Riders On the Storm

February 29, 2012, Severe Weather Outbreak

2012-02-29T11:57:00.001-08:00

On the weather map today, a Cold Front stationed in Iowa is spinning off clusters of severe thunderstorms that have had numerous reports of damage from straight-line winds, tornadoes, and large hail. Today, the forecasts and current atmospheric conditions are indicative of a large scale severe thunderstorm outbreak over the Southeast and Upper Midwest today and tonight. The main threats from this storm system are tornadoes, torrential rainfall, damaging straight-line winds, and large hail. Here are the current risks for severe weather:

Northern Mississippi, Northern Alabama, Southern Tennessee, South Central Kentucky, extreme Western North Carolina, extreme Southwestern Virginia, and Northern Georgia have a moderate risk of seeing severe weather, including violent, long-track tornadoes. If they update the risks again, I'll wager they'll place West Central North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia, Southern West Virginia, and East Central Kentucky under a moderate risk. I suggest you stay in a place of sturdy shelter all day today and keep tabs on this ongoing severe weather outbreak in the south. It's worth noting that Dr. Greg Forbes' "Tor:Con" index gives the East Central Kentucky and Tennessee areas a 6/10 chance of seeing tornadoes today and tonight. Take this post with what you will.

The Argument: Why the Prospects of a Brokered Democratic Convention are High

2012-02-23T12:56:00.002-08:00

Many people are speculating on the prospects of the Republicans having a brokered convention. Personally, I don't think Republicans will follow through with the wind they're blowing on this non-issue. With that said, there is much antipathy, discontent, and malcontentment within the ranks of the Democratic Party over President Barack Obama's re-election hopes. Many factors have them shitting themselves silly, including the economy, gas prices, abortion, foreign policy, energy, and the President's job-approval ratings. These are but only a few of the reasons why there is a growing sense of disarray within the infrastructure of the Democratic Party. In these next paragraphs, I intend to lay bare the case and rationale for a brokered Democratic Convention.

THE CASE

Obama's job-approval ratings have been flagging since the passage of the Health Care Reform bill. Passage of the reform bill led Republicans to their biggest House seat gains since 1894. As of today, the RealClearPolitics average has President Obama's approval rating at 49%, versus 47% who disapprove. Tepid approval numbers, indeed, and let's remember one thing: History has shown that Presidents who have an approval rating under 50% lose re-election to the Presidency. This has Republicans and their Conservative counterparts excited, and has the Party of Death pissing themselves. Having a President with tepid approval ratings such as these at the top of the ticket would be a monumental drag on down-ticket races and ballot initiatives. There has been some chatter lately regarding putting forth a strong, late-entry Democratic Primary challenger to President Obama. Flagging job-approval numbers would leave some blood in the water, but on this point, history is on Obama's side: No incumbent President has ever lost re-nomination. Party insiders know this, and may opt to seek an alternative route, such as a brokered convention.

THE RATIONALE

Barack Obama has done many things to put himself into the pickle with his own party that he's in. These are the stand out issues that put him in the position that he's in:

1. The Economy: Barack Obama has the worst economic policy of any administration, even by Democrat's standards. Yes, the economy has been on an upward trend as of late, but this bear run may not last as long as one suspects. You see, bonds backed by subprime mortgagaes are back in black again. If Obama's regulations were a barnstorming success, then this would not be happening(I'm not arguing for more regulations by any stretch of the imagination). The far left is up in arms, as they believe his regulations to be ineffective, and that it is a vital, pressing, and urgent necessity to pile on with that free-wielded shovel the burdensome ball and chain of extra and further enhanced regulations, ones that would reach into every business and corporate practice good and evil. Democrats of the center-right belief system and the far left crystal blue persuasion see this as bad, albeit from some pretty far-removed perspectives, and have pinned the tail on the donkey by putting the blame on Obama. This is reason #1 why he is vulnerable to either a brokered convention or a late entrant.

2. Gas Prices: Gas prices have, as of late, been on the upswing. Current gas prices average out to be $3.57 a gallon. In part caused by the Keystone pipeline decision, the increase in gas prices always tends upon hurting the party with the advantage of incumbency. Barack Obama has not the greatest record, even by his own party's standards, of economic practitioning, which does directly affect the price of gas(regular, unleaded, and diesel). Obama's being backed into a corner by both sides, and pretty soon he'll either take a firm stand or simply get brokered out of the nomination by the Democratic Party, which has grown alarmingly wary of Obama in the past few years.

3. Abortion: This issue is more or less applicable to certain specific wings of the Democratic Party(eg: Southern Democrats, Pro-Life Democrats, Liberty-Oriented Democrats). These types rightly feel that states rights and the rights of the unborn are being trampled underfoot by Obama and his minions. This group will never ever support Obama again in light of these clusters of political missteps. This may be a small group within the Democratic Party, but Obama will need every vote just to win re-nomination.

4. Foreign Policy: This is the issue of greatest contention for Democrats in regards to Obama's policies. Many perceive him as either too weak or too war-hawkish on the matter. That he is not pursuing matters more strongly with Iran, is indecisive on Iraq/Afghanistan, or is withdrawing troops from Iraq too slowly. These perceptions of him will serve as a magnificent albatross, whether in a Primary or a General Election.

5. Energy: Obama's rejection of the Keystone XL pipeline has risen a furor within party ranks. Many Democrats, minus the far left, are either supportive of or indifferent to the idea of Keystone pipeline. This will be seen, even by Democrats, as sacrificing our national interests for his own bottom line. This will backfire on him, BIG TIME.

As I've indicated, many Democrats are disgruntled with President Obama over many different things. They, for the most part, believe he is not strong enough and/or is just flat out wrong. They are diametrically at odds with the Leftist grassroots. They ardently believe that Obama is a great President and are hitting the ground running for Obama's re-election. The grass smokers are in the clear and present minority, and they know it. There may very well be a civil war within the Democratic Party if word gets out about plans of the excecution of said alternative methods, so they must play their hand carefully. I propose a secret summit in Princeton, New Jersey, on Independence Day to talk over alternative options which would dump Obama for a stronger candidate to face Rick Santorum in November. They will determine that a brokered convention is the option of greatest efficiency. The convention will be held in Charlotte, North Carolina, from September 3-6, and it will be very, very, very interesting to watch.

THE SOLUTION

Brokered conventions are a somewhat rare quantity in American politics. They were frequently used before the Primary process really grew to fruition in 1832. The only times since then where a convention has been brokered was in 1924, 1948, and 1952. Many conventions have come close to being brokered(most famously 1968 and 1976), but none have been brokered in the past 60 years. This would be an impressive feat if such were to transpire.

So let's say they decide to utilize this alternative method to nominating a candidate. This would be sure to make the Democratic Convention a highly-charged event, with lots of hand-wringing, arm-twisting, smoke and mirrors/back room deals, vote-buying, and paying off going on behind closed doors, all to keep Obama from dragging them down to a Goldwater-style slamming in November. No matter who they choose, he will be tanned, rested, and ready to fight the onslaught and barrage of attacks coming from Santorum's campaign. But the 800 pound, inescapable, pressing question is this: Who will they choose? I don't know for sure, but I have some ideas.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
Vice President Joe Biden
Former Vice President Al Gore
Reverend Al Sharpton
Reverend Jesse Jackson Sr.
General Wesley Clark
Former Wisconsin Senator Russ Feingold
Former Virginia Governor Tim Kaine
Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney
Former Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry
Former Indiana Senator Evan Bayh
California Governor Jerry Brown
Former Vice President Walter Mondale
Former Massachusetts Governor Mike Dukakis
Massachusetts Congressman Barney Frank
Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick
Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe
Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear
Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer
Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper
Missouri Governor Jay Nixon
New York Senator Chuck Schumer
New Hampshire Governor John Lynch
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid
Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber
Former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson
Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsak
Former Georgia Governor Roy Barnes
Former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm
Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton
Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey Jr.
Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill
Montana Senator Jon Tester
Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown
Rhode Island Senator Sheldon Whitehouse
Former Tennessee Congressman Harold Ford Jr.
Minnesota Senator Al Franken
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano
Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich

Will the Democrats show brass balls and follow through with this plan, or will they cave like the sackless wimps that they are? Only time will tell, but with the growing furor within the party over Obama and his lousy-as-piss re-election prospects, I see no reason to believe that this is completely out of the realm of possibility. Brace yourselves, gang, 'cos here it comes. Comin' right down the pike.

2012 Election Predictions

2012-01-30T16:55:00.001-08:00

Here’s how I think the 2012 elections, state and federal, will go 9 months out.

Presidency:

Mitt Romney/Rick Santorum: (375 EV’s)(54.5%)AL, AK, AZ, AR, CO, FL, GA, ID, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NM, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Barack Obama/Joe Biden: (163 EV’s)(44.8%)CA, CT, DE, DC, HI, IL, MD, MA, NJ, NY, RI, VT

Governorships:

Delaware: Jack Markell(D) 64-36 over Jeff Cragg(R). DEM HOLD.
Indiana: Mike Pence(R) 59-41 over John Gregg(D). GOP HOLD.
Missouri: Jay Nixon(D) 56-44 over Dave Spence(R). DEM HOLD.
Montana: Rick Hill(R) 55-45 over Steve Bullock(D). GOP GAIN.
New Hampshire: Ovide LaMontagne(R) 54-46 over Maggie Hassan(D). GOP GAIN.
North Carolina: Pat McCrory(R) 58-42 over Walter Dalton(D). GOP GAIN.
North Dakota: Jack Darymphle(R) 60-40 over Ryan Taylor(D). GOP HOLD.
Utah: Gary Herbert(R) wins running unopposed. GOP HOLD.
Vermont: Peter Shumlin(D) 53-47 over Randy Brock(R). DEM HOLD.
Washington: Rob McKenna(R) 54-46 over Jay Inslee(D). GOP GAIN.
West Virginia: Bill Maloney(R) 52-48 over Earl Tomblin(D). GOP GAIN.

Senate:

Arizona: Jeff Flake(R) 56-44 over Richard Cardona(D). GOP HOLD.
California: Dianne Feinstein(D) 58-41 over Dirk Konopik(R). DEM HOLD.
Connecticut: Chris Murphy(D) 55-45 over Linda McMahon(R). DEM GAIN.
Florida: Adam Hasner(R) 52-48 over Bill Nelson(D). GOP GAIN.
Hawaii: Linda Lingle(R) 54-46 over Ed Case(D). GOP GAIN.
Indiana: Richard Mourdock(R) 58-42 over Joe Donnelly(D). GOP HOLD.
Maine: Olympia Snowe(R) 61-39 over Matt Dunlap(D). GOP HOLD.
Maryland: Ben Cardin(D) 59-40 over Dan Bongino(R). DEM HOLD.
Massachusetts: Scott Brown(R) 52-48 over Elizabeth Warren(D). GOP HOLD.
Michigan: Pete Hoekstra(R) 53-47 over Debbie Stabenow(D). GOP GAIN.
Minnesota: Amy Klobuchar(D) 53-45 over Dan Severson(R). DEM HOLD.
Mississippi: Roger Wicker(R) 63-37 over Albert N. Gore Jr.(D). GOP HOLD.
Missouri: Sarah Steelman(R) 55-45 over Claire McCaskill(D). GOP GAIN.
Montana: Denny Rehberg(R) 53-47 over Jon Tester(D). GOP GAIN.
Nebraska: Jon Bruning(R) 66-34 over Steven Lustgarten(D). GOP GAIN.
Nevada: Dean Heller(R) 54-45 over Shelley Berkley(D). GOP HOLD.
New Jersey: Bob Menendez(D) 53-46 over Anna Little(R). DEM HOLD.
New Mexico: Heather Wilson(R) 56-44 over Martin Heinrich(D). GOP GAIN.
New York: Kirsten Gillibrand(D) 62-38 over George Maragos(R). DEM HOLD.
North Dakota: Rick Berg(R) 51-49 over Heidi Heitkamp(D). GOP GAIN.
Ohio: Josh Mandel(R) 51-47 over Sherrod Brown(D). GOP GAIN.
Pennsylvania: Bob Casey Jr.(D) 52-46 over Tom Smith(R). DEM HOLD.
Rhode Island: Sheldon Whitehouse(D) 65-35 over Barry Hinckley(R). DEM HOLD.
Tennessee: Bob Corker(R) 68-32 over Larry Crim(D). GOP HOLD.
Texas: David Dewhurst(R) 63-37 over Paul Sadler(D). GOP HOLD.
Utah: Orrin Hatch(R) 69-31 over Pete Ashdown(D). GOP HOLD.
Vermont: Bernie Sanders(I/D) 60-40 over Thom Lauzon(R). INDY/DEM HOLD.
Virginia: George Allen(R) 51-48 over Tim Kaine(D). GOP GAIN.
Washington: Maria Cantwell(D) 57-43 over Michael Baumgartner(R). DEM HOLD.
West Virginia: Joe Manchin(D) 53-46 over John Raese(R). DEM HOLD.
Wisconsin: Mark Neumann(R) 52-47 over Tammy Baldwin(D). GOP GAIN.
Wyoming: John Barrasso(R) wins running unopposed. GOP HOLD.

House:

Republicans:(+60)AZ-2, AR-4, CA-3, CA-9, CA-16, CA-41, CA-47, CO-7, CT-2, CT-4, CT-5, GA-12, HI-1, IL-12, IN-2, IA-1, IA-2, IA-3, ME-1, ME-2, MD-2, MD-5, MA-1, MA-3, MA-4, MA-6, MA-8, MA-9, MI-5, MN-1, MO-5, NV-4, NJ-6, NJ-12, NM-1, NM-3, NY-1, NY-22, NY-23, NY-26, NC-7, NC-8, NC-11, NC-13, OK-2, OR-1(Cornilles wins 51-47 over Bonamici tomorrow), OR-4, OR-5, PA-12, PA-13, RI-1, TN-5, TX-25, UT-4, VA-11, WA-1, WA-2, WA-9, WA-10, WV-3
Democrats: (+8)FL-22, FL-25, IL-8, MD-6, NH-2, TX-14, TX-27, TX-35

Romney vs Santorum: Who Would Perform Best Against Obama and Why?

2012-01-12T18:39:00.000-08:00

Many arguments can be made as to who's the stronger candidate to face President Obama and why, whether it's Willard M. Romney's name recognition and Moderate image or Richard J. Santorum's appeal to the pivotal base of support that is the grassroots activists. I will be looking at the electoral aspects of their strengths, where, and why they would perform strongest.

