BOB SEGER AND THE SILVER BULLET BAND

After long break, Bob Seger's at it again

Despite his famous credo, Bob Seger forgot about rock 'n' roll after rock 'n' roll forgot about him. After selling tens of millions of records in the '70s and millions more in the '80s, his 1995 record It's a Mystery went piff. Rock's rules had changed, and Seger's earnest blue-collar anthems sounded quaint among glossier, snarkier fare.

Seger's successes — not counting Old Time Rock & Roll, for which he turned down a songwriting credit — had provided ample security, so he walked away and started a family.
Subsequent trends came and went, and sometime during the next 11 years, Seger's style of rock — passionate and decidedly unglamorous — started to sound enduring. Regular praise from next-gen Michigan rocker Kid Rock didn't hurt. Nor did the fact Seger never went out of vogue as a jukebox hero: The songs that sprung from his life in Michigan always sounded familiar and regionless in bars. Like Lynyrd Skynyrd, he was a rock act that country fans could get behind.
BOB SEGER AND THE SILVER BULLET BAND

• When & where: 7:30 p.m. Monday at the Toyota Center, 1510 Polk
• Admission: Tickets are $65; 866-446-8849 orhoustontoyotacenter.com

Bob Seger is back in tour mode

Yes, Bob Seger has a MySpace page. But does the old-time rock 'n' roller ever update it - let alone look at it?

"I let everybody else take care of that for me," Seger said recently in a telephone interview. "And being such a micromanager, I'm surprised I even give up that control."

Even in 2007, Bob Seger still lives by his own rules.

In a time when record company profits are plummeting and artists are relying on cross-platform exposure in the face of smaller budgets and fickle fans, Seger remains vintage Seger.

Seger, 61, took nearly a dozen years away from recording to watch his kids grow up. Then, without much fanfare, Seger released "Face the Promise," his first full-length CD in more than 10 years, in September.


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Barack Obama In For The Big Race In 08

Obama Declares His Candidacy

Standing in freezing weather outside the historic capitol building, just steps away from where Abraham Lincoln used to practice law, another lanky Illinoisan will stand and declare his candidacy for President of the United States on Saturday morning.

Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., 45, spent eight years here, representing the fabled South Side of Chicago. In addition to the invocations of Lincoln's legacy of trying to unite a bifurcated nation, Obama's allies are reminding voters that Lincoln's eight years in the state legislature and one term in the U.S. House of Representative compare rather precisely with Obama's legislative experience.

Obama's kickoff is steeped in symbolism

The last time Barack Obama delivered a formal address in Illinois' state capital, it was to mark the opening of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum where he hailed the 16th president as a man who "did not equivocate or duck or pass the challenge on to future generations."

Nearly two years after that address, and using the home of Lincoln's famed "house divided" speech as a backdrop, Obama was expected Saturday to make formal his historic entry into the 2008 presidential campaign, presenting himself as a symbol for a new generation of leadership and politics.


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Upstate New York Getting Pounded With Heavy Snowfall - 100 Inches And Counting...

Heavy snow continues to bury N.Y. county

Ray DeLong took advantage of a break from the snow to use a blower to forge a path to his driveway as two contractors pushed streams of snow from the roof of his home. The brief reprieve Friday ended early Saturday as snow fell at a rate of 2 to 3 inches per hour, further burying a region already tested by nearly record snowfalls.

"Have to move fast. Want to at least get it off my roof," DeLong said, just hours before more flakes began to fall.More than a week of bitter cold and slippery roads have contributed to at least 20 deaths across the northern quarter of the nation - five in Ohio, four in Illinois, four in Indiana, two in Kentucky, two in Michigan, and one each in Wisconsin, New York and Maryland, authorities said. No deaths were reported in Oswego County, where Mexico is located, however.

SNOW

December 8 - 6:00 PM . . . The first snow of the season and the wife and I took our cocktails and sat for hours by the window watching the huge soft flakes drift down from heaven. It looked like a Grandma Moses Print. So romantic we felt like newlyweds again. I love snow !

December 9 - We woke to a beautiful blanket of crystal white snow covering every inch of the landscape. What a fantastic sight ! Can there be a more lovely place in the Whole World? Moving here was the best idea I've ever had. Shoveled for the first time in years and felt like a boy again. I did both our driveway and the sidewalks. This afternoon the snowplow came along and covered up the sidewalks and closed in the driveway, so I got to shovel again. What a Perfect life.
December 12 - The sun has melted all our lovely snow. Such a disappointment. My neighbor tells me not to worry, we'll definitely have a white Christmas. No snow on Christmas would be awful! Bob says we'll have so much snow by the end of winter, that I'll never want to see snow again. I don't think that's possible. Bob is such a nice man, I'm glad he's our neighbor.

