Deep Purple's Newest Disciple

Clara Grace ran for West Hills Elementary Student Body Treasurer. Each candidate had two minutes to make their case and Clara Grace wanted to play the guitar and write her own song. The only guitar we had time to teach her was Deep Purple's Smoke on the Water. You know, the classic one string version played by everyone from Clara Grace to Stevie Ray Vaughn. (OK, maybe not SRV.)

Sung to the Tune of Smoke on the Water
If you want
a rockin' treasurer
vote for Clara Grace.

Gracie ran a on a strict monetarist economic platform. Unfortunately, she was defeated by a Keynesian socialist 4Th grader.

Hannah's First Gig

My daughter Hannah is a freshman at Carson Newman, and an aspiring actor. She got her fist TV commercial and her performance is already being compared to Dustin Hoffman's Volkswagen ad. (At least by her dad.)


Commercial 1

Gravity!

O.K., I know I'm late to the party, but this past week Hannah shared with me John Mayer's Continuum cd and I was blown away. The whole cd is incredible, but there is one song in particular that reached me - Gravity.

"Oh I'll never know what makes this man
With all the love that his heart can stand
Dream of ways to throw it all away"

I know that a song's meaning is created and shared by its writer and listener, and I think that Gravity is one of the best songs about recovery I've heard in a long, long time. I have no idea if this is John's meaning, but it speaks to me.

Feel it for yourself.

Keep me where the light is.

Like Pac Man without the strippers

It's been a great day for Tennessee Football! The Vols had two go in the first round, and it looks like the Titans were able to fill some obvious holes.

I've got to admit that the Titans taking Michael Griffin first threw me for a loop since I thought they would go with a receiver. In addition to his skills and wheels he is suppose to be a "good character guy".

It was also great to see two Vols (Justin Harrell and Robert Meachem) go in the first round.

As an added bonus the SEC led all conferences with 11 players taken in the first round. Big 10 had 6, Big 12 had 4, and the ACC had 6.

Displace Me

Hannah is in Nashville this weekend to participate in Displace Me. Displace Me hopes to bring to light the stories of the children residing in Uganda's displacement camps. The Tennessean has it. Oh, to be young and socially conscious now that spring is here.

Titans are on the clock

I love the NFL draft. It's where college football meets pro football, and I love football. Not only do I get to pull for my team (s) (I love the Titans, Patriots, and Colts in that order), I also get to follow my favorite Tennessee players that I've watched the last four years.

This year Tennessee has two players projected to go in the first round Robert Meachem, and Justin Harrell. Many project that Meachem will get to stay in the Volunteer state and play for the Titans. Harrell is a great story, because he put off surgery on an injured arm in order to get to play against Florida, and try to help the Vols beat the Gators. Even though they weren't successful, you gotta love that kind of heart.

Oh Spoot! How I miss those days!

When my kids were younger there was no show we looked forward to more than The Angry Beavers. Now, Nick Turbo has many of the shows on their site. Hannah was 9, Quent was 7, and CG was a fetus. I love reliving my children's childhood.

Market Mania

The Dow marched past 13,000 today. This is quite a feat especially when you consider that only a couple of months ago the Dow took a one day 400 point plunge. I've often felt like that many market milestones are an excellent proof of mass psychosis. A bunch of fat old goats circle the old watering hole, taking their alcoholic gastritis out for a ride, and the talk turns to how close we are to the next mile marker (13,000). The next thing you know the market herd goes thundering past it. Tomorrow there will be a fair amount of back patting and self congratulation. Then some number will come out that reminds us the market is based on actual economic fact, and common sense and reality will return. As a capitalist from way back, I'm delighted to see the markets progress no matter the cause.

Loftin Staying In Orange!

WBIR is reporting that Chris Lofton will be retuning for his Sr. year! Bert Bertelkamp will have a lot to hollow about this year. Sweet! Money!

A Day That Will Almost Live in Infamy!

On this day in 1985 my life changed forever, for on that day Coca Cola changed its formula, and I became a Diet Coke drinker. I can still remember that horrid taste. (He shudders as he types.)