WM Romney's Strengths:

New England-Home to none other than Mitt Romney himself, New England is obviously and unarguably going to be his sole strength. He will play well with the Moderates/Independents, which constitute the majority of voters up here(minus Vermont) and fiscally oriented Conservatives. If he's the nominee, he would put away New Hampshire, give Obama a serious fight for his money in Maine, and stand a decent shot in Connecticut. Santorum, however, would lose Connecticut in a landslide, be in a slightly weaker position in Maine, and probably still be ahead in New Hampshire. While Santorum would play well with the aforementioned fiscally oriented Conservatives and Independents, he wouldn't play terribly well with the Moderates.

RJ Santorum's Strengths:

Midwest-An anchor of Conservatism, the Midwest is likely to vote for the GOP nominee regardless. That said, Santorum has a better chance of turning out the Conservative voters than does Romney. A Romney vs Obama race could well dampen turnout(as did McCain vs Obama in 2008) and put Missouri, the Dakotas, and Nebraska's Second Congressional district in play, as the district went to Obama in 2008.

Old Confederacy-The biggest anchor of Conservatism since Oklahoma, both candidates should be expected to do well here, right? Not so. The Old Confederacy, more than anywhere else, would be a problem spot for the Moderate Romney. Why? In 2008, John McCain underperformed across the board(losing Florida, North Carolina, and Virginia in the process) because of a rightly perceived Moderate streak running straight through his legislative record. Such would be about the same for Romney, except with more of a Moderate record plus the radical inconsistencies in what he says on a day to day basis, he would be in worse shape than McCain was(losing Georgia and possibly Texas and South Carolina in the process).

Rocky Mountains-With the exceptions of Colorado and New Mexico, the Rocky Mountains are a hotbed of Conservatism. Considering Obama's approvals as of late, either candidate would stand a chance against Obama in the two swingy states and rake in landslide victories in the others. That said, Conservatives will be less inclined to get out and vote if the Moderate candidate Romney(like John McCain in 2008 and Bob Dole in 1996) is the nominee, while they will turn out big time if the Conservative candidate Santorum is the nominee.

Equal Strengths:

Great Lakes-The Great Lakes states[minus Illinois(Democrat), Indiana(Republican), and New York(Democrat)] will be by and far the most hotly contested region in the entire country in the upcoming Presidential race. Several factors will influence the end result, such as high unemployment, Obama's flagging approvals, and the ongoing war against public-sector unions. If the union busting is successful, unemployment is high, and Obama's approvals continue to flag, then it does not matter if the nominee is Romney or Santorum, as either will win handily. But if the inverse happens, then Romney would have to be considered the best bet to defeat Obama. If the latter circumstances transpire, even Romney would face long odds.

Pacific Northwest-The Pacific Northwest has tended toward favoring Liberalism in the past few decades. Oregon may be within reach if my predicted Presidential numbers by Congressional district averages pan out(resulting in a 49.8%-49.4% GOP victory), and Washington is definitely within reach for two reasons. (1) The President has registered negative approval ratings in Washington State, and (2) state Attorney General Rob McKenna is poised for a landslide victory in the Governors race, which may provide coattails for either Romney or Santorum.

These are my views on how either candidate will perform in the various regions, and I would like to hear yours in the comments.

Why I'm Supporting Rick Santorum for President

2012-01-06T17:19:00.001-08:00

In this ongoing Presidential election, there are many candidates out there angling for our support. After long and careful consideration, I have decided to support former US Senator Rick Santorum, and here are the issues on which I base my support:

1. Health Care: Mr. Santorum has been a long-time proponent of market-driven, patient-centered health care solutions. He believes that everybody should have access to high-quality and affordable health care, with decisions being made by patients and their doctors instead of by government. If elected, Santorum will work to repeal President Obama's universal health care plan, make more readily available such options as Health Savings Accounts and high deductible insurance plans, reduce health care costs through competition, allow patients to buy coverage with pre-tax dollars, and enact meaningful tort reform. By contrast, Mitt Romney was the genius behind the universal health care system in Massachusetts on which Obama based his health care system, and Newt Gingrich was, at one time or another, a proponent of the individual mandate, which was an instrumental part of Obama's health care plan.

2. Second Amendment: Mr. Santorum is an ardent defender of every law abiding citizen's Second Amendment rights. As a US Senator, Santorum wrote legislation eliminating the requirement that fishermen and hunters turn over their Social Security numbers when obtaining a license, supported legislation protecting law-abiding gun manufacturers and dealers from frivolous lawsuits, and vehemently opposed the Assault Weapons Ban, guided by his belief that the real answer to gun violence is the enforcement of existing laws. If elected, Santorum would be guided by the same principles that guided him through those votes in the Senate. By contrast, Romney was a supporter of gun control during his gubernatorial run and signed gun control legislation into law on July 1, 2004.

3. Entitlements & Spending: Rick Santorum believes that entitlement reform and caps on spending are the way to economic solvency. He believes we must live within our means, prioritize our national security and defense spending, refocus the government on constitutional principles, consolidate duplicative programs, eliminate wasteful programs, and reform and modernize Medicare and Social Security in order to put us on the path to fiscal solvency. If elected, Santorum pledges to cut $5 trillion of congressional spending within five years, reduce spending levels down to at least 2008 levels, freeze defense and entitlement spending levels for five years, pass a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution, stop the implementation of all remaining federal stimulus dollars, freeze pay for federal workers for four years, eliminate agriculture and energy subsidies, and eliminate funding for the following: United Nations-owned agencies, the National Labor Relations Board, Dodd/Frank regulatory reform, and Planned Parenthood. He also vows to phase out bankrupt mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac within five years and sell wasteful and inefficient federal properties. By contrast, during his term of office as Governor, spending levels increased by 32%(from $26.3 billion to $34.7 billion), which does not account for the costs of RomneyCare.

4. Foreign Policy: Rick Santorum is one of the few people sounding the alarm about the dangers that Iran poses to the United States. While a US Senator, he sponsored a bill authorizing taxpayer dollars to support Iranian pro-democracy movements and keep dictator Mahmoud Ahmadinejad from attaining a nuclear warhead. If elected, Santorum will assist Iranian pro-democracy groups, refuse to negotiate with Iran, work with Israel to deflect the nuclear threat and determine the proper course of military action against Iran, treat all scientists tied to the Iranian regime as enemy combatants, freeze bank accounts and issue travel restrictions to Iranian officials, build a comprehensive missile defense system, re-evaluate the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, and authorize research into the threats posed by an electromagnetic pulse attack. This all sharply contrasts with Ron Paul's views on this matter. Paul's positions are that Iranian affairs are none of our business, that it does not concern us if Iran attains a nuclear weapon, and that Israel's safety is of no importance in the greater scheme of things.

5. Taxes: Mr. Santorum is a staunch advocate for lower taxes and a simplified tax code. As a US Senator, he voted for both Bush tax cuts. If elected, Santorum will work to eliminate the Alternative Minimum Tax, the Death Tax, the Marriage Tax penalties, the cap on deductions for losses stemming from real estate sales, the corporate income tax for manufacturers, and the tax on repatriated taxable corporate income. He would also work to lower the capital gains and dividend taxes, to triple personal tax deductions for every child, to cut the corporate tax rate in half, to retain deductions for charitable giving and necessities, and to increase and make permanent the research & development tax credit. By contrast, taxes went up during Romney's tenure to pay for programs he implemented.

6. Life & Marriage: Rick Santorum is one of the leaders in the charge against abortion, same-sex marriage, and embryonic stem cell research. As a US Senator, he supported measures banning both partial birth abortions and judicial extension of marriage rights to same-sex and unmarried couples. He also supported extending legal protection both to babies who survive attempts at induced abortion and to unborn babies who are victims of crimes. If elected, Santorum would work to stop taxpayer funding of both overseas abortions and embryonic stem cell research. He would also defend the Defense of Marriage Act in court, ban all chaplains from performing same-sex marriage ceremonies on federal property, and amend the Constitution to include a Personhood Amendment(declaring everybody, born and unborn, a person) and a Federal Marriage Act(banning judicial extension of marriage rights to same-sex and unmarried cohabiting couples). By contrast, Gingrich and Romney have taken alternating positions on these issues through the years, while Paul is a proponent of same-sex marriage.

7. Border Security & Immigration: Rick Santorum is an ardent proponent of securing our borders and restricting illegal immigration. As a US Senator, Santorum opposed amnesty, in-state tuition, health care services, Welfare, and educational benefits for illegal immigrants. In addition, he opposed chain migration(meaning one immigrant sponsors numerous other immigrants for admission), the establishment of guest worker programs, and allowing illegals to participate in Social Security. He supported building a border fence on the mexican border, the visa lottery, allowing foreign workers into the US for farm work, and visas for skilled workers. If elected, Santorum would do as he did in the Senate and fight to secure our borders and to make the legal immigration process faster and more efficient so that we can attract skillful, talented entrepreneurs from all regions around the world. Contrast this with Romney, who has favored an in-state tuition program and hired illegals for work at his home, and Paul, who has compared a border fence to the Iron Curtain, and you see the stark differences.

8. Energy & Offshore Oil Drilling: Rick Santorum is an ardent proponent of energy independence and offshore oil drilling. As a US Senator, Santorum opposed disallowing oil leasing programs in Alaska's "Arctic National Wildlife Refuge;" opposed slashing oil usage by 40% by 2040; and opposed banning drilling in ANWR. He supported the Bush administration's energy policy, which targeted 100,000 hydrogen powered vehicles by 2010, drilling in ANWR on national security grounds, preserving a budget for ANWR oil drilling, and the authorization of a nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain in Nevada. If elected, Santorum would approve the Keystone Pipeline slated to go from Canada, through the Midwest, to Illinois. By contrast, Romney opposed the Yucca Mountain Repository.

In conclusion, I hope this endorsement has been informative and has convinced you to support Rick Santorum for president. Since this election is the most important one in modern times, there is a high volume of other options out there, so choose carefully.

Road to Victory 2012: How Rick Santorum Can Win the Nomination by Super Tuesday

2012-01-04T16:30:00.000-08:00

In case you're not aware, in the closest vote in Iowa Caucus history, Mitt Romney beat out Rick Santorum by 8 votes. One week ago, Santorum was in the single digits. Considering his strong showing in IA and Conservative desperation to support a formidable alternative to Romney, the money and poll numbers will start flowing Santorum's way. Bachmann's departure will most assuredly help Santorum more than anyone else. People are skeptical that Santorum can make it. I'm optimistic that he can. Here's how I think Santorum could wrap up the nomination battle by Super Tuesday.

New Hampshire(1/10/12): Santorum's got no shot at winning here. The best he can shoot for is third place. One thing that could really hurt Mitt Romney is Newt Gingrich's attacks on him going into NH. Gingrich may not reasonate, but his attacks just might. If some of those attacks stick, we could be looking at either a narrow Romney victory over Ron Paul or an outright defeat of Romney. I currently think Romney will win with 34%, versus Paul's 29%, Santorum's 19%, Jon Huntsman Jr's 9%, Gingrich's 6%, and Rick Perry's 3%. Huntsman would drop out and endorse Romney, but seeing how thin Huntsman's support is, I don't see how that particularly helps Romney.

South Carolina(1/21/12): This will be the big fight. A make or break moment for Santorum, and Perry's last stand. Santorum must unify the Evangelical vote behind him in order to win. Romney only needs a Perry/Santorum split to win. I see Santorum unifying the Evangelicals(who will realize soon enough that Perry is doomed) and winning SC with 44%, versus Romney's 28%, Gingrich's 15%, Perry's 9%, and Paul's 4%. Perry would drop out and, like Bachmann, not endorse anybody, and his voters would largely go to Santorum, with the rest going to Gingrich.

Florida(1/31/12): Another make or break moment for Santorum, and Gingrich's last stand. Gingrich must win over the large senior vote that has flocked in droves to the home of the fountain of youth in the past few decades in order to win. Santorum, buoyed by his win in SC, must win over the Grassroots Conservatives, for which an endorsement from Senator Marco Rubio, Governor Rick Scott, and/or Congressman Allen West would go a long way. I see Santorum unifying the Grassroots Conservatives and winning FL with 39%, versus Romney's 29%, Gingrich's 21%, and Paul's 11%. Out of money, out of hope, and verging on destruction, Gingrich drops out and endorses Santorum.

Nevada(2/4/12): Santorum's got no shot at winning here. This is viewed by many as a Romney stronghold, but this could be what breaks Romney. Why? Paul polled a formidable second place here in 2008, and with his organization and the number of youth voters in the Las Vegas area, he could poll either a narrow second or actually beat out Romney, delivering the fatal blow to Romney's campaign. Don't worry, Romney will be in this until Super Tuesday, but by this point, his once great chances at the Presidency have just about vanished overnight.

Maine(2/4/12-2/11/12): With the support of Governor Paul LePage(and the forthcoming support of Senators Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe, if they've not endorsed him already), Romney's got a decent advantage going in. Santorum only has a remote chance here. I see Romney prevailing 47-36-17 over Santorum and Paul.

Colorado(2/7/12): There's not been any polling from Colorado for one month, but the last one showed Gingrich up 19 over Romney. Considering all that's gone on by this time and vote pockets in Boulder and Denver, Paul starts this one out with a built-in advantage. Paul prevails over Santorum and Romney 40-31-29.

Minnesota(2/7/12): With Bachmann not endorsing anybody and former Governor Tim Pawlenty behind Romney, Romney's chances are pretty good here. Santorum still may have a decent shot, though. At this point, I see Romney winning by a 45-39-16 margin over Santorum and Paul.

Arizona(2/28/12): Senator and 2008 GOP Presidential nominee John McCain's endorsement is supposed to help Romney, right? Not necessarily. McCain's job approval numbers have been flagging for the better part of a year, and is now almost as unpopular in AZ as Joe Lieberman is in Connecticut. With the high volume of Conservative Republicans in AZ accounted for, I see Santorum winning Arizona with 49%, versus Romney's 38% and Paul's 13%.

Michigan(2/28/12): Michigan, the state that elected Mitt's father, George Romney, to the Governorship way back when. For this reason, Romney's home free here. Santorum's got no chance. Romney wins with 54%, versus Santorum's 37% and Paul's 9%.

