give it to someone else for three months while I take a break.”

That’s what I told Creative Loafing, and, quite generously, that’s what they’ve agreed to.

I’m taking three months away from my Scene & Herd entertainment column so that I can travel, start writing a book and nap. So far, I’ve lined up a trip to Nashville (tomorrow, to see Belle & Sebastian), and visits to London and Krakow. Assuming I don’t run out of money (not a safe assumption), I’ll probably go to Mexico as well.

The column that publishes on Wednesday, March 8 is my last until about June. Doing the column in my place will be Frederick Noble, a.k.a. Degenerate Press. Fred is the O.B. (that’s Original Blogger). He’s been writing about culture and nightlife in Atlanta on his web site since the mid-90s. He’s more than just persistent though — he’s a smart, funny writer.

I’ll still be blogging and writing my Don’t Panic column, in case you’re wondering.

The great Malian guitarist and singer Ali Farka Toure has died.

I have neither the time nor knowledge to write full obituary, but I will share one of this songs. Sorry, RIAA.

The song, “Amadinin“, was recorded sometime in the 1970s for Mali’s national radio station, Radio Mali. The American news media sometimes refers to Toure as a “West African John Lee Hooker.” This recording proves what a stupid, lazy description that is. “Amadinin” does indeed sound like what American ears recognize as Blues, but it’s actually a traditional Tamashek melody and rhythm. Before it was African-American, Blues music was just African. Before it migrated North to Chicago from the Mississippi Delta, it had to migrate West from the Niger. If anything, John Lee Hooker was an American Ali Farka Toure.

Here’s “Amadinin” from the great Ali Farka Toure compilation Radio Mali.

This week’s Scene & Herd, featuring my thoughts on Scott Stapp’s recent performance at The Roxy, is now online.

Ditto part two of my annoyingly long and rambling column about Afghanistan.

Despite the objections of the Secret Service, the folks at WXIA-TV’s Atlanta & Company will have me back on their show today, where I’ll be discussing my work-related social activities on the same couch that former (Vice)President Gore’s daughter Karenna Gore Schiff will be discussing her book signing tonight.

The show airs today at 11:00 AM on WXIA, right after Martha Stewart!

(WXIA is the local NBC affiliate. Channel 6 if you’ve got Comcast cable in Atlanta and Channel 11 if you have a good old-fashioned antenna).

59% of Americans disapprove of Bush’s job performance.

Bush job rating falls to all-time low: poll

Feb 27, 2006 — WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President George W. Bush’s job rating has fallen to an all-time low of 34 percent, amid strong opposition to the Dubai Ports World deal and increasing pessimism over the war in Iraq, according to a CBS News poll released on Monday.

Bush’s overall job approval fell eight points from 42 percent last month. Fifty-nine percent of respondents said they disapproved of Bush’s performance on the job, the poll found.

Read the rest of the story

The good news: I took more good photos at work last night than I’ve ever taken in a single evening.

The bad news: They were all of former Creed singer Scott Stapp, performing at The Roxy, so after I turn in a photo to the newspaper, I’ll probably never look at them again.

Right now I’m watching a show on TLC about this man:

His name is Jesus “Chuy” Aceves and he suffers from an extremely rare disease that causes hair to grow all over his face.

About 10 minutes into the show, there was a break for a commercial — an unfortunate commercial.

Click here to see the commercial.

It could have been worse. It could have been an ad for Gillette.

“Today in Afghanistan there is a fledgling democracy. Al-Qaeda no longer has run of the country; the Taliban is routed; there’s an elected parliament and president dedicated to democratic institutions. (Applause).”

President George W. Bush
January 23, 2006
(full text of speech here)

“The ability of Afghan authorities to maintain order and ensure the security of citizens and visitors is limited. Remnants of the former Taliban regime and the terrorist al-Qaida network, and other groups hostile to the government, remain active. U.S.-led military operations continue. Travel in all areas of Afghanistan, including the capital Kabul, is unsafe due to military operations, landmines, banditry, armed rivalry among political and tribal groups, and the possibility of terrorist attacks, including attacks using vehicular or other Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), and kidnapping. The security environment remains volatile and unpredictable.”

United States Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Travel Warning – Afghanistan
January 9, 2006
(full text of travel warning here)

1. This week’s Scene & Herd (with cheerleaders!)
2. This week’s Don’t Panic (a two-parter about Afghanistan)

3. Last week’s Scene & Herd (featuring the ironic crotch and North Dekalb Mall Idol!)
4. Last week’s Don’t Panic (about an al-Qaida prison escape in Yemen this month that has the U.S. very worried.

Notice that CL has revamped its web site. So far it seems a lot faster and better-organized than the previous version. Any thoughts?

Some people never learn.

The fine people at WXIA-TV’s Atlanta & Company have once again invited me on their show to discuss my work-related social activities.

The show airs Wednesday, February 22 at 11:00 AM on WXIA, right after Martha Stewart!

(WXIA is the local NBC affiliate. Channel 6 if you’ve got Comcast cable in Atlanta and Channel 11 if you have a good old-fashioned antenna).