Paul Riekhoff

IS AWESOME. What a stand up dude. I wrote to him and the guy wrote me back! AND, He's sending me an autographed copy of his great book, Chasing Ghosts. YAY! And, yeah, alright, I'll admit it. He ain't too hard on the eyes. That's not what I like him, but it's a fringe benefit. He makes our generation look good, and boy, sometimes I think we need that with Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan and Steve-O running around.

p.s. the photo is from Details magazine. Huzzah.

We're sophisticated...

ok, not really, but now you can get us in your favorite RSS reader. Yeah!

Paste this URL in your reader and you know how the rest works:

http://feeds.feedburner.com/rockchicks

Just trying something here...

OBAMA! '08! OH YEAH!

Mr. Obama left Hillary in the dust with fundraising. And the best part? It was all grassroots, from NO SIG's, NO PAC's, NO lobbyists. Just normal everyday folks like you and me. 258,000 of them. Clinton got most of her donations from holdovers from Bill. She would sink like a lead balloon without his popularity bouying her up.

I sincerely hope Obama wins the nomination. I think his numbers speak to how much people ache for change and are tired of the Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinton dynasties.

As Elaine says, BARACK THE CASBAH!

Anyone that can bring Juanita and Pequita together on common political ground deserves to be president.

OBAMA '08 WALK FOR CHANGE

We had so much fun! Rock on Cityplace! We gave out TONS of stickers and talked to people. Fun for all.

I HEART PAUL

Paul McCartney has a new album out called "Memory Almost Full" and it is AMAZING. McCartney has definitely not lost his ability to create beautiful music, and music that rocks for that matter, even though he's almost 65 years old. Sometimes I feel dirty being so crazy about a man twice my age. Oh well. I love Bruce too and Elaine loves Joe Perry, so I guess we are all guilty of it. On the other spectrum, I also have a thing for Daniel Radcliffe. heh heh.
Anywho, If you get a minute, go to iTunes and sample "Nod Your Head," and visit his REALLY cool flash website.

YEAR ZERO IS OUT!

There are not enough words in my vocabulary to describe how much I love Year Zero. It is so pissed off and so filled with hooks. It's like Trent went inside my own mind and accessed the part of my brain that files away how I feel about the way things are in the world, and he took those feelings and turned them into music. It's so scathing towards Bush and rampant capitalism and war and on and on. Trent is PISSED. AND HE'S SO FREAKING SEXY. Sheesh. How hot can one man get? I thought he was hot in high school 12 years (yipe) ago, but he looks a million times better now. Sobriety also allowed him to release TWO albums in as many years. TWO! TWOOOOOOO! AND a DVD!!!! sighhhhh...
p.s. listen to the CD with headphones. You won't regret it. heh heh.

Time Flies When You're Having Fun

My boy is already a year old. Can you believe it?

YEAR ZERO

My secret husband, Mr. Trent Reznor, just released two singles from the new album, Year Zero (OUT APRIL 17!!). I'm not that crazy about "survivalism," it's OK, but I LOOOOVE "My violent heart." Wow. It's...really...really...good. I'm so happy. It's on his myspace page if you want to take a listen. I suggest it.

The State of the Union is Melancholy.

There have been 3,309 coalition deaths -- 3,056 Americans, two Australians, 130 Britons, 13 Bulgarians, six Danes, two Dutch, two Estonians, one Fijian, one Hungarian, 32 Italians, one Kazakh, three Latvian, 18 Poles, two Romanians, five Salvadoran, four Slovaks, 11 Spaniards, two Thai and 18 Ukrainians -- in the war in Iraq as of January 22, 2007, according to a CNN count. (Graphical breakdown of casualties). The list below is the names of the soldiers, Marines, airmen, sailors and Coast Guardsmen whose deaths have been reported by their country's governments. The list also includes seven employees of the U.S. Defense Department. At least 22,951 U.S. troops have been wounded in action, according to the Pentagon.

It's a WINDFALL!

Trent is putting out a DVD on February 27th AND..

a NEW CD ON APRIL 17th!!!

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He had to fight with the record company to get this album put out, because supposedly it's the hardest CD he's ever put out, at least according to a DJ on Sirius. I CAN'T WAIT!

I'm giddy!

3,000

Alright, new congress. GET US OUT OF THERE.

My Little NIN Fan

Indra is sporting her NIN onesie courtesy of Aunt Elaine, and a guitar courtesy of Restoration Hardware.

I think Elaine is right...our kids will either grow up and think we were cool because we had good taste in music...or they will grow up and think we were both totally out of our minds. I think if they ever come across the fantasy interviews, it will definitely be the latter. Oh well!

I only speak for myself, but if I can raise my daughter without her ever having her ears tainted by Barney or the Wiggles, I will have done a good job.

Say hello to the newest Rockchick!

This is my brand new daughter, Indra. She was born at 3:39 AM on Wednesday December 13th. I labored for 15 hours without any drugs before having to have a c-section because she was stuck. It was all worth it. She's such a force of love and warmth that I didn't know I had within myself. Being a mom is the greatest. We're home now and it's wonderful!

From Today's New York Times

GO OUT AND VOTE TOMORROW!

The Difference Two Years Made
Published: November 5, 2006

On Tuesday, when this page runs the list of people it has endorsed for election, we will include no Republican Congressional candidates for the first time in our memory. Although Times editorials tend to agree with Democrats on national policy, we have proudly and consistently endorsed a long line of moderate Republicans, particularly for the House. Our only political loyalty is to making the two-party system as vital and responsible as possible.

That is why things are different this year.

To begin with, the Republican majority that has run the House — and for the most part, the Senate — during President Bush’s tenure has done a terrible job on the basics. Its tax-cutting-above-all-else has wrecked the budget, hobbled the middle class and endangered the long-term economy. It has refused to face up to global warming and done pathetically little about the country’s dependence on foreign oil.

Republican leaders, particularly in the House, have developed toxic symptoms of an overconfident majority that has been too long in power. They methodically shut the opposition — and even the more moderate members of their own party — out of any role in the legislative process. Their only mission seems to be self-perpetuation.

The current Republican majority managed to achieve that burned-out, brain-dead status in record time, and with a shocking disregard for the most minimal ethical standards. It was bad enough that a party that used to believe in fiscal austerity blew billions on pork-barrel projects. It is worse that many of the most expensive boondoggles were not even directed at their constituents, but at lobbyists who financed their campaigns and high-end lifestyles.