Washington(3/3/12): There has been no polling on this, so there is no way to tell.

And then it's on to Super Tuesday, where Santorum attains the GOP nomination for President of the United States of America.

A Path to Victory for Rick Santorum?

2011-12-30T08:52:00.000-08:00

As you may have heard, Rick Santorum is surging in Iowa less than a week before the caucuses are held. At this point, there's a very real chance he could win Iowa, and thus gain momentium in the Southern primaries(most notably, South Carolina). That said, I don't really expect him to play well outside of the aforementioned states/regions. This post clearly agrees with my thoughts on his chances in Iowa:

The fact is that born-again Christians in Iowa – or their close equivalent, evangelical Christians – remain hesitant to embrace the unorthodox candidacy of Paul or the Mormon faith of Romney. And that could leave an opening for someone like Santorum to rally.

To this point, there hasn’t been a singular and obvious third option for this key constituency, which comprises up to half or more of the caucus electorate, depending on whom you believe, and delivered the state to Mike Huckabee in 2008

But that might be changing.

The poll showed Santorum taking 22 percent of born-again Christians, moving him into first place among that group. And if he can make other born-agains believe that he’s the one viable alternative to Romney and Paul, then maybe he can create enough of a rallying effect to unite evangelicals behind his campaign.

“That bandwagon effect at the end can be very powerful in moving numbers dramatically in the last five days,” said former Iowa Republican Party chairman Steve Grubbs, pointing to Huckabee’s win.

There’s also the fact that many voters are receptive to Santorum; other polling has suggested he is a popular second-choice pick.

That suggests voters want to vote for Santorum, but perhaps didn’t see him as someone who could actually win. But if they now see him as a viable option, maybe they move into his camp.

“So it means he still has upside — beyond evangelicals but certainly including them,” said Nick Ryan, the founder of the pro-Santorum super PAC that is current running a quarter-million dollars worth of ads in the Hawkeye State.

The problem, though, is that Santorum is running against two other lower-tier candidates — Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann — who have significant appeal to evangelicals as well. And they aren’t so far behind Santorum (they take 11 percent and 9 percent, respectively) that they wouldn’t also appear to be viable options.

Perry, in particular, has made a pretty overt effort to play up his Christian faith, including running a TV ad that suggested children aren’t allowed to pray in schools and holding a huge gathering of Christians in Houston before launching his campaign.

It will certainly be interesting to see how he performs in 4 days, and how much momentium he gains from what will undoubtedly be a strong finish.

New Years Message From Glenn Beck

2011-12-30T08:37:00.001-08:00

When I came back from my vacation last year, I laid out several plans for 2011. Over the past year, you have seen many of these plans come to fruition. I told you that I would no longer be looking towards elected officials for solutions and instead would look to individuals to chart the course and create real change in the world.

It all started in June when I left Fox News to launch my own independent network, GBTV. The network has been dedicated to bringing you the truth that you can’t get anywhere else - whether it be news stories ignored by the mainstream media, commentary on what is really going on in the world, or even comedy that seeks to appeal to people of all political viewpoints and break away from the traditional liberal entertainment industry.

In 2012, you will see GBTV continue to grow as a network. We’re adding new shows like Independence USA, a reality program that shows a real family finding out what life “off the grid” might be like. There are some other big announcements coming, but there are people in my office who would be pretty mad if I let the cat out of the bag this early (and yes, I’ve hired so many people in 2011 that when enough of them yell at me I listen. Sometimes.)

But aside from great programming on GBTV, I’ve made a lot of personal changes in 2011 as well. I traveled to Israel for the Restoring Courage events to stand with Israel and the Jewish people in one of the most defining moments of my life so far. Next year, I’ll be bringing people from around the country to my new home of Dallas, TX for “Restoring Love” - a three day event where thousands will gather and perform acts of service and charity across the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. We’ll also have an amazing evening of celebration, inspiration, and reflection on July 28th at Cowboys Stadium. This is something you will NOT want to miss as individuals stand together and fundamentally transform the country like never before.

I also launched Mercury One at the end of 2011, and this non-profit initiative will be a big part of my life going into 2012 and beyond. The organization will not only help me organize the “Restoring Love” event, but it will carry that spirit of service into places across the country and the globe. It will give you the chance to roll up your sleeves and get involved, as well as a chance to support others who are looking to make a difference. This is something I have been actively working on for over a year and an idea I have had for a very, very long time. You’ve been telling me “Ok, Glenn. I get it! I know the problems - but what can I do?” Mercury One is the answer. Stay tuned because there are some big things coming in 2012.

I’d like to leave you with a story I read on radio when I came back after the holidays last January. Read it and look at all the things we have done together over the past two years. I hope you can see how everything we have been working towards is about solutions born in the individual.

A man decided that he would change the world.
But, he wasn’t successful.
So he decided to change the country.
But, he wasn’t successful.
So he decided to change his community.
But, he wasn’t successful.
So he decided to change his street.
But, be wasn’t successful.
So he decided to change his family.
But, he wasn’t successful.
So he decided to change himself.
AND HE WAS SUCCESSFUL.
AND HIS FAMILY CHANGED AND THEY AFFECTED THEIR STREET.
AND THE PEOPLE ON THE STREET AFFECTED THEIR COMMUNITY.
AND THE PEOPLE OF THE COMMUNITY AFFECTED THEIR COUNTRY.
AND THE PEOPLE OF THE COUNTRY AFFECTED THE WORLD.

And gang, I promise you, we are so close to seeing things turn around in this country and changing for the better. We just need to start with ourselves, then our families, and then our communities. If we can start at home, each and every one of us, we can change the world. We will change the world.

2012 is going to be an incredible journey.

Laos Deo,

Glenn Beck

On the Threshold of a Dream: A History of the Moody Blues

2011-12-29T17:08:00.000-08:00

Ray Thomas, vocalist and flautist for the Moody Blues, turns 70 today. This is a history of the band for which he is best known for, the Moody Blues.

