Attention Folkies:

This Friday at Cousin Andy's, the sultry and soulful Barbara Martin is in the house. While at Yellow Moon Cafe, Fri-Sun, it's Lunar Rescue Mission Weekend with a host of top local acts who want to help "Save the Moon" from financial roon. And on Friday night, there's a

Benefit B'ball

Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Illinois will hold a basketball night at Carbondale Community High School to raise funds for Special Olympics athletes in the area. At 6:00 there will be a game between faculty and students, followed by a game between Carbondale Police and Carbondale Fire Fighters.

Between games there will be a 3-point shooting contest between local businessmen and a designated three point shooter. According to the press release, "the businessmen will donate for every 3 point shot they miss that the designated shooter makes." (Donate what? A pint of blood? A can of food?) Some members of SIU Men's NCAA tournament basketball team will be present to sign autographs, so . . . it's a fun way to support Special Olympics. Admission is $4.00 for adults and $1.00 for high school age and under. (Perhaps there is a discount for a Senior with a sophomoric sense of humor).

Yesterday Barry Cupp, the man behind Midwest Cash informed me about his new website, which I added to the Carbondale Directory under "Pawn Shops." I told Barry of my theory that it would be far more cost-effective to construct an Information Superhighway in the Carbondale region than the asphalt highways "they" want to construct on 127 and 66 and 13.

All that means is that business and community leaders should make their websites up-to-date and functional. Barry said that so far he's had two online job applications, and one inquiry about products. So that's a start.

Caleb Hale reports on critics of the University's plans for buildings, not academics.

Next Monday's 'Town meetings' at SIU will focus on research.

The XM Factor

Folks outside of LA, NY, or Chicago desiring to lend their ears to the premiere of Air American Radio today can do so on XM Satellite Radio, thanks to a deal between XM Satellite and Progress Media. The two companies are positively beaming about the partnership. XM President Hugh Panero says giving [listeners] the best and broadest choices possible is XM's "daily mission. Where else are you going to find Al Franken and Bill O'Reilly, or opera and punk for that matter, living under one roof."

But will the "underserved market of [Carbondalliers] who want to hear compelling and funny talk voices expressing viewpoints long absent from the radio airwaves" but don't have XM Radio be able to be able to hear "The O'Franken Factor" today--and every weekday--at 11 am CST? Not a chance. Neither Murphysboro's WINI or Carterville's WJPF would consider leasing their entire station to Progress Media. And that's the only way that Progress Media will do it, as a radio station in Chapel Hill NC found out recently.

Yet local AM airwaves are not entirely lacking a Liberal voice. Nancy Engel at WINI (AM 1420), says her station already carries an intelligent alternative to Rush Limbaugh, Thom Hartmann (11 am - 1 pm), described by Radio Ink as a 'liberal talk radio with a rational perspective, solid facts, and grounded in the history of America.'

But the only way you'll be able to hear Air America's talk show lineup around here is on XM Satellite.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: "[Air America's liberal format] seems like . . . programming . . . created in response to programming that was created in response to a liberal media that I'm not sure exists." --Phil Zachary, executive vice president of Curtis Media Group, which owns Chapel Hill's top talk radio station

Next Thursday, April 1 WSIU-TV (8) will present "Ghosts of Rwanda," a shocking and compelling two-hour Frontline special about the 1994 civil war that led to the murder of 800,000 men, women and children in that troubled African nation. Romeo Dallaire, the Canadian general who led the UN peacekeeping mission to Rwanda--and visited the SIUC campus a few years ago--is interviewed in the documentary, to be broadcast from 9-11 pm.

That's nice about Rice.

,

Our Kind of Town?

Thinking of Brad and Debbie in Chicago--which has a trademark song, "My Kind of Town"-- got me thinking . . . Carbondale needs a song. With all the musicians in town, someone should have a contest. Why not? Carbondale Main Street maybe? Nightlife? Have a "song-off" at Hangar 9. Record all the songs. Sell the CD as a benefit for . . . the SIU Children's Choir?

I'll get to work on some lyrics, yo -- inspired by "School of Rock" which I saw last night on DVD, about a substitute teacher (Jack Black) who (implausibly) turns his 5th grade class into a rock band. Except (just as implausibly) I want to turn City Council into a rock band.

Spoken arts project

Sometime it's hard to keep up with everything going on in Karmadale these days. Like last night's poetry reading in the Student Center Auditorium, as I snored on a couch after supper. Well, I have two more chances to hear out-of-town bards read their stuff:

This Thursday night's poet, Jon Pineda, teaches in Norfolk, Virginia. He won the 2003 Crab Orchard Series open competition, resulting in "Birthmark," his first book. Next week's poet, Lee Ann Roripaugh, teaches at the University of South Dakota. She won the 2003 Crab Orchard Series open competition with "Year of the Snake." The readings will be well attended by students and faculty in the English Department, especially the Creative Writing program, which is sponsoring the readings. I wonder if these poets would mind reading a poem to me over the phone to record and upload. Why not? Poor audio quality is one reason why not. Otherwise, it may be worth a try. Stay tuned.

Art Award is just the ticket

Yesterday afternoon about 3:30 (as I was writing a round-trip bus ticket for some nice people from Pinckneyville), "students and faculty in the School of Art and Design gathered . . . in the Glove Factory Surplus Gallery" (just across the tracks from where I was working) awaiting the announcement of the 2004 winners of the $20,000 Rickert-Ziebold Trust Award competition." And the winners were . . . I'll let Ashley Richardson tell you the names of the four winners of $5,000 each. (Enough for 39 round-trip tickets to Springfield, MO).

One of the winners may have painted the pictures behind Harris Deller-- director of the School of Art and Design--who posed for this shot on Sunday. Can't find a current R-Z website though. Something to harrass Harris about? If not him, who? The R-Z is such a cool and prestigious prize, it deserves a web presence that reflects it.

