We're supposed to get a decent soaking tomorrow, our first for a while, and maybe our last until next winter. The forecast reminded me of something that irked me greatly during our last rainfall but never got around to writing about.
Six weeks ago or so California, from the northern border to Mexico, got a good soaking and lots of snow in the mountains. So much so that one would think that our drought situation in Southern Cal might have been alleviated somewhat. Not enough to ignore our situation, but enough to not worry about it quite so much.
But no. While the rain was falling heavily for several days in Los Angeles, and the snow was packing the mountains in the Sierra's, we heard "experts" over and over tell us that this precipitation would have little to no impact on our drought because "we" haven't been able to figure out how to properly capture and store this new water. Even the melted snow wasn't a savior as it also ran wastefully into areas that didn't run off to our reservoirs, dams, and water storage systems. Most of the rain in Southern California ran straight into the ocean.
Like our gas prices that soar because our refineries are outdated and too few (while the oil companies make billions in profits every quarter), our energy and water costs continue to climb and the possibility of water rationing in the summer remains a real threat. In fact, one major L.A. city (Long Beach) has already declared a water emergency and the Calleguas Municipal Water District recently launched a "Put A Cork In It" (faucet) water conservation campaign.
Whenever it rains here people are inclined to say, "We need it," implying that the rain is really an inconvenience but we'll put up with it because it's rescuing our problem.
I'm afraid, folks, that it's an inconvenience only. It may be something we need, but it's not doing us any good.
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Blah
“So often we dwell on the things that seem impossible rather than on the things that are possible. So often we are depressed by what remains to be done and forget to be thankful for all that has been done.”
Marian Wright Edelman, activist for the rights of children
The artwork* below is a great depiction of my blah-like feelings these past few weeks.
*I believe the artwork is from an article in the NYTimes regarding migraines a few months ago.
Marian Wright Edelman, activist for the rights of children
The artwork* below is a great depiction of my blah-like feelings these past few weeks.
*I believe the artwork is from an article in the NYTimes regarding migraines a few months ago.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
I Did Take Sniper Fire, I Did, I Did...
“So? Go Fuck Yourself"
Dick Cheney, vice president
Hillary Clinton did take sniper fire and shows nerves of steel in this clip from her Bosnia trip. Obviously the media is again showing favoritism.
A tip of the hat to Shockfront
Dick Cheney, vice president
Hillary Clinton did take sniper fire and shows nerves of steel in this clip from her Bosnia trip. Obviously the media is again showing favoritism.
A tip of the hat to Shockfront
Ray Davies in Concert
“A live concert to me is exciting because of all the electricity that is generated in the crowd and on stage. It's my favorite part of the business, live concerts.”
Elvis Presley (1935-1977) singer
All the singing you might of heard in mid-Los Angeles came from the Wiltern Theater last night because Ray Davies alternately rocked the crowd as well as turned the 2,000-seat venue into an even more intimate setting similar to a pub sing along.
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Here is the set list:
“I’m Not Like Everybody Else”
“Where Have All the Good Times Gone?”
“Till the End of the Day”
“After the Fall”
“Well-Respected Man”
“Apeman”
“Next Door Neighbour”
“Celluloid Heroes”
"The Tourist"
“Working Man’s Café”
“20th Century Man”
intermission
“No One Listen”
“One More Time”
“Vietnam Cowboys”
“The Real World”
"I, The Victim"
“Sunny Afternoon”
“Come Dancing”
“Tired of Waiting”
“Set Me Free”
“You Really Got Me”
encore
“Lola”
“Low Budget”
Our seats were at the back of the floor, but with a straight center of the stage view. All the seats in our area were bar stools right on top of each other. Daughter and I rocked out in our seats playing air guitar and singing. When our section stood then we danced. Yes, I was the old guy in the back who danced like Al Gore on inauguration night in 1992. We all had a great time. Daughter and I were a bit surprised that we weren’t called up on stage to lend additional vocal dimension and depth to the show, maybe next time.
Elvis Presley (1935-1977) singer
All the singing you might of heard in mid-Los Angeles came from the Wiltern Theater last night because Ray Davies alternately rocked the crowd as well as turned the 2,000-seat venue into an even more intimate setting similar to a pub sing along.
.jpg)
Here is the set list:
“I’m Not Like Everybody Else”
“Where Have All the Good Times Gone?”
“Till the End of the Day”
“After the Fall”
“Well-Respected Man”
“Apeman”
“Next Door Neighbour”
“Celluloid Heroes”
"The Tourist"
“Working Man’s Café”
“20th Century Man”
intermission
“No One Listen”
“One More Time”
“Vietnam Cowboys”
“The Real World”
"I, The Victim"
“Sunny Afternoon”
“Come Dancing”
“Tired of Waiting”
“Set Me Free”
“You Really Got Me”
encore
“Lola”
“Low Budget”
Our seats were at the back of the floor, but with a straight center of the stage view. All the seats in our area were bar stools right on top of each other. Daughter and I rocked out in our seats playing air guitar and singing. When our section stood then we danced. Yes, I was the old guy in the back who danced like Al Gore on inauguration night in 1992. We all had a great time. Daughter and I were a bit surprised that we weren’t called up on stage to lend additional vocal dimension and depth to the show, maybe next time.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
My Favorite Ray Davies & Kinks' Songs
You make me laugh and you make me smile
And after a hard day sorting out the files
You make it all worthwhile.
Ray Davies, singer/song writer, lyrics from the "You Make it All Worth While"
In honor of our going to see Ray Davies here are my favorite songs, which include the Kinks:
1. 20th Century Man – This is my absolute favorite. I recognized the power and meaning of this song in high school
2. “Apeman” – The original is very good, but the version that became a favorite is from the “To The Bone” CD, which is more of a reggae feel to it and it’s a great sing along for kids, including nieces and nephews who you pick up from the airport
3. “Lola” – Simply a fun classic about guys who used to hang around Hollywood Boulevard and other similar places
4. “Celluloid Heroes” – A Kinks classic about strolling down Hollywood Boulevard
5. “Low Budget” – This could have been written today:
6. “When I Turn Out Living Room Lights” – Many of us had dates when this was probably a good idea
7. “Rush Hour Blues” – Ring any bells:
8. “Have Another Drink”/“Alcohol” – these are two separate songs but together they are part one and part two
9. “Thanksgiving Day” – This captures the American holiday perfectly
10. “You’re Asking Me” – A song that is my daily refrain
11. “Working Man’s Café” – How the world has changed:
12. "Days" – This is the song that I asked Daughter to play to remember when I am gone:
I don’t want to go through the entire Ray Davies and Kinks' catalog this will have to do, but there are many great ones not included in this short list.
And after a hard day sorting out the files
You make it all worthwhile.
Ray Davies, singer/song writer, lyrics from the "You Make it All Worth While"
In honor of our going to see Ray Davies here are my favorite songs, which include the Kinks:
1. 20th Century Man – This is my absolute favorite. I recognized the power and meaning of this song in high school
2. “Apeman” – The original is very good, but the version that became a favorite is from the “To The Bone” CD, which is more of a reggae feel to it and it’s a great sing along for kids, including nieces and nephews who you pick up from the airport
3. “Lola” – Simply a fun classic about guys who used to hang around Hollywood Boulevard and other similar places
4. “Celluloid Heroes” – A Kinks classic about strolling down Hollywood Boulevard
5. “Low Budget” – This could have been written today:
Circumstance has forced my hand
To be a cut price person in a low budget land
Times are hard but we'll all survive
I just got to learn to economize
I'm on a low budget
I'm on a low budget
I'm not cheap, you understand
To be a cut price person in a low budget land
Times are hard but we'll all survive
I just got to learn to economize
I'm on a low budget
I'm on a low budget
I'm not cheap, you understand
6. “When I Turn Out Living Room Lights” – Many of us had dates when this was probably a good idea
7. “Rush Hour Blues” – Ring any bells:
He gets up early about seven o’clock,
The alarm goes off and then the house starts to rock.
In and out of the bathroom by seven-o-three,
By seven-ten he’s downstairs drinking his tea.
So put a shine on your shoes,
Put on your pin-striped suit.
Can’t lose those early-morning-cant-stop-yawning,
Push and shoving rush hour blues.
The alarm goes off and then the house starts to rock.
In and out of the bathroom by seven-o-three,
By seven-ten he’s downstairs drinking his tea.
So put a shine on your shoes,
Put on your pin-striped suit.
Can’t lose those early-morning-cant-stop-yawning,
Push and shoving rush hour blues.
8. “Have Another Drink”/“Alcohol” – these are two separate songs but together they are part one and part two
9. “Thanksgiving Day” – This captures the American holiday perfectly
10. “You’re Asking Me” – A song that is my daily refrain
11. “Working Man’s Café” – How the world has changed:
Everything around me seems unreal
Everywhere I go it looks and feels like America
We've really come a long way down this road
Improving our surroundings as we go
Changing our roots and culture
But don't you know
Long ago there was a working man
Don't you know we were all working men
And we'd sit and pass the time of day
At the working man's café
Everywhere I go it looks and feels like America
We've really come a long way down this road
Improving our surroundings as we go
Changing our roots and culture
But don't you know
Long ago there was a working man
Don't you know we were all working men
And we'd sit and pass the time of day
At the working man's café
12. "Days" – This is the song that I asked Daughter to play to remember when I am gone:
Days I'll remember all my life,
Days when you can't see wrong from right.
You took my life,
But then I knew that very soon you’d leave me,
But its all right,
Now I'm not frightened of this world, believe me.
Days.
Thank you for the days,
Those endless days, those sacred days you gave me.
I’m thinking of the days,
I won’t forget a single day, believe me.
You took my life,
But then I knew that very soon you’d leave me,
But its all right,
Now I'm not frightened of this world, believe me.
Days.
Thank you for the days,
Those endless days, those sacred days you gave me.
I’m thinking of the days,
I won’t forget a single day, believe me.
I don’t want to go through the entire Ray Davies and Kinks' catalog this will have to do, but there are many great ones not included in this short list.
Friday, March 28, 2008
More Rolling Stones
“Exiles from the Retirement Home.”
Unknown
When the Rolling Stones turn it on they are tremendous. This is an example of them at their best. On The Mark, Daughter and I watched them a few years ago when they were on because they were filming an HBO special in Madison Square Garden. It was -12 outside, but inside we were rocking out.
Daughter and I will venture out to see the movie the first week of April and I will buy the CD/soundtrack. Yes I am pretty much a sucker for all things Rolling Stones.
Unknown
When the Rolling Stones turn it on they are tremendous. This is an example of them at their best. On The Mark, Daughter and I watched them a few years ago when they were on because they were filming an HBO special in Madison Square Garden. It was -12 outside, but inside we were rocking out.
