubbya: "Not MY Problem!"

2006-06-10T07:09:00.000-06:00

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The former emergency management chief who quit amid widespread criticism over his handling of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina said he received an e-mail before his resignation stating President Bush was glad to see the Oval Office had dodged most of the criticism.

Michael Brown, former director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said Friday that he received the e-mail five days before his resignation from a high-level White House official whom he declined to identify.

The e-mail stated that Bush was relieved that Brown -- and not Bush or Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff -- was bearing the brunt of the flak over the government's handling of Katrina.

The September 2005 e-mail reads: "I did hear of one reference to you, at the Cabinet meeting yesterday. I wasn't there, but I heard someone commented that the press was sure beating up on Mike Brown, to which the president replied, 'I'd rather they beat up on him than me or Chertoff.' "

The sender adds, "Congratulations on doing a great job of diverting hostile fire away from the leader."

CNN has been unable to verify the authenticity of the e-mail, but the White House designation "eop.gov" is part of the sender's e-mail address, indicating it came from the Executive Office of the President.

A White House spokesperson said in an e-mail to CNN: "This is an old rumor that surfaced months ago and we're not commenting on it. This story has already been reported and I have heard nothing at all that would substantiate it."
The e-mail was provided to CNN on the condition that the sender's name be redacted. Brown said only that the sender was a "good friend of the president," who has been with the president "a long time."

Brown said did he, too, considers the sender a friend.
While acknowledging that part of a political appointee's job is to "take the sword" for the president, Brown said he has grown weary of Chertoff making him a scapegoat for FEMA's failures in the wake of Katrina.

"I'm not willing to take that sword for Michael Chertoff," Brown said.

"I'm frankly getting tired of Chertoff out there, every time he testifies, talking about how Brown didn't do this or that," Brown said. "As long as Chertoff continues to criticize me, I think we need to recognize that I was doing everything I needed to do down there."

Brown also reiterated an earlier call for the resignation of Chertoff, whom he said suffers from "political tone deafness." Brown suggested that despite announcements to the contrary, FEMA is not prepared for the 2006 hurricane season, which began June 1.

"I want the White House in general, in particular Michael Chertoff, to stop dragging me through the mud every time the issue of FEMA comes up," he said. "There's a lot of things that need to be done to fix FEMA and continuing to throw that at me is not going to solve anything."
Brown's attorney, Andy Lester, who first wrote about the e-mail in the conservative weekly publication Human Events, said the White House was handling the situation in "a cowardly way."

"What the White House was actually doing was taking some stories that got started in the media and pushing them and pushing them until everything got diverted to Mike," Lester said. "Mike Brown was being made the scapegoat."

Continuing Yesterday'z Theme

2006-06-07T09:25:00.000-06:00

Top Ten Signs It May Be The Apocalypse

10. Gas is now $6.66 a gallon

9. Earlier today George W. Bush correctly pronounced "Apocalypse"

8. The minute you finish washing your car, it starts raining, am I right, people? You know what I'm talking about?

7. On tonight's "Anderson Cooper 360," his head spun around 360 degrees

6. At lunch my alphabet soup spelled, "eat it"

5. People are actually buying a razor with five blades

4. Two words: Governor Schwarzenegger

3. While getting dressed, you discover pitchfork marks on your ass

2. Kenny Rogers knows when to hold'em and fold'em, but not when to walk away from plastic surgery

...and #1. The Mets are in first place.

Solving Three Problems Easily

2006-06-06T15:45:00.000-06:00

1. -- Dig a moat the length of the Mexican border.

2. -- Take the dirt and raise all the levees in New Orleans.

3. -- Put those Florida alligators in the moat.

Any other problems you'd like me to solve?

Today in Rock History... special bad luck 6/6/6 edition

2006-06-06T08:10:00.000-06:00

1960 -- Widdlywiddlywiddlywiddlywiddlywiddlywiddly-SCREECH! Yes, the devil's own guitar shredder Steve Vai is born today in Long Island, N.Y.

1964 -- On the American singles chart, the Beatles' "P.S. I Love You" goes to No. 10. But in today's music trade papers, an anonymous advertisement declares, "In the public interest, watch the Rolling Stones crush the Beatles!" Sympathy for the devil himself !

1968 -- The Rolling Stones add new lyrics to their forthcoming single "Sympathy for the Devil" referring to the recent assassination of Robert Kennedy.

1975 -- Pink Floyd fly to America for a tour. It would end in disaster when an addled Roger Waters spits on the audience. He later records The Wall in an attempt to exorcise his demons.

1977 -- The Doobie Brothers pioneer the Fairway to Heaven format with a Golf Classic and Concert (to benefit the United Way) , a hell-ish combination of DinoRock AND Golf.