Check out the grand entrance into the Blacks Interested in Business website. It nearly gave me an 'art attack.

i'll drink to that

Andrea K. reports on the recent BLACK Tea: "A new student organization at Southern Illinois University Carbondale hosted its first function at the Carbondale Civic Center Sunday. . . . BLACK -- Black Leaders Actively Communicating Knowledge -- sponsored its first African American Woman's Tea [in order to] 'bridge the gap between campus and community.'" . . . . Ta-Nika McGee, editor-in-chief of BLACK's bi-weekly newspaper and the organizer of the day's event, said the new organization grew out of a need for a voice to address issues affecting African Americans and other ethnic groups on campus." In a related story, WHITE -- White Honchos Inspirationally Teaching Everything -- sponsored its first Euro-American Guys' Kegger at the Karmadale Communion Room the other night. As a member of WHITE -- in fact, the founding member (about five minutes ago) -- I'd like to invite Ta-Nika for a cup of coffee to discuss effective use of the world wide web to accomplish organizational goals.

Their kind of town

As Andrea Kampwerth reports that Debbie Moore, doesn't mind that the Governor will be absent from the 17th Annual Illinois Governor's Conference on Tourism. Moore, the executive director of the Carbondale Convention and Tourism Bureau, and Mayor Brad Cole are going to Chicago "to learn more about the tourism industry, not to complain about the 50% funding cut proposed by Governor Rod Blagojevich." As Carbondalliers know, Cole ran for mayor on the notion that he would be the "chief salesman" for Carbondale, so he's going to the Chicago Hilton today through Wednesday, to listen and to hobnob with regional tourism leaders, except G-Rod. Andrea doesn't say why the Governor won't be in attendance. Maybe he's on vacation.

Graydog to Fraydog re: straw dog

I've just finished reading one of Carbondale's home grown blogs, "Fraydog's Blog Log," and the author, writing from his SIU dorm room, deserves "props" for web savvy, if not for political acumen. Here's why: the website is well-designed and organized, but his old-fashioned political conservativism is curiously out-of-touch with his own "Information Age" message--he's forgotten the rule of irony. IRONY RULZ!

Quoting from an article in the Southern Illinoisan, Fraydog imputes certain paranoid and conspiratorial motives to the peace protesters (Lee Hartman, among others) which the protesters do not believe, and did not say! Retired-Prof. Hartman is much too intelligent to think, let alone say (as Fraydog asserts) that "Bush is a Nazi." That straw dog won't hunt.

Ironically, the young author appears to suffer from similar delusions about "the Left" and "the Right." Like me, he draws inspiration from Libertarian political logic: less government, more freedom. Yet he is curiously blind to the current President's failure to follow that principle. How many of us feel freer and safer today than we did four years ago?

Fraydog has a link to another local blog, Cannon's Canon, which is also politically conservative. The author will be the auctioneer at the Egyptian Campaign Game Convention on the SIU campus this weekend and so will the guy who writes Nodwick comic books. I think I may take a bike ride to campus and say 'hi', then go to the Glove Factory to check out the artwork of this year's Rickert-Ziebold Award finalists. There are twenty altogether. Last year 4 finalists split $20,000.

Dear Bloggy . . . Several hours spent yesterday selecting, resizing, and formatting some of the thousands of photos of Carbondale people, places and things snapped over the years for the upcoming Shawnee Network slide show extravaganza. Nice rainy day for it, but by mid-afternoon time to move away from mouse and monitor to motor over to City Hall to do my civic duty and engage in some . . .

Carbondale Conversations

Waiting to see the mayor this afternoon, I had the good fortune to speak with Sam Goldman and Sarah Heyer about Carbondale Conversations, which got off to a good start last week. I pitched the concept of community blog to Sarah, a net neophyte, but a quick learner. She even offered to create a website for the Carbondale Conversations, but was told by the City webmaster that it would be taken care of . . . but it wasn't . . . or rather hasn't been--yet.

That's the sort of thing I'm talking about . . . we all of us in this city (village, if you will) are expressing ourselves through email, but overall the city's web presence gets a B-minus. Too harsh? Maybe so, but I'm always a tough grader until the final. I hope God (Allah, if you will) is that way, too.

Anyhoo . . . Debbie McCoy was in her office, too, so I suggested two things: 1) doing a marketing survey of the ECHCCC--especially the people currently using the service, and 2) allowing Kevin Clark's young entrepreneur's group to take on the project. Why not? Kevin thinks it's a "great idea" . . . but . . . will the Eurma C. Hayes Child Care advisory commission suffer the little children to lead them?

Brisket, media well-done

Yesterday, before Rachel Gordon and Stuart Fischoff headed back to Hollywood, we sat down at Big Boys Q'n (home of "Brisket on a Biscuit" and wireless internet access) for lunch and an exit interview. The husband and wife media team are considering pulling up stakes in L.A. and moving here. Not to retire, but to reinvent themselves, away from the sunny hubbub of the west coast's entertainment hub.

Stuart was impressed that a place like Big Boy's with two big screen televisions and band platform would also have wireless internet access, but --voila-- I was able to download an image of the famous "HOLLYWOOD" sign on Hollywood Hills, CA Afterwards, I set the laptop on the empty fourth chair so the George Carlin screensaver could entertain us, which it did--so well that I had to close the screen so we could talk to each other before the food arrrived.

I think Rachel was disappointed by my laissez-faire attitude toward politics. She had the impression (from this blog) that I was big meeting-goer (which I'm not). There are three (count 'em 3!) newspapers in town with scores of paid reporters to do that job. I prefer my public involvement to be more one-on-one. The only reason I might attend a public meeting is to speak to people there, snap some photos, or address the City Council. But otherwise, since all Carbondale City Council meetings are televised live on Cable Channel 16, and rebroadcast at noon on Thurs. (as I type this), and at 1 p.m. on Sunday, if I wanted to view the events, I'd prefer to watch at home. Like the guy in Being There.

Anyway, as part of her investigation into the area, Rachel asked people around town "What is the worst thing about Carbondale?" I answered "not having a public outdoor swimming pool." What would you say?

Sticking to it

After saying goodbye to Rachel and Stuart, I met with Rory Jaros, the chair man of Jackson St., who makes handmade chairs from wood found in Shawnee National forest, and who had the good sense to hire Bobbie O. to make him a fine website. Now he wants to hire me to teach him how to maintain his site. When I told him my price, he asked if I would "stick" it. So I accepted his terms: One (1) stick in partial payment for a web tutorial at Big Boys. After the job is done, full payment must be tendered to the branch office.

