Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Guided By Voices Reuniting for Matador Records’ 21st Birthday Festival
Matador Records was one of the most important independent record labels in the 1990s (even when they signed a deal with Atlantic that made them a quasi-major or at least part of the major label monster) and has continued to be an important label to this day. In celebration of their 21st birthday they are throwing a weekend festival that will include a reunited Guided By Voices.
From the story –
From the story –
Twenty-first birthday bashes are a big deal for everyone, including record labels, which is exactly why Matador Records are throwing a huge bash in Las Vegas. Scheduled to run the weekend of Oct. 1-3 at the Palms Casino and Resort, the concert party's lineup features a who's who from the Matador roster, including Guided by Voices, who'll play their first live show since disbanding at the end of 2004. We can only imagine Robert Pollard's first show back with the proper gang will produce a marathon set that could span the entire weekend.Oh how I wish I could get to Vegas for this gig.
Also poached from the classic 1993-96 Matador era is reunited Pavement, Sonic Youth, Liz Phair, Superchunk and Belle and Sebastian. Yo La Tengo, Cat Power, the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion and Spoon round out the late-'90s era Matador roster, with Spoon having only released one album on the label, their 1996 debut 'Telephono.'
More acts are expected to be announced in the next few days, but in addition to the above heavy hitters, recent Matador acts signings such as Girls, F---ed Up, Kurt Vile, Shearwater and Ted Leo will be making appearances, as will everyone's favorite indie-pop supergroup, the New Pornographers.
A Whole Lot of Assuming Going On
We all have our beliefs. Some folks believe in God, Jesus, and a strict, literal interpretation of the Bible. Some folks believe in the Buddha, enlightenment, and nirvana. Some folks believe in science and evolution. Some folks believe in some type of cluster-you-know-what. All of these beliefs start off with the same things. Assumptions.
We all do it so there’s no denying it. We must also realize that for all of the rock solidness of our assumptions, there is someone out there who can make them look completely idiotic. That doesn’t mean that our assumptions are necessarily bad, just that there are those out there who are either smarter, better read, or just better at debating than we are. But on the flip side of that coin, that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t consider the validity of the assumptions of others.
But again, at the end of the day we are all assuming a hell of a lot. And you know what happens when one assumes…
We all do it so there’s no denying it. We must also realize that for all of the rock solidness of our assumptions, there is someone out there who can make them look completely idiotic. That doesn’t mean that our assumptions are necessarily bad, just that there are those out there who are either smarter, better read, or just better at debating than we are. But on the flip side of that coin, that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t consider the validity of the assumptions of others.
But again, at the end of the day we are all assuming a hell of a lot. And you know what happens when one assumes…
Currently Listening
1. “What is the Light?” by The Flaming Lips (from The Soft Bulletin)
2. “Burn Away” by Foo Fighters (from One by One)
3. “Yesterday Girl” by The Smithereens (from Blown to Smithereens: The Best of The Smithereens)
4. “St. Rosa and the Swallows” by The Thermals (from The Body, the Bloody, the Machine)
5. “And the Same” by Fugazi (from 13 Songs)
6. “Boy with the Laidback Lokk” by Teenage Frames (from More Songs, Less Music)
7. “If You Had a Bad Time” by Alkaline Trio (from BYO Split Series, Vol. 5)
8. “Boston, USA” by The Ducky Boys (from Three Chords and the Truth)
9. “Vision” by Down By Law (from Down By Law)
10. “Do You Remember Rock & Roll Radio?” by The Ramones (from Hey! Ho! Let’s Go: The Anthology Disc 1)
2. “Burn Away” by Foo Fighters (from One by One)
3. “Yesterday Girl” by The Smithereens (from Blown to Smithereens: The Best of The Smithereens)
4. “St. Rosa and the Swallows” by The Thermals (from The Body, the Bloody, the Machine)
5. “And the Same” by Fugazi (from 13 Songs)
6. “Boy with the Laidback Lokk” by Teenage Frames (from More Songs, Less Music)
7. “If You Had a Bad Time” by Alkaline Trio (from BYO Split Series, Vol. 5)
8. “Boston, USA” by The Ducky Boys (from Three Chords and the Truth)
9. “Vision” by Down By Law (from Down By Law)
10. “Do You Remember Rock & Roll Radio?” by The Ramones (from Hey! Ho! Let’s Go: The Anthology Disc 1)
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
What is Presuppositionalism?
Man of the West had put together a post that attempts to answer this very question in Presuppositionalism in as Small a Nutshell as I Can Make.
I have to admit that this it a topic that I have a really hard time wrapping my head around. I attempted reading Francis A. Schaeffer's The God Who is There but put it down after getting frustrated with it. I also did a post on presuppositionalism last year and while my initial reactions to the ideas were very negative, I have to admit that I just don’t get it.
Maybe my problem is that I am just unable to submit to any religious doctrine or text. I don’t see any one as better than any other. Each holy text has good things and bad things in to and I just see absolutely no logical purpose in to completely submitting to one while forsaking all the others. I’d rather see the world holistically then through the tunnel vision of one religion. I guess that I’m just either too ignorant or too much of a univeralist to understand this concept. And to be honest it bugs me that I don’t get it. I like to try and understand as much as humanly possible about a wide variety of ideas and opinions, so the fact that this one confounds me is a frustration to say the least.
I have to admit that this it a topic that I have a really hard time wrapping my head around. I attempted reading Francis A. Schaeffer's The God Who is There but put it down after getting frustrated with it. I also did a post on presuppositionalism last year and while my initial reactions to the ideas were very negative, I have to admit that I just don’t get it.
Maybe my problem is that I am just unable to submit to any religious doctrine or text. I don’t see any one as better than any other. Each holy text has good things and bad things in to and I just see absolutely no logical purpose in to completely submitting to one while forsaking all the others. I’d rather see the world holistically then through the tunnel vision of one religion. I guess that I’m just either too ignorant or too much of a univeralist to understand this concept. And to be honest it bugs me that I don’t get it. I like to try and understand as much as humanly possible about a wide variety of ideas and opinions, so the fact that this one confounds me is a frustration to say the least.
Currently Listening
Here are some more songs that I would play if I worked at The Spy.
1. “Three Easy Pieces” by Buffalo Tom (from Three Easy Pieces)
2. “Bankshot” by Operation Ivy (from Energy)
3. “Intact” by Ned’s Atomic Dustbin (from Are You Normal?)
4. “Kick It Over” by Re-Volts (from Re-Volts)
5. “We’re All in This Together” by Ben Lee (from Awake is the New Sleep)
6. “Clean Sheets” by Descendents (from ALL)
7. “Public Image” by Public Image Limited (from First Issue)
8. “Prove My Love” by Violent Femmes (from Violent Femmes)
9. “Over It” by Dinosaur Jr. (from Farm)
10. “15” by Rilo Kiley (from Under the Blacklight)
11. “She Used to Smile” by Drag the River (from Primer)
12. “A Sheep in Wolf’s Clothing” by The GC5 (from Kisses From Hanoi / Horseshoes & Handgrenades)
13. “Precision Auto” by Superchunk (from On the Mouth)
14. “Friend of Mine” by Big Drill Car (from No Worse for the Wear)
15. “The Diamond Church Street Choir” by The Gaslight Anthem (from American Slang)
1. “Three Easy Pieces” by Buffalo Tom (from Three Easy Pieces)
2. “Bankshot” by Operation Ivy (from Energy)
3. “Intact” by Ned’s Atomic Dustbin (from Are You Normal?)
4. “Kick It Over” by Re-Volts (from Re-Volts)
5. “We’re All in This Together” by Ben Lee (from Awake is the New Sleep)
6. “Clean Sheets” by Descendents (from ALL)
7. “Public Image” by Public Image Limited (from First Issue)
8. “Prove My Love” by Violent Femmes (from Violent Femmes)
9. “Over It” by Dinosaur Jr. (from Farm)
10. “15” by Rilo Kiley (from Under the Blacklight)
11. “She Used to Smile” by Drag the River (from Primer)
12. “A Sheep in Wolf’s Clothing” by The GC5 (from Kisses From Hanoi / Horseshoes & Handgrenades)
13. “Precision Auto” by Superchunk (from On the Mouth)
14. “Friend of Mine” by Big Drill Car (from No Worse for the Wear)
15. “The Diamond Church Street Choir” by The Gaslight Anthem (from American Slang)
Monday, June 28, 2010
Did Jesus Really Die on the Cross?
A leading theologian has his doubts.
From the story –
From the story –
Gunnar Samuelsson -- a theologian at the University of Gothenburg and author of a 400-page thesis on crucifixion in antiquity -- doesn't doubt that Jesus died on Calvary hill. But he argues that the New Testament is in fact far more ambiguous about the exact method of the Messiah's execution than many Christians are aware.This is some fascinating research. I’ll be interested in seeing what else comes from it.
"When the Gospels refer to the death of Jesus, they just say that he was forced to carry a "stauros" out to Calvary," he told AOL News. Many scholars have interpreted that ancient Greek noun as meaning "cross," and the verb derived from it, "anastauroun," as implying crucifixion. But during his three-and-a-half-year study of texts from around 800 BC to the end of the first century AD, Samuelsson realized the words had more than one defined meaning.
"'Stauros' is actually used to describe a lot of different poles and execution devices," he says. "So the device described in the Gospels could have been a cross, but it could also have been a spiked pole, or a tree trunk, or something entirely different." In turn, "anastauroun" was used to signify everything from the act of "raising hands to suspending a musical instrument."
The manner in which Jesus died is further thrown into question by Samuelsson's discovery that crucifixion may have been an unusual form of punishment in the Roman Empire. Descriptions of crucifixions contained in the thousands of Hebrew, Aramaic, Latin and Greek manuscripts he examined most commonly referred to dead prisoners being placed on some form of suspension device, or living captives skewered on stakes. The first century Roman philosopher Seneca the Younger, for example, wrote about seeing a great many prisoners of war on "crosses" after one campaign. But the scribe then describes how a large number of the dead had been impaled.
"If you search for ancient texts that specifically mention the act of crucifixion [as we understand it today]" he says, "you will end up with only two or three examples."
Meat Loaf
Last night I decided to try my hand at making meat loaf. I had never made one before but I’m not new to the kitchen (in fact I’ve been making some nice home cooked meals for my wife and I on the weekends for the last month or so and have made various different things for the family over the years). Growing up my Mom made a great meat loaf, so I asked her for the recipe (see below) and went to town.
I must say that for my first attempt, things turned out pretty well. This is definitely something that I’ll be cooking again.
Here’s the recipe –
1 to 1 and 1/2 pounds of hamburger
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup onion, chopped; more if you like it heavier on the condiments
1/2 cup chopped celery; ditto
About 3/4 cup Pepperidge Farm Herb Stuffing mix; you may need a bit more but here it depends on smell, and wetness, too.
1/4 -1/2 cup milk; this is to hold the mixture together and should not make it too wet
Parsley flakes; some or a lot
Salt & pepper to your taste
Ketchup and Bay leaves, optional
Mix hamburger, onion, celery, parsley flakes, stuffing, salt, pepper, milk, egg in a big bowl. The mixture should smell like a real blend of all ingredients, not overpowering in any one. If it smells too much like onion add a bit more celery and stuffing. It should hold together well but if too wet, add a bit more stuffing; if too dry add a bit more milk. Mix everything well and lay mixture on a cutting board. Form a loaf shape and lift it into an ungreased baking pan. I use those black and white dotted metal pans. From the center of the loaf with your fingers make a small trench that goes almost from end to end. This is for ketchup if you like meatloaf that way OR in the trench you can place Bay Leaves. Now, run water into the end of the pan till it comes about 1/4 of the way up the loaf. The water makes the meatloaf juicy. Cook in middle of oven at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes, maybe a little less or if you have a meat thermometer until it reads beef well done. Do not cover the pan.
I must say that for my first attempt, things turned out pretty well. This is definitely something that I’ll be cooking again.
Here’s the recipe –
1 to 1 and 1/2 pounds of hamburger
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup onion, chopped; more if you like it heavier on the condiments
1/2 cup chopped celery; ditto
About 3/4 cup Pepperidge Farm Herb Stuffing mix; you may need a bit more but here it depends on smell, and wetness, too.
1/4 -1/2 cup milk; this is to hold the mixture together and should not make it too wet
Parsley flakes; some or a lot
Salt & pepper to your taste
Ketchup and Bay leaves, optional
Mix hamburger, onion, celery, parsley flakes, stuffing, salt, pepper, milk, egg in a big bowl. The mixture should smell like a real blend of all ingredients, not overpowering in any one. If it smells too much like onion add a bit more celery and stuffing. It should hold together well but if too wet, add a bit more stuffing; if too dry add a bit more milk. Mix everything well and lay mixture on a cutting board. Form a loaf shape and lift it into an ungreased baking pan. I use those black and white dotted metal pans. From the center of the loaf with your fingers make a small trench that goes almost from end to end. This is for ketchup if you like meatloaf that way OR in the trench you can place Bay Leaves. Now, run water into the end of the pan till it comes about 1/4 of the way up the loaf. The water makes the meatloaf juicy. Cook in middle of oven at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes, maybe a little less or if you have a meat thermometer until it reads beef well done. Do not cover the pan.
Currently Listening
Today I’m again letting the computer pick the songs from bands that I would play on The Spy.
