tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41024650425183036532024-03-10T15:13:37.493-04:00The Piedmont ChroniclesNews, History, Writings, Observations & Various Ramblings Deep in the Heart of the Georgia PiedmontUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1075125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4102465042518303653.post-91268894730379851232023-11-09T10:00:00.002-05:002023-11-09T10:20:21.184-05:002023 #COV Municipal Election In The Books: A Look Back<p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><b>H</b></span>owdy, pals, and hope everything is going everybody's way out there. <br /><br />Well, another Covington election in the rearview mirror. Time just marches on, doesn't it? <br /><br />So let's break it down. <br /><br />I was very happy to see that both of the candidates I endorsed & publicly supported won their respective East Ward city council races. <br /><br />Congrats to good friend <b>Travis Moore</b> in Post 2, as well as <b>Jared Rutberg</b> for Post 3. Both of these fine gentlemen will be a great addition to the home city's voting body. <br /><br />Let's start w/ <b>Post 3</b>: <br /><br />As predicted, Jared won this one easily. 65% of the votes cast vs Dania's 35%. Honestly, for a municipal race, that's really a whooping. But again, not surprising. Having moved here only a year ago & being a relatively unknown quantity, it was expected for Bernard. <br /><br />Again, congrats to Jared Rutberg. He's a good guy & he'll do a good job, I think. And if he doesn't - I'll let him know about it & will let you guys know as well. <br /><br />I will commend Dania Bernard for running a clean campaign apparently devoid of any lies or dirty politics. <br /><br />On the other hand, <b>Post 2</b> played out much differently except for the final tally. <br /><br />Travis Moore won bigly, getting 64% of the final vote, basically winning 2-to-1 over Carla Ferry. <br /><br />But as mentioned, this one was different. It was NOT a clean campaign. It DID have dirty politics. <br /><br />I know for a fact that Travis was planning on & was wanting to run a campaign solely on the issues but Ms Ferry saw to it that that wouldn't happen. <br /><br />It started w/ the event at Corrydale early on which is when the wheels really first started coming off her campaign. Making it abundantly clear that basically her entire campaign would be focused on lies & half truths directed at Mr Moore, her campaign never really had a chance for getting traction. <br /><br />After that early performance, the writing was already on the wall. <br /><br />She turned it up to 11 a while later when she sent out a direct-mail hit piece against Travis, again completely NOT rooted in facts & full of non & half truths, and really showing a lack of any fundamental understanding of how the planning commission, or really simply government in general, works. <br /><br />After that, it was <i>Newton's Third Law</i> time. <br /><br />The Moore campaign hit back - and they hit back HARD - as well he should've. <br /><br />Once the other side plays that game -- all bets are off. <br /><br />And I'm hoping folks now will finally appreciate the old adage of -- "Signs Don't Vote" <br /><br /><i>There's no substitute for canvassing & "REAL Politick." And obviously likability & credibility are key as well.</i> <br /><br />Well done, Travis Moore! Congrats & looking forward to your contributions. <br /><br /><b>Mayor </b><br /><br />In the semi-surprise of the night, <b>Fleeta Baggett</b> won the Mayoral race <i>WITHOUT</i> a runoff. W/ five candidates running it seemed as if a second round would be a foregone conclusion; however, as the race wore on, and as Fleeta got after it (by all accounts she ran one helluva campaign) while her opponents floundered, the word on the street leading up to election day was that she was going to take care of it Tuesday night. And by golly that she did! <br /><br />Congrats to my old frenemy. It was kind of weird voting for you. We expect big things & we'll be keeping an eye on you, Madam Mayor. Remember: "<b><i>Do the right things & do things right</i></b>." <br /><br /><br />And to cap off a pretty darn good night for the home city & county, the referendum for senior citizens relief on the BOE tax passed easily. <br /><br />Alright, gang, until next time. <br /><br />- MBM </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfQOExYCq2EVjKvbyzDItTHPut3vOsxEJX9hZ5s3SdRzI8NkQzgoTyPkA_TUO2rkAse_gWjoKhSvWUchsp4Mo9Egs-9mN9pvl6vwJj-iIXl5wMP5ZfPIOj38OP1qOPyDqArhgV4fehXTDT-LbFJWQpTw9t1iajQhlSmH163U5LEopMIKBltSdkwrVb3947/s700/TPC.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="700" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfQOExYCq2EVjKvbyzDItTHPut3vOsxEJX9hZ5s3SdRzI8NkQzgoTyPkA_TUO2rkAse_gWjoKhSvWUchsp4Mo9Egs-9mN9pvl6vwJj-iIXl5wMP5ZfPIOj38OP1qOPyDqArhgV4fehXTDT-LbFJWQpTw9t1iajQhlSmH163U5LEopMIKBltSdkwrVb3947/s320/TPC.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><br /><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4102465042518303653.post-26578628819164557552023-11-06T17:58:00.001-05:002023-11-06T18:07:29.205-05:00TPC REAL Politick: #COV Municipal Election Time - Welcome to the Fun House! <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div> <span style="font-size: large;"><b>G</b></span>reetings, Fearless Readers, and we sure hope it's all lovely out there. <br /><br />So it's that time. Covington election time! And we're all real excited about it! <br /><br />Time's a wastin' so let's get right down to it. <br /><br /><b><i>EAST WARD POST 2 </i></b><br /><br />So my good friend <b>Travis Moore</b> seems to be in the driver's seat for this race & for good reason -- he is definitely the most qualified. Plus, he's a great guy. I've known him for years, as have many of you. He's legit! Good people. <br /><br />It's my understanding that his opponent's campaign started to see the tea leaves a few weeks ago so that's when she first decided to go negative w/ a direct mail piece. <br /><br />Probably a bad idea there... <br /><br />What's the old saying about bringing a knife to a gun fight? <br /><br />Or, to reference the popular meme - (do something) & then "find out." <br /><br />I've really gotten a kick here lately how her surrogates have been pushing this same line about - "hey...just look at her campaign page - she hasn't been going after him" <br /><br />No, here lately, she's been doing that w/ direct messages that she's been sending out to numerous Covington voters, many of whom are supporting Travis, and many of whom have been taking screen shots. In other words - there are receipts. <br /><br />The flailing death rattle of a flailing - and pointless - campaign, in this writer's estimation. <br /><br />"bUt wHaT aBoUt aLl hEr SiGnS," I can hear some of you saying. <br /><br />She had more signs two years ago & lost by 14 points to Susie Keck, a semi-unknown quantity at the time. <br /><br />That's the thing. <br /><i><br />Travis is C-Town</i>. Born & bred. Multi-generational. <br /><br />People know him. They know that he's been fighting against apartments ever since he was first appointed to the Planning Commission. <br /><br />Straight up lies are simply straight up lies. <br /><br />There's only one set of facts, people, and the facts are the facts. <br /><br /><b><i>EAST WARD POST THREE </i></b><br /><br />Dania Bernard apparently moved to Covington approx a year ago. She's seemingly moved all over a lot of places most of her adult life. Purportedly she's an investor w/ Archer Aviation - the outfit that clearcut that beautiful land just east of Oxford. And supposedly she's worked as a flight attendant some as well. <br /><br />Who knows? <br /><br />Also, basically, she's running as a Democrat in a non-partisan race. All one has to do to confirm that is to see where her signs are throughout town, as well as what she's been telling folks all throughout town. <br /><br /><br />I'm voting for <b>Jared Rutberg</b> in this one. <br /><br /><br /><b><i>MAYOR</i></b> <br /><br /><br />Don't ask, don't tell...? <br /><br />I'm still not exactly sure who I'm going to vote for in this one, or if I'm even going to vote in this one. <br /><br />I like the Preacherman. I really do. But not so sure about him being Mayor. <br /><br />I like Felton. Not so sure about him being Mayor, though. <br /><br />I like Eric. [<i>see above</i>] <br /><br />Definitely not voting for Kenny. <br /><br />So, there's a fifth candidate running. At least a few of you know who she is. <br /><br />I'll just say this: she might be okay as Mayor, but I'm just not entirely so sure. <br /><br />Planning to make my mind up tomorrow morning when I vote... <br /><br />### <br /><br />Remember: ELECTION DAY tomorrow. <br /><br />And remember: voting will be at regular polling precincts (NOT at City Hall) due to the countywide referendum happening. <p></p><p>- MBM </p><p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeqx8yoPVcqBCV6bgpqb3sCMSIavntwCCayhjI5EbNO3LbTOV9f4uOGhmhQ__24D8hYpdzHbTZKWw2aFe_l2DKaAx6xlF4glQfPh62Q5rhEgrSRxxrOsTAdXmxKYjoZ6gxwhSlpT9VqOKkmQBZj2P_Rrxh0UxtvPIzH55BHs3Chp0AmjF7w2GhJGKc6xkm/s288/COV.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="172" data-original-width="288" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeqx8yoPVcqBCV6bgpqb3sCMSIavntwCCayhjI5EbNO3LbTOV9f4uOGhmhQ__24D8hYpdzHbTZKWw2aFe_l2DKaAx6xlF4glQfPh62Q5rhEgrSRxxrOsTAdXmxKYjoZ6gxwhSlpT9VqOKkmQBZj2P_Rrxh0UxtvPIzH55BHs3Chp0AmjF7w2GhJGKc6xkm/s1600/COV.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4102465042518303653.post-75996459055178841752023-10-19T14:19:00.000-04:002023-10-19T14:19:00.660-04:00Covington Municipal Election Ballot Catastrophe<p><span style="font-size: medium;"> <span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Apparently way worse than originally thought...</span></span></p><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="animation-name: none !important; background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none !important; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none !important; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none !important;"><span style="font-size: medium;">--NOBODY SHOULD EARLY VOTE UNTIL THIS IS REMEDIED-- </span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="animation-name: none !important; background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none !important; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none !important; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none !important;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Multiple West Ward Electors voting for East Ward candidates; multiple East Ward Electors voting for West Ward candidates. </span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="animation-name: none !important; background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none !important; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none !important; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none !important;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Again - DO NOT VOTE until this gets fixed. </span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="animation-name: none !important; background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none !important; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none !important; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none !important;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Apparently it's going to be on the WSB TV news tonight. </span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="animation-name: none !important; background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none !important; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none !important; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none !important;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This is nothing short of gross incompetence on behalf of the Newton County Board of Elections (though they're purportedly blaming the GA Sec of State. Regardless, they have a duty to confirm & verify, obviously). </span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="animation-name: none !important; background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none !important; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none !important; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none !important;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Stay tuned in this space & at The Piedmont Chronicles & MB's Word on the Street for follow ups. </span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="animation-name: none !important; background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none !important; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none !important; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none !important;"><span style="font-size: medium;">DEVELOPING...</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="animation-name: none !important; background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none !important; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none !important; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none !important;"><span style="font-size: medium;">###</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none !important; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none !important;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none !important; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none !important;"><span style="font-size: medium;">- MBM </span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4102465042518303653.post-16891112733297878682023-10-12T16:31:00.001-04:002023-10-12T16:31:42.749-04:00Finally, Another Check-in From The Editor - Don't Call It A Comeback...<p>*cross-posted at <a href="https://mbmccart.substack.com/p/finally-another-check-in-from-the">MB's Word On The Street</a> </p><p><br /></p><p></p><blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;"> <em style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: var(--print_on_web_bg_color, var(--color-primary)); font-family: Lora, sans-serif;"><strong style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">…I been here for years</strong></em></span></blockquote><em style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: var(--print_on_web_bg_color, var(--color-primary)); font-family: Lora, sans-serif;"><strong style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></strong></em><p></p><blockquote style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border-left: var(--size-4) solid var(--background_pop); color: #404040; font-family: Lora, sans-serif; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px;"><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; color: var(--print_on_web_bg_color, var(--color-primary)); line-height: 1.6em; margin-left: var(--size-20);"><em style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">I'm rockin' my peers, puttin' suckers in fear</span><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;" /><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">Makin' the tears rain down like a monsoon</span><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;" /><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">Listen to the bass go boom…”</span></span></em></p></blockquote><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Lora, sans-serif; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">—</span><strong style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">LL Cool J</strong></span></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0px;"><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;" /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">Ahhh Yeah! We back!</span><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;" /><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;" /><strong style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">T</strong><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">hough we were never gone, really. No, the last few months I’ve kind of been keeping my powder try & working my patented ant hill kicking a little more on the down low opting for more direct communications via phone & text.</span><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;" /><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;" /><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">However, I understand that a fair number of folks who like to keep up w/ my particular brand of foolishness, hyperbole & - dare I say at times - frivolity haven’t been privy to my direct communiques.</span><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;" /><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;" /><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">So, here we are.</span><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;" /><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;" /><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">Of course, not much has really happened here recently, right?</span><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;" /><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;" /><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">Pretty quiet.</span><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;" /><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;" /><strong style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL</strong><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;" /><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;" /><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">Obviously the elephant in the room at the moment is the seemingly pending foray into WWIII.</span><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;" /><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;" /><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">Hell, what did you expect? With the Ukraine spigot looking to possibly slow down, the war machine needs </span><em style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">Dat Ca$h Money</em><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">!</span><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;" /><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;" /><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">Seems to be working - just look at the stock prices of all the MIC players.</span><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;" /><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;" /><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">And the world keeps on humming as it always has.</span><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;" /><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;" /><strong style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">LOCAL</strong><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;" /><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;" /><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">Well, the #COV races are definitely heating up. Things are gettin’ really REAL out there. Lots of lies & dirty politics floating around. Desperate people getting desperate. Wolves in sheep’s clothing. Signs being put up w/out permission & also in violation of code while signs being illegally taken down.</span><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;" /><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;" /><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">You know? The usual.</span><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;" /><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;" /><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">It’s just good stuff!</span><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;" /><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;" /><strong style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">COVID</strong><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;" /><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;" /><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">Just as some of us have been saying for 3 & 1/2 years - they lied to us. About everything. Almost all totally & verifiably proven.</span><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;" /><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;" /><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">The death rate was never anywhere close to what they were claiming. They lied. Proven.</span><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;" /><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;" /><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">Masks. Don’t work. They lied. Proven.</span><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;" /><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;" /><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">Myocarditis from the vaccines. It’s a thing. They lied. Proven.</span><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;" /><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;" /><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">Died w/ Covid being way higher than </span><em style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">“because”</em><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;"> of Covid. They lied. Proven.</span><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;" /><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;" /><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">More people were probably killed by doctors & hospitals due to Remdesivir & ventilators. They lied. Almost all but proven (and right quick - when this one really gets the light of day it deserves, that’s when maybe, just maybe, folks will be ready to really get pissed. Not holding my breath, though.