Absurd America Vol. I

The first installation in the series in an attempt to recall the absurd, bizarre and ridiculous in America.
Sometime in the mid-sixties in South Louisina an oil company, Texaco if I recall correctly, was drilling for oil underneath a lake. At the same time a team of miners were busy excavating a salt mine beneath the lake. Salt forms in dome like structures beneath the earth in this part of the world, and miners hollow them out for the salt, often using the remaining cavern for storage of various goods. These salt domes are usually associated with oil production and drillers pierce the perimeter of these structures in search of oil. On this occaison; however, the oil drillers missed the mark, and drilled a hole directly into the cavern created by the salt miners. Gravity took over and the water from the lake began to drain into the cavern. All of the miners got out quickly, but above the lake was being drained like a giant bathtub, sucking trees, boats, docks into the vortex. One old-timer recalls outrunning the whirlpool in his john boat, narrowly escaping being sucked down the drain. The lake was drained completely dry in a matter of minutes. It filled back up after some years, but the shoreline never was the same. There is some grainy black and white video of this event which I have seen, but unfortunately I cannot find reference to it on the web. Let me know if you find it, it is a wonder to see.

House Keeping

A dear friend told me he was having trouble posting comments. Would someone PLEASE send me a personal e-mail (or the band at driftwood@liquiddaddy.com) if they, too have had a problem with this. I have noticed the crickets chirping rather loudly around here lately.

Fair and Balanced

I have added some links to bring the blog into a better ideological equilibrium after realizing that some might perceive me as too far to the left. Just because I spend my Sundays in front of the David Copperfield statue in Herman Park handing out People's Daily in my "Fuque You" tee-shirt is no reason to get the wrong idea.

I think Ron Paul in his tin foil crown, Boilerplate, and Steven Colbert speak to the conservative movement better than anyone. Enjoy.

Fallen Heroes Fund

I just saw on Lou Dobbs that Cher had donated a "bucket load" of money to the Fallen Heroes Center in San Antonio. The center is devoted to rehab and support for wounded vets. Look at www.fallenheroesfund.org for more.

I remember in the very early days of the war Cher calling CSPAN decrying the government's cover up of the numbers of wounded and their horrible plight. She actually had visited Walter Reed in these dark days and saw what was going on. There was quite a bit of talk over the shame of this, and things have pretty much stayed the same since. This charity is long overdue and San Antonio is a great place for something like this.

Support the Troups

A Little Humor

q: How many ADHD kids does it take to screw in a light bulb?

a: Let's go ride bikes!

Texas Round Up

Nick Lampson has more cash on hand than Tom Delay according to www.chron.com. 1.3 mil to 1.2 mil. Editor's note: The Hammer lies. He probably has much less.

Ciro has more money than Henry, by a bunch says www.dailykos.com (other cites available)

The shieks of araby have purchased 21 of our ports, not six as told by the liars who want to kill us, including Corpus and Beaumont, according to UPI.

Ricin powder was found by a UT student in a roll of quarters she was using for laundry. see www.utexas.edu For the unitiated, this is what they call a 'weapon of mass destruction.' I suspect the aggies.

Nothing on the Luling HS gang slayings in the newspapers. Yesterday, two 6th graders got into a knife fight at the middle school. The districts "Tinker Bell" policy on this, i.e. clap and shout until it goes away, seems to be working swimmingly.

Hank Floyd saw Big Foot out at Crooked Creek Ranch, maybe.

Police Chief Beyers here in Moulton quit because everybody is so bitchy about the mayor being allowed to steal the city dry. I'm with you chief, I mean, this is America dammit!

Express Sells Out

Cuellar has been on a non-stop media campaign of lies against Ciro.

After slamming the lying criminal pedophile last week, the SA Express News endorses him. MYSA link comes down, Victoria Advocate goes up.

All I can do is take care of my own stuff and encourage others to do the right thing.

