Out 'n' About

Got to the library and a woman in the closest handicapped space calls out, "ROEBUCK!" I looked, not recognizing her at all, and she said, "Are YOU Roebuck?" 

I said, "I AM!" 

She said, "Would you like this parking space?" How very kind of this woman wearing a Control Freak tee shirt! I declined, and then recovered my keys from the Buckmobile I had left in the ignition. 

Don't give up on humanity, expecially AMERICANS! Because you'll run across some awesome ones every day! :)

One's Worth a Thousand, so Two...

Obama's TRUE Agenda Has NOT Failed!

Much was said when a political *commentator proclaimed that he hoped Mr Obama would fail. That statement was twisted to indicate that the commentator did not want to see America flourish under the Democrat. That was NOT, I believe what the commentator meant. He meant that he hoped that Obama's TRUE agenda would fail...but it hasn't. Obama's programs have driven the United States into record debt and closer to a Socialist States of America. That's where we sit now. Do you know that most GM and Chrysler dealerships post 2008 are now owned by Democrats? Do you know that dealerships which were closed were done so on the basis of the owner's party affiliation and the one's which were closed down were those owned by Repuclicans? This is corruption and tyranny of the first order and no, Obama's TRUE agenda has NOT failed!

*Rush Limbaugh

Brainwashed?

If the liberal brain was  "washed" it would  be clean, but their brains have been polluted with lies they believe are true. The left looks at programs that have failed 100% of the time and thinks, "Yeah, but that's because the wrong people tried them. WE can do this." The conservative, knows human tendencies and programs that always work unless someone like Senator Dodd or Barney Frank comes along and sabotages them as was the case in '08

Straight-forward Moral People

When I was in the band Scarlet Onyx in high school, so far as I knew, I was the only non-Roman Catholic in the bunch. I had kind of gotten used to that as I had lived in a predominantly Catholic neighborhood. Different denominations occur because of differences in doctrinal concerns and theology within the church universal (all the denominations) One misconception my mom had about Catholics came to the fore when I asked quite innocently, "Why can't we be Catholic?"
I had seen that the Catholic kids went to early mass (some skipped it) and were back home and playing way before I could come home, get out of my suit, eat Sunday Dinner and begin my play. Mom's response was, "Oh Honey, we could NEVER do THAT! The worship statues!" Mom only knew what she'd heard. Later I found some Catholics to love the Lord just as much and some more deeply than the biggest charismatics, Baptists, and other so called "protestants."

We had a drummer leave the band and inherited the drummer for a group called the Rokz named Rusty Fuerst. Rusty was immediately made fun of by the others mainly because he didn't drink booze, didn't smoke and stayed away from cafeine, in obersvance of his Mormon faith. Rusty impressed me with how he tried to behave himself in the moral arena. He had what was a clear opportunity to be sexually active and told me he did not give in to temptation and that, "the Lord was with me!" That impressed me, because my goal, like a salmon swimming upstream, was to be a virgin until marriage. The Catholic members of the band thought Rusty was screwy, but I admired him.

So, I went to my Dad and asked him, "What is it that's off (theologically) about the Mormons. Dad wasn't clear at that time and later, I did my own study on it. Meanwhile, what Rusty told me was that this guy Joseph Smith had an angel (of the Lord) tell him that all the Christian denominations were WRONG and set him straight about it and in short, that's how the Mormon (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) came into being.

The basic difference between Mormonism and faith in Jesus of Nazareth is that Evangelical Bible-based Christians believe in God's grace alone to be saved (from Hell), that Heaven is a free gift, bought by Jesus when He died on the Cross. There's nothing one can do to be saved except receive the free gift God gives through Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God, also described as the LAMB of God, slain from the foundation of the world. Grace plus NOTHING. Some denominations stray from that and try to add good works, but Christians believe good works (doing good things) is just what happens when someone comes to know Jesus personally as Savior and Lord.

If someone were to make it to Heaven by being good---doing good deeds (works) it would surely be the Mormons, because they do a lot of good deeds. As humans with a do-it-yourself mentality, we tend to think we have to do something and find it difficult to think Heaven is just free.The Mormon understanding of Jesus is different also. In fact, the "Jesus" of Mormon belief is quite different from the Biblical Jesus. Christians do not believe that God was once a man and grew to "god" status as Mormons do, and do not believe Jesus was created, but is the Creator of all that is and ever will be. Mormons believe that Jesus and Lucifer are brothers---good brother and bad brother (Good cop, bad cop) Those are the distinctions I've come to know.

That being said, Howard Hughes trusted Mormons to run his estate because of their moral standards and the FBI recruits Mormons routinely for their ranks because of their good behavior. I mean, who's more wholesome than Donnie and Marie, after all, as much as people make fun of them?

So to see a man like Mitt Romney, whom I disagree with theologically, but trust as a very moral, upstanding gentleman accused of some of the stuff he's been accused of, only makes the accusers look small by comparison, especially when they tell outright LIES about him.

So, when I voted yesterday, I did so believing a good, moral man was running for office. Yeah, in MY view, his theology is off, but that's about it. Forget the false accusations. Would I rather have someone who more agrees with my theology at the helm? Absolutely. I voted for Alan Keyes every time he ran, who is a good, Catholic believer and truly a man of God.

The man occupying the White House currently has been proven to me to be not only a Socialist, but a Marxist as well. SOME believe him to be a Muslim which is difficult to prove or DISprove as lying to us (the "infidels") is part of their game plan. Lying. We've heard a lot of that from DC lately. So, it came down to Mormon or Marxist. I'll take Mormon every time!

Was it the Condoms?

A widower friend of mine has been putting his feet in the water of dating for the first time in decades and has been on a few dates with a young lady he's interested in (well, maybe not so young--closer to HIS age) and his son, asked him to purchase some prophylactic contraceptive devices for the purpose of constructing a "rubber tree" as it were. My friend went to a store on the other side of town and made his purchase as discreetly as possible. He's noticed at the same time that the woman he's been "courting" has grown silent, not returning his calls or texts. It was funny to me, that he thinks that she somehow found out about the condom purchase and has become silent in some sort of response to it.

The Manchurian "President"

I have severely lowered the amount of political items in this and other forums, but I can no longer be silent in this regard:

Hilary Clinton's taking the blame for the Benghazi tragedy only emphasizes what a lack of a President Barack Obama is. She says he was "unaware." Indeed. He plays it like he's unaware of a LOT of things but he knows what he's trying to do. It is sad that there are those who even now deny that Obama is a Marxist out to destroy our dear Republic. It is even sadder that there are those who have been brain washed into thinking any good whatsoever could come from socialism that gave us the Nazis, the Soviet Union's totalitarian regime, Cuba and RED China and their murderous reign of terror.
Hitler killed Jews and "his own people." Joseph Stalin murdered even more, as did Kruchev, who was then silenced by his own party. Even Fidel Castro has admitted that Communism hasn't worked in Cuba and at the close of World War II the Chinese Communists used a young Christian missionary named John Birch for live bayonet practice.
Castro bull dozed the Roman Catholic cemeteries and as little as a few years ago a friend with family in Cuba told me that it was illegal there to own any kind of meat. Meat is for the tourists and being caught with it in your possession can meat imprisonment or even death.
This is where Obama's Marxism leads. It is insanity to try this formula again and expect different results.
I hope people will wake up from their Marxist slumber!

