Friday, April 07, 2006

New NBC Poll


In God we Trust

Do You Believe in God?

NBC recently conducted a poll on this question: Do You Believe in God? They had the highest number of responses that they have ever had for one of their polls, and the percentage was the same as this:

86% to keep the words, IN God We Trust and God in the Pledge of Allegiance
14% against. Get rid of IN God We Trust and God in the Pledge of Allegiance

That is a pretty 'commanding' public response.

86% of Americans believe in God.

The word God printed on US coins doesn't endorse any denotation or religion.

Therefore, I have a very hard time understanding why there is such a mess about having "In God We Trust" on our money and having God in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Why is 86% of Americans catering to this14%? Doesn't the majority rule?
A government for the people and by the people?

What can you do about it? Just like most liberal Issues, you can protest by
contacting your elected officials in Washington, DC.

LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD



Contact List for US Congress and US Senate
Click here: Email addressess and Fax numbers

Tuesday, April 04, 2006

Adiós Amigo

Musical Del Artista


Adiós Amigo Roberto...(Memphis,TN)
My guitar friend and fellow Memphis musician Robert Pigdeon is heading south (way south) to launch a new music career. He will be living in a neat little place called Ajijic that is located on Mexico's largest lake, Lake Chapala. The community is largely made up of Americans and Canadians who went south to live for the relaxation and mild climate. It is also a popular get away vacation destination for tourists. The Lake Chapala region of Jalisco, Mexico, with its wonderful climate (The high temperature always stays around 72 degrees year round) and large base of ex-patriat residents, has become a very desirable place for retirees, those wanting to escape aspects of "Home" (such as the winter weather), and those who desire to live and work in Mexico. The area has many attractions and comforts, and yet, it is not a place where everyone can live happily. It is not the same as "back home USA". Living in Mexico requires an openness to differences and a willingness to change. Robert is more than eager to make that change and try something different.

Robert will be entertaining down there. He will bring a nice flair of "Americana" music. Robert is an excellent Jazz, Rock and Memphis Blues musician. I know he will go over big time with the locals. Robert has gigged with me during the past two years. Besides being a musician, Robert also did some Hollywood acting. He appeared as a regular on the NBC TV show "Lois and Clark" (Superman), working at the Daily Planet. After the show canceled, he came back to his home town of Memphis. I wish Robert a good voyage and many happy, happy gigs in sunny Ajijic, Mexico. Adiós Amigo!

Check out Robert's Guitar Picin'

Click here: Rocking Bobby Lee
Click here: Raining Down Blues
Click here: Muddy Mississippi Blues


Robert's New Mexician Adventure in Sunny Ajijic-Chapala




Robert Pigdeon


Bobby Sowell and Robert Pigdeon


Steve posing with Teri Hatcher
costar of NBC "Lois and Clark"

Click here to view limit edition gig photos

FOOT NOTE: 04-04-06 Robert flew out of Memphis earily today. I took him to the air port about 4:30 AM. I hope he had a smooth and hassle free flight to Mexico. I know it was stressful getting everything done but it seemed to have worked out OK. Robert stayed with me a few days. Even with all that he had to do, we managed to do some recording. Mostly some Memphis Blues. I will say in my professional opinion, Robert Pidgeon is a very accomplished musician and I enjoyed playing music with him. I know that Ajijic awaits a musical treasure in his knowledge of music. Robert, it has been a pleasure knowing you. If and when you read this please send me an email. Keep in touch!! ...and keep the faith!!


UPDATE: June 30, 2006
It has now been three months since Steve left Memphis and not one word has been heard from him. I hope he is doing OK. Robert if you can read this, send an email to Memphis.




UPDATE: 07/25/06
Steve is now back in Memphis. He left Mexico with an enduring and horrific experiences. He says, he will not be going back anytime soon and never will forget his time there. He had some great gigs there and they treated him like a celebrity.


UPDATE: November 5, 2007
Steve called me today. He is in Memphis to attend his Stepfather's funeral. We are supposed to get together either tonight or tomorrow morning. His flight leaves out tomorrow evening. Steve is now employed as a sound engineer in a Las Angles recording studio. Steve earned his degree at the University of Memphis. Besides gigging on the side, he is delighted to be back in his field of work.






