Gem State Avenger

Bridge Over Troubled Waters

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 23:03:00 +0000

As someone who drives over several bridges every day the thought of Tim Pawlenty presidency scares me.

Republicans for Cancer?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 23:32:00 +0000

As I write this the government is on the verge of shutting down. This fight has nothing to do with deficit. If congress was really concerned about our national debt they would be cutting defense, ending Ag subsidies and raising taxes on millionaires. This fight is all about the Tea Party and their insatiable thirst for Cancer.

See the tea infused GOFP want to zero fund Planned Parenthood and neuter EPA's ability to enforce environmental regulations. Since the Hyde amendment prevents federal funds from being used for abortions cuts to Planned Parenthood will mean less birth control (growing the pool for more abortions) and fewer screenings for lady cancers.

Orders for the EPA restrictions are coming directly from the desk of the Koch Brothers the billionaire bastards who view this country as their own personal septic tank. With environmental related cancers on the rise one would think that anyone who gave a rat's tail about the right to life issue would really think twice

Idaho's Top 5 Beatles Songs

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 05:50:00 +0000

This summer Rolling Stone came out with a list of top ten Beatles songs. I tried to come up with my own list; an exercise that ended with severe migraine headache. Picking the ten best Beatles Songs would be like asking my mother to pick her next favorite child after yours truly. So I got to thinking if one were to survey just Idahoans what would that list look like. Well here is a good guess...

5. The Long and Winding Road - Idaho is full of long and winding roads. Just ask anyone who has driven from say Idaho City to Lowman.

4. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - Idahoans love the military so a "Sergeant" whether he is in the Army, Air Force, Marines, on a show about an advertising guy married to a witch or in a band is going to be popular. The opening lyric is "It was 20 years ago today...". Most Idahoans I know are proud that this state is 20 years behind the rest of the country. Just today I heard a couple of high school kids talk about a new band from Seattle called "Nirvana". By the way anyone reading this is invited to my house Dec 31, 2019 to celebrate the new millennium.

3. Yellow Submarine - Idahoans love submarines. Bayview is home to a submarine testing facility. At one time most of our Navy's nuclear submariners were trained in Idaho Falls. The conning tower from USS Hawkbill (SSN-666) resides in Arco ID and the USS Boise is a sub.

1. Tie. The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill & Happiness is a Warm Gun - The one thing that Idahoans love more than their children and the dear lord above is their guns and a chance to shoot something.

Burn Baby Burn

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 03:00:00 +0000

On 9/11 some members of the Christian Taliban plan on burring copies of the Koran. What better way to commemorate one act of terror with another. Don’t get me wrong. I whole heartedly support the first amendment and part of freedom’s price is tolerance for David Koresh wannabes who, if given the chance would throw away our founding documents for a Castro style Tudor theocracy. Wow. That was brilliant. I should stop here.

Since these book burning nut jobs claim to be doing the lord’s work I went to the source. Before continuing I need to issue a disclaimer. All of my Biblical knowledge is limited to English translations of Latin translations of Greek translations of Hebrew translations of Aramaic translations of words that were copied down from what was essentially a centuries long game of telephone. So maybe there is a margin of error in my research and I should be open to the possibility that Jesus was an arsonist of the first order.

Using three different Bibles, one where every sentence begins with thee, thy and thou, one presented to me on the day of my confirmation that appears to have more chapters than the ones placed in hotel rooms by the Gideons and a version handed to me on a nice spring day by street corner preacher I commenced research. Much to my surprise I could not find a single example of the J man burning a book or commanding his followers to do so. Now I did find endorsements for stem cell research (healing leapers), open borders (the Good Samaritan) and financial reform (kicking the money changers out of the temple). Other things I learned from my research is that a truly righteous and holy man eats sushi (loaves and fishes) and swills wine to the point of passing out (the bottomless wine bar of Cana).

Too Much Democracy?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 06 May 2010 07:00:00 +0000

The latest wacky idea to emerge from the Tea Monkeys is repeal of the 17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. To refresh your memory the 17th Amendment changed the way U.S. Senators are selected to office. Prior to the 17th Amendment U.S. Senators were chosen by state legislators and not a vote of the people.

Why this? Why now? Some folks believe repeal of the 17th Amendment would weaken the stranglehold of the special interest. As if corporations and labor unions don’t wield any influence at the state level. Others believe that repeal would lead to a more conservative Senate which would block things like stimulus packages and healthcare reform. Someone with my political leanings might view this as yet another attempt by the tea movement to deny voting rights to minorities and the working class. Remember this is the same crowd that cheered Tom Tancredo’s suggestion of brining back “Jim Crow Era” voting restrictions.