</span><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;" /><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;" /><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">Ivermectin & Hydroxychloroquine both work. They lied. Proven. Big Pharma couldn’t have cheap competition, now could they?</span><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;" /><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;" /><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">A regimen of Vitamin C, D3 & Zinc really does help. They lied. Proven.</span><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;" /><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;" /><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">Yep, folks like me were basically right on everything. That just </span><em style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">kills</em><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;"> some people out there. Their ego no </span><em style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">likey</em><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">.</span><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;" /><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;" /><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">However, something that did cause some optimism for me is this - for a few weeks there a while back the powers-that-be & their legacy media minions really went into a full-on gaslight mode vis-a-vis Covid & then proceeded to get totally eviscerated from just about everybody. And then it stopped.</span><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;" /><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;" /><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">Hey, a small win. We’ll take it.</span><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;" /><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;" /><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">So on that positive note, I’ll leave it for now.</span><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;" /><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;" /><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">Good to be back. Stay Tuned.</span><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;" /><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;" /><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">- MBM</span></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4102465042518303653.post-84594369073502508982023-06-29T14:59:00.002-04:002023-06-29T15:25:39.426-04:00A Check-in From the Editor: Talking Covington, GA REAL Politick! <p> <a href="https://mbmccart.substack.com/p/a-check-in-from-the-editor"><i>*cross-posted at MB's Word on the Street </i></a></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>G</b></span>reetings, Fearless Readers, it's been a minute. <br /><br /><b><i>#COV</i></b> <br /><br />Well, things are starting to heat up as we get closer & closer to qualifying for the home city's municipal elections. <br /><br /><b>Travis Moore</b> continues to be the only declared candidate for <b>East Ward, Post 2</b>, and he's looking to be a lock for this seat. W/ the blessing of the current holder of this position, Travis is a true coalition/consensus candidate. <br /><br />Basically we have four main factions in terms of <i>east ward</i> voters: 1) Old Guard/Establishment; 2) #NewtonCo12/NCLA (I'm in that one); 3) The Covington Place crew; 4) The Song Alliance folks. <br /><br />Travis is unique in that all the factions seem to like him & are comfortable w/ him as their representation. <br /><br />As we turn our attention to <b>Post 3</b>, it does seem to be official that Don Floyd will not be seeking reelection. The one declared candidate for this seat is one <b>Dania Bernard</b>. New to the home city, she's only lived here for about a year. Supposedly, she's an investor w/ the Archer Aviation outfit that just clear cut that beautiful old growth timber on Williams Rd in between City Pond & Oxford. <br /><br />While she's apparently curried favor w/ some in & around Covington (<i>including, purportedly, some employees of the city government</i>), she basically remains a relative unknown & many are skeptical. Based on research, she seemingly has moved around quite a bit during her entire adult life. Also, this writer was made aware of a program that can detect if copy/verbiage was originated by an AI program & based on documentation received, it seems as if at least portions of her campaign materials were perhaps originated by that technology. <br /><br />Questions abound. <br /><br />It is this publication's understanding that <b>Jared Rutberg</b> is about to officially declare for this seat. Conventional wisdom would seem to suggest that he'd win a two-way race, probably somewhat handily. <br /><br />Now, for <b>Mayor</b>. <br /><br /><b>Fleeta</b>...<br /><br />Talking about possibly clutching defeat from the jaws of victory. Her major misstep last week w/ the Corrydell vote may have taken from primary contender to an also-ran. <br /><br />Even this writer was getting ready to maybe, just maybe, begrudgingly...[redacted]. <br /><br />Interesting times. We shall see. <br /><br />Okay for now, <br /><br />- MBM </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLhfstEDzJ3wzrRq7D_NxdKxGgm4K1tJDHYaPrQAe7CG8LyVxEDRkVU3S8V6xSmQ5wEdKbwUcooj5nbyDQr0reUOtlpBmgAPJJLiYKkIzssn7zDn1XkeBBewONQHjJXpf73IOuJa6q8LT5jB3Iem2ZT5XIZmZO-bvGhcEFeX23gSQ1Hk8bhWVzgf5ZMFU3/s700/TPC.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="700" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLhfstEDzJ3wzrRq7D_NxdKxGgm4K1tJDHYaPrQAe7CG8LyVxEDRkVU3S8V6xSmQ5wEdKbwUcooj5nbyDQr0reUOtlpBmgAPJJLiYKkIzssn7zDn1XkeBBewONQHjJXpf73IOuJa6q8LT5jB3Iem2ZT5XIZmZO-bvGhcEFeX23gSQ1Hk8bhWVzgf5ZMFU3/s320/TPC.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4102465042518303653.post-39504249476015448472023-05-31T14:33:00.004-04:002023-05-31T19:20:15.099-04:00TPC REAL Politick: #COV Edition, 5/31/23<p><i> *updated as of 7:20pm, 5/31/23</i><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br />H</b></span>owdy, folks. Hope all is well out there. <br /><br />So, May was a little light for us here at TPC. Our apologies. In the words of Ray Goff - <i>We're gonna work hard to get bettah! </i><br /><br />It's an odd year, so it's time for Covington municipal elections. Yaaayyy! <br /><br />So, #COV Real Politck. <br /><br />East Ward, Post 2. We have a declared candidate - the one & only <b>Travis Moore</b>. I like Travis. He's a good fella & would be an ideal pick for this seat & has shown his bonafides by his performance & votes on the Planning Commission. He wants to work on controlling growth & getting our tax base back in balance & definitely limiting multi-family. The clear choice, naturally. <br /><br />Word on the street is that there's a certain younger lady who is apparently an investor w/ the <b>Archer Aviation</b> group (the folks that just clear-cut the beautiful land in between City Pond & Oxford; another story for another time) & is possibly looking at Post 2 or possibly <i>Dirty Don</i> Floyd's seat (hearing conflicting reports at to whether or not he's going to run again). Based on what I can tell, it seems this lady has moved around a lot & hasn't been in town for very long. Questions there, for sure. Will see if I can learn more moving forward. <br /><br />What about Mayor? Well, we know current west ward rep <b>Kenneth <strike>Towns</strike> Morgan</b> (<i>corrected & updated</i>) is running. <b>Tim Walden</b> has announced from the east ward. I know Tim & I like him a lot. He's a godly man & he sings & picks a pretty good guitar as well. <br /><br />I'm 99.99% sure he cannot win a city wide election. <br /><br />The grapevine is saying that ole <b>Chris Smith</b> might throw his hat in the ring if everybody's first choice decides not to (<i>Tommy, please run!</i>). We shall see, though if it's Chris vs. Kenneth...well, let's cross that bridge if & when we get to it. <br /><br />**<i>Wildcard</i>: hearing that <b>Eric Treets</b> might run again, too. That'd really change up the dynamics if so**<br /><br />Going back to the east ward, there's possibly a hairdresser that's thinking about running for one of the open seats. I'll try to get the 411 on that. <br /><br />Okay for now, gang. TTYS! <br /><br />- MBM </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtq1p6nrpXQGYjZc5Fl9-BvdezS5undnQrEYSAkGeZLtpkuANcU-TUvYWAok-RDtyis_GtpDQViCVcaRSIUMx-JOkK3QhKOLEtAoFRbr5h7ASWB68n2p2A93nVfsAl5ZYguUyDdZKL8D-JpNhssR1RyGghKHjyXskYYNLTiFl4pI8lQ3qgRBHkNvZnYQ/s700/TPC.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="700" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtq1p6nrpXQGYjZc5Fl9-BvdezS5undnQrEYSAkGeZLtpkuANcU-TUvYWAok-RDtyis_GtpDQViCVcaRSIUMx-JOkK3QhKOLEtAoFRbr5h7ASWB68n2p2A93nVfsAl5ZYguUyDdZKL8D-JpNhssR1RyGghKHjyXskYYNLTiFl4pI8lQ3qgRBHkNvZnYQ/s320/TPC.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br /></span><br /><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4102465042518303653.post-85005679861750880402023-05-26T14:23:00.001-04:002023-05-26T14:23:14.812-04:00Ellis Millsaps: Where Have You Gone Joe DiMaggio?<p> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>T</b></span>he rule changes are in place and they're all good. The time clock changes are universally approved. It's hard to understand why this wasn't done long ago. The only parts of the game eliminated are dead time when no play was occurring. I suppose this wasn't a big deal when most viewers were at the ballpark and had paid for an experience they might not have wanted shortened.</span></span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-045972a9-7fff-4e71-0634-d6f12c194798"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Last year, I think it was, I humorously suggested that every time a player stepped out of the batter's box to adjust his batting gloves he had to give $100 to the local homeless shelter. The time clock has pretty much taken care of that ( sorry homeless). A batter under the new rules gets one time out per at bat where he could adjust his batting gloves but otherwise that is gone by the wayside.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now of course 99% of viewers are watching the games on TV and want to see the action moving. Game times have been substantially shortened without shortening actual play. As good or better is the limitation of pick-off attempts at first base, the most boring part of the old game.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was against elimination of the shift because it changed the rules. I’ve changed my mind. Banning the shift has improved the game by adding offense in the form of ground ball hits. It has returned the game to the way it had been played from 1850 to 2000. Too small a sample yet but it seems to me batting averages will rise with less reason to emphasize launch angle, to hit it over the head of that gaggle of infielders, and also that should reduce strikeouts. The batter is much more likely to make contact if he is swinging levelly, i. e., on the same plane as the pitch.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Larger bases along with limiting pick-offs is already resulting in more steals, more action.</span></p><br /></span></span><div><span id="docs-internal-guid-f871742b-7fff-8752-97a6-2b783193a33a"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> I disagreed with the ghost runner rule but it is here to stay. My problem was that it would affect the records baseball geeks like me revere.. My example was DiMaggio's hitting streak. My faulty research told me the Yankee Clipper needed extra innings to keep his streak going. Again I was wrong. In fact DiMaggio kept his streak going through more than one rain shortened game.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">During the 56 game streak he was walked a lot but struck out only five times. That to me is more amazing than the hitting streak. The records that will be affected by the end of extra Innings are season and one game totals. As remarkable and likely as untouchable as DiMaggio's streak is Ricky Henderson's theft of 130 bases in 1982. Without looking it up I'm confident he stole some of those bases in extra Innings.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">MLB agrees with me that the ghost runner rule is not real baseball because it isn't allowed in the playoffs. Next time I will discuss the Braves.
- <span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i><a href="http://www.thepiedmontchronicles.com/p/blog-page.html">Ellis Millsaps</a> </i></b></span>
(<i>Ellis can be reached at: </i></span></span></p><div><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>millsapsellis00@gmail.com</i>)</span></span></div></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4102465042518303653.post-42244783355425495092023-05-09T15:42:00.002-04:002023-05-10T14:36:55.395-04:00Report on Newton County Hospital Authority: Still in Existence; Receiving Annual Payments From Piedmont Newton <p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>*<a href="https://mbmccart.substack.com/p/report-on-newton-county-hospital">cross-posted at MB's Word on the Street</a></i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>*edited & updated 5/10/23</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>A</b></span>s mentioned in this space a couple of months back, an alert reader made me aware of the fact that the Newton County Hospital Authority (NCHA) was still in existence. Further, this reader asked if I would do a little digging on it. Well, that's kind of what I do, so I proceeded to investigate. After a fair amount of research & time, and after having interviewed the authority's Chair - <b>Billy Fortson</b> - I have this report to tender for your consideration. <br /><br />And a quick aside. A few of you may remember, going all the way back to 2015, when the deal was first struck w/ Piedmont Healthcare to take over Newton Medical Center. At that time, those of us who'd been closely following (often in a frustrating manner) all the particulars w/ the peculiar structure of the Authority had initial cause for celebration, as this would finally do away w/ the extra millage the Newton Co taxpayer had been paying for the ambulance service & indigent care while (erroneously) thinking it'd also give an extra revenue stream to the county. <br /><br />Well, there is a revenue stream now. Has been for eight years. It's just not going to the county general fund. No, rather, it goes straight to the Newton County Hospital Authority. More on that later.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">First off, per the <a href="https://www.dca.ga.gov/node/8188">Georgia Department of Community Affairs</a>, the <a href="https://www.dca.ga.gov/sites/default/files/authority_compliance_listing_5-5-23.pdf">Newton County Hospital Authority is not in compliance</a> & has failed to file its mandated Annual Authority Registration & Financial (AARF) Reports since 2018. <br /><br />That was basically the first thing I asked Billy Fortson, authority Chair, when I first spoke w/ him on the phone about this approx a month ago. <br /><br />He had no idea what I was talking about. <br /><br />He got back to me the next day on that & admitted that it had basically slipped through the cracks. That back in the day, somebody w/ Newton Medical Center always took care of that. <br /><br />Even though the arrangement became official in 2015, it appears that things operated as they always had up until 2018 when everything was completely separated between the two entities - the authority & the hospital itself. <br /><br />As of today, May 9, 2023, <b><i>they still are not in compliance</i></b>. <br /><br />I scheduled an in-person interview w/ Mr Fortson on April 13th of this year. We met for almost an hour & went over all of the financials & I even got to go through the checkbook the past several years. <br /><br />I'd like to take a moment to thank Billy Fortson for being forthcoming & willing to meet w/ me. <br /><br />Here's, basically, the rub. In bullet point format: </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">- the affiliation agreement between NCHA & Piedmont Newton closed in September of 2015 & was for 40 years<br /><br />- the most recent meeting of the NCHA Board of Directors was 9/29/22 </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">- their most recent bank balance as of about a month & a half ago was approx <b>$547,000 </b> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">- for the first three years of the affiliation/agreement, the authority was paid <b>$100,000</b> per year from Piedmont </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">- starting in 2018 that annual payment was reduced to <b>$50,000</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>- </b>looking through the checkbook, there isn't really much going on. They get the money from Piedmont once a year. Every year they pay for D & O (<i>Directors & Officers</i>) Insurance in an amount that has fluctuated from <b>$2,500</b> to <b>$4,315</b>. Also, they have to do an audit most years. In 2021, apparently two audits were done for a total amount of <b>$10,000</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">- the biggest outlay the authority's had in the past few years was in 2020 when they paid <b>$25,000</b> as a "contributing expense" for the top floor of the old Faulkner Building next to the hospital to provide office space for a local charity - The Repairers of the Breach</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">And that's really about it. Not much going on. I looked over the checkbook & a fair number of the bank statements. <br /><br />The obvious question is why? Why is the authority still in operation? Apparently it has something to do w/ legalities. I've looked into it but honestly I'm not 100% sure but I believe it has something to do w/ a local government not being able to affiliate w/ a<strike> for-profit</strike> business so therefore the authority has to remain intact to act a quasi-governmental middleman of sorts (<i>updated</i>: <i>Piedmont Healthcare is a not-for-profit operation technically *see addendum below)</i><br /><br />But to me, the bigger question is this. Why the hell isn't Piedmont Newton paying more than $50,000 year! <br /><br />And another one. Is it not possible for the county government to be getting funds paid to it from the authority? <br /><br />Again, my knowledge here is lacking. I'm not sure how all of this works. Perhaps there are some out there that can clarify & shed some light. If so, please do. <br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>So, in closing, the Newton County Hospital Authority is very much still in existence & has approx a half million in the bank.</i></b> <br /></span><br />Until next time, <br /><br />- MBM <br /><br /><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">you can email Marshall at: marshallmccart (at) gmail (dot) com</span></i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">P.S. I asked Fortson point blank if he or any of the officers or directors got paid anything for serving on the board & he said no. Nothing. Totally a volunteer board. From what I saw going over the financials, that seems to be accurate.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>*Addendum: </b></i></span><br /><br /><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Lora, sans-serif;">In yesterday’s piece on the Newton County Hospital Authority, I erroneously referred to Piedmont Newton as for-profit when they are in fact legally considered to be a not-for-profit.</span><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Lora, sans-serif;" /><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Lora, sans-serif;" /><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Lora, sans-serif;">But when I say “not-for-profit,” you should imagine me putting up finger quotes as I say it. Looking through Piedmont Newton Hospital, Inc’s IRS Form 990 there are definitely profits being made by several persons that I’ll be writing about in the future.</span><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Lora, sans-serif;" /><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Lora, sans-serif;" /><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Lora, sans-serif;">As for Piedmont Newton itself, it made approx. </span><strong style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Lora, sans-serif;">$16 million</strong><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Lora, sans-serif;"> in 2020 (the latest year I have information on) & had a fund balance at the time in excess of </span><strong style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Lora, sans-serif;">$31 million</strong><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Lora, sans-serif;">.</span><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Lora, sans-serif;" /><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Lora, sans-serif;" /><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Lora, sans-serif;">Wonder how much of that was that Covid $$$?</span><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Lora, sans-serif;" /><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Lora, sans-serif;" /><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Lora, sans-serif;">Meanwhile, the Newton Co Hospital Authority gets $50K every year & Newton Co gets zero.