Daughter and I will venture out to see the movie the first week of April and I will buy the CD/soundtrack. Yes I am pretty much a sucker for all things Rolling Stones.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
On The Mark -- MLB Has Ruined Opening Day
Even as I pass the half century mark, opening day in major league baseball was still like Christmas morning when I was a kid. Just simple, innocent, pure joy. A chance to always be a kid. In fact, until just recently, when I watched baseball players on television or on the field they still looked older than me, even though most of them are some 25 years younger.
But MLB has ruined this special moment. It's been happening progressively. For some time, opening day has started on a Sunday night, on the same day as many teams were still playing their last spring training game. Once upon a time, opening day started at 1 p.m. (at respective time-zone stadiums) across the country. Sitting at Dodger Stadium, you knew the same pageantry was happening all across the country. Sunday night opening "day" tainted this.
But it's even worse now. This year, baseball opened up in Japan with a game between the Red Sox and A's. (They've done this sporadically a couple previous seasons.) If one even knew about the game (featuring last year's world champions), you had to watch it at 3 a.m. (on the West Coast). What's worse, is that the teams come back to the U.S. to continue their spring training games -- after their season has already started! -- with the Red Sox, for example, playing three practice games against the Dodgers (one in the old Coliseum). Plus the opening game and results get relegated to page 8 (or something like that) in the sports section.
It's just awful. All for the sake of marketing the game and making more bucks (of course). I guess what makes me most mad is that I'm one -- a longtime huge baseball fan -- who didn't know about opening day until it was too late. So it ruined a tradition The Misanthrope and I have shared for many years: picking the winners for each division, league and the championship before the first pitch of the season is thrown.
Now opening day is just another day at the ballpark.
What a shame.
But MLB has ruined this special moment. It's been happening progressively. For some time, opening day has started on a Sunday night, on the same day as many teams were still playing their last spring training game. Once upon a time, opening day started at 1 p.m. (at respective time-zone stadiums) across the country. Sitting at Dodger Stadium, you knew the same pageantry was happening all across the country. Sunday night opening "day" tainted this.
But it's even worse now. This year, baseball opened up in Japan with a game between the Red Sox and A's. (They've done this sporadically a couple previous seasons.) If one even knew about the game (featuring last year's world champions), you had to watch it at 3 a.m. (on the West Coast). What's worse, is that the teams come back to the U.S. to continue their spring training games -- after their season has already started! -- with the Red Sox, for example, playing three practice games against the Dodgers (one in the old Coliseum). Plus the opening game and results get relegated to page 8 (or something like that) in the sports section.
It's just awful. All for the sake of marketing the game and making more bucks (of course). I guess what makes me most mad is that I'm one -- a longtime huge baseball fan -- who didn't know about opening day until it was too late. So it ruined a tradition The Misanthrope and I have shared for many years: picking the winners for each division, league and the championship before the first pitch of the season is thrown.
Now opening day is just another day at the ballpark.
What a shame.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Graphic Design vs Fine Art
LA denizens should check out the small art gallery at REDCAT (the theater attached to the Disney Hall downtown). Now through April 6 you can see the work of acclaimed design superstar Ed Fella and rising star Geoff McFetridge.
Why? One would think Fella's recent work is recent enough, but the truth is that there's just TOO MUCH in the gallery to enjoy in one viewing. It's his older work that astounds the visitor familiar with his recent typographic forays... because once upon a time Fella was just a commercial artist doing exactly what everyone else was doing. Or so it seems.
The McFetridge side of the gallery is fresh and exciting, and showcases his fine art as well as "hired gun" graphic design work. A few samples to whet the appetite:
Tuesday through Sunday, from noon to six pm, for free -- check out the website for more details.
Why? One would think Fella's recent work is recent enough, but the truth is that there's just TOO MUCH in the gallery to enjoy in one viewing. It's his older work that astounds the visitor familiar with his recent typographic forays... because once upon a time Fella was just a commercial artist doing exactly what everyone else was doing. Or so it seems.
The McFetridge side of the gallery is fresh and exciting, and showcases his fine art as well as "hired gun" graphic design work. A few samples to whet the appetite:
Tuesday through Sunday, from noon to six pm, for free -- check out the website for more details.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Did You Know...?
“So?”*
Dick Cheney, vice president
You probably knew that the federal law known as RICO stands for Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations. What you didn’t know was that Robert Blakely, a law professor at Notre Dame who write it in 1970 for the Senate Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs. He named the law after Edward G. Robinson, who played a racketeer named Rico in the movie Little Caesar.
You no doubt heard the term swag as it is the goody bag (filled with coupons for expensive vacations or luxury watches, etc.) celebrities receive when they attend industry ceremonies or require from charity organizations when they make an appearance. But did you know first it was a mafia term for stolen goods? The word used today seems very apropos to how it’s used in regards to celebrity.
These tidbits are courtesy of the book “The Good Rat, A True Story” by Jimmy Breslin.
*Cheney, responding to ABC News’ White House correspondent Martha Raddatz, after she cited a recent poll showing that most Americans do not believe the Iraq War was worth fighting, as sited in Newsweek.
Dick Cheney, vice president
You probably knew that the federal law known as RICO stands for Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations. What you didn’t know was that Robert Blakely, a law professor at Notre Dame who write it in 1970 for the Senate Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs. He named the law after Edward G. Robinson, who played a racketeer named Rico in the movie Little Caesar.
You no doubt heard the term swag as it is the goody bag (filled with coupons for expensive vacations or luxury watches, etc.) celebrities receive when they attend industry ceremonies or require from charity organizations when they make an appearance. But did you know first it was a mafia term for stolen goods? The word used today seems very apropos to how it’s used in regards to celebrity.
These tidbits are courtesy of the book “The Good Rat, A True Story” by Jimmy Breslin.
*Cheney, responding to ABC News’ White House correspondent Martha Raddatz, after she cited a recent poll showing that most Americans do not believe the Iraq War was worth fighting, as sited in Newsweek.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Working Man’s Café
“If you’re asking me don’t take my advice.”
Ray Davies, singer, songwriter
Ray Davies new CD Working Man’s Café is truly wonderful. I am even rather partial to the CD’s title. However, it may not be obvious right away because it takes time for the songs to grow on you. By that I mean the songs require more than just a casual listening. Nothing too complicated, just not pop fluff.
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“Vietnam Cowboys” tackles the topic of a global village and all the jobs that have disappeared and how the world has morphed into a U.S. city:
Mass production in Saigon
While auto workers laid off in Cleveland
Hot Jacuzzi in Taiwan
With empty factories in Birmingham
My favorite song on the CD is “You’re Asking Me:”
You’re asking me What’s it leading to
Will we live a long life will it treat us fare
No point asking me because I haven’t got a clue
I like this song because when I am asked a question I give the same advice.
He tackles about a hospital ward in “Morphine Song,” being shot in New Orleans, as Davies was, in “In a Moment.”
Davies will be in Los Angeles March 29 at the Wiltern.
Ray Davies, singer, songwriter
Ray Davies new CD Working Man’s Café is truly wonderful. I am even rather partial to the CD’s title. However, it may not be obvious right away because it takes time for the songs to grow on you. By that I mean the songs require more than just a casual listening. Nothing too complicated, just not pop fluff.
.jpg)
“Vietnam Cowboys” tackles the topic of a global village and all the jobs that have disappeared and how the world has morphed into a U.S. city:
Mass production in Saigon
While auto workers laid off in Cleveland
Hot Jacuzzi in Taiwan
With empty factories in Birmingham
My favorite song on the CD is “You’re Asking Me:”
You’re asking me What’s it leading to
Will we live a long life will it treat us fare
No point asking me because I haven’t got a clue
I like this song because when I am asked a question I give the same advice.
He tackles about a hospital ward in “Morphine Song,” being shot in New Orleans, as Davies was, in “In a Moment.”
Davies will be in Los Angeles March 29 at the Wiltern.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
David Letterman's Top Ten
Messages Left on Eliot Spitzer's Answering Machine
“If it were absolutely necessary to choose, I would rather be guilty of an immoral act than of a cruel one”
Anatole France (1844-1924), writer
Anatole France (1844-1924), writer
I found this at The Kentucky Democrat:
Top Ten Messages Left On Eliot Spitzer's Answering Machine
10. Hey, what's new?
9. It's Barack Obama. Remember our conversation about being my running mate? Nevermind.
8. Ralph Nader here, glad to hear I'm not the only politician who has to pay for it
7. I'm calling from the 'New York Post.' Would you rather be known as 'Disgraced Gov Perv' or 'Humiliated Whore Fiend'?
6. This is John McCain, if it makes you feel better, I once got caught having sex with Lincoln's wife
5. It's Dr. Phil, call me if you need any horse**** advice
4. This is Senator Larry Craig. Do you ever go through the Minneapolis airport?
3. It's Wolf Blitzer. Call me if you ever want a hot Spitzer-Blitzer three-way
2. Paris Hilton here. I would have done it for free
1. It's Arnold Schwarzenegger. Thanks, I'm no longer America's creepiest governor
Bush Gangs Hides Unfavorable News
(that's not really news)
As nightfall does not come all at once, neither does oppression. In both instances, there is a twilight when everything remains seemingly unchanged. And it is in such twilight that we all must be most aware of change in the air - however slight - lest we become unwitting victims of the darkness.
Justice William O. Douglas (1898 – 1980), the longest serving Supreme Court Justice, thirty-six years and seven months
I just discovered the news blog Talking Points Memo. I found it while reading the Paper Cuts blog of the New York Times. Here is one of the articles from Talking Points Memo that caught my eye:
Pentagon Tries to Squelch Report Showing No Link Between Iraq-Al Qaeda
By Paul Kiel - March 12, 2008, 3:20PM
Did you think that just because taxpayers funded a study that showed conclusively there was no operational link between Saddam Hussein's Iraq and Al Qaeda that it would be released without a fuss? Well, this is the Bush administration we're talking about here -- a group who've shown themselves over the years to be masters at disappearing inconvenient information. It looks like we've got another addition to our ever-growing catalog.
Click on the Talking Points Memo link highlighted in bold red to check out the article the Bush gang doesn’t want you to see.
Justice William O. Douglas (1898 – 1980), the longest serving Supreme Court Justice, thirty-six years and seven months
I just discovered the news blog Talking Points Memo. I found it while reading the Paper Cuts blog of the New York Times. Here is one of the articles from Talking Points Memo that caught my eye:
Pentagon Tries to Squelch Report Showing No Link Between Iraq-Al Qaeda
By Paul Kiel - March 12, 2008, 3:20PM
Did you think that just because taxpayers funded a study that showed conclusively there was no operational link between Saddam Hussein's Iraq and Al Qaeda that it would be released without a fuss? Well, this is the Bush administration we're talking about here -- a group who've shown themselves over the years to be masters at disappearing inconvenient information. It looks like we've got another addition to our ever-growing catalog.