I Was Just Sittin' There

On the old Jackie Gleason Show, a character Frank Fontaine used to do called "Crazy Googenheim" would say, "I wa'n doin' nuttin'...I wuz juss STANDIN' there!"
Well, last night, I was sitting. My pal Shannon Pate needed transportation, so I was at his karaoke gig and this couple was sitting on the couch. I borrowed one of the cushions to sit at the fire place for a little more comfort as, by experience, I knew the couch would devour me and it would take a tow truck to pull me out.
The guy (turned out his name was John) asked if I was in the band. I explained, no, it was karaoke and I was driving the karaoke host. He offered me a drink and I declined. When he went to the mens room, his date began to question me. Am I with "the band?" 
Again, "No it's karaoke and I'm just driving the host around." Then, out of the blue she says, "The guy I'm out with tonight?"
"Yeah"
"He's married."
I COULD have quipped, "So, you're a home wrecker?" but decided she probably didn't have the same sense of humor as me.
Changing the subject, since we seemed destined to talk, I asked her if she was going to sing. She said that she wouldn't want to be heard by so many people. I didn't push it further. Later, she went to the ladies room and he said, "She's going to SING!:
"Oh really?"
"Yeah, her name's Karen."
"All righty" She never DID sing. She was putting down a lot of shots for such a petite little thing and looked sleepy before they took off. I couldn't help thinking, knowing guys as I do, that his investment was probably going to pay off with her napping and not the more frisky stuff.
You meet all kinds.

Decades Later---A Book Review

One of the books that has given me insights into the character of Jesus is a book called "A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23" by Phillip Keller. The book is, what the title indicates. Being a shepherd himself, Keller gives unique insights into the Psalm, probably of David. The reader learns of the behavior of sheep including their fears and personality traits. "He leads me beside the STILL waters." Sheep would dry up, literally, if the were depending on moving water to drink. They're scared to death of it. The shepherd knows this and knows the needs of the sheep and provides them.

The most interesting  thing, to me was the analogy of the sheepfold. Out in otherwise treacherous parts of the country are these sheep folds. Basically a stone enclosure with an opening. Outside, not only those who would steal the sheep, (thieves) but wolves who would devour them. The sheepfold is, in that sense, a refuge for the creatures. There is no door or gate. A tourist asked one shepherd, seeing this, what prevents a thief from plundering or a wolf from having a feast? The shepherd laughed and explained that he himself becomes the door, as across the threshold is where he sleeps. Any thief or wolf would have to get in "over the shepherd's dead body."
There are multiple other insights in this book that I highly recommend. I read this book in the seventies, loaned it to a brother back then and don't think I'll ever get it back, as he passed away about three years ago. The GOOD news is, it's how out on paperback.

Down Wit *ODP!

So, now it's been revealed that there WILL be "death panels" under "Obamacare" (which, by the way is the worst oxymoron I've ever heard) Just like the Nazis the bureaucrats in charge refer to people not as "patients" but as "units." So, once again, Sarah Palin was not wrong and out in left or right as it were, field. Reminds me of the old rap recording (I almost said song) "Down Wit OPP." So, I decided to mess around a little bit on that theme.

You down wit ODP? It's killin' me
You down wit ODP? It's killin' me
Give it up for Obama kayuh
Raise yo hands in the ayuh

You down wit ODP? They comin' fo' me
You down wit ODP? They comin' fo' me
Day sayin' I too old so they treat me cold
So if I has a stroke, it'll all be a joke

A neurologist revealed that at a national meeting of such in DC it was shown that the plan is, if you're above a certain age and have bleeding in your brain, there will be no surgery without a panel's approval but normally just "comfort" would be given.

Big Brother meets healthcare in the tradition of the US Postal "Service"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wsnHGI5K-E


*ODP= Obama Death Panels

Walmart Pharmacy is USUALLY Good...

...today, not so much. I had a prescription called in and initially, at the drive-thru got instant response and sent the payment. Then the waiting began. After it had been about ten minutes or more a crabby old battle axe in the car behind me came up and started questioning me. Like I enjoyed sitting there forever waiting for my prescription. She asked insulting questions and I was dummy enough to answer instead of telling the old crab it was none of her blankety blankety business. After an additional seven minutes a guy comes on and says someone will be with me in a moment, not pausing to take a comment from me. RUDE! Then another seven minutes or so later the original ding dong came on as if it was an entirely new transaction, saying, "Hello? I mean..." She did that twice. She then apologized and told me she'd been all over the store. Really? With my money just left hanging? THAT'S not cool. FInally she came back and informed me that my prescription and change were on the way and again apologized, saying a situation had come up "I had to be involved with."
For the second month, at least only one lane was open at the drive thru.
Normally, I've had good experiences at Walmart Pharmacy. I mean, as good as you can over-paying for stuff the doctor says you'll die without. Sometimes I wonder. What IF I went off meds. Shut up. I'm not on mental meds. I'm not, really!

Examine the Evidence

In a court of law, there are rules of evidence. Author, Josh McDowell used these rules to examine the existence of Jesus of Nazareth and His claims to be Diety (God) the Son of God, born of a virgin, crucified on a cross, physically risen from the dead, all examined according to the rules of evicence. As it turns out, there is more proof the Jesus the Christ, the Messiah, Yeshua is exactly Who He says He is in the Bible, get this, than there is for the existence of Abraham Lincoln. But don't take MY word for it. I highly recommend this book, especially in light of the counterfeit belief systems the enemy of your soul has out there to confuse you.

Unemployed and NOT Loving it

Well, I've been in effect, out of a job (unemployed) for over two years now. There WAS a little six week period from late November where I tried my hand at selling in a call center and failed miserably. I had heart palpitations in doing so and my doctor said that was indication enough that I had no business trying that.
You always run into people who ask the insulting question, "Well, have you been looking?" They can't conceive that there really are no jobs out there.
Early on I did as suggested and looked for work delivering pizzas for every pizza place you can imagine and so I continue. They told me to go to their website and I have applied and continue to several times a week at every major pizza outlet and every non-national, private one I can find.
The funny thing is that even someone who criticizes the jobless rate acts as if these jobs have people on street corners begging people to apply. This is NOT the case.
But people continue to judge and site how they worked jobs that didn't pay well and manual labor jobs. That's all well and good and I'm proud of them, but when you become disabled as I have, there are real limits as to what you can do. Another one was clerking at a convenient store. Same story. I am on the roster and apply weekly at Sheetz, Kangaroo, and all the others to no avail, but I continue to do so and continue to get accused of not trying. in subtle and not so subtle ways.
The Social Security folks, by the way say there's no way you can be applying for disability while at the same time looking for a job. Even so, I've applied every where I can think of and some where others have suggested. I know what I've done and am doing.

I Remember...