Wouldn't you know it? Just today the Daily Egyptian posted a nice photo of Rory.

Andrea Zimmerman reports: Alt.news 26:46 "has added a first-place finish in an international competition to its prestigious repertoire of 11 Emmys and a slew of other awards."

Alt News will play again on Sunday, March 28 at 10 p.m. on WSIU-TV, Channel 8.

Another year, another Rickert-Ziebold art competition

Twenty School of Art and Design senior designers, glass blowers, sculptors and studio artists are vying for the $20,000 purse in the 2004 Rickert-Ziebold Trust Award competition. Winners will be announced on Monday, March 29, at 3:30 p.m. in the Surplus Gallery at the Glove Factory. Before they are, the public may see the works at a free open house from 1 to 3 p.m., Sunday, March 28.

Kid entrepreneurs?

The Eurma C. Hayes Child Care Center may close if city cannot help, writes Rachel Lindsay in her update on the situtation.

Here's a great idea (if I do say so myself): Why doesn't the entrepreneur group led by Kevin Clark (whose ubiquity precedes him) headquarted IN THE SAME BUILDING as the Child Care Center take on the project? I mean, if private enterprise can't make a go of it with free rent, then maybe there isn't such a great need afterall. I wonder if the committee charged with making recommendations on what to do about the ECH Child Care Center has considered surveying currently users. A market survey to determine the need and prospects. I mean it's touching to hear about people's experiences at the the child care center 20 years ago (my own kids spent time at the ECHCCC), but someone should do a current market survey. If it's already been done, terrific. If not, why not?

I just got off the phone with Assistant City Manager Don Monty who attends the ECHCCC committee meetings, and to his knowledge a survey has not been done. He said he'd pass the suggestion on to Debbie McCoy, head of Human Relations, who's overseeing the project for the City.

I think I'll get in touch with the young and ubiquitous Mr. Clark.

Attention Folkies

This just in from Jane Reh: There will be no Cousin Andy's this Friday night. However, for your weekly folk fix, Jane recommends Steve Brooks, punster/singersongwriter from Austin, Texas, at the Yellow Moon Cafe in Cobden tomorrow night at 8. Check him out at his website. On April 2 Carbondale's foremost folk venue will reopen with Barbara Martin.

And here's the latest from the Yellow Moon crew.

The medium is the meal

Because of this blog, on Monday night I had the pleasure of meeting Rachel Gordon and Stuart Fischoff, the husband and wife team responsible for the online Journal of Media Psychology and readers of this blog. They stopped by to see me at Greyhound after work, and we went to Dar Salaam at its new location on the corner of Oak and N. Illinois. Fischoff is a Professor of Media Psychology at Cal State, Los Angeles, where he teaches courses in media psychology and the psychological impact of film. He and Rachel are considering moving from the urban hubbub of that locale to the natural beauty and relative sophistication of Carbondale. As if to prove it, we sat at a large table low to the ground on long cushions on the floor, bolstered by pillows, shoes off, traditional Arabic style, and feasted on house specialties while speaking of Shakespeare, mass media, and good hiking trails in Southern Illinois.

Slogan for sale

Speaking of relative sophistication, the Governor of West Virginia has complained about a tee-shirt sold by online marketer Abercrombie & Fitch: "It's all relative in West Virginia", which reminds me . . . not much has happened with this blog's slogan for Southern Illinois: "The Next Best Thing." I haven't presented it to Biz Czar Larry Woolard yet. But even if he likes it, so what? Will he write me a check?

Dear Bloggy

Today I spent hours selecting and resizing photos for the slide show page on the Shawnee Network. I've had a few positive comments, but mostly silence. I speculated to media expert Fischoff that maybe it was because my posts are so totally "right-on" that there was nothing more to add! Ha.

Newly-elected Saline County State's Attorney David Nelson wrote to acknowledge his "Soggy" (for Southern Illinois Blogging). Dave isn't the only talented writer in the family--his son Jesse writes a weekly Opinion column in the Daily Egyptian. Maybe I'll add the other Southern Illinois blogs to the links in the left panel. In a day or two, after the photos are done.

It's only March, but AP Poll Shows Bush, Kerry in Close Race: "Bush was backed by 46 percent of voters, Kerry by 43 percent and independent Ralph Nader by 5 percent, according to the poll conducted for the AP by Ipsos-Public Affairs."

Carbondale Mayor Brad Cole is offering to help the the Jackson County Board make another attempt at passing its Safety Tax, but, as Andrea Kempwerth reports, his offer of cooperation is viewed skeptically by County Board Finance Commissioner Gerald Compton.: "Cole said he wasn't necessarily endorsing a future public safety sales tax increase referendum. However, he said he is interested in seeing that information about the public safety tax is distributed to the public differently the next time the referendum is offered on a Jackson County ballot." From what I can tell, the Board website has no information about the special tax or the reasons for it. So that's at least one thing the Board could do next time to win voters' (especially this one's) approval.

If Pigs had Bikes

Tonight's City Council meeting agenda looks full. Twenty items, not counting the preliminary meeting of the Liquory Advisory Commission to consider an application for a Class F1 Liquor License (temporary, beer and wine only) for the Carbondale Main Street Pig Out in September . . . Which reminds me . . . City Manager "Sketch" Doherty was going to look into the amount of insurance required for every business venue in town, including Pig Out. Currently the same amount ($1,000,000) is required for someone to drink a cup of coffee at a sidewalk cafe . . . except the Pig Outters aren't drinking coffee (as evidenced by tonight's LAC meeting) , and there's a lot more of them, and some great rock & roll. Realistically, a mill is probably enough. How much damage can a piece of bad brisket or reggae band do? But still, I wonder . . . if Pig Out were to be sued for more than a million, who would be on the skewer? The City? The Parking Lot owners? Carbondale Main Street? The causer of the injury? All four?

The other event I have a passing interest in, the ordinance adopting the Bikeway Network Plan. Don Lawrence, Director Region 9, League of Illinois Bicyclists wants bicyclists to show up at the meeting to lend support to Carbondale Bicycle Club President Anne Johnson, who has some some suggestions and comments. Wouldn't you know it? It's the next-to-last item on the 20-item agenda.