So what would this change mean for America? Right now Democrats control 27 state legislatures, republicans dominate in 14 with 8 state houses divided. In Nebraska the legislature is technically non partisan. Assuming an even split between the 8 divided states that would give democrats a 62-38 majority or filibuster proof plus 2. 5 of the 8 states with divided legislatures have democratic governors which could boost the democratic majority to 64. Under the pre 17th Amendment system there would be no Scott Brown, Chuck Grassely or Mitch McConnell. It is likely that there would be no traitor Joe Lieberman as well. The bottom line is that the U.S. Congress would be getting more things done. There would be public option health insurance. Instead of begging the Germans and Chinese to share their “green technologies” the U.S. might be leading the way. Who knows? We might have federal regulators who actually do their jobs instead of spending their days viewing porn on the internets.

Annie Get Your Gun

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 02:00:00 +0000

On April 19th gun enthusiast from all across the country descended on Washington DC to celebrate the lives and times of Timothy McVeigh and David Koresh. For our younger readers McVeigh and Koresh were mass murders who committed their acts of terror one year apart on April 19. One would think that an event celebrating the virtues of the second amendment would be held on March 19th Wyatt Erp’s birthday or on any other day not associated with white radical Christian terror. Imagine the outcry if Muslims assembled for a gathering in NYC on September 11th. It wouldn’t matter what the gathering was about the mere coincidence would be enough to cause Rudy Giuliani’s head to explode.

Party like it's 1859

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 01:54:00 +0000

On April 15th in Boise and other cities across this nation there will be a series of anti-America rallies a.k.a. “tea parties.” Allegedly these gatherings will consist of folks opposed to taxes, spending and big government. In Boise the tea monkeys will assemble in a public park paid for by taxes. The monkeys will then march down streets and sidewalks escorted by police officers all paid for by…anyone…Bueller… taxes. Marchers will then descend on the steps of the Idaho Capitol, a facility built, remodeled and maintained with tax dollars. Oh and let’s not forget that this rally will take place on April 15th, a Thursday, a day when a majority of us who pay taxes will be working. Or to put it another way, the majority of the tea marchers will consist of the unemployed and retirees. Chances are that one of those misspelled “Obama is a Marksist” signs will have been paid for with the proceeds from a government check and carried by someone with a Medicare card in their pocket.

Celebrating Treason

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 00:54:00 +0000

Imagine the outrage if Japan made December 7^th a national holiday complete with parades and reenactments of Pearl Harbor and the Bataan Death March. There is a wing at ADX Florence (the U.S. Government’s super max prison) reserved for those who commit treason. In my mind to be stabbed in the back by one’s own countryman is more heinous than some foreign whack job trying to set shoes afire on a loaded airplane.

Yet disdain for treason seems to escape the governor of Virginia who declared April “Confederate History Month”. Supporters are quick to claim that this is nothing more than a celebration of history and heritage. To that I say “bull hockey” (no offense to my Canadian friends). If the mayor of Berlin declared September to be Nazi Heritage month complete with displays of the Swastika he would be arrested and thrown into jail. In this day and age when tea monkeys are complaining about imagined capitulation to America’s enemies why would anyone want to admire and memorialize any movement especially a home grown one dedicated to slavery and destruction of the republic? I think I know the answer to my own question but the thought of “going there” is making me sick.

America's Most Wanted

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 03:29:00 +0000

As I write this Manuel Noriega is rotting in a federal prison for participating in a conspiracy to export drugs into the U.S. At the heart of the conviction is something called RICO which basically says that if you knowingly help someone commit a crime it is the same as if you perpetrated the offense.

Enter Joseph Ratzinger aka Pope Benedict XVI. Prior to becoming pope Cardinal Ratzinger served as Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Think of the Perfect as Batman’s man servant Alfred , Tony Soprano’s capo Silvio or Bruce Springsteen’s saxophone player Clarence Clemmons. In his capacity as Prefect Ratzinger participated in the cover up of crimes against children perpetrated by catholic clergy. There is no difference between Ratzinger and fugitive Simon Lopez-Orozco, a man wanted in Idaho for helping his brother, a murderer sneak out of the country.

Now maybe I’ve watched too many episodes of Law and Order Special Victims Unit but in my mind crimes against children are bit more serious than drug trafficking. A drug user chooses (or at least makes the initial first choice to try drugs) to become a victim. In spite of what Bill O’Reilly may say children do not make such choice.

