All-American Manliness: Tennessee

Today I get to focus on the state that served as my “home” this past summer:  Tennessee.  My “man” of the day, Johnny Cash,  wasn’t born in Tennessee, but he called it home for many, many years.  He and his wife, June Carter, are legends not only for their music, but also for their storied relationship.

I remember as a child watching various variety entertainment shows that had Johnny and June as guests and being totally taken in by her charm and how he was just turned to putty and was amused by her.  Whenever I saw him on television by himself, I used feel slightly intimidated, he seemed so stern and intense.  However, those times I did see them together, I could see him soften up a bit.  As an adult, I can totally appreciate what as a child I just couldn’t understand about them (over my head).

Everytime I watch this video, I get a bit choked up.  That thing between them that I didn’t understand as a child is present.  Also present is a man who had experienced a lot of hurt and struggles at various times in his life, but he learned to look to God and just kept plugging through.

Life isn’t perfect, we aren’t perfect, and nothing will ever be perfect.  Cash learned to accept that and kept God and his wife close to his heart. I think that is reflected in this song originally done by Nine Inch Nails.

“Hurt”–Johnny Cash

Halloweenie!

So you all don’t OD on candy, HERE IS a musical treat perfect for the day, and below is a cartoon treat with Bugs  Bunny.  🙂

Caption Contest

Provide a fun and entertaining caption for this picture.  I will post winners Tuesday evening.  Have a great weekend, everyone!  🙂

THE WINNERS!!!!!
4.  Rodney Dill: “Sold to the man with the nose on his face.”

3.  Deathlok: The Stock Market rose sharply today as Democrats began buying voters as the election approached.

2.  Woody: “I want all those in favor of McCain to go on this side of the room, and all those in fovr of Obama to go on the other side. Then we play Bear Market dodgeball!”

The winner of this week’s contest is…
1.  Wyatt Earp: “My name is Bob, and I just stuck some pork bellies in my pants!”
Other Caption Contests: (**Please note that most of the links will take you to the front page of the blog, not directly to the contest, since not all of them were up at the time of this posting.  Links will be changed later in the day to reflect the contests.)

Cowboy Blob

Family Security Matters

Gone Rick Motel

Is this life?

Right Pundits

Rodney Dill

WILLisms

Wizbang

Wyatt

All-American Manliness: South Dakota

Today, I have to honor a man among men…a true man of the people:  Tom Daschle

HA!  What?  Did y’all think I hit my head celebrating the Phillies’ win?

South Dakota has nuthin’.

Been thinking a lot about the fall of 1980…

President Ronald Reagan:  January 1981

Part 1:

Part 2:

Part 3:

WE ARE THE FRICKIN’ CHAMPIONS!!!!!!!!!!

YAY!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YAY!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YAY!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YAY!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YAY!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YAY!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YAY!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YAY!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YAY!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WORLD SERIES CHAMPS!!!!!!  FINALLY.
THE CURSE IS NO MORE!!!!!!

YAY!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YAY!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YAY!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YAY!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YAY!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YAY!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YAY!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YAY!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YAY!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YAY!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I’M WATCHING IT AND I STILL DON’T BELIEVE IT!

Whatever I want Wednesday: Two words…

Go Phillies!!!!!!!!!

“The Distance”–Cake

Headlines!!!!!!!!

1.  FBI: Photos Show Massachusetts Lawmaker Stuffing Bribes in Bra

Well, her ass is probably full of lobbyists.

2.  Muslim Cleric Faces Possible Criminal Charges for Marrying 12-Year-Old Contest Winner

Guess who the lucky winner is on “Who wants to marry a mullah!?!?!?”  This reminds me of an Everybody Loves Raymond episode.  (Be patient…you’ll know it when you hear it.)

3.  Purple foods can lower blood pressure, help fight cancer

Does grape Hubba Bubba count?

4.  81-year-old finds love online

Someday my prince will come…he’ll be carrying oxygen and forced to use a walker, but he will be there…maybe.

5.  Sydney pub row erupts after faeces found in icecream

Death by chocolate?

Wanna vote? No address? No problem.

Ohio voter registration dude:  Hey, would you like to vote?
Homeless dude:  Yeah, man, but I don’t have an address, being that I’m homeless.
Voter dude:  That doesn’t matter, you can still register.
Homeless dude:  But, I don’t have an address.
Voter dude:  Like I said, it doesn’t matter.
Homeless dude:  How can you tell that I don’t register more than once if I don’t use an address?
Voter dude:  Hey, we register dead people and folks that don’t exist.  What does an address matter?
Homeless dude:  Oh, okay, then.
Voter dude:  So, should we list your address as the oak tree next to bench number five, in the park on the corner across from the dumpster, next to the pizzeria?
Homeless dude:  Well, it is closer to the Thai restaurant.
Voter dude:  Okay, I’ll note that information.

I’m moving to Ohio so that I can vote about 100 times.  Sound good?  Anyone with me?

I’m not against homeless people having the right to vote; however, if an address and identification cannot be substantiated for a person, that person should not be allowed to vote.

(H/T:  Columbus Dispatch)

All-American Manliness: Rhode Island & South Carolina

I’m slightly behind in

posting about the manliness to be found in the U.S.  So, today, I’m doing a double post for Rhode Island and South Carolina.  It is fitting, really.  Both men that I have highlighted have pursued their passions, taking risks to have their careers.

Rhode Island’s native son, Bryan Berard is a star from the NHL.  I’m not just picking him because he is a hockey player, though.

Eight years ago, Berard was hit in the eye with a puck, injuring his eye so severely that he had to take an insurance settlement and leave the game.  Imagine having a passion about something and being able to make a living at it, then being told that you can no longer engage in that activity.  Heartbreaking.  Berard, after taking the settlement, decided to try his best to make a comeback.  He did.  Berard returned the settlement and laced up his skates again.

That, in my opinion, is an example of the grit of a real man.  He could have taken the multi-million dollar check to retire, but he pursued his passion instead.

Speaking of a willingness to take a risk based on a passion, Darius Rucker of Hootie and the Blowfish took quite a risk and has recently released a country CD.  On my first trip to the Opry this summer, I had the pleasure of watching him perform.  I was not a fan of all things Hootie, but I really walked away impressed with Rucker.

One of the things that America is known for is the opporunity to reinvent ourselves.  I think Rucker is doing that a bit.  Taking risks and being able to get up in front thousands of people to do it, make Rucker my South Carolina man of the day.  (This song is awesome.  I teared up listening to it live.  He was really good.)

“Don’t Think I Don’t Think about It”–Darius Rucker