More Rain Coming

This was the wettest March in recorded history. We are supposed to get another two to three inches of rain here on Thursday. This is NOT good.

Now Let Me Get This Straight...

WASHINGTON (AP) - Don't blame us, oil industry chiefs told a skeptical Congress. Top executives of the country's five biggest oil companies said Tuesday they know record fuel prices are hurting people, but they argued it's not their fault and their huge profits are in line with other industries.
Appearing before a House committee, the executives were pressed to explain why they should continue to get billions of dollars in tax breaks when they made $123 billion last year and motorists are paying record gasoline prices at the pump.
"On April Fool's Day, the biggest joke of all is being played on American families by Big Oil," Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass., said, aiming his remarks at the five executives sitting shoulder-to-shoulder in a congressional hearing room.
"Our earnings, although high in absolute terms, need to be viewed in the context of the scale and cyclical, long-term nature of our industry as well as the huge investment requirements," said J.S. Simon, senior vice president of Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM), which made a record $40 billion last year. "We depend on high earnings during the up cycle to sustain ... investment over the long term, including the down cycles," he continued.
The up cycle has been going on too long, suggested Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Mo. "The anger level is rising significantly."
Alluding to the fact that Congress often doesn't rate very high in opinion polls, Cleaver told the executives: "Your approval rating is lower than ours, and that means you're down low."
Several lawmakers noted the rising price of gasoline at the pump, now averaging $3.29 a gallon amid talk of $4 a gallon this summer.
"I heard what you are hearing. Americans are very worried about the rising price of energy," said John Hofmeister, president of Shell Oil Co., echoing remarks by the other four executives including representatives of BP America Inc., Chevron Corp. (CVX) and ConocoPhillips.
Democrats hammered the executives for their profits and demanded they do more to develop alternative energy sources such as wind, solar and biofuels, Republican lawmakers called for opening more areas for drilling to boost domestic production of oil and gas.
What would bring lower prices? asked Rep. James Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin, the committee's ranking Republican
"We need access to all kinds of energy supply," replied Robert Malone, chairman of BP America, adding that 85 percent of the country's coastal waters are off limits to drilling.
But Markey wanted to know why the companies aren't investing more in energy projects other than oil and gas - or giving up some tax breaks so the money could be directed to promote renewable fuels and conservation and take pressure off oil and gas supplies.
"Why is Exxon Mobil resisting the renewable revolution," asked Markey, noting that the other four companies together have invested $3.5 billion in solar, wind and biodiesel projects.
Exxon is spending $100 million on research into climate change at Stanford University, replied Simon, but current alternative energy technologies "just do not have an appreciable impact" in addressing "the challenge we're trying to meet."
The appearance Tuesday before the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming was not the first time that oil executives had faced the harsh words of a lawmakers frustrated over their inability to do anything about soaring oil and gasoline costs.
In November 2005, executives of the same companies sought to explain high energy costs at a Senate hearing at which Hofmeister emphasized the cyclical nature of his industry. "What goes up almost always comes down," he told the senators on a day when oil cost $60 a barrel.
About six months later, the executives were grilled again on Capitol Hill when a barrel of oil cost $75. As the three-hour House hearing came to a close Tuesday, the price of oil settled at just over $100 a barrel on the New York exchange.
"We face a new reality, volatility, high prices, greater competition for resources," said Peter Robertson, vice president of Chevron Corp., adding that he understands that "Americans see the pain" of $100-a-barrel oil.
Markey challenged the executives to pledge to invest 10 percent of their profits to develop renewable energy and give up $18 billion in tax breaks over 10 years so money could be funneled to support other energy and conservation.
They responded that their companies already are spending on alternative energy projects and argued that new taxes would dampen investment and could lead to even higher prices.
"Imposing punitive taxes on American energy companies, which already pay record taxes, will discourage the sustained investment needed to continue safeguarding U.S. energy security," said Simon. He said over the past five years Exxon Mobil's U.S. tax bill exceeded its U.S. earnings by $19 billion. Markey was not impressed.
"These companies are defending billions of federal subsidies ... while reaping over a hundred billion dollars in profits in just the last year alone," he said. The companies are reaping "a windfall of revenue" while poor people have to choose between heating and eating because of high energy prices.
Elsewhere on Tuesday, many independent truckers parked their rigs and others slowed to a crawl on highways to protest high fuel prices. The demonstrations were only scattered, but long lines of trucks were moving at about 20 mph on the New Jersey Turnpike, and three drivers were ticketed for impeding traffic on Interstate 55 outside Chicago, driving three abreast at low speeds.