May 4, 1964: The Moody Blues, consisting of Denny Laine(lead vocals, guitar), Ray Thomas(vocals, tambourine, flute), Mike Pinder(vocals, mellotron, piano), Clint Warwick(vocals, bass guitar), and Graeme Edge(vocals, drums), are formed in Erdington, Birmingham, England.
Spring, 1964: The single "Steal Your Heart Away/Lose Your Money(But Don't Lose Your Mind)" is released to commercial failure in the UK. The Moody Blues appeared on the UK TV series "Ready, Steady, Go" to promote the B side single.
October, 1964: The Moody Blues go into Decca Studios in West Hampstead, London, England, to record their debut album, entitled "The Magnificent Moodies."
October 30, 1964: The Moody Blues perform at the Crawdaddy Club in London, England.
November, 1964: The single "Go Now," backed up by the B side singles "It's Easy Child" in the UK, and "Lose Your Money(But Don't Lose Your Mind)" in the US, is released to critical and commercial success. The single peaked at #1 on the UK Singles Chart, and at #10 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US.
Early 1965: A four track(Reel-to-Reel) Extended Play release, featuring all their released singles, is released.
February, 1965: The single "I Don't Want To Go On Without You" is released to regional commercial success. The single peaked at #33 on the UK Singles Chart.
May, 1965: The single "From The Bottom of My Heart (I Love You)" is released to commercial success. The single peaked at #22 on the UK Singles Chart, and at #93 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US.
July 22, 1965: "The Magnificent Moodies," featuring the aforementioned single and the songs "Bye Bye Bird," "It Ain't Necessarily So," "I'll Go Grazy," "Stop," "I've Got A Dream," and "I Don't Mind," is released to regional critical and commercial success. The album peaked at #5 in the UK, but failed to chart in the US.
October, 1965: The single "Everyday" is released to regional commercial success. The single peaked at #44 on the UK Singles Chart.
June, 1966: Bassist Clint Warwick departs from the Moody Blues. He is replaced by Rod Clark.
October, 1966: Clark departs from the Moody Blues. Shortly thereafter, the Moody Blues disband for one month. Denny Laine departs as well.
November, 1966: The Moody Blues re-form, with John Lodge replacing Rod Clark on Bass Guitar and Justin Hayward replacing Denny Laine on lead vocals and guitar.
Late 1966: The single "This is My House(But Nobody Calls)/Boulevard de la Madeleine" is released to commercial failure. The single failed to chart in the UK, but charted at #119 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US.
January, 1967: The single "Life's Not Life/He Can Win" is released to commercial failure, failing to chart anywhere. It is the last release to feature Denny Laine on vocals.
May, 1967: The single "Fly Me High/Really Haven't Got the Time" is released to commercial failure, failing to chart anywhere. This is the first release to feature Hayward and Lodge. "Fly Me High" was utilized as a jingle on the BBC news network.
September, 1967: The single "Love and Beauty/Leave This Man Alone" is released to commercial failure, failing to chart anywhere.
October 8, 1967: The Moody Blues go into Decca Studios in West Hampstead, London, England, to record their second album, the concept album "Days of Future Passed." The concept of this album is a day in the life of everyman. This album featured backing from the London Festival Orchestra.
November 11, 1967: "Days of Future Passed," featuring the songs "Tuesday Afternoon," "(Evening)Time to Get Away," and "Nights in White Satin," is released to critical and commercial success. The album peaked at #27 on the UK Albums Chart, #3 in Canada,and at #3 on the Billboard 200 in the US. "Tuesday Afternoon" peaked at #24 on the Billboard Hot 100, while failing to chart in the UK, and "Nights in White Satin" peaked at #9 on the UK Singles Chart and #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US, respectively.
January, 1968: The Moody Blues go into Decca Studios in West Hampstead, London, England, to record their third album, the concept album "In Search of the Lost Chord." The concepts of this album are quest and discovery.
June, 1968: The single "Voices in the Sky" is released to regional commercial success.
July 26, 1968: "In Search of the Lost Chord," featuring the aforementioned single and the songs "Departure," "Ride My See-Saw," the two-parter "House of Four Doors," and "Legend of a Mind," is released to critical and commercial success. The album peaked at #5 on the UK Albums Chart and #23 on the Billboard 200 in the US. "Ride My See-Saw" peaked at #42 on the UK Singles Chart, #37 in Canada, and #61 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US. "Legend of a Mind," which was written about LSD guru Timothy Leary, became a live favorite, with the Moody Blues often protracting Ray Thomas' flute solo.
November 8, 1968: The Moody Blues perform at the Electric Factory in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
November 24, 1968: The Moody Blues perform at the Fillmore West in San Francisco, California.
January 12, 1969: The Moody Blues go into Decca Studios in West Hampstead, London, England, to record their fourth album, the concept album "On the Threshold of a Dream." The concept of this album is dreams.
April 25, 1969: "On the Threshold of a Dream," featuring the songs "In the Beginning," "Lovely to See You," "Dear Diary," "Never Comes the Day," and "The Voyage," is released to critical and commercial success. The album peaked at #5 on the UK Albums Chart, #26 in Canada, and #23 on the Billboard 200 in the US. "Never Comes the Day" peaked at #74 in Canada and #91 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US. The single failed to chart in he UK. Though not released as a single, "Lovely to See You" is the most well known and recognizable track off of this album. Shortly after the release of this album, the Moody Blues formed "Threshold Records," a subsidiary of Decca Records.
May, 1969: The Moody Blues go into Decca Studios in West Hampstead, London, England, to record their fifth album, the concept album "To Our Children's Children's Children." The concepts of this album are space travel and children.
October, 1969: The single "Watching and Waiting" is released to commercial failure, selling about ten copies(half of which were purchased by the Moody Blues themselves). This single marks their first release under Threshold Records.
October 21, 1969: The Moody Blues performed on BBC TV’s "Monster Music Mash."
November 21, 1969: "To Our Children's Children's Children," featuring the aforementioned single and the songs "Higher and Higher," "I Never Thought I'd Live to be a Hundred," "Out and In," "Gypsy(Of a Strange and Distant Time)," "Candle of Life," and "I Never Thought I'd Live to be a Million," is released to critical and commercial success. The album peaked at #2 on the UK Albums Chart, #11 in Canada, and #14 on the Billboard 200 in the US. Though not released as a single, "Gypsy(Of a Strange and Distant Time)" is the most well known and recognizable track off this album.
November 28, 1969: The Moody Blues perform in Detroit, Michigan.
November 29, 1969: The Moody Blues perform in Toronto, Ontario.
November 30, 1969: The Moody Blues perform in Chicago, Illinois.
December 12, 1969: The Moody Blues perform at the Royal Albert Hall in South Kensington, London, England. Performances from this show were featured on the "Caught Live +5" album.
December 14, 1969: The Moody Blues perform in Odeon, Birmingham, England.
January 17, 1970: The Moody Blues go into Decca Studios in West Hampstead, London, England, to record their sixth album, entitled "A Question of Balance."
April, 1970: The single "Question" is released to critical and commercial success. The single peaked at #2 on the UK Singles Chart, #8 in Canada, and #21 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US. The song is the first of the Moody Blues' to feature the subject of political strife, in particular the ongoing Vietnam War.
August 7, 1970: "A Question of Balance," featuring the aforementioned single and the songs "How is it(We are Here)," "And the Tide Rushes in," "Minstrel's Song," "Melancholy Man," and "The Balance," is released to critical and commercial success. The album peaked at #1 on the UK Singles Chart, #3 in Canada, and #3 on the Billboard 200 in the US. "Melancholy Man" peaked at #1 in France.
August 30, 1970: The Moody Blues perform at the Isle of Wight festival in Seaclose Park, Isle of Wight, England. The recordings for this performance were not released for 38 years.
November, 1970: The Moody Blues go into Wessex Studios in London, England, to record their seventh album, entitled "Every Good Boy Deserves Favour."
July 23, 1971: "Every Good Boy Deserves Favour," featuring the songs "Procession," "The Story in Your Eyes," "Emily's Song," and "After You Came," is released to critical and commercial success. The album peaked at #1 on the UK Albums Chart, #2 in Canada, and #2 on the Billboard 200 in the US. "The Story in Your Eyes" peaked at #7 in Canada and #23 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US.
January, 1972: The Moody Blues go into Decca Tollington Park Studios in London, England, to record their eighth album, entitled "Seventh Sojurn."
April, 1972: The single "Isn't Life Strange" is released to critical and commercial success. The single peaked at #13 on the UK Singles Chart, #9 in Canada, and #29 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US.
October 31, 1972: The Moody Blues perform at the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City, Utah.
November 17, 1972: "Seventh Sojurn," featuring the aforementioned single and the songs "Lost in a Lost World," You and Me," "When You're a Free Man," and "I'm Just a Singer(In a Rock and Roll Band)," is released to critical and commercial success. The album peaked at #5 on the UK Albums Chart, #1 in Canada, and #1 on the Billboard 200 in the US. "I'm Just a Singer(In a Rock and Roll Band)" peaked at #36 on the UK Singles Chart, #172 in Canada, and #12 on the Billboard Hot 100. "You and Me," though not released as a single, is a fan favorite and still receives modest airplay on hard-core rock channels.
October 5, 1973: The Moody Blues perform at the New Theater in Oxford, England.
October 6, 1973: The Moody Blues perform at Leeds University in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.
October 24, 1973: The Moody Blues perform at the Forum in Montreal, Quebec.
November 3, 1973: The Moody Blues perform at the Tarrant County Convention Center Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.
1974: Citing exhaustion after 7 years of touring and recording, the Moody Blues split up.
October 8, 1974: The compilation album "This is the Moody Blues" is released in the UK to critical and commercial success, peaking at #14 on the UK Albums Chart.
November 23, 1974: The compilation album "This is the Moody Blues" is released in the US and Canada to critical and commercial success, peaking at #2 in Canada and #11 on the Billboard 200 in the US.
March 14, 1975: The album "Blue Jays," a collaboration between Justin Hayward and John Lodge, is released to critical and commercial success. The album peaked at #4 on the UK Albums Chart and #16 on the Billboard 200. The album's sole single and most recognizable song, "I Dreamed Last Night," peaked at #47 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US, while failing to chart in the UK.
September, 1975: The single "Blue Guitar," featuring Hayward with backing from 10cc, is released to critical and commercial success. The single peaked at #8 on the UK Singles Chart and #94 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US. This song is often credited to either the Moody Blues(as it was on "The Best of the Moody Blues") or Hayward & Lodge(Lodge was not present for the "Blue Guitar" sessions).
1977: After a three year hiatus, the Moody Blues re-form.
April 23, 1977: The aforementioned "Caught Live +5" is released to commercial failure in the UK.
June 4, 1977: "Caught Live +5" is released to critical and commercial success in the US. peaking at #26 on the Billboard 200.
October, 1977: The Moody Blues go into Record Plant Studios in Los Angeles, California, to record their eleventh album, entitled "Octave." Founding member and Mellotronist Mike Pinder left the group during these sessions. He was replaced by Patrick Moraz.
1978: The compilation album "The Great Moody Blues" is released to commercial failure.
May, 1978: The single "Stepping in a Slide Zone" is released to critical and commercial success. The single peaked at #41 in Canada and #39 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US, while failing to chart in the UK.
June 9, 1978: 1. "Octave," featuring the aforementioned single and the songs "Under Moonshine," "Had to Fall in Love," "Driftwood," "I'm Your Man," and "One Step Into the Light," is released to critical and commercial success. The album peaked at #6 on the UK Albums Chart, #9 in Canada, and #13 on the Billboard 200 in the US. "Had to Fall in Love" peaked at #18 on the Dutch charts. "Driftwiid peaked at #60 in Canada and #59 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US, while failing to chart in the UK.
2. "Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of the War of the Worlds," featuring Justin Hayward's "Forever Autumn," is released to critical and commercial success, peaking at #1 on both the Australian and Dutch charts. It is considered the 40th best selling album of all time in the UK. "Forever Autumn" is often credited to the Moody Blues(as it was on "The Best of the Moody Blues).
November 5, 1978: The Moody Blues perform at the Dane County Memorial Coliseum in Madison, Wisconsin.
November 18, 1978: The Moody Blues perform at the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium in Buffalo, New York.
November 23, 1978: The Moody Blues perform at the Civic Center in Providence, Rhode Island.
November 27, 1978: The Moody Blues perform at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York.
December 3, 1978: The Moody Blues perform at the Checker Dome in Saint Louis, Missouri.
December 4, 1978: The Moody Blues perform in Kansas City, Missouri.
December 5, 1978: The Moody Blues perform in Fort Worth, Texas.
October 22, 1979: The compilation album "Out of This World" is released to regional commercial success, peaking at #15 on the UK Albums Chart.
February 19, 1980: The Moody Blues go into Threshold Studios in London, England, to record their thirteenth album, entitled "Long Distance Voyager." This would be the first release to feature Patrick Moraz on Keyboards, and featured contributions from the New World Philharmonic Orchestra.
May 15, 1981: "Long Distance Voyager," featuring the songs "Gemini Dream," "The Voice," "Talking Out of Turn," "Painted Smile," and "Veteran Cosmic Rocker," is released to critical and commercial success. The album peaked at #7 on the UK Albums Chart, #1 in Canada, and #1 on the Billboard 200 in the US. "Gemini Dream" peaked at #1 in Canada and at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US. "The Voice" peaked at #9 in Canada and #15 On the Billboard Hot 100 in the US. "Talking Out of Turn" peaked at #27 in Canada and #67 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US. All three singles failed to chart in the UK.
November 20, 1981: The Moody Blues perform at the Spectrum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
November 22, 1981: The Moody Blues perform at the Forum in Montreal, Quebec.
March 8, 1982: The Moody Blues go into Strawberry Studio South in Stockport, England, to record their fourteenth album, entitled "The Present."
August 28, 1983: "The Present," featuring the songs "Blue World," "Meet Me Helfway," "Sitting at the Wheel," "Hole in the World," "It's Cold Outside Your Heart," and "Running Water," is released in the UK to critical and commercial success. The album peaked at #15 on the UK Album Chart. "Blue World" peaked at #35 on the UK Singles Chart, while "Sitting at the Wheel" and "Running Water" both failed to chart.
September 2, 1983: "The Present" is released to critical and commercial success in the US and Canada. The album peaked at #11 in Canada and at #26 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US. "Blue World" peaked at #40 in Canada and at #62 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US. "Sitting at the Wheel" peaked at #18 in Canada and #27 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US. "Running Water" missed both charts entirely.
October 17, 1983: The Moody Blues perform in Hartford, Connecticut.
October 22, 1983: The Moody Blues perform at the Brendan Byrne Arena in East Rutherford, NJ.
October 25, 1983: The Moody Blues perform at the Baltimore Civic Center in Baltimore, Maryland.
November 25, 1983: The Moody Blues perform in Calgary, Alberta.
December 1, 1983: The Moody Blues perform in Los Angeles, California.
1984: The compilation album "Voices in the Sky: The Best of the Moody Blues" is released to critical and commercial success. The album peaked at #91 in Canada and #132 on the Billboard 200 in the US, while failing to chart in the UK.
Late 1985: The Moody Blues go into Good Earth Studios in Soho, London, England, to record their sixteenth album, entitled "The Other Side of Life." The album marked a temporary transition from their signature symphonic sound to more of a synth-pop feel to their music.
April 9, 1986: "The Other Side of Life," featuring the songs "Your Wildest Dreams," "The Other Side of Life," "The Spirit," and "Slings and Arrows," is released to critical and commercial success. The album peaked at #24 on the UK Album Chart, #46 in Canada, and #9 on the Billboard 200 in the US. "Your Wildest Dreams" peaked at #55 in Canada and #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US, while failing to chart in the UK. "The Other Side of Life" peaked at #58 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US, while failing to chart in Canada and the UK.
November 16, 1986: The Moody Blues perform at the McNichols Sports Arena in Denver, Colorado.
October 12, 1987: The Moody Blues go into Good Earth Studios in Soho, London, England, to record what will be their eighteenth album, entitled "Sur la Mer."
October 26, 1987: The compilation album "Prelude," which features all of the Moody Blues' rarities and non-album singles, is released to commercial failure.
May 23, 1988: The Single "I Know You're Out There Somewhere" is released to critical and commercial success, becoming their biggest hit of the 1980's. The single peaked at #52 on the UK Singles Chart, #15 in Canada, and #30 on the Billboard 200 in the US.
June 6, 1988: "Sur la Mer," featuring the aforementioned single and the songs "River of Endless Love," "No More Lies," and "Love is on the Run," is released to critical and commercial success. The album peaked at #21 on the UK Albums Chart, #35 in Canada, and #38 on the Billboard 200 in the US. "No More Lies" peaked at #15 on the Adult Contemporary charts in the US.
November 10, 1988: The Moody Blues perform at the Lee County Arena in Fort Myers, Florida.
November 21, 1989: The compilation album "Greatest Hits" is released to commercial success. The album peaked at #71 on the UK Albums Chart, and #113 on the Billboard 200 in the US.
1990: The Moody Blues go to record their twentieth album, entitled "Keys of the Kingdom." This album incorporates usage of the drum machine on just north of half the tracks on the album. Keyboardist Patrick Moraz has a falling out with, and departs from, the Moody Blues during these recording sessions. The Moody Blues never again hired a full-time Keyboardist, and instead utilize session musicians.
June 25, 1991: "Keys of the Kingdom," featuring the songs "Say it With Love," "Bless the Wings(That Bring You Back),"Is This Heaven?," "Lean on Me(Tonight)," "Shadows on the Wall," and "Celtic Sonat," is released in the US and Canada to commercial success, but critical failure. The album peaked at #29 in Canada and #94 on the Billboard 200 in the US. "Say it With Love" peaked at #36 in Canada and #22 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks charts in the US. "Bless the Wings(That Bring You Back)" failed to chart.
July 1, 1991: "Keys of the Kingdom" is released to commercial succes, but critical failure, in the UK. The Album peaked at #54 on the UK Album Charts. "Say it With Love" and "Bless the Wings(That Bring You Back)" miss the charts entirely.
October 16, 1991: The Moody Blues perform at the Stadthalle Offenbach in Offenbach am Main, Germany.
December 15, 1991: The Moody Blues perform at the Florida Theater in Jacksonville, Florida.
September 9, 1992: The Moody Blues perform at the Red Rocks Amphitheater in Morrison, Colorado. Performances from this show were featured on the "A Night at Red Rocks with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra" album and DVD.
March 9, 1993: "A Night at Red Rocks with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra" is released to critical and commercial success. The album peaked at #93 on the Billboard 200 in the US.
March 16, 1993: "A Night at Red Rocks with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra" is released as a DVD to critical and commercial success. The DVD was certified Gold in the US.
October 9, 1993: The Moody Blues perform at the Target Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
December 17, 1993: The Moody Blues perform at the Wembley Arena in Wembley, London, England.
September 27, 1994: The box-set compilation "Time Traveller" is released to critical success, but commercial failure. It failed to chart, but it was certified Gold in the US.
October 1-2, 1994: The Moody Blues perform at the Hollywood Bowl in Hollywood, California.
September 23, 1996: The compilation album "The Very Best of the Moody Blues" is released to regional critical and commercial success. The album peaked at #13 on the UK Albums Chart.
1997: The Moody Blues go into Studio Mulinetti in Recco, Italy, to record what will be their twenty-fifth album, entitled "Strange Times." The album features the Moody Blues going back to their Orchestral/Symphonic roots. This is the last studio release to feature Ray Thomas.
January 28, 1997: "The Very Best of the Moody Blues" is re-released as "The Best of the Moody Blues." It is one of their most prevalent compilation albums.
October 20: 1998: The compilation album "Anthology" is released to commercial failure.
August 17, 1999: "Strange Times," featuring the songs "English Sunset," "Love Don't Come Easy," "All That is Real," "Strange Times," and "Forever Now," is released to critical and commercial success. The album peaked at #19 on the UK Albums Charts and #93 on the Billboard 200 in the US, while failing to chart in Canada. "English Sunset" missed the charts entirely.
November 6, 1999: The Moody Blues perform at the Beacon Theater in New York City, New York.
December 27, 1999: The compilation album "Classic Moody Blues: The Universal Masters Collection" is released to commercial failure.
March 7, 2000: The compilation album "The Best of the Moody Blues: 20th Century Masters-The Millennium Collection" is released to commercial failure. In spite of this, it is one of their most prevalent compilation albums.
May 1, 2000: The Moody Blues perform at the Royal Albert Hall in South Kensington, London, England. Performances from this show were featured on the "Hall of Fame" album.
August 8, 2000: The aforementioned "Hall of Fame" is released to critical and commercial success. The album peaked at #185 on the Billboard 200.
November 14, 2000: "Hall of Fame" is released as a DVD to critical and commercial success. The DVD was certified Platinum in Australia.
2001: The Moody Blues perform for the soundtrack to the IMAX film "Journey Into Amazing Caves."
2002: The Moody Blues go into Studio Mulinetti in Recco, Italy, to record what will be their thirtieth album, the concept album "December." The concept of this album is Christmastime.
Late 2002: Ray Thomas departs from the Moody Blues.
2003: The compilation album "Ballads" is released to commercial failure.
January 14, 2003: The compilation album "Say it With Love" is released to commercial failure.
October 28, 2003: "December," featuring the songs "December Snow," "In the Quiet of Christmas Morning (Bach 147)," "Happy X-Mas(War is Over)," "The Spirit of Christmas," "White Christmas," and "In the Bleak Mid-Winter," is released to worldwide commercial failure. "December Snow" also fails to chart.
May 15, 2004: Former Moody Blues Bassist Clint Warwick dies, aged 63, from Liver disease.
March 1, 2005: The compilation album "Gold" is released to commercial failure. In spite of this, it is one of their most prevalent compilation albums.
June 11, 2005: The Moody Blues perform at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles, California. Performances from this show were featured on the "Lovely to See You: Live" album.
October 26, 2005: The Moody Blues perform in Waukegan, Illinois.
October 29, 2005: The Moody Blues perform at the Aronoff Center in Cincinnati, Ohio.
November 1, 2005: The Moody Blues perform at the Civic Center in Des Moines, Iowa.
November 15, 2005: The aforementioned "Lovely to See You: Live" is released to commercial failure.
March, 2006: "Days of Future Passed," "In Search of the Lost Chord," "On the Threshold of a Dream," "To Our Children's Children's Children," and "A Question of Balance" are remastered and re-released with bonus tracks.
August 29, 2006: The compilation album "An Introduction to the Moody Blues," chronicling their early days with Denny Laine and Clint Warwick, is released to commercial failure.
September 29, 2006: The Moody Blues perform at Colston Hall in Bristol, England.
October 3, 2006: The Moody Blues perform at Clyde Auditorium in Glasgow, Scotland.
October 19, 2006: The Moody Blues perform at Amsterdam's Heinekin Music Hall in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
February 27, 2007: The compilation album "Collected" is released to commercial failure.
March 26, 2007: The live album "Live at the BBC: 1967-1970" is released in the UK to commercial failure.
May 3, 2007: The live album "Live at the BBC: 1967-1970" is released in the US to commercial failure.
April 29, 2008: The compilation album "Playlist Plus" is released to commercial failure.
July 6, 2008: The aforementioned "Live at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970" is released in album and DVD format to critical success, but commercial failure. In spite of this, it is the most prevalent live DVD of the Moody Blues'.
October 20, 2008: The Moody Blues perform at the Sentrum Scene in Oslo, Norway.
Late 2008: "Octave," "Long Distance Voyager," and "The Present" are remastered and re-released with bonus tracks.
January 4, 2010: Former Moody Blues Producer and "sixth moody" Tony Clarke dies, aged 68.
October 13, 2010: The Moody Blues perform on the late night TV show "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon."

