[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/IJfOrA-Ev4k" width="250" height="150" wmode="transparent" /]Read More

  CHRISTMAS AT ARLINGTON CEMETERY Arlington National Cemetery Rest easy, sleep well my brothers. Know the line has held, your job is done. Rest easy, sleep well. Others have taken up where you fell, the line has held. Peace, peace, and farewell… Readers may be interested to know that these wreaths — some 5,000 —...Read More

dec-10-2009.mp3Read More

  2009 was a really bad year for Louisiana insurance policyholders. Rates charged to Louisiana taxpayers remain the highest in the entire country.  Citizens Insurance Company, the state created fiasco, continues to have huge problems with no end in sight.  And taxpayers are taking it on the chin for a great deal of regulatory mismanagement....Read More

  Thursday, December 10, 2009 Baton Rouge, Louisiana THE WORST OF TIMES FOR LOUISIANA INSURANCE Remember ole’ Calypso Joe doing the limbo and singing in that deep voice”¦”How low can you go?”Â  Few would be surprised if they learned he was singing about that state of insurance affairs in Louisiana.   To many observers, 2009 cannot...Read More

I’ve been a Johnny Mathis fan for over 50 years.  And when the holiday season comes around, his music is a must for seasonal listening.  I met him once back in 1958.  My high school girlfriend loved his music (“Misty” was his big hit then) and he was performing at the Chase-Park Plaza Hotel in...Read More

[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/xHTcV-AHzXc" width="250" height="150" wmode="transparent" /]Read More

  Sarah Palin’s new book is a block buster at book stores nationwide.  I sat down this weekend to read it and found out some interesting, strange and rather funny things about the former vice presidential candidate.  What she eats, who she talks to in the shower, philosophical tidbits of her approach to life, and,...Read More

It’s supposed to be cold with possible snow in Louisiana this weekend.  Wow…snow!  A rarity down in this part of the country.  I always have these strange deams when the weather changes.  You can check me out below having a snowball fight with all my favorite politicians.  Since I wrote about Sarah Palin in my...Read More

Former Louisiana Insurance Commissioner tries to make insurance a front-burner topic among lawmakers, state officials and companies.  Louisiana has one of the worst insurance climates in the country.  The Baton Rouge Business Report poses 10 key insurance questions to Jim Brown on what to do about the present insurance mess in Louisiana.  You can read...Read More

  Thursday, December 3, 2009 Baton Rouge, Louisiana SARAH PALIN WOULD FIT IN WELL IN LOUISIANA! Did you actually read Sarah Palin’s new book, Going Rogue?  Sure it’s a national best seller.  I had no plans to buy it.   Nothing against Sarah.  I really liked the Newsweek cover with Sarah in her jogging shorts. (She’s...Read More

december-3-2009.mp3Read More

[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/9amtW_XVrv4" width="250" height="150" wmode="transparent" /]Read More

  Recognize this actor above?  He’s been in over 100 movies and has played the President six times.  He’s James Cromwell, just one of the many celebrities that came to New Orleans for the opening of the D Day museum theatre recently.  What a treat for me to discuss his many roles.  He was amazed...Read More

One of my all time favorite jazz pianists is Ahmad Jamal.  If you look at my Jukebox on the left, you will see listed one of his biggest hits, Poinciana.  I became a Jamal fan back in the late 1950s.  That’s right, he’s been around for almost 60 years.  I was dating a girl in...Read More

  It was a grand supper at the White house this week for Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, who joined in honoring the Prime Minister of India.  But it should be much more than just a social occasion for Jindal.  Hopefully, he will and should get to work in establishing a close working relationship with the...Read More

Thursday, November 25, 2009 Baton Rouge, Louisiana JINDAL AND INDIA A RARE OPPORTUNITY FOR LOUISIANA Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal was the token Republican at the Obama first State Dinner this week.  It would be pretty crass for the President to exclude Jindal, the first and only Indian American Governor, from a state dinner honoring the...Read More