1987 -- After the religious sect expresses much disapproval over his behavior, Michael Jackson officially severs his ties with the Jehovah's Witnesses. So don't expect to see him knocking on your door... unless you have a pre-teen son. Muah ha ha ha ha

1991 -- Sax great Stan Getz dies in Malibu, Calif.

2003 -- A fan is electrocuted while walking walking barefoot on a wet concrete stairway and dies at a Red Hot Chili Peppers/Snoop Dogg concert at Charlottesville, Va.

2003 -- Officials at Six Flags in Darien Lakes, N.Y., ban the Devil's own son Marilyn Manson's Ozzfest appearance in August. The amusement park invoked a contract clause that allows them to restrict artists from performing.

2003 -- Dave Rowberry, keyboardist with '60s hitmakers the Animals ("House of the Rising Sun"), is found dead in his East London flat. He was 62.

2004 -- ZZ Top are nearly swept offstage by a rainstorm at Eric Clapton's Crossroads Festival in Dallas. Other performers include James Taylor, Santana, John Mayer, and Robert Randolph, as well as Clapton himself.

06/06/06 . . . Welcome to HELL, kidz!!!

2006-06-06T07:37:00.000-06:00

HELL, Michigan -- They're planning a hot time in Hell on Tuesday.

The day bears the date of 6-6-06, or abbreviated as 666 -- a number that carries hellish significance.

And there's not a snowball's chance in Hell that the day will go unnoticed in the unincorporated hamlet 60 miles west of Detroit.

Nobody is more fired up than John Colone, the town's self-styled mayor and owner of a souvenir shop.

"I've got `666' T-shirts and mugs. I'm only ordering 666 (of the items) so once they're gone, that's it," said Colone, also known as Odum Plenty. "Everyone who comes will get a letter of authenticity saying you've celebrated June 6, 2006, in Hell."

Most of Colone's wares will sell for $6.66, including deeds to one square inch of Hell.
Live entertainment and a costume contest are planned. The Gates of Hell should be installed at a children's play area in time for the festivities.

"They're 8 feet tall and 5 foot wide and each gate looks like flames, and when they're closed, it's a devil's head," Colone told The Detroit News for a Saturday story.

Mike "Smitty" Hickey, owner of the Dam Site Inn, wasn't sure what kind of clientele would show up Tuesday.

"We're all about having fun here. I don't think we're going to get the cult crowd, the devil worshippers or anything like that," said Hickey, whose bar's signature concoction is the Bloody Devil, a variant of the Bloody Mary.

Colone, meanwhile, has been in touch with radio stations as far away as San Diego and Seattle that are raffling off trips to Hell in honor of 6-6-6.

The 666 revelry is just the latest chapter in the town's storied history of publicity stunts, said Jason LeTeff, one of its 72 year-round residents -- or, as the mayor calls them, Hellions or Hell-billies. But LeTeff wasn't particularly enthused.

"Now, here I am living in Hell, taking my kids to church and trying to teach them the right things and the town where we live is having a 6-6-6 party," he said.

According to the town's semiofficial Web site, there are two leading theories about how Hell got its name.

The first holds that a pair of German travelers stepped out of a stagecoach one sunny afternoon in the 1830s, and one said to the other, "So schoene hell" -- roughly translated as, "So bright and beautiful." Their comments were overheard by some locals and the name stuck.

The second holds that George Reeves was asked after Michigan gained statehood what he thought the town he helped settle should be called, and reportedly replied, "I don't care, you can name it Hell if you want to." The name became official on October 13, 1841.

'Bout Time Seattle...

2006-05-31T06:24:00.000-06:00

(Seattle, WA - May 25, 2006) - It may have taken nearly 36 years, but Seattle finally appears to be set to honor the music, artistry and legacy of Jimi Hendrix with the naming of a new park near Seattle's historic Colman School in the heart of the Central District. During meetings on May 22, Seattle's City Council recommended naming the new park after Jimi Hendrix, with the final decision resting in the hands of Seattle Parks and Recreation Superintendent Ken Bounds. "There's a saying that prophets are not recognized in their time. It's long overdue," says Janie Hendrix, President & CEO of Experience Hendrix, L.L.C..

Apart from a few privately funded memorials and a Proclamation by then-Mayor Norman B. Rice that November 27, 1992 be declared Jimi Hendrix Day in the city of Seattle, nothing official has ever been done to recognize Jimi Hendrix's immense accomplishments. "This recognition is long overdue," explains Council Member Jean Godden (sponsor of the council resolution). "The city of Seattle has yet to establish a fitting tribute to honor the significant historical and cultural contributions of Jimi Hendrix, one of our most famous native sons." The new Jimi Hendrix Park will be situated next to Colman School (2300 S. Massachusetts Street) in Seattle's Central District; the same area that a young Jimmy Hendrix grew up in. The property also sits adjacent to the new Northwest African American Museum at the Urban League Village, which is set to open up next year.

