Happy Thanksgiving, everybody.

Today I'm trying to spread the word today about a non-profit organization I've just gotten off the ground.

In a nutshell, I'm trying to raise money to take some of future leaders of the Mississippi Delta to DC this spring for educational enrichment. They'd never get the opportunity otherwise. If you can, please check out the website and consider making a contribution to help me get this project off the ground and to untimately help these kids. Also, spread the word to friends and family, since it's going to take a lot of support to make this thing happen. You can contribute easily and securely online:

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A funny thing happened some weeks ago. Andrew was watching football in the front room and I heard the name "Alvin Pearman" announced because of some play he made and I ran out to check him out because Pearman, a UVA grad, once had a fifteen person poetry class with me.

It was kind of weird to see a guy I once sat near in class now playing for the Jaguars. Then I got to thinking about the poetry we had shared in our class and dug up some out of the folder I kept from our class. Sure enough, I still have the piece of poetry that the rising star running back gave out to us in class. Maybe this piece of paper will be worth money some day. Have a read:

The Diamond Inside

A diamond in an ice cube

Placed on a bench in the park

In the august heat

Was like the day we met.

Your aura seemed cold

Yet I was intrigued

by what I could not understand

My curiosity grew larger

As your beauty became more clear

I could barely make out

But could begin to see.

The time came

when you revealed yourself to me

at that moment I knew

the diamond that appeared to be

was reflecting the sun back to me

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I forgot about this story. I totally meant to put it up a few weeks ago when this happened.

I was at home one night and I got a fundraising call from the DNC. Here's how the call went:

DNC Fundraiser: Hello Mr. Hughes. My name is __________ and I'm calling on behalf of the Democratic National Committee and wanted to let you know about a special fundraising drive we have going on. Right now, for whatever you donate, __________ has pledged to match it--

Me: Excuse me, ma'am. I give each year and I don't plan on giving again until March. I can only afford a couple hundred dollars per year.

DNC Fundraiser: Well, I can understand that, but how does $400 sound?

Me: Ma'am, like I said, I can only afford a couple hundred dollars per year and I plan on giving again next spring.

DNC Fundraiser: Well... how does $300 sound?

Me: Thank you for calling. Good night.

How poor of a sales pitch can they come up with? Honestly, I would probably have totally sprung for $35 or so. That would have netted the DNC $70, which isn't bad, but by the end of the call there was no way I was going to give them a dime. What kind of inept operator asks me for double my one-time donation after I say I can't afford it? Last I checked this was the Democratic Party, whose membership can't afford to pay out huge sums of cash at the party's pleasure. That's the Republicans. In fact, what ever happened to Howard Dean raising small sums of money from everyday people?

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Thinking of you today, dad.

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I found this blurb on The Onion to be hilarious this week. Maybe it's because I've been thinking about John Steinbeck lately.

Okie Hears There's Sam's Club Work In New Mexico

November 9, 2005

TULSA, OK—Day laborer Cal Thornton, driven from the Wal-Mart where his family worked the stockroom for generations, has heard tell of Sam's Club work in New Mexico. "They say they need 17 guys to unload pallets of toilet paper, baby food, and canned peaches in Las Cruces," Thornton said. "Word is, they got cans of peaches in New Mexico so big, you got to use two hands to lift 'em." Thornton loaded his family and few belongings into the cab of his rusted pickup truck and began the migration Tuesday.

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Right now and probably tomorrow you will be hearing stories about how Democrats won governorships in New Jersey and Virginia. You'll also hear about how Arnold Schwarzenegger lost his ballot initiatives races and what this all means for Democrats across the country. But -- there is a much more interesting story going on: Virginia's attorney general race.

Robery McDonnell and Creigh Deeds

Here are the current numbers as of now:

Creigh Deeds (D) 49.99%
Robert McDonnell (R) 49.92%

The race is within 1,500 votes, meaning that a recount is likely. On top of that, it's unclear to me and others exactly how absentee ballots will factor into the tallying of votes.

This race has HUGE implications for the 2009 governor's race, which would give the Democrats and Republicans heir apparent candidates for the job.

All the excitement of the 2000 election and nobody is picking up the story, save the Hotline Blog (only because I posted a message about it).

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I fully accept the fact that I am not super qualified to be doing music critiques, but I did think the bit of insight I got from this album would be good to share...

Run out today and pick up a copy of You Could Have It So Much Better by Franz Ferdinand!

Franz Ferdiand's first album has a kind rough sand paper feel to it, but in a good way. The new album is, by contrast, finely polished and I can't get enough of it. It's the same post-punk, brit pop mix, but they've clearly matured in their second venture. I thought I would walk you through this newest offering.

The Singles

When I buy or download a CD I usually somehow gravitate toward songs that end up becoming singles before they are, sadly. This CD is different. I only really like one of the songs that will eventually be one of the singles. Of the songs slated to be singles ("Do You Want To", "Walk Away", and "The Fallen"), "Walk Away" is the only one that I really enjoy. The singles on the whole are good, but the album has several other great offerings.

Beyond The Singles...

Song Name (Track)
This Boy (3)
Evil And A Heathen (5)
You're The Reason I'm Leaving (6)
Eleanor Put Your Boots On (7)
Outsiders (13)

I really like tracks three and five because they break from the downtrodden tone of the first CD. They're the kind of tracks that I can see hipsters, who aren't obsessed with being emo, going nuts for on a Friday night. That's not to say they're poppy -- just energetic.

Track six makes the list because the lead vocals make the track. I can't say I'd argue that vocals have made any of the other tracks on their first two CDs, but "You're The Reason I'm Leaving" does just that with emotional inflections and wide usage of vocal registers.

I like track seven because I have a huge thing for imagery in song lyrics. That's part of the reason I really like Cake. "Eleanor Put Your Boots On" is poetic in its writing and especially in its delivery.

Finally, track thirteen, "Outsiders", struck me as being very similar to "40'", the final track of Franz Ferdinand's debut album. Somehow Franz Ferdinand manages to bring closure to their albums. It would be the equivalent to falling action in a plot summary of a book or movie. I wish I had more insight into what they do to close out their albums, but the only way I can explain it is by saying that they bring things full circle and make me start thinking about the next one. I know that doesn't sound very insightful, but it's the vest I can do. Maybe it's just a certain chord progression or something.

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