The New Bootleggers

You Can’t Cash My Checks

It’s so hard to stay honest in a world that’s headed to hell
You can't make a good living these days cause the fruit just won't sell

So if you go out my back door
Just over the hill
You'll see all these plants
That's been paying my bills

But you can't cash my checks
And you can't feel this hunger
You can push me into cold water
But you can't hold me under
Jamey Johnson, singer song writer

From an article in Mother Jones magazine: The New Dealers we learn how more people than we realize are making ends meet. I personally know two such individuals who grow and sell, neither can get work for various reasons. These are the new bootleggers who are not getting rich, but are just making ends meet.




In a forthcoming post you'll see that our elected officials are only interested in their wealth, not your well being nor the country's so long as it conflicts with their money grab.

Republican and Democrat Brains

"We have long had death and taxes as the two standards of inevitability. But there are those who believe that death is the preferable of the two. "At least," as one man said, "there's one advantage about death; it doesn't get worse every time Congress meets."
Erwin N. Griswold (1904–1994), appellate attorney

Draw your own conclusions. I would enjoy hearing your thoughts.

Politicians, Constituents, and the F-Bomb

“When once the forms of civility are violated, there remains little hope of return to kindness or decency”
Samuel Johnson (1709-1784), poet, critic, and writer

The political media is portraying an Iowa grocery store shopper's rude comment, "you're a fucking asshole, as evidence that Newt Gingrich is falling rapidly in the polls. To me it’s just further proof of society’s lack of manners and decorum, which sadly is not news.




Gingrich is doing what any candidate for public office needs to do, which is meet and greet the people who will have an opportunity to cast their vote for or against. There is no need and indeed no excuse for such behavior.

Disgracefully politicians behave similarly: former Vice President Dick Cheney shamefully told a colleague from across the aisle to “Go fuck yourself,” in June of 2004 during a debate regarding Halliburton’s role in the reconstruction of Iraq. His boss President George W. Bush gave the middle finger salute before filming started, which was recorded.

Democrats have been just as bad. Elected leaders need to set examples for civility and for ethical behavior, not elevate contemptible and despicable behavior.

Happy Birthday Keith Richards

"Some of it, you really want to unlearn."

Keith Richards, guitarist, songwriter for The Rolling Stones

Loud TV Commercials -- Are You Deaf Yet?

“Speech is for the convenience of those who are hard of hearing; but there are many fine things which we cannot say if we have to shout.”
Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) essayist, poet, philosopher

FINALLY! THE JARRING, BLARING, AND ANNOYING VOLUME OF TELEVISION COMMERCIALS IS GOING TO STOP.

Sorry, I didn't mean to yell, I was trying to write about the commercials, but I couldn't hear myself think.

The Los Angeles Times reported that the FCC said cable and satellite TV companies as well as local broadcasters will be required to make sure the volume on commercials is kept in check. The rules go into effect in December 2012.


Sadly we still have to wait another year, but then one can rest their eyes and not end up like a scared cat clinging to the ceiling once the commercials start screaming at you.

Drink Up A Song List to Celebrate Prohibition's End

I cook with wine, sometimes I even add it to the food.
W. C. Fields, (1880 – 1946), actor

I almost missed this. Monday marked the 78th anniversary of the ratification of the 21st Amendment that officially ended Prohibition in the United States. On December 5, 1933, the federal government brought to a close a 13-year era of a failed prohibition of alcohol.

I got this idea from Mother Jones. Here is a list of drinking songs to celebrate or morn. Let’s set the scene in the wee hours of the morning with Mr. Sinatra and we’ll end on a bawdy tune with another Frank, Mr. Zappa):

1. One for My Baby (And One More for the Road), Count & The Orchestra Basie/Frank Sinatra, Sinatra at the Sands
2. Angel Eyes, Count & The Orchestra Basie/Frank Sinatra, Sinatra at the Sands
3. Drinking Again, Frank Sinatra, Nothing But The Best
4. Medley: Drink To Me Only With Thine Eyes/I Don't Care If The Sun Don't Shine Dean Martin, Rat Pack Live At The Sands
5. Hey Brother, Pour The Wine, Dean Martin, The Capitol Years
6. Have Another Drink, The Kinks, Kinks Present A Soap Opera
7. Alcohol, The Kinks, Muswell Hillbillies
8. My Alcoholic Friends, The Dresden Dolls, Yes, Virginia...
9. Alcohol, Barenaked Ladies, Stunt
10. The Drinking Song, Loudon Wainwright III, Recovery
11. The Piano Has Been Drinking (Not Me), Tom Waits Small Change
12. The Fourth Night of My Drinking, Drive-By Truckers, The Big To-Do
13. Daddy Needs a Drink, Drive-By Truckers, Brighter Than Creations Dark
14. I Think I'll Just Stay Here And Drink, Merle Haggard: The Best of Merle Haggard
15. Rudy wants to buy Yez a drink, Frank Zappa, Chunga's revenge
16. Moonshine Whiskey, Van Morrison, Tupelo Honey
17. Whiskey Can Can, Beck, One Foot In the Grave
18. Rye Whiskey, Punch Brothers, T Bone Burnett Presents: The Speaking Clock Revue - Live from The Beacon Theatre
19. Women Without Whiskey, Drive-By Truckers, Southern Rock Opera
20. Warm Beer and Cold Women, Tom Waits, Nighthawks at the Diner
21. Down Among the Wines and Spirits, Elvis Costello, Secret, Profane and Sugarcane
22. Elderberry Wine, Elton John, Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player
23. Pass The Wine (Sophia Loren), The Rolling Stones, Exile On Main Street
24. Titties & Beer, Frank Zappa, Zappa In New York