But..wait a minute, didn't Congress haul these guys in front them two years ago...three years ago and what happened? Nothing. That's because these Congressmen have had oil money in their wallets for years now. Nothing will change, nothing. I say bring back Teddy Roosevelt who would have busted these conglomerates up, turning them into little oil companies that might have ...(gasp) competition. Well, now these guys have pissed the truckers off and I can't wait to see who wins that battle. I can tell you, I don't see good things happening down the road unless somebody comes in and reforms there bastards. But, it won't happen. The White House is occupied by oil men whose portfolios only get richer when the price goes up. I can just see ol Dick Cheney smirking out of the side of his mouth..."heh heh". The rich get richer and the underclass steams. Not a good recipe for the future.

Monday Morning

64 degrees and cloudy (again).

Big storms coming, just about in time for opening day. This has been the dreariest, coldest, cloudiest winter ever. The sun has rarely shone and my yard is an absolute mess. This will be a wet spring they say. Not sure where the water will go.

"ruh roh"

Dave Munday's Service

i left from St. Louis at 12 noon. at mile marker 179, the road was down to one lane. traffic started backing up at mile marker 192. at mile marker 137, the road was down to one lane. traffic started backing up at mile marker 151. at six thirty, i was in columbia and the service started 30 minutes ago. i didn't make it. i spent all day on the road and got nowhere

Ch-ch-ch changes

Well, I'm not done, but I am overhauling this thing. I am trying to figure out how to podcast (I had a remarkable interview with Rita Coolidge) and I am adding some cool, groovy new stuff to the site. Hang with me, it'll all rock when I'm done and I decide to blow it up again.

Boston and Styx

Boston and Styx are coming to St. Louis. In my career, I have probably played these two artists more than most. While I have a very long connection to Styx, (I saw them live at the Quad City Raceway in 1972 for a buck and a half) and a fond feeeling for Boston, I wonder when a group should just call it quits.

Boston is NOT Boston without Brad Delp.Styx is less Styx without Dennis DeYoung. I saw Boston at Comiskey Park in Chicago in 1978 opening for Steve Miller and The Eagles. They were very good. They pretty much pulled off the stuff from the albums although I could swear there were some things that were added electronically. Who cared, we were all buzzed anywho. But when you lose one of the two most identified members of a band...it would be like the Stones going on tour without Keith.

Good luck with all that.

Basketball Jones

I can't believe that I am just about basketballed out. It's my favorite time of the year because after the tournament...opening day. I am boycotting the Cardinals this year because as a lifelong fan, I have had enough with broken promises of things that they had no intention of doing...

Ballpark Village :

and their ubiquitous greed. I won't be going to the ball park this year. I will watch them on TV but won't spend a dime in Busch Stadium. This is coming from a guy who still has his 1967 and 1968 Cardinals yearbooks neatly stashed away. I don't remember a time when the Cardinals have not been a prominent figure in the family. I won't root against them for sure but will stand on the sidelines this year and quietly be a fan.

On the other hand, the games in the tournament this weekend have pretty much sucked except today's where little Davidson almost did it. I hope they all come back to school next year. Four number one seeds make it to the final four. I have said for the past few weeks that the best teams I have seen this year were Kansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina. UCLA and Memphis look pretty good, too. I'll take UNC over Memphis in the final...

I hope to see more of Davidson next year. They look like they could be one of the elite programs if they all stay in school. I hope that happens.

The Tide Is Turning

I found this on Steve Mays' website. Steve is about as good as it gets when putting together a website. I need to do more to turn mine into one as good as his. I'm working on it.

This was originally done by Bob Cesca on his blog: I have no idea who Roger Waters is supporting in this thing (and I hasten to note that this video was created without his permission), but when I heard Senator Obama's historic Philadelphia address last week, this song, "The Tide Is Turning," from Waters' underrated 1987 album Radio KAOS kept running on a loop in my head.