That was already the situation in 2004, and even then this page endorsed Republicans who had shown a high commitment to ethics reform and a willingness to buck their party on important issues like the environment, civil liberties and women’s rights.

For us, the breaking point came over the Republicans’ attempt to undermine the fundamental checks and balances that have safeguarded American democracy since its inception. The fact that the White House, House and Senate are all controlled by one party is not a threat to the balance of powers, as long as everyone understands the roles assigned to each by the Constitution. But over the past two years, the White House has made it clear that it claims sweeping powers that go well beyond any acceptable limits. Rather than doing their duty to curb these excesses, the Congressional Republicans have dedicated themselves to removing restraints on the president’s ability to do whatever he wants. To paraphrase Tom DeLay, the Republicans feel you don’t need to have oversight hearings if your party is in control of everything.

An administration convinced of its own perpetual rightness and a partisan Congress determined to deflect all criticism of the chief executive has been the recipe for what we live with today.

Congress, in particular the House, has failed to ask probing questions about the war in Iraq or hold the president accountable for his catastrophic bungling of the occupation. It also has allowed Mr. Bush to avoid answering any questions about whether his administration cooked the intelligence on weapons of mass destruction. Then, it quietly agreed to close down the one agency that has been riding herd on crooked and inept American contractors who have botched everything from construction work to the security of weapons.

After the revelations about the abuse, torture and illegal detentions in Abu Ghraib, Afghanistan and Guantánamo Bay, Congress shielded the Pentagon from any responsibility for the atrocities its policies allowed to happen. On the eve of the election, and without even a pretense at debate in the House, Congress granted the White House permission to hold hundreds of noncitizens in jail forever, without due process, even though many of them were clearly sent there in error.

In the Senate, the path for this bill was cleared by a handful of Republicans who used their personal prestige and reputation for moderation to paper over the fact that the bill violates the Constitution in fundamental ways. Having acquiesced in the president’s campaign to dilute their own authority, lawmakers used this bill to further Mr. Bush’s goal of stripping the powers of the only remaining independent branch, the judiciary.

This election is indeed about George W. Bush — and the Congressional majority’s insistence on protecting him from the consequences of his mistakes and misdeeds. Mr. Bush lost the popular vote in 2000 and proceeded to govern as if he had an enormous mandate. After he actually beat his opponent in 2004, he announced he now had real political capital and intended to spend it. We have seen the results. It is frightening to contemplate the new excesses he could concoct if he woke up next Wednesday and found that his party had maintained its hold on the House and Senate.

The Red Campaign

So, I never bought a "livestrong" bracelet. I don't really care What Jesus Would Do. I don't have a ribbon sticker on my car. It takes a lot for me to buy into something.

I bought into the Red Campaign.
And so should you.

It's such a cool program, started in part by Bono, to raise money for programs to prevent AIDS, malaria and poverty in Africa. There are a lot of retailers involved, including Gap and Apple. I ended up buying the Red tank top (even though it won't go over my belly at the moment) and a leather bracelet. The best part? The Gap red products are made in Africa by Africans, many of whom are HIV positive and being provided a way to pay for their drugs, and 50% of the profits go toward the campaign. Very cool.

On a distantly related side note...my love for Bono, which RAGED during the Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby days, has suddenly returned. Maybe I just think a guy who does SOOO much for the world is hot. He's the opposite of W, which makes him hot too. and he plays guitar. And crazy washed-up-actor-turned-evangelist Stephen Baldwin hates him, which makes Bono even HOTTER. Baldwin said that Bono would "do far more good if you just preached the gospel of Jesus rather than trying to get rid of Third World debt relief."

uhhhh.... yeah. And exactly what good are YOU doing for the world Mr. I starred-in-Biodome-and-Pauly-Shore-Outacted-me??? Hmmm?

Middle class needs to fight back now

Ok, normally I really take everything that news/political talk show hosts say with a grain of salt -- let's face it, at this point they all have an agenda. However, Lou Dobbs published a column on CNN today that speaks to what I've been feeling lately. (Ignore the book plug, the rest of the article is really good.) Please read it and please, please, please vote next month.

--E

Here it is:

Lou Dobbs: Middle class needs to fight back now

NEW YORK (CNN) -- I don't know about you, but I can't take seriously anyone who takes either the Republican Party or Democratic Party seriously -- in part because neither party takes you and me seriously; in part because both are bought and paid for by corporate America and special interests. And neither party gives a damn about the middle class.

Our country's middle class is not just collateral damage in what has become all-out class warfare. Political, business and academic elites are waging an outright war on working men and women and their families, and there is no chance the American middle class will survive this assault if the dominant forces unleashed over the past five years continue unchecked.

They've accomplished this through large campaign contributions, armies of lobbyists that have swamped Washington, and control of political and economic think tanks and media. Lobbyists, in fact, are the arms dealers in the war on the middle class, brokering money, influence and information between their clients our elected officials.

Yet in my entire career, I've literally never heard anyone in Congress argue that lobbyists are bad for America. In 1968 there were only 63 lobbyists in Washington. Today, there are more than 34,000, and lobbyists now outnumber our elected representatives and their staffs by a 2-to-1 margin.

According to the nonpartisan Center for Public Integrity, from 1998 through 2004, lobbyists spent nearly $12 billion to not only influence legislation, but in many cases to write the language of the laws and regulations.

Individual firms, corporations and national organizations spent a record $2.14 billion on lobbying members of Congress and 220 other federal agencies in 2004, according to PoliticalMoneyLine. That's nearly $6 million a day spent to influence our leaders. We really do have the best government money can buy.

But as I discuss in my new book, "War on the Middle Class," what if we all resolved that we would not permit either the Republicans or Democrats to waste their time and ours with wedge issues? Both parties love to excite their bases by focusing on wedge issues like gay marriage, the pledge of allegiance, school prayer, judicial appointments, gun control, stem cell research and welfare reform.

Each of these wedge issues is important in varying degrees to large numbers of us, but none of them rises to the level of urgency or the requirement of immediate change in public policy.

