Deep Throat

I was skeptical if this was for real. You know a guy in Florida claimed to be D.B. Cooper (Dan Cooper) on his death bed. I was skeptical of that too.

But it Official. Straight from the Washington Post

In a statement today, Woodward and Bernstein said, "W. Mark Felt was 'Deep Throat' and helped us immeasurably in our Watergate coverage. However, as the record shows, many other sources and officials assisted us and other reporters for the hundreds of stories that were written in The Washington Post about Watergate."

Wow! that's big time. I honestly did think we ever know.

Around town

So I decided before I got home that I would ride my mountain bike around downtown. I took some pictures. Check them out at http://fuzzylogic.buzznet.com.

Sent via My Blackberry 6230 handheld

Iraq Withdrawal?

Last week Rep. Lynn Woosley (D-CA) put forth an amendment on the Pentagon Budget bill calling for a exit strategy from Iraq. The amendment failed by a 128-300 vote but it did stir up some debate. Funny how I didn't see any media coverage of this.

here how The Tennessee Congressional Delegation voted

District 1 William Jenkins - no
District 2 John Duncan - yes
District 3 Zach Wamp - no
District 4 Lincoln Davis - no
District 5 Jim Cooper - no
District 6 Bart Gordon - yes
District 7 Marsha Blackburn - no
District 8 John Tanner - no
District 9 Harold Ford, Jr. - no

since Jim Cooper is my representative I will be writing an email asking him why he did not vote yes. It's about time we had a exit strategy.

A few articles about it

Alternet
antiwar.com

Memorial Day Tragedy

This weekend Evan Klassen, a 4 year old boy, was killed at a Memorial Day gathering in Minnesota. They where having target practice and the guy who fired the gun said he was unable to see the boy cause he was wearing camouflage pants.

Why was the boy allowed to be near them? How much alcohol was involved? Why was there not better supervision?

If you a gun owner please be careful. Only do your taget practicing at a proper facility. Tragedies like this should never happen ever.

Jazz at the Mall

I got some picture of Fendernugen from the Jazz at the mall show today. They are posted on my Buzznet.com site. Check them out.

Fendernugen is playing the next Jazz at the mall on June 19 and at Moca Lisa Cafe in Madison on June 14.

Tomorrow is the Legends of the Blues (PDF file) show at a Centennial Park. Show starts at 2PM Playing will be Little Milton , Jonell Mosser, Miranda Louise, Keith Carter an Elam Knight. The show is free. So come check it out. I'll be there.

How Will you Honor the Fallen on Memorial Day?

Tomorrow is Memorial Day. The official beginning of the summer to some. Most of us will get a 3 day weekend and probably spend it with family at the family cookout. But we must not forget why we have this holiday. This day is set aside for remembering those who died serving our country. They are the men and women that gave the ultimate sacrifice so that you and I could sit here in our own country and say the things we say here. For that I am grateful.

So I propose to everyone, no matter how you feel about our present war, that we all make an effort to honor those that have died. Visit a memorial, go to a ceremony, visit a cemetery, display an American or a POW/MIA flag. No matter how big or small you honor them the fact is you did. And that's all that matters.

A National Moment of Remembrance is scheduled for 3PM EDT (2PM CDT).

Here is how G.B. Trudeau author of the Doonesbury comic and Ted Koppel of Nightline are honoring the fallen service men in Iraq.

Faces of the Fallen via the Washington Post

Vietnam Memorial Website

Website about Korean War Memorials

WWI Liberty Memorial Museum and WWII memorial websites.

Don't forget to thank the veterans that where fortunate to come back. They sacrificed a lot too.

Link to a MP3 file of Taps

I don't get some people.

You know seeing this picture really pisses me off. Why do people not
RESPECT what other people think? Why is it usually a preacher or a
church? Why are they the most extremist in there views? Don't extremist
religious views sound familiar?

This picture was taken at Danieltown Baptist Church, located on U.S. 221
in Forest City, North Carolina. The Pastors name is Rev. Creighton
Lovelace. He initially refused to apologize and remove the sign but
later did due to public out cry. I personally thin this man should no
longer be a preacher. Any preacher that teaches hate for another person
or another person's religious belief does not need or deserve to be in a
place where they can influence people like that. You know it should be
the preacher and the leaders of faith that teach us that we should
understand and respect our friends of other faiths, not to chastise them
and belittle there way of life. And we wonder why they do hate us. I bet
our blatant disrespect for they beliefs and culture could be one of the
many reasons.