1. “Snake Oil Tanker” by Alkaline Trio (from Alkaline Trio)
2. “Burning, Itching, Irritation” by Sinkhole (from Space Freak)
3. “Almost Grown” by The Heartdrops (from East Side Drive)
4. “Black Diamond” by The Replacements (from Let It Be [Deluxe Edition])
5. “Good Advices” by R.E.M. (from Fables of the Reconstruction)
6. “Outsider” by Green Day (from Shenanigans)
7. “The Long Goodbye” by The GC5 (from Never Bet the Devil Your Head)
8. “On the Road Again” by Me First & the Gimme Gimmes (from Love Their Country)
9. “Carolyn’s Fingers” by Cocteau Twins (from Never Mind the Manistream: The Best of MTV’s 120 Minutes Vol. 1)
10. “Tell Me Goodnight” by The Huntingtons (from Plastic Surgery)
1. “Snake Oil Tanker” by Alkaline Trio (from Alkaline Trio)
2. “Burning, Itching, Irritation” by Sinkhole (from Space Freak)
3. “Almost Grown” by The Heartdrops (from East Side Drive)
4. “Black Diamond” by The Replacements (from Let It Be [Deluxe Edition])
5. “Good Advices” by R.E.M. (from Fables of the Reconstruction)
6. “Outsider” by Green Day (from Shenanigans)
7. “The Long Goodbye” by The GC5 (from Never Bet the Devil Your Head)
8. “On the Road Again” by Me First & the Gimme Gimmes (from Love Their Country)
9. “Carolyn’s Fingers” by Cocteau Twins (from Never Mind the Manistream: The Best of MTV’s 120 Minutes Vol. 1)
10. “Tell Me Goodnight” by The Huntingtons (from Plastic Surgery)
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Can There Be Good Without God?
The blog Classically Liberal has a fascinating post dealing with the idea that one does not need religion to be or do good entitled Good in a godless world. The author is a devout atheist and a staunch libertarian and while I disagree with him on the idea of God I think he makes some excellent points.
Money Quote (and it’s a bit of a long one) –
In the end I think that CLS has it half right. You can be an atheist and still believe and be held to good in this world and it is the actions of individuals that will make the difference but there is a collective nature to humanity that holds us together (even when so many other forces want to tear us apart).
Money Quote (and it’s a bit of a long one) –
A godless world does not mean a loveless world, it means that what love the world exists must come from each of us as individuals. It is not possible for me to love everyone, but I can love where it is possible. It is not possible for me to develop the whole world and create universal prosperity. But it is possible for me to help one small part of the world to develop economically and to help make that portion of the world a better place. I can’t heal the sick, but I can help make healing possible. I can’t end all injustice, but I can fight it where I see it. I can’t be all-things to all-people, but I can be something to someone.In the post, CLS rejects the idea of “we” or “us.” From the post –
True, when famine sends children to bed hungry, or worse, the universe doesn’t care.
But I do.
When that great collective action, known as war, rips families apart, rains devastation on vast numbers of people, and sends young men to premature and senseless deaths, the universe does not care.
But I do.
When bullies beat someone for being black, gay, Jewish, or just different, the universe doesn’t care.
But I do.
When organized bullies of moral majoritarians do the same to those they hate, the universe does not care.
I do.
And because I do, then I must act. I can’t pass that off to a god who isn’t there, or the collective “we.” I must make the choice to take action.
I can hope that everyone will act the same way, but I must act as if no one will. I can’t choose for others, I can only choose for myself. And I choose to act.
There is no collective brain, no one body shared by the many. If action is taken then someONE takes it. SomeONE wills it. SomeONE encourages others, who cooperate but each of them chooses to act as another ONE. Working in harmony does not negate the fact that individuals, not collectives, choose to act.While I think that this is a fascinating idea, I don’t completely agree with it. While this idea completely works for addressing issues that require action, because it is the individuals who are ultimately the ones who will act, it does not take into consideration the fact that there are ideas, concepts, and archetypes that appear in societies throughout the world. These are things that come from the collective unconscious. So while it is individuals who choose to act, there is a collective unconscious that binds us all together. You can call it chemistry or God or the Toa but the name is irrelevant. There are forces in this world that do bring us together and help to provide us with direction. You can choose to explain this scientifically or metaphorically (i.e. religiously) but how ever you define it, it is there.
In the end I think that CLS has it half right. You can be an atheist and still believe and be held to good in this world and it is the actions of individuals that will make the difference but there is a collective nature to humanity that holds us together (even when so many other forces want to tear us apart).
Two Local Blogs Tackle Religion
Local blogs Peace Arena and JMBZine.com have both recently posted some very personal and passionate pieces on religion in Getting religion and Religion (Part 1)… I highly suggest checking these posts out.
“’Cause Some Don’t Agree with How I Do This”
Who knew that I would figure out a way to work an N.W.A. lyric into the title of a post?
Recently in the comments section of his post The Center is Not as Safe as You Think It Is, Man of the West proposed a series of questions, probably rhetorically, that deal with issues that he thinks one cannot truly be moderate about (i.e. cannot ride the fence). The questions dealt with the age of the Earth, evolution, abortion, homosexuality, and taxes. I answered the questions and was subsequently told that I was wrong on all of them.
Amazingly these are questions that answers are completely opinion based. Sure the science related questions you can get data to back your opinion, but there are those who will not believe that data no matter how conclusive it is. Other than that, ones opinions on homosexuality, abortion, and taxes are just that: opinions. Sure I have my opinions on these issues and what I think is right and wrong, but unlike knowing that the answer to 2 + 2 is 4, these answers are not definitive facts. Yet people often treat them like they are.
Here are the questions MOTW asked and my answers –
There are those who see their opinions and beliefs as facts. That is good in that these people are firm in their convictions but bad in the simple truth that their opinions are not facts. It would do us all some good to openly and honestly consider the opinions of those that we disagree with and have the humility to recognize that their opinions could be “right.”
Recently in the comments section of his post The Center is Not as Safe as You Think It Is, Man of the West proposed a series of questions, probably rhetorically, that deal with issues that he thinks one cannot truly be moderate about (i.e. cannot ride the fence). The questions dealt with the age of the Earth, evolution, abortion, homosexuality, and taxes. I answered the questions and was subsequently told that I was wrong on all of them.
Amazingly these are questions that answers are completely opinion based. Sure the science related questions you can get data to back your opinion, but there are those who will not believe that data no matter how conclusive it is. Other than that, ones opinions on homosexuality, abortion, and taxes are just that: opinions. Sure I have my opinions on these issues and what I think is right and wrong, but unlike knowing that the answer to 2 + 2 is 4, these answers are not definitive facts. Yet people often treat them like they are.
Here are the questions MOTW asked and my answers –
Young earth or old earth? Old.According to MOTW, I am “Wrong. On every point.” It doesn’t bother me at all that we disagree on these matters and it doesn’t bother me that MOTW thinks that I am wrong. Heck I think that he is wrong, but I also know that these are our opinions based on our experiences, worldviews, faiths, and personalities. He and I are both pretty set in our ways and I doubt that either of us would change the other’s opinion on these matters, but I know that I would listen to his thoughts and reasoning that brought him to hold this opinion and I am confident that he would show me that same courtesy; sadly though I suspect that we are in the minority. I will listen to and consider the validity of any idea or opinion before embracing or dismissing it. I know that MOTW will respectfully listen to my thoughts and opinions but I’m not sure if he ever considers the possibility that I might be “right.” This is not a slight or an attack on him, just an observation based on our interactions (and please don’t think that I think that my opinions are better than his because I don’t; I have a lot of respect for MOTW and how he handles himself online; even though he and I disagree on many things I still think he is a good guy who is very intelligent and extremely well read).
Creationism or evolution? Evolution
Abortion: murder or not? If it is prior to the third trimester, it is not murder. It is really, really bad and should be avoided at all costs, but it is not “murder” until the fetus is developed enough to survive outside of the womb.
Homosexuality: moral aberration or genetically determined? Genetically determined, usually. But it is not a moral aberration.
Taxation: robbery by government? God-ordained means of financing a God-ordained institution? Or the cost of the social contract? Cost of the social contract.
There are those who see their opinions and beliefs as facts. That is good in that these people are firm in their convictions but bad in the simple truth that their opinions are not facts. It would do us all some good to openly and honestly consider the opinions of those that we disagree with and have the humility to recognize that their opinions could be “right.”
Currently Watching
Title: Alias Season 5 (Amazon, Wikipedia, Alias-TV.com)
As I mentioned in my previous Currently Watching post, I have been obsessively watching the show Alias. Well yesterday I finished watching the fifth and final season and I must say that the series finale was one of the most satisfying that I have ever seen.
In this season Sydney and co. must deal with the death of a close friend, some new recruits to their black ops CIA group, betrayal, and a new international terrorist organization that stretches into the some of the most powerful governmental and financial organizations in the world. This season brought the show back to the more over-reaching story arch that we saw in seasons 1 – 3 (in season 4 there was still all overall arch for the season but it was not as prevalent as in the other seasons). Sadly this season was the shows least successful ratings wise. This was not a show that you could casually watch and that may have been part of the problem for it not gaining the level of success that it should have (even though shows like 24 and Lost have proven that you can have these types of shows be successful). Despite its lower ratings, season 5 was excellent and a perfect bookend to a tremendous series. And as I mentioned before the shows ending was so incredibly satisfying that it could honestly be the best series finale that I have ever seen.
If you like spy movies/shows and missed Alias the first time around, I highly recommend picking up all five seasons on DVD. But be warned…once you start watching it is nearly impossible to stop (even if you’ve see the series before). The show is just that darned good.
As I mentioned in my previous Currently Watching post, I have been obsessively watching the show Alias. Well yesterday I finished watching the fifth and final season and I must say that the series finale was one of the most satisfying that I have ever seen.
In this season Sydney and co. must deal with the death of a close friend, some new recruits to their black ops CIA group, betrayal, and a new international terrorist organization that stretches into the some of the most powerful governmental and financial organizations in the world. This season brought the show back to the more over-reaching story arch that we saw in seasons 1 – 3 (in season 4 there was still all overall arch for the season but it was not as prevalent as in the other seasons). Sadly this season was the shows least successful ratings wise. This was not a show that you could casually watch and that may have been part of the problem for it not gaining the level of success that it should have (even though shows like 24 and Lost have proven that you can have these types of shows be successful). Despite its lower ratings, season 5 was excellent and a perfect bookend to a tremendous series. And as I mentioned before the shows ending was so incredibly satisfying that it could honestly be the best series finale that I have ever seen.
If you like spy movies/shows and missed Alias the first time around, I highly recommend picking up all five seasons on DVD. But be warned…once you start watching it is nearly impossible to stop (even if you’ve see the series before). The show is just that darned good.
Currently Listening
Today I’m letting the computer pick the music, but I’ve limited its choices to bands/artists that I would play if I worked at or owned a station like The Spy.
1. “Double Negative” by Twenty Minutes to Vegas (from Hit It)
2. “Sweet Jane” by Lou Reed (from Walk on the Wide Side: The Best of Lou Reed)
3. “I Am a Tree” by Guided By Voices (from The Best of Guided By Voices: Human Amusements at Hourly Rates)
4. “Instrumental” by Hot Water Music (from A Flight and a Crash)
5. “Wasted Life” by Face To Face (from Face To Face / Dropkick Murphys [Split EP])
6. “You’re Sicko Dad” by The Pavers (from Local 1500)
7. “Power Doesn’t Run on Nothing” by The Thermals (from The Body, the Blood, the Machine)
8. “Concrete Times” by Down By Law (from The Last of the Sharpshooters)
9. “Dorothy” by Alkaline Trio (from This Addiction)
10. “Mrs. Actually” by The Like (from Are You Thinking What I’m Thinking?)
11. “So Hungry” by Ben Lee (from Ripe)
12. “I’m Drunk” by Mojo Nixon (from Gadzooks: The Homemade Bootleg)
13. “We Did It When We Were Young” by The Gaslight Anthem (from American Slang)
14. “Dead Walking” by The Staggers (from One Heartbeat Away from Hell)
15. “Learo, You’re a Hole” by Archers of Loaf (from Icky Mettle)
1. “Double Negative” by Twenty Minutes to Vegas (from Hit It)
2. “Sweet Jane” by Lou Reed (from Walk on the Wide Side: The Best of Lou Reed)
3. “I Am a Tree” by Guided By Voices (from The Best of Guided By Voices: Human Amusements at Hourly Rates)
4. “Instrumental” by Hot Water Music (from A Flight and a Crash)
5. “Wasted Life” by Face To Face (from Face To Face / Dropkick Murphys [Split EP])
6. “You’re Sicko Dad” by The Pavers (from Local 1500)
7. “Power Doesn’t Run on Nothing” by The Thermals (from The Body, the Blood, the Machine)
8. “Concrete Times” by Down By Law (from The Last of the Sharpshooters)
9. “Dorothy” by Alkaline Trio (from This Addiction)
10. “Mrs. Actually” by The Like (from Are You Thinking What I’m Thinking?)
11. “So Hungry” by Ben Lee (from Ripe)
12. “I’m Drunk” by Mojo Nixon (from Gadzooks: The Homemade Bootleg)
13. “We Did It When We Were Young” by The Gaslight Anthem (from American Slang)
14. “Dead Walking” by The Staggers (from One Heartbeat Away from Hell)
15. “Learo, You’re a Hole” by Archers of Loaf (from Icky Mettle)
Saturday, June 26, 2010
JBTV with Dead To Me and Teenage Bottlerocket
The latest episode of JBTV is online and includes interviews and live performances from Dead To Me, Teenage Bottlerocket, and others.
Thanks to PunkNews.org forthe find.
Thanks to PunkNews.org forthe find.
Video of the Day
"Punk Guy" by NOFX
The lyrics to this song are hilarious. On NOFX's live album I Heard They Suck Live, the final lyric to the song was amended to "He should have been on the cover of Maximum Rock 'n' Roll." I'm not a bit fan of this band but they have a few gems.
The lyrics to this song are hilarious. On NOFX's live album I Heard They Suck Live, the final lyric to the song was amended to "He should have been on the cover of Maximum Rock 'n' Roll." I'm not a bit fan of this band but they have a few gems.
Friday, June 25, 2010
When Former Teen Idols Collide in a Battle to the Death
Tune in to SyFy’s new original movie Mega Python vs. Gatoroid staring Tiffany and Debbie Gibson to see who is left standing.