</span><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Lora, sans-serif;" /><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Lora, sans-serif;" /><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Lora, sans-serif;">DEVELOPING…</span><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Lora, sans-serif;" /><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Lora, sans-serif;" /><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Lora, sans-serif;">- MBM</span><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Lora, sans-serif;" /><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Lora, sans-serif;" /><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Lora, sans-serif;">P.S. Piedmont Newton’s Mission Statement reads as the following:</span><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Lora, sans-serif;" /><br style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Lora, sans-serif;" /><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Lora, sans-serif;">”TO PROVIDE COMPASSIONATE AND SUSTAINABLE HEALTHCARE IN A PROGRESSIVE ENVIRONMENT.”</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtMHawA0XhzALkXUv_92F3dmdwlFOUbra-i2gdl0bDGIXWqQNqm6MjdnvmM5gufdUwLMoQ-lEhHN2-fpb4z30oJqPzC6mP61lN3MAeO_uNoDrJRG11maKeeVQ9cmOPP8_wiQtHeantSwyk_0HM4lUmHc6vyQgNBXhY1Wn6QnND0B7RlHtlBG8wMT8clg/s700/TPC.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="700" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtMHawA0XhzALkXUv_92F3dmdwlFOUbra-i2gdl0bDGIXWqQNqm6MjdnvmM5gufdUwLMoQ-lEhHN2-fpb4z30oJqPzC6mP61lN3MAeO_uNoDrJRG11maKeeVQ9cmOPP8_wiQtHeantSwyk_0HM4lUmHc6vyQgNBXhY1Wn6QnND0B7RlHtlBG8wMT8clg/s320/TPC.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /><br /><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4102465042518303653.post-66357461368254091482023-04-18T13:01:00.001-04:002023-04-18T13:03:52.311-04:00Ellis Millsaps: The Russians are Coming and Kansas City Shitweed, Part II ( The Long-awaited)<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><i> Read <a href="http://www.thepiedmontchronicles.com/2023/03/ellis-millsaps-russians-are-coming.html">Pt I here</a></i></span></p><p><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>S</b></span>ometimes while out of work or not we engaged in other money making activities. My friend </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Ken Jordan, the day after I sat in the bleachers cheering wildly as Gene Garber struck out Pete </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Rose ending his historic hitting streak, got to work that evening silk screening t-shirts depicting a </span></span><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap;">drooping rose with the caption ”44 and no more” which he sold out of his trunk in the parking </span><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap;">lot of Atlanta Stadium after the next game.</span></p><p><b id="docs-internal-guid-b31a9449-7fff-c14e-cdaa-32c713a50ddb" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">We had other ventures from which we didn't make money but otherwise profited. I'm thinking of the parties we gave at our grand house. Not only did we invite our friends but we put up notices on utility poles in the neighborhood as if we were Pylon advertising our next show. </span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The deal was you paid $5 at the bar, got your hand stamped and could drink all of anything you wanted for the rest of the evening from our well stocked bar. We would collect a bunch of cash and go back to the liquor store. I recall one occasion when my oldest friend, Rick Goss, my next door neighbor in Fannin County ( he lived a mile away) and I went to the store, restocked the bar and purchased a bottle of Martell Cordon Bleu which we stowed away for later.</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> You might think it's somewhat risky to invite total strangers into your house where you're handling hundreds of dollars in cash, but we didn't worry about it and besides we usually had police protection. An Atlanta city policeman whose first name I once knew but no longer recall, worked security at Dante's on weekends and appeared regularly in uniform.</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">We didn't exactly pay him but he had a free ticket at the bar, a bevy of young beauties to court and spark and access to whatever else might be transpiring. I mean if you have lines laid on the table are you going to tell the cop he can't have his? I don't think so. </span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Most of the 69ers, as we called our softball team, worked for a healthy income of tips, and other than sales tax and auto tag fees paid no taxes. An exception was my good friend of 50 years, B</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ill Demond, who</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> worked as an exceptional cook before he became a fishmonger. In 1977 he and another guy founded the two man operation “Inland Seafood “of which he is now CEO with 10 wholesale locations and 600 employees, but prior to that he was out of work a while and accepted a job for which he was paid $500 to drive a U-Haul to Kansas and bring it back full of the marijuana which grows wild there. His financier here wanted this wild weed to mix with his quality imported stuff which he sold in bulk.</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Bill made his run and came back home with his money and a grocery bag full of what we soon came to call Kansas City Shitweed. It earned its name because no matter how much you smoked it it only reminded you a little of getting stoned. It turned out, we were to learn after a while, that the story was entirely different if you cooked it. So one Friday Bill decided he would make some marijuana brownies that we would eat before heading out to see Glen Phillips at the Roxy. What Bill made was more like marijuana pie, two thin layers of brownie surrounding an inch deep concoction of wild marijuana and butter. It was awful but we ate it.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">We were headed off toward Buckhead when the road began to curve over and over like a corkscrew. It is a testament to my young hand to eye coordination that I was able to keep the car on this winding path.</span></span></p><p><span id="docs-internal-guid-a2ab43a9-7fff-fea4-75ea-e065b406ed6f"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">We made it to the Roxy where we were fastened to our seats, unable to move. That was not only because Phillips was so sensationally entertaining, (Lowell George of Little Feat with whom Glen sometimes played called him ” the most amazing guitarist I've ever seen.” Peter Buck of REM said that he doesn't play guitar solos because he’s seen Glen Phillips.) we couldn't have moved anyway. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-line: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>You can email Ellis at </i></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>millsapsellis00@gmail.com</i></span></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-line: none; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.thepiedmontchronicles.com/p/blog-page.html" style="color: #a32823; text-decoration-line: none;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>E</i>llis "Da" Millsaps</span></span></b></a><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.2px;"> </span><i>is a recovering Attorney but has worn many hats over the years: father, bus boy, stand-up comedian, novelist, wiffle ball player, rock'n'roll band manager, and at one time wrote a popular and funny column for The Covington News. A Fannin Co. mountain boy originally, Mr. Millsaps now stays at the mill village of Porterdale by way of 20 years in Mansfield. Usually funny and at times irreverent and subversive, he leans left in his political philosophy but can always be counted on for a pretty darn good write-up. The Chronicles are proud to have him involved...</i></span><br style="font-size: 13.2px;" /><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: 13.2px;"></span></span><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: 13.2px;"></span></span><br style="font-size: 13.2px;" /></span></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.2px;"></span><br style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;" /></span></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><b><i><a href="http://www.thepiedmontchronicles.com/p/good-cop-bad-cop-novel-by-ellis-millsaps.html" style="color: #a32823; text-decoration-line: none;">Good Cop, Bad Cop: A Novel by Ellis Millsaps</a></i></b></span></div><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://www.thepiedmontchronicles.com/p/good-cop-bad-cop-novel-by-ellis-millsaps.html" style="color: #a32823; text-decoration-line: none;"><img alt="http://www.thepiedmontchronicles.com/p/good-cop-bad-cop-novel-by-ellis-millsaps.html" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1237" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1MEnUsix3YHHk4BgBt9RvrrEM1mUkMZl84DhXbHipcCuztLPFwKYqPWyys9x37HX3RZf6xRDklqJiF6LJ0ZmxPkOsvs2dyDk9IspC1xBAsyIbqaDpP1RAj8f4aLNYJp3zf86RY06I18W2/s320/good+cop_bad_cop_book_cover.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="247" /></a></span></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400;">
</span></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4102465042518303653.post-44340664919187432582023-04-13T13:38:00.003-04:002023-04-13T14:29:15.112-04:00The Music Minute, Weekend of 4/15: Live Music @ The Five, Amici & Others; Shane Clark in Madison Friday Night<p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Howdy, Music Lovers, and welcome back to...<br /></span><br /><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><i><b>The</b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>M</b></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">usic </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>M</b></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">inute</span></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />As usual, we've got another big weekend lined up. Let's take a look at a few of the shows coming up in & around the home county: <br /><br /></span><p></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Who's Playing Where & When</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">- </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Weekend of April 15th</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> -</span></span></b><br /><br /></div><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><b>A</b></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> <span style="font-size: large;">playing at</span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b> <span style="font-size: x-large;">B</span></b></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">at</span></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">C<br /></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>After Hours<br /><br /></i></span></b></span></div><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>|||||||</b></span></div><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">FRIDAY APRIL 14</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXEjYqRgA1b7TseK_sq00YuJ_srSWLOEI39dSBNRpuMqAKosGI4MdrYJpQyi78k3EFDbgS5RCTbPvM5FI_xdSdVdfhO7huDPOL46JX4PV1PYEtgx3zElwbd9bpOfnRO84m03HPUzpPwUejeHAO7tHP4KPIojc6hCfJYhvxHXp1bepwNVxcgCRM9vbOwQ/s665/Shane%20C.PNG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="631" data-original-width="665" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXEjYqRgA1b7TseK_sq00YuJ_srSWLOEI39dSBNRpuMqAKosGI4MdrYJpQyi78k3EFDbgS5RCTbPvM5FI_xdSdVdfhO7huDPOL46JX4PV1PYEtgx3zElwbd9bpOfnRO84m03HPUzpPwUejeHAO7tHP4KPIojc6hCfJYhvxHXp1bepwNVxcgCRM9vbOwQ/s320/Shane%20C.PNG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">AMICI MADISON</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXp1nOh44WX0kGugVYssJJAr2iP2a1_u58V5xkrmQOFtyod7m_CRCsjLAwHS6weg3yS81kce7AbY282rtPGj7GtAZ4_OVcd_k8bldDjpGqFvxD7wJMgzpg9cUol0KpLWPC5qdU2cHfyCxDmDNEIeLG3Z_7lCph168XYWWqBGxyu6-dcNwmj3xPQbGZ-w/s1415/IMG_2094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1415" data-original-width="828" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXp1nOh44WX0kGugVYssJJAr2iP2a1_u58V5xkrmQOFtyod7m_CRCsjLAwHS6weg3yS81kce7AbY282rtPGj7GtAZ4_OVcd_k8bldDjpGqFvxD7wJMgzpg9cUol0KpLWPC5qdU2cHfyCxDmDNEIeLG3Z_7lCph168XYWWqBGxyu6-dcNwmj3xPQbGZ-w/s320/IMG_2094.jpg" width="187" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">APRIL ALLEN - LIVE IN LAKE OCONEE</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcmjTEY9O02HSELtZTvlOXDl9DsJVnPj595QjgGHCaS7cvMPL15m-U3twYXXCe9l2tuOFXA5dUCzTGsgdoYF16CDY4iSOZkhY_6SVVfKBTDf3oeFPhUZTqZtByD9Jp6uH5AOJXVMl5gUQEakNom98r7xHsfjdnqAZvufFR-jvPE6t4QL-CcJP5uwCMkA/s720/Cornbread.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="648" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcmjTEY9O02HSELtZTvlOXDl9DsJVnPj595QjgGHCaS7cvMPL15m-U3twYXXCe9l2tuOFXA5dUCzTGsgdoYF16CDY4iSOZkhY_6SVVfKBTDf3oeFPhUZTqZtByD9Jp6uH5AOJXVMl5gUQEakNom98r7xHsfjdnqAZvufFR-jvPE6t4QL-CcJP5uwCMkA/s320/Cornbread.jpg" width="288" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">LIVE @ THE FIVE! <br /><br /></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">SATURDAY APRIL 15</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcNwfeqR4hpGwP1enX_pvJjoP3T-cNGO4OV9W52MXfP4q-esbUC068DH-__1uNPVnfr1_J8_9-t8Bv9Cw1p11BqfkIJh6KR5C7lH-u16qIJC6qeCkFJjo9ADupC7vgEBalKc_BfNJcAa83r8nU81CAyjF2BA-ukkV40QfBeTjsOsHYymBert2TFt5gTA/s720/Dirty%20Truth.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="648" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcNwfeqR4hpGwP1enX_pvJjoP3T-cNGO4OV9W52MXfP4q-esbUC068DH-__1uNPVnfr1_J8_9-t8Bv9Cw1p11BqfkIJh6KR5C7lH-u16qIJC6qeCkFJjo9ADupC7vgEBalKc_BfNJcAa83r8nU81CAyjF2BA-ukkV40QfBeTjsOsHYymBert2TFt5gTA/s320/Dirty%20Truth.jpg" width="288" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">LIVE @ THE FIVE! </span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhguVYWX7s5JRSKCDtDffbIDPyRBgjJzYoQtYC3CH634eoy5cF3qLM9bqsLL7eKmaF83GVJ3rjfTyLAf2ZEy_gahPVq6AFZQO4oGkMDu80ORoR1_U4tkPd9I11vgHXRaxNV0m6GZtvNmLS2ROVz9_JLv14dWymv81EhPt9AMpqBHrssgTjcfzMZclFqcA/s2000/social%20goat.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1545" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhguVYWX7s5JRSKCDtDffbIDPyRBgjJzYoQtYC3CH634eoy5cF3qLM9bqsLL7eKmaF83GVJ3rjfTyLAf2ZEy_gahPVq6AFZQO4oGkMDu80ORoR1_U4tkPd9I11vgHXRaxNV0m6GZtvNmLS2ROVz9_JLv14dWymv81EhPt9AMpqBHrssgTjcfzMZclFqcA/s320/social%20goat.jpg" width="247" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">SOCIAL GOAT - COV SQUARE </span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And that's just a handful of the upcoming shows this weekend. Remember: live music every Friday night at <b>Amici Covington</b>; multiple venues in <b>Conyers, Monroe & Social Circle</b> are doing live music as well, so get out there & enjoy some great tunes! </span><br /><br /></span><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Until next time, </span><br /><br /><b style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>M</i></span></b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>B</b></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>M </i></b></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">_</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">S</span><span style="font-size: large;">UPPORT </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Y</span><span style="font-size: large;">OUR </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">L</span><span style="font-size: large;">OCAL_</span></b></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">_</span><span style="font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold;">M</span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>USICIANS_</b></span></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4102465042518303653.post-5591934715803397072023-04-11T23:54:00.000-04:002023-04-11T23:54:18.193-04:00[Past Piedmont Chronicles] - A TPC PSA by MB McCart: A Primer on Driving on the Square, About Town Generally & a Couple of Modest Proposals <p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i> *originally published in 2019</i></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Previously this publication has discussed some of the challenges facing the centerpiece of our beloved home city, the beautiful Covington Square.</span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><a href="http://www.thepiedmontchronicles.com/2019/01/mbm-whats-problem-with-square-1st.html">In that piece</a>, I mentioned that traffic & parking are among the two biggest issues facing our downtown business district. And to that point, here, as a service to the general public, is the...</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">TPC Guide to Driving on the Covington Square & Elsewhere Throughout the Home City</span></b></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>by: MB McCart </i></span></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWg8p2sE_64umsAfmcsgTWiB6kzj5kszjkSMneWFCL5O7XGg4em3HTNwDrw-My4oP98Ns4Wt1xo-SrXDK9W0woJRfKiZxXvWrgMz8JOTot8beNMzwscyUAVcQyt00yho9z9Mfgae28lgGW/s1600/cov+square.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="503" data-original-width="725" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWg8p2sE_64umsAfmcsgTWiB6kzj5kszjkSMneWFCL5O7XGg4em3HTNwDrw-My4oP98Ns4Wt1xo-SrXDK9W0woJRfKiZxXvWrgMz8JOTot8beNMzwscyUAVcQyt00yho9z9Mfgae28lgGW/s320/cov+square.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmcF7lsmoc__J9pSrDOrnB7CUsJEPoHQ401uLagUJBijephEb2A5UyAOkbQ2-BphvlQBu4XOaZ39_LivS8fC3CtJwTs8Pd3S5uZ0bWX8qNcBjdzBHkRTrVjuqMXyNNwzGmaUKzXKoTzhaM/s1600/cov+square+2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmcF7lsmoc__J9pSrDOrnB7CUsJEPoHQ401uLagUJBijephEb2A5UyAOkbQ2-BphvlQBu4XOaZ39_LivS8fC3CtJwTs8Pd3S5uZ0bWX8qNcBjdzBHkRTrVjuqMXyNNwzGmaUKzXKoTzhaM/s320/cov+square+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>F</i></b></span>or a large portion of the Square, there exists between the inner & outer lanes, a solid while line, with small breaks in the middle of the east, west, south & north sides, that denotes...something.<br /><br />"Well, actually," I can hear some of you saying, "that solid white line means that you can't change lanes." Perhaps. Much research by this writer, and a couple days worth of research by the CPD & also an Atty-at-Law I reached out to, seems to confirm that you're not supposed to cross a solid white line; however, time & time again I cannot seem to find that expressly mentioned in Title 40 of the OCGA. It somewhat seems to be common knowledge that you're not supposed to cross a solid white line, but is it really an affixed rule that constitutes a moving violation? Or is it more just kind of like a general guideline? I seriously ask because in several states, that's exactly what a solid white line represents - passing not recommended, but not necessarily restricted, either.<br /><br />Scott Miller, an attorney,<a href="https://www.lawofficeofscottmiller.com/faqs/is-it-legal-for-my-vehicle-to-cross-a-solid-white-line-.cfm"> says it is a violation</a> in Georgia, but again - while the Code discusses white lines in Title 40, and more particularly in Chapter 6, I still can't find it where it expressly, specifically says you can't.<br /><br />Regardless, and to regrettably carry on for far too long on this particular point, most folks believe you're not supposed to cross it, but many folks don't, or they simply don't care, and that really pisses off the folks who "stay in their lane" when these folks whip around them - <b>C-town 500-style</b> - on the curves (<i>Turn Left!</i>). </span><br /><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">And this is where I become conflicted, my friends. It irritates me as well! In fact, many times over the years (decades, actually) when I see someone in my rear-view about to whip into that inner lane, I'll actually move to the left, in essence blocking them, and I usually feel really damn good about myself for having done so, though, technically, I may have committed a moving violation myself, but somebody's got to do it. I apologize to no one.<br /><br /><br />But the traffic analyst in me, and based on countless hours of research from various vantage points in & around the Square the last few years, sees that the more people who actually do that & go ahead & take the next curve & get out of the way actually work to remedy the usual bottleneck spots which ultimately improves overall flow. And, as I've posited many times in this space, it's all about that flow, though!<br /><br />So...where does that leave us? No closer to a solution, unfortunately. Apparently the city & the CPD have reached out to GDOT to get clarification on the white lines on the Square. I'm sure that'll be a quick & efficient response.<br /><br />One last thing, though. And a big, big point, I believe. We need to bring back Yield signs for northbound traffic on Church for those turning right onto Floyd, and also for southbound traffic on Monticello for those turning right onto Washington. That, combined with - AGAIN!!1! - adjusting the feeder lights at Floyd & Elm + Pace & Usher, would probably solve the damn thing. </span><br /><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">But hey, I'm just crazy, so nobody ever listens to me...<br /><br /><b><i>A Few Modest Proposals</i></b>:<br /><br />- Perhaps public flogging for drivers turning left onto 278 from Floyd St.? These people are a problem. They should be dealt with ruthlessly & efficiently, you know, for the greater good & all.