SpaceWrangler

Same thing happened at the Haymaker Festival in Virginia last year - largest ecstasy bust in the state ever. This year when we went there was a road block (with dogs) by state police before you even made it to the festival site and once we got in that lineup they did a light search of cars then too. It was crazy and a little unsettling when you're only talking about a festival with a few thousand people, but I guess it's to be expected at this point in time.

My girl and I are going through the same exercise right now, the name game. We aren't going to find out the sex until he/she arrives which makes it doubly hard it seems. The short list for boys includes: Mason, Ty, Holden (my middle name), Grayson, Alec and Owen. For a girl we can only agree on Quinn and Marley. It's harder than naming the dog... Oh, and she has a son named Hunter already - you are right, there are 4 others just in our neighborhood!! Good luck and CONGRATULATIONS!

This is a great festival! I attended last spring, before I was even living in Va., when Keller Williams, Del McCoury, Leftover Salmon, Particle, etc. played. Great setup, great lineup, great people... though lots of rain that year (Little Feat got cancelled when the roof blew off the stage in the storm). Hoping for sunshine this year!

While I'll not stand up to defend the Bush administration on any matter, I will say no one knows what is happening there, except the people that are there. And the key word in that article is "threats" - from what I've read in other detainee new stories, there are frequent threats of rape, as a means of breaking them down psychologically. It's wrong and it's sick, but I don't think we should infer that is what is actually happening. The incidence of torture are certainly proven however. As an American I'll be the first to say, it would be great if none of this ever happened, if none of it was even necessary. However, here we are. Every day I read things about this administration which discourage me as to the state of the union (as if the election itself wasn't enough!)... i.e. placing friendly "reporters" in the White House press corps, etc. (http://www.cnn.com/2005/ALLPOLITICS/02/09/white.house.reporter/index.html) In any case, there are probably things much more horrific than even this kids story, and the entire world - Americans, our friends and enemies - should be outraged about a lot.

I asked a mom what she thinks, as she's also a great gift-giver (she's all about the thought behind it). She said the most special present she received was a huge fleece blanket for wrapping up in with her baby when she read to him. It came from her best friend who also gave with it, a couple of classic childrens books (Velveteen Rabbit and The Giving Tree). Her son is now 10, and they use that blanket to this day when laying on opposite ends of the couch reading their own books, still together though.

I love Jerry. I'm going to go watch The Grateful Dead Movie now, because I concur - The Grateful Dead are the best band ever!

I like hearing the classics (well most anyway), but love it when less mainstream artists are out there as well. Like Gomez's "Shot Shot" on the Nissan commercial, or Richard Buckner's "Ariel Ramirez" on the VW Touareg one. That definitely catches and holds my attention more effectively.

I got to see Kottke this summer at a botanical garden here in Virginia. It was an awesome show, it felt extremely intimate, even outdoors. You guys will enjoy!

I watched the documentary "Tom Dowd & The Language Of Music" on the Sundance Channel last night, it was so great! A very interesting look at the evolution of sound recording, and a peek into the mind (and genius) of one of the most influential recording engineers in the industry. Check it out if you have the opportunity.

www.thelanguageofmusic.com

Is Emeril just too obvious a choice? I'm really just learning to cook, with the help of my own personal favorite chef, but she has taught me that Emeril is king of the kitchen. Cooking with beer is a very good thing!

I'm glad to see these positive reviews, as I'm getting my Mule on for Halloween down here in Virginia! I'm fairly new to the area, and it's my first time to the venue, Landmark Theatre a.k.a. The Mosque. It's beautiful on the outside and I hear even better inside - sights and sound. Plus, I got hooked up with 3rd row center!!! I won't complain even if it turns into the Warren Show - that guy has been completely amazing every time I've ever seen him, no matter who he was playing with, IMO.

This is such great news! Having celebrated the last few NYE's in Atlanta with Panic, I'm ready to head north for this one, and then back south for Jam Cruise!!!

I think that is great! I smoked for 8 years, and it took me 2 years to quit (meaning two years before my friends would no longer bum them to me). It's hard, but so well worth it. I'm nicotine free for almost 5 years, and don't miss the taste at all (the smell draws me every now and then still). I replaced nicotine with caffeine, but hopefully I'm still better off. Good luck!!!

Have any of you seen the band ALO (Animal Liberation Orchestra)? They are playing down south where I am this weekend, sadly at a very lame venue, so I'm wondering if it's worth the time, effort, and money (not that the show is that much, but the beer on the other hand...). I am definitely intrigued, as they are described at Talking Heads meets Elton John meets James Brown.

I recently met a woman with a 10 year old boy. His music collection consists of The Beatles, Panic, Phish, Bob Marley, JGB, etc. but mostly Grateful Dead. He told me I could borrow some to burn, I thought that was awesome! If only all parents acted so responsibly.

As many times as Garcia was high standing before us, he was equally as brilliant... it's not at all comparable to anyone else, IMHO. Who agrees?