These issues are raised by both political parties to distract and divert public attention from the profound issues -- like educating our youth, economic inequality and the war against radical Islamic terrorists -- that affect our daily lives and the American way of life. Imagine the consternation in Washington if both parties had to contend with a national electorate whose political affiliation had dramatically changed within a matter of weeks or months.

In both Republican and Democratic administrations, Congress has passed and sustained billions of dollars in royalty payments and subsidies to big oil companies; pushed through a corporate-written, consumer-crippling bankruptcy law; embraced the death of the estate tax; approved every free trade deal brought to a vote; and supported illegal immigration for the sake of cheap labor.

The party strategists and savants are telling us that fewer Americans will turn out to the polls than ever before, disgusted by a disgraced former congressman. But we don't have to wait for the midterm elections to begin to engage in our new political life.

There's something all of us could do that would have an immediate impact and send a powerful message to both corporation-dominated political parties and to our elected officials in Washington. Our so-called representatives in both parties have been working against the interests of the middle class for so long that they take our votes for granted, or they take advantage of the fact that a sizable number of us don't vote at all.

So what if a majority of us decided once and for all to walk into our town and city halls all over the country and change our party affiliation from Republican or Democrat to independent? What if that sizable number of us who don't vote at all decided to register as independents? For the first time in decades, working middle-class Americans might just get the attention of our elected officials in Washington.

Our middle class has suffered in silence for far too long, and it cannot afford to suffer or be silent much longer. Hardworking Americans have not spoken out about their increasingly marginalized role in this society, and as a consequence they've all but lost their voice.

Without that strong, clear and vibrant voice, all the major decisions about America and our future will be made by the elites of government, big business and the dominant special interests. Those elites treasure your silence, as it enables them to claim America's future for their own.

I sincerely hope that we will find the resolve to face these challenges to our way of life, and we do so soon. George Bernard Shaw said, "It is dangerous to be sincere unless you are also stupid."

I'm stupid enough to be absolutely sincere in the hope that middle-class America will awake soon and take action.

the New Killers Album

I was VERY wary of the new Killers album for two reasons: 1) Brandon Flowers seems like a pretentious jerk sometimes and 2) MY GAWD the last CD was overplayed.

But I listened to it at work and it is REALLY good. REALLY good. So I bought it and I'm very impressed. It is much richer and more delicate than their last CD. There is a lot of variety and texture there. It seems to me like they have quit trying to sound different and just tried to be themselves with this disc.

PLUS...GUESS WHO SINGS BACKUP ON TWO SONGS?

That's right...our boys from Louis XIV. You can actually hear Brian and Jason talking at the end of "Sam's Town."

p.s Brian sent me an email. The new album is pretty much finished. YAY!

-A

John Mayer's new CD...

Is VERY good. My favorite song is called "Belief." It's pretty well put. I think there is a political activist tucked inside Mr. Mayer. Continuum is a very well-written, solid disc. Here are the lyrics to let you know why I like the song so much...

Belief

Is there anyone who
Ever remembers changing their mind from
The paint on a sign?
Is there anyone who really recalls
ever breaking rank at all
For something someone yelled real loud one time.

Everyone believes
In how they think it ought to be
Everyone believes
And they're not going easily

Belief is a beautiful armor
But makes for the heaviest sword
Like punching underwater
You can never hit who you're trying for

Some need the exhibition
And some have to know they tried
It's the chemical weapon
For the war that's raging on inside

Everyone believes
From emptiness to everything
Everyone believes
And no one's going quietly

We're never gonna win the world
We're never gonna stop the war
We're never gonna beat this
If belief is what we're fighting for

What puts a hundred thousand children in the sand?
Belief can
Belief can
What puts the folded flag inside his mother's hand?
Belief can
Belief can

Indra's Ultrasound Photos

Here is my munchkin. The first is a profile, the second is the "alien love child" shot. She was trying to be shy again, but the technician (a nice one this time, yay!!) kinda bumped against my stomach to get her to shift position.

The time is going SO fast. It's just unbelievable! I had no idea it would fly by so incredibly fast.

We Heart Britney. Well, Not Really.

Heh Heh. Once again, this interview is fictional. It never happened. We wish it did. I would love to sit down with Britney and find out why she's so...what's the word...dirty.

Elaine: Hello good radio listeners. The time is 4 oh 7. The temperature is a balmy 82 degrees. We are here with ya on the ride home. If you are stuck on the beltway, take heart. We have a real treat for you today. Britney Spears is here.

Amy: OK, I know what you're thinking. How can you have Eric Clapton on your show one day and Britney Spears on the next? Right? You know that's what you're thinking. And the answer is...we wrote to Brit's publicist and told her about the show. We've never had a hidden agenda before, so how would Britney figure out that we have some hard-hitting questions for her?

Elaine: Yeah. It's usually a big ol' love fest in here. We have to wash the carpets AT LEAST once a month.

Amy: Ew. Anyway...Mrs. Federline, God help her, is in the green room. She thinks she's here to promote her new album...

Elaine: Have you seen the cover of that thing? I mean, seriously, put some freakin' clothes on...

Amy: BUT, she's really here to be picked over. We want to know what the hell she's thinking when she does the stuff she does. Now, we are not going to pick on her for the things she does as a mom. We are a mom and a soon-to-be mom ourselves, and let's face it, you make mistakes. We all do. We just don't make them in front of millions of people. So we won't pick on her for that stuff, even if I do think she's a moron for riding with Sean in the front seat.

Elaine: Now, you might think: How mean are these girls? They are setting up this poor little misguided, bubble-snapping, hoochy-dancing, barefooted Southern gal for humiliation. My answer is...I NEVER said I was nice. Really. Look at all the transcripts. I never said it ONCE.

Amy: Me either. Not once. There are no illusions of friendliness and politeness in here. AND...You KNOW you are going to enjoy listening to us sink our teeth into this interview and try to figure out why Britney does such...unladylike...things.

Elaine: All of our long-time listeners are now enjoying the irony of Amy picking on someone for being unladylike. The sweet, sweet irony!

Amy: Hey, I behave like a finishing school graduate having dinner with the Queen compared to her.

Elaine: You know, now that I'm thinking about it. I don't think people should think of this as our "mean interview." Really, people should think of this as more of an on-air intervention.

Amy: Yes! That's it exactly, we are trying to intervene and save poor Sean Preston from becoming a dirty pimp when he grows up.

