Obama has only been in office for a short while; however, as it stands now, I am not impressed at all with the direction of this country. We are getting closer and closer to the brink of Socialism in which we have entirely too much government control. Further, it appears that our government is not necessarily doing the work of the people, instead reserving itself to do the work of partisanship.
I was initially, and still am very much against any sort of bailout to the Detroit three. It's funny, an industry that has made a living doing everything in its power to screw you for every dollar you have, is now getting taxpayer dollars to offset years of bad business and over-indulgence.
A true system in which Capitalism works provides for it's own checks and balances on companies that have run a muck with bullshit. The Detroit three have run a muck and as a result, their weakness have been exposed. You see, that's what the economy does, as it moves along it exposes companies that are weak. In tough times, only the strong and those willing to adapt survive. However, government intervention can curb this correction and unfortunately in this case I believe the government got it wrong. Our society is global and in order to be competitive on a global scale, or any scale,one must operate efficiently. The Detroit three have not done that in many years and as a result should have been forced into bankruptcy. Doing so, I believe would have earned the respect of the people for a company(ies) that had to make tough choices, but made them and as a result emerged better and stronger as a company. The Detroit three didn't do this and as a result I believe have lost the faith of the general public. The government may have bailed these guys out, but I will show my objection by taking my business elsewhere.
I believe now, more than ever throughout this current crisis, that many of us will emerge and live our lives in the way that my grandparent's generation lived. I don't expect to see the masses spend wrecklessly like before, and I don't expect the masses to live outside of their means. My grandparent's generation always had a little more than they needed and as a result had a lot left over when they passed. For many of us, our parents began buring through that money and as a result many are no equiped to weather this storm. Time'll tell, but I believe history will repeat itself and we will see a more frugal society (of course, that is until all of us who can remember this time have passed and those who did not live through it have no sense of what it was like).
I'm not sure what to make of the Bank Bailouts and the talk of Nationalization. Really, I can see both sides of the argument and I also think bank failure is on a whole different scale than automaker failure. I believe the government is right to intervene here, but to what scale and with what level of restrictions remains to be seen. I do believe that if I you have to seak out my taxpayer dollars to save your failing business the last thing you deserve is a multi-million dollar bonus. That much I'm sure of.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Barbeque
What would be Thoughts from the Southland without a few words about one of the South's finest forms of food. I'm not talking about Crawfish, Oysters, Shrimp, Fried Chicken, Okra, or anything else. No, as if you didn't already know from the title of this post, I am talking about the Swine of the South, Barbeque.
There are many forms of Barbeque. Many people, or states, claim that there's is best or there's is the original Barbeque. However, each would be wrong, in my opinion, unless they are a state with two words with the second being Carolina.
Barbeque is an old time tradition, and given that North and South Carolina are part of the original 13 Colonies it's safe to say that we've been doing it a lot longer than the rest of you. No offense. You're stuff's great. I am an equal opportunity Barbeque eater, but Carolina 'que is by far and away the pick of the litter.
There are varying styles of Carolina 'que to choose from. In Eastern NC it's Vinegar, in the West it's tomato. In Eastern SC it's Vinegar with Black Pepper and a touch of ketchup. In Columbia, it's Mustard. However, the best by far is Eastern South Carolina. The meat is full of flavor and is never dry. (Sorry, but while Lexington, NC and Eastern NC 'que is excellent, it usually requires some add-ons because it is either over cooked, or not seasoned enough to avoid the dried out taste.)
Here's what I believe. I believe that the best barbeque in the area is bought at Cooper's Country Store in Salters, SC. It's in the middle of nowhere, and it's not a restuarant, as much as it is what the name says, a Country Store. They don't make stores like this anymore, and they certainly don't make barbeque this good anywhere else. That being said, a close second is Schoolhouse Barbeque in Scranton, SC.
At Cooper's you walk into an old store on the side of the highway, past the usual trinkets, the coolers with glass bottled Coca-Cola, Mountain Dew, Dr. Pepper, etc. To the back where the Pig's feet are sold along with Fried Pork Skins. There's a cooler with barbeque sandwiches await your demise. The first time I ever went into Cooper's I bought one sandwich. Just one. It wasn't until I was about 15 miles down the road, getting closer and closer to Georgetown when I finally bit into that sandwich. It wasn't long after that first bite that I began plotting ways to break into Cooper's that night to get at more of the 'que. Fortunately, I decided against common breaking and entering and resigned myself to wait until my next trip that way. However, I wouldn't make the same mistake that I did my first time to Cooper's. My second trip to Cooper's I walked out of there with 4 pints of 'que and never looked back. It's damn good and if you know what's good for you, you'll stop there everytime you have the chance. I sure as hell will.
