Song came to mind today so I thought I'd listen to it and share it. From Jackson Brown' s Hold Out album from 1980.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Democratically Elected Dictator Watch
Our man in Caracas gets increased power. Maybe he's prayed for it.
"The former paratroop commander has already said he will use the law to decree nationalizations of Venezuela's largest telecommunications company and the electricity sector, slap new taxes on the rich and impose greater state control over the oil and natural gas industries.
"A final draft of the law shows Chavez will also be allowed to dictate unspecified measures to transform state institutions; reform banking, tax, insurance and financial regulations; decide on security and defense matters such as gun regulations and military organization; and "adapt" legislation to ensure "the equal distribution of wealth" as part of a new "social and economic model."
Chavez also plans to reorganize regional territories and carry out reforms aimed at bringing "power to the people" through thousands of newly formed Communal Councils, in which Venezuelans will have a say on spending an increasing flow of state money on neighborhood projects from public housing to road repaving."
I posted way back in the beginning about ignoring this guy unless he starts killing his own or really damaging us. He appears to be mostly just a bad-ass communist thug ("Thugo"). Let's just keep our eyes on him.
Monday, January 29, 2007
This Fella is a Thinker
John Jay writes well too!
An excerpt from a very long, as far as blogs go, post from here. Emphases mine. A libertarian site.
Lots to reflect about, but the doomsday stuff has been, sadly, on my mind for the past 6 month, only to have "24," my most favorite show, reinforce...
"The reason I believe that you shouldn't be able to easily knock down a social habit you don’t agree with is that many of the freedoms from ancient mores that we have allowed ourselves in the past century have been, like it or not, predicated on material abundance. And far too few people have any idea how tenuous is our grasp on the modern world. How quickly the EM pulses from a few atomic bombs could wipe out our communications networks, how some engineered virus could wipe out our food supplies or cause an epidemic to send us back to small community life with world travel banned or severely restricted. Not only could a doomsday scenario (and I’m not even including comet strikes or anything weird like that) happen, given the cycle of human history up to now, I’m pretty sure some sort of doomsday will happen in the next few centuries. I see it as a moral imperative to raise kids that can not only survive and thrive in the modern world, but who would also make a contribution in a world crippled by disaster.
"Most modern people take material progress for granted. Many on the Left see something wrong, and they want it corrected right now. They rarely ask more than rudimentary questions about how things got to be this way, and their mental models are usually lacking a time dimension. This is why I have such a huge problem with the historical revisionists who want to emphasize the slave-holding hypocrisy of many of the founding fathers or this or that other historical habit that offends modern sensibilities. It’s a form of temporal bigotry. American society of 1789 produced the children who became abolitionists of 1859. Why? Because those later generations had been given enough of a material advantage to be able to consider questions of morality. But they also carried on the traditions of their fathers, making them better. They had been given language in their political documents such as “all men are created equal”, and it fell to that later generation to begin to question the definition of “man”. But facing the slavery question head-on in 1789 would have destroyed the nascent confederation before it had time to grow abolitionists. I can celebrate the achievements of the generation of 1789 without buying in to their entire worldview."
An excerpt from a very long, as far as blogs go, post from here. Emphases mine. A libertarian site.
Lots to reflect about, but the doomsday stuff has been, sadly, on my mind for the past 6 month, only to have "24," my most favorite show, reinforce...
"The reason I believe that you shouldn't be able to easily knock down a social habit you don’t agree with is that many of the freedoms from ancient mores that we have allowed ourselves in the past century have been, like it or not, predicated on material abundance. And far too few people have any idea how tenuous is our grasp on the modern world. How quickly the EM pulses from a few atomic bombs could wipe out our communications networks, how some engineered virus could wipe out our food supplies or cause an epidemic to send us back to small community life with world travel banned or severely restricted. Not only could a doomsday scenario (and I’m not even including comet strikes or anything weird like that) happen, given the cycle of human history up to now, I’m pretty sure some sort of doomsday will happen in the next few centuries. I see it as a moral imperative to raise kids that can not only survive and thrive in the modern world, but who would also make a contribution in a world crippled by disaster.
"Most modern people take material progress for granted. Many on the Left see something wrong, and they want it corrected right now. They rarely ask more than rudimentary questions about how things got to be this way, and their mental models are usually lacking a time dimension. This is why I have such a huge problem with the historical revisionists who want to emphasize the slave-holding hypocrisy of many of the founding fathers or this or that other historical habit that offends modern sensibilities. It’s a form of temporal bigotry. American society of 1789 produced the children who became abolitionists of 1859. Why? Because those later generations had been given enough of a material advantage to be able to consider questions of morality. But they also carried on the traditions of their fathers, making them better. They had been given language in their political documents such as “all men are created equal”, and it fell to that later generation to begin to question the definition of “man”. But facing the slavery question head-on in 1789 would have destroyed the nascent confederation before it had time to grow abolitionists. I can celebrate the achievements of the generation of 1789 without buying in to their entire worldview."
