Gas goes up; Bush goes down

Former Clinton aide Bruce Reed, blogging for Slate, makes some hay earlier this week about the latest polling data on President Bush. Reed writes, "George W. Bush still has 41 months to turn the rest of the country against him. In the past 41 months, he has cut his popularity by 40 points - from 80 percent to 40 percent. At that rate, he's on track to set a record for presidential approval that could never be broken: zero."

The latest Gallup Organization poll shows Bush's approval rating at 40 percent - a new low.

Gallup says, "Bush's August average rating is the lowest for any re-elected president since World War II at a similar point after their re-election, with the exception of Richard Nixon. Only 34% of Americans are satisfied with the way things are going in the United States today -- the lowest satisfaction rating since January 1996."

Meanwhile, according to Gallup's late June polling showed the president with a 53 percent disapproval rating. That's one point shy of favorite conservative bugbear Bill Clinton's all-time high disapproval rating of 54 percent in pre-Monica September 1994.

Don't count the president out just yet...he garnered his highest approval ratings in the immediate aftermath of 9/11. Now Hurricane Katrina offers him another disaster to lead the nation out of...I'm confident in my sarcasm that we'll see the president rise to the occasion again, perhaps this time calling for a global war on the weather.

Hitting Bottom [Slate]

When the levee breaks...

Much information on the Katrina aftermath. It's morbidly addictive viewing and the scenes just boggle the mind. From the AP: Governor: Everyone Must Leave New Orleans.

AP: Hospital conditions worsen

New Orleans TV station WWLT has a blog for storm updates.

"I just took what I need," a looter told the LA Times.

On one hand, I see the looting and get mad. It's abhorrent and illegal and uncivilized and just plain wrong. The "Worst of Human Nature," they call it on the Today Show.

On the other hand, were I there...I'd probably be sorely tempted. If I was hungry, hot, scared, frustrated... Most of these businesses will just write off all losses on insurance, I would imagine.

Just frustrating to see that behavior, but understandable...but that doesn't make it right.

This past June the JP family vacationed in the Gulf Shores/Orange Beach, Ala., area. We had a lot of fun - though that area was still cleaning up from 2004's Hurricane Ivan. Toured the USS Alabama Battleship in Mobile Bay. Found out yesterday the park suffered severe damage and is closed indefinitely.

Katrina's strength further sign of warming? Yes. No. Maybe.

The only thing sure in the ongoing debate over global warming is that most every weather phenomena will be seen by some as proof and others as nature as usual. Now there's disagreement over whether or not the devastating Hurricane Katrina was made more powerful because of climate changes caused by man.

"There's a clear signature of global warming in this," says one researcher in the Washington Post. "While it's not the dominant factor, in some things it becomes the straw that breaks the camel's back."

Not so fast, says another. The rise in hurricane numbers and severity is not due to warming..."Instead, the severity of hurricane seasons changes with cycles of temperatures of several decades in the Atlantic Ocean. The recent onslaught "is very much natural,"" says a researcher in the NY Times.

The Category 5 debate rages on... (pssst...I'm no scientist but I think it's naive to say that man has not had some impact on our climate, we just now have to see the extent - which may not fully be seen for many years to come.)

Shrinking La. Coastline Contributes To Flooding [Wash Post, reg. req.]
Storms Vary With Cycles, Experts Say [NY Times, reg. req.]
Brace For More Katrinas, Say Experts [Yahoo!]

Please Hammer...don't hurt 'em.

Took some time out from watching all the Hurricane Katrina coverage last night to catch some of the MTV Video Music Awards. First thing I saw was MC Hammer sashaying across the stage, singing "Can't Touch This."

Rubbing my eyes, I wondered if it was 1989 all over again. Am I still in college? Hope I'm not late for freshman comp.

But no, it was just MTV going all retro for a bit. Most of what we saw left us feeling old. Too much hip-hop, not enough rock. I know it's for the kids but at least one of my favorite bands, Green Day, collected seven awards including Video of the Year.

VMAs Go Green Day's Way [E! Online]

Jones makes the highlight reel

Former Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback Matt Jones is rapidly making a name for himself as he makes the transition to receiver for the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars. He was a human highlight film for the Hogs. Hogs partisans like myself will forever remember his 2 TD runs and TD pass in the epic, NCAA record 7OT victory over Ole Miss in 2001.

He's made some impressive catches in the preseason. He has commentators gushing over his skills and potential. Jags coaches have to be salivating over the mismatching possibilities of his speedy 6'6 frame lined up against much smaller cornerbacks or safeties.