That will be about 8:30 p.m. What to do, what to do . . . Tape American Idol (from 7-9 pm) or stay home and watch it live on Fox-23, and switch back and forth to the City Council meeting on Cable Channel 16? It might get confusing. Councilman Haynes, City Clerk Vaught and City Manager Doherty might start to look like Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell. And Mayor Cole might morph into Ryan Seacrest.

$200,000 and a pulpit

This summer, on Showtime , a twelve-week series will debut: American Candidate "with 12 contestants facing-off in a series of challenges to test their presidential mettle." If you've seen American Idol or Survivor, you know the drill: Each week a candidate is voted off (I think. The website doesn't explain exactly how, or exactly when). The final episode ... a showdown between the remaining two candidates. The winner is named the "American Candidate," and gets $200,000 and a chance to deliver an address to the nation.

The deadline to apply is April 9! At least two readers of this blog that I know of (a man and a woman) would be good candidates, and I hope someone from Carbondale gets on the show. (If I don't know you, you could still be a good candidate, so by all means apply. What have you got to lose? An election?

We're #2, we're #2

The Daily Egyptian reports: SIUC ranks second highest in crime rates.

For the benefit of Giant City State Park

Les Winkeler reports: A Friends of Giant City group was recently chartered. It took about a year to get it off the ground. The group meets quarterly -- at the Visitor Center, at 5:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of February, May, August and November. For more information, read Les's story, or call Vicki Lang of Makanda, president of the Friends of Giant City board of directors at (618) 549-8390. Donations can be sent to: Friends of Giant City; P.O. Box 131; Makanda, Ill. 62958. Perhaps a user-friendly website would help.

March mindedness

Tis the season of March madness--in like a lion, out like a lamb. Not only NCAA basketball, but also high school basketball tournaments and college baseball and softball. (Not to mention men's tennis and golf, and women's tennis and golf.)

For Carbondalliers, the madness led to the local high school Terriers beating Simeon Academy on Friday, but falling to Peoria and Aurora West on Saturday to take 4th place in Illinois State AA championship series.

Also this weekend, Saluki women's softball swept the series vs. Northern Iowa, making the team 10-0 at West Stadium so far this season. Next: a doubleheader vs. Southeast Missouri State at West Stadium on Tuesday at 2 p.m.

I didn't see any of the women's games, nor did I witness the Saluki men's baseball team (3-13) upset No. 8 Notre Dame on Saturday, but I did get over to Abe Martin Field to catch some of today's game vs. the nationally-ranked Fighting Irish*, which they lost .

Man, with the low-30s wind, it was nippy at Abe Martin Field, but the Salukis failed to nip visitors, losing 5-3, despite the heroics of team captain Greg Andrews, who had "a stellar two-game series against the Irish, hitting a blistering .750 with four runs scored, two home runs and four RBI. Also, his homer today marked the 21st of his career, which put him in a tie for ninth with Aaron Jones (1996-97) on SIU's all-time career home run list. He has homered in each of the Dawgs' last four games."

SIU continues its seven-game homestand on Tuesday, when it also hosts Southeast Missouri State at 2 p.m. I wonder if Greg will hit #22.

*Blogitor's note: What kind of mascot name is "Fighting Irish" in today's "politically correct" day and age? A pugnacious lepricaun? Why not "Angry Italians" or "Bellicose Brazilians" or "Irate Iraqis"? Readers and comedians are invited to come up with their own amusing variations.

Terriers finish fourth, Peacelovers go forth

Todd Hefferman explains why the Terriers came in fourth, not first in State AA, and that ain't bad, and about 100 people showed up at the rally for peace at Town Square. I walked down after work, in time to hear Cathy Field speak. Cathy is co-editor of the Southern Illinois Peace Coalition newsletter, and a regular on the sidewalk at Main & Illinois on Saturdays bearing witness to the cost of war. Her speech yesterday did the same, offering no hope to listeners, except the opportunity to struggle. Very existential. Camus comes to Iraq. I snapped some photos and posted a slide show on the Shawnee Network home page. Meanwhile Andrea Kampwerth has more details about the event.

Paddlefish spawn : "Paddlefish ascend the larger tributaries of the Mississippi and Ohio, traveling upstream until they reach gravel bars where they actually spawn. Some observers report (presumably) male fish to breach - that is, they leap from the water and belly flop back in - as a prelude to mating." - Waterman and Hill-Traveller's Companion

What with everything else going on on Saturday, I didn't attend the opening of Carbondale Conversations for Community Action at CCHS, although "A cross section of community leaders"-- and about 50 citizens-- did, as reported in the DE.

Last night, I caught Blue Collar Comedy Tour on cable featuring four "redneck" comedians -- Bill Engvall, Ron "Tater" White, Jeff Foxworthy (of course), and Larry the Cable Guy.

Peace Train and the bus to Peoria

The University Christian Ministries newsletter writes:

"This Saturday, people on every continent will take to the streets to say YES to peace and NO to pre-emptive war and occupation. Nearly 400 peace marches will occur around the world. More than 200 events are scheduled in the United States, from Anchorage, AK to Miami, FL, including the rally in Carbondale -- momentum is building around the world for the Global Day of Action against War and Occupation, the one-year anniversary of the U.S. bombing and invasion of Iraq -- sponsored by the Peace Coalition of Southern Illinois -- for more information on the global day of action, visit United For Peace and Justice.

It's hard to comprehend, but some people care more about peace and justice than athletic competition. However, it's possible to support both. Someone could watch the CCHS game in the morning at Big Boys (big screen, wireless 'net), then go to the Peace Rally on the other side of Town Square, about 100 yards away, starting at noon--just as soon as the Terriers game vs. Peoria Central is over. I'd do it myself, except I have to work at Carbondale Greyhound from 11:30 a.m. til 1. I could leave a note on the door for customers to come to Big Boys or the Peace Rally to buy their tickets. I could hold up a sign that reads: "Tickets for Greyhound Bus and Peace Train"

The bus to Peoria leaves Carbondale at 3:30 a.m. and arrives in Peoria about noon (transfers in St. Louis), if you're thinking of going.