<br /><br />- Can we put in an IQ test for folks getting a driver's license? I know this is gonna sound kind of rough, but a lot of these folks (and you know who I'm talking about here - the down-with-disease, bad-DNA-having types [<i>the Wal-Mart Crowd]</i>, various other dullards, mouthbreathers & slackjaws as well as the white & ghetto trash), <b><i>just don't need to be driving</i></b>. In a few years that will become a memory after we transition to automated vehicles, but in the meantime, perhaps we should go ahead & address that?<br /><br />- And, again, this is going to sound awful - but... I'm the guy that writes publicly what many others are thinking - but you know when you get behind a car with a certain type of license plate, that more times than not, it's gonna be a damn hassle! Just a big ole production with a whole bunch of uninspired, lackadaisical, selfish & inconsiderate driving. </span><br /><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIwnr8QqVOVduhX6zzG0k_KY9CTHo45pABASnlo52bDO0WRK1imbnoKY_DpyGc31bNs6PkNLbrdERSLWn0GRtCAB4OU7Rfq_jrPM-hWX-YxRvEzFMdPvd4T3rgUu8wnaa81iSoM6ujZZV8/s1600/handicap.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" data-original-height="216" data-original-width="432" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIwnr8QqVOVduhX6zzG0k_KY9CTHo45pABASnlo52bDO0WRK1imbnoKY_DpyGc31bNs6PkNLbrdERSLWn0GRtCAB4OU7Rfq_jrPM-hWX-YxRvEzFMdPvd4T3rgUu8wnaa81iSoM6ujZZV8/s320/handicap.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />Drive with some purpose, people! Be efficient & expeditious! Be courteous.<br /><br />But perhaps that's the rub, or, the real story, if you will. As long as we have the human element involved with driving, it's never going to be perfect. So, perhaps about the time we finally get that fully automated driving thing going, it may unfortunately coincide with Skynet becoming self-aware. So while we may be running for our lives, at least the traffic will be better.</span><br /><br />- <b><i><a href="http://www.thepiedmontchronicles.com/p/blog-page_22.html"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">MB McCart </span></a></i></b></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguCSdHCVtoZHRkS5r7WXMTCNc4_QEwy17RAtmcmEwCqB8Mw-QTB4CHSfMXjgXM_8vOZ5h1uWvY4rwYW_EPG-0MoZKElQ3NWpGMn8K3sE1RowA8o_pyw6btZ_H9BvLbHW5zZpkyCNIXtSCt/s1600/mbm+on+the+beach.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="130" data-original-width="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguCSdHCVtoZHRkS5r7WXMTCNc4_QEwy17RAtmcmEwCqB8Mw-QTB4CHSfMXjgXM_8vOZ5h1uWvY4rwYW_EPG-0MoZKElQ3NWpGMn8K3sE1RowA8o_pyw6btZ_H9BvLbHW5zZpkyCNIXtSCt/s1600/mbm+on+the+beach.jpg" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4102465042518303653.post-42543595258745253032023-04-11T10:58:00.000-04:002023-04-11T10:58:51.223-04:00Quick Check-In From The Editor: Spring Break Over; Talkin' Hospital Authority; What's Comin' Down The Pike<p><i> </i><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>*Cross-posted at <a href="https://mbmccart.substack.com/">MB's Word on the Street</a> </i><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>G</b></span>reetings, Fearless Readers, and we sure hope it's dandy as candy out there. <br /><br />How about The Masters? What a tournament we witnessed this year. The weather was really something, wasn't it? It went from Summer to Winter to Spring in the span of three days. Was thrilled to see Rahm win it. He's a special guy. Helluva player, too. I think he could be the one to become the face of professional golf to fill the void of Tiger. We'll see. <br /><br />Last week was also Spring Break for yours truly so we didn't have any postings. <br /><br />But now we're back! <br /><br />Coming up this week: <br /><br />- 1st report on the <b>Newton County Hospital Authority</b>. And yes, you read that right. And no - you haven't gone back in time five years, either. The Authority L I V E S! Yes, indeed. Most folks thought it was dissolved after they did away w/ the indigent care & ambulance millage & executed the 40-yr lease w/ Piedmont Healthcare. That is NOT the case. Stay tuned. DEVELOPING... <br /><br />- Later in the week exclusively at <span style="font-size: medium;"><b><a href="http://www.thepiedmontchronicles.com/">TPC</a></b></span>: a <b>Past Piedmont Chronicles</b>; Da's second chapter of <i><b>The Russians Are Coming & Kansas City Shitweed</b></i>, and another <b>Music Minute</b>. <br /><br />Okay for now, </span><br /><br />- <span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><i><a href="http://www.thepiedmontchronicles.com/p/blog-page_22.html">MB McCart</a></i></b></span> <br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbnYOxogQ10c_7pY_ZIs8k3et2JYTVlIdwrvrdNNrGQY7iSJKiUEfzbx_WK6M827R8dfUFY2Gy4jRLlGXIdwsk5eOG5rHglZ0otSkV8Mn2rgAeyNAzYB6PhiSNZ7cSuY2zYg_sR1OfpAxZPlLY-2meTR8mMmWLCo9Htcukz_83lqJJjK7ZmVUJ8YWCcg/s700/TPC.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="700" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbnYOxogQ10c_7pY_ZIs8k3et2JYTVlIdwrvrdNNrGQY7iSJKiUEfzbx_WK6M827R8dfUFY2Gy4jRLlGXIdwsk5eOG5rHglZ0otSkV8Mn2rgAeyNAzYB6PhiSNZ7cSuY2zYg_sR1OfpAxZPlLY-2meTR8mMmWLCo9Htcukz_83lqJJjK7ZmVUJ8YWCcg/s320/TPC.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4102465042518303653.post-13375102140598345082023-03-31T12:01:00.002-04:002023-03-31T12:03:01.638-04:00Farewell to One of the Truly Good Ones - Jody Nolan <p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i> By: MB McCart, Ed. </i></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>F</b></span>riends, this publication & its editor - along w/ so many in around the home county, GA Piedmont & beyond - was very saddened to hear the news of the passing of Jody Nolan after his courageous battle w/ ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease). Our deepest, heartfelt condolences go out to his family & friends. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">As I was telling my wife the other day, I feel as if I've lost one of the most valuable Mutual Admiration Societies that I was a proud member of. I thought a lot of Jody; always greatly enjoyed talking w/ him & apparently that feeling was reciprocal. <br /><br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidaUm7yo-7IkKi37NAiZs-Yu65-xaUOi-XpQgDZO4f6wVEy46mhY6ZyftFt_rOAvmw6TEKCcMSolEK0vASeBMIDdDQ1XyxcsLWj5bT2KYsLG8DpU1GCiQm8da4is70m9VnHgj65L6sAoumh363udFGjZvBmD1GzMZ_kHpbALBzwa6xbH5_PaFOTUME0g/s2048/Jody.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1288" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidaUm7yo-7IkKi37NAiZs-Yu65-xaUOi-XpQgDZO4f6wVEy46mhY6ZyftFt_rOAvmw6TEKCcMSolEK0vASeBMIDdDQ1XyxcsLWj5bT2KYsLG8DpU1GCiQm8da4is70m9VnHgj65L6sAoumh363udFGjZvBmD1GzMZ_kHpbALBzwa6xbH5_PaFOTUME0g/s320/Jody.jpg" width="201" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">In terms of those who truly loved the home county & wanted nothing but the absolute best for it there aren't hardly out there at all that can lay claim to the level that Jody did. And not just his service - which was huge: volunteer firefighter, regular firefighter, EMA Deputy & then later Newton EMA Director - but also for his passion for our beloved home & an intense desiring for her betterment. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Jody & I had multiple deep conversations about this issue, some lasting an hour or two, and we almost always were in agreement on most major topics. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">As always, I'm very serious & protective of the anonymity & confidentiality of folks who I talk to about local stuff. But I can tell you this. Jody was a member of the <i>Tonto Network</i>. He was all about only - <b>what is right; what is fair</b>. Nothing else mattered, damn the consequences. <br /><br />He was truly a good man. <br /><br />Though I haven't spoken w/ him in quite some time, I will sorely miss him. The home county will most assuredly be poorer w/ his passing. <br /><br />Also, this loss has greatly accelerated my intent to really get back to getting the <b><i>REAL</i></b> Story of all events, happenings & politics local. Jody would want it that way & I will do so in his honor. </span></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYgjeKxmXo5L4iv1mz9RBe0ygxnVzV0_BK6C_ad523YdIUESMw4cPW0J_KwqqxxmRswBz46xT2OpXTBKiTUSTreOlnm1v_oOGYL9P9_sZAaFhmrB0K6wHE9JEJcC6g4Kw36rkC7krw4i2gKCc_gga9dywZ_Gi7faNeGemZOUNMGtm83s9ZpvxxyIv3Gg/s100/jody%202.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="100" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYgjeKxmXo5L4iv1mz9RBe0ygxnVzV0_BK6C_ad523YdIUESMw4cPW0J_KwqqxxmRswBz46xT2OpXTBKiTUSTreOlnm1v_oOGYL9P9_sZAaFhmrB0K6wHE9JEJcC6g4Kw36rkC7krw4i2gKCc_gga9dywZ_Gi7faNeGemZOUNMGtm83s9ZpvxxyIv3Gg/s1600/jody%202.jpg" width="100" /></b></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #4d5156; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>REQUIESCAT IN PACE</b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #4d5156; font-size: 14px;"> </span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4102465042518303653.post-26476262524528995332023-03-27T23:35:00.000-04:002023-03-28T23:18:43.017-04:00[Past Piedmont Chronicles] - Ellis Millsaps: Son of a Preacher Man, Parts I-IX <p> <a href="http://www.thepiedmontchronicles.com/p/ellis-millsaps-son-of-preacher-man-rock.html">Existing dedicated page here</a>. <br /><br /></p><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 22px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0.75em 0px 0px; position: relative; text-align: center;">Son of a Preacher Man: A Rock And Roll Cowboy Grows Up Southern Baptist</h3><div class="post-header" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 10.8px; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em;"><div class="post-header-line-1"></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7834077291458430272" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 590px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHdo8hHsmlfEgBHeA5ZHY4cLIrwuhOp742RtEFl2cT10vDIYZsJBeG_8knTAHk4zptkfXl_Iz1e6uznGa40H9yxCS2IvcJmoqVTRXcZuRh8KVWa1yH4Hg_UzWsjOHIOmJX_cWleulayq0q/s1600/millsaps.jpg" style="color: #a32823; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHdo8hHsmlfEgBHeA5ZHY4cLIrwuhOp742RtEFl2cT10vDIYZsJBeG_8knTAHk4zptkfXl_Iz1e6uznGa40H9yxCS2IvcJmoqVTRXcZuRh8KVWa1yH4Hg_UzWsjOHIOmJX_cWleulayq0q/s320/millsaps.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Millsaps' Memoirs</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: "courier new", courier, monospace;"><a href="http://www.thepiedmontchronicles.com/2018/10/ellis-millsaps-chapter-one-belly-of.html" style="color: #a32823; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>Chapter I: The Belly of the Whale</b></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "courier new", courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: "courier new", courier, monospace;"><a href="http://www.thepiedmontchronicles.com/2019/02/ellis-millsaps-memoir-chapter-2-valley.html" style="color: #a32823; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>Chapter II: The Valley of the Shadow</b></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "courier new", courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: "courier new", courier, monospace;"><b><a href="http://www.thepiedmontchronicles.com/2019/02/ellis-millsaps-chapter-three-once-in.html" style="color: #a32823; text-decoration-line: none;">Chapter III: Once in Grace</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.thepiedmontchronicles.com/2019/03/ellis-millsaps-let-there-be-light.html" style="color: #a32823; text-decoration-line: none;">Chapter IV: Let There Be Light</a></b></span><br /><span style="font-family: "courier new", courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: "courier new", courier, monospace;"><a href="http://www.thepiedmontchronicles.com/2019/05/ellis-da-millsaps-go-down-moses.html" style="color: #a32823; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>Chapter IV, Vol.2: Go Down Moses</b></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "courier new", courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span><a href="http://www.thepiedmontchronicles.com/2019/06/ellis-millsaps-son-of-preacher-man-ch-v.html" style="color: #a32823; text-decoration-line: none;"><b><span style="font-family: "courier new", courier, monospace;">Chapter V: </span><span style="text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "courier new", courier, monospace;">The Lake of Fire and Brimstone</span></span></b></a><br /><b><span face=""arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif" id="docs-internal-guid-86d0a969-7fff-16a4-299e-1e3fbb8af163" style="font-size: 13.2px;"></span></b><b><br /></b><b><a href="http://www.thepiedmontchronicles.com/2019/06/ellis-millsaps-son-of-preacher-man-ch-v_13.html" style="color: #a32823; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-family: "courier new", courier, monospace;">Chapter V: </span><span face=""arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif" style="text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "courier new", courier, monospace;">The Lake of Fire and Brimstone, Part Two</span></span></a></b><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "courier new", courier, monospace;"><b><a href="http://www.thepiedmontchronicles.com/2019/09/ellis-millsaps-son-of-preacher-man-ch.html" style="color: #a32823; text-decoration-line: none;">Chapter VI: Preacher's Kid</a></b></span><br /><br /><b><span style="font-family: "courier new", courier, monospace;"><a href="http://www.thepiedmontchronicles.com/2019/10/ellis-millsaps-son-of-preacher-man-ch-7.html" style="color: #a32823; text-decoration-line: none;">Chapter VII: Preacher's Kid at School </a></span></b><br /><b><br /></b><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><a href="http://www.thepiedmontchronicles.com/2019/11/ellis-millsaps-son-of-preacher-man.html" style="color: #a32823; text-decoration-line: none;">Chapter VIII: Rock of Ages - Let Me Hide</a></span></b><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><a href="http://www.thepiedmontchronicles.com/2019/12/ellis-millsaps-son-of-preacher-man-ch.html" style="color: #a32823; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-family: courier;">Chapter IX: Neil & Clifford</span></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: courier;"><a href="http://www.thepiedmontchronicles.com/2020/01/ellis-millsaps-son-of-preacher-man-ch-9.html" style="color: #a32823; text-decoration-line: none;">Chapter IX, Pt II: Clifford Fleming</a></span> <br /><br /></b><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.thepiedmontchronicles.com/p/blog-page.html" style="color: #a32823; font-size: 13.2px; text-decoration-line: none;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>E</i>llis "Da" Millsaps</span></span></b></a><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.2px;"> </span><i>is a recovering Attorney but has worn many hats over the years: father, bus boy, stand-up comedian, novelist, wiffle ball player, rock'n'roll band manager, and at one time wrote a popular and funny column for The Covington News. A Fannin Co. mountain boy originally, Mr. Millsaps now stays at the mill village of Porterdale by way of 20 years in Mansfield. Usually funny and at times irreverent and subversive, he leans left in his political philosophy but can always be counted on for a pretty darn good write-up. The Chronicles are proud to have him involved...</i></span><br style="font-size: 13.2px;" /><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 13.2px;"></span><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 13.2px;"></span><br style="font-size: 13.2px;" /></span></p><div style="font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"></span><br style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;" /></span></p><div style="font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><b><i><a href="http://www.thepiedmontchronicles.com/p/good-cop-bad-cop-novel-by-ellis-millsaps.html" style="color: #a32823; text-decoration-line: none;">Good Cop, Bad Cop: A Novel by Ellis Millsaps</a></i></b></span></div><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://www.thepiedmontchronicles.com/p/good-cop-bad-cop-novel-by-ellis-millsaps.html" style="color: #a32823; text-decoration-line: none;"><img alt="http://www.thepiedmontchronicles.com/p/good-cop-bad-cop-novel-by-ellis-millsaps.html" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1237" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1MEnUsix3YHHk4BgBt9RvrrEM1mUkMZl84DhXbHipcCuztLPFwKYqPWyys9x37HX3RZf6xRDklqJiF6LJ0ZmxPkOsvs2dyDk9IspC1xBAsyIbqaDpP1RAj8f4aLNYJp3zf86RY06I18W2/s320/good+cop_bad_cop_book_cover.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="247" /></a></span></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4102465042518303653.post-50160067819273157272023-03-21T17:48:00.001-04:002023-03-23T13:27:54.377-04:00Kayla's Corner: Hello Again!<p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b> </b></span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>H</b></span><span style="font-size: medium;">ello everyone! Oh how I've missed you all! A lot has happened with me since I last wrote, I bet a lot has happened with you too! Hope you've been enjoying life. Speaking of enjoying life, I'll be trying to post some fun happenings at least once a month here on Kayla's corner. So keep a lookout </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">After all, that's what life is all about right? Enjoyment, entertainment, and experiences! In life, I think we are meant to enjoy all that the world and good people have to offer, to experience things we've never dreamed of, to watch and admire the entertainment we have built for ourselves... What a wonderful world it is.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">My, My, how Covington is growing. I'm excited yet nervous! Excited about the new food and businesses that are soon to pop up, however I'm nervous about the traffic to come and if the county is prepared for the large increase in citizens. Guess we'll see </span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">. Haha.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">One thing to always remember is that the trees provide oxygen and we need oxygen to live, so plant a tree!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">See y'all in April </span></span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">- <span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><a href="http://www.thepiedmontchronicles.com/p/contributing-writer-kayla-leasure.html">Kayla</a></i></b></span> <br /><br /><br /><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9V_Bf5d3T9rl8_5x9D9CFQh2rCgEuZRe_ndAN7AFyngupAGZarPrLnGFIAh0uvYnrY2g9Y8NOdgDswWj7pEyK2sbusK1sqDjTkiCFQnRyebG38JaiNoWwYL_tFPKnnrwUS27uTJe6lRtaOILxv7k4MXw1QMotI7r-oVh9uKdgU5OC9ZsKE6zbk6-dlw/s1024/IMG_20230308_173544_340_2.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="644" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9V_Bf5d3T9rl8_5x9D9CFQh2rCgEuZRe_ndAN7AFyngupAGZarPrLnGFIAh0uvYnrY2g9Y8NOdgDswWj7pEyK2sbusK1sqDjTkiCFQnRyebG38JaiNoWwYL_tFPKnnrwUS27uTJe6lRtaOILxv7k4MXw1QMotI7r-oVh9uKdgU5OC9ZsKE6zbk6-dlw/s320/IMG_20230308_173544_340_2.JPG" width="201" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Kayla's Corner - Keeping an Eye on Covington</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4102465042518303653.post-91152490537610246902023-03-21T14:43:00.002-04:002023-03-21T14:43:46.249-04:00Perrin Lovett: Banking On Systemic Risk<p> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>G</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">reetings, Piedmonteers! Long time. I have returned. And so forth. Yeah, so, I called MB about writing up the latest Goodles flavor, which I think is “Here Comes Truffle”. And he started screaming about a financial meltdown or something. I had no idea! How could there be a problem? Janet “listen up cause she’s” Yellen just said, “</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our banking system remains sound and Americans can feel confident that their deposits will be there when they need them</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.” For starters, I ran that sentence through Yandex Translate, Clown Worldese to English, and … keep screaming, MB.</span></p><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s not the end of the world. In fact, it could be the beginning of something that ushers in an age of renewal. The trick is getting there. Here follows what I hope passes for a primer on what has happened, what it means, and where we’re going.</span></p><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">First of all, the minutia is meaningless. It’s now too big not to fail, and failure of something evil isn’t the end nor a bad thing. Unless or until you have to personally file an FDIC claim, there’s no valid reason to pay much attention to what CBNC, FOX, or CNN are lying about. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Banks and rumors of banks</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">… Heck with it; no fear!</span></p><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In 2020, I wrote </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.thepiedmontchronicles.com/2020/11/a-feature-piece-by-perrin-lovett-debt.html&source=gmail&ust=1679510368647000&usg=AOvVaw1x7T1cEnjKg9J2PGAVKJAE" href="http://www.thepiedmontchronicles.com/2020/11/a-feature-piece-by-perrin-lovett-debt.html" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">this brief history</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> of the Fed’s machinations and how they have enabled and affected US imperial foreign policy. Given what’s in progress now, that article might as well be history. It’s still worth reading, methinks.