** R.I.P. Steve Mizerak **

Hall of Fame member and mutiple World Billiard Champion Steve Mizerak has died at age 61 from complications encountered after gallbladder surgery. He won 4 U.S. Open's and appeared in the Paul Newman movie "The Color of Money". He also previously held the world record for consecutive balls made in a row. He leaves behind his wife, 2 sons, other family members as well as millions and millions of fans, of which I was one of his biggest. Thanks, Steve...

** Memorial Day Outing **

My daughter and I attended a Civil War Re-Enactment on Memorial Day. She would receive extra credit in history class for going so off we went. First off, props go out to the people putting this on because it was exact right down to the last detail. Even the spikes for the tent ropes looked original. They had cannons, guns, knifes and generally everything you might need to go out and kill as many people as possible to further your cause. All the firearms were disabled, of course, but you get my drift. The total death toll in this conflict is
staggering: 623,026. This war divided our country for several years. It's sole purpose was to keep the poor black people picking cotton for free so we wouldn't have to pay them a fair wage.
This is just plain stupidity, of course, but ALL wars are. We lost well over a half million people and had a president assasinated just because a bunch of southern plantation owners were too greedy to pay these people. However, we should NOT be re-enacting this event. We should be praying for forgiviness because our forefathers were so cruel and hateful. The people putting on this event should re-direct their knack for exact detail to more meaningful activities such as honoring the many men and women who gave their lives for this useless and deadly conflict...

** Happy Birthday, John Fogerty ** (61)

Keep On Chooglin'...........

" American Idol Top Ten List "

Top Ten Reasons Taylor Hicks-Billy won American Idol :

#10 - "Just For Men" hair color company bought Cingular and padded the votes.

#9 - Everybody wanted to see David Hasselhoff cry. (Did you catch that shot??)

#8 - Jay Leno wanted to say "Way To Go, Son..."

#7 - The "Soul Patrol" didn't want to be chased by the State Patrol.

#6 - Taylor promised Paula a backstage quickie after the show.

#5 - One less competitor for the wedding singer industry to worry about.

#4 - We now have 2 Idol winners from Birmingham, Alabama. A fat black guy and a fat white guy. (Gee, a white guy actually won this??)

#3 - His family was too poor to fly in and see him. ( Where WAS his family??)

#2 - His next stop is the 'World Lip Sync Championships"

And the Number One reason Taylor won American Idol :

#1 - He was kicked off the set of "So You Think You Can Dance?"

"" I Heart The Dixie Chicks ""

There. I said it.

Taylor Hicks-Billy Wins American Idol

Over 63.4 million votes were cast. Nothing surprises me anymore, when it comes to America voting. 59 million people voted for the current resident of the White House, and look at the mess we are in now. Kat comes from California and they are just tooooo laid back to vote. Taylor Hicks-Billy as you know comes from the deep south , where they support anything local, including moron presidents. I guess there is nothing wrong with being a bible-thumping, Republican, back-ass thinking red-neck, but for crying out loud, couldn't they even LISTEN to the man sing?? EVERY person on the stage had a BETTER voice then him. The deal is, Mr. Hicks-Billy was an accomplished bar performer with several years experience, and Kat was barely able to legally be in a bar. He's actually a magician. A magician will distract your attention away from the trick, and then amaze you when he pulls it off. Taylor runs around on stage putting on a show, and you forget the fact that he can't sing worth a shit. At least most people forget. I didn't. His first single should have been 'Magic Man'. That however would have been a DISREPECTABLE afront to the Wilson sisters from the rock band 'Heart', who, by the way can flat sing. Anyhow, my congratulations go out to Mr. Hicks-Billy. He did pull it off, even if it was in the same manner as the "Texas Moron". In 5 years , probably less, people will be asking" Whatever happened to that white-haired guy who won Idol a few years back??, and they will be asking this question while they are driving to the local stadium to see Kat in concert, or more likely Chris Daughtry, who by the way, was the REAL talent in this competition. In closing, please don't comment and say anything about Hicks-Billy being like Joe Cocker or Rod Stewert.
Both of these performers sing and write their own music, and have done so for decades. While their singing ability may be sub-par, they more then make up for this by writing their own music. Think Bob Dylan. He can't sing his way out of a wet paper bag, but look at his contribution to music. Taylor couldn't carry Joe Cocker's air guitar.....

"Elliott Eliminated on Idol"

Very, very close. They each had 33% of the vote. More later.

Chris Daughtry booted off Idol...

Now I've seen everything, folks. American Idol voters, who usually get it pretty much right, have now booted off what is probably the best talent the show has ever seen. I have now resigned myself to the fact that they are going to vote Taylor Hicks-Billy the next American Idol. This is the only logical conclusion one can come to. They obviously never look at on-stage charisma and singing ability, or they never would have voted this way. After reading numerous blogs and observing the Idol chat rooms, it has become apparent to this writer that Mr. Hicks-Billy has a HUGE following. As I have stated previously, I simply CANNOT see why this is happening. But as a realist, I am willing to accept the facts. The only way he can lose is if Kat manages to split the vote between him and Elliot. By the way, why IS Elliot still here? Even karaoke boy Taylor has a better voice then him. Finally, as Kimmyk writes below, pretty boy Ryan Seacrest should have his ass kicked for the way he treated Chris when he announced the results.

