On The Radio

Sas and I will have a chance to run our mouths good this Friday night on WRFG. Tune-in at 7pm on the 23rd via the website, or to FM 89.3 to hear us talk country and (real) country music. Don't know how "in-character" we'll be on the radio. But we're sure going to have fun, and the DJ has promised to play lots of Byrds and FBB/GP tunes just for me.

Then Saturday night is Bingo at Tube. See below entry for more on that.

Looks like a TrueGritz weekend around the ATL! See you there.

tags: Radio, media, TrueGritz

We Heart The AJC

Did I just write that? Well... MSM or not, I do. Today fer sure. Here's why:

Photo essay here.

tags: Atlanta Constitution, TrueGritz

Click on TrueGritz!

Rappers And Rich People

A coupla hilarious statements in the press today regarding rappers and rich people.

First, the rich folk and their addiction to private jet aircraft and all around tax elusiveness, from the NYT...

"Rollins Inc., a pest control company (Orkin to be specific. Atlanta-based I might add) with a market value of $1.4 billion, has its chief executive, Gary W. Rollins, use its planes for security reasons. The company paid his taxes of $7,214, bringing his travel income to $116,988 last year."

"Michelle Leder, who tracks corporate compensation on her Web site, Footnoted.org, wrote that the only rationale for security needs at Rollins could be if 'one day cockroaches decide to start fighting back.'"

Story in full here.

And then the rappers. From a Village Voice article about how indifferent the NYC radio station Hot 97 is to their special little problem of numerous guest rappers-with-entourage shooting each other up at the West Village studio. Says the reporter:

"As far as I know, the only time Hot 97 has openly taken a stand against this stuff was when they wouldn't let Nas burn Jay-Z in effigy at Summer Jam."

Ah, rappers and rich people - laughingstock to middle America. Big Cindy Tee ain't quite as bemused as I am though.

tags: rappers, rich people, radio

Black Tree Blocks His Way

Coupla things to offer you here you might enjoy... Rusty and Amber podcasted and posted the Kos (Daily Kos) gathering last night to the Georgia Podcast Network. Color me pleasantly surprised, but I may have detected a slight progressive pulse in our red state.

The place was packed like sardines to hear Kos pontificate on liberal "progress." He said not to get too excited about taking back much of anything in '08, but given the progressive infrastructure being laid on the Internet, you can go ahead and knock yourself out, go wild and be optimistic about 2016.

You can also read a really special post by Rusty about how his romance with Amber began. (On a blog of course.) Reading it warmed even my own long-gone-cold, weary old heart. Ah, young lovers...

I also want to test out this song sharing ability Napster now offers. I'll give you one of my old goth faves today since it's rainy and moody out. I've always loved this song on dark days. It goes best with tea and biscuits and a fire in the fireplace, but whatever's on your own cooker'll work too. FYI, it took a bit for all players to download the song to where it actually played. But hey, it's free. Sigh...

I always liked Napster over iTunes anyway. I thought their search function was much easier to find and use the artist offerings (albeit limited). I wouldn't mind resuming relations with Napster since you can buy a seriously uncool little player that's compatible with Napster (I assume) for a very uncool $40-bucks at Publix in the Dollar Bins every now and then. That little player (comes in color choices even) is so uncool it might be seriously cool to have one... now that I'm poised to be found on iTunes when the Georgia Political Digest lists our podcasts there. Possibly by next week!

And also by next week, despite a host of hosting woes, TrueGritz is still scheduled to put out on the 15th. Busy world we live in, eh?

tags: Napster, Peter Murphy

Georgia Podcast Network, Y'all

A cool, techno-minded Atlanta couple, Amber and Rusty (yes, they are smarter than you, especially combined) has created the Georgia Podcast Network. Many long hard days after working hours were surely put in to get this service up and running, so stop by often to support this dream home team.

