Viva Las Vegas.

Sonny Melton

Lisa Romero-Muniz

Jordan McIldoon

Jessica Klymchuk

Quinton Robbins

Sandy Casey

Rachael Parker

Adrian Murfitt

Dorene Anderson

Charleston "Chuck" Hartfield

Angela "Angie" Gomez

Susan Smith

Bailey Schweitzer

Rhonda LeRocque

Denis Burditus

John Phippen

Jack Beaten

Chris Roybal

Thomas Day Jr.

Hannah Ahlers

Dana Gardner

Jennifer Topaz Irvine

Jenny Parks

Neysa Tonks

Carrie Barnette

Kurt Von Tillow

Victor Link

Bill Wolfe Jr.

Michelle Vo

     I can't believe that I am having to write a list of names again so soon, and those aren't all the names of the fallen. Those are only the names that have been released as of my writing this. People are trying their best to find out why this happened. Why the vile shot all those people. We don't need to know why. They why doesn't matter, it never matters. They why is something that we can live with out. those names above, and the ones that will be released later, for their friends and family, those are the things that they can't live without. There is never any sense to be made of a senseless act.

     The media is reacting the only way they know how, and plastering the name of this vile all over the place. That is also something we can live without. That vile made themselves inconsequential when they fired the first shot. They don't matter. Those people above, they matter. 29 names above that matter far more than the vile who is having his name everywhere today, and more than likely for the next week or more. 30 names still to come. 30 names that I will find and post here, so that they will not go unnamed. They will not go unknown. Their names need to be seen and spoken. They are the ones to be remembered. The vile that did this, his name needs to be forgotten as soon as it's spoken.

     It was only 16 months ago that I was writing the names of the last "worst shooting massacre" in this country. The Pulse nightclub shooting. It was in my backyard, in a city that I go to quite often. Because of that, I felt the pain of that city. I also felt the love in it as well. Orlando stood up and came together. Those club goers died that night, but they have no been forgotten around here, and they won't be forgotten in Las Vegas either. Very early on, before much was known about what had happened, and how many were lost and wounded, the mayor of Orlando sent out a message to Las Vegas, that Orlando stands with Las Vegas. Mayor Buddy Dyer was the first prominent figure to send out a message that I saw, and I was proud that it came form someone in my state. If anyone knows what Las Vegas is going through right now, it is him and the city of Orlando. 

     If you find a charity that you believe to be worthy, that is directed toward helping the victims of Las Vegas, do not hesitate to donate anything that you can. Last number I saw for the wounded was 527. They will need all the help that they can get. I know that there have been a lot of things going on recently that need help. Harvey, Irma, Maria, and now Las Vegas. Do what you can and only if you can. There is no need to put yourself in a hole if you can't afford it.

     The last thing I want to talk about on this matter tonight, is the multiple stories of people that helped out. The people that risked their lives, and even some who gave their lives to save others. I heard a story of a man that protected his wife from being shot and took the bullet that would have surely killed her. He died so that she could live. I saw another story of a young man that helped 30 people get out of the area. He kept going back into the shooting zone until he was shot himself. He survived. I heard other stories of people that were driving by, and stopped to load up their cars with as many of the wounded as they could to take them to hospitals. This is only a few of the stories that I heard. There was sone vile unSunday night, but there were dozens  and possible hundreds of heroes that stood up when it mattered most and saved lives. So when you hear someone say that there isn't any good in this world anymore, just look at those stories and realize that there is a lot of good left.

     On October 20th 1950 in Gainesville, Florida, one of the greatest singer songwriter to ever live was born. Here in Florida we knew him as the Gainesville Gator. Tom Petty was a beloved son of this state, and of millions around the world. The first song I ever herd from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers was Refugee. It had this smooth but searing guitar to open it up, and then Tom with his lazy wonderful voice began singing. It is one of those great driving songs. I even heard someone today mention that if you ever went on a long road trip, just put in the greatest hits of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and you can't go wrong. I have to agree. Anyway, once I heard that song, I was hooked. If you have had any conversation with me about music at any time, you would know that Tom Petty is one of my absolute favorites. His career spanned decades, and he is one of those rare rockers that produced hits in all of them. Refugee was in the late 70's. the 80's came and he exploded even bigger. In 1985 the album Southern Accents came out, and had the song that everyone remembered from the video. Tom was dressed as the Mad Hatter in an Alice in Wonderland themed video for Don't Come Around Here No More. I don't know if there will ever be a more recognizable video to a song. it was iconic. It wasn't just the video that was good, the song was great as well.

     In the late 80's Tom went off on a little side project and helped form the Traveling Wilburys. That little band included George Harrison of The Beatles, Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan, and Jeff Lynne of Electric Light Orchestra. Also in 89 Tom released what was known as his first solo album, Full Moon Fever. That was a big one, with  I Won't Back Down, which was co wrote with George Harrison, Free Fallin, and Runnin' Down A Dream. Remember those? The album was produced by Tom and fellow Wilbury Jeff Lynne. In the early 90's The Heartbreakers reformed, and put out Into The Great Wide Open. That album included the title track Into the Great Wide Open, and Learning To Fly. Later that year they put out a live album with another one of those iconic songs as an add on, Last Dance with Mary Jane. That was another weird video, but still not as gripping as Don't Come Around Here No More. In 2002 Tom Petty and then Heartbreakers released  The Last DJ that railed on the music industry. The title track was about famed radio dj Jim Ladd, who was one of the last dj's that got to choose his own music, and didn't play from a list that the program director made up for him. If you get a chance listen to that song. It's a goody.

     I would normally have Favorite Song of the Week right here, but instead of that, I'm going to implore you to look up Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and listen to some of their songs. If you've never heard them before, well we need to have a talk about hate, but if you haven't heard them before, you are in for a treat, and if you have heard them, I guarantee that they will take you back in time when you listen to them again. Tom Petty may have died but he left us with some damn great songs to listen to, and hell, if you feel so inclined, go for a ride while listening, It's a good way to hear them. Peace in and goodnight.