Gettin' better all the time... http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31727_162-20083772-10391695.html.
If the debt ceiling wasn't taking up all the space right now, this would actually be getting some attention.
If Bush were still in office, there would be resounding cries for impeachment.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Rock'n'Roll tells the future
I was talking to Price today. Price is a 45 year old college student(God bless the effort) who is writing papers with musical themes for an english class. We got discussing how much can be learned from rock lyrics, and we both agreed there is a treasure trove of real life lessons that rock has bestowed upon us over the last 40 plus years.
Rock 'n' Roll lyrics serve so many purposes. Usually, they're just fun. Sometimes they are ridiculous, sometimes dramatic, or sometimes they tell a good story. The most intriguing of rock lyrics though, are the one's that seem to foretell the political future. The most famous example is probably Pete Townshend's "Won't get fooled again" from the 1971 release of "Who's Next", one of rock's true ultra-classic, epic albums. This song is timeless, and can be applied to almost any era, in any corner of the globe. In 1976, Neal Pert wrote the brilliant "2112" which appeared on the Rush album of the same title, telling the story of a futuristic repressive regime stifling individual thought and creativity. This rings very true in America today.
But there is one classic rock tune that few remember, but is actually more relevant today in America than it was when it was released in 1970. The tune was authored by John Kay, the singer/songwriter of one of America's greatest bands, Steppenwolf.
Titled "Monster/Suicide/America" from the album "Monster", it was originally penned to express dissatisfaction with America's involvement in Viet Nam. However, with a quick re-read of the lyrics, one can't help finding close parallels to the state of our union, right here in 2011.
The "Suicide" segment of the song begins eerily enough:
"The spirit was freedom and justice
And it's keepers seem generous and kind
It's leaders were supposed to serve the country
But now they won't pay it no mind
'Cause the people grew fat and got lazy
And now their vote is a meaningless joke"...
Perfect description of todays complacency among the public and the self serving "leaders" we have mindlessly elected, don't ya think? It goes on...
"Yeah, there's a monster on the loose
It's got or heads into a noose
And it just sits there watchin"
Another perfect analogy of America's federal government, right here, right now, June 2011. It continues...
"Our cities have turned into jungles
And corruption is strangling the land...
The police force is watching the people
And the people just can't understand..."
Kay must have had the world's best crystal ball. Right on target. Anyone who has flown lately can surely relate to that police force line. It goes on to tell about incurring costs we can never pay(familiar)? and concludes brilliantly with the "America" segment of the song...
"America where are you now?
Don't you care about your sons and daughters?
Don't you know we need you now
We can't fight alone against the monster."
Enough said.
Rock 'n' Roll lyrics serve so many purposes. Usually, they're just fun. Sometimes they are ridiculous, sometimes dramatic, or sometimes they tell a good story. The most intriguing of rock lyrics though, are the one's that seem to foretell the political future. The most famous example is probably Pete Townshend's "Won't get fooled again" from the 1971 release of "Who's Next", one of rock's true ultra-classic, epic albums. This song is timeless, and can be applied to almost any era, in any corner of the globe. In 1976, Neal Pert wrote the brilliant "2112" which appeared on the Rush album of the same title, telling the story of a futuristic repressive regime stifling individual thought and creativity. This rings very true in America today.
But there is one classic rock tune that few remember, but is actually more relevant today in America than it was when it was released in 1970. The tune was authored by John Kay, the singer/songwriter of one of America's greatest bands, Steppenwolf.
Titled "Monster/Suicide/America" from the album "Monster", it was originally penned to express dissatisfaction with America's involvement in Viet Nam. However, with a quick re-read of the lyrics, one can't help finding close parallels to the state of our union, right here in 2011.
The "Suicide" segment of the song begins eerily enough:
"The spirit was freedom and justice
And it's keepers seem generous and kind
It's leaders were supposed to serve the country
But now they won't pay it no mind
'Cause the people grew fat and got lazy
And now their vote is a meaningless joke"...
Perfect description of todays complacency among the public and the self serving "leaders" we have mindlessly elected, don't ya think? It goes on...
"Yeah, there's a monster on the loose
It's got or heads into a noose
And it just sits there watchin"
Another perfect analogy of America's federal government, right here, right now, June 2011. It continues...
"Our cities have turned into jungles
And corruption is strangling the land...
The police force is watching the people
And the people just can't understand..."