The music of the Moody Blues is a reminder of happier times for me. This is my tribute to the Moody Blues:

And here's some matters of personal opinion, here. Someone needs to sit down and write a book on the Moody Blues. There's already one out there("The Moody Blues Companion"), but it is not reviewed well(lifetime rating of 2.5 stars). A book would be of real value to Moodies fans. "Question" is my favorite song by them.

And here's an example of fabulous video-making:

Life in the Fast Lane: A History of the Eagles

2011-12-08T05:17:00.001-08:00

"Hotel California," the Eagles' fifth, and most well known, album, was released 35 years ago today, December 8, 1976. This is a history of the band behind this album, the Eagles.

Spring 1971: Session musicians Glenn Frey(vocals, guitar) and Don Henley(vocals, drums) are employed by Linda Ronstadt as part of her backing band.
Summer 1971: Randy Meisner(vocals, bass guitar) and Bernie Leadon(vocals, guitar, banjo, mandolin, dobro) join up with Frey and Henley as Ronstadt's backing group.
July, 1971: The original Eagles, with Linda Ronstadt, perform at Disneyland in Anaheim, CA.
September, 1971: The Eagles, with Ronstadt's approval, split off and became their own band.
February, 1972: The Eagles go into Olympic Studios in London, England, to record their self-titled debut album.
June 17, 1972: "Eagles," featuring the songs "Take it Easy," "Witchy Woman," "Chug All Night," and "Peaceful Easy Feeling," is released to critical and commercial success. The album peaked at #22 on the Billboard 200, and the singles "Take it Easy," "Witchy Woman," and "Peaceful Easy Feeling" peaked at #12, #9, and #22 on the Billboard Hot 100, respectively.
Early 1973: The Eagles go into Island Studios in London, England, to record their second album, entitled "Desperado," a concept album based on Old West Outlaws.
April 17, 1973: "Desperado," featuring the songs "Doolin-Dalton," "Out of Control," "Tequila Sunrise," "Desperado," and "Outlaw Man," is released to critical and commercial success. The album peaked at #41 on the Billboard 200, and the singles "Tequila Sunrise" and "Outlaw Man" peaked at #61 and #59 on the Billboard Hot 100, respectively. While never released as a single, the song "Desperado" would later become a big hit for the Eagles.
Late 1973: The Eagles go into Record Plant Studios in Los Angeles, CA, to record their third album, entitled "On the Border."
March 22, 1974: "On the Border," featuring the songs "Already Gone," "On the Border," "James Dean," "Ol' 55,'' "Good Day in Hell,'' and ''Best of My Love,'' is released to critical and commercial success. The album peaked at #17 on the Billboard 200, and the singles "Already Gone," "James Dean," and Best of My Love" peaked at #32, #77, and #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, respectively.
April 6, 1974: The Eagles perform alongside Black Oak Arkansas, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Earth Wind & Fire, Emerson Lake & Palmer, Rare Earth, and Seals & Crofts at the California Jam Festival in Ontario, CA. The festival attracted over 200,000 fans.
Late 1974-Early 1975: The Eagles go to record their fourth album, entitled "One of These Nights," at Criteria Studios in Miami, FL, and Record Plant Studios in Los Angeles, CA.
June 10, 1975: "One of These Nights," featuring the songs "One of These Nights," "Journey to the Sorcerer," "Lyin' Eyes," "Take it to the Limit," "After the Thrill is Gone," and "I Wish You Peace(co-written by Bernie Leadon's then-girlfriend Patti Davis, daughter of Ronald and Nancy Reagan)," is released to much critical and commercial success. The album peaked at #1 on the Billboard 200, and the songs "One of These Nights," "Lyin' Eyes," and "Take it to the Limit'' peaked at #1, #2, and #4 on the Billboard Hot 100, respectively. "After the Thrill is Gone" became a live staple. Shortly thereafter, Bernie Leadon, disillusioned with the path the Eagles' music was taking, left the Eagles. During his resignation speech, Leadon famously poured a beer over Glenn Frey's head. Leadon was replaced by James Gang and Barnstorm guitarist Joe Walsh, thus completing the Eagles' transition from Country-based music to Hard Rock.
February 17, 1976: The compilation album "Their Greatest Hits(1971-1975)" is released to critical and commercial success. The album is one of the best-selling albums of all time. The album peaked at #1 on the Billboard 200.
March-October, 1976: The Eagles go to record their sixth album, entitled "Hotel California,"at Criteria Studios in Miami, FL, and Record Plant Studios in Los Angeles, CA.
October 20-22, 1976: The Eagles perform a string of shows at the Forum in Los Angeles, CA. Performances from these shows were featured on "Eagles Live."
December 8, 1976: "Hotel California," featuring the songs "Hotel California," "New Kid in Town," "Life in the Fast Lane," "Victim of Love," "Pretty Maids All in a Row," and "The Last Resort," is released to much critical and commercial success. The album peaked at #1 on the Billboard 200, and the singles "New Kid in Town," "Hotel California," and "Life in the Fast Lane" peaked at #1, #1, and #11 on the Billboard Hot 100, respectively. This is the last Eagles album to feature Randy Meisner on Bass Guitar.
September, 1977: Randy Meisner, citing exhaustion and family concerns, leaves the Eagles. He was replaced by Timothy Schmit, the same person who replaced him in Poco.
March, 1978-September, 1979: The Eagles go to record their seventh album, entitled "The Long Run," at Bayshore Recording Studios in Coconut Grove, FL, and One Step Up Recording Studio, Love 'n' Comfort Recording Studio, Britannia Recording Studio, and Record Plant Studios in Los Angeles, CA.
November 27, 1978: The Eagles release "Please Come Home For Christmas/Funky New Year" as a holiday single. It peaked at #18 on the Billboard Hot 100, and featured the first contribution from then-new member Timothy Schmit.
September 24, 1979: "The Long Run," featuring the songs "The Long Run," "I Can't Tell You Why," "In the City," "Heartache Tonight," "Those Shoes," "The Greeks Don't Want No Freaks," and "The Sad Cafe," is released to critical and commercial success. The album peaked at #1 on the Billboard 200, and the singles "Heartache Tonight," "The Long Run," and "I Can't Tell You Why" peaked at #1, #8, and #8 on the Billboard Hot 100, respectively. This is their last release before their breakup.
July 27-29, 1980: The Eagles perform a string of shows at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in Santa Monica, CA. Performances from these shows were featured on "Eagles Live."
July 31, 1980: The Eagles perform their final concert at the Long Beach Arena in Long Beach, CA. Tensions boil over, with Don Felder and Glenn Frey hurling insults at each other, resulting in the group's unofficially disbanding that evening. The performance of "Life in the Fast Lane" is featured on "Eagles Live."
November 7, 1980: "Eagles Live" is released to commercial success, but lukewarm reviews. The album peaked at #6 on the Billboard 200, and its sole single, "Seven Bridges Road," peaked at #21 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album is considered one of the most heavily overdubbed in history.
November 13, 1982: The compilation album "Eagles Greatest Hits, Volume 2" is released to critical and commercial success. The album peaked at #52 on the Billboard 200.
1985: The compilation album "The Best of the Eagles" is released. The album failed to chart in the US, but peaked at #26, #1, and #8 in Australia, New Zeland, and England, respectively.
1988: The compilation album "The Legend of Eagles" is released. The album failed to chart in the US, but peaked at #5 on the Dutch Top 40.
1994: The Eagles reunite and kick off a worldwide tour, entitled "Hell Freezes Over."
July 11, 1994: The compilation album "The Very Best of the Eagles" is released. The album failed to chart in the US, but peaked at #2, #3, #4, #4, #7, #9, #9, and #28 in/on Australia, New Zeland, England, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the Dutch Top 40, and Canada, respectively.
November 8, 1994: The part live, part studio album "Hell Freezes Over," named for the tour, is released to critical and commercial success. The album peaked at #1 on the Billboard 200, and the studio singles "Get Over It," "Learn to Be Still," "The Girl From Yesterday," and "Love Will Keep us Alive" peaked at #31, #1, #58, and #15 on the Billboard Hot 100, Adult Contemporary("Love Will Keep us Alive" and "Learn to Be Still"), and US Country charts, respectively.
1998: The Eagles are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
December 31, 1999: The Eagles perform at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. This marks the last time Don Felder appeared on-stage with the other Eagles.
November 14, 2000: The compilation box-set "Selected Works: 1972-1999" is released. The set peaked at #109 on the Billboard 200. This is the last Eagles release released during Don Felder's tenure with the Eagles. Felder became infuriated when he saw that the proceeds were not being divided equally between the 5 band members, and which were, to a larger extent, going to Frey and Henley.
2001: The Eagles start work on their fourteenth album, entitled "Long Road Out of Eden."
February 6, 2001: Don Felder is fired from the Eagles. Felder immediately sued for breach of contract.
July 15, 2003: The 9/11 themed single "Hole in the World" is released. The single peaked at #69 on the Billboard Hot 100.
October 21, 2003: The compilation album "The Very Best of Eagles" is released. The album peaked at #3 on the Billboard 200.
March 15, 2005: The compilation box-set "Eagles" is released. The set contains their first 6 albums, the singles "Please Come Home For Christmas" and "Funky New Year," and "Eagles Live." The set failed to chart, and is very hard to find.
July 14, 2005: The Eagles' live DVD "Farewell 1 Tour-Live From Melbourne" is released. The DVD is certified 30X platinum in the US.
May 8, 2007: Don Felder's lawsuits against the Eagles and the Eagles' counter-suits are dismissed in the Los Angeles County Court.
October 30, 2007: "Long Road Out of Eden," featuring the songs "How Long," "No More Walks in the Wood," "No More Cloudy Days," "I Dreamed There Was No War," "Long Road Out of Eden," "Last Good Time in Town," "Center of the Universe," "It's Your World Now," "Busy Being Fabulous," "What Do I Do With My Heart?," and "I Don't Want To Hear Anymore," is released to critical and commercial success. The album peaked at #1 on the Billboard 200, and the singles "How Long," "Busy Being Fabulous," "What Do I Do With My Heart?," and "I Don't Want to Hear Any More" peaked at #101 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #12, #13, and #23 on the Adult Contemporary charts, respectively.
November 7, 2007: The Eagles perform "How Long" at the Country Music Association Awards.
2008: The Eagles receive a Grammy award for "How Long."
March 20, 2008: The Eagles kick off their tour promoting "Long Road Out of Eden" at the O2 Arena in London, England.
May 9, 2009: The Eagles' "Long Road Out of Eden" tour ends at the Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, UT, marking the first time a major rock act performed at the stadium.
July 22, 2009: The Eagles perform in Lisbon, Portugal.
April 16, 2010: The Eagles open their tour with the Dixie Chicks at the Hollywood Bowl.
July 1, 2011: The Eagles perform as the headline act at the Hop Farm Festival in East Peckham, Kent, England.

I consider the Eagles one of the best bands in the business. This is my tribute to them:

America the Thin-Skinned Whinybaby, Part 2

2011-12-05T14:17:00.001-08:00

From CBS Boston:

BOSTON (CBS) – A 7-year-old boy accused of sexual harassment for kicking another student in the groin will be transferred to a new school in the city of Boston.

The first grader’s mother, Tasha Lynch, met with Tynan Elementary School officials for a disciplinary hearing on Monday. She had said her son, Mark Curran, was defending himself when he kicked an alleged bully in the crotch.

Lynch told WBZ-TV Monday that her two children will be transferred to a new school in the city. Lynch said she will keep her kids out of school until the transfer process, which can take up to 48 hours, is complete.

Lynch also told WBZ-TV that both of her sons are happy with the change.

No charges will be filed in the incident.

The school declined commenting on the hearing, calling it a “specific student disciplinary matter.”

Why aren't they transferring the bully? Come on, people! Where's the justice? This is what happens when government gets into Education. We all become thin-skinned whinybabies.

George Harrison, Ten Years Gone

2011-11-29T15:53:00.001-08:00

10 years ago today, legendary Beatles and Traveling Wilburys Guitarist George Harrison died, aged 58, from cancer at his home in Los Angeles, CA. This is a tribute to him.

America the Thin-Skinned Whinybaby, Part 1

2011-11-24T19:22:00.001-08:00

From Yahoo News:

EVERETT, Wash. (AP) — A grocery store security guard was fired after he told the father of a 4-year-old girl that she would face criminal charges for eating from a dried fruit package, a TV station reported.

The child's mother, Alissa Jones, said the father wasn't looking when the girl grabbed the package, ate a few pieces of fruit then returned it to a shelf at a Safeway store in Everett, Wash., KOMO reported Wednesday.

Safeway previously faced widespread criticism when a Honolulu couple were arrested over stolen sandwiches and had their 2-year-old daughter taken from them briefly by state officials.

In Washington, the guard took the 4-year-old and her dad to a room and said the girl would face charges and be banned from the chain, Jones said, adding the guard had the girl sign a paper acknowledging she wasn't allowed to enter any Safeway stores.

What in the hell is wrong with what this guy did? Banning someone from a chain of stores for stealing isn't the least bit harsh. That's justice. I swear to God we're becoming America the thin-skinned whinybaby instead of America the beautiful.