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!Read More

<div style=’background-color:#e9e9e9; width: 250px;’><object id=’A64060′ quality=’high’ data=’http://aka.zero.jibjab.com/client/zero/ClientZero_EmbedViewer.swf?external_make_id=9b8oO9ubxkcVBpys&service=sendables.jibjab.com&partnerID=JibJab’ pluginspage=’http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer’ type=’application/x-shockwave-flash’ wmode=’transparent’ height=’250′ width=’150′><param name=’wmode’ value=’transparent’></param><param name=’movie’ value=’http://aka.zero.jibjab.com/client/zero/ClientZero_EmbedViewer.swf?external_make_id=9b8oO9ubxkcVBpys&service=sendables.jibjab.com&partnerID=JibJab’></param><param name=’scaleMode’ value=’showAll’></param><param name=’quality’ value=’high’></param><param name=’allowNetworking’ value=’all’></param><param name=’allowFullScreen’ value=’true’ /><param name=’FlashVars’ value=’external_make_id=9b8oO9ubxkcVBpys&service=sendables.jibjab.com&partnerID=JibJab’></param><param name=’allowScriptAccess’ value=’always’></param></object><div style=’text-align:center; width:43250px; margin-top:6px;’>Try JibJab Sendables® <a href=’http://sendables.jibjab.com/ecards’>eCards</a> today!</div></div>Read More

  Few commentators and observers had anything nice to say about former New Orleans Congressman Bill Jefferson following his recent conviction.  But putting feelings about Jefferson’s actions aside, did he get a fair trial?  Jim Brown says maybe not, and sets out some chilling commentary that every citizen should consider.  Like where was the blond...Read More

Thursday, November 19, 2009 New Orleans, Louisiana WILL BOGUS CHARGES GIVE BILL JEFFERSON A NEW TRIAL? Former New Orleans Congressman Bill Jefferson got a thirteen year sentence and will soon be heading to jail.  Ninety thousand dollars in his freezer?  Has to be a “slam dunk” for the prosecutors, although Jefferson says he will appeal. ...Read More

As the only Republican in the House to vote for the Democratic health-care overhaul bill last week, New Orleans Rep. Anh “Joseph” Cao has gained a lot of attention in newspaper stories, radio talk shows and political Web sites. Now, he even has a song to enshrine the moment: “The Ballad of Joseph Cao.” Written...Read More

I used to be a big Rudy Giuliani fan.  You cannot dispute the good job he did in cleaning up New York City and making it a much safer place to live and visit.  But he seems to be a little “off the wall” in the past several years.  He has become paranoid about tying...Read More

We have read a lot about the “greatest generation.”Â  But where does Louisiana and America stand today?  Are we out of the running to rally for a chance to excel like our parents and grandparents did 70 years ago?  The question needs exploring as the World War Two Museum in New Orleans opens a huge...Read More

Thursday, November 12,, 2009 New Orleans, Louisiana WHY AREN’T WE THE GREATEST GENERATION? Ten years ago, Tom Brokaw wrote a book about what he called “the greatest generation.” Now, there is a new best seller out calling America today “the dumbest generation.” And since Louisiana is at the bottom of the barrel on most comparative...Read More

  There are a number of my old haunts I like to revisit from time to time.  One in particular brings back a number of old memories.  It’s the half Moon Bar and restaurant in the Irish Channel of Uptown New Orleans.  I spent many a night, ate many a crawfish along with a few...Read More

Well it’s time for the Good, the Bad and the Ugly: a new segment on my site.  And hey, there sure is a lot to choose from each week.  So take a look.  First the Good.  I’ll bet you’ve never seen a pet like the one in this Video of the Day. In 1969, two...Read More

In what was possibly the last written document before he died, former Louisiana Governor Dave Treen blasted federal judge Frank Polozola for being vindictive and biased in his sentencing of former Governor Edwin Edwards.  Polozola, known around Baton Rouge as “the Ayatollah Polozola,” gave Edwards twice the sentence called for in the federal guidelines and...Read More

nov-12-2009.mp3Read More

  Everyone agreed that former Louisiana Governor was a nice guy.  Those were the accolades heaped on him as he was mourned, eulogized and remembered by friends and political observers alike.  But Dave Treen can with full justification lay claim to being perhaps the only real conservative governor in the past century.  Others switched parties...Read More