So my question is this. Why not arrest the pope? No man is above the law, including a guy who wears gowns and big pointy hats. While it took a couple of seal teams, some green berets and the better part of the 7th division to capture Noriega we should be able to snag the pope with a squad of boy scouts whom have earned the rifle shooting merit badge. Think about it. The Vatican Army consists of couple dozen guys, dressed like extras from the Shakespeare Festival armed with swords and pointy sticks. Sure pikes were bad ass around 900 AD but no match for the good old American Smith and Weston. Recall that scene from Raiders of the Lost Ark where Indiana shoots the swordsman in the bizarre with his pistol and you get the picture. How can we call ourselves a nation of laws while Pope Benedict and a good portion of the U.S. Council of Bishops are allowed to freely walk the streets?

Dawning of a New Era

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 00:49:00 +0000

Fran McCaffery formerly of the Sienna Saints is the new Hawkeye basketball coach. To be honest I don’t know what to think. While the message boards are not kind to this choice I think it just might work for the following reasons…

• Fran the Builder – Coach McCaffery took a dismal Sienna program and turned it to the preeminent power in the Metro Atlantic conference. Licklighter on the other hand ascended from a successful program that he inherited from Barry Collier.

• Going Coastal – I’m not old enough to remember the hiring of Lute Olsen but I suspect that many questioned his ability to recruit the Midwest much like folks today are questioning McCaffery’s ability to do the same. Keep in mind McCaffery was an assistant at Notre Dame, located in the Chicago suburb of South Bend Ind. Having someone from out of the time zone may prove to be an advantage. Think of the Texas/ New Jersey studs recruited to Iowa City by Hayden Fry.

• Iowa Connections – If the coach is to be taken at his word at least one of the new assistants will have played at the Hawkeye U. This won’t necessarily mean more “W”s but will likely bring back some of the fans turned off by having Hoosiers coach our teams.

• Coaching Style – McCaffery is likely to bring an up tempo east coast style of basketball to the Big Ten. This could be an advantage in that Iowa will not be after the cookie cutter half court players that dominate conference play.

Who Will it Be Now

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 03:08:00 +0000

Surprise surprise... not! The University of Iowa, the Avenger's alma matter, fired its basketball coach. As I write this Iowa City is all a buzz with rumor and innuendo as to whom the next coach might be. Here is my take on some of the candidates...

Bruce Pearl - I had the honor of meeting coach Pearl on a couple of occasions while he worked as an assistant on Dr. Tom's staff. I like Bruce Pearl but he seems to be happy at Rocky Top U.

Rick Majerus - I love this guy. While health concerns were cited for his short lived retirement from basketball I suspect his outspoken comments about Utah's predominant religion and culture may have have contributed to his departure. How neat would it be to have a coach who looks like the average pork chomping beer swilling Iowan? Not since John Kruk or Refrigerator Perry have those of us who are gravitationally challenged, have had one of our own to cheer for. My concern is that Majerus might lack the stamina to rebuild the program.

Keno Davis - I'm not a believer. Getting to the NCAA with dad's players only to drop a deuce in the first round does not inspire a lot of confidence.

Ben Jacobson - Jacobson is the coach at nearby Northern Iowa, has a couple of wins against the Hawkeyes under his belt and is getting ready for his second NCAA appearance with the Panthers. Some say insanity is doing the same thing over again and again and expecting different results. I'm not so sure if going to the ranks of a mid major school as was the case with Alford and Lickliter is the way to go.

Steve Lavin - This guy brings name recognition and will immediately put butts back into the seats of Carver Hawkeye Arena. In my mind Lavin is a bit unproven having ascended from the assistant's chair to head coach of a winning UCLA program. On top of everything else Lavin is a west coast guy so who knows if he would even stick around.

C. Vivian Stringer - Now that you have stopped laughing hear me out. First, coach Stringer has Iowa ties having taken the Lady Hawkeyes to final four. Second she is the third winningest coach in Women's basketball so she knows her Xs and Os. Third, she has coached men having scoured the intramural courts for guys to practice against her players. Fourth, think of the recruiting possibilities. In most urban environments it is mom and/or grandma who rules the roost. Having a strong women to connect with mom and grandma might offer that inside advantage needed to land the next Ronny Lester or B.J. Armstrong.

My Take on the Oscars

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 03:28:00 +0000

Here's my take...

