Sweet Soul Music Alive & Well in Muscle Shoals, Alabama

‘Paperboy’ hot off the press

By Robert Palmer Staff Writer | Posted: Sunday, August 4, 2013 11:00 pm

MUSCLE SHOALS — Eli “Paperboy” Reed isn’t 30 years old yet, but the singer and guitarist is steeped in southern soul as well as rhythm and blues in a way one would expect from a much older person.

Reed was at FAME Recording Studios last week, recording two tracks, one of which is slated to be on the soundtrack CD of the movie “Muscle Shoals.” He chose Jimmy Hughes’ classic “Steal Away,” one of FAME’s earliest hits, for the soundtrack.

Eli “Paperboy” Reed, left, sings along to a track Wednesday during a recording session at FAME Recording Studios. Reed, who is highly influenced by the Muscle Shoals music scene, recorded two songs at the studio. Photo by Allison Carter/TimesDaily

Wednesday afternoon, he was working with a horn section on a rousing version of the Violinaires’ 1960s gospel song “I Don’t Know What the World Is Coming To.” He said the song could be included as a bonus track on an upcoming CD.

For Reed, a student of soul, R&B, blues and gospel, the visit to FAME and Muscle Shoals was a dream come true.

“ ‘Steal Away’ has become my song” in live performance, he said of the 1964 hit that launched FAME Records. “I’d read Peter Guralnick’s ‘Sweet Soul Music,’ and I knew that was from FAME and Muscle Shoals.”

Reed grew up listening to his father’s record collection and playing harmonica to his guitar tunes.

“I discovered Muscle Shoals when I got into rhythm and blues and reading liner notes on record jackets,” he said.

As a teenager, he said, he

Alabama Hospital Wars: Huntsville Hospital & Keller Hospital v ECM Hospital

On it’s face, this makes utterly no sense – healers wasting healing resources on court battles.

Why is this happening?

In the end, they get the goldmine, and you, dear reader, get the shaft. But the greater problem is, that you’re already getting the shaft, and you just don’t know it.

Apologize?
Oh please!

Could this man be Public Enemy #1 in the Shoals area? David Spillers, Chief Executive Officer, Huntsville Hospital (256) 265-2835

David Spillers, CEO of Huntsville Hospital should apologize for WASTING precious patient resources by hiring denizen hordes of corporate attorneys to wage Hospital Wars against the public health of Shoals area citizens! And he’s doing this during hard times? C’mon… David? You don’t have any better use to which you can put that money?

It’s NOT rhetoric, folks.
This is your state government at work! And Spillers is playing the system.

It’s called the Certificate of Need Board, and their purpose is to decide whether or not communities need hospitals, and whether or not those who want to build them are allowed to build them.

Imagine this scenario: You’re sick as a dog, and are wanting to go see the doctor, but

Alabama Certificate Of Need Law causes Shoals patient suffering as Huntsville Hospital, Helen Keller Hospital & RegionalCare Hospital Partners feud

Here is another prime case in point why the state of Alabama should eliminate the Certificate of Need Board, the CON law, and the entire process associated with it.

First, aren’t companies and their Chief Executives, Financial Officers, Managers and others capable of determining whether or not they could provide services in a cost-effective, or even profitable manner?

Yes, they are. So why should government – by and through the CON law – tell them that they are incompetent to do so, and in fact, forbid them from making that decision?

Literally, if Bill Gates wanted to build a free hospital in Alabama, he could NOT because FIRST he would have to obtain permission from the CON Board. And just to eliminate any confusion, a CON Board permit to build a hospital is NOT a construction permit. In fact, a CON Board permit must FIRST be obtained BEFORE a construction permit is granted.

For those not aware of what the CON Board does, they are a group of politically-appointed individuals before whom any group, organization or individual desiring to build a hospital must cajole, plead and beg for permission to build a hospital.

They must literally make and prove a case for why a hospital is needed before they can even move the first shovelful of dirt. Even then, if they are not given permission from “BIG BROTHER” to build a hospital, they must then appear before a judge to further plead their case. And strangely, they’re not merely opposed, but are actively fought, tooth and nail throughout the entire process by the very folks that should be helping improve patient health and providing care… other hospitals. It forces healers to become sworn cutthroat enemies.

And just so you, dear reader, will be aware, the original CON law was first written by the U.S. Congress, the purpose of which was designed to keep healthcare costs from increasing at an uncontrolled rate. However, the Congress quickly abandoned and rescinded the law after it was demonstrated that it had no effect upon rapidly escalating costs. The only state to NOT enact any form of CON law was Louisiana.

I’ve written about the process here on this blog (Tuesday, June 22, 2010), and have, as a private citizen, communicated with the Alabama state legislature and governor to encourage them to abolish the law, board and process.

If you care at all about healthcare – either for you, your family, loved ones, friends or anyone – I wholeheartedly encourage you to read that post, because it more fully details the reasons why the CON process actually serves to deteriorate public health, and drain Alabama’s public tax dollars.

In a nutshell, the fussing, fighting, feuding that is associated with the CON process co$t$ $ignificantly, which co$t$ are pa$$ed onto the patient & in$urance companie$.
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Hospital wars invade city council meeting

6/20/12, By Robert Palmer, Staff Writer

FLORENCE – The behind-the-scenes struggle between publicly owned Helen Keller Hospital and Huntsville Hospital and privately owned RegionalCare Hospital Partners has invaded the local political arena.

In its Tuesday work session, the Florence City Council voted unanimously to

Feds to Fire Cops; Not Enough Federal Tax Dollars

Now… please tell me again why we pay taxes.

A Hard Working American pays the Tax Cuts for the Wealthy

At least, why does the working man pay taxes?

We mustn’t forget those poor, poor multi-milionaire type rich folks who live off money they didn’t work to earn, who pay far, far less than you or I.

What is it called? Interest income?

And what was that tax break for Rich Folk called?

Oh yes… the Capital Gains Tax Cut – sometimes also called the Paris Hilton Tax Cut.