Recent startling discovery.

While working the desk at Six Mile Cypress Slough (our wetlands preserve) on a slow day, I decided to Google my old Band and see what turned up. To my amazement, up popped two videos from 1990 when we were regularly playing the Bix Beiderbecke Jazz Festival in Davenport, Iowa. They were shot by some unknown person at a Sunday gig that we played at the grave site of Bix Beiderbecke before 200 jazz fans. Apparently, he uploaded the videos recently. Bix became a legend as a young white innovator with his jazz cornet. He died at age 27 of alcohol addiction. The first video below is actually the second set we played. The video below that is our opening set.

BBMS PRESENTS BASIN ST SALOON. OAKDALE,CEMETARY,BIX'S GRAVE. 7/27/90

BBMS PRESENTS BASIN STREET SALOON BAND OF MILWAUKEE,WI AT BIX FEST 7/27/90

Sir Rob 'em Good at work.

...and happy landings!

Profile in Courage

Statesman at work!

CEO still at work

For Whom the Bells Tolls

Governor Scott keeps his promise, unfortunately!

Fool Obama once...

Slow Learner

Truth & Consequences

According to Defense Secretary Robert Gates, if gays in the military suddenly enjoyed the same constitutional rights as their heterosexual comrades, it would have “enromous consequences for out troops.” He’s got a point. One of the “consequences” would be 14,000 lingquists, tecnicians, pilots, riflemen and commanding officers would still be honorably serving their country, instead of pounding the pavement of civilian life.

Another “consequence” would be the survival of military combatants who otherwise might be dead were it not for the skill and bravery of their gay comrades who fought along side them in battle.

The final “consequence” would be dealing with homophobic career officers and enlisted personnel whose ignorance and bigotry facilitates contentious behavior in a unit.

That should be simple: Shape up or ship out!

Boehner, Dr. Quack!

Collateral damage isn't collateral!

In April WikiLeak exposed an Apache helicopter crew gunning down unarmed civilians, including two journalists, in Iraq. Included in the footage, shot from the Apache camera, can be seen on You Tube, we witnessed the murder of two men who drove up in a van to rescue a wounded civilian. The van which was riddled with bullets, also contained two children, who, fortunately were not killed.

We hear the Apache crew laughing and joking about “those dead bastards,” and chomping at the bit to kill the wounded, crawling civilian. When watching the children being taken from the van, one of the crew members remarks, “That’s what they get for bringing their kids.”

What we haven’t seen or heard in the intervening time is any news about the U.S. investigation or decision making as to the culpability of the Apache crew.

Now we hear via Associated Press that the Army has detained a 22 year-old Army Specialist in connection with the leak of the Video. Ah, yes, as standard procedure from Defense and State Departments, the messenger is the real culprit!! The State Department spokesman praddles about exposure of information classified as secret.


I have been a unit commander in Korea, with secret clearance, and am here to tell you a great deal of what the Army classifies as secret should be classified as Cover Our Asses. Meanwhile the culprit Army Specialist remains in confinement with no charges leveled against him. And meanwhile, the dead civilians rest under Iraq soil.

What is wrong with this picture?