Thanksgiving Message from Herman Cain

2011-11-24T08:44:00.001-08:00

Dear Friends,

Expressions of gratitude towards God have been a tradition of Thanksgiving celebrations since the original gathering in Plymouth. As Americans, we have much to be thankful for. So many have sought the refuge and opportunity of our shores because they know that Americans have been blessed with the freedom to speak their minds, worship as they desire and pursue the American dream of a better, more productive and more fulfilling life for themselves and their families.

On this Thanksgiving like many others before them, we give special thanks for our men and women in uniform – past and present. We thank them for the many sacrifices they have made – including their lives – to protect and defend our American way of life.

May God bless you and your family on this day of thanksgiving.

Sincerely,

Herman Cain

Thanksgiving Message from Glenn Beck

2011-11-24T08:43:00.001-08:00

Ok, I promised my wife that I wouldn’t freak out her whole family this Thanksgiving and start talking about all the things going on in the country. But I never said anything about talking to all of you…so brace yourself for my Thanksgiving message.

Ok, yes there are a lot of problems in our country, but today isn’t about bad news. It’s so easy, especially with how things are, to get tunnel vision and focus only on the bad. Politicians have lied to us again and again leading to the highest levels of distrust in history. The economy is a rollercoaster. Friends and family are out of work and the cost of living just seems to get higher and higher. Are you beginning to see why the family put the 'downer' ban on me this year? Life is hard, it’s a struggle - but there's also hope.

There is good news, positive news, and on a day of thanks I think it’s important we talk about those things. Start in your own home. Take a look around and take stock of the things that really matter: Faith. Family. Friends. I’m so excited about Thanksgiving because it gives me time to reconnect with these three critical pieces of my life. While I try and keep things in perspective all year it’s easy to get lost in the bad and forget these three important things.

Faith. Take a moment to look at the role that God plays in your life. I don’t care what church you go to, but I do think that God should be an important piece of everyone’s life. This Thanksgiving, get down on your knees and pray. Invite your family to join you. Turn off the football, step away from the turkey, and give thanks for God’s forgiveness. While in this quiet reflection, take the opportunity to find clarity as well. Now, more than ever, it is important to know what God has planned for you and your life. He did not create you to sit around and eat Doritos all day - so what is it He wants you to do?

Family. Ok, I know not everyone loves being around their relatives during the holidays. You’ve got the crazy uncle telling nonsensical stories or an annoying in-law bugging you about how you’re holding the carving knife the wrong way. Everyone has to deal with this. Just close your eyes, take a breath, and when you open your eyes again realize how much these people shape your life and the lives of those that matter most to you. Your family will be there with you through thick and thin – no matter what happens. No matter how crazy things get during the holidays, know that these are the people that have your back. Step back and enjoy their fellowship during the holidays.

Friends. Anyone else out there have a friend they haven’t spoken to in a while? I know I do. This one may sound a little odd, after all faith and family are easier to reconnect with during the holidays than old friends. But I would ask that you call an old friend that you haven’t spoken to in a long time. Touch base, see how they are. The holidays can be rough, many of us have lost family and are going through tough times. Connect with someone who you haven’t spoken with in a while – you never know the difference you may make in a person’s life with just a phone call.

Faith. Family. Friends. These are the connections that sustain us in our life, no matter what may be going on in the world. I’m going to be announcing some things to help bring us all together over the next year – but the first steps begin at home.

Have a wonderful and happy Thanksgiving!

Laos Deo,

Glenn Beck

The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy

2011-11-22T16:14:00.001-08:00

Recently in history class, I have studied the subject of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. This is a subject that has been debated from various perspectives over the years. These next paragraphs serve only to explain what did happen that day and not speculate on anything else.

First, one needs to get the setting for the day and places in mind. November 22, 1963, started out as your average cool, sunny day. President John F. Kennedy had flown to Texas to smooth over relations between Conservative Governor John B. Connally, Liberal Senator Ralph W. Yarborough, and Liberal Activist Don Yarborough. After stopping in Fort Worth, President Kennedy and his wife Jacqueline flew into Dallas, landing at Love Field Airport. The projected path of the motorcade was along an eleven-mile route through Dallas, after which the President was slated to speak at a luncheon, with leaders of the business and civic communities in attendance. At 11:50 AM, the motorcade left Love Field Airport on its way toward downtown Dallas.

As the motorcade and Secret Service car drove through Dealey Plaza, the President's car was greeted with throngs of enthusiastic supporters jumping at the chance to see him. Then the unexpected happened. As the motorcade turned onto Elm Street and passed the Texas School Book Depository, gunfire rang out. The first shot tore through President Kennedy's neck and struck Governor Connally in the back, stopping in his left thigh. As the motorcade accelerated, a second shot was fired. This shot blew off the entire right side of President Kennedy's head, emitting a huge mist of brain matter and blood. The motorcade sped up to 80 MPH en route to Parkland Hospital.

Upon his arrival at Parkland Hospital, doctors immediately went to work. Though President Kennedy still had a faint heartbeat, it quickly faded. The doctors' efforts at reviving him proved futile, and at 12:49 PM, Fathers Oscar Huber and James Thompson performed last rites. Governor John Connally was stabilized and sent to surgery. He was doing well and survived. At 1 PM CST, after the administration of last rites, President Kennedy was pronounced dead. He was 46 years old. Shortly thereafter, Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson was evacuated and rushed to the safety of Air Force One, where he was sworn in as President at 2:38 PM CST. Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested and charged with Kennedy's assassination.

At the time of his assassination, Kennedy was the second youngest president(Theodore Roosevelt was younger) and had served only two years and ten months. The events in Dallas ended his time in office and made him the fourth president to be assassinated in office. What we do know of these horrible events, if nothing else, is this: Whoever pulled this off has the blood of a president on his hands.

My 20 Favorite Woodenships82 Productions

2011-11-11T13:56:00.001-08:00

Here's my 20 favorite Woodenships82(my Youtube channel, which supplies the videos for the video bar) productions, in order of release:

1. Free Bird-Lynyrd Skynyrd
2. The End-The Doors
3. Blue Guitar-The Moody Blues
4. Walk of Life-Dire Straits
5. Faster-George Harrison
6. Question-The Moody Blues
7. The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down-The Band
8. Life in the Fast Lane-The Eagles
9. Riders on the Storm-The Doors
10. We Gotta Get out of This Place-The Animals
11. Workin' For MCA-Lynyrd Skynyrd
12. I'd Love To Change the World-Ten Years After
13. Wooden Ships-Crosby, Stills, and Nash
14. Woodstock-CSNY
15. Who'll Stop the Rain-Creedence Clearwater Revival
16. Rock N' Roll Fantasy-Bad Company
17. A Beautiful Morning-The Rascals
18. Kodachrome-Paul Simon
19. Blue Sky-The Allman Brothers Band
20. Ramblin' Man-The Allman Brothers Band

Is OWS on the Crest of a Wave? I Think So

2011-11-10T16:18:00.001-08:00

You Decide.

Travelin' Band: A History of Creedence Clearwater Revival

2011-11-09T15:27:00.001-08:00

Thomas Richard "Tom" Fogerty, guitarist and founding member of Creedence Clearwater Revival and the Blue Velvets(renamed the Golliwogs), was born 70 years ago today, November 9, 1941. Fogerty succumbed to AIDS on September 6, 1990, aged 48 years, 302 days. This is a history of his biggest success, Creedence Clearwater Revival.

1967: Creedence Clearwater Revival, consisting of John Fogerty(lead vocals, lead guitar), Tom Fogerty(vocals, rhythm guitar, piano), Stu Cook(bass guitar, vocals, keyboards), and Doug Clifford(drums, vocals), is formed.
October, 1967: Creedence Clearwater Revival goes into Coast Recorders Studios in San Francisco, CA, to record their self-titled debut album.
July 5, 1968: "Creedence Clearwater Revival", featuring the songs "Susie Q", "I Put A Spell On You", "Walk On the Water", and "Porterville", is released to critical and commercial success. The album peaked at #52 on the Billboard 200, and the singles "Susie Q" and "I Put A Spell On You" peaked at #11 and #58 respectively. The third single, "Porterville", failed to chart. The album struck a chord with the emerging underground pop culture press, who touted CCR awhich would help to build their careers.
Late 1968: CCR goes into RCA Studios in Hollywood, CA, to work on their second album, entitled "Bayou Country."
January, 1969: "Bayou Country", featuring the songs "Born On the Bayou", "Proud Mary", "Good Golly, Miss Molly", and "Penthouse Pauper", is released to critical and commercial success. The album peaked at #7 on the Billboard 200, and its sole single, "Proud Mary", peaked at #2.
March, 1969: 1. CCR releases Bad Moon Rising/Lodi as a single. "Bad Moon Rising" and "Lodi" peaked at #2 and #52 on the Billboard Hot 100, respectively. Both tracks were featured on their next studio release, "Green River."
2. CCR goes into Wally Heider Studios in San Francisco, CA, to record "Green River."
March 14, 1969: CCR performs at the Fillmore West in San Francisco, CA. Performances of the songs "Ninety Nine and A Half(Won't Do)", "Susie Q", and "Crazy Otto' were featured on 40th anniversary expanded editions of "Creedence Clearwater Revival" and "Bayou Country."
July, 1969: In advance if the release of "Green River", CCR releases Green River/Commotion as a single. The singles peaked at #2 and #30 on the Billboard Hot 100, respectively.
July 4, 1969: CCR performs at the Atlanta International Pop Festival in Hampton, GA.
August, 1969: "Green River", featuring the aforementioned singles and the songs "Wrote a Song for Everyone" and "The Night Time's the Right Time", is released to critical and commercial success. The album peaked at #1 on the Billboard 200.
August 16, 1969: CCR preforms at Woodstock.
Fall 1969: CCR goes into Fantasy Studios in Berkeley, CA, to record their fourth album, entitled "Willy and the Poor Boys."
November, 1969: "Willy and the Poor Boys", featuring the songs "Fortunate Son", "Willy and the Poor Boys", "The Midnight Special", "Effigy", and "Cotton Fields", is released to critical and commercial success. The album peaked at #3 on the Billboard 200, and the singles "Willy and he Poor Boys" and "Fortunate Son" peaked at #3 and #14 on the Billboard Hot 100, respectively.
November 16, 1969: CCR performs "Down On the Corner" and "Fortunate Son" on the Ed Sullivan Show.
Winter 1969/1970: CCR goes into Wally Heider Studios in San Francisco, CA, to record their fifth album, entitled "Cosmo's Factory." The "Cosmo" part of the album title was named for Drummer Doug "Cosmo" Clifford, while the "Factory part of the title was named for life in the studio.
January, 1970: Half a year in advance of the release of "Cosmo's Factory", CCR releases Travelin' Band(for which this article is named)/Who'll Stop the Rain as a single. The single peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100.
January 31, 1970: CCR performs at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, CA. These performances would make up the live album "The Concert."
April, 1970: CCR releases Run Through the Jungle/Up Around the Bend as a single. The single peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100.
July, 1970: 1. In advance of the release of "Cosmo's Factory", CCR releases Lookin' Out My Back Door/Long As I Can See the Light as a single. The single peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100.
2. "Cosmo's Factory", featuring the aforementioned singles and the songs "I Heard it Through the Grapevine" and "Ramble Tamble", is released to critical and commercial success. The album peaked at #1 on the Billboard 200.
November, 1970: CCR goes into Wally Heider Studios in San Francisco, CA, to record their sixth album, entitled "Pendulum." This would be the last CCR album to feature Tom Fogerty.
December 15, 1970: "Pendulum", featuring the songs "Have You Ever Seen the Rain", "Hey Tonight", "Molina", "Pagan Baby", "Sailor's Lament", and "Chameleon", was released to critical and commercial success. The album peaked at #5 on the Billboard 100, and the single Have You Ever Seen the Rain/Hey Tonight, released in July, 1971, peaked at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100.
February, 1971: After a full year of conflict with the group, Tom Fogerty leaves CCR.
Spring 1971: CCR goes into Fantasy Studios in Berkeley, CA, to record their seventh, and final, album, entitled "Mardi Gras."
September 1, 1971: CCR performs in Manchester, England. A performance of the song "Fortunate Son" was featured on a 40th anniversary expanded edition of "Willy and the Poor Boys."
September 10, 1971: CCR performs in Amsterdam, Netherlands. A performance of the song "Up Around the Bend" was featured on a 40th anniversary expanded edition of "Cosmo's Factory."
September 16, 1971: CCR performs in Berlin, Germany. Performances of the songs "Bad Moon Rising" and "It Came Out Of the Sky" were featured on 40th anniversary expanded editions of "Willy and the Poor Boys" and "Cosmo's Factory." "It Came Out Of the Sky" was also featured on the "Live in Europe" album.
September 17, 1971: CCR performs in Hamburg, Germany. Performances of the songs "Lodi" and "Hey Tonight" were featured on 40th anniversary expanded editions of "Green River" and "Pendulum."
September 21, 1971: CCR performs in Stockholm, Sweden. Performances of the songs "Proud Mary", "Green River", and "Susie Q" were featured on 40th anniversary expanded editions of "Bayou Country" and "Green River."
September 28, 1971: CCR performs in London, England. The performance of "Born On the Bayou" was featured on the 40th anniversary expanded edition of "Bayou Country."
April 11, 1972: "Mardi Gras", featuring the songs "Sweet Hitch-Hiker", "Someday Never Comes", "Tearin' Up the Country", "Door to Door", and "Hello Mary Lou", is released to commercial success, but a critical slamming. The album peaked at #12 on the Billboard 200, and the singles Sweet Hitch-Hiker/Door to Door and Someday Never comes/Tearin' Up the Country peaked at #6 and #25 on the Billboard Hot 100 respectively.
October 16, 1972: After the culmination of a two month, 20 date mini-tour promoting "Mardi Gras", Creedence Clearwater Revival disbands.
November, 1972: The compilation album "Creedence Gold" is released. The album peaked at #15 on the Billboard 200.
April, 1973: The compilation album "More Creedence Gold" is released. The album peaked at #61 on the Billboard 200.
October 16, 1973: The aforementioned "Live in Europe" is released to critical and commercial failure. The album peaked at #143 on the Billboard 200.
January, 1976: 1. The compilation album "Chronicle, Volume 1", the best known of all their compilation albums, is released to commercial success. The album peaked at #67 on the Billboard 200.
2. "I Heard it Through the Grapevine" is released as a single. The single peaks at #43 on the Billboard Hot 100.
October, 1980: The aforementioned "The Concert" is released. The album peaked at #62 on the Billboard 200.
October, 1981: The compilation album "Creedence Country", featuring their more country oriented songs, is released.
November, 1986: The compilation album "Chronicle, Volume 2" is released.
1999: The compilation album "Keep On Chooglin'" is released.
2000: The compilation album "At the Movies" is released.
October 2, 2001: "Creedence Clearwater Revival: Box Set" is released. This features all their studio and live performances as CCR and recordings from their days as "The Golliwogs" and "The Blue Velvets."
2009: The compilation album "Creedence Clearwater Revival Covers the Classics" is released.

