Alex Chilton: Dead at 59

Alex Chilton
Originally uploaded by deSingel International Arts Campus

Sorry to see that indie rock legend Alex Chilton has died of a heart attack. He was 59. He had a career that spanned the decades and covered all bases including jazz, indie, rock and the like. I got curious about him when a song titled Alex Chilton appeared on the Replacements album Pleased to Meet Me. He was a guest performer on that recording. He was scheduled to appear at the SXSW Festival in the next few days. Not fully recognized for his genius, maybe now Alex Chilton will get the due he deserves.

Jim Bunning throws us a curve ball

bunning_middle_fingers
Originally uploaded by RepublicanDirtyTricks

Let me get this out of the way first... Jim Bunning gets my greatest respect for his baseball career. He is the only player to throw a no hitter in both the AL and NL. He is a legendary player in every way. He is, unfortunately, a nutjob as well. I live in Kentucky and am disappointed by the fact that we have two nutjob senators, Bunning and Mitch "Frank Burns" McConnell.
Bunning pulled a political stunt this week by voting to block extending unemployment benefits to millions of Americans. Here is what the site RepublicanDirty Tricks.com has to say about it:
"Kentucky Millionaire Republican Senator Jim Bunning put a hold on extending unemployment benefits claiming that his objection had to do with the deficit, In spite of the fact that Bunning voted for the 2008 war supplemental, 2001 Bush Tax cuts for the rich, 2003 Bush tax cuts for the rich and 2003 Bush giveaway to Big Pharma as well as voted against "pay-go" which would have ensured that EVERYTHING is paid for rather than added to the deficit."