Chamblee54

Today is the last Diva Thursday, at least for now. The cd this series is based on had 17 ladies, and today will feature the last four. There are lots of other lady singers, and Diva Thursday will be back.
Nouvelle Vague does not fit the pattern set by others. It is a French collective, and has a parade of singers.
Bessie Smith was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, either July 9, 1892 or April 15, 1894. She became a star of the TOBA (Theater Owners Booking Association, or Tough on Black Asses) vaudeville circuit.
Miss Smith made numerous appearances at the 81 Theater, at 81 Decatur Street, where Georgia State University stands today. Miss Smith was one of the first ladies to perform on “race records”.
Bessie Smith was in an auto accident September 26, 1937, between Memphis, Tennessee and Clarksdale, Mississippi. She died in Clarksdale. A story, now discredited, said that she was refused admission to a whites only hospital.
Gillian Howard Welch was born October 2, 1967 in New York City. She performs with her partner, David Rawlings. Miss Welch has avoided scandals and addictions, or has not gotten caught.
Patricia Lee “Patti” Smith was born December 30, 1946. She grew up in Deptford Township, New Jersey, which she escaped as soon as possible. Miss Smith was the gf of Robert Mapplethorpe, before she found out her plumbing did not fit his washing machine. Mr. Mapplethorpe took the picture on the cover of “Horses”.
Patti Smith was quite the sensation in the mid seventies. She fell off a stage and injured her neck January 23, 1977. This required her to take a year off, while punk rock was exploding in popularity. Patti returned to action in 1978, only to get married and retire from music. Patti Smith did return to performing, and now has her son Jackson in the band.

It has been a wild few days at chamblee54. Sunday morning, the primary hard drive crashed. Most of the data was backed up, so it wasn’t a disaster. We are back and running now, but with the inevitable setting up that a new system requires. The crew at Delta Computers is great. To get back with the program, we offer a repost. New material will resume shortly.
Amazon just scared PG. They are too optimistic . The first thing PG gave up when he lost his job was paying for reading material. The Chamblee Library has come a long ways from its humble beginnings as a storefront, next to Woolworths.
PG is reading “Wild Ducks Flying Backwards” by Tom Robbins. At least that is who got the copyright. The real star of this book is the contractual advance brigade at Bantam Books. WDFB is not a novel, but a collection of magazine articles. There is even rumored to be, G-d forbid, poetry.
Tom Robbins is a hero to PG. Ever since page three of “Another Roadside Attraction”, when Amanda asked about the meaning of life. When the oblique one asked how Amanda would repay him for this knowledge, she lowered her eyes and said “I will suck you off”. PG was hooked, and read each of the seven novels that followed.
One night in 1990, PG went to a eye clinic in Little Five Points to pick up his contact lens. It was a first for him…to see the world click into focus, without glasses, was astounding. From there it was on to Buckhead. A car dealership, turned bookstore, hosted an appearance by Tom Robbins (who did you expect, Neal Boortz?). PG was too late for the speech, but did get to wander by the desk while he signed books. Mr. Robbins also stood up, and slowly turned around, to lusty cheers .
PG then went home, to find a message on his machine. A longtime friend said to call him, it was important. When PG obliged, he learned that his friend had AIDS. This is enough  for one day.
So, what does this have to do with the mind police at amazon? PG likes to write book reports, and he gives a link to Amazon for the book as a way of giving information. Well, those amazoners collect this information, and have a list of books that you inquire about in the corner. You don’t even have to buy them, which is handy for PG.
They also have a list of books “you might also consider”, which is where we go into never never land. PG likes Rock and Roll books, including ubertacky (spell check suggestions:puberty ) groupie sagas. That afternoon on the sofa reading “Going down with Janis” by Peggy Casserta (spell check suggestions :Casserole ) was memorable, even if PG didn’t believe a word of it. So, what does Amazon suggest but “I’m with the band” by Pamela Des Barres. PG hasn’t inquired, but has thought about it. He read “I’m with…” some 15-30 years ago. Its a small world, or maybe a small mind connected to a medium internet.