Kay must have had the world's best crystal ball. Right on target. Anyone who has flown lately can surely relate to that police force line. It goes on to tell about incurring costs we can never pay(familiar)? and concludes brilliantly with the "America" segment of the song...
"America where are you now?
Don't you care about your sons and daughters?
Don't you know we need you now
We can't fight alone against the monster."
Enough said.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Gettin' warmer
The media, for the most part, is ignoring it, but I'm not: http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article/578184/201107131823/Fast-And-Furious-Scandal-A-Watergate-For-Obama-.htm?src=SeeAlso.
This thing gets better every day. Have fun, America!
This thing gets better every day. Have fun, America!
Sunday, July 10, 2011
No. 2
Congratulations to Derek Jeter for achieving the rare milestone of 3000 hits. I love this guy. Not only does he reach the milestone, he does it with a home run, goes 5 for 5 AND drives in the game winning run with his team in the middle of a hot division race. Only Jeter. When the spotlight is the brightest, he is always at his best.
My favorite thing about him tho, is he truly is a throwback to when this game actually was our national pastime. In this era of the self absored, "it's all about me" pro athlete, Jeter has remained the consummate professional, always demonstrating that he is honored to be playing the game and doing all the things he can to help his team win. If you're a baseball fan in any way, you gotta feel blessed to be around during the Jeter era. Thanks, Derek.
My favorite thing about him tho, is he truly is a throwback to when this game actually was our national pastime. In this era of the self absored, "it's all about me" pro athlete, Jeter has remained the consummate professional, always demonstrating that he is honored to be playing the game and doing all the things he can to help his team win. If you're a baseball fan in any way, you gotta feel blessed to be around during the Jeter era. Thanks, Derek.
Freedom part 3
Still think your freedom is not in jeopardy in this country? http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/jul/07/knox-deputies-raid-bexhill-subdivision-poker-game/?partner=popular.
Feel safer now?
Feel safer now?
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Reality
Once again, Thomas Sowell has written the truth. He just has a knack for telling it like it is with brevity in a way that is easy to grasp. Thanks again, Mr. Sowell. http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2011/07/05/politics_versus_reality_110456.html
Monday, July 4, 2011
Freedom part 2
I was listening to Don and Roma the other day. They are the morning drive time duo on the 50000 watt blowtorch WLS- AM 890 out of Chicago, and they have been spewing common sense over the airwaves for about 25 years now. God bless 'em. Don was reading a letter that a Chicago area house cleaning company had just sent to all of its clients. The letter explained how due to new OSHA regulations, you must now have a separate toilet cleaning brush for each bathroom in your home. This is to avoid cross contamination. ( I swear I am not even smart enough to make this up...this is real). The letter went on to explain that if you do not already have seperate brushes, they are REQUIRED to place them in your home for you, and they listed the prices that you will pay for your new brushes. Thank God for OSHA and the almighty, all knowing, all caring federal government. To think we have not been cleaning our bathrooms properly for all these years is simply bone chilling. Where would we be without the brilliant central authority in D.C.?
Just as I was able to hear the smoke blasting out of Don's ears, it hit me that this did not surprise me. Sure, our nannies in Washington assume we are idiots. Been that way for a long time now. But it goes far deeper.
Have you flown lately? The TSA(who is now unionizing, by the way...isn't that great?) will treat you as a criminal suspect via their body searches. No due process, no probable cause. You are a suspect simply because you desire to travel from point A to B. And my 74 year old mother will get the exact same scrutiny as the 20 year old kid with a Pakistani passport.(Political correctness). Is this the beginning of desensitizing the public to searches by federal agents? Cynical, yes, but still a legitimate question. Does this feel right to you? Is this consistent with freedom?
In several states, including the Peoples Republic of Illinois, if you own a tavern that you virtually live in and lose sleep over to provide a living for yourself, you can't have a smoke inside of it. Even if you OWN the building itself.(Political correctness). Does this feel right to you?....freedom?
And of course there is the famous example of the feds and Boeing that I addressed in a recent post, as well as the incandescent light bulb saga. And the list goes on. And freedom becomes more scarce.
Those of us that make a point of keeping our eyes open know very well that something is going terribly wrong in this country. But I suspect that even those of us who tag along with maybe one eye just half open and base their uninformed opinions on just a glance at a headline and what the late night comics say know something is not right also. Actually, I'm quite sure of it, because I know Americans, for the most part, are decent folks with a healthy sense of what is right and just. Hopefully, more and more of us are opening that other eye every day.