Currently Listening
1. “Shake” by Otis Redding (from The Definitive Soul Collection Disc 2)
2. “I Can’t Turn You Loose” by Otis Redding (from The Definitive Soul Collection Disc 1)
3. “Try a Little Tenderness” by The Commitments (from The Commitments)
4. “In the Midnight Hour” by The Commitments (from The Commitments)
5. “Soul Man by Sam & Dave (from The Definitive Soul Collection Disc 2)
6. “I Got Everything I Need” by Sam & Dave (from The Definitive Soul Collection Disc 1)
7. “Stag-O-Lee” by Wilson Pickett (from The Definitive Soul Collection Disc 1)
8. “Land of 1000 Dances” by Wilson Pickett (from The Definitive Soul Collection Disc 1)
9. “Shake a Tail Feather” by Ray Charles & The Blues Brothers (from The Blues Brothers [Original Soundtrack])
10. “Everybody Needs Somebody to Love” by The Blues Brothers (from The Blues Brothers [Original Soundtrack])
2. “I Can’t Turn You Loose” by Otis Redding (from The Definitive Soul Collection Disc 1)
3. “Try a Little Tenderness” by The Commitments (from The Commitments)
4. “In the Midnight Hour” by The Commitments (from The Commitments)
5. “Soul Man by Sam & Dave (from The Definitive Soul Collection Disc 2)
6. “I Got Everything I Need” by Sam & Dave (from The Definitive Soul Collection Disc 1)
7. “Stag-O-Lee” by Wilson Pickett (from The Definitive Soul Collection Disc 1)
8. “Land of 1000 Dances” by Wilson Pickett (from The Definitive Soul Collection Disc 1)
9. “Shake a Tail Feather” by Ray Charles & The Blues Brothers (from The Blues Brothers [Original Soundtrack])
10. “Everybody Needs Somebody to Love” by The Blues Brothers (from The Blues Brothers [Original Soundtrack])
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Favorite Song by the Album: U2
For this edition of Favorite Song by the Album I’ve decided to cover the band that changed my life, U2. Now there are some U2 records that I do not know very well and a couple that I have never owned. For this post I will be skipping those releases (Zooropa, Pop, and No Line on the Horizon).
Album: Boy
Favorite Song: “The Electric Co.”
-- Other favorites on this album include “Out of Control,” “I Will Follow,” and “Stories for Boys.”
Album: October
Favorite Song: “Gloria”
Album: War
Favorite Song: “40”
-- I want this song played at my funeral.
Album: The Unforgettable Fire
Favorite Song: “Bad”
-- Picking a favorite song for this album is really hard because I think that The Unforgettable Fire is one of their best and a true classic. Other favorites include “MLK,” “A Sort of Homecoming,” and “Pride (In the Name of Love).”
Album: The Joshua Tree
Favorite Song: “In God’s Country”
-- Like with The Unforgettable Fire, picking a favorite song for The Joshua Tree is extremely hard because honestly the album is perfect. Other favorites include “Running to Stand Still,” “With or Without You,” “Red Hill Mining Town,” “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For,” and “One Tree Hill.”
Album: Rattle & Hum
Favorite Song: “All I Want Is You”
-- Rattle & Hum is the record that changed my life so it holds a special place in my heart. Other favorites include “Hawkmoon 269,” “God, Pt. 2,” and the live versions of “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For,” and “Pride (In the Name of Love).”
Album: Achtung Baby
Favorite Song: “Whose Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses”
-- I have to admit that there is a lyric in this song that drives me crazy but this is the song that was playing when my wife and I had our first dance so it is special to me. I’m also quite fond of “The Fly” and “Ultra Violet (Light My Way)”
Album: All That You Can’t Leave Behind
Favorite Song: “Beautiful Day”
-- I did not get into this album when it came out, so I am relatively new to it. Other favorites include “Walk On” and “Elevation.”
Album: How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb
Favorite Song: “All Because of You”
-- This was the first new U2 album I bought since the release of Achtung Baby in 1991 (How to Dismantle… was released in 2004). “Vertigo” and “City of Blinding Lights” are also great songs.
Album: Boy
Favorite Song: “The Electric Co.”
-- Other favorites on this album include “Out of Control,” “I Will Follow,” and “Stories for Boys.”
Album: October
Favorite Song: “Gloria”
Album: War
Favorite Song: “40”
-- I want this song played at my funeral.
Album: The Unforgettable Fire
Favorite Song: “Bad”
-- Picking a favorite song for this album is really hard because I think that The Unforgettable Fire is one of their best and a true classic. Other favorites include “MLK,” “A Sort of Homecoming,” and “Pride (In the Name of Love).”
Album: The Joshua Tree
Favorite Song: “In God’s Country”
-- Like with The Unforgettable Fire, picking a favorite song for The Joshua Tree is extremely hard because honestly the album is perfect. Other favorites include “Running to Stand Still,” “With or Without You,” “Red Hill Mining Town,” “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For,” and “One Tree Hill.”
Album: Rattle & Hum
Favorite Song: “All I Want Is You”
-- Rattle & Hum is the record that changed my life so it holds a special place in my heart. Other favorites include “Hawkmoon 269,” “God, Pt. 2,” and the live versions of “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For,” and “Pride (In the Name of Love).”
Album: Achtung Baby
Favorite Song: “Whose Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses”
-- I have to admit that there is a lyric in this song that drives me crazy but this is the song that was playing when my wife and I had our first dance so it is special to me. I’m also quite fond of “The Fly” and “Ultra Violet (Light My Way)”
Album: All That You Can’t Leave Behind
Favorite Song: “Beautiful Day”
-- I did not get into this album when it came out, so I am relatively new to it. Other favorites include “Walk On” and “Elevation.”
Album: How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb
Favorite Song: “All Because of You”
-- This was the first new U2 album I bought since the release of Achtung Baby in 1991 (How to Dismantle… was released in 2004). “Vertigo” and “City of Blinding Lights” are also great songs.
Currently Listening
1. “The Diamond Church Street Choir” by The Gaslight Anthem (from American Slang)
2. “Stay Lucky” by The Gaslight Anthem (from American Slang)
3. “Monsters” by Armchair Martian (from Who Wants to Play Bass)
4. “Give In” by Armchair Martian (from Xenophobe)
5. “Fields of Athenry” by Dropkick Murphys (from Blackout)
6. “Vices and Virtues” by Dropkick Murphys (from The Meanest of Times)
7. “When All Else Fails” by The GC5 (from Never Bet the Devil Your Head)
8. “A Sheep in Wolf’s Clothing” by The GC5 (from Kisses From Hanoi / Horseshoes & Handgrenades)
9. “Porch” by Pearl Jam (from Ten)
10. “Leash” by Pearl Jam (from Vs.)
2. “Stay Lucky” by The Gaslight Anthem (from American Slang)
3. “Monsters” by Armchair Martian (from Who Wants to Play Bass)
4. “Give In” by Armchair Martian (from Xenophobe)
5. “Fields of Athenry” by Dropkick Murphys (from Blackout)
6. “Vices and Virtues” by Dropkick Murphys (from The Meanest of Times)
7. “When All Else Fails” by The GC5 (from Never Bet the Devil Your Head)
8. “A Sheep in Wolf’s Clothing” by The GC5 (from Kisses From Hanoi / Horseshoes & Handgrenades)
9. “Porch” by Pearl Jam (from Ten)
10. “Leash” by Pearl Jam (from Vs.)
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Hot Water Music to Record New Album
PunkNews.org is reporting that emo / post hardcore heroes Hot Water Music are planning on recording a new record.
I’m fairly new to Hot Water Music, but what I have heard has been fantastic. I’m looking forward to getting this CD when it’s released.
I’m fairly new to Hot Water Music, but what I have heard has been fantastic. I’m looking forward to getting this CD when it’s released.
Talking to a Brick Wall
Last night I had a long talk with my boss and man-o-man was it a frustrating experience. In a lot of ways talking to the man is like talking to a brick wall. He may acknowledge a point that you make but he will immediately follow it up with a “but” and then deflect everything back on to the employee. At one point he made the argument “why should the company do anything for you when you’ve done nothing but show up and take a paycheck.” Admittedly I had no response. This was a point that I had never considered. From the non-human, number crunching point of view of the company I can see where this would make sense. But in a lot of ways that drives home that point that I was trying to make and that, I suspect, was completely missed.
My biggest complaint that I have with my boss is that he is a dick. He treats me and others like crap. He blows this off by saying it is all done in humor and that most people know that he is joking (he also likes to constantly mention that I am the only one who seems to have a problem with him, yet I hear from lots of other employees a completely different story). And to be fair, I do give the man a fair amount of guff. Also the fact that I am the master of self deprecating humor makes him think that it is okay to constantly make fun of me (I had a friend once who also held that opinion…we’re not friends anymore but that’s another story). All of this having been said, it doesn’t change the fact that he has an attitude and air of “why are you bothering me” when answering peoples questions.
The entire reason why we had the “talk” last night was because he came up to me at one point making some kind of joke and I just looked at him and said “just one more for my list to talk to (the site director) about.” At the point my boss got serious and eventually told me to come see him after my call. I’m not sure why I said anything or if I would have actually gone to the site director. One reason for my reluctance is the fact that I know, know for a fact, that when it comes down between me and my boss, my boss will win. I am not a model employee. My attendance is terrible. In the last month I have been written up for a plethora of different things that have been decided are really important metrics (and that I suck at). Also I am known for being boisterous in opposition to many policies. My boss on the other hand is stupidly efficient at his job and from a numbers/results stand point he is a model employee. So why in the world would the site director believe me over him?
During the discussion my boss said that (and I’m paraphrasing a bit here) if I would just “do what you’re told, you could become a great leader, for all of the right reasons.” I know that he meant this as a compliment, saving that he thinks that I have the ability to go far in this company if I wanted to, but that I just need to sit down and play by their rules to do it. The problem is though, that I don’t at all believe in what this company is doing. So in order to do what my boss thinks that I should do, I would have to truly compromise things that I believe in and that is something that I just cannot do. I can’t make sacrifices for an organization that is as unethical and immoral as this one is. It’s hard enough for me to continue to work there.
The real problem is that I actually care. I care about the people around me. I care about the customers (even though many of them piss me off to no end). I actually want to help people and that is not my job. Even though they claim that my job is to provide excellent customer service for the customers of the company’s client (I work for an outsourcing company), but in reality my job is to blindly follow the policies and procedures as laid out by the client. We are often reminded that our customer isn’t the person on the phone but the client company. I’m sorry but I just can’t think like that. I’m going to do my best to help the people that I’m in contact with and if that goes against the policy or script then oh well.
Interestingly, while I hated working for Sprint and AOL, I didn’t have the deep seated loathing that I do for my current employer. This job has honestly taken a toll on me, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically. Granted I am a very sensitive person and tend to take everything personally, but that doesn’t change the fact that the business practices of this company, and the outsourcing industry in general, are borderline evil. Outsourcing is nothing more than a way for a company to treat employees like serfs without feeling guilty about it. It is immoral, unethical, and just plain wrong.
So for the moment I’m going to try and do my best to perform to the acceptable levels while looking for something else. I need to find a job where helping people actually matters. If nothing else though, my talk last night just showed me, yet again, that my opinion and feelings don’t matter to this company because I am just part of a never-ending line of employees that get chewed up and spit out by this job.
My biggest complaint that I have with my boss is that he is a dick. He treats me and others like crap. He blows this off by saying it is all done in humor and that most people know that he is joking (he also likes to constantly mention that I am the only one who seems to have a problem with him, yet I hear from lots of other employees a completely different story). And to be fair, I do give the man a fair amount of guff. Also the fact that I am the master of self deprecating humor makes him think that it is okay to constantly make fun of me (I had a friend once who also held that opinion…we’re not friends anymore but that’s another story). All of this having been said, it doesn’t change the fact that he has an attitude and air of “why are you bothering me” when answering peoples questions.
The entire reason why we had the “talk” last night was because he came up to me at one point making some kind of joke and I just looked at him and said “just one more for my list to talk to (the site director) about.” At the point my boss got serious and eventually told me to come see him after my call. I’m not sure why I said anything or if I would have actually gone to the site director. One reason for my reluctance is the fact that I know, know for a fact, that when it comes down between me and my boss, my boss will win. I am not a model employee. My attendance is terrible. In the last month I have been written up for a plethora of different things that have been decided are really important metrics (and that I suck at). Also I am known for being boisterous in opposition to many policies. My boss on the other hand is stupidly efficient at his job and from a numbers/results stand point he is a model employee. So why in the world would the site director believe me over him?
During the discussion my boss said that (and I’m paraphrasing a bit here) if I would just “do what you’re told, you could become a great leader, for all of the right reasons.” I know that he meant this as a compliment, saving that he thinks that I have the ability to go far in this company if I wanted to, but that I just need to sit down and play by their rules to do it. The problem is though, that I don’t at all believe in what this company is doing. So in order to do what my boss thinks that I should do, I would have to truly compromise things that I believe in and that is something that I just cannot do. I can’t make sacrifices for an organization that is as unethical and immoral as this one is. It’s hard enough for me to continue to work there.
The real problem is that I actually care. I care about the people around me. I care about the customers (even though many of them piss me off to no end). I actually want to help people and that is not my job. Even though they claim that my job is to provide excellent customer service for the customers of the company’s client (I work for an outsourcing company), but in reality my job is to blindly follow the policies and procedures as laid out by the client. We are often reminded that our customer isn’t the person on the phone but the client company. I’m sorry but I just can’t think like that. I’m going to do my best to help the people that I’m in contact with and if that goes against the policy or script then oh well.
Interestingly, while I hated working for Sprint and AOL, I didn’t have the deep seated loathing that I do for my current employer. This job has honestly taken a toll on me, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically. Granted I am a very sensitive person and tend to take everything personally, but that doesn’t change the fact that the business practices of this company, and the outsourcing industry in general, are borderline evil. Outsourcing is nothing more than a way for a company to treat employees like serfs without feeling guilty about it. It is immoral, unethical, and just plain wrong.
So for the moment I’m going to try and do my best to perform to the acceptable levels while looking for something else. I need to find a job where helping people actually matters. If nothing else though, my talk last night just showed me, yet again, that my opinion and feelings don’t matter to this company because I am just part of a never-ending line of employees that get chewed up and spit out by this job.