PG has read The Good Life by Jay McInerney (spell check suggestions:Machinery,Internecine). It was fun to read, but had a confusing conclusion.
“Bright Lights Big City” made Mr. McInerney a star, and almost finished him off. PG got a yardsale copy of BLBC, and stayed up to 2 am one night reading it. There were comparisons to F.Scott Fitzgerald, both for literary talent and mega substance use.
At some point, Mr. McInerney had a relationship with Rielle Hunter. The former Lisa Jo Druck went on to be the kidsmomma for John Edwards. A book, “The story of my life”, had a character based on Miss Hunter. Mr. McInerney was reported to be horrified by her behavior. There are characters like Miss Hunter in “The Good Life”… Manhatten vamps with the latest fashions, and few morals.
Nine eleven was supposed to change all of that. It did have an impact on the characters of “The Good Life”. The main players are Luke and Corinne, who meet in a Ground Zero Mosque soup kitchen. Both were married in theory, but past due stepping out.
The action goes fast once the story gets started. Corinne and Luke both catch  spouses doing what they shouldn’t . Luke’s daughter has a bad case of growing up wealthy in New York. The fun spins out of control, but screeches to a fuzzy stop. If PG knew how the book ended, he could issue a spoiler alert. He finished the story shaking his head. Maybe there is going to be “The Good Life part 2”.
Other critics were not kind to this story. The top reader review at Amazon has this gem “Or it may be that an exasperated committee of Jay McInerneys took a poll and commercial interest defeated literary integrity with a sigh of ennui. “

What follows is another collection of snappy sayings . One looks at these and wonders, is freedom of speech really a good idea? We have the ability to send your thoughts around the world, at the speed of light, and this is what you have to say. Yes, you are entitled to an opinion, just like everyone else. In more repressed times, this was not a problem. Look at these happy faces from The Library of Congress. “I am THIS close to calling your mother!!” “Tell her I said hi!!”//IT’S BETTER TO HAVE LOVED & LOST THAN TO LIVE WITH THE PSYCHO THE REST OF YOUR LIFE..//I live for Christ. He is my way, my light, my strength, and my savior :) Whose with me?//Yeah, I’m quiet… around you. You should see me with my friends.//When I saw you I was afraid to meet you. When I met you I was afraid to kiss you. When I kissed you I was afraid to love you. Now that I love you, I am afraid to lose you <3//”Did it hurt?” “What?” “When you fell from heaven…” “Aaawww :)” “Because your face is FUUUCKED UP.”//”feel my legs!!!” ” “..why..” “i just shaved:)”//Dont walk into my life if you intend to leave me//Say this fast [ I, 1, 2, 1/2 6] Join if you get it ;)//I wish life had an “Undo” button.//Click LIKE if you know the difference between there, their, and they’re. They are not interchangeable.//Join If You Love Me :D//Home alone? ▶Music♩♪♫♬ Volume: ▁ ▂ ▃ ▄ ▅ ▆ █ 100 %//”Ha i’m older than you.”-“Ha you’ll die first.”//I miss being a kid. Scraped knees are easier to fix than a broken heart.//Best revenge? Smile, be happy, never let them know it hurt.//38 Things Guys wish girls knew (Guys: Is any of this true? Girls: You might want to look at this!)? 38 things guys wish girls knew 1. Guys are more emotional then you think, if they loved you at one point, it’ll take them a lot longer then you think to le//Boy “She’s hot.” Girl “She’s a bitch.” … Girl “He’s hot.” Boy “He’s gay.”//Mommiee can i have those shoes? *sure………….yur paying for them right?* Nevermind i dont want them anymore.//If I had sex as often as I’ve been screwed, I’d be one happy fckr! , lol//I miss when it was acceptable to have a million people in an aim chat at the same time.//Boobs aren’t for u stupid boyz =) they’re for us girls who go thru so much so g-d gave us 2 extra poketz for : Money, Liters, Cell Phones, Chap Stick, etc.!! =)//”Don’t worry the perfect guy/girl will come along” You: “Yeah well he/she is sure taking their damn time about it”//you’re not allowed to have sex until you’re 16, but you’re not aloud too look at porn until you’re 18… right, so you’re allowed to have sex, just not allowed too look down.