Click on the Talking Points Memo link highlighted in bold red to check out the article the Bush gang doesn’t want you to see.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Six Word Memoirs
You and I are stuck with the necessity of taking the worst of two evils or none at all. So-I'm taking the immature Democrat as the best of the two. Nixon is impossible.”
Harry S Truman (1884-1972), 33rd President of the United States
I was informed by Bradley at The Ethical Exhibitionist that I was tagged for the following six word Memoir. Until Bradley left the note I still was not in the mood to blog, but no one can say that I am not a good sport.
The Misanthrope in six words: Immature, but not so much now.
I am not crazy about this TAG stuff, but four that come to mind are: Chandira, Sporks, Teresa, Alice, and... .
1. Write your own six word memoir
2. Post it on your blog and include a visual illustration if you’d like
3. Link to the person that tagged you in your post and to this original post if possible so we can track it as it travels across the blogosphere
4 Tag five more blogs with links
5. And don’t forget to leave a comment on the tagged blogs with an invitation to play!
Harry S Truman (1884-1972), 33rd President of the United States
I was informed by Bradley at The Ethical Exhibitionist that I was tagged for the following six word Memoir. Until Bradley left the note I still was not in the mood to blog, but no one can say that I am not a good sport.
The Misanthrope in six words: Immature, but not so much now.
I am not crazy about this TAG stuff, but four that come to mind are: Chandira, Sporks, Teresa, Alice, and... .
1. Write your own six word memoir
2. Post it on your blog and include a visual illustration if you’d like
3. Link to the person that tagged you in your post and to this original post if possible so we can track it as it travels across the blogosphere
4 Tag five more blogs with links
5. And don’t forget to leave a comment on the tagged blogs with an invitation to play!
Monday, March 03, 2008
Joshua Redman at Catalina's
“Whatever with the past has gone, the best is always yet to come.”
Lucy Larcom (1824 – 1893), poet
The occasion was On The Mark’s birthday. We had a nice steak dinner at Monty’s and then on to Catalina’s in Hollywood for the jazz of Joshua Redman. The maître d' Manny recognized us immediately and seated us up front. It had been a while since OTM and I spent an evening listening to jazz, because now he has a wife, a young child, and another on the way, so last night was very enjoyable.
Redman played for an hour and opened with a rousing version of "Mack the Knife." As OTM said, when watching Redman (this is the second or third time we have seen him there), he imagines this is what it was like in the ‘50s and ‘60s listening to jazz in a intimate club setting. The trio included bass player Reuben Rogers and drummer Gregory Hutchinson. Among the songs "Birds and Roots," "Ghost," "Indian Song" composed by Wayne Shorter, and "Identity Thief" that he premiered just for the 7:30 p.m. show.
Happy birthday and many, many more!
Lucy Larcom (1824 – 1893), poet
The occasion was On The Mark’s birthday. We had a nice steak dinner at Monty’s and then on to Catalina’s in Hollywood for the jazz of Joshua Redman. The maître d' Manny recognized us immediately and seated us up front. It had been a while since OTM and I spent an evening listening to jazz, because now he has a wife, a young child, and another on the way, so last night was very enjoyable.
Redman played for an hour and opened with a rousing version of "Mack the Knife." As OTM said, when watching Redman (this is the second or third time we have seen him there), he imagines this is what it was like in the ‘50s and ‘60s listening to jazz in a intimate club setting. The trio included bass player Reuben Rogers and drummer Gregory Hutchinson. Among the songs "Birds and Roots," "Ghost," "Indian Song" composed by Wayne Shorter, and "Identity Thief" that he premiered just for the 7:30 p.m. show.
Happy birthday and many, many more!
Sunday, March 02, 2008
The Humorous Reply
to the Fake John Cleese Letter
“A popular government without popular information or the means of acquiring it, is but a prologue to a farce, or a tragedy, or perhaps both.”
James Madison (1751-1836), former U.S. president
This is one of the popular responses (I found at Honestly Dead):
TO THE CITIZENS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND:
We welcome your concern about our electoral process. It must be exciting for you to see a real Republic in action, even if from a distance. As always, we’re amused by your quaint belief that you’re actually a world power. The sun never sets on the British Empire! Right-o chum!
However, we regretfully have to decline your offer for intervention. On the other hand, it would be amusing to see you try to enforce your new policy (for the 96.3% of you that seem to have forgotten that you have little to no real power). After much deliberation, we have decided to continue our tradition as the longest running democratic republic. It seems that switching to a monarchy is in fact considered a “backwards step” by the majority of the world.
To help you rise from your current anachronistic status, we have compiled a series of helpful suggestions that we hope you adopt:
1. Realize that language is an organic structure, and that you aren’t always correct in your pronunciation or spelling.
Let’s use your “aluminium” example. Sir Humphrey Davy (an Englishman) invented the name “aluminum” (note spelling) for the metal. However, in common usage the name evolved into “aluminium” to match the naming convention of other elements. In 1925 the United States decided to switch back to the original spelling and pronunciation of the word, at which point we dominated the aluminum industry.
We’d also like to point out that the process of actually producing aluminum was developed by an American and a Frenchman (not an Englishman).
However, we’d like to thank you for the Oxford English Dictionary. It’s an interesting collection, considering that over 10,000 of the words in the original edition were submitted by a crazy American civil-war veteran called Dr. William Charles Minor.
2. Learn to distinguish the American and Canadian accents, and then we’ll talk about the English and Australian accent issue.
3. Review your basic arithmetic. (Hint 100 - 98.85 = 1.15 and 100 - 97.85 = 2.15) (Editor’s note: I think this author missed their annual eye check.)
4. If you want English actors as good guys, then make your own movies. Don’t rely on us for your modern popular culture.
We liked “Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels”, “Trainspotting”, and “The Full Monty”. We’ve also heard good things about this “Billy Elliot”. But one good movie a year doesn’t exactly make a cultural powerhouse. However, you’re doing pretty well with music, so keep up the good work on that front.
5. It’s inefficient to have a national anthem that changes its title whenever your monarch dies. Let’s not forget that your national anthem has an extremely boring tune. We suggest switching to that Rule Brittania ditty, it’s toetapping. Or maybe Elton John could adapt “Candle In The Wind” again for you guys.
6. Improve at your national sport. Football? Soccer? This just in: United States gets fourth place in men’s soccer at the 2000 Summer Olympics. United Kingdom? Not even close.
By the way, impressive showing at Euro 2000. You almost managed to get through the tournament without having your fans start an international incident.
7. Learn how to cook.
England has some top notch candy. Salt ‘n’ Vinegar chips are quite yummy. However, there’s a reason why the best food in your country is Indian or Chinese. Your contributions to the culinary arts are soggy beans, warm beer, and spotted dick.
Perhaps when you finally realize the French aren’t the spawn of Satan they’ll teach you how to cook.
8. You’re doing a terrible job at understanding cars. The obvious error is that you drive on the wrong side of the road. A second problem is pricing, it’s cheaper to buy a car in Belgium and ship it to England than to buy a car in England.
On the other hand, we like Jaguars and Aston Martins. That’s why we bought the companies.
9. We’ll tell you who killed JFK when you apologize for “Teletubbies”.
Thank you for your time. You can now return to watching bad Australian soap operas.
PS: regarding WW2: You’re Welcome.
James Madison (1751-1836), former U.S. president
This is one of the popular responses (I found at Honestly Dead):
TO THE CITIZENS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND:
We welcome your concern about our electoral process. It must be exciting for you to see a real Republic in action, even if from a distance. As always, we’re amused by your quaint belief that you’re actually a world power. The sun never sets on the British Empire! Right-o chum!
However, we regretfully have to decline your offer for intervention. On the other hand, it would be amusing to see you try to enforce your new policy (for the 96.3% of you that seem to have forgotten that you have little to no real power). After much deliberation, we have decided to continue our tradition as the longest running democratic republic. It seems that switching to a monarchy is in fact considered a “backwards step” by the majority of the world.
To help you rise from your current anachronistic status, we have compiled a series of helpful suggestions that we hope you adopt:
1. Realize that language is an organic structure, and that you aren’t always correct in your pronunciation or spelling.
Let’s use your “aluminium” example. Sir Humphrey Davy (an Englishman) invented the name “aluminum” (note spelling) for the metal. However, in common usage the name evolved into “aluminium” to match the naming convention of other elements. In 1925 the United States decided to switch back to the original spelling and pronunciation of the word, at which point we dominated the aluminum industry.
We’d also like to point out that the process of actually producing aluminum was developed by an American and a Frenchman (not an Englishman).
However, we’d like to thank you for the Oxford English Dictionary. It’s an interesting collection, considering that over 10,000 of the words in the original edition were submitted by a crazy American civil-war veteran called Dr. William Charles Minor.
2. Learn to distinguish the American and Canadian accents, and then we’ll talk about the English and Australian accent issue.
3. Review your basic arithmetic. (Hint 100 - 98.85 = 1.15 and 100 - 97.85 = 2.15) (Editor’s note: I think this author missed their annual eye check.)
4. If you want English actors as good guys, then make your own movies. Don’t rely on us for your modern popular culture.
We liked “Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels”, “Trainspotting”, and “The Full Monty”. We’ve also heard good things about this “Billy Elliot”. But one good movie a year doesn’t exactly make a cultural powerhouse. However, you’re doing pretty well with music, so keep up the good work on that front.
5. It’s inefficient to have a national anthem that changes its title whenever your monarch dies. Let’s not forget that your national anthem has an extremely boring tune. We suggest switching to that Rule Brittania ditty, it’s toetapping. Or maybe Elton John could adapt “Candle In The Wind” again for you guys.
6. Improve at your national sport. Football? Soccer? This just in: United States gets fourth place in men’s soccer at the 2000 Summer Olympics. United Kingdom? Not even close.
By the way, impressive showing at Euro 2000. You almost managed to get through the tournament without having your fans start an international incident.
7. Learn how to cook.
England has some top notch candy. Salt ‘n’ Vinegar chips are quite yummy. However, there’s a reason why the best food in your country is Indian or Chinese. Your contributions to the culinary arts are soggy beans, warm beer, and spotted dick.
Perhaps when you finally realize the French aren’t the spawn of Satan they’ll teach you how to cook.
8. You’re doing a terrible job at understanding cars. The obvious error is that you drive on the wrong side of the road. A second problem is pricing, it’s cheaper to buy a car in Belgium and ship it to England than to buy a car in England.
On the other hand, we like Jaguars and Aston Martins. That’s why we bought the companies.
9. We’ll tell you who killed JFK when you apologize for “Teletubbies”.
Thank you for your time. You can now return to watching bad Australian soap operas.
PS: regarding WW2: You’re Welcome.
Saturday, March 01, 2008
Message *Not* From John Cleese
to the Citizens of the
United States of America
“Fools are more to be feared than the wicked.”