Google news link to articles about this.

Zooma Tour Cancelled

My morning email check brought me the news that the Zooma Tour that the Bonnaroo people where putting on has been cancelled. The tour was not coming here, which none of the cool one usually do, but I was planning on trying to make it to one of the stops in Indianapolis or Atlanta. Trey Anastasio (of Phish) and Ben Harper where supposed to headline. Ben Harper is one of my favorites and I haven't seen him in a few years. I saw Trey Anastasio at this years Beale Street Music Festival in the cold ass rain. It weird how it seem that these festival tours always seem to cancel. Lollapaloosa canceled last year due to poor ticket sales. Maybe Ben Harper will have a tour date here in Nashville now.

anyway I'm hoping for good set of summer concerts. Coldplays coming September 18 at Starwood ... yeaaaa. I kind of wish that there new song Speed of Sound didn't sound so much like Clocks.

Jazz at the Mall

Starting this Sunday at 5:30 to 700 will be the the first In a Monthly Jazz series at the Bicentennial Mall Amphitheater. My roommate's band Fendernugen will be playing at about 7:00. The cost is free and you can't beat that. Come hear some music, I will be out there so come say hi and hear some good music.

An end to the time changes

I saw an article on Yahoo's news site that says that researchers at Ohio State University have found that a lack of sunlight caused mice brains to shrink. They believe that this may be a possible cause for seasonal affective disorder in humans during the winter which effects about 6 % of the population. They are not sure that this happens in humans and there is not away of testing it yet. Then I remembered an article a few months ago that talked about how the US House of representatives have added an amendment to the pending Energy Bill that will add 2 months to the length of Daylight Savings time. They say that will reduce our need to use light and reduce our oil consumption by 100,000 barrels a day. That would be six million barrels a year, or 2 months driving in a Hummer.

So if it possible that lack of sunlight causes mental issues and we can reduce out oil consumption by as much as they say. Why do we not just get rid of the time change like parts of Indiana and the State of Arizona? Just make it all uniform through out the country. That would be 18.3 million barrels of oils saved a year(6 moths gas in Hummer). Congress did it in 1973 during the oil embargo and it seemed to work but changed it back due to complaints by farmers. But according to the California Energy commission DST does not only save energy but reduce crime and reduce accidents. Two things that need some improving.

So with our ever increasing need for oil (you damn SUV drivers, with your Radnor Lake Plates) and our prision over crowding problems we could maybe solve some of this but going a time system that keeps us in daylight savings time. Maybe it time we do something and change the law.

Frist's Replacement

I heard last night on Air America Radio That Harold Ford Jr is pu in his paper work to rund for Bill Frist's vacated Senate seat.

LATimes has an article

We will have to see but he may be who I vote for.

AM coffee blogging

Jake Novak has a funny post about Stem Cells

I am drinking some Belgian coffee that someone brought in to work. Pretty good since I am really picky about my coffee.

Dancin in the District sucking so far.

So whats up with the Mad Booking people waiting till the last minute to get bands signed to play Dancin in the District? How am i supposed to buy season tickets with the suck ass show listed now? The first show will be pretty good. I like Gavin Degraw problem is I seen him twice already. Seether and Crossfade suck. Who is Frankie J? Neville Brothers are great but not a band I want to see. I hope the "to be determined" are better or I fear that Dancin will suffer the fate of the other two Mad Booking shows, The DC Sessions and On The Bricks in Atlanta. Both Have been cancelled. Oh well maybe Brad Schmidt will introduce an act and I can call him asshole again. I hate that guy.

Never fear Uptown Mix will probably rock they just need to move it to a different venue. That parking lot is way too small.

Possible Senate Consideration

Looks like the stem cell bill will get its chance on the Senate floor.

I urge you still to write your Senators especially Majority Leader Frist to get this bill to the floor and to Vote yes.

