Check it out: pictures of the MMJ - Jason Ringenberg - Drive By Truckers show!

Posted 10:43 PM by Jackson Cooper |

Being that this is the last weekday of the month of my birth, I had to renew the registration and pay taxes for my car today. I could have mailed it in. I could have gone weeks ago. I knew the County Clerk's office would be crowded today. But for some sick reason, I waited.

The truth is, I like the County Clerk's office. I like going there, I like being there, and I'd go more often if I had any reason. Taking a ticket. Sitting on a firm bench. Feeling the air conditioning pour out of the vent down onto my head. Watching the look of exasperation on people's faces when they take their number, glance at the 'Now Serving' sign on the wall and calculate how many people are between themselves and sweet release. The polite women behind the desks, shouting for the next number and advancing the sign one shout at a time.

There are inevitably missing numbers. Each one representing a walkout or someone unable to properly operate the ticket machine. But when two or three go by without someone jumping up from the bench to claim their spot in line, one's mood lightens a shade or two.

Someone at the County Clerk's office has been thinking. It's wonderful to know that someone, somewhere within that bureaucracy, has the power to make life better for the people in the waiting room. Because it doesn't take a genius to figure out that a happy waiting-room population makes for a less stressful day.

They have created a new position in the office, the Waiting Room Mother. It is her job to welcome the persons as they enter the door. But more important than that, she makes sure everyone has what they need. She checks your paperwork, staples it together for you, and gives you a nice stamp on your registration to let you know you've done a good job. She also makes sure that people respond when their number is called and keeps the ticket machine in working order.

She is the teacher and that waiting area is her classroom. She keeps everyone in line and keeps them happy at the same time. Anyone who seems particularly frustrated gets a little extra attention, and she sits down next to them to talk about it. People in government buildings are known for acting like children. So it was a stroke of genius to hire a woman to treat those people in a manner befitting their behavior.

Once my number was called, I was ushered swiftly to Station 11. There was an attractive young woman behind the desk, with a businesslike demeanor. We barely spoke, but communicated volumes. I pass her my neatly stapled and stamped paperwork. Her fingers begin a deft sweep across the keyboard. "It's $156.24", she says. I begin filling-out my check and glance to my left to see a sign instructing me that it should be made out to the "Jefferson County Clerk". "I'll need to see your ID." I slide it across the table, she reads without touching it, fingers never leaving the keyboard, and then slides it back. By the time I finish the check, she's got my new registration, license plate sticker and receipt printed. We exchange papers and thank-yous and I'm done.

Out the door and past the poor saps, trying to count the tickets between the '88' on the sign and the '23' in their hand, and into the warm August afternoon.

Posted 2:07 PM by Jackson Cooper |

Free concert on the Waterfront last night. WFPK brought us Jason Ringenberg, of Jason and the Scorchers, The Drive By Truckers, and the amazing superfantastic My Morning Jacket from Louisville. The picturesque backdrop of the river, bridges and Indiana coastline and the beautiful cool weather made for a fantastic show. I'll have pictures up shortly.

Jason Ringenberg has been playing excellent music for a long time now. Since 1981 if I'm not mistaken. He did a solo set and brought local legend Tim Krekel for the last two songs.

The Drive By Truckers have been receiving a lot of attention for their recently released "Southern Rock Opera". They're basically a throwback band. The era to which they are throwing is that of Skynard, The Allman Bros. and the Muscle Shoals Sound. They were pretty good. But the band I came to see was My Morning Jacket.

The prevailing wisdom these days is that this is the best thing ever to come out of Louisville. And I'm inclined to agree. They will be opening for The Doves on their upcoming tour. This could mean that a lot more people will know about these guys very soon. I'm all for that. So last night I made a point of enjoying a small, intimate show where I could get right up next to the stage. That may not be possible next time they come around.

Posted 9:54 AM by Jackson Cooper |

GO VALLEY SPORTS!!!!!!

Our boys are the best in the world today. I work in Valley Station, home of the Valley Sports All Stars, World Little League Champs. For a couple weeks now, nearly every sign up and down Dixie Highway had some words of support for the team.

This end of town has a reputation as the poor, white blue-collar center of the universe. This is the armpit of Louisville, and the butt of many East-end jokes.

Today, however, Valley Station is the capitol of Kentucky.

Those kids played like pros, and could teach the pros a thing or two about professionalism. The team's coach, a tough ex-military guy, worked the boys hard. Very hard. And the boys loved it. When that guy yelled at the kids, his veins popped out of his neck. And the kids answered every statement with a prompt "Yes sir". The coach was tough, but those kids were tougher. They come from a tough end of town, where they may never see a better time in their life than their trip to the Little League World Series. So live it up boys. We're all proud of you.

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Posted 10:14 AM by Jackson Cooper |