Kristina Wasa (1626-1689), Queen of Sweden
An update I discovered by checking in at Poliblog this morning:
"I must confess, however, that it didn’t seem all that Cleesesque, and since neither posting had a link to a source, and because it read and looked like an e-mail more than a published piece, I took a quick trip to Google, and found this at Snopes:
The genesis of this article is a long and convoluted one. It evidently originated on with one Alan Baxter of Rochester, U.K., who wrote and posted a much shorter, four-item version to an internal newsgroup hosted by his employer in November 2000 as a wry commentary on the recently concluded (but far from decided) U.S. presidential election.
The following is not from John Cleese, but made me chuckle nonetheless
A tip of the hat to my friend Chandira at Diary of a Hope Fiend for this great piece.
In light of your failure to nominate competent candidates for President of the USA and thus to govern yourselves, we hereby give notice of the revocation of your independence, effective immediately.
Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will resume monarchical duties over all states, commonwealths, and territories (except Kansas, which she does not fancy).
Your new prime minister, Gordon Brown, will appoint a governor for America without the need for further elections.
Congress and the Senate will be disbanded.
A questionnaire may be circulated next year to determine whether any of you noticed.
To aid in the transition to a British Crown Dependency, the following rules are introduced with immediate effect:
1. You should look up 'revocation' in the Oxford English Dictionary. Then look up aluminium, and check the pronunciation guide. You will be amazed at just how wrongly you have been pronouncing it.
2. The letter 'U' will be reinstated in words such as 'favour' and 'neighbour.' Likewise, you will learn to spell 'doughnut' without skipping half the letters, and the suffix -ize will be replaced by the suffix -ise.
Generally, you will be expected to raise your vocabulary to acceptable levels. (Look up 'vocabulary').
3. Using the same twenty-seven words interspersed with filler noises such as 'like' and 'you know' is an unacceptable and inefficient form of communication.
There is no such thing as US English. We will let Microsoft know on your behalf. The Microsoft spell-checker will be adjusted to take account of the reinstated letter 'u' and the elimination of -ize. You will relearn your original national anthem: God Save The Queen.
4. July 4th will no longer be celebrated as a holiday.
5. You will learn to resolve personal issues without using guns, lawyers, or therapists. The fact that you need so many lawyers and therapists shows that you're not adult enough to be independent.
Guns should only be handled by adults. If you're not adult enough to sort things out without suing someone or speaking to a therapist then you're not grown up enough to handle a gun.
6. Therefore, you will no longer be allowed to own or carry anything more dangerous than a vegetable peeler. A permit will be required if you wish to carry a vegetable peeler in public.
7. All American cars are hereby banned. They are crap and this is for your own good. When we show you German cars, you will understand what we mean.
8. All intersections will be replaced with roundabouts, and you will start driving on the left with immediate effect. At the same time, you will go metric with immediate effect and without the benefit of conversion tables. Both roundabouts and metrication will help you understand the British sense of humour.
9. The Former USA will adopt UK prices on petrol (which you have been calling gasoline)-roughly $6/US gallon. Get used to it.
10. You will learn to make real chips. Those things you call 'French Fries' are not real chips, and those things you insist on calling potato chips are properly called crisps. Real chips are thick cut, fried in animal fat, and dressed not with catsup but with vinegar.
11. The cold tasteless stuff you insist on calling beer is not actually beer at all. Henceforth, only proper British Bitter will be referred to as beer, and European brews of known and accepted provenance will be referred to as Lager. South African beer is also acceptable as they are pound for pound the greatest sporting Nation on earth and it can only be due to the beer. They are also part of British Commonwealth - see what it did for them.
12. Hollywood will be required occasionally to cast English actors as good guys. Hollywood will also be required to cast English actors to play English characters. Watching Andie McDowell attempt English dialogue in Four Weddings and a Funeral was an experience akin to having one's ears removed with a cheese grater.
13. You will cease playing American football. There is only one kind of proper football; you call it soccer. Those of you brave enough will, in time, be allowed to play rugby (which has some similarities to American football, but does not involve stopping for a rest every twenty seconds or wearing full Kevlar body armour like a bunch of nancies). Don't try Rugby - the South Africans and Kiwis will thrash you, like they regularly thrash us.
14. Further, you will stop playing baseball. It is not reasonable to host an event called the World Series for a game which is not played outside of America. Since only 2.1% of you are aware that there is a world beyond your borders, your error is understandable. You will learn cricket, and we will let you face the South Africans first to take the sting out of their deliveries.
15. You must tell us who killed JFK. It's been driving us mad.
16. An internal revenue agent (i.e. tax collector) from Her Majesty's Government will be with you shortly to ensure the acquisition of all monies due (backdated to 1776).
17. Daily Tea Time begins promptly at 4 pm with proper cups, never mugs, with high quality biscuits (cookies) and cakes; strawberries in season.
God save the Queen. Only He can.'
Kristina Wasa (1626-1689), Queen of Sweden
An update I discovered by checking in at Poliblog this morning:
"I must confess, however, that it didn’t seem all that Cleesesque, and since neither posting had a link to a source, and because it read and looked like an e-mail more than a published piece, I took a quick trip to Google, and found this at Snopes:
The genesis of this article is a long and convoluted one. It evidently originated on with one Alan Baxter of Rochester, U.K., who wrote and posted a much shorter, four-item version to an internal newsgroup hosted by his employer in November 2000 as a wry commentary on the recently concluded (but far from decided) U.S. presidential election.
The following is not from John Cleese, but made me chuckle nonetheless
A tip of the hat to my friend Chandira at Diary of a Hope Fiend for this great piece.
In light of your failure to nominate competent candidates for President of the USA and thus to govern yourselves, we hereby give notice of the revocation of your independence, effective immediately.
Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will resume monarchical duties over all states, commonwealths, and territories (except Kansas, which she does not fancy).
Your new prime minister, Gordon Brown, will appoint a governor for America without the need for further elections.
Congress and the Senate will be disbanded.
A questionnaire may be circulated next year to determine whether any of you noticed.
To aid in the transition to a British Crown Dependency, the following rules are introduced with immediate effect:
1. You should look up 'revocation' in the Oxford English Dictionary. Then look up aluminium, and check the pronunciation guide. You will be amazed at just how wrongly you have been pronouncing it.
2. The letter 'U' will be reinstated in words such as 'favour' and 'neighbour.' Likewise, you will learn to spell 'doughnut' without skipping half the letters, and the suffix -ize will be replaced by the suffix -ise.
Generally, you will be expected to raise your vocabulary to acceptable levels. (Look up 'vocabulary').
3. Using the same twenty-seven words interspersed with filler noises such as 'like' and 'you know' is an unacceptable and inefficient form of communication.
There is no such thing as US English. We will let Microsoft know on your behalf. The Microsoft spell-checker will be adjusted to take account of the reinstated letter 'u' and the elimination of -ize. You will relearn your original national anthem: God Save The Queen.
4. July 4th will no longer be celebrated as a holiday.
5. You will learn to resolve personal issues without using guns, lawyers, or therapists. The fact that you need so many lawyers and therapists shows that you're not adult enough to be independent.
Guns should only be handled by adults. If you're not adult enough to sort things out without suing someone or speaking to a therapist then you're not grown up enough to handle a gun.
6. Therefore, you will no longer be allowed to own or carry anything more dangerous than a vegetable peeler. A permit will be required if you wish to carry a vegetable peeler in public.
7. All American cars are hereby banned. They are crap and this is for your own good. When we show you German cars, you will understand what we mean.
8. All intersections will be replaced with roundabouts, and you will start driving on the left with immediate effect. At the same time, you will go metric with immediate effect and without the benefit of conversion tables. Both roundabouts and metrication will help you understand the British sense of humour.
9. The Former USA will adopt UK prices on petrol (which you have been calling gasoline)-roughly $6/US gallon. Get used to it.
10. You will learn to make real chips. Those things you call 'French Fries' are not real chips, and those things you insist on calling potato chips are properly called crisps. Real chips are thick cut, fried in animal fat, and dressed not with catsup but with vinegar.
11. The cold tasteless stuff you insist on calling beer is not actually beer at all. Henceforth, only proper British Bitter will be referred to as beer, and European brews of known and accepted provenance will be referred to as Lager. South African beer is also acceptable as they are pound for pound the greatest sporting Nation on earth and it can only be due to the beer. They are also part of British Commonwealth - see what it did for them.
12. Hollywood will be required occasionally to cast English actors as good guys. Hollywood will also be required to cast English actors to play English characters. Watching Andie McDowell attempt English dialogue in Four Weddings and a Funeral was an experience akin to having one's ears removed with a cheese grater.
13. You will cease playing American football. There is only one kind of proper football; you call it soccer. Those of you brave enough will, in time, be allowed to play rugby (which has some similarities to American football, but does not involve stopping for a rest every twenty seconds or wearing full Kevlar body armour like a bunch of nancies). Don't try Rugby - the South Africans and Kiwis will thrash you, like they regularly thrash us.
14. Further, you will stop playing baseball. It is not reasonable to host an event called the World Series for a game which is not played outside of America. Since only 2.1% of you are aware that there is a world beyond your borders, your error is understandable. You will learn cricket, and we will let you face the South Africans first to take the sting out of their deliveries.
15. You must tell us who killed JFK. It's been driving us mad.
16. An internal revenue agent (i.e. tax collector) from Her Majesty's Government will be with you shortly to ensure the acquisition of all monies due (backdated to 1776).
17. Daily Tea Time begins promptly at 4 pm with proper cups, never mugs, with high quality biscuits (cookies) and cakes; strawberries in season.
God save the Queen. Only He can.'
Friday, February 29, 2008
Message to Ralph Nader
Finality is not the language of politics.
Benjamin Disraeli (1804–81), statesman
Tip of the hat to Poliblog and Monkey Cage. The link to Poliblog is to the right toward the top and Monkey Cage for now can be reach via Poliblog.
Benjamin Disraeli (1804–81), statesman
Tip of the hat to Poliblog and Monkey Cage. The link to Poliblog is to the right toward the top and Monkey Cage for now can be reach via Poliblog.
Less Newspaper Coverage
Means Lower Subscription Fee
Newspapers always excite curiosity. No one ever lays one down without a feeling of disappointment.
Charles Lamb (1775–1834), essayist
Sam Zell, the new owner of the Los Angeles Times, has already proven a disappointment by agreeing to cut more reporters, and now has plans to reduce the number of reporters in Washington.
I decided that if news coverage is going down, then the price I pay for the newspaper should be reduced accordingly. I called 1-800-LATIMES and told them I was going to cancel my subscription and they transferred me to a special operator who immediately reduced my rate from $3.99 per week to $2.80 per week for 26 weeks. I asked what happens after 26 weeks, she said to call back and they will place me on another promotion.
Charles Lamb (1775–1834), essayist
Sam Zell, the new owner of the Los Angeles Times, has already proven a disappointment by agreeing to cut more reporters, and now has plans to reduce the number of reporters in Washington.