December 14 - Snow lovely snow! 8" last night. The temperature dropped to -20 . . . The cold makes everything sparkle so. The wind took my breath away, but I warmed up by shoveling the driveway and sidewalks. This is the life! The snowplow came back this afternoon and buried everything again. I didn't realize I would have to do quite this much shoveling, but I'll certainly get back in shape this way. I wish I wouldn't huff and puff so much.
December 15 - There is 20 inches forecast. Sold my van and bought a 4X4 Blazer. Bought snow tires for the wife's car and 2 extra shovels. Stocked the freezer. The wife wants a wood stove in case the electricity goes out. I think that's silly. We aren't in Alaska, after all.

December 16 - Ice storm this morning. Fell on my ass on the ice in the driveway putting down salt. Hurt like hell. The wife laughed for an hour, which I think was very cruel.
December 17 - Still way below freezing. Roads are too icy to go anywhere. Electricity was off for 5 hours. I had to pile the blankets on to stay warm. Nothing to do but stare at the wife and try not to irritate her. Guess I should've bought a wood stove, but won't admit it to her. God I hate it when she's right. I can't believe I'm freezing to death in my own living room.

December 20 - Electricity's back on, but had another 14" of the damn stuff last night. More shoveling. Took all day, damn snowplow came by twice. Tried to find a neighbor kid to shovel, but they said they're too busy playing hockey. I think they're lying. Called the only hardware store around to see about buying a snow blower and they're out. Might have another shipment in March! . I think they're lying. Bob says I have to shovel or the city will have it done and bill me. I think he's lying.
December 22 - Bob was right about a white Christmas because 13 more inches of the white stuff fell today, and it's so cold it probably won't melt till August. Took me 45 minutes to get all dressed up to go out to shovel and then I had to piss. By the time I got undressed, pissed and dressed again, I was too tired to shovel. Tried to hire Bob who has a plow on his truck for the rest of the winter, but he says he's to busy. I think the idiot is lying.

December 23 - Only 2" of snow today. And it warmed up to 0
The wife wanted to to decorate the front of the house this morning. What is she nuts ??? Why didn't she tell me to do that a month ago ? She says she did but I think she's lying.
December 24 - 6" . . . Snow packed so hard by snowplow, I broke the shovel Thought I was having a heart attack. If I ever catch the son of a bitch who drives that snow plow I'll drag him through the snow by his balls and beat him to death with my broken shovel. I know he hides around the corner and waits for me to finish shoveling and then he comes down the street at a 100 miles an hour and throws snow all over where I've just been! Tonight the wife wanted me to sing Christmas carols with her and open our presents, but I was too busy watching for the damn snowplow.

December 25 - Merry Christmas! 20 more inches of the damn slop tonight. Snowed in. The idea of shoveling makes my blood boil. God I hate the snow! Then the snowplow driver came by asking for a donation and I hit him over the head with my shovel. The wife says I have a bad attitude. I think she's a fricking idiot. If I have to watch " It's A Wonderful Life " one more time, I'm going to stuff her into the microwave.
December 26 - Still snowed in. Why the hell did I ever mover here? It was all HER idea. She's really getting on my nerves.

December 27 - Temperature dropped to -30 and the pipes froze. Plumber came after 14 hours of waiting for him. He only charged me $1,400 to replace all my pipes.
December 28 - Warmed up to above -20 . . . Still snowed in.
THE WITCH is driving me crazy ! ! !
December 29 - 10 more inches. Bob says I have to shovel the roof or it could cave in. That's the silliest thing I ever heard . How dumb does he think I am ? ? ?

December 30 - Roof caved in. I beat up the snow plow driver. He is now suing me for a million dollars for not only the beating I gave him but also for trying to shove the broken snow shovel up his ass. The wife went home to her mother. 9" more predicted.
December 31 - I set fire to what's left of the house. No more shoveling.

January 8 - Feel so good. I just love those little white pills they keep giving me.
Why am I tied ? ? ? I'm going to sleep ! ! !

Vickie Lynn Hogan

Born November 28 1967
Died February 8 2007

R I P

Anna Nicole Smith Is Dead

Anna Nicole Smith collapses, in hospital

Anna Nicole Smith taken to hospital after being found unconscious and unresponsive in her Hollywood, Florida, hotel room, fire and rescue officials say.

(CNN) -- Reality TV star and former model Anna Nicole Smith collapsed at a south Florida hotel and was taken to a local hospital, according to news reports.

TMZ.com reported that Smith collapsed at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida, and was rushed to Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood just after 2 p.m. ET.

According to reports, Smith was found unresponsive in her hotel room.

Smith is currently involved in paternity suit regarding the parentage of her daughter, Danielynn, as well as other disputes, including ones regarding a house she stayed at in the Bahamas around the time she gave birth.

Anna Nicole Smith is Dead

Anna Nicole Smith has died, this according to her attorney Ron Rail.

Smith collapsed at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida and died at a local hospital hours later..

According to hotel officials, Smith was "unresponsive" and emergency responders performed CPR at the scene and a breathing apparatus was inserted in her throat. Anna was immediately transported to Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood just after 2:00 PM EST.