In addition to the park naming, Michael Malone of AEI Music has agreed to relocate his life-size bronzed statue of Jimi Hendrix to the new park. Malone's tribute to Jimi Hendrix currently sits outside of his business at 900 East Pine Street and is part of the company's Music Legends Collection, which also includes Jimi's 1970 Sunburst Stratocaster (AKA, the Electric Lady studio guitar). The Jimi Hendrix Park will join previous privately funded installations dedicated to Jimi Hendrix throughout Seattle including:

Woodland Park Zoo - A golden sun plaque mounted on a viewpoint within the African Savannah exhibit at the Woodland Park Zoo (5500 Phinney Avenue NE). This plaque was funded by Seattle radio station KZOK with funding support from fans, Warner Bros. and members of the rock group Heart. Garfield High School - Sculptor Jeff Day donated a bronzed bust of Jimi Hendrix to Garfield High School (400 23rd Street) in the early 1980s, where it has been placed on display in the school's library. The school also includes a mural featuring different images of Jimi Hendrix.

Centralia College Clocktower - Located 85 miles south of Seattle, Washington; the Centralia College Clocktown was unveiled on May 22, 1997 and features dedication plaques to Jimi Hendrix and several local area honorees. Greenwood Memorial Park Cemetery - Located at 350 Monroe Avenue NE in Renton, Washington; Greenwood is home to Jimi Hendrix's final resting place. In 1999, Jimi's father, Al Hendrix, commenced work on an expanded Memorial features a large granite dome and plots for up to 54 members of the Hendrix family.

Nice Throwin' J.J. !

2006-05-30T07:02:00.000-06:00

Well... I've been wanting to post some more Braves stuff on here , just to piss Tim off, but I guess I missed my chance with the 6 - 3 road trip that included a sweep of the Lowly Cubs (C.ompletely U.seless B.y S.eptember) , and after Monday's 5 - 12 Debacle, I've chosen to focus on the Home team for a change.

Yesterday, The Rockies once again pounded the SanDiego Padres 5 to 0, with Jason Jennings throwing a complete-game, 2-hit shut-out . . . perhaps the best performance of his entire career.

So . . . How 'bout them Purple Pinstripes, eh?

Final Score: Colorado 5 , San Diego 0

San Diego, CA (Sports Network) - Jason Jennings was stellar as he tossed a two-hit shutout to lead Colorado to a 5-0 win over San Diego in the first of a three-game series at Petco Park.

Jennings (3-5) mixed a low 90's fastball with a good sinker and an effective changeup en route to seven strikeouts and only three walks. It was the fourth-career complete game for Jennings.
Brad Hawpe went 2-for-4 with three runs batted in and Matt Holliday collected three hits, an RBI and two runs scored for the Rockies, who have now won back- to-back games after a five-game losing skid.

"I am trying to slow down my approach and stop moving my hands," said Holliday. "I'm starting to see the ball better and I think we are heading in the right direction."
Mike Thompson (2-1) suffered his first-career loss as he allowed three runs on six hits. He issued his first-career walk in the second. He had previously gone 13 innings spanning three starts without issuing a free pass. Mark Bellhorn and Adrian Gonzalez recorded the lone hits for the Padres, who have lost two of their last three.

The Rockies jumped out to a 3-0 lead after two innings of play courtesy of the long ball. Holliday hit his 12th homer of the year to start the second, as his drive to center just eluded the outstretched glove of the Padres' Mike Cameron. Hawpe deposited the ball over the wall in right center just two batters later, after a walk to Garrett Atkins, giving the Rockies their three- run advantage. It was the 11th homer of the season for Hawpe.

Colorado upped its advantage to 5-0 with a run in the seventh and another in the eighth. Ryan Spilborghs hit his first major league homer with two outs in the seventh and Holliday led off the eighth with a double and scored on Hawpe's RBI double.

Game Notes :
Jennings is now 4-0 in six starts at San Diego... The Rockies were 10-3 on the road in the month of April, but are now only 4-11 away from home in May... Aaron Cook gets the ball for Colorado on Tuesday and will be opposed by Chris Young for San Diego.

Today in Rock History... [05.30]

2006-05-30T04:40:00.000-06:00

1943 -- Jack Bruce was born.

1955 -- Clash drummer Nicky "Topper" Headon is born in Bromley, England.

...you are Nicky "Topper" Headon. You played drums like a pro (cause you were) unfortunately, you developed a nasty heroin addiction that got you thrown in jail for supplying the heroin that killed a guy. You now drive a cab. But on the bright side: you wrote "Rock the Casbah".

1964 -- The Wailers hit #38 with "Tall Cool One".

1971 -- At San Francisco's Winterland Auditorium, 36 Deadheads have to be treated for hallucinations after ingesting apple drink at the venue. Not surprisingly, the drink was spiked with LSD.

1978 -- Led Zeppelin begin recording the highly underrated "In Through the Out Door."