</span></p><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In January, I wrote </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.reckonin.com/perrin-lovett/how-about-murder-why-them-young-kids-wont-work-and-more&source=gmail&ust=1679510368647000&usg=AOvVaw0ZqkOpK0uVo9c7W-rGjhI7" href="https://www.reckonin.com/perrin-lovett/how-about-murder-why-them-young-kids-wont-work-and-more" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">this essay</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> on the origins, meaning, and ramifications of usury and the hideous effects of mass financialization. It’s really worth reading. Pay attention to how I arrive at a fair current minimum wage of $37.50/hr, an average single-earner income of $300K, the fact that charging usury is akin to murder, and the disdain and contempt held by Jesus Christ and His Father for usurious money lending. Pay very close attention to the cited 2014 white paper from the Bank of England, as endorsed by the Fed, </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/-/media/boe/files/quarterly-bulletin/2014/money-creation-in-the-modern-economy.pdf?la%3Den%26hash%3D9A8788FD44A62D8BB927123544205CE476E01654&source=gmail&ust=1679510368647000&usg=AOvVaw3nZIPDTwzNLKLiAjUDfPgJ" href="https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/-/media/boe/files/quarterly-bulletin/2014/money-creation-in-the-modern-economy.pdf?la=en&hash=9A8788FD44A62D8BB927123544205CE476E01654" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Money Creation In The Modern Economy</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></p><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A few days ago, I wrote </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://perrinlovett.me/2023/03/15/column-banking-on-the-future-a-loosely-proposed-economic-and-monetary-policy-for-dixie/&source=gmail&ust=1679510368647000&usg=AOvVaw2uB75OtvyNxqA9shqC8BeZ" href="https://perrinlovett.me/2023/03/15/column-banking-on-the-future-a-loosely-proposed-economic-and-monetary-policy-for-dixie/" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">this column</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> on the current fiasco and a loose three-step process for correcting the damage. I’m expecting a call any minute now from Joe Biden or Kevin McCarthy. Please join me in a collective holding of breath.</span></p><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Two books that might also be of interest:</span></p><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.amazon.com/forgive-them-their-debts-Foreclosure-ebook/dp/B07QGFZ7DW&source=gmail&ust=1679510368647000&usg=AOvVaw3D-wEqufsaNTVPSHa-h4WY" href="https://www.amazon.com/forgive-them-their-debts-Foreclosure-ebook/dp/B07QGFZ7DW" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">…And Forgive Them Their Debts</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, Michael Hudson (2019) (this is me, the ultra-right winger recommending the economic work of a self-proclaimed socialist - because he’s right);</span></p><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.amazon.com/Debt-Updated-Expanded-First-Years/dp/1612194192&source=gmail&ust=1679510368647000&usg=AOvVaw0-SvC9_RaZ9Bx9J17bMkuc" href="https://www.amazon.com/Debt-Updated-Expanded-First-Years/dp/1612194192" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Debt: The First 5,000 Years</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, the late David Graeber (2014) (this is me recommending the not-necessarily economic work of an anthropologist - because he was right).</span></p><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As for tactical advice, I don’t have much. There are no genuine institutional safe havens of investment anymore in the US or the West at large. That is because the entire system is coming apart the way these systems always do. An account at a large commercial bank may be “safer” because the larger banks will be first in line for assistance. Small banks and credit unions may be “safer” because they have fewer incentives to do the truly horrible things that the larger banks do. A balanced portfolio maybe. Some cash. Gold or silver if you can afford it. Uh, just be yourself. </span></p><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Whatever you do, pay as little attention to the financial press, the regular press, the banksters, and the political trash as you can. Everything related to the US empire is dissolving in real time. Nothing our foreign elites and their domestic lackeys say is honest, reliable, or grounded in any semblance of reality. You may have noticed that they contradict their own wild lies and idiocy day to day - sometimes in consecutive sentences. It is not your imagination: they are, in fact, just making the BS up as they go. Following it closely is as futile as following practical American politics. </span></p><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">From 1913 to 1944 to 1971-3 a shift was implemented, away from real money and industrial, tangibles-oriented capitalism, to financial capitalism and non-existent money. Please read my above-linked summaries about how that worked out. Debt became money. The nature of debt is destructive; as Hudson explains in …</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Forgive…</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, page 14, it is “</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">to accrue and intrude increasingly into the economy, absorbing the surplus and transferring land and even the personal liberty of debtors to creditors</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">”. Given enough time, the lenders will eventually own and control everything. Literally everything. Hudson’s is a chronicle of multiple civilizations, within and without the Bible, and their necessary clean wiping of debts to preserve order and life itself. The failure of a society to rid itself of parasitic debt results in something best described as “not for the best”.</span></p><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Alarmingly, most of the credit issues Hudson (and Jesus, and God the Father) condemned were based on real money and actual value. It’s worse today because none of what passes for our money is real. Usury was traditionally prohibited because it was a bargain on something that did not exist. All of our money is usurious. None of it exists. It is a massive fraud that only serves those who create it while enslaving everyone else. As the BOE explained it: “</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Of the two types of broad money, bank deposits make up the vast majority — 97% of the amount currently in circulation. And in the modern economy, those bank deposits are mostly created by commercial banks themselves</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">”. It’s all debt. For every dollar or pound loaned an equal dollar or pound is said to be deposited on account. Where does any of it come from? From nowhere. The money for the loans is created by the loans themselves. None of it is real. The banks get to instantly, effortlessly create money to lend, and the borrower must devote a portion of his life and labor to repay that which never existed. </span></p><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here’s how the system looks, as pictured from the </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://usdebtclock.org/&source=gmail&ust=1679510368647000&usg=AOvVaw2Is-PyLGEGLnhoRxhIOihS" href="https://usdebtclock.org/" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">National Debt Clock</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, Friday, March 17, 2023:</span></p><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 53px; overflow: hidden; width: 624px;"><img class="CToWUd" data-bit="iit" height="53" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/RAQu_39FM79GXTS8Ik-JfZyjiRVR-13pDUh13Kuq9fIPFEz2_WDIxjzhVuJZYiwLuwTjaK60eAsf729vZnkp5tREXCmsQT74iOwg6P14Y7BkKLKalHycnUtIr8HqZ_nxpDIeB_DInpT84Kz_mNzQiKE" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="624" /></span></span></p><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">US Treasury Dollars, on the left, account for the actual, “legal” money in the system. There are less than a billion real dollars, and all of them are off-limits to the public. That’s about $2.50 per person. Ya feel rich? The ratio of real money to fake money, or to the Currency and Credit Derivatives, on the right, is roughly 1:773,000. That is statistically zero. The M2 in between is the Fed’s fake money. It consists of some $2 trillion in paper bills and coinage and a rough floating of a slight majority of Uncle Samuel’s on-books public debt. The grand expression of the value and ownership driven from the pockets of the many to the vaults of the few is in the gigantic derivatives figure.</span></p><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Be mindful that $648 trillion(!) is a very conservative estimate. The number - and no one knows because it’s so big and so fluid - is plausibly more like $2 quadrillion. $2,000,000,000,000,000 in fake debt. What kinds of loans produce such an incomprehensible sum? All of them. The government debt, mortgages, student loans, car loans, business loans, and more add up to something like $100 trillion. The rest, the true “derivatives”, essentially consist of loans by and between the banks and large financial companies for sociopathic purposes. Ellen Brown beautifully and accurately summarizes the </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.unz.com/article/the-looming-quadrillion-dollar-derivatives-tsunami/&source=gmail&ust=1679510368647000&usg=AOvVaw3ph3YiF-xYNuU7sz65v4vO" href="https://www.unz.com/article/the-looming-quadrillion-dollar-derivatives-tsunami/" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">process</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">:</span></p><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The original purpose of derivatives was to help farmers and other producers manage the risks of dramatic changes in the markets for raw materials. But in recent times they have exploded into powerful vehicles for leveraged speculation (borrowing to gamble). In their basic form, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">derivatives are just bets – a giant casino in which players hedge against a variety of changes in market conditions</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (interest rates, exchange rates, defaults, etc.). They are sold as insurance against risk, which is passed off to the counterparty to the bet. But the risk is still there, and if the counterparty can’t pay, both parties lose. In “systemically important” situations, the government winds up footing the bill.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><span><a name='more'></a></span><div><br /></div><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s in the Constitution or something. Zeroth Amendment, Section 666. “Your” government allowed this to happen because, for the longest time, it benefited from the charade. With the dollar as the world’s reserve currency, the US empire could afford to militarily, economically, and legally dominate the world. However, that is now ending. It has arguably ended. China, Russia, the BRICS+ nations, and a few others long sought a way to circumvent and replace dollar hegemony, as expressed by the Petrodollar and the near-mandatory participation in the SWIFT payment transfer system. Russia and China spent decades retooling their currencies, linking them together (for use by them and other countries), and building the SPFS(MIR)-CIPS transfer system. They crafted a parallel monetary and economic structure that is operated by their own governments, for their own peoples, and without the sulfurous influence of wicked degenerates in New York, London, and Basel. When all was ready, they simply waited for a reason to activate the new system. That reason came along in February of last year when Russia began unilaterally disarming and defeating NATO. The delusional, greedy, arrogant, retarded heathens of Clown World, not content to just lose a global military conflict, decided to sanction Russia (which has only benefited Russia) and kick Russia out of SWIFT. Tandem switches were flipped in Moscow and Beijing, and suddenly two-thirds of the world had a vastly preferential alternative to the debt slavery of the fake, crazy West. </span></p><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Clowns know their time has ended. Many of them, formerly intent on leaping abroad (to China), are now trapped here with us in the burning wreckage they created. In all ways and all things, they are utterly desperate. The banking news of late is merely the continuation of the Great Recession of 2008 and the subsequent bank collapses and bailouts. None of the previous remediation worked. All of it magnified the problems. I believe we have entered the terminal era wherein a constant, open, and infinite stream of fake money - from the commercial banks, the central banks, and “your” government - is absolutely necessary to carry the day-to-day operations and gambling habits of the banksters. The speed, scope, and sophistication of this system mean this is technically uncharted territory. These fools may have done the impossible: they may be giving us hyperinflation during a (permanent or long-term) deflationary depression. We should show our gratitude for their skill by removing our hats before we remove their heads. </span></p><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They will resort to all kinds of black magic, trying anything they can think of to prolong their fleeting success and our growing misery. The proverbial can might get kicked just a tad further down the road for a few more months or years. However, in the end, this mess will result in the same total collapse seen in every previous society that permitted itself to be swallowed by financial vipers. </span></p><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So we’re back to the hope of a shiny new age of prosperity and sanity. This newest round is probably not THE endgame. It is a harbinger of things to come - soon. Any of you who have the ability should already be linking your wallets to the alternative systems of Sovereign World (Russia, China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, etc., etc., etc.). Everyone else must hold the line. You’re still alive. The sun still rises in the east. Your house still has walls. Odds are, you still have something to eat, somewhere to go, and someone to love. The loss of the foreign elite’s empire will only benefit Americans. There’s going to be an amount of well-earned, largely self-inflicted pain. Not a single one of “your” leaders has any idea what to do, and they will do anything except the right things. So be it. In the near future, as things progress, new or existing American jurisdictions will break from the madness of the Clowns. When that starts, the capital, people, freedom, and happiness will naturally flow to those areas. Where? No idea, but nearby. When? No idea, but soon. Keep the Faith, take care of your own, and ride it out!</span></p><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: The desperate elites are now contemplating all manner of chaotic lunacy. On top of their ordinary wickedness, they want a war or wars they think they can win (the rapid succession from Russia to China bypassing Iran to the Cartels and so on; and, honestly, they don't care about the winning part so long as there's chaos). Do not let them frighten you. Do not let them flatter you. Do not trust them. Do not listen to them. And most importantly, do not under any circumstances serve them. As Vox Day said a few days ago, “</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Let the Clowns defend Clown World</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">”.</span></p><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That’s a wrap for now. Before I go - one more book! Dr. Ironsides is back in the revised second edition of </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://shotwellpublishing.com/the-substitute/&source=gmail&ust=1679510368647000&usg=AOvVaw2vGt2FZcEjzki1aj-L1GlA" href="https://shotwellpublishing.com/the-substitute/" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">THE SUBSTITUTE</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. This book is a sound investment to feel confident about. Order as many copies as you can afford. </span></p><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 440px; overflow: hidden; width: 293px;"><img class="CToWUd a6T" data-bit="iit" height="440" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/aGupbIECW6QFxIKbDxky74nkq_V1JGY2g8e5OSpQ9FjlNvEvcjreEk_QFN7EfzO1QenFE09AMZrPprLyTrWOZKFo6JQY4V5X_pFAS0of_YueQGepj6LagmK8090ALldyJJARCpF8f7DGKqxnCcuNr7g" style="cursor: pointer; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline: 0px;" tabindex="0" width="293" /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">© Green Altar Books, Shotwell Publishing / Perrin Lovett.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://perrinlovett.me/">Perrin Lovett </a></span></span></p><span><!--more--></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4102465042518303653.post-64058093492897302372023-03-16T15:13:00.005-04:002023-03-16T17:51:10.427-04:00The Music Minute, 3/16/23: Big St. Patrick's Day - Lots of Great Live Music! <p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>G</b></span><span style="font-family: georgia;">reetings, Music Lovers, and welcome back to The Music Minute! </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">We skipped last week but there was, as usual, a ton of great live music last weekend at Amici, Five O'Clock, Social Goat, Tin Plate, Willy's & several other venues. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Yessir, we're fortunate to have such a thriving music scene once again here in our neck of the woods. </span><br /><br /><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Who's Playing Where & When </span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">- </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">St. Patrick's Edition</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> -</span></span></b><br /><br /></div><p></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><b>A</b></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> <span style="font-size: large;">playing at</span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b> <span style="font-size: x-large;">B</span></b></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">at</span></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">C<br /></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>After Hours<br /><br /></i></span></b></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>|||||||</b></span></div><b><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087286115729">Electric Wine</a> - Live @ Amici - Friday 3/17. 8pm </span></b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><br />This is a newer group comprised of a bit of a younger crew but by all accounts they've been impressing from the get-go. Heard nothing but good things about their New Year's Eve bash over @ Lucky Day. Play a lot of great Classic Rock tunes as well as some more recent stuff. This'll be a fun one. As an aside, I'm a big fan of their bassist - the one & only <b>Riley Ralston</b>. Righteous Dude, he comes by it honestly. <br /><br />Check it out, <i>Fo Sho! </i><br /><br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMPLzIfHVZ8f0agYzw3TlHK0cyPPXCVwZjDIsTI4ajqo_VkTMSZ4pUV6z_TGAtD5kqSW-5Hj8-RwAzAnzK_4fKRKmhepYjKg9-EgAL9H-6sHkr3HhId6bEcISg5pqgRadq44xpySYZAuy3kj27rhiLAHK2lnPIsUDWs2M-SPAuYkvJH6CqfNGW8j0-UA/s1605/IMG_2065.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1605" data-original-width="827" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMPLzIfHVZ8f0agYzw3TlHK0cyPPXCVwZjDIsTI4ajqo_VkTMSZ4pUV6z_TGAtD5kqSW-5Hj8-RwAzAnzK_4fKRKmhepYjKg9-EgAL9H-6sHkr3HhId6bEcISg5pqgRadq44xpySYZAuy3kj27rhiLAHK2lnPIsUDWs2M-SPAuYkvJH6CqfNGW8j0-UA/s320/IMG_2065.jpg" width="165" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The Andrew Brothers' Dueling Pianos - Live @ <a href="https://www.facebook.com/fiveoclocksportsbarandgrill">The Five (5 O'Clock Bar & Grill)</a> - Friday 3/17. 9pm <br /></span><br /></b><br />These guys always kill it. Have been blowing away crowds all over Covington, the entire state of Georgia & beyond for several years. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv8E-hbp0qkotjMZstOY_Tb09uEzQvzUMHPwDHphso9Zg5GqKiJ9mG6oVnQPUFinZjgJEmjUW4uCfWJ4DbTIRK1pa6_QoKabKi5RPoN6aKIn3AcDU0Uc7CLmerBZUjwd_pZTeTPEgefDACCOit4ZObQrasQV3vuft24qhxx_S7KXM6QHgnLXav1S48Bw/s720/five%20dueling%20pianos.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="648" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv8E-hbp0qkotjMZstOY_Tb09uEzQvzUMHPwDHphso9Zg5GqKiJ9mG6oVnQPUFinZjgJEmjUW4uCfWJ4DbTIRK1pa6_QoKabKi5RPoN6aKIn3AcDU0Uc7CLmerBZUjwd_pZTeTPEgefDACCOit4ZObQrasQV3vuft24qhxx_S7KXM6QHgnLXav1S48Bw/s320/five%20dueling%20pianos.jpg" width="288" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">The Five has a ton of food & drink specials for this one as well as a DJ lined up for the later hours. Always a good time at Five O'Clock - <b><i>Covington's Live Music Destination Location!