//most beautiful woman in the world :)//Like this if your a NINJA!! :)//Like this if youve tried to imitate the redneck tryna fist pump on jersey shore!//Grammar Peeves: The “use” of deodorant is “supposed” to stop body odor. I “suppose” you could get “used” to smelling like a wet dog.//Relationships are like glass. Sometimes it’s better to leave them broken than try to hurt yourself putting it back together.//Your mum shouts at you then u got to ur room and slam the door she comes in and shouts again because u slamed the door then she goes and slames the door//When your typing to someone and you see their typing too so you try to beat them to it.//ther’s always that fake girl who face you want to beat in with something little so it takes longer and hurts more: D

Uzi sent PG an ad, suggesting that you could see a free movie at the Fox Theater.” What ya think? //
there is a troubling phrase ” a nominal processing fee will be applied” other than that, i think it is a groovy idea// I am working on that now, I think it is $.75 each. I’ll treat. Will get back to you when I have tickets. // OK. the “nominal processing feeS have been applied. I am out $7.20. Anyhow, next Tuesday, August 10th at 7:30 PM we are on. Will tell you details when we talk Sunday, “
The movie was “the general” a silent comedy with Buster Keaton. Nobody was worked up about seeing it, but it was a chance to get out of the house and into the Fox. Thursday afternoon, they talked on the phone, and agreed to meet in the food court next to the train station at around 7 pm.
When PG got to the chamblee station, his breeze card had expired. He had to purchase a new one, and tried to pay for it with a credit card. The machine would not take plastic, and PG had to use a 20. This left him with a pocket full of Susan B. Anthony dollars.
When PG got to North Avenue, Uzi was talking to two ladies. They wanted to know where the Varsity was. PG assured them the food was horrible, but gave directions anyway.
When they got to the Fox, they gave the tickets to the man and were let in. Uzi soon found out that it was Thursday, and “The General” was playing on Tuesday. The movie Thursday was “Sex and the city 2”, which is rumored to be the worst movie of the year. A decision was made to go to the Spring Fourth center, for a free performance of “Hedwig and the Angry Inch”.
Uzi had seen “Hedwig” a while back and hated it. Thursday was the final performance of what had been a troubled production. After the promotion team did a terrible job, the last three shows were free. PG had been eager to see “Hedwig”, and was delighted to take this as an alternative to “Sex and the city 2”.
When they got to the Spring Fourth center, the marquee advertised an 8:30 start. A bum asked PG for money when he went in. The lady at the center said that no ticket was required, but that it would be an hour wait for the show. PG & Uzi decided to go next door to Arby’s to wait. On the sidewalk outside Arby’s a friend of PG’s, “Dakota” appeared. The three went into Arby’s. The same bum who asked PG for money a minute earlier was asking Arby diners to help him out. Something about getting enough money to get back to Marietta.
Before long, PG, Uzi, and Dakota were settling into folding chairs on the third row, while some of the musicians warmed up. The keyboard man had sheet music for the show on his Yamaha device, and indeed was playing his first show. The drummer drummed, and a large black man in a dress played guitar. Soon, the house lights dimmed, and a slender person; with a multi colored wig’ took the stage.
In about a minute, a creature with a shawl of many colors was standing center stage. The band played, and Hedwig sang the first song.. The story was told, of a young man from East Berlin, who met a soldier named Luther Robinson. The plan was for the two to get married in Berlin and come to America. Before this could happen, surgical alterations were required. As the saying goes, if you want to go, you need to leave something behind.