  Thursday, November 5, 2009 Baton Rouge, Louisiana THE ONLY TRUE CONSERVATIVE GOVERNOR? DAVE TREEN!   The accolades for former Louisiana Governor Dave Treen have been pouring in, and rightly so.  He has been called a lot of nice names and everyone quoted has pegged him as a “good guy.”Â  He was “an inspiration,” said Governor...Read More

oct-29-2009.mp3Read More

[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/G0r7UJ6jmiI" width="250" height="150" wmode="transparent" /]Read More

Let me send a high five to daughter Campbell for taking on the White House this week.  The President has been critical of Fox News for being “too biased” in their news coverage.  So Campbell raised the queston, but what about the favoritism of MSNBC towards the President…what about that bias?  Even Bill O’Reilly gave Campbell...Read More

Is there any more dysfunctional city, with a more dysfunctional Mayor and major bozos who are supposed to serve as leaders than in New Orleans?  Remember the recovery czar Ed Blakely.  A real phony who set New Orleans back years with his ridiculous policies endorsed by Mayor Ray Nagin?  Here’s what he said a few...Read More

  Fifty years ago this Saturday night-October 31.  It was a magical moment for the LSU Tigers and All American Billy Cannon.  And what a ride, from the top to the bottom, he has had over all these years.  You will be surprised to read that I played a minor role in the Billy Cannon...Read More

Thursday, October 29, 2009 Baton Rouge, Louisiana COUNTERFEITIN’ BILLY CANNON- THE TOAST OF LSU Even though it’s just a second rate game for the LSU Tigers this Saturday night against Tulane, the crowd noise in Tiger Stadium will be deafening, but not because the ninth ranked Tigers should make mincemeat out of my old Alma...Read More

oct-29-2009.mp3Read More

[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/z5uZZL1D5aI" width="250" height="150" wmode="transparent" /]Read More

It’s Halloween time, and some pretty spooky things seem to always happen.  And in Louisiana, the politicians can scare us more than anyone else.  So obviously, we need a Halloween cartoon to celebrate the season.  See if you have any problem recognizing the various really scary Louisiana present and former politicos. Try JibJab Sendables® eCards...Read More

  The initial response to my son-in-law Dan Senor’s new book has been overwhelming.  Take a look at the various reviews below.  You can read an excerpt from the book by Clicking Here. If you are interested in getting an early copy, Click Here for full information.  Dan also talks about his new book and...Read More

Can Louisiana government be modernized and streamlined?  A new commission has been created to do just that.  But are they bogged down in the “here and now” with no long range planning in mind? It looks that way.  So what should they do to get a handle on where Louisiana should be 20 years from...Read More

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart Mon – Thurs 11p / 10cRead More

Thursday, October 22, 2009 Linville, North Carolina LOUISIANA’S STREAMLINING COMMISSION WHERE’S THE FOCUS? The much ballyhooed Louisiana Governmental Streamlining Commission is under fire for getting off to a slow start and not considering immediate options to reduce state spending.  The legislatively created commission was charged to review the structure of state government and adopt ways...Read More

  No hurricanes this year, and the insurance front should be calm and stable with rates beginning to go down-right?  Well, not so.  Rates, particularly for property owners continue to go up in Louisiana as they dropping other gulf coast states.  And the new buzz word-dry wall.  Thousands on Louisiana homes have been infected with...Read More

Congress is on its way towards approving new legislation that creates new so-called “hate crimes.”Â  The sentence of someone convicted will increase based on what was in the mind of the accused.  So one is punished once for the crime, and then again for the hate.  Is this reasonable?  I discussed the controversial issue on...Read More