ZZZZZZZZZZZZ.
Did anyone under the age of 60 notice or care that Barbra Wa Wa is giving up her Pre-Oscar interview show?
What was up with all of those one strap dresses from the Vera Wang's Andre the Giant collection?
Mrs. Avenger had to remind me that we were watching the Oscars and not a live action remake of the Flintstone's.
Monique is the new Oprah.
Avatar almost became the first remake of an Oscar winning film (Dances with Wolves) to win its own Oscar.
Found it odd that three suicides (Michael Jackson, Brittany Murphy, David Carradine) made it into the "In Memoriam" section of the show but two actresses who died of natural causes Bea Arthur (Mame) and Farrah Fawcett (Dr. T and the Women and The Apostole) did not.
Why not combine the Oscars and Tony's and limit our national nightmares to one night?
With Meryl Streep and Helen Mirren canceling each other out Sandra Bullock waltzed her way to a best actress win.
Kudos to Sandra Bullock for winning both the Best Actress (Oscar) and Worst Actress (Razzie) in the same weekend. Maybe now Jessie James can stop moonlighting as reality T.V. bitch.
Three things were missing from Jeff Bridges acceptance speech; shorts, flip flops and a white russian.
Look for my movie "Bear Based on the novel Nerd by Blurb" to become an early favorite for the 2012 Oscars.
Surprised to learn that the Hurt Locker was about the Iraq War and not a posthumous John Hughes Film set in a suburban Chicago high.

You Go Girl

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 03:16:00 +0000

If there is anything I've learned from culturally insensitive sterotypes is that the only thing Canadians love more than their hockey is a good stiff drink. So why on Koresh's green earth would anyone be shocked that the Canada's women's Olympic Hockey team would celebrate their gold medal victory with cigars and a few barley pops.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is investigating the post game celebration that took place on the ice long after the fans and any impressionable youngsters cleared the building. What is there to investigate? The IOC bills its self as an organization of sport, peace and cultural understanding. For Canadians drinking is as cultural as a Chinese dragon dance or fighting on St. Patrick's day.

So I say to our neighbors to the north congragulations. Stay proud and stand on guard for thee.

Dog Eat Dog

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:54:00 +0000

Driving through the vast rangeland of Idaho with nothing but country and baby Jesus music on the radio my mind tends to wander. On a recent trip for the day job I drove past a vast cattle feedlot (at least 5000 head if not more) and got to thinking about the ethics of eating meat. Specifically why do we eat beef and not dogs. Here is what I came up with ...

1) I personify my dog; imposing on my pampered pet human feelings, behavior and emotion. Eating my dog would be akin to cannibalism.

2) Watching my dog and her behavior and habits on a daily basis lets just say sanitary issues would lead me to seriously consider death by starvation over life saving nourishment from a dog.

3) I don't know the first thing about how properly butcher or cook dog.

4) I have other tasty food alternatives.

Now the only real ethical difference between eating a dog and eating a cow, pig, fish or chicken is space. If I had a bovine living in my backyard and had to raise it, watch it on a daily basis and butcher it myself I doubt I would be able to eat any cow.

My Take on the Winter Olympic Opening Ceremonies

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 06:10:00 +0000

I smell James Cameron. Canada can't look that beautiful. It must be CGI.

10 minutes after his introduction no one remembers the name of the Canadian Prime minister.

I wonder how many Chinese Olympians will be shot for not winning medals.

Someone forgot to tell the Kenyans that there are no marathons at the winter games.

The Germans are marching behind the French which might explain why everyone in the French delegation has both hands high in the air.

Hey, how come Minnesota gets its own team. Oh my bad its the Norwegians.

I wonder if the Russians waived to Sarah Palin on their way to the games.

I'm convinced that some of these countries are made up so that ceremonies will last longer and allow NBC to sell more ads.

OMG Carrot Top made the U.S. team. Correction, Mrs. Miller informs me that its not Carrot Top but some guy they call the Tomato who competes in one of those dope smoker sports.

I know the opening ceremonies represent the host nation's culture but was really necessary to club that baby seal. If you really need to club something make it Tom Green.

Tomorrow I'm heading to Best Buy to price one of those video floors.

Now some poet is defining Canada. Well I can describe Canada in two words "America's Hat".

La La Bamba

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 03:16:00 +0000

This week marks the second anniversary of the Continental 3407 crash. In this era when everyone goes bat S crazy over the failure to torture any dark skinned male over the fear that his fourth cousin might try to take down a plane with exploding gonads I am amazed that folks are unwilling to stand up to corporate greed and insist on a few simple measures that would actually save lives in the skies; more air traffic controllers, increasing the amount of flight hours experience before one can fly a commercial aircraft, tighter enforcement of crew rest rules to name a few.