A year later the Berlin Wall came down, and Hansel/Hedwig was divorced, living in a trailer, and left with the remains of a botched sex change. All is not horrible, as Hedwig meets Tommy Gnosis and…well, maybe things aren’t that groovy after all.
The band rocked, the story kept a fast pace, and there wasn’t a dull moment. At one point a dildo appeared, and the guitar player and alternate singer took turns throwing it at each other. The script was updated and localized, with references to General Sherman, and Philips Arena.
Hedwig had a variety of wigs and costumes, most of them redhead based. This was a welcome change from the bleach blond look of the movie. The costumes covered less and less, until he finished the night wearing a pair of shorts, smashing two tomatoes into his chest, and running off the stage. Meanwhile, the alternate singer/stage hand came back on stage out of costume…she was a real girl.
As an encore, Hedwig, the guitar man, and the keyboard player did “Poker Face”. The house lights went on after that, and the crowd stood around chatting with performers. PG went up to Hedwig, and said “my name is Luther.”

There was a feature the other day on the innertube called War is a racket . It was about a man with the unlikely name of Smedley Butler . Pictures for today’s adventure are from The Library of Congress. The video features an actor named Graham Frye in the role of General Butler. The video is courtesy of Smedley D. Butler Brigade Chapter 9 Veterans For Peace. (spell check suggestions:Medley,Smelly,Smelter)
Major General Smedley Darlington Butler was a star of the U.S. Marine Corps. He lied about his age to enlist during the Spanish American War. Mr. Butler served in Philippines, China , Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America and World War I. With the exception of World War I, most of these conflicts are forgotten today.
Smedley Butler received the Medal of Honor twice. “His first Medal of Honor was presented following action at Vera Cruz, Mexico, 21-22 April 1914, where he commanded the Marines who landed and occupied the city. Maj Butler “was eminent and conspicuous in command of his Battalion. He exhibited courage and skill in leading his men through the action of the 22nd and in the final occupation of the city…The following year, he was awarded the second Medal of Honor for bravery and forceful leadership as Commanding Officer of detachments of Marines and seamen of the USS Connecticut in repulsing Caco resistance on Fort Riviere, Haiti, 17 November 1915.”
After his retirement in 1931, Mr. Butler had a change of heart, and decided that killing for Uncle Sam was not such a great idea. He wrote a book, “War is a Racket”, and became a popular speaker. Here is a “money quote”… “I spent 33 years and four months in active military service and during that period I spent most of my time as a high class thug for Big Business, for Wall Street and the bankers. In short, I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism. I helped make Mexico and especially Tampico safe for American oil interests in 1914. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank boys to collect revenues in. I helped in the raping of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefit of Wall Street. I helped purify Nicaragua for the International Banking House of Brown Brothers in 1902–1912. I brought light to the Dominican Republic for the American sugar interests in 1916. I helped make Honduras right for the American fruit companies in 1903. In China in 1927 I helped see to it that Standard Oil went on its way unmolested. Looking back on it, I might have given Al Capone a few hints. The best he could do was to operate his racket in three districts. I operated on three continents.”
Smedley Butler died June 21, 1940. Eighteen months later, America was at War again. How he would have reacted to that conflict is a mystery.

Diva Thursday comes rolling into Dodge like a …wait a minute, this is not happening yet. Like Truman Capote dishing Jack Keruac, or Norman Mailer corrupting Gore Vidal, the sun is gonna shine on my backdoor someday. Maybe the next paragraph will work better.
This is Diva Thursday, the fourth installment. Funny how no one worries about Thursday the 13th.
Especially when this is reposted a year later on the 12th. Next week will be the last of the cd, and then this train goes off the tracks.
The opening act for the shower of stars is Annie Lennox. She uses her real name, with no middle name, for a stage name. Annie was born on Christmas Day 1954 in Aberdeen, Scotland. Wikipedia notes no major scandals or addictions, which is true of all our divas today.