Speaking of UCM . . .

Whither Hugh?

Although he's going stronger than ever, , University Christian Ministries director Hugh Muldoon is retiring from that position at the end of the semester. I'll try to find out more about what he's planning--something one of the local newspapers may do. He deserves a fitting tribute and retirement party--organized by Hugh, of course.

Terriers In Final Four

Southern Illinoisan sports reporter Todd Hefferman gave good advice, Justin Dentmon had a big game (as predicted here), and CCHS defeats Simeon 65-46 this afternoon to advance to the semi-finals tomorrow vs. Peoria Central at 11 a.m. at Carver Arena, Peoria Civic Center. If the Terriers win, they'll play either Homewood-Flossmoor or West Aurora in the championship game Saturday night at 8:15 p.m.

Go Terriers!

In London, Things get worse with Coke

Next

Every dawg has its day, and following the SIU Salukis tough loss yesterday, it's time for Carbondale's other canine mascot team to take the court. The Carbondale High School Terriers' are going up against the Wolverines of Chicago Simeon (26-4) in a quarterfinal Class AA tournament game at the Peoria Civic Center this afternoon. The game will be broadcast on WDBX 91.1 starting at 12:15 pm. The coach thinks rebounding is the key. Look (or rather listen) for Justin Dentmon to have a big game. The 6-foot senior guard is the Terriers go-to player, averaging 21.7 points and 3 assists per game.

Action on Jackson

Don Camillo Grocery (sort of a Mexican Wal-Mart) is opening this weekend. And soon, across the tracks, another food business will be open for business in the city's most dynamic (pre-TIF) district between Longbranch and the Co-op, Andrea's Global Gourmet, where you can get "food fast, not fast food."

Changes in TIF District #1

More big changes coming on Washington St. The old Prairie Farms building (where Gasoline Alley and Cycle Tech currently do business) will be demolished very soon. By the end of the month, the building will be vacated. According to co-owner, Jim Jarvis, CycleTech is moving to the "Frankenbuilding", the old Global Auto building on Marion St., so that monstrosity will be fixed up by the owner and the renters. Even so, the CycleTechies better not to get too comfortable there because both Holt's Tire and the Frankenbuilding will soon be levelled to make room for new construction. It only makes cents, I mean sense: First Southern Bank has a major investment in the block across the street and just about all of it, including the old Veach eyesore will be levelled for new construction before the end of the year. Will the Frankenbuilding survive the TIF District redevelopment push? Not a chance.

Don't be surprised to see me wearing this tee-shirt someday.
(Thanks to Jim Syler)

Big Game at Big Boys

Sitting in Biq Boys BBQ on Jackson St. watching the SIU vs. Alabama game. The score is Alabama 52, Southern 43, 10:00 minutes left. Brad Korn just hit another shot. Make it 45 for the Salukis. Still plenty of time. 50-55, 8:19 left. I just showed this to Don Urberger, owner of Big Boys--the ONLY WIRELESS INTERNET ACCESS restaurant in town, so far as I know. Lamar Owen just scored. 57-53, 7:45 left. Don said that he hasn't been advertising the internet access availability; he should.

59-55. 6:15 left. Just showed the guys in this photo their picture. They were impressed.
61-60. 2:05 remaining.
62-61 Salukis!!!!!!! 1:32 remaining.
63-62 Alabama ... 1:01 left.
Saluki possession. 31 seconds to go. Commercial time out.
Who's gonna take the shot? BROOKS SCORES!
Alabama comes back and scores to take a 1 point lead with 5 seconds remaining.
Brooks inbounds to Willis who gets fouled with 2.8 seconds.
Another timeout. Salukis will inbound. Can they make a shot at the buzzer and Win?
Nope.

Great game though. And great to discover Big Boys wireless.

New State's Blogtorney

A shout out to Saline County Illinois where David Nelson won a narrow victory over Kelly Phelps for State's Attorney. Not only was Nelson the more experienced candidate, he's also a masterful blogger, as shown not only in his campaign blog, but also in his whimsically satirical (see the very first entry) 2..3..many Dave Nelsons blog, as well his tribute to the first graduating class at SIU School of Law, Thirty Years South of the Blue Barracks. Dave is a gifted writer, probably due to the training he received as a graduate student in the SIU Department of English.

He gets this blog's award for the Best Southern Illinois Blogger for 2004, the "SOGGY."

GO GREEN 115: "The official website of the Committee to Elect Rich Whitney for Illinois House, 115th District"

GO MAROON.

Salukis match up well with Crimson Tide in 1st round NCAA tournament game today, 1:30 pm CST tipoff.

Jim Gill, a lecturer in writing and literature at SIUC, will speak to the Southern Illinois Writers Guild tonight at 7:00 p.m. in John A. Logan College’s Terrace Dining Room. Mr. Gill has published in various outlets, including the Colorado Review, Crab Orchard Review, the Sou’Western, and Laurel Review. The meeting is free and open to the public. Write for more info.

Here's the latest on Carbondale Conversations beginning this Saturday afternoon.

Paul Lives!

Great Beatles Story You've Never Heard. The mystery man on the 'Abbey Road' album cover has been identified.

Back to work

Maybe now Mayor Brad Cole can pay off his student loan. ha ha.

Wearing of the Green (Party)

At the Big Muddy Independent Media Center, attorney Richard Whitney delivered a speech to thirty or so supporters, announcing his candidacy for the State House of Representatives seat currently held by Republican Mike Bost. I hadn't been in the BMIMC since the St. Valentine's Day mediascare previously reported in this blog. Richard made a lot of sense, and had a new haircut, er, two new haircuts for the occasion, and campaign manager Julie Sommer announced plans for an old-fashioned Band Barnstorming tour to promote the Illinois Green Party cause throughout District 115. Besides being a savvy political stragegist Julie sings and performs like an "American Idol" for St. Stephen's Blues band and knows a number of musicians in the area, so it sounds like a noteworthy idea. She also said that Richard's speech will be posted on his website.

Just when you thought it couldn't get any better, Zebra Swallowtails appearing in local forests.