I decided that if news coverage is going down, then the price I pay for the newspaper should be reduced accordingly. I called 1-800-LATIMES and told them I was going to cancel my subscription and they transferred me to a special operator who immediately reduced my rate from $3.99 per week to $2.80 per week for 26 weeks. I asked what happens after 26 weeks, she said to call back and they will place me on another promotion.
Items in the News
A magazine or a newspaper is a shop. Each is an experiment and represents a new focus, a new ratio between commerce and intellect.
John Jay Chapman (1862–1933), author
(it's an experiment that commerce is winning handily)
A couple of items in the news yesterday that both please and baffle me.
The good news is United Airlines treats celebrities the same way they treat their steerage-class customers. The bad news is they are still in business.
From The New York Post's Page 6
Stuck In Coach
BEING a celebrity doesn't always get you perks. Josh Hartnett found himself in an unusual predicament when he was forced to fly coach on a flight back to New York the day after the Os cars. "United Airlines was so overbooked, there was no way for him to get upgraded," said an onlooker. "But it wasn't for lack of trying. There were so many celebs on the flight, when he went to the counter to ask about a wait list they told him, 'You're number 55.' "
No Surprise Bush in the Dark
Our embarrassment of a president showed that he is as out of touch as father Bush was when he admitted he was unaware of the predictions of $4-a-gallon gas. He also showed he does not pay attention to current events, unless it’s sports related.
From CNN:
President Bush, saying he was unaware of predictions of $4-a-gallon gasoline in the coming months, told reporters Thursday that the best way to help Americans fend off high prices is for Congress to make his first-term tax cuts permanent.
"If you're out there wondering... what your life is going to be like, and you're looking at $4 a gallon, that's uncertain," Bush responded to a question posed at a White House news conference. "And when you couple that with the idea that... taxes may be going up in a couple years, that's double uncertainty."
Analysts have said that gasoline could reach $4 a gallon by this spring, due to strong demand and a change in formulation, among other reasons.
When taking the question about the $4 milestone, Bush told the reporter, "That's interesting. I hadn't heard that."
John Jay Chapman (1862–1933), author
(it's an experiment that commerce is winning handily)
A couple of items in the news yesterday that both please and baffle me.
The good news is United Airlines treats celebrities the same way they treat their steerage-class customers. The bad news is they are still in business.
From The New York Post's Page 6
Stuck In Coach
BEING a celebrity doesn't always get you perks. Josh Hartnett found himself in an unusual predicament when he was forced to fly coach on a flight back to New York the day after the Os cars. "United Airlines was so overbooked, there was no way for him to get upgraded," said an onlooker. "But it wasn't for lack of trying. There were so many celebs on the flight, when he went to the counter to ask about a wait list they told him, 'You're number 55.' "
No Surprise Bush in the Dark
Our embarrassment of a president showed that he is as out of touch as father Bush was when he admitted he was unaware of the predictions of $4-a-gallon gas. He also showed he does not pay attention to current events, unless it’s sports related.
From CNN:
President Bush, saying he was unaware of predictions of $4-a-gallon gasoline in the coming months, told reporters Thursday that the best way to help Americans fend off high prices is for Congress to make his first-term tax cuts permanent.
"If you're out there wondering... what your life is going to be like, and you're looking at $4 a gallon, that's uncertain," Bush responded to a question posed at a White House news conference. "And when you couple that with the idea that... taxes may be going up in a couple years, that's double uncertainty."
Analysts have said that gasoline could reach $4 a gallon by this spring, due to strong demand and a change in formulation, among other reasons.
When taking the question about the $4 milestone, Bush told the reporter, "That's interesting. I hadn't heard that."
Thursday, February 28, 2008
RIP Buddy Miles
All publicity is good, except an obituary notice.
Brendan Behan (1923–64), playwright
From the New York Times:
Buddy Miles, the drummer in Jimi Hendrix’s Band of Gypsys and a hitmaker under his own name with the song “Them Changes,” died on at his home in Austin, Tex. He was 60.
Mr. Miles suffered from congestive heat failure, his publicist, Duane Lee, said, according to Reuters. Mr. Lee said he did not know the official cause of death.
Mr. Miles played with a brisk, assertive, deeply funky attack that made him an apt partner for Hendrix. With his luxuriant Afro and his American-flag shirts, he was a prime mover in the psychedelic blues-rock of the late 1960’s, not only with Hendrix but also as a founder, drummer and occasional lead singer for the Electric Flag. During the 1980’s, he was widely heard as the lead voice of the California Raisins in television commercials
Brendan Behan (1923–64), playwright
From the New York Times:
Buddy Miles, the drummer in Jimi Hendrix’s Band of Gypsys and a hitmaker under his own name with the song “Them Changes,” died on at his home in Austin, Tex. He was 60.
Mr. Miles suffered from congestive heat failure, his publicist, Duane Lee, said, according to Reuters. Mr. Lee said he did not know the official cause of death.
Mr. Miles played with a brisk, assertive, deeply funky attack that made him an apt partner for Hendrix. With his luxuriant Afro and his American-flag shirts, he was a prime mover in the psychedelic blues-rock of the late 1960’s, not only with Hendrix but also as a founder, drummer and occasional lead singer for the Electric Flag. During the 1980’s, he was widely heard as the lead voice of the California Raisins in television commercials
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Done with Hillary Clinton
“What is called resignation is confirmed desperation.”
Henry David Thoreau (1817 – 1862), author
Hillary Clinton's desperate attempt during the debate last night with Barack Obama was so blatantly a last ditch effort that she was afraid to stop talking, than accused the two hosts Brian Williams and Tim Russert of bias.
At this moment, I would vote for John McCain over Hillary. She just frankly disgusted me.
Why would I vote for McCain if Hillary and Obama's policies are similar? Because Hillary is divisive and will only serve to create more road blocks that will help no one, but Hillary.
Henry David Thoreau (1817 – 1862), author
Hillary Clinton's desperate attempt during the debate last night with Barack Obama was so blatantly a last ditch effort that she was afraid to stop talking, than accused the two hosts Brian Williams and Tim Russert of bias.
At this moment, I would vote for John McCain over Hillary. She just frankly disgusted me.
Why would I vote for McCain if Hillary and Obama's policies are similar? Because Hillary is divisive and will only serve to create more road blocks that will help no one, but Hillary.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Losing My Religion
The theory seems to be that as long as a man is a failure he is one of God's children, but as soon as he succeeds he is taken over by the Devil.
H.L Mencken (1880 - 1956), writer
I found this very apropos, so I stole it all from Monkey's for Helping. No wonder Americans are giving up their religion.
Not right, Mr. Christ. Not right at all.
H.L Mencken (1880 - 1956), writer
I found this very apropos, so I stole it all from Monkey's for Helping. No wonder Americans are giving up their religion.
Not right, Mr. Christ. Not right at all.
How Many More Days Left?
To accuse another of having weak kidneys, lungs, or heart, is not a crime; on the contrary, saying he has a weak brain is a crime. To be considered stupid and to be told so is more painful than being called gluttonous, mendacious, violent, lascivious, lazy, cowardly: every weakness, every vice, has found its defenders, its rhetoric, its ennoblement and exaltation, but stupidity hasn’t.
Primo Levi (1919–87), chemist, author
President Bush predicted Monday that voters will replace him with a Republican president who will "keep up the fight" in Iraq. "I'm confident we'll hold the White House in 2008," Bush told donors at the Republican Governors Association annual dinner, which raised a record $10.6 million for GOP gubernatorial candidates.
He said Republicans still offer the bedrock positions that voters embrace: strong defense, low taxes and personal freedoms.
Personal freedoms, say what? This administration has almost made search warrants antiquated.
"When I say I'm confident, I am so because I understand the mentality of the American people," Bush said. "And I understand the mentality of our candidates. And there's no question in my mind, with your help, 2008 is going to be a great year."
Just like he looked into Putin’s eyes and saw the soviet dictator’s soul and now another cold war is nearly underway.
Is it any wonder the campaign for the next president is in full swing? The entire world wants this moron out of office.
Primo Levi (1919–87), chemist, author
President Bush predicted Monday that voters will replace him with a Republican president who will "keep up the fight" in Iraq. "I'm confident we'll hold the White House in 2008," Bush told donors at the Republican Governors Association annual dinner, which raised a record $10.6 million for GOP gubernatorial candidates.
He said Republicans still offer the bedrock positions that voters embrace: strong defense, low taxes and personal freedoms.
Personal freedoms, say what? This administration has almost made search warrants antiquated.
"When I say I'm confident, I am so because I understand the mentality of the American people," Bush said. "And I understand the mentality of our candidates. And there's no question in my mind, with your help, 2008 is going to be a great year."
Just like he looked into Putin’s eyes and saw the soviet dictator’s soul and now another cold war is nearly underway.
Is it any wonder the campaign for the next president is in full swing? The entire world wants this moron out of office.
Monday, February 25, 2008
A Monday Morning Random 11
Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.
Berthold Auerbach (1812 – 1882), poet, writer
I am avoiding writing about the proposal to allow guns in national parks; let’s just be done with it and have everyone strap on a gun belt and let combatants have gunfights in the streets like the old western movies. In real life even the cowboys were too smart for that nonsense. Here is the random 11:
Berthold Auerbach (1812 – 1882), poet, writer
I am avoiding writing about the proposal to allow guns in national parks; let’s just be done with it and have everyone strap on a gun belt and let combatants have gunfights in the streets like the old western movies. In real life even the cowboys were too smart for that nonsense. Here is the random 11:
- "All Night Long" by Diana Krall
- "Nobody Loves You When You’re Down and Out" by John Lennon
- "Bus to Baton Rouge" by Lucinda Williams
- "Changes" by Jimi Hendrix
- "Maiden Voyage" by Eldar Djangirov
- "Tin Roof Blues" by Louis Armstrong
- "Road to Peace" by Tom Waits
- "Helpless" by Neil Young
- "Honky Tonk Women" By Tim Ries
- "A Certain Softness" by Paul McCartney
- "Always Suffering" by The Rolling Stones
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Spongebob [Rectal] Squarepants
Thanks, BoingBoing; what would we ever do without you, pointing out amazing products like this Spongebob Squarepants rectal thermometer? (It's wrong for so many reasons.)
iPod Random 11
"I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve (or save) the world and a desire to enjoy (or savor) the world. This makes it hard to plan the day."