Swingin’ Utters on Tour with The Copyrights
PunkNews.org is reporting that the Swingin’ Utters are hitting the road with The Copyrights. Unfortunately they aren’t coming anywhere near OKC. This really sucks because these are two bands that I would really love to see live (especially the Utters).
Currently Listening
Today we’re doing songs from bands that are related to the Swingin’ Utters.
1. “Politician” by Swingin’ Utters (from More Scared)
2. “Scales” by Re-Volts (from Re-Volts)
3. “Next Generation” by One Man Army (from Rumors and Headlines)
4. “Natural Woman” by Me First & the Gimme Gimmes)
5. “Teen Idol Eyes” by Swingin’ Utters (from Swingin’ Utters)
6. “Like Jack Dalrymple” by Filthy Thieving Bastards (from My Pappy Was a Pistol)
7. “My Marina and Remote Lakes” by Druglords of the Avenues (from Sing Songs)
8. “Don’t Wanna” by Dead To Me (from Little Brother)
9. “Rainbow Connection” by Me First & the Gimme Gimmes (from Are a Drag)
10. “No Eager Men” by Swingin’ Utters (from The Streets of San Francisco)
1. “Politician” by Swingin’ Utters (from More Scared)
2. “Scales” by Re-Volts (from Re-Volts)
3. “Next Generation” by One Man Army (from Rumors and Headlines)
4. “Natural Woman” by Me First & the Gimme Gimmes)
5. “Teen Idol Eyes” by Swingin’ Utters (from Swingin’ Utters)
6. “Like Jack Dalrymple” by Filthy Thieving Bastards (from My Pappy Was a Pistol)
7. “My Marina and Remote Lakes” by Druglords of the Avenues (from Sing Songs)
8. “Don’t Wanna” by Dead To Me (from Little Brother)
9. “Rainbow Connection” by Me First & the Gimme Gimmes (from Are a Drag)
10. “No Eager Men” by Swingin’ Utters (from The Streets of San Francisco)
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
10 Questions with State Representative Candidate Amy Corley
Amy Corley is running as the Democrat in the race for the District 53 seat in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. She is running against the Republican incumbent Randy Terrill.
For more information on Amy Corley and her campaign, check out her official campaign website.
Dave: What made you decide to run for the State House of Representatives?
Amy Corley: I took a class called Partners in Policymaking in 2000 and realized I was not doing my part. I wasted alot of time complaining why somebody doesn't do something about this or that. I finally got my aha moment when I realized I should start with the person in the mirror.
Dave: District 53 is pretty solidly Republican. In fact the district’s current Representative, Randy Terrill, has won the seat easily in the last three election cycles. What makes you think that you have a better chance against Terrill than his previous Democratic opponent?
Amy: I have faith. When I knock on the voters doors and ask for their support, they see that. They believe in me. Only I know what those voters are telling me. I ran in 2000 against a 16 year Repub incumbent named Robert Worthen. Some people even laughed at me and many of them said I could not get more than 25 percent of the vote. I ended up getting 49.8% of the vote. If only I would have had the faith then that I do now, I would have won. You haven't met me yet. If you ever do, you will see it. It was meant to be for me to be working in my community. I can do alot of good at the Capitol. I stay focused on this message and I listen to everyone who talks to me. This is why I know I will win. FYI in my precinct now the numbers are even in registered Republicans and Democrats. There is actually a significant increase in Independent voters. I am honest and I do not participate in any wrongdoing or politically corrupt activities.
Dave: If elected, what would your top three to five priorities be as a member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives?
Amy: New Jobs and the Economy: Education: Improving the quality of care for our aging Oklahomans and people with disabilities including our most vulnerable Oklahomans: Infrastructure:
Dave: What qualifications and ideas would you bring to the State House?
Amy: I don't profess to be a know it all but I am quite competent in doing research when I don't have the answers. I have life experiences that have taught me well. My work ethic is probably one of the toughest that most people will ever witness. I believe you get back what you put in it. I have a photographic memory for phone numbers and anything I read. No kidding. This is actually a gift that comes in very handy. I would venture to guess I can remember what is in a bill better than any legislator we have because of this gift. If you visit my website and click on the accolades link, you will see more of my experience.
Dave: This is a question about energy. On your website, you state the following – “I encourage all people to look to natural resources for energy. Oklahoma is the prime location for wind energy. We need to compete more aggressively in the wind energy arena. This would bring quality jobs and grow strong communities in Oklahoma.” What policies would you promote to bring more wind energy into Oklahoma?
Amy: I would support mandates requiring the State of Oklahoma get at least 30% of their power from green energy by 2015. Wind energy is the best way to go. If we had this mandate, investors from all over the world would flock here to build these windfarms. These windfarms will create jobs of all kinds to Oklahoma such as welding, steel, engineering jobs, clerical, management, financial, heavy equipment operators and obviously the maintenance there of. Cities and counties would benefit from the industrial or commercial zoning that must be done. The site would also need to be cleared as an environmentally safe site. The only environmental issues related to wind farms in Oklahoma right now are the lesser prairie chicken and the lizard. In some states the barn owl has been added to this list but not in Oklahoma. These windfarms bring in huge tax revenues which have then poured over into the local schools and police departments.
The typical minimum wage for jobs in the wind energy is $40,000.00 annually which is a good salary. I would like to see Oklahoma build jobs around wind energy instead of building jobs around Federal, State, County and Local governments. Jobs you would not normally think about are tied to wind energy. Even the local grocery stores benefit in small towns where wind energy farms have been developed. This would also put Oklahoma on the front row of supporting the infrastructure of the Smart Grid. Texas and Kansas are wise to this and there is absolutely no reason why Oklahoma cannot cash in on this huge resource. I believe the Smart Grid is the most efficient and clean way to get energy to all our communities from the wind farm.
Dave: This is a two-part question. 1) One thing that Democrats get criticized about in the media is their supposed lack of core values and beliefs. What are your core values and beliefs? 2) Why are you a Democrat?
Amy: I am certainly not lacking in core values. Republicans do not get to define my values unless they have personally ask me about my values, they would only be making an assumption. I am a strict mother. My 16 year old daughter has never been on a date and I don't plan to let her until her education is finished. That is my philosophy. She attends Karate 5 hours per week and band practice 6 hours per week. She is required to do volunteer work in the community 10 hours per week. She has chores. She must do well in school. She cannot go to the mall without me.I use this philoshy with all my children. I have been married for 19 years. I don't believe children benefit when a home is seperated by divorce. I hear people all the time say "well I wasn't happy" so I divorced my spouse. My response to that is you should have thought about that before you had children. I think it is selfish and irresponsible for a parent to put their own happiness ahead of their children. I have a couple of friends who leave their kids at my house on weekends so they can go to happy hour. I lecture them constantly about this behavior. It is unacceptable. I do care for their children though because it makes me happy to know the children are fed and cared for while their parent is being a lazy and irresponsible parent. I cannot tolerate laziness. I teach my children there is a consequence for every choice they make so make good ones. Leaders should practice this theory too. I lived in the foster homes until I turned 18 so I am overboard on the family policy at my house. You are a member of my family and you will be loved. You will also do your best and be ethical in everything you do. You will not rest until the work is done. I would say my core values are just as good if not better than any Republican I have ever met. The second part of your question: I am a Democrat because I read both party platforms when I registered to vote. The Democrat Platform aligned with my own beliefs. I do not wear blind folds though. I see all sides and support the freedom to belong to the party of your choice.
Dave: This is a question about education. On your website you stated – “We must be willing to accept criticism in how we provide education. Criticism is similar to a report card. When we have a failing classroom we must all demand a change. Parents have the power to change school policies. Yes it involves alot of work and tireless effort but our children are counting on us.” How do you think the public school system should be reformed?
Amy: Oklahoma is 2nd in the nation for the amount of administration we have per student ratio yet we are 40 something for our quality of education. I would begin with eliminating 30 percent of administration across the board. I would place a mortorium on Superintendent pay raises. I would invest in putting an IPAD in every desk instead of our outdated textbooks. This really would improve the quality of education in that student's access to learning materials would be unlimited. We have got to stop using old and outdated teaching methodologies because it is holding back our children's learning. My children actually got "dumbed down" when they started school. The PASS skills required in Oklahomas first grade are skills my children had acquired before starting school, yet they had to work on them all year long when they started school. They were bored to tears. If we had more technology in the classrooms, we could create more opportunities for individualized learning to meet the needs of every child in the classroom. Gone are the days of using one curriculum to teach 20 kids. No 20 kids learn the same. They do not all function at the same levels. This is why we must improve our teaching methodologies to meet the needs of our younger generations. In answering your question: I would change the way we teach in Oklahoma and update it with the latest proven methodologies of teaching. I would be selective in the quality of teachers we hire. If a teacher is not willing to go the extra mile as a teacher, they should seek employment where quality does not matter because we must give our children the best education we can.
Dave: What are your stances on some of the big national issues like the economy, the wars in Iraq & on terror, illegal immigration, and gay marriage? (Note: I am completely aware that many of these issues are not normally addressed by the state Congress but I also know that there are voters who will ask these very same questions.)
Amy: We reap what we sow. We are responsible for the economy and the failures of our economy. Most people do not like to hear this or want to accept responsibility for this but we did it to ourselves. We must fix it and we can. It will require fiscal responsibility and accountability. -----Part 2 of question: I hope we can end the war in Iraq soon. (I am not sold on what we are fighting for.) Our men and women in the service are not being taken care of. They get nothing when they return home from our system which is suppose to provide mental health treatment and prosthetic devices. It is truly sad how we treat our veterans. ---Part 3 of question: I understand there are two signs at the border. One says KEEP OUT and the other says HELP WANTED. We need to determine which one we will really enforce and then do it. I do not support hatred against undocumented workers. I would jump the border too if my family was hungry and I saw the help wanted signs in the USA. ---Part 4 of question: Oklahomans have voted that marriage is between a man and a women. I will support this constitutional amendment.
Dave: If elected and you were working on the budget and had to make decisions about what programs/spending to cut or not cut. How would you decide what should be cut and what shouldn’t? I know that without specifics this is a hard question to answer, but in general how what would your budgetary philosophy be? How would you approach these types of issues?
Amy: I would NOT cut the budgets that affect Oklahomans most vulnerable people. You see we are living in a replaceable society. Things have no value anymore. For instance when you lose your cell phone, don't worry get a new one. When your children lose their Nintendo DS parents replace it. When the family dog dies, you get a new one. We get caught up in replacing everything. People are not replaceable. We must let them know that by the way we treat them. We must look after our aging and people with disabilities and mental illnesses. My Bible says I will be judged by my works. This alone is the reason I will not support cutting any services to these particular groups. I will work hardest for these groups of people. We lose our sense of human values when we turn our backs on these people. I recently adopted a 17 year old who is deaf and cannot talk. She has an intellectual disability. She is a handful. I would not change my decision to take her into my home for nothing though. She teaches me priceless lessons everyday. I have grown to love her and learn from her. She might otherwise be homeless or in an institution if our paths had not crossed. Cutting agency budgets is a tough call. People have to come first though. So that's my answer.
Dave: Any final thoughts?
Amy: My final thoughts: I want to learn. I want to serve. I want to make a difference. I want people to know that I care about what happens to them.
For more information on Amy Corley and her campaign, check out her official campaign website.
Dave: What made you decide to run for the State House of Representatives?
Amy Corley: I took a class called Partners in Policymaking in 2000 and realized I was not doing my part. I wasted alot of time complaining why somebody doesn't do something about this or that. I finally got my aha moment when I realized I should start with the person in the mirror.
Dave: District 53 is pretty solidly Republican. In fact the district’s current Representative, Randy Terrill, has won the seat easily in the last three election cycles. What makes you think that you have a better chance against Terrill than his previous Democratic opponent?
Amy: I have faith. When I knock on the voters doors and ask for their support, they see that. They believe in me. Only I know what those voters are telling me. I ran in 2000 against a 16 year Repub incumbent named Robert Worthen. Some people even laughed at me and many of them said I could not get more than 25 percent of the vote. I ended up getting 49.8% of the vote. If only I would have had the faith then that I do now, I would have won. You haven't met me yet. If you ever do, you will see it. It was meant to be for me to be working in my community. I can do alot of good at the Capitol. I stay focused on this message and I listen to everyone who talks to me. This is why I know I will win. FYI in my precinct now the numbers are even in registered Republicans and Democrats. There is actually a significant increase in Independent voters. I am honest and I do not participate in any wrongdoing or politically corrupt activities.
Dave: If elected, what would your top three to five priorities be as a member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives?
Amy: New Jobs and the Economy: Education: Improving the quality of care for our aging Oklahomans and people with disabilities including our most vulnerable Oklahomans: Infrastructure:
Dave: What qualifications and ideas would you bring to the State House?
Amy: I don't profess to be a know it all but I am quite competent in doing research when I don't have the answers. I have life experiences that have taught me well. My work ethic is probably one of the toughest that most people will ever witness. I believe you get back what you put in it. I have a photographic memory for phone numbers and anything I read. No kidding. This is actually a gift that comes in very handy. I would venture to guess I can remember what is in a bill better than any legislator we have because of this gift. If you visit my website and click on the accolades link, you will see more of my experience.
Dave: This is a question about energy. On your website, you state the following – “I encourage all people to look to natural resources for energy. Oklahoma is the prime location for wind energy. We need to compete more aggressively in the wind energy arena. This would bring quality jobs and grow strong communities in Oklahoma.” What policies would you promote to bring more wind energy into Oklahoma?
Amy: I would support mandates requiring the State of Oklahoma get at least 30% of their power from green energy by 2015. Wind energy is the best way to go. If we had this mandate, investors from all over the world would flock here to build these windfarms. These windfarms will create jobs of all kinds to Oklahoma such as welding, steel, engineering jobs, clerical, management, financial, heavy equipment operators and obviously the maintenance there of. Cities and counties would benefit from the industrial or commercial zoning that must be done. The site would also need to be cleared as an environmentally safe site. The only environmental issues related to wind farms in Oklahoma right now are the lesser prairie chicken and the lizard. In some states the barn owl has been added to this list but not in Oklahoma. These windfarms bring in huge tax revenues which have then poured over into the local schools and police departments.