The song and the speech compelled me to take a break from the snark to assemble this mash-up as a tribute to everyone who has endured this seven-year-long dark ride; and to everyone who hopes that America can and will change for the better.

Buzz up!on Yahoo!Until recently, I honestly didn't think it was possible. And even though it's only the beginning, Senator Obama's campaign is clearly our best shot to, at the very least, turn the tide against this seemingly interminable darkness.

Bob Cesca's Goddamn Awesome Blog! GO!

Not Again

Condolences to family and friends of CUMULUS Oldies KCMO-F/KANSAS CITY afternoon host DAVE MUNDAY, who died SUNDAY of cancer in LEE'S SUMMIT, MO at 53, according to the KANSAS CITY STAR. MUNDAY (real name MICHAEL B. STEPHENSON) worked at several KANSAS CITY stations, including KFKF, KMXV (MIX 93.3), KCFX (101.1 THE FOX), and the KANSAS CITY CHIEFS RADIO NETWORK, and served as track announcer at KANSAS SPEEDWAY for the last seven years. He was a great guy and a great jock, too. He always had a smile and aput down.

One of the best in KC radio history. Done way too soon.

Freaks and Geeks part two

Key Magazine United Township High School
I was the entertainment editor/reporter.
I won four awards that year.
Nice glasses, huh?

High School Musical (or Freaks and Geeks)

KSCR-United Township High School, East Moline Illinois-1973
That's me behind the mic stand
Yeah, me and that John Denver thing goin on.
That's how long this thing's been in my blood.
35 years ago? Damn

Media Junk

I was watching the "Today" show this morning and Merideth Viera said they were going to show us pictures of the woman who ruined Gov. Spitzer's career. Uh, I think he ruined his career and he didn't need any help.

Now, let me get this straight, a guy who hated the media, his disgust and intolerance shown at every news conference is now one of them. Damn, pigs do fly. Another hypocrite.

Dumbass

D'oh!!



Hey Eliot, karma's a bitch, huh? I don't mean to belittle anyone, but are you kidding me? He spent $4300 on an "escort"? Nice job. You have a beautiful wife, three gorgeous daughters (one who is getting ready to graduate from high school and go off to college) and you throw it all away?
What the hell is wrong with guys like you anyway?

As a friend of a guy who lost his job through the bulldog hypocritical action of the great guv, I think I speak for a number of my radio brethren who say, screw you. I hope your wife leaves you.

What an idiot to cheat on this.

NEW YORK Gov. ELIOT SPITZER -- the man who as State Attorney General magnified payola allegations to the point where the labels and radio had to settle to the tune of many millions of dollars, and many lost their jobs as a result of the allegations -- is facing some karmic justice of his own today. After revelations of his involvement in a prostitution ring was reported in TODAY's NEW YORK TIMES, SPITZER abruptly scheduled a press conference this afternoon to deal with the allegations.

The local CBS-TV affiliate is now reporting that "SPITZER was not expected to continue as governor and may resign by MONDAY evening...Reliable sources told CBS 2 Political Reporter MARCIA KRAMER that Lt. Gov. DAVID PATERSON could be sworn in as governor as early as 7p MONDAY."

SPITZER did not mention his resignation in his statement to the press, in which he said: "I have acted in a way that violated the obligations to my family and that violates my -- or any -- sense of right and wrong. I apologize first, and most importantly, to my family. I apologize to the public whom I promised better. I do not believe politics in the long run is about individuals. It is about ideas, the public good and doing what is best for the State of NEW YORK. I am disappointed that I failed to live up to the standard that I expect of myself. I must now dedicate some time to regain the trust of my family. I will not be taking questions. Thank you very much. I will report back to you in short order. Thank you very much."

According to THE TIMES, SPITZER was identified in court papers as a client in a prostitution ring. "The governor’s travel records show that he was in WASHINGTON in mid-FEBRUARY," the story asserted. "One of the clients described in court papers arranged to meet with a prostitute who was part of the ring, the EMPERORS CLUB VIP on the night of FEB. 13th."

Number 9 ... Number 9 ... Number 9....

