The Speechalist

This may not be new, but it was new to me and one of the funnier videos out there.

The Speechalist

"Louisiana is a city that is largely underwater . . ."

In 2003 and 2004, the Bush Administration cut the funding for the levees that protect the city of New Orleans. Now, I've already heard the Bush apologists claim that any administration would have done the same considering the economic pressures. So, I'm gonna pretend that 100% of all presidential administrations would play Russian roulette with an American city that happens to be our largest sea port, because, you know, we wouldn't want to run up massive budget deficits.

Once you've cut the funding for the levees it seems to me the least you could do would be to be ready to act when the inevitable hurricane smashes into New Orleans. George Bush told the nation that no one could have predicted the damage the hurricane would do. Of course that's not true.

Readers of National Geographic knew of this scenario. The Army Corps of Engineers knew of this scenario. In fact this scenario was well known. For goodness sake, the National Weather Service knew exactly what would happen when Katrina hit.

So, FEMA took advantage of the two days from when Katrina turned category IV and when she hit the coast? That was not the case. Of course FEMA has been neutered by the Bush administration and is run by an incompetent. Michael Brown's main job for eleven years was the commissioner of judges for the international Arabian Horse Association. And he was forced to resign from that job.

And so the horror show continued. The director of homeland security was unaware that thousands of people where at the convention center until NPR told him. I guess he had no TV. The head of FEMA couldn't understand why people hadn't evacuated when the order to evacuate had been given.

And thousands of people died. While I think Kanye West was wrong, I don't think his comments were absurd at all. Certainly the Bush Administration, the State of Louisiana, and the City of New Orleans didn't leave these people behind because they were black. They did it because they were poor. They didn't feel it was necessary to waste time planning for a contingency that only affected the poorest and most vulnerable of their constituents. Kanye West was understandably confused because most of the poor people in New Orleans are black.

So we have demonstrated once again the lack of compassion of the Bush administration. Just like NCLB, just like the Iraq War, just like the giveaway energy policy, and just like the Medicare bill, we see the poor paying the way for the people in power.

As Keith Olbermann points out, this administration won reelection by running around this country claiming the other side couldn't protect them. Meanwhile, they left New Orleans and her most vulnerable population unprotected.

Christopher Mark Arrives

Christopher Mark was born 8/15/05 at 4:35pm weighing in at 8lbs 1oz and a "height" of 21 inches. Mark says everyone is adjusting well at home.

Howdy

Has anyone heard any news from the Howdys? I've received inquiries. We've assumed that his uncharacteristic silence was due to the new addition in his family. If you've heard anything leave the news in the comments.

Cards Win!

On Saturday, August 13, Roy, Rochelle, Mom and I made the pilgrimage to Wrigley Field to watch our Cardinals do battle with the small bears. After enduring a three hour rain delay, we watched a fine ballgame. Chris Carpenter pitched a complete game. Albert Pujols homered, and the Cards won 5-2.

The highlight of the game for us, however, came on a Pujols foul ball. We were sitting behind the plate, a little to the right, when Pujols fouled one back. It looked like it would land 10 or 20 rows behind us at first, but the prevailing winds at Wrigley took over.

As it came down it drifted slowly toward us, until it came down in the row behind us. I saw it the whole way and could have made a play if I had stepped on my mother. Roy almost had a play on it and claims he would have caught it if he'd brought his glove.

The ladies behind is knocked it down and it was rolling around when Roy reached down to snag it. The lady behind us smacked him across the side of his back and made a remark about stealing her ball.

The day became a little surreal when the husbands returned, and the ladies related their tale of the stolen ball. One of the men made several provocative remarks. We made a few return remarks. You didn't expect Rochelle, Mom, and me to be quiet did you?

One of the women said something about stealing the ball from her eight-year old. Roy said he was going to sell it on E-Bay. Not really. I wish he'd said that, but he said his seven-year old would enjoy the ball.

Of course, being Cub fans they had to leave early. The loquacious husband made a departing crack, "I hope you enjoy the ball."

And let me tell you, we will enjoy the ball. Willa and Parke were thrilled to see it. Roy's plan is to take it to spring training next year and get Albert to autograph it.

