Mr. Grimsley,  You just may have my vote so I can see what silly ad you will come up with next…  Call it the entertainment factor.

[sniplet grimsley]

[sniplet TvSpotMitch]

If you enjoyed his video consider donating $5 or more to Mitchell Howie’s Grass Roots Campaign.

All American Clothing is a company dedicated to providing the highest quality clothing for the discriminating worker and casual wearer, ME. Up until recently they carried my preferred brand of work pants the Carhartt work dungarees.  You can still purchase them of the discount rack for 50% off.  Which is where I found UnionLine carpenter jeans which I will be using to replace my Carhartt jeans as they will eventually wear out.  Carhartt has decided to discontinue their Made in USA line for their imported lines.  Though they are not closing the North American Plants they are taking away the ability from the distributors to only order Made in USA Carhartt.  In turn they will be alienating retailers like All American Clothing and in turn taking my business else wear.

If you ask me send a message to Carhartt by not buying from them until they bring back the Made in USA line.

ATTENTION Coupon Shoppers:

For all union Brothers and Sisters you a 10% discount during checkout by using coupon code UNIONPLUS.

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What do you think of First Lady Obama’s sporty new shoes?

Michelle Obama was caught sporting her new pair of casual tennis shoes with a hefty price tag of $540.  I have never heard of the French Fashion company Lanvin – but can tell you $540 for a pair of dog walking shoes is expensive.

My New Balance 574′s usually do the trick for comfort and reliability.  But if you really want a pair of shoes like First Lady Michelle Obama you can for a nice price tag.

Check out the NY Daily News article below or live on their site, here.

First Lady Michelle Obama steps out in Lanvin sneakers and they’re only $540!

BY Amy Diluna
DAILY NEWS FASHION EDITOR

Friday, May 1st 2009, 3:22 PM
They’re in poor taste. That’s way too much to spend on sneakers, especially in a recession.

Michelle Obama has taken casual to a haute new level.

While volunteering Wednesday at a D.C. food bank, the First Lady sported her usual J.Crew cardigan, a pair of utilitarian capri pants and, on her feet, a sneaky splurge: trainers that go for $540.

That’s right: These sneakers – suede, with grosgrain ribbon laces and metallic pink toe caps – are made by French design house Lanvin, one of fashion’s hottest labels. They come in denim and satin versions, and have been a brisk seller all spring.

They’re out of stock at posh Meatpacking District boutique Jeffrey, and Barneys New York boasts a limited selection of the sneaks, which are a cult favorite among fashionistas.

It’s likely Michelle got hers through Ikram, the Chicago retailer that often outfits her.

“They’re shoes,” the First Lady’s reps sniffed when curious reporters inquired about the fancy footwear.

Michelle has stepped out in Lanvin before while getting down to business. A week ago, she shoveled dirt at a tree planting while wearing the line’s chiffon tank.

Dresses and strappy pumps cost upward of $1,500, while tops go for $400 to $1,000.

Other celebrity fans of Lanvin’s costly kicks include Ellen DeGeneres and Kanye West, who has blogged about his faves.

As the family’s primary dog walker, Michelle clearly requires comfortable footwear.

“I got up at 5:15 in the morning to walk my puppy,” she joked Thursday. “That’s how my day starts. Even though the kids are supposed to do a lot of the work, I’m still up at 5:15 a.m. taking my dog out.”

She’ll be trodding on New York’s sidewalks Tuesday for the first time as First Lady. Michelle will meet with staff at the U.S. mission to the United Nations. Later, she headlines Time magazine’s “100 most influential people” gala.

adiluna@nydailynews.com

With Kenneth R. Bazinet

[sniplet Billy-Bob-Thorton-interview]

Thorton’s Interview may be one of the most childish radio interactions I have ever heard.  Apparently Billy Bob no longer wants to be know as an actor and only a musician.

The CNN Story…

Billy Bob Thornton makes waves during music interview

By Alan Duke of CNN

(CNN) — Do not call Billy Bob Thornton an actor when you are interviewing him about his music.

Billy Bob Thornton’s interview on a Canadian radio show is garnering lots of attention.

A Canadian radio host learned that lesson when Thornton and his electric hillbilly band — the Boxmasters — visited his Toronto, Ontario, studio Wednesday morning.

When Jian Ghomeshi introduced the trio on his CBC show, he noted that its singer-songwriter-drummer was also an “Oscar-winning screenwriter-actor-director.”