Predictably, the press has feasted on this story like school of piranhas on a bleeding cow. WNBC.com reports that "According to a law enforcement source close to the investigation, the Democratic governor used the alias "GEORGE FOX" when meeting with a prostitute. His alleged conversations with the prostitution ring are detailed in court papers in which SPITZER is identified as "Client 9," according to a source.

APNEWS reports that "The client paid $4,300 in cash to the service, with some being used for the encounter and the rest apparently to be used for credit. When discussing how the payments would be arranged, Client 9 allegedly told [defendant TEMEKA RACHELLE] LEWIS: 'Yup, same as in the past, no question about it,' suggesting it was a routine exchange."

ABCNEWS.COM reports that "As recently as this past VALENTINE'S DAY, FEB. 13, SPITZER, who officials say is identified in a federal complaint as "Client 9," arranged for a prostitute "KRISTEN" to meet him in WASHINGTON, D.C. The woman met Client 9 at the MAYFLOWER HOTEL, room 871, 'for her tryst,' according to the complaint. Client 9 also is alleged to have paid for the woman's train tickets, cab fare, mini bar and room service, travel time and hotel ... Prosecutors reportedly have a series of e-mails and wiretapped phone conversations of SPITZER."

Like Chocolate and Peanut Butter

Ok, but it works.

Musical Mulligan:Bread

Yeah, yeah OK. I know what you are thinkin', the boy's flipped out. All I know is in the summer of my 14th year, this sweet lovely song called "Make It With You" floated out of the AM radio and into the ears of my girlfirend (if you could call her that, but I did at the time). She loved the song, so did I, it was deemed to be "our song" and so it was. After we broke up, she gave me the album back that I bought her with my own money (see previous post). I started playing it and discovered "Been Too Long On The Road", "It Don't Matter To Me" "Why Do You Keep Me Waiting"and others. David Gates hung around in Tulsa with Leon Russell and J.J. Cale. James Griffin was a session guy in LA, Mike Botts was a well respected drummer who once worked with Wes Montgomery and Larry Knectel palyed keyboards on "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" so, these guys could play. They just didn't play as loud as most of the other stuff I was listening to. Apparently, it was a clash of egos that sent these guys to their demise and that's too bad. For every Deep Purple, Black Sabbath or Zeppelin record, this was a nice diversion. I was 14 when I first heard them in 70, they split up for about four years in 1973 and released "Lost Without Your Love" in 1977 and called it quits. They had a special on TV around my 16th birthday and I had to beg my father to let me watch it. James Griffin recently passed with cancer at the age of 61. He wrote "For All We Know" for The Carpenters. He once said that they never wanted to be a soft rock band but going toe to toe with Grand Funk was probably not in their best interest.

Smart man, Smart band.

And now, the top ten:

1. He's A Good Lad -they wrote that one about me.

2. If -to me, the classic love song. Kris Eric Stevens made this song sound special every time he played it on WLS.

3. It Don't Matter To Me -right song, right time right(?) girl

4. Guitar Man -a bit of an edge (hey, it's Bread, OK?)

5. Make It With You -summer of my 14th year. nuff said

6. Everything I Own -the ultimate song of sacrifice, covered many times. Another great sounding song on WLS.

7. London Bridge-first song, first side, first LP

8. Diary-been there, done that, have the scars

9. Let Your Love Go-nice rocking tune

10.Sweet Surrender- their last great song, a fine way to say goodbye

Here's Larry Knechtel on the lead guitar with "Guitar Man" from that TV special in 1972. Very tasty...

These Kids Today

I got into a very interesting conversation the other day with a fellow basketball player in the suana after a game. We chatted about the rise of violence in the schools and wonderered if it had always been this way, but for some reason, we didn't pay attention to it. I don't remember when I went to high school if I could remember a time when so many people went ballistic and killed their fellow man. Sure, I remember guys like Richard Speck or the guy who killed people at the University of Texas, but never with the regularity it seems we are experiencing. I have no degree, have no experience in social work but I have raised kids and I have been a keen observer in and of the process. We have raised a generation of kids who have no idea what it is like to fail. When they run races anymore, there are no ribbons for first place and the kid who finished last is rewarded as much as the kid who finished first. Where is the motivation for the kid who lost? What about the kid who won? We don't want to mess with their "self esteem". I learned at avery early age that when someone wins, someone loses and if I didn't win, well, that must mean I lost. Kids don't lose today, they don't suck at anything and we keep sending them on their way with their self esteem intact but the reality of life so far away. I have been kicked in the face so many times, I can't count. My heart has been broken so many times that I can (and will) write a book about it. I have had my hopes so high in a number of instances, only to have them dashed on the jagged rocks below the next day. If I hadn't failed numerous times in my youth, if I hadn't lost the race, the girl, the job, the friends, I don't know how I would have handled it. If the kids can't fail, if they can't find out that indeed, the may actually not be good at something, how does that set them up for their lives? I have sucked, and will suck. I have failed and will fail. I just keep getting back up again. Do today's kids know how to do that?