Annie achieved major popularity with the Eurythmics. Her partner was a former boyfriend, Dave Stewart. This was back when MTV played videos, and Annie made some good ones. Like most MTV era videos, there is no embedding. Miss Lennox has gone on to make several solo albums, and is an activist and fighter for good causes.
Sarah Lois Vaughan was born March 27, 1924 in Newark N.J. She is the today’s only diva to pass, having left us April 3, 1990. She won a talent contest at Harlem’s Apollo theater, and became a star. Miss Vaughn was married three times, and had the bad habit of allowing her husbands to manage her.
Emmy Lou Harris was born April 2, 1947 in Birmingham, Alabama. She uses her “real” name for performing, and has avoided scandals and addictions (or had the grace to not get caught). Emmy Lou was a vocalist in a band with Gram Parsons, and was torn up when he died. ( PG does not know if there was a romance, or just a musical partnership.)
Emmy Lou has had a long and happy career. She refuses to dye her hair, and is a hero for many of us with gray hair. There is a video of her (with dark hair) that does not allow embedding.

It is the day after the runoff. Nathan Deal (once known as a corrupt congressman) beat Karen Handel. The smart people across the state have their opinions, and chamblee54’s don’t stink any worse. As always, if you get tired of the text, you can always look at the pictures (from ” The Special Collections and Archives,Georgia State University Library” . Thank you Live Apartment Fire for the video.
1- Maybe people are getting tired of Sarah Palin. The endorsement by Mama Grizzly was seen as a game changer, and indeed Mrs. Handel won the first round primary. The day before the runoff, there was a rally in Buckhead with an appearance by Mrs. Palin. PG attended, and did not have a favorable opinion of Mrs. Handel when he left.
Karen Handel is not a likeable person. Karen Handel is a boring speaker, especially compared to a dynamo like Sarah Palin. She got a national superstar to come to her party, and the faithful were impressed, but who else?
Maybe PG was not the only one offended by Mrs. Palin telling “yall” how to vote. Maybe people are getting tired of her performance art, and the trailer trash antics of the extended Palin family. While the tea party crowd cheers on her rants about big government, maybe the rest of the country is changing channels?
2- Seeing Karen Handel in person, PG realized that he simply did not like the woman. She does not connect with the crowd. She comes across as a script reading politician.
A month ago, PG saw Mrs. Handel as the least of the evils in the governor’s race. The front runner was a squalid piece of refuse named John Oxendine. The other men included Nathan Deal, a state senator who wants teenagers to go to prison for having sex, and Humbert Humbert. While Mrs. Handel did not seem special in any way, at least she was not under indictment.
3- After going to the rally, PG went home to write about what he saw. He went to a Handel website and looked at the bio page. Two things struck him…Mrs. Handel’s maiden name was not mentioned, and her husband was referred to as “Steve”. PG decided to call the Handel campaign.
To the credit of the campaign, a live person answered the phone. When asked about Mrs. Handel’s maiden name, the lady said ” no one has ever asked me that”. She put the phone down, and went looking for someone in the office who would know.
While the search went on, PG chatted with the lady. Yes, her husband is Steve Handel. No, she is not pulling a Hillary Rodham on us. Finally, someone came forth with the word that her maiden name was Karen C. Walker. What the C stands for is a mystery.
No one is saying that Karen Handel lost the race because she did not show her maiden name in her campaign bio. But it does fit in with the impression that PG got at the rally…that Karen Handel was a script reading mannequin, saying what she thought the people wanted to hear. Maybe there is some substance behind that red suit, but we won’t find out in this election.

What follows is an edited version of a feature about Don Choi, and war. If you want to read the full version, follow the link. If at any time this makes you think too much, scroll down to the pictures. Pictures are from The Library of Congress.
I never thought I would start crying while listening to an interview with Lt.Dan Choi , the Iraq war veteran who recently received notice of his honorable discharge from the US military for publicly acknowledging he’s gay. But here I am, crying. I’m watching Democracy Now, and during a break in the conversation the show is broadcasting images of Dan Choi at various actions in favor of the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.