1987 -- The Beastie Boys rapper Adam Horovitz, aka Ad-Rock, is arrested in Liverpool, England, for allegedly assaulting a female fan during a riot at one of their gigs.

1992 -- Paul Simon marries singer Edie Brickell.

1993 -- Jazz guru/madman and native of Saturn, Sun Ra dies in Birmingham, Ala. The bandleader had been hospitalized by a stroke.

1997 -- Neil Young cancels his European tour after cutting his finger open while slicing a ham sandwich.

2000 -- Garbage's Shirley Manson confesses to mutilating herself as a teenager. "I'm speaking out because I feel this problem is getting worse for kids," she says.

2000 -- During their first gig without guitarist Noel Gallagher, in Milan, singer Liam tells the audience, "Oasis are a fucking band, not just one person."

Is Uncle Teddy Off His Rocker? You Decide.

2006-05-30T04:27:00.000-06:00

He owns 350 guns, wants to nuke Iraq and makes his friend George Dubbya look like a liberal. Now 1970s heavy metal star Ted Nugent has his sights set on a new target: entering US politics

During the private inaugural party at his ranch in Crawford, Texas, in 2000, President George W. Bush glanced across the room and recognised a man who - by his own account - has urinated on a nun, soiled his trousers for a week in order to avoid the draft, and been detained on a charge of indecent exposure, after experiencing difficulties with his loincloth in Little Rock, Arkansas.

The President confronted him as a matter of urgency.

"When he noticed me," Ted Nugent recalls, "he was surrounded by these huge bankrollers from his campaign. He literally swept past all of them and said: 'Laura! Look who's here! It's Ted!' Then he hugged me and took me by the shoulders. He said: 'Just keep doing what you're doing. Don't think that we don't know what you're up to out here. Stay on course. You're doing great.'"

Like Jesus, Gandhi or Hitler, Nugent tends to inspire this kind of extreme reaction. He rarely gives interviews to the British press; the last time he did, some years ago, he managed what is possibly the most extraordinary achievement of his remarkable career - proving too right-wing for the Daily Telegraph.

For the rest of this lengthy, but interesting article go to:

enjoyment.independent.co.uk/music/features/article571538.ece

Today in Rock History... [05.28]

2006-05-28T10:32:00.000-06:00

Editor's note: Oops... apparantly there is a 'Save as Draft' button right next to 'Publish Post' that I never saw before, thus: this is why the Today in Rock History for 5/28 is being posted on 5/29. Sure... it'z a letdown, but we will get thru this thing together. --bk

1910 -- T-Bone Walker is born in Linden, Texas, as Aaron Thibeaux Walker. T-Bone was one of the first to plug in his guitar and turn the blues electric.

1931 -- Rockabilly star Sonny Burgess, who dyed his hair red to match his band's suits, is born in Newport, Ark.

1945 -- Creedence Clearwater Revivalist John Fogerty was born.

1966 -- Percy Sledge hits #1 with "When A Man Loves A Woman".

1969 -- Mick Jagger and girlfriend Marianne Faithfull are arrested in London and charged with cannabis possession.

1969 -- Creedence Clearwater Revival debut on UK chart with Proud Mary.

1973 -- Bassist and songwriter Ronnie Lane leaves the Faces (to form Slim Chance).

1976 -- The Allman Brothers Band break up in disgust for the first time after Gregg Allman testifies against a road manager accused of drug trafficking.

1977 -- Bruce Springsteen is free to enter a studio again after settling out of court with his former manager, Mike Appel. Their legal entanglements had prevented Springsteen from recording. Appel receives a million dollars.

1979 -- Tom Petty files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, inaugurating a legal wrangle with his old label (Shelter) and the major label that acquired it (MCA). Petty agrees to record for a newly created MCA subsidiary, Backstreet Records.

1981 -- The Clash begin seven nights of gigs at Bond's in New York. The seven shows were oversold and The Clash had to play seventeen shows back-to-back to satisfy demand.

Go Nads ! ! !

2006-05-27T05:56:00.000-06:00

RISD’s infamous hockey team, known as the “Nads,” meets for practice and competition against other colleges at the Brown Athletic Complex. The team encourages all students to participate. [Rhode Island School of Design @ risd.edu/org.cfm]

Seriously... The mascot, pictured (obviously), is “Scrotie.” It takes balls to dress up like that. -- I wouldn’t lie to you about this. That’s a winner!

All Time Worst Team Mascot.

Right On, Barack . . .

2006-05-24T13:21:00.000-06:00

Dear Bill,

I don't know about you, but I think we've all had enough. Enough of the broken promises. Enough of the failed leadership. Enough of the can't-do, won't-do, won't-even-try style of governance.

I've had enough of so-called leaders who don't think government should even try to solve the big, national problems. In their clouded philosophy, government is the problem. I've had enough of the attitude that we'd be better off if we just divvy up the federal budget into individual tax breaks and let everyone fend for themselves. I think we've all had enough of being told to buy your own health care, your own retirement security, your own child care, your own schools, your own private security force, your own roads, and your own levees.

