Gustav Now a Major Hurricane

New Orleans is now on edge as Hurricane Gustav is now a Category 3 storm- and it may hit land as a category 4, or even a 5.

A hurricane watch is in effect from the east Texas coast to around Mobile, Alabama. A hurricane warning is in effect for the offshore waters in the Gulf of Mexico. Winds are already at an estimated 150 miles per hour, and models say that south central or southeast Louisiana is in the bulls eye.

It looks like the northeast outer bands are hitting south Florida already.

Katrina, 2008 version. It could happen.

Watch the local news, or if you want to see the storm's progress, just scroll down to the bottom of this page.

(C)MMVIII, by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.

What a Stirring Speech That was, Barack!

C-SPAN/YouTube

Now that's a refreshing sight to see!

I've just finished wasting bytes on the computer writing about Alaska governor Sarah Palin, who John McCain has tapped as his running mate.

I can hardly wait until next week when that fucking windbag McCain tells his lies at the Republican National Convention.

But until then, I'm going to relax to the soothing sounds of Barack Hussein Obama II.

This guy is definitely a stand up man, doesn't suffer fools gladly. And he is definitely an out of the box thinker. He loves his wife Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama, and his daughters Malia Ann and Sasha. AND HE LOVES HIS COUNTRY! (you Repugnant-cans get that?). He's a Christian (though try telling that to some of my Republican friends) as a member of the United Church of Christ.

He'll make a great President. And I'm proud to support and stand by him.

EIGHT IS ENOUGH!

The echo that the current dolt-in-chief will hear from now to January 20, 2009. Say it loud! Say it proud, Democrats and, Independents, and Republicans pissed off at George Walker Bush.

Keep packing, Georgie.

(C)MMVIII, by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.

Mccain Taps First-term Alaska Governor as Running Mate

Just who the fuck is Sarah Louise Heath Palin?

C-SPAN/YouTube

Nice rip-roaring Western movie music.

She's an Alaska governor, first term. And...she's three years older than me...she's not all that, well, bad looking. She's married, and has five kids.

What little I've found out about her is these pearls of...uh...whatever:

• She's pro-life
• She opposes gay marriage, and not exactly a friend of gay rights (she reluctantly signed a law that extended benefits to same sex couples).
• She's a member of the Assemblies of God, the world's largest Pentecostal protestant faith.
• She was mayor of Wasilla, Alaska from 1996 to 2002

So, apparently that fucking Karl Rove DID get to Joe Lieberman- then again, who knows? Perhaps, Lieberman- like ex-Pennsylvania and Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge- is too liberal. I don't know, baby.

I do know one thing, though. I don't like the bitch.

Now considering that Johnnie boy turns 72 today, the question is whether he can survive any more cancer scares- he had numerous skin cancers. And he suffers from Post-dramatic Stress Disorder. Yeah, a wonderful president he'll turn out to be. Now, if McCain dies, bitch goddess becomes the first woman president.

Wouldn't it been much better if McCain tapped Hillary Clinton instead?

Come to think of it, I don't like John McCain, either. After all, he calls himself a 'maverick', but that bitch- yeah, 'bitch' as in John Sidney McCain III- caved in to the intolerant evangelicals, and obviously, he caved in to that fat blubber with the misnamed middle name Christian.

I don't like Karl Rove, either. Neither does Jenny Craig(R) obviously.

(C)MMVIII, by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.

Lesbian Activist Del Martin dead at 87

In 1955, eight women founded a club called the daughters of Bilitis. They named this after a book of lesbian erotic poetry published in Paris. Now you have to remember that San francisco- although a bit toleratant of gays and lesbians- didn't exactly welcomre them with open arms back then. But anyway, among the eight women who founded the club were Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon. The two fell in love, and over the next 55 years, they would be partners- both professionally and romantically- in the fight for equality for gays and lesbians globally.

Today, I share in the heartbreak that Phyllis is going through as her wife of less than three months- but lifelong partner of 55 years- passed away today at 87.

Martin became the first lesbian to serve on the board of directors of the National Organiztion for Women, and along with Lyon, published a book, Lesbian/Woman, which argued that lesbians should be more visible, and seen for more than sexuality. She also wrote an article for The Advocate, criticizing the gay rights movement as being more male-centered.