Right now the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has a list of 500 recommendations for improving airline safety. Some of the NTSB's recommendations are 20 years old. In a week where we have learned that safe reliable Toyotas might not be safe nor reliable and that corn based sugar infects nearly everything we eat, that America would wise up and take on the low hanging fruit that would help our people live longer and happier lives. Sadly we seem to be too drunk on tea to really notice or care.

Sister Sarah and Me

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 01:38:00 +0000

So here is a picture of my hand taken immediately after meeting Sarah Palin. I was a bit spooked when, after using her right hand to greet the 50 or so ahead of me in line, Sarah suddenly switched offering me her left.

My Take on the Super Bowl

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 03:00:00 +0000

Katrina - I get it. Katrina was bad, people were sad and the Saints make everything all better. But just take a time out and think about the poor people of Indianapolis. At least the folks in New Orleans have Mardi Gras, great food and jazz. Imagine being sentenced to a lifetime in Indianapolis listening to John Cougar Mellencamp and eating Orville Redenbacher Popcorn.

The Game - Awesome! Few penalties and turnovers, some gutsy calls and drama all the way to the bitter end.

Commercials the Good - Betty White, the little kid who tells his mom's gentleman caller to keep his hands off his mom and his Doritos and the "slug bug" VW commercial.

Commercials the Bad - Anything with half naked men or portraying Budweiser as a safe alternative to crack.

Commercials the Weird - The Kia toys commercial. I guess one must be high to truly appreciate aesthetics of Kia. And what was up with Tim Tebow tackling his mom. Kind of oedipul if you ask me.

The Who - Loved their 12 minute melody of CSI theme songs.

Most Touching Moment - Drew Brees holding his little boy on podium with the Lombardi Trophy nearby.

Sister Sarah and the "R" Word

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 22:36:00 +0000

So let me see if I got this right. It is wrong to say "Re..." in the context of criticizing you political allies in a private meeting. However, it is okay for a convicted drug abuser to say "Re..." 40 times in public on a nationally syndicated hate radio show. Now with these hurtful words it comes down to historical context which is why it is okay for an African American to use the "N" word or for a gay person to use the slur "Fa..." but not okay for me to utter those words. I get that. So to recap its okay for the guy who played Corky (Chris Burke) in Life Goes On to scream "Re..." from the top of his lungs but not alright for Mrs. Avenger or I to utter that same term.

With that in mind enter Sarah Palin (Tea Monkey Quitter from Alaska). This week Sarah P called for the firing of Obama's Chief of staff for his use of "R" word in a closed door meeting. Picking up the story Drugs Limbaugh uttered the offensive "R" word at least 40 times on his Thursday broadcast. So when given the opportunity this AM on Fox News Sunday to show that she is truly outraged by the use of the "R" word and call for the firing of Limbaugh, Sarah gave him a pass. Once again proving that as far as Sister Sarah is concerned paycheck will trump family and principle every time.

Or maybe based on what I said about context, that it is okay to use those words if you are from the group slurred by said words, it should be okay for Rush to scream the "R" word as much as he wants.

A Tale of Two Cities

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 03:00:00 +0000

Two stories on the evening news highlighted the danger of ignoring history. The first was a story about an African American U.S. Park Ranger by the name of Spirit Trickey-Rowan who leads tours at the Little Rock Central Historical landmark. On September 24, 1957 Spirit's mom, Minnijean Brown was one of nine students escorted by troops from 101st Airborne past angry mobs and a defiant governor into the building, fulfilling a court order to desegregate the school.

The second story came out of Nashville Tennessee, home to the national tea party convention. Addressing delegates Grand Wizard Tom Tancreto declared that Obama was elected because "...we do not have a civics, literacy test before people can vote in this country." A reference to a practice used in the old south to keep black folks from voting.

Maybe I shouldn't get too upset. Slap a science question or two on that test and watch the democrats pick up 98 seats in the senate. But I have to remind myself about a failed Austrian painter who was initially looked upon as clown but went on to become chancellor of Germany.

Cover Songs

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 08:00:00 +0000

Here is a list of my favorite cover songs. I'm not saying these are the best cover songs just some favorites that happen to be on the Pod. In preparing this list I debated what constitutes a cover song? For example is Carol King's version of Up on the Roof a cover? Two artists recorded the song before she did yet King actually wrote the song. Or what about Tea in the Sahara originally recorded by the Police but then re-recorded by Sting on Bring on the Night? Well with that said here is my list. I would be interested to hear about some of your favorite covers.