“Universal Soldier,” Buffy Sainte-Marie’s classic antiwar song, plays in the background. While Sainte-Marie sings, “And he knows he shouldn’t kill/ And he knows he always will kill/ You’ll for me my friend and me for you,” Dan Choi is pictured in full uniform saluting a crowd at the National Equality March, removing tape from his lips to declare: We love our country, even when our country refuses to acknowledge our love. But we continue to defend it, and we continue to protect it, because love is worth it. Love is worth it!..
I’m crying because here is one of the most widely broadcast antiwar news programs in the country, camouflaging Dan Choi’s pro-war rhetoric beneath the lyrics of St. Marie’s Vietnam-era anthem. Dan Choi’s Equality March speech is elaborate in its rhetoric and pageantry, yet in the end it asks us to believe that the vicious wars of US imperialism are for “love.” Democracy Now welcomes this rhetoric into antiwar struggles, simultaneously hiding the pro-war stance and aggrandizing it. This is completely contradictory. You can’t fight against war by arguing that gay soldiers should be able to gun down Iraqis openly…
Dan Choi tells a very compelling coming-out story: I came back from Iraq. And many times when I was sitting in the barricade areas within the compound or in my Humvee, I thought to myself, when am I going to get along with my life, get along with the truth, reconcile who I really am from what I’ve been pretending to be? And many times I would spend alone in Iraq, many nights I would be very contemplative. I came back from Iraq, and I decided that it’s not worth it. I could have died at any moment in the area that I was… Why should I be afraid of the truth of who I am?
Do you see what he’s saying? While in Iraq participating in the slaughter of innocent civilians in a war for oil, he had the chance to contemplate his closeted sexuality, and when he came back to the US he decided that remaining silent about his gay desires wasn’t worth it. How many Iraqis died in order for him to express the “truth of who I am.” What about the truth of the war? His biggest worry seems to be this: “I’ve wanted to go back to Iraq and to Afghanistan, but then I thought, if I die in Afghanistan or Iraq, then would my boyfriend be notified?” Did you hear that? He’s not worried about dying in an atrocious war, or killing  innocent civilians, but about whether his boyfriend will be notified…
So, let’s get back to talking about the right to openly serve in the US military. The closest Democracy Now gets to talking about the war in this particular segment comes when Goodman asks, right at the very end of the interview: “Dan Choi, if the law was changed and you were able to return to Iraq or Afghanistan, how would you feel about the war then?”
Choi responds “Well, my feelings on the war and my responsibility to speak out against unjust wars and illegal wars and immoral wars, that certainly wouldn’t change. But, as a soldier, there are certain responsibilities, particularly in war. You put all of the politics of why you’re there aside, and you focus on accomplishing the mission in the most moral and the most, I think, effective way, so that you can get yourself, as well as your soldiers—and your soldiers first—alive back home.”
The interview with former Lt. Choi is eye opening. He had just received his notice of discharge, three weeks after it was sent to his father. Yes, the notice of honorable discharge was sent to the father of Mr. Choi. This father is a fanatic Southern Baptist, who is not speaking to his son at the moment.
Jesus worship religion teaches that to go to an impoverished country and kill people is fine. To love another man is forbidden. This teaching causes parents to turn against their children. Mr. Choi was so hurt by this rejection from his family and church that he almost committed suicide. This is the culture of America today.

In the video above, Rachel Maddow fights back against some critics, in an entertaining fashion. She discusses, among other things, the ad hominem and ad populum arguments…where you attack the messenger, and say that you are right because more people agree with you. The phrase “logical fallacy” is used.
There is a lot of this in our culture. One possible reason is having a free society, where you are not told what to think, at least not directly. The means of control are more subtle. Here the authorities and wanna be bosses have to convince you of a message. Many of the arguments that are used are not worth the time it takes to listen.