The typical minimum wage for jobs in the wind energy is $40,000.00 annually which is a good salary. I would like to see Oklahoma build jobs around wind energy instead of building jobs around Federal, State, County and Local governments. Jobs you would not normally think about are tied to wind energy. Even the local grocery stores benefit in small towns where wind energy farms have been developed. This would also put Oklahoma on the front row of supporting the infrastructure of the Smart Grid. Texas and Kansas are wise to this and there is absolutely no reason why Oklahoma cannot cash in on this huge resource. I believe the Smart Grid is the most efficient and clean way to get energy to all our communities from the wind farm.
Dave: This is a two-part question. 1) One thing that Democrats get criticized about in the media is their supposed lack of core values and beliefs. What are your core values and beliefs? 2) Why are you a Democrat?
Amy: I am certainly not lacking in core values. Republicans do not get to define my values unless they have personally ask me about my values, they would only be making an assumption. I am a strict mother. My 16 year old daughter has never been on a date and I don't plan to let her until her education is finished. That is my philosophy. She attends Karate 5 hours per week and band practice 6 hours per week. She is required to do volunteer work in the community 10 hours per week. She has chores. She must do well in school. She cannot go to the mall without me.I use this philoshy with all my children. I have been married for 19 years. I don't believe children benefit when a home is seperated by divorce. I hear people all the time say "well I wasn't happy" so I divorced my spouse. My response to that is you should have thought about that before you had children. I think it is selfish and irresponsible for a parent to put their own happiness ahead of their children. I have a couple of friends who leave their kids at my house on weekends so they can go to happy hour. I lecture them constantly about this behavior. It is unacceptable. I do care for their children though because it makes me happy to know the children are fed and cared for while their parent is being a lazy and irresponsible parent. I cannot tolerate laziness. I teach my children there is a consequence for every choice they make so make good ones. Leaders should practice this theory too. I lived in the foster homes until I turned 18 so I am overboard on the family policy at my house. You are a member of my family and you will be loved. You will also do your best and be ethical in everything you do. You will not rest until the work is done. I would say my core values are just as good if not better than any Republican I have ever met. The second part of your question: I am a Democrat because I read both party platforms when I registered to vote. The Democrat Platform aligned with my own beliefs. I do not wear blind folds though. I see all sides and support the freedom to belong to the party of your choice.
Dave: This is a question about education. On your website you stated – “We must be willing to accept criticism in how we provide education. Criticism is similar to a report card. When we have a failing classroom we must all demand a change. Parents have the power to change school policies. Yes it involves alot of work and tireless effort but our children are counting on us.” How do you think the public school system should be reformed?
Amy: Oklahoma is 2nd in the nation for the amount of administration we have per student ratio yet we are 40 something for our quality of education. I would begin with eliminating 30 percent of administration across the board. I would place a mortorium on Superintendent pay raises. I would invest in putting an IPAD in every desk instead of our outdated textbooks. This really would improve the quality of education in that student's access to learning materials would be unlimited. We have got to stop using old and outdated teaching methodologies because it is holding back our children's learning. My children actually got "dumbed down" when they started school. The PASS skills required in Oklahomas first grade are skills my children had acquired before starting school, yet they had to work on them all year long when they started school. They were bored to tears. If we had more technology in the classrooms, we could create more opportunities for individualized learning to meet the needs of every child in the classroom. Gone are the days of using one curriculum to teach 20 kids. No 20 kids learn the same. They do not all function at the same levels. This is why we must improve our teaching methodologies to meet the needs of our younger generations. In answering your question: I would change the way we teach in Oklahoma and update it with the latest proven methodologies of teaching. I would be selective in the quality of teachers we hire. If a teacher is not willing to go the extra mile as a teacher, they should seek employment where quality does not matter because we must give our children the best education we can.
Dave: What are your stances on some of the big national issues like the economy, the wars in Iraq & on terror, illegal immigration, and gay marriage? (Note: I am completely aware that many of these issues are not normally addressed by the state Congress but I also know that there are voters who will ask these very same questions.)
Amy: We reap what we sow. We are responsible for the economy and the failures of our economy. Most people do not like to hear this or want to accept responsibility for this but we did it to ourselves. We must fix it and we can. It will require fiscal responsibility and accountability. -----Part 2 of question: I hope we can end the war in Iraq soon. (I am not sold on what we are fighting for.) Our men and women in the service are not being taken care of. They get nothing when they return home from our system which is suppose to provide mental health treatment and prosthetic devices. It is truly sad how we treat our veterans. ---Part 3 of question: I understand there are two signs at the border. One says KEEP OUT and the other says HELP WANTED. We need to determine which one we will really enforce and then do it. I do not support hatred against undocumented workers. I would jump the border too if my family was hungry and I saw the help wanted signs in the USA. ---Part 4 of question: Oklahomans have voted that marriage is between a man and a women. I will support this constitutional amendment.
Dave: If elected and you were working on the budget and had to make decisions about what programs/spending to cut or not cut. How would you decide what should be cut and what shouldn’t? I know that without specifics this is a hard question to answer, but in general how what would your budgetary philosophy be? How would you approach these types of issues?
Amy: I would NOT cut the budgets that affect Oklahomans most vulnerable people. You see we are living in a replaceable society. Things have no value anymore. For instance when you lose your cell phone, don't worry get a new one. When your children lose their Nintendo DS parents replace it. When the family dog dies, you get a new one. We get caught up in replacing everything. People are not replaceable. We must let them know that by the way we treat them. We must look after our aging and people with disabilities and mental illnesses. My Bible says I will be judged by my works. This alone is the reason I will not support cutting any services to these particular groups. I will work hardest for these groups of people. We lose our sense of human values when we turn our backs on these people. I recently adopted a 17 year old who is deaf and cannot talk. She has an intellectual disability. She is a handful. I would not change my decision to take her into my home for nothing though. She teaches me priceless lessons everyday. I have grown to love her and learn from her. She might otherwise be homeless or in an institution if our paths had not crossed. Cutting agency budgets is a tough call. People have to come first though. So that's my answer.
Dave: Any final thoughts?
Amy: My final thoughts: I want to learn. I want to serve. I want to make a difference. I want people to know that I care about what happens to them.
Catcher in the Rye…
May finally hit the big screen. Too bad John Cusack is too old to play Holden Caulfield. He was my Holden when I read the book.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Is It a Bailout or Humanitarian Aid?
Steve at The Otter Limits had an interesting post this morning entitled A Bailout You Might Not Have Heard Of. The post linked to this story on CNN about Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s announcement of money that the US will be giving to aid the Palestinian refugees.
From the CNN story –
Steve had a different take.
From his post –
Are there people in this country who need help? Absolutely. Can we afford to provide this aid? Probably not. Is it wrong to do so, morally or ethically? No, in fact it is very much the right thing to do. Obviously there are very valid concerns as to whether or not this is a prudent course of action considering the current state of the American economy, but I just don’t see how this could be considered at all similar to the bailouts given to GM, AIG, etc.
What am I missing?
From the CNN story –
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced the United States will give $60 million to the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for help to Palestinian refugees on Friday, a move designed to improve the lives of 4.7 million people.When I first heard reports of this story on the news over the weekend, I thought to myself “how are going to pay for that,” but beyond that though I really had no problems with the idea of sending money to help refugees.
The aid comes as the United States and the international community struggle to provide increased aid to Palestinians living in Gaza. In May, in a deadly clash aboard a flotilla carrying aid to Gaza, Israeli forces killed nine activists. Israel subsequently has said it will ease restrictions on aid going into Gaza but will not end its naval blockade.
The United States already is the largest single source of support for refugees and refugees and victims of conflict internationally, Clinton said, providing $1.7 billion last year, including $640 million for the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, or the UNHCR.
[...]
"We are all vulnerable no matter how comfortable our lives may appear to be," Clinton said. "But we too, around the world, those of us who enjoy the benefits of the life that we have built or inherited, we too are vulnerable to war and conflict, droughts and floods, environmental disasters as we've seen even in our own country."
Clinton said that many of the refugee problems cannot be solved simply with humanitarian aid.
"It's a question of better governance, more accountable governance, of political and diplomatic efforts, of reconciliation and peace, of the growth of democracies and economies." she said.
Steve had a different take.
From his post –
Most of the people I have talked to or heard speak of the bailouts certainly do not talk or respond favorable of them. Rightly so. It's unconstitutional and it is a waste of taxpayers money.Now I completely understand being worried about our government’s waste of our money. I also totally understand the outrage over the various different bailouts that have occurred in the last couple of years. But I have to ask, how is providing monetary aid to refugees a bailout? These are people who are in need, without a home, not some corporation that’s management decided to run into the ground thanks to piss poor business decisions. These are not at all the same thing.
However, how would you feel if you found out that there is another bailout on its way. And even worse, this time the money isn't even going staying in this country.
The federal government has decided that they are going to use $60 million of YOUR money to give to Palestinian refugees.
[...]
What's worse is that according to the article the United States spent over $1 billion last year internationally to refugees.
How's that for a big waste of money for another bailout?
Are there people in this country who need help? Absolutely. Can we afford to provide this aid? Probably not. Is it wrong to do so, morally or ethically? No, in fact it is very much the right thing to do. Obviously there are very valid concerns as to whether or not this is a prudent course of action considering the current state of the American economy, but I just don’t see how this could be considered at all similar to the bailouts given to GM, AIG, etc.
What am I missing?
Currently Listening
1. “Sustated” by Armchair Martian (from Who Wants to Play Bass)
2. “Boxer” by The Gaslight Anthem (from American Slang)
3. “Runner” by Re-Volts (from Re-Volts)
4. “Call in Sick” by Teenage Bottlerocket (from They Came from the Shadows)
5. “The Rockies” by Twenty Minutes to Vegas (from Hit It)
6. “One More Headache” by John Moreland & The Black Gold Band (from First Demo)
7. “Lead Poisoning” by Alkaline Trio (from This Addiction)
8. “On the Way Out” by The Copyrights (from Learn the Hard Wau)
9. “Druglords of the Avenues” by Druglords og the Avenues (from Sing Songs)
10. “Drug Lords of the Avenues” by Filthy Thieving Bastards (from My Pappy was a Pistol)
2. “Boxer” by The Gaslight Anthem (from American Slang)
3. “Runner” by Re-Volts (from Re-Volts)
4. “Call in Sick” by Teenage Bottlerocket (from They Came from the Shadows)
5. “The Rockies” by Twenty Minutes to Vegas (from Hit It)
6. “One More Headache” by John Moreland & The Black Gold Band (from First Demo)
7. “Lead Poisoning” by Alkaline Trio (from This Addiction)
8. “On the Way Out” by The Copyrights (from Learn the Hard Wau)
9. “Druglords of the Avenues” by Druglords og the Avenues (from Sing Songs)
10. “Drug Lords of the Avenues” by Filthy Thieving Bastards (from My Pappy was a Pistol)
Sunday, June 20, 2010
CD Review: American Slang
Title: American Slang (Amazon, Interpunk, Wikipedia)
Artist: The Gaslight Anthem (Official, MySpace, Wikipedia)
I’d never actually heard The Gaslight Anthem until last week when they were on NPR’s All Things Considered. The teaser for the segment described the band’s music as “working class soul.” Needless to say I was intrigued and hung out in my car to listen to the piece. And boy am I glad that I did.
American Slang is an album that at once sounds familiar yet is impossible to nail down to one specific sound or style. After my first listen, I heard hints and whispers of Bruce Springsteen, Otis Redding, The Clash, The Rolling Stones, Hot Water Music, Wilson Picket, and The Ramones. But that’s not all. There is a lot of New Jersey influence on this band and it is extremely evident in their music. I could be wrong, but I thought I could hear bits and pieces of Jersey bands like Those Unknown, the Hudson Falcons, and The Bouncing Souls.
If I had to pick one way to describe American Slang, other than rock ‘n’ roll, it would be alt soul. Based on a quick search on Google, it appears that the term alt soul isn’t used to describe a genre of music. So what exactly do I mean by alt soul? I would define alt soul as a mix of 60s style soul music (ala Otis Redding, Wilson Picket, Sam & Dave, James Brown, and Ray Charles) with punk rock. This is not the same as bands that have either mixed soul and ska (The Pietasters) or played traditional soul (The Inciters!) but have their roots in the punk scene. Alt soul is a style that mixes the influences to create something different, not at all unlike alt country, except that the influence stems from 60s soul instead of country.
One thing that American Slang oozes is the essence of Motown. Songs like “The Diamond Church Street Choir,” “Stay Lucky,” and “Boxer” could have easily been played right alongside “Mustang Sally” and “Soul Man.” There is an urgency and power to this music that really does remind me of the music of the 60s. The lyrics though are personal while capturing the same working class heart that Springsteen, The Clash, and Creedence Clearwater Revival captured so well. These songs are heartfelt, powerful, and catchy with huge sing-a-long choruses that are sure to keep you head nodding and feet taping along to the beat all summer long (it would be a musical crime if “Boxer” didn’t become a staple for summer 2010). If you are a fan of any of the artists mentioned above or just great music, then do yourself a favor and pick up American Slang.
Artist: The Gaslight Anthem (Official, MySpace, Wikipedia)
I’d never actually heard The Gaslight Anthem until last week when they were on NPR’s All Things Considered. The teaser for the segment described the band’s music as “working class soul.” Needless to say I was intrigued and hung out in my car to listen to the piece. And boy am I glad that I did.