E. B. White (1899-1985) essayist
Before I get around to writing something, here is my iPod random 11:
E. B. White (1899-1985) essayist
Before I get around to writing something, here is my iPod random 11:
- "My kind of Girl" by Count Basie Orchestra/Frank Sinatra
- "You don’t know what Love Is" by Keith Jarrett
- "Skin and Bone" by the Kinks
- "Darkness on the Face of the Earth" by Willie Nelson
- "It Aint’ Me, Babe" by Bob Dylan
- "The Long Way Home" by Norah Jones
- "Sin Remedio, El Mar" by Gonzalo Rubalcaba
- "Jane Doe" by Alicia Keys
- "Leopard-Skin Pill Box Hat" by Bob Dylan
- "I Get Ideas" by Louis Armstrong
- "The Great Nations of Europe" by Randy Newman
Friday, February 22, 2008
Yes You Can
Power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people, right on
John Lennon (1940-1980) singer/songwriter
You can have an American democracy depends less on the size of its armies than on the capacity of its individual citizens to rely, if only momentarily, on the strength of their own thought.
You can have an administration that will observe the minimal decencies of moderate thought abroad or nationally, either socially by helping individuals or families who are forced to eke out a living.
You can have a president who will believe that the public good is superior to the private interest.
You can have a president whose goal is NOT to privatize everything he/she possibly can, including services typically performed by the military. Privatization works in some cases, but not in all cases. Government needs an active role in society. Government needs to enforce fair play and when necessary be the friend, the helper and the agent of the people at large in the contest against entrenched power, whether it is a monopoly of oil companies, a cartel of HMOs or military contracting companies. Our society needs to help others who do not have the opportunity to help themselves.
You can help by understanding --
That a Social Security card is not a private portfolio statement, but a membership ticket in a society where we all contribute to a common treasury so that none need face the indignities of poverty in old age.
That our nation can no more survive half democracy and half oligarchy than it could survive half slave and half free, and that keeping it from becoming all oligarchy is steady work – our work.
That tax evasion is not a form of conserving investment capital but a brazen abandonment of responsibility to the country.
That income inequality is not a sign of freedom of opportunity at work, because if it persists and grows, then unless you believe that some people are naturally born to ride and some to wear saddles, it’s a sign that opportunity is less than equal.
That public services, when privatized, serve only those who can afford them and weaken the sense that we will all rise and fall together as “one nation, indivisible.”
That prosperity requires good wages and benefits for workers
The eight-hour day; the minimum wage; the conservation of natural resources and the protection of our air, water, and land; women’s rights and civil rights; free trade unions; Social Security; a civil service based on merit – all these were launched as citizens’ movements and won the endorsement of the political class only after long struggles and in the face of bitter opposition and sneering attacks. Democracy doesn’t work without citizen activism and participation. Trickle-down politics is no more effective than trickle-down economics.
The following was taken from Bill Moyers "Moyers on America, A Journalist and His Times"
Tip of the hat to Incertus for the Obama video
Power to the people
Power to the people, right on
John Lennon (1940-1980) singer/songwriter
You can have an American democracy depends less on the size of its armies than on the capacity of its individual citizens to rely, if only momentarily, on the strength of their own thought.
You can have an administration that will observe the minimal decencies of moderate thought abroad or nationally, either socially by helping individuals or families who are forced to eke out a living.
You can have a president who will believe that the public good is superior to the private interest.
You can have a president whose goal is NOT to privatize everything he/she possibly can, including services typically performed by the military. Privatization works in some cases, but not in all cases. Government needs an active role in society. Government needs to enforce fair play and when necessary be the friend, the helper and the agent of the people at large in the contest against entrenched power, whether it is a monopoly of oil companies, a cartel of HMOs or military contracting companies. Our society needs to help others who do not have the opportunity to help themselves.
You can help by understanding --
That a Social Security card is not a private portfolio statement, but a membership ticket in a society where we all contribute to a common treasury so that none need face the indignities of poverty in old age.
That our nation can no more survive half democracy and half oligarchy than it could survive half slave and half free, and that keeping it from becoming all oligarchy is steady work – our work.
That tax evasion is not a form of conserving investment capital but a brazen abandonment of responsibility to the country.
That income inequality is not a sign of freedom of opportunity at work, because if it persists and grows, then unless you believe that some people are naturally born to ride and some to wear saddles, it’s a sign that opportunity is less than equal.
That public services, when privatized, serve only those who can afford them and weaken the sense that we will all rise and fall together as “one nation, indivisible.”
That prosperity requires good wages and benefits for workers
The eight-hour day; the minimum wage; the conservation of natural resources and the protection of our air, water, and land; women’s rights and civil rights; free trade unions; Social Security; a civil service based on merit – all these were launched as citizens’ movements and won the endorsement of the political class only after long struggles and in the face of bitter opposition and sneering attacks. Democracy doesn’t work without citizen activism and participation. Trickle-down politics is no more effective than trickle-down economics.
The following was taken from Bill Moyers "Moyers on America, A Journalist and His Times"
Tip of the hat to Incertus for the Obama video
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Oh Really O'Reilly Does it Again
“It may be true that the law cannot make a man love me, but it can keep him from lynching me, and I think that's pretty important.”
Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968) American Baptist Minister and Civil-Rights Leader
Bill O'Reilly: "I Don't Want To Go On A Lynching Party Against Michelle Obama Unless There's Evidence"
I suppose that if he finds the evidence he will lead the lynching party
See more of this story at Huffington Post.
Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968) American Baptist Minister and Civil-Rights Leader
Bill O'Reilly: "I Don't Want To Go On A Lynching Party Against Michelle Obama Unless There's Evidence"
I suppose that if he finds the evidence he will lead the lynching party
See more of this story at Huffington Post.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Privacy Urinals
Thanks, BoingBoing, for sharing a photo of these new privacy-enhanced urinals; it's just the sort of thing we here at Toner Mishap love to talk about.
Washington Irving on War
Washington Irving wrote the following about the War of 1812:
Whatever we may think of the expediency or inexpediency of the present war, we cannot feel indifferent to its operations. Whenever our arms come in competition with those of the enemy, jealousy for our country's honour will swallow up every other consideration. Our feelings will ever accompany the flag of our country to battle, rejoicing in its glory -- lamenting over its defeat. For there is no such thing as releasing ourselves from the consequences of the contest. He who fancies he can stand aloof in interest, and by condemning the present war, is woefully mistaken... If the name of American is to be rendered honorable in the fight, we shall each participate in the honor; if otherwise, we must inevitably support our share of the ignominy.
Whatever we may think of the expediency or inexpediency of the present war, we cannot feel indifferent to its operations. Whenever our arms come in competition with those of the enemy, jealousy for our country's honour will swallow up every other consideration. Our feelings will ever accompany the flag of our country to battle, rejoicing in its glory -- lamenting over its defeat. For there is no such thing as releasing ourselves from the consequences of the contest. He who fancies he can stand aloof in interest, and by condemning the present war, is woefully mistaken... If the name of American is to be rendered honorable in the fight, we shall each participate in the honor; if otherwise, we must inevitably support our share of the ignominy.
Corporate Greed and the Need for Regulation
Economic depression cannot be cured by legislative action or executive pronouncement. Economic wounds must be healed by the action of the cells of the economic body - the producers and consumers themselves.”
Herbert Hoover (1874-1964) Last Republican president to lead the country into depression
Why do we need government regulation? Because we cannot count on companies to have the best interest of the consumers in mind, ever! It’s all about CEOs and management bonuses, stock options and enriching the executive branch or to use corporate jargon, enriching the C-suite.
The latest news is that shipping companies (FedEx, UPS, etc.) and wireless (AT&T, Verizon, etc.) providers all round up charges to their customers. As the article in the Sunday LATimes points out your butcher does not round up and the technology is there to install the precise measurements to determine cell phone usage to one-millionth of a second or weigh your package to the microgram or even on-millionth of a gram.
Unfortunately if all the companies are doing the same thing there is no incentive for the marketplace to change the practice, which is why government regulation is needed.
Herbert Hoover (1874-1964) Last Republican president to lead the country into depression
Why do we need government regulation? Because we cannot count on companies to have the best interest of the consumers in mind, ever! It’s all about CEOs and management bonuses, stock options and enriching the executive branch or to use corporate jargon, enriching the C-suite.
The latest news is that shipping companies (FedEx, UPS, etc.) and wireless (AT&T, Verizon, etc.) providers all round up charges to their customers. As the article in the Sunday LATimes points out your butcher does not round up and the technology is there to install the precise measurements to determine cell phone usage to one-millionth of a second or weigh your package to the microgram or even on-millionth of a gram.
Unfortunately if all the companies are doing the same thing there is no incentive for the marketplace to change the practice, which is why government regulation is needed.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Online Dealer Sells to Both Campus Killers
Gun Legislation is Desperately Needed
Cannons and firearms are cruel and damnable machines; I believe them to have been the direct suggestion of the Devil. If Adam had seen in a vision the horrible instruments his children were to invent, he would have died of grief.
Martin Luther (1483-1546) religious leader
I found this story in the Los Angeles Times to be appalling and if politicians were not afraid to stand up to the National Rifle Association, we might get some desperately needed gun legislation.
The online gun dealer who sold two empty 9-millimeter Glock magazines and a Glock holster to Steven Kazmierczak 10 days before the 27-year-old opened fire in a classroom and killed five before committing suicide is the same online gun dealer who sold a Walther .22-caliber pistol to Seung-Hui Cho, who killed 32 people in April on the Virginia Tech campus before killing himself.
The dealer Eric Thompson said, being tied to both of the shootings is “unnerving. I still feel just absolutely in shock.”
Shock one of the many sad emotions that parents, siblings, and friends feel. But, remember if guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns. I’d rather take my chances with outlaws, rather than having guns so easily accessed that mentally ill kids can take out their aggression on innocent victims.
I just came across a blog that blames the university for banning guns on campus. So now we must all arm ourselves because guns are too readily available? That is simply sick.
You can go to the Brady Campaign Against Gun Violence and sign their petition to help tighten gun laws. If guns laws are not tightened the dean's office on campus could look like this:
Martin Luther (1483-1546) religious leader
I found this story in the Los Angeles Times to be appalling and if politicians were not afraid to stand up to the National Rifle Association, we might get some desperately needed gun legislation.
The online gun dealer who sold two empty 9-millimeter Glock magazines and a Glock holster to Steven Kazmierczak 10 days before the 27-year-old opened fire in a classroom and killed five before committing suicide is the same online gun dealer who sold a Walther .22-caliber pistol to Seung-Hui Cho, who killed 32 people in April on the Virginia Tech campus before killing himself.
The dealer Eric Thompson said, being tied to both of the shootings is “unnerving. I still feel just absolutely in shock.”
Shock one of the many sad emotions that parents, siblings, and friends feel. But, remember if guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns. I’d rather take my chances with outlaws, rather than having guns so easily accessed that mentally ill kids can take out their aggression on innocent victims.
I just came across a blog that blames the university for banning guns on campus. So now we must all arm ourselves because guns are too readily available? That is simply sick.
You can go to the Brady Campaign Against Gun Violence and sign their petition to help tighten gun laws. If guns laws are not tightened the dean's office on campus could look like this:
Monday, February 18, 2008
United Airlines Hates its Coach Passengers
Part II
An involuntary return to the point of departure is, without doubt the most disturbing of all journeys.
