I have a dream...of an all Black rodeo???

I am on Ticketmaster's email list. From time to time, I am notified about special events coming to my area. Just the other day I received such an email. I opened the email hoping to find out that my favorite band was coming to town. Well, it was not my favorite band and quite frankly I didn't know what to think. The Arkansas Black Rodeo (brought to you by the Real Cowboy Association) encouraged me to hurry up and get my tickets for their event. My first reaction was - this is can't be right. I thought it was some type of comedic performance or some performance in poor taste. After further research, I concluded this was indeed a rodeo that featured and was ran solely (from what I could tell) by African-Americans. I just shook my head in disbelief.

In my opinion, we as a society are taking two steps back when we keep segregating programs based upon race. I don't think it sends a message of unity and progress. I would venture to guess that IF this was the Arkansas White Rodeo, you might have heard about this on the six o'clock news and every media outlet in the country. I could be wrong, but I doubt it. Either way - white/black/green/mauve, it's not appropriate. Is it not our goal as a country to eliminate racial barriers? If so, why should we on our own free will raise barriers based upon race?

Our civil rights leaders fought very hard to tear down walls of segration. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once dreamed when people would not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. Obviously, the Arkansas Black Rodeo wants you to know that race is an issue.

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Why can't we just have a rodeo?

When jokes are sometimes funny...

I find abnormal things entertaining. I guess that says a lot.

I find it amusing that a joke can be really funny in a certain situation, however, the same funny joke will not be funny under other circumstances. Example: Rodney Dangerfield - I think he's pretty funny and has some great one liners. How can you not laugh at some of these?

I have good looking kids. Thank goodness my wife cheats on me.

If it wasn't for pick-pockets I'd have no sex life at all.

What a kid I got, I told him about the birds and the bees and he told me about the butcher and my wife.

All of those are great and should warrant a chuckle, however, in certain situations you may not laugh and not even smile. I'll provide you a real, true un-hollywood story. I can plainly recall returning from a college golf tournament in the mid-90s. It was late and all the guys in the van were telling jokes and acting crazy...except for one guy, me. I had stomach cramps. I was perched on the edge of my seat somewhere in the dark state of Missouri (or should I say -Misery). I was looking for any brightly neon beam that would house my porcelain salvation.

So friends, I give you my Glenn Beck-ism - Life principle #1:

When you have to #2, you have to look out for #1.

And believe me the funniest jokes are not funny.

The Masked Blogger - Goodbye Dan Seals

On March 26, 2009, Dan Seals passed away at 61 years young after a long battle with lymphoma. Seals enjoyed success in pop and country music primarily in the 1980's and early 1990's. His hits include Meet Me in Montana, One Friend, Bop, They Rage On, and Everything That Glitters is Not Gold, to name a few.

Long after the peak of his popularity, my first introduction to Dan Seals was on spring break of 1997. My friend Philip and I drove from Arkansas to Florida. He had a Dan Seals greatest hits tape. We listened to that tape over and over on our trip. We constantly thought "Dan Seals is awesome" and "why isn't he all over the place". For whatever reason, Seals' popularity became non existent by the mid 1990's.

In a time when it's hard to find good country music, you can always dust off a Dan Seals cd. His life may be over, but for me his music will continue to rage on.

Ping Pong ratings get boost

The Masked Blogger - You got change for a dollar?

You can't make this stuff up! Thanks aol news!

SAGINAW, Mich. (March 26) - A man police caught performing a sex act with a car wash vacuum has been sentenced to 90 days in the Saginaw County Jail. Jason Leroy Savage must also submit to drug testing. The 29-year-old Swan Creek Township man was sentenced Wednesday in Saginaw County Circuit Court. Savage pleaded no contest to indecent exposure last month. Police say Savage was arrested after a resident called officers early on Oct. 16 to report suspicious activity at a car wash in Thomas Township, about 90 miles northwest of Detroit. Savage's attorney, Philip Sturtz, didn't immediately return a message seeking comment.

The Masked Blogger - I like girls who wear Abercrombie & Fitch, I just don't like their customer service.

I could be wrong, but...