'''''''' The 30th. ''''''''''

Happy birthday, Christopher!!!!!!!

" Bennett Gets Bounced "

Sweet little Paris got tossed on Idol last night, leaving Elliot, Kat, Chris, and Taylor Hicks-Billy. Paris has a really nice voice and we can expect to hear from her again. Her singing ability far exceeded her age. The generally accepted "Pecking Order " for the rest of the competition should be Elliot next week, followed by Taylor, leaving the cream of the crop to fight it out. Once again I was just disgusted by Taylor's spastic flaying around on the floor at the end of one of his songs. Seacrest should have poured out some Pine-Sol and the idiot could have at least mopped the floor with his back. What the hell was he doing, trying to get a corncob out of his ass?? This no talent, "Just For Men" challenged idiot needs to go. Simon did have a somwhat kind word for him after the second song, but after the first song, he said Taylor sounded like a wedding singer. This is an insult to wedding singers everywhere, but especially Adam Sandler. Who by the way, even sings better then Mr. Hicks-Billy. Next week, I will post the results as soon after 6:30 pm, PDT, for my West Coast readers.

"Concert Update"

As promised, here's some updates. I think the Montana dates are over a weekend...

White River Amph., Auburn, Wa.

June 29 - Ozzy Osbourne
July 27 - Crosby, Stills & Nash
July 28 - Michael McDonald
August 31 - Def Leppard and Journey


Kennewick, Wa.

July 22 - Styx


The Gorge, George, Wa.

July 22 - Pearl Jam
September 1, 2, 3, - The Dave Matthews Band


Three Forks, Mt. - August 12

REO Speedwagon
Starship
Warrant
Grand Funk Railroad
The Guess Who
Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels


Tacoma Dome, Tacoma Wa. - September 2

American Idols Live

" i told you so "

I don't usually brag, or say I told you so, but I earned this so here goes...

In 2003, I started a one man campaign to stop the re-election of the man I call "The White House Idiot, hereafter referred to as "TWHI". I talked to people, sent e-mails, printed T-shirts, etc. to no avail. For those of you who don't know me, I am a liberal who does not support abortion or gay marriage . TWHI steered 59 million people away from the truth in that he started an unlawful war by distracting your attention away from the realities by talking about gay marriages, raising the terror level, and so on. Has anyone noticed the terror level hasn't been raised since the election. Look for the administration to soon focus on some distraction for the mid-term elections by steering the minds of the people away from our problems. They will probably push an imaginary threat to our country (probably bird flu).

Before you start accusing me of being a left wing idiot, please bear in mind that I have not
made a liberal presidential vote since the eighties. Also, if you are a right-wing, red state, Bill O'Reilly spewing conservative, don't bother trying to sway me. I WOULD vote for the right candidate if he ran. (Insert Senator McCain's name here).

Here are some facts taken from the Associated Press and the Spokane Spokesman-Review:

1. Gas prices have nearly doubled since TWHI took office.

2. TWHI signed an energy bill that gave the oil industry 4.5 BILLION dollars in tax breaks, subsidies, and tax reductions for his oil industry buddies.

3. In 6 years in office, he has NEVER asked for increased fuel efficiency ratings. Not one single mile per gallon.

4. The oil and gas industry donated 25 million dollars to congressional candidates in 2004, with 80 percent going to Republicans. Another 7.2 million has been given to the 2006 campaign, with 84 percent to the Republicans. The have handed out over 4.5 million dollars to President Mistake's 2000 and 2004 campaignes.

5. Since 2000, the top five oil companies have profited over a quarter trillion dollars.

6. When TWHI took office, this country had a budget SURPLUS, we now have a deficit of almost nine TRILLION dollars. My grandchildren will still be paying off this debt.

7. Over 3,000 of our precious young people have lost their lives in this war. I can only imagine how their families feel.

I could go on and on, but it's very depressing writing this. I wish more people had been paying attention at election time. The latest confidence poll released this morning puts TWHI's rating at 33 %, so apparently some people are coming around. This is the time I should be gleefully running around and shouting " I Told You So", tooting my own horn, and so on, and but no way, folks. This is no time to be celebrating anything. It is with great reluctance and no fanfare I say it:

" i told you so"

Area Classic Rock Concerts

August - Silver Mountain
Ted Nugent

July - Spokane
Paul Rogers and Bad Company

July - Post Falls
Foghat
Quiet Riot
John Kay & Steppenwolf

September - Spokane
The Grass Roots featuring Rob Grill
Ten Years After (without Alvin Lee)

And the one I'm waiting for:

10/12 - Seattle Key Arena - Roger Waters (Pink Floyd)


Will update as they become available