Iain Sinclair, author
I will never fly United Airlines again. Granted my protest will have little effect since I don’t travel much if I can avoid it, but I would rather travel by mule or llama with a Sherpa than endure the confusion, apathetic service, and general disregard for the poor palooka who has to travel coach class on United.
My flight took off before either of my co-worker’s flights, but they both made it home on Tuesday night/Wednesday Morning because they were on America Airlines. Our plane waited for deicing, then taxied out to the tarmac to sit for some length of time, which required we go back in, get deiced again, then refueled, then canceled because the crew had gone over their shift time and United had just changed the flight manual not allowing the planes to fly in ice pellets; I am guessing that means hail, but who knows.
I waited over an hour for the luggage to come off the plane, waited in the very cold night for a taxi and then made it to the hotel just before 11 p.m. Now remember, my journey to the airport started at 2:30 p.m. I checked into the hotel and checked out at 3:45 a.m. to get the airport for a 6:30 a.m. flight.
I stood in line to check my luggage and while waiting I confirmed my reservation that was made the minute the flight was canceled. I was horrified that I was assigned a center seat. United employees were not clocked in yet, so they sat around listening to iPods and ignoring the growing line of passengers, which bordered on the absurd.
(Agents hard at work)
I eventually checked my bag and asked to move, even argued that my seat yesterday was not the center sit, but all to no avail. I offered to pay for an upgrade, but I was quoted a price of $1,800. The attendant behind the counter could care less; she’d heard it all before. I boarded the plane and the stewardess asked how I was this morning. So, I told her in no uncertain terms how I was and what I thought of the airline. As we were walking toward the back of the plane into the steerage section, an older gentleman who had heard my exchange, turned and said, “I bet she was glad she asked that question this morning.”
“Someone has to tell them that they are running this airline using the same strategy as American auto companies,” I replied not so kindly.
I am 6-1, 207 pounds and it turns out the two guys sitting next me were just as tall. For six hours the three of us did our best to give the other some room. Yet, when the window seat gentleman had to use the restroom the aisle seat man and I had to unfasten our seatbelts and move up and down the rows until Mr. window seat returned.
The flight did eventually end and I was able to get home. I can only hope the executives of United or their families’ will some day have to fly this airline from the back of the plane. Better yet, it would be nice to regulate airlines again, because the treatment we unfortunate many who have to fly coach are treated is worse than prisoners at Guantánamo, or so I've read.
Iain Sinclair, author
I will never fly United Airlines again. Granted my protest will have little effect since I don’t travel much if I can avoid it, but I would rather travel by mule or llama with a Sherpa than endure the confusion, apathetic service, and general disregard for the poor palooka who has to travel coach class on United.
My flight took off before either of my co-worker’s flights, but they both made it home on Tuesday night/Wednesday Morning because they were on America Airlines. Our plane waited for deicing, then taxied out to the tarmac to sit for some length of time, which required we go back in, get deiced again, then refueled, then canceled because the crew had gone over their shift time and United had just changed the flight manual not allowing the planes to fly in ice pellets; I am guessing that means hail, but who knows.
I waited over an hour for the luggage to come off the plane, waited in the very cold night for a taxi and then made it to the hotel just before 11 p.m. Now remember, my journey to the airport started at 2:30 p.m. I checked into the hotel and checked out at 3:45 a.m. to get the airport for a 6:30 a.m. flight.
I stood in line to check my luggage and while waiting I confirmed my reservation that was made the minute the flight was canceled. I was horrified that I was assigned a center seat. United employees were not clocked in yet, so they sat around listening to iPods and ignoring the growing line of passengers, which bordered on the absurd.
(Agents hard at work)I eventually checked my bag and asked to move, even argued that my seat yesterday was not the center sit, but all to no avail. I offered to pay for an upgrade, but I was quoted a price of $1,800. The attendant behind the counter could care less; she’d heard it all before. I boarded the plane and the stewardess asked how I was this morning. So, I told her in no uncertain terms how I was and what I thought of the airline. As we were walking toward the back of the plane into the steerage section, an older gentleman who had heard my exchange, turned and said, “I bet she was glad she asked that question this morning.”
“Someone has to tell them that they are running this airline using the same strategy as American auto companies,” I replied not so kindly.
I am 6-1, 207 pounds and it turns out the two guys sitting next me were just as tall. For six hours the three of us did our best to give the other some room. Yet, when the window seat gentleman had to use the restroom the aisle seat man and I had to unfasten our seatbelts and move up and down the rows until Mr. window seat returned.
The flight did eventually end and I was able to get home. I can only hope the executives of United or their families’ will some day have to fly this airline from the back of the plane. Better yet, it would be nice to regulate airlines again, because the treatment we unfortunate many who have to fly coach are treated is worse than prisoners at Guantánamo, or so I've read.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Prepare for Take off...
I have found out that there ain’t no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them [or among them].
Mark Twain (1835-1910, author
I have returned from the big apple and I’m glad to be back on my coast. It’s is the getting from one coast to the other that is problematic. Of course, an Arctic front passing through only serves to complicate issues.
Before I start the story of my journey, I had the pleasure of meeting Alice from Through the Looking Glass Sunday evening. From my perspective, we hit it off immediately. I loved her New York sense of humor, as my wife would call it. She is sarcastic, caustic, and funny. I met her at her place, in a very nice area of the island and we walked across the street to a fabulous French restaurant. After dinner we went back to her place and chatted some more until I looked at my watch and realized it was nearly midnight and I had to be at work the next morning. The temperature was in the teens or lower, and lower still with the whipping wind. I was concerned about catching a cab from Alice’s quiet neighborhood, but it proved to be no problem. I was afraid with my California coat I would be found dead from hypothermia with my arm in the raised position for hailing a cab.
Monday was work and a delightful dinner in the evening. Tuesday was work half the day and the other half of the day and well into the day spent attempting to get home. My co-worker and I, left the meeting at 2:30 to await our flights, mine at 5:20 on United to LAX. His flight on American Airlines was set to leave at 7:30 p.m.
Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride was tame compared to the cab ride to JFK. It was now snowing and the freeways and side roads were not just jammed, but stopped. Our driver kept turning and twisting down every side street, which truly prolonged our drive. It took two hours from Manhattan to JFK. Surprisingly the TSA people at the airport were rather pleasant now that most everyone realizes that Bin Laden has changed our airport experience permanently.
The plane was packed. A mother with her infant child was only a couple of rows away, yet I was not concerned as I had my Bose headphones and iPod that cancel all surrounding noise. However, it did nothing about the young lad with the pungent garlic breathe, who kept leaning over me to view the snow covering the wings of our plane. His mother and sister had the two seats across from us, but he must not have flown much because he didn't realize he could move to fill the third seat and grace them with his presence and remnants from dinner. I asked the stewardess to let him know that he could sit with his family, which upon receiving this official notice he immediately did so. My good deed for the evening accomplished.
to be continued...
Mark Twain (1835-1910, author
I have returned from the big apple and I’m glad to be back on my coast. It’s is the getting from one coast to the other that is problematic. Of course, an Arctic front passing through only serves to complicate issues.
Before I start the story of my journey, I had the pleasure of meeting Alice from Through the Looking Glass Sunday evening. From my perspective, we hit it off immediately. I loved her New York sense of humor, as my wife would call it. She is sarcastic, caustic, and funny. I met her at her place, in a very nice area of the island and we walked across the street to a fabulous French restaurant. After dinner we went back to her place and chatted some more until I looked at my watch and realized it was nearly midnight and I had to be at work the next morning. The temperature was in the teens or lower, and lower still with the whipping wind. I was concerned about catching a cab from Alice’s quiet neighborhood, but it proved to be no problem. I was afraid with my California coat I would be found dead from hypothermia with my arm in the raised position for hailing a cab.
Monday was work and a delightful dinner in the evening. Tuesday was work half the day and the other half of the day and well into the day spent attempting to get home. My co-worker and I, left the meeting at 2:30 to await our flights, mine at 5:20 on United to LAX. His flight on American Airlines was set to leave at 7:30 p.m.
Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride was tame compared to the cab ride to JFK. It was now snowing and the freeways and side roads were not just jammed, but stopped. Our driver kept turning and twisting down every side street, which truly prolonged our drive. It took two hours from Manhattan to JFK. Surprisingly the TSA people at the airport were rather pleasant now that most everyone realizes that Bin Laden has changed our airport experience permanently.
The plane was packed. A mother with her infant child was only a couple of rows away, yet I was not concerned as I had my Bose headphones and iPod that cancel all surrounding noise. However, it did nothing about the young lad with the pungent garlic breathe, who kept leaning over me to view the snow covering the wings of our plane. His mother and sister had the two seats across from us, but he must not have flown much because he didn't realize he could move to fill the third seat and grace them with his presence and remnants from dinner. I asked the stewardess to let him know that he could sit with his family, which upon receiving this official notice he immediately did so. My good deed for the evening accomplished.
to be continued...
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Emergency Break-Out Window
It's actually almost scary to imagine the kind of emergency that would be so dire that you'd choose to jump out of this window high above downtown San Diego. (I've blown up the sticker so you can read it.)
Monday, February 11, 2008
Sunday, February 10, 2008
If You Can Make It Here...
Oh! it offends me to the soul to hear a robustious periwig-pated fellow, tear a passion to tatters, to very rags, to split the ears of the groundlings.
William Shakespeare (1564–1616), dramatist
Here I am in Manhattan and I am sitting in my room. I did dash out this morning and went to the Starbucks across the street rather than stand in a long line in the hotel. I picked up the NYTimes, The Daily News and the New York Post before the arctic front that is coming through by lunch time. Thank goodness I have work to do, so the freezing temperatures won’t really bother me today.
Last night I met up with Johnna from Blindsquirrel. We had dinner and went to watched actors audition for a role in her play, “Rattlers,” which is part of her trilogy. I was fascinated watching actors bring life, add nuance, and personalize her words to make the part theirs. The youngish, arrogant director sat in judgment of these actors and he truly relished his role as big man on campus, which countered his diminutive stature, and will fade into the background as the play premieres in November.
Rattlers will play in off-off Broadway and I will be back to see who was ultimately selected to portray an undertaker and the angry, drunken, forlorn husband.
William Shakespeare (1564–1616), dramatist
Here I am in Manhattan and I am sitting in my room. I did dash out this morning and went to the Starbucks across the street rather than stand in a long line in the hotel. I picked up the NYTimes, The Daily News and the New York Post before the arctic front that is coming through by lunch time. Thank goodness I have work to do, so the freezing temperatures won’t really bother me today.
Last night I met up with Johnna from Blindsquirrel. We had dinner and went to watched actors audition for a role in her play, “Rattlers,” which is part of her trilogy. I was fascinated watching actors bring life, add nuance, and personalize her words to make the part theirs. The youngish, arrogant director sat in judgment of these actors and he truly relished his role as big man on campus, which countered his diminutive stature, and will fade into the background as the play premieres in November.