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Near You - Boz Scaggs
From his 1970 Moments CD which was damn hard to find. I got mine from Japan.
Sounds of innocent love.
"It's good to be alive. It's good that you arrived on time!"
Sounds of innocent love.
"It's good to be alive. It's good that you arrived on time!"
Something More- Train
From their Drops of Jupiter album.
California Bay Area band that make this song sound Beatlesque to me. Speaking of the Beatles, this track itself got a little mucky at the end and actually has a little clip of a Paul McC song from his Driving Rain album. Don't ask me how. Spooky! I've never "blended " a song ever, and this happened on its own.
California Bay Area band that make this song sound Beatlesque to me. Speaking of the Beatles, this track itself got a little mucky at the end and actually has a little clip of a Paul McC song from his Driving Rain album. Don't ask me how. Spooky! I've never "blended " a song ever, and this happened on its own.
Friday, January 26, 2007
Disloyalty - At The Hands Of Puffins !!
MGF pens an occasional letter to the editor of our local rag. I thought this would be worthy of a major and influential outlet. "Eclecticity" surely qualifies as that, wouldn't you agree? Here's his letter:
Principles ? I think not. Politics ? Oh, yeah.
Imagine that it’s May, 1944. Everyone knows a buildup of men and materiel has been underway in England, in preparation for what is to become the D-Day invasion of mainland Europe and the hoped-for defeat of Nazi Germany. BUT, a coterie of political opponents, doves, and opportunists in the U.S. Senate sees fit to issue a “non-binding resolution” declaring that they do not believe this strategy is sound or “in the national interest” – blatantly intruding upon the role and responsibilities of our Commander-in-Chief, President Roosevelt. Would such an astounding display of craven and irresponsible political posturing have been tolerated in time of that war ? I suspect the authors and signers would have been run out of Washington on a rail – if not charged with providing aid and comfort to our enemy.
Now, it’s January 2007. Just imagine…..
The transparent political pandering that such ‘non-binding resolutions’ represent is unmistakable. The pompous puffins in the U.S. Senate lack the political courage to do what is within their power to do under the Constitution. That is, if they are so at odds with the ‘war’ in Iraq, they have the constitutional power to end it – by voting to reduce or eliminate its funding. But, oh, no, they don’t dare do that ! How ever could they square such a move with their ‘heart-felt’ declarations that they “support our troops” ?
Ladies and Gentlemen, if you ever wanted to witness an example of flat-out political cowardice in time of war, this is it.
I used to have a great deal of respect for Senator Biden. Used to…….
Imagine that it’s May, 1944. Everyone knows a buildup of men and materiel has been underway in England, in preparation for what is to become the D-Day invasion of mainland Europe and the hoped-for defeat of Nazi Germany. BUT, a coterie of political opponents, doves, and opportunists in the U.S. Senate sees fit to issue a “non-binding resolution” declaring that they do not believe this strategy is sound or “in the national interest” – blatantly intruding upon the role and responsibilities of our Commander-in-Chief, President Roosevelt. Would such an astounding display of craven and irresponsible political posturing have been tolerated in time of that war ? I suspect the authors and signers would have been run out of Washington on a rail – if not charged with providing aid and comfort to our enemy.
Now, it’s January 2007. Just imagine…..
The transparent political pandering that such ‘non-binding resolutions’ represent is unmistakable. The pompous puffins in the U.S. Senate lack the political courage to do what is within their power to do under the Constitution. That is, if they are so at odds with the ‘war’ in Iraq, they have the constitutional power to end it – by voting to reduce or eliminate its funding. But, oh, no, they don’t dare do that ! How ever could they square such a move with their ‘heart-felt’ declarations that they “support our troops” ?
Ladies and Gentlemen, if you ever wanted to witness an example of flat-out political cowardice in time of war, this is it.
I used to have a great deal of respect for Senator Biden. Used to…….
Sincerely,
MGF
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
The Beatles Philosphy II
A periodic philosophical, psychological, and/or theological analysis of a Beatles song lyric. Lyric: “My happiness still makes me cry.”
Song: Ask Me Why (1963)
Analysis: Acceptance of deep emotions / masculine comfort with emotions
Monday, January 22, 2007
Gloria - Van Morrison and John Lee Hooker
A great re-make of the 60's Them (featuring a very young Van Morrison) hit. From VM's Too Long in Exile album (1993)
Interview With A Mercenary
"Contract worker" in war. A facinating interview with a former Navy Seal commander, Richard Marcinko from a NPR show. Look for the second hour of the show from 1/21/07. Find the interview at about the 39 minute mark. You will need RealPlayer to hear it. Worth it!