To be fair, on our other trip to a Cards game at Wrigley we were treated wonderfully in spite of all our Cardinal regalia. So we won't draw any lasting conclusions from this trip.

So . . . .

Does everyone remeber exactly what they were doing the last time the Royals won a baseball game? It was so long ago.

I will have a real post soon. As soon as my brother emails me a picture from our Wrigley Field outing. We have a good story to tell.

Brush with umm . . .

Everyone rush over to Paul's blog and check out his brush with ummm, fame I guess. Or maybe he found his long lost brother. Either way, you'll see some 'Big Ass Heads' over there.

Crime and Punishment?

As if baseball didn't have enough troubles...

Kenny Rogers, who physically assaulted a cameraman who (from all reports I've read) was quietly doing his job, was reinstated from his 20-game suspension. This wasn't a run-in during the heat of a game. He attacked, walked away, CAME BACK and attacked again. Then for good measure, he went after the cameraman a third time when he put the camera back on his shoulder. The arbitrator felt as if Rogers had served his time and should not have been suspended for 20 games. I always suspected that Bud Selig had no power...this confirms it.

At the same time, a frustrated DJ sounded off on the sad state of the Giants (gee, I wonder what he'd say about the Royals). He exercised his right to voice his opinion (he should have stayed away from the word 'Caribbean'...he may have gotten away with it). He was promptly called 'a messenger of Satan' by manager Felipe Alou. He chose to make fun of that on the air and was fired, along with the program director and morning show producer.

So let me see if I have this straight...a player can physically attack another person and is punished, but his penalty is reduced, a manager can call someone a 'messenger of Satan' without any recourse, but a radio DJ and others lose their jobs for making fun of being called Satan.

This sounds peculiarly like a government-run operation...or maybe it is.

Support Cindy Sheehan

Cindy Sheehan is holding vigil in Crawford, Texas. She has Vietnam Vets standing with her. Sheehan would like to speak with the President about the Downing Street Memos. Sheehan's son Casey died in Iraq on April 4, 2004.

It's a painful thing to realize your son was a pawn in someone else's game. It's painful to discover the war that took him was pre-planned, boxed up, marketed and served to Americans like the latest, greatest ground beef sandwich a red and yellow clown could dream up.

It will only get worse as the talk radio screamers and the Fox talk shows start to devour her as the latest traitor in their great 'War on Terra.'

Eventually they'll arrest her. They'll say she's a threat to national security.

Meanwhile, our great protectors will continue on, outing CIA agents for political vengeance, ignoring elected bodies that don't fall in line, and promoting torture.

I used to sleep at the foot of Old Glory
And awake in the dawn's early light
But much to my surprise
When I opened my eyes
I was a victim of the great compromise

The Great Compromise - John Prine

After Midnight

Yessir, some of you might have missed SweetLou's costume change complete with the slogan for Lou&Mistifest '06. And just look at Howdy - he started practicing for next year as soon as the crowd dispersed. Funny thing is I never saw him grope the pole once while he was practicing. Lou, tell him he's doing it all wrong!

Big Party

We returned from Warrensburg again yesterday after putting in some work on the house. We are plumb tuckered out, but we're excited about the approaching festival at Lou's Place. I'm sure the fierce golf competition will be adequately balanced with the fellowship and camaraderie that Saturday night will bring.

I hear last minute rehearsals going on as you read this. I'm sure more than one attendee will be hitting some golf balls at the range tomorrow. Everyone gearing up for some fun.

Of course, I didn't start this post without a point. My point, as it is so often, is to gloat. After the grand festivities on Saturday, Roy, Sarah, Shelly and I will be heading to the Cards/Cubs game at Busch on Sunday.

What a great weeknd we have on tap!

That's a Winner!!!

Albert does it again! The Cards steal one from the surging 'Stros. That's a beauty. Let's get rolling after the break.

Back online!!!!!!!!

The Phillips family is back online. And now with a shiny, new cable modem. We're high-speed, baby.

A shout out to all who helped make our move a great success (I still owe Paul and Dave a round of golf). Extra kudos go to Lou. He recognized how tired and worn I was from moving (and forgetting my golf shoes), and he let me put a serious golf pounding on him. Myron was not nearly so generous.

We are venturing back to the 'Burg next week to take care of a few things. But I should have some blog time coming.