</i></b> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/whiskeybent2014">Whiskey Bent</a> - Live @ The Social Goat - Friday 3/17. 8pm</b> </span></p><p><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">My main man, Mr. <b>Fluff Whatley</b>, w/ his powerful, soulful vocals while accompanied by the very nice guitar stylings of <b>Marc Airington</b>, always makes for a helluva show! These guys do real good, they really do. <br /><br /><i>Bonus</i>: I got to see one of Fluff's first public performances about 10 yrs ago. My band at the time, The Cool Swap, played a private party & after we were done, we, as well as the entire crowd, basically demanded Fluff do a number or else we were gonna throw 'em into Hard Labor Creek! He obliged & did <i>Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay</i> & killed it while we all were saying - <i>that boy need to play out!</i> Well, just a couple of years later & he was and the rest, as they say, is history. <br /><br />You'll definitely enjoy this one. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8eO8FeA-PFa_ZMj815SjMl5OiimviOTJSQLXeAuecyVnOAuuraMyEkXzBW-985LNcw46JATRJUhN5kwJTFt1kneL_ZB0X1hV9PL-bFao4D3c50rcfqEaydTA_9VouUjZE3nPk8zPp_1HsQEok5yA28jH4pcacqVGE65k2yidNsg1MdZ2Byobg59GNGw/s2000/whiskey%20bent.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1545" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8eO8FeA-PFa_ZMj815SjMl5OiimviOTJSQLXeAuecyVnOAuuraMyEkXzBW-985LNcw46JATRJUhN5kwJTFt1kneL_ZB0X1hV9PL-bFao4D3c50rcfqEaydTA_9VouUjZE3nPk8zPp_1HsQEok5yA28jH4pcacqVGE65k2yidNsg1MdZ2Byobg59GNGw/s320/whiskey%20bent.jpg" width="247" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>###<br /><br /></b></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">So, wow, a lot of competition out there. All three are just outstanding. I'd suggest hitting all three. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">And remember - live music every Saturday at Five O'Clock & Social Goat in town, and additional venues in Monroe, Social Circle & the surrounding areas. Pro Tip: go the book of faces & click on events & then search your local area. <br /><br /><br />Until next time, <br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>M</i></span></b><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>B</b></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>M </i></b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></span></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">_</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">S</span><span style="font-size: large;">UPPORT </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Y</span><span style="font-size: large;">OUR </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">L</span><span style="font-size: large;">OCAL_</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">_</span><span style="font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold;">M</span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>USICIANS_</b></span></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><br /><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4102465042518303653.post-11585004614876106962023-03-13T18:00:00.002-04:002023-03-13T18:00:24.233-04:00[Past Piedmont Chronicles] - Bess Tuggle: Memoirs of Surviving Children - The Cigarettes Incident<p><i>*ed. note: this piece was originally published in 2018. And, exciting news! It appears we're getting the band back together. Look for some new pieces from Bess moving ahead. As always thanks for reading.</i></p><div align="CENTER" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b><i><span style="font-size: large;">S</span></i></b>moking cigarettes is a really bad habit. I can say that because I smoke. Not only is it a bad habit, it’s an expensive one, too, and I wish I’d never started. It was also an indicator to my boys of Mama’s mood. If I walked out the back door, cigarette in hand (I never smoked in the house) they knew they’d better settle down or the paddle was coming out.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I always had a rule with my boys (yes, you could say this was a double-standard, I do and you can’t, but I meant it). If you want to smoke, I’ll teach you. I kept a couple 5 gallon buckets behind the house and a pack of unfiltered Camels in the freezer. If you want to smoke, fine. We’ll go down to the creek, buckets in hand for seats, and the pack of Camels.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My other promise was that we’d walk back up the path to the house together. I’d have a sore throat, and they’d be green faced and puking.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Didn’t –I- get busted!</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My oldest started sneaking my cigarettes (ultra lights) and smoking them at the bus stop at the end of the driveway. The driveway was half a mile long, so he really thought he was safe. Ummm… Our Tax Commissioner lives right around the corner (I’ll save my praises and accolades for her in another column). She called a mutual friend, busted my kid out, and I got to scare him. Scared him silly.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My child came home and I had the pack of Camels in my hand. I simply looked at him and said “We’re going to the creek.”</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I got tears. Not alligator tears, but –real- ones. “No, Mama. NO!” Yes, he was scared silly. The Camels were left in the freezer. I can’t say he never smoked again, but he did think twice about it.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I’ll save that story for another day.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;"></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">- Bess Tuggle </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></div><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;" /><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr-j09HkyfdR-1kgiFSKMw6ZsPOBGMzR0KSIddGS7ZBu7UfcGFSbTOzOktjdVnRD16aV0YUJI5y77sge8q4HMnrcfZEsywphDAkF5QRQ6GPsgcu1urblezMadWQWtEABwKsg7WkmCz79tT/s1600/bess+tuggle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #a18a7c; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr-j09HkyfdR-1kgiFSKMw6ZsPOBGMzR0KSIddGS7ZBu7UfcGFSbTOzOktjdVnRD16aV0YUJI5y77sge8q4HMnrcfZEsywphDAkF5QRQ6GPsgcu1urblezMadWQWtEABwKsg7WkmCz79tT/s200/bess+tuggle.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><b><i>A</i></b> <i>jack of all trades, Bess Tuggle has been a Covington resident since the late 70’s. She's been a K-Mart cashier, cabinet builder, vet tech, office manager for a beef cattle ranch and water well company (where she was able to hold benefits for D.A.R.E. and Scouts), a court reporter, business manager, assistant at a private investigation firm, legal assistant, convenience store clerk, landscaper and elementary school substitute teacher. Her greatest pleasure is being a wife, mother and grandmother. Her stories are all real, and all names will be withheld to protect the innocent, and also maybe the guilty, depending on the crime & the Statute of Limitations.</i></span><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 13.2px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;" /></i><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "courier new", courier, monospace;"><b><a href="http://www.facebook.com/thepiedmontchronicles" style="color: #a18a7c; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Piedmont Chronicles</span></a></b></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 5px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5mXOtt0wuoK7ji15cdolbH_7IB7kWT1uk1lnXRUpHV6tNCp9G7nMYI2fwu63vPkqtK_Z3cVVYQrhPQ1c2Ffsz4_Ia3T8HP0SkBsi2BCloaAjrvRQYtAL_qa2iO3A19_uhQOAVDpUwEMOO/s1600/TPC.png" imageanchor="1" style="color: #a18a7c; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="700" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5mXOtt0wuoK7ji15cdolbH_7IB7kWT1uk1lnXRUpHV6tNCp9G7nMYI2fwu63vPkqtK_Z3cVVYQrhPQ1c2Ffsz4_Ia3T8HP0SkBsi2BCloaAjrvRQYtAL_qa2iO3A19_uhQOAVDpUwEMOO/s200/TPC.png" style="background: transparent; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.56px;">Your Source for the REAL Story<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4102465042518303653.post-20395541523614539592023-03-09T15:04:00.002-05:002023-03-09T15:04:51.247-05:00Ellis Millsaps: The Russians are Coming & Kansas City Shitweed<p> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I</b></span>n the mid 1970s I lived with four other 20 somethings in a five bedroom, four bath mansion at 69 26th Street in Atlanta which we rented for $500 per month. The house is now appraised at over $2 million. Look it up if you're curious.</span></span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-3c0443bc-7fff-5919-2532-fdd77c698d29"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> I don't remember the exact details but I do recall that it was through my roommate Dan Simpson that an entourage of young Soviets, essentially a goodwill team sent to show that young Russians of the Brezhnev era were happy, educated and prosperous, came to our house. Dan, then a sometimes Dante employee who made his money as a broker of imported marijuana, met them at Dante's and struck up a conversation that resulted in their visit.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> They also were 20 somethings, 8 or 10 of them as I recall, and they were attractive, well groomed, charming, and spoke excellent English. Their chaperone was an amiable middle-aged college professor. It soon became apparent, because I offered them liquor which I readily swilled, that they were permitted to drink only beer and wine.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Looking back I imagine these young communists were surprised that my band of ne'er-do-wells were all able to own cars and live in relative splendor, particularly after I pressed them on the following: I explained that it was common for one of us to not work a job for weeks at a time and during that time we lived off the largess of our housemates. I wanted to know what would happen to me if I did that in Russia. (Okay, devil's advocate that I was being, I knew the answer) but they seemed confused and acted as if they didn't know what I was talking about until they sought a diplomatic answer from the professor who like me could drink vodka. You would go to jail he assured me, by which we both knew he meant they would give me a job with room and board (800 calories a day) in a frigid part of the planet where I might survive two years.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">It occurred to me later that it was I who was a free man living in a Fabian socialist circle while my guests were slaves of their state.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>To be continued.</i> </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.thepiedmontchronicles.com/p/blog-page.html" style="color: #a32823; font-size: 13.2px; text-decoration-line: none;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>E</i>llis "Da" Millsaps</span></span></b></a><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.2px;"> </span><i>is a recovering Attorney but has worn many hats over the years: father, bus boy, stand-up comedian, novelist, wiffle ball player, rock'n'roll band manager, and at one time wrote a popular and funny column for The Covington News. A Fannin Co. mountain boy originally, Mr. Millsaps now stays at the mill village of Porterdale by way of 20 years in Mansfield. Usually funny and at times irreverent and subversive, he leans left in his political philosophy but can always be counted on for a pretty darn good write-up. The Chronicles are proud to have him involved...</i></span><br style="font-size: 13.2px;" /><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 13.2px;"></span><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 13.2px;"></span><br style="font-size: 13.2px;" /></span></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"></span><br style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;" /></span></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><b><i><a href="http://www.thepiedmontchronicles.com/p/good-cop-bad-cop-novel-by-ellis-millsaps.html" style="color: #a32823; text-decoration-line: none;">Good Cop, Bad Cop: A Novel by Ellis Millsaps</a></i></b></span></div><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://www.thepiedmontchronicles.com/p/good-cop-bad-cop-novel-by-ellis-millsaps.html" style="color: #a32823; text-decoration-line: none;"><img alt="http://www.thepiedmontchronicles.com/p/good-cop-bad-cop-novel-by-ellis-millsaps.html" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1237" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1MEnUsix3YHHk4BgBt9RvrrEM1mUkMZl84DhXbHipcCuztLPFwKYqPWyys9x37HX3RZf6xRDklqJiF6LJ0ZmxPkOsvs2dyDk9IspC1xBAsyIbqaDpP1RAj8f4aLNYJp3zf86RY06I18W2/s320/good+cop_bad_cop_book_cover.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="247" /></a></span></div></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4102465042518303653.post-39946157382015310792023-03-02T14:42:00.001-05:002023-03-02T14:44:29.754-05:00The Music Minute, 3/2/23: Featured Artist - Shane Clark; Who's playing Where & When<p> <span style="font-family: georgia;"><span><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">G</span></b>reetings, Music Lovers, and welcome back to the first Music Minute in...well, a minute (or over a year). <br /><br />W/ the relaunch of TPC (has this happened before...?), I'd decided that music was going to be definitely at the forefront of the ole site once again & we're all real thrilled for it! <br /><br />W/out any further ado. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>FEATURED ARTIST - SHANE CLARK</b></span> <br /><br /><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6HBjaCPPEFd6owxT3-kw5fj_2xeJWFKZSnJlXGziOGgZPXhKVZJy-0QwDaOd7WM1jWjBWMu9UBxuMYEA8vxYx8lN9M7EzvhdhAvZv9Fh4LMbXujatrFgXubwYMT4sRKnZN0gEwYvtqsMd8g71GN0AVOLMFp-H6eKWWMj6wpsduQ9aFlO5F5HV6cpeTw/s920/IMG_2036.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="920" data-original-width="827" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6HBjaCPPEFd6owxT3-kw5fj_2xeJWFKZSnJlXGziOGgZPXhKVZJy-0QwDaOd7WM1jWjBWMu9UBxuMYEA8vxYx8lN9M7EzvhdhAvZv9Fh4LMbXujatrFgXubwYMT4sRKnZN0gEwYvtqsMd8g71GN0AVOLMFp-H6eKWWMj6wpsduQ9aFlO5F5HV6cpeTw/s320/IMG_2036.jpg" width="288" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ShaneCmusic86">Shane Clark</a></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I</b></span> first met Shane about 7 years ago. I immediately liked him. He's one of those guys that's wired just a little bit different. Marches to his own beat, if you will. Unique. A character. I can really appreciate that because I am - in a very different way - the exact same way. <br /><br />I believe I first interviewed Shane in late 2016, if memory serves, and did a feature piece on him at my old column at that <i>other</i> paper & later wrote about him here in the space a few times. Shane was very active for several years & then took a bit of a break. But now he's all-in full-steam ahead & is basically doing music full time now (more on that in just a bit). <br /><br />For starters, he's an incredible singer. Really, just a great, great voice. He's also a pretty darn good guitar picker & really puts on a helluva show w/ a great mix: Alt-Rock, Classic Rock, Country, Grunge & Southern Rock. He's even got a couple of R&B & Rap covers he does. He's added a few numbers from Whiskey Myers, too! <br /><br />His repertoire has greatly expanded. He's now got approx 10 hours worth of material. Also, he's a sound engineer & just put the finishing touches on a top-notch home studio. That's going to come in handy as he's about to commence work on a new album of original material. <br /><br />Shane got married not too long back & his lovely wife is now his full-time manager. Right now it's looking as if they are averaging around 2-3 shows per week that's about to go to more like 4-5. They've really grown their footprint. In addition to the local area, Shane's playing Monroe, Social Circle, Lilburn, Loganville, Jackson, McDonough, Winder & multiple other markets. They're even working on setting up a couple of mini-tours for the summer including possibly one all the way up in the midwest states. <br /><br />It's a very exciting time & I'm so happy for & proud of him. As we discussed, being on stage playing & singing music is Shane Clark's natural state. Good on 'em! <br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: medium;">S</span></b>o, one might be asking, where can we see this talented guy? <br /><br />He's got a weekly residency at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tacos%20n%20Beer/103114928970070/">Tacos N Beer</a> in Monroe every Thursday from 5:30 - 9pm. So that means you can go get you some tacos & <b>see him tonight</b>. <br /><br />On Sunday the 5th he'll be at Boondocks in Loganville from 3-6pm. <br /><br />He also does an every-other-Friday show at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/WillysMexMexGrill">Willy's</a> in Social Circle. He'll be there next Friday the 10th & then he'll be at Southern Roots in McDonough on the 16th of this month & will be a Vintage Tavern after that. <br /><br />You can keep up w/ his schedule at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ShaneCmusic86">his FB page</a>. <br /><br />###<br /><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> - WHO'S PLAYING WHERE & WHEN (</span><i><span style="font-size: large;">A</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> is playing at </span><span style="font-size: large;">B</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> at </span><span style="font-size: large;">C </span></i><span style="font-size: large;">/</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> <i>After Hours</i>) -</span></b></span><br /><br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Tonight! Thursday March 2nd & <a href="https://www.facebook.com/fiveoclocksportsbarandgrill">Five O'Clock</a> - Karaoke w/ Melissa </span></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgrP0m8oJhcRT3eGT7gJiloYxE9Qrq936_yzRF8KOU8_5yUEnAx6skCRt-g96N12YX8ueCFpjK0lYExBLdOqt9R_0u_TtKAQfsjCJ5UKTlHvLLb4uFsFjpq4Lwdnab2ojfYR35msELPu6dLaTbuJTF9A9xpJj2fkcYXBMLqXiuekNy5EZwh1nfUJKEQcg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="512" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgrP0m8oJhcRT3eGT7gJiloYxE9Qrq936_yzRF8KOU8_5yUEnAx6skCRt-g96N12YX8ueCFpjK0lYExBLdOqt9R_0u_TtKAQfsjCJ5UKTlHvLLb4uFsFjpq4Lwdnab2ojfYR35msELPu6dLaTbuJTF9A9xpJj2fkcYXBMLqXiuekNy5EZwh1nfUJKEQcg" width="192" /></a></div><br /><br /></b></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Hosted by the one & only Melissa Nash. This is always a great time! </span><br /><br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: medium;">F</span></b><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>riday March 3rd @ Amici - HIGH CHARITY</b> </span><br /><br /><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC3JbrCOAn536AdDE0QV49s7XunFw2UUouWAb12JQm7XaOCVU3hqKcwW6IQBvh1s4WsputAqLMrRWUGNUQWace9hBF1_9e-kIQQW9bhDvPYvrcTQXyZ8vvoubgYvOABaA79W18susE9B1Mjm-C8KYMB4EVkjyh5hLKjH-4ZoQAcd5_T1QX2agdL0xUyg/s1045/IMG_2032.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1045" data-original-width="826" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC3JbrCOAn536AdDE0QV49s7XunFw2UUouWAb12JQm7XaOCVU3hqKcwW6IQBvh1s4WsputAqLMrRWUGNUQWace9hBF1_9e-kIQQW9bhDvPYvrcTQXyZ8vvoubgYvOABaA79W18susE9B1Mjm-C8KYMB4EVkjyh5hLKjH-4ZoQAcd5_T1QX2agdL0xUyg/s320/IMG_2032.jpg" width="253" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">These guys have been at it since back in the day. Actually shared a couple of bills in Athens w/ them w/ a band I was in at the time years ago. Great mix. Great skill. Stumble on by & get some of the famous Ranch dressing & check out the righteous dudes. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Friday March 3rd @ Tin Plate - KARAOKE NIGHT </span></b><br /><br /><br /><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGfFkOz9P7JW0iNBX9SGiwpORouXz7kj--UG-cS4_HkP4Vr-k0woFIi9nQvLNURw7EwaaDek3n06CzZBMdElPvhoasf6Gf1cRcn-PiUNNTvZ1yuud92Nm6LJUMiU-A1NuWge_SGDINGQsJxmA3RqLPuLfAKlrl7uggjTOqvGth6EmtJcDHJ4LctIfgNA/s827/IMG_2035.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" data-original-height="434" data-original-width="827" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGfFkOz9P7JW0iNBX9SGiwpORouXz7kj--UG-cS4_HkP4Vr-k0woFIi9nQvLNURw7EwaaDek3n06CzZBMdElPvhoasf6Gf1cRcn-PiUNNTvZ1yuud92Nm6LJUMiU-A1NuWge_SGDINGQsJxmA3RqLPuLfAKlrl7uggjTOqvGth6EmtJcDHJ4LctIfgNA/s320/IMG_2035.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Every Friday night you can show off your own vocal chops over at Tin Plate in Circle of Social. This place has some great burgers & an impressive beer selection. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Friday March 3rd @ Five O'Clock Bar & Grill - Monkey Wrench</b> <br /><br /><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN78caPRg4IYGDryd__1QYJfuXFZtB37FKIDDmVAMgtPLjd8le6LdxiebPLsht93nkpAWB9StOBsolbdb6PlsZ7tv1NBDjHS9e6NA1BLuebr5zOPORb_BdAMSr7ENyx40ZbFJ9a8bs8Fm5Z2gb2tPPbiq0HIG3OYhWqd9OG4D6HFZn7uZFHY9QwhsqFg/s827/IMG_2034.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="827" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN78caPRg4IYGDryd__1QYJfuXFZtB37FKIDDmVAMgtPLjd8le6LdxiebPLsht93nkpAWB9StOBsolbdb6PlsZ7tv1NBDjHS9e6NA1BLuebr5zOPORb_BdAMSr7ENyx40ZbFJ9a8bs8Fm5Z2gb2tPPbiq0HIG3OYhWqd9OG4D6HFZn7uZFHY9QwhsqFg/s320/IMG_2034.