This one’s for Caroline and Brad.

I love some of Steve Lynch’s songs and really hate others, but this one is great–especially the harmonica solo sin harmonica.

Another great song of his, “If I Could Be A Superhero.”

I grew up in Kansas, and the Holiday Season prompts both childhood memories and a sense of devotion to my native soil. So I’d like to write a few words in defense and praise of the Sunflower State.

It seems that most non-Kansans I meet have a negative attitude toward visiting the state of my birth. More often than not, they seem to view Kansas as a long, grueling stretch to suffer through while on the way to somewhere else. Upon investigation, though, I usually find that this attitude is based not upon actual experience, but upon two false assumptions.

The first of these assumptions is that all of Kansas is as flat and dull as a stale pancake. This is only true once you get west of Salina (and even then, there are worthwhile attractions such as The World’s Largest Prairie Dog). The eastern third of the state, however, boasts diverse and beautiful topography, including pastures, meadows, hills, trees, meadows, and pastures. Also, thanks to the Army Corps of Engineers and the many large holes they have dug, Kansas is also home to the best crappie fishing on the planet.

The second assumption is that if you drive through Kansas, you will be attacked by flying monkeys. This canard is the fault of both L. Frank Baum and, especially, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

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