We will be at the Lou Fest '05. I think my bro' and his wife will be with us. I'm hoping he'll play some tunes too. I think we'd all like to hear the song he posted plus a little 'Big Iron' with the Marty Robbins lyrics.

Partial Crime Scene

Here is a picture of the 13th hole on the course where Rog's purported victory occurred yesterday. This picture was taken from Roy and Sarah's deck. The green on this par 3 is to the left of the lake just on the other side of the cart path.

A Week of Goodbyes

We sat in a circle in the old one-room schoolhouse on Sunday picking some old-time music. I never made it to play with these good folk as often as I would've liked. And Sunday was the last opportunity before we move away.

We meandered through all of everyone's old favorites. I picked 'Bury Me Beneath the Willow' and 'Down in the River to Pray' for my last couple of picks. I was thrilled when Herb picked 'Eight more miles to Louisville.' Lisa went against the norm and pulled out Creedence's 'Down on the Corner' since the lyrics are eerily reminiscent of life in Warrensburg.

At the end of it they asked me to share a 'signature' song. So I was able to share Guy Clark's song, 'The Cape' with them. (If you ever get a chance to sing a song in Warrensburg's old, one-room schoolhouse you should do it. The acoustics in there are incredible. Even I sound decent in there.)

We shared, and then we said goodbye.

This week will be full of goodbyes for the girls and me. Goodbye to places and faces we've loved. Goodbye to the sights and sounds of the 'Burg. Every time we visit someone or someplace we'll think, "Will this be the last time?" (Thank God. They have custard shops in Springfield.)

Meet David

If you're wondering why I'm posting this, it's all Jagua Piru's fault. . . .

Most of you have met my husband of six years, David, but I wanted to put his picture up and tell you a little bit about him. For those of you who don't know him, I hope David will have the opportunity to meet you at Lou-and-Mistifest next month.

Last month David graduated from the University of Missouri with a Bachelor of Science in Education. He has a job next year teaching math at a small high school just outside Jefferson City.

This was David's second attempt at higher education. His first attempt was, well, less than stellar. After that, he worked several years in construction. He hurt his back and had spinal fusion surgery in March 2001, which included the permanent insertion of two steel rods and six screws in his back. He knew his days as a construction worker were over.

His first course was 8 weeks of summer calculus. I think he was pretty miserable, but he stuck it out. His next-to-last semester, he took 20 credit hours so he could graduate in May 2005.

Anyway, after David graduated, we took a seven-day trip to Ixtapa, Mexico (see my previous post today). When we returned, I started a new job here in Jefferson City.

So, that's the story of part of David's life as told by me. I hear people complain about marriage, but I often catch myself daydreaming about how happy and lucky I am to be married to David. He is a gentleman but also a good hunter-gatherer, and his personality complements mine (read: he's neither obnoxious nor bossy). I know he'll make a great father someday if we ever get around to having a real critter and not just a spoiled dog!

Audience Check

I just wanted to post something since it's been a few days since any new musings appeared. I took this picture during the vacation David and I went on last month to Ixtapa, Mexico. David really liked these birds, which have black legs with bright yellow feet.

Happy Friday, everyone!

Paulie Live! At Deja Vu!

Paulie knocked them dead at Deja Vu on Friday.

Here is a picture of Paulie's first heckler. Also, see Travis' review at his blog.


These photos were taken by Rocky.

Big Show Tonight!

We're hoping to see a bunch of you guys tonight! We will be running late. We should be at Flat Branch before 8 pm though. We are going to wait for the Skeeter man. He has to work until after 6.

But we'll be there! And it's going to be blast. The weather is looking awesome. I won't mind if we're on the patio at Flat Branch. Save us three seats!

**UPDATE**
I just read my email. Tammy's Dad suffered a heart attack yesterday. So send your prayers for his recovery. Tammy and Boz will not be able to join us tonight.

Big Show Tomorrow!

Hey guys! Paulie's big show is tomorrow, and it appears that Mr. Weather Maker Man is finally going to give Paulie his big break. Do you guys want to meet at Flat Branch? Does anyone object? Is 7:30 a good time?

Let's say our tenative plans are to meet at 7:30 at Flat Branch. If anyone needs directions go here.

It's going be a blast. The weather's going to be perfect.