Associated Press/YouTube

A link to the KRON 4 is available by just clicking on the title.

(C)MMVIII, by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.

Hillary Supports Obama (But, Words Mean Nothing...)

PoliticsTV/YouTube

Inspiring, isn't it? Hillary Clinton rallying the troops to vote for Barack Obama for President. But I can't help but wonder if she was really simmering inside and wishing that John McCain would beat the stuffing out of the sophomore senator out of Illinois (or is it 'junior' senator?). After all, Barack didn't choose her for running mate, and her supporters- at least some of them- were so goddamned pissed off that they jumped ship to that misogynist John McCain's side (okay, maybe ol' Johnny's not a wife beater, but he sure does have a temper, doesn't he?).

I talked with a few friends today, and we speculated that perhaps Hillary could mount her own campaign for President as an independent. Hey, it could happen, I guess, and if such a scenario were to happen, then this race could really get interesting. A Clinton-McCain-Obama race (you can pretty much write off that ol' fussbudget Ralph Nader) could throw things in a tailspin.

Either way you want to looks at this, this will be one close election. Yes, in a small way, this is about race- a black man against a white one. We shouldn't even be worrying about skin color in 2008, but unfortunately we are (this race conversation is another animal for another day), but largely, it's about what direction what we want this country to go for at least the next four years.


(C)MMVIII, by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.

Tropical Storm Gustav Could Pose Major Threat to New Orleans

Almost three years after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, another hurricane may pose a major threat. The computer models from the website Wunderground- which you can go to by clicking on the title- say that Gustav could be a Category 3 storm by Sunday. And it could strike anywhere- the Texas coast, around Galveston or even Houston.

Or New Orleans may be under the gun once again.

Remember three years ago, Hurricane Katrina struck Miami as a Category 1 storm. Then it hit the warm waters of the Gulf, and we know what happened next. This could be deja vu once again for the Big Easy, and the levees that have been since rebuilt may be put under a very strenuous test if Gustav strikes.

You can also track this storm by scrolling down to The Weather Channel radar widget below, where you can keep an eye on storms that strike anywhere in the country.

(C)MMVIII, by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.

Obama-Biden. Yeah, I Like That

CBS

Saturday, Illinois senator Barack Obama had chosen the senator from Delaware, Joe Biden for his running mate. Biden is a no-holds barred type of guy, who speaks from the hip, and- not surprisingly- a major thorn in the republicans ass. He has foreign policy experience- something Obama lacks a bit, so the Biden pairing will definitely help Obama on foreign relations.

A brief bio on Mr. Biden. Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr. was born November 20, 1942 in Scranton, PA. He became a senator in 1973, and served on several committees- including his current chairmanship in the Foreign Relations Committee. He ran for president in 1998 and this year. He has been married twice- his first wife Neilia and his infant daughter Naomi died in a car accident in 1972. In 1988, he suffered a brain aneurysm. He's currently married to the former Jill Tracy Jacobs, and has one daughter, Ashley (he has two other children- Beau and Hunter from Neilia). By trade, he is an attorney.

He dropped out of this year's Democratic presidential campaign when he received 1% of Iowa's delegates.

Today is the start of the Democratic National Convention, at the Pepsi Center in Denver. Michelle Obama- the presumptive first lady- will deliver a speech tonight. Also today, a video tributes to Massachusetts senator Edward Kennedy and President Jimmy Carter. Tuesday night, New York senator and former first lady Hillary Clinton will deliver the prime time address. Joe Biden will accept the vice presidential nomination Wednesday night.

Thursday night, at Invesco field nearby (under the stars- skies are forecast to be clear). 76,000 lucky audience members will be among history in the making, as Barack Obama accepts his nomination for the office of President of the United States. No doubt, this will be a momentous occasion. One of high energy, and passion. As only the Obama-Biden ticket can deliver. So, I'll definitely be watching Thursday night.

Clinton Supporters, GET OVER IT!: But a few people plan to spoil the party. and even though they're not getting help from the Republicans- who hold their convention next week- they are helping the Republicans salivate, albeit indirectly. It appears that since Obama didn't pick New York senator Hillary Clinton for a running mate- let alone Hil becoming the nominee herself- they're not very happy having him take center stage. So unhappy, some intend to vote for the Republican presumptive nominee, John McCain (even though McCain is too busy sleeping with those intolerant evangelicals who want government to ban reproductive and gay rights...Darren sighs and shakes his head...).