..."grubbing up' money for gas and just getting a gang and going somewhere. I discovered when I finally "got wheels" (a 1954 Plymouth "business man's coup," which meant no back seat, originally owned by the Washington Gaslight Company, and the iconic little old lady who only drove it to church on Sunday) that I had friends I was formerly unaware of. Maintenance in those days consisted of buying a "tune up kit" and getting a shade tree mechanic to put them in for you for maybe a six pack or something---in ONE case, ten pounds of chitterlings for my friend June Bug. When the Plymouth messed up and needed a new carburetor, it was my fortune that my friend Mert Hager was a mechanic for the Washington Gaslight Company, had no doubt serviced that car at that time, as he was a veteran close to retirement, and he brought a brand new, 1954 Plymouth carburetor from the shop. (Remained in the inventory thought they had long ceased to need them) No charge. I was back on the road. That ole Plymouth was pretty dependable. No A/C, nor radio, couldn't afford an 8-track player. It was a six volt system, anyway. But I'd haul these new friends to school and back.
One was a mysterious, very sexy, pre-Goth chick with black hair, weariing a garter belt and stockings (under her dress) which was short. She lived in a home where everyone was adopted. When others exited the old car, she did not slide over toward the door, but snuggled up to me. I'll admit, my heart did some funny things. As she exited my car, she leaned over and kissed me passionately, her mouth cold and a chill ran down my spine. I do not know her name, I had never seen her before nor since. Sometimes, I think it was but a dream, but it was, quite real. I will always wonder whatever became of the raven haired beauty...

I Remember...

Mitchell's Barber Shop. Burnie would say, "Sit right there, young man, you're next." Mr Mitchell had tons of artifacts from the War Between the States. They gave us guys the "white walls" our parents insisted on. In sixth grade, I looked so forward to being a teenager, which for me, either a flat top with fenders, or if my parents would hang a DA, white dress shirt, black slacks, white sox and black penny loafers or pointed toe shoes with a "Cuban" heal. Somehow, during the summer between 6th grade and my first year at GM, which then, was a Junior-Senior High, everything changed. I showed up looking cool with my hair combed back, the sides grown out slightly. But these guys called the Beatles came over from England and supposedly had "long" hair. Huh! When I combed mine down, it was longer than John, Paul, George or Ringo. I show up for the first day of school and the guy across the aisle from me in English class is wearing his hair DOWN. Not exactly bangs. He was wearing colors like a yellow button-down collar shirt, burgundy pants, a weird looking belt, a wallet that protruded from his hip pocket and his penny loafers were cordovan (ox blood) not black. I said, "What are you, Man, trying to be some kind of Beatle?"

His reponse, "I'm a surfer." Good luck with THAT. How many miles is it from the Gulch to the nearest beach? Kept hearing about "OC." What the heck is OC? And what has happened to the world? All of a sudden my style wasn't supposed to be cool.
I was a wannabe "Fonz" in a world of Richie Cunninghams. By the way, "Nerd" was a term we used for a portion of male genitalia in code, so as not to get in trouble with the teachers/librarians.
So I proceed down the hall in all my coolness. I walk down this section of the hall and suddenly I'm being played catch by a bunch of guys with white button up sweaters with big "GM's" on them. "Hey, little Greaser, don't step on the mosaic!" What? I had violated some secret code. Gasp! I had stepped on the holy mosaic!
Suddenly I hear the clink clink clink of shoes with taps coming down the hall toward me. "Hey, leave him alone!"
"Sure thing, Jerry! We were just kidding!" The let me go, dizzy and disshoveled. My savior had arrived. Leather Jacket, taps on his shoes, and normal greased-back black hair. I would later learn his name was Jerry Allen. "Hey, kid, you gonna be a greaser?"
"A WHAT?"

"A GREASER, you know, dress cool. Not like those collegiates over there. Hey, they give you any more trouble, you just let me know. I'm Jerry."
So began 7th grade at George Mason Junior-Senior High School.
Later changes came, but I never went through the "collegiate" gotta wear name-brand clothes junk. I wen't straight from greaser to long hair. But that, Sherman, is another story for another trip on the Wayback Machine.

1974

Kris Kristofferson sang Larry Gatlin's song, "Help Me." I'd be driving my truck and have to pull over because of the tears I shed. "Lord help me, Jesus, I've wasted it so, help me, Jesus. I know what I am. Now that I know that I've needed You so, help me, Jesus. My soul's in Your hands."
One day, I saw a bumper sticker that read, "Someone Who Cares---WCTN Patomac-Cabin John" and the position on the dial. I tuned in to see who had all that compassion. A lad was interviewing two lads from Liverpool, England. Malcomb & Allwyn. The talked of sharing their love for Jesus of Nazareth and their belief that He is exactly Who He says He is and of sharing that conviction with their friend, George Harrison and how George had initially rejected their attempt at sharing the Light, but they were prayerful that the scales would be removed from his eyes.
Then, they played the title song of their album...a song called "Fool's Wisdom." The lyrics went, "Got my self some wisdom from the leather-back book. Got myself a Savior, when I took a second look." The song was powerful, and again, I was pulling off the road, tears in my eyes, knowing I had to change my life. It began to change in earnest that day.
I used to say I didn't like "organized religion." I don't know that DISorganized religion is any better or religion at ALL for that matter, but I've found that religion, by definition is mankind reaching for God.
Christianity, however, is just the opposite---it's God's way of reaching to mankind. I'm glad I learned the difference. If you haven't discovered this and you wish to know the Truth, regardless of how you've been brought up, or what your background and traditions are, I KNOW you will find it if you take this challenge:
Get a version of the Bible you are comfortable reading. That's easy, especially if you have an i-phone or some sort of smart phone. No excuses for not finding one.
Before you read it, say this to Jesus and MEAN it. "Jesus, I don't know if You're real or not, but if You are, reveal Yourself to me, as I read this book."
He will honor that prayer IF you are sincere. Begin with the Gospel of John and let me know how that turns out for you. Everyone who is sincere that I've issued that challenge to and have taken it have had their lives changed. There's one out there still making excuses.

Hey, look, I know I'm a weirdo, but that doesn't mean God will make you like me...He will make you more like Jesus, and that ain't bad!

 Check this link:    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WpFvsQc0qM

1977...A Sad Year, Indeed

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1977...A Sad Year, Indeed

James Earl Clueless Carter was in the White House. Some junk called Disco dominated the airwaves and it seemed that Rock'n'roll had been forgotten forever and to top it off, Elvis died. Personally, I was fired from my second job in radio--the one I truly wanted to be involved in--Christian Radio at what was then WRNC. I got fired because I stank at reading news and had five or six newscasts in my afternoon drive slot.

I applied at every conceivable radio station in the Triangle with my little resume and aircheck (a tape of what I sounded like on air plus some of my production [commercials] ) There were not even nibbles. Then a miracle happened. I got a phone call out of the blue from Bill Kirby, General Manager of WETC smack dab between the little towns of Wendell and Zebulon, North Carolina.

The station was working in cooperation with Oral Roberts University and Professor, Dr Tom Durfey's Broadcasting students. They recommended me, somehow. I've yet to figure that one out. I got hired to do the morning show and was given an air name that was a corruption of my REAL name..."Johnny Buck."

The owner of the station, Lewis Parrish was trying to have a presence in the Triangle Area and my morning show became the very first Country station to show up on "the book"  The ratings, even though we were on the very edge of Raleigh Durham and our signal was pointed east. There was one tower actually working against sending our signal toward Raleigh, to protect a Canadian station. We covered all of Eastern North Carolina, though and up until that time had been known as "Wetsy Radio" or "Big Country." The term used for what we were trying to do then was "country-politan" and we pioneered what came to be known as "Positive Country." We mixed the less offensive elements of country music (no cheating, beer guzzling, etc) with some contemporary Christian and gospel music. Cleaning up country ticked off a lot of the staff because of the songs we couldn't play.