American Slang is an album that at once sounds familiar yet is impossible to nail down to one specific sound or style. After my first listen, I heard hints and whispers of Bruce Springsteen, Otis Redding, The Clash, The Rolling Stones, Hot Water Music, Wilson Picket, and The Ramones. But that’s not all. There is a lot of New Jersey influence on this band and it is extremely evident in their music. I could be wrong, but I thought I could hear bits and pieces of Jersey bands like Those Unknown, the Hudson Falcons, and The Bouncing Souls.
If I had to pick one way to describe American Slang, other than rock ‘n’ roll, it would be alt soul. Based on a quick search on Google, it appears that the term alt soul isn’t used to describe a genre of music. So what exactly do I mean by alt soul? I would define alt soul as a mix of 60s style soul music (ala Otis Redding, Wilson Picket, Sam & Dave, James Brown, and Ray Charles) with punk rock. This is not the same as bands that have either mixed soul and ska (The Pietasters) or played traditional soul (The Inciters!) but have their roots in the punk scene. Alt soul is a style that mixes the influences to create something different, not at all unlike alt country, except that the influence stems from 60s soul instead of country.
One thing that American Slang oozes is the essence of Motown. Songs like “The Diamond Church Street Choir,” “Stay Lucky,” and “Boxer” could have easily been played right alongside “Mustang Sally” and “Soul Man.” There is an urgency and power to this music that really does remind me of the music of the 60s. The lyrics though are personal while capturing the same working class heart that Springsteen, The Clash, and Creedence Clearwater Revival captured so well. These songs are heartfelt, powerful, and catchy with huge sing-a-long choruses that are sure to keep you head nodding and feet taping along to the beat all summer long (it would be a musical crime if “Boxer” didn’t become a staple for summer 2010). If you are a fan of any of the artists mentioned above or just great music, then do yourself a favor and pick up American Slang.
Something Smells Fishy Here
Headline: Oklahoma state Rep. Randy Terrill got home loan during bankruptcy
From the story --
Randy Terrill is the State Representative for District 54. My district. Now I don’t know Terrill from Adam, and all of this could just be a big misunderstanding. The only time I’ve seen Terrill in person was once at my kids’ school. He was sitting at a table filling out some paperwork. My guess is that he has a child that will be attending the school. I thought about stopping and talking to him, but then I decided not to. He was doing what appeared to be personal business and didn’t need me or anyone else bugging him at the time. Yes, I believe that these folks deserve some privacy.
That all having been said…this looks really, REALLY bad for Terrill. With all of the press that he has gotten lately and the fact that he has said nothing about it, makes him appear guilty as sin. This doesn’t bode well for Terrill in an election year, especially one with such a strong, anti-incumbent feeling in the air. Two years ago, Terrill cake walked to re-election but this year he has a different opponent in Democrat Amy Corley.
My opinion of Terrill, as I’ve said before, is that he is a career politician in the making. Based on that observation alone, Terrill will not get my vote. The question is though, will the rest of District 53 make that same decision or will they pull the leaver for Terrill because of the R next to his name. I guess we’ll find out in November.
Thanks to Mike McCarville for the find.
From the story --
State Rep. Randy Terrill recently bought a new $223,000 house despite having an active personal bankruptcy, records show.
Terrill, R-Moore, was targeted in a political corruption investigation earlier this month.
Terrill and his wife bought the Moore house in April. They borrowed $218,528 from IBC Bank, according to Cleveland County records.
The Terrills' home loan was granted while their bankruptcy from 2005 remains open, records show. Lenders are often reluctant to grant home loans to people involved in bankruptcy proceedings.
[...]
Oklahoma County's district attorney is investigating whether Terrill, Rep. Mike Christian, R-Oklahoma City, Sen. Debbe Leftwich, D-Oklahoma City, and possibly other lawmakers violated their oaths of office by conspiring to get Leftwich a new state job so Christian could run for her Senate seat.
[...]
Since the corruption probe was announced, no one has answered the door during several visits reporters have made to the Terrill home in the 500 block of SW 30 Circle.
The house is brick with a three-car garage. It is in a new subdivision in Moore where many homes are still being built.
The Terrills still own a 1,300-square-foot house in the 600 block of SW 12 in Moore they bought for $25,500 in 2002. The home is now valued at $83,426, property records show.No one has answered the door there lately, either.
Terrill has listed the smaller home as his address on several public documents, including re-election paperwork filed this month with the state Election Board.
Randy Terrill is the State Representative for District 54. My district. Now I don’t know Terrill from Adam, and all of this could just be a big misunderstanding. The only time I’ve seen Terrill in person was once at my kids’ school. He was sitting at a table filling out some paperwork. My guess is that he has a child that will be attending the school. I thought about stopping and talking to him, but then I decided not to. He was doing what appeared to be personal business and didn’t need me or anyone else bugging him at the time. Yes, I believe that these folks deserve some privacy.
That all having been said…this looks really, REALLY bad for Terrill. With all of the press that he has gotten lately and the fact that he has said nothing about it, makes him appear guilty as sin. This doesn’t bode well for Terrill in an election year, especially one with such a strong, anti-incumbent feeling in the air. Two years ago, Terrill cake walked to re-election but this year he has a different opponent in Democrat Amy Corley.
My opinion of Terrill, as I’ve said before, is that he is a career politician in the making. Based on that observation alone, Terrill will not get my vote. The question is though, will the rest of District 53 make that same decision or will they pull the leaver for Terrill because of the R next to his name. I guess we’ll find out in November.
Thanks to Mike McCarville for the find.
Happy Father’s Day
Not only is it Father’s Day, it is the 100th anniversary of the holiday.
To all of those dads out there who care, love, and support their kids, thank you for all you do!
To all of those dads out there who care, love, and support their kids, thank you for all you do!
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Friday, June 18, 2010
News from Rome
The Vatican loves The Blues Brothers. I guess the Pope and I have something in common.
Headline of the Day
Hell Has Frozen Over: Hollywood is Looking for New, Original Material!
I’ll believe it when I see it.
I’ll believe it when I see it.
Favorite Song by the Album: Green Day
My good friend Steve has been on a Green Day kick lately and a few days ago I suggested that he do a post of his favorite song per album for each of their releases. You can see his list here.
Album: 1,039/Smoothed Out Slappy Hours
Favorite Song: “Going to Pasalaqua”
-- Technically this is a compilation CD of Green Day’s first full length and early EPs.
Album: Kerplunk
Favorite Song: (tie) “Christie Road” and “80”
-- This is probably my second favorite Green Day album.
Album: Dookie
Favorite Song: “She”
-- Like so many, this was the first album by Green Day that I heard. It spent a lot of time in my tape deck in 1994 and shortly after getting it, I had Sound Warehouse (which is now an FYE) order their first two albums on tape.
Album: Insomniac
Favorite Song: “Stuart and the Ave.”
-- When this record was released I was completely and totally burned out on Green Day so I avoided it like the plague. Years later my wife got a copy through Columbia House and put “Stuart and the Ave.” on a CD and I was blown away. Not only is it the bands best song IMHO, I think that this is their best album.
Album: Nimrod
Favorite Song: “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)”
-- I was still pretty anti-Green Day when Nimrod came out, but I couldn’t help but like “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life).” I eventually got the CD for that song and found, much to my chagrin, that I the entire thing was really good. It was at that point that I got over my 1994 Green Day OD and was able to enjoy their music again.
Album: Warning
Favorite Song: “Warning”
-- Admittedly I don’t know this album very well.
Album: American Idiot
Favorite Song: “Jesus of Suburbia Jesus of Suburbia/City of the Damned/I Don’t Care”
-- America Idiot found Green Day back on top of the world. The title track jumped out at me as catchy and poignant but it was the epic “Jesus of Suburbia” that really impressed me.
Last year Green Day released 21st Century Breakdown but I have only listened to it a handful of times and as of yet, nothing has jumped out at me from it. It’s a good record and all, but it really hasn’t captured my attention yet.
Album: 1,039/Smoothed Out Slappy Hours
Favorite Song: “Going to Pasalaqua”
-- Technically this is a compilation CD of Green Day’s first full length and early EPs.
Album: Kerplunk
Favorite Song: (tie) “Christie Road” and “80”
-- This is probably my second favorite Green Day album.
Album: Dookie
Favorite Song: “She”
-- Like so many, this was the first album by Green Day that I heard. It spent a lot of time in my tape deck in 1994 and shortly after getting it, I had Sound Warehouse (which is now an FYE) order their first two albums on tape.
Album: Insomniac
Favorite Song: “Stuart and the Ave.”
-- When this record was released I was completely and totally burned out on Green Day so I avoided it like the plague. Years later my wife got a copy through Columbia House and put “Stuart and the Ave.” on a CD and I was blown away. Not only is it the bands best song IMHO, I think that this is their best album.
Album: Nimrod
Favorite Song: “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)”
-- I was still pretty anti-Green Day when Nimrod came out, but I couldn’t help but like “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life).” I eventually got the CD for that song and found, much to my chagrin, that I the entire thing was really good. It was at that point that I got over my 1994 Green Day OD and was able to enjoy their music again.
Album: Warning
Favorite Song: “Warning”
-- Admittedly I don’t know this album very well.
Album: American Idiot
Favorite Song: “Jesus of Suburbia Jesus of Suburbia/City of the Damned/I Don’t Care”
-- America Idiot found Green Day back on top of the world. The title track jumped out at me as catchy and poignant but it was the epic “Jesus of Suburbia” that really impressed me.
Last year Green Day released 21st Century Breakdown but I have only listened to it a handful of times and as of yet, nothing has jumped out at me from it. It’s a good record and all, but it really hasn’t captured my attention yet.
Currently Listening
Today we’re listening to bands from Oklahoma and Texas.
1. “Cookie Jar” by Barnyard Slut (from Space Age Motel)
2. “Girl Talk” by Euclid Crash (from Nice People NMF Preview)
3. “You Won’t Live to See Tomorrow” by The Staggers (from The Sights, The Sounds, The Fear, & The Pain)
4. “Misconstrued” by Wakeland (from To See the Sun)
5. “Abundance of Fluff” by Stephen Egerton & John Moreland (from The Seven Degrees of Stephen Egerton)
6. “Angel” by Scott Reynolds & The Steaming Beast (from Adventure Boy)
7. “Dead Generation” by Roustabouts (from The Only One)
8. “2000 Maniacs” by Riot Squad (from Riot Squad)
9. “Where We’re Going We Don’t Need Roads” by Red City Radio (from To the Sons and Daughters of Woody Guthrie)
10. “Turn It On” by The Flaming Lips (from Transmissions from the Satellite Heart)
1. “Cookie Jar” by Barnyard Slut (from Space Age Motel)
2. “Girl Talk” by Euclid Crash (from Nice People NMF Preview)
3. “You Won’t Live to See Tomorrow” by The Staggers (from The Sights, The Sounds, The Fear, & The Pain)
4. “Misconstrued” by Wakeland (from To See the Sun)
5. “Abundance of Fluff” by Stephen Egerton & John Moreland (from The Seven Degrees of Stephen Egerton)
6. “Angel” by Scott Reynolds & The Steaming Beast (from Adventure Boy)
7. “Dead Generation” by Roustabouts (from The Only One)
8. “2000 Maniacs” by Riot Squad (from Riot Squad)
9. “Where We’re Going We Don’t Need Roads” by Red City Radio (from To the Sons and Daughters of Woody Guthrie)
10. “Turn It On” by The Flaming Lips (from Transmissions from the Satellite Heart)
Thursday, June 17, 2010
How Much Oz is Too Much Oz?
A new teaser has appeared for one of six upcoming Oz based films. While I think that the L. Frank Baum series is ripe for a new big screen treatment, I wonder if this is overkill. I also wonder how confused audiences will get when they are presented with six very different interpretations of a series that most people only seem to know through the MGM musical.
I have hope that each project will be a new and unique interpretation of these classic novels. The technology is there to do them justice, let’s just hope that the writing, directing, and acting is there as well.
I have hope that each project will be a new and unique interpretation of these classic novels. The technology is there to do them justice, let’s just hope that the writing, directing, and acting is there as well.
William Shatner to Direct…
A documentary about William Shatner. As long as it is filled with his self deprecating humor, it might not be that bad. But then again he did direct Star Trek V: The Final Frontier…
Currently Listening
I’m letting the computer pick the tunes again today.
1. “I’ll Begin Again” by Dropkick Murphys (from The Meanest of Times)
2. “Sad” by Pearl Jam (from Lost Dogs: Rarities and B Sides Disc 1)
3. “Adventure Boy” by Scott Reynolds & The Steaming Beast (from Adventure Boy)
4. “Perfect Sin” by The Amazing Crowns (from Payback Live!)
5. “The Pogey Song” by The A.G.’s (from This Earth Sucks)
6. “Fruit” by Hagfish (from Hagfish)
7. “Somewhere” by Husker Du (from Zen Arcade)
8. “Guy Who Got a Headache and Accidentally Saves the World” by The Flaming Lips (from Clouds Taste Metallic)
9. “Splendid Isolation” by Dead To Me (from Cuban Ballerina)
10. “Pride (In the Name of Love)” [Live] by U2 (from Rattle & Hum)
1. “I’ll Begin Again” by Dropkick Murphys (from The Meanest of Times)
2. “Sad” by Pearl Jam (from Lost Dogs: Rarities and B Sides Disc 1)
3. “Adventure Boy” by Scott Reynolds & The Steaming Beast (from Adventure Boy)
4. “Perfect Sin” by The Amazing Crowns (from Payback Live!)
5. “The Pogey Song” by The A.G.’s (from This Earth Sucks)
6. “Fruit” by Hagfish (from Hagfish)
7. “Somewhere” by Husker Du (from Zen Arcade)
8. “Guy Who Got a Headache and Accidentally Saves the World” by The Flaming Lips (from Clouds Taste Metallic)
9. “Splendid Isolation” by Dead To Me (from Cuban Ballerina)
10. “Pride (In the Name of Love)” [Live] by U2 (from Rattle & Hum)
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Jesus Hit By Lightning
Well…sort of.
From the story –
From the story –
A six-story statue of Jesus Christ was struck by lightning and burned to the ground, leaving only a blackened steel skeleton and pieces of foam that were scooped up by curious onlookers Tuesday.