According to Les Winkeler, Alabama's Crimson Tide is quite similar to Southern Illinois University in size and personnel. They're even coached by a former Carbondale High School player, Mark Gottfried (son of former Saluki coach Joe of that name). The two teams will meet Tomorrow in Seattle at 1:30 pm CST.

Blogaltics as usual

Well, I just read the the blogs for Bush and Kerry. Coincidentally, the Wall Street Journal recently did an overview of the blogs of the remaining candidates for President. As readers of this blog know, I place tremendous value on effective web presence, and use of the internet as a communication tool. The Kerry and Bush blogs should have links to the other's blog and be more interactive. Why not?

Vote on

Are you voting today? If you're undecided, here's guidance.

Multi-media meetings

Tonight: Local Sierra Club group sponsors multi-media event.

Also tomorrow night, you can meet the winners of the Women's History Month Essay Contest, at 7 pm at First Christian Church, Carbondale. Sponsored by AAUW.

And if that isn't enough--there will be numerous gatherings of Democrats, Republicans and Green Partiers at television watching places in the County. I know the Green Party people will be at the Big Muddy IMC on Washington St. I haven't been back there since the Valentine's Day incident.

Meanwhile, the Dems, Repubs, and Libs will be meeting here and there around town.

Rock on

Just read that musician Prince rocked the house as he was inducted into the Rock Hall of Fame along with George Harrison, Bob Seger, ZZ Top, and Jackson Browne. In my opinion, Prince belongs in a higher pantheon than those other musicians, deserving though they be. I guess he showed it last night, according to one report:

It was clearly Prince's night, though, as he opened the ceremony with a trio of 1980s hits and came out later to upstage Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne and Harrison's son, Dhani, on "While My Guitar Gently Weeps."

Harrison became the third ex-Beatle to be inducted for his solo work. The jam band Traffic and the '50s group The Dells were also honored.

I've been rediscovering Harrison on Radio Netscape, which has a station dedicated to his music. It's good to hear the jam sessions from "All Things Must Pass" again. As I write this, I'm listening to his cover version of Bob Dylan's "Absolutely Sweet Marie."

Rock on, George. Rock on, everyone.

Today in Rock History (among other things) 1968: “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay,” by Otis Redding, reaches #1 for the first of four weeks. Recorded three days before Redding’s death in a plane crash."

Stump on

It's old news by now that the President's spokespersons have called on challenger John Kerry to reveal the names of foreign leaders who favor his candidacy. On Sunday, Kerry refused, telling reporters 'No leader would obviously share a conversation if I started listing them.' VP Dick Cheney, speaking to Republicans in Phoenix at a campaign event, rebutted 'At the very least, we have a right to know what he is saying to them that makes them so supportive of his candidacy."

Kerry is right, obviously, and so is Cheney. Must read the Kerry and Bush blogs to get the latest. But first . . .

What's with the State and County candidates?

I got a bulk email from Nancy Skinner's campaign about volunteering to write a blog and stuff, and I offered to help her (too haughtily perhaps), and she didn't respond. As far as I know she didn't make an appearance here. Similarly, the ubiquitously voluntary Kevin Clark said Barrack (say BahROCK) Obama ignored his offers of help too. But judging from signs in local yards, either Barrack Obama or Blair Hull will win in Carbondale. Obama proudly associates himself with Paul Simon (in particular daughter Sheila, who appears in a television ad for Barrack). Hull meanwhile has a personal fortune--$400,000,000, by one estimate (uh, some guy at Greyhound). Obviously his campaign is loaded, judging from the four-color glossy handouts. (He even has a blog). No doubt he has a plan. Obama has ideas too. All the candidates do. The question is, which one will best represent their ideas and your values in the lofty Senate. Oh, Gary Chico is a strong candidate too. As I wrote in this blog in January, they all are (except one).

Speaking of endorsements

I hear that Chris Wissmann loaned his voice and name to an automated vote solicitation for Cindy Svanda, the Circuit Clerk. The guy who told me said he phoned the culture maven cum Councilman to complain. If I got a call like that, I'd vote for Teresa Vogt (Why were there no "Vote for Vogt" posters around?) or Bob Boyer, but I didn't so I still may vote for Cindy. Teresa should set her sights on higher office anyway.

As for the Republicans, I take my guidance from Fraydog.


But there's another thing about Cindy that concerns me...or her webmaster. What's with Historical photos of Jackson County, Illinois Circuit Clerk: Historical Photos?!

The text on the page states: "Assembled below are some photographs of the County's Elected Circuit Clerks. . . . ," but the ONLY ONE IS CINDY SVANDA! (It's hosted by the good folks at Allied Access which just brought wireless internet to Murphysboro, according to this blog, which got it from The Southern).

Surely, whether Cindy is elected or not, the page will be amended. And don't call her Shirley.

Time and Tide wait for these men

The Saluki men's basketball team will take on Alabama in 1st Round of NCAA in Seattle. Salukis earn No. 9 seed--highest in school history. The game will tip-off at 1:30 p.m.

According to the University of Alabama Official Athletic Site: "The Tide has played Southern Illinois once previously, in November of 1996 at the Top of the World Classic in Fairbanks, Alaska. Alabama won that second round game 79-58 en route to the Classics"

Not surprisingly, the Bush and Kerry campaigns have blogs: Namely the GeorgeWBush.com :: Official Blog and the John Kerry for President Blog. Interesting reading, I'd say.

Yo, Yo, Yalies

Some AP headline writes: Bush Radio Address Raps Kerry's Tax Plans. Can you imagine a Bush rap? Or Kerry? Ha. Maybe one of them will follow the path of the Senator in the movie Bulworth, (Warren Beatty), who falls from grace and raises himself up by getting down.

A college student whom I've never met, Semilla Vida, likes this blog enough to imitate, according to a recent entry in her Dead Journal blog:

"Also, I have a new site. This is just a trial. If I like it I may move my blog over there instead of deadjournal, however right now I think it sucks so I'll most likely be sticking with deadjournal. Or I'll have to learn html. For an example of what I'd like my journal to be, go to: http://www.shawneenet.net/blog/daleyd.html"

That's this blog! Semilla wants to add photos to hers. If she's from around here, she should come to the Shawnee Network's "Webmasters and slaves" Conference (in the works). Every webmaster and designer I've spoken to (about a dozen) have expressed interest. It 's just a question of when, and of course, where (probably Dunn-Richmond Center), what (formal presentations and informal buffet and chat), and how much.

