THE GREAT WHITE BEAR

You can find me occasionally blogging at

2008-03-13T21:28:00.000-04:00

HOW I SPENT MY SUMMER

2007-08-30T18:57:00.000-04:00

Damn... How can it be Labor Day already? Seems like the summer just got underway! But the granddaughters have been in school for two weeks, so summer must be about over. The bulk of the nations children will be starting school next Tuesday, and most will be given the assignment of writing an essay on how they spent their summer vacation. Since I am feeling rather young and highschoolish these days, I thought I might post an essay on how I spent MY summer. Yes Miss Brooks, you can share it with the class (sorry, flashback)!

I spent 20 days paddling 15 different rivers. Made a lot of new friends on the river! Thanks to the Internet, our paddling group has more than doubled in size! The highlights of the paddling year were probably the Pigeon River Camp and Canoe, the two trips we made on the Dowagiac, and the Indiana Paddler's Rendezvous. Pics of which can be viewed on my Flickr site. The low point was probably last week, when a high water trip on the Pigeon nearly cost us a paddler, and a kayak. As it is, the paddler suffered black eyes, possible broken nose, and cracked ribs. She is probably only alive because of the skilled river rescue pulled off by one of our senior paddlers, Nick Norris. He also orchestrated a skilled rescue of a pinned kayak. Our other senior paddler, 74 yr old Bob (Curmudgeon) Owens, also was responsible for a skilled rescue. Thank heavens for the geezers!

I learned a lot of lessons paddling this summer, the top 5 of which were:

5. I am a much better paddler than I gave myself credit for.
4. I am not nearly the paddler I want/need to be.
3. I have incredible paddling friends who are much more resilient and forgiving than I deserve!
2. I too often take our elder statesmen paddlers for granted. What they have lost in physical prowess is more than made up for in accumulated skill and knowledge.

And the #1 lesson I learned this summer... NEVER take the river for granted! It will bite you in the ass every time!

Now I am sure that at this point you are thinking, "Wow, what a full exciting summer! Couldn't possibly have crammed much more than that in!" WRONG, camel breath!

I spent several weekends camping, where I was introduced to a wondrous invention called a "Bake Packer." Allows you to cook an entire meal in a food grade plastic bag, freeing you from the hassle of washing pots and pans! NIFTY!

I also baby sat for my granddaughters every Friday. Among our adventures... Every Friday breakfast at Allie's Cafe, where the pancakes shaped like Mickey Mouse were a big hit! Several trips to lake Michigan beaches. Toured four separate museums. The Studebaker Museum, the Northern Indiana Center For History, including a tour of the fabulous Oliver Mansion, where the founder of the Oliver Chilled Plow Works (now White Tractor), and his heirs lived. Also toured HealthWorks Kids Museum, and the Curious Kids Museum in St. Joseph MI. The children's museum visits were bracketed by breakfast at Le Peep (which they found to be very fancy and grown up), and dinner at their favorite restaurant, Cracker Barrel.

Wow, but there is still MORE!

I discovered the best invention of the new century so far... The 5L Heineken refrigerator keg! Hold five liters of draft beer, and will keep it for a month after it's been tapped. Fits perfectly on the bottom shelf of the fridge! Also discovered that if you set the keg on the table next to the computer, you can go through a half dozen pints of beer in an amazingly short span of time. Also discovered that consuming six pints of beer in that short a period of time makes it difficult to type. Or for that matter, to get up from the chair.

I spent many a summer night watching, or listening to, my beloved Detroit Tigers. Amazing how they have hung in the pennant race, in spite of the multitude of injuries they've suffered!

I also am now officially qualified for the senior discount at McDonald's and Allies Cafe! Another milestone passed. Or should that say millstone?

And last, but certainly not least.... I began seeing a lovely young woman 17 years my junior. Who had her own adventurous summer, including three weeks in Europe.

Yes, I am bemused by my sudden abandonment of my 7 year old "never again" vow. And yes, I am bemused and slightly embarrassed to be seeing someone who is still "pre 40." But she doesn't yet seem to have a problem with it, and I am not so embarrassed as to suddenly become rational!

Okay, THAT was my summer in a nutshell!

Sniper and other Love Songs (and a Spurrier does us proud!)

2007-04-17T20:11:00.000-04:00

The title of this post comes from an old Harry Chapin album. In view of yesterdays events, it seemed fitting.

It has been a very disturbing week. One that has brought back so many memories of a very painful time. The Texas Clock tower shootings came as such a shock to a still naive fourteen year old. The impact was a lasting one, in a way I am sure won't be the same for this generation. School shootings are common place now. They were unheard of then. And the scale of it was so grand. It was the beginning of my loss of innocence. Since yesterday's massacre at Virginia Tech, this song has been constantly on my mind.

The first time I heard Harry Chapin sing SNIPER was a live appearance on the Tonight Show in 1972. It left Johnny Carson and Ed McMahon so speechless that Doc Severnson had to introduce the commercial break. Do yourselves a favor and drop the 99 cents on iTunes and download this song. Pay close attention. It will haunt you.

SNIPER

It is an early Monday morning.
The sun is becoming bright on the land.
No one is watching as he comes a walking.
Two bulky suitcases hang from his hands.

He heads towards the tower that stands in the campus.
He goes through the door, he starts up the stairs.
The sound of his footsteps, the sound of his breathing,
The sound of the silence when no one was there.

I didn't really know him.
He was kind of strange.
Always sort of sat there.
He never seemed to change.
Oh no, oh no

He reached the catwalk. He put down his burden.
The four sided clock began to chime.
Seven AM, the day is beginning.
So much to do and so little time.

He looks at the city where no one had known him.
He looks at the sky where no one looks down.
He looks at his life and what it has shown him.
He looks for his shadow it cannot be found.

He was such a moody child, very hard to touch.
Even as a baby he never smiled too much. No no.No no.

You bug me, she said.
Your ugly, she said.
Please hug me, I said.
But she just sat there
With the same flat stare
That she saves for me alone
When I'm home.
When I'm home.
Take me home.

He laid out the rifles, he loaded the shotgun,
He stacked up the cartridges along the wall.
He knew he would need them for his conversation.
If it went as it he planned, then he might use them all.

He said Listen you people I've got a question
You won't pay attention but I'll ask anyhow.
I found a way that will get me an answer.
Been waiting to ask you 'till now.
Right now !

Am I ?
I am a lover who's never been kissed.
Am I ?
I am a fighter who's not made a fist.
Am I ?
If I'm alive then there's so much I've missed.
How do I know I exist ?
Are you listening to me ?
Are you listening to me ?
Am I ?

The first words he spoke took the town by surprise.
One got Mrs. Gibbons above her right eye.
It blew her through the window wedged her against the door.
Reality poured from her face, staining the floor.

He was kind of creepy,
Sort of a dunce.
I met him at the corner bar.
I only dated the poor boy once,
That's all. Just once, that was all.

Bill Whedon was questioned as stepped from his car.
Tom Scott ran across the street but he never got that far.
The police were there in minutes, they set up barricades.
He spoke right on over them in a half-mile circle.
In a dumb struck city his pointed questions were sprayed.

He knocked over Danny Tyson as he ran towards the noise.
Just about then the answers started coming. Sweet, sweet joy.
Thudding in the clock face, whining off the walls,
Reaching up to where he sat there, answering calls.

Thirty-seven people got his message so far.
Yes, he was reaching them right were they are.

They set up an assault team. They asked for volunteers.
They had to go and get him, that much was clear.
And the word spread about him on the radios and TV's.
In appropriately sober tone they asked "Who can it be ?"

He was a very dull boy, very taciturn.
Not much of a joiner, he did not want to learn.
No no.No no.

They're coming to get me, they don't want to let me
Stay in the bright light too long.
It's getting on noon now, it's goin' to be soon now.
But oh, what a wonderful sound !

Mama, won't you nurse me ?
Rain me down the sweet milk of your kindness.
Mama, it's getting worse for me.
Won't you please make me warm and mindless ?

Mama, yes you have cursed me.
I never will forgive you for your blindness.
I hate you!

The wires are all humming for me.
And I can hear them coming for me.
Soon they'll be here, but there's nothing to fear.
Not any more though they've blasted the door.

As the copter dropped the gas he shouted " Who cares ?" .
They could hear him laughing as they started up the stairs.
As they stormed out on the catwalk, blinking at the sun,
With their final fusillade his answer had come.

Am I ?
There is no way that you can hide me.
Am I ?
Though you have put your fire inside me.
Am I ?
You've given me my answer can't you see ?
I was !
I am !
and now I Will Be
I WILL BE !!!
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Even before yesterday's news, I was suffering from this sort of hollow, kinda haunted feeling. My daughter heard that this week was the anniversary of Sirhan Sirhan's conviction, and decided to rent BOBBY. Now, I have wanted to see this movie for a long time, but also knew that it would stir up an emotional can of worms. I can still remember the events of that morning like they happened yesterday.

It was still the heyday of 50.000 watt clear channel radio stations, and I had fallen asleep with a transistor radio under my pillow, listening to Pittsburg's KKOW. The Pirates were playing the Dodgers, and Don Drysdale was going for a record sixth striaght shutout. I woke with a start about 4;30 to the sound played before a news bulletin. Richard C. Hottelet came on and announced that Bobby Kennedy had been shot. My dad had just left for work, but I couldn't wait and woke up my mother. My parents were by no means Kennedy fans, but after the MLK assassination, even my folks understood that Bobby had become the glue holding the nation together. My mom and I sat listening to Detroit's all news station WWJ, and staring at the peacock test pattern on the tv, waiting for the local NBC affiliate to come on the air. By the time the Today Show came on, it was clear that Kennedy's life hung in the balance. The nation came close to a standstill, everyone watching the tv waiting for news. I didn't come till about 10 pm eastern time, when it was announced Bobby had passed.

As for the movie itself, it was excellent. A tremendous ensemble cast, with incredibly strong performances from Demi Moore, Sharon Stone, Christian Slater, and Freddy Rodriguez (from HBO's Six Feet Under).

But, in the end, the film left me depressed with the same old questions. How much different would this country be had it not been for one crazed guy with a gun? No Nixon, no Watergate, no neocon hijacking of the Republican party. No Reagan. How different would the world be? Sigh.
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I have never been a big Steve Spurrier fan, even though we share an ancient ancestor. Until now. But my opinion of him changed Saturday when he uttered seven simple words. "That damned flag needs to come down" said the University of South Carolina football coach, pointing at the Confederate flag flying over the Capital building.

That Spurrier would say that in the heart of the Confederacy, knowing he was gonna piss off a lot of wealthy alumni, took balls. But he is right. Not only is that flag the symbol of racism and slavery, it represents the single biggest act of treason in the history of America. It has no place in America, it is a source of shame, not pride.

Whether or not Spurrier said that out of moral conviction, or because he knows it hurts his ability to recruit matters not. It took massive size cajones to say that to the audience he did.

He has my new found admiration. Not to mention a big dose of family pride!

urgent business

2007-04-14T19:06:00.000-04:00

Okay, I was gonna blog about my feelings regarding the whole Don Imus fiasco. Or perhaps the logical comparisons between Prosecutorgate and Watergate. But then something of greater urgency came up, and I felt obliged to blog about it.

The other day, a Dallas DJ was quoted on NPR as saying he hated the TV show FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS because "it just reinforces the stereotype that all Texans are interested in is football, and sex on the washing machine." About the same time, the local Tex-Mex restaurant chain here put billboards up all over Michiana that say "Hacienda: Satisfying more desperate housewives than the spin cycle!"

Okay, would somebody please explain to this apparently naive (and more than a little grossed out) Yankee:
a) What is the attraction of exposing ones naked "parts" to cold, hard porcelain?

b) Does one have to wait for the spin cycle for maximum effect?

c) Does this activity require a partner, or can it be pursued "solitaire"?

d) Is this really a "Texas" thing? And if so, don't you people know about beds, sofas, sand dunes, or the grass in the park? You know... SOFT surfaces!

Just curious!
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Okay, about Imus.

His departure, even though deserved, saddens me a bit. I have always liked Imus. I am sure he must feel like somebody changed the rules in the middle of the game. After all, he's been saying equally outrageous (or more so) things on the air for 35 years. However, I do understand what makes this different.

The reason I have always liked Imus is his willingness to take on the rich and powerful and cut them down a size or three. He said outrageous, sometimes almost vicious, things about, and to people, but never somebody who couldn't defend themselves, and never somebody of whom you couldn't honestly say you didn't see at least a resemblance to Imus' remarks.

But these girls are different. They clearly don't resemble "nappy headed Ho's". They are articulate, attractive young women with no real platform to defend themselves, and they clearly don't resemble Imus' characterization of them.

Imus went a step too far, and is justly paying for it. I have no problem with that.

What I do have a problem with is the number of black people who have publicly defended their use of words like the "N" word and Ho. They argue that there is a difference between white people using those words and blacks using them. The argument, probably expressed most articulately by ESPN's Stuart Scott, is that by using these words, blacks endeavour to take the power out of them. There is only one problem with that argument. It is dead wrong.

What it really does is tell the world that even blacks have bought into the stereotype. That even they believe the connotations to be true. It is just like hearing one black kid tell another that being smart and getting good grades is "acting white." Because the inference there is that to really be black, you must be dumb and uneducated. How do you expect whites not to believe the stereotype if you have bought into it?

As someone who as a young man was a foot soldier in the civil right movement (yeah, I marched and carried signs and hung out at the mall getting petitions signed), I am deeply saddened by the clear deterioration of Black American culture the last thirty years. Back when I was a young man, black culture was very matriarchal, women were deeply respected. I never heard any of my black friends worry about their "Pops" reaction to their behavior. But Momma, now THAT was a different story. These kids both revered and feared their mothers. So how is it now that black culture has become so misogynist?

Listen to what passes for music in black culture today. There is constant reference to women as "Ho's". Constant reference to sexual domination and violence. What does that say to the people who are the biggest consumers of this music, suburban white males? Yes, Stuart Scott et. al.... it reinforces all those negative stereotypes you so want to shed.

Words like nigger, niggah, whore, or ho are and should be extremely offensive no matter who's mouth they come out of.

Okay, off my soap box.
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Want a laugh?

Go to Google
click on "maps"
click on "get directions"
enter from: New York, New York
to: Paris, France
read directions, making careful note of line #23

Somebody at Google has a sense of humor!

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz..........................

2007-03-31T21:46:00.000-04:00

Yes, I realize I have been missing in action. I have just been swamped. Doing some revamping on the canoe blog. Putting together the 2007 paddling schedule. Helping prepare for the annual river clean up. And actually taking advantage of some unseasonably warm weather to get some paddling in.

So check out the canoe blog and view the years initial trip report, and our paddlng schedule. Hopefully, I'll be back and blogging soon!

DEATH OF AMEIRCAN JUSTICE?

2007-03-13T21:28:00.000-04:00

clockwise from left: Atty. Gen. Alberto Gonzales, Whitehouse Counsel and former Supreme Court nominee Harriet Meirs, Director of Assistant Attys. Gen. Michael Battle, terrorism suspect Jose Padilla

It has been a tough few weeks for American Justice. First, there was the continuing fiasco that is the Jose Padilla trial. Seems the prosecution and Justice Dept. have "lost" the tape of Padilla's final interrogation, the one that Padilla's lawyers have contended all along contain images that would explain Padilla's current mental state. Now who really believes that they lost this tape? Only someone who hasn't been around the barnyard a time or two!

And then, of course, is the continuing saga of the political firings of eight asst. US Attys. Gen. Just a couple of days ago, Atty. Gen. Alberto Gonzales was swearing that these firings were performance related, not political, and that the White House had no involvement.

Of course, It turns out that not only was the White House involved, but according to two years worth of memos from White House Counsel Harriet Meirs to US Atty Executive Office Director Michael Battle, the White House wanted to fire all fifty assistant US Attys., and replace them, without Senate approval, via a little known clause in the US Patriot act that allows the Atty Gen. to fill vacancies without said approval. Micheal Battle has become the fall guy for the Administration, having been fired today. But virtually everyone in the country should be thanking him for talking the Administration down from 50 firings to eight.

It dismays me, this administrations total lack of regard for the rule of law, and the American public's apparent willingness to accept it.

Then their was the totally Orwellian Sunday NY Times op-ed piece about the use of brain scans as evidence in trials. Currently, they are mostly only used in the sentencing phase of death penalty cases, to argue that the defendant couldn't help himself, the make up of his brain caused him to do it.

The whole process begs the question as to whether or not we will soon be locking up people not because they have committed a crime, but to prevent them from doing so. Will the government, in the name of public safety, be allowed access to our most secret thoughts and desires? Holy 1984!!!!!

You can hear a totally disconcerting and rather creepy interview with the author HERE

And finally, there was this recent depressing article in the local paper:

Homeless man spent 17 months in jail for stealing a soda
CROWN POINT, Ind. (AP) -- Officials are at a loss to explain how they allowed a homeless, mentally ill man accused of stealing a soda to languish in jail for 17 months.

Edward Perez's attorney, his court-appointed psychiatrist, the judge in his case and Lake County jail officials all apparently believed he had been released a year ago.

The mistake wasn't discovered until this month, after a new warden ordered a review of all inmates' files, Sheriff Roy Dominguez told the Post-Tribune of Merrillville for a story Friday.

''This is very unfortunate,'' Judge Sheila Moss said. ''This is a guy who apparently needed services, and he should have been somewhere where he could get that, rather than sitting in our county jail, which is already overcrowded.''

The jail released Perez, 22, and transferred him to a mental health clinic Feb. 7, Dominguez said.

Perez had stayed in the jail's medical wing since July 2, 2005, after allegedly stealing a bottle of Pepsi from a Wal-Mart in Schererville, Dominguez said.

A police report that referred to the man as ''Edward Hammer-Perez'' said that before stealing the soda, he said he had just gotten out of jail and wanted to go back. He listed the state psychiatric hospital in Logansport as his address.

In February 2006, the psychiatrist went to the jail to evaluate Perez only to be told he already had been released, Moss said. The judge said that after the psychiatrist informed her, she deferred to defense attorney Fred Flores, who agreed that his client was not behind bars.

Prosecutors said they would dismiss the charges, Moss said, adding, ''I could see no need to send a court order to that effect over to the jail, since the defendant was, by all accounts, already free.''

However, since the jail never received a release order, it kept Perez in custody, said Mike Higgins, a spokesman for Dominguez.

Moss, noting that Perez appeared in some records as ''Edward Hammer-Perez,'' speculated he might have been jailed under a different name than appeared on his court file.

A telephone message left by The Associated Press seeking comment from Flores was not immediately returned Friday. An employee at the clinic where Perez was taken said officials authorized to comment were unavailable until Monday.

WARNING LABEL, AND OTHER RANDOM THOUGHTS AND STORIES.

2007-03-08T20:36:00.000-05:00

I think the government should mandate the following warning sign be placed on the homes of all evil bitch dragon ladies:

WARNING: LIVING NEXT TO EVIL BITCH DRAGON LADIES MAY CAUSE RAMPANT ALCOHOLISM AND OTHER SERIOUS HEALTH PROBLEMS.

This is actually not that funny. The amount of alcohol I consume has about quadrupled the last month. The 30 count case of OM that used to last me a couple of weeks is lucky to last me 4 days lately. Last night I went to dinner with a friend at the Oaken Bucket, and in an amazingly short amount of time, I had consumed five 20oz draughts of Smithwicks Irish Ale. Which I followed up with two pints of Boddington's Pub Ale when I got home. Yeah, you know it is getting bad when I am breaking into the weekend beer on Wednesday night!

At least I think our problems with South Bend Animal Control may be over. We got a notice demanding to see his crate because "someone" had reported that he was being kept in a crate that was too small for him. Fortunately, my extremely buxom daughter had the good sense to put on the "boob shirt." The same one she wears when she wants to get seated and served at the local bars. The poor young animal control officer stammered that he could see Kipper was well taken care of and we'd have no more visits unless he bites somebody. You know you've accomplished your goal when speech impediment sets in!
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FILE UNDER THE "WHAT THE FUCK?" category. Please explain to me what these tax guys are thinking, and why Rod Blagoyavich hasn't kicked their butts back into the stone ages? Alternative Fuel Creates Tax Woes for Couple
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The continuing story of the fired US Attorneys could get VERY ugly very soon. Daniel Shorr is comparing it to Nixon's firing of Archibald Cox, which led to article 2 of Nixon's impeachment: Abuse of Presidential power. Listen to Shorr's excellent commentary on the The Independence of U.S. Federal Attorneys HERE
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In a related story: After all but admitting to attempting to influence the direction of a Federal corruption probe, shouldn't Sen. Pete Domenici (R-NM) and Congresswoman Heather Wilson (R-NM) resign immediately? Is there any greater threat to justice than political interference in judicial cases? Hopefully, at the very least, there will be a severe censure from the Senate and House. Actually, their respective chambers could have them removed from office. More likely to happen to Wilson than Domenici, but who knows?

And the Republican culture of corruption continues to rear it's ugly head!
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If you are a music lover, and get tired of the repetitive shit you hear on what passes for radio these days, NPR is a great resource. I am constantly finding new stuff on their site I didn't know existed. The latest discovery is the SHADOW CLASSICS column by Tom Moon. Lot's of great stories and music. Especially check out Michael Nesmith: Overcoming the Monkees, Last Coherent Statement of a Genius (about Sly Stone), and A Long Career on the Verge of Fame (about Katell Keineg). Each of these articles includes several songs by the articles subject. Great reading and listening. SHADOW CLASSICS
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UPDATE! ATTENTION DR (almost). GYMPUMPKIN! After a 35 year hiatus THE STOOGES have released a new album! And they are going to tour! Yep, original memebers Iggy Pop, Ron and Scott Asheton (Bassist Dave Alexander died in 1975), plus two new guys.

WANTED: CHRISITIAN HITWOMAM AND/OR SEX GODDESS

2007-03-02T12:47:00.000-05:00

That is the headline I am considering for a singles ad to be placed in the local personals website. I need a hit woman because I live next door to the Evil Bitch Dragon Lady. I would burn her out, but then she would just go terrorize someone else. Better to have her offed. However, my hit woman has to be principled, I don 't want just any Sue, Jane, or Mary off the street. If she happens to be a sex goddess too, that would be a great bonus. And if she turns out not to be such a great hit woman, well, I guess I could live with the sex goddess part.
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WHAT THE FUCK IS THE MATTER WITH OUR MILITARY LEADERS?

Have any of you been following the Walter Reid Army Hospital scandal? The Washington Post ran a series of articles on the appalling conditions outpatient vets were being subjected to. The top brass expressed out rage, claimed no knowledge, and promised there would be immediate changes. Yesterday, they relieved the two star general in charge of his command.

Now, for some reason, this story sounded vaguely familier to me. It turns out there was good reason for that. I am a Salon.com subscriber. It turns out Salon published a series of articles in 2004 describing the exact same conditions. And here is the kicker. The general fired yesterday for incompetance is being replaced by the general in charge in 2004.

And we may never find out if the lives of these brave men who have sacrificed so much will ever improve or not. The Army has placed a gag order on all military patients. They now are required to have permission to talk to reporters.

The truth appears to be that the Pentagon would rather sacrifice the well being of GI's than to invest money in a facility scheduled to be closed in ten years.
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ALSO... I have added a couple of new recipes at THE CHURCH POTLUCK, Old Fashioned Chicken Pot Pie, Simmered Chicken, and Blackjack Chicken.
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FINALLY..
Some pics of Kipper, the world's largest, cutest, oldest puppy. 85 lbs of sheer exuberance.

MOVIE GEMS

2007-02-23T21:20:00.000-05:00

Clockwise from left: Barabara Stanwyck, Kirk Douglas, Van Heflin, Stanwyck, Heflin, Lizabeth Scott, John Payne, Loretta Young, Orson Wells

With the Oscars coming up Sunday, everyone is focused on the movies. I thought this might be a great time to point out some great movies you probably haven't seen. And the best thing is, you can view them dirt cheap.

Next time you visit your local convenience store, thumb through the box of dollar videos sitting on the counter. True, there is a lot of junk there, but there are also some truly great movies available there, often packaged two on one disk. This is especially true for vintage Film Noir, but also great Westerns, War films and Comedies.

A few of my recent finds include:

THE STRANGE LOVE OF MARTHA IVERS. A terrific noir with Barbara Stanwyck, a very young Kirk Douglas, Van Heflin, and Lizabeth Scott. From IMDb: "In 1928, young heiress Martha Ivers fails to run off with friend Sam Masterson, and is involved in fatal events. Years later, Sam returns to find Martha the power behind Iverstown and married to "good boy" Walter O'Neil, now district attorney. At first, Sam is more interested in displaced blonde Toni Marachek than in his boyhood friends; but they draw him into a convoluted web of plotting and cross-purposes."

THE STRANGER. Orson Wells, Edward G. Robinson, Loretta Young. From IMDb: "Wilson of the War Crimes Commission is seeking Franz Kindler, mastermind of the Holocaust, who has effectively erased his identity. Wilson releases Kindler's former comrade Meinike and follows him to Harper, Connecticut, where he is killed before he can identify Kindler. Now Wilson's only clue is Kindler's fascination with antique clocks; but though Kindler seems secure in his new identity, he feels his past closing in."

On the same disk is THE TRIAL. Directed by Wells and starring Anthony Perkins, this movie is based on the novel by Franz Kaska. Haven't watched it yet, but the reviews sound excellent.

From KANSAS CITY CONFIDENTIAL: Another really terrific noir starring John Payne, one of my favorite actors. I really enjoyed this movie. IMDb: "A down-on-his-luck ex-GI finds himself framed for an armored car robbery. When he's finally released for lack of evidence--after having been beaten up and tortured by the police--he sets out to discover who set him up, and why. The trail leads him into Mexico and a web of hired killers and corrupt cops.

Also on this disk, a Dragnet episode, and a vintage Mighty Mouse cartoon!

A WALK IN THE SUN: Terrific WWII flic starring Dana Andrews. From IMDb: "In the 1943 invasion of Italy, one American platoon lands, digs in, then makes its way inland to attempt to take a fortified farmhouse, as tension and casualties mount. Unusually realistic picture of war as long quiet stretches of talk, punctuated by sharp, random bursts of violent action whose relevance to the big picture is often unknown to the soldiers."

Also purchased but not yet viewed: THE ROAD TO BALI. Bob Hope , Bing Crosby classic. A western twinbill; NEATH THE ARIZONA SKYS w/John Wayne and SANTA FE TRAIL w/Ronald Regan.

So, for $5, I got eight terrific movies, a couple of TV shows, and several pretty neat cartoons. Now that's a bargain.

UPDATE!