The New Frontier

We are conducting an experiment at KMOX that should be interesting. While the hockey game is on the AM and the stream, you can go to KMOX.com, click on the icon and the second stream will broadcast Route 66 from 8-12 midnight on Saturday through the speakers on your computer. Last night was the first show without commercials or a national newscast. We are not quite sure what the rules are but the legendary Bob Hamilton came in once an hour with headlines and offered me a chance to sit and chat with Bob about his work and some of the bigger stories he has worked on in his career. I dedicated one hour to the year 1963 with music, commercials, tv themes and news actualities. We did a Motown set, a girl group set, a doo wop set and a "crooner" set. The playlist was bit deeper and after adjusting to a new studio, I thought the show was quite good. This is where the medium is heading, full service product on a variety of streams and channels. It will be interesting to see how many were listening and where they were from. I got a call from Antwerp Belgium from some transplanted St. Louisan who couldn't sleep and a couple of nice emails. This could be the next big thing and I might be John Glenn.



CBS has just teamed up with AOL, this might be the start of something cool.

While looking for 'doo wop songs', I came across this chestnut and it brought me back to a stack of 78rpm records we used to have. One was "You Belong To Me" by Jo Stafford. My mom used to play that big, thick record all of the time. Since 1952 is a little before our range, I did some more looking and found this version, which was one of my brothers favorite songs and vicariously, mine too. We played this version last night:



It is amazing to me how good my parents music was and how I dismissed it out of hand years ago. This was the real deal, these people could just flat out sing and now, I can't get this song out of my head.

Scott Spiezio

Nice. Last year, you decide to bail on the Cardinals in the middle of the season to get help for "personal reasons". You go through "rehab", get clean and declare yourself a new man. No probs, no worries. Last years death of Josh Hancock obviously didn't get through. On the night of December 30, you and your hot wife go out on the town, drink yourself into stupor, wreck your BMW, puke in a friends house and then beat the shit out of him when he objects about it. You then hide in a closet when the cops come and you don't tell anyone about until the cops try to arrest you in spring training. Lovely. So, the Cardinals release you, and then have to pay you over two million dollars. So, let me get this straight....get drunk, wreck car, punch friend, hide from cops, make millions. What a country.
I will not frequent the ballpark at any time this year knowing that some of my money is going to him. I have had my share of demons, I have stared them down and keep staring. I have never had an entire organization's resources available. I have done it myself and the battle still rages.
This is the reason I am getting to the point where I hate most professional sports, whether you play or don't play, you get the money. Guaranteed contracts have killed baseball. This is just one shining example. Idiot.

R I P Jeff Healey; Mike Smith; Denis Payton

What a sweet, sweet man. when my band was together, we were looking to play anywhere and everywhere. It didn't matter, we just wanted to play. We heard that Jeff was looking for a band to open his show at Mississippi Nights, we entered a tape and were called about a week before the show, saying that Jeff liked the "rawness" of our sound. We were pumped because he was the next "big" thing, a blind guitar player who played the axe on his lap. He had a hit song with "Angel Eyes" and we knew the place would be packed. It was more than packed.We played our ass off, because we knew that Jeff liked our stuff. After the set, while we were leaving the stage, he "looked" at me and said, "you better get back out there, they want more." I mumbled something about opening acts not getting encores and he said "mine do", so we played two more songs and got a standing ovation. If we all hadn't had day jobs, he would have taken us on the road with him. Look at the fingers in the picture, long and sleek. He had been fighting cancer since the age of one, it cost him his sight and ultimately his life. Dead at 41. A very sweet and kind musician. Done too soon.