Speaking of photos . . .

Slide Show Dave

Much of my recent break from the blogmill has been spent working on a slide show for the Shawnee Network home page, which meant some rearranging. As always, your suggestions and comments are desired. You know how to reach me. But if it's about photos, make it snappy.

Don't blame George. No, not THAT George. Blame him all you like.

Bush's Ahab the Arab Ad: "James Zogby, president of the Arab American Institute, urged Bush to withdraw one of the new ads because it illustrates the section on terrorism with a picture of an olive-skinned man with bushy eyebrows. 'If they wanted to put Osama bin Laden up there that's fine, but using just a face stereotypes,' Zogby said."

The O'Franken Factor

Air America Net announced its programming lineup on Wednesday and plans to launch the network on March 31 in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and San Francisco by leasing AM stations rather than syndicating.

Al Franken will be joined by fellow TV comedian Janeane Garofalo (news), both of whom will have co-hosts for their live three-hour shows. Other shows will be hosted by Randi Rhodes, a radio personality from southern Florida, and Lizz Winstead, a co-creater of 'The Daily Show' on Comedy Central."

Will the show be available in Southern Illinois? Stay tuned.

Bye, bye Miss American Tap

I've developed an infatuation with the girl on the American Tap mural (left), who was based on the cover to the sheet music by George Meyer, according to A Composer's and Lyricists Database. The lyrics to "'Brown Eyes, Why Are You Blue?' were penned by Al Bryan." I want to try to find the music and hear the song. Maybe even start a website devoted to the song and the period.

pictured above right, "Brown Eyes" as she looked over Spring Break 2004.

Men's Basketball Loses to SMS, 80-74: "The Salukis (25-4) will now have to wait for what seems to be an inevitable third-straight at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. They've been considered a lock for about a month, but you never know."

Break with tradition

After many minutes consideration, this blog will take a pre-Spring break to catch up and follow-through on things. I know, I know, it's hard for me too.

According to Waterman and Hill Traveller's Companion, about this time of year, Wood Ducks begin nesting

This blog is being posted from the SIU Student Center via wireless connection on a laptop computer. How cool is that? Answer: very. But even cooler, folks in Murphysboro will be able to log-on from the dairy section of the supermarket--or at least from hot spots around town. More later. It's stuffy in the Student Center; and blustery outside.

Remember artist Bonnie Moreno? She lives in Virginia now and has a website: MBDesign, which is devoted to watercolors of dogs, including a couple of Salukis.

Resource Advantage of blogging?

Ran into SIU Marketing chairman Terry Clark in the checkout line of the supermarket today -- a major coincidence since we both had to cancel an appointment with each other earlier in the day.

Good thing, too, since I learned that Shelby D. Hunt, Professor of Marketing at Texas Tech would be speaking on the "resource advantage theory" of competition tomorrow in Rehn Bldg. Rm. 18 at 10 a.m. (Thanks Mary!) He even wrote a book about it, A General Theory of Competition.

Does "resource advantage theory" jibe with theories of "coompetition" and ""comperation" expressed in this blog?

My original purpose for meeting Prof. Clark was to discuss an idea I have for a student-written business blog, along the lines of Carbondale Now [dot] Biz, dedicated to bringing advancing technology businesses to the area. Students in Business, Journalism and Computer Sciences could be given extra credit for blogging. Why not?

Does Prof. Hunt approve of the blogging phenomenon?

Meet them in St. Louey, Salukis

It's the Salukis vs. Evansville, noon Saturday. After that, against Creighton (probably) on Sunday, 2:35 pm. and the championship Monday night against either Wichita State or Northern Illinois. That's this blog's prediction.

Suitable for printing: MVC Bracket flow chart, courtesy DE and a lot of businesses.

Point Guard Guilty

Writes Ken Seeber: Saluki basketball player, Freshman Jamaal Tatum pled guilty yesterday to "a misdemeanor charge of criminal damage to property for breaking a window at the Carbondale Police Department in January."

WJ update

Although it isn't commercially available yet, some folks have begun to market watermelon juice: The Original Watermelon Juice, but they haven't added the raisin flavor yet. Perhaps a small handful of raisins in the bottom of the bottle. Why not?

I'll tell you why not . . . because everyone I've spoken to so far about this concoction says it isn't appealing. They either don't like one of the ingredients, or the combination sounds revolting. There's no pleasing some people. Perhaps some other juice combinations might have more market appeal . . . tomato/orange? grapefruit and grape? persimmon/kiwi?

Return of the Native

Nice profile of new Board of Trustees member Carbondale native Roger Tedrick by Rachel Lindsay in the DE focusing on former Chancellor Donald Beggs' long relationship with Tedrick, whose mother operated a boarding house where Don stayed as a student. The watermelon story is an authentic slice of Americana circa-50s, very nostalgic.

WJ

These days, watermelon isn't as appreciated as it once was. Due to air-conditioning probably, and all the fruit drinks on the market. I've often wondered why watermelon juice hasn't been bottled commercially, or sold as frozen concentrate. Perhaps a watermelon and raisin combo, together at last: watermaisin juice. I wonder if there's a watermelon growers association. Of course there is. Would the raisin raisers be interested in joining juices? Since sales are slow, ya never know. Let's see what the folks in graphics come up with.

Reported in the DE:: "Yesterday's Campus Ministries meeting to discuss the recent conversion to a Judaeo-Christian-only organization was canceled because all the members could not attend. The meeting was rescheduled for March 16 at 1:15 p.m. in the Newman Catholic Center."

Council votes for "pot and bong" law

It's official. In 9 days, anyone busted in this city for possession of up to 10 grams of cannabis, or drug paraphernalia (garden hoes, rakes and sickles notably excepted) can pay a fine, plus community service, instead of going to Circuit Court. The ordinance was crafted by Mayor Brad Cole and City Attorney Deborah Nelson, and City Council voted in favor 6-1, with only Steven Haynes dissenting.