The "King of Kings" statue, one of southwest Ohio's most familiar landmarks, had stood since 2004 at the evangelical Solid Rock Church along Interstate 75 in Monroe, just north of Cincinnati.
The lightning strike set the statue ablaze around 11:15 p.m. Monday, Monroe police dispatchers said.
The sculpture, about 62 feet tall and 40 feet wide at the base, showed Jesus from the torso up and was nicknamed Touchdown Jesus because of the way the arms were raised, similar to a referee signaling a touchdown. It was made of plastic foam and fiberglass over a steel frame, which is all that remained Tuesday.[...]
Bishop said the statue will be rebuilt.
"It will be back, but this time we are going to try for something fireproof," she said.
CBGB’s in More Financial Trouble
It’s bad enough that the legendary venue was forced to close its doors, but now the company that owns the CBGB name and brand has filed for bankruptcy.
Now what’s going to happen to all of those CBGB t-shirts?
Now what’s going to happen to all of those CBGB t-shirts?
Teen Idols Calling It a Day
PunkNews.org is reporting that pop punk stalwarts Teen Idols have broken up. Sadly, Teen Idols was one of those bands that I always wanted to get into but never got around to doing so. I have some compilation CDs with them on them, and their songs that I’ve heard have all been great. Hopefully I’ll still be able to track down some of their releases. The band formed back in 1992. 18 years is a great run for a small punk band.
Teen Idols is not to be confused with the old DC hardcore band Teen Idles.
Teen Idols is not to be confused with the old DC hardcore band Teen Idles.
Quote of the Day
Before I get crucified for this, I don’t completely agree with the following quote. Yes I think that there is some validity to it, but there is some ounce of truth behind all stereotypes. My point for posting this is because I found it thought provoking and wanted to share.
I highly suggest reading the entire piece. CLS writes one of my favorite blogs out there and is always biting in his analysis.
I’m going to leave you with the closing paragraph of this post because I think that it is just as, if not more, powerful than the quote above.
I continue to stand by my view that the Republican Party is the party of organized hate in America. The Democrats may be in the clutches of the greedy, unions of government employees, who are helping bankrupt America while giving us lousy service, or unnecessary service, but general speaking the bigots are attracted to the GOP. Once the Republican Party embraced the fundamentalist Christians it was bound to head down the bigoted road on numerous issues. I have long noticed that someone who is bigoted against one group tends to be bigoted against several groups.-- CLS from the post Republican says law can use "sixth sense" to finger illegals
The odd thing about haters is that people who dislike people for being black are more likely to dislike people who are Jewish, or people who are gay. They are more likely to see women as inferior to men. They tend to be more authoritarian, even if they pretend they support "less government."
I highly suggest reading the entire piece. CLS writes one of my favorite blogs out there and is always biting in his analysis.
I’m going to leave you with the closing paragraph of this post because I think that it is just as, if not more, powerful than the quote above.
This is big government at it's worst. Big government is bad under all circumstances, in my opinion. But massive government without the restraint of objective definitions of criminal behavior is total tyranny. No armed agent of the government should be able to stop people and restrain them merely because he "senses" something. That is the complete annihilation of the rule of law. It also illustrates why I consider the xenophobic, anti-immigrant hysteria on the Right to be one of the biggest threats to Constitutional freedoms around today. And what is really disgusting is that the morons pretend to be doing in the name of the small government.
Spreading the Wealth Around
I know that greed is a powerful thing, but I have to wonder how so many executives, managers, and bosses can sleep at night when their salary is so much more than that of the people who are making them money, i.e. their employees. Now don’t get me wrong, I have no problems with people getting paid well or getting rich, hell I want everyone to get paid well and rich, but I do have a problem with the fact that there is such a gigantic disparity in wages from the top down.
If companies expect loyalty from their employees, investing in said employees would be a great start. It is really hard to care about the well being of a company when you are poor, literally according to the government’s standard. It’s hard to be motivated to make the company more successful, when none of that success is shared with you.
So, how do we fix this problem? That’s the hard part. I don’t want the government coming in and forcing companies to spread the wealth around, because I just can’t see that being good for anybody. Maybe however, there should be regulations that prevent corporations from getting so incredibly big. This is certainly needed in the media industry. The fact that the vast majority of news organizations (newspapers, radio/TV stations, websites, etc.) are owned by a handful of companies is just criminal. Well…technically it’s not criminal and that’s the problem. In the long run, I think that people need to realize the dangers of corporatism and instead embrace smaller businesses and business models that are actually ethical. Sadly I doubt this will happen in my lifetime.
If companies expect loyalty from their employees, investing in said employees would be a great start. It is really hard to care about the well being of a company when you are poor, literally according to the government’s standard. It’s hard to be motivated to make the company more successful, when none of that success is shared with you.
So, how do we fix this problem? That’s the hard part. I don’t want the government coming in and forcing companies to spread the wealth around, because I just can’t see that being good for anybody. Maybe however, there should be regulations that prevent corporations from getting so incredibly big. This is certainly needed in the media industry. The fact that the vast majority of news organizations (newspapers, radio/TV stations, websites, etc.) are owned by a handful of companies is just criminal. Well…technically it’s not criminal and that’s the problem. In the long run, I think that people need to realize the dangers of corporatism and instead embrace smaller businesses and business models that are actually ethical. Sadly I doubt this will happen in my lifetime.
Currently Listening
I’m letting the computer pick the songs today.
1. “Detroit Has a Skyline” by Superchunk (from Here’s Where the Strings Come in)
2. “Politician” by Smalltown (from Untitled 21: A Juvenile Tribute to Swingin’ Utters)
3. “The Last Song” by The All-American Rejects (from The All-American Rejects)
4. “Hot Patootie – Bless My Soul” by Meat Loaf (from The Rocky Horror Picture Show [Original Soundtrack])
5. “If I Told You” by Husker Du (from New Day Rising)
6. “Needles and Pins” by Ramones (from Hey! Ho! Let’s Go: The Anthology Disc 1)
7. “Too Much Too Young” by The Specials (from The Specials [2002 Remaster])
8. “Gang Opinion” by CIV (from Set Your Goals)
9. “Give It Up” by The Riverdales (from Storm the Streets)
10. “Straight Edge” by Minor Threat (from Complete Discography)
1. “Detroit Has a Skyline” by Superchunk (from Here’s Where the Strings Come in)
2. “Politician” by Smalltown (from Untitled 21: A Juvenile Tribute to Swingin’ Utters)
3. “The Last Song” by The All-American Rejects (from The All-American Rejects)
4. “Hot Patootie – Bless My Soul” by Meat Loaf (from The Rocky Horror Picture Show [Original Soundtrack])
5. “If I Told You” by Husker Du (from New Day Rising)
6. “Needles and Pins” by Ramones (from Hey! Ho! Let’s Go: The Anthology Disc 1)
7. “Too Much Too Young” by The Specials (from The Specials [2002 Remaster])
8. “Gang Opinion” by CIV (from Set Your Goals)
9. “Give It Up” by The Riverdales (from Storm the Streets)
10. “Straight Edge” by Minor Threat (from Complete Discography)
Monday, June 14, 2010
More People are Quitting Their Jobs
According to this story, on the past three months more people have quit their jobs than have been laid off. Apparently, this may be a good sign for the economy. If people are more willing to quit their jobs, then they feel more confident about finding new jobs. Hopefully the new jobs are out there.
Money Quote –
Lord only knows how many times I have dreamed on quitting my job, but I tend to be too scared, or rational, to do that without having another job waiting for me.
Money Quote –
After years of recession and financial distress, it's no wonder many Americans are fed up. They've watched as home foreclosure rates and the numbers of jobless have skyrocketed. All the while, many on Wall Street and in corporate executive suites have been largely unaffected.
Lord only knows how many times I have dreamed on quitting my job, but I tend to be too scared, or rational, to do that without having another job waiting for me.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Power Stays with the Powerful or Our Unethical Economy
There is total and complete truth behind the thought that the rich are getting richer. More than that though, those in power seem to stay that way. In fact we now seem to have in America a powerful elite. There is an aristocratic class of people who run our government and corporations. We are in the midst of an American plutocracy and well on our way to a new brand of feudalism.
I know what you are thinking, that this is crazy talk. Is it though? Just look at the piece on FindLaw by Scott Gerber and Kevin Hawley entitled Elena Kagan and the Return to Feudalism. From the story –
Now on to a story and a book excerpt found by our good friend Jimmie at Pundant.com. First up, Jimmie linked to the piece Greed and corporate power created American plutocracy by Robert Zaller. I’m actually breaking my normal rule of not reposting someone else’s work in their entirety because this is just too good and important not to post completely. Emphasis is mine.
Look at the choices we have in our leaders and their parties. Both the Republican and Democratic parties are completely in bed with and indebted to the American plutocracy. Sure there are individuals within each that are against this blasphemy, but they are drowned out by the cacophony of those who desire nothing more than keeping their power and the status quo. We’ve been sold bills of “change” from both the Right and the Left, yet nothing has really changed. The power in this country has not been given back to the people and I fear that it never will. The Republicans have sold out to the corporations and the Democrats have sold out to the unions and none of the give two shits about any of us. Any more, the only economic theory that makes any sense is that of distributism, which I have to admit is ironic that I am drawn to an economic theory started by Catholics that was said to “seeks to subordinate economic activity to human life as a whole, to our spiritual life, our intellectual life, our family life.”
I only hope and pray that we find the strength to weather this storm and come out as the America as envisioned in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution and not some feudalistic state. But then again, we might already be there.
I know what you are thinking, that this is crazy talk. Is it though? Just look at the piece on FindLaw by Scott Gerber and Kevin Hawley entitled Elena Kagan and the Return to Feudalism. From the story –
Feudalism, as readers may know, is a medieval concept in which the social order is based on status and rank. People are not free and equal. Rather, they are embedded members of hereditary groups. In feudalism's idealized form, the Norman system introduced in England in 1066 by William the Conqueror, people were born and lived their lives within a specific class—as lords, vassals, peasants, or serfs—and the principal purpose of law was to preserve this hierarchical social order.
America was founded as a rejection of feudalism. In 1776, the political theory of John Locke—feudalism's most powerful critic—was articulated by Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence as "an expression of the American mind." And James Madison wrote that same theory into the U.S. Constitution in 1787, prohibiting the state from conferring advantages, or imposing disadvantages, on the basis of a person's class, hereditary status, or personal connections.
President Obama apparently remembers none of this. His nomination statement about Kagan was little more than a laundry list of her elite status: former law clerk to a Supreme Court justice, former professor at the University of Chicago Law School, former dean of Harvard Law School, and current solicitor general of the United States. The president said nothing about what contributions Kagan had made to the law.
Revealingly, when skeptics deigned to raise questions about Kagan's actual accomplishments, her social equals rallied to her defense, largely on the basis of her status as a Harvard-educated lawyer. For example, Professor Mark Tushnet, a colleague of Kagan's at Harvard Law School, posted a sympathetic assessment of the one article Kagan published at Harvard to get tenure there. Equally problematic, another former Harvard colleague, Christopher Edley—now the dean of UC Berkeley School of Law—published an op-ed in the Washington Post in which he defended Kagan's nomination because, if she's confirmed (a virtual certainty), the Court will then be comprised of Harvard and Yale law school graduates only.
Departing Justice John Paul Stevens, whom Kagan would replace, graduated from Northwestern, which Edley would regard as a "good" law school, not a "great" one. Never mind that even Stevens's conservative critics can't help but acknowledge his powerful intellect and impressive reasoning while on the Court: what matters to Edley is the law school Stevens attended in his 20's.
The elitism that Edley thinks is so wonderful—and that Tushnet works so hard to disguise—is a clear sign that the American legal profession is now feudalistic. There are no objective measures of talent in the law anymore, at least none that are used. Instead, elites rely on someone's resume (Edley), or provide a spirited defense of a colleague (Tushnet), as a substitute. A degree from Harvard or Yale marks someone as more qualified than someone else. Always. No exceptions. Who cares what the person actually accomplished.
[...]
The cost of such relentless elitism is self-evident. Take Thurgood Marshall, for example—the justice for whom Kagan clerked. He went to Howard, not Harvard. But President Johnson actually cared about Marshall's record—Marshall, who argued and won Brown v. Board of Education, was one of the most accomplished civil rights lawyers in the history of American law—not merely his resume. President Obama, Dean Edley, Professor Tushnet, and their Cambridge-class might believe that the United States is doomed unless the American people acknowledge their station and allow their social betters to rule, unquestioned. But history suggests they are wrong.
Now on to a story and a book excerpt found by our good friend Jimmie at Pundant.com. First up, Jimmie linked to the piece Greed and corporate power created American plutocracy by Robert Zaller. I’m actually breaking my normal rule of not reposting someone else’s work in their entirety because this is just too good and important not to post completely. Emphasis is mine.
Kevin Phillips' new book, "Bad Money," details what he calls the "financialization" of the American economy in the past generation, by which lending instruments, whose purpose is - or ought to be - to facilitate productive investment, became themselves the principal source of investment and profit in the economy.Next is the post 85% of Americans only have control of 15% of the wealth...the view from the bottom of the economic jungle that quotes from Jared Paul Stern’s book The Classicist: The History of America's Upper Class. From the post –
Phillips can claim a considerable share of the credit for the disasters he now deplores. He was one of the chief ideologues of the Nixon and Reagan revolutions that systematically denuded the middle class, destroyed regulatory oversight of the economy and, manipulating the civil disorder and racial anxieties of the 1960s, persuaded the American working class to buy into social reaction, corporate tax exemption and the creation of a new "gilded age" of plutocracy, speculative frenzy and licensed criminality. It is good that Phillips now repents his former sins, and paints the devil in his true colors. But he has a lot to answer for.
Forty years ago, when the country elected Richard Nixon its president, the United States was already a declining power. If a society be judged, as Aristotle suggested long ago, on the size and strength of its middle class - that is, its relative egalitarianism - then the United States was headed full steam in the wrong direction.