Guys and gals, get over it. Obama's the man...that is, unless you want a third Bush administration. And that's what we'll get if John McCain becomes our 44th Chief Executive.

(C)MMVIII, by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.

Just a Little Fine Tweaking Here

As you can see, I've added a few new widgets to this page- after all, I'm a sports fan; weather freak (well, sort of), and news nut as well.

Then again, who isn't?

The pages look a bit cluttered, I'll admit that I'm probably getting carried away here- at least for the moment. But my aim here is to make
Notes From the Hardcore Edge more user- and reader- friendly. More informative with information on the go when you con't have time to read what's on my mind- or what I think of politics, etc.

So give it a little time, as I reconstruct the blog a little. At least, I'm still open.

(C)MMVIII, by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.

Hello, Olympic Fans...This is CNN

Given that a lot of you are watching the 2008 Beijing Olympics (or
The Summer Games of the XXIX Olympiad- take your choice), I've decided to add the Olympic tracker- courtesy of our friends at NBC Sports and NBCOlympics.com- so we can all find out how our USA team is doing.

Now, you can see how many gold medals Michael Phelps gets while reading this scrawl I write.

While I'm on this Olympic tear, you think that chubby seven year old girl who really sang will get her chance in the sun? China, stop being so damn image conscious. Get your act together on the human rights and air pollution control fronts, and perhaps we'll let you keep your status as 'most favored nation'.

Or is it the Chinese intention to turn Chinese into the official language of the United States, given that China owns about 80% of our country? Just asking...

And one more thing...why in the hell did Sweden's Ara Abrahamian throw this hissy fit? All because he got bronze instead of gold...

3nstr0m/YouTube

Dude, you're fucking lucky that you even got the damn medal in the first place. And we thought China was dealing with image and national pride issues.

National supremacy. Isn't it great?

This is CNN...Okay, that was a bad James Earl Jones impersonation. Anyway, below the NBC Olympic count chart is a widget from CNN.com. Just click on the headline you want, and go directly to it.

Just another way NFTHE- and the other blogs of your humble correspondent- is making your reading (and viewing) experience better. All without leaving this page.

(C)MMVIII, by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.

Bernie Mac and Issac Hayes- Kings of their Domains

Over the weekend, we lost two icons who were pretty much master of their games.

Saturday, Bernard Jeffrey McCullough- better known as Bernie Mac- died from complications from Pneumonia. For years, he battled a lung disease known as sarcoidosis, which produces tiny lumps of cells in the body's organs.

Mac had an illustrious comedy and acting career, starting with stand up at Chicago's Cotton Pickin' Club. Later he had a short-lived talk show, Midnight Mac, on HBO in the late 1990s. His film career began with 1992's Mo Money, starring Damon wayans. Over the years, he starred in other films, such as
Don't Be a Menace in South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood; Booty Call (which starred Academy Award winner Jamie Foxx); and Bad Santa, opposite Billy Bob Thornton and Lauren Graham

Miramax/YouTube

Paramount Pictures/YouTube

In 2001, Mac enjoyed five seasons as a harried uncle on the epoynmous named The Bernie Mac Show.

Fox/YouTube.

Click here for WMC-TV 5's coverage of Issac Hayes' passing:
http://www.wmctv.com/global/video/popup/pop_playerLaunch.asp?vt1=v&clipFormat=flv&clipId1=2786723&at1=News&h1=Isaac%20Hayes%20dies%20(08-10-08)

If there was ever a name that was synomonous with soul music, it's Issac Hayes. If anything, he virtually invented the Memphis soul music scene


ABC/YouTube

He was one of the one of the founding members of Memphis-based recording giant Stax, starting as a session player and composer- with David Porter, creating hits like Soul Man; Hold On, I'm Coming, both hits for Sam and Dave. In 1967, he released his own singing debut album, Presenting Issac Hayes. Two years later, Hot Buttered Soul came out. But the latter was released amid upheaval at Stax- Otis Redding, the biggest star at Stax, was killed in December 1967; and it lost its' back catalog to rival Atlantic records. On Hot Buttered Soul, he did a remake of the Burt Bacharach song, Walk On By- made immortal by one of Bacharach's proteges, Dionne Warwick some five years earlier. In 1970, he released two more albums-
The Issac Hayes Movement and To Be Continued.