Senator Bill Frist's Contact
Senator Lemar Alexander's contact

Oh yea they both voted yea for Priscilla Owen (only yea Democrat vote was Senator Robert Byrd?) Nice compromise. Next the Wildman John Bolton.

Why are they afraid of stem cell research?

I don't understand it. Not at all. Stem cell research has so much potential. Think about it if you could create cell to replaced damaged ones how great is that. Like regeneration of neurons or brain cells. Just think of the possibilities. Yet President bush says he will veto any bill that will lift the ban on federal funding for stem cell research. Why?

"So, in August 2000 first -- 2001, I set forward a policy to advance stem cell research in a responsible way by funding research on stem cell lines derived only from embryos that had already been destroyed. This policy set a clear standard: We should not use public money to support the further destruction of human life." -- President Bush May 24, 2005

First of all further destruction of human life? Ok then how about some health care for everyone, a moratorium on the death penalty, or bringing home our soldiers so they and other innocents don't die. What is it about these Christian conservatives that don't want anyone to die unless they kill them? No you cant have an abortion or end you life the way you want, but if you do kill someone we are going to kill you, have your baby cause well kill it by cutting you early child care, welfare and sending him off to a war. You cant decide we'll decide for you. (sorry kinda off tracked there)

Second of all its not like people are going out and getting pregnant and then selling the aborted fetus for research. These are embryos for a fertilization clinic that will more than likely be destroyed anyway. Why not, with the family's permission, should we not use these. Isn't that a tad wasteful? Espically if the family says its ok?

Yesterday The US House of Representatives voted and passed a bill that would lift the funfding ban. even with President Bush threatening a veto. HR 810, Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005, was passed it 238-194 (Rep Jim Cooper voted yes, see how others voted here). And it has yet to be scheduled for debate in the Senate. I urge you to email DOCTOR Bill Frist and urge him to bring it up for debate and get a vote on it. If we are to be the great nation they all think we are, then we need to lead the way and not let Great Britain, South Korea and California do it for us.

I work in research and I see first hand some of the wonderful and great things that are being figured out and discovered. Stem cell research has the possibility of finding out how to stop some very horrible diseases such as Altzheimer's or how about growing a new heart valve for a congenital heart defect patient or replacing missing pancreatic cells in a diabetic patient or replacing muscle degeneration in ALS patients? I could go on and on , the possibilities are endless. By doing this we are not destroying life we are trying to preserve it enhamce it. Is that not 'pro-life' Funding this is essential. Why do they not understand that? I just don't get it.

Learn more about stem cell research from the Stem Cell Research Foundation and The University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Senator Bill Frists Contact page.

Additions

Well first of all I want to say thanks the Brittney at Nashville is Talking for adding me over there. I wondered if anyone would do something like this. It is nice to know that people voice will be heard, no matter how crazy I may be.

Second I updated my blogroll list. I wanted to put links to most of the stuff I read on a daily basis and Bloglines was able to facilitate. They have a script that will place them on a website. It has a nice setup and it preyy easy to set up. Give you teh ability to add a blog or news site with a button push and it will end up where ever you put you script. Keeps me or messing up my Blogger template by updating and adding manually. Worth checking out.

Ok I have a headache and I'm off to bed....

My Weekend

So ... What did I do this week end? Well first of all Friday I saw Star Wars: Return for the Sith. Personally I don't think the hype matched the movie. The acting was very dry, sort like the actors just showed up and said there lines and took their check and went home. There where some pretty cheesy scenes and Anikin and Padmae didn't have to on screen chemistry that Lea and Han Solo had in the first couple movies. The movie was visually stunning but you expect that with all the star wars movies. I perennial think Lucas should have stuck with writing and let someone else do the directing. I will say that the movies is lots better than Episode I and II bit not near as good as any of the original trilogy. Anyway my 2 cents worth

Saturday I went to the Tennessee Renaissance Festival. I go every year and this year I tried to see some of the stuff I didn't get to see in the last few year. An no this year there I didn't see a de-horsing in the joust. Maybe next year I will. I have pictures posted at my Buzznet site.

Sunday I was lazy. Didn't do much on Sunday just ran around town ...

