Let's hear it for Iraq!

Funeral for the victims of the recent American air strike in Syria.

An important news story was buried in today's headlines concerning the government of Iraq's condemnation of the recent U.S. air strike into Syria which killed 9 and injured 19. What stood out the most for me was this particular quote from their official statement: "The Iraqi government rejects U.S. aircraft bombarding posts inside Syria. The constitution does not allow Iraq to be used as a staging ground to attack neighboring countries." WOW! They actually follow their Constitution! Imagine that!

The U.S. government could learn a thing or two from them, don't ya think?

http://snipurl.com/4scpz

Georgia vs. LSU

It don't get no better than this folks, an SEC battle par excellence will occur this Saturday when the #9 Georgia Bulldogs face down the #11 LSU Tigers in Baton Rouge. This will be a crucial test that the Dawgs must pass if they are to remain in contention for a shot at the SEC East title. Alabama is the only other upper echelon opponent they have faced this season, who proceeded to demolish them before a national television audience in their own house.

I really don't like talking about it.

LSU was also embarrassed in their sole loss to the Florida Gators and will be looking for redemption as they defend their national title with an eye to repeating the feat again in January. This should be a great game that I hope Georgia can win. Predicted score: GA over LSU 34 - 30.

In the Sky

The following clip from a 1968 performance on the BBC by the Mothers is one of my all time favorite songs, even though it has always sort of perplexed me as to what the actual words are that Roy Estrada is singing. My ears come up with "Who is this guy, who is this guy, who is this guy in the sky?" but I've never been totally sure.

Now through the magic of cyberspace I'd like to see what y'all think the words are to this immortal and magically charged performance by the best damn band nobody ever listened to.

I look forward to hearing your replies. Thanks in advance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swgWNM_4eNk

Sunday Drive

The weather has finally cooled off here in the Tennessee Valley so we decided to take a drive in the country this past Sunday. As always the character and culture of the rural South is consistently interesting to the curious traveler and the emerging Fall color only added to the splendor.

Cumberland Trail


Along old U.S. Hwy. 41


Tennessee - Alabama Fireworks Store



View atop Raccoon Mountain

Buckets of Shred

It is such a privilege to live in an era when there are so many entertainment choices available via the Internet. I was recently blown away with how many different live versions of one of my favorite Buckethead songs could be found on YouTube. So I carefully played them all and picked the following one as my favorite performance of "Frozen Brains Tell No Tales", which originally appeared on the album Bucketheadland 2.

The pulsing build-up chords finally lead into a burning solo that reminds me very much of Hendrix and early seventies Zappa. Its frenzied fuzzy tonality is pure joy to my ears.

This clip is from a show at the Aggie Theatre in Ft. Collins, CO.

Shred on dudes!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6x7GL8CoEs

Journey to Texas

As promised I am posting some photos of my recent journey to Texas where I worked on a mobile emergency kitchen in the wake of Hurricane Ike. I've chosen the images that I like best from the six rolls of 35mm film that I shot.

The world is a strange and wondrous place and the South is even more so with all of its quirky and colorful eccentricities. Every journey here is an adventure and a revelation. It's an irresistible place to point your camera and click.

Downtown Shubuta, Mississippi


Real Estate Office
Shubuta, MS

New Orleans in the early morning.


Lafayette Cemetery, New Orleans


Toomey, Louisiana


Feeding line in Beaumont, Texas


Fed and happy storm victims


A worn out crew in Beaumont.


Brick wall down in Bridge City, TX


My dream come true---a genuine Texas smoker!

Ribs prepared with love and oak.


David & Nancy take a break in Galveston, TX


The Fred Hartman Bridge
Hwy. 146 over the Houston Ship Channel


Peanuts
Evergreen, Alabama


Conecuh County, Alabama


Autauga County, Alabama

Home At Last

I have finally arrived back home three weeks after departing for the Gulf Coast of Texas to staff a mobile emergency kitchen for survivors of Hurricane Ike. It was a rewarding, sometimes grueling and ultimately faith testing experience which I'm still sort of recovering from. I will have some pictures to share (I used an old 35mm film camera) in an upcoming post about the entire trip.

I'd like to thank several people for helping me along on my journey to and from this disaster zone: Tricia and Justin in Ocean Springs, MS; Audie and Kim in Houston, TX; my brother-in-law Steve who's probably on the road somewhere along Interstate 10 as I write; John and Joy in League City, TX; my fellow kitchen crew members-----just us seven doing the work of twenty and last but not least the enduring support of my wife and step-daughter here in beautiful Chattanooga, TN. Y'all deserve a big round of cosmically charged applause.

Yup, it's good to be home.