  Thursday, October 15, 2009 Baton Rouge, Louisiana BLEAK LOUISIANA INSURANCE CLIMATE IN MONTHS TO COME! There should be plenty of good news on the property insurance front, both in Louisiana and throughout the gulf south.  Hurricane season is over, the third year in a row without the threat of a major storm. One would...Read More

october-16-2009.mp3Read More

So what’s with all these dancing politicians?  We know they often try to alibi and dance their way around tough political issues.  But taking to the dance floor?  Come on!  We start below with former GOP House Majority Leader Tom Delay, affectionately know as “the Hammer.”Â  And check out the other “questionable dancers who lead us in...Read More

[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/TqaAhJIV2fc" width="250" height="150" wmode="transparent" /]Read More

We often dismiss the fact that there are amazing people in less developed nations.  Talent is everywhere.  In the video below, this young Ukrainian girl tells an entire story by pushing around sand on a table.  She uses nothing but sand and her hands to create these unbelievable images. Often we don’t appreciate the talents...Read More

october-8-2009.mp3Read More

  The Jihadists converging in Louisiana?  What a crazy idea!  But wait”¦.is it so off the wall that millions of dollars could flow into Louisiana creating up to 700 new jobs if the state will agree to take several hundred detainees (yes, accused terrorists), and confine them in a maximum security federal prison?  Read my reasoning...Read More

There have been a lot of disappointing former heroes recently.   So many of our sports stars have been tainted with drug allegations.  Movie stars seem to always get into some kind of trouble.  Look what’s happened to one of my favorites-David Letterman.  So who are the real heroes that help us carry on in our...Read More

    Thursday, October 8, 2009 New Orleans, Louisiana OH MY GOD-  THE TERRORISTS ARE COMING TO LOUISIANA! There are 241 remaining detainees imprisoned at Guantanamo Bay, and the president says he will shut it down in early 2010.  So where do you send these suspected terrorists?  Other countries don’t want them. So do you...Read More

[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/jRkl42Cwpjo" width="250" height="150" wmode="transparent" /]Read More

  Chris Rock, in my opinion, has become American’s best observer and chronicler of our way of life today.  He’s generally “right on” when it comes to both observing and commentating on what we do and why we do it.  He was on Jay Leno this week talking about the ridiculous arguments being made in...Read More

I grew up politically with “Saturday Night Live.”Â  I can still picture Chevy Chase stumbling at his speaker’s stand imitating Producer Gerald Ford stumbling and falling down.  Ford was probably the best former athlete who ever served in the White House, but Chase, on Saturday Night Live, tagged him as a bumbler. The show is...Read More

  There’s a lot of fuss in Louisiana right now abut legislators meeting secretly  to talk about reapportioning legislative and other districts in the state.  But the question no one is asking is why legislators should be involved in redistricting at all.  After all, don’t they have a direct conflict in being able to draw...Read More

    Thursday, October 1, 2009 Shreveport, Louisiana GET THE POLITICIANS OUT OF REAPPORTIONMENT It’s getting close to redistricting time for legislators, and already criticism is raining down on this politically sensitive process that decisions are being shaped behind closed doors.  Lawmakers have scheduled a two day “educational workshop” in Alexandria next month to learn...Read More

  In John Camp’s new book, Odyssey of a Derelict Gunslinger he writes a great deal about his relationship with Evangelist Rev. Jimmy Swaggart.  I too know Rev. Swaggart well since he was from my old hometown of Ferriday.  John and I talked about the Swaggart controversy last week, and you can see it in...Read More

Christopher B. Duncan as Barack Obama (Sketch- Excerpts) – watch more funny videosRead More

Leno is off to a fast start with his new earlier night show on NBC.  Can I brag a bit?  My kid was on Leno and did OK if I do say so myself.  Take a look at this short clip of Campbell and Jay Leno. [kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/QHN86vjfi5o" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]Read More

[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/kU3crlqOJro" width="250" height="150" wmode="transparent" /]Read More

  When was the last time you heard any politician mention the dreaded term “affordable property insurance” in Louisiana?  The insurance front has been extremely quite.  Maybe too quiet.  Louisiana elected officials hope the subject just goes away.  Quite a contrast to what’s happening in Florida.  Property insurance rates are a front burner issue.  The...Read More