The ordinance is described as a "win-win-win" proposal: 1. The City maintains its vigilance against drugs; 2. The county saves time and expense of prosecution; and 3. Low-level violators can pay for their crime at the City level, without a lengthy Circuit court process, cost, and resulting criminal record. Andrea Kampwerth has more details.

Has anyone asked the folks at Egyptian Corner about the ordinance? Obviously, their hookahs should be exempted--even though they are not inoperable--but are they (by the terms of the ordinance)? An inquiring blog wants to know.

Racism 101

Tonight at 7:30 p.m. in Student Center Ballrooms, Nikki Giovanni, a renowned poet, writer, commentator, activist and Distinguished Professor at Virginia Tech University, will discuss topics from her book and sign copies afterwards. Jerry Bradley writes more about Nikki in Flipside.

Pro Kong, anti-bong

Tonight, 7 pm: Free City Council meeting conducted by Mayor Brad Cole, simulcast on Cable Channel 16.

Also tonight, 8 pm: Free poetry reading by William Trowbridge, author of "The Complete Book of Kong in the Student Center.

"Kong is hip and horrendous, always terribly in love with a small screaming blonde, and still bearing the biggest, brightest heart that Hollywood has ever broken. Kong treads fortissimo where mortals fear to go and holds forth in these poems with the fresh, no-nonsense voice that makes Trowbridge one of poetry's most cutting edge bards.

As noted yesterday, a new City of Carbondale Anti-Cannabis & Paraphernalia Ordinance is being proposed by the Mayor. I note that garden hoes and sandwich bags are excluded and that paraphernalia can be displayed if it's completely inoperable. Somebody should tell the folks at Egyptian Corner to fill their hookahs with cement.

So what will it be? Kong or the Bong? Kong or the Bong?

City Council has 18 items on the tonight's agenda--and each one has a PDF document posted with it. Don't bother trying to download the Bikeway Network Plan though until it's been reformatted from scanned pages to text. The current file is 7 megs and takes 6 minutes to download on a highspeed connection. I spoke to report author Jeremy Hayes, who said the report was a work-in-progress that would eventually be reformatted and republished online.

Panthers Pounce on Salukis

Although Jamaal Tatum scored 10 off the bench, Saluki men hoopsters never held the lead against the Panthers of Northern Iowa earlier tonight, losing 68-52.

"The Salukis (24-3, 17-1) turned in their worst performance of the season, falling behind 33-21 at halftime, and by as many as 21 in the second half. They shot just 33 percent from the field and 23 percent from the free throw line."

Credit to the Panthers. They outplayed the Dawgs from the get-go, as did Bradley for awhile and Creighton in the second half Now that it's Tournament time, Saluki Fan #6 hopes the SIU team didn't leave its best basketball behind in those hard-fought contests vs. the Bluejays and the Braves, closing out the regular season at home.

Saluki Athletics photo

Online Calendars

Carbondale doesn't have an "all in one" Calendar of Events, why not? There's Nightlife, Flipside, Pulse, Carbondale Calendar, the Interfaith Center Calendar, the SIU Calendar, the Saluki Athletics Calendar, and Church Calendars, plus the City of Carbondale schedule of events. Did I leave anything out? I could link to each one, but that gets tiresome. What's needed is a All-in-1 Calendar. Eventually, I'll get around to it, but I'm in too much pain to concentrate at the moment, since picking up a kitchen towel from the floor last night. Lower back snapped. I'm walking stooped over at the waist and shuffling along like I need a walker. Speaking of Walker . . .

The man who puts the 'you' in S-I-U

I still haven't met the SIU system President. The man who Chancellor Wendler answers to, James E. Walker. According to a DE profile of Walker in the DE when he first got the job, he said he wanted to create "a family-like atmosphere on the Carbondale campus," which I haven't noticed, but maybe I'm not on campus enough. Will President Walker grant an interview to this blog? Maybe if I call him "Uncle James."

Walkering the talk

The Chicago Bulls and Philadelphia 76ers had a great player named Chet Walker, who played for Bradley University before there was an MVC. James E. Walker may remember him. I once saw Wilt Chamberlain give the left buttock of "The Jet" a prolonged squeeze as the two Sixers walked side-by-side to the locker room at half-time of a game in Philadelphia. The lifelong bachelor, who once scored 100 points in a single game, was probably explaining how he scored with so many women in the singles game.

Shall we try "Famous Walkers" for 30? How about former Illinois Governor Dan Walker (73-77), who was prosecuted for financial wrongdoing after he left office? I heard him on a radio interview recently. He now spends his days in Escondido, California writing books. Trivia: What famous Southern Illinoisan did Walker beat in the 1972 Democratic primary for Governor?

Cannabis Ordinance

Nicole "Nickel Bag" Sack* reports in the Daily Egyptian: Cannabis possession could come under city jurisdiction. Tomorrow night, "Carbondale City Council will consider an ordinance drafted by Mayor Cole and the City Attorney that would allow the City to prosecute individuals for the possession of cannabis and the sale of drug paraphernalia. . . . Individuals who are charged with possession of cannabis or selling paraphernalia would face fines of $250 to $750. . . . [Describing it as] a 'win-win-win' scenario, [Cole] said in addition to the city maintaining its vigilance against the use and sale of cannabis and drug paraphernalia, the change would also answer Jackson County's call for assistance in dealing with public safety costs by reducing the administrative burden placed on the State's Attorney's Office and the county's court system.

Brilliant. It's high time someone came up with an idea like that.

*Nicole isn't really known as "Nickel Bag," but with the story and the name, how could a punning blogger resist?

John A. Logan College will present Resident Alien on March 5 and 6 at 7:30 p.m. in O’Neil Auditorium. Tickets are $6 for the general public and $5 for all students. Matinees will be held on March 4 at 12:30, and March 5 at 1:00 with a $1 admission. Resident Alien has mature themes. Carbondale playwright, JALC English Professor Steve Falcone will direct.

Building Board of Appeals Meeting tonight: 7:00 p.m. Room 118, Civic Center.