However, in 1971, Hayes hit his stride by composing one of the greatest R&B anthems of all time This hit was part of a soundtrack of one of the top films of that year


MGM-Sony Pictures/Stax Records/YouTube

The theme from Shaft spent two weeks at number one in November 1971, and earned Hayes an Academy-Award for Best Original Song (he was nominated for Best Original score as well); a Golden Globe for best Original score (The Shaft theme was nominated); and Grammys for Best Instrumental Arrangement (with Johnny Allen, for the Shaft theme); and Best Original Motion Picture Score. In 1973, he released a double album, Live at Sahara Tahoe, followed by Joy, where he moved away from doing covers.

In 1974, when Stax was in financial dire straits, Hayes created Hot Buttered Sould Records, which released albums through ABC (yes, that ABC!) Records. He embraced the disco sound with 1975's Chocolate Chip.

In addition to his musical career- which lasted up to his passing Sunday- he also had a film and TV career. Notable film roles include his role as Hammer in the blaxploitation spoof
I'm Gonna Git You Sucka (kind of a valentine, if you will, of the sub-genre written, produced, and directed by Keenen Ivory Wayans). On TV, a recurring role in NBC's The Rockford Files, as ex-con Gandolph Finch (he would call Jim Garner's Rockford character "Rockfish"), and from 1997 to 2006, he was the animated overweight chef- appropriately named 'Chef' in Comedy Central's South Park.

Comedy Central/YouTube


Hayes quit the show after it made fun of his religion Church of Scientology. The producers- Trey Parker and Matt Stone- gave Chef a going away present- by having him eaten by wolves.


Comedy Central/NBC/YouTube

Sunday, Hayes' fourth wife found him near a running treadmill at his home eadst of Memphis. He was taken to Baptist Memorial Hoapital, where he was pronounced dead. Though the cause of death was not known, a stroke he suffered two years ago may have been a factor. At the time of his death, he was working on Soul Men, co-starring Samuel L. Jackson, and the late Bernie Mac, who predeceased Hayes the day before.

Hayes was 65. Mac was only 50.

(C)MMVIII, by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.

John Edwards- Slimeball.

YouTube

I hope you're hearing this, Johnny Reid Edwards!

If you're a Democrat- like this blogger- your blood is boiling over the admission by former North Carolina senator John Edwards of his affair with a novice filmmaker Rielle Hunter, 44. What's pretty goddamned fucked up over this is the fact that one, he porked this girl as his poor wife Elizabeth was- and probably still is- suffering from breast cancer, and two, as he was campaigning for President.

Never mind that the first source of news that picked this up was some Florida-based tabloid rag called The National Enquirer, but kids, it's still a mighty blow to us Democrats. After all, we're still reeling a bit from the Eliot Spitzer tryst with some call girl.

Sure it's small comfort that he's not going to be occupying the Oval Office, but still, the shit hurts bad, America. The point I'm making here is that his full attention should have been on Liz- and for that matter, his presidential campaign. But instead, he fucks his documentary filmmaker, and now there's a baby involved.

And Edwards DENIES that he's the baby daddy. What gives, Johnny Reid?

As you watch this Michael Jackson video, substitute 'Rielle' for 'Billie Jean'


SonyEh1/YouTube

There are times when I just love that Michael- especially when he comes in handy for news like this.

All respect I had for Mr. Edwards has obviously went out the door.

(C)MMVIII, by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.

Detroit Mayor Jailed on Bond Violations.

Detroit, Michigan Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick was jailed this morning on bond violations. This stems from a trip he took to Canada in July.

Kilpatrick took a trip to Canada on July 23 without notifying 36th District court judge Ronald Giles. One of the conditions of Kilpatrick's bond was to notify the court of his travel plans.

It's not known how long Kilpatrick will be in the Wayne County jail.

Click on the title for the news conference on WXYZ-TV.

Click here to http://clickondetroit.com/download/2008/0324/15693314.pdf for the list of charges Kilpatrick and his chief of staff Christine Beatty face. In short, both Kilpatrick and Beatty face perjury charges on allegations that the two have carried on an extramarital affair.

(C)MMVIII by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.

