My little brother John, who lives in Memphis, called awhile ago with a fun heads-up. Al Sharpton is going to lead a rally tomorrow urging city leaders to remove the names of Jefferson Davis (president of the Confederacy) and Nathan Bedford Forrest (a founding father of the Ku Klux Klan) from two city parks.

I promised more “lullaby.” Here’s a tad. ________________ Trance Eve was the Goddess of Dance dance was the chemistry in the beaker in the lab of Eden her perfume flecked with sapphire scales the smell of apples on the rain her hips witching the serpent up the Tree of Knowledge

A couple months ago Bob Lefsetz sent around the text of Steve Jobs’ commencement address to the graduating class at Stanford this past June. I don’t know that I think Jobs’ message was necessarily a new one, but it was extremely well articulated, and hardheads like me can always do with the occasional reminder. This passage is probably the heart

In explaining – or attempting to explain – the Lullaby Pit Brand© to a friend recently, I was noting how the name of the place was intended to slam together a dark and foreboding element (pit) with an element that signified beauty (lullaby). I’m not sure how people read it on their own, but that’s what was in my head

cryptic_candor has posted a great story on a band’s-eye view of “pay-for-play” – an article written by Jacob Slichter of Semisonic (who I actually saw play drums and keyboards at the same time in concert once). Great read, and thanks to Dr. Mescalito for finding it….

For those without a scorecard: 1: Pro-War “Liberal” Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) last month moved to broaden her base by reaching out to social conservatives over a sex scene in a video game. 2: Former right-side darling Sen. Bill Frist (R-TN)

Sunday’s edition of Meet the Press featured a segment on the autism/thimerosal/mercury issue that was pretty interesting.

In a new essay over at the Mojo City News, Cody Barstow asks some questions about Iraq that, frankly, nobody else is asking. He writes, in part: Now, we’re being told over and over that we have to win in Iraq. That we can’t leave. It’s the same unexamined assumption that was made back in the Vietnam War. Let’s question

My previous entry saw me attempting sarcasm over America’s inability to pronounce “nuclear.” Then lalaland informs me that it’s actually already been done by feckin’ Merriam-Webster. Listen closely. Up next, I guess, M-W adjusts their product to account for “aks,” “artic,” “bidniss,” and a host of other alternativistic pronouncifications.

1: Modest proposal: can we change the spelling and/or pronunciation of this word? Since apparently the standard pronunciation for “nuclear” is too hard for people (actors, journalists, government officials, normal people around town, etc.), I propose that we change the dictionary pronunciation of the word and immediately adopt as standard the preferred “NOOK-yuh-lur.” If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em.

On July 17, Paul Somerville, an accomplished satirist who masqueraded under the name of “Brother Paul,” died in Oklahoma City at the age of 58. John Lawrence (myths_americana) and I knew Paul – John was one of Paul’s professors at Morningside College in the late 1960s and later became a lifelong mentor; and I had the privilege of knowing Paul

Foote reportedly signs three-year, $13.5M deal Associated Press COLUMBUS, Ohio — Adam Foote, a defensive cornerstone of two Stanley Cup championship teams in Colorado, signed a three-year contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday. (Story.) Bummer. I guess I was expecting this, given the economics of the new NHL, but it’s still hard to imagine the Avs without Footer.

Holy Crap. I think this place actually exists.

Did the reporter and editor miss the sarcasm, or is the person being quoted inexplicably serious in what he’s saying? You tell me. This story on the BeeB Web site offers a brief overview of the debate in the scientific community about whether Pluto is really a planet, about what makes something a planet, etc. Interesting enough story, coming as

Today’s two-part question is for Orioles First Baseman Rafael Palmeiro. LP: Mr. Palmeiro, in sworn testimony before Congress in March you said “I have never used steroids. Period.” In responding to questions earlier today about your suspension for juicing, you slightly modifed your earlier position to assert that you have never “knowingly” used steroids. First question: can you explain to