Boris is Dead

Boris Yeltsin is dead. He seems to be remember more fondly than I would have imagined. The Economist has a good piece on the Russian catalyst.

Vintage Vinyl

One of my former youth group members, Russell Smith, is now a DJ on Knoxville radio station 105.3 WFIV. He's got a great show on Sunday nights Vintage Vinyl. For a man of such few years, his taste and knowledge of good rock and roll is incredible. Give him a listen.

Trying to make Imus look good?

Kim Basinger and Alec Baldwin have heaped abuse upon their daughter that would make even Drew Barrymore flinch. While Alec was ripping his "rude little pig" a new one, Kim was making sure that her daughter got to share her pain with the entire planet for all eternity. What was previously believed impossible by the thinking world, Baldsinger has accomplished in one brief instant - they made Don Imus and Mel Gibson look not quite so bad.

It's one thing to hurl despicable comments at some vague mass or group of unknown strangers, but its something completely different to rip the heart out of a little girl that you know and supposedly love just so her pain might be used as a weapon in a divorce.

In the words of Gomer Pyle "Shame shame shame shame shame!"

Just say "Yes, Dear"

After you read this, don't go waving it in your wife's face. Being right is rarely worth having to sleep outside. Repeat after me - Yes, dear.

Playing Games with Massacre

Yesterday's tragedy at Virginia Tech is still fresh on the hearts and minds of us all. With a daughter who is a college freshman, this horror sent an especially unpleasant chill down my spine. Sadly, these events seem to bring from the woodwork people who are willing to use death for political gain. Almost before the echos of the last gunshot faded away, various lobbyists, politicians, political action group lunatics begin posturing to leverage the death of these innocent people for their own purpose.

Gun control, media violence, and immigration are all on the table. Political cockroaches of all stripes will attempt to use these unfortunate dead as martyrs for their cause. While these issues are all important and should be given thoughtful debate and review, I hope that we can maintain respect for those whose lives were lost and their families, and squash all those who seek to play games with massacre.

Duke President Responds

Shortly after North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper tagged the Duke Rape case as "a tragic rush to accuse" Duke University President Richard H. Brodhead issued this statement:

"Hey, did you hear about that Imus guy? What a dick!"

Following the president's statement 88 Duke University professors jointly issued the following statement:

"Don Imus is a social disaster....and a dick!"

Durham District Attorney and life long Democrat Mike Nifong could not be reached for comment. According to his office, he was on his way to Pascataway, New Jersey to charge Don Imus with being a dick in front of black people. Nifong's office denied that he is simply trying to garner African American votes.

Diddy, Ice-T, Ludacris and 50 Cent issued a joint statement "We gonna kill that mutha#@*#ing cracker! Ain't nobody dis our ho's!"

Al Gore released a statement claiming that issuing statements is a contributing factor in global warming.

President Bush was said to be considering invading the Imus Ranch in an effort to locate weapons of mass destruction.

What did Don Imus say?

"My goal is to goad people into saying something that ruins their life. "

(He really did say that!)

Life well lived

Forgive me father, for I have sinned. According to Technorati it has been 55 days since my last post. Like my good friend Barry I have had difficulty lately finding the motivation to post. Barry laments a life that he fears may be boring, but having known Barry and the Swiss family Wallace since 1994, I find it more inspiring than boring. I have watched Barry grow as a husband, as a father, as a musician, as a Christian, as someone who loves his work, as an artist, and simply as a man. The cool thing about Barry's blog is watching him simply enjoy the things and people he loves.

A few days ago a long time family friend, Hugh Willson, passed away. Cousin Hugh was my father's mentor, my Papaw's fishing buddy, and a man who loved his family and community. As his son Paul mentioned at his father's funeral, Hugh was known to introduce himself as "a national banker, a farmer, a Southern Baptist, and a Democrat!" He found the things that he loved, and lived to love them.

Watching a man's life I expect is much like watching a tree grow. Watched on virtually any given day there is nothing at all to see, but viewed over time one is amazed at the miracle of its transformation, and the gifts it has grown to provide. Like any tree, a man's life becomes spectacular when it points to the awesome wonder of the one created it.