  Thursday, September 24, 2009 Perdido Key, Florida LOUISIANA AND FLORIDA- NIGHT AND DAY ON PROPERTY INSURANCE! All this week, Florida’s largest newspaper, the Miami Herald, has been writing both feature articles and editorials about the problems facing Florida property owners in finding affordable insurance.  Day after day, headlines conveyed the intensity of the struggle: ...Read More

“Odyssey of a Derelict Gunslinger: A Saga of Exposing TV Preachers, Corrupt Politicians, Right-Wing Lunatics…and Me.”Â  Quite a book title.  It’s a new book by Louisiana news reporter John Camp, who now lives in St. Francisville.  He was an investigative reporter for CNN and has followed many Louisiana scandals, including Rev. Jimmy Swaggart and the...Read More

So do you feel sorry for insurance company executives?  The you can join in the weeping by watching this new online ad below that concludes (tongue in cheek) that health insurance  executives are getting a bum rap in the national healthcare debate.  Even if you don’t agree, it’s pretty funny to watch.  Even has Will...Read More

Daughter Campbell gives both the President and Congress hell for something as difficult as “reading proposed legislation.”Â  Is she being to strict on these poor public officials?  Take a look and see what you think. [kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/UFuhbkvuml4" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]Read More

  Can you believe it?  One politician calling another a liar!  What’s the state of public affairs coming to?  Is South Carolina congressman Joe Wilson an anomaly in his shouting escapade directed at the President last week?  Hardly.  Those who are taken back just need to take a look at many such incidents where one...Read More

  Thursday, September 17, 2009 Perdido Key, Florida IN LOUISIANA, JUST TELL EM’ I LIED! When South Carolina Congressman Joe Wilson hollered out “You lie” as the President was addressing congress last week, even Louisiana republicans were aghast.  Northeast Louisiana congressman Rodney Alexander summed up the delegation’s response.  “I was embarrassed,” Alexander said after speaking...Read More

september-17-2009.mp3Read More

[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/x1DtZ8RAsl0" width="250" height="150" wmode="transparent" /]Read More

  I’m over at Perdido Key all this week getting myself in shape for a weekend Triathlon, and enjoying the fact that most of the summer crowds are gone.  The Gulf is still warm for swimming, and the cooler early morning weather makes a jog on the beach much easier.  One thing I have noticed...Read More

  The anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attach on New York passed rather quietly last week.  Remember how Mayor Rudy Giuliani and President Bush both vowed to quickly rebuild the  smoldering hole in the ground that would be bigger and better than before?  Well eight years have gone by and Ground Zero remains just...Read More

Sometimes my musical favorites are a little off beat, but I listen to the songs I like hundreds of time.  Most of my favorites end up on my juke box on the left side of this site, and you ought to take a listen going back a number of years.  I just happened across singer...Read More

[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/ScrraH6JNWE" width="250" height="150" wmode="transparent" /]Read More

  Both La. Governor Bobby Jindal and President Obama took a lot of heat this past week.  The Prez for wanting to “indoctrinate” our kids with his TV address.  And Jindal for using state helicopters to travel around the state to attend church services.  Are these legitimate knocks?  I take a look at both issues...Read More

Thursday, September 10, 1009 Baton Rouge, Louisiana HEY, LAY OFF BOBBY JINDAL AND THE PRESIDENT! Let the Prez teach and Jindal preach. Remember old Capt. D.C. Boycott?  Sure you do.  He was the notorious Irish landlord who cut the wages of his tenant farmers and got ostracized.  Since then, we regularly hear of someone proposing...Read More

  Edwin Edwards is far from just disappearing from the political scene.  The former governor is 82 years old, from all reports is in good health, and has a year and four months left on his sentence.  A new book will be out late this fall on the life of “The Cajun Prince” that, the...Read More

  How can prosecutors continue to convict innocent citizens, send them to jail, and yes, even put those innocent to death.  You will be surprised, if you take a little time to investigate, at how often this happens.  Look at the chilling video below of Todd Willingham from Texas, who was put to death for...Read More