He proved to be about the only highlight of last night's Jags 23-7 loss to the Falcons with a spectacular one-handed catch for 48 yards on a third down play.

Check out the video here.

Boy, I wish he were gonna be the Hogs QB or even a WR this year.

GnR: Get In The Ring

Axl: You coulda been a contenda... Your band could've been the next Rolling Stones. GnR wrote some of the greatest hard rock songs of all time. Appetite For Destruction is still a landmark in the annals of rock history. The Use Your Illusion double-album is excessive but often genius work.

But now it comes to this...

"Two former members of the rock band Guns N' Roses have sued frontman
Axl Rose for allegedly naming himself sole administrator of the group's copyrights ...

...Rose is 'suffering an apparent attack of arrogance and ego. He is no longer willing to acknowledge the contributions of his former partners and bandmates in having created some of rock's greatest hits,'" says Slash and Duff in the lawsuit."

Maybe you guys need to take a tip from your own song (which was coincidentally a profane rant against all your perceived enemies) and "Get In The Ring."

Axl Rose Sued By Former Bandmates [AP via Yahoo!]

Meet the New Sensation, Same as the Old Sensation

OK, so ratings may not be much of a "Kick" for CBS's Rock Star: INXS, but it has been a pleasant surprise for this INXS fan who found them through "Listen Like Thieves." Every episode has been DVR'd, watched, analyzed and enjoyed at JP World Headquarters.

As of last night, my three favorites - Mig, Marty and Jordis - are still in the running to be the next lead singer of INXS. Hopefully they won't follow the same path to self-destruction as Michael Hutchence.

Methinks Mig fits the band best, Marty could probably do it too and Jordis has the pipes but might not fit them as well as the other two. Then there's JD. Talented? Yes. Could he fit the band? Yes. Does he come across as an egotistical jerk? Yes. (Maybe that's what being a rock star is all about anyway, guess we'll have to watch and see.)

Talk about sticker shock!

This just in from Channel 11:

"Authorities are crediting a Conway man with saving a woman's life after her SUV ran into a lake and sank. ... A window in the SUV was broken and the woman appeared disoriented.

...the woman was worried because she'd just filled the SUV's gas tank, putting in $80 worth."

Woman Runs SUV Into Lake, Worried About Full Tank [KTHV]

Drama Kings

When TIME magazine recently ranked the "6 Best Dramas on TV Right Now" they really scratched me where I itch. Now my buddy LT has a soft spot for one on the list, Deadwood, but I ain't never seen the HBO Western, which apparently sets new creative highs for use of profanity.

But my current TV favorites include 3 on the list:
ABC's "Lost," which took a provocative plot, sprinkled in some interesting characters...piled on the plot twists and mysteries...and it's been one break-neck thrill ride ever since. I recommend booking your own flight on Oceanic Airlines. Don't get a seat in the back section, though.

Sci-Fi's "Battlestar Galactica" caught me completely off guard. I always had a soft spot for the campy Star Wars ripoff that lasted two short seasons on ABC in 1978. Sci Fi's remake...errr reimagining has Galactica "reborn as a dark, thrilling story of a deep-space war between humans and the Cylons, a race of robots created by mankind that can disguise themselves in human form. In an intriguing twist on the old series, the new Cylons have a religion and justify their genocide as punishment for humans' corruption. The humans must weigh fear vs. liberty and military vs. civilian authority. As a spacebound parable of the war on terrorism, this series hits eerily close to Earth." Amen! I can even forgive them for turning Starbuck into a hot chick.

Then there's the rapier-sharp wit of Dr. Gregory House on Fox's House. It's a step above the disease-of-the-week medical series...and not since those early seasons of ER has there been one this fun.

But I would be remiss if I didn't mention two favorites of mine that didn't make TIME's list:
...the F/X scalpel-sharp look at plastic surgery "Nip/Tuck" (cable-level profanity, nudity, clever writing and complex, engaging characters) and an old favorite that may have jumped the shark, "The West Wing" (although last season was much better...but I still don't think it has much longer).

For Those About To Rock...

Slate writer Brandon Stousuy cranks it up to 11 with a snapshot of the current world of heavy met-ul. I miss the GnRs and Van Halens...all the sleaziness and glam and lightning quick guitar solos from the late 80s and early 90s but there is still some righteous heaviness out there.

For my money, the best metal these days is System of a Down. ("Why do they always send the poor?")

Heavy Metal - It's alive and well [Slate]

Best of Jonworld, Vol. 1

Perhaps it is too soon to issue a retrospective of my "Bassic Instinct" post. But with Martika and Color Me Badd getting their due props...along with "legendary" artists Britney Spears, Hilary Duff and Backstreet Boys, maybe one day in the near future we can look back at the early innocent days of Jonworld.