Viewed the Western double feature yesterday. The John Wayne flick wasn't much, but the other film, SANTA FE TRAIL, was terrific. It chronicles the exploits of a group of West Point grads in the years just prior to the Civil War, fast friends who would become famous as enemies just a few years later, and the nations inevitable slide into civil war. Really strong cast. Stars Ronald Reagan (as George Armstrong Custer), Errol Flynn (as J.E.B. Stuart), Raymond Massey (as John Brown), Van Heflin, Olivia De Haviland, and Alan Hale. This movie really gives you the a feeling of the times, and almost a sense of dispair at the inevitable.

TRANSLATION: AMERICANS ARE STUPID!

2007-02-22T19:47:00.000-05:00

So.... You're this relatively unknown animation studio in the UK, and you come up with this smash hit movie, SHREK. The distributing studio, Dreamworks, is so impressed they sign you to an exclusive 5 movie deal.

Your first movie, WALLACE AND GROMMIT, is a moderate success. You're second movie, in spite of getting rave reviews, flops at the box office. Whereby, Dreamworks backs out of the remaining deal. Boss Jeffrey Katzenberg's explanation: "Their humor is just too British for American audiences." Translation: Americans are too stupid to get it!

Stupid is right, because FLUSHED AWAY is one of the funniest movies I have ever seen. Hands down better than either CARS or HAPPY FEET. It embodies all that is great about British humor. Great physical comedy, smart double entandres, a send up of Tom Jones, and of course, wickedly politically incorrect French bashing! It is a film that would make Peter Sellers, Benny Hill, and the Monty Python gang proud!

One of my favorite parts was the horribly wrong French bashing. Ninja frogs (and remember, in the anglophile world frog is to French as beaner is to Mexican) with pencil thin mustaches and French accents, who upon being ordered to do their thing, throw their hands up in the air and shout
"we surrender!" Probably banned in Quebec!

And there is the music. My granddaughter spent the day singing "poor old Roddy, flushed down his own potty." This is one several narrative songs sung by by siren, er, slugs. This is actually a really good soundtrack, with songs by Billy Idol, Tom Jones, The Dandy Warhols, Tina Turner, Fat Boy Slim, Jet, Boots Randolph, and of course, The Slugs.

By now, you're probably asking "what the hell is this movie about, anyhow?" Well here's the film overview form worstpreviews.com:

Plot Summary: Roddy is a refined rat, living a life of comfort and luxury in an upscale Kensington flat in London. One day, when a common sewer rat named Syd intrudes on his lifestyle via the bathroom sink, Roddy attempts to eliminate the unwelcome pest by trying to flush him down the toilet. His scheme to lure Syd into the toilet by telling him it’s a lavish whirlpool bath backfires when the clever guest pushes Roddy in instead. As one might expect, Roddy gets flushed down to the underground sewers, a world very much unlike his own. As he explores this universe, also known as Ratropolis, he encounters a female rat named Rita who is a sewer boat captain. She is an entrepreneur – always looking for new ideas that will give her the opportunity to leave the London cesspool behind for the glorious Parisian sewers. One of the inhabitants of the sewage tunnels is the gruesome Toad, who despises all rodents and wants them eliminated. After his two henchmen Spike and Whitey fail their assignment to make Rita and Roddy disappear, Toad has to consider more drastic alternatives. He sends for his cousin, Le Frog, a dreadful and ruthless mercenary.

So you get the plot, and in the end Roddy saves Ratropolis, gets Rita, and a family of his own! But the Devil is in the details, and these details are really funny.

This is a great movie for kids and grown ups alike. And the DVD is really cool because it has a bunch of interactive games, a slug sing along, and a build your own slug program. What could possibly be better than building your own slug?

So GO RENT THIS MOVIE! Help prove that Americans aren't stupid!

THE MORNING AFTER

2007-02-15T10:43:00.000-05:00

Sooo...... how was your Valentines? Was it what you expected? Better? Worse? Any horror stories? Divorces in the making? Love kindled or rekindled? Tell us your stories!

It's funny (peculiar, not ha ha), even though I am really sour on romance, and relationships beyond purely physical, easily my favorite movie genre is Romantic Comedy. I am such a sucker for chick flicks! So in honor of St. Valentines Day, here is my all time favorites list!

1. Benny and Joon (Johnny Depp, Mary Stuart Masterson, Aiden Quinn)
2. Green Card (Andie Mc Dowell, Gerard Depardeau, Bebe Neuwirth)
3. Four Weddings and a Funeral (Hugh Grant, Andie McDowell)
4. Bye Bye Love (Paul Reiser, Mathew Modine, Randy Quaid, Janeane Garafalo, Amy Brenneman, Eliza Dushku, Rob Reiner
5. Fifty First Dates (Adam Sandler, Drew Barrymore, Rob Schneider)
6. Doc Hollywood (Michael J. Fox, Julie Warner, Woody Harrelson, Bridget Fonda)
7. Murphy's Romance ( James Garner, Sally Field)
8. As Good As it Gets (Jack Nicholson, Helen Hunt, Greg Kinnear)
9. McClintock (John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara) this may be the funniest of the bunch
10. Breakfast At Tiffanys (Audry Hepburn, George Peppard)
11. The Englisman Who Went Up A Hill But Came Down A Mountain (Hugh Grant, Tara Fitsgerald, Colm Meany)
12. It Can Happen To You (Nicolas Cage, Bridget Fonda, Rosie Perez)
13. The Truth About Cats and Dogs (Janeane Garofalo, Uma Thurman, Ben Chaplin)
14. When Harry Met Sally (Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan)
15. She's All That (Freddie Prinz Jr., Racheal Leigh Cook)
16. Singles (Bridget Fonda, Kyra Sedgwick, Sheila Kelly, Matt Dillon, Bill Pullman, James Le Gros)
17. Father Of The Bride (Steve Martin, Diane Keaton)
18. Roman Holiday (Gregory Peck, Audrey Hepburn)
19. His Girl Friday (Cary Grant, Rosiland Russell)
2o. Roxanne (Steve Martin, Daryl Hannah, Rick Rossovich)

IN THIS EDITION OF TGWB.....

2007-02-10T17:12:00.000-05:00

from top left: John Prine, Maura O'Connell, Ben Stein, Condi Rice

What could Ben Stein and Ralph Nader possibly have in common? Also: Those little white lies.. Why Condi is in hot water (again)! But first:

So I return to my trusty little S-10 pickup, after lunch with a friend at Denny's yesterday, to find this message on my cell phone: "I know it's short notice, but I have an extra ticket to see John Prine in Ft. Wayne tonight. First person who calls back can have it!" So I call my friend Sue back, and in a couple of hours I am motoring towards Indiana's far northeast hinterlands at a high rate of fuel consumption. After muttering the phrase "goddam f***ing Amish, get a f***ing car" more times than I can count, I arrive at the rambling farmhouse just outside Howe IN that Sue shares with her Great Dane, Max.

Moments later, we are motoring towards the "summit city". She tells me the story of the extra ticket; the concert was supposed to be a second date with a guy she knows, but he came down with a nasty case of creeping crud, and magnanimously gave her the tickets. She also mentions that "some Irish singer" is opening for Prine, and I will probably know who she is.

We arrive at the magnificent Embassy Theatre about 7, grab a beer, then head for our seats. A quick word about the Embassy: It was renovated at the cost of $5 mil about ten years ago. It is a truly remarkable venue, rivaling Detroit's Fox Theatre in it's ornate beauty. The theatre organ is one of the finest in the world, and draws people from all over the country to the regular organ concerts held by the theatre. But I digress...

So like I said, we arrive at our seats, and the lady next to us informs us that the opening act is the incredible MAURA O'CONNELL! Hell yes I know who she is! Anybody who is a fan of Irish traditional music or folk music knows O'Connell. She is a big, buxom woman with a shock of unruly red curls, and a voice like Kate Smith. She wowwed the crowd with a 45 minute set, earning a standing ovation at the end. And then came John Prine.

Eight years out from his successful battle with throat cancer, it is clear that he is fully recovered. He did a full 2 1/2 hours, including a 5 song encore. He did all the old favorites, including Living In The Future, Sam Stone, Grandpa Was A Carpenter, Hello In There, That's The way the World Goes Around, The Missing Years, The Accident, Illegal Smile, and many others. Plus a number of new songs that will soon be old favorites. O'Connell returned to the stage for a number of songs with Prine, including a terrific version of Make Me An Angel.

Our evening ended nicely with the Big Breakfast (including all you can eat pancakes) at the International House Of Pancakes, and a brief discussion of what Sue might have to do as paybacks for what turned out to be such a magnificent gift.

It's funny. It had been quite a while since my top 10 concert list had changed any. Now it has changed twice in the last three weeks. We're on a roll!
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Ben Stein is perhaps the last great "man for all seasons." Valedictorian at Yale, professor of economics and securities law at Pepperdine, UC Santa Cruz, and the American University. Also trial lawyer for the Federal Trade Commission, author of seven novels, and columnist for a number of conservative magazines.

And of course, there is his Hollywood career as screenwriter, producer, actor (over 20 movies and a number of tv shows to his credit), and host of the game show Win Ben Stein's Money. He is known as "the funniest Republican in Hollywood" and the "world's funniest economist." So what could he possibly have in common with the curmudgeonly, somewhat humorless, liberal crusader Ralph Nader? Well, both are crusading against corporate greed, and Stein is supporting Nader's push to protect the rights and investments of millions of unorganized shareholders.

Here is what Stein had to say about the plethora of management buyouts of stockholders, a practice that commonly occurs when a company's assets are worth more than it's shares. Management buys these stocks low, then resells them when the stock price reflects the company's actual value, screwing the unwitting stockholders of gazillions of dollars, and making a tidy profit for themselves and their investment banker buddies.

Stein says such management buyouts are "illegal on their face," and cites three reasons that this is so:
1. BREACH OF FIDUCIARY DUTY. Citing settled trust law, Stein states; "Managers are bound to put the interest of stockholders ahead of their own, in each and every situation."

2. CONFLICT OF INTEREST: "Mangers are supposed to avoid any conflicts of interest with their trustors, the public shareholders, or even the appearance of it." Yet in these cases, the managers are buying low, while the rightful expectation of shareholders is to sell high, and hiding this fact from the shareholders.

3. INSIDER TRADING: "What is a management buyout other than trading not just some, but all of the shares of a corporation based on inside knowledge of just what the company is worth? How can this be allowed? How long until a wary court notices? Or Congress? Or the S.E.C.?"

He also has a lot to say about the increasing income inequity in this country. According to Stein, "all restraint of dignity and decorum and decency has been cast aside by people in the corporate boardrooms, and some of the people on Wall Street." According to Stein, "Back in the '60's, CEOs were restrained by social mores. But that sense of restraint is gone."

Stein worries about the continuing effect of the income gap on society. He sees the wealthy more and more buying political influence and solidifying their position at the top of society. According to Stein, "if management and the top dogs on Wall Street are just going to be able to continue to get whatever they want, this will become not a democracy any longer, but an oligarchy where a very few, very rich people call all the shots. We are way down the road to that happening already" warns Stein.

All Things Considered had a great series on income disparity this week. Check it out HERE
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Condi Rice appeared before the House Foreign Affairs Committee this week, and NPR caught her in a big lie. Iran sent a fax to the state department in 2003, seeking direct talks with the US, and putting the possibility of Iranian support for a two state solution to the Palestinian/Israeli conflict, and funding of Hamas on the table. Rice denied ever seeing this, telling the HFAC: "I think I would have noticed if the Iranians had said 'we're ready to recognize Israel,' and Congressman, I just don't remember ever seeing such a thing."

Unfortunately for Rice, she acknowledged the existence of the fax, and the fact that she had viewed it, in an interview with NPR last year.

THE MOST INCREDIBLE CONCERT EVER

2007-01-28T12:28:00.000-05:00

JONNY LANG
It is hard to decide where to begin when discussing Jonny Lang. The incredible voice; One part Joe South, one part Dave Mason, two parts Stevie Wonder, heavily spiced with Essence of Whiskey and Tobacco.

Or the guitar work; The precision of Clapton, the power of Knoffler, the heart of B. B. King. And at the tender age of 26, already the equal of any of them. And I have seen them all to know.

Saturday night I found myself, at the behest of a friend, traveling
2 1/2 hours to Kalamazoo's historic State theatre to hear Lang's electric blues/rock/soul. I had heard him on the radio a few times, and thought him to be pretty good. Let me tell you, his recordings don't even begin to do him justice. This was the best concert I have ever attended.

Not only is Lang a virtuoso performer, but he has a band every bit worthy of him. Guitarist /singer Reeve Carney is another underage phenom, and also served as Lang's opening act. Keyboardist Charles Jones was fabulous, and played one of the best keyboard solos I have ever heard. Drummer Barry Alexander and Bassist Jim Anton were also phenomenal.

Besides Lang's incredible guitar work, the highlight of the night for me was the cover of Stevie Wonder's JUST ENOUGH FOR THE CITY, which fit Lang's voice and tempo so perfectly you would have sworn Stevie wrote it just for him. There are not enough superlatives to describe Lang's version of this song.

Like everything in life, there was a certain downside. Why is it every time I go to a concert, at some point I come close to getting into a fight? Immediately behind us sat a row of people, obviously over served, who thought it was okay to chat through the opening act. Especially obnoxious was the guy sitting at the end of the row, who seemed to think the whole audience would rather hear him do his comedy routine than listen to the concert. I finally stood up, looked at him, and told him to "shut the fuck up, I paid to listen to a concert, not you." His girlfriend looked at me and said, "you don't have to act like that, we're all adults here." to which I replied "no, obviously you aren't." After a few minute of staring, they turned away and I sat back down. A few minutes later, one of his friends sat down behind them and I heard the guy say, "the big man down there told me to shut the fuck up!" To which his friend replied, "and the operative word is big man."

After that they pretty much shut up and allowed everybody to enjoy the concert. Which is a good thing, because this was a concert worth fighting for!

AMERICAN FASCISTS, and KNEE JERK REACTIONARIES

2007-01-26T12:12:00.000-05:00

Jimmy Carter Chris Hedges
Any of you who have even occasionally viewed my blog know that I have a certain animous toward the Christian right. You undoubtedly also know that I am an apostate evangelical, having become thoroughly disillusioned with not only evangelicalism, but religion in general. So you can be forgiven for taking my dire warnings with a grain of salt.

But it may be harder to ignore Chris Hedges. Hedges is a Christian, son of a Presbyterian minister, and a seminary graduate. He is also a veteran foreign correspondent who has spent years covering the Balkan wars, and conflicts in Africa and Central America for, among others, the New York Times and National Public Radio.

Hedges new book is titled AMERICAN FASCISTS: THE CHRISTIAN RIGHT AND THE WAR ON AMERICA. It takes dead aim at Dominionism and it's ties to powerful corporations such as Walmart. Hedges arguments are extremely well thought out and documented. After hearing Hedges on TOTN yesterday, I immediately went to Barnes and Noble and purchased his book (along with Jimmy Carter's PEACE NOT APARTHEID) . Even though I was running on 4 hours sleep, I ended up staying up well into the morning hours reading this book. I strongly believe what Hedges has to say is extremely important. If you are not convinced to buy his book, please do me the favor of listening to his interview on Talk Of The Nation. I believe strongly you will be impressed.
**************************************************************************************
Somebody please explain to me how we came to believe that Israel can do no wrong? Why it is that we have this knee jerk reaction to defend Israel no matter how heinous and immoral it's actions?

Jimmy Carter has been demonized over his new book PALESTINE PEACE NOT APARTHEID. Carter, who probably has as much experience with the middle east and it's leaders as any westerner alive, is being castigated for daring to say that much of what is wrong in the middle east is Israel's fault. Issues such as forcing Palestinians off all of the most desirable and profitable land. Establishing settlements with the express purpose of making it more difficult for future leaders to negotiate a return of captured lands to the Palestinians.

Carter defended himself in an excellent interview on Morning Edition yesterday morning. You can listen to or read the text of the interview HERE.

So why is it we are willing to believe only good about Israel? I believe it is partly do to our Christian beliefs and the apopcalyptic end times. For the end of times prophecy to be fulfilled, there must be a viable Jewish state. Therefore, Christians (and remember the vast majority of Americans claim to be so) will defend anything that Israel does, and demonize anything or anybody that they deem a threat to the Jewish state.

Doesn't it seem odd to you that very little of the criticism of Carter is coming from the Jewish community in America? If Carter's book was really that biased or inaccurate, wouldn't they be the logical people to be protesting?

JUSTA FEW THOUGHTS

2007-01-22T21:28:00.000-05:00

Tony Dungy
Lovie Smith

1. This Super Bowl should be special. Not because of the fact that there will be two black coaches running the teams (there has never even been one black head coach in the game before). But because these are two of the nicest, classiest men around. It will be a joy to see how they handle themselves and their teams the next two weeks.

2. Is Manning/Brady the best quarterback rivalry since Johnny Unitas and Bart Starr? I think this is even better than Montana/Marino.

3. Busting the myth: So if Japanese cars are so superior to American cars, how is it that Toyota currently has more cars under recall than they sold world wide last year? And do you know which car company's vehicles are #1 in initial quality (according to J.D. Powers AND Car and Driver ) for the second year in a row? NOT Toyota, NOT Honda, NOT Nissan. Nope... GENERAL MOTORS! So before you plunk down money for that Camry or Tundra, go check out a Chevy HHR or Silverado!

4. Will anybody bother to watch Dubya's SOU speech tomorrow night? I don't ever remember a SOU speech with less buzz than this one.

5. My latest electoral theory. Obama and Clinton will bash each others brains in to the point nobody wants either one of them, and Al (can you say Oscar buzz) Gore will step in as the unity candidate. I realize bash and smash is not Obama's style, but he'll have Move On and Howard Dean to do that for him.

Meanwhile, the Republicans will have just as much trouble settling on a candidate. Brownback too radical, Giuliani to liberal, McCain to old and crazy, Romney too Mormon. Stepping into the breach? Look for Newt to present himself as the compromise candidate.

Okay, rambled enough! Time for bed!

GOD MOVES TO LA plus THE DEVIL'S IN THE DETAILS plus ALPHABET MEME

2007-01-11T23:16:00.000-05:00

It's official. God is moving to LA. After all, you still see all those T-shirts in Manchester that declare BECKHAM IS GOD.

Yes, David Beckham just signed a five year / $250mil contract with the Los Angeles Galaxy. Wife Posh Spice just put down payment on a Beverly Hills mansion.

So God now resides in LA. Heaven help us all.

Meanwhile, the Devil is still firmly entrenched in Washington DC.

I am so conflicted. On one hand, I think we have to make one last effort to undo all the horrible harm we have done there. But I also know a lot of kids are gonna die, and in the end, the back up plan will be to turn Iraq into Bosnia, and seperate all the different sectarian groups into their own areas. I guess I think we should just do that now and spare all those kids. But then again, ethnic cleansing is such an ugly thing. It has all the overtones of Nazi Germany.

ALPHABET MEME (from Nic's Place)

A - Available/Single or Taken? Single, not lookikng
B - Best Friend? Carol W. only person I can tell absolutely everything and anything with no repercussions
C - Cake or pie? Pie. Cherry, apple, pecan.
D - Drink Of Choice? Red beers, Iced tea.
E – Essential Item You Use Everyday? Cell Phone
F - Favourite Color? Blue
G - Gummy Bears Or Worms? Neither.
H - Hometown? Pontiac, MI
I - Indulgence? cheeesecake
J - January Or February? february... closer to spring
K - Kids & Their Names? three - Sean, Steven, Shelley
L - Life Is Incomplete Without? grandkids
M - Marriage date? Dude, I am SOOOOOOOOO past that
N - Number Of Siblings? One - Barb
O - Oranges Or Apples? Apples - Jonathans
P - Phobias/Fears? relationships
Q - Favourite Quote? Beam me up Scotty, there's no intelligent life on THIS planet!
R - Reason to Smile? Granddaughters
S - Season? Spring or Fall? Spring - beginning of baseball and canoeing
T - Tag 3 or 4 people? you're it, you're it, you're it
U - Unknown Fact About Me? I hide my introversion behind a wall of extroversion
V - Vegetable you don’t like? Hell, I can't think of one I DO like
W - Worst Habit? Procrastination
X - X-rays You’ve Had? Teeth, sinuses, lungs, feet/ankles (multiple times)
Y - Your Favorite Food? BBQ
Z – Zodiac sign? Leo (July 31)

LOOKING BACK....

2007-01-05T20:15:00.000-05:00

SOME OF THE BEST OF 2006

News stories:

1. Computer Launches Terrorist Attack On Unwitting Fisherman: While on a fishing trip in Nevada, Thomas Forqueran stashes his Dell laptop in the cab of his truck. Unfortunately, this laptop was equipped with one of the infamous Sony spontaneously combustible batteries. Worse still, also stored in the cab were several boxes of ammunition. Just as he and his pal were returning to the truck, they noticed smoke coming from the cab. At which point bullets started spraying, and the gas tank blew, sending the truck a spectacular 20 yds in the air. Forqueran and his buddy emerged from cover about the time the fire dept. arrived. Fortunately, no one was injured. The same can't be said for Sony's reputation.

2. CNN Anchor Broadcasts From The Loo: Kyra Phillips decides to use the restroom during President Bush's Hurricane Katrina anniversary speech. Unfortunately she forgets to turn off her microphone. The result ... All of America learns that her husband is a "handsome, genuinely loving, passionate, compassionate man with no ego." Also that she has to protect her brother from her sister-in-law, who is "just a control freak". Actually, it was much more interesting than Dubyas's speach. And much more honest!

3. Drunken Man Wins $2000 Bet By cutting Off Penis: On July 17, a drunken man in Riva, Latvia, bet his comrades that he would cut off his penis for two grand. He won the bet! Surgeons at the Latvian Centre for Microsurgery and Plastic Surgery reattached the member successfully. It may even become functional with the help of prosthetics. Gives a whole new meaning to "dick in hand".

4. The Perils of Hot Naked Women: In Moscow, three women in an SUV pull into to the Balashakh Beach parking lot. They walk down to the waters edge, and proceed to strip naked. They cavort and romp and even wash each other in front of the cheering crowd of onlookers. By the time they calmly dress and drive off, fifteen minutes later, their accomplices have stripped ten cars in the parking lot, and stolen the four most valuable. To quote that famous one eyed sailor: "Women, they is nuttin' but troubles!"

MY TOP 10 ALBUMS FOR 2006

10. Belle and Sebastian: The Life Pursuit - Scottish Band drops chamber pop sound for harder edge and results are spectacular. Easily their best album.

9. Soul Asylum: The Silver Lining - Minneapolis blues rockers have great album with particularly strong cuts STAND UP AND BE STRONG, LATELY, and CRAZY, MIXED UP WORLD

8. Tom Waits: Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers, and Bastards - slightly softer edged than most Waits. Really enjoyed it.

7. The Shins: Wincing The Night Away - Good solid Indie pop.

6. The Decemberists: The Crane Wife - Indie pop with great lyrics and slightly hard edge. Really enjoyed this one!

5. Ray Davies: Other People's Lives - Kinks' frontman's first album in 7 years. Great, semi autobiographical songs, and Davies is in fine voice.

4. Little Willies: Little Willies - Nora Jones, Richard Julian et. al. make outstanding country/rock/swing album, especially love the song Baltimore

3. Pink: I'm Not Dead - This album really surprised me. A terrific album with smart lyrics. Collaborates with her father, and the Indigo Girls. Pink has a much greater vocal range than I gave her credit for. This is an outstanding album!

2. Bob Dylan: Modern Times - Bob goes Delta Blues and Texas Swing. A fabulous album.

1. Willie Nelson: You Don't Know Me: The Songs Of Cindy Walker - Cindy Walker wrote hit songs for the likes of Bob Wills, George Jones, Merle Haggard, Ray Charles, Mel Tillis, and many more. Willie's interpretations are just incredible. And he is backed up by a fabulous band featuring the legendary fiddler Johnny Gimble. Just hearing Willie sing YOU DON'T KNOW ME is worth the price of this fabulous album. But ALL the songs are fabulous. This is easily the best album of the year in any genre.
GREAT MOMENTS/EVENTS

Detroit Tigers Win American League Pennant - After threatening to be the worst team in the history of baseball just two years earlier, the Tigers go to the World Series led by a chain smoking, old school grandfather, a 42 year old pitcher with a history of anger management problems, a pitcher who once lost 20 game in a season, and a fireballing rookie composed well beyond his years. The feel good story of the year.

Indiana Paddler's Rendevous - 150 canoeists gather in Lafayette for 3 days of food, beer, camaraderie, and paddling. A great event with lots of new friends made.
Michigan Destroys #2 Notre Dame in South Bend - Nothing better than having braggin' rights in the home town of the enemy! If football is #1 in South Bend, then being a Michigan ex-pat in South Bend makes this just extra sweet.

Dems Sweep Congressional Elections - take control of both houses of Congress. Nuff' said.

HE'S AT IT AGAIN!

2007-01-03T19:07:00.000-05:00

Yeah, once again, God is talking to Pat Robertson. And if history is any guide , we can only conclude that either Pat needs a hearing aid, or God mumbles badly.

God is always talking to Robertson. Someone more cynical than myself might conclude that God doesn't seem to be particularly reliable. But my personal theory is that Robertson is playing Charlie Brown to God's Lucy. God keeps taunting Robertson with that football, and gullible old Pat just can't resist trying to kick it!

here are just a few of the things that God has whispered in Pat's ear previously:

1. Russia to invade Israel in 1982. I don't recall seeing any soldiers wearing rabbit skin hats goose stepping their way through Jerusalem narrow streets. I think I would remember that!

2. World wide economic collapse in 1985. Hmphh. Don't recall that happening either.

3. Jay Rockefeller to be elected president in 1996. 1996 was well after my dazed and confused decade. I am almost positive this didn't come to pass.

4. 2005 to be extraordinary year of prosperity. According to Robertson, "the American stock market is going to surge upward, if I heard from the Lord." The stock market finished down for 2005.

5. George Bush will have spectacularly successful 2005. The Gospel according to Pat: "Well, the Lord has some very encouraging news for George Bush ... What I heard is that Bush is now positioned to have victory after victory and that his second term is going to be one of triumph, which is pretty strong stuff. ... He'll have Social Security reform passed..." LOL, I am pretty sure George will tell you that 2005 wasn't exactly a spectacular success. Social Security reform? BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

6. God also told Pat that 2005 would see massive numbers of Muslims converting to Christianity. Seems to have missed that one too!

7. 2006: Tsunami to hit US coast. Ya know, you'd think Pat would quit listening after while.

But Pat IS listening again. And this time God is telling him of a massive attack, possibly nuclear, that will affect millions of Americans and possibly numerous cities. It is to happen sometime after September.