Contrast this guy with the fella with the leggings below!
Sunday, January 21, 2007
"Leggings" for Men
"Fashion insiders claim this model's outfit from the waist down is the must-have for men."
Yeh, right.
Found on Yahoo's Homepage today.
Friday, January 19, 2007
Who Dat
say deh gonna beat dem Saints? Who dat? Who dat? We look for glory this weekend. Let it be our Sunday to rule, for the first time.
Update: They were the "Ain'ts" yesterday. 4 turnovers. Sorry end to a great season. They are a team to be reckoned with though.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Love Light In Flight - Stevie Wonder
S.W. has always had a huge fan in me. From his "Woman In Red" album/soundtrack. Mid-80's
"Fuel-injected passion!"
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Three Thought-Provoking Articles by Charles Murray
From the Big Bad Wall Street Journal this week.
1. Intelligence in the Classroom: Half of all children are below average, and teachers can do only so much for them.
2. What's Wrong With Vocational School?:Too many Americans are going to college.
3. Aztecs vs. Greeks: Those with superior intelligence need to learn to be wise.
Welcome Friends!
"We do not have to visit a madhouse to find disordered minds; our planet is the mental institution of the universe." Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Every Kinda People
The Late Great Robert Palmer. Another favorite of mine is "I Didn't Mean To Turn You On."
Said the fight to make ends meet
Keeps a man upon his feet
Holding down his job
Trying to show he can’t be bought
Ooh it takes every kinda people
To make what life’s about, yeah
Every kinda people
To make the world go ’round
Someone’s looking for a lead
In his duty to a king or to a creed
Protecting what he feels is right
Fights against wrong with his life
There’s no profit in deceit
Honest men know that
Revenge does not taste sweet
Whether yellow, black or white
Each and every man’s the same inside
It takes every kinda people
To make what life’s about, yeah
It takes every kinda people
To make the world go ’roundDoo doo doo......
You know that love’s the only goal
That could bring a peace to any soul
Hey and every man’s the same
He wants the sunshine in his name
It takes every kinda people
To make what life’s about, yeah
It takes every kinda people
To make the world go ’round
Mmmm, every kinda people
To make what life’s about
(Enjoy!)
Said the fight to make ends meet
Keeps a man upon his feet
Holding down his job
Trying to show he can’t be bought
Ooh it takes every kinda people
To make what life’s about, yeah
Every kinda people
To make the world go ’round
Someone’s looking for a lead
In his duty to a king or to a creed
Protecting what he feels is right
Fights against wrong with his life
There’s no profit in deceit
Honest men know that
Revenge does not taste sweet
Whether yellow, black or white
Each and every man’s the same inside
It takes every kinda people
To make what life’s about, yeah
It takes every kinda people
To make the world go ’roundDoo doo doo......
You know that love’s the only goal
That could bring a peace to any soul
Hey and every man’s the same
He wants the sunshine in his name
It takes every kinda people
To make what life’s about, yeah
It takes every kinda people
To make the world go ’round
Mmmm, every kinda people
To make what life’s about
(Enjoy!)
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
But Have You (I) ?
"We've "tried everything," by which we mean we've tried a few things that everybody else has done as long as they didn't involve doing anything differently from what we normally do."
From "Scott" from Seth Godin's blog
From "Scott" from Seth Godin's blog
Monday, January 15, 2007
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Friday, January 12, 2007
Thursday, January 11, 2007
It Resonated With Me
Heard on NPR going home from work today.
Dreher appears to have been a real-life Alex Keaton type (Michael J. Fox on Family Ties in the 80s)
All Things Considered, January 11, 2007 ·
Commentator Rod Dreher has been a conservative since he was 13. Now on the cusp of turning 40, he's still a conservative, but is so dismayed at the way President Bush is handling the Iraq war that all of his prior beliefs have come into question.
“In Iraq, this Republican president, for whom I voted twice, has shamed our country with weakness and incompetence. And the consequences of his failure will be far far worse than anything Carter did. The fraud! The mendacity! The haplessness of our government’s conduct of the Iraq war have been shattering to me. It wasn’t supposed to turn out like this. Not under a Republican president. Not after Reagan…”
“In Iraq, this Republican president, for whom I voted twice, has shamed our country with weakness and incompetence. And the consequences of his failure will be far far worse than anything Carter did. The fraud! The mendacity! The haplessness of our government’s conduct of the Iraq war have been shattering to me. It wasn’t supposed to turn out like this. Not under a Republican president. Not after Reagan…”
Dreher writes for a Dallas Newspaper and lives in Dallas.
