I Don't Get It...

...apparently. I am someone who has an opinion on just about anything. I am also a very tolerant guy, as I think my saviour is. If Jesus were alive today, he wouldn't even be on this continent. I think he would be hangin' in Africa with the TRULY poor. So, tell me this...why is the Muslim population so "outraged" about a cartoon but are not "outraged" about the people amongst them that want to hijack their religion? Islamic fundamentalists. Where has been the outrage about the killing in the name of Mohammed? To kill in the name of a prophet of God? I don't understand. My God's not like that. At least his son isn't. "Blessed are the peacemakers..."

My dad, on the other hand...

Had a family that grew hemp in Kentucky after the turn of the century. My dad was 20 years older than my mom. (Her dad really dug that, I am sure) and the family was pretty well off when, in 1937, the US government outlawed the growing of hemp for fiber in favor of the oil companies latest thing...nylon. Front row left to right...my grandfather Charles Madison Raley (I never met him), my uncle Wilbur (who was six foot four). On top was my dad (five foot seven) and my uncle Charles (six foot three). Yes, I got the short bus of genes. Not pictured is my Aunt Bette, for some reason.

My Mom Could Kick Your Dad's Ass

If anyone would mess with her brothers when they were in school, my mom would whup their ass. I know that in 1973, when my mom was 47, she beat the s%^t out of my brothers wife for calling her a beyotch. My brother's wife was 23. It happened on my back porch and it happened in a flash. It was a smackdown, took her down and out in about 15 seconds. God love her, a woman that saw pain we could never imagine. Her mom and dad in front...my uncle Karl, uncle Ray, uncle Jack and her left to right. I love this picture of her. She was about 20 when this was taken.

It was 20 years ago today

i had just taken a shower at my apartment in Chesterfield. It was all over my little Trinitron and I had a sinking feeling in my gut because so much was made of Christa McAuliffe being on the misson. Ronald Reagan's speech was brilliant but also ironic. It turns out that it WAS NOT safe to send them up. NASA wanted the teacher in the air during the State of The Union speech and apparently threw caution to the wind. I will never forget the horror of the McAuliffe's parents after it exploded. It was almost as if they were saying "this really didn't happen did it?" Godspeed to all who gave their life in the name of exploration. One of the worst memories was when I got to KSHE that afternoon and one of the staff members said I should play "Bits and Pices" by the Dave Clark Five in honor of them. That's just the kind of guy he was.

Music from my youth

While listening to the Moody Blues last night, I was thinking about how important they were when I was in my adolescence. The four releases in question would be "On The Threshold of A Dream","A Question of Balance","Every Good Boy Deserves Favour" and "Seventh Sojourn" The critics hated them. They weren't edgy enough. But, after having discovered "2001 A Space Odyssey" when I was 13, they were the perfect band for me. Back then, the music MEANT something. They were talking to me..Billy Bumpkin from the midwest. I would stay awake at night and listen to the entire first side of "Dream". The mellotron scared the hell out of me at times ane thrilled me at others. After all this time,I knew every word of every song.John Lodge and Justin Hayward formed Bluejays and released one great album. Now, they are just a mere shell of the original band (which is to be expected) and with the exception of "Long Distance Voyager" and the song "My Blue World", they were pretty much done in 1972. I had the great pleasure in meeting them and getting an album signed by Justin and John in 1986. They did the nationally syndicated "Rockline" show from the studios in Crestwood. They may have been the last rock stars to set foot in the cinder block building in Crestwood. I remember they posed for pictures, signed autographs and were very accomodating. Does today's music mean as much to today's kids? Have they made the connection? Will they ever? How cool to be a composer of music that really affects people.

Pictures from Roadtrip 14

Wisconsin Wind Power. These things are massive.

The birthplace of the Republican Party in Ripon. For all of my republican friends, this is where it started.

No one from the Quad Cities will believe that THIS is the Rock River, just southwest of Fond du Lac, WI.

The Wisconsin State Capitol, Madison. I really like Madison.

Ice fishing on Green Lake, Wi.

My man Bernie Phillips of WISS radio. In one half hour I heard Bobby Vinton, The Rolling Stones, Abba, Frank Sinatra, The Beatles, Hall and Oates, Linda Ronstadt and Dean Martin. Bernie's a sweet guy.

While waiting for my appointment in Berlin, I decided to catch the local wildlife...this will be in the new "Duck Gone Wild 3" movie.

The round building with the arches is where the Wisconsin Broadcasters Assn meeting was held. This is Lake Monona.

"Six days on the road and I'm a gonna make it home tonight..." Taken at about 40mph on the Poplar Street Bridge.