Elaine: I couldn't have said it better myself, Ames. Oh, Leon is signaling that she is on her way here. I wonder what she'll wear.

Amy: Clothes. I hope. Please. (Britney bounces in. She's wearing a pink Juicy sweatsuit and giant amber aviator glasses. To Amy and Elaine's annoyance, she's carrying a Fendi bag complete with its own teacup poodle peeking out from the top.)

Elaine: Britney. Welcome to the show. Have a seat. Those are your headphones.

Britney: Hey ya'll. How are ya?

Amy: We're good. You?

Britney: Couldn't be better. My bodyguard is outside, does he need to come in or should he just stay out there?

Amy and Elaine: Stay out there.

Britney: 'Kay.

Amy: So, Brit. You just released your greatest hits. I'm curious. How old are you again?

Britney: 23. (Elaine raises an eyebrow)

Elaine: Don't you think it's premature to put out a greatest hits when you've only been around for a few years?

Britney: Nah. My marketing chicks said it would sell really well.

Amy: What do you think of Ashlee Simpson calling her debut CD "Autobiography?"

Britney: I dunno. It's an OK title, I guess. I met her once at the VMA's. I think she flicked me off, but I'm not sure. I know Avril Lavigne did. Little snot...

Elaine: (grinning) It seems odd that a tiny woman of not even 20 would name her CD Autobiography. I mean, what sort of autobiography can you write as a teenager? I was born, I was potty trained, I made a CD? I mean, seriously, give me a break.

Amy: Creed just released a greatest hits too.

Britney: Oh I love them. They are so good. (Amy sits back slightly in mortification)

Elaine: (fanning Amy with her notes) Breathe. Breathe. You're in a forest with Tia. A Forest with Tia... Matt is feeding you chocolate and Tia is rubbing your back. Better?

Amy: Yeah. I think I'm OK now. Nice touch with the back rub thing.

Elaine: Thank you. I try.

Britney: You like girl on girl stuff too?

Amy: Yeah. I heard you buy girl porn.

Britney: I do.

Elaine: What was it like to kiss Madonna? I know you've been asked that a million times, but I want to know.

Britney: She smelled REALLY good. Like this...I dunno...really expensive perfume.

Elaine: So, Britney, how's married life treating you?

Britney: It's good. I've been out on tour, so I don't get to see Kevin that much.

Elaine: Wait, wait...I can't hold it in any longer. Britney, WHY do you keep showing up in the tabloids barefoot coming out of rest stop bathrooms? Do you have ANY clue how disgusting that is?

Britney: Aw, ya'll, it's not that big a deal. It's only for a cupla' minutes. I just didn't feel like puttin' my shoes back on.

Amy: May I?

Elaine: Absolutely.

Amy: Here is a list of diseases you can catch from barefoot romps in dirty rest stop bathrooms: Herpes A and B, Staph, Rhinovirus, Human Papillomavirus, Influenza, The Clap, Hookworms, Tetanus, Crabs, Mad Cow Disease...ok, maybe not mad cow...but the rest of them! I mean, seriously, think of how many people have fornicated with themselves or others, picked their toenails, missed the toilet... Ew. ew, ew, ew. I feel like I need a shower just talking about it.

Britney: Hmmm. Maybe THAT'S where that wart on my big toe came from...

Elaine: Augh! OK! NEW SUBJECT! PLEASE!

Britney: Hey, I heard you like Aerosmith.

Elaine: We do. Why?

Britney: When I was in Europe I hung out with them. I got really drunk on Apple Martinis and ended up in Joe Perry's lap. It was so funny.

Elaine: What? (The room suddenly crackles with tension)

Britney: We didn't do anything, I mean, he's married ya'll, but MAN, he has a nice body for an old guy... He showed me the tattoo on his back and I...

Elaine: I'm sorry, WHAT?

Amy: Britney, for God's sake, save yourself. Shut the hell up!

Britney: Huh? WhaddIsay?

Elaine: Where was your husband during all this?

Britney: Oh, this was way before I met him. It was right after me and Justin broke up. (Amy has a flash. She suddenly remembers that she has a grudge against Eva Longoria, the stunning latina woman from Desperate Housewives, because she went out with JC Chasez. Amy suddenly realizes that there is something fundamentally wrong with someone who would date a guy in SUCH a shamelessly cheesy, albeit occasionally catchy, band.)


Elaine: OK. This is the time when we do guest multiplication tables. I'm sure you've heard about this part of the show, right Britney?

Brit: Uh...yeah, yeah.. sure. Sure did.

Amy: Great. Here we go! Quick! What's 9 times 7?

Britney: um....uh... 63?

Elaine: That was an easy one. 7 times 6!

Britney: (Squints her eyes and visibly counts on her fingers) 47!

Amy: No, 42. 5 times 9!

Britney: I hate math. Let's talk about somethin' else, ya'll.

Amy: When did you lose your virginity?

Britney: (turns red) That is mighty personal, don't you think?

Elaine: Come on, we all want to know. Besides, didn't you tell some fashion magazine all about it?

Britney: Fine, fine. I was 18. With Justin.

Amy: He is tiny, isn't he? His voice is so high, it has to be tiny...

Britney: C'mon. man! I can't answer that!

Elaine: Aren't we all buddies here? We're just two girls chatting it up with ya. Inquiring minds want to know.

Britney: Justin was normal, I guess. He was twice as big as Kev...oops.

Elaine: I love my job.

Amy: Me too.

Britney: OK, I think this interview is over. I'm gonna say somethin' dumb.

Elaine and Amy: pshhh!! NAHHH!

Britney: Sorry ya'll.

2,567

Britney Gets Nekkid

My eyes haven't stopped rolling since I saw this article.

Britney Spears Poses Nude for Cover

I thought she wanted photographers to back off... her ego must have taken a HUGE hit after the Matt Lauer fiasco. At least this time she let someone do her make-up.

ROCK ON Natalie Maines!!

Alright, so I'm sure everyone remembers a certain comment a certain Dixie Chick made a few years ago in England -- that whole ashamed of George Bush thing. And ok, Natalie really should have spoken her mind at home rather than in some other country, but she didn't say anything that 70+% of the country isn't thinking. Besides, as Americans its our right and responsibility to question our government, so really, Nat and the girls were just doing their duty.