After a while, I was made Program Director and a liaison between the staff and ownership. It was a difficult situation, because I did not answer to the General manager. Rather, I got my orders from the Owner, which is a strange, and potentially volitile combination.

It didn't take long for me to lose favor with the owner because in my view, the staff had legitimate concerns about the station. After all, these guys had been in broadcasting for years. That was a difficult time, but I learned respect for traditional Country Music and its artists. Bill Kirby loved Tom T Hall, who is quite a poet and  has written some great songs. The late Aaron Pitt, our copywriter and news director, taught me a lot and there was Charlie Hocutt, sales genius, who told me stories of  Loretta Lynn driving up with her husband, Moody, to promote her latest record. We had copies of one song with two  titles: originallyh released as "Here, in Topeka" the song title was later changed to "One's on the Way." which was the "hook."

This week saw the passing of a country legend, Miss Kitty Wells who was, as I recall the first female Country artist to hit number one on the charts. The ladies didn't used to fare so well in the genre.

No, I'm not a country music fan, by any means, especially the junk their putting out today, but I HAVE to respect Lefty Frizzel, Hank Williams, Senior, Ernest Tubb and the likes of "Little" Jimmy Dickens.
Country is no different than Rock'n'roll in that it has been taken over  like the patients taking over the asylum.

Note to the "hip hop" crown. Set down parameters and copyright your junk or twenty years from now, someone's going to put something out with an actual tune and some actual rhythm that's non-repedetive and call it hip hop and you're going to be snorked off! lol

On the Air

Don't know how old I was. Had to eleven or older, I suppose. One Saturday, I got in the car with the Geeze (my dad) and we headed down Route 7 from Falls Church to the town of my birth,  Alexandria. Virginia. Not unusual to ride with pop somewhere not knowing the destination. The Geeze was mysterious like that. Many times, we'd head out on a Saturday morning because dad knew that Ronald MacDonald, alias Willard Scott was making an appearance at a new opening hamburger place. He did that so many times, because I was disappointed that I got to be on the "Cousin Cupcake Show" rather than its weekday version, the "Bozo Circus" on WRC-TV Channel 4 (4001 Nebraska Av, NW Washington, DC)
See, Willard was our Bozo and the only one I knew of. I picked up on the fact that the Bozo in the flesh and the Bozo in the cartoon's voices didn't match. In fact I could, and still can, duplicate Bozo's voice as well has his pal, Butchy Boy's.
But this particular Saturday morning found us at the studios of WPIK Radio (The PICK of Country) where we met a dude named Marshall Pack. Mr Pack treated us like celebrities, I guess since dad had once been a copywriter/wannabe announcer for WRRF in ORIGINAL (Little) Washington, NC. Mr Pack interviewed us just as though we were famous. I didn't have then all the amazing fame I now possess (cough)
Dad made sure my young life was anything but boring and I will always love him for it. One day, I may attempt to write a book of HIS life, because he knew some amazing people, had some amazing things happen in his life, but then again, while he always thought Elvis was my hero, that wasn't and isn't true. The GEEZE will always be, because he was the most amazing human being I ever knew.

Dad always had the idea that Mr Pack wrote the gospel song, "Precious Memories." I haven't found that to be true

Ain't

English professors will tell you that ain't ain't a word. Sure gets spoken a lot, but that's also the way certain "down east" North Carolina people pronounce aunt. Bertha Mae Godley Jones was my "half" sister's aunt and was just as much my aunt as my sister Martha is my sister. There is a lot more to family than DNA and some relationships can be more enduring than those of a biological nature. Duh.
As a child, we visited Chocowinity to see the Godleys, Uncle Floyd, a sort of Junior Samples character, Granny Godley, Vivian, Bertha Mae, Uncle Frank and my cousin Liz, who was not my cousin but I had a crush on her and last time I saw her at Mom's funeral she was mm mm good looking still.
On these visits we'd go across the river to nearby Washington, NC. "Original" Washington, as they prefer to call it but "Little" Washington, when I was a child, the home of sand spurs and a lack of comfort. There, we would visit my dad's mom and brother, Haywood. Dad's mom was a Jones, before marrying Benjamin H Roebuck Senior and today I noticed that Bertha Mae had married a Jones.
I enjoyed especially Chocowinity and the farm the Godleys lived in with a huge pecan tree and early mornings gathering eggs for breakfast. Quite different from suburban life in Falls Church, seven miles from Washington, DC.

When life is difficult, as it increasingly is, memories like this help us maintain a degree of sanity and as Mac Davis put it in his song, "sweeten through the ages, just like wine."

Personal Exceptionalism vs. Do Unto Others

Drive down the road. Visit the library. Share something with someone. Look in the mirror. Chances are, you've seen someone who is inconsiderate.
Got a prescription, started to pull out onto the back street to come here to the library not expecting to see any traffic. Looked right, looked left, thought about pulling out, looked right again, and out of "nowhere" came a UPS truck hauling buggy, its driver thinking only of making it to his next stop with no thought that people would be pulling out of the pharmacy. It's especially obnoxious on Fridays. Dad pointed out to me when he was one of the last of the true Civil Servants that "people bug out on Fridays" to get a head start on the weekend. I'd almost guarantee you, that there are more auto accidents. I bet bikers are in far greater danger from the work force escapees.
When you go to the refrigerator, what do you do? "Well, I'll be right back tomorrow, so I'll set this right up front, top shelf and it'll be okay to shove this other stuff to the back. After all, my wife, husband, room mate won't be back soon. Their stuff stays in here and spoils. Matter of fact, why don't I just shove ALL their crap to the back, better yet, put it on the bottom shelf in the back. So WHAT if Maude has to get a pillow and get on her knees to look for her stuff. I'm important!"
Well, maybe we don't say that or even think it, but it's the message we're sending and it's the impression we leave.
I asked a certain person why certain OTHER people of his category (the category doesn't matter) why they often park in the loading zones at stores and why they seem to go out of their way to walk on the left side of an aisle or sidewalk knowing full well, that the rest of society walks to the right, just as we drive our cars. His reply was that those "rules" were for people of MY category, written by them and for them and didn't apply to HIS category. He had matured enough that he doesn't subscribe to that way of thinking, but he was speaking of others.
Someone said that the USA is the only place where there are handicapped parking spaces, so people don't have to walk too far to go walk on a treadmill. I doubt that's true. The world is FULL of inconsiderate, selfish, thoughtless  people.

Here's a word...courtesy. The world needs a lot more of it!

Saipan: 17 June 1944

There's a page about my dad that reads in part, in his words:

I was wounded in action 17 June 1944 on the Island of Saipan in the Marianas Islands with 23 Marines (23rd Regiment, Fourth Marine Division). We had landed via amphibious tanks/tractors of of LSTs (Landing Ship Tanks). We received the Presidential Unit Citation and I received a "gunshot wound, left leg" on Saipan--40 percent disability by the Veterans Administration. And ... yes ..I received the Purple Heart.