This is my video tribute to CCR:

2011 Dahlonega City Council Elections: A Primer

2011-11-07T13:50:00.001-08:00

Dahlonega, GA(my residence), is holding elections for City Council tomorrow. Here’s a primer.

City Council Post #4: This seat is currently occupied by Councilor Michael Clemons. He is facing a challenge from retired cop and City Council meeting attendee Bruce Hoffman. This one should end up being the closest of the 3 positions.

City Council Post #5: This seat is currently occupied by Councilor Sam Norton. He is facing a challenge from North Georgia College & State University Professor John “Stu” Batchelder. Don’t be surprised if the election is close, but Norton must be considered the favorite going into tomorrow night.

City Council Post #6: This seat is currently occupied by Councilor Terry Peters. He is facing a challenge from environmental activist Regina Harper-Odum. Peters is the heavy favorite going into tomorrow night.

More information: http://www.120politics.com/2011/09/six-contenders-for-dahlonega-city-coucil/

For tracking tomorrow’s election results: http://thedahloneganugget.com/

Revival: A History of the Allman Brothers Band

2011-10-29T08:16:00.000-07:00

Duane Allman, guitar virtuoso and founder of the Allman Brothers Band, the Hour Glass, the Allman Joys, and the 31st of February, was killed in a motorcycle crash in Macon, GA, 40 years ago today, October 29, 1971. This is a history of his biggest success, the Allman Brothers Band.

March 23, 1969: The Allman Brothers Band, consisting of Duane Allman(slide, lead, and acoustic guitar), Gregg Allman(vocals, organ, piano, keyboards, guitar), Dickey Betts(vocals, lead, and acoustic guitar), Jaimoe Johanson(conga, drums), Berry Oakley(bass guitar), and Butch Trucks(drums), is formed.

September, 1969: The Allman Brothers Band goes into Tom Dowd's Atlantic Recording Studios in New York City to record their first album.

November 4, 1969: The Allman Brothers Band's self titled debut album, featuring the songs "Whipping Post", "Dreams", "Black Hearted Woman", and "Trouble No More", is released, selling well in the South and peaking at #188 on the Billboard charts. A cult following began to emerge.

February, 1970: The Allman Brothers Band goes into Capricorn Sound Studios in Macon, GA, to record their second album, "Idlewild South."

February 11-14, 1970: The Allman Brothers Band performs for the first time at the Fillmore East, owned by Bill Graham, in Manhattan, New York. The recordings of these shows were released 26 years after the fact.

April, 1970: The Allman Brothers Band performs at Ludlow Garage in Cincinatti, OH. The recordings for this performance were released 21 years later.

July 3 & 6, 1970: The Allman Brothers Band performs at the Atlanta International Pop Festival. The recordings for this performance were released 33 years later.

July, 1970: Recording operations for "Idlewild South" are moved from Macon to Criteria Studios in Miami, FL.

September 23, 1970: "Idlewild South", featuring the songs "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed", "Midnight Rider", and "Revival(for which this article is named)", is released to critical and commercial success. The album peaked at #38, and the one single, "Revival", peaked at #92 on the Billboard charts. "Midnight Rider" later became a staple on rock radio.

November, 1970: "Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs", featuring the songs "Layla", "Bell Bottom Blues", "Little Wing", and "Why Does Love Got to be so Sad?", by Derek and the Dominoes, consisting of Eric Clapton(vocals, lead, rhythm, slide, and acoustic guitar), Duane Allman(slide and lead guitar), Bobby Whitlock(organ, piano, vocals, acoustic guitar), Jim Gordon(drums, piano), and Carl Radle(bass guitar), is released, peaking at # 16 on the Billboard 200. The singles "Layla", "Bell Bottom Blues", and "Little Wing" peaked at #51, #91, and #78 respectively.

December 13, 1970: The Allman Brothers Band performs at American University in Washington, DC. The recordings for this performance were released 31 years later.

March 12-13, 1971: The Allman Brothers Band performs again at the Fillmore East. These performances would be the basis for the "At Fillmore East" album.

March, 1971: The Allman Brothers Band goes into Criteria Studios in Miami, FL, to record their fourth album, "Eat A Peach." The latter 3 tracks are the last recorded songs to feature Duane Allman.

June 27, 1971: The Allman Brothers Band becomes the last act to perform at the Fillmore East, which closed its doors that morning. The recordings of this performance can be found on the deluxe edition of "Eat A Peach."

July, 1971: "At Fillmore East", featuring the songs "Statesboro Blues", "Stormy Monday", and "Hot 'Lanta", is released to critical and commercial success. The album peaked at #13 on the Billboard charts. This is the last Allman Brothers Band album released in Duane Allman's lifetime.

August 17, 1971: The Allman Brothers Band performs at Boston, MA, Common. The recordings for this performance were released 36 years later.

September 19, 1971: The Allman Brothers Band performs at the State University of New York at Stony Brook Gymnasium. The recordings of this performance were released 32 years later. This is the last recorded live performance to feature Duane Allman.

October 29, 1971: En route to his early birthday party, Duane Allman's motorcycle collided with a flatbed truck that had turned in front of him. He was crushed under his motorcycle, but managed to survive the initial blow. He was taken to the hospital shortly thereafter. Surgery was deemed the best option due to the extent of his sustained internal injuries. The operation was unsuccessful, and sometime around 9:30 PM, Howard Duane Allman, aged 24 years, 343 days, was pronounced dead.

November 1, 1971: The funeral for Duane Allman was held at Snow's Memorial Chapel in Macon, GA. Prominent record executive Jerry Wexler delivered the eulogy. Featured performers were The Allman Brothers Band, Thom Doucette, and Delaney Bramlett. This featured the first ever performance of "Melissa", which would become the 3rd track on the "Eat A Peach" album.

February 11, 1972: The Allman Brothers Band performs at the Macon, GA, City Auditorium. This performance was one of the first done after Duane's passing. The recordings for this performance were released 32 years later.

February 12, 1972: "Eat A Peach", featuring the songs "Ain't Wastin' Time No More", the aforementioned "Melissa", "One Way Out", "Stand Back", "Blue Sky", and "Little Martha", is released to critical and commercial success. The album peaked at #4 on the Billboard charts, and the singles "Ain't Wastin' Time No More", "Melissa", and "One Way Out" peaked at #77, #86, and #86 respectively. "Blue Sky" became a staple on rock radio. Shortly thereafter, the group added Pianist Chuck Leavell to their regular lineup.

October, 1972: The Allman Brothers Band goes into Capricorn Sound Studios in Macon, GA, to record their fifth album, "Brothers and Sisters." The first 2 tracks are the last recorded songs to ever feature Berry Oakley.

November 2, 1972: The new Allman Brothers Band lineup debuted on ABC's "In Concert." This was the last time they ever performed with Berry Oakley.

November 11, 1972: En route back to the band's headquarters, Berry Oakley's motorcycle collided with a city bus. He was crushed under his motorcycle, but withstood the initial blow. He elected to hitch a ride back to the band's HQ instead of going straight to the hospital. Three hours later, Oakley, in obvious agony, was rushed to the hospital shortly before 3 PM. Raymond Berry Oakley III, aged 24 years, 221 days, was pronounced dead shortly before 4 PM as a result of a brain hemorrhage exacerbated by the fractured skull he incurred in his accident. He had incurred his accident 1 year and 13 days after Duane's, and 3 blocks from Duane's. The doctors would later state that even if Oakley had gone straight to the hospital, he would not have been saved. Oakley was replaced by Lamar Williams. Oakley and Allman were laid to rest days later.

December 31, 1972: The Allman Brothers Band performs at the Warehouse in New Orleans, LA. One of these performances was the basis for the "Wipe the Windows, Check the Oil, Dollar Gas" album.

1973: The Allman Brothers Band's first 2 albums are re-released in a box-set entitled "Beginnings" such that they could capitalize on their fame.

May 1, 1973: The Allman Brothers Band performs at the Nassau Coliseum at Uniondale, NY. The recordings for this performance were released 32 years later.

July 28, 1973: The Allman Brothers Band performs at the Summer Jam at Watkins Glen, NY. 600,000 fans were in attendance. One of these performances was the basis for the "Wipe the Windows, Check the Oil, Dollar Gas" album.

August, 1973: "Brothers and Sisters", featuring the songs "Wasted Words", "Ramblin' Man", "Southbound", and "Jessica", is released to the best reception any Allman Brothers Band release has received. The album hit #1 on the Billboard charts, and the singles "Ramblin' Man(the last ever song to feature Oakley)" and "Jessica" peaked at #2 and #65 respectively.

September 26, 1973: The Allman Brothers Band performs at Winterland in San Francisco, CA. Some of these performances were the basis for the "Wipe the Windows, Check the Oil, Dollar Gas" album.

December 31, 1973-January 1, 1974: The Allman Brothers Band performs at the Cow Palace in San Francisco, CA.

1975: The Allman Brothers Band releases their first compilation album, entitled "The Road Goes On Forever." It did not sell well.

February, 1975: The Allman Brothers Band goes into Capricorn Sound Studios in Macon, GA, to record their sixth album, "Win, Lose, or Draw."

August, 1975: "Win, Lose, or Draw", featuring the songs "Can't Lose What You Never Had", "Nevertheless", "Louisiana Lou and Three Card Monty John", and "High Falls", is released to mixed reviews. The album peaked at #5 on the Billboard charts, but was a critical flop. The singles "Nevertheless" and "Louisiana Lou and Three Card Monty John" peaked at #67 and #78 respectively.

October 22, 1975: The Allman Brothers Band performs at the Bakersfield, CA, Civic Auditorium. Some of these performances were the basis for the "Wipe the Windows, Check the Oil, Dollar Gas" album.

October 24, 1975: The Allman Brothers Band performs at the Oakland, CA, Coliseum. One of these performances was the basis for the "Wipe the Windows, Check the Oil, Dollar Gas" album.

1976: In light of Gregg Allman's arrest for drug possession, the Allman Brothers Band dissolves.

November, 1976: The Allman Brothers Band's second live album(and seventh album all together), "Wipe the Windows, Check the Oil, Dollar Gas", is released. The album was a critical and commercial flop, peaking at #75 on the Billboard charts. The album featured the aforementioned performances from their concerts at Winterland, Watkins Glen, New Orleans, Bakersfield, and Oakland.

1978: The Allman Brothers Band re-forms, with the additions of Dangerous Dan Toler(guitar) and David Goldflies(bass guitar) as replacements for Leavell and Williams, who were concentrated on their group Sea Level, respectively.

December, 1978: The Allman Brothers Band goes into Criteria Studios in Miami, FL to record their eighth album, "Enlightened Rogues."

February, 1979: "Enlightened Rogues", featuring the songs "Crazy Love", "Pegasus", "Need Your Love So Bad", and "Can't Take it With You", is released to critical commercial success. The album peaked at #9 on the Billboard charts, and the singles "Crazy Love" and "Can't Take it With You" peaked at #29 and #105 respectively.

May, 1980: The Allman Brothers Band Goes Into Pyramid Eye Recording Studio in Lookout Mountain, TN, to record their ninth album, "Reach For the Sky." This is the first, and only, album to feature the Allman Brothers Band with 3 drummers(the other one being David "Frankie" Toler, brother of Dangerous Dan).

August, 1980: "Reach For the Sky", featuring the songs "Mystery Woman", "Angeline", and "I Got A Right to be Wrong", is released to a critical and commercial beating. The album peaked at #27 on the Billboard charts, while the singles "Angeline" peaked at #58 and "Mystery Woman" failed to chart. Drummer and founding member Jaimoe Johanson is fired shortly after the album's release.

March, 1981: The Allman Brothers Band goes into Young'un Sound Studios in Nashville, TN, to record their tenth album, "Brothers of the Road."

August, 1981: "Brothers of the Road", featuring the songs "Leavin'", "Straight From the Heart", "Two Rights", and "Never Knew How Much(I Needed You)", is released to another critical and commercial beating. The album peaked at #44 on the Billboard charts, while the singles "Straight From the Heart" peaked at #39 and "Two Rights" failed to chart.

1982: The Allman Brothers Band dissolves again.

January 21, 1983: Lamar Williams, aged 34 years, 7 days, succumbs to lung cancer, which is believed to be caused by exposure to Agent Orange during his stay in Vietnam.

1986: The Allman Brothers Band re-forms for a pair of benefit concerts in New York City and Macon, GA. During these concerts, Jaimoe Johanson and Chuck Leavell were with the group.

1989: The Allman Brothers Band re-forms in light of Gregg Allman's solo success and a building wave of enthusiasm for them from the younger generations. By this time, Chuck Leavell, Dangerous Dan Toler, and David Goldflies have left the group. They will now embark on their 20th anniversary tour.

April, 1990: The Allman Brothers Band goes into Criteria Studios in Miami, FL, to record their eleventh album, "Seven Turns." The album was the first to feature Warren Haynes(guitar), Allen Woody(bass guitar), and Johnny Neel(piano, keyboards).

October, 1990: "Seven Turns", featuring the singles "Good Clean Fun", "It Ain't Over Yet", and "Seven Turns", is released to critical and commercial success. The album peaked at #53 on the Billboard charts, and the singles peaked at #1, #12, and #26 respectively. Neel departs from the group shortly after its release.

1991: The aforementioned "Live at Ludlow Garage: 1970" is released, becoming their twelfth official release.

April, 1991: The Allman Brothers Band goes into Ardent Recording Studios in Memphis, TN, to record their thirteenth album, "Shades of Two Worlds." This is to be their first album in 12 years to feature them as a sextet.