ANYWAY, fast forward to today. I break the cellophane on the new Chicks CD and pop it in the stereo for jam time with my boy and after two really lovely ballads a song called "Not Ready to Make Nice" comes on. Now, I've heard the chorus all over TV and in Target, etc. But its really the second verse you should pay attention to:

I know you said
Can't you you just get over it
It turned my whole world around
And I kinda like it
I made my bed and I sleep like a baby
With no regrets I don't mind sayin'
It's a sad sad story when a mother will teach her
Daughter that she ought to hate a perfect stranger
And how in the world can the words that I said
Send somebody so over the edge
That they'd write me a letter
Sayin' that I better shut up and sing
Or my life will be over

I'm not ready to make nice
I'm not ready to back down....

And you know what? I agree with her -- don't back down Natalie!

If you think she makes a good point, too, call your local pop and country radio stations and request this song. Everyone was keen to hear what the Dixie Chicks had to say 3 years ago, they should hear what the Chicks have to say now.

2,475

There have been 2,699 coalition deaths, 2,475 Americans, two Australians, 113 Britons, 13 Bulgarians, three Danes, two Dutch, two Estonians, one Fijian, one Hungarian, 30 Italians, one Kazakh, one Latvian, 17 Poles, two Romanians, two Salvadoran, three Slovaks, 11 Spaniards, two Thai and 18 Ukrainians in the war in Iraq as of June 5, 2006, according to a CNN count. (Graphical breakdown of casualties). The list below is the names of the soldiers, Marines, airmen, sailors and Coast Guardsmen whose deaths have been reported by their country's governments. At least 18,254 U.S. troops have been wounded in action, according to the Pentagon. View casualties in the war in Afghanistan and examine U.S. war casualties dating back to the Revolutionary War.

Finally, Our Government Does Something GOOD

From CNN.com:

Congress passes funeral protest ban
Demonstrators would be barred from disrupting military funerals at national cemeteries under legislation approved by Congress and sent to the White House. The measure, passed by voice vote in the House hours after the Senate passed an amended version, specifically targets a Kansas church group that has staged protests at military funerals around the country, claiming that the deaths were a sign of God's anger at U.S. tolerance of homosexuals.


P.S. I highly recommend that everyone registers as a Republican so that we can vote down homophobic assholes running for office in the primaries, long before they ever make it to big national elections. This law is too good to let some ignornant dick come in and change it.

2,454

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!

I finally graduated!!! This semester has been hell on earth, but now it's over and I can coast for a little while! ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh... Only, one of my professors just emailed me and asked me if I had plans for Grad school. Ugh. I would like to go, but it's REALLY expensive and for cryin' out loud, I need a break! The baby and I are pooped! ;-)

What do you guys think? Should I tackle grad school? Is it really worth the title or is writing experience really more important in the journalism world?

-A

The next one on the baby train

So, it was a good day today. We had the first picture of the baby taken...AND...Brian sent me a European tour poster from Louis XIV's tour. How cool is that? Is it sad that I was almost as excited about the poster as I was about the first ultrasound? That was so sweet of Brian. He is such a great guy. On top of that, I am ALMOST done with school and the NIN show is coming up. YAY!
-Amy

2,326

I've kind of mentally moved the Iraq war onto the back burner in my mind because I've been so enthralled with my baby. But as I watch him grow and take in new things I can't help but hurt for those 2,326 sets of parents that went through the same stages with their babies and then wound up out living them. My dad believes that for every birth there must be a death to keep things even. Here's hoping that the 2,326 new lives in the world lead us to a better place than the one where GW took us that cost 2,326 lives. And counting...

Too cute to be a punk rock baby.

Check out the latest pics of my favorite guy in an outfit made just for him by Aunt Ames.


Rock star in the making. I tried to get him snarl, but he just wasn't having it. Maybe I'll dress him up again one day when he has indigestion.


Lookin' for groupies. After all, there's no point in showing off on the drums if there aren't hot chicks around...


Ready to rock out. And then maybe take a nap.

New Music

I have been on a new music binge the last few weeks. Because I am a rockchick. And that's what we do. AND, I am going to share the fruits of my labor (and my many dollars that could have been spent on paying bills, but WHATEVER!) with the folks who read this blog, whoever you are!

OK. The last two CD's I bought were Matisyahu's Youth and Prince's 3121.

Matisyahu (whom I will be seeing in concert this Saturday with a group of people, yay!) is a Hasidic Reggae genius from New York. I think I've mentioned him once or twice. His new album is so... pretty. It is a gorgeous, beat-filled lullaby from start to finish. My favorite songs are "Time Of Your Song," "Jerusalem" and "Indestructible," although there are at least 4 more songs on the CD that I love as well. "Time of Your Song" is a beat-box driven, melodic number. The beatboxing isn't shoved at you, it is made part of the song. You don't even realize half the time that those aren't drums, it's his voice. Matisyahu, aka Matthew Miller, is a MASTER beatboxer. Seriously. Beatboxing is obnoxious if it is tried by someone who doesn't have talent. He has turned it into an art form. I have NO clue how he makes some of the amazing sounds he does. Anyway, I digress. "Jerusalem" is the most heartbreaking song on the CD. It is about the Holocaust and tells the story poetically and powerfully. I cry every time I hear it. And "Indestructable" is my favorite. It has the most catchy, sticky chorus and the BEST 80's-inspired beat.

The other CD I bought (yesterday, on 3/21) was Prince's 3121. I've never been a huge Prince fan. I like the requisite stuff, "Little Red Corvette," "Kiss," "Rasberry Beret," "7," etc. I think he's very talented, but I don't consider myself a fan. Or at least, I didn't.

Until Now.

3121 is FUNK. I use that both as a noun, verb and adjective. The CD is funky, it funks and it IS FUNK. It is so much fun. Prince is a guy who knows how to get wallflowers off the sides of a club and onto the dance floor to gyrate and sweat and sing along to the lyrics. (The CD is named after Prince's house number for his purple mansion in Minneapolis. I would love to see it.) The title track opens the CD and I KNEW it was a winner from the first track on. My favorite track is #9, "The Word." It's going to be a huge hit, I can see it coming. Lots of great instrumentation and lyrics, although the song is religious. I still think it will get major exposure. Mark my words, YOU WILL ALL BE SICK OF "THE WORD" BECAUSE IT WILL GET SO MUCH AIRPLAY. You heard it here first. The rest of the CD is great, although there are some rough patches. I like his dance tracks a lot more than the ballads. He tends to go cheesy on the ballads, and I like him at his hip-shaking, body-rockin', foot-tappin' best. But that is my only fault. I think he should go the Madonna route and do an entire album of upbeat dance tracks with the style he is using now. It would KILL!