Paris Hilton for President!

Remember days ago, our old friend John Sidney McCain III, did an ad touting the celebrity status of some Illinois-based US senator- one who is running against him for the office of President of the United States? I'll refresh your memory:

JohnMcCain.com/YouTube

Then Jon Stewart of Comedy's Central's The Daily Show with Jon Stewart made light of the fact that one of the family of one of the women shown in thew McCain ad made contributions to- GASP!- THE McCAIN CAMPAIGN!

(That howling you hear is me in hysterical laughter at the hypocrisy of one John Sidney McCain III...).

So, one of the hotties decided to have a little fun with this. Just watch:

See more Paris Hilton videos at Funny or Die

So, how about it? Paris Whitney Hilton. She's young, hot, sexy, and probably smarter than the jackal her parents are supporting. Perhaps she'll stop the war- just show up in a swimsuit (or even better, in the buff...). There would be peace on earth- albeit with a few car crashes and episodes of party crashing while severely inebriated. And, politics will definitely never, never, ever be the same again.

Even if she's eight years under the minimum age to qualify for the presidency, at least she is an American-born citizen, right?

Paris Whitney Hilton for President!

(C)MMVIII by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.

This is Definitely Not a Good Day for Entertainment

Usually, I place news like this in the sister blog The Trash Bash, but what I've read this morning have me more depressed than the allergies I seem to be suffering from.

Let's see...Morgan Freeman gets hurt in a car crash; Christina Applegate has breast cancer; Bernie Mac has pneumonia (been there, done that. He'll recover); and the longtime voice of the Atlanta Braves has croaked.

I may as well go to the skull farm news first. Skip Caray, the longtime voice of the Atlanta Braves- and son of the late legendary Chicago Cubs announcer Harry Caray, died Sunday night at home in Atlanta. For over 40 years, Caray has announced for sports teams, beginning with jobs in St. Louis. He was an announcer alongside his father at University of Missouri games. Later, he was announcer for the St. Louis Hawks of the NBA, following the team to Atlanta in 1968. He joined the Braves broadcasting team in 1976, when it was broadcast on WTCG-TV 17 (now WTBS-TV 17, also known as the national cable network, TBS, which no longer airs Braves games). Caray was known for his sarcastic wit that endeared him to audiences over the past 32 years. Health problemns forced Caray to air only home games this season.

Caray was 68.

Christina Applegate, 36, has breast cancer. According to her rep, the Samantha Who? actress has an early stage of the disease, and is not life threatening.

Morgan Freeman, the Oscar-winning actor, was injured last night as he was driving home. Drugs and alcohol do not appear to be the case of this accident, but instead appears to be mechanical. According to a source, Freeman suffered a broken left elbow, and an injured neck and shoulder. Otherwise, he's reportedly in good spirits.

TVGuide/YouTube

(C)MMVIII, by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.

Obama is a Hollywood Diva? Oh, Mr. McCain, How About those Hiltons?

You've seen the ads on TV:
ITN/YouTube

Glad you do approve, John. After all, Obama's a media darling, and McCain...well...

If anyone had watched last night's edition of Comedy Central's
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, you may have learned a bit something-something about the Vietnam veteran who wants to be the 44th President. Watch the video below, then come back...go on. Do it. (I'll wait).



Special thanks to Comedy Central for that clip.

Welcome back.

It seems that our ol' buddy John Sidney McCain III- the Republican US senator out of the great state of Arizona- is being a bit hypocritical of his Hollywood connections.
Can he explain the $4600 he got from the Hilton family- yes, the family that owns the upscale hotel chain, and whose heiress may or may not be a out-of-control party girl who has a singing voice that's overdosed on helium?

So, let me ask, Johnny boy, about your being let in to Hollywood's hottest clubs with...um, Paris? Obviously, it's been many a night in Paris, right? Does Cindy know about this?

Okay, that above statement obviously isn't true (at least, as far as the general public knows...but hey, that could be the 'October surprise'. I can see the headline now: MCCAIN AND PARIS IN HOT TRYST: HILTON FAMILY PAYS MCCAIN TO SHUT UP...), but I couldn't help but to have fun with this little tidbit.

And ABC News says that more people get their news from them (than any other source). They, I'm deathly afraid, forgot about The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. O vey.

(C)MMVIII by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.