July, 1991: "Shades of Two Worlds", featuring "Midnight Man", "Come On Into My Kitchen", and "End of the Line", is released to critical success, but was, overall, a commercial flop, peaking at #85 on the Billboard charts and spawning no singles. This album remains a favorite among the band's hard-core fan base.

October 22, 1991: Their best known compilation album, "A Decade of Hits, 1969-1979", is released to commercial success. It became their best selling album in the United States.

December 28-31, 1991: The Allman Brothers Band performs at the Macon, GA, City Auditorium. Some of these performances were the basis for the "An Evening With the Allman Brothers Band: First Set" album.

1992: "At Fillmore East" is re-packaged and re-released.

1992: "An Evening With the Allman Brothers Band: First Set" is released to critical success. The album peaked at #80 on the Billboard charts. This album, along with the second set album, featured the addition of Marc Quinones(drums, conga) to the regular lineup, as well as a brief appearance by Thom Doucette on Harmonica.

March 3-4, 1992: The Allman Brothers Band performs at the Orpheum Theater in Boston, MA. Some of these performances were the basis for the "An Evening With the Allman Brothers Band: First Set" album.

March 10-11, 1992: The Allman Brothers Band performs at the Beacon Theater in New York City. Some of these performances were the basis for the "An Evening With the Allman Brothers Band: First Set" album.

June 11, 1992: The Allman Brothers Band performs at the Club R&R in Los Angeles, CA. Some of these performances were the basis for the "An Evening With the Allman Brothers Band: Second Set" album.

January, 1994: The Allman Brothers Band goes into BR Ranch Studios in Jupiter Beach, FL, to record their fifteenth album, "Where it All Begins."

May, 1994: "Where it All Begins", featuring the songs "Soulshine", "Back Where it All Begins", "No One to Run With", and "Temptation is A Gun", is released to critical and commercial success. The album peaked at #45 on the Billboard charts, and the singles "Back Where it All Begins" and "No One to Run With" peaked at #29 and #7 respectively.

July 1, 1994: The Allman Brothers Band performs at the Walnut Creek Amphitheater in Raleigh, NC. Some of these performances were the basis for the "An Evening With the Allman Brothers Band: Second Set" album.

August 16, 1994: The Allman Brothers Band performs at the Garden State Arts Center in Holmdel, NJ. Some of these performances were the basis for the "An Evening With the Allman Brothers Band: Second Set" album.

1995: 1. "An Evening With the Allman Brothers Band: Second Set" is released to critical success. The album peaked at #88 on the Billboard charts. This album features a guest appearance by Paul T. Riddle(drums) on the songs "Jessica" and "You Don't Love Me."

2. The Allman Brothers Band is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

1996: The aforementioned February, 1970, Fillmore East performances are released.

1997: Warren Haynes and Allen Woody depart from the group to concentrate on their new band, "Gov't Mule." Haynes is replaced by Jack Pearson, and Woody is replaced by Oteil Burbridge.

1999: Jack Pearson departs from the group. He is replaced by Derek Trucks, son of founding member Butch Trucks.

2000: Dickey Betts is suspended from the Allman Brothers Band. After a protracted legal battle, he resigns from the group.

March 9-25, 2000: The Allman Brothers Band performs at the Beacon Theater in New York City. These performances were the basis for the "Peakin' at the Beacon" album. This is the first performance to feature Mark Quinones as an official member.

August 26, 2000: Douglas Allen Woody, aged 44 years, 328 days, is found dead in a chair at the Marriott Courtyard Motel in Queens, NY. No official cause of death was determined.

November 14, 2000: "Peakin at the Beacon" is released to critical and commercial failure, becoming their first album to miss the charts entirely.

2001: Warren Haynes rejoins the Allman Brothers Band, while still maintaining membership with Gov't Mule.

December, 2001: The Allman Brothers Band goes into Water Music Studios in Hoboken, NJ, to record what will be their twenty-first album(and, to date, their final studio recording), "Hittin' the Note."

2002: The aforementioned performance at American University in Washington, DC, is released.

2003: 1. The aforementioned performance at the State University of New York at Stony Brook Gymnasium is released.

2. A DVD featuring the Allman Brothers Band's performances at the Beacon Theater is released to critical and commercial success.

3. Duane Allman, Warren Haynes, Dickey Betts, and Derek Trucks come in at #2, #23, #58, and #81 on Rolling Stone Magazine's "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time."

March 18, 2003: "Hittin' the Note", featuring the songs "Firing Line", "Woman Across the River", and "Heart of Stone", is released to critical and commercial success. The album and its single, "Firing Line", both peaked at #37 on the Billboard charts.

March 25-26, 2003: The Allman Brothers Band performs at the Beacon Theater. These performances for the "One Way Out" album(which as been, to date, their last release).
October 21, 2003: The aforementioned performances at the Atlanta International Pop Festival are released.

2004: 1. The aforementioned performance at the Macon, GA, City Auditorium is released.

2. The Allman Brothers Band is ranked #52 on Rolling Stone Magazine's "100 Greatest Artists of All Time."

March 23, 2004: "One Way Out" is released to critical success, but commercial failure. The album peaked at #190 on the Billboard charts.

August 31, 2004: A greatest hits compilation of the Allman Brothers Band's greatest hits during their 8 years(1992-2000) signed to Epic Records is released.

2005: 1. The aforementioned performance at the Nassau Coliseum at Uniondale, NY, is released.

2. A two disc greatest hits compendium of 8 of the Allman Brothers Band's earlier releases is released.

2007: The aforementioned performance at Boston Common is released.

2008: Gregg Allman is diagnosed with, and treated for, Hepatitis C. Their 2008 run at the Beacon Theater was canceled, but they were back up and running that summer.

November 20, 2008: The Allman Brothers Band, on what would have been Duane's 62nd birthday, received the "Legends of Live Award" at the 2008 Billboard Touring Awards ceremony in New York.

2009: For their 40th anniversary tour, the Allman Brothers Band performed with the likes of Eric Clapton, Phish, Levon Helm, the Grateful Dead, Buddy Guy, Kid Rock, and Lenny White.

March, 2010: The Allman Brothers Band's performing venue was switched from the Beacon Theater to the United Palace Theater.

March 26, 2011: The Allman Brothers Band performs their 200th show at the Beacon Theater, celebrating 42 years since their inception.

I was introduced to the music of the Allman Brothers Band back in 2006 through "Ramblin' Man." Through the years, I've found that, just like with any other band's music, many of their songs have come to describe certain feelings I have, whether it be life in general("Whipping Post"), resolve in the face of a tragic loss("Ain't Wastin' Time No More"), genuine happiness("Blue Sky"), being on the run from certain aspects of life("Midnight Rider"), the friends we can only dream of("Melissa"), or one's own personality("Ramblin' Man"). Their music means a lot to me. This is my video tribute to them:

RIP Duane Allman, Berry Oakley, Lamar Williams, and Allen Woody.

April 27-28 Severe Weather Outbreak: Southern Apocalypse?

2011-04-27T08:01:00.000-07:00

On the weather map today, a Cold Front stationed in Oklahoma is spinning off clusters of mesocyclone thunderstorms that have had numerous reports of damage from straight-line winds, tornadoes, and large hail. Today, the forecasts and current atmospheric conditions are indicative of a massive, large scale tornado outbreak over the Southeast today, tonight, and tomorrow morning. This had the potential to be as bad, if not worse, as the outbreak on April 10, 2009. The main threats from this storm system are mesocyclones, tornadoes, torrential rainfall, damaging straight-line winds, and large hail. Here are the current risks for severe weather:

North and Central Alabama, Northeast Mississippi, South Tennessee, and Northwest Georgia have a high risk of seeing destructive weather, including violent, long-track, EF5 tornadoes. If they update the risks again, I'll wager they'll place all of north Georgia, particularly the areas west of I-985 and north of I-20, under a high risk. It's a certainty that numerous PDS Tornado Watches will be issued as the day trudges forth. The atmosphere is like a loaded machine gun today. In fact, I suggest you stay in a place of sturdy shelter all day today and keep tabs on this ongoing apocalypse in the south. It is also worth noting that, according to the Weather Channel's Dr. Greg Forbes' "Tor:Con" index, Central AL and East Central MS have a 9/10 chance, North Central AL and Northwest GA have a 4/5(8/10) chance, and Eastern Kentucky has a 7/10 chance to see Tornadoes within 50 miles of the area. Hell on earth is a near certainty in the Southern United States today. This is a very urgent situation!

A Tribute to ER

2011-01-04T15:05:00.001-08:00

Gerry Rafferty, 1947-2011

2011-01-04T13:20:00.000-08:00

From The Guardian:

The singer-songwriter Gerry Rafferty, whose songs such as Stuck in the Middle with You, Baker Street and Get it Right Next Time soundtracked the 1970s, has died aged 63 after a long illness.

His family said he died at home peacefully with his daughter Martha this morning.

The Scot was born in Paisley, near Glasgow, played with Billy Connolly's folk outfit the Humblebums, and co-founded the soft-rock group Stealer's Wheel, before enjoying a successful solo career. Baker Street, released in 1978, was still netting him £80,000 a year more than 30 years later.

Rafferty endured battles with the music industry – once taking three years to disentangle contracts – and a problem with alcohol. When he was a child his mother would drag him round the streets of Glasgow, rather than risk his suffering violence at the hands of his Irish-born father, who would often come home drunk.

Although sure of his own abilities, Rafferty was fearful of working with stars such as Eric Clapton and Paul McCartney. On occasion his drinking would lead him to smashing cases of expensive wine.

He divorced from his wife Carla – who he met at a dancehall when she was 15 and married five years later – in 1990. She said: "There was no hope. I would never have left him if there'd been a glimmer of a chance of him recovering."

Rafferty, having once owned a Kent farm and a home in Hampstead, moved to California to be near Martha, before moving to Ireland in 2008 and later Dorset.

In recent years, he was better known for alcohol-fuelled incidents, apparent disappearances and poor health than for his music. His last album, Another World, was released in 2000.

I was only familiar with 2 of his songs as a solo musician, but I thought, from what I had heard, that he was a good musician anyway. RIP.

House Seats to Target for a Bulletproof Conservative Majority

2010-12-31T14:43:00.000-08:00

If Conservatives are to get a bulletproof majority in the House in 2012, these are the seats they must target:

Democrat-held seats:

AZ-7: Raul Grijalva
AZ-8: Gabrielle Giffords
AR-4: Mike Ross
CA-10: John Garamendi
CA-11: Jerry McNerney
CA-18: Dennis Cardoza
CA-20: Jim Costa
CA-47: Loretta Sanchez
CA-51: Bob Filner
CO-7: Ed Perlmutter
CT-1: John Larson
CT-2: Joe Courtney
CT-3: Rosa DeLauro
CT-4: Jim Himes
CT-5: Chris Murphy
DE-AL: John Carney
GA-2: Sanford Bishop
GA-12: John Barrow
IN-2: Joe Donnelly
IN-7 Andre Carson
IA-1: Bruce Braley
IA-2: Dave Loebsack
IA-3: Leonard Boswell
KY-3: John Yarmuth
KY-6: Ben Chandler
ME-1: Chellie Pingree
ME-2: Mike Michaud
MA-3: Jim McGovern
MA-4: Barney Frank
MA-5: Niki Tsongas
MA-6: John Tierney
MA-10: Bill Keating
MI-5: Dale Kildee
MI-9: Gary Peters
MI-15: John Dingell
MN-1: Tim Walz
MN-7: Collin Peterson
MO-3: Russ Carnahan
MO-5: Emmanuel Cleaver
NJ-6: Frank Pallone
NJ-9: Steve Rothman
NJ-12: Rush Holt
NM-1: Martin Heinrich
NM-3: Ben Lujan
NY-1: Tim Bishop
NY-4: Carolyn McCarthy
NY-22: Maurice Hinchey
NY-23: Bill Owens
NY-27: Brian Higgins
NC-4: David Price
NC-7: Mike McIntyre
NC-8: Larry Kissell
NC-11: Heath Shuler
NC-13: Brad Miller
OH-9: Marcy Kaptur
OH-10: Dennis Kucinich
OH-13: Betty Sutton
OK-2: Dan Boren
OR-1: David Wu
OH-4: Peter DeFazio
OH-5: Kurt Schrader
PA-4: Jason Altmire
PA-12: Mark Critz
PA-13: Allyson Schwartz
PA-17: Tim Holden
RI-1: David Cicilline
SC-6: Jim Clyburn
TN-5: Jim Cooper
TX-15: Ruben Hinojosa
TX-25: Lloyd Doggett
TX-28: Henry Cuellar
UT-2: Jim Matheson
VA-11: Gerry Connolly
WA-2: Rick Larsen
WA-6: Norm Dicks
WA-9: Adam Smith
WV-3: Nick Rahall
WI-3: Ron Kind

Republicans to keep an eye on for RINO tendencies:

AL-2: Martha Roby
CA-19: Jeff Denham
CA-41: Jerry Lewis
FL-5: Rick Nugent
FL-13: Vern Buchanan
IL-15: Tim Johnson
IL-16: Don Manzullo
IA-4: Tom Latham
KS-3: Kevin Yoder
LA-5: Rodney Alexander
KY-5: Hal Rogers
MD-1: Andy Harris
MI-6: Fred Upton
MS-1: Alan Nunnelee
NE-2: Lee Terry
NH-2: Charlie Bass
NJ-2: Frank LoBiondo
NJ-4: Chris Smith
NJ-7: Leonard Lance
NC-3: Walter Jones Jr.
VA-5: Robert Hurt
WA-8: Dave Reichert
WV-1: David McKinley

Happy Birthday Jim Morrison!!!

2010-12-08T12:34:00.001-08:00

From Woodenships82 productions:

Saturday Night Special-Lynyrd Skynyrd

2010-12-06T15:32:00.001-08:00

Happy 59th, Gary Rossington! From Woodenships82 productions:

Welcome to Riders On the Storm

2010-12-06T14:07:00.000-08:00

I'd like to take this time to welcome all of you to my new blog, "Riders On the Storm", named for my favorite Doors song. The purpose of this blog is to talk about my 3 loves: music, weather, and politics. I'll offer my lists of who my favorite musicians, songs, electoral "dream teams" and presidential prospects are on a regular basis and sometimes do opinion pieces on news stories and books I've read. Anyhow, hope you enjoy!