The thing that amazes and saddens me is how many seemingly normal, intelligent people buy into this shit. After all the years of Pat putting his foot in his mouth, his show still remains one of the most popular on daytime TV. And I will guarantee you that thousands of people all over the country are suddenly frantically updating their emergency foodstuffs, fuel, batteries and checking out those gas masks. But haven't we all seen this behavior before, sometimes in folks we love and have always respected?

Back in the mid 80's, a couple we had been close to for many years moved to Florida. We didn't hear much from them for a couple of years, then all at once we started getting frantic letters and phone calls from them begging me (never my wife, hmmm...) to get my life right with the Lord. They knew a NASA scientist, Edgar Whisenuat who had figured out mathematically the exact time of Christ's return. And they would feel so awful if I got left behind. Well, I assured them I was touched by their concern, but was pretty well satisfied with my life, and would take my chances.

So, on Oct. 11, 1988, my friends sat on a damp, rainy Florida beach, along with thousands of other true believers, waiting for a Christ who would never show up. I can't tell you how badly I felt for them. But, amazingly, they came through the experience their faith fully in tact, as if the whole thing never happened. It was like their minds denied that it ever happened.

I am always amazed at the minds ability to deny the perfectly obvious, and believe when all evidence points to the contrary. I guess that's how Bush manages to believe we aren't losing in Iraq.

A TRULY HEART WARMING STORY

2006-12-30T03:34:00.000-05:00

Okay, my belated Christmas gift to you is this wonderful tribute to his dad from Rob at BleacherGuy.com. Hope it touches your heart as much as it did mine! DAD'S LAST HUNT

Yes, the cable intenet is finally hooked up! And I am in HEAVEN!

CAN'T RESIST

2006-12-22T19:44:00.000-05:00

Posting this article from THE NEW REPUBLIC. It may get me in trouble, but since they allow you to email article, I can't see much difference.

CAMBRIDGE DIARIST
Village People
by Martin Peretz
Post date: 12.22.06
Issue date: 01.15.07

She's not sure whether she is running for president. But she is certain that the time is right for a woman to try. Maybe Hillary Clinton thinks that Nancy Pelosi should be the Democratic candidate. OK, Hillary is not a candid person. This time--actually, the day that I write--she was not candid on NPR's "Morning Edition." Yesterday, it was on another platform. Tomorrow, she won't be candid on still another one. So, what else is new? We've accommodated to her trying to figure all the angles. Hillary has been scheming for the presidency since the day her husband entered the White House, which is why she didn't much take to Al Gore. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if she conspired with James Baker--or is that just me?

One of the problems about figuring all the angles is that you can't. And, believe me, Hillary tried. She has had an apparatus in place for just that chore for years. Not long enough ago to include Harold Ickes's father, the other Harold Ickes, who schemed for FDR. But this Harold Ickes (who ran Eugene McCarthy's campaign in New York), and Mandy Grunwald and John Podesta and Mark Penn and Tony Podesta and Susan Thomases, unless any of these have been unceremoniously pushed off the ship, much like Marian Wright Edelman--Hillary's closest sister and ideological soulmate--was pushed, never to be let on board again. In its youth, the team was a band of idealists, self-styled. Now it's made up of hardened cynics, no pretense otherwise. But the same folk.

Hillary and Co. prepared for Mark Warner and John Edwards, Bill Richardson and Joe Biden, Tom Vilsack and the really impossible--no, deluded--dreamer John Kerry. She probably had a strategy against Gore, too. She was confident and contemptuous. And then, suddenly, she found herself running against a latter-day Martin Luther King Jr.

There was no way to see Barack Obama coming. And, damn it, he is a picture of America's future, black and white. African father. Columbia. Harvard Law School, where he was president of the Law Review, no slouch he. Taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago, greater evidence of his brilliance. Supple in mind and bearing, evoking energy and thoughtfulness. Ah, yes, his most important public quality: He is comfortable in his own skin. She is not. Oh, is she not! What could Hillary possibly say against him? In the Democratic Party, it is still difficult to honestly criticize an African American. You can't even say a bad word about Al Sharpton, even though you can't say a truthful good word about him, either. But what, for heaven's sake, is there to criticize about Obama? Nothing.

Hillary is holding séances with Democratic politicians in New York. They can't but be for her. Even though my old student Chuck Schumer is more popular than her and more respected. And certainly deeper. The same is true for Eliot Spitzer. If they actually endorse, their endorsements will be discounted. New Mexico Representative Tom Udall probably supports New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson. And that means exactly what? Nothing. On the other hand, maybe Hillary will be able to entice Eleanor Roosevelt into her corner.

I have a question I've been reluctant to ask. Do the Clintons have any friends who aren't really rich? Maybe just a few, for old time's sake. But, as I read the clips about them, they consort largely, and maybe only, with zillionaires and very high-pay Hollywood types. It is not an axiomatic vocational hazard of politicians. Let me take Gore as an instance. He and Tipper have musician friends and professor friends and artist friends and just plain worker friends and farmer friends, for sure. Not that they don't mix with computer magnates, as well. But the Gores are rooted in ordinary life--in real, even quotidian activity. For example, he actually writes his own books. Believe it or not, it's true. The indulgent wealth that surrounds Bill and Hillary is, I am sure, corrupting. And that corruption--of taste, of moderation, of what is essential--cripples the soul and distorts life itself.

No wonder that Bill Clinton flies with frequency to Dubai and other sand eruptions in the Gulf to speak at conference after conference on topics so orotund that no one reports what he says. But isn't it a degradation of the presidency for this former president to shmooze, for money and money alone, with men (yes, only men) who want from him only his presence? But perhaps this sexism is a relief. The robed hosts do allow women to be among their foreign guests. At least they allow Madame Albright, who flatters them, also to address them. And Wesley Clark. But Clinton is the king of the Emirates Airline route. The indisputable king.

Which brings me back to Hillary. Does the American public really want her husband in the White House once again? And with nothing to do? Right now, what with George W. and Laura ensconced in the upstairs rooms, the return of the previous first couple may seem attractive, even alluring. But the hardened woman, who lost her health care proposal not to a GOP Congress but to a Democratic one, does not evoke the capacity to persuade, to compromise, to administer, to govern. Her coterie is too tight. Her mind too rigid. And her husband's is too, well, loose.

Hillary started out in 1993 with "the politics of meaning," that pretentious and portentous phrase that actually means nothing. She had leapt at it out of the mouth of a foolish "rabbi," Michael Lerner, earnest and oleaginous (he the enthusiast of tikkun olam, a theology rooted nowhere so firmly as in a Peter, Paul, and Mary song). But she dropped it quickly when she discovered that the American people were on to her preacher-teacher's banal words. Then she peddled It Takes A Village as book and slogan. It soon appeared too soft for her own entry into politics, and so she also sidetracked this theme. But now she is running for president. Tough-minded she was on Iraq, right up there with that junior senator from Massachusetts. A few days ago, she said that, had she known what she knows now, she wouldn't have voted for the war. Then, today, she said she wished she had voted against the war, whatever. She has fumbled and disenchanted the left, and the left is not easily forgiving. Still, as a gesture to that flank of the party, Hillary has republished It Takes A Village. But what it really takes is a majority of the electoral college. Which I don't see.

Martin Peretz is editor-in-chief of The New Republic.

BAH, HUMBUG!

2006-12-21T23:21:00.000-05:00

Okay, it is no big secret that I am not a big fan of Christmas. I especially hate having to listen to 6 weeks of unrelenting, insippid Chrismtas Carols 24 hours a day. I mean, I never cared for Andy Williams when he was a pop star, I don't want to hear him sing the same few songs half a dozen times a day!

To me there are only 2 good Christmas songs. Check that.... one good Christmas song and one good Hannakuh song. John Lennon's HAPPY CHRISTMAS, and Adam Sandler's HANNAKUH SONG. Sandler's song contains one of my all time favorite lyric lines: "Paul Neman is half Jewish, Goldie Hawn is too. Put them both together, what a FINE LOOKIN JEW!" Which got me to thinking about my all time favorite lyric lines.

1. "Get your tongue out of my mouth, cause I'm kissin you good bye" - Ray Stevens

2. "The weather is here, I wish you were beautiful" - Jimmy Buffet

3. "I tell you duct tape is the answer, in a little silver roll. It can mend the widest crack, patch the deepest hole. I put duct tape on my sneakers when they start to fall apart. Since my baby left me, I'm wearing duct tape on my heart" - Joel Mabus (Duct Tape Blues)

4. "Will there be Mogen David in heaven? It's the answer we all want to know! Will there be Mogen David in heaven, sweet Jesus? Well if not, who the hell wants to go?" Gatlin Bros. (Midnight Choir)

5. "Imaginary lovers never turn you down. When all the others turn you away, they're around" - Atlanta Rhythem Section (Imaginary Lover)

6. "I was drunk the day my mom got out of prison. And I went to pick her up in the rain. But before i could get to the staion in my pick up truck, she got run over by a damned old train." - Steve Goodman/John Prine (The Perfect Country Western Song)

7. "And he sideswiped fifteen neat parked cars, clipped off thirteen telelphone poles. Hit two houses, uprooted big trees, and ran across seven people. It was then he lost his head, not to mention an arm or two, before he stopped." - Harry Chapin (30,000 lbs Of Bananas)

8. "If you like Gerald Ford as much as you like Betty. You think a field of corn looks mighty pretty. And you'd rather go to hell than to New York City. Then your hopelessly midwestern" - Joel Mabus (Hopelessly Midwestern)

Okay, so what are your favorite lines?

COMING A WEEK FROM FRIDAY.....

2006-12-19T21:17:00.000-05:00

6 mps cable internet access! I am so 'CITED!

BACK, FINALLY!

2006-12-18T20:42:00.000-05:00

The move is done, and now the unpacking and and home improvement projects begin! First order of business; get rid of ancient stove, and install a modern stove and dishwasher. Yes, I have come to the conclusion that I know myself well enough to understand a dishwasher is mandatory. Tired of looking at piles of dishes. Which brings about the first DIY dilema. I have limited room in my kitchen. So, do I go for apartment sized stove and full sized dishwasher? Or full sized stove and apartment sized dishwasher? Either way, it will be about $200 more than if I bought both units full sized. Doesn't seem right that smaller would be more expensive, but such is life.

I am eagerly awaiting installation of cable intenet. This dial up s**t is frustrating the bejeebers out of me! I waste so much time trying to get to where I am going, I run out of time to do what I wanted when I finaly arrive at my net destination!

Can't go with out posting something a little political. The Chicago Tribune is running a great series on the hidden consequences of our trade policies with China. Very revealing and sobering stuff. Web site also offers video which is said to be excellent, but, of course, with dial up, I am not geting to view it! Anyhow, check it out at chicagotribune.com/china. Or CLICK HERE

So... Who are the BIGGEST winners and losers?

2006-11-08T22:11:00.000-05:00

So... now that the elections are over, who, besides the American public, are the big winners and losers?

WINNERS:

CONDILEEZA RICE...Now that the Neocons are officially disgraced, and Rice's arch nemesis The Donald is gone, her influence within the administration increases markedly. Bush's new foriegn policy team is made up of pragmatists, with James Baker, Dr. Robert Gates, and Lee Hamilton pretty much calling the shots. Rice will fit right in nicely here. Gone are the neocon theorists Rumsfeld, Wolfowicz, and Pearle. And VP Cheney is now little more than a guy occupying a chair.

NANCY PELOSI... Becomes the most powerful woman in the world! First female Speaker of the House will control the Congressional agenda. Senate Majority Leader Reid will be no match for Pelosi's forceful personality. And she is sure a lot easier on the eyes then Dennis Hastert!

LOSERS:

NEOCONS... Are now officially disgraced and politically insignificant. Pragmatism is the new word in foriegn policy. Kristol, Pearle, Wolfowicz,et. al. are prety much disgraced. David Gergen believes the movement may be permenantly crippled. Good riddance!

CHRISTIAN RECONSTRUCTIONISTS... James Dobson and those who sought to make the GOP the POG (Party of God), and impose "Christian government" on us have taken a big hit. Not only are most of their allies in Congress gone, but over half of voters identifying themselves as Evangelicals voted Democratic this election.

RUSH LIMBAUGH... May be responsible for handing the Senate to the Dems. Clair McCaskill says that her campaign got a huge boost in donations after Limbaugh attacked Micheal J. Fox on the air and accused him of faking his Parkinson's symptoms. Literally millions of dollars were directed to McCaskill's campaign from folks angered and disgusted by Rush's comments.

sigh WHAT A WEEK!

2006-10-28T19:16:00.000-04:00

Great articles in Rolling Stone: The Worst Congress Ever, and The 10 Worst Congressmen . Plus.......

Keith Olberman reveals Rush Limbaugh as the vermin he really is. From COUNTDOWN via "Crooks and Liars"
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Okay, it hasn't been the best of weeks. Of course, there is the whole Detroit Tigers world Series fiasco. I just don't get how, when you are down three games to one and the fielding abilities of your pitching staff is the reason you are not up 3-1, you start a rookie pitcher whose fielding abilities have already cost you one game, instead of pitching the guy who is not only your best pitcher, but the best fielding pitcher in the major leagues.

To make matters worse, cleaning and packing is going incredibly slow, mostly due to my daughters work and babysitting schedule.

Then to top it off, I got kicked off a debating site for the crime of... DEBATING! Because neocons and evangelicals apparently don't like having their cherished beliefs challenged. And what is an even bigger crime, if they attack you personally, you defend yourself and fight back.

It is really kind of humorous, but I stepped on the toes of an old geezer who works at NASA, claims to have an IQ of 147, and gets really pissed off if you ask him questions that he can't answer. Like why, if the Pentagon sees the same intelligence data as he does, and comes to an entirely different conclusion, should I believe him instead of them? Never piss someone off who is buddies with the moderator.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK AND OTHER STUFF

2006-10-20T20:41:00.000-04:00

US war casualties in Iraq

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Former House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-Tex) on Republican leadership meetings: "every week we'd do things we ought not do, in order to stay in power, so we could do the things we ought to do for the American people. Unfortunately, we would never get around to the latter."

Dick Armey gave a very fascinating interview on NPR this week, touching on Republican parochialism, corruption, failure to pass meaningful legislation, and pandering to the Christian right. Listen here

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Okay, even for Dumya, it was a stupid thing to say. This week, Bush compared what is happening in Iraq to Viet Nam and the Tet offensive. Now even if he believes that, it was an incredibly idiotic thing for someone who is supposedly a student of history to say. Note to George : Tet was the beginning of the end for the US in Viet Nam. It turned the public against the war. Okay, to be fair, the public turned on this war even before the disaster that is the Bagdhad campaign began. But George, the very mention of Tet brings back very stark images in the minds of anyone over 45. Unpleasant, disturbing images. Places with names like My Lai, Khe Sahn, and Kent State flood back into view. Not the kind of images you want the public to have if you are trying to drum up support for your damned, not so little anymore, war.
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Speaking of the Bagdhad campaign... Gen. Caldwell said this week that the invasion of Bagdhad has been a disaster (remember, this was supposed to be our last, best hope), and we need a new strategy for Iraq immediately. This follows Sen. Warners call for a new strategy for Iraq with "no options left off the table", following his return from a visit to Iraq.

Which follows remarks from the commander of the British military, Gen. Richard Dannett, who said that the presence of our troops in Iraq is only exacerbating the problems there, and we should bring our troops home soon. Now, even the President's staunchest allies are turning on the war
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The true tragedy of King George's folly is just now coming to full light . We now know that over 600,000 Iraqis have been killed since the start of the war. Over a hundred die daily. The biggest problem with keeping the sewers in Bagdhad operational are the bodies that keep clogging up the system on their way to the Tigres River. The blood of these people lies directly on the hands of George Bush, his neocon supporters, and all those so naive and misinformed that they bought into his sack full of lies. SIX HUNDRED THOUSAND husbands, wives, children, brothers, sisters, moms and dads. They should haunt our dreams for a very long time!

SO WHY....

2006-10-05T02:53:00.000-04:00

... haven't I been around? Getting ready to move in 6 weeks and trying to get ready. Also had a bunch of medical tests taking up a lot of time.

... would the Republicans, the "family values" party, cover up for a predator stalking kids on the internet for 5 years? Follow the money. Foley was one of the House's biggest bankers. He had millions in unspent campaign money he spread around to other Republican re-election efforts. Just before the story broke, he donated a half million dollars to the Republican Congressional campaign committee. Let's face it, the pachyderm party has always been and will always be about the money. "Family values" my ass.

... would Virginia's senior senator essentially cut the legs out from under his junior partners bid for re-election? John Warner just recently returned from Iraq, saying if the situation doesn't change there within a couple of months, the US needs to make drastic changes in its war policy. He said that ALL options MUST be on the table, which obviously means a complete pull out included. The hawkish, popular, and deeply respected Warner, until recently one of the administrations most dependable backers, cut the legs out from under George Allen's charges that his opponent is soft on terror and willing to cut and run. If the highly popular Warner says it is time to consider pulling out, what leg does Allen have to stand on?

We Can't Make It Here Anymore - by James McMurtry

Rhia MAY BE THE BEST VIDEO YOU WILL EVER SEE

"DRISSEL, DRASSEL, DRESSEL, DRONE. TIME FOR THESE ONES TO COME HOME!"

2006-09-29T20:05:00.000-04:00

Just call me "Sulfur Boy"

In the year 2000, the Republican party swept to power on a platform that promised to:
1. Increase prosperity for working Americans
2. Increase access to higher education for all Americans.
3. Improve our standing in the world, especially the middle east.
4. Combat terrorism.
5. Save Social Security
6. Preserve and improve Medicare
7. Provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans
8. Provide energy security.

After 6 years in power, these are the promises kept:
Er, well.......

That’s right, none.

They have however:
1. Given us a stupid, immoral, unnecessary, unwinable war that has cost nearly 3,000 American and British lives, over 100,000 Iraqi lives, and over $300 billion, with no end in sight. We have turned a stable, secular country into a sectarian civil war front. 100 Iraqi’s die daily. Women, who had civil rights on a par with western societies , have lost most of those rights. In fact we have turned Iraq into a breeding ground for terrorists. All the meanwhile strengthening the hands of our enemies in Iran.

2. Managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in Afghanistan. The Taliban are resurgent, and gaining in popularity. In alliance with war lords turned drug lords, they have turned Afghanistan into a narco state, the new Columbia.

3. Turned budget surpluses into record deficits.

4. Given us a recession, one of the weakest recoveries in history, and an economy slipping back into recession.

Now, let’s look at those promises:
1. Increased prosperity for working Americans: The realty is that 90% of wage earners have lost about 5% of their income to inflation since 2000.

2. Increased access to higher education for all Americans. Fact: College tuition is has risen at twice the rate of inflation since the Republicans took control. Worse, the government just drastically raised the interest on student loans, pricing even more young people out of a college education.

3. Improve our standing in the world: Okay, you can get up off the floor from that laughing fit now! This administration has managed to squander all the good will we had world wide after 9/11. Now, even our allies despise us. Btw, if you have to travel to the UK or Europe, make sure you always wear a Toronto Maple Leafs baseball hat or jersey. Likely to save you from a mugging.

4. Combat terrorism: On the floor again?!!!! Yeah, the latest national security estimate says we are creating terrorists much faster than we can kill them. Try to find a retired military officer who has anything positive to say about Iraq and the war on terrorism. Because they have all been on the radio calling Sulfur Boy everything but caucasian.

5. Save Social Security: Nothing pending on that front. Plan on working till you drop dead.

6. Preserve and improve Medicare: Not happening. In fact, there is a movement in the AMA for doctors to drop medicare patients, due to payment cuts. Seniors, need that operation? Better keep eating Kibbles and Bits so you can save enough to have it done!

7. Provide affordable health insurance to all Americans: Did you all choke on that one? 40,000,000 Americans without health insurance, and almost that many more who go without medical care because of unaffordable deductibles. Does that remotely sound like affordable health care to YOU?

8. Energy security. Do recent events make you feel secure?

How long would you keep someone around who consistently lied and broke their promises to you? Six years is long enough. Time to send Mr. Wizard the Lizard to DC so he can chant “Drissle drassel, dressel drone. Time for these ones to come home”

Send the bums packing!

p.s. My apologies to Tudor Turtle

THE DYING CUB FANS LAST REQUEST

2006-09-23T19:07:00.000-04:00

Now that the Tiger's magic number is two, I thought this song was appropriate. Hear THE DYING CUBS FAN'S LAST REQUEST HERE

Rub it in? MWAH?

2006-09-23T15:55:00.000-04:00

Soul Asylum - Lately

Love this song and video

2006-09-20T19:47:00.000-04:00

Apparently.... I haven't been giving the President nearly enough credit. Hugo Chavez says he is the devil himself. Here I only thought he was the Anti-Christ!

2006-09-19T19:36:00.000-04:00

BACK FROM AN EXTENDED WEEKEND BACK HOME WHERE I....

celebrated Michigan's victory over the Fightless Irish by consuming all if my favorite comfort foods! Had a fabulous Detroit style pizza after the game. Coffee and a couple of TimTarts at Tim Horton's later that evening. And a couple of steak pasties Sunday!

"SEEMS FOREVER LASTS EXACTLY THREE MONTHS"

2006-09-11T22:36:00.000-04:00

I sincerely apologize for neglecting all my net friends. Just that not only have I been very busy, I have been in one of those moods where I am so pissed off and bummed I cannot write coherently.

It pisses me off the president thinks we are all so stupid we don't understand that when he tells us Americans don't torture people, it means we have others do it for us. That we can't figure out that if these detainees weren't being tortured, we would have no need for secret, foreign prisons. That "alternative methods of interrogation" is a euphemism for torture.

It has always pissed me off the way politicians and the media have used 9/11 to whip up mass hysteria for political and ratings purposes. How they have sullied a genuine tragedy with their grandstanding and quest for ratings.

Tomorrow will be the fifth anniversary of the "email read around the world". It started as a potential op-ed piece, on the subject I spoke of above. I basically said that American had not changed forever, that we would all continue to go to work and play with the grandkids, and carry on as we had before. And it decried the media hype and politicization of a genuine tragedy. I sent it to the people on my mail list, asking for suggestions, and criticisms. Well, not only did my evil, fightin fundie, James Dobson loving ex sister-in-law send an email to everyone on my mail list demanding they all send me excoriating letters of disgust, she sent a copy to everyone on HER email list, demanding the same thing, and asking them to forward a copy to everyone on their email lists, etc. I got HUNDREDS of emails from all over the US and even a couple from Canada and the UK. My ISP threatened to charge me commercial rates, since they were sure I was conducting some kind of business by email.

To be fair, a lot of the emails I got were actually very supportive, but I received a lot more calling me everything but a white man. So I felt very vindicated when a few months later, the venerable Alistair Cooke remarked on his weekly BBC radio show LETTER FROM AMERICA, "Everyone, including myself, thought that America would be changed forever. As it turns out, forever lasts almost exactly three months!"
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There is some good news this week. Our good friend Jessica at United We Lay had a bouncing baby boy this week. Julian weighed in at 7lbs, 6oz! Drop her a congratulatory note at gletti@rocketmail.com.

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Finally, a special thanks to Ron and Edna Curren, who threw one of the most awesome parties I have ever had the honor of attending Saturday. Festivities included hog roast, hay ride, professional fireworks display, dj, and enough beer and jello shots to float a battle ship!

And to all those light weights at my place of employment, I TOLD YOU NONE OF YOU COULD HANG WITH ME. The exception being the bosses daughter-in-law Shelley, who pretty much matched me beer for beer and jello shot for jello shot. Woman's pretty, smart, funny, and drinks like a man. No wonder Josh married her!

... THE MORE THINGS STAY THE SAME!

2006-08-30T19:57:00.000-04:00

WHEN THE LEVEES BROKE

My oldest son Sean is generally quiet and reserved, not the kind of guy to wear his emotions on his sleeve or discuss his feelings. However, Spike Lee's HBO documentary WHEN THE LEVEES BROKE so moved him, he was inspired to create his first ever blog post. Quite frankly, he stole a lot of my thunder! It is a terrific rant, and includes a great video of Good Charlotte doing WE BELIEVE. Great song, great video, great first blog post. See it HERE.

Click on Hurricane Katrina - my rant (upper right hand corner) and be sure to tell him your impressions (and say Hi!)!

HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS

Speaking of Katrina, HRH King George II has been all over New Orleans "feeling the peoples pain", desperately trying to make it appear that he has done his job, and trying to blame Ray Nagin and Kathleen Blanco for the fiasco that is the New Orleans recovery effort. He apparently has forgotten, or hasn't yet figured out, that as president, the buck stops at HIS desk. He is ultimately responsible for doing whatever it takes to get the job done. Does anyone ever remember a president so unwilling or unable to roll up his sleeves, get his hands dirty, and get the job done? Typical child of "old money", thinks that all he needs to do is throw some cash at the problem, and the cure will follow. Hey George, take a look around you... think it's working?

SCARY SHIT

Fascinating discussion on FRESH AIR today. Neocon Michael Ledeen (holds the Freedom chair at the AEI), and liberal foreign policy expert Joseph Cirincione (senior vice president for National Security and International Policy at the Center for American Progress) both in agreement that the president has already decided to take military action against Iran. Of course, this idea has the support of the Vice President's office, and DOD. The Secretary of State, State department, and Joint Chiefs are adamantly opposed.

Both Ledeen and Cirincione appear to believe that the lead up to the war is already starting. Just as with Iraq, it starts with the administration appearing to be reasonable and going through the Security council for sanctions. Of course, sanctions will fail, and Bush will claim he has no choice but to launch a military attack. No matter that Iran is at least 10 years away from actually being able to build a bomb. No more time for diplomacy will be the Bush mantra.

Both men blast the Bush administration for it's total lack of a coherent policy on Iran. And their inability to foresee possible consequences of their actions. For example, if attacked, the Iranians are likely to sink ships and block the Strait of Hormuz, through which much of the worlds oil passes. Oil would immediately jump to $200-$300 per barrel. Can you say $7 a gallon gas? And not choke just a bit?

Now there's some food for thought!

CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE

I don't usually hype companies or products, but two companies performed so well for me I have to give them a shout out!

My computer keyboard took a shit last week. After a couple of days of trying to copy and paste several letters out of one document into another, I gave up Thursday night and ordered a new keyboard from MacMall. I placed the order at 8:30 Thursday evening, and had them ship it Fed Ex 2nd day economy, figuring it would be there by Monday. It arrived the next day shortly after noon. That's less than 16 hours, and at second day economy rate! I have had great luck with MacMall/PCMall for years, and always go to them first for my computer needs. And my experiences with Fed Ex have always been great. Can't say the same for brown, whose service here, well, sucks.