Better yet, get your own podcast going and put out on the GPN. (Need help? Don't panic because my new co., WaySouth Media, will be ready to help any day now.)

Rusty blogs here. Amber here. And that gal sure can write! But not for the simple-minded, easily offended reader. Consider yourself warned.

Rusty and Amber will be podcasting the Kos appearance at Manuel's tomorrow night. See below entry for more details, and see you there.

tag: Georgia Podcast Network

Announcements Announcements Announcements

"...a terrible fate to be talked to death, a terrible way to die." Least that's what we used to sing at camp anytime the lead-dog counselor would take to the mic.

For you SGR readers only... a special sneak preview of TrueGritz -- a peek at lots of goodies comin' your way.

NEXT WEEK: Don't miss Big Swinging Blogosphere Dick, Kos, when he's here in town at Manuel's -- May 9th at 7:30pm. I'll see you at that one fer sure.

Before you're outta here, my pal Tom Roche reports being the first person to recognize "out in the street" the newly-minted celeb, Ray McGovern. Ray's the CIA nutter who dared play a round of tough guy Q&A with Rummy during his recent visit to the ATL. You can see that infamous event in full here.

tags: Daily Kos, Rumsfeld, Atlanta, Ray McGovern, TrueGritz

Have Some Fun

The annual Inman Park parade on Saturday was a blast. I dragged along my cranky six-year old, who clearly did not want to leave a Harry Potter computer game to attend yet another loopy, mommy-inspired event.

Ten minutes into the parade, fourteen burly bearded men in tutus waving pompoms, dozens of costumed dogs, a Big Gulp full of candy, and a neckload of beads later I got my vindication: "Mom, I'm really really glad you made me come to this!" There was even representation from a local Harry Potter fan club marching by. So she goes to DragonCon one day. As long as it keeps her out of the Young Republicans.

When local politcos floated through, I somehow restrained myself from yelling "Wiki Wench" at a convertibled Cathy Cox, still with some of the worst highlights good money can buy. Mark Taylor was ahead of Cox in the lineup, looking like he'd managed to shed a few pounds.

My favorite float was the E.A. Yacht Club's boatload of nutters, naturally enough. E.A.Y.C. is now celebrating twenty years of getting us ATLers totally trashed.

Also, just in time for one more Immigration Day rally, here's another Georgia Political Digest column from moi.

tags: Immigration, Inman Park, Georgia, politics, Atlanta, immigration reform

Jump In The Econoline

Atlanta's Stomp and Stammer is streaming the entire new Neil Young album, "Living With War." The record's not out for another two weeks.

Listen here. Keep on rockin' in the free blogosphere, folks.

tag: Neil Young

Governor's Race Goes To Code "Criminal"

This is wild stuff, folks! The Georgia '06 political landscape is just crazy -- already. Indeed, a new columnist with the Georgia Political Digest (disclosure -- I'm a columnist there too) is calling the whole GA gubernatorial race "criminal."

This is gettin' juicy I tell 'ya. First there was the Wikipedia Resignation on Wednesday. Now the "extortion" word is being slung about. Get the whole enchilada here.

tags: Georgia politics, Georgia governor, Cathy Cox, Mark Taylor, Governor, Wikipedia

River Revival Party -- May 3

Order tickets online now, before the price goes up on Sunday! (From $35 to $45) The River Revival party on May 3 at 6:30pm promises to be a hoot! Dames A'Flame will be there, and bluegrass pickin' and dancin' and an auction and tons of amazing food and booze courtesy of Park Tavern on gorgeous, happenin' Piedmont Park. All for a terrific cause too. Come on out for what promises to be a gorgeous spring night on the town, and you don't even need to dress-up as it's an all-denim soiree.

Sure hope to see you there! Click here to order tickets online.

Be Afraid. Be Very Afraid

Then get a grip and do something when you have the opportunity -- chiefly VOTE Religious Right toadies out of office and out of our personal lives, because the fallout from conservative "values" filtering into our once-credible information pipelines is getting to a critical, dangerous level.