Well, the Masked Blogger is back at it again with another intellectual brain buster. Hmm, this "masked one" enjoys shopping in a cologne drenched store with near nude male models plastered everywhere? And you shop there for the durability? Sounds like your street cred is...well, more on the late night street corner. Take your mask off!!

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I don’t know if it is an urban legend or not, but I have been told that the employees of Abercrombie and Fitch are instructed to ignore its customers. Supposedly the A&F Employee Handbook says something along these lines: “Thou shalt not greet or seek to serve thy customers”. I have been on the receiving end of this lack of hospitality a number of times. I walk in, no one says “hello” or “may I help you” or receive any extension of anything even resembling customer service. Apparently, there is some kind of pop psychology taking place. Evidently, A&F wants the customer to feel privileged to be in their store rather than vice-versa. It is a ‘you need us rather than we need you’ concept. Despite this treatment, sky rocket prices, loud music, and a nauseating scent of cologne, I keep going back. I have only bought a few things ever from A&F. They were surprisingly good deals and I have been impressed by the durability.

What’s interesting is that the last few times that I have been in Abercrombie and Fitch, I have been overwhelmingly welcomed by the staff. Each time I have been greeted by multiple workers, my business is sought, and I feel truly welcome. The change is so glaringly obvious it is like the elephant in the room. Of course a drastic alteration such as this begs the obvious question of why. My best guess is that it is connected to the economic crisis in our country. Does A&F think that if people are treated respectfully that they might still buy regardless of their financial circumstances? What a far out thought; be nice to those that pay your bills!

I don’t know if this ‘chivalry thing’ will last beyond the recession, but even if it doesn’t, I will keep going back to a store where I feel unwanted while the majority of my natural senses are repulsed. Makes sense, right?

Alan Jackson didn't forget - Choices

If there is a Mount Rushmore for country music, George Jones has to be one of the faces. George has a way of singing that is hard to describe. He sings with so much feeling that it resonates to the listener. George's impact on country music is insurmountable.

George has been plagued with drug abuse throughout his career. No-Show Jones became a household name in his hayday. He became unpredictable, erratic and down right crazy. He would often miss concerts, have brushes with the law and have woman problems to boot.

Throughout all the troubling times, George seemed to crank out the heart breakers and charm the fans. George's 4th marriage seemed to be the charm. You know what they say about the 4th marriage...OK you're right - I guess there are no sayings about 4th marriages. George married Nancy Sepulveda on March 4, 1983. George considered Nancy as his "rock". She helped him as like most other "recovering -musician junky - johnny cash like stories" go.

George's career fell into a lull in the late 1980s and early 90s (as did a lot of others country music stars in his age bracket). He had a short run comeback in 1992 with some novelty type songs, but it didn't last long. George's career continued to decline. Fortunately, Alan Jackson had not forgotten about him. George was one of Alan's heroes.

George professed to be alcohol and drug free. On March 6, 1999, George Jones was involved in a near fatal SUV crash. Alcohol was involved. "I did wrong that day and take full responsibility," stated George. His actions made him renew his vows to sobriety and refocus his work on a new music project. The Cold Hard Truth was released on June 22, 1999, and spawned a song that hit home with George and the fans. Choices was George's song. Every one was fighting for George hoping that he would get every aspect of his life on track.

The Country Music Awards recognized the impact of the song and asked George to perform. George was flattered. He later found out that the CMAs only wanted him to play about a minute or so of the song do to time contrants. Basically they were telling him that you are still not worth the time. George just told them to forget it and boycotted the show.

Alan Jackson had not forgotten about him. Unbenounced to the awards show, Alan altered his performance of his current hit and paid tribute to his hero.

Alan Jackson - Pop A Top (CMA Awards Live)
Uploaded by SpiXder

Choices

Written by Billy Yates and Mike Curtis

I've had choices
Since the day that I was born
There were voices
That told me right from wrong
If I had listened no I wouldn't be here today
Living and dying with the choices I made
I was tempted by an early age I found I liked drinkin'
Oh, and I never turned it down
There were loved ones but I turned them all away
I guess I'm payin' for the things that I have done
If I could go back Oh, Lord knows I'd run
But I'm still losin'
This game of life I play
Living and dying
With the choices I made