This idea of America can never actually work because it so fundamentally ignores our legacy as a people. Our greatness as a nation has always depended on our sense of national community and mutual responsibility. Everybody has a stake in America. We're all in this together and everybody gets a fair shot at opportunity.

As Democrats, we still believe in the idea of America. We're ready to compete in an increasingly interconnected world. We're ready to conduct a smart foreign policy that matches the might of our military with the power of our diplomacy.

In short, we're ready to lead. Electing a Democratic Senate is the first step to rejecting the failed leadership and failed philosophies. That's the job the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee will be doing over the next few months, but believe me, they need your help to change our country.

It's the timidity - the smallness - of our politics that's holding America back and making our people uncertain. The idea that some problems are just too big to handle, and if you just ignore them, they'll go away.

You and I have seen what this can't-do attitude has brought us: failure.
We, as Democrats, have a responsibility to change our politics. Now is the time for us to stand up and make our mark on history. It's time for America to learn how to dream again and to do great things in the face of serious challenges.

That's the idea of America our Democratic Senate candidates are fighting for. In state after state, our candidates are leading in the public opinion polls. But they still face an uphill battle because our opponents can simply outspend our candidates and drown out Democratic ideas.
Now is the time to take action. With your help, the DSCC can make sure Democratic Senate candidates have the resources they need to compete and win. We can only begin the hard work ahead of us once we have changed the balance of power in Washington.

Electing a Democratic Senate is the first step in changing our politics and our country. It's a step that we can accomplish in just a few short months. And it's the sole mission of the DSCC. We need your help to succeed.

Please join me today and help the DSCC realize the idea of America Democrats hold dear.

Sincerely,

Barack Obama

Serenity now . . . serenity NOW!

2006-05-24T05:21:00.000-06:00

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) -- Denver Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer was issued a summons for an alleged road-rage incident in April, Englewood police said Tuesday.

Investigator John Hoehler said Plummer was issued the misdemeanor summons Friday, after being contacted at his home in Cherry Hills Village.

The summons stems from a minor crash on April 20 in this suburb south of Denver.

A message left for Plummer through the Broncos was not immediately returned Tuesday night.

A man told authorities he was involved in a road-rage incident with the driver of a Honda. When the two cars stopped at a red light, the Honda's driver got out and kicked the front of the man's vehicle.

The driver then got back into his vehicle, put it in reverse and hit the front of the man's car, Hoehler said. A witness copied the license plate number of the gray Honda, which was listed to Plummer.

When contacted by police, Plummer said he was involved in a rear-end crash, not road rage.

"He went out and looked and didn't see any damage so he didn't report it," Hoehler said.

After he left the scene he told investigators he changed his mind and called 911 to report the accident and said he was told it would be taken care of.

Hoehler said there was a delay in issuing the summons because the officer in charge of the case was busy and didn't get a chance to pursue the case until recently.

No specific court date for Plummer has been given. SI.com

Today in Rock History... [05.24]

2006-05-24T03:30:00.000-06:00

1941 -- Bob Dylan was born. Aging rock critics everywhere dance around - it's Robbie Z's birthday! Cue much lyrical exegesis, crying over John Wesley Harding, burning of Empire Burlesque, etc. {In 1971, Bob Dylan's 30th birthday is commemorated with a Peanuts cartoon commenting on the event. Dylan himself spends the day visiting the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem.}

1955 -- Country singer Rosanne Cash is born in Memphis. Her parents are Johnny Cash and his first wife, Vivian Liberto.

1968 -- Mick Jagger and Marianne Faithfull are arrested on charges of marijuana possession. The same day the Stones release "Jumpin' Jack Flash," generally seen as a comeback record following the flop of Their Satanic Majesties Request. It goes to No. 3.

1968 -- Pioneering San Francisco album-rock deejay Tom Donahue moves from KMPX-FM to KSAN-FM, taking the station's entire staff with him. KSAN thereupon becomes the top progressive-rock station in town, if not the entire country.

1970 -- Peter Green quits Fleetwood Mac , reducing them to mere Pap.

1974 -- Peerless American composer Duke Ellington dies in New York from cancer. He was 75.

1975 -- "Shining Star,' from Earth, Wind & Fire's 'That's the Way of the World', reaches #1 on Billboard's singles chart. It earns the first of many Grammys for the group, winning Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Group.

1982 -- Drummer Topper Headon leaves the Clash.

1991 -- Gene Clark of the Byrds dies in Sherman Oaks, Calif., only a few months after being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

2004 -- Bruce Springsteen's lawyers shut down an online auction of what purports to be the Boss' birth certificate.