There are many forms of Barbeque. Many people, or states, claim that there's is best or there's is the original Barbeque. However, each would be wrong, in my opinion, unless they are a state with two words with the second being Carolina.
Barbeque is an old time tradition, and given that North and South Carolina are part of the original 13 Colonies it's safe to say that we've been doing it a lot longer than the rest of you. No offense. You're stuff's great. I am an equal opportunity Barbeque eater, but Carolina 'que is by far and away the pick of the litter.
There are varying styles of Carolina 'que to choose from. In Eastern NC it's Vinegar, in the West it's tomato. In Eastern SC it's Vinegar with Black Pepper and a touch of ketchup. In Columbia, it's Mustard. However, the best by far is Eastern South Carolina. The meat is full of flavor and is never dry. (Sorry, but while Lexington, NC and Eastern NC 'que is excellent, it usually requires some add-ons because it is either over cooked, or not seasoned enough to avoid the dried out taste.)
Here's what I believe. I believe that the best barbeque in the area is bought at Cooper's Country Store in Salters, SC. It's in the middle of nowhere, and it's not a restuarant, as much as it is what the name says, a Country Store. They don't make stores like this anymore, and they certainly don't make barbeque this good anywhere else. That being said, a close second is Schoolhouse Barbeque in Scranton, SC.
At Cooper's you walk into an old store on the side of the highway, past the usual trinkets, the coolers with glass bottled Coca-Cola, Mountain Dew, Dr. Pepper, etc. To the back where the Pig's feet are sold along with Fried Pork Skins. There's a cooler with barbeque sandwiches await your demise. The first time I ever went into Cooper's I bought one sandwich. Just one. It wasn't until I was about 15 miles down the road, getting closer and closer to Georgetown when I finally bit into that sandwich. It wasn't long after that first bite that I began plotting ways to break into Cooper's that night to get at more of the 'que. Fortunately, I decided against common breaking and entering and resigned myself to wait until my next trip that way. However, I wouldn't make the same mistake that I did my first time to Cooper's. My second trip to Cooper's I walked out of there with 4 pints of 'que and never looked back. It's damn good and if you know what's good for you, you'll stop there everytime you have the chance. I sure as hell will.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Where did everyone go!?
So....where in the world has old Waldo been hiding? Hell, I don't know. Just haven't had a lot to say. Well....that's not exactly true, I've just been saying it somewhere else and as a result neglecting my own forum.
You know, I've always been someone who always wanted to be anywhere but here. So, where might that be? Right now, anywhere else but here is the Texas Hill Country. I've never been there, but based on the Red Dirt Music I hear each and every day I'm convinced that it will exceed my expectations.
Our economy doesn't appear to be improving and Nancy Pelosi appears to be doing everything she can to damage any momentum Obama and the Democratic party gained as they campaigned for "Change." Unfortunately, thanks to Pelosi, Washington is still more of the same and I fear that will never change unless people do everything in their power to remove the Cancer known as Nancy Pelosi. Her actions alone will ensure that we stay a Partisan government. It's her House, her agenda and she sets the tone. So, I ask you this, is the tone she's setting good for our country?
There's a reason why George Strait and Alan Jackson always seem to rise up out of the Pop Country yada that is Nashville's Country Music scene. They've always stayed true to their roots and their sound. They've rarely, if ever, strayed and as a result their music remains as good today as it was the first time you ever heard it. The suits in Nashville could learn a lot from these guys. They've paved their path by being true to their roots. They're believable and haven't let Nashville shape them. Unfortunately, Nashville's suits believe that everyone should look and sound the same. They believe each song should be written the same. There is no soul in the high rises of Nashville. I suspect that in order to find the real sound of Country Music you need to check the bars and honkytonks around Nashville where musicians haven't been corrupted by the waterdown suits who see nothing but dollar signs. Or, you could just head out to Floore's Country Store, Northwest of San Antonio.
Changes are coming....."May the wind take your troubles away."
No later.......
You know, I've always been someone who always wanted to be anywhere but here. So, where might that be? Right now, anywhere else but here is the Texas Hill Country. I've never been there, but based on the Red Dirt Music I hear each and every day I'm convinced that it will exceed my expectations.
Our economy doesn't appear to be improving and Nancy Pelosi appears to be doing everything she can to damage any momentum Obama and the Democratic party gained as they campaigned for "Change." Unfortunately, thanks to Pelosi, Washington is still more of the same and I fear that will never change unless people do everything in their power to remove the Cancer known as Nancy Pelosi. Her actions alone will ensure that we stay a Partisan government. It's her House, her agenda and she sets the tone. So, I ask you this, is the tone she's setting good for our country?