Edit: I should be consistent in saying that people should stay home during the primary, but there is a grudge match in the TX-28, so I can't discourage them from doing the right thing. I would guess that Cuellar would jump parties if he loses, he has no base except wingnuts and would be well funded there to steal the election that the secretary of state is already bragging about on TV.

Our Deepest Sympathy to Bill Pekar

Having learned he has lost a loved one near and dear to him, we wish to express our best wishes in his time of sorrow.

Hear "Snake Farm," by Driftwood

I have read two more articles about Ray Wylie Hubbard's pride in the release of his "Snake Farm," CD in April, 2006.

This is starting to make me mad. I have e-mailed Ray and he has disrespected Driftwood by not responding. Our copy rights are fully perfected, protected and actionable.

You will hear from my barrister, sir!

Kinky-ism's

Quotes from our future governor I lifted from kos:


"I even went so far as to become a Southern Baptist for a while, until I realized that they didn't hold 'em under long enough."

"If you elect me the first Jewish justice of the peace, I'll reduce the speed limits to 54.95!"

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

"In six days the Lord created the heavens and the earth and all the wonders therein. There are some of us who feel that He might have taken just a little more time."

And our favorite: "Whatever we're going to do, we're going to make it fun."

Violence Errupts at Luling HS

A fight broke out today at Luling High School where at least one injured child was air lifted to Brackenridge Hospital in Austin in critical condition according to an unnamed source.

Listen to Lone Star Radio 104.7

I had the pleasure of seeing Lone Star Live with Egon Barthels of 104.7 fame in Victoria last nite. The similcast originates from the Downtown Grill on Constitution in Old Victoria. It featured the red hot Tim Hall Band (from Texas, bitches! Not latte drinkin Takoma).

It was a blast. For you locals, that is obviously the scene.

Although this station is having server problems today for its streaming, but be sure to check it out.

What's the Matter With Kingsville?

I found the following at www.christusspohn.org/locations_kleberg:

"CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Kleberg

CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Kleberg resides in the heart of a town known for its ranching history and rich Texas culture: Kingsville, Texas. Licensed for 100 beds, the hospital is a general acute-care facility offering complete medical and surgical services including pediatrics, obstetrics and skilled nursing, as well as emergency, intensive care, cardiac and comprehensive diagnostic services. The emergency department is designated as a Level IV trauma center."

I'd still like to know why they took the critically injured man Cheney shot to Christus Spohn hospital in Corpus Christi 45 miles further instead of Christus Spohn Hospital in Kingsville, which was nearby? And why did it take them 3 hours to do so?

Chaney Walks From Hunting With No License

Must be nice. He and Lawyer Whittington had no current license for hunting quail and were both cited. Little people like us would have had pain inflicted to the point just short of organ failure if we had done such a thing.

Check out the citation at the Houston Chronicle site, and I am sure the Smoking Gun has by now. They violated Chapter 43 Sec 652 of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Code.

He Just Peppered Him OK!?

From Jane Hamsher at www.firedoglake.blogspot.com today from a reader:

"(I)think this is dangerous territory for Cheney et al. There is no good explanation for this, other than being drunk or stupid. Anti-gun people are going to hate the whole thing. Gun people like me are going to hate that he was such a complete idiot.

I think, as other have pointed out, that this is a microcosm of the whole administration:

1. Try to play tough, with a gun, or an army.

2. Fail to follow well-established rules, guidelines, and past experience (either out of ignorance or willful disregard, or both).

3. Get someone hurt or killed.

4. Try to keep the story under wraps for as long as possible.

5. When the story does come out, spin it so that there was no possible way the administration did anything wrong.

6. Blame someone else, where possible, blame the victim.

7. Make anyone who has a problem with it look like an un-American pussy.

Well, that pretty much sums the whole Administration up in one fell swoop, doesn't it?"

Funny huh?

Pull for us, please.