Today I'm planning on blasting my resume out to everyone who has a research assistant job here at Vanderbilt. I found out Friday that my "guaranteed" job isn't so guaranteed and probably wont happen. But we shall see.

Filibuster and Tennessees Rape Laws

Well yesterday I was watching C-SPAN's coverage of the Senate debate on the filibuster and Patricia Owens confirmation to see how it would turn out. Senator after Senator got up and spoke but one in particular said some thing that bothered me. It was Senator James Inhofe a republican from Oklahoma brought up that they, the democrats, are discriminating against people of faith. I thought to myself hey wait, isn't faith a choice. To believe in god and/or Jesus a choice you make? And don't these people also thing that all gay people choose to be gay? I that not a double standard? Maybe I'm wrong. I just don't see the logic there. Doesn't make sense to me. If you want to one way then it need to be the same across the board.

This shit is coming to a head and we shall see where it leads us. Will Senator Bill Frist , my senator by the way, accomplish what he trying to do? I hope not but in reality it probably will happen. If it does I really hope the people see it for what it really is. A power grab. A campaign tactic. Maybe it will get peoples ass in gear to do something about it.

I was also reading on a blog called Pacific Views about how here in Tennessee that is legal for a husband to rape his wife. Basically as long as you nor separated or in the process of divorce a husband can do what ever he wants and not get in trouble for it. The thing that really shocking about this is that this is the 10th year they have a bill up before the Legislature to change that law and it looks like its not going to pass. I fucking hate this damn state. That is a law that needs to be changed. No question. But why wont they? State Senator Frank Buck (D) explains:

"Frank Buck worries that women might lie. The democrat worries that removing the spousal exception from rape law might enable a woman to "get a leg up" in a divorce or custody case. "[I]f there's only two witnesses without physical evidence, it's so easy to lie.''" -- taken form the post on the Tennessee Guerilla Woman's blog.

The worst thing about this is there is absolutely no media coverage here in Nashville about this. This should be all over the news. If the people knew about this I bet there would be an overwhelming response to change it. Apparently the only media outlet to take a stand is the Tennessean and that was a one time editorial. Too bad I don't read that paper cause it sucks. But no one else has covered it apparently. Once again I really hate this fucking state. This is something that should not be taking 10 years to do. Get with the program people.


More info and getting your voice heard:

In the state House -- HB1116
In the state Senate -- SB0556
Contacting you State Represenatives and Senators.
Contacting Governor Phil Bredesen
Other Blogs that mention this so far: Pandagon, Feministing.com, and Nashville is Talking.

Goal Setting Time

Well the nice weather is finally here. Good deal now I can actually get outside. I finally bought all my necessary stuff to actually start backpacking. All I still need are clothes made of non cotton material. That will come in time. I looking to give my equipment a try maybe the weekend after Memorial Day. I will probably do a Overnight at Long Hunter State Park near my house first since I am pretty much out of shape.

So I'm riding my bike and doing some hiking. I guess I need to set a long term goal. I have been talking about doing the Appalachian Trail when I get done with graduate school. So as of now I I'm setting my goals

1) Work my overnight hiking to a week long trip.
2) Apply for graduate school before December.
3) Train for Appalachian Trail hike.

The only other thing I want to do is get a recreational kayak but that going to have to wait a while.

So by putting my goals in writing its sort of like a contract. Hopefully I can stick to them.

All wore out

Whew....I decided to ride my bike this morning. Wasn't too bad till I actually got down town. I hopped on the bus at Hickory Hollow Mall park and ride lot and got off at Second Avenue near The Hard Rock Cafe. I made it form there to Vanderbilt in about 20 minutes which isn't too bad for, according to my GPS, 2.60 miles. The kicker is that in that 2.6 miles I had a total ascention of 194 feet. That was hard since I haven't been riding my bike as much as I wanted lately. But the good thing is it will be a good work out. I figure ill do it a couple of days a week depending on how humid it is.