So please consider doing business with these two great companies. They get a strong thumbs up from TGWB!

WE'VE BEEN OVERRUN BY THE CLUELESS

2006-08-18T13:21:00.000-04:00

My apologies to Alicia Silverstone; she and her friends couldn't possibly be as clueless as Dubya and co.

But don't take my word for it. USA TODAY seems to be in total agreement. The normally moderate editorial board excoriated the Bush administration and Republican leadership in a Wednesday editorial titled Oh, Really?.

After viewing "no one could have expected" statements by Dubya, Condi, and Gen. Calwell, the editorial starts:

As the unfortunate statements above show, President Bush and people who work for him have a disheartening habit of being astonished by the arrival of disasters they didn't see coming but others did.

The editorial goes on to thoroughly debunk the "nobody could have forseen" the levy failures, planes as missles, and secterian violence statements by showing that, indeed, many people had. The editorial continues:

It's true that the shelves of government agencies are stacked with warnings of various calamities that never panned out or weren't widely disseminated. But anticipating risks — whether from terrorists, Mother Nature or Iraqi insurgents — is basic to effective leadership.

And finally:

The price is yet to be paid for the most flagrant example of ignoring risk, but the bill will start coming due in about a decade when Social Security and Medicare face insolvency because of today's shortsighted policies. Perhaps those in power at that time will attempt to say the crisis couldn't have been anticipated. But they'll be wrong, just as those bemoaning the calamities of 9/11, New Orleans and Iraq are today.

It's time to retire the “no one could have expected it” excuse.

This is an excellent article, and I hope you will take the minute or two it requires to read it in it's entirety!

SPEAKING OF CLUELESS (warning: I am in cynical, angry rant mode. This is likely to offend some or, more likely, all of you. Be forewarned):

I do not understand religious people. People who believe their God is all knowing and all powerful, can bring on floods and devestation and destroy the whole world with the wave of his/her hand. Yet who believe him so weak and impotent that they must fight his battles for him. If he is so damned omnipotent, why does he need YOU to fight his battles for him? And if God really does exist, and really gives a damn as to the specifics of how you worship and how you live, why doesn't he just make himself and his expectations obvious to everyone? He could take over all the TV channels at once and have a giant I AM GOD AND THIS IS WHAT I EXPECT OF YOU infomercial. If he is OMNIPOTENT, he could do that, you know! Or is he just a sick bastard with a sadistice sense of humor who enjoys seeing humans slaughter each other for the honor of being "his children"?

There are 22 major world religions and thousands of subsets of these religions. Each arrogantly believeing that they alone (okay Unitarians, I give you a pass on this one) have a special relationship with God, an the rest of you are God's enemies and will be banished to hell. And each trying to kill the others to make sure they arrive in hell early. Or wherever. You could become a dung beetle in your next life, perhaps a fate even worse than hell. And how does a dung beetle ever live a good enough life to move up the food chain in it's next life? But I digress.

How fucking clueless and arrogant is it to believe in an all powerful, all knowing God, then believe he is limited to dealing with humans in a manner only approved of by you. What arrogance, what hutzpah, what CRAP! If he is truley omnipotent, he doesn't need you to tell him how to deal with me. An omnipotent God and I are perfectly capable of dealing with each other on our terms without help from you, thanks!

Frankly, I am not likely to believe until I see some small fragment of evidence that God exists. So how bout it God, when's that infomercial coming? Make sure you tell NPR to announce the time and date.... I wouldn't want to miss it!

INDIANA PADDLERS RENDEZVOUS 2006

2006-08-08T21:13:00.000-04:00

My dream vehicle (as posted by my son Sean)

This weekend past, 100+paddlers from Indiana and surrounding states gathered at Wildcat Park in Laffeyette for the 2006 version of the INDIANA PADDLER'S RENDEZVOUS.
Three fabulous days of paddling Wildcat Creek, camping, swapping stories, and making new friends.

Besides the paddling, the highlight of the weekend was Garry "Muskrat" Hill's Saturday night Chili dinner, and the charity auction that followed. A great time was had by all!

Scrapper John awaits chance to show off cannon ball form

Preparing to launch

Garry "Muskrat" Hill did a terrific job organizing the event, not to mention cooking a mean pot of chili!

We made some terrific new friends!

Morgan w/mom Valarie

Cara and Eric

I had a couple more pics I wanted to post, but blogger won't cooperate! See all of Tim Criswell's trip pics HERE

HEAT INDUCED MEANDERING THOUGHTS FROM GEEZERDOM

2006-08-01T19:31:00.000-04:00

Check out the headline directly above the RollingStone logo. If this doesn't disturb you , you are not paying attention! This article, plus one on the Connecticut senate race, make this weeks RS a must read. The article on Led Zeppelin is excellent too!

The heat index hit 112 degrees here today. A lot of people are complaining about this heat wave. Not me! First, it is a great excuse to go to the beach instead of doing housework (I'm goin tomorrow night!). But more importantly, the number of mostly naked women running around my neighborhood roughly doubles for every 10 degrees of heat. At this point, even the most conservative of women seem to have given up on modesty in favor of comfort. Case in point... There is a very attractive fortyish woman who moved in down the street a few years ago. By day, she generally wears business suits with skirt just below the knees. By night, generally khakis and a work shirt. In three years, I had never seen her knees, until this week. Suddenly, she has discovered the joys and comfort of men's boxers and tank tops. She hasn't had any restraining undergarments on in at least 5 days. And it turns out she has fabulous legs!

A walk downtown reveals a sea of sports bras, halters, and hip hugging, cheek exposing short shorts. Not to mention myriad of buxom black ladies in a rainbow of backless sundresses. Ah, the summer in the city. John Sebastian should write a song about it!

Did I mention that I came within about a tenth of a second of being just another traffic statistic Saturday? I was driving east to meet Carol and Garry for our canoe outing, when a large, loaded dump truck apparently lost its brakes while coming down a side street. The driver attempted to turn into the westbound lane, but tires smoking, he still came all the way across into my lane and onto the shoulder. I somehow managed to take a detour across someone's front lawn, but I still have no idea how I missed this guy. It was so close (how close was it?), I have a white paint scratch on my drivers side rear view mirror. I keep having nightmares where all I see is the grill of a Peterbuilt flash in front of my eyes. Needless to say, my beer consumption went way up Saturday! When I told my daughter about it that night, her reaction was, "you're a professional driver, you're supposed to be able to do that." I must admit, I was underwhelmed by her reaction!
TIME TO GRAB ANOTHER BREW AND CHECK OUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD! See ya soon.... TGWB

CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S BEEN SO LONG!

2006-07-30T10:37:00.000-04:00

Pigeon River, Mongo IN

Holy sh*t, it's been a busy couple of weeks. Four birthdays, a weekend spent canoeing the Pigeon River. Plus, trying to get ready for the Indiana Paddler's Rendezvous in Lafayette next weekend, and a VERY hot day paddling the Elkhart!

Happy Birthday to my granddaughters Savannah and Sierra, my son's girlfriend Sarah, and ME!

Spent much of my spare time this week and last working on the the Michiana Canoeguyandgals' official new website Paddle Michiana. I did find the time to make some killer spare ribs and watch the Tiger's beat the Twins on my son's Big screen HD tv Friday night!

I have not been completely out of touch, however. Have you noticed that even the Republicans are becoming increasingly frustrated with the Bush administrations foreign policy? Congressman Jim Leach (R-Iowa), considered the House's leading foreign policy expert , was extremely critical of Bush's foreign policy in general and middle east policy in particular.

I am sure you have probably seen this BUSH DRUNK video from The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson. But just in case, I offer it here. Besides, it is so funny, you can't see it too many times!

HUCK FINN 2006 PICS here

2006-07-21T01:51:00.000-04:00

DICKHEAD DIPLOMACY

2006-07-19T19:27:00.000-04:00

A quick look at the situation in the middle east should be enough to convince anyone of the damage done when foreign policy is driven by the organ between the presidents legs, rather than the one on top of his shoulders. Taking a quick look at where trash talking gunboat diplomacy has gotten us so far....

No matter how hard you spin it, Iraq is now embroiled in a full flegged civil war. 6,000 Iraqis have died at the hands of other Iraqis in the last two months alone.

In Afghanistan, the Taliban are resurgent and increasingly strong. The Brits and Canadians have both sent re-reinforcement in hopes of dealing with them. Their support increases every day in the south, while the government continues to disappoint its constituents.

Iran has brilliantly out maneuvered the US over the Palestinian/Israeli peace process. Using its influence over Hamas and Hezbollah, Iran now has Israel fighting on two fronts, and NATO nations bickering with each other. This still has the potential to draw the entire middle east into war. Gee, I guess forcing democracy down the throat of the not overly interested Palestinians, and pushing Syria out of Lebanon (both moves strongly opposed by our allies in the area) weren't such grand plans after all.

Damn, and those folks the pres called the "axis of evil" all seem to be getting the better of us, diplomatically speaking. So much for "little head" diplomacy!

And don't even get me started on President Dickhead's boorish behavior at the G8! (hint to Dubya: beckoning the Prime Minister of a sovereign nation by yelling "yo, Blair" or sneaking up behind the female president of and allied country to give her a surprise massage may be acceptable behavior in a Harvard frat house, but is considered boorish at a summit of world leaders, just so you know!)

Meanwhile, it was a busy week for me last week!

The Huck Finn float was Saturday, and my pal Ron and I decided to build our own raft. We completed it about midnight Friday night! But it was a big success, save a minor incident or two. Details on my myspace blog. Hopefully, I'll have pics to post shortly.

I hate July, there are no fewer than 5 family birthdays this month. Which means not only a sever strain on my pocketbook, but a logistical nightmare trying to figure out when we can celebrate them. Speaking of which, gotta run. Gotta shop for the granddaughter's birthday gifts.

Warning: I Have Been Sucked In...

2006-07-07T12:33:00.000-04:00

to MySpace. Yes, I know a lot of you believe that MySpace is the embodiment of evil. But I am finding it a great way to keep up with my kids and nieces, and to find out what they are REALLY thinking, as opposed to what they tell me because it is what they think I want to hear! And, I am hoping to network with some people with similar interests, like canoeing and camping. Visit me, and tell me if you like my choice of home page music!

Speaking of music, I heard a couple of new things on the radio yesterday that I really liked. Soul Asylum (pictured) has a new album coming out July 11 (I believe it is already available on iTunes). The album is titled THE SILVER LINING, and I really like the featured single, Stand Up And Be Strong. There website features clips of several of the albums songs, and it definitely will be on my purchase list come payday.

A band from Omaha (hard to believe, I know), Tilly And The Wall, has been all over public and college radio the last couple of weeks. They have gotten rave reviews on Fresh Air and ATC, and were featured yesterday on World Cafe. This is what World Cafe's website has to say about them:

The first thing listeners will probably notice about the indie-pop band Tilly and the Wall is its use of tap-dancing in place of drumming. While that helps set it apart from its peers, it's the Omaha natives' infectious blend of girl-group vocal harmonies, brash rock and tightly constructed pop that makes it far more than the sum of its gimmicks.

They played a three song set on yesterdays show, which you can hear HERE

Al Gore is interviewed in ROLLING STONE (yes, I realize I am probably their oldest subscriber) this week. Gore on Bush:
...Bush is insulated - his staff smiles a lot and only gives him news that he wants to hear. Unfortunately, they still have this delusion they are creating their own reality. As George Orwell wrote, we human beings are capable of believing something that's not true long after the accumulated evidence would convince any reasonable person that it is wrong. And when leaders persist in that error, sooner or later they will have a collision with reality, often on a battlefield.

ROLLING STONE on the sad state of the Democratic Party:
... but the dream of a Gore candidacy also underscores the pathetic core of today's Democratic Party. It has become so unusual to hear a mainstream Democratic politician speak with a sense of conviction that when one does, people start practically begging him to run.

2006-07-01T14:34:00.000-04:00

FIVE THINGS WE LEARNED THIS WEEK.

1. THAT GLOBAL WARMING IS BAD FOR YOUR HEALTH! Remember when some scientists were saying that global warming would be a boon to agriculture, and that we could actually see a greening of the planet? Well, that turns out to be only partially true. It has been a boon to opportunistic plants (i.e. weeds and pests). If your allergies are suddenly worse, could be because of the 62% increase in ragweed spores. Poison Ivy is not only spreading it's range, but becoming increasingly toxic. Global warming also appears to be responsible for increasing West Nile virus and Malaria outbreaks. This according to the Center for Health and the Global Environment at Harvard Medical School. STORY HERE

2. YOU ARE GETTING POORER! When the Bush administration tells you wages have been rising, it is the classic case of making numbers lie. The truth is, if you take the top 10% of wage earners out of the equation, the rest of us have lost an average of 1% a year to inflation for the last five years. STORY HERE

3. AMERICA'S HEALTH SYSTEM SUCKS! The US has the second highest infant mortality rate in all of the developed world. STORY HERE

4. AMERICANS LIVE IN INCREASING SOCIAL ISOLATION! According to a Duke University study, the average American has fewer close confidants that they did 20 years ago. When surveyed in 1984, the average American had three people with whom they could discuss important personal problems with. Today, the average person has two. Worse, almost 1/4 of Americans say they have no one to discuss these things with. Causes? Chief among them; Families work far more hours a week than they did twenty years ago. People live farther away from their jobs, and the long commutes also cut into time spent socializing. This is a really interesting study. STORY HERE

5. THE NATIONAL LEAGUE SUCKS! In the latest round of interleague play, the American league is just embarrassing the National league. Detroit is now 16-1 in this round of interleague play. The White Sox and Twins are 15-2. The Red Sox 14-3. The American league record is now 140-83 in head to head meetings with NL teams this year. The senior circuit is starting to play like the senior citizens circuit!

2006-06-22T23:06:00.000-04:00

HEY, I HAVEN'T BEEN SLACKING COMPLETLY!

I have just finished updating the Riverquest 2006 blog, including a story and pics of our newest team member!

I guarentee you'll get a kick out of this! Check it out HERE

Also, don't forget to check out the recipe for CANOE CAMP CHOWDER

2006-06-18T00:46:00.000-04:00

VACATION PICS!
Top: TGWB in Pine River (WI) rapids.
Middle: Jeff "Riverdog" Mathews leads the way through a Pine River rock garden.
Bottom: Young Bald Eagle on the Brule River (WI/UP border)

I am REALLY having trouble getting back into the swing of things since vacation. While I am trying to get my act together, thought you might enjoy a few photos from the recent Wisconsin/UP excursion. All photos curtosy of Gary "Muskrat" Hill.

View more photos of our excursion HERE

VACATION MAGNIFIQUE

2006-06-11T04:05:00.000-04:00

Paint River, Upper Peninsula, Michigan

What a terrific vacation! A Wisconsin cabin 15 miles south of Iron River MI in the Chequagemon/Nicolet National Forest. Five days of paddling, five very different bodies of water. An opportunity to paddle with some new friends. Lots of beer, food, and campfire stories. Coyotes calling just after sundown. The odd call of the sandhill crane. Loons performing their mating ritual. Bald eagles soaring. An osprey fishing. Wild turkeys taking flight. Tiny young fawns, barely able to run. A black bear in full gallup, after being chased out of a neighbor's back yard. And my personal favorite, my first sighting of a least weasel, at about 6 inches, the world's smallest carnivour. It scampered across the road in front of my truck early one morning, pausing just long enough for me to get a really good look.

Oh yeah, and that Yooper delicacy, Pasties! For the uninitiated, a Pasty is a kind of meat pie, typically containing ground or diced beef and pork, onions, potatoes, rutabaga, and occasionally, carrots. Served slathered in butter, gravy, or Catsup. It is the official dish of the Upper Peninsula.

Day 1: THE BRULE. This river forms the boundary between Michigan and Wisconsin. Started out as a peaceful, scenic river, then gradually changed to a swift shallow river with numerous riffles, rock gardens, and minor rapids. Very scenic, lots of deer. At about 8 hours, our longest trip.

Day 2: THE PINE (Wisconsin). Started out with a short challenging rapid. Quick water, lots of rifles and rock gardens. After a few miles, river settles into quiet, scenic, meandering stream. We see our first Bald Eagle, an immature bird not fully colored yet. But very impressive! Also see osprey and lots of deer. Mike brings in real nice Brook Trout. River changes in nature again, picking up speed, lots of rifles and rocks. Stretch ends with a 100 yd rapid bordering on class II.

Day 3: Rain and recuperation day. Carol and I sit around cabin eating too much and watching old movies on TCM. Watch Oilers chances for Stanley Cup die with Dwayne Roloson writhing in pain.

Day 4: THE PAINT, south branch (UP). My favorite stretch all week. Varied water conditions. Extremely scenic. We see our first eagle nest and a number of mature eagles either perched atop the highest tree, or soaring in flight.

Day 5: THE PAINT, north branch (UP). Starts with quick, tricky rapids. TGWB swims. Shallow, rocky, lots of twist and turns, with numerous small islands and narrow, swift, twisting channels. The hardest work all week.

Day 6: SYLVANIA WILDERNESS AREA (UP). This is a mini boundary Waters. Beautiful scenery. Portaged to five different lakes. Numerous eagle. A number of loons, including a pair in mating ritual. Just gorgeous.!

The end of day 6 also led to the discovery of a great new recipe. In an effort to get rid of as much remaining food as possible, I created a dish that turned out to be delicious. I am calling it CANOE CAMP CHOWDER, and I am posting the recipe on THE CHURCH POTLUCK.

All in all, it was an incredible week. I hope I can do it again next year.

Now cooking at THE CHURCH POTLUCK: Canoe Camp Chowder.

2006-06-02T23:29:00.000-04:00

THE GREAT WHITE BEAR IS ON VACATION!!!! See ya around June 11th!

2006-05-20T18:40:00.000-04:00

GROWING UP IN MOTOWN IN THE 60'S (or why it sucks to be you)

I am generally one of those people who is of the same opinion as Carly Simon, that "these are the good old days". Having said that, however, I can't imagine a better or more exciting place to grow up than metro Detroit in the 60's. The huge number of talented bands. A club scene second to none, including San Francisco. The music festivals. The 68 Detroit Tigers. Cruisin' Woodward Ave. Belle Isle. CKLW and WKNR am radio.

Dbackdad and mister anchovy are responsible for this sudden case of waxing nostalgic. Mr. A with his post about an old Detroit Ballroom being renovated into condos, and DBD with his post about the top ten concerts you have ever seen. I had rattled off ten shows off the top of my head. Then Mr. A's post got me thinkin about all the great shows I'd seen and venues I'd been to as a teen. I saw an awful lot of great shows back then, and an enormous number of people who went on to great fame. The list of top rank Detroit area bands is huge and can be viewed here. A short list includes:
ALICE COOPER
AMBOY DUKES (Ted Nugent, Steve Farmer)
BROWNSVILLE STATION (smokin in the boys room back then)
COMMANDER CODY AND HIS LOST PLANET AIRMEN (ridin in that hot rod lincoln)
THE DEL-TINOS (front man Cub Koda later formed Brownsville Station)
FRIJID PINK
FROST (Dick Wagner, later to be Alice Cooper's guitarist and colaborator, and is still very active as a studio musician, writer and producer. Currently writing songs with Alice Cooper for Alice's upcoming album)
FUNKADELIC/P-FUNK (yes, George Clinton was outrageous then, too)
GRAND FUNK RAILROAD (still an American band)
MC 5 (the forefathers of Punk)
MITCH RYDER AND THE DETROIT WHEELS
MUSHROOM (Glen Frye, yes, the Eagles Glen Frye)
PLEASURE SEEKERS (Suzi Quatro, yes, the little blond singer/actress/bass player who still looks fabulous in leather pants)
POPCORN BLIZZARD (Meat Loaf, before Rocky Horror Picture Show and Paradise)
QUESTION MARK AND THE MYSTERIONS (cryin' 96 Tears)
SAVAGE GRACE
BOB SEGER AND THE LAST HEARD (later the Bob Seger System)
SKY (Doug Fieger, would later move to California and form THE KNACK)
STOOGES (Iggy Pop)
SUNDAY FUNNIES
TEEGARDEN AND VAN WINKLE (more music than you could ever imagine from a Hammond B3 and a drum kit)
TERRY KNIGHT AND THE PACK (remember I WHO HAVE NOTHING? Also Grand Funk's manager. Murdered by his daughter's boyfriend in 2004)

I saw virtually every one of these bands at one time or another. Metro Detroit had literally dozens of venues, and these band would play them in two or threes every weekend. My favorites were Mothers in Romeo, and the Paladium in Birmingham.

Then there were the larger venues. San Fransisco had the Filmore and Filmore West, Chicago had the Aragon Ballroom. But Detroit had the Grande Riviera Ballroom, The Walled Lake Casino (till it burned on Christmas, 1966), The Eastown Ballroom and the Grand Ballroom at the Masonic Temple.

These larger venues would bring in big name acts who would play the same bill as the local bands. The MC 5 played the Grand Riviera so much people thought they were the house band. I saw them on bills with Joe Cocker, also with Cream. I saw Alice Cooper (Alice was to the Eastown as MC5 were to the Riviera) with Frost and James Gang (Joe Walsh pre Eagles). I saw Frijid Pink and Strawberry Alarm Clock at the Masonic's Ballroom (not to be confused with it's much larger theatre).

Then there were the outdoor music festivals, at least 40 between 1967 and 1972. Michigan must have led the world in rock festivals. I attended 3, including the one that is considered the best of all the festivals ever (including Woodstock), The Goose Lake Festival, Jackson MI, 1970. I really lucked out on this one. The only reason I went was because I'd met a group of kids canoeing on the Huron River the weekend before, and they had an extra ticket.

This was an awesome 3 days, and probably should have been on my list at Dbackdad's. And would have been had it not been for the fact that it was incredably crowded and at times, very uncomfortable.. They were only supposed to sell 70,000 tickets and sold 200,000. Two things that saved the weekend. The group I went with was smart enough to get there 5 days ahead of time and get a good camping spot, and I was smart enough to bring a camping toilet and solar shower. The bands were great! The only act that sucked was Chicago. I have seen them twice. At Goose Lake, and at Notre Dame in 1971. I came to the conclusion they are the most overrated band in history. I have seen nothing since to make me change my mind. The Goose Lake lineup:

Friday: John Drake's Shakedown, Mighty Quick, SRC, The New York Rock and Roll Ensemble, John Sebastian, Chicago, Small Faces w/Rod Stewert, Ten Years After.

Saturday: New World Symphony, Brownsville Station, The Litter, Teegarden and Van Winkle, The Flying Burrito Bros. (probably the best act of the weekend), The Stooges (musta sucked, I don't remember them being there), Third Power, Mountain

Sunday: Suite Charity, Alice Cooper, Mitch Ryder, Bob Seger System (did a kick ass version of Heavy Music), Frost, The Flock, Savage Grace, James Gang, Jethro Tull. What a great way to end a festival! Ian Anderson and Tull just rocked!

The other festival I attended (besides the one already discussed at DBD's), was the first annual Detroit Rock and Roll Revival at the State Fairgrounds in Detroit. Great lineup. All the big local bands (except Seger and Mitch Ryder), plus Sun Ra, Dr. John, Chuck Berry, Johnny Winter, and James Gang! Would have been a fabulous two days had the sound been better. Always a problem at the fairgrounds.

Of course, music wasn't the only great thing about growing up in southeast Michigan. The township I grew up in had 400 lakes. Virtually every subdivision had it's own beach. Then there was Belle Isle. The island park in the middle of the Detroit River. Two Yacht clubs, a childrens zoo, 9 hole golf course, canoe rental, riding stable, aquarium, and Great Lakes Maritime Museum. A great place to watch the Gold Cup Unlimited Hydroplane race. Or watch the micro miniskirted secretaries from the downtown offices who would go to Belle Isle to eat their sack lunches. Makes my heart beat faster just thinking about them!

Then there was Bob-lo, the island amusement park you took a 30 min cruise to get to!

Not to mention drag racin' my souped up 1966 GMC pickup (with a 6 pack on a 352 ci big block V-6 and Corvette tranny and rear axle) on Woodward Ave. on a Saturday night.

And, of course, Kaline, McLean, roly poly Mickey Lolich, and the 68 Tigers!

Okay, so it does suck (just a bit) to be you!

MUSCIC TRIVIA : On Rolling Stones Top 100 Guitarists list, three bands had two guitarists who played together on the list. Name the bands and the musicians. (answer on next post). Hint: Yardbirds don't count. Clapton and Page both played for them, but not at the same time.

2006-05-20T10:53:00.000-04:00

IF ONLY AMERICA HAD KNOWN BUSH IS A FISHERMAN....

AL GORE WOULD PROBABLY BE PRESIDENT! After all, we all know what horrible liars fishermen are. You know they can't be trusted. Well, it turns out that even El Presidente's biggest accomplishment in office is a huge lie.

I was browsing our friend Shaw's site and saw where George W. Bush said his greatest accomplishment since taking office was catching a 7lb perch in a pond on his ranch. Think, for just a moment, what a sad, pathetic statement that is. In 5 and 1/2 years as leader of the richest, most powerful nation on the planet, his greatest accomplishment is catching a big fish. But it gets worse.

Living in as close a proximity to Lake Michigan as I do, and having previously lived very near lakes St. Clair, Erie and Huron, I have done more than a bit of perch fishing in my day. Even on Lake Michigan, a 2 lb perch is a whopper! And perch are cold water fish, they tend not to thrive in southern heat.

So I did a bit of research. The world record White Perch is 4lbs 12 oz, caught in a Maine Lake in 1949. The world record Yellow Perch is 4lb 3 oz, taken out of Cross Wickes Creek in New Jersey in 1865. Now Dubya would have you believe that in a SOUTHERN pond, he caught a perch that is 50% bigger than any perch caught in the last 140 years! Funny, no photos. Nothing on the Texas DNR site about a new world record. Typical fisherman, he can't even tell the truth about his greatest accomplishment, as pathetic as it was.

How horrifying it would be if someone asked my granddaughter what my greatest accomplishment was, and she said, "well, we used to think that it was the big fish he caught, but that turned out to be a lie too!

Presidents come and presidents go
They rise like smoke they fall like snow
Do you believe the things you say
Your lofty thoughts are filled with hay
What is this faith that you profess
That led to this colossal mess
When you awaken from this coma
You'll find you were in Oklahoma
When you crawl out of this self delusion
You're going to need a soul transfusion

This version of the world will not be here long
It is already gone It is already gone
This version of the world will not be here long
It is already gone It is already gone."
from T-Bone Burnett's song PALESTINE TEXAS

2006-05-19T15:20:00.000-04:00

FINALLY, AT LAST... The new BOB SEGER album, AND A TOUR!