OK, so that is my music review. On another note, I have recently managed to get back into contact with two of my old best friends from middle and high school: Nicole Spaeth Thomas and Kristy Towne. It's so weird that I reconnected with them within days of each other. I was inspired to do it because someone I knew in high school called me out of the blue (haven't talked to her in 12 or 13 years) and apoligized for the way our friendship broke up. It was so weird. But it inspired me to reach out to people I have lost, and it worked.

Pass it on!

OK, time to go eat something.
Amy

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Also, a short rememberance for Ed Hampton. He passed away suddenly last Thursday at the age of 56. He was a Vietnam Vet, a husband, father and grandfather. He was a truly kind man.

Thank God for the Miracle of Modern Medicine

Only 4 days old

I was in labor with this little guy for just over 25 hours, but thanks to my best friend, the epidural, I was able to sleep through a lot of it. And see how happy he is that mommy got her rest? James was born at 10:15 am on the 19th weighing in at 8lbs. 12oz. and 21.5 inches long. I don't care what you say, he's the cutest future rock star on the planet.

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There have been 2,474 coalition deaths, 2,271 Americans, one Australian, 101 Britons, 13 Bulgarians, two Danes, two Dutch, two Estonians, one Hungarian, 26 Italians, one Kazakh, one Latvian, 17 Poles, two Salvadoran, three Slovaks, 11 Spaniards, two Thai and 18 Ukrainians in the war in Iraq as of February 16, 2006.

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Bye, Charlie.

I have never mentioned him here, but my parents dog Charlie was one of the best dogs, the happiest dogs, the sweetest dogs, I've ever known. He even saved my life once. He died yesterday of a birth defect. My family knew it was there when they got him from the shelter, but they had to take him home. He lived for three years before an infection finally stole him from us.

People who don't have dogs won't understand the ache this loss has left sitting inside me. I never got to say goodbye. People who do have dogs get that they are family. This one was special. He had the nuttiest, most loving personality. He will be VERY sorely missed by me, my husband, and the rest of my family.

There won't ever be another Charlie.

State of the Union

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Do you think that little fact will make it into the president's speech tonight? I wonder if the Vegas bookies are taking odds on it.


P.S. Thanks, Shannon for your support. My old high school buddy, Shannon, has taken up our cause in remembering all of our losses in Iraq. Click here to see what she has to say.

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Hey, Mr. President, care to define "transition of power"? Cuz if this is what you mean, we need to talk.

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11 in one day

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My Alien Love Child

See the fist? Leave this kid alone!

I made a horrible mistake

I got so wrapped up in the number of American fatalities in Iraq that I neglected the men and women who come home wounded. In many cases their entire lifestyles have to change due to amputations and other medical complications from their wounds. The military tries to help these people medically, but they are limited in what they do beyond that.

That's where Homes For Our Troops comes in. This organization builds custom homes for troops who are forced to make lifestyle changes due to their wounds. You may have seen them on Extreme Make-over Home Edition or in a bunch of magazines -- their amazing work is getting the recognition they deserve, and need in order to continue.

Please stop by their website to see what they are all about: http://www.homesforourtroops.org/
If you are able, send them a little something; help make a difference for people who put everything on the line for you.

--E

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2,157

Katrina tolls have soared past 1200 people.

If you are able, please donate to Toys for Tots this Christmas. It is especially important this year with so many families still in shelters and temporary housing.

Save the Bluths!!!!

Fox is threatening to cancel my beloved show, Arrested Development, again. Bastards. They've done pretty much everything they could to kill it this year, so some bigwig out is Fox is probably patting himself on the shoulder right now. But whatever. We must save them. Or the very least, give them a dignified death.

Arrested Development is a fantastic show. Sure, it may take a few episodes to get you into it as the story is fairly well developed at this point. But who could watch a few episodes when Fox couldn't decided *which* Monday night they were going to air it? Duh! Hard to follow a show when its not on regularly and when the network never advertises which weeks that it actually will be on.

Again, I digress. Let's give the Bluths the love they deserve, check out this website to save them: Save Our Bluths they link to some pretty cool merch. If you have the cash splurge for one of the items and become a member of an elite club of people with a smart sense of humor. And by the way, Fox sucks.

New Ink

I promised the guys that when they headlined a tour, I would do this. I love the band; it is such a cool thing to be able to keep in contact with them and watch them get the recognition they deserve. This tattoo was a long time coming and I'm really happy with it. A side benefit is, when customers ask me what it means (and they have), it's like a free advertising. I am a walking Louis XIV billboard. ;-)

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Katrina: 1070, Iraq: 2056

Cry Baby Cry

So, I've been a touch cynical lately, I know, I know, its sooo hard to tell... but one of the few things that has been able to pull me out of the bitter funk is the new Santana album, "All That I Am".

Unlike "Shaman" this album is less trendy & more soulful & very yummy. Yes, there are still trendy people collaborating on the album, but its almost as though they all got together & decided they didn't want to repeat the disaster that was Chad Kroeger on "Shaman." (Can you say formulaic?)

"All That I Am" has that good old fashioned hip grinding vibe to it. Excellent. One song in particular, "Cry Baby Cry," features Joss Stone & Sean Paul. Between Joss' luscious voice, that spine tingling guitar & the sexy sexy bass line, you just can't go wrong. Oh, and Sean Paul doesn't hurt, either. Try it out, this album is a winner.

--E

Still Holding at 2,043

Put names and faces to the number here.

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My little Bubble Of Protest

So, this is my car. Her name is Tia and she's been voicing my outrage for two years now. The stickers change every few months. There is one you can't see that says "DEMAND PAPER BALLOTS" up at the top. Some of the harder ones to read say:

"George Bush is a CORPORATE WHORE" (middle white)

"AGAINST THE WAR NOT THE WARRIOR" (right blue on window)

"Where did the WMD GO? Call George at 202-456-1111" (glared out by the sun)

"I'm straight, not narrow"

The little round one is an Air America sticker: airamericaradio.com

If you look to the left, there are my little Louis XIV and NIN stickers. Wouldn't be a rockchick without 'em!