Check The Date of This Statement
"In a surprise twist in the debate over Iraq, Rep. Silvestre Reyes, the soon-to-be chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, said he wants to see an increase of 20,000 to 30,000 U.S. troops as part of a stepped up effort to “dismantle the militias.”" Found here.
From Newsweek Online, DECEMBER 5, 2006
Our bungling president gives "them" (the Dems) what they want and they don't want it now.
What's changed their minds?
From Newsweek Online, DECEMBER 5, 2006
Our bungling president gives "them" (the Dems) what they want and they don't want it now.
What's changed their minds?
In Spite of War
"In another impoverished section of western Baghdad, children beg for candy, soccer balls, and photographs."
Look at these beautiful faces of Iraqi children. From Michelle Malkin's blog. She's embedded in Iraq now.
Vox Day on the 21,000 Troop Surge
"This is either stage-setting for an American-Israeli strike on Iran, or, as I suspect, the usual last-gasp muscle-flexing that historically precedes a pull-out or surrender."
Vox Populi is one of my favorites to the right.
Vox Populi is one of my favorites to the right.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Networked / Digital Ad Nauseum
Interesting little take on the difference's between Bill and Steve here. From Nicholas Carr's blog.
I was driving to work the other day and heard Bill Gates say from the Consumer Electronic Show in Las Vegas, something like: "Our goal is to have you wired (online, networked,... whatever) 24/7." He made an uncute little joke about maybe not when we are sleeping. Yuk. Yuk.
Yeah that's desirable all right. How about a few moments alone with our own thoughts Bill?
I love new technology and have been an early adapter on a number of things tech/digital related over the years. But please... Stop the savior posturing.
Highlights:
On Gates: "He's still pitching a "digital lifestyle" that nobody wants."
On Jobs: "Like the iPod, the iPhone is a little fortress ruled over by King Steve."
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Two Thumbs Up
I got the idea for The Beatles Philosophy lessons from my recent listen to this. A 4-Star Amazon average out of 265 amatuer reviewers. Not bad.
Heard some great lines in the songs that might be explained in a different way.
What memories. What feelings from the past their songs evoke in me. Yes, I was basically there. Just a kid but I was there.
I can still smell the new picture pages from the Magical Mystery Tour album that my older brother would have killed me over if he knew I was handling it and listening to it. I made sure he was out of the house when I took my trips with the Beatles. He ultimately had to build a lock-box for his albums with a pad lock! It kept me out. But he would forget to lock it often enough. I kept up with the latest music that way. I'll have to forward him this post!
The Beatles Philosophy
A periodic philosophical, psychological, and/or theological analysis of a Beatles song lyric. They might make me appear much more erudite than I really am! But they're just for fun. All in fun.
Why the hell you ask? Because I blog, I answer.
An Example: “And the way she looked was way beyond compare.”
Song: I Saw Her Standing There (1963)
Analysis: The notion of objective aesthetic beauty in the universe and society.
An Example: “And the way she looked was way beyond compare.”
Song: I Saw Her Standing There (1963)
Analysis: The notion of objective aesthetic beauty in the universe and society.
Thugo's Admission
"I'M A COMMUNIST"
On Monday, Chávez openly referred to himself and his former vice president, José Vicente Rangel, as ''communists'' and said those who wanted to understand his proposed ''21st century socialism'' should look at the works of Marx and Lenin, as well as the Bible.
He ended his speech with the call Fidel Castro used to wind up his speeches throughout his nearly five decades in power: ``Patria o Muerte, Venceremos -- Fatherland or Death, We will triumph!''
Source: Miami Herald
On Monday, Chávez openly referred to himself and his former vice president, José Vicente Rangel, as ''communists'' and said those who wanted to understand his proposed ''21st century socialism'' should look at the works of Marx and Lenin, as well as the Bible.
He ended his speech with the call Fidel Castro used to wind up his speeches throughout his nearly five decades in power: ``Patria o Muerte, Venceremos -- Fatherland or Death, We will triumph!''
Source: Miami Herald
Stuff Of A Periodic Nightmare
North Yungas Road in Bolivia is hands-down the most dangerous in the world for motorists.
Monday, January 08, 2007
Thugo Chavez True To Form
Nationalizing the country's electrical and telecommunications companies. Telecommunications sounds like to me, telephones, TV (including the news!), maybe the printed press.
Surprise Surprise.
I've commented on this guy before. I would link to "here, here and here", like other bloggers, but you can check my archives for the Thugo posts and at the same time check out all kinds of stuff I blog about besides fucking communists.