RANT RAV!NGS 2012 - Righting societal atrocities...since 1981.

Thank You, Steve.

PALIN: Excerpt from "Going Rogue"

Earlier today Matt Drudge released an excerpt from Sarah Palin's new book, "Going Rouge: An American Life" (which I previously reported on here.

Since Drudge's content changes so rapidly, I wanted to post it here in case it get bumped for something else. In this sampling of chapter four, Sarah talks about when she first discovered the McCain campaign's tight leash around her neck:

Going Rogue: An American Life
by Sarah Palin
Chapter Four; Section 8, pages 255-257

By the third week in September, a “Free Sarah” campaign was under way and the press at large was growing increasingly critical of the McCain camp’s decision to keep me, my family and friends back home, and my governor’s staff all bottled up. Meanwhile, the question of which news outlet would land the first interview was a big deal, as it always is with a major party candidate.

Power to the Palin

If you watch closely, liberals will tell you whom their most afraid of.

Whoever they unleash their viscous attack dogs on is usually the culprit.

Not John McCain.

Not Mitt Romney.

Not Mike Huckabee.

Sarah Palin?

Bingo.

Ever since the presidential campaign, character assassins have targeted Palin and her family, firing rounds of hatred and vitriol. 

But with dignity and grace, the conservative former governor of Alaska has kept her character afloat.

And now she writes to tell about it.

Going Rogue: An American Life hits bookstore shelves on November 17, and is already lighting up best-seller charts online (over a month before release).

As she prepares to once again rise to prominence on the national scene, the wolves are beginning to growl.

Good thing Sarah is packing a shotgun.

Well done, Mrs. Dot.

A funeral was held this morning for a special woman who went to Heaven on Monday.

The news hit me hard, as this was the second death for me this year of a person I've admired since childhood.

I just wish I could have been there today, but since I am separated by a proverbial geographical chasm, I decided to reflect on my thoughts on Mrs. Dot here.

What else can be said about such a classy, virtuous woman? She seemed to carry the world on her back for over 50 years, graciously serving her Lord, her family, and her church.

Anyone she met, she greeted with a smile. A tender smile that shined the love of Jesus.

Letting Jacko Go...To Heaven?

It's been about a week since Michael Jackson's "shocking" death.

Come on people.

Did this really surprise anyone?

Maybe the timing of it.

But this guy has been on death row for almost 10 years, and on suicide watch for the last 5.

Failed comeback attempts, babies over balconies, pedophile accusations, increasingly erratic behavior.

As Neverland slowly became no man's land, the magical mystique faded away.

On the day he died, I was fueling up the FJ and heard "Billy Jean" over the loudspeaker.

And I grieved.

Not as a die hard fan, but out of concern for his soul.

Goodbye, Mr. Hisaw

There sure has been a lot of death this month.

Farrah Fawcett : unfortunate.

Billy Mayes: unexpected.

Ed McMahon: unwanted.

And Michael Jackson: unavoidable.

But as the world mourns these people with much fanfare, Garvon Hisaw passed on without society’s notice.

Garvon was man greatly admired by my family and countless others.

On the outside, he worked over 30 years at A&P groceries in management.

But on the inside, he was a spiritual giant.

New GM CEO Knows Nothing About Cars

Well, this is about right...

Edward E. Whitacre Jr. built AT&T Inc. into the biggest U.S. provider of telephone service over a 43-year-career. By his own admission, he becomes chairman of General Motors Corp. knowing nothing about the auto industry.

The 6-foot-4-inch Texan nicknamed “Big Ed” said steering the nation’s largest automaker after bankruptcy is “a public service.” People who know him say he can meet GM’s need for the type of transformation he orchestrated at Dallas-based AT&T.

“I don’t know anything about cars,” Whitacre, 67, said yesterday in an interview after his appointment. “A business is a business, and I think I can learn about cars. I’m not that old, and I think the business principles are the same.”

SOURCE:
MINA Breaking News - New GM CEO: I know nothing about cars.

A Winning Team: St. Jude's and Chili's

Back in June, Chili's announced that their commitment to St. Jude's fundraising would extend far beyond their efforts this month.

Way beyond.

Try a whopping $50 million over the next TEN YEARS!

Here's an excerpt from the press release:

EXCLUSIVE: Lancepalooza

7/13/07 -- History was made when the doors of Chimneyville Smokehouse opened wide for the first ever Lancepalooza - an extravaganza honoring the life of Lance Clay.

Friends old and new alike gathered to celebrate 35 years of Lance's brilliant humor, irreplaceable personality and his trademark old fashioned, southern chivalry.

Following a barbeque dinner with all the trimmings and an open "soda pop" bar, the celebration continued into the night with a private session featuring the legendary music of blues legend Jessie Robinson at Hall and Mal's.

Rant Rav!ngs has an exclusive look back with pictures on Facebook.

R.I.P. - Bam Bam Bigelow

Another wrestling legend will never live to see his 50th birthday.

Scott "Bam Bam" Bigelow was found dead in his Hudon, FL home last week at the age of 45.

The cause of death is unknown, but an autopsy by the Pasco-Pinellas Counties medical examiner should shed some light on the situation.

Bigelow, one of the most agile "big men" ever to compete in the sport, won multiple championships over his 20 year run as a professional wrestler across all three major wrestling leagues (WWF/E, WCW and ECW).

WWE.com has a great retrospective on his career, along with comments from friends and wrestlers sharing their favorite memories of "The Beast from the East".

I have some great memories watching Bam Bam wrestle growing up, and (though he hasn't been active in the public eye lately) always will be regarded as a legend by old school fans.

He will be sorely missed by his family and friends.