10. What a Wonderful World - Joey Ramone - This song has always held a special place in my heart since it ( The Louie Armstrong Version) was the one the brand new Mrs. Avenger and I danced to at our wedding. I guess what draws me to this version is that it was one of the last songs Joey recorded before he died of cancer. Imagine you are dying, everyone around you knows it and is willing to let you record any song you want and this is the one you pick

9. Mississippi -Dixie Chicks - Written by Bob Dylan this is just one of many Dylan songs that sound so much better when sung by others. I saw the Chicks perform this one on Austin City Limits and thus it was love at first sight or should I say hear.

8. Take Me to the River - Talking Heads - Written and recorded by the Rev. Al Green, this song played second fiddle to the song Sha La La (Make Me Happy) on Rev. Al's Al Green Explores Your Mind. The Talking Heads version made to #26 on Billboard and 117 on the Rolling Stone top 500 list. For me (and I think this is the case with most Talking Head's songs) its Tina Weymouth's bass playing that draws me in.

7. Suspicious Minds - Fine Young Canibals - The Elvis version checks in at 91 on Rolling Stone's list of greatest songs of all time. Not that Rolling Stone has a lot of credibility in my mind. What I like best about this song is the guitar riffs. In fact had guitarist Andy Cox played on the Elvis version... all I can say is wow!

6. Any cover performed by the Coors - The Coors - See the pattern here. There is just something about singing Irish gals (Natalie Merchant is half Irish) that does it for me. Check out the Coors version of Ruby Tuesday or When the Stars Go Blue .

5. Peace Train - 10,000 Maniacs - I am a sucker for Natalie Merchant's voice. If I were a blind man Natalie's songs both solo and with the Maniacs is what I would use to... okay enough said. For a while this track was hard to come by. Upset over Cat Steven's comments concerning the fatwa against Salmon Rushdie Peace Train was dropped from the CD release of In My Tribe.

4. Little Green Bag - Tom Jones and The Bare Naked Ladies - Most people are familiar with the George Baker Selection version as the opening song used in Quentin Tarantino film Reservoir Dogs. The contrary vocals match up well with the flux pacing of the song.

3. A Little Help From My Friends (Woodstock Version) - Joe Crocker - I just like the way this song is arranged. It just seems to me that Joe was made to sing this song.

2. Monkey Man - The Specials - Recorded by the Maytals in 1969 this sardonic song was inspired by a corrupt manager that stole the band's money. Some of the other artist that have recorded this song include Reel Big Fish, Amy Winehouse (movie Run Fat Boy Run) and the Wiggles.

1. Hurt - Johnny Cash - Originally recorded by Nine Inch Nails and produced by the legendary Rick Rubin is one of the most haunting songs I've ever heard.

Back in the Saddle Again

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:16:00 +0000

After some time off to soul search and play around with Facebook I am relaunching the Gem State Avenger. So here is how this works. My point of view will appear in blue. Items made up for parody and affect will appear in red. Guest commentators will bare their souls in green. Stuff quoted verbatim will show up in black.

Now a bit about me. I was raised Catholic and spent my formative years in one of the church's indoctrination camps. These days I consider myself more of deist. I believe in God but do not subscribe to the notion that a book, institution, or historical figure has a monopoly on the supreme entity's will or teachings. The most christian guy I know is a local rabbi. I'm generally liberal when it comes to most things but think that it is time to reconsider nuclear power and don't have a problem with people owning guns. I love football, movies, music, history, dogs and computerized strategy games. I follow politics rather closely but do so more out of obsession than enjoyment.

One last thing. I love to play with words, names and phrases. I will use this post to keep a running tab.

Tea Monkey/Ditto Monkey - AM talk show conservative.
Hate Radio - AM talk radio
Swear to Koresh - Instead of besmirching God why not go after someone who claimed to be God.
Sally's Boy Toy - My mother in-law's partner.
WDM PD Blue - My brother the police officer
Jerry the First - My dad
Crack Vision - High Definition Television
Bozo State (Donkeys) - Boise State University
The Snooze - Local television news
F on the Family - Focus on the Family
Fish Wrap - Newspaper
Jesus Channel 7 - Boise's local NBC affiliate
Faux News - Fox News
Red Curtain - Anyplace in Idaho other than the City of Boise or Blaine County.