This from the Pampa News, the newspaper 12 miles from where we live. Those who know me know I'm quite possibly one of the biggest Woody Guthrie fans on the planet. Guthrie's granddaughter gives deeper insight into folksinger Posted: Saturday, Oct 02, 2004 - 11:37:05 am CDT By David Bowser Staff writer (Pampa News photo by David Bowser) Anna Laura Batson, left, with Anna Canoni, Woody Guthrie's granddaughter, in Amarillo Thursday afternoon. Batson knew Wood...

I am looking forward to November 3. On that day, we will begin to see the true results of the election, and get beyond the mindnumbing speculation that has been inaccurate by pollsters' consistent refusal to include candidates such as Badnarik, Cobb, and Peroutka in their polling data. My theory is that this election will be rather interesting due to the internet. As I speak with the average joe on the street, I find a larger percentage of them have heard of Badnarik, even if they do not supp...

For anyone new to blogging on JU, I offer this advice: Don't touch sports. Of the topics that draw Joeuser readers, sports is at the bottom of the totem pole. It should only be a subject of your blog if you're writing it for your personal collection, not for readership. Because they are rarely read and even more rarely commented upon. My first sports blog on here was a blog entitled "(Past) Time for Griffey to Retire?". It generated comments from two users, which is well above my average o...

I was ten years old, and school was interrupted so that we could watch television. It was always incredibly cool when school was interrupted by TV, even if it was just a boring news show, as they usually were. But this was far from boring. Before my preadolescent eyes, a pillar of black reached high up into the Washington sky and spread out across the countryside. I watched as mudslides poured down the mountains and a pristine, beautiful pine forest was laid desolate. I was mesmerized. ...

With the season winding down and the next to last moment I wanted to see played out on baseball's grand stage, it's time to enter a few random thoughts on the season. The season was a hard one on my beloved M's, made harder by the fact that "wait 'til next year" will have to be a motto that doesn't include Edgar Martinez in a playing capacity for the first time since 1986 (I am dearly hoping to see him suit up as a first, third base, or hitting coach, most likely the latter). Edgar's humility...

Well, today was a long one. I had a move to do for day labor, got done with that and was called out to lay sod in the afternoon. Although this is definitely a blessing as far as the money is concerned, it has sure made the move frantic. This has been one of those things that has just seemed right from the get go: I'm booked up with work over the weekend, and we will get into Texas with a reasonable amount of money. Not NEARLY enough to stay in Pahrump, mind you, but it should be enough to tak...

I am relieved that 186 people in the House of Representatives have some sanity left. The Republican controlled House voted 227-186 in favor of the same sex marriage ban, enough to muster a simple majority, but far short of the 2/3 needed to pass the Bush backed proposed amendment. While it is sad that over 200 representatives support such authoritarian intrusions on personal life and liberty, it is somewhat relieving to know they don't enjoy enough support to legislate it at this time. Sa...

For those of you who have never been to Vegas, the Fremont Street Experience is on Fremont Street, the "original" strip, and in the heart of downtown Vegas (the Strip, actually, lies mostly outside of Vegas proper). This from an online review: Review: With its $70 million light canopy, $17 million in upgrades and 550,000-watt sound system, the Fremont Street Experience is sure to mesmerize. Positioned 90 feet above Fremont Street, the attraction stretches 1,400 feet and consists of 12.5 mi...

From Michael Badnarik's campaign website ( www.badnarik.org ): FOUR VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES TO DEBATE IN OHIO September 29 Unscripted Debate Offers Voters a Rare Opportunity to Hear Issues Not Discussed in the Exclusive, Two-Party Controlled Debates A rare debate among four vice presidential candidates - from the Libertarian, Constitution and Green parties, as well as Ralph Nader’s independent ticket - will take place on Tuesday, October 5, at the John Patrick Theatre at...

FROM THE BOSTON GLOBE September 28 Third party could tilt Nevada to Kerry By Thomas Oliphant, Globe Columnist | September 28, 2004 Read the entire article here . FOR THOSE who adore the oddities of politics, this place may be ground zero. In this quirky polity wrestling with the consequences of explosive population growth, it is the Libertarian Party candidate, Mike B[a]dnarik, who is causing the trouble, much more than Ralph Nader. As the state mirrors the nation in advan...

Well, today was a busy day. I had to go into Vegas to cash my unemployment check and to get the bus tickets to Texas. This gets the clock ticking towards our move. I came back and decided to pay a visit to a friend, the hoistman from the mine where I used to work, to ask him to lodge our dog for a couple of months, to which he was agreeable. He and many of the other miners are preparing to head upstate to Elko to try their hand at the mines up there in January. The mine is now hard to access ...

Steve Williams went to the ballpark on September 17, and seated himself in the left center field bleachers. Little did he dream that 11 days later he would be the subject of a suit by one of his fellow bleacher bums, Timothy Murphy. At issue: the 700th homerun of one Barry Bonds, which was in Williams' possession following a melee, but which Murphy claims is rightfully his. The first thing that comes to mind here is the thought that the attitudes of the multimillionaire ballplayers seem to...

Well, everything's pretty much set in stone. Gideon and family are moving to Texas next Tuesday. I drove into Vegas today to get the tickets and take advantage of the 7 day advance purchase price. And so, at 2:00 our time next week, we will be headed east. I will miss the friendships we have formed here; despite this being a toiwn full of crooks, there are some good hearts in the community; they're just in the minority. I will NOT miss living in a town where the average rent for a 3 bedroo...

This joint press release is from www.badnarik.org , the official website of Libertarian Party Candidate Michael Badnarik's presidential campaign: PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES BADNARIK & COBB TO DEBATE IN MIAMI September 27 JOINT NEWS RELEASE For immediate release: September 27, 2004 Contact: Stephen Gordon (Badnarik/Campagna) communications@badnarik.org 256-227-8360 Jason Neville (Cobb/LaMarche) jason@votecobb.org 504-338-3683 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES BADNARIK & COBB TO DEBA...

So, it seems, we are going to Texas. Details have not been finalized, but of the options available at this time, Texas seems to hold the most promise. Where we would be headed, the panhandle, the cost of property is very low, and I have never cared much about having an expensive home, but just having a home of our own. For many reasons I can't detail at this time, this just "feels right". Since my unemployment benefits will travel with me, there will be no immediate pressure to find a job,...