Bittersweet times for the Dave Clark Five

Mike Smith was the lead singer for the Dave Clark Five. Dave played drums and left the singing to Mike. The Dave Clark Five were the second "British Invasion" band to have a top ten single in America. Mike passed away just days before the band was to be inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame this weekend. Mike was paralyzed a couple years ago following a freak accident when his trousers got caught on the top of his own wrought iron gate, while trying to climb over. On a day in which he must have wished he'd had been anywhere else... he landed on his head ... and died of complications of pnuemonia. He was 64.

Denis Payton, the sax player in the Dave Clark Five, died in December after a long struggle with cancer. He was 63.Payton appeared on all the group's records, and also played guitars, harmonica and sang backing vocals. The Dave Clark Five, whose "Tottenham Sound" was London's answer to the wave of hits pouring out of Liverpool in the 1960s, scored with hits including "Bits and Pieces," "Do You Love Me?" and "Glad All Over." "He was thrilled about our American Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nomination and said, 'I know I won't be around but it was an amazing part of my life that I am very proud of,'" Clark said.

Blogger block

I have had nothing to say and no time to say it. It has just been one of those weeks where all sorts of stuff has gone on, but I haven't had the mental capacity to write it down. This happens frome time to time and I usually come roaring out of the gates with a heaping helping of steaming junk. Let's see what happens...

Not a good week for Tripp Isenhour

In December, while shooting a video on how to play golf Tripp (I even hate his name) got into a pissing match with a red tailed hawk who had the audacity to interrupt him while he was driving.

You know, I hate professsional golfers. Pissy, prissy prima donnas rule the sport. You can't talk, whisper or distract them in anyway. Anyway, the red tailed hawk violated that rule so Tripp thought he'd launch a few drives his way and wouldn't you know, nailed the hawk for his dastardly sins. Tripp killed it with a driven ball. He hit it so hard it caused the hawk to bleed out it's nostrils. He then laughed about it. Aint no laughing matter to kill an endangered migratory bird. I admire his driving skills but me thinks this might not turn out so well for Tripp. What am I thinking? Tripp will get the finest lawyers money can buy, and he'll get off with a slap on the wrist because he's a golfer and we know golfers rule the world.

I think it's time for a Tripp on the karma train.

Saturday Night

I try to write something here as much as I can. I have been so busy at work, it's been hard lately to put much thought into a well crafted post. I'm not sure tonight is the one that will reverse the trend. I have a number of things on my mind and tomorrow I hope to post a few. I appreciate the ever steady increase in hits on the website.

When I grew up in the middle of nowhere, I wanted to escape as quickly as possible. I am not sure where I escaped to, but at least it was somewhere that had something within five miles. It had highways, stores that stayed open past six oclock, and a place where you could eat 24 hours a day. As I get older, I think I would now like to escape back to nowhere. I'd like to spend my final days in a place that requires a four wheel drive to get to.

I am a fan of Jesse Colin-Young. He had the coolest hair back then. He and his band the Youngbloods had the big song "Come Together". He had a few really tasty songs afterward, one being "Ridgetop", the story of just the place where I could call my home. Maybe someday...

Here's Jesse singing the song from a few years ago..

Two Wolves

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside all people. He said, 'My son, the battle is between two 'wolves' inside us all.One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.'The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: 'Which wolf wins?'The old Cherokee simply replied, 'The one you feed.'

Why Obama is Winning

This is something I noticed in Iowa that caught my ear. Ms. Huffington can explain what I saw and heard beter than I can...


From the blog of Arianna Huffington...

"Hillary Clinton's campaign model," David Axelrod, Obama's chief strategist told me this morning in Chicago, "is a very tired Washington model: 'I'll do these things for you.' Barack's model is 'Let's do these things together.' This has been the premise of Barack's politics all his life, going back to his days as a community organizer. He has really lived and breathed it, which is why it comes across so authentically."Of course, the time also has to be right for the man and the moment to come together. And, after all the country has been through over the last seven years, the times are definitely right for the message that the only way to get real change is to activate the American people to demand it." Based on the way the '08 campaign has played out, Democratic voters are showing signs of deep fox fatigue -- sick and tired of foxy triangulating, foxy slicing-and-dicing of the message, and foxy shifts in presentation. Voters want real change -- not daily changes in approach and messaging. "Small is the new big," (Mark Penn wrote). "Many of the biggest movements in America today are small."Except when they are very big, and getting bigger by the day. And you've missed them.