The plutocratic revolution of the past 40 years, if we may give it its proper name, has stripped the gears of what was once the most powerful and in some ways the most hopeful society on earth. The size and so-called "productivity" of the American economy has grown, a natural consequence of population increase, technological change and the increased efficiency of worker exploitation (more hours worked at declining rates of compensation), but its nature has become more markedly predatory, as a narrower and narrower elite claims a greater and greater share of its wealth and the political power that goes with it.
A single statistic may serve to indicate how uphill the battle against corporate power was through much of the 20th century. In 1980, when Ronald Reagan was elected president, the relative income distribution in the United States was approximately the same as it had been in 1910, when champagne still flowed in the bathtubs of our first Gilded Age. In between, the 16th Amendment had created a progressive income tax, which reached a nominal rate of 91 percent on the super-rich during World War II and 50 percent on corporate earnings in the Eisenhower '50s. Social Security had underwritten the retirement and disability income of working Americans, employer-based health care had been written into the social contract, and Lyndon Johnson's "War on Poverty" had reduced the official poverty level in half, from 22 percent to 11 percent. In other words, the collective result of seventy years of progressive social policy, federal trust-busting and union activism had been to keep America exactly as inegalitarian as it had been when J. P. Morgan and John Rockefeller still ruled the land.
What would America have looked like in 1980 had there been no resistance to corporate aggrandizement? One only has to look at America in 2008. Blue- and white-collar jobs have vanished overseas, while private sector unionization stands at barely 7 percent of the workforce. The average American has a lower standard of living while working longer hours than 30 years ago; less health care at higher cost; less pension security.
The lifetime job at the plant or the office has disappeared, except for civil service bureaucrats or the vanishing breed of tenured academics your present author belongs to. The learned professions - law, medicine and teaching - have lost their autonomy, and much of their self-respect, as corporate imperatives have tightened the noose around them.
Meanwhile, the Food and Drug Administration no longer guarantees the safety of the food and drug supply, but openly abets big agriculture and big pharmaceutical companies. The Environmental Protection Agency no longer protects our air, water and wildlife, but turns a blind eye to polluters and extends a helping hand to developers. The Securities and Exchange Commission no longer polices our capital markets but blesses merger, monopoly and speculation. And, all the while, the appallingly rich become unspeakably richer: 550 percent richer in inflation-adjusted gross income alone since 1970.
Americans once prided themselves on being a can-do people, a nation of inventors, mechanics, tinkerers, fixers. Now we are defined by what we can't do, even though most other mature Western economies have found solutions to the problems we find intractable. We can't control violence because we have a gun culture. We can't have cost-effective, energy-efficient transit because we have a car culture. We can't have a rational, single-payer health care system because that would be socialist.
We didn't find ourselves in a daze by accident. For every unsolveable problem we face, there's an interest or an industry that prospers by keeping things the way they are. Our economy has enshrined a gospel of greed. Our society has become fearful and embittered. Our politics are ritualistic and symbolic, a mechanism for feeding antagonism and manipulating discontent, and accustoming us to worse and worse.
Democracies die, like every other kind of animal. It's not too late to rescue ours, but time is wasting, and our bad habits are increasingly set.
In the United States, wealth is highly concentrated in a relatively few hands. As of 2007, the top 1% of households (the upper class) owned 34.6% of all privately held wealth, and the next 19% (the managerial, professional, and small business stratum) had 50.5%, which means that just 20% of the people owned a remarkable 85%, leaving only 15% of the wealth for the bottom 80% (wage and salary workers).So that is where we are. We live in a society in which the powerful keep and horde their power, while people on both the Left and the Right defend this American elitism to the detriment of the American people. Our economy and society is headed in an unsustainable and unethical direction and I honestly don’t know if there is anything that we can do to stop it.
[...]
Of course, you first have to accept Foulkes' premise that America does in fact have a class system, even if the current recession has painfully demonstrated that no one should take their positions for granted while Barack Obama's ascendancy proved that traditional barriers are no longer as formidable. "I am often told that 'American high society' is an oxymoron, either by those who hold the quaint belief that the United States is a classless society in which opportunity is open to all," Foulkes notes, "or by Europeans who believe themselves to be superior and look down pejoratively upon the social aspirations of a country that is younger than many families, social clubs, educational establishments, and even socks in the Old World."
The fact of the matter, however, Foulkes writes, is that "The United States is no longer a young country; it is a middle-aged nation with its own social codes and structures locked into its collective DNA. It has its prominent families, an untitled aristocracy, who exerted such a profound effect on the nation or have just been around for so long that the doings of their descendants are still a source of interest." The second pillar of American society is the plutocracy, "Men who made so much money that they simply floated to the pinnacle of the social structure on a tide of cash, building huge mansions and amassing art collections that remain among the most impressive the world has ever seen."
Look at the choices we have in our leaders and their parties. Both the Republican and Democratic parties are completely in bed with and indebted to the American plutocracy. Sure there are individuals within each that are against this blasphemy, but they are drowned out by the cacophony of those who desire nothing more than keeping their power and the status quo. We’ve been sold bills of “change” from both the Right and the Left, yet nothing has really changed. The power in this country has not been given back to the people and I fear that it never will. The Republicans have sold out to the corporations and the Democrats have sold out to the unions and none of the give two shits about any of us. Any more, the only economic theory that makes any sense is that of distributism, which I have to admit is ironic that I am drawn to an economic theory started by Catholics that was said to “seeks to subordinate economic activity to human life as a whole, to our spiritual life, our intellectual life, our family life.”
I only hope and pray that we find the strength to weather this storm and come out as the America as envisioned in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution and not some feudalistic state. But then again, we might already be there.
Currently Watching
Title: Zombieland (Official, IMDB, Wikipedia)Last night my wife and I had a bit of a dinner and movie night. It was really nice…wonderful actually, and I finally got to see the truly amazing Zombieland.
Now as a general rule of thumb, I am not a fan of horror or gore (blood and guts on film, not the former vice president but I’m not a huge fan of him either actually) so there were times in this film that I had to close my eyes or look away. What distinguishes Zombieland is that the horror is an afterthought, part of the background really, and not the point of the film. The point of the film was comedy and lord it was successful at delivering.
Zombieland in a lot of ways reminds me of the Evil Dead films (Wikipedia), not in plot but in tone. This film is a must for any proper fan of cult classics.
Title: Alias Season 3 (Amazon, Wikipedia, Alias-TV.com)
A few years ago someone in a class suggested that I watch the show Alias. She even went so far as to loan me the first two seasons on DVD one summer break. It took me a while, but once I started watching, I couldn’t stop. I even got a friend at work hooked and he went out and got the rest of the series on DVD and hooked me up with the third and fourth seasons (I eventually bought, and later sold, the fifth season). At the time I plowed through all five seasons, watching the show almost obsessively.
Recently I put in season two and have been obsessively watching the show since. It doesn’t matter that I know how the series will end, the show is so bloody good that it completely sucks you in and leaves you dying to know what happens next (even if you already know). I’m now about half way through season three and I can’t wait to see what happens next!
Alias was one of the best shows of last decade. In fact it was one of the best shows that I’ve ever seen. If you like mystery, suspense, action, and super cool gadgets, then this show is for you. But it’s not all eye candy either. The show was beautifully written, directed, and acted. I really can’t recommend Alias highly enough.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Spin’s Top 125 Albums of the Past 25 Years
In celebration of their 25th anniversary, Spin magazine has put together a list of the 125 best albums of the past 25 years.
Thanks to my wonderfully slow internet connection here at home, I haven’t been able to really look through this list. I’m sure it will be…interesting.
Thanks to PunkNews.org for the find.
Thanks to my wonderfully slow internet connection here at home, I haven’t been able to really look through this list. I’m sure it will be…interesting.
Thanks to PunkNews.org for the find.
Currently Listening
1. “Soul Man” by Sam & Dave (from The Definitive Soul Collection Disc 2)
2. “We are the Sons of Woody Guthrie” by Red City Radio (from To the Sons and Daughters of Woody Guthrie)
3. “Son of a Preacher Man” by Dusty Springfield (from Dusty in Memphis [Deluxe Edition])
4. “Star 69” by R.E.M. (from monster)
5. “Mr. Pitiful” by Otis Redding (from The Definitive Soul Collection Disc 1)
6. “Vet Named Ted” by Brassknuckle Boys (from American Bastard)
7. “Let’s Gete It On” by Marvin Gaye (from The Very Best of Marvin Gaye [Motown 2001] Disc 2)
8. “Jackson” by Johnny Cash & June Carter Cash (from The Essential Johnny Cash (Disc 2)
9. “Proud Mary” by Ike & Tina Turner (from Ike and Tina Turner [Platinum Disc] Disc 2)
10. “Line Check” by Scott Reynolds & The Steaming Beast (from Adventure Boy)
2. “We are the Sons of Woody Guthrie” by Red City Radio (from To the Sons and Daughters of Woody Guthrie)
3. “Son of a Preacher Man” by Dusty Springfield (from Dusty in Memphis [Deluxe Edition])
4. “Star 69” by R.E.M. (from monster)
5. “Mr. Pitiful” by Otis Redding (from The Definitive Soul Collection Disc 1)
6. “Vet Named Ted” by Brassknuckle Boys (from American Bastard)
7. “Let’s Gete It On” by Marvin Gaye (from The Very Best of Marvin Gaye [Motown 2001] Disc 2)
8. “Jackson” by Johnny Cash & June Carter Cash (from The Essential Johnny Cash (Disc 2)
9. “Proud Mary” by Ike & Tina Turner (from Ike and Tina Turner [Platinum Disc] Disc 2)
10. “Line Check” by Scott Reynolds & The Steaming Beast (from Adventure Boy)
Friday, June 11, 2010
Nothin’ but Niche
It seems that America is becoming a niche nation. By that I mean that people are separating into various different groups or subcultures more than ever before. People are divided by ethnicity, religion, political beliefs, economic status, and tastes. Sometimes I wonder if it is our tastes that divide us more than anything else.
Andrew Sullivan recently did two posts on this topic that are worth checking out. The first post was a reaction to the number of people who watched the Lost finale and comments by Rod Dreher. From the post –
The irony of the niche nation scenario is that even those who believe that we need an overlapping culture/religion to conform to, have created their own subculture based on this belief. Do we need to have an American culture? Absolutely, but that does not mean that we abandon our subcultures. Sure I have very little in common with a football fanatic that drives a pickup truck, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t recognize that we both belong to the same greater community and society. That also doesn’t mean that I can’t see the things that we do have in common, the things that bind us together as Americans and as human beings. We have more in common than a lot of people out there would like to admit.
In all of our great advances in technology that make it the much easier for us to pull away into our preferred niches and subcultures, we need to remember that there is a beautiful world out there that we share. We need to remember that we are not only Mother Nature’s shepherds but we are also our brother’s keeper. In other words we need to take care of each other and to do that we need to remember that there is more out there than our little corner of the world and that it is up to all of us to take care of each other.
Andrew Sullivan recently did two posts on this topic that are worth checking out. The first post was a reaction to the number of people who watched the Lost finale and comments by Rod Dreher. From the post –
Welcome to the modern world, Rod. The kind of unthinking cohesion of the past, sustained by elite control of the media and by ancient accommodation to a world before contraception, advances in longevity, and the technological revolution, is indeed gone. We are all subcultures now. This is hard, bewildering for many, too much for some. The reason why Rod is worth reading is that he is not in denial about this - just a mild form of despair. But that the only intelligent response for a traditionalist is retreat into a faux traditionalism tells you something about the problem. It is insoluble. It is our reality. And conservatives adjust to reality; they do not assault it.In the second post, Sullivan reacts to a Deher reaction. From the post –
I think "celebrate" is much too positive for my position. I have much more respect for the world that we have lost than most moderns. I suspect that there was much more wisdom in its pre-modern forms, and celebrate the extraordinary cultural, literary, spiritual achievements of the past. I am not a Whig. But I am a chastened Tory. I also, however, feel completely comfortable in modernity, and see in its liberation of the human individual an astonishing achievement in the West. It is possible, I think, to marvel at the cultural vitality and cohesion of, say, 15th century England (which I studied diligently at Oxford) and yet also delight in a modern world that allows Rod and I to communicate across time and space, that has allowed me to live past 35, that has provided dignity to women, that has extinguished hunger in the West, and that has given us the option of choosing our ways of life and escaping our fates and turning them into ambitions.I think it is in this last paragraph that Sullivan hits the nail on the head. The world has completely changed and pining for the glorious past won’t do much, if anything, to make for a better future.
I have some deep reservations. I wonder if modernity, in the grand scope of human history and pre-history, is not, in fact, a Tower of Babel, impossible to sustain, fueled by extravagance and untrammeled greed, addiction, loneliness, bewilderment and disillusion. I wonder if the life we have constructed on this planet in the last two centuries is actually sustainable - ecologically, spiritually. I read Macintyre with enormous sympathy.
[...]
The core of our disagreement is simply our attitude toward modernity. I believe it simply is, will only be undone if the entire bubble collapses, and, meanwhile, is worth living in. One can both celebrate something new and irreversible without disdaining the wisdom and beauty and tradition of the past.
The irony of the niche nation scenario is that even those who believe that we need an overlapping culture/religion to conform to, have created their own subculture based on this belief. Do we need to have an American culture? Absolutely, but that does not mean that we abandon our subcultures. Sure I have very little in common with a football fanatic that drives a pickup truck, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t recognize that we both belong to the same greater community and society. That also doesn’t mean that I can’t see the things that we do have in common, the things that bind us together as Americans and as human beings. We have more in common than a lot of people out there would like to admit.
In all of our great advances in technology that make it the much easier for us to pull away into our preferred niches and subcultures, we need to remember that there is a beautiful world out there that we share. We need to remember that we are not only Mother Nature’s shepherds but we are also our brother’s keeper. In other words we need to take care of each other and to do that we need to remember that there is more out there than our little corner of the world and that it is up to all of us to take care of each other.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)