Rattlers will play in off-off Broadway and I will be back to see who was ultimately selected to portray an undertaker and the angry, drunken, forlorn husband.
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Carbon-free Sugar
I guess the guys who wrote the copy for this ad for a new sugar brand didn't think about the chemistry behind their slogan -- because carbon-free sugar is, clearly, water:
C12 H22 O11 - carbon = H22 O11 = H2O
Disclaimer: yes, I read the ad and I know that they're talking about a factory that's minimized carbon emissions.
C12 H22 O11 - carbon = H22 O11 = H2O
Disclaimer: yes, I read the ad and I know that they're talking about a factory that's minimized carbon emissions.
And Then There Was One
When every autumn people said it could not last through the winter, and when every spring there was still no end in sight, only the hope that out of it all some good would accrue to mankind kept men and nations fighting. When at last it was over, the war had many diverse results and one dominant one transcending all others: disillusion.
Living participates of World War I are close to vanishing entirely. One of the last two known surviving U.S. veterans of World War I has died. Richard Landis, who enlisted in the Army in 1918, had lived for 108 years. He never saw action, but trained for 60 days at the end of the war, which was enough for the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs to count him as a veteran. When asked in an interview last year
if he wanted to get into the fight, Mr. Landis replied, "No.'' According to the Department of Veteran Affairs, the last remaining U.S. veteran is Frank Buckles, 107, of Charles Town, W.Va. The last time all known U.S. veterans of a war died was in 1992, when Nathan E. Cook, who served as a sailor in the Spanish-American War of 1898 in the days when 12-year-olds could do such a thing, passed away at age 106.
I think he qualifies as technically the last survivor, so really the last true WWI vet is gone. Just another indication of time marching on, as if we needed it.
Barbara Tuchman (1912–89), historian
From the Wall Street Journal nightly wrap up:Living participates of World War I are close to vanishing entirely. One of the last two known surviving U.S. veterans of World War I has died. Richard Landis, who enlisted in the Army in 1918, had lived for 108 years. He never saw action, but trained for 60 days at the end of the war, which was enough for the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs to count him as a veteran. When asked in an interview last year
if he wanted to get into the fight, Mr. Landis replied, "No.'' According to the Department of Veteran Affairs, the last remaining U.S. veteran is Frank Buckles, 107, of Charles Town, W.Va. The last time all known U.S. veterans of a war died was in 1992, when Nathan E. Cook, who served as a sailor in the Spanish-American War of 1898 in the days when 12-year-olds could do such a thing, passed away at age 106.I think he qualifies as technically the last survivor, so really the last true WWI vet is gone. Just another indication of time marching on, as if we needed it.
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Flying the Friendly Skies
"We'd like to thank you folks for flying with us today. And, the next time you get the insane urge to go blasting through the skies in a pressurized metal tube, we hope you'll think of US Airways."
Part of a flight attendant's arrival announcement
United Airlines continues to do its best to make sure your flying experience is worse than taking a bus.
If you travel and need two bags, United Airlines will begin charging you $50 this spring to check a second piece of luggage on domestic round-trip flights. United is leading the charge among airlines to impose a fee for a service that has long been included in the price of a ticket.
Flying means partial disrobing searches, which include removing shoes, belts, emptying purses and this is just for the children. Make sure your baggage is properly organized and neatly folded to make invasive luggage searches easier.
This is all before even getting to the plane. Once on the plane, expect crowding, overhead racks stuff like a Thanksgiving turkey, no meals, no pillows, and no relaxation as you count the hours before landing, if you’re not delayed onboard for hours.
Part of a flight attendant's arrival announcement
United Airlines continues to do its best to make sure your flying experience is worse than taking a bus.
If you travel and need two bags, United Airlines will begin charging you $50 this spring to check a second piece of luggage on domestic round-trip flights. United is leading the charge among airlines to impose a fee for a service that has long been included in the price of a ticket.
Flying means partial disrobing searches, which include removing shoes, belts, emptying purses and this is just for the children. Make sure your baggage is properly organized and neatly folded to make invasive luggage searches easier.
This is all before even getting to the plane. Once on the plane, expect crowding, overhead racks stuff like a Thanksgiving turkey, no meals, no pillows, and no relaxation as you count the hours before landing, if you’re not delayed onboard for hours.
Monday, February 04, 2008
Newspaper Demographics
I am not the editor of a newspaper and shall always try to do right and be good so that God will not make me one”
Mark Twain, writer
I found this at Whiskey Talking and thought it was amusing.
Mark Twain, writer
I found this at Whiskey Talking and thought it was amusing.
- Newspaper demographics:
1.The Wall Street Journal is read by the people who run the country.
2.The Washington Post is read by people who think they run the country.
3.The New York Times is read by people who think they should run the country and who are very good at crossword puzzles.
4.USA Today is read by people who think they ought to run the country but don’t really understand The New York Times. They do, however, like their statistics shown in pie charts.
5.The Los Angeles Times is read by people who wouldn’t mind running the country — if they could find the time — and if they didn’t have to leave Southern California to do it.
6.The Boston Globe is read by people whose parents used to run the country and did a poor job of it , thank you very much.
7.The New York Daily News is read by people who aren’t too sure who’s running the country and don’t really care as long as they can get a seat on the train.
8.The New York Post is read by people who don’t care who is
running the country as long as they do something really scandalous, preferably while intoxicated.
9.The Miami Herald is read by people who are running another
country but need the baseball scores.
10. The San Francisco Chronicle is read by people who aren’t sure if there is a country or that anyone is running it; but if so, they oppose all that they stand for. There are occasional exceptions if the leaders are handicapped minority feminist atheist dwarfs who also happen to be illegal aliens from any other country or galaxy, provided of course, that they are not Republicans.
11. The National Enquirer is read by people trapped in line at the grocery store.
Sunday, February 03, 2008
Miscellany
Words make you think a thought. Music makes you feel a feeling. A song makes you feel a thought.
E.Y. Harburg (Edgar Yipsel) (1898 - 1981), lyricist
I have been having a rather social weekend. Friday a couple came over for dinner and we played pool. Saturday afternoon it was a wonderful lunch and conversation with Teresa from Neurotranscendence, Sporks from Sporksforall, and Bitch PhD. Saturday night, I stopped by a friends house and who had a handful of company and that was nice to again put names and faces together.
While that was a rare couple of days of nice socializing, today will be spent recharging for the week ahead. It’s raining and as soon as I finished this I will quickly dash outside grab the newspapers, light the fire and spend the day relaxing. A perfect Sunday seems to be on tap.
Frank Rich at the New York Times has an interesting column today comparing with Obama and JFK, which further points to why Obama is the best candidate to be President of the United States.
Playing on the iPod and in the car’s CD player are a few new CDs. Shelby Lynne’s new
one “Just a Little Lovin,’” which is a wonderful mellow, but yet powerful rendition that brings back the songs of Dusty Springfield.
The other CD is Willie Nelson’s “Moment of Forever.” My initial favorite on the CD is
Randy Newman’s “Louisiana.” The CD’s title song is also carries some emotional gravitas.
A couple of CDs that I missed (they been out for three or four years) are from jazz pianist Marcus Roberts “Cole After Midnight,” which feature are Cole Porter standards (“Embraceable You,” “Unforgettable,” “I’ve Got You Under My Skin,” and several others) and Roberts’ 
“Portraits in Blue,” which as one of the comments wrote: This has to be the most raucous, the most bluesy, the most improvisational Rhapsody in Blue ever recorded. Three songs fill the CD “Rhapsody in Blue,” “Yamekraw,” and “I Got Rhythm.”
E.Y. Harburg (Edgar Yipsel) (1898 - 1981), lyricist
I have been having a rather social weekend. Friday a couple came over for dinner and we played pool. Saturday afternoon it was a wonderful lunch and conversation with Teresa from Neurotranscendence, Sporks from Sporksforall, and Bitch PhD. Saturday night, I stopped by a friends house and who had a handful of company and that was nice to again put names and faces together.
While that was a rare couple of days of nice socializing, today will be spent recharging for the week ahead. It’s raining and as soon as I finished this I will quickly dash outside grab the newspapers, light the fire and spend the day relaxing. A perfect Sunday seems to be on tap.
Frank Rich at the New York Times has an interesting column today comparing with Obama and JFK, which further points to why Obama is the best candidate to be President of the United States.
Playing on the iPod and in the car’s CD player are a few new CDs. Shelby Lynne’s new
one “Just a Little Lovin,’” which is a wonderful mellow, but yet powerful rendition that brings back the songs of Dusty Springfield.The other CD is Willie Nelson’s “Moment of Forever.” My initial favorite on the CD is
Randy Newman’s “Louisiana.” The CD’s title song is also carries some emotional gravitas.
A couple of CDs that I missed (they been out for three or four years) are from jazz pianist Marcus Roberts “Cole After Midnight,” which feature are Cole Porter standards (“Embraceable You,” “Unforgettable,” “I’ve Got You Under My Skin,” and several others) and Roberts’ 
“Portraits in Blue,” which as one of the comments wrote: This has to be the most raucous, the most bluesy, the most improvisational Rhapsody in Blue ever recorded. Three songs fill the CD “Rhapsody in Blue,” “Yamekraw,” and “I Got Rhythm.”
Saturday, February 02, 2008
Betting on the Superbowl
"If I lose today, I can look forward to winning tomorrow, and if I win today, I can expect to lose tomorrow. A sure thing is no fun."
Chico Marx (1887–1961), one of the Marx Brothers
Television sets will be tuned into the Superbowl on Sunday, millions will have made bets. I used to make little bets to increase my interest in the game, but these days I could careless who wins. I would like to see the Giants win for an upset. I like underdogs for the most part.
Here are some other wages if you are bored with the game:
I'll tune in, but finish reading the Sunday newspapers and football will be the background noise.
Chico Marx (1887–1961), one of the Marx Brothers
Television sets will be tuned into the Superbowl on Sunday, millions will have made bets. I used to make little bets to increase my interest in the game, but these days I could careless who wins. I would like to see the Giants win for an upset. I like underdogs for the most part.
Here are some other wages if you are bored with the game:
- Tom Petty will smoke a joint during this halftime performance (25-1)
- Michael Jason will sing a duet with Petty (10-1)
- Petty will trip and fall on stage (100-1)
- What song will Petty open with? “Free Fallin” (3-1), “The Waiting” (10-1) “American
Girl” (7-4) - First beer commercial during halftime? Bud Light (2-3), Coors Light (3-2) Miller Draft (7-1)
- First car commercial during halftime? Ford (6-5), Chevrolet (3-2), Toyota (3-1)
I'll tune in, but finish reading the Sunday newspapers and football will be the background noise.
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