There's a reason why George Strait and Alan Jackson always seem to rise up out of the Pop Country yada that is Nashville's Country Music scene. They've always stayed true to their roots and their sound. They've rarely, if ever, strayed and as a result their music remains as good today as it was the first time you ever heard it. The suits in Nashville could learn a lot from these guys. They've paved their path by being true to their roots. They're believable and haven't let Nashville shape them. Unfortunately, Nashville's suits believe that everyone should look and sound the same. They believe each song should be written the same. There is no soul in the high rises of Nashville. I suspect that in order to find the real sound of Country Music you need to check the bars and honkytonks around Nashville where musicians haven't been corrupted by the waterdown suits who see nothing but dollar signs. Or, you could just head out to Floore's Country Store, Northwest of San Antonio.
Changes are coming....."May the wind take your troubles away."
No later.......
Thursday, January 15, 2009
"Country Ain't Country No More"
Is country music dead? Well, maybe that's a little harsh. It's not, but Nashville appears to be doing everything they can to kill it in its truest form. I'm fully beginning to believe that Nashville is where good music goes to die. I know that without a doubt Nashville has an incredible music scene and has some of the best singer-songwriters around. However, by the time the songs work their way up the ladder they're so watered down that what's left is nothing of any real substance. Now, there are exceptions to this, but it doesn't seem like there's many. A great example of Nashville's uncanny ability to water down a great song is the butcher job Tim McGraw did of Ryan Adam's "When the Stars Go Blue." I'm a fan of Tim McGraw's, but I was extremely disappointed in his hatchet job of a great song and I'm still perplexed at how someone could take such a good song and make it unlistenable. That being said, I love the "Set This Circus Down" album. However, anything he's done since then, including "When the Stars Go Blue", has not come close to that quality and is just hard for me to listen to or take seriously.
Each day, I get in my truck and fight the radio. I'm fortunate in that I have 3 country music stations to choose from. However, at any given time, almost all of them fail to play anything inspiring. Country Music has turned more into looks, weight-lifting and cookie cutter songwriting and seriously lacks originality and quality.
I am friends with the guys in The Lost Trailers. I've seen them play underneath beach houses and in beach-side bars. For so many years they absolutely blew me away with their passion and playing. They brought it every time I saw them play and always left me raving and eager to share their music with my friends who hadn't yet heard them. However, now, they have gone to Nashville in search of fortune and in doing so have lost, in my opinion, the very thing that made them great. I recently saw them play and was embarrassed for them. I fully believe that good bands don't have to come out and parade around on the stage acting like a bunch sellouts. If you're good, the music speaks for itself and if you play your music from the heart, the people will pick up on that and feed off of it. That's what The Lost Trailers used to do. That's all changed now that Nashville's gotten a hold of them and unfortunately The Lost Trailers now appear to be just like every other new act coming out of Nashville.
I remember watching Nashville Star a few years back when Blake Shelton got all over Zach Hacker, a contestant, because he a) didn't like the song they asked him to play, and b) he didn't like the clothes they made him wear. Zach complained to the judges that the song just wasn't "him." Blake said to Zach something like, "Zach, you think I picked this shirt out for myself to wear, you think I picked out these pants? Sometimes, Zach, you've gotta do things you don't want to do in order to advance your career and your opportunity." See, to me that goes exactly against what music is all about. Music is suppose to be about self expression, not about trying to look, dress and sound like everyone else. Zach had/has one helluva a voice and had/has real talent. Zach didn't have to fake it but Nashville still felt the need to try and sell him as something he wasn't.
I think about guys like Joe Nichols, Billy Currington, Keith Anderson and all the other "new" artist Nashville is trying to push. Their music sounds about the same, they all look like they spend more time being body builders than musicians and seem to be trying to promote a certain look, sound and feel. I call it the "Nashville Formula" and it reminds me of the exact same look, sound and feel of the Hair Bands of the 80s and early 90s. They too seemed to lack any real talent and/or character. They all looked and sounded exactly the same and as we all learned there was much better music out there.....
So, what I'm guessing is that eventually some sort of country act is going to come along and do to Country Music exactly what Nirvana did to mainstream harder rock music. Nirvana refused to sacrifice who they were and instead decided to keep their individuality opening the world up to a whole new look and sound. They were real, and people immediate related to that. Many of us were already there and had been listening to bands like Nirvana for years. At the time it was considered "Underground Music" but is was better than anything on MTV. We knew it and when it hit there was this "finally" feeling about it for so many of us who had grown tired of all the Hair Band b.s..