Yesterday I did 10 miles at the Shelby Bottoms Greenway. The bike trail is paved and fairly flat. Lots of people though. I did tae a lunch with me and enjoyed the view from the observation deck.
So I am still working on the display of this blog and my website. I did notice that Internet Explorer does not display my blog all that well. I found out that is because IE does not display CSS (cascading style sheets) very well which is how my blog is formatted. Apparently they are putting support in IE 7 but Foxfire already has the support and displays my blog properly. Anyway I would recommend Foxfire browser anyway for the simple fact that it does not have the security holes that IE has and as of now I am getting no spyware, browser hijacks and 90 percent of the popup windows. It also has a wonderful Adblocker extention that gets rid of all the ad windows and iframes. It also has RSS and XML support for news sites and blogs like mine. So check it out.

Anyway any suggestions would be great.

A Camera Phone Test

Camera phone test

This was snet by my Camerphone to see how it would look

Mobile Phone Post Test

Mobile test from my cell phone

Comments addition

Haloscan commenting and trackback have been added to this blog.

this is the test post for my comments addon

Soo..

Well, I starting to freak out about this job thing. My boss keeps assuring me that I will be the least effected out of the lab. I'm just nervous I'll get in a weird situation and things won't work out. I just need to look out for my future. I need to take the best opportunity. So far it looks like I have 2 jobs lined up, one I have for sure and one that wants me. We will see.

Well the summer concerts are about to start. I got an email today about Dancin in the District. Going to run form June 6 to September 18th. So far only Gavin DeGraw is announced. I saw him last year before Mark Broussard during last year Dancin in the District. and at this years Beale Street Music Festival. I hope this years line up is good.

I have decided to start riding my bike to work now since the Buses here in Nashville all have bike racks. Seems like a good way to get some exercise and not use my car.

Audio Blog test

New work website

Ok so I made a work website today cause I was bored to death and had nothing to do.

http://people.vanderbilt.edu/~r.call

I'll probably update it once I figure out what's going to happen to me job wise.

Day hike at percy warner park.

What a beautiful day it is today. Nice and warm, not to hot. So I decided to do a day hike at the warner parks. I did the warner woods 2.5 mile loop. It was good to get out on such a nice day.
Sent via My Blackberry 6230 handheld

A few days

So once again I have been lazy and not posting like I want to. So I had a really good time at the Beale Street Music Fest. Lots of good music and good food. I'm not sure which performance I would consider the best but it probably a toss up between Elvis Costello and the North Mississippi All Stars. Both where really good. Sunday was the best day weather wise. It was sunny warm but not too hot the mud was fairly dried up.

I just heard today that Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson are coming to Greer Stadium here in Nashville for a concert. I Hope I can get tickets since I would like to see Bob Dylan Again. I saw him at Riverstages 3 years ago. I never seen Willie Nelson but I would like to. The summer concerts are about to hit full swing. I hope Dancin in the District has a good line up this year.

So I starting to apply for jobs out side of Vanderbilt now. Pieced together a resume yesterday. Ill probably post it on the webspace that Vanderbilt gives me to use. Not too many jobs here in Nashville but we shall see. I applied with the State of Tennessee for a few biologist, chemist and environmental tech jobs, but who knows if that will pan out or not. I don't really want to leave Vanderbilt but I am applying as a back up.

Another moment

So I'm here eating coconut curry (very good I might add) and listening to Ike Turner and some other woman sing Proud Mary on the banks of the Mississippi and looking at Memphis Skyline. Awesome!

Sent via My Blackberry 6230 handheld

Bread pudding

My god I just had one of the best bread puddings I have ever had and I got it from Boscos in Memphis. It was a blueberry with raspberry sauce. Freaking incredible. I also had a Oskar Benedict that was very good. I so need to learn how to make a hollandaise sauce and bread pudding. I think that will be my next cooking adventure.

Sent via My Blackberry 6230 handheld

Day 3

Last night under the shadow of the suntrust and autozone building I saw The North Mississippi All Stars and Johnny Lang. So far those are the 2 best performances of the festival. The North Mississippi All Stars tore the stage down with a very blusey high energy set that ended with the drummer doing a wash board solo. Freaking insane. Then Johnny Lang took the stage and did an acoustic set the really showcased his voice and guitar ability. It was incredible. So tonight I looking forward to seeing Elvis Costello and Sarah Mclachlan. But I thing the coolest person in gonna see is Ike turner. He's one hell of a blues musician.

Sent via My Blackberry 6230 handheld