Thornton’s publicist, Arnold Robinson, disputes suggestions that what followed was a breakdown by the actor — hmmm, musician.

He “simply elected not to engage with the interviewer because of the direction of the interview from the outset,” Robinson told CNN. Thornton took the reference to his movie career as an insult to his musical endeavor.

The radio interview, which also was recorded on video, may leave the audience wondering whether this was a controlled performance by Thornton or a public breakdown that revealed true anger over a perceived insult of his music.  Watch the interview with the actor-musician head south »

In their first exchange, Thornton stonewalled his questioner:

Ghomeshi: Billy Bob, you guys formed only in the last couple years, right?

Thornton: I don’t know what you’re talking about.

Ghomeshi: How so?

Thornton’s radio rant

Was Thornton’s radio rant real? Or was it just an act? “Showbiz Tonight” tackles the story.
Tonight, 11 ET & PT on HLN

Thornton: I don’t know what you mean by that.

Ghomeshi: When did the band form?

Thornton: I’m not sure what that means.

Guitarist J.D. Andrew briefly rescued Ghomeshi by confirming the group came together two years ago.

The Boxmasters are on tour opening for Willie Nelson, which prompted Ghomeshi’s next question directed at Thornton.

Ghomeshi: What do you learn from Willie Nelson, Billy Bob?

Thornton: I’ve never met him

Ghomeshi: (laughing) Are you being ironic, or are you being serious?

Thornton: I don’t really know him.

Ghomeshi: You’ve never met Willie Nelson?

Thornton: I said hello to him once. He’s a nice guy.

Thornton’s band mates talked about how their music was a mix of Southern hillbilly influences and the 1960s British rock invasion. Ghomeshi tried to draw Thornton into the conversation again.

Ghomeshi: And that was true for you, Billy Bob, growing up it was sort of a combo of Stones and Monkees and Buck Owens?

Thornton: I just liked baseball when I was a kid.

Ghomeshi: And you almost became a professional baseball player, right?

Thornton: I don’t know. Maybe.

Ghomeshi: But you didn’t love music when you were a kid?

Thornton: I subscribed to a magazine called Famous Monsters in Filmland, which the publisher was a guy named Forrest J. Ackerman, who passed away recently.

The interviewer then asked Thornton if he remembered what music he listened to as a kid, but he rambled on about a monster model contest the magazine sponsored. Thornton said he entered but did not win.

The tension came to a head when Ghomeshi asked Thornton if his bizarre answers were a reaction to his brief reference to his movie career.

Ghomeshi: You would prefer me to only do this interview not mentioning at all, just to clarify, at all that you’ve ever done anything in terms of acting, screenwriting.

Thornton: That’s correct.

Ghomeshi: Part of the attention that you are getting is because of the great career you’ve had in other ways. What I’m explaining is I’m not trying to be insulting to your musical. …

Thornton: What I’m explaining is that we said do not talk about s**t like that. And we also said that we didn’t want to hear anything about how this is my first love. You wouldn’t say that to Tom Petty, would you? “I understand music is your first love.” Well, my first love was a chick named Lisa Cone. You know what I mean?

The two men then declared a truce so they could finally talk about the music Thornton called “cosmic cowboy music.”

No matter how good of a singer and drummer Thornton may be, his ability to create memorable characters is remarkable, as evidenced by his Oscar-nominated role of Karl, the mentally impaired convict in “Sling Blade.”

We now have a new Billy Bob Thornton character — the musician who wants you to forget he was ever an actor.

According to the TV advertisements during SNL Starbucks will give the coffee away by appearing at Starbucks and stating that you voted.  It is almost as though they are buying your vote…  But if it motivates people to vote great.

Watch the Free Coffee Ad

[sniplet free-coffee]

Oliver Stone’s movie more or less portrayed George Bush’s life history bringing out some of the dark and happy days in his life.  Through out the movie alternated between a flashbacks of recent times and younger days of George W. Bush’s life.

I went into the movie expecting fireworks and slight, neither of which was present.  The movie was intended for viewers to draw their own conclusions.  The film certainly had its fair share of comedy and humor.  But, something it didn’t have was a true point.  The movie bordered on being a documentary.  For those people like myself that were expecting a Michael Moore style Fahrenheit 9/11 you will be disappointed and those looking for entertainment will also be disappointed.  If you have been conscious at any point in the last 8 years already know the story.

Would I go see the movie again?  No.  Do I consider it disappointing?  Yes.  Is it worth the price of the movie ticket price?  No.