You Go Gurlz!!! Give 'Em Hell & Welcome to the Other Side

2006-05-24T03:06:00.000-06:00

Old 'tude keeps Dixie Chicks' new music off the air

Many listeners still peeved over Maines' slap at Bush in '03

By JOEY GUERRA For The Houston Chronicle (Chron.com)

The Dixie Chicks aren't ready to make nice, and it seems the feeling is mutual.

With their new album, Taking the Long Way, in stores Tuesday, no Houston stations — country or pop — claim to be playing any of the trio's new music.

"We got so many calls and e-mails asking us to stop playing their music that KILT hasn't played it since the meltdown in London," says Leslie T. Travis, host of the popular Texas Roadhouse on KILT (100.3 FM).

Travis was referring to the 2003 controversy that erupted after singer Natalie Maines told a London concert crowd that she was "ashamed that the president of the United States is from Texas." At the time, the Chicks — Maines, Martie Maguire and Emily Robison — were one of country music's top-selling acts, with album sales of more than 20 million.

"I did get a couple people call and ask what I thought about the new material and if we were going to play it. Most of those wanted to make sure KILT wouldn't," Travis said.
Not Ready to Make Nice, the album's fiery lead single, peaked at No. 36 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart. Follow-up single Everybody Knows currently sits at No. 48. That's a far cry from the six chart-toppers and slew of other radio hits the Chicks have racked up since the release of their breakout album, Wide Open Spaces, in 1998.

Don Cusic, professor of music business at Belmont University in Nashville, said he's surprised the anger's lasted this long.
"Politicians say worst things all the time," he said. "But something like 30 percent still like President Bush, and that core crowd is running (ruining?) country radio."

That means the Chicks will have to survive outside of the country music mainstream, like Steve Earle, he said, and they shouldn't be worried, because if they had kept their Wide-Open Spaces cleanliness instead of their political fiestiness, they wouldn't be on the cover of Time magazine.

K-STAR (KVST, 99.7 FM) in Conroe, which can be heard in Houston, has also shied away from Dixie Chicks songs. Promotions director Tobi Dahl says a single spin during a syndicated countdown show incited "several complaint calls."
While Maines eventually apologized for her comment, she takes it back in the current issue of Time magazine, saying, "I don't feel that way. I don't feel he (President Jack W. Ass) is owed any respect whatsoever."
In the same interview, Maguire says she'd "rather have a small following of really cool people who get it, who will grow with us as we grow and are fans for life, than people that have us in their five-disc changer with Reba McEntire and Toby Keith. We don't want those kinds of fans. They limit what you can do."

"When you are a celebrity or in the spotlight, you have to learn to bite your tongue and keep your mouth shut no matter what your opinion is," Dahl said. "You would have thought they learned from the first comment they made. I think they rekindled an old fire."
Not all the reaction to the Chicks' new album has been negative, even in Bush's home state.
"We are playing the new single (Everybody Knows) quite a bit. We base our choices solely on musical quality," says Jody Denberg, program director at KGSR-FM, a country station in Austin. "I had one very negative e-mail, and a couple of people who wanted to thank us for playing (the Dixie Chicks), and a few requests."

But Bob Cole, co-host of the KVET-FM morning show in Austin, says that "brief on-air discussions have elicited over 100 (unsolicited) e-mails. Folks are feeling betrayed in a most emotional way — so much so that they sit down at the computer and vent their anger and send it to people like me."
The anger also lingers outside of Texas. Bob Barnett, program director at WKIS-FM in Miami says the "first single was a classic example of a radio station-listener disconnect. We attempted to play it. We pulled it after a week or two due to negative listener response. Call me cynical, but this felt like they were just stirring the pot for publicity sake." [OKay: "You are cynical".]

Regardless, the Chicks seem on the verge of more success. Taking the Long Way is the top seller on Amazon.com and the No. 1 download on ITunes. Reviews have been overwhelmingly positive, and the trio is launching a 43-city U.S. tour of major arenas, with a Sept. 30 date at Toyota Center.

While the Chicks have shifted their focus to pop and rock audiences — the new disc was produced by Rick Rubin, who has worked with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Run DMC and Neil Diamond — in Houston, at least, the music has yet to penetrate Top 40 and pop radio stations. KRBE (104.1 FM) is taking a wait-and-see approach, hinging on how the music first does in other major markets, said a spokeswoman.
KHMX (96.5 FM) midday personality Kat Cortez says she plays Landslide, an earlier Chicks' hit, but that she has yet to get "any e-quests for the Chicks' new music."
While their popularity with a new audience remains uncertain, it seems the Dixie Chicks' rift with country radio may be long-lasting.

"They have all the talent in the world and they make incredible music. This is their best effort to date. It's like any war where two sides are too stubborn to give any, and when they feel one has gotten an advantage, the other one reacts. I think that's where country radio and the Chicks are right now," said Newman, midday jock on WSXI-FM in Nashville, Tenn.

Please ladiez & gentlemen: Don't Mess With Tejas -- ignore the piss out of 'em!