I get tons of reactions from people. I've had notes left on my car, both good and bad, people have flicked me off, given me thumbs up, glared at me and nodded appreciatively at red lights, and on and on.

This is my way of speaking out against the Bush administration. I hope everyone is finding their own ways of making their opinions known

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2,036

I am tired of being quiet. Here are 2,031 reasons why.

At this point its no big secret that I am less than thrilled with our president and pretty well over the war in Iraq. While I understand that there were valid reasons beyond the WMD myth to go into Iraq I am irritated at the arrogance of the Bush Administration to think that the American public wouldn't accept these reasons. Lying is soooo much better.

I am also a former Navy wife. My husband was in the Navy until 2002 and fortunately was allowed to leave military service with an Honorable Discharge when his contract expired. However, I still have friends and family who are enlisted in various branches of the military and I still know people who are currently in Iraq. I worry for them every second of every day. Every American should worry for every service member every second of every day.

I am ashamed that the American media thinks whoever Jennifer Aniston is dating at the moment is more important than what is going on in Iraq. What the fuck?

So I say screw the Bush Administration, who is THRILLED with J.A.'s love life, and screw the American media. Until this war is over I am going to keep a tally of the American lives lost in this sham of a war.

Yes, I understand everyone over there volunteered to join military service and I respect that. My intentions are not to criticize these men and women in any way, shape or form. I am intimately aware of the risks they take and the sacrifices they and their families make every day. I can not describe how grateful I am to each and every one of them. I am devastated at the loss of their lives and would like to honor these brave mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, sons and daughters, our friends and colleagues.

As of today, November 2nd, 2005, 2031 members of the American military have been killed in this war.

It is also worth noting that as October 26, 1053 people have been confirmed dead as a result of Hurricane Katrina.

Thanks, W.

Tell me, how many cluster fucks can one administration get away with?

--E

My Kid Has Piernos de Pollo

There's a little hand up by the face and I think that's a little chicken leg kicking. (Or it could be that I completely confused the pictures and that's actually the umbilical cord... my memory is complete crap these days.)


Stretching the head back and that little bump on the belly is fist.

The Mystery is Solved!

I'm oh so glad that someone finally figured out what was going on. Global warming? Nah. Weather cycles? Pshaw! Mob hit? ABSOLUTELY!

Here is the real deal, courtesy of that bastion of truth known as FoxNews.com:

Global warming? Act of God? Nope, says one Idaho weatherman — Hurricane Katrina was part of a man-made plot against America.

Scott Stevens, a meteorologist who for nine years has been forecasting the weather on KPVI-TV in Pocatello, says the Yakuza — the Japanese mafia — is using a Russian-made electromagnetic generator to launch terrific storms against the U.S. mainland.

The devastation of New Orleans was in revenge for the U.S. atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Stevens explains on his Web site. He says it will soon be used again against another major American city.

"A battle in the skies is waged daily. Some battles are won and others lost. We yet know not which," Stevens writes on the front page of his site. "For years this massive global project has been under way, but only now is it making it to the forefront of the consciousness of those with curious minds."

Rumors have long circulated of a secret Soviet weather weapon, but Stevens told the Idaho Falls Post Register he became convinced it existed after noticing strange patterns in a Montana cold front in 2004.

"I just got sick to my stomach because these clouds were unnatural and that meant they had [the machine] on all the time," Stevens told the newspaper. "I was left trying to forecast the intent of some organization, rather than the weather of this planet."
Nor is it a coincidence that both Katrina and Ivan — the huge hurricane that hit Florida a year ago — are Russian names, Stevens says.

At least one other scientist, however, thinks it's all a bunch of hooey.

"I have been doing hurricane research for the better part of 20 years now, and there was nothing unusual to me about any of the satellite imagery of Katrina," Robert S. Young, an associate professor of geology at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, N.C., told the newspaper. "It's laughable to think it could have been man-made."

Other hurricane experts explain that the spate of severe North Atlantic storms in recent years is part of a natural 25- to 30-year cycle. There was a wave of damaging hurricanes between 1935 and 1965, then a lull before the number of bad storms increased again around 1995.

The U.S. government has apparently tried to influence hurricanes, but its Project Stormfury, which from 1962 to 1983 sought to weaken cyclones by seeding the storms' eyewalls with silver iodide, was a failure.

Stevens is unperturbed by those who scoff at his findings.

"I fully expect one more 'event' this year to impact the United States," he writes. "My gut feeling is that it will be an earthquake/volcanic event with intensity of at least 7.5 in magnitude resulting in insured losses to exceed $25 billion."

WALKING ALL OVER THE LITTLE PEOPLE....

George Bush and his government have been the bane of my existence for six years now. But lately, with the hurricaines, they are becoming the thorn in the side of millions of Americans. Want to know why?

Because in order to "fund" the reconstruction of the Gulf Coast, G Dub and his evil cronies are going to cut HUGE amounts of government funding for the following programs, most of which affect the middle and lower-income class:

Here they are. I hope you are sitting down:

(info from Moveon.org)
$225 billion cut from Medicaid, the last-resort health insurance program for the very poor.
$200 billion cut from Medicare, the health care safety net for the elderly and the disabled.
$25 billion cut from the Centers for Disease Control (!!!!!!!!!!!)
$6.7 billion cut from school lunches for poor children
$7.5 billion cut from programs to fight global AIDS (FURIOUS YET?)
$5.5 billion to eliminate all funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting
$3.6 billion cut to eliminate the National Endowments for the Arts and Humanities (!!!!!!!!)
$8.5 billion cut to eliminate all subsidized loans to graduate students.
$2.5 billion cut from Amtrak
$2.5 billion to eliminate the Hydrogen Fuel Initiative
$417 million cut to eliminate the Minority Business Development Agency
$4.8 billion cut to eliminate all funding for the Safe and Drug-Free schools program (So whip out those crack pipes kids!)