As the LST's landed on the beach at Saipan, the men were told not to take pot shots, just to take cover. Dad looked over and a man from his little worship group appeared to be praying. Dad put his hand on the Marine's shoulder to comfort him and his head fell back, the whites of his eyes turned red and burst. Blood ran down his face. His fellow GIrene had caught a bullet under his helmet.
I do not recall whether dad went over the side or down the ramp onto the beach but he was in the water receiving heavy fire from machine gun nests from the Japanese. He decided to take cover behind the LST and with all that loud gunfire and bullets whizzing around him, a still, small voice said in almost a whisper, "You'd better move." Dad swam from behind the LST. Just then, the vessel lunged backward and would have turned my pop into hamburger, had he not obeyed the voice.

Three days later, on the island Dad was told to inform the forward positions that chow was on. He proceeded to do so. He went to one group and said, "Chow's on!"
"Go to HELL, Roebuck," came the response.

He went to another, "Chow's one!""Go to HELL, Roebuck!" came the response from the second group. He moved forward and again said,
"Chow's on!" BANG! He saw a flash in front of him and immediately felt led burning its way into the calf of his left leg as he fell to the ground and in my dad's words, "Squeeled like a stuck pig!" He lay there, having told the Lord, "It's You and me from here on out" after God's warning that earlier saved his life. Now, a new conversation, "Well, Lord, I guess this is it..." What seemed like eternity passed and then, in the words of dad, "The most beautiful little corpsman came up and said, 'We're gonna get you out  of here, Marine!' "


Read the whole account, if you wish, at:  http://www.justinmuseum.com/oralbio/roebuckbbio.html

Take the Highway to the End of the Night

In 1967 I was at a point in my life where I knew I had to decide whether I wanted to take my parents' and family's word for what I believe or what often times seemed to be the very opposite of what they said and showed that they believed. In the middle of that profound belly button examining, I came across the Doors...Jim Morrison et al. As I recall, I borrowed my best friend's copy of their first album and began to listen at first to learn "Light My Fire" for the band and discovered the writer of these songs seemed to be where I was...maybe. I listened to "Break on Through" and its words, "You know the day destroys the night...night divides the day..."  Almost Biblical or maybe Biblical but warped. But Jim seemed to be struggling with it all. The dude in other songs definitely had a strange outlook on the world.

In my total naivety, while I fell in love with "Back Door Man" I was clueless as to its more deep sexual reference other than a dude sneakin' in to the back door to see his girl, or someone's daughter. I wished I had such boldness. That's as far as my consideration of the lyric went.

Well I eventually, not long after that, decided not to take either group at their word, but to take God at HIS. Turns out, my parents and family had pretty much been on target, not that anyone is perfect. Today, belief system intact and continuing to strengthen, it's very interesting to observe other rocker's struggles and expressions...John Lennon's famous declarations of noisy UNbelief, Dylan's journey, Barry McGuire's Christian faith and his telling me how he shared it with Bob Dylan, there was Noel Stookey, Paul of Peter, Paul and Mary and Dion and Alice Cooper's faith and God delivering him from almost killing himself with alcohol.

The faith community (church...SOME evangelicals) are very jealous and when BJ Thomas professed faith in the Lord, they'd criticize him when he'd sing the old hits like "Raindrops..." saying, "Sing for the LORD, BJ!" They wouldn't leave the guy alone. Like JD Sumner said, "Ernie Ford sang 'Sixteen Tons' and people thought that was great and they'd marvel at his gospel songs, but let the Stamps back up Elvis and people say 'that that rock'n'roll stuff. I can tell you this, I bet more people came to faith in Christ hearin' Elvis sing 'How Great Thou Art' than all us gospel singers COMBINED."

MayBE. But I get excited when I hear how people are singing, some that you would never suspect of giving spirituality or holiness a thought.

Prayer

I've said on many occasions, as bad and evil as this world has become and as far as our Nation has drifted from its founding principles, it is little ole grannies on their knees before God Almighty that has prevented complete destruction.

But SOME, not all church goers who identify themselves as Christians unfortunately use prayer time as an occasion to GOSSIP. I believe God despises gossip. Its destructiveness cannot be measured. I myself have been described in the midst of such a group as having been "in and out of church." My friends have suffered the same. In my case the Lord told me not to bother offering a defense and I did not. I do not care what people think of me in or out of the church. They will have to answer for their spirit of gossip.

But it is things like this that people outside the flock see and satan uses it to keep them out. With the mega-church so prevalent, it's easy to assume that someone is not in church just because they haven't been there when YOU have. And here's a surprise. I don't think God gives out "browny points" for frequency of attendance. Lord forgive those and deliver them from the spirit of the Pharasee!

MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET

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Million Dollar Quartet

by Johnny Roebuck on Thursday, May 10, 2012 at 6:27pm ·

Some musicals are coming to local venues. There is Jersey Boys, a musical about the Four Seasons, Frankie Valli's group and another is called the Million Dollar Quartet. This, of course is about Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash and Carl (Lee) Perkins who all got their start at Sun Records, Memphis, Tennessee.

There was a motion picture about Cash "I Walk the Line" that had to minimize Elvis in order to keep the focus on Johnny, so the character who played EP was "cooled down." The same is true of "Great Balls of Fire" which was biographical about Jerry Lee Lewis. Standing next to ANYONE Elvis reigned supreme during his lifetime and ever since. The Beatles visited Elvis because they were fans. Elvis was invited to visit them, but declined...not so he's LOOK too cool, but because he was and IS too cool.

There have been a lot of biographical movies about Elvis...some accurate, some not, some flattering and some with a axe to grind against him. I have never felt the need to see an Elvis "tribute artist" as they are now called. There are some real good ones, granted, but I can still hear and see the real thing. I love SOME of the things they've done with the archive of his music, but I've already complained heavily about unworthy "duet" partners. When Elvis' legacy is left to the hands of those who brought us American Idol, you can expect what you get...using the Elvis name and image to boost some ho hum "artists." Not that Idol hasn't had a few decent ones.

They haven't yet done a biographical piece on Carl Perkins. There are different versions about how he came up with the idea of "Blue Suede Shoes" but the fact remains that that was Carl's tribute to the style of his friend Elvis, and designed especially for him. By the way, the very first album rock song, was Elvis' version of "Blue Suede Shoes" because Elvis wouldn't let RCA release it as a single for the longest time, but after singing it on national TV, audiences demanded to hear it. So, it was played and history was made. They really should do a film about Carl, me thinks.

Million Dollar Quartet is also an album, very rough. As Carl was recording the session with "Matchbox" at Sun, Elvis, who had signed with RCA popped in and the world's most famous jam session occurred. It was mostly gospel music. Johnny Cash, who reportedly was there, was not heard on what went on the album. All that was heard was Elvis and Jerry Lee's vocals, Elvis and Jerry Lee's piano playing and Carl's guitar playing. I'm not sure that there EVER was a time where all four lads played the same show. Perhaps so. But the musical is based on this concept and from what I've heard neither the Elvis or the Lewis character is really believable. So, unless someone gives me a free ticket, I don't plan to go to the show.

There is a good, unofficial biography of Johnny Cash on DVD I found at of all places, the Dollar Store. I enjoyed it. The perspective is from his brother Tommy and band members.