We are seeking spots at the

Party on the Pasture

for Driftwood on 6/16/06 and at the Sweet Home Music Festival. The competition is tight. Please pray for us to be selected.

Driftwood Hits Triple Digits!

Much thanks to all who helped put the website over 1000 hits.

We love you.

Rant

There are rumors that blogger.com is melting down. That it might be under attack by trolls. This would disable a substantial portion of the lefty blogospere. I cannot afford an upgrade or to blog from html.

Since my ability to post might go at any time; hell, this could disappear in moments, I really just want to say this one thing: Fuck 'em.

Look, if the pukes want to stand for the idea that that preznit can do what ever he wants, whenever he wants, spy on anybody, any time, and nobody has any rights during the never ending war against brown people, let them run on it. I welcome them selling their fascist platform to America, and anyone who believes in this should vote for them. That's fine with me.

We'll see you at the polls.

p.s. Henry Cuellar (a closeted homosexual) fled from the House Chamber when confronted by Ciro last week, like the little coward bitch that he is..

Congradulations Texas Music Award Nominees

This post was deleted by the machine, too.

Good luck to all the TMA nominees, who are all wonderful. Be sure and vote for your favorites, fans, at www.mytexasmusic.com

Once again, much love to Lucky, Jinelle, and Co., for their dedication, hard work and committment. They always are kind and generous to their artists, (big and small) and are the God Parents of the Texas Music scene.

Misc.

I have had three good posts knocked off since Friday, which upsets me. They were there, and then they were gone.

Let me recap:

1. I had a brief meeting with Sen. Van De Puett's people and they promised to work hard to correct the Medicaid situation, but I don't believe them;

2. The line from Born Yesterday (MGM 1950) "A lot of people just care about themselves and don't think about the other guy. This philosophy can become a movement, and when that becomes a government, they call it 'Fascism'."; and,

3. Texas City didn't blow up the 31st, but spooks and heavies were all over Galveston that day having a weapons of mass destruction civil "drill" as reported by the Galveston Daily News (confirmed and cited) www.arcticbeacon.com.

Also, I had no horse in the Stupid Bowl, but since all the neo-con pundits have declared the Sea Hawks fags from a faggy city, I am pulling mightily to see them anal rape the Steelers, (who would no doubt enjoy it in the secret places).

Texas Dumps the Poor Off Medicaid

I am sick about Texas dumping the poor off of Medicaid since 1/1/06.

1. A disabled adult on a combination of SSDI and SSI gets Medicaid through the SSI claim until 24 months have transpired and the claim is converted to Medicare A & B with a Medicaid supplement through the QMB program. Those individuals were dumped off Medicaid effective 1/1/06 when their involuntary Medicare Part D became effective. Many did not even get a letter. Also, they got $88.00/mon cut from their SSDI check, which were less than 600/mon, forever, and there is nothing they can do about it.

2. A retired person or couple under the Federal poverty line received the QMB program benefits via their indigency (880/mon for individual; 1094/mon for couple). They lost their Medicaid cut off 1/1/06, without a notice. They also have 88/mon yanked from the monthy check. For a couple it would be 172/mon.

In Texas, an individual food stamp allotment is $11.00 per month. The CHIPS program for poor kids, promised by the State to expand and increase enrollment by SB1 in 2005, has not been funded. Kids cannot get dental care, eye glasses or hearing aids. Medicaid will not pay for a prothesis, just crutches, or one self powered wheelchair every two years. Medicaid will not pay for adult mental health care. Now that QMB is gone, thousands more unmedicated, boozy psychotics will be roaming the streets.

Makes a body proud.

Bush's Medicare drug program was supposed to make sure the poor would transition smoothly by supporting the states to keep these folks in QMB or a same/similar program. Bush promised to reimburse the states for the transition costs.

Texas just dumped everybody under part D off Medicaid. Damn them for their evil hearts, and all persons complicit in their crimes, even by ommission.

p.s. Texas is dumping bilingual education, too, in favor of total English emersion.