back in the saddle

Now that I’ve got power back and I’m getting back into a normal routine, stuff will start coming back here. I’ll probably be uploading some storm pictures and some Ollie-at-the-playground pictures tonight.

In the meantime, prepare to be Rocked…

Any good WINDSTORM ‘08 stories out there?

 

diners, drive-ins and lives

Anybody else notice Guy Fieri (Ferry? Ha!) sitting in the front row for Michael Phelps’ monologue on SNL tonight?

 

ike

Hurricane Ike is poised to potentially obliterate on our Texas plant.

As worried as folks here are about the plant, I can’t help but worry tenfold for people whose actual homes and families are in that path.

Stay safe all, good luck and wishful thoughts.

 

my donkey ran away

Hey kids. Just wanted to let you know the Donkey Show moved over here, to a site of its own!

 

new feature

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the newest Bob-net feature, probably appearing on a weeknightly basis. It’s a political news link round-up from a certain POV. See if you can guess what it is.

Welcome to the …

Because there are only 62 days left before the election.

Because some people don’t have the time to sort through all the blogs.

Because John’s getting tired of getting all these links via Google Talk.

Here’s the rundown for Wednesday, 9/3/08.

• Tonight’s RNC VP speech was written before McCain’s camp had a VP.
• McCain’s campaign manager, Steve Schmidt, of all people is the first to cast major media light on the Palin paternity rumors. Watch the video here, and don’t miss the canny comments here.
• “Palin Slashed Funding for Teen Moms”
• If her daughter were raped, Palin would “choose life.”
• The McCain camp got an FBI background check on Palin. And then they spent the summer with their uncles hunting wolverines.
• She may not have been registered, but Palin’s AIP problem lingers.
• This DKos diarist raises the specter of Special Needs Message Board Operatives for McCain.
• Wonkette’s way with words: “Every day, more terrible rumors and allegations surface about Palin’s drunken corrupt secessionist abstinence-only snowbilly reign of terror over the Great White North. And the press has the temerity to actually ask if any of this crap is true. Steve Schmidt is appalled that anyone would ask about the qualifications of a vice presidential nominee who lived near Russia once, and has four or five kids.”
• They almost lost Dr. Laura.

Thought of the day: You can like Sarah Palin but still believe she’s not the best person for the job. Yesterday, I waxed nostalgic about Jerry Reed. But I never would have wanted him in the White House.

And that’s our first Donkey Show.

 

guitar man

You’re a legend to the old men, a hero to the child

Though it may look like a wax figure, that’s the real Jerry Reed. (I think he only looked directly at the camera for paying customers.) And to his left, of course, that’s me, thrilled to be standing next to a longtime hero.

We went up to see him perform at the Little Opry in Brown County back in 1998, well out of his prime. But the man was still a consummate entertainer. And it’s a real heartbreaker to hear that he has passed away.

I know Smokey and the Bandit won’t make any lists of the best movies ever made, but it’s one of the earliest movies I remember seeing. And one of the few I won’t hesitate to watch over and over again. Jerry’s Cledus was my favorite part of the movie, a free-wheelin’, wise-crackin’, punch-throwin’ trickster in the true folkloric sense.

For me, Smokey was a gateway to Jerry’s other accomplishments, his not-so-great movies and his respected songwriter/performer career. I remember finding “Amos Moses” and “When You’re Hot, You’re Hot” on vinyl Reader’s Digest compilations at my Grandpa’s houose. I remember being surprised to hear his infection laugh on “Another Puff” on the Dr. Demento Show. I remember enjoying High-Ballin’ during a long B-movie rerntal run.

So in God’s big recipe book, to make a proper Bob Neville, you’ll definitely have to find a pinch of Jerry Reed. If you don’t have any, ask around. Anybody that has some will be more than happy to share.

Godspeed, Snomwan. Put that hammer down and give it hell.

 

they keep pullin’ me back in

Today’s announcement necessitated today’s lunchtime project.

 

unpossible. imbelievable.

John McCain is trying to lose this election on every front possible.

He just deserted the punctuators.

(Catch it quick, before they fix it.)

 

fun fun fun

Great game here.

GOBAMA!

 

big tentin’

So I’ve been watching a lot of the convention coverage, and many, many questions have crossed my mind. However, one question I never would have paused to ask myself sounds like this: Why isn’t Diddy at the convention?

Pretty stupid question, right?

Meanwhile, MSNBC jumps up and down with its hand in the air. “Oooooh! Me! Me! Pick me! I know this one!“

ADDENDUM: Spike Lee was at the convention last night, rocking the Best T-Shirt Ever.