Susan Atkins

Name sound familiar? It should. Susan was a member of the Charles Manson "family." (cult)
In the days shortly after the Tate-LaBianca murders, on a visit to family in Eastern North Carolina I felt as though I was on trial. My hair was long, because that's the way I wanted to wear it and because I sang rock'n'roll.  Today, bald rockers are cool, at least I am...I think. Dunno, being cool is not like my top priority any more.
I had some cousins who didn't want to try to understand all of this as if I represented Charlie Manson and the antics of John Lennon and his new wife that most everyone thought of as a bit strange.

Years later, I read a book called "Child of Satan-Child of God" authored by Susan Atkins who admitted to being the one who killed Sharon Tate in her partly drug-induced fog partly being under the control of Charlie and largely being deceived by the Evil One. Susan  did horrible things unforgivable to the natural born, but not out of the reach of the One Who forgives and casts sins into a sea of forgetfulness, the One Who purchased Susan two thousand years before she was born.

Susan's story is one of an "all American girl" who ran away and got up with the wrong crowd, to say the least. Charlie had signs and wonders in his bag of tricks, including actually walking through her. Yeah, scary. But Susan's story doesn't end with committing murder and going to prison for life. Her story is one of redemption and of ministry in her final days right there in prison.

I, as a young Christian, was impacted greatly by Susan's book and wrote her. I got a hand-written answer from her mentioning that she was married (ha ha) and that she'd be glad to help me in any way with my spiritual walk. Susan passed away from brain cancer, I believe in 2009. Her letter and even more her book inspired me to keep on keeping on.

There are some pretty horrible people in this world that in my SELF, I would be tempted to give up on, but the Word of God says that "His mercy endures forever." If you haven't read Susan's book, I gurarantee it.

(Didn't think about it until after just now looking at her picture, but Susan resembled the first girl who ever really kissed me, Jan (Charli)Schmidt)

At the Risk...

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At the Risk...

by Johnny Roebuck on Monday, April 9, 2012 at 11:47am ·

...of sounding like one of those old timers who "trudged through three feet of snow up hill to and from school," I was talking with Dubbins yesterday, remembering a time when the Easter Season saw radio stations play songs of THAT season, much like they still do at Christmas or "the Winter Break." Yeah, this country has drifted. You'd have to watch a re-run of the Lawrence Welk Show now to hear "The Easter Parade" written, incidentally by a Jewish gentleman named Irving Berlin. The "gentile" holiday didn't seem to disturb him.

Now it's "Turkey Day" for Thanksgiving and at Easter, the Bunny or something, but it wasn't always that way.

Here's Fred Hysterical with a scene from the movie of the same title, circa, 1948

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPbWNiaD_8g&feature=related

PASSION

Were they to TRULY make an authentic film about the Crucifixion, it would have to be rated XXX for violence! When "The Passion of the Christ" came out, a dear friend gave me caution with regard to seeing it, knowing my sensitive nature. It was a great film, but didn't come CLOSE to showing the violence.

Some picture Yeshua (Jesus), meek and mild or hanging on the Cross of Calvery (Golgatha) but my image of Jesus as I've come to know Him is laughing, holding kids on His lap, loving, compassionate, understanding. I can't WAIT for the day I crawl up in His lap, as it were, much like I did my earthly father and His telling me, "It's alright, now. I've got you. No more tears. I'm here with you...FOREVER"

I don't know what it's like not to have had a loving father. Why did I have one, when so many are so much less than that? Some people can't conceive of the love of a father...especially a lot of girls. For some, other men have come in and filled in the gap, and I believe God has special blessing for these. My own son is such, being a very positive role model for a little girl who is in every sense my grand daughter, even though we do not share DNA. My OWN dad adopted my sister, who I share only my mother's DNA with. The story of their love is legendary. He was in every sense her "daddy."

These two great men's love comes from one Source---God through Jesus.

To think that someone so sinless, so misunderstood. Hey, I can't explain the Trinity. But to think that the One Who created this earth, "slain from its foundation," Who was willing to cast aside the "perks" of His diety and live as a mere mortal. With people denying His rightful Sovereignty, calling Him just "a good man" or "a prophet" and then denying His prophetic Word, to put up with all that disrespect, to have His own created beings and subject Himself to the Cross for the likes of a maggot like me is unbelievable...too good to be true. But it IS.

Jesus' back was like hamburger and He suffered so much loss of blood by the time He got to Golgotha, He should have already been dead, but remember, he wasn't a punk. He was a CARPENTER, with arms and strength from learning Joseph's trade. I used to think, "Big deal, He died and rose from the grave. He was God!" See, I misunderstood the limitations he put on Himself, while others have said, "No, he was the SON of God!" He is BOTH! No, I can't explain it, but it was realizing the limitations He put on Himself and having it communicated to me that He would have endured that brutality and died if I was the only person on earth who needed salvation. He loved me that much. Trust me, I can be an unlovely bloke at times...MOST of the time. Yes, He would have done it for me alone, but at the same time...

He died once and for ALL. That includes YOU, my friend and if you don't know Him, you'll never regret having made His acquaintance.

I'm going to do something you may find weird, but you know, we live in weird times. I'm going to invite you to pray a prayer and take Jesus as YOUR Savior and Lord. You can pray this prayer with me. I'll be praying for YOU. You don't have to repeat it if you don't want, but you can if you want to. Fair enough?

Father God, I lift up my friend to You and ask that You would make Yourself real to them at this moment. I know You have prepared someone's heart to pray with me. It doesn't bother me that I may never hear about it until I'm with You in Heaven. I know You have directed me to do this and despite what people may think of me I'm doing it right now.

(If you want, repeat this prayer) Lord Jesus, I know I'm a sinner and have been doing things that displease You and haven't done things I should have. I'm tired of doing things MY way and want to do them Yours. Forgive me of my sins now and help me to do things Your way from here on out. Thank You, Jesus that You've heard my prayer. Help me to know You better as I read Your Holy Word and find other believers to hang out with, in Jesus' Name. Amen

Happy Easter, my friend. If there's anything I can do to help you get to Heaven, don't hesitate to ask

George Beverly Shea Turns 103

His style was a little "starchy" for me, but what a testimony for God!

George Beverly Shea Turns 103

George Beverly Shea (BGEA)