Another factor is the popularity of Jesus worship. This religion is based on beliefs, and to be a part of the family you have to agree with what you are taught. Critical thinking is not honored, and to be a team member you have to go along with some arguments that are simply not true.
In researching this feature, an e book came out of nowhere. HUMBUG is an easy to follow description of a few of these logical traps. From ad hominem to weasel words, with illustrations and cartoons. There are ads scattered throughout the ebook version, which no doubt give you a chance to practice your critical thinking skills. (The authors also have a blog .)
The front page has a collection of slang words (non profane) that describe the concept of nonsense words. Humbug, bunk, nonsense, twaddle and drivel are a few favorites. The 8 letter word for bovine excrement is missing, as is Rachel Maddow’s favorite, bullhockey. If they could fit skates on those hooves, bulls might be good at hockey. It is imagined that most languages have a similar list.

PG did not have a ticket when he showed up at the Buckhead hotel. There was going to be a rally for Karen Handel, with Rockstar Sarah Palin as the headline speaker. The first lady PG spoke to said to talk to the lady over there with a green sweater. She said to go talk to the will call desk, who referred PG back to the lady with the green sweater. Experience says that when tickets are free, more than a few people will not show up. After waiting discreetly for a half hour, PG asked the partner of the green sweater lady if anything had opened up, and was given a ticket.
The ballroom was filling up at 11:30, with a well dressed crowd. It was what you would expect of a Buckhead Republican event. PG wound up on the left side of the stage, next to a velvet rope. On the other side of the rope was a VIP section, with several recognizable figures politicking away. State house representative Jill Chambers even recognized PG ( a constituent) after the rally.
Classic rock was playing on the loudspeakers, with orange haired ladies, of a certain age, dancing.  The theme to “Nine to Five” played, without any Jane Fonda jokes. The theme song for the Handel campaign is “We’re not going to take it” by Twisted Sister. Mrs. Palin made a comment about this during her speech. Yes, Sarah Palin listens to Twisted Sister.
The rally began at ten after noon, which is almost punctual. Tom Price was the emcee, and asked people to not hold signs up too much. The ballroom was rented by the hour, and the event moved quickly. First an invocation ( “While we respect all faiths, this is dedicated to our lord and savior Jesus Christ”), the pledge of allegiance, and a peppy speech about Ms. Handel.
After a few minutes, Karen Handel (formerly Karen C. Walker) and Sarah Palin took the stage. Mrs. Handel spoke for a few minutes about….something. Whatever her skills as a manager and worker, she is not a dynamic speaker. To her credit, she kept the speech short, and did not mention social issues. On the blame side, she did not have a plan for securing a dependable source of water for Atlanta.
However charisma challenged Mrs. Handel is, Sarah Palin makes up for it. The woman is a star, wearing a pale green suit with padded shoulders. Her Georgia writers coached her well…she referred to the crowd as y’all, and said she lived outside the perimeter.
Even though the Georgia Governor has little to do with Supreme Court rulings, some right to life groups have taken to denouncing Mrs. Handel. One of them made a reference to Trig Palin, which the Mama Grizzly denounced. The crowd was assured that Mrs. Handel does not like abortion.
After the speeches, Mrs. Palin stayed to sign autographs, accompanied by first dude Todd. The speakers played “we’re not going to take it” over and over. Finally, PG decided he had enough fun, walked back to the mall and found his car.

Today is August 9. In numeric style, it is 080910.
It is day 221 of 2010, with a gross of days left.
Sixty five years ago, Nagasaki got nuked.
Fifty five years ago, Peter Schmuck was born in California.
Forty six years ago, Whitney Houston was born.
Forty one years ago, the Manson Family visited 10050 Cielo Drive.
Thirty six years ago, Richard Nixon resigned.
Thirty three years ago, Elvis Presley had one week to go.
Fifteen years ago, Jerry Garcia died.
This is an updated repost. Pictures are from The Library of Congress.