The Top 100 Continues

You know the drill, we are counting down the top 100 from back to front, I started with ZZ Top's Tres Hombres. Our last stop was Gino Vanelli's "Brother to Brother". So, up the alphabet we go, passing...

These albums cancelled each other out. If there was a "bubbling under the top 100", these would be about 101, 109, 112. My favorite was "Fair Warning", but it was only 32 minutes long. "Diver Down" would be next. "Little Guitars" is THE best VH song ever (with "Mean Streets") a close second. Third would be "Dreams". 5150 was a 180 turn for VH and it was the soundtrack to the summer of 1986. Great records all, close but no cigar.

So, away we go, past Uriah Heep; "Demons and Wizards" is another honorable mention, past "Lights Out","Force It and "Phenomenon" by UFO, landing on.....

Achtung Baby- U2

I was programing a station in Lincoln, Nebraska when this came out. I got a promotional copy from the record guy and for the next thirty days, I didn't listen to anything else. I immediately added about 6 songs to our playlist. Not long after that, my consultant's head exploded. Every song on here is an absolute treat. "One" is one here, so is "Zoo Stations" and "Even Better Than The Real Thing". To show you what I think of this CD, I downloaded every song from it to my Ipod. Very few releases meet that test. This one would probably check in at about number 68 or so.

RIP Buddy Miles

Buddy Miles died yesterday at the age of 60. He was a child prodigy, starting his career as the drummer for his father's group. In 1967, he formed The Electric Flag with Mike Bloomfield and left after the second album. He was also Jimi Hendrix's drummer in Band of Gypsies and gave my band it's opening number. Whenever we played "Them Changes" it always kicked the show off right. His recording with Carlos Santana remains a classic jazz/funk album. I always thought his version of "Down By The River" was the absolute best. Kids may know him as the voice of The California Raisins. He probably made more from that gig than he did anywhere else. I learned a lot about drumming with passion and emotion from Buddy. Details of the cause of death were not disclosed.

Can't Sleep

Congrats to a fine basketball team in Vanderbilt. There is a party at Dr. Sardonicus' crib. BYOB. Tennessee has been involved with two of the most intense performances in the last three days that I have ever seen. How cool that basketball has finally arrived in Tennessee. Memphis, Vandy and UT should all be in the top ten next week. That reminds me of when I lived in KC (1980 I think ) that Mizzou was ranked number one and KU was second. If I am not mistaken, I think they were both unbeaten. I was in the Vanderbilt gym last year when they lost to Furman. That's right Furman. Now, they beat the number one team in the country. Nice work, great game, high drama.

I was talking to our sports guy Kevin Wheeler about the lack of free throw shooting in college basket ball. He said that the percentages haven't changed in the past forty years. We notice it now because we see more games. I can remember when I was a kid how thrilled I was to see UCLA play Houston featuring Elvin Hayes locking up with Lew Alcindor from the Houstin Astrodome.

There might have been one more game on that week, maybe in Saturday. but where I came from, I got a lot of Colorado basketball and I'm not sure why, living in southern Missouri. The coach had the wierdest name: Sox Walseth.

Longtime head basketball coach at the University of Colorado, who during his tenure as men's coach from 1956 to 1976, won 261 games, the most in school history, who came out of retirement in 1980 to coach the women's team until 1983 (he is believed to be the only person ever to coach the men's and women's basketball teams at the same NCAA school) , and for whom the basketball floor at the university's Coors Events/Conference Center is named, died Jan. 28 of cancer at his home in Boulder, Colorado at the age of 77. (uh...261 wins divided by 20 means he won roughly 13 games a year...not good)

When I get some time, I'll look up his claim. Although, I am sure he knows way more about this than I do.

I think tonight was game... set... match for Obama. I think this may be our next president.

I fear for his safety.

Jimmy's Revenge

Most of the time, I can take or leave Jimmy Kimmel, but this is a very funny come back to the previous Sarah Silverman video.