Oil Executives March On D.C.

2006-05-23T06:10:00.000-06:00

May 23, 2006 "We Just Want Our Voices Heard"

WASHINGTON, DC—More than 1,000 majority shareholders and executive officers from the nation's largest oil companies gathered in the National Mall and marched to Capitol Hill Monday in a mass demonstration for petrochemical corporations' rights and, according to several of those who attended, "to let our voices be heard at last."

"We're American citizens, and we demand to be part of the national dialogue," said John S. Watson, vice president of international exploration and production for Chevron Corporation, the world's second-largest oil company. "Many people in our industry think nobody in Washington cares about us, and that our opinions don't matter. We're here today to change that."
Guest speakers, including folk-singing lobbyist Anne Novotny, international drilling-rights activist Bill Marshall, and several Saudi princes, focused on the need to extend subsidies to offshore drilling efforts, grant tax breaks for the construction of new refineries, and stop oppressive environmental regulation.

But the real message of the protest was more personal: To demonstrators, the oil industry is unappreciated and even persecuted by large segments of the public who only want them for the gasoline they sell. Protesters hoisted signs reflecting this sentiment, bearing such slogans as "Enough Is Enough," "Power To The Petroleum-Producing People," "Texaco-American Pride," and "I'm Pro-Oil And I Vote."

"Politicians are supposed to work for everyone," said Red Cavaney, president of the American Petroleum Institute. "For years, they've pretended like we didn't even exist. But today, with this many people from the oil industry right here in our nation's capital, we're sending an undeniably strong message."

Oil executives traveled from as far as Irving, TX to attend the event. Some, such as Exxon Mobil chairman and CEO Rex W. Tillerson, said they were missing important board meetings and sacrificing as much as three days of vacation time just to be among their fellow oilmen.
"You can't ignore us any longer, America," a flag-draped Tillerson said. "Get used to us, because we refuse to stand in silence. From now on, the power brokers in Washington will sit up and listen."

The march, which took place just after lunchtime, was limited to a strict route, and was closely monitored by hundreds of DC police in riot gear. Authorities reported no arrests or instances of violence, even after a tense moment when some protesters chanting "Members of the board will not be ignored!" passed a security barricade and crossed Pennsylvania Avenue.
"Today is the day my American oil comrades and I stand together as one and announce that this is our country, too," said BP Global's chief financial officer, Byron Grote, who oversaw British Petroleum's acquisition of ARCO, SOHIO, Amoco, and Vastar in 2000. "None of us in international oil production are looking for special treatment. We just want a fair shake. That's what democracy is all about."

Organizers applauded the peaceful protest as a "positive first step in governmental–petrochemical coalition-building." But the systemic marginalization of one minority group—in this case, Big Oil CEOs—by those in power can make it difficult to get past feelings of bitterness and resentment, said corporate-disenfranchisement expert Jonathan Foner.
"They feel like they've just been shouting into the wilderness," Foner said. "So today, many of them were hoping that if they spoke loudly and clearly enough through their bullhorns into the wilderness, those in power would listen to them."

ConocoPhillips CEO J.J. Mulva was scheduled to deliver a speech about civil disobedience, but called it off at the last minute due to unspecified medical complications. His brother, Exxon Mobil controller P.T. Mulva, said "heartbreak" is what kept the older sibling at home.
"The oil business is a labor of love for our family, and J.J.'s been fighting for our rights for years," Mulva said. "When he heard that the marchers would not be permitted to pass the White House due to security issues, it was more than he could take. That really broke his spirit."
President Bush, vacationing at his Crawford, TX ranch, released a statement Tuesday morning expressing his respect for the protesters' right to free speech, saying America "tolerates diverse viewpoints."

"The people have a right to protest in this country, but my administration is not going to be intimidated by the opinions of an outspoken few," Bush said.

theOnion.com

Today in Rock History... [05.23]

2006-05-23T05:25:00.000-06:00

1963 -- blues performer Elmore James passes away.

1968 -- Oasis guitarist and songwriter Noel Gallagher is born.

1971 -- Brown Sugar (The Rolling Stones) was a hit.

1976 -- NBC tapes Bob Dylan's Rolling Thunder Revue at Colorado State University. The concert later airs under the title Hard Rain.

1978 -- Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band kick off their first major arena tour in Buffalo, New York. It ends seven months and 109 cities later in Cleveland on January 1, 1979.

1979 -- Tom Petty files for bankruptcy after MCA buys his label ABC Records.

1979 -- The Who documentary The Kids Are Alright debuts in New York.

1984 -- The Clash come offstage from a concert at Michigan State University to find someone has stolen the $17,000 in box office receipts.

That's Just Great. Season Eighteen, for real???

2006-05-23T05:11:00.000-06:00

MTV's "Real World" house at 1920 Market St. [LoDo] is some fancy pad. But we won't get to see the insides until the show airs in the late fall.

