| THE DWTIMES for the week ending Feb 19, 2005 |
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| CONTESTANTS TAKE THE STAGE AT THE 21ST ANNUAL IBC MEMPHIS (DWT) - February 3-5th marked the 21st annual International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee and it turned out to be the largest event of its kind ever. With 40 entries in the solo/duo division and over 120 in the band division, the competition proved to be both fierce and very entertaining. The Joey Gilmore Band from Ocala, FL won the band competition, and Jimmy Hocking of Melbourne, Australia won the solo/duo division. In the solo/duo finals, The Smokedaddys, of Long Island, NY, showed the most polish and songwriting ability, but Jimmy Hocking stole the honors with a rolicking tribute to his favorite blues artists, a little comedy and even a trip into the splits that had the male onlookers cringing in sympathetic pain. Watching Joey Gilmore was like watching BB King himself, only better. Gilmore's guitar and soulful vocals makes one wonder how he could possibly still be an unsigned artist. If you're a fan of the blues, BBQ and Memphis, then there's no reason to miss next year's International Blues Challenge! LONG-AWAITED CD FINALLY MAKES ITS DEBUT HOT SPRINGS (DWT) - The Pierson-Waters Project finally released the long-awaited self-titled PWP album in a gala event at The Big Chill in Hot Springs last weekend. For two nights in a row, the four-piece acoustic "power combo" wowed standing room only crowds in the pub that has become known as the premier acoustic venue in Hot Springs. Co-front men Grant Pierson and Dayton Waters shared the spotlight, lead vocals, harmonies, and lead guitar licks while the rhythm section (made up of Steve DuFresne, bass, and Scott Sartin, percussion) filled out a sound that left even the most discriminating listeners agape with wonder. On fan enquired how Pierson and Waters could so easily share equal billing and Pierson said, "It's easy. We put our egos in our pockets." Waters added, "We check the egos at the door, but they are right there in the parking lot in case we need them in a hurry." The two admit to being surprised at how easy it is; most bands can't handle two front men. But with Pierson and Waters, the mutual admiration and respect get them past any differences that may come up. According to Waters, Sartin and DuFresne are consummate professionals. "They work as long as we ask, harder than we dare ask for, and enjoy it at least as much as we do. With talent like theirs, you'd think they'd be hard to get along with, but these guys are incredible." The PWP will hold another cd release party in Hot Springs March 25 and 26th at Boogies, but this time the sparks will fly - this show is the electric version of their stellar performance last weekend. |
| the rant section |
| Alright... The first topic of the week is SBC DSL Internet Service Provider. Those of you who have been checking the site regularly may have noticed for the last month that it hadn't been updated. That's because I made the mistake of changing my residence and severely inconvenienced SBC by requesting that my service move with me. What "normally takes a couple of days" took them exactly 3 weeks. You wouldn't believe the lame-assed excuses I got in the meantime. Why I haven't canned them and gone with another provider is a sure sign that I am getting old and soft. Of course, the feeble-minded weaklings on the other end of my complaint calls probably wouldn't think that, but I suppose they get paid to put up with customer dissatisfaction. If they don't, they should because they way they do business I don't see them getting too many calls from satisfied customers. Let's just say that my remaining subscription to SBC DSL is probationary, at best. On to better things. Like MUD-RASSLIN' ARMY CHICKS!! In case you haven't heard, apparently some off-duty GI's got a little rowdy in Iraq. The party allegedly culminated with female soldiers mud-wrestling and subsequently a little skin got exposed. And all HELL is breaking loose because of it. Apparently, one female GI has received non-judicial punishment (Article 15) which resulted in her being reduced from Specialist to Private and effectively ended her career. And over WHAT?? We send women into combat zones alongside men. We expect them to do many of the same jobs and be at equal risk, yet we still have a bullshit standard that prevents them from "decompressing" like other soldiers have done for centuries during war and long deployments. Even if a little skin got flashed, these were consenting adults having some fun. Harmless at best, a little undisciplined, at worst. Of course, it's the people who have never served who are appalled by this. You CANNOT expect soldiers, male or female, to maintain the highest levels of discipline all the time. There MUST be a time for them to let their hair down. Off camera and out from under scrutiny because there are many things that go on in the military that the public can't understand and just doesn't need to know. Trust that your tax dollars are being spent on the best-trained army the world has ever known. They are professional killers. They view life and value it differently. What you take for granted they earn everyday at the risk of peril. They also let their hair down in ways you might not agree with. Tough. For the first time in our history, we openly expect women to handle the stresses of combat. And you know what? They seem to be doing a damned fine job of it. Our ladies can be killers, but they can't show a little skin at a party because it's not ladylike. Well neither is fighting through a convoy ambush, security patrols or damned near anything else those "ladies" have to endure in a combat zone. So they got a little out of control. Crucify the leaders for a change. Somewhere in all that was a noncommissioned officer (a sergeant, for you laymen) who should have had control of the situation. But you know what? They are in the same shit that the soldiers are in. And they too, are human and need to blow off steam. What did your grandfather do when he got off-ship in a new port after being at sea for months? I bet you don't want to discuss that. What about after liberating one French village after another? How did they get repaid by the citizenry? Our dirty little secrets are a matter of military history and have been a fact for as long as there have been wars. Napoleon had battalions of trollops, for God's sake! I think we have come a long way from that. Here's a news flash for you senior military officers and all you knee-jerk civilians: JUST BECAUSE IT MAKES THE NEWS AND IT AIN'T REAL PRETTY DOESN'T MEAN IT'S A CRIME. We've spent years trying to train the humanity out of war so combat soldiers don't hesitate on the trigger like they did in WWI. We made our targets look like men instead of bullseyes. We use euphemisms like "target down" and "bogy" when we are actually talking about PEOPLE. That's how you train killers. And when you do that, especially with women, you create something a little different than "daddy's little girl." Not too many "mama's boys" make it through training, much less do well in combat. The country freaked out over a Marine Corps General saying shooting people is fun. His Marines LOVE him and will follow him into Hell with a glass of icewater. They respect him because he is one of them. A killer. That's what you pay them to be. If you can't stomach the fact that they are good at it and may actually enjoy it, then it's a good thing you are not in the freedom business. The red in our stars and stripes signifies BLOOD. Blood we spilled and blood we caused to be spilled. Ponder the alternative to their grotesque existence; but when you think of it, think of it in German words. In this age of instant information and the 24-hour news cycle we think that everything is our business. And when we see something that shocks our senses, we act as if it's brand new. Get over it. Or as the youth say, "Get over yourself," because YOU are the one with the problem. Leave the dirty work to those best suited for it, be thankful for their sacrifices and overlook those tawdry details you can't stomach. Just like you did when you found out the real reason nobody talked about that one uncle who was a little different from the rest of the family. |
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