From a Glamour article:

"Young women now read false data on government websites, learn bogus information in federally funded sex-education programs and struggle to get safe, legal contraceptives—all of which, critics argue, may put them at greater risk for unplanned pregnancies and STDs."

Full story here. (Tip of the hat to Being Amber Rhea for that one.) And one must assume that when not busy shoving false information and religious rheotoric into our faces, the Fundys are hard at work helping curb the scourge of child prostitution infecting Atlanta. Yeah. Sure. Right. And I'm Teri Hatcher.

Ooops. Now that I think about it, my love life is almost as pathetic as hers. So... lemme back up... Sure. Yeah. Right. And I'm Evita Peron.

tags: women's health, religious right, Politics, Teri Hatcher, child prostitution, Atlanta

Get Serious - About Net Neutrality

You heart the Internet. I heart the Internet. We all heart the Internet. It's kinda now, kinda wow -- and it's all about us all the time. Well, there are many dark forces at work in the land who wish to curtail all the fun, games and wonderful openness we currently enjoy as free Americans on the Internets right now.

There are pages upon pages of deadly boring URLs I could link you to, but I like you way too much to do that. To find out more about why the "Net Neutrality" issue is so critical to the way we all enjoy going about our business these days, click to a cool short video here. And take nothing for granted. Nothing.

And if you know where I can get a nice lady's tee shirt with the above borrowed symbol on it, please lemme know.

tags: net neutrality, ISP, Internet, Internet access, give internet access a chance, all we are saying

Pauline Ashley-Wilkes

Coming soon to a URL near you!

Watch this space for more info.

OK... more info. As usual, The Economist misses the big picture. And where is The Big Picture these days? Down South, hon! Where else? Pauline Ashley-Wilkes and co. will be bringing it all back home. Soon, real soon.

You're Gonna Make It After All

Oh wow! This is so cool. I'm about to burst with pride; one of my oldest, dearest friends, the incomparable Queen Catherine S. The First, formerly of the ATL, is now head of marketing for Linden Lab/Second Life.

WTF is Second Life you ask? Whatever it is, and there are many answers to that timely question, it is featured on this week's cover of Business Week.

And regardless that Cath is there in San Fran and I'm here in the ATL, I've gotta break out the bubbly in her honor tonight. You go on with your bad self, hon!

tag: Second Life

So Long Fly Boy

Aviation and Right Stuff legend Scott Crossfield died here in N. Georgia doing what he did best - flying planes. What a way to live a life.

tag: Scott Crossfield

Don't "Believe" In Abortion? Don't Have One.

... then shut the fuck up.

Show the women of South Dakota and the world that you DO give a damn about them and their right to safe and legal abortion. Add to this photo petition here.

You'll Never Blog Alone

Feeling a little down? A quickie over to Wonkette will always set 'ya right. See what I mean.

tag: Wonkette

Something's Not Right

There's real sicko Fundy stuff going on out there. Read about the latest trend here. Or here. Creepy, weird and just plain icky.

tags: purity balls, religion

Great Party! Great Cause! May 3

10th Annual River Revival
Wednesday - May 3, 2006

Park Tavern at Piedmont Park

6:30pm

Dress up in your funkiest jeans and party to help keep our drinking water safe. Admission ($35. It is a fundraiser, folks) includes complimentary beer, wine, great food and a years membership to Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper.

Entertainment from Kingsized, Apostles of Bluegrass, and The Dames Aflame. Plus auction, prize drawings and great folks.

Order tickets here. I'm on the host committee, so be sure to put my name (Grayson not Spacey Gracey) in the appropriate space. Thanks.

Come ready to have a whole lot of fun. And remember, the Chattahoochee is our only water source for 3.6 mm folks here in the ATL. See you there!

tags: Chattahoochee River, conservation, Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, environment