'Best Of' Albums Not So Great These Days [AP via Yahoo!]

Bassic Instinct

Really getting into this iPod thing. To think I didn't really "get it" when they first came out.

Here's my latest playlist, "Bassic Instinct." It's a list of my favorite bass-driven songs. Having been a bass player for a band while in college, these are the bass performances that rock me.

I published the list to iTunes, but it didn't take all of the songs. So here's the list in all it's glory (buckle up, it's gonna be a long and thumpy ride):

1. Peace Sells - Megadeth - That bass riff grabs you by the throat and takes you on a ride through the sneering world of Dave Mustaine, courtesy of then bassist Dave Ellefson.
2. My Friend of Misery - Metallica - Jason Newsted delivers the goods with a dark, melodic riff that is machine-like in its efficiency.
3. Rio - Duran Duran - John Taylor is the coolest man in the universe, so it goes to figure that this champagne soaked bass line makes you feel like you're racing the waves on that sailboat in the legendary music video.
4. Soul To Squeeze - Red Hot Chili Peppers - Flea carries this song with a soulful, mournful tune.
5. Interstate Love Song - Stone Temple Pilots - This song bleeds melancholy. Don DeLeo drives this one on down the road.
6. Another One Bites the Dust - Queen - Classic. John Deacon's bass line is infectiously melodic and groovin'.
7. Jerry Was a Racecar Driver - Primus - Les Claypool is an insane bass genius. There's no other way to describe this manic bass performance and offbeat song.
8. Sweet Emotion - Aerosmith - Another rock classic, propelled by Tom Hamilton's bass line that gives Joe Perry and Brad Whitford meat to wrap their guitar blasts around.
9. Rock 'n Roll Junkie - Motley Crue - Nikki Sixx is a rock 'n roll cartoon with superhuman powers for cool bass riffs. A soundtrack for hedonism.
10. Yankee Rose - David Lee Roth - Bass god Billy Sheehan and guitar god Steve Vai are amazing on this cocky tune.
11. Hella Good - No Doubt - There is no doubt that Tony Kanal has quickly become a favorite of mine with thick grooves like this.
12. Stuart and the Avenue - Green Day - Mike Dirnt has so much cool punk bass stuff to choose from, but here's one that jumps out and gets you on your feet.
13. You Could Be Mine - Guns 'n Roses - Like all the others, Duff has a library of bass cred and choosing just one is hard. But the bass line in this one sends the whole song on its way to Paradise City.
14. Would? - Alice in Chains - A little grungy bass carries this dark heroin ode. Nice work, Mike Starr. You weren't with the band much longer and Mike Inez is bad ass, but this was nice.
15. Jet City Woman - Queensryche - Two Seattle bands in a row, but this ain't no grunge. Classy, melodic work by Eddie Jackson carries a favorite song of mine.
16. Got the Time - Anthrax - A cover, but the thundering bass work of Frank Bello just rips.
17. Crash Course in Brain Surgery - Metallica - I know it's another cover, but Newsted turns it up to 11, tuned down to D.
18. Run To The Hills - Iron Maiden - You can't give metal bassists the love without giving a shout out to the inventor of the galloping bass, Mr. Steven Harris.
19. No More Tears - Ozzy - Mike Inez, who later joined Alice in Chains, really shines on this one. It's a driving, hypnotic riff that sets up the Oz man and Zakk.
20. 100,000 Years - Kiss - Gene Simmons knows how to sell out and knows how to put on a show...and The Demon knows how to play some bass, too. Straight forward rock 'n roll.
21. Reach For The Sky - Slaughter - Underrated Dana Strum plays the bass like a lead instrument, refusing to just carry the bottom end. Melodic and interesting work.
22. Unchained - Van Halen - Michael Anthony knows Van Halen fans didn't come to hear his bass work. He keeps it full and steady so that the greatest hard rock guitarist of all time can work his magic.
23. Keep The Faith - Bon Jovi - OK, they gave Alec John Such the boot and dissed his work on Behind the Music, but whoever wrote this bass riff did a good job. I always have trouble getting it outta my head.
24. Suck My Kiss - Red Hot Chili Peppers - We heard Flea doing the ballad thing. Now it's time for some funk rock.
25. Someone Like You - Bang Tango - Engaging, rocking riff by Kyle Kyle for some not-even-one-hit wonders.

Revamping

OK, I'm dusting off the cobwebs and going to make another attempt at this thing. Hang on just a little bit longer.