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The Monster Mile: Maybe a Martin Repeat?

NASCAR.com : races : tracks : Dover International Speedway

Updates: English and Sith

An update or two:
Andrew's term paper wasn't enough to bring him up in English. Combined with a not-so-good grade on his final, he'll be in summer school for a full day (8-2) instead of just half a day for 20 days. It'll be hard to do a year's worth of English in just 20 days. But we'll make it this time. He got a 103 on his final science test, high in American history, and a C in math. He'll probably end up with a B in math.

Saw Revenge of the Sith a second time last week. It was better the second time around. Now, I'll just wait for the DVD. Then the extended edition DVD. Then the director's cut DVD. Then the three-boxed set. Then, the extended three-boxed set. Then the original re-mastered trilogy set. Then the six-box set. Ad nauseum five sentences ago.

Always Knew It'd Make You Go Blind

CNN.com - FDA probes blindness among Viagra users - May 27, 2005

CNN.com - Amazon loggers clash with lost tribe - May 26, 2005

CNN.com - Amazon loggers clash with lost tribe - May 26, 2005
Where's Medicine Man when you need him? I'm damn close to becoming a tree hugger.

Howard Morris, an Actor in Television Comedies, Dies at 85 - New York Times

Howard Morris, an Actor in Television Comedies, Dies at 85 - New York Times
Rock throwing can be hard on a person.

Jeff Gordon Booed? Say It Ain't So!

Major League Baseball : News : Left Field

Revenge of the Sith

We saw Revenge of the Sith Thursday night. After seeing the original movie aka/Star Wars/Episode IV-A New Hope in the theater when it was first released, it was good to see it come full circle, have questions answered.

There was also a let-down feeling, maybe because the saga is finally over, or maybe because "the good stuff" came toward the end of the movie.

SPOILER ALERT (as if you probably don't already know):

Seeing the physical birth of Darth Vader (Palp had already named him) was pretty awesome. When he sat up and breathed from behind his mask, the audience kind of laughed and kind of did a breath intake. And when James Earl Jones finally spoke for the first time in the movie, well, that was the highlight for me.

Vader's "birth" was intercut with the birth of the twins. Very cool.

Yoda, as before, was kick-ass.

General Grevious lived up to the hype as he waved four light-sabers at once.

But Palps stole the show. His character became the center of attention during the movie. Very well played.

In the original trilogy, the twins, Luke and Leia, were the centerpiece.

The prequel trilogy, of course, centered on Anakin, why he gave in to the dark side and the rise of Vader.

I hate to see it end, but it did come full circle. The end of Revenge of the Sith blends perfectly into A New Hope. Even if you're a casual Star Wars fan, like, it's all worth it.

English: UGH!

At the end of the last nine weeks grading period, my son:

Had the second highest grade in his class in math.

Had the second highest grade in his class in science.

And had a 61 (barely a D) in English.

Hates English. Hates it, hates it, hates it.

Now, it's research paper time. Finally got the note cards and outline done. He said the outline was done like the paper was a 5-point essay. Now he's "confused." Not sure if it's supposed to be written like a 5-point essay or research paper.

One day left before final draft is to be turned in.

Because of the D, this is pass or fail for the second semester.

My hair went gray years ago. Next, it'll be falling out because I'll be pulling it out.

You can tell he's a bluesman--Son Thomas.

Son and Son

I met James "Son" Thomas in 1978 in Yazoo City, MS, where he had been brought in by a state education program to educate youth about Mississippi Delta Blues. Who better than Son Thomas of Leland, MS to do it?

I was working for the Yazoo City Bureau of the Jackson Daily News at the time. Unfortunately the paper didn't know anything about setting up a bureau, and neither did I. It's sister paper, the Clarion-Ledger, was the one that had the bureaus.

Since I didn't have an office, I worked out of my apartment. Son came to the apartment twice over the course of three days. We ate, I asked questions, he gave answers, I wrote answers down, etc., you know–the usual reporter thing.

But mostly he played. His own style of blues, with that falsetto voice that was known throughout the "Blues World." I did a full page on Son Thomas, complete with pictures and an article.

Two regrets:I wish I had a copy of that page. And, damn, I wish I had recorded him. I'd love to hear it now.

His son, Pat Thomas, will play at the sixth annual Highway 61 Blues Festival in Leland Saturday, June 5. "They" say he sounds just like his father. I'll be there to hear him.

http://www.highway61blues.com

The late James "Son" Thomas of Greenville, a one-of-a kind blues legend.

This guitar was made from a block out of the cabin where Muddy Waters was born. It was made for ZZ Top. On display at Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale, MS.

Phillip Austin and Chester Huntsman at the Armadillo Festival.

Deborah and Shannon at the mock accident.

Aftermath of pig chase.

Turning a pig loose for a chase. You know what's coming.

See the guy in the red helmet crawling out at Sunday's mud race. Both in the truck were unhurt.

Dog Day Hot at the Armadillo Festival

Ledger-Enquirer | 05/06/2005 | Mother's call gets son in hot water

Ledger-Enquirer | 05/06/2005 | Mother's call gets son in hot water

Shi-Tae

Sunset on the Prairie.

Blues Festivals in the Area

Upcoming blues festivals in the area.

Leland Blues Festival--Saturday, June 4, Leland, MS--Bobby Rush, Willie King and the Liberators, Jimbo Mathus and Knockdown South, and more.
http://www.highway61blues.com

Sonny Landreth--August 20 James Burton International Guitar Festival, Shreveport, LA. http://www.sonnylandreth.com/sonnyframes.html

Hubert Sumlin in Hot Springs September 2 or 3.http://www.spacityblues.com

Jimbo Mathus, Sonny Landreth and Hubert Sumlin are must-sees.