Seger, Cobo Arena, Detroit, 1972, and Hall Of Fame, 2004

His first album since 1995's IT'S A MYSTERY and the first tour since he sold over a million seats in 1996! The new album FACE THE PROMISE is said to contain 11 new original songs, plus a killer cover of Vince Gill's Real Mean Bottle with Kid Rock. EMI has pushed back the release date at least 6 times, mostly because Seger is such a production perfectionist. But the Flint Journal reports that Seger's manager is booking a 21 city tour starting Sept. 16, so the Sept. 12 release date should be set in stone this time!

THE THREE REASONS THE NSA PHONE DATABASE SHOULD SCARE YOU SHITLESS

2006-05-18T12:16:00.000-04:00

Richard Nixon
John Mitchell
J. Edgar Hoover

I took a bit of an informal and very unscientific poll yesterday. It seems that virtually everybody at work who is over the age of 50 is aghast at the NSA phone call monitoring program. However, a large majority of those under 50 either approved or didn't care. I had to think for a minute why the big difference pre and post 50. Then it dawned on me. Age 50 is about the cut off age between those who remember Richard Nixon, and those who don't.

Early in his presidency, Richard Nixon approached FBI director J. Edgar Hoover with a scheme to set up surveillance on his political adversaries and Viet Nam war opponents. Hoover (who we later learned had a long history of tapping the phones of politicians and civil rights leaders and using the information to discredit or blackmail them), refused to go along unless the Attorney General signed off on the program. Not because he objected, but because he wanted cover in case the program was found out. Not only did AG John Mitchell give the program the green light on the basis of national security, but became intimately involved in the program. As a result, the FBI and NSA tapped and monitored the phones of over 1700 political groups (mostly groups whose only crime was to be active in the civil rights or anti war movements) and their members. The information gleaned was used in a number of ways.

The FBI would raid and disrupt meetings. They would plant "agitators" at rallies and bring in opposing groups, hoping that the violence fomented would reflect badly on the protesters. Busting protest leaders on minor drug offenses became a staple in the justice department's attempts to decapitate protest groups.

Then came Watergate. In the ensuing investigation, the activities of Nixon, Mitchell, and Hoover were brought to light, and the FBI, NSA, and CIA were placed under much greater congressional scrutiny. But after 9/11 and the "war on terror," much of this scrutiny was relaxed, and intelligence agencies given the benefit of the doubt.

There is absolutely no reason to believe that George W. Bush is somehow less nefarious and paranoid than Nixon. I would argue the facts point to just the contrary. And even Nixon never declared that only he had the power to decide which laws he had to follow and which he didn't.

A Justice Dept. probe of the NSA monitoring program has been thwarted on national security grounds. Congress should demand the administration immediately grant full access to Justice. And if Bush refuses, he should be impeached.

Those of us who lived through Nixon remember life under a rogue president. We wish not to have to live through the excesses of another. Thus our repulsion at the NSA story. Incidentally, public attitudes on this story have turned, withover 51% now disapproving of the program.

NEWSWEEK: Evidence puts Cheney at heart of Plame probe

2006-05-14T15:45:00.000-04:00

Prosecutor files evidence directly linking VP to Plame outing. No wonder Dick looks so angry!

Al Gore on Saturday Night Live! In case you missed it, he was hilarious! Thanks to Julie for the heads up!

1984 HAS FINALLY ARRIVED

2006-05-13T14:19:00.000-04:00

Well, it appears that George Orwell had it right all along. Okay, so he missed it by 22 years. And it's not Big Brother who's watching, it's The Decider, but other than that Orwell appears to have gotten it pretty much right. First closed circuit TV monitoring American and British streets. Now a government data base put together with the intent of being able to track every single phone call made by every single American. 4th amendment? Fuck that! The Decider decides what laws he follows, not he Constitution, Congress, or the Supreme Court.

I can't begin to tell you how much it angers me what craven, fucking cowards Americans have become. We have become so cowed by a few religious radicals we are willing to turn our backs on the Constitution, and the rights our parents, grandparents, and ancestors fought so hard to preserve for us. Give me liberty or give me death? HELL NO! Give me a life under the thumb of a few religious radicals instead! Better to live a slave to our fears rather than bravely fight to maintain our freedom.

I can't fathom the fact the 63% of Americans approve of this program (even while they disapprove of Bush's lack of forthrightness over the whole issue). Perhaps they believe it is a program run by a benevolent administration just trying to protect them from the terrorist threat. But if Mom and Pop America were paying any attention at all, they would realize this is an administration whose hallmark is flaunting, breaking, and disregarding any law that inconveniences them. The law forbids torture? No problem. The Decider just decides he doesn't have to obey that law. The law requires a warrant for eaves dropping on Americans? No problem. The decider decides that law doesn't apply to his administration. Why? Because The Decider says it doesn't!

I guarantee that with this administration, it is only a matter of time before they start mining this data base in search of political advantage. As a means of attempting to intimidate political opponents. As a means of stifling criticism. As a means to cow you into stifling your speech. For fear of Big Bro.. er.. The Decider. Quite frankly, Bush is beginning to make Nixon look like a saint.

And as bad as this all appears, there is plenty of reason to believe it is actually worse. Check out this story and this one!
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Is anyone having as much trouble keeping track of all the scandals, guilty pleas, and indictments as I am? The Abramhoff scandal, the Cunningham scandal, Hookergate, and Plamegate? Did you EVER think things would come to the point the FBI would be raiding CIA offices? WTF?????? This country is not going to hell in a handbasket, it is going to hell in a runaway freight train! Josh Marshall at TPM is doing a great job keeping track of the whole Cunningham to Wilkes to hookers to Basset to Foggo to Goss connection. Hookers, sweetheart contracts, bribes, etc. I found this story particularly revealing. I know I keep plugging Marshall's site, but it is such a wealth of information, I can't help it!
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The playoffs are the time when baseball and hockey prove their superiority over football and basketball. Unlike the incredibly predictable NFL and NBA playoffs, baseball and hockey always provide surprises galore come playoff time. Cinderella teams. Players who toil in obscurity for years suddenly emerge as the unlikeliest of heroes. Second stringers suddenly thrust into the spotlight to shine brightly. The rookie who puts his team on his back and carries them deep into the playoffs.

This year's Stanley Cup Playoffs have had as many surprises as I can ever remember. The top four teams in the West lose to the 5, 6, 7, and 8 seeds. The top seed in the east down 3 games to 1 in the semi finals. And the players who have come out of nowhere to lead their teams:

Ilya Brzgalov - Anaheim rookie takes over starting goaltending job from JS Giguerre, and leads Mighty Ducks to playoff victory over defending conference champion Calgary. Proves it's not a fluke by absolutely stoning Colorado as Ducks sweep the Avs.

Cam Ward - Carolina Hurricane was down 2 games to 0 to Montreal when rookie Ward replaced Martin Gerber in nets for the 'Canes. They haven't lost since, as Carolina took next four against Les Habitants, and first three games against the Devils.

Dwayne Roloson - loses starting job in Minnesota to Manny Fernandez, gets traded to Edmonton, and promptly stones the leagues best team, the Detroit Red Wings. Has his team tied with San Jose in the semis.

Joffrey Lupul - Mighty Ducks rookie left wing scores all 4 of his teams goals, including OT winner, in victory over Colorado.

Daniel Briere - Sabre's center has toiled in relative obscurity for five years on poor teams in Phoenix and Buffalo. But now the Sabres are about to knock off the East's best team, Ottawa, and Briere is a big part of the reason. If the vote for playoff MVP took place right now, it would have to be between he and Bryzgalov.
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Finally, Crooks and Liars has three must view clips for you. Check out Keith Oberman's "Worst Person In The World" (hint: Michelle Malkin came in second). Jon Stewart on Bush's CIA appointments. Plus, Jackson Browne's new song and video. See it all HERE

Now cooking at THE CHURCH POTLUCK: Pita Bread and Jamaican Banana-Rum Bread

LET'S IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT (and other catchy tunes)

2006-05-06T15:24:00.000-04:00

Neil Young in HEART OF GOLD

Neil Young has a new album coming out Tuesday, titled LIVING WITH WAR. It is getting rave reviews. The song you are going to be hearing a lot of on the radio is little ditty titled Let's Impeach The President. Fox News is calling it the "catchiest" protest song since Country Joe and the Fish's 1966 classic I'M FIXIN TO DIE RAG. The lyrics to the song are:

Let’s impeach the president for lying
And leading our country into war
Abusing all the power that we gave him
And shipping all our money out the door

He’s the man who hired all the criminals
The White House shadows who hide behind closed doors
And bend the facts to fit with their new stories
Of why we have to send our men to war

Let’s impeach the president for spying
On citizens inside their own homes
Breaking every law in the country
By tapping our computers and telephones

What if Al Qaeda blew up the levees
Would New Orleans have been safer that way
Sheltered by our government’s protection
Or was someone just not home that day?

Let’s impeach the president
For hijacking our religion and using it to get elected
Dividing our country into colors
And still leaving black people neglected

Thank god he’s cracking down on steroids
Since he sold his old baseball team
There’s lot of people looking at big trouble
But of course the president is clean

If you are a Young fan, you know there are really two Neils. The contemplative, folksy Heart Of Gold and Old Man Neil, and the hard rockin, father of grunge Neil. This album definitely leans toward the latter. The songs rock, and are terrific both musically and lyrically. The album will be released Tuesday, but you can listen to it for free HERE.
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My daughter has suddenly become something of a crusader. She has been making her views on global warming known in no uncertain terms, and castigating her relatives and coworkers for their indifference. She is also not bashful about pointing out your stupidity if you happen to mention you don't believe in global warming. Her cousin became the subject of her ire yesterday, much to the delight of her coworkers, as it focused her wrath on someone besides them.

It started a few weeks ago, when she heard a story about how global warming is affecting songbird populations. Then a story about drowning polar bears. The kicker came when she saw the trailer for AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH.

I fear she has been hanging out with her father TOO much. One of her friends told her the other day "you're SUCH a hippie." Like that was a bad thing. Anyhow, I'm proud she has taken an interest in the larger world and politics. She doesn't suffer from her generations biggest disease, indifference.
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If you are not checking in on Josh Marshall's TALKING POINTS MEMO at least a couple of times a day, you just aren't keeping up!

For example: How is it that the limosine company in the center of "Hookergate" managed to get a $25 million contract with the Dept. of Homeland Security, in spite of a long record of bad service, bankruptcy, revoked transport licenses, and numerous run ins with the law? Read the story HERE.

Also: The #3 man at the CIA, the official responsible for procurement, is under federal investigation as a part of the Wilkes-Cunningham bribary scandal and may soon be indicted. Story HERE.

And finally: AP: "Prosecutors have e-mails showing Rep. Tom DeLay's office knew lobbyist Jack Abramoff had arranged the financing for the GOP leader's controversial European golfing trip in 2000 and was concerned 'if someone starts asking questions.'"
-- Josh Marshall

These are just a couple hours worth of posts from Saturday. Marshall and Co. keep on top of the news better than anyone in either the MSM or the blogosphere. Guys and gals, TPM really is a must read daily!

NEWS FLASH!!!!!!!!!!!

2006-05-05T16:19:00.000-04:00

Parter Goss resigns as head of CIA. Caught neck deep in Duke Cunningham scandal. Read the story of poker, prostitutes, and influence peddling HERE

FUGGEDABOUD HILLARY OR BARACK, THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE U.S. IS....

2006-05-05T04:14:00.000-04:00

"Hi! I'm Al Gore, and I used to be the next president of the United States". Gore has been using this line to open his speeches on the college lecture circuit. Guess what? He probably still is.

For a guy who isn't running, he certainly gives the appearance of someone who is. Gone are the scruffy professorial beard and work shirt. Ditto the Washington insider image makers. Refreshingly, it's Al being Al. Relaxed, funny, on point.

He has turned his slide lectures on global warming into a documentary film that is getting high critical praise. Titled AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH, it opens in theatres at the end of this month. The film received three standing ovations at Sundance, and the reviews have been universally favorable.

Gore has recently dropped the kid gloves and has been taking the President to task on both the war and energy issues.

None of this is really news, I said he would be the Democratic nominee months ago. But the MSM is starting to pick up on it. Clarence Page had an excellent column in the TRIBUNE Wednesday on Gore. Definitely worth reading!
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John Kenneth Galbraith died last week at the age of 97. The Harvard economist was highly influential in both the Kennedy and Johnson administrations. He was the inspiration behind Johnson's "Great Society"

Fifty years ago his book, THE AFFLUENT SOCIETY, argued that we were in danger of producing "private wealth and public squalor." As the Ft. Wayne Journal Gazette ruefully noted , "Galbraith lived to see the U.S. he feared".

University of Colorado law professor and Rocky Mountain News columnist Paul Compos has an excellent column this week on Galbraith and his warnings come true. Read it HERE

On the other blogs:
THE CHURCH POTLUCK: Jamaican Banana Cake w/ Rum Glaze

Riverquest 2006: Day 2, THE ORDEAL

Thought of the day: If cow flatulence is such a contributor to ozone depletion, why don't we make it mandatory that all cattle be fed Beano with their hay?

STAR SPANGLED RANT!

2006-05-02T19:39:00.000-04:00

It has been said that politicians are a reflection of the people they serve. If so, WE AMERICANS ARE A STUPID LOT! Now, there are plenty of issues that should be keeping politicians busy to the point of exhaustion. There's that war we are loosing. There's homeland security. Global warming. Soaring oil prices.

So what are our reflections talking about? Whether the Star Spangled Banner should be sung in Spanish or not. Let me be as clear on this as I can possibly be..... WHO GIVES A FLYING FUCK?

Why would it be unpatriotic to sing it in Spanish? How about those US citizens in Puerto Rico for whom Spanish is the first language. Pretty sure they've been singing it in Spanish for the better part of a century. Are they suddenly lacking in patriotism? Do the words suddenly take on different meaning when translated to Spanish? Is freedom of speech only applicable to speech spoken or sung in English? So it's okay for me to say "fuck you" on my website, but not "carajo tu"?

This subject is such a complete waste of time, so ridiculous, so STUPID! But there was the Idiot-In-Chief, weighing in with his opinion that the national anthem should only be sung in English, and if these immigrants truly loved America, they'd learn to speak English. Hell, as far as I'm concerned, if the president of the United States was a real patriot, HE'D learn to speak English! 'Cause I have heard him speak, and none of the stuff that comes out of his mouth sounds like any English I know. Nukuler war indeed.

I was watching the Carolina/Montreal game the other night. The inhabitants of Montreal were singing the Canadian national anthem in *gasp* FRENCH! Yet, I saw no offended politicians on the CBC the next day wringing their hands about the defiling of "Oh, Canada". Even Don Cherry didn't seem offended! Hmmm...

Seems our politicians will grasp at anything to avoid doing the real work of the people. Perhaps a few heads strategically place in the guillotine would motivate them!
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Speaking of things that piss me off, WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO THE RED WINGS? How do you blow a 2-0 lead after two periods? A 3-2 lead with less than 4 minutes left? Actually I know the answers to all these. Just too pissed off to talk about it. Suffice it to say, Nick Lidstrom should refuse the Norris Trophy when they give it to him. And Manny Legace should start packing his bags now, because he definitely will not be the Wings goaltender next year.

Actually, after four straight playoff flops, I am hoping they blow up this team, bring up the kids who have been waiting for their chance, and rebuild.

Now cooking at The Church Potluck: MARK'S BEST BEEF JERKY

RIVERQUEST: The Blog

2006-04-25T22:01:00.000-04:00

Headwaters of Grand, just below Grand Lake in Jackson Co, MI

I have a new blog that chronicals our quest to paddle the entire Grand river this summer. Just finished my first post. View the new blog HERE

ONE MORE REASON IT'S BETTER BEING A GUY

2006-04-21T00:02:00.000-04:00

planetmike.com
WARNING... GUY RANT AHEAD!

Another reason it is better to be a guy: Fatherhood. Let's face it. When your children grow up to be neurotic puddles of goo, who they gonna blame. Not you. Not dear old Dad who taught them how to fish and catch a football and bowl the ball down the middle of the lane. Who taught them the "pull my finger trick", and how to belch for maximum affect! Who let them sneak sips of beer when mom wasn't looking. Nope, when your kids grow up to be the bundles of neurosis they are destined to become, you can be assured one person will surely get the blame. MOTHER!

I have often wondered about this phenomenon. Let's face it ladies. From the second you grab your significant others bottom lip, and push that little bundle of joy into the hands of a doctor looking remarkably like Pudge Rodriguez positioned to dig a split fingered fastball outta the dirt, you begin the job of screwing up your kid's life. It'll take a couple of decades, but by the time your kids are out of college, they'll be every bit as neurotic and overwhelmed with guilt as you!

I have a couple of theories as to why this is:

Theory #1: Women don't see the big pic. That's because they are too busy sweating the small stuff. There isn't any incident so small or insignificant that a woman can't (or won"t ) turn it into a crisis. Women hop from crisis to crisis like they are stepping stones across the river of life. And since no good mother would think of leaving their child alone on shore, they drag the kids from stepping stone to stepping stone along with them. Of course, eventually one of the little nose miners slips and fall in, and mother gets blamed for the trauma and humiliation of it all. Repeat this scenario a few dozen times, and your kids are ready to take their places in life as the neurotic piles of goo they were intended to be!

Theory #2: Women just don't know how to have fun! Of course, this isn't exactly true. Guys, you have probably all dated women who were tremendous fun. Women who were outgoing and funny. Who could match you drink for drink, dart for dart, shot for shot. Women who made no attempt to hide the fact they enjoyed sex, especially in dangerous places. Only one problem. No way in hell you could take a girl like that home to meet mom. So instead, you bring home someone prim and proper, with more hang ups than an elementary school cloak room. Someone just like mommy dearest! Of course, the sex is a bit mechanical, and disappears all together after the second or third kid. But you can console yourself with the fact that your sacrifice means your kids will grow up to be just as neurotic and pathetic as you! And when the day comes you suddenly remember all the fun girls, don't bother trying to look them up. They long ago discovered the other fun girls, and have no intention of ever hanging out with losers like you again!

At this point, you must be wondering what in the world inspired this rant. Well, here's the story.....

I stopped by the local coffee house this afternoon. The place makes wonderful cappuccinos and lattes, and the Columbia Supremo and Kenya AA coffees are as good as it gets. However, the decor leaves something to be desired. Best described as early teacher's lounge. Ever go in the teachers lounge when you were a kid? Every one was exactly the same. Furnished with heavy wooden tables and chairs like those in the library, only with a much darker finish. This was due to the ever present cloud of cigarette smoke that hung in the air. Smoke so thick, you could still see it when you returned from summer vacation. These tables had a unique, sweet smell to them, a combination of fifty years of cigarettes, spilled coffee, and overzealously applied Love's Baby Soft cologne, Old Spice, and Brut aftershave.

After I came back from my little trip down memory lane, I decided I needed something to read. The only reading material within reach turned out to be the local gay, lesbian , bisexual newspaper. In the hard news section, a headline caught my eye. GENE INHERITED FROM MOTHER STRONG INDICATOR OF SEXUAL PREFERENCE IN MEN. Think about it. Have you ever known a gay man who hasn't ended at least one argument by shouting through clenched teeth; "YOU'RE..... THE... REASON... I'M ... THE ... WAY... I... AM....., "MUH... THER! Well, now they have proof! Sigmund was right! "Ze muzzah, it's always ze muzzah!"
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The STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS start tonight. The lovely Karen has been kind enough to offer to ease my poverty by the amount of two loonies when my Red Wings crush her Oilers!

I think the clear favorite in the east has to be New Jersey. Martin Brodeur is red hot, and the Devils are playing great D. My sleeper team comes out of the west. Look out for Nashville. This is a team with a lot of excellent two way players, and well above average speed. And they are riding the hottest goaltender in the league in Chris Mason. Nobody should touch Detroit in the West, but if somebody is going to, look for it to be the Preds.

My Predictions:

EAST
round 1
Ottawa over Tampa
Carolina over Montreal
New Jersey over NY Rangers
Philly over Buffalo

round 2
Philly over Ottawa
New Jersey over Carolina

round 3
New Jersey over Philly in 6

WEST
round 1
Detroit over Edmonton
Dallas over Colorado
Calgary over Anaheim
Nashville over San Jose

round 2
Detroit over Nashville
Calgary over Dallas

round 3
Detroit over Calgary in 6

STANLEY CUP FINALS
Detroit over New Jersey in 6

DREAMS, MEMES, AND OTHER THINGS

2006-04-17T22:08:00.000-04:00

awfulsouls.artfinity.co.uk/wp-content/scream.jpg

Ever dream about your own death? I did last week. Let me tell you, it is horribly unnerving. And the dream was so weird...

I dreamt I was lying in my casket at the cemetery, watching my own funeral procession. At first, I was my current age. I saw my kids, and my canoeing buddies drive by. Then suddenly, I was a small child. My grandparents and parents drove up in a car. My Grandpa Clarke was driving and the window was down. I jumped out of my casket, ran up to the car and gave him a big hug and told him I loved him. Then the dream got really strange.

Suddenly, I was cleaning up the burial vault with my mom. Some of my old clothes from college were laying around. My favorite hat was there, but it was moth eaten. But my American flag overalls were there and appeared to be servicable. My mom suggested they might help keep me warm. She than got very indignant and said she was going to "talk to these people", because if they were gonna make people stay overnight there, they ought to at least allow you to build a fire to keep warm. Apparently, I wasn't supposed to die till Saturday or Sunday, but because the cemetery was closed on weekends, I had to stay there until I actually croaked.

The whole dream has really spooked me. I have known several people who dreamed about their own death, and died shortly thereafter. So needless to say, I am a little phobic right now.

ON A MORE PLEASANT NOTE....

The lovely Nic has tagged me with very simple meme. Your 10 favorite simple pleasures:

1. The Granddaughters. A constant source of delight!
2. Watching Red Wings hockey on the big screen with my kids. It's almost Stanley Cup time!
3. My canoe, a meandering stream, a marsh. Nothing more awesome than scaring up a crane, egret or heron just after sunrise!
4. Breaking open the ice cold Old Milwaukee's on a hot day in the middle of a stream, and just letting the canoes drift while you swap stories and savor cold beer. Yes OM is the official beer of the Michiana Canoeguysandgals.
5. Hearty food... Jambalaya. Brats on the grill. A pork shoulder or brisket barbecued.
6. Great music. Current constant listens... new albums by Pink, Willie Nelson, Little Willies, Ray Davies (former Kinks frontman), KT Tunstall. I don't ever remember a month where so many really great albums have been released so close together. I can't say enough about these albums, especially the one by Pink, and the one by Willie.
7. Live Celtic music and a cold Murphy's Red
8. A hot summers day and a Lake Michigan beach
9. A warm summers evening, a cold Molsons, and a Lake Michigan sunset.
10. A stary night, a campfire, egg coffee, pudgie pies, and s'mores.
Bonus!
11. Saturday morning breakfast at Micky D's with Ron and Bob

Tagged, any and all of you, my dear friends.

BETWEEN A ROCK AND HARD PLACE
Rummy has obviously lost the faith of the military side of the Pentagon. He needs to go. We will never come up with a viable strategy to stabilize the situation in Iraq as long as the Rummy is running things. Problem is, he and Bush are so tied at the waste, Bush can't fire him without admitting his own failure. So we will just sit here and watch things deteriorate. Its only Dyngus Day, and April has already been the deadliest month this year for US troops.

Daniel Schorr had a great commentary on what happens when ideologues are allowed to run wars. Listen HERE.

RED HANDS, DYNGUS DAY, AND OTHER STUFF

2006-04-15T15:16:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow may be a big holiday in most places, but around here, the really big holiday is Monday. With apologies to Buffalo, South Bend celebrates Dyngus Day like no other city in North America! Dyngus Day commemorates the birth of Christianity in Poland (966 A.D.) in which Holy Baptism was administered to Prince Mieszko on Easter Monday, uniting all of Poland under the banner of Christianity. Here in South Bend, it is an all day orgy of beer, sausage, cabbage, boiled eggs, and especially, politics.

For seventy five years, it has been tradition here that politicians, from national to local, come visit the local taverns, ethnic and political clubs, and church halls to rub elbows and tip glasses with the masses. Political posters will festoon all of these establishments. Virtually every local politician, along with the governor, both Senators, a congressman or two, and a few people with national ambitions, will be trying to prove they're just regular folks. They'll be photographed eating sausages and cabbage, peeling eggs, an tipping beers with local factory workers. Dyngus day has become probably the single most important event in Indiana politics. It is where unknowns attempt to become known, and the veteran politician begins the chore of shoring up his base.

The amount of food and beer consumed on Monday will be staggering. Several tons of sausage will be boiled, as will truckloads of eggs. Every tavern, ethnic club, and Catholic church hall will pleasantly reek of the smell of cooking cabbage, boiling eggs, and sausage. By itself, the West Side Democratic Club will cook 1500 lbs of sausage. As will the PNA (Polish National Association). There will be big celebrations at MR Falcons, ZB Falcons,the Elks, the BK Club (Belgian). Politicians will frantically try to drive from church to ethnic club to political club and make the vain attempt to appear hungry, thirsty. and interested in the views of the masses.

Of course, South Bends finest will have their hand full. There will probably be more DUI's issued Monday than any other day of the year. And Tuesday, there will be gossip all over town about who got in heated arguments with whom, which pols can't hold their beer, and who was seen sneaking away from festivities with who.

Geezus, I CAN'T WAIT!
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CAUGHT RED HANDED!
MoveOn.org is sponsoring a political ad focusing on our local congressman, Chris Chocola. He was caught "red handed" taking $80,000 from oil companies, then voting against bills that would prohibit those same companies from price gouging. The ads are very good and surprisingly effective. I know one woman who has been inspired to have red hand car magnets made. So soon, we'll be seeing red hands on cars instead of yellow or red, white and blue ribbons. Again, can't wait. You can view the ad here
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RIVERQUEST 2006
We did another stretch of the Grand yesterday, and really bit off more than we could chew. Another long, incredibly meandering stretch of river. We covered about 11 miles as the crow flies, and probably paddled thirty, including crossing three lakes in a 25 mph head wind. With a couple of hours light left, a good three hours paddling to our takeout site, and one paddler in severe pain, we aborted our trip early and made John hitch a ride to get one of the vehicles. We made a rule, against the Curmudgeon's objections, that we will no longer canoe any unfamiliar stretch of river without dropping a bike or two at intermediate take outs along the way.

In a week or so, I will be starting a RIVERQUEST journal, where I can post a more detailed description of each trip, and photos.

RIVERQUEST 2006!