Phil Spector Murder Trial Coming To Your Plasma TV ?

Phil Spector Tried For Murder LIVE On Your TV

Call us old-fashioned but there's certainly nothing we find more entertaining than the idea of watching a disturbed bipolar old man with giant hair get tried for the murder of a B-movie actress - so thank goodness the Phil Spector murder trial will be on TV.

Phil Spector trial might be televised, judge says

LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- The judge in the murder trial of music impresario Phil Spector said Wednesday he's leaning toward allowing the trial to be televised and will make a decision after hearing from lawyers later this month.

The 67-year-old music producer -- famed for creating the "wall of sound" recording technique that revolutionized rock music -- is charged with killing actress Lana Clarkson in his suburban mansion on February 3, 2003.
"This is a trial of public interest," said Superior Court Judge Larry Paul Fidler. "I always have a problem with commentators telling people what is going on rather than letting the public see the trial for themselves. I'm a firm believer in having the public see it."

Attorneys on both sides said they wanted time to consider the proposal. The next pretrial hearing is set for February 16.
Spector, who did not attend the hearing, has pleaded innocent and is free on $1 million bail.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: Phil Spector

Phil Spector is among the greatest producers of rock and roll, and some would passionately argue that he is the greatest ever. His ambitious approach to the art of record production helped redefine and revitalize rock and roll during its early-Sixties slump. On a string of classic records released between 1961 and 1966 on his Philles label, he elevated the monaural 45 rpm single to an art form. "Little symphonies for the kiddies," he called them, and they were indeed dramatic pop records possessed of a grandeur and intimacy theretofore uncommon in rock and roll.

Wall of Sound

Spector usually worked at the Gold Star Studios in Los Angeles because of its exceptional echo chambers, essential to the Wall of Sound technique. To create the effect, Spector arranged the songs for large orchestras of musicians playing instruments traditionally associated with orchestras (such as strings and horns), as well as instruments not generally used for ensemble playing (such as the electric guitar). Microphones in the recording studio captured the sound, which was then transmitted to an echo chamber -- a basement room outfitted with speakers and microphones. The signal from the studio would be played through the speakers and would reverberate around the room, being picked up by the microphones. The echo-laden sound was then channeled back to the control room, where it was transferred to tape.

Phil Spector Music at CD Universe

Monty Python Classic Reissues Contest!

Win a prize pack featuring four Monty Python CDs digitally remastered - "The Meaning Of Life," "Life of Brian" "Previous Record" and "Another Monty Python Record." Enter now to win your very own copies of these groundbreaking comedy albums.

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Ryan O'Neal Faces The Judge In Battle With Son Griffin

O'Neal in court

A fight between US actor Ryan O'Neal and his son Griffin involving gunfire and a fireplace poker and leading to the actor's arrest last weekend, turned into a war of words between their lawyers today.

Griffin O'Neal, 42, and his pregnant girlfriend, Joanna Berry, who had bandages around a bruised and swollen left eye, appeared but did not speak at a press conference by lawyer Gloria Allred.

"We vigorously reject any assertion that the injuries suffered by Joanna and Griffin were as a result of Ryan O'Neal's acting in self-defence," Allred said.

Lawyers Point Fingers in O'Neal Fight

LOS ANGELES (AP) - A battle between Ryan O'Neal and his son Griffin that led to the actor's arrest at his Malibu home last weekend turned into a war of words in law offices Wednesday as their attorneys each charged that the other side was responsible for the fight in which a fireplace poker was swung and a gun fired.

Griffin O'Neal, 42, and his pregnant girlfriend, Joanna Berry, who had bandages around a bruised and swollen left eye, appeared but did not speak at a press conference by attorney Gloria Allred.

``We vigorously reject any assertion that the injuries suffered by Joanna and Griffin were as a result of Ryan O'Neal's acting in self defense,'' Allred said in a prepared statement.

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Andy Dick Dragged Off Kimmel Show For Creeping Out Ivanka Trump

Don't Mess With This Mule

This may be a first...

A couple from Montana were out riding on the range, he with his rifle and she (fortunately) with her camera. Their dogs always followed them, but on this occasion a Mountain Lion decided that he wanted to stalk the dogs (you'll see the dogs in the background watching). Very, very bad decision..

The hunter got off the mule with his rifle and decided to shoot in the air to scare away the lion, but before he could get off a shot the lion charged in and decided he wanted a piece of those dogs. With that, the mule took off and decided he wanted a piece of that lion. That's when all hell broke loose... for the lion.

As the lion approached the dogs the mule snatched him up by the tail and started whirling him around. Banging its head on the ground on every pass. Then he dropped it, stomped on it and held it to the ground by the throat. The mule then got down on his knees and bit the thing all over a couple of dozen times to make sure it was dead, then whipped it into the air again, walked back over to the couple (that were stunned in silence) and stood there ready to continue his ride... as if nothing had just happened.

Fortunately even though the hunter didn't get off a shot, his wife got off these 4...