A President, a Prim Minster and a King



As I am writing this update, President Bush and Prim Minster Koizumi of Japan is visiting Elvis's Graceland and are going to eat a Bar B Q lunch at the Rendezvous. The Prim Minster is a hugh fan of Elvis and President Bush wanted to treat him to Graceland. Koizumi favorite Elvis song? "Love me Tender", Thank you very much!




Memphis, Tennessee To Ajijic, Mexico


Lake Chapala (Ajijic) Mexico

Click here to view more Lake Chapala and Ajijic Photos
Click here to view even more Ajijic photos





National Drink?
The closest thing to a national drink for a Southern is Iced Tea. Unlike up north or in Canada where hot tea prevails, In the South, when one orders a tea in a restaurant, iced tea is delivered to the table. I like it with plenty of lemon and sugar. The only thing I don't like about ordering iced tea out is just as I get the taste just right and take a couple of sips, the waiter comes along and pours a refill, causing me to fix it all over again. And plus it can get sticky which explains why I order a diet coke instead of iced tea.

Refill Please
It is a Southern tradition that customers in the South get FREE refills on Coffee, Tea and Soft Drinks regardless if you eat a meal or not, and most of the time, with unlimited amount of refills. Although in some fancy places you may be limited to two (very rare), but overall it's FREE refills. Northern food chains relocating in the South soon find that fact out, that is if they want to stay in business. I guess you can call it a Southern hospitality thing. I know most places in the North and in Canada do not offer free refills. I can't see me going out for coffee and not getting any refills? What would be the point?


So, What kind of guy is Robert? Like most
Southerners, the following should explain:

*Reprinted by permission


SOUTHERNISMS:

She fell out of the ugly tree and hit every
branch on the way down.

She's so stuck up she'd drown in a rainstorm.

It's so dry, the trees are bribing the dogs.

My cow died last night, so I don't need your bull.

He's as country as cornflakes.

This is gooder'n grits.

If things get any better, I may have to hire someone
to help me enjoy it.

I'm 'bout as nervous as a long tailed cat in a room
full of rocking chairs.

Busy as a moth in a mitten. Happy as a clam at high tide.

Advice for Northerners moving to the South: Save all manner of
bacon grease. You will be instructed on how to use it shortly.

Just because you can drive on snow and ice does not mean
Southerners can. Stay home the two days of the year it snows.

If you DO run your car into a ditch, don't panic. Four men in the
cab of a four-wheel pick-up with a 12-pack of beer and a tow chain
will be along shortly. Don't try to help them. Just stay out of
their way. This is what they live for.

You can ask Southerners for directions, but unless you already
know the positions of key hills, trees, rocks and over yonder,
you're better off trying to find it yourself.

Remember: Y'all is singular. All y'all is plural.
All y'all's is plural possessive.

Get used to hearing, "You ain't from around here, are you?"

Don't be worried that you don't understand anyone. They don't
understand you either.

The first Southern expression to creep into a transplanted
Northerner's vocabulary is the adjective "big ol' ," as in "big
ol' truck," or "big ol' boy." "Fixin'" (as in "I'm fixin' to go
to the store") is 2nd, and "Y'all" is 3rd.

As you are cursing the person driving 15 mph in a 55 mph zone
directly in the middle of the road, remember: ALL Southern folks
learned to drive on a John Deere, and this is the proper speed and
lane position for that vehicle.

If you hear a Southerner exclaim, "Hey, y'all, watch this!" get
out of his way. These are likely the last words he will ever say,
or worse still, that you will ever hear.

Most Southerners do not use turn signals;
they ignore those who do. In fact, if you see a signal blinking
on a car with a Southern license plate, you may rest assured that
it was already turned on when the car was purchased.

If it can't be fried in bacon grease, it ain't worth cooking,
let alone eating.

If there is the prediction of the slightest chance of even the
most minuscule accumulation of snow, your presence is required at
the local grocery store. It does not matter if you need anything
from the store. It is just something you're supposed to do.

Satellite dishes are very popular in the South. When you purchase
one, it is positioned directly in front of the house. This is
logical, bearing in mind that the dish cost considerably more than
the house and should, therefore, be prominently displayed.

One last warning but probably the most important one to remember:
Be advised that in the South, "He needed killin'" is a valid defense.