On the Shelf: Divided & United: The Songs of the Civil War

Divided and United is an ambitious two-disc project helmed by Randal Poster, the music supervisor of Boardwalk Empire and Rushmore.

It is a collection of Civil war-era songs (both sides) as performed by a collection of bluegrass, traditional country, and Americana stars.

Clearly, the aim is to make a "OBrother Where Art Thou" or Will the circle be Unbroken.

The artist roster is well done- Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, Del McCoury, Ricky Skaggs, Lee Ann Womack, Ralph Stanley, Old Crow medicine Show, Vince Gill, Steve Earle, John Doe, Chris Thile (Nickel Creek), Pokey LaFarge, Jorma Kauoken (Hot Tuna/Jefferson Airplane), Joe Henry, Taj Mahal, Chris Hillman, and Cowboy Jack Clement.

Artists have gotten some mileage from Civil War-themed songs, but this project promises the real deal. there are some revelations- "Aura Lee" is the basis for "Love Me Tender" and "Just before the Battle, Mother" is clearly the source for Woody Guthrie's "Hobo Lullaby".

There is an obvious omission. Classic country stars and the hottest new folk country acts.

What? No Civil Wars?!?!?

Seriously, though as some have pointed out. It's a very white compilation that largely leaves out the era's spirituals.

It's also a pretty sad compilation in that it seems to focus on ballads more than marches or uptempo songs.

These are the biggest complaints in that it generally works, but it gets very same-y after awhile.

Steve Earle has done a lot with Civil war imagery and his duet with Dirk Powell is a highlight.

"" (Watch on YouTube)

"" (Watch on YouTube)

2016 Election Starts Now: Every day is election day

If you have been here awhile, you know that I like to talk electioneering.

It's on, as you know, for 2016. 

The GOP is already polling its members and they have a list of 32 candidates they think are most likely to run.

It's less a revelation than solid proof you can get up to 32 pretty quick just based on observations from the last couple of election cycles.  they don't need to even get to Donald Trump or Ted Nugent to get to number 32.

Sure, Peter King has kinda said he's definitely running, but here's a list of people who are actually running in 2016.

Why are they running now?  Clearly because they have a way to go to get noticed.

Kip Lee-  Lee will work with the Ashtar Command, an extraterrestrial “benevolent group of cosmic friendship.”  We talk a lot about international relations, so it's nice to see someone who works on interstellar relations.  His ideal running mate is John Stossel.  Kip says the spaceship will land on January 20, 2017.  he is a libertarian against all federal institutions, and this includes banks and prisons.

Doug Schreffer- Schreffer has room for Hillary as his Veep choice, because he's friends with Bill.  He knows Bill because he's former CIA and used the codename of “Strong Ramrod.” (Hey now!)  Politico took his advice to validate his secret identity but came up short.

Terry Jones- You may already know Jones who ran in 2012 as the "Burn a Koran" dude.

Robby Wells- A Democrat who was football coach at Savannah State University.  He's run for the Reform Party and Constitution Party nominations, and calls his plan "Eaglenomics" because "you need two wings to fly".  Robbie was fired as coach and sued for racial discrimination (Wells is white.  SSU is traditionally black), though it should be noted his record was 7-15.

Phil Bralich- An Occupy! Democrat who claims to be "more liberal than Chomsky, but less liberal than Christ".  Nice.  His wild card veep choice is Ann Coulter.

Patrick Drake- Told  Politico he wouldn’t do a telephone interview with them because “I’m not as eloquent a speaker as President Obama.”  Not going to hear much about him, huh?

Temperance Lance-Council - Running on the Anti-Hypocrisy Party ticket

Michael Kinlaw- a 40 year-old former mortgage company executive single guy who promises a First Girlfriend in the White House.

Timothy Kalemkarian-  the ever optimistic Kalemkarian has run every election since 1996

Yinka Abosede Adeshina- the first person to file with the FEC for the 2016 election, which she did in September of 2010.

President Princess Khadijah Jacob-Fambro- Well, certainly, she has the name for it.  She has released a statement that says she's an alien and is asking another alien, in this case Lil Wayne to marry her and become co-President.  Mr and Mrs Weezy '16.
 

David Christopher Holcomb - the Pro-Life conservative Democrat from Nebraska.  His website also says he will be the next chairman of Berkshire Hathaway.  His isues appear to be pardoning Edward Snowden, legalizing pot, and raising minimum wage to $17.  Holcomb claims his identity was stolen and is out to stop anyone who is claiming to be him through social media.  So there's that. He also shares Terry Jones' s thoughts on Islam and wants to nuke Iran.

Jeff Boss- I remember Boss, the 2012 candidate who runs for every election in New Jersey and claims he was there when the US government planned 9/11.  I made a joke four years ago about him posting a sign that says the government is out to kill him and then naming his office address and hours.  seems like they could just go kill him.  They haven't killed him yet, and no surprise, he is running.  Boss got 639 votes in 2008 as the "Vote Here" candidate (i wish I had thought of that) and 1024 votes in 2012 as the "NSA did 9/11" candidate.

Jack Fellure - The 82-year old Fellure always appears on these lists, as he is the perennial candidate for the Prohibition Party.  he got 518 votes in 2012, appearing on the ballot in Louisana.

Samm Tittle- This Conservative claims that no one has ever been President and done what they said they were going to (Suck on that, Lincoln!).  She got over 2000 votes in 2012 and her issues appear to be stopping welfare and Sharia law.

Vermin Supreme- Another perennial, but just to cover him as he campaigns through Montana.  he advocates an airstrike on Narnia, mandatory tooth brushing, investment in time travel, zombie preparedness, and free ponies for all.  You know, that's a better platform than some candidates i have voted for.

Josue Larose- A Colbert alumni, who is charged with breaking 2052 election laws (There are 2052 election laws?  Big government!), has formed 40 political parties (doubling the number of parties in Florida) and literally dozens of PACs like the "Billionaire Josue Larose Dating Women Committee" (the single guy up above could learn a lot from LaRue).  By-laws for the Parties that Larose created (in case you wanted to join one)include providing Larose around-the-clock bodyguards and Larose travelling in a limo at all times.

So, the extra couple of years running certainly won't hurt these hopefuls.

Of course, I didn't do this all on my own, I got most of my content from the links below.


http://www.politico.com/story/2013/11/2016-election-fringe-hopefuls-100473.html

http://blog.lib.umn.edu/cspg/smartpolitics/2013/02/19_candidates_definitely_runni.php

http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/2013/06/update-2016-presidential-candidates-who-have-filed-with-the-fec/