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />Always a great time at The Five. The home city's premier live music destination. Monkey Wrench by all accounts always tears it up. Great food, of course, and a great selection of spirits. </span><br /><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Saturday March 4th @ Social Goat - Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute Band </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhszjF8hNixz67AISvZxvkbqySMaBLE1X4xQy1rI2yLe17PC7eGvf7sH55WkWVTL1RNocCkk_bFTIdWjpvbhKhx_8s2P7RcL2vQuThanbBKBYwH4HGoQbSLxAIiZs_3xUPsuzmaWBTF2nr93RaVuP6bbH684ksrxMuzbft7MEz17e6LE_qTf_ZZyargRw/s993/IMG_2033.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="993" data-original-width="827" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhszjF8hNixz67AISvZxvkbqySMaBLE1X4xQy1rI2yLe17PC7eGvf7sH55WkWVTL1RNocCkk_bFTIdWjpvbhKhx_8s2P7RcL2vQuThanbBKBYwH4HGoQbSLxAIiZs_3xUPsuzmaWBTF2nr93RaVuP6bbH684ksrxMuzbft7MEz17e6LE_qTf_ZZyargRw/s320/IMG_2033.jpg" width="267" /></a></div><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">*$10 Cover Charge</span></i> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">### </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br /><i><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Remember - live music at Five O'Clock </span><span style="font-size: large;">BOTH</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> weekend nights every week & most Sunday afternoons. <br /><br />W/in C-Town, Conyers, Mansfield, Monroe, Newborn & Social Circle were are now back up to well over a dozen venues w/in about a 25 mile radius of the home city doing live music again! After a bit of a lull for a couple of years we are pretty much back to our high water mark that we saw back in 2017/18. Very exciting times for music lovers. </span></b><br /></i><br />Look for this as a recurring piece most Thursdays. <br /><br />Stay Thirsty, My Friends! <br /><br />- </span><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b><i><a href="http://www.thepiedmontchronicles.com/p/blog-page_22.html">MB McCart </a></i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "courier new", courier, monospace;"><b><a href="http://www.facebook.com/thepiedmontchronicles" style="color: #a18a7c; text-decoration-line: none;">The Piedmont Chronicles</a></b></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 5px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5mXOtt0wuoK7ji15cdolbH_7IB7kWT1uk1lnXRUpHV6tNCp9G7nMYI2fwu63vPkqtK_Z3cVVYQrhPQ1c2Ffsz4_Ia3T8HP0SkBsi2BCloaAjrvRQYtAL_qa2iO3A19_uhQOAVDpUwEMOO/s1600/TPC.png" style="color: #a18a7c; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="700" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5mXOtt0wuoK7ji15cdolbH_7IB7kWT1uk1lnXRUpHV6tNCp9G7nMYI2fwu63vPkqtK_Z3cVVYQrhPQ1c2Ffsz4_Ia3T8HP0SkBsi2BCloaAjrvRQYtAL_qa2iO3A19_uhQOAVDpUwEMOO/s200/TPC.png" style="background: transparent; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.56px;">Your Source for the REAL Story</td></tr></tbody></table></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4102465042518303653.post-90208680257563768952023-02-27T16:47:00.006-05:002023-02-27T16:51:35.850-05:00A Monday Check-in from your Semi-esteemed Editor: Big Things Poppin' at TPC; Odds & Ends <p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><b>G</b></span>reetings, Fearless Piedmonteers, and welcome back to the fun house! <br /><br />First off, your feedback & support for TPC returning to its former glory has been very humbling & is much appreciated. As always, it's all about you, Dear Reader, and it really means a lot. <br /><br />Also, a specific thanks to Greg Rogers & <a href="https://www.facebook.com/fiveoclocksportsbarandgrill">Five O'Clock Bar & Grill</a> for advertising w/ us again. This was our first marketing campaign in almost two years & the first one since TPC has gotten back to business. Thanks so much, Greg. And remember folks - The Five is your go-to place in C-Town for live music & has some of the best grub in town. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">As a few of you may have noticed, we've been running some of our greatest hits here lately. We plan to continue to do so over the coming weeks & months. Our most recent, and one of my all time favorites, is Da's wonderful piece about <a href="http://www.thepiedmontchronicles.com/2023/02/past-piedmont-chronicles-ellis-millsaps.html">The Lost Boys & The Last Days of Wiffleball</a>. Dang thing gets me a bit teary eyed every time I read it. <br /><br />Speaking of Da, aka: <a href="http://www.thepiedmontchronicles.com/p/blog-page.html">Ellis Millsaps</a>, our Editor Emeritus, we've been having weekly strategy sessions that have resulted in lots of cigarettes & cigars being smoked as well as some vodka & brandy imbibed. And...that's really about it, other than solving all of the world's problems while strengthening our already-robust Mutual Admiration Society. <br /><br />But I digress. The big news is that Ellis is working on a trilogy pertaining to a fond remembrance of a situation possibly involving Russians & a truckload of some "<i>Kansas Shitweed</i>." Look for Part I w/in the next week or so. Personally, I'm pumped<br /><br />Switching gears, and even more exciting (<i>sorry, Da</i>), is imminent return of <a href="http://www.thepiedmontchronicles.com/p/contributing-writer-kayla-leasure.html">Kayla's Corner</a>! Yes indeed, you read that correctly, Kayla is returning to the fold for a featured monthly column. First one should hit w/in a week or so. <br /><br />And a moment for your truly as well. I've been getting major compliments on returning to my music roots. Several of you really enjoyed the <a href="http://www.thepiedmontchronicles.com/2023/02/amy-rae-ready-to-once-again-rock-out.html">Amy Rae piece</a> & I'm so glad you did. By all accounts she rocked the house again this past Saturday. If you missed it, fret not, she'll be back before too long & I'll let you know about it. And look for the return of The Music Minute this upcoming Thursday to get the 411 where live music is happening. <br /><br />Also, <a href="http://www.thepiedmontchronicles.com/2023/01/tpc-real-history-card-game-gone-bad.html">both</a> of my 1880s Covington Murder on The Square <a href="http://www.thepiedmontchronicles.com/2023/02/card-game-gone-bad-pt-ii-will-smith.html">pieces</a> were quite popular. Thanks again. <br /><br />A final thought & this is one that one of our readers sent in. <br /><br />What's up w/ the local governments doing as little as possible when it comes to the downed trees from that heavy weather a few weeks back? That one on Hwy 36 I almost ran into. Twice! Was like that all over the home county. I can kind of get a state highway where GDOT is involved but we also saw it w/ our county highways & city streets as well. They should at least be getting that stuff completely off the right-of-way. Not just six inches off the road shoulder. <br /><br />I'm in full agreement. <br /><br />Okay for now & as always - thanks for reading. </span><br /><br />- <span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b><i><a href="http://www.thepiedmontchronicles.com/p/blog-page_22.html">MB McCart </a></i></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8SEMXeWkAq_MRbTfUarkjrDIW1y-_rIrR7bQEq254-cufl3xYBtH5phVDSxYUFfJfC-GOX4VHBnMTJ-JdQkjG96ucWA8iSHu61LJD-R9L3Zjf0ZDl2EneKXzEwKK3EUg2MVrgguO-0ceOEqJwKRykHQBdFz7dcquEeNAfez9Jkx7ojNlHXLguyUuXgw/s684/TPC.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="171" data-original-width="684" height="80" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8SEMXeWkAq_MRbTfUarkjrDIW1y-_rIrR7bQEq254-cufl3xYBtH5phVDSxYUFfJfC-GOX4VHBnMTJ-JdQkjG96ucWA8iSHu61LJD-R9L3Zjf0ZDl2EneKXzEwKK3EUg2MVrgguO-0ceOEqJwKRykHQBdFz7dcquEeNAfez9Jkx7ojNlHXLguyUuXgw/s320/TPC.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /><br /> </p><p><br /><br /><br /><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4102465042518303653.post-60636920108907372382023-02-25T12:48:00.000-05:002023-02-25T12:48:28.210-05:00[Past Piedmont Chronicles] - Ellis Millsaps: The Lost Boys & The Last Days of Wiffleball: A Love Story<p> <i style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b>*</b>ed. note: Da originally <a href="http://ohdedoodahday.blogspot.com/">wrote this piece on his blog</a> some years back & I posted it here once several years back. Truly a great piece, we both thought it'd be a good one to share again here at TPC. Enjoy! - MBM</span></i></p><p><i style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span></i></p><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>THE LOST BOYS</i></b></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><i>By: Ellis Millsaps</i></b></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><b><i><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: x-large;"> B</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">oys come to my house in the middle of the night. I call them boys. They're in their mid-twenties. They were boys when I met them, and boys they remain.</span></span><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> They come in my bedroom at 1:00 A.M. exhorting Da to get up and play with them. Sometimes I do when I don't need to be up early. They consume everything consumable that they don't have to cook. When they leave it's as if a swarm of locusts has passed through. Empty husks are strewn everywhere.</span></span></div><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> But to understand about the lost boys and why I call them such, you first need to know about. </span></span><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>The Last Days of Wiffleball: A Love Story</b></span></span></div></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;"><b><i>W</i></b></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">e played wiffleball at least once a week for three or four years. We started as soon as it was warm enough and continued until it was too cold. It was never too hot and it took a lot of rain to stop us.</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> The players were me, my son and from three to twenty boys in their early twenties, occasionally a female or two. </span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Some of them had spent a lot of time at my house; most I had known since they were little; all were and are my friends. I could bore you to tears explaining our game and its elaborate rules-- how to turn a double play, (Base runners were all imaginary. There was diving by the intrepid defense in each game, but no base running.) how the cedar tree in left center (the green monster) came into play, but suffice it to say that we kept meticulous statistics and published them weekly on the interweb. And we lived from one wiffleball day to the next.</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> People regularly drove from Athens and Atlanta to play our game. I remember Daniel Lanford saying more than once that wiffleball was the only event he looked forward to. He usually followed by saying how this showed that he had no life, but I knew at the time he meant he loved us and there was no place he'd rather be. We all felt that way.</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Until the very end, almost all the boys who played this game had grown up together, gone to school together, played rec ball together, climbed the water tower together. The last summer of wiffleball, the game had grown by word of mouth to include boys some of us had never met. So many that no one got to play that much.</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> We all thought, the original wiffleball "core" that is, that the next year we'd politely rid ourselves of the new kids and reinstate our old game. That was two years ago. There's been no game since. What happened was that most of them got jobs, went off to graduate school, got demanding girlfriends that weren't of our circle, in short, grew up.</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> We didn't realize that last summer was the end of childhood for us. That summer was the last time this circle of friends would be together. Oh, a lot of them will still get together at the Christmas holiday but it will never be the same as the summers of wiffleball, more like a class reunion instead.</span></span></div><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> They all grew up except the few who were left behind, the lost boys who raid my refrigerator in the night. They roam the Newton County night looking for what has been lost, and although I go to bed on time, I’m not blind to the fact that I’m also one of the lost and left behind.</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: medium;"><i>Contributing Writer to the Piedmont Chronicles</i></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: center;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><b><i><a href="http://www.thepiedmontchronicles.com/p/blog-page.html"> Ellis Millsaps</a></i></b></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;" /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><img height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw4lLjSYN0imVOdDnSfCNK61KI09E9KIleH0BE2_EEP-6C3xt2tu7KzJp90pPY7m2eqSjgAX2Odi7sg1wm7gASapHcO8MBYUc3Ea96e6gtOdHeaGzvsc1mc8NY3_Lwd-Pla2sjstNHuWea/s320/ellis.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; padding: 5px;" width="220" /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>E</i></b></span>llis "Da" Millsaps is a recovering Attorney but has worn many hats over the years: father, bus boy, stand-up comedian, novelist, wiffle ball player, rock'n'roll band manager, and at one time wrote a popular and funny column for The Covington News. A Fannin Co. mountain boy originally, Mr. Millsaps now stays at the mill village of Porterdale by way of 20 years in Mansfield. Usually funny and at times irreverent and subversive, he leans left in his political philosophy but can always be counted on for a pretty darn good write-up. The Chronicles are proud to have him involved... </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;"></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.thepiedmontchronicles.com/search?q=ellis+millsaps" style="color: #a18a7c; text-decoration-line: none;">Read a Sampling of Da's Works </a></span></i></b></div><div><b><i><br /></i></b></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4102465042518303653.post-24789504674594357212023-02-23T16:19:00.001-05:002023-02-23T16:42:04.145-05:00Amy Rae Ready to Once Again Rock Out The Five: Country Rock Singer Talks About Her Music, Upcoming Show & the Road Ahead<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>By: MB McCart, Ed. </i></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>A</b></span><b>my Rae</b>. <br /><br />Two words. <br /><br />The One & Only. <br /><br />I'm tempted to just simply leave it at that... <br /><br />But seriously, some of you remember Amy's meteoric rise from a few years ago. Back in the day, starting in 2015, she took the local scene by absolute storm & continued to do so for several years playing high energy full-band rock shows as well as showcasing a softer side w/ her impressive acoustic gigs. <br /><br />It was the full package. An incredible voice. Great stage presence. <br /><br />A few of you may recall how I wrote about her multiple times in my old <i>Covington News</i> column as well as here in this space a time or two. <br /><br />This Girl was on fire! Getting airplay on 101.5 FM, playing multiple gigs all over the place while releasing some <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XR_RlGrpy8">incredible original material</a>. <br /><br />Then Amy took a break from the music to become a Mom. After a few years, the kiddos were old enough for her to be comfortable playing live music again & now she's back! </span><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/521060686719284"><img border="0" data-original-height="815" data-original-width="828" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2A70yG55jWXLFiEjXCPvQoM8M4G5hDVAbwFdNxvlJ8WHPlM1iwQRWqKTeVDvB_569yT4_zfJqZieXuoRCyE6f2EGi8mDeNPltzUdKNMjFRMzPyU6CTAmMkIbCTfGmFjmO79sFYgbRn3q-GoqpCR24x_gP92KXYhm0WXtHDtSt-vdV0Bg-O2ElfsXvdg/s320/IMG_2007.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/521060686719284"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">Amy Rae</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Live @ The Five! </span></i></b><br /><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 10.56px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">7189 Turner Lake Rd <br />Covington, GA 30014<br />770-385-3060</span></b></a></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">She started getting back into the groove about a year ago. Last month she played a show at Five O'Clock that absolutely blew the roof off the place. Folks were raving! Greg & the crew were so impressed that they scheduled her throughout the rest of the year & are very much hoping that she'll be playing their well-known & legendary New Year's Eve bash this year. <br /></span><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.amyraemusic.com/"><img border="0" data-original-height="544" data-original-width="827" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgipUFE-DacucVEYM9qoNY4cY9DTMsVeNJKdshCX2Pg5Fz084O07bVNwaUHUuXFlC7RxNzB7W9IW_7CHQf8oIvCbF_dfcxXY6WY4FhQ64e_Ygt-oJhxolj0XzUO3emQ0Niw1hcq_W3B2JTqzP2ktV0nSjKKupscBRq3qEzYcQCuIp_vbiakqSSGgxIbDQ/s320/IMG_2003.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.amyraemusic.com/">Amy Rae</a></span></i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">I had a chance to catch up w/ Amy the other day for our first interview in almost five years. As always, it was a great conversation in which we discussed many things. <br /><br />First off, we talked about the band. Just like in the old days, she's got the Brothers Meredith - Jordan & Jonah - on bass & drums, respectively. These guys are truly a superior rhythm section and Amy & I discussed the fact that them being brothers probably plays a role into how well they are able to lock in & become one as that driving rhythmic force of the group. <br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Guitarist Taylor McCurley, also a superb musician, rounds out the regular crew of the ARB (Amy Rae Band) while Steve Martin is on as a hired gun for this one as a second guitarist. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Amy spoke of how much she loves the dual guitar attack. <br /><br />"It just really opens things up & expands the sound so much." She went on to add the compliment - "my guys are great! They are all so good & I'm happy to have them." <br /><br />As many know, while Amy loves Country & many of her influences are of that genre & a good bit of her original material could be said to be in that vein her true passion is R O C K! And that's really a good bit of what you'll be hearing on Friday night. <br /><br />Speaking of the show, this writer was able to get a sneak peak of the set list & it's pretty great! <br /></span><br /><br /></div><div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b><i>--LOCAL ADVERTISER--</i></b></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; margin-bottom: 0in;"><p dir="ltr" style="color: black; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b style="color: #a32823; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/fiveoclocksportsbarandgrill">Five O'Clock Sports Bar & Grill </a></span></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="color: black; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/fiveoclocksportsbarandgrill"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></a></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 5px; position: relative;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #a32823;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 0px 0px 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><br /><a href="https://www.facebook.com/fiveoclocksportsbarandgrill"><img border="0" data-original-height="1221" data-original-width="1321" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyUjGhQLYf0cAAOr_Axn-kBvKCsKAdZl81HGPC41EEsFhz-uOl1E0buZ5j_n_pWhpKj6TSWNSJbWIJMs2Iw--VAjWhl_e7vEVNvd_yNuaDShfHzP73_KT0HFisbpltWxZHRnH2VxcRBEi7H6hbHnTK7xnU1XqHGrx2DSl-hbZu0hzZOCulVQDCxTygyw/s320/Five.jpg" style="background: transparent; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 5px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.56px;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/fiveoclocksportsbarandgrill">7189 Turner Lake Rd <br />Covington, GA 30014<br />770-385-3060</a></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 5px; position: relative;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.56px; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 5px; position: relative;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.56px; text-align: center;"><span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif"><b><i><a href="https://www.fiveoclocksportsbarandgrill.com/" style="color: #a32823; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Visit Their Webpage</span></a></i></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">LIVE MUSIC EVERY WEEKEND | LUNCH SPECIALS DAILY</span></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">|||||||||||</span></b></span></p></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">For starters, and this is one that is gathering quite a reputation around town, they do this killer version of <i>Folsom Prison Blues</i> that morphs into a Gospel Medley that apparently had some folks at the last show they did feeling the Holy Spirit. <br /><br />The one that absolutely blew this writer away when she told me about it is Whitesnake's <i>Still of the Night</i>. I mean, who covers that? Who could even pull if off? Well, the Amy Rae Band can... <br /><br />Really, Amy's set list is a true fusion mix. It really runs the entire gambit. Classic Rock. Funk. Country. Alt-Rock & Grunge. You name it. I won't give it away but they're even doing a well known Hip-Hop track w/ a Rock revamp. Seriously, folks, you don't want to miss this one. