Prayers Needed

The amazingly talented artist Michael Godard and his family are going through a traumatic situation.

Paige, his 15 year old daughter who has been battling brain cancer has received a grim prognosis due to complications last week.

Michael recently completed the commissioned work, "Party With A Purpose" for the Dallas Margarita Society. It's the first time Godard has ever painted margaritas. As you may know, his signature works have martinis with risque olives. This time he used limes.

When you see this artwork, if you look closely in the sky, you will see Paige's name spelled out in the stars.....




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Last Week To Vote Early!

I have a feeling that the turnout will be heavy on Election Day. I went to vote early today -- gosh I wonder who I voted for governor?! - and there were about 40 people in line at any given time. For you lazy twits, like myself, that usually go straight party -- keep this in mind:

YES - you can vote straight party AND still vote for Kinky. Just hit your straight party option and on the field for Governor you click on Kinky's name. Everything else remains the same.

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I heard about this funny book today -- "Everything Texans Need To Know About The Other 49 States". It's nice sized book with a vibrant cover. All the pages are blank. Stupid and juvenille -- but funny none the less.

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Have you ever noticed that you could be working on a really stellar idea and some naysayers will be around you and then all of a sudden this idea starts gelling and then those naysayers are all of a sudden so interested in what you are doing and how can they be a part of it?

I have determined that that is the catalyst for me going into, what The Illustrious One would call, my "WIIFM" mode (pronounced "Whiff-him"). It stands for "What's In It For Me".



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USA Today

I was mentioned again in an article - though my comment was an excerpt from the original - it is featured in USA Today's Small Business Connection.

Initially I was commenting on the fall out of the "dot.com" bust in late 2000 / early 2001, but I suppose the one paragraph utilized fit best for the overall theme of the article.

You can read it here.



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Voting For Kinky Has Begun!

Early voting in Texas started TODAY. You have until Friday, November 3 to cast your vote for Kinky!!

I attended his live internet broadcast yesterday and I agree with the summation of most in attendance - he's the serious contender. I've been watching his campaign for 18 months and while many thought it was a joke at first, he has come across as someone viable as governor since he tossed his hat into the race.

The big boys think he's splitting their votes -- in fact, he's scoring votes from both the Republicans and Democrats. What the big boys are not grasping is that Texans are tired of their government being treated as big business. The insurance and oil industry can take care of themselves -- it's time for someone to be in Austin making a ruckus for the every day person.

So get off your ass and get to the polls!

Find your local early voting place here:

http://www.kinkyfriedman.com/vote/

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"Trick or Twang "-- Texas style

All Hallows Eve, or Halloween, is almost upon us and it's that time when kids start yelping to dress up as -- what? Rock stars? Princesses? Pro athletes? Hell if I know. But what I do know, is that the kids of Texas are favoring to dress up as either a stoner or a jewboy.

So if you want your adorable offspring to follow the Texas trend, here are the directions on how to achieve each look....

Willie Nelson

Important Costume Elments:
American flag bandana, braided hair, fake beard, guitar strap and guitar (or fashion a guitar out of cardboard).

Tip: For Willie's braids, get a roll or two of yarn. Cut about 30 arm-length pieces for braiding. It's best to put the strands together at the center with rubber bands and braid down either side.

Kinky Friedman

Important Costume Elements: Denim shirt, leather vest, fake facial hair, black cowboy hat and a bubblegum cigar.

Tip: For the facial hair, buy a kit of the sticky kind from a costume store. Use the fake eyebrows for sideburns and cut the moustache and beard to fit your little Kinky's face.

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A Much Needed Fun Day

Ok so for some people "fun day" means no work. Not me...everything seems to be connected to work but if I can squeeze in some fun time, then rock on!

I called up my buddy Magoo to see if he wanted to join me for a ride to my meeting that was in Bonham, which is about 60 miles NE of Dallas. His response: "Hell yeah baby, let's go!" So we met up this morning and headed off to Bonham. We found the place pretty easily, spent about 90 minutes there and met some kewl people.

Magoo was former MP in Vietnam and that boy has some wild stories about Saigon. One of the guys we were talking to today was in the Air Force stationed in Fairbanks. They started comparing notes about the televised lottery and how they found out they were drafted, some of their experiences, etc.

I now know that some excellent weed by the name of Cambodian Red could be scored for $15 a kilo and the guys would pitch in every pay day, buy a few keys and then have a drinking/cleaning/rolling party. Ahh yes...the American military hard at work for you!

I also listened to war stories about people insisting upon buying hardtail motorcycles and the sheer physical pain they were in from riding them. I have a stellar hardtail story myself but the boys were on a roll and it was just more fun to watch and listen to them.

After Magoo and I left the shop, we were like, "Let's head in that direction..." and off we went. We probably went 80 miles out of our way but damn it felt good. Sometimes you just need to be on the bike on some twisty back country road to just chill.

When I got home it was 75 degrees and sunny...now it's 58 and about to rain...I love Texas weather!



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Harley Davidson "Respect"

This commercial is so funny! I swear, I spend half my time explaining the current demographics of today's motorcycle owners to possible corporate sponsors and emphasizing that it's not "the days of Easyrider anymore..." then THIS has to come out!

WTF? Kinky Step Down?!

Everyone knows that the battle for Texas Governor has come down to Independent Richard "Kinky" Friedman and Republican Rick "Perfect Hair" Perry.