Another One Hit Wonder

I can't find anything on these guys, if you know, send it to me. I remember that I played this song on KY 102 in the spring of 1979. They had a kindof Queenish sound. Is that a word? No video (or anything else) available from these guys, but I have certainly heard worse stuff. Catchy song, actually. It was one of those that I never minded to play. Cool spring song. I think we played it for three weeks or something.

Sunday Morning

I don't work on Sunday. It's not a totally religious thing but, having to put my time in six days a week, this is the day for taking a bath (with my jukebox on the website playing), not answering my phone and only checking my email once. It's just nice to take care of the mental state one day a week. If I have to, sure I'll work but my week is so jammed (I am thankful to be working), that I must have some down time. Oh let's hold a pity party for me, huh?

Doing an airshift once a week is a bitch. I can't get into much of a rhythm, but I do the best I can. Last night's show was subpar, just couldn't get the whole thing to flow. That follows last week's show which I thought was one of the better ones. Being on air is something that needs to be done every day, but I ain't complainin' just trying to understand how the weekend guys do it. It's hard to get better doing ANYTHING once a week. Side note...if an engineer saw you with a Coke that close to the control board, he would shove it somewhere that the sun doesn't shine. (I ain't talking about your closet either.)
As I was walking from my car to the station the other day (about three blocks) I smelled something so uniquely wonderful that it just about knocked me over (and something different than the usual urine smell). I can only describe it as "burgers and fries". There is a certain smell of cooking burgers and fries that takes me back to working for my mom at the diner in downtown Moline. Isn't it wierd how smelling something can just ship you immediately back in time? I swear I heard "Everybody Plays The Fool" in the distance.
We are reaching a point in the college basketball season that I just love. The big boys are getting knocked off left and right and we're getting down to crunch time. I have two favorite teams this year, one being Drake. Who? The school from Des Moines hasn't really had much exposure, but this is an excellent team (they beat another excellent team in Butler at Butler). They are coached by Tom Davis' son, who used to coach at Iowa and seem to play very hard all of the time. I am also rooting for Tennessee and Vanderbilt. I love Tennessee's coach and they are about to be number one for the first time in school history. Bruce Pearl looks like someone you can sit and have a cold one with. John Calipari on the other hand, looks like he wouldn't give you the time of day. Vanderbilt just because I drove by the school everyday on my way to work in Nashville.

One year ago, I was in Nashville and had just about realized that the station I was working at had no clue what to do to win. It was about this time that I was exploring how to get out, through the grace of God, I found it. Now, I am so busy at KMOX I can't go to lunch (not a complaint). Speaking of Nashville, my oldest daughter may have a chance to move there if things work out. It would be great from them to go, I am not sure what future possibilities the Quad Cities may have to offer.

Sometimes, I let my nostalgia get the best of me, I seem to look back with rose colored glasses. Oh, our lives were so so much better back then, huh? I was watching "CBS Sunday Morning" and they had an interview with Jessica Lange who grew up in the middle of nowhere in Minnesota. She talked about how isolated, lonely and alone she felt growing up so far out of reach. That got me thinking about my 14th year on the planet. Absolute brutality. I had acne so bad that sometimes, the pimples would get raw and explode on my pock marked face. I had just received my first pair of glasses, and was starting to notice girls who at that time thought I was "gross". All I had was basketball and the songs on the radio. My brother was in VietNam, my father wasn't there, my mother (God love her) was drunk and my sister was too young. I did the best I could and just hung on for dear life. I remember those times as me desparately trying to escape, and be a part of all the things I heard that were happening all over the country. Unfortunately, all I could do was read about it. Thank God I had these songs which helped the pain of being 14.

"Whole Lotta Love","Eli's Coming","No Time","Rainy Night In Georgia","Thank You(Falettin Me Be Mice Elf)","Leaving On A Jet Plane","Shilo","Bridge Over Troubled Waters","Travellin Band","Spirit In The Sky","Celebrate","Question","Let It Be", "Closer To Home" "Into The Mystic","Ohio", "25 or 6to4","Make It With You"etc etc. Thanks to all of those composers who kept me from killing myself.

This is So Wrong On So Many Levels

The Sponge Bob Square Pants Rectal Thermometer