By that time, it will probably be for sale. Heritage Bank, which took the deed to the property from the former owners of B-52 Billiards in lieu of foreclosure, sold it to the show's production company in March for $2.7 million. Workman have been transforming the 21,927-square-foot club into a cool pad for weeks now. The kids are due any day.

After filming, insiders imagine that the place will go on the block again. It still has a liquor license. Rock Island's David Clamage is "babysitting" it so it'll be there at sale time.

...fantastic.

Today in Rock History... [05.22]

2006-05-22T18:48:00.000-06:00

1914 -- Jazz visionary Sun Ra is born in Birmingham, Ala. The visionary part is that he said he came from Saturn. The reality is his name was Herman Sonny Blount.

1954 -- Bob Dylan, or rather Robert Zimmerman, celebrates his bar mitzvah. He was actually born on May 24.

1955 -- Cuddly pianist Fats Domino finds his concert in Bridgeport, Conn., has been canceled because police fear a rock 'n' roll riot.

1958 -- As Jerry Lee Lewis begins a British tour, accompanied by his fourteen-year-old wife (and third cousin), Myra -- a scandal erupts over his marriage , as well as his two prior divorces. Lewis is booed offstage, the tour is canceled after three shows, and he returns to the U.S. to find himself mired in controversy.

1966 -- Castilles record That's What You Get in New Jersey. It is never released. Nothing special, except the band included sixteen-year-old Bruce Springsteen.

1966 -- When a Man Loves a Woman (Percy Sledge) was a hit.

1971 -- The Rolling Stones' Sticky Fingers tops the American albums chart.

1974 -- A performance in Cambridge, Massachusetts, inspires music journalist Jon Landau to write, "I saw rock and roll's future—and its name is Bruce Springsteen."

1980 -- Five Jimi Hendrix gold discs are stolen from Electric Ladyland studios in Los Angeles

1981 -- Bob Marley's funeral takes place in Jamaica

1999 -- New Jersey's Continental Airlines Arena sells out of tickets for 15 Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band shows there. The concerts set a record for number of shows during a single arena stay.

2000 -- Steely Dan receive the Founders Award for a lifetime of songwriting at the ASCAP Pop Music Awards. "When you start getting awards, you start feeling old," groans Dan guitarist Walter Becker.

2005 -- Oasis top the UK singles chart with "Lyla."

OKay... This is too freakin' WEIRD...

2006-05-22T17:02:00.000-06:00

I've alwayz thought that the Hot Sauce (packets) from Taco Bell must contain some sort of hallucinogen , because every time I ate stuff from there, I would have very vivid and extremely weird dreams that I'm able to remember (odd as well!) after awakening, and they actually seem to Me as though it really happened until I'm fully awake!

Then I kinda chalked it all up to the fact that I usually only ate there late at night, perhaps after a few other recreational adult beverages and all. Yeah... Must just be that.

I haven't even been to the Border in a few months, but stopped by today for a quick lunch -- I mean: who can resist an Ultimate Steak Chalupa, right? So I get one, and a spicy chicken burrito too, a delicious Pepsi, ate it all up, and continued with my day.

Upon returning home, the weather was changing, and I was a little tired, so I laid down for a nap. Well: I'll be damned if after waking up 35 minutes later I vividly remember dreaming VERY strange adventures, that I probably shouldn't mention here! I'll just say it involved rollerskates, random girls I knew in Highschool, mud, a sixth-grade teacher that I didn't even have for class, and foot-rubs. Sure... it evolved from there, but that'z another tale.

The really scary part is: I didn't even use the Hot Sauce this time, although I did have that Spicy chicken burrito - so . . . something made that hot too. Now , more than ever I'm convinced I'm right about the hallucinogenic powers of something at the Border -- pay close attention next time you "dine" there. I'm just glad that little chihuahua didn't make it into the dream!

"yo quero peyote"

Today in Rock History... [05.19]

2006-05-19T08:46:00.000-06:00

1919 -- Pete Seeger was born.

1945 -- Pete Townshend was born.

1949 -- Dusty Hill (Z.Z. Top) was born

1951 -- Jeffrey Hyman (a.k.a. Joey Ramone) is born in Forest Hills, Queens, New York.

1960 -- DJ Alan Freed and eight others charged by federal grand jury for commercial bribery, better known as payola. Freed refuses to testify and becomes the scapegoat for others.

1976 -- Keith Richards crashes his Bentley in Buckinghamshire, England, after falling asleep at the wheel. There's more rude awakening to come after police discover cocaine and marijuana in the car.

1998 -- Rod Stewart releases 'When We Were the New Boys,' which contains songs by Oasis, the Waterboys, Elvis Costello, Graham Parker and Nick Lowe – as well as the Faces and Stewart himself, a return to form but, sadly, his last decent album.

"A great singer of great songs, but a shitty singer of shitty songs as well" -- Ron Wood on Rod