As he turns 103 on Wednesday, George Beverly Shea’s heart is as joyful as that of a child.
“Karlene and I rejoice in the Lord’s overwhelming grace to give me 103 years of life!” he says.
And while he won’t be partying like a teenager, the youthful centenarian will celebrate the day in the company of his family and in quiet reflection, reading greetings from around the world now pouring in to him.
Shea says he is especially thankful for the dear people with whom he has ministered and traveled the world since the day he met Billy Graham in 1943. “For all these years, the fellowship of the BGEA team has been precious as I have sought to serve the Lord,” says Shea.
As we join in celebrating 103 of God’s blessings, let’s take a journey back to Shea’s early days.
What was your life like as you were growing up?
I was born in 1909 in Winchester , Ontario , where my dad served as pastor of the Wesleyan Methodist Church . Six of us were born during that time, and when I was 8, we moved to upstate New York . My mother was a church organist, and at home we had a piano that came from England . Mother played it so beautifully. She instilled in all of us a love for the old hymns. She would wake us up oft-times in the morning with an old song titled, “Singing I Go.” She would play an E-flat chord, and we would hear her voice: “Singing I go along life’s road/For Jesus has lifted my load.”
Sunday mornings it was another hymn: “Lord, in the morning Thou shalt hear/My voice ascending high/To Thee will I direct my prayer /To Thee lift up mine eye.”
I have always loved the hymns. All eight of us remember the times when we took our Lord Jesus as Savior. In our home we had prayer three times a day around the table. Dad would read from the Bible in the evening—just a couple of verses, and the prayer was brief, because he knew that children became restless.
So you came to Christ at an early age.
Yes, at 5 or 6. But there were times when I needed to rededicate my life to the Lord Jesus. When I was 18, my dad was pastoring a church in Ottawa , and I was feeling not too spiritual. The church was having “special effort,” as they called it, for a week. I remember that on Friday night, Dad came down from the pulpit, and tenderly placed his hand on my shoulder. He whispered, “I think tonight might be the night, son, when you come back to the Lord.” Whatever Dad did or said, I listened to him and respected him.
And, yes, that was the night!
You composed "I’d Rather Have Jesus" when you were 23. How did that happen?
My mother had been to a meeting in New York City and brought me a poem written by Rhea F. Miller, “I’d Rather Have Jesus.” On a Sunday morning, with the poem in front of me, I sat down at the piano, and the melody came to my heart and mind. When I finished that first verse and chorus, Mother, with tears in her eyes, came from an adjoining room and put her arms around me. She had wanted that poem to have an effect on my life, and it seemed that after that morning better things happened all along the way.
What are some of the life lessons you've learned about trusting Christ?
My father used to tell my brothers, Whitney and Alton , and me: “There will be many times when you don’t feel connected. The Lord is with you. Just look up—keep that vertical relationship. Practice His presence in your life.”
I’ve had moments, even when working for Mr. Graham, where I’ve felt as if I weren’t effective enough, and I’ve known discouragement. But I go to the Lord, and He extends His grace. On many occasions I go to the piano and play an old favorite. God always encourages through His Spirit and renews our strength.
I have learned to look up, and He’s there. He loves us. He has given me more than I deserve.
I’m so grateful for my dear spouse, Karlene, and for my late wife, Erma, who went to be with the Lord many years ago. I’m thankful too for my children and grandchildren.
There are many wonderful stories of this life journey. One is of a gentleman who came to the Harringay meetings in London . He had been brought by his neighbor. He came thinking that he would just sit and make fun of everything.
When I got up to sing, he was talking out loud and probably criticizing as he heard me singing, “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands.” But when I got to the line, “He’s got the tiny little baby in His hands,” the man slumped in his seat, probably thinking of his little one, who was ill at home. During Mr. Graham’s invitation, the man stood, came forward and gave his heart to the Lord Jesus.
As someone who has walked with the Lord for quite some time, what advice do you have for other Christians?
Keep your devotions, study the Word, enjoy His presence, and learn from Him daily!

Missing a Friend Today

The second EVER place I went for karaoke was White Oak. Now, to those from that time and place, that's all the explanation needed, but since the construction of White Oak Shopping Center, I have to stress White Oak LOUNGE.

I initially went on a Wednesday night wondering what I had done. The place looked menacing and I had all manner of visions of fights and broken bottles, drawing from nights when I had to do gigs behind chicken wire to dodge same. Dive would have been the word I used to describe it, but soon, the people there would become like family to me. The story of that first night is for another posting, but it was on one of the very first visits for karaoke there that I met a fellow named Caleb.

Wendy Turner was hosting the karaoke there, starting each round off with three or four of her own songs. Once, a guy named Jerry came and complained, "I came out here to sing karaoke, not to hear a concert from YOU!" Wendy, who owned the place, promptly escorted the massive man to the parking lot with a few choice words and an invitation not to return. (About a year ago, he was hosting karaoke there. I suspect they forgot the incident)

There was no doubt that Wendy was the star of the show with her own following of loyal fans. She sings country as good as ANY and loves to sing Aretha Franklin covers. Wendy has used me in a show and had me audition for others. I in turn invited her to enter a karaoke contest where they told me I was a shew in. Guess who won? Wendy. I think she appreciated it.

Your average karaoke singer is well defined on television and in movies, not great, often off key, with a lack of rhythm and thinking they're the star of the world. Ear plugs make a nice accessory in those cases.

Caleb made up for any lack of singing talent he had with his moves. The boy was all over the stage and usually sang a predictable mix of "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" and the Stone's "Honky Tonk Women." Sometimes, "Johnny B Goode" He was a month or two younger than me, and I enjoyed asking people which one of us they thought was older and their guessing Caleb.

Last week I got word via FaceBook that Caleb's mobile home had burnt because of a towel hanging on a door too close to a space heater. Apparently he became asphyxiated but they got him out before his place burnt to the ground. He had lost EVERYTHING as far as worldly possessions and was in a drug-induced coma. Well, last night I got an update and the funeral was last week, so this is my way of saying, "Good-bye."

He was a kind man, at times a horn toad (dang testosterone) and a few times I felt led to give him the rest of my pizza. He shall be missed, truly. Rock on, Caleb.

Does EVERYBODY Have to Weigh In?

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Does EVERYONE Have to Weigh In?

by Johnny Roebuck on Monday, March 26, 2012 at 4:10pm ·

It's a tragedy that young Trayvon Martin lost his life. It is when ANYONE dies so apparently violently. There are so many facets to this story, that I won't even attempt to begin to expose them in this venue. The media has turned this incident into a divisive episode as people with a lack of the facts make judgements. Some say that the neighborhood watch guy George Zimmerman should be arrested and charged, and some like the Marxist, terrorist, New Black Panther offering a reward for his "capture." What do they intend to do? Have a Lynching?

Others have decided Zimmerman is innocent, again, without knowing all the facts.

It wasn't very long ago, that some Duke athletes were falsely accused and tried in the "court of public" opinion. Some really stupid things have been said, like Geraldo Rivera's comment that the kid wouldn't have gotten in trouble had he not been wearing a "hoody." Seriously, Geraldo? You, of ALL people should know better than to think that way. We fought in the sixties, wearing our hair long and being called "hippies." I, for one, never was one at ALL. I know you were, but the point is, what we both fought so hard for is to stop labeling people, stop judging books by their covers.

One guy I heard sites the police's urging of Zimmerman to "not do that" with regard to following Martin, yet does NOT believe the police report that Zimmerman was within his rights.

Every day, new facts are coming to light, despite those who take early positions. I got cursed at for my position that I don't have a position. That in THIS country, at least for NOW one is innocent until proven guilty. No, it's NEVER proper to kill a "17-year-old kid." But there are SOME 17-year-old who can even kick the Buck's butt, and they'll tell you.

People need to keep a level head about this and see what happens when all the facts are disclosed. Some reports make no mention of Zimmerman having been beaten to a pulp and that it's HIS voice screaming on the 911 tape.

Meanwhile, I forgot the numbers but last night heard the stats of how many black kids die at the hands of black kids every day in this country and it's not reported, because it apparently doesn't make for good "film at eleven" coverage. What a shame.

Yes, it's a shame that Martin lost his life. It will be a further shame if thugs Lynch Zimmerman especially if it turns out he was innocent. Calm the heck down and let's see where the evidence points. Gee, I just sounded just like Horatio!

I Did it Again!