2006-04-09T13:41:00.000-04:00

I must apologize to all of you who have visited in the past week. I realize I have somewhat neglected you. It was not intentional. It has just been an incredibly busy week!

Last Saturday was the annual river cleanup in South Bend, sponsored by the FRIENDS OF THE ST. JOSEPH RIVER. About 90 people showed up on a cold, drizzly day. Fueled by fresh baked warm scones and gallons of hot coffee provided by the local Celtic pub, these diligent workers managed to clean about three tons of trash from a three mile stretch of river from downtown South Bend to Darden Rd. on the far north end. A heartfelt thanks to all who shivered and worked so very hard! And a very special tip of the hat to Carol and Terry Meehan of FIDDLER'S HEARTH , who not only provided the fresh baked scones and coffee, but warmed us homemade soup, chili, and soda bread. And of course, plenty of Murphy's Red to wash it down with.

The rest of the week was spent preparing for what I am affectionately calling RIVERQUEST 2006! I built a new canoe seat, complete with backrest and footrest, for the upcoming adventure. The seat is hinged at the back for going under low lying objects, a feature which tuned out to be invaluable. Along with buddies Bob Owens and John Treacy, I made a brief test voyage up the St. Joe on Friday. We left from Leeper Park in South Bend and were almost immediately greeted by a somewhat perturbed Beaver. We encountered a couple of pair of Grebes heading north from their winters hiatus, along with a number of Wood Ducks, Mallards, Great Blue Herons, and Geese. The seat performed well, and was stowed, along with the canoes and gear, in preparation for Saturdays trip to the headwaters of the Grand.

The Grand River is the longest river in Michigan. From it's headwaters In Hillsdale county in southeast Michigan, to Lake Michigan, it flows 260 miles and drains over 5,500 square miles. It flows through 7 counties before reaching the lake. Our quest; to have covered all 260 miles by the end of the summer.

At 5:35 am Saturday morning, Bob's trusty old van rumbled up, and we departed for Homer MI, picking up John along the way. We met our friend Carol Wyble from Battle Creek at a little diner there, and after stuffing ourselves at the breakfast buffet, set off to drop the pick up vehicle at the take out site. Mission accomplished, but not before yours truly managed to get his fingers smashed in the van door. Fortunately, with the help of 800 mg of Ibuprofen, the fingertips went numb, so it didn't interfere with paddling. We put in at the headwaters about 11 am, with the air temp about 34 degrees. and a stiff 20 mph breeze. But it was bright and sunny, and by about 2, the temp was approaching 50.

The upper Grand meanders more than any stream I have ever been on. It passes through several very large marshes, where it is not uncommon to be paddling one direction, and have one of your canoeing partners pass you ten yards away going the other direction! I figure we probably paddled well over twenty miles to make six as the crow flies. These marshes are full of wild life, especially birds. We saw tons of songbirds, scared up a small flock of Sandhill Cranes (who make the oddest sound I have ever heard from a bird ), an Egret , Herons, numerous Red Tailed Hawks, and lot's of common water fowl.

Most of the objects in the way of our progress were man made. We had a few tree falls to pull over, and a dam to portage, but the biggest obstacle was the numerous homemade foot bridges that traversed the modest 6-10 ft span that is the headwaters. Most of these were high enough that you could lay down on the floor of the canoe and pass under (which is where the hinged seatback came in handy), but many you had to drag your canoe over. You can tell this stretch doesn't see a lot of canoes by the startled look on peoples faces as you paddled through their back yards, and all the excited greetings. Everyone wanted to know where you came from, how you got there, and where you were going. It was a lot of fun to talk and wave to folks as you passed by.

We didn't get off the water until about 7. By the time we got the canoes loaded, the gear stashed and our clothes changed, it was almost 9 pm before we arrived at a little bar in Union City MI for dinner. The special of the night was any piece of broasted chicken for 50 cents. I ended up getting 4 thighs and an order of fries. The thighs and the order of hand cut fries turned out to be huge. All four of us got four pieces of chicken, and fries. We had two pitchers of beer, and the entire bill was under 20 bucks!

We arrived home about 12:30, very weary and very full. I poured as hot a bath as I could stand, and proceeded to fall asleep. I woke about 3, finished bathing, and finally got to bed about 3:20. It was a very long, very enjoyable day.

BLOGAPHOBIA

2006-03-31T16:11:00.000-05:00

I have a bad case of blogaphobia. Partly it is due to information overload. I have a large backlog of things I want to write about, but not enough time or space to get to it all in. I have decided to attempt to whittle down the backlog before I acquire new material.

But mostly, it is due to recent events. The passing of old friends and people I admire. Not to mention the aging process. I have become keenly aware of how quickly it accelerates post age 50. I am very cognizant of the fact my thought processes are slower than even just a couple of years ago. Cognizant of my aching knees. Of the fact my canoe seems to have gained twenty pounds over the winter. It has all combined to leave me feeling melancholy and, well, elderly.

However, I am taking encouragement from the fact that there are people doing the best work of there lives post 70. One of them is my friend Bob Owens, who at age 73 is about to tackle Michigan's longest river, the Grand. He plans to have canoed the entire length of it by summers end. I don't have a pic of him to post, but just look at Willie's pic and add 50 pounds. That would be a pretty close image.

Speaking of Willie Nelson, he has just released what I believe to be the best album of his long, storied career. YOU DON'T KNOW ME is a tribute to the late song writer Cindy Walker. Walker, who wrote her first hit song (Bob Wills and the Texas Playboy's DUSTY ROADS) at age 12, had hit songs recorded by Bing Crosby, Ray Charles, Webb Pierce, and Roy Orbison, to name a few.

Nelson has truly never sounded better. He is a singer's singer. His phrasing is impeccable. Reminiscent of Rosemary Clooney. And remarkably, the voice is still there. And these songs are incredible! My favorites are the title tune (every bit as good as Ray Charles version), and IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT, written in 1942. But they are all excellent. I am just enthralled with this album!

I watched THE NOTEBOOK again last night. It reminded me of why James Garner has been my favorite actor since I was a small kid, and he and Jack Kelly played brothers Brett and Bart on MAVERICK. Garner has always been a terrific actor. I loved THE ROCKFORD FILES. And I have seen most of his almost 50 movies. I always thought BARBARIANS AT THE GATE was his best. Until I saw THE NOTEBOOK. He is absolutely brilliant in it. A lot of critics thought he was robbed when he didn't win the academy Award for Best supporting actor for this role. I would have to agree.

Among my other Garner favorites: TWILIGHT (with Paul Newman), 1998; MURPHY'S ROMANCE (with Sally Fields and Jeff Daniels) nominated for Best Actor, 1985; TANK (with Shirley Jones, Jenilee Harrison), 1984; CASTAWAY COWBOY (with Vera Miles, Robert Culp), 1984 (This is my all time favorite family movie. My children and grand children have worn out several copies. Garner is hilarious in this film! If you have kids or grandkids, you gotta rent this one!); SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL SHERIFF (with Walter Brennan and Harry Morgan), 1969: GRAND PRIX (with Eva Marie Saint), 1966: THE GREAT ESCAPE (with Steve McQueen, Richard Attenborough, James Coburn, Charles Bronson), 1963.

Even though I was a huge STAR TREK fan, I have never been a huge William Shatner fan. Until now. Shatner is easily doing the best work of his life right now. His portrayal of Denny Crane on BOSTON LEGAL is just brilliant. Crane is an aging, etcentric, larger than life, superstar lawyer, whose mind and skills have faded with time. He is aware of the fact, but pride and love of the limelight keep him from fading quietly into the night. Because of this, Crane rides a roller coaster of emotions. Over a season and a half, he has developed a sort of father/son relationship with the melancholy, ethically challenged Alan Shore (James Spader). Their relationship is often humorous, sometimes volatile, often poignant. Shatner plays it all with a brilliant blend of pomposity and vunerability. He richly deserved the Emmy he won for this role!

Last year, 36 years after he released his first (and only) album, the kitschy TRANSFORMED MAN, Shatner released a new album. Produced by Ben Folds, and backed by Folds band, HAS BEEN was both a critical and commercial success.

So, I guess there is hope for those of us who are "age challenged." Now if someone would only inform my knees.
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I am amazed at the amount of really good music being produced right now! I already discussed Willie Nelson's new album, but there are a couple more I'd like to give a brief mention to:

The Little Willies are Nora Jones' new band. Originally conceived as a Willie Nelson cover band, they have quickly broadened their horizons. Their new album, THE LITTLE WILLIES, has a feel that at once reminds you of Willie, Floyd Kramer, Johnny Gimble and Bob Wills. Nora Jones is easily this decades best vocalist, and she really shines on this album, especially on the song ROLL ON. She sings in a voice reminiscent of Janis Joplin. It is gorgeous and haunting at the same time. I hope they release ROLL ON as a single.

THE LIFE PURSUIT is the new album by Scottish band Belle and Sebastian. This album is quite a departure from the "chamber pop" days. Sans Isobel Campbell and Stuart David, the new album has a much heftier sound, much more uptempo . I really like the songs from this album, which you can hear performed live at NPR's LIVE CONCERT SERIES

FRIENDS LOST

2006-03-25T14:41:00.000-05:00

You know it's been bad when your first blog post in a week starts out with obituaries. Alas, when you reach a certain age, these things become more common. I think the sense of loss becomes greater too. Three people who became a part of my life passed this week. One was nationally famous, one was famous locally here in Michiana, and one knew no fame except among a large group of family and friends. I would like to start off with her.

Phyllis Whitten passed away this week in Pontiac MI. She was more than my best friend's mom. She was the person who in many ways helped save a number of troubled young people from themselves. I was one of those young people. At a time when my own parents were clueless how to deal with me, Phyllis knew. She had a knack for offering sage advice without making it seem pushy. She knew how to differentiate between the serious and the merely annoying, and was smart enough to laugh about the latter.

She lived in a small house on Pontiac's east side with her husband and 6 children. The house was always alive, not only with her own brood, but with a constantly changing cast of teens from the neighborhood and church. Phyllis held court from the kitchen table, the ever present coffee cup and cigarette in hand. What she lacked in stature, she made up for with an iron will, determination, and the willingness to thump you on the back of the head if necessary. When you entered her domain, you always felt immediately at home. No matter how tight times were, she was always prepared to feed whatever small army the kids dragged in, and always with good humor. A true rarity, she actually enjoyed the company of teenagers, and even more rare, understood them, right down to the sardonic jokes that flew over other parents heads. She never held you in judgment, rather, she found ways to bring out the good things in you.

Although things slowed down in her senior years, little really changed. A visit to Phyllis' always found her at the dining table, at least one child, grandchild, neighbor, or old friend sitting and chatting. Still holding court, coffee cup and cigarette still in hand.

Phyllis was more than ready to go. She was impatient to. Her health had been failing for years, and she was tired. I realize I should be happy for her, but in my own selfishness, I am allowing myself to be sad. Phyllis Whitten was a force in my life when it really needed one. I shall always be indebted.
**************************************************************************

For thirty years, Dick Addis was a member of nearly every Michiana household. He came into your home every evening, usually twice, and you kinda felt lost if you missed him. He was OUR weatherman, and he took that job extremely serious.

In many ways, Addis was something of a television pioneer. At a time when TV weather was an afterthought at all but the largest market stations, Addis made local weather his job, not his sidelight. He worked tirelessly at it, and his record was amazing. As a truck driver driving the southern shore of Lake Michigan 6 nights a week, I depended on his forecast. If it disagreed with the National Weather Service's forecast, I always trusted Addis'. He rarely disappointed me!

Perhaps the greatest tribute to Addis is simply this. Both the weatherman at his home station, WNDU, and it's rival, WSBT, are on record as saying Addis is the reason they wanted to become meteorologists when they grew up. What better legacy than that?
**************************************************************************

As a baby truck driver driving into the Loop six nights a week, there was one radio station I could listen to without ever having to change a channel. Clear channel WGN in Chicago. For the next 10 years I had three night time companions. Radio personalities Bob Collins and Milt Rosenberg, and De Paul Blue Demons basketball. I became a huge De Paul fan, even risking life and limb to root for them at the ACC when they played ND. And the reason I was such a big fan was simple. Coach Ray.

It was simply impossible not to love Ray Meyer. The sweet personality, the boyish, impish grin, his obvious love for his "kids" and for the game. Ray Meyer brought out the best in his players, and in his city. He went from being the captain of the Notre Dame basketball team to coach at De Paul, spent parts of four decades at the job, including winning a national championship. He then spent another decade as the analyst on De Paul basketball broadcasts. For fifty years, Ray Meyer was the face of De Paul University. He brought the college to national attention, and watched with pride as it grew not only into a basketball power, but a world class academic institution. Ray Meyer was loved not only by basketball fans, but an entire city. Deservedly so.

In other news....
TSHSMOM should love this. Perhaps the biggest upset in NCAA history took place last night. Not in the basketball tourney, which has seen a plethora of upsets itself, but in the hockey tourney. Holy Cross, a school that offers no athletic scholarships and was seeded last in the tourney, beat and eliminated #1 Minnesota last night, 4-3 in OT! Chalk up one for the true student athletes! The game was apparently so exciting that my deathly ill son called and woke me up to tell me about it. Even better, it took place on the home ice of arch rival North Dakota, in front of a record semifinal tourney crowd. Congrats to the Crusaders of Holy Cross!

Now cooking at THE CHURCH POTLUCK: Roast Chicken - Cajun Style

RANDOM ACTS OF THINKING

2006-03-18T17:49:00.000-05:00

SCSU"s Matt Hartman mobbed after OT goal beats #1 Minnesota

Northwestern State's Clifton Lee

JUST CURIOUS:

When a recently retired center/right Supreme Court justice talks about the beginnings of a dictatorship, shouldn't people begin to seriously think? Or at least take notice?

COOL NEW SITE!
Our friend Karen has started a cool new site called Crazy Canuck Critics Corner. The goal: View and critque all of the American Film Institute's 100 Top American films of all time. It is really a nice site, although it is clear her tastes and mine don't coincide at all. Hated the FRENCH CONNECTION, but loved SINGING IN THE RAIN?

The AFI has a really nice site. I especially like the TOP 100 MOVIE QUOTES. My current favorite: "Life is a banquet, and most poor suckers are starving to death!" Auntie Mame, 1958

UPSET, UPSET,UPSET!
It's tourney time for NCAA winter sports! Which means lots and lots of people running around with cell phones open, checking scores and brackets. Not to mention the pulling of hair, rending of clothing and nashing of teeth. I don't ever remember a weekend with so many huge upsets.

In hockey, the WCHA conferance tourney has seen two huge upsets, with the nations #2 team, Wisconsin, losing to North Dakota, and the nations #1 team Minnesota, losing to unranked St. Cloud State. No, that is not a misprint. Which leaves Michigan as a bubble team for the NCAA tourney. Should St. Cloud somehow pull off another big upset and beat North Dakota, they would get an automatic bid to the NCAA tourney. Which might leave the Wolverines out of the tourney for the first time in over a decade and a half!

Meanwhile gamblers and bracket mavens have to be beside theselves. Seven major upsets in the first two days of the NCAA Basketball tourney! Some just unbelievable. Iowa blows a 17 point lead and looses to tiny Northwest State U. of Natchitoches, La. Michigan State losses to George Mason. Bradley beats Kansas. The list goes on!

AND FINALLY...
The Cajun theme continues at THE CHURCH POTLUCK with Jambalaya the featured recipe!

WHY I AM SO F***ING ANGRY!!!!!

2006-03-15T21:04:00.000-05:00

Lately, I have been an explosion waiting to happen! One minute I can be my normal, charismatic, jocular self; the next minute I'll blow like Mt. St. Helens! My daughter has seen it. The kid who tried to pass my semi on the right as I was making a right hand turn certainly saw it! For that matter, anyone who was within 6 blocks of downtown Goshen heard it in all it's graphic, profane glory. The latest blow up came Sunday morning, when I stormed out of a breakfast meeting with my two closest friends after hearing one racially insensitive remark too many.

While I have been aware of this anger seething just below the surface for a while now, I hadn't been able to quite put my finger on it's source. I thought maybe Dubya and his misadministration, but while that explains this feeling of loathing I've had for the last 5 years, it doesn't explain this underlying rage. My finances currently suck, but hell, been there before and always survived with my humor intact! It wasn't until watching a brilliant performance by James Spader on BOSTON LEGAL last night that I realized why I am so angry. Spader's character (Alan Shore) says everything I have had on my mind so brilliantly, you would think the show's writers had been following me around for months. It turns out, my fellow citizens, that what I am really angry at is YOU!

The scene is this. Alan Shore is defending his secretary on income tax evasion charges. She has protested what she views as an affront to her war hero grandfather by returning her tax form blank, save for a post it note with the words "stick it" written on it. You can see Spader's brilliant performance HERE. Just click on "Stick It closing arguments". The following is the transcript of the scene:

Alan Shore's closing argument:

Alan Shore: When the weapons of mass destruction thing turned out to be not true, I expected the American people to rise up. Ha! They didn't.

Then, when the Abu Ghraib torture thing surfaced and it was revealed that our government participated in rendition, a practice where we kidnap people and turn them over to regimes who specialize in torture, I was sure then the American people would be heard from. We stood mute.

Then came the news that we jailed thousands of so-called terrorists suspects, locked them up without the right to a trial or even the right to confront their accusers. Certainly, we would never stand for that. We did.

And now, it's been discovered the executive branch has been conducting massive, illegal, domestic surveillance on its own citizens. You and me. And I at least consoled myself that finally, finally the American people will have had enough. Evidentially, we haven't.

In fact, if the people of this country have spoken, the message is we're okay with it all. Torture, warrantless search and seizure, illegal wiretappings, prison without a fair trial - or any trial, war on false pretenses. We, as a citizenry, are apparently not offended.

There are no demonstrations on college campuses. In fact, there's no clear indication that young people seem to notice.

Well, Melissa Hughes noticed. Now, you might think, instead of withholding her taxes, she could have protested the old fashioned way. Made a placard and demonstrated at a Presidential or Vice-Presidential appearance, but we've lost the right to that as well. The Secret Service can now declare free speech zones to contain, control and, in effect, criminalize protest.

Stop for a second and try to fathom that.

At a presidential rally, parade or appearance, if you have on a supportive t-shirt, you can be there. If you are wearing or carrying something in protest, you can be removed.

This, in the United States of America. This in the United States of America. Is Melissa Hughes the only one embarrassed?

*Alan sits down abruptly in the witness chair next to the judge*

Judge Robert Sanders: Mr. Shore. That's a chair for witnesses only.

Alan: Really long speeches make me so tired sometimes.

Judge Sanders: Please get out of the chair.

Alan: Actually, I'm sick and tired.

Judge Sanders: Get out of the chair!

Alan: And what I'm most sick and tired of is how every time somebody disagrees with how the government is running things, he or she is labeled unAmerican.

U.S. Attorney Jonathan Shapiro: Evidently, it's speech time.

Alan: And speech in this country is free, you hack! Free for me, free for you. Free for Melissa Hughes to stand up to her government and say "Stick it"!
U.S. Attorney Jonathan Shapiro: Objection!

Alan: I object to government abusing its power to squash the constitutional freedoms of its citizenry. And, God forbid, anybody challenge it. They're smeared as being a heretic. Melissa Hughes is an American. Melissa Hughes is an American. Melissa Hughes is an American!

Judge Sanders: Mr. Shore. Unless you have anything new and fresh to say, please sit down. You've breached the decorum of my courtroom with all this hooting.

Alan: Last night, I went to bed with a book. Not as much fun as a 29 year old, but the book contained a speech by Adlai Stevenson. The year was 1952. He said, "The tragedy of our day is the climate of fear in which we live and fear breeds repression. Too often, sinister threats to the Bill of Rights, to freedom of the mind are concealed under the patriotic cloak of anti-Communism."

Today, it's the cloak of anti-terrorism. Stevenson also remarked, "It's far easier to fight for principles than to live up to them."

I know we are all afraid, but the Bill of Rights - we have to live up to that. We simply must. That's all Melissa Hughes was trying to say. She was speaking for you. I would ask you now to go back to that room and speak for her. (end)

THAT, ladies and gentlemen, is what pisses me off so! That the citizens of this country have so easily given in to their fears, and allowed their principles and freedoms to be trampled on. We let the terrorist win, with out so much as a whimper. We've put on a great show of sending kids off to foreign lands to be killed in the name of freedom, but truth is, the war was lost when we allowed a few terrorists to cow us into abandoning our principles.

So tread lightly around me. You can never tell when I might "go postal!"

THE MARK OF THE BEAST, OR JUST SIMPLY ORWELLIAN?

2006-03-10T01:51:00.000-05:00

Jon Stewart, Oscar success

The BBC World Service did a story this week about a company in Cleveland that has implanted microchip security devices in the arms of its employees. These chips allow a person access to those areas of the business they are authorized to visit. The company compares it to having your own personal barcode. They tout this as the wave of the future. No searching through your billfold for that credit card, just wave your arm in front of a reader to buy that gas or those groceries. Kidnapped, no problem. This technology will allow the police to track your every move.

Does this scare the shit out of anyone but me? Conceivably, this technology would allow your employer and the government to follow virtually every move you make. Thinking about a mental health day? Better not go anywhere but the pharmacy of doctor's office. Unhappy with the president's performance? Better not say anything. The government knows you met your husband's best buddy at the Motel 6 last week. And on and on. The possibilities of abuse here are so obvious it amazes me that anyone would allow themselves to be "chipped" Frankly, I don't want or need Big Brother looking over my shoulder.

ON A BRIGHTER NOTE...

All the reviews are in, and it appears that Jon Stewart was a smashing success as Oscar host. My favorite lines:

This is the first time I have seen this many stars in one place and didn't have to pay $500 for a Democratic fund raiser! And the stars are excited too! This is the first time many of them have ever voted for somebody who won!

and...

"Good Bye and Good Night" and "Capote" are both movies about hard hitting journalists who will stop at nothing to uncover the truth. Obviously, these are period pieces.

2006-03-09T23:02:00.000-05:00

Gordon Parks
Kirby Puckett

Dana Reeve

Three great Americans passed away this week. Two, tragically before their time. Each made major contributions to American society and culture. They will be missed!

Gordon Parks was one of the last of a nearly extinct breed, the Renaissance man. He rose to fame as a photographer for LIFE magazine. For three decades he chronicled fashion, poverty in America, and the civil rights movement. He was also a noted classical and jazz composer, a novelist, and the first major black film director in Hollywood. His films included THE LEARNING TREE (1969, which he adapted from his own novel, directed, and scored), SHAFT (1971), SHAFT'S BIG SCORE (1972), THE SUPER COPS (1974), LEADBELLY (1976), SOLOMAN NORTHROP'S ODYSSEY (1984). He also appeared as an actor in a number of films, including last year's HOW TO EAT WATERMELON IN WHITE COMPANY (AND ENJOY IT). Gordon Parks passed away this week at age 93.

Kirby Puckett was simply an amazing baseball player. He led the Minnesota Twins to two World Series championships, won 6 gold gloves, and had a lifetime batting ave. of .318. Affectionately known as "Puck" (as much for his body shape as last name), he had a wonderfully infectious smile, and was famously accessible to both media and fans. He was easily one of the most loved players in the history of the game. He loved the twin cities, and turned down very lucrative contract offers to play on the coasts in order to stay in Minnesota for far less pay. He was stricken with glaucoma and forced to retire from baseball at the age of 35.

Puckett's life spiraled out of control after his retirement. A nasty, very public divorce damaged his reputation. A woman filed assault charges claiming he groped her in a restaurant (he was later acquitted). He fell into depression, and, against the wishes of the Twins ownership, resigned his vice presidents job and moved to Arizona, where he lived a hermit like existence for years. His friends, including Twins owners Carl and Eloise Pohlad, worried as his weight ballooned out of control.

But there were recent signs the old Kirby was making a comeback. He showed up to play in Harmon Killebrew's charity golf outing looking much more fit, and confided to Killebrew and others that he was taking better care of himself. He was much more his old gregarious self, and announced to friends he was engaged to be married in June.

It was game 6 of the 1991 World Series against the Braves where Puckett burned his name into the annals of baseball lore. After robbing Ron Gant with a series saving circus catch late in the game, Puckett led off the 11th inning with a walk off homer. The Twins went on to win the series, and Kirby's place in baseball lore was insured.

Puckett died Monday of a massive stroke. He is survived by his two adopted children, Kirby Jr., and Catherine.

Dana Reeve taught us all a lesson in courage. Not only did the singer/actress put her career on hold to care for her invalid husband after his riding accident, she founded and worked tirelessly for the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation. The foundation has become a major funder of research that develops treatment and cures for spinal injuries and degenerative disorders.

Ms. Reeve died of cancer this week at the age of 44.

GETTING THEIR MONEY'S WORTH, ODDS AND ENDS

2006-03-05T19:18:00.000-05:00

Yale's David Meckler

THEIR MONEY'S WORTH
Even better than a baseball double header, Yale and Union fans were treated to 2 1/3 hockey games for the price of one! In the longest game in NCAA history, Yale upset Union 3-2 in FIVE overtimes Saturday night. The game, which started at 7 pm and ended at 1:10 am, had an actual playing time of 2 hours, 21 minutes and 35 seconds.

ODDS AND ENDS
This is the reason I don't buy Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream more often. I have just consumed an entire quart of KARAMEL SUTRA while sitting here at the computer! DAMN, this stuff is good!

Chris Matthews redeemed himself a bit in my eyes Friday night. Asked to speak at Westminster College in Missouri in honor of the 60th anniversary of Winston Churchill's famous "Iron Curtain" speech there, Matthews spoke of the courage it takes to convey a warning no one wants to hear, and the courage it takes to heed it. He used three examples:

In the 1930's, with WWI still fresh in people's memories, nobody wanted to hear Churchill's warnings about the rising power of European fascism and Hitler's Germany. Britain and France failed to heed his warning. The result was WWII.

In the war weary world of 1946, nobody wanted hear Churchill's warning of an "Iron Curtain" enveloping Europe. Truman was so outraged he offered to transport Stalin to the US to rebut Churchill's charges. Yet, the Western world did heed the warning, and took steps to isolate and restrain Stalin and the Soviet Union. As a result, WWIII never happened, and the "Iron Curtain" eventually fell of it's own dead weight.

In the hysteria that followed 9/11, nobody wanted to hear the warnings of former President Jimmy Carter, former President George H. Bush, his National Security Advisor Brent Scowcroft, or former Secretary of State James Baker. Nobody wanted to hear words like quagmire, insurgency, civil war. Especially not President George W. Bush and his advisors. So here we are, three years later, bogged down in an endless war of attrition. Iraq is on the verge of sectarian civil war, and has replaced Afghanistan as the primary breeding and training ground for terrorists who will be a threat to our security for the foreseeable future and beyond.