Ultimately the movie was virtually a waste of time.  I have seen George W. Bush documentaries online that are more worthy of being in the theater.  The only reason this movie ever saw the silver screen is because of Oliver Stone.  Clearly this is no JFK Movie.  This movie probably will not make it to cable TV and with little chance of being a success.

What would have made this movie a success?  Easy, take a side and set off fireworks.  Choose either to highlight George W. Bush’s success or failures.  Spark fires and don’t play to the center.  The movie premier date was great for fireworks and success.  Just like tabloid magazine, “trash sells”.

Check out the Trailer for the movie:

[sniplet w-the-movie-trailer]

What do you think of the Movie?  Will you see it?  What do you think?

Are the fire hydrants in your neighborhood turned on?

ROCKWALL COUNTY – A North Texas homeowner wants you to learn from his family’s tragedy.

By CHRIS HAWES / WFAA-TV – Dallas, TX

The fire hydrants in his neighborhood are turned off.

But he didn’t know that until June 24th, the night his house caught fire.

“My grandfather died last year. My wife’s grandfather died last year. All our pictures were the biggest thing that we lost,” said Eric Aderholt.

It didn’t have to happen. When the fire began, firefighters from around Rockwall County responded quickly.

But when they went to hook hose to hydrant, there was no water.
WFAA-TV
Fire hydrants painted black may not function.

“No one ever told us that they were turned off,” said Aderholt.

Clay Hodges is the general manager of Cash Special Utility District.

He explains all the district’s hydrants, including those in Alexander Ranch, have had their water turned off since just after 9/11 – something a trade association spokesman tells us is common practice for rural systems.

“These hydrants need to be cut off in a way to prevent vandalism or any kind of terrorist activity, including something in the water lines,” Hodges said.

But Hodges says fire departments know, or should have known, the water valves can be turned back on with a tool.

“All our fire departments, at least the local ones, I know were notified of that.”

But, when firefighters came to the Aderholt’s home, no one had that tool.

By the time someone brought it, it was too late.

The neighborhood association’s now working to get the tools in the hands of homeowners, as an extra precaution.

Cash Water’s also sent out a letter letting fire departments know they’re welcome to use the hydrants, if there’s enough water pressure but reminding them they’ll have to turn on the water first.

“It was a tragic situation we don’t like to see that happen to anybody, especially one of our water customers,” said a company representative.

You may have noticed the fire hydrants along Aderholt’s street are black, not red.

In Texas, that legally warns firefighters they may not function – private companies such as Cash Water are not required to maintain enough water pressure to fight fires.

They maintain the hydrants are technically only there to help flush out and clean their systems.

I found this video at I’m Voting Republican.
From their website

MORE ABOUT THE MOVIE
The movie was written and directed by Charlie Steak and produced by SyntheticHuman Pictures. Everyone worked on the film for free. Contributions from individuals paid for most of the expenses.

You can learn more about SyntheticHuman Pictures by clicking on their logo in the top navigation. You can send SyntheticHuman Pictures a gift of one dollar (we’d love to pay the actors and crew) here

[*Button does not work please visit their website to make a donation]

Your gift is not tax-deductible; we’re not a charity. The money will go towards promoting this movie, paying for bandwidth, and getting this message out to as many people as possible.

As the political season heats up expect more politics from me. Though I will probably be biased towards making a better America I will post some humor from all angles. If you notice the title of post as “I’m Voting Republican” that is part of the joke. I have not yet made my decision who I am going to vote for. The media and the parties haven’t figured out who is going to be running for president! I have and still don’t know who to vote for. As the political campaigns ramp-up and more campaign jobs open up and me looking for jobs I might be on the campaign trail myself.

Campaign Organizers and Job Recruiters

So for all the campaign job recruiters out there looking for talent. Check out my interactive portfolio. As an expert in social media and web technologies I can really help your candidate online. Remember in 2004 the lines used by the broadcast media networks after political debates, “Broadcasting Live from the Blog Cafe”? How about really leveraging that coverage for gain everyday? Social Media has grown exponentially since 2004 and reaches more and more everyday.

Until next time this is Chris Estes on This and That

Living in the city has its perks but open space is great too. I found this picture by poking around a blog post about people being addicted to social media. Which you might find interesting too.  I am working up a post for my other blog about the same subject.  The content of my opinion is pretty simple it is finding relevant supporting information.  So stay keyed in on it and I gurantee some thought provoking info on people being addicted to the internet and their online personalty.