I keep doing it. I don't really expect different results but I keep falling for it. There are seasonal foods in the fast food world that come around. Some good, some not. I always look forward to the MacRib when it comes around. ALways a treat. There seem to be forces out to put MacDonald's out of business. Not sure of their motives, but they probably violate the principles of some weirdo cause or another. God bless 'em. Hope they continue to. I've had my fill of causes and people being super-sensitive. This coming from one of the most sensitive people on the planet, so in that regard I guess I win the hypocrite tee shirt. Make mine 3XL!

Arby's has never failed. Never failed to disappoint me, give me heartburn, gas and that burning sensation from their cardboard-flavored conglomerate of preservatives, chemicals and parts of animals that years ago would have been either thrown out or fed to the hogs. Hey, maybe it still IS fed to the hogs. "Have you seen the little piggies in their starched white shirts?" (G Harrison)

Their roast beef isn't either roasted or as I can tell beef, unless you count beef noses, tongue, horns, hooves, cow udders, etc. which I guess TECHNICALLY are "beef" and it always tastes to me, with the gourmet tastebuds like not only cardboard, but BAD cardboard.

The latest is something they have the audacity to call the "Super Reuben." The taste is in the ball park, and I don't know what's really in it? But it's no Reuben. Who ever Reuben was is spinning in his grave saying "Why the world didn't I copyright the NAME!!!!?"

Never again. Famous last words.

I Have Often Said

...that the founders of rock'n'roll, Elvis, Chuck Berry, Little Richard and the like should have obtained a copyright on "Rock'n'roll" although they were not the ones who coined the phrase. That's accredited to Alan Freed. Shoot, even R&B can no longer honestly stand for Rhythm and Blues, since the recordings coming out in that genre contain neither. Hey, I guess labels aren't much good.

Connie B Gaye coined the name "Country Music" and complained about its demise when I interviewed him in the early 1980's (He was from Lizard Lick originally)

If only he could see things now.

Connie shared some things I cannot share in this venue, but I WILL share that Col Tom Parker, Elvis' manager offered to sell Connie his contract once. Do not recall what time that was, but it was in cooperation with Gaye that the Colonel had Elvis appear on a small fifteen minute show on what was then WMAL Television, channel 7 in DC. A young fellow named Jimmy Dean, way before "Big John" his hit record, or the sausage empire.

Dean lived across the street from the Hagers, friends of mine and used to share the story of when they saw a pink Caddy out front and noticed Elvis getting in and followed him a ways. Three guys started a fight with Elvis at the Esso station up the road and were in pretty bad shape after the King kicked butt. That's their story, and I'm sure they're stickin' to it.

So rock no longer rock's and many proclaimed as stars of the genre wouldn't know it if it came up and bit them...well, you know. We've already addressed R&B and Connie, who coined the phrase "Country Music" wouldn't recognize it now, save the nasal and yodel same ole.

Sometimes change bites

Dear Senator McCain...

Give him a kiss, you jerk!

...thank you for eliminating much more qualified candidates for President. Thank you for leaving it up to your running mate to speak anything resembling the truth in the 2008 campaign. What we are living through now lays at your feet, Sir. I don't know what those Communists did to you when you were in Viet Nam, but whatever it is caused you at best to be Obama-LIGHT. We'd probably be going down this same path, only at a slower rate, had your mamby pampy self been elected.

Obama is obviously a Marxist and hater of the United States Constitution, a fraud as he took an oath to preserve protect and defend her and he has worked only to trample her and violate her. This disrespect of our most cherished document, the most precious document next to the Bible itself, because it was based on Biblical principles. The demise of a once proud and free nation lays squarely at your feet. The blood of innocents is on your hands. You, were the last line of defense of freedom and Democracy. You failed to speak up in the name of being a "nice guy." All that is necessary for evil to succeed is for good men to do nothing. I've no idea if you are a good man. I DO know what you did was not. We may never recover from your dropping the ball of freedom, because the Radical Left has taken over the nations newspapers and television networks and the so called "public" schools and turned them into mere propaganda tools of large "C" and small "c" communists.

Now, we seem to have to choose from the likes of Mitt Romney, who seems to be their paper tiger to knock down in the general election so that Obama can fulfill his Marxist dream of being the American equivalent of Fidel Castro. There doesn't seem to be a "winnable" challenger in the Republican ranks. You and your ilk have reduced the Republican Party to just a less Marxist bunch.

I voted for you last time, Sir, and I nearly vomited in the process.

I hope you are proud of yourself.

Country Miusic...

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Country music...

by Johnny Roebuck on Wednesday, February 29, 2012 at 1:36pm ·

...it doesn't have to mean hick.

One of my favorite episodes of the Carol Burnett show had Vicki Lawrence doing a parody of a country song where she spelled out every word. IT was an obvious take off on "D-I-V-O-R-C-E" that was the current song of Tammy Wynett showed the absurdity of some of country music. One line said her boyfriend "S-P-L-I-T" It was some funny stuff.

Though the word "redneck" has taken on a new glorified meaning, country music doesn't have to mean redneck. Redneck in the '60s sense, means backward, glorifying in being ignorant (the white version of "ghetto" but I can't stand the term "white trash" which has also come to be glorified) I coined a word "grit" when the meaning of redneck was being so changed. There's nothing wrong with being country and nothing wrong with being what you want to be as long as you don't glorify in being or seeming ignorant. Willful ignorance is not only unattractive, it's stupid!

What has that to do with music? Everything. Country music progressed from its roots and then, SOME say went back to them, but in doing so, some of the country singers has disrespected other genres. "Piece of My Heart" and "Summertime Blues" are just a couple of examples.

I couldn't believe my ears the first time I heard "Redneck Woman." Really? Proud of yourself that you leave your Christmas tree lights on? But over the years I've recognized the humor of that song.

While I love the old masters of Country and no one represents it more that the Old Possum, George Jones, some of the early stuff, guys looked up to get the "why would he sound like that on purpose?" reaction. I did a parody of one of these and the reaction was positive, but the fan of this "artist" did not recognize the fact that I was making fun.

Don't get me wrong. Even in the old days, there were great artists like Ernest Tubb, then came Eddy Arnold, Jim Reeves and the great Marty Robbins. These guys had class, but they were still Country.

By the time Ricky Van Shelton came along, the big wigs of the industry wouldn't promote anyone who didn't sing with that nasal sound and a hick style. That's tragic.

There's no better country song than "I'll Leave this World Loving You."

To me, as a person who's been a "country dj" several times, there's not enough variety in the country music field and too much novelty. Country has always been about the "hook line" but lately, it's been for me, the SINKER.

There's not enough of the stuff in the middle. This is where my love, Rock 'n' roll was born, when Elvis and others combined a little of ALL of it into that marvelous stew that will always be the best to me.

Wow, you can say the "f" word repeatedly. Great. Now, can you write and sing some rock 'n' roll?

What Ever Happened to...

Delores Hart who played Elvis' leading lady in "Loving You" and "King Creole?" She's a nun. She'll soon walk the red carpet at the Emmies for a documentary about her group. Sorry, I don't know much about Catholicism. But Delores was seen as the next big female film star at the time she did the films with Elvis. She was not dis-similar to Grace Kelly and was poised for super-stardom, but felt the call of God on her life and became a nun.