Right now, I know for a fact, as many others do, that the best "Country Music" is being played in Texas. There is so much good music coming out of Texas that I find it unbelievable that it hasn't taken America by storm. The music is real, heartfelt, fun and to me it's better than anything that's come out of Nashville in years. Texas music is the reason why one of the first things I do every morning when I get to the office is open up the Radio Free Texas website. Unfortunately, Radio Free Texas is also the reason why I want to rip the radio out of my car every time I get in it. I'm fortunate in that there are people like Daniel Miller out there that have found an avenue to bring great music all the way to guys like me in Charlotte, North Carolina that are hungry for something better. If only Daniel could find away to get his Radio Free Texas on Sirius/XM so that I can have it with me at all times the relationship between me and my car radio would be so much better.
Eventually, the world is going to catch on and Nashville will have to take notice. Guys like Randy Rogers and Pat Green are starting to break through, but still lack the corporate push in favor of formula acts like Keith Urban and Rascal Flatts. I'm still at a loss for how these corporate pushers just haven't gotten it yet. Doesn't it make sense to push the really great music over the really bad music? We celebrate Led Zeppelin over Donny Osmond for a reason. Why does Nashville miss this boat?
Each day, I get in my truck and fight the radio. I'm fortunate in that I have 3 country music stations to choose from. However, at any given time, almost all of them fail to play anything inspiring. Country Music has turned more into looks, weight-lifting and cookie cutter songwriting and seriously lacks originality and quality.
I am friends with the guys in The Lost Trailers. I've seen them play underneath beach houses and in beach-side bars. For so many years they absolutely blew me away with their passion and playing. They brought it every time I saw them play and always left me raving and eager to share their music with my friends who hadn't yet heard them. However, now, they have gone to Nashville in search of fortune and in doing so have lost, in my opinion, the very thing that made them great. I recently saw them play and was embarrassed for them. I fully believe that good bands don't have to come out and parade around on the stage acting like a bunch sellouts. If you're good, the music speaks for itself and if you play your music from the heart, the people will pick up on that and feed off of it. That's what The Lost Trailers used to do. That's all changed now that Nashville's gotten a hold of them and unfortunately The Lost Trailers now appear to be just like every other new act coming out of Nashville.
I remember watching Nashville Star a few years back when Blake Shelton got all over Zach Hacker, a contestant, because he a) didn't like the song they asked him to play, and b) he didn't like the clothes they made him wear. Zach complained to the judges that the song just wasn't "him." Blake said to Zach something like, "Zach, you think I picked this shirt out for myself to wear, you think I picked out these pants? Sometimes, Zach, you've gotta do things you don't want to do in order to advance your career and your opportunity." See, to me that goes exactly against what music is all about. Music is suppose to be about self expression, not about trying to look, dress and sound like everyone else. Zach had/has one helluva a voice and had/has real talent. Zach didn't have to fake it but Nashville still felt the need to try and sell him as something he wasn't.
I think about guys like Joe Nichols, Billy Currington, Keith Anderson and all the other "new" artist Nashville is trying to push. Their music sounds about the same, they all look like they spend more time being body builders than musicians and seem to be trying to promote a certain look, sound and feel. I call it the "Nashville Formula" and it reminds me of the exact same look, sound and feel of the Hair Bands of the 80s and early 90s. They too seemed to lack any real talent and/or character. They all looked and sounded exactly the same and as we all learned there was much better music out there.....
So, what I'm guessing is that eventually some sort of country act is going to come along and do to Country Music exactly what Nirvana did to mainstream harder rock music. Nirvana refused to sacrifice who they were and instead decided to keep their individuality opening the world up to a whole new look and sound. They were real, and people immediate related to that. Many of us were already there and had been listening to bands like Nirvana for years. At the time it was considered "Underground Music" but is was better than anything on MTV. We knew it and when it hit there was this "finally" feeling about it for so many of us who had grown tired of all the Hair Band b.s..
Right now, I know for a fact, as many others do, that the best "Country Music" is being played in Texas. There is so much good music coming out of Texas that I find it unbelievable that it hasn't taken America by storm. The music is real, heartfelt, fun and to me it's better than anything that's come out of Nashville in years. Texas music is the reason why one of the first things I do every morning when I get to the office is open up the Radio Free Texas website. Unfortunately, Radio Free Texas is also the reason why I want to rip the radio out of my car every time I get in it. I'm fortunate in that there are people like Daniel Miller out there that have found an avenue to bring great music all the way to guys like me in Charlotte, North Carolina that are hungry for something better. If only Daniel could find away to get his Radio Free Texas on Sirius/XM so that I can have it with me at all times the relationship between me and my car radio would be so much better.
Eventually, the world is going to catch on and Nashville will have to take notice. Guys like Randy Rogers and Pat Green are starting to break through, but still lack the corporate push in favor of formula acts like Keith Urban and Rascal Flatts. I'm still at a loss for how these corporate pushers just haven't gotten it yet. Doesn't it make sense to push the really great music over the really bad music? We celebrate Led Zeppelin over Donny Osmond for a reason. Why does Nashville miss this boat?
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