Just as I was able to hear the smoke blasting out of Don's ears, it hit me that this did not surprise me. Sure, our nannies in Washington assume we are idiots. Been that way for a long time now. But it goes far deeper.
Have you flown lately? The TSA(who is now unionizing, by the way...isn't that great?) will treat you as a criminal suspect via their body searches. No due process, no probable cause. You are a suspect simply because you desire to travel from point A to B. And my 74 year old mother will get the exact same scrutiny as the 20 year old kid with a Pakistani passport.(Political correctness). Is this the beginning of desensitizing the public to searches by federal agents? Cynical, yes, but still a legitimate question. Does this feel right to you? Is this consistent with freedom?
In several states, including the Peoples Republic of Illinois, if you own a tavern that you virtually live in and lose sleep over to provide a living for yourself, you can't have a smoke inside of it. Even if you OWN the building itself.(Political correctness). Does this feel right to you?....freedom?
And of course there is the famous example of the feds and Boeing that I addressed in a recent post, as well as the incandescent light bulb saga. And the list goes on. And freedom becomes more scarce.
Those of us that make a point of keeping our eyes open know very well that something is going terribly wrong in this country. But I suspect that even those of us who tag along with maybe one eye just half open and base their uninformed opinions on just a glance at a headline and what the late night comics say know something is not right also. Actually, I'm quite sure of it, because I know Americans, for the most part, are decent folks with a healthy sense of what is right and just. Hopefully, more and more of us are opening that other eye every day.
For my kool-aid drinking friends
Check the linked article. It is a concise summary of the effect of the over $800 billion the administration spent(and borrowed to do so, since the money did not exist), in February of '09. Oh yeah, it's actually over $1,000,000,000,000(trillion) with interest. If this doesn't wake you up, I guess nothing will. http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/obama-s-economists-stimulus-has-cost-278000-job_576014.html.
How do you calculate a "saved" job anyway? I still have not found any empirical data on this. Why have we not heard the term "saved job" until this administration came in? Guess you all just take their word for it. Too bad for America, huh?
How do you calculate a "saved" job anyway? I still have not found any empirical data on this. Why have we not heard the term "saved job" until this administration came in? Guess you all just take their word for it. Too bad for America, huh?
Freedom
Happy Independence Day to the two or three people that might accidently stumble across this webpage of common sense rants. Enjoy your dwindling freedom while you can and be thankful for what freedom you have left. See the linked article to find out another one of the subtle ways the government is trampling on liberty. http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/270843/iviva-la-iluminaci-ni-matt-patterson.
This is not new news, of course, but it perfectly displays this creeping(and creepy) trend that we are allowing to take place in the Land of the Free. Thanks to Matt Patterson for succinctly stating the problem and thanks to anyone else who decides to become more active politically in their own community.
Me? I'm going out to buy a whole bunch of American made incadescent light bulbs. Time is running out, America.
This is not new news, of course, but it perfectly displays this creeping(and creepy) trend that we are allowing to take place in the Land of the Free. Thanks to Matt Patterson for succinctly stating the problem and thanks to anyone else who decides to become more active politically in their own community.
Me? I'm going out to buy a whole bunch of American made incadescent light bulbs. Time is running out, America.
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Michigan
Yesterday was a sad day for the people of Michigan. Once again, a court has made an activist ruling(not their job) that has gone against the will of the voters of the state. Check this article from The Detroit News. http://detnews.com/article/20110701/SCHOOLS/107010416/State-to-fight-ruling-against-ban-on-race-in-college-admissions#ixzz1QuhuL728.
The guaranteed Constitutional right of equal opportunity has been washed away by two Justices on a Michigan appeals court. Two people have told the 58% of voters that approved the Proposition 5 years ago, that they are wrong.
So affirmative action is alive and well in Michigan at a time when most of the country is waking up to the fact that it is simply discrimination. Never could figure out how discrimination is illegal, except if it is practiced against a majority. Common sense does not apply here, does it?
The guaranteed Constitutional right of equal opportunity has been washed away by two Justices on a Michigan appeals court. Two people have told the 58% of voters that approved the Proposition 5 years ago, that they are wrong.
So affirmative action is alive and well in Michigan at a time when most of the country is waking up to the fact that it is simply discrimination. Never could figure out how discrimination is illegal, except if it is practiced against a majority. Common sense does not apply here, does it?
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