I gotta admit, Matthews earned some points with me for that one!

I suddenly feel as if I am living in Bizzarro World! In the past few days, I have found myself defending George W. Bush and Domino's Pizza founder Tom Monaghan, two men I generally loathe. Now Matthews.

If you will excuse me, I have to go find a stiff wire brush and a box of 20 Mule Team Borax. I feel dirty!

NEW ORLEANS, AND OTHER THINGS THAT MAKE ME CRY

2006-03-03T17:48:00.000-05:00

Dr. John at Fats Domino's house

Between Mardi Gras and Brownie, New Orleans was back in the national conscious this week. The Brownie tapes finally place the blame for the disaster that followed the disaster clearly where it belongs. Ahem, Mr. Bush and Mr. Chertoff. And Mardi Gras brought media attention back to the city and it's continued travails, it's suffering under the continued incompetence of administration of Bush Inc.

New Orleans native Mac Revenac, a.k.a. Dr. John, eloquently explains why ALL of the Big Easy must be rebuilt HERE

BIGEZBEAR, our friend from New Orleans, has the perfect take on "the Brownie Tapes" HERE. BIGEZBEAR'S descriptions of life in N.O. the past few months have often had me on the verge of tears. I can't imagine how emotionally painful life must be there.

From the I MUST BE GETTING SOFT IN MY OLD AGE dept.

Our friend Miss World had me in tears with this beautiful letter to her mother!

FINALLY.....
It's 5:45 pm. Time to start dinner. Tonight, I cook what I blog! So check out the recipe for Cajun Beans and Rice at THE CHURCH POTLUCK

THE DEATH OF NEOCONSERVATISM

2006-03-01T20:41:00.000-05:00

Francis Fukuyama

I was listening to Harry Schearer's LE SHOW Sunday, when I heard a quote that I found quite startling. Schearer quoted Francis Fukuyama as saying neoconservatism should be tossed on the trash heap of history's bad ideas. For those of you unfamiliar with Fukuyama, he is one of the founding fathers (along with Elliot Abrams, Paul Wolfowicz, Richard Pearle, and others) of the modern Neoconservative movement. I immediately attempted to find the quote via Google. I was unsuccessful, but found an equally damning article by Fukuyama in the NY Times magazine. Here are some excerpts:

As we approach the third anniversary of the onset of the Iraq war, it seems very unlikely that history will judge either the intervention itself or the ideas animating it kindly. By invading Iraq, the Bush administration created a self-fulfilling prophecy: Iraq has now replaced Afghanistan as a magnet, a training ground and an operational base for jihadist terrorists, with plenty of American targets to shoot at....

The so-called Bush Doctrine that set the framework for the administration's first term is now in shambles. The doctrine (elaborated, among other places, in the 2002 National Security Strategy of the United States) argued that, in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks, America would have to launch periodic preventive wars to defend itself against rouge states and terrorists with weapons of mass destruction; that it would do this alone, if necessary; and that it would work to democratize the greater Middle East as a long-term solution to the terrorist problem....

But it is the idealistic effort to use American power to promote democracy and human rights abroad that may suffer the greatest setback. Perceived failure in Iraq has restored the authority of foreign policy ''realists'' in the tradition of Henry Kissinger....The administration's second-term efforts to push for greater Middle Eastern democracy, introduced with the soaring rhetoric of Bush's second Inaugural Address, have borne very problematic fruits. The Islamist Muslim Brotherhood made a strong showing in Egypt's parliamentary elections in November and December. While the holding of elections in Iraq this past December was an achievement in itself, the vote led to the ascendance of a Shiite bloc with close ties to Iran (following on the election of the conservative Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as president of Iran in June). But the clincher was the decisive Hamas victory in the Palestinian election last month, which brought to power a movement overtly dedicated to the destruction of Israel."

Fukuyama goes on to detail how and why neo conservatism has failed, and has some concrete suggestions as to refocusing American foreign policy. He ends the article with this:

Neoconservatism, whatever its complex roots, has become indelibly associated with concepts like coercive regime change, unilateralism and American hegemony. What is needed now are new ideas, neither neoconservative nor realist, for how America is to relate to the rest of the world -- ideas that retain the neoconservative belief in the universality of human rights, but without its illusions about the efficacy of American power and hegemony to bring these ends about.

That Fukuyama would so thoroughly disparage and discard the movement he was instrumental in starting is more than just surprising, it appears to be a harbinger of drastic change coming in the American body politic.

This article is almost a must read, but unfortunately, it cost $4 to purchase from the NYT archives. However, since I have already purchased it, if you are interested in reading it, drop me an email!

FINAL SCORE: RED WINGS 3, FINLAND 2

2006-02-26T14:22:00.000-05:00

Nicklas Lidstrom scored the game winner as Sweden defeats Finland 3-2 to take the Olympic gold medal in ice hockey. Sweden's other two goals were scored by fellow Detroit Red Wing teammates Henrik Zetterberg and Nicklas Kronwall.

This win offers me a bit of redemption, and evens my medal round picks at 2-2. It is also the first time I have out picked the Hockey Goddess.

Read the entire story HERE

THIS WAS SO PREDICTABLE!

2006-02-25T11:28:00.000-05:00

Iraq is on the verge of all out civil war! Is anyone really surprised? They shouldn't be. Anyone taking a dispassionate look at the situation in Iraq before we started this mess could have, and did, predict this. I certainly did (as my friends and long time blog visitors will attest to). If it was plain to a mediocre college history major.....

Actually, every thing I predicted about this whole fiasco has come to pass. It has turned into a mini Viet Nam, a war of attrition we can't possibly win (unless we institute a draft and increase our troop strength there by 150%). 7 more US soldiers and couple of hundred Iraqis dead in just the last few days. I also predicted that Iraq's three major ethnic/religious groups would never be able to put together a stable government, and that there would be a civil war. That too appears to be an accurate assessment .

We have reached this point in history by once again underestimating our enemy. In this case, cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. Al-Sadr, whom the US once sought to arrest on murder charges, has brilliantly out maneuvered all his religious and political rivals. To the point he now challenges Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani as the leading authority among the majority Shiite community. His party ran a brilliant campaign in the recent elections, and garnered a large number of seats in the parliament. He then maneuvered brilliantly behind the scenes to get Ibrahim Jafari re-appointed as Prime Minister. Jafari is politically weak and now owes his position to al-Sadr. And moderate Shiites, formerly aligned with US ally Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani and angered by US demands that they compromise with the Sunnis, are now lining up solidly behind al-Sadr and his strong anti US stance. Which means the number of our friends, and our influence, is diminishing rapidly.

Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, a Kurd, has been facilitating negotiations between the Sunnis and Shiites. He is frankly pessimistic that civil war can be avoided. A civil war that could radically change the balance of power in the middle east, and make it a much more dangerous place than it is today.

THE PROFITS OF WAR from the Agonist

Note that Haliburtons profits from military revenues are up 293%, and Raytheon's profits are up 109%. This war may be bankrupting the country... but it sure as hell is enhancing the portfolios of "Dead Eye"Dick Cheney, and "the Donald" Rumsfeld!

AND FINALLY, THE HOCKEY PICKS:
First hats off to the Hockey Goddess, Karen, for being 100% correct on her Olympic hockey pics! I am in awe!

As for me, of the teams I picked to medal, only Sweden remains. As for my semi final picks, I went one for two, having changed my pick in game 1 to Sweden after I learned the Czechs were starting an NHL cast off in goal instead of Thomas Vocoun. However, I badly miscalculated on the Russians, as the Finns appear to be for real.

So my medal round picks. Russia over the Czechs for the bronze. Sweden over Finland for the gold. Before you run out to your bookie and place your bets, however, I should tell you that the Hockey Goddess is taking Finland. I guess she is betting that goalie Antero Nittymaki can play way over his head one more time!

Now cooking at THE CHURCH POTLUCK: Cajun Stuffed Peppers

A VISIT FROM THE IDIOT KING

2006-02-23T20:07:00.000-05:00

www.nicholsoncartoons.com.au

Yeah, we had a visit from King George today! His motorcade came within 6 blocks of my house. Someone at work suggested I should have walked up the hill so I could wave when when His Royal Highness drove by. I told him "nah, then my middle finger would have gotten cold."

His Majesty was here to attend a fundraiser for the presidential lap dog, Rep. Chris Chocopoodle, being held at my alma mater, Bethel College. Chocopoodle is an old fashioned Repugnican. He sold the corporation his grandfather built to Warren Buffet, then used the proceeds to buy a congressional seat. Last time I checked, he had a perfect 100% record of voting with His Excellency. To paraphrase Bob Casey; If two people agree 100% of the time, one of them is unnecessary. Actually, in this case...

Now, I hate it when Presidents and VPs I LIKE come for a visit. Bill Clinton and Al Gore both were fairly regular visitors here. Let me tell you, a presidential visit, or in Dumbya's case, royal visit, is a giant pain in the ass. About a half hour before the president's plane lands, they shut down all the roads that intersect or run parallel to the motorcade route. They leave them shut until the president arrives at his destination. Which means not only were all the north/south roads shut down for 45 minutes, but a section of the Indiana Toll Road , which runs parallel to part of the motorcade route, as well. So traffic has nowhere to go of the better part of an hour, and just continues to back up.

I was fortunate. As I left for work, I noticed the traffic backing up in time to make a very illegal u-turn in the middle of Jefferson Blvd., and take the back roads through the hood to get to work. I never feel threatened when driving through Doglife or Latin King territory. It can be a bit embarrassing though. My middle son was class clown in his high school. Because of that, he got along with all the gang bangers. A couple of years ago, I bought his car. If I drive through the south side, I will occasionally hear someone shout "hey look, it's Shorty's dad... Hi Shorty's dad!" It is very demoralizing to think that all I have accomplished in my life is to be known as "Shorty's dad".

Anyhow, if a presidential visit by someone you like is a pain in the ass, think how much worse it is if you despise the guy! Actually, it could have been worse. As vocal as I am about my hatred of all things Bush, I am really surprised I didn't get a visit from the State Police or Secret Service. Maybe I'll have that to look forward to next time!

US, CANADA ELIMINATED

2006-02-22T19:19:00.000-05:00

Alexander Ovechkin celebrates game winner against Canada

Remember when I said I couldn't figure out the Russian hockey team? That they would be either brilliant or horrid, no in between? Well, guess what! They have been brilliant. After loosing their first game to Slovakia, the Russians have won 5 in a row. Their goaltender, Evgeny Nabakov, who is having a sub par year in the NHL, has been very solid, and their defense, in spite missing two starters due to injury, has tightened up considerably. Today, Russia knocked mighty Canada out of medal competition, with a 2-0 victory!

Meanwhile, the US was knocked out of competition by the unbeaten Finns, 4-3. US star Mike Modano was highly critical of the way this team was put together and treated, and justifiably so. The US's best goaltender wasn't chosen to be on the team. Many players had to make their own travel arrangements. It was just a sub par performance by those responsible for putting the team together. In the end it showed.

Slovakia went through the preliminary round undefeated. And our friend Dave over at Red and Black Hockey was very high on them. But the medal round places a premium on goaltending, and a quick look at Slovakia's roster shows no NHL caliber goaltender. That caught up with them today, as they lost to the Czech Republic 3-1.

BEAR BREAKS DOWN THE SEMI FINAL ROUND

Game#1 (Friday) Sweden vs Czech Republic: This may very well be the best game of the Olympics! The goaltenders, Sweden's Henrik Lundqvist and the Czech's Tomas Vocoun, are world class goalies, and Lundqvist in particular has been outstanding. This game will be a contest between the offensive firepower of the Czechs, led by Jaromir Jagr and Robert Lang, and the defensive prowress of the Swedes, led by the world's best defenseman, Niclas Lidstrom. This game is really a toss up. The only thing guaranteed is that Lidstrom will log at least thirty five minutes ice time. Since I picked the Czechs to win the gold, I'll stick with them. My prediction: Czech Rep. 4 Sweden 3

Game #2 (Friday) Finland vs. Russia: On paper, this should favor Finland. The Finns only allowed two goals the entire preliminary round, on their way to a 6-0 record. But the Finns, who have been without their #1 and #2 goalies, allowed 3 goals to the previously impotent USA today. And goalie Antero Nittymaki has been up and down all year. If goalies Mikka Kiprisov or Keri Lehtonen were available, I might pick the Finns. However, Russia's goaltending is solid, they have a veteran group of defensemen, and more firepower than anyone in the Olympics. Pavel Datsyuk, Alex Ovechkin, Ilya Kovalchuk, Alexi Kovalev, Alexi Yashin, and Alex Zhamnov will just be too much for the Finns. My prediction: Russia 5 Finland 2

BRONX IN BLUE, REGIME CHANGE DEJA VU

2006-02-22T19:16:00.000-05:00

GREAT WHITE BEAR TOO: BRONX IN BLUE, REGIME CHANGE DEJA VU
from the temporary site

Ah, come on... THE SWISS????

2006-02-22T19:08:00.000-05:00

from the temporary site

DIRTY ^%!@#@#$#@**&^*%&$!! BLOGGER

2006-02-22T19:03:00.000-05:00

from the temporary site

INCREDIBLE NEW MUSIC WEB SITE!

2006-02-12T10:13:00.000-05:00

This may be the coolest site I have ever been to! It is called WOLFGANG'S VAULT. It features music from thousands of hours of live concert recordings from the vaults of legendary concert promoter Bill Graham. For those of you too young to remember, Graham is probably the most important promoter in the history of modern music. He operated the legendary Filmore Auditorium in San Francisco, and the Filmore East in New York. He promoted over 35,000 concerts, and launched the careers of myriad of stars, including Santana, Jefferson Airplane, Steppenwolfe, The Band, Buffalo Springfield, and many, many more.

Vault Radio regularly adds and removes songs from it's playlist, so the music is always new and exciting. Right now, I am listening to Bruce Springsteen doing a live cover of Manfred Mann's BLINDED BY THE LIGHT. All the songs on vault Radio are live recordings, and they are FM quality.

If you are fan of live music, you HAVE to check out this site!

GOD DAMNED CBS!!!!!

2006-02-12T10:03:00.000-05:00

I AM SO FUCKING PISSED!

on LOVE MONKEY, smoking OLD DUTCH CLEANSER, and various and sundry OTHER MATTERS

2006-02-10T21:38:00.000-05:00

Okay, it's official... I am addicted to LOVE MONKEY. I love this show. Maybe the best dialog based show since M*A*S*H! Smart, hip, and funny! Thing is, with the exception of hockey, and the occasional LAW & ORDER, I haven't watched anything on TV in a couple of years. Now, suddenly, I am addicted to the television! 24, NCIS, CRIMINAL MINDS, the CSI"s, NUMBERS, I'm watching them all, religiously! I need help people!

Note to Sen. Arlen Spector (R-PA): I'm pretty sure that Old Dutch Cleanser isn't smokable. We'd have discovered it in the 60's if it was. However, just in case you're onto something, anybody out there still have your old hookah? Let's raid the cleaning supplies!

Seriously though, this is not a good time to be Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. Besides the accusations of being a closet smoker of sink cleaner, another senator of his own party, Lindsey Graham (R-SC) also strongly challenged the AG's assertions that Congress implicitly approved warrentless surveillance when it passed the statutory force resolution. The "argument that you're making is very dangerous in terms of its application for the future," Graham told Gonzales. "When I voted for it, I never envisioned that I was giving to this president or any other president the ability to go around FISA carte blanche." Further, Sen. Russ Feingold is seeking an investigation into whether Gonzales deliberately lied to the senate during his confirmation hearings.

it also appears that the AG may be caught up in the Abramhoff/DeLay scandal. Senate Democrats hare demanding a special prosecutor be named to over see the scandal, in part because of the appearance that Gonzales is implicated. See the whole story here and here.

On the good news front, it appears the low fat diet is officially dead! A new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association concludes there is no evidence that a low fat diet leads to a lower incidence of heart disease or cancer. Which is exactly what cardiologists like Dr. Robert Adkins (Adkin's diet) and Dr. Arthur Agatson (South Beach diet) have been telling you for 15 years. So you wanna be healthy? It's not those fatty meats that are killing you, it's those empty carbs. So eat that steak, and all those veggies, but pitch that baked potato! Good news for us carnivores, not so good for you vegetarians out there!

Is anyone else already as bored with the "betting scandal" in the NHL as I am? A bunch of rich athletes bet big bucks on football. Now there's a surprise. Rich, competitive guys gambling! Who would have thought that? But so far, the evidence is that none of the bets were on hockey. So, until that changes....YAWN!

Speaking of hockey, today will be a historic first. Venerable Lambeau Field, home of the Green Bay Packers, will host the first hockey contest in its illustrious history. The University of Wisconsin Badgers and the Ohio State Buckeyes will play in the first outdoor game in the history of either school. About 45,000 fans are expected for the game.

MY OFFICIAL TAKE IT TO THE BANK (OR RICK TOCCHET) OLYMPIC HOCKEY PICKS

Gold medal: CZECH REPUBLIC - Great goaltending with Dominic Hasek and Tomas Volkoun. Great goal scorers in Jaromir Jagr and Robert Lang and solid defense.

Silver: CANADA - Very deep team with goaltender Martin Brodeur finally getting healthy. A solid shot for gold, but Gretzky's legal problems may be a team downer.

Bronze: SWEDEN - probably the most talented team, but playing with an NHL rookie in goal. Henrik Lundqvist has had a brilliant rookie season with the New York Rangers, but can he stand up to the pressure of the Olympics? Still, this is the best team at the blue line of any in the Olympics. But the loss of Peter Forsberg will put a huge burden on the shoulders of Henrik Zetterberg to score early and often.

Can't figure: The Russians. This is a team with explosive offensive talent, both up front and at the blue line, and goaltending that should be as good as any. Any team with Ilya Kovalchuk, Alexander Ovechkin, Pavel Datsyuk and Sergei Zubov is gonna score a lot of goals. But it's goaltenders have badly under achieved this year, and the team is in disarray with little chemistry. This team will either be brilliant and take the whole thing, or suck pond scum. There will be no in between.

And somebody please explain this to me. How is it that the USA's best goaltender, Ryan Miller, is only an alternate and can't play unless one of the stiffs in front of him gets hurt? Understand that Miller's .925 save percentage is thirty points higher than USA starter Rick Di Pietro's .895. Miller, the former Michigan State star, has been brilliant for the Sabres this year. He should have had the chance to carry the load for Team USA. He would have given us a fighting chance at a bronze.

QUOTES, LIES, AND DAMNED LIES

2006-02-02T20:48:00.000-05:00

BEST QUOTE OF THE WEEK: I'm one of those who talked about a vast right wing conspiracy. It seems clear to me now that instead, we've had a vast right wing kleptocracy - REP. Barney Frank, D-MA on lobbying reform.

from the AND HE SAID THAT WITH A STRAIGHT FACE DEPT: The Republican Party has been and continues to be the party of reform. Rep. David Dryer, R-CA, on lobbying reform.

LIES
In his STATE OF THE UNION speech, President Forked Tongue said: Keeping America competitive requires affordable energy. Here we have a serious problem: America is addicted to oil, which is often imported from unstable parts of the world.

The best way to break this addiction is through technology. Since 2001, we have spent nearly 10 billion dollars to develop cleaner, cheaper, more reliable alternative energy sources -- and we are on the threshold of incredible advances. So tonight, I announce the Advanced Energy Initiative -- a 22-percent increase in clean-energy research at the Department of Energy, to push for breakthroughs in two vital areas. To change how we power our homes and offices, we will invest more in zero-emission coal-fired plants; revolutionary solar and wind technologies; and clean, safe nuclear energy.

However, from today's NY Times:
The Energy Department will begin laying off researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in the next week or two because of cuts to its budget.

A veteran researcher said the staff had been told that the cuts would be concentrated among researchers in wind and biomass, which includes ethanol. Those are two of the technologies that Mr. Bush cited on Tuesday night as holding the promise to replace part of the nation's oil imports.

The budget for the laboratory, which is just west of Denver, was cut by nearly 15 percent, to $174 million from $202 million, requiring the layoff of about 40 staff members out of a total of 930, said a spokesman, George Douglas. The cut is for the fiscal year that began on Oct. 1.

BIGGER LIES
From the STATE OF THE UNION: Breakthroughs on this and other new technologies will help us reach another great goal: to replace more than 75 percent of our oil imports from the Middle East by 2025.

from today's NY Times: One day after President Bush vowed to reduce America's dependence on Middle East oil by cutting imports from there 75 percent by 2025, his energy secretary and national economic adviser said Wednesday that the president didn't mean it literally..... Bush vowed to fund research into better batteries for hybrid vehicles and more production of the alternative fuel ethanol, setting a lofty goal of replacing "more than 75 percent of our oil imports from the Middle East by 2025."

He pledged to "move beyond a petroleum-based economy and make our dependence on Middle Eastern oil a thing of the past."

Not exactly, though, it turns out.

"This was purely an example," Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman said.

He said the broad goal was to displace foreign oil imports, from anywhere, with domestic alternatives. He acknowledged that oil is a freely traded commodity bought and sold globally by private firms. Consequently, it would be very difficult to reduce imports from any single region, especially the most oil-rich region on Earth.

DAMNED LIES
In his STATE OF THE UNION speach, the President promised broad new education initiatives. Meanwhile, he is about to sign into law a bill that cuts $12.7 billion from student aid programs.

REPUBLICAN SEX: FUCKING GRANDMA AND CHILDREN
According to the Congressional Budget Office, the $29 billion in reductions to Medicaid/Medicare just passed by Congress will force removal from the rolls or cuts in benefits to 13 million of America's poor and seniors.

WE AIN'T GOT NO STEENKIN' MOUNTAINS....

2006-01-31T21:15:00.000-05:00

SO HOW COME WE GOT MOUNTAIN LIONS?
Many of you remember that I vacationed last summer with my sister's family at Weko Beach on Lake Michigan. It is a park and campground run by the city of Brigman. Very upscale, on the Riviera of America, and well, fairly urban. It adjoins Warren Dunes State Park. While camping there last summer, the campground was awakened about 2 am by this horrible. very loud, screechy, snarly, growl. It sounded like a large cat that couldn't decide if it wanted to mate with something or eat it. The noise was loud enough to cause me to almost fall of my cot, and sent our then 9 mos old Airedale, Kipper, into a bout of apoplectic barking, growling and snarling. I had assumed it was a bobcat, rare around here, but not unheard of. Then I watched the 11 o'clock news last night. Warren Dunes and Weko Beach are about to post cougar warnings all over the parks. These signs instruct you how to behave if confronted by a Mountain Lion. Which incidentally, is quite a bit different from how you would react to a bear. but, I digress.

Apparently, park rangers at the two parks have spotted cougar prints numerous times, and there have been a number of actual cougar sightings, the latest early yesterday morning. Apparently, a lady living across from the state park let her 170lb. Rottie out to relieve himself, only to find a Mountain Lion drinking from the goldfish pond in her backyard. The cat and the Rottie apparently had a several minute staredown before the cat decided that might be more dog than it really wanted to deal with. Discretion being the better part of valor, the Rottie accepted his moral victory without pressing matters further.

I spent some time on the web tonight, and as near as I can tell, up until a couple of years ago, the last confirmed Mountain Lion sighting in the lower peninsula was in the 1880's. But two summers ago, Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore posted cougar warnings like those about to go up at Warren Dunes. And last spring, Macomb county had a cougar that was hanging out around a local elementary school. Macomb county is the far northeast side of Detroit. Not exactly rural in nature.

More and more we see wildlife that used to be seen only in extremely rural areas right here in the city. About 7 years ago, I stepped outside late one night to have a smoke, just in time to watch a Lynx jump from the huge maple tree in the backyard, onto the garage roof, then disappear down the alley. I thought I was imagining things, but the next few days the police and the zoo got numerous calls wondering if the zoo was missing a cougar. Well, it wasn't big enough to be a cougar, and it was too big to be a bobcat, so my original impression turned out to be right, a lynx. It was spotted a number of more times before it disappeared from the scene. Thing is, until then, it had been over a century since a lynx sighting in our area.

Up until the early 70's, there had been no coyotes in the lower peninsula since before WWII. But a couple of hard winters drove some of them across the straits to the LP where they multiplied like rabbits. It is not uncommon to see coyotes in here in South Bend now. I see them on a fairly regular basis at the park along the river at Indiana University South Bend. Kipper will sometimes go nuts if we walk over there, and my friend Bob's big yellow Lab has had a couple of run ins with them. The coyotes have become so common that they are starting to show up on a regular basis as road kill along US 20.

It amazes me how adaptable some of these creatures are. I work downtown, and have to arrive at work very early (4:45 am). It is not uncommon to see a fox trotting down the alley, a rat or rabbit in it's mouth. Perfectly oblivious to the fact that it is a busy city, and he has no business living there. Apparently, somebody forgot to tell him that!

I have the feeling that as we destroy more and more of these creatures natural habitat, we will see more of them in major urban areas like this. I only hope we adapt as well to their presence as they apparently are to ours!

TAGGED!

2006-01-31T10:17:00.000-05:00

i have been tagged by the lovely Julie, one of the Rocky Top Bloggers. The rules are simple: Name the eight things you most desire in a romantic/intimate partner.

My perfect woman is....

1. Smart, because smart is the ultimate in sexy. Smart turns me on!

2. Funny, which is almost as sexy as smart!

3. Good natured and easy going, because one curmudgeon is enough in any relationship!

4. Forgiving/Have a short memory, because nothing is a bigger turn off than having something you said ten years ago thrown back in your face!

5. LIBERAL - If ya voted for Dumbya, ya need not apply!

6. Love the outdoors: If your idea of the perfect romantic evening is a moonlight swim and making love on the dunes... we should talk. Owning your own canoe and/or fishing equipment a definite plus!

7. Prefer other people's kids to having your own, cause at my age, the grandkids are about all I can handle!

8. Appreciate the occasional nuzzle behind the ear or kiss on the shoulder, because I really like doing that! At least, I vaguely remember liking to do that!

I know a number of you have already been tagged on this one by Bridget Jones or TSHSmom, so I will leave this an open ended tag. If you feel like doing it, consider yourself tagged!

The Midas Touch.....NOT!!!!

2006-01-27T14:06:00.000-05:00

New Canadian PM rebuffs US envoy: It appears rumors of a new US/CANADIAN detante are greatly exaggerated. Already, the bickering has begun. See the entire story HERE

RECAPPING THE INEPTITUDE OF THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP.... a brief look at the front pages the last few days encapsulates the story of 6 years of Republican incompetence and corruption. Has there ever been an administration that has so consistently screwed up everything it touched? You be the judge: (note: commentary in italics mine!)

from Wednesday's SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE: Army now "thin green line".