AND THOSE ARE JUST THE BEGINNING OF THE LIST!
As moveon put it, "This plan is not about "offsetting," or rebuilding—it's about exploiting this crisis to push their longstanding goals for America." How true. The Bush administration will use whatever tragedy it can to provide a smoke screen for their political agenda. THEIR PROPOSAL IS OVER FIVE TIMES THE COST OF RECONSTUCTION. It really makes me ill.

THERE IS SOMETHING WE CAN DO!
Sign the petition to let congress know that the American public is watching and will not stand by and watch while Bush and his uppercrust good ol'boys eliminate funding to some vital programs.

HERE IS THE PETITION:

http://www.political.moveon.org/rebuild/?id=6043-4590252-ekbLk_W3MKpUQuc2CjiO5A&t=3


and HERE is the entire proposal in all of its horror:

http://www.political.moveon.org/images/operation_offset/operation_offset.htm?id=6043-4590252-ekbLk_W3MKpUQuc2CjiO5A&t=4

-A

You People Disappoint Me

And yet I still reward you. I've decided that no news is good news and even though none of you posted on my super important Arrested Development thread (fucking spam doesn't count), you all watched it and my show is safe for at least one more season. So with that, I give you the promised Louis XIV photos.

The first photos are from Music Midtown back in June. Technically, Louis XIV's set back then was my kid's first concert. 'Cept I didn't know it at the time. It just so happened to work out that the next concert I went to after Midtown was a Louis show at the Roxy, so either way it works out. Cool. I threw in a few pics from that show, too. Oh, did I mention that they headlined the Roxy that night and were AWESOME?! I know the awesome part goes without saying, but it was pretty cool to get an official Louis XIV ticket without some other band's name printed on it.

And remember, next Monday, Charlize on Arrested Development. 8 pm. Fox. Be there. My future child's well being depends on it since I won't be able to keep the kid in diapers if I have to shell out for cable. (Yes, I will sink so low as to use my kid... this is for a good cause. Besides which, the kid can hear now and I'm pretty sure I could feel it laughing. Which means my child obviously has good taste and not only enjoys Louis XIV, but is also an AD fan.)

Without further ado...


This is the only decent picture I got at Midtown that included Hot Bass Player. Now I know for future concerts to stand more toward the middle. Even if it means hurting little girls to get there. I promise I won't do any permanent damage. Especially to their libidios.


Here is the lovely Brian, 8 stories tall. Hee hee!


Not to be out done, here is an 8 story Jason. Amy, did I hear you slurping??


This was the clearest shot I got of Mark.


This is the coolest picture I got of Mark, but that stupid line jacks it up. I think there was a breeze or something that screwed it up. A few pics came out like that. I couldn't trash this one though because it was so damn cool. I tried to mess with it in Photoshop. That online class my boss popped for really paid off, huh? Anyway, I don't regret blowing out my cheap ass car speakers one bit. Mark rocks!


Louis XIV at the Roxy in Atlanta, August 2005. Sadly this was the best picture that I got at the Roxy. Stupid no-flash camera.


More of Louis XIV at the Roxy in Atlanta, August 2005.


I just thought this was a funny picture of my dogs.

Now, Watch This

Ok, for TWO YEARS I've been talking about Arrested Development. TWO YEARS PEOPLE! And does anyone listen to me? Noooooo. Of course you'd rather watch freakin' Extreme Make-Over Home Edition. I know Ty Pennington is hot, but until the guy rebuilds homes in Waveland that the insurance companies won't cover because the house was "flooded" rather than "got flooded because the hurricane ripped the roof off" I don't wanna hear it!

Thankfully, Fox agrees with me and they moved my precious (yes, I am almost Golum-esque in my devotion) Arrested Development from Sundays at 8:30 to Mondays at 8. THAT'S TONIGHT PEOPLE! TUNE IN!

Seriously, this is a very smart, funny show. Its been getting a bum rap for years now, I'm guessing in part because of the time slot. There is NOTHING on Monday nights. NOTHING. So you must watch.

I know this is starting to border on begging, but this is the first edgy comedy to hit regular TV in a long time. I can't afford cable, so would you please freakin' give this show a try so that I have something *good* to watch every once in a while? I don't ask for much.

As I bribe, I offer this. Ms. Hottie Hot Charlize Theron is going to be in a bunch of episodes. If you don't believe me that the show is smart and funny, then at least watch for her lovely hotness.

I'm done with the begging. For now.

--E

P.S. If you watch, I'll post more Louis XIV photos... you know you want to see 'em.

The Rockchicks Love Brian...

I figured I would post this pic now. I've had it for a while, but the ultrasound pic was so cool, I didn't want to steal Elaine's thunder. I figured she wouldn't mind a couple claps being given to Brian. I mean...it's Brian. Besides, he can keep the baby company on the site. :-)

You can't see it, but Jason is over to the right cutting his hair using the side mirrors of the tour bus. :-) The guys were SOOOOO awesome to us. Jason seems to have relaxed back to his old self, which is great. Also, "Hot Bass Player's" real name...Jimmy. Isn't that ironic? As far as I'm concerned, our name for him is his only name. PLUS...the guys shop at Target. We first saw them returning on foot from a large shopping expedition at the Target across the street from the venue. Apparently, Elaine and I are not the only ones who love that place. What shocks me is that I STILL shop there even though it's not a nice place to work. go figure. anyway, the show was phenomenal, of course. They really rocked out and it was supremely cool to look around and see people singing along. very cool.

It's all a little bit too much...

Trent posted this link on his site, and I wanted to post it on ours too...

I have to say, reading it is really hard.

http://neworleans.craigslist.org/laf/

Due in February

Is it okay that I just a tiny bit intimidated by this? --E

Yes, that is actually a person growing inside me...

WATCH THIS

Alright, I try not to make a big deal about TV, because, well, it's TV and I'm ashamed to admit that I watch entirely too much of it. However, on a recent sick day I stumbled upon this AWESOME show, Miami Ink, on TLC.

It rocks. The tattoos these guys do are in absolutely incredible. I am so itching for more tattoos now... Plus you get the stories of why the people want these tattoos. Cool.

Anyway, MIAMI INK is on TLC on Tuesdays, with repeats throughout the week. Carve out some time to watch, it is totally worth it.

Check out the website to get viewing reminders and see pics of some of the tattoos the guys have done.