Yesterday in what can only be called a comical lapse of reasoning, Democrat Chris "Who the fuck is that" Bell called on Kinky to step down because Kinky is taking votes from him. He claims that Kinky supporters would back him if Kinky would step away. He also claims that he made the call to Kinky's cell phone voice mail at the request of his staff -- yeah, right.

The fact that Carolyn "One Tough Grandma with many surnames" Strayhorn is even in the race is a joke. No one expects her to win -- not even her many husbands.

Now what should happen is Chris Bell step down from the race because people in Houston may know who he is but those of us in Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, El Paso, etc. have no idea who he is, what he stands for or his objectives.

Anyway, without further venting here is the article on Bell's il-timed phone call:

Bell calls on Kinky to drop out
Exclusive: Democrat points to debate performance; Friedman insists he's in

By ROBERT T. GARRETT and GROMER JEFFERS JR. / The Dallas Morning News

Democratic nominee Chris Bell is trying to persuade independent Kinky Friedman to quit the race for governor, but Mr. Friedman insisted Tuesday that he's in to stay.

Mr. Bell left a voice mail message on Mr. Friedman's personal cellphone Tuesday, asking for a meeting at the mystery writer and former bandleader's ranch near Kerrville, Mr. Friedman said.
Mr. Bell later confirmed he sought a meeting so he could try to talk Mr. Friedman into dropping out of the four-way race, which is in its home stretch. The election is Nov. 7.

"I had hoped to talk to Kinky privately, but now that it's been reported by the Dallas Morning News, I'm going to ask him publicly: Please join me in defeating Rick Perry," Mr. Bell said in a statement his campaign issued late Tuesday.

"Kinky and I agree on some very important issues and our supporters all have a lot in common: they want change."

Mr. Bell credited Mr. Friedman with energizing voters but made it clear he thinks only he has a chance to win.

"Now is the time for us all to unite," he said. "So I'm asking for Kinky to join me."

Bell campaign aides said that Mr. Friedman performed poorly in Friday night's candidate debate and that Friedman supporters have told the Democrat that they'd support him if he could persuade Mr. Friedman to step aside.

Interviewed as he headed to evening campaign events in Dallas, Mr. Bell acknowledged that Mr. Friedman is siphoning votes away from him and Republican Gov. Rick Perry.
"He's taking from both," Mr. Bell said. "But he's taking more from me."

Mr. Friedman, campaigning in Brownsville, said of Mr. Bell and his advisers: "They're desperate and scrambling."

Asked whether he would consider the Democrat's request to step aside, Mr. Friedman said: "No. You're kidding ... for Chris Bell? What do you take me for?"

Mr. Bell, Mr. Friedman and independent Carole Keeton Strayhorn each trail far behind Mr. Perry, according to a recent Dallas Morning News poll of likely voters. But Mr. Bell's debate performance has won generally strong reviews, giving the Democrat hope he can emerge as the main challenger to Mr. Perry.

Mr. Friedman, who acknowledged he "didn't bring my A game" to Friday's debate, insisted he still finds strong support everywhere he travels this week. And he believes he can win a plurality of votes – all that is needed to win – if the anti-incumbent mood he sees sweeping the nation lifts voter turnout in Texas.

To drop out is unthinkable, he said: "I'd be letting a lot of people down."

But he took delight in Mr. Bell's message that the independent is taking a toll. "What can it possibly mean other than that we're killing him?" Mr. Friedman said. "We're getting all of the liberals. We're getting all of the conservatives."

Robert T. Garrett reported from Brownsville, and Gromer Jeffers Jr. reported from Houston.

**On a side note - even though the mainstream press (especially those owned by Belo) keep saying that Perry is far ahead in the polls, every single online poll I've seen from Dallas or Austin in the past 4 months has show Kinky either sweeping the floor and leaving his opponents far behind or he and Perry are the two serious contenders. If anyone should quit -- it should be Bell & Strayhorn.

Excellent Video

This is one of the best videos I've seen in a long time. Simple production quality, decent song and innovative use of treadmills!

How long until synchronized treadmilling is an Olympic sport?!

Weapon of Choice

Ok, so most everyone who visits this blog knows that my personal weapon of choice is my Harley-Davidson FXDL Low Rider. But I have often wondered how those cats on crotch rockets that go flying down LBJ Freeway get so damn good. And now I know by this photo below!





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Last Chance To Help Kinky!

Folks, this is it. We're down to the final stretch. We have jumped through
every hoop and met every challenge placed before us. We are in position to win this race. What we need now is money.

We're running our TV ads throughout Texas, but we need them running more frequently and in more markets. Our opponents are flooding the air waves with commercials paid with millions in special interest money. We need your help to stay competitive.

I thank you for everything you've done to support this campaign and bring us this far. Now I'm asking you - for the last time - to dig into your pockets and help us bring this thing home.

Tens of thousands of you are receiving this message. If each of you sent $15 or $50 or $100, we would have the money we need win this race and begin the task of restoring this great state.

We need your contributions between now and October 30th to have a presence on the air waves up to the election.

You can make a contribution by clicking the secure link below:
https://www.kinkyfriedman.com/contribute/index.html?ref=1008

I've always said I'm running in the spirit of Seabiscuit: I do not plan to place or show; I plan to win. And friends, with your help we will win. Thanks for your support and we will see you at the victory party on November 7.

Kinky Friedman


(Make sure to watch the debates this Friday, October 6th. Check your local
listings here. Also, the last day to register to vote is October 10th. Click here to REGISTER TODAY!)