Okay, according to two separate reports, one commissioned by the Pentagon, the other issued by a group headed by former Defense Secretary William Perry, the US military is stretched disastrously thin, and does not have sufficient strength to outlast the insurgents in Iraq. Just one more indication that all the promises the administration made to the Iraqi people about rebuilding their country are as empty as the west Texas plains. This has been one of the biggest human disasters in world history. Unfortunately, perpetrated by us. What a shame. Related story HERE

from Thursday's USA TODAY: Rx plan failing to help neediest: "Fewer than 300,000 of the 3.6 million people who have voluntarily enrolled in the drug program were approved for a low-income subsidy. That's just 4% of the 8.2 million people the Bush administration has estimated could qualify for the subsidy."

Okay, this is just part of the disaster that is the Bush drug plan. Over half the states have been forced to pass emergency legislation allowing the states to pay for Senior citizens prescriptions and seek reimbursement from the feds. What's more, the Senate is about to launch an investigation on the activities on behalf of the US pharmaceutical industry by a Tom DeLay related lobbying firm. This drug plan is just an unmitigated disaster.

from Thursday's USA TODAY: Mideast democracy boosts Islamists.

This is what happens when ideology overrides pragmatism. Yeah, in theory, everyone should have the right to vote and a say in the way they are governed. But pushing democracy on people not ready for the responsibilities of it, and then being "shocked" by the consequences is a sign you are way out of touch with reality. In the middle east. Bush's pressure to democratize has strengthened the hand of Islamic fundamentalists in Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, and now, of course, Palestine. George Bush and company, again so confident in their own ideology, apparently couldn't believe things would turn out this way and had no plan of action in case they did. Once again, caught with pants down, and no suspenders to be found.

from Thursday's USA TODAY: New Orleans plan lacks okay; White House rejects Louisiana plan for special agency to buy ruined homes.

From the continuing disaster that is the Administration response to Katrina, Bush rejects a plan that has the backing of virtually every Republican and Democrat in Louisiana. That Republicans and Democrats in Louisiana agree on something is quite extraordinary! That Bush would veto it on ideological grounds, (it would "create a new federal bureaucracy") is just baffling. Fortunately, this plan appears to have enough support in Congress that even the Congressional leadership may not be able prevent a veto override.

from Friday's USA TODAY: New equation shocks mideast; Palestinians choose avowed enemy of Israel.

Could I possibly be the only one who saw this coming? Paleeeeeeze! Who the hell advises the pres anyhow? Don't his intelligence analysts read the paper? Or at least listen to ALL THINGS CONSIDERED once in a while? Christ, anybody not living in a cave should have known this was a very good possibility, even a likelihood, for months. That we apparently have no plan for this eventuallity is absolutely inexcusable!

from Friday's USA TODAY: State of Union? "Going the wrong way"

62% of Americans believe the US is headed in the wrong direction. What I want to know is: What the hell are the other 38% smokin'? And were can I get some?

Americans have always been willing to tolerate a little corruption in return for well run government. Chicago being the most obvious example. The elections next November may reveal if, for the first time, we are willing to tolerate incompetence and corruption in favor of ideology. Could be interesting. Go Pragmatists!

**************************************************************************

HOCKEY FRIDAY!

SUPER MARIO RETIRES

Mario Lemieux retired from playing this week, the victim of the aging process and heart problems. A bad back and a bout with cancer robbed him of the chance to be the greatest ever, but his impact on the game was tremendous.

For 10 years, "Super Mario", fought and cajoled the dinosaurs who run the NHL in an effort to open up the game and give the most skilled players an opportunity to display those skills. Unfortunately, by the time the new NHL came around, his skill had diminished to the point he couldn't compete in the new up tempo game.

He will, of course, remain in hockey as the owner of the Pittsburgh Penguins, and mentor to child star Sidney Crosby.

THE NORRIS TROPHY RACE...
appears to be down to a two horse sprint. The favorite has to be Detroit's Nicklas Lidstrom. Clearly the best player, let alone defensemen, in the NHL, Lidstrom should be a shoe in, barring injury or slump.

But don't count out Ottawa's Zdeno Chara. He is having a great year, and is the emotional favorite of the Canadian contingent. But, teamate Wade Redden could pull enough from the Canadian voters to make the point moot. As it is, Lidstrom is clearly the most deserving at this point.

Current NHL Power Rankings:

1) Ottawa
2) Carolina
3) Nashville/Detroit
5) NY Rangers
6) Dallas
7) Calgary
8) Los Angeles
9) Philadelphia
10) Buffalo

Moving up fast: Tampa Bay, New Jersey

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Tampa Bay Goalie John Grahame, who pitched a shut out against New Jersey last night, his third in five games!

NEWS FLASH: THIS JUST IN!

I just came acrossTHIS STORY on Miss World's website MY DAILY HIGH HORSE, and it just really pisses me off! What the fuck kind of people have we become, anyhow? I am so ashamed! Miss World has a really great post on this, some of which I may soon steal! Check it out, and i won't have to!

MOTHER NATURE LANDS WITH BOTH FEET

2006-01-20T08:55:00.000-05:00

Mother nature decided to drop the other shoe this week! The knee wasn't bad enough, oh no! This week she decided to ravage me with the mother of all colds! Runny nose, sore throat. ears ache, severe cough, chest congested. Yes, I feel like shit! Actually, I'd have to feel much better to feel like shit. Our beautiful Hoosier weather isn't helping matters much. Mid to high 40's all last week, mid 40's Monday, low 20's with snow Tuesday, mid 40's Wednesday, mid 50's yesterday. It was 52 at 1 am this morning. Now, at 9 am, it is 36 and dropping, with 4" of snow in the forecast for tonight.

Even alcohol isn't helping! In the old days, when they used to forward my mail to the City Limits Lounge, I was never sick! I'd smoke 2 1/2 packs a day, drink 6-10 beers and a few shots a night, and be healthy as a horse. I always thought it was cause the alcohol was killing all the germs. Well, let me tell you, whatever bug I have come down with, it is alcohol resistant! Funny, since I quit smoking and severely moderated my drinking, my health has gone all to hell. But I digress.

Ever notice that when you are sick, everything seems to conspire to torture you? Wednesday night, I fell asleep about half way through the 11 p.m. news, only to wake about 1:30. Kenny Rogers was hosting one of those Time-Life music series infomercials. Now, I generally hate country music! But I love a couple of sub genres. Especially the Austin sound. I love the music of the old Outlaws (Waylan, Willie, Kris, David Allen Coe, Charlie Daniels, et al). Now, all these artist songs were well represented on this show. So what song do you think has been rattling around my brain for the last two days? Only the twangiest piece of country tripe ever written, Jeanne Pruett's "Satin Sheets". Talk about severe torture!

The upside of being in severe pain and deathly ill is that I have watched more television in the last couple of weeks than I had in the previous year. My impressions:

24 - This was the best start ever! I usually just wait till the season comes out on DVD to watch this show. However, I can tell you that I will not be disturbed on Monday nights for the remainder of the season! Jean Smart is brilliant as the presidents neurotic wife. What a terrific addition to the cast!

LOVE MONKEY - This show is every bit as good as the hype surrounding it. Tom Cavenaugh is a terrific actor, the cast is great, and the dialogue is hip, smart, funny, and poignant all at the same time!

The CSI's - The only one of these I really like is CSI: Miami. The pace of this show seems to be much quicker, and quite frankly, this is the role David Caruso was made for. I don't like the pace or the characters in the other CSI's nearly as much.

NBC Thursdays - Will and Grace stayed a season too long. 4 Kings should be renamed 4 Deuces. The Office isn't nearly as good as it's British counterpart. However, My Name Is Earl saves the evening. This is a very clever, original and funny show. I must admit, however, that living here in Hoosierville, some of the characters look a bit TOO familiar. Kinda creepy.

LAW AND ORDER - This franchise is getting tired and old fast, although Chris Noth seems to have breathed some life into SVU

THE NHL ON NBC - Excellent start. I really like having Bill Clement and Ray Ferraro on the ice, in skates, at Rockefeller Center. It allows them to demonstrate the things they talk about between periods. Very nice touch.

CROSSING JORDON - Besides CSI: Miami, this is the other crime scene show I like. This is different than the CSI's in that there is much more made of the relationships between the investigators.

My fervent desire is that I get well and never acquire enough knowledge of TV to do this post again.

RANDOM OBSERVATIONS:
Has Ossama Bin Laden become completely irrelevant? You get the feeling he released this latest tape as a means of saying "hey guys, remember me?"

Alexander Ovechkin's brilliant goal last weekend has moved to the top of my all time great goal list. For those of you who don't watch the evening news, it happened like this. Ovechkin is breaking in alone on the left wing. The goalie moves out to cut down the angle just as a diving defenseman manages to trip Ovechkin. Stick in left hand, he is sliding face first and about to slide past the goal. He somehow manages to roll onto his back, get the heel of his stick on the puck, and slide it behind the goalie into the net!

My ex gf, Christine (isn't there a horror flick by that name) is an administrator at a local university. We used to argue endlessly over the subject of math. It has long been my contention that there is WAY too much emphasis on math in hs and college, to the detriment of the other subjects that help make one a well rounded, useful citizen. The vast majority of us NEVER use an algebraic equation or calculus in our entire adult lives, and get along just fine with good old arithmetic. Why force someone who wants to be a novelist or historian to take calculus? Imagine my surprise when MARKETPLACE aired a feature saying that math is way over rated, that the vast majority of people get through life just fine using nothing but arithmetic, and that this time spent studying advanced math might be much better spent elsewhere for most students! VINDICATION! I love it!

RECUPERATING

2006-01-13T08:52:00.000-05:00

My apologies for neglecting you all. I am still trying to recuperate from last weekend. The short of it.... I severely sprained my knee last Thursday. It was sore in the morning when I woke up (apparently I twisted it in my sleep), then later in the day I swung my leg over an object at work, and something in the back of my knee went pop, completing the job my restless sleep started. Add to that the 10 hours driving a 12 passenger van to Auburn Hills and back Saturday (arriving home at 5 am, having to work at 9 am) for a Pistons game, walking across about 50 acres of asphalt to get to the Palace, the lack of sleep , and my knee was truly a mess by Monday. Operating a clutch and climbing in and out of a semi 12 hours a day hasn't helped much. So I have spent virtually all of my non working hours laying on the couch, watching TV, with my legs elevated by my sons old bean bag chair.

The truth is, I have trouble sitting at the computer for more than a few minutes at a time. My knee gets stiff and sore really fast. But it's not like I don't have anything I'd like to talk about. There is so much going on! Like, will Patrick Fitzgerald use Tom DeLay's wife's legal problems to leverage a deal out of him. Does anyone think DeLay is the kind of guy to sacrifice himself for his wife's sake?

How about, "will Harry Reid grow a proper set of Irish balls and filibuster the Alito nomination?" Seems to me a good question! With a good Irish name like that, you'd think he'd have gotten his Irish up long ago. C'mon Harry, grow some!

More personal news: my tickets to see George Thorogood arrived in the mail yesterday! He is playing at the old, historic Elco Theatre in Elkhart. This building has acoustics rivaled only by The Auditorium in Chicago! This is gonna be a dynamite concert! I am pumped!

HOB NOBBING WITH SNOOTY RICH CALVINISTS

2006-01-03T19:59:00.000-05:00

I spent New Years Eve in the heart of Dutch Reformed country, Grand Rapids MI. The Detroit Red Wings #1 farm team, the Griffins play there, and we thought we'd check out a couple of the prospects who will likely be in Detroit next year. It turned out to be a very interesting evening!

The Griffs have a section of seats in the corner of the rink that go for $5 if you order in advance online. Sounded like a great deal, so I ordered 5. Turned out to be an even better deal than I could have possibly imagined!

When we arrived after the two hour drive from South Bend, we went in to Van Andel Arena (virtually every public building downtown has either the Van Andel or De Vos name on it, in honor of the founders of Amway) and attempted to find our seats. We could find no row R in section 220. We tracked down an usher, who told us we would have to take the elevator.

We got on the elevator, and at the next floor the door opened and a VERY well dressed woman of middle age got on the elevator. She took one look and asked us "are you folks lost?" We told her that the usher had directed us to take the elevator to our seats in section 220. She told us that you couldn't access section 220 from the elevator, that there must be some mistake, and demanded to see our tickets. She looked at them for a long few seconds, got this look of angry, bemused disgust on her face, and said "oh, I guess that's right". The elevator opened, and we walked out to find ourselves in the luxury boxes! We had our own box approximately 20' x 10', with exactly five seats in it! Apparently, this section is normally reserved for parties with wheelchairs. It must have been the only row in section 220 with 5 seats together when I ordered tickets. So the computer assigned these five seats to us. My daughter-in -law commented that she had never felt wealthy before!

We must not have displayed the proper wealthy Calvinist decorum during the match, because people in the other luxury boxes kept eyeing us suspiciously. But we had a great time, it was an exciting game, they had a nice fireworks show afterward, and the food at the arena is excellent!

Downtown GR is exceptionally nice, but a bit haughty. We went across the street to a building called BOB (Big Old Building) that houses a number of bars and restaurants, only to find that they were charging a $30 cover just to enter the building. Exiting patrons told us all the restaurants inside were charging covers too. We checked out a number of downtown bars to discover $20 - $30 was pretty much the going cover. We did mange to find a Friday's downtown, so we celebrated the incoming New Year there, complete with complimentary glasses of Korbal. We managed to stay awake during the drive home, and arrived a bit after 3 am.

New Years day I was up at 9 preparing our belated Christmas brunch and dinner. Brunch consisted of a crustless Quiche with Ham, Onions, and red Bell Peppers, plus Biscuits with homemade Sausage Gravy. Dinner included an 8 lb boneless Ham cooked in 7 Up, a 12 lb Beef Briscuit, Au Gratin Potatoes, Skillet Beans, Green Beans, home made Potato Rolls, Pumpkin Pie, Apple Pie, and Pudding Cake.

I was so glad to get back to work to recuperate!

Hope everyone had a great holiday! I'll have more to say later, so much juicy news the last few days, but wanted to get a post in before ya'll forget me!

IT'S BOXING DAY! I should be happy.....

2005-12-26T09:44:00.000-05:00

However, I am a tad depressed today. Perhaps RUMOR HAS IT would have been a better Christmas movie choice than SYRIANA. Don't get me wrong, SYRIANA is a great movie. I think that every American should have to go see it, or at least be forced to read it's source material; Robert Baer's book SEE NO EVIL: THE TRUE STORY OF A FOOT SOLDIER IN THE CIA'S COUNTER TERRORISM WAR. The movie is brilliantly acted, especially George Clooney as Baer, Matt Damon as the partner in a Swiss oil brokerage, and Alexander Siddig as an idealistic Arab prince. This is a movie about oil, money, politics, and their corrupting influence on each other. The end is depressing, but I think it is one of those movies everyone should see. It should certainly make people think. This movie is also a tribute to Clooney's growing clout in Hollywood. There are only a handful of people in Hollywood who could have gotten this movie or GOOD BYE AND GOOD NIGHT produced. Speilburg, Redford, Eastwood, maybe Tarentino. That Clooney got both of them made and released in the same year is testimony to the clout he now holds within the industry!

HOCKEY FRIDAY EARLY

The PROVIDENCE HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT is now history, won by the host FRIARS in a huge upset over ninth ranked Colgate. But there are still ten tournaments to be played this week. Check them out HERE. There are four tourneys in particular that should be outstanding!

THE GREAT LAKES INVITATIONAL (thurs, fri) at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit looks to be a classic this year. With MICHIGAN missing four players due to the World Junior Championships, COLORADO COLLEGE , with Hobie Baker winner Marty Sertich and point a game defenseman Brian Salcido, would seem to be the favorites. But Michigan has some very talented freshmen desperate to show they deserve more ice time, and MICHIGAN STATE always plays like the Joe is their home ice. MICHGAN TECH would like nothing better than to spoil the weekend for one of the big boys, so it should be a great tourney.

THE OHIO HOCKEY CLASSIC (thurs, fri) in Columbus features the #2 MIAMI REDHAWKS, #19 OHIO STATE, RPI, and HOLY CROSS. This is a home game for Ohio State, but with half the campus in Tempe for the Fiesta Bowl, look for the throngs wearing red to be Redhawk fans. Still, the Buckeyes could make a statement in the CCHA and NCAA tournament bid quest with a win over the second ranked team in the country.

THE DENVER CUP (fri, sat) features defending national champion and tenth ranked DENVER, #4 BOSTON COLLEGE, PRINCETON, and FERRIS STATE. #10 Denver is red hot, having won 6 of 7, and looking to win a third straight national championship. A win over #4 BC would certainly be impressive come NCAA bid time. This should be a great tourney, and don't be surprised if one of the two top teams get caught looking ahead and is tripped up before reaching the title game!

THE SHERATON/TD BANKNORTH TOURNAMENT in Burlington VT (fri, sat) features #5 VERMONT, #15 CLARKSON, formerly ranked BEMIDJI STATE, and DARTMOUTH. Bemidji would love to fight there way back into the top fifteen. And Clarkson star Shawn Weller, who was snubbed by the US Junior National team, should be playing with a chip on his shoulder. This could end up being the most competitive tourney of the week!

HAPPY BOXING DAY EVERYONE!

again, with apologies...IT'S THE BIG BLOG

2005-12-23T14:38:00.000-05:00

David Sedaris

With the big weekend upon us, I thought I'd try to get a weekends worth of blogging into one day's posts. So, on the BIG BLOG:

ROBERT REICH
CRUMPET THE ELF
HOCKEY FRIDAY

Robert Reich had a fabulous commentary on Marketplace earlier this week, challenging American businessmen to stand up and fight! Here are excerpts:

Even in it’s infancy, modern capitalism depended on liberty and predictability, and business leaders fought for the rule of law. The very idea that a head of state must be bound by the law emerged from the struggles of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries between monarchs, who claimed to have the divine right to do as they pleased, and a rising class of European merchants who said rulers could only do what they were authorized to do. These business leaders understood that economic liberties could not be separated from civil liberties. If a King or Emperor could arrest, or detain, or search, or torture anyone for whatever reason, there was nothing to stop him from taking private property, interfering with private contracts, or commandeering private resources.

And now we have a president who asserts the power to spy on Americans without the approval of the courts, even though a law, enacted over a quarter century ago, prohibits this practice. To secretly monitor the actions of private environmental and peace groups, and to call any American an enemy combatant, and keep him in jail, without counsel, for as long as he wishes. This is the same administration that flouts international law by detaining foreigners indefinitely, holding some in secret prisons, and using torture. It’s the same administration that pays off journalists, here and abroad, to write favorable stories about it, also in defiance of law.

The President SAYS that this all comes under his responsibility as commander in chief during war time. But, if the end of keeping Americans secure justifies all means, including disregarding the rule of law, then no one is secure and all liberties are threatened! I mean, how far away is the specter of no bid government contracts to politically well connected suppliers that support the president? Of selected prosecution of antitrust laws, or health and safety regulations, depending on support for the presidents agenda? Of pressure on the media to provide favorable coverage in return for regulatory favors?

When a President, or King, is unaccountable to law, it’s impossible to predict where, or how he will act in pursuit of his aims. ....

Economic freedom and civil liberty, the two are inseparable! And both are threatened by arbitrary power that sees itself as above the law. As they did centuries ago, business leaders must come to the defense of liberty!

hear the entire Reich commentary HERE

CRUMPET THE ELF: NPR first played this story in 1992. It made David Sedaris a star overnight, and launched the career of the humorist/novelist/playwright. Listen to this Christmas classic HERE ! Then listen to this hilarious FRESH AIR interview with Sedaris H HERE!

HOCKEY FRIDAY!!!!!!!!
Before I forget (as I have the last couple of weeks) I want to mention a terrific pod-cast for sports fans. Rob Visconti, a Detroit area attorney, has a terrific web-log called THE CHEAP SEATS. He also has a semi regular pod-cast available for subscription (free), or that you can download from his blog. I really enjoy the pod-casts, and think any sports fan would too. So be sure to check it out.

SID THE KID SNUBBED BY THE GREAT ONE!
They are grumbling in Canada today. First Kris Draper, then Todd Bertuzzi were added to the Canadian Olympic team, locking out phenom Sidney Crosby. As Executive Director of Hockey Canada, Wayne Gretzky undoubtedly made the call, which, incidentally, I think is the correct one. But with Draper's lack of offense, and the unpopular Bertuzzi's history, there's a lot of grumbling today across the frozen tundra!

HOLIDAY TOURNEY TIME!
The coming week features a number of College Tournaments, including the Providence Holiday Tourney, and the Great Lakes Invitational (Joe Louis Arena, Detroit). There will be some great college hockey played next week, so go see a game, or check out your local CSTV and Foxsports outlets for games!

IT'S OFFICIAL, I HATE THE SHOOTOUT!
Judging by all the grumbling going on, I am apparently the only old time, diehard fan, who likes the new NHL. When the NCAA decided to open up the college game about 10 years ago, it improved the product dramatically, made for a much more exciting game, and attendance has increased steadily ever since. I believe the same thing is happening in the NHL, and that the results will be the same, better product, increased attendance. There is however, one rule change I really hate... the shootout!

The Red Wings were the last team in the NHL to participate in a shootout. It took 35 games, but finally, the game against Columbus went through regulation and overtime in a tie. The Red Wings won the shootout, but, I still think it looks like a gimmick. It is just not hockey. I also hate the shootout in soccer. Give me the point for a tie, or let the players skate till the last man is standing. But I will go to my grave hating the shootout!

DON'T LOOK NOW!
The Dallas Stars, who looked horrible the first month of the season, have very quietly sneaked up on every one. They are now tied for third overall in the Western Conference, and clearly playing better hockey than anyone in the conference. Goaltender Marty Turco, who was just gawdawful for the first 6 weeks of the season, is red hot, and the Stars look to be the team to beat right now in the West.

update: I have just seen one of the most amazing finishes to a hockey game in NHL hstory! Trailing by two goals in Chicago, the Red Wings get goals from Kris Draper (19:31) and Nicklas Lidstrom (19:53) in the final 29 seconds to tie the game. Then in overtime, they get the game winner with 1/10 second left, when Pavel Datsyuk redirected a Jason Wookey pass past Nickolai Khabibulin. While I am excited about the finish, I also feel badly for our friend Andrea, a Blackhawks fan who was at the game tonight. Sorry! But on the bright side, pretty soon we'll have to address you as DR. Gympumpkin!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE

Now cooking at THE CHURCH POTLUCK: Bran Muffins

THE GREAT WHITE BEAR

You can find me occasionally blogging at

HOW I SPENT MY SUMMER

Sniper and other Love Songs (and a Spurrier does us proud!)

urgent business

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz..........................

DEATH OF AMEIRCAN JUSTICE?

WARNING LABEL, AND OTHER RANDOM THOUGHTS AND STORIES.

WANTED: CHRISITIAN HITWOMAM AND/OR SEX GODDESS

MOVIE GEMS

TRANSLATION: AMERICANS ARE STUPID!

THE MORNING AFTER

IN THIS EDITION OF TGWB.....

THE MOST INCREDIBLE CONCERT EVER

AMERICAN FASCISTS, and KNEE JERK REACTIONARIES

JUSTA FEW THOUGHTS

GOD MOVES TO LA plus THE DEVIL'S IN THE DETAILS plus ALPHABET MEME

LOOKING BACK....

HE'S AT IT AGAIN!

A TRULY HEART WARMING STORY

CAN'T RESIST

BAH, HUMBUG!

COMING A WEEK FROM FRIDAY.....

BACK, FINALLY!

So... Who are the BIGGEST winners and losers?

*sigh* WHAT A WEEK!

QUOTE OF THE WEEK AND OTHER STUFF

SO WHY....

"DRISSEL, DRASSEL, DRESSEL, DRONE. TIME FOR THESE ONES TO COME HOME!"

THE DYING CUB FANS LAST REQUEST

"SEEMS FOREVER LASTS EXACTLY THREE MONTHS"

... THE MORE THINGS STAY THE SAME!

WE'VE BEEN OVERRUN BY THE CLUELESS

INDIANA PADDLERS RENDEZVOUS 2006

HEAT INDUCED MEANDERING THOUGHTS FROM GEEZERDOM

CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S BEEN SO LONG!

HUCK FINN 2006 PICS here

DICKHEAD DIPLOMACY

Warning: I Have Been Sucked In...

VACATION MAGNIFIQUE

THE THREE REASONS THE NSA PHONE DATABASE SHOULD SCARE YOU SHITLESS

NEWSWEEK: Evidence puts Cheney at heart of Plame probe

1984 HAS FINALLY ARRIVED

LET'S IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT (and other catchy tunes)

NEWS FLASH!!!!!!!!!!!

FUGGEDABOUD HILLARY OR BARACK, THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE U.S. IS....

STAR SPANGLED RANT!

RIVERQUEST: The Blog

ONE MORE REASON IT'S BETTER BEING A GUY

DREAMS, MEMES, AND OTHER THINGS

RED HANDS, DYNGUS DAY, AND OTHER STUFF

RIVERQUEST 2006!

BLOGAPHOBIA

FRIENDS LOST

RANDOM ACTS OF THINKING

WHY I AM SO F***ING ANGRY!!!!!

THE MARK OF THE BEAST, OR JUST SIMPLY ORWELLIAN?

GETTING THEIR MONEY'S WORTH, ODDS AND ENDS

NEW ORLEANS, AND OTHER THINGS THAT MAKE ME CRY

THE DEATH OF NEOCONSERVATISM

FINAL SCORE: RED WINGS 3, FINLAND 2

THIS WAS SO PREDICTABLE!

A VISIT FROM THE IDIOT KING

US, CANADA ELIMINATED

BRONX IN BLUE, REGIME CHANGE DEJA VU

Ah, come on... THE SWISS????

DIRTY ^%!@#@#$#@**&^*%&$!! BLOGGER

INCREDIBLE NEW MUSIC WEB SITE!

GOD DAMNED CBS!!!!!

on LOVE MONKEY, smoking OLD DUTCH CLEANSER, and various and sundry OTHER MATTERS

QUOTES, LIES, AND DAMNED LIES

WE AIN'T GOT NO STEENKIN' MOUNTAINS....

TAGGED!

The Midas Touch.....NOT!!!!

MOTHER NATURE LANDS WITH BOTH FEET

RECUPERATING

HOB NOBBING WITH SNOOTY RICH CALVINISTS

IT'S BOXING DAY! I should be happy.....

again, with apologies...IT'S THE BIG BLOG

sigh WHAT A WEEK!