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhYzUYuMt96dYWMEg-P8-AgWejGoNyAE6Kv6zjG4vRGPkj-HazlFOkOxTUtlE9zNZZRyOcGxhyienw-G09bee9uKIvwBxFb3Zn7MlIaU-xmrWH02qHTKkvrCfHETO6_wsux3f-bgg61008M8K7eroaSTWkU7XHkd8h5N6dnii8LZWJQ_YtlxMCLYw7xQ/s828/IMG_2006.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="828" data-original-width="828" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhYzUYuMt96dYWMEg-P8-AgWejGoNyAE6Kv6zjG4vRGPkj-HazlFOkOxTUtlE9zNZZRyOcGxhyienw-G09bee9uKIvwBxFb3Zn7MlIaU-xmrWH02qHTKkvrCfHETO6_wsux3f-bgg61008M8K7eroaSTWkU7XHkd8h5N6dnii8LZWJQ_YtlxMCLYw7xQ/s320/IMG_2006.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>Known for her High Energy & Searing Vocals as well as her Top-Notch Band!</i></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">We also spoke about the aforementioned show from last month that everyone flipped over. <br /><br />"It was an awesome feeling," Rae said, adding, "the positive feedback, that great energy...it meant so much." <br /><br />We went on to talk about the current state of all things Amy Rae as well as the road ahead. <br /><br />"It's a funny business (playing live music), you've always got to stay humble but to always keep the mindset of keeping it real...You can't please everyone...I'm me. I'm real. that's just how it's got to be." <br /><br />Amen, Sister. Amen. You got to. <br /><br />Moving forward, Amy is about to start collaborating w/ her old songwriting partner, Joe Duke, and is planning to get in the studio before too long & will be releasing a new EP at some point in 2023. <br /><br />That's very exciting & this writer is glad to hear it. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh883zyLxB7Q1v6jU9xnq3HYqRBe99uUbefnE4lT-3nsF5Y3zPhihU7tSsMs6x0a0hwocxEWiewaZAET4yUO2ql6CgN4XQ6EGfvcBKkniFyaTOywo5JuwQ6nvVAoDvXa45aySiZ5iT-HliO2y4aztcnld-DmfcHk_BMusGqq__b3XgL0EENbspRQVLp6g/s827/IMG_2004.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="548" data-original-width="827" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh883zyLxB7Q1v6jU9xnq3HYqRBe99uUbefnE4lT-3nsF5Y3zPhihU7tSsMs6x0a0hwocxEWiewaZAET4yUO2ql6CgN4XQ6EGfvcBKkniFyaTOywo5JuwQ6nvVAoDvXa45aySiZ5iT-HliO2y4aztcnld-DmfcHk_BMusGqq__b3XgL0EENbspRQVLp6g/s320/IMG_2004.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>Magnificently Talented! About to Begin Work on New Material!</i></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">You can hear some of Amy's wonderful originals at her website - <a href="http://AmyRaeMusic.com">AmyRaeMusic.com</a>. And you can keep up to date w/ recent news & upcoming shows at her <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AmyRaeMusic">Facebook page</a>. <br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">So again, that's 9pm Friday February 24th at Five O'Clock Bar & Grill. </span><br /><br />Until next time, </span></div><div><br /></div><div>- <span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b><i><a href="http://www.thepiedmontchronicles.com/p/blog-page_22.html">MB McCart </a></i></b></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><p><br /></p></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4102465042518303653.post-74920766249313716942023-02-21T12:40:00.001-05:002023-02-21T12:41:17.190-05:00Past Piedmont Chronicles: The Ballad of Buster Chadwick<p> <i style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">~originally published in 2012~<br /><br />Ed. note: This remains as one of my all time favorite pieces that I've ever written. It was so great interviewing Mr. Buster for this wonderful story of a man whose life truly coincided w/ the Country & Western genre. He would die the following year in June of 2013. RIP, Buster Chadwick. - MBM </i></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>T</b></span>he story of Buster Chadwick, a Newton Co. resident, is a fascinating tale of a man and his music; a very interesting life that coincided with the development of Country & Western music as the major, established genre that it would later become.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj51isznJcV8EuNKYAiRhnUoIBN2N5UCbgrMIzEOQq4oBEyEPMvWPpQH38bhvEnAS8xG0-CtWmXRwJxqNEMmMUIVI8ZRlAngTM1DkVbmLkku6ssKY_iD-LzcIwDjKeiVMjWpGHa9AsFh8bf/s1600/Buster+guitar+1.jpg" style="clear: right; color: #a18a7c; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj51isznJcV8EuNKYAiRhnUoIBN2N5UCbgrMIzEOQq4oBEyEPMvWPpQH38bhvEnAS8xG0-CtWmXRwJxqNEMmMUIVI8ZRlAngTM1DkVbmLkku6ssKY_iD-LzcIwDjKeiVMjWpGHa9AsFh8bf/s320/Buster+guitar+1.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: georgia;">Mr. Buster's story starts in Sulphur Springs, AL in 1929 where he and his Mother lived until his Grandfather passed away in 1939. Apparently, somebody had mentioned that you were to shoot a gun three times to honor the recently deceased. So naturally, to a ten year old boy, this seemed like the thing to do. He got a gun but actually loaded it twice and then used a stick to pull the trigger. The gun popped back and knocked Buster down. As he later said, “It's a wonder I'm alive today.”</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">He and his Mother would later move to Rising Fawn, GA and it was there that Buster got his first guitar and started to develop his love for music and singing. At this time, there was a show called “The Grand Pappy Show”on an AM radio station coming out of Tennessee that featured music ranging from Chet Atkins to The Louvin Brothers. It was this show that would light the fire of Buster's musical passions. He was also a huge fan of The Carter Family as well. Soon thereafter, he got his first guitar and hit the ground running.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">He decided to quit school in the 8<sup>th</sup> grade in order to pursue music full-time. His first regular gig was at a venue called the Wagon Wheel where he played every Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday evening making a dollar per night.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /></span><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgru-Q3O-2asB98r1PY7ucOyrOrOGvngytqun3m4ysObAkxK6VXzMO7HAQuYJgB5YqijSz53SC-TyWU_fsyS8LM0cbV6VHH04PcpUs3rwQWxaCAVNy-cOKvKIgjqlXIvNtxyMS7hILIvwXu/s1600/Buster+band.jpg" style="clear: left; color: #a18a7c; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgru-Q3O-2asB98r1PY7ucOyrOrOGvngytqun3m4ysObAkxK6VXzMO7HAQuYJgB5YqijSz53SC-TyWU_fsyS8LM0cbV6VHH04PcpUs3rwQWxaCAVNy-cOKvKIgjqlXIvNtxyMS7hILIvwXu/s320/Buster+band.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: georgia;">During this era, in which Country Western music really started to get big, you did two things as a practicing musician. You played as many shows as you could, and you also would try to get a regular gig at one of the local AM radio stations. Mr. Buster would join up with an outfit known as The Koffie Cup Hawaiians that had a regular show on WDOD out of Tennessee. In addition to the radio show, the group would also play all over the Southeast opening for the likes of Country legends such as Roy Acuff, Bob Wells, and Eddy Arnold.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">This is a good time for a quick aside. There's a line in the movie, “The Blues Brothers,” when the waitress says something like, “oh, we play both kinds of music—Country and Western.” That's a funny line from a very funny movie but that distinction is quite real. Country Western, also known as Country & Western, or Western Swing, is very much a different genre from Country music. Country is bluegrass- based; Country & Western is Western Swing-based. Mr Buster will let you know right quick about that distinction and that he is a Country & Western man.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">But back to our story, after the Koffie Cup Hawaiians, Mr. Buster did his own thing during the mid to late 1940's playing around the South with a mix of different musicians. At one show, a young gal by the name of Dottie West opened for him.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">In 1949 Mr. Buster got married, started a family, and decided to get a regular job. He was thinking that he was done with the music business, but the music business was not quite done with him. The 2<sup>nd</sup> act of his musical life started with a phone call from a group out of Chicago that did sort of a “Lawrence Welk type of thing.” It paid $100 a week...really good money at the time. But after a couple of months, Buster just couldn't stand it anymore—he missed his Country roots. Later, he would actually join a traveling carnival as a featured musician. He wasn't able to stomach that for very long either and quit in between stops in Alabama and decided to walk and hitchhike his way back home. One night he actually had to sleep with his guitar in a ditch! Now that's Country!</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">After a while, Buster got back into radio doing music with a new group on WATL in Atlanta, GA. This would start his Georgia connection. It was a pretty good gig and the band would also tour pretty extensively during this time of the mid to late 1950's. By the way, the announcer for that station in Atlanta? Mr. 16 Tons himself, Tennessee Ernie Ford.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b><i>--LOCAL ADVERTISER--</i></b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin-bottom: 0in;"><p dir="ltr" style="color: black; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/fiveoclocksportsbarandgrill" style="color: #a32823; text-decoration-line: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Five O'Clock Sports Bar & Grill </span></b></a></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="color: black; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 5px; position: relative;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyUjGhQLYf0cAAOr_Axn-kBvKCsKAdZl81HGPC41EEsFhz-uOl1E0buZ5j_n_pWhpKj6TSWNSJbWIJMs2Iw--VAjWhl_e7vEVNvd_yNuaDShfHzP73_KT0HFisbpltWxZHRnH2VxcRBEi7H6hbHnTK7xnU1XqHGrx2DSl-hbZu0hzZOCulVQDCxTygyw/s1321/Five.jpg" style="color: #a32823; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1221" data-original-width="1321" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyUjGhQLYf0cAAOr_Axn-kBvKCsKAdZl81HGPC41EEsFhz-uOl1E0buZ5j_n_pWhpKj6TSWNSJbWIJMs2Iw--VAjWhl_e7vEVNvd_yNuaDShfHzP73_KT0HFisbpltWxZHRnH2VxcRBEi7H6hbHnTK7xnU1XqHGrx2DSl-hbZu0hzZOCulVQDCxTygyw/s320/Five.jpg" style="background: transparent; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 5px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">7189 Turner Lake Rd <br />Covington, GA 30014<br />770-385-3060</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 5px; position: relative;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.56px; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 5px; position: relative;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif"><b><i><a href="https://www.fiveoclocksportsbarandgrill.com/" style="color: #a32823; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Visit Their Webpage</span></a></i></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">LIVE MUSIC EVERY WEEKEND | LUNCH SPECIALS DAILY</span></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">|||||||||||</span></b></span></p></div></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">By 1960, Mr. Buster figured he was done with music for good. The time had come, he felt, to concentrate more on becoming a businessman and raising his family. He loved music but just felt like he needed to do something more stable to be the father and husband that he wanted to be.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK6zGhjiVHihrn1fzoA6y2Lf4dN17AY-HLCw_pbndqDXESIqMv7ZNbxUqhNhoccM4lH9r9jfPXpE9ebIes0gEVjI3VgFeV_MaDmwdUZWGPslu_WFh-cS215iDDPdBPIyLHCu1Ux2ndnD4W/s1600/buster+maddox+redo.jpg" style="clear: right; color: #a18a7c; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK6zGhjiVHihrn1fzoA6y2Lf4dN17AY-HLCw_pbndqDXESIqMv7ZNbxUqhNhoccM4lH9r9jfPXpE9ebIes0gEVjI3VgFeV_MaDmwdUZWGPslu_WFh-cS215iDDPdBPIyLHCu1Ux2ndnD4W/s320/buster+maddox+redo.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: georgia;">But...the musical ballad of Buster Chadwick had another chapter coming down the pike. In the mid 1970's, after he had done well for himself in the business world and raised a wonderful family, Mr. Buster decided he had to get the music going again. He started a band called The Peachtree Playboys that mainly played political events in and around Atlanta. In 1986 the band was tapped to do The Wild Hog Supper, the Georgia Legislature's annual throw-down. This gig would last for 20 years up until just a few years ago. During one of these shows, Mr. Lester Maddox, the former Georgia Governor, jumped up onstage and played harmonica with the band for a few tunes and brought the house down! In 1993 Mr. Buster was inducted into the Atlanta Country Music Hall of Fame. It was a great accomplishment for a man who was involved with the genre from its earliest days.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I truly hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I did writing it. I just felt like it was a good story about a good man, and it was one that I wanted to share with you. I'd also like to thank Buster's lovely wife Linda who helped facilitate the interview and helped get me the pictures. Until next time...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">- </span><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b><i><a href="http://www.thepiedmontchronicles.com/p/blog-page_22.html">MB McCart </a></i></b></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4102465042518303653.post-54614352178040486942023-02-16T22:14:00.000-05:002023-02-16T22:14:10.817-05:00Big Weekend at The Five - C-Town's Live Music Destination Location <p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>By: MB McCart, Ed.</i></span> </p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Welcome back to TPC, friends, and we're so glad you could join us once again. <br /><br />In the midst of our current advertising campaign w/ Five O'Clock Sports Bar & Grill we wanted to take a moment to relay to you their impressive lineup of live music for this upcoming weekend of February 17th thru the 19th. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Friday February 17th - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100076347159872" style="color: #a32823; text-decoration-line: none;">Upgrade Band</a> - Real Deal R&B and Soul Music | 9pm</span><br /><br /></b></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: georgia; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixRLPC-opJIDEHeh8I_04pEfp3WJLgH8LTXKzlPWjSC-kTPr9aNwGb7_eB0o44vjjT9XYTnHicUMb-eEwE7nm0v4gawGC4IPbNos9-RgPVpH-QhZvq7JebSF1Yhxmhqn1-PC4zhaXH2oZvW_KI9Se4fvLx0juVWukNzVc35cn_L-g4t7UKqx2v6kJFSw/s2048/UpGrade%20ATL.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixRLPC-opJIDEHeh8I_04pEfp3WJLgH8LTXKzlPWjSC-kTPr9aNwGb7_eB0o44vjjT9XYTnHicUMb-eEwE7nm0v4gawGC4IPbNos9-RgPVpH-QhZvq7JebSF1Yhxmhqn1-PC4zhaXH2oZvW_KI9Se4fvLx0juVWukNzVc35cn_L-g4t7UKqx2v6kJFSw/s320/UpGrade%20ATL.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">This crew is known all over the Atlanta Metro area & for good reason. <br /><br />They're A M A Z I N G! <br /><br />70s & 80s Soul & R&B? Check. Pop music from multiple decades? You know it. <br /><br />These guys are the TRUTH! I'm planning on attending this one. Maybe I'll see you there...</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Saturday February 18th - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/chrisjonandscott">Chris, Jon & Scott</a> | 9pm</span></b></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB_jOaZWzw7Re8dWyiGt1FUhwawoUt3-JDXWJ63ZYp37jMSiBD9c9QzcM1_y1dabB4aSs2ZlujTr9yx6LXm1AO2OL7oheQh6S2FTDCS08YTgRcXLN6vg9O7bYEgDgaFHI3Vrbbz-ffEXCahg4BOc_fLP1Mjudm0MYLZDUYDdP9IAzWZXxSTfjRMa-VHQ/s526/CJS1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="526" data-original-width="526" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB_jOaZWzw7Re8dWyiGt1FUhwawoUt3-JDXWJ63ZYp37jMSiBD9c9QzcM1_y1dabB4aSs2ZlujTr9yx6LXm1AO2OL7oheQh6S2FTDCS08YTgRcXLN6vg9O7bYEgDgaFHI3Vrbbz-ffEXCahg4BOc_fLP1Mjudm0MYLZDUYDdP9IAzWZXxSTfjRMa-VHQ/s320/CJS1.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span><p></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: georgia; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">As I wrote about a few years ago, I'm really thinking that Christon might be an angel or something. He's simply amazing. Jon & Scott Lansburg are incredible on guitar & bass, respectively. <br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">In many ways, this might be the best band in the home county. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">They can do 70s Classic Rock; 60s & 70s Soul & R&B; 80s Rock as well as 90s & New Millenium Alt-Rock; maybe even some Michael Jackson. <br /><br />They're simply the best. <br /><br />A <span style="font-size: medium;">"<b>MUST SEE SHOW!</b>" </span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Sunday February 19th - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hunter.grayson1">Hunter Grayson</a> | 3-6pm</span></b></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSvpeG7Ity6Z91PoxxupvRIrNBVrrE3vIPrWulc8GwLq-Nk9lidvmyyKwDsAV_qDj-3wrtf3wZR5uuNdQSyyE6J2o5ZRY9kAb4i4DKIcpvxBCaqrMxS9LQp-MZ6LRBYxsfKtBL8HcrxqTp4qu1ZO0f9RpYJZdL6lvZUjmyoFmaBoT9m166Zzh0iItumg/s960/hunter%20grayson.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSvpeG7Ity6Z91PoxxupvRIrNBVrrE3vIPrWulc8GwLq-Nk9lidvmyyKwDsAV_qDj-3wrtf3wZR5uuNdQSyyE6J2o5ZRY9kAb4i4DKIcpvxBCaqrMxS9LQp-MZ6LRBYxsfKtBL8HcrxqTp4qu1ZO0f9RpYJZdL6lvZUjmyoFmaBoT9m166Zzh0iItumg/s320/hunter%20grayson.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">This fella has been impressing folks for years. <br /><br />With an impressive voice, good guitar playing & true Country bonafides, Hunter is the real deal. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>**Also, this**</b><br /><br />Homeslice is going to be the star of the new FOX reality show - "<i>Farmer Wants a Wife</i>" <br /><br />You'll be able to see him on the ole <i>teevee</i> here in about a month or so. <br /><br />Come see him do his thing & meet him before he becomes crazy famous. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 5px; position: relative;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi57wbmtxdATa-naEU2P_67TFBmv_Kuk985Cmb-4UXNR2pPUPxZMbig_jEVCS3Ii4x7zODqvTimz_zmf0IU6wBEgOhBwg5tHYcfP9NOC92L54CJZk9Smwh2R3VxBGQ4wqEjBjpuPOnpSMyj0AQmKY2UqZhQNH7Gig4fMkwKEtpLciGxOy1Mp01Eqapk0Q/s309/five%20oclock%20logo.png" style="color: #a32823; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="120" data-original-width="309" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi57wbmtxdATa-naEU2P_67TFBmv_Kuk985Cmb-4UXNR2pPUPxZMbig_jEVCS3Ii4x7zODqvTimz_zmf0IU6wBEgOhBwg5tHYcfP9NOC92L54CJZk9Smwh2R3VxBGQ4wqEjBjpuPOnpSMyj0AQmKY2UqZhQNH7Gig4fMkwKEtpLciGxOy1Mp01Eqapk0Q/s1600/five%20oclock%20logo.png" style="background: transparent; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;" width="309" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 5px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.56px;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">7189 Turner Lake Rd </span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">Covington, GA 30014</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">770-385-3060</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 5px; position: relative;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.56px; text-align: center;"><div><span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b><i><a href="https://www.fiveoclocksportsbarandgrill.com/" style="color: #a32823; text-decoration-line: none;">Visit Their Webpage</a></i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "courier new", courier, monospace; font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/fiveoclocksportsbarandgrill/" style="color: #a32823; text-decoration-line: none;">Visit Their Facebook</a></b></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><p style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><i>Covington, GA's Live Music Destination Location</i></b></span></p><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Man, what a weekend of talent! Not to mention that 5's got some of the best grub in town & such a friendly staff. <br /><br />Ease on down & join Greg, Lisa & the rest of the gang this weekend - I believe you'll be glad you did. <br /><br />Until next time, <br /><br />- <b><i>MBM </i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbQn-0NlZHz-Ei0JyHj0oRsZ-h4zWc4CT16w5aCoZkxHsf1sVjhnyGgDHpouXAdqEkRpf5zPL_3YAVBGNulN0jgXXBOpuQq2Edu9mVVzinhdEiMInvgtNYi-G-J0BWqV2H6kBjF53s1f_qieKuB9AErYKP_eSBLPAXmSsOVrIYuTuitzyWUUg1JZc_iA/s684/TPC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="171" data-original-width="684" height="80" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbQn-0NlZHz-Ei0JyHj0oRsZ-h4zWc4CT16w5aCoZkxHsf1sVjhnyGgDHpouXAdqEkRpf5zPL_3YAVBGNulN0jgXXBOpuQq2Edu9mVVzinhdEiMInvgtNYi-G-J0BWqV2H6kBjF53s1f_qieKuB9AErYKP_eSBLPAXmSsOVrIYuTuitzyWUUg1JZc_iA/s320/TPC.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com