Savage Distortion

BELATED BIRTHDAY WISHES

My brother blogged about his birthday last week, and many of us wished him well, as I do again now in conjunction with my favorite all time frontman (my definition) who shares his birthday with Fred. Phillip Parris Lynott was born on August 20th, 1949. A true original, Phil broke down barriers wherever he went. The first Irish rock star ( I suppose one could argue that Van Morrison wears that crown, but have you ever seen Van in leather?), and the only (that I know of) black Irish rock star, Phil brought soul to hard rock, and Ireland to the world. We lost Phil in January, 1986. A victim of his chosen vocation, and the illusuion that he created, Phil lived hard and died bad. His legacy, however, continues to inspire (the Darkness) and the official Thin Lizzy website (http://www.thin-lizzy.net/) is hub of activity twenty years after the fact. Every year, in January, Philomena, Phil's mum, hosts 'The Vibe For Philo" in his honor (http://www.vibeforphilo.com/) and someday I will attend. In the meantime; a happy birthday to Phil, and my brother.

PAUL'S BOUTIQUE

A grave error in my list of twenty-five most influential (to me) LP's was the omission of this record by the Beastie Boys. Often referred to (by me) as the Sgt Pepper's of my generation, Paul's Boutique took sampling as far as it can go. In 1989, The Beastie's, having left Def Jam over a royalties dispute, released this collection of grooves, rhymes, and hooks on thier own Grand Royall label (dist. by Capitol). The list of samples is so ecclectic, it would take a lifetime to discover them all. From Alice Cooper to Motorhead, James Brown to Parliament, the Beasties cover an immense amount of ground simply paying homage to their own vinyl collections. In what must have been a frenzy of sheer creativity, the Beasties, along with the production team of the Dust Brothers, unleashed on the world a truly psychadelic groove machine that is to this day unmatched by any hip hop act. One of my favorite things about this record is that nowhere, at no time, do any of the Beasties try to come off as mature adults. This is a fun record, about having fun, and made by people who were having fun doing it.

"people come up to me and they try to talk shit, man
I was making records when you were sucking your mother's dick"--- MCA

SO TAKE OFF ALL YOUR CLOTHES

It got hot in here last friday. As my brother (not Fred) said "Politics are bad, friends are good". Amen. This election is important to me. I have become politicized for many reasons, among them the facts of where I live (New York) and where I work (homosexual population: 50%). I am surrounded by Bush haters. I have always been a liberal, and am susceptible to being pumped full of rhetoric and running with it on my blog. I do not believe, for instance, that anybody in our current administration is inherently evil in nature. Misguided, yes. Addled, yes. In it up to their ears, definitely. My main problem with the right has always been it's ties to religion, and the danger that represents to my civil liberties (and yours). I like the Democrats because they at least try to help the little guy. 'Trickle Down' economics fail to trickle all the way down. There's never anything left for the people who need the most. If nominee 'A' says I'm gonna make the the rich pay more taxes (than they currently do), well that's attractive to me. I have gone on the record as saying that nominee A's health care plan is no plan at all, so 'misguided' might apply to both parties. In the end the war is the last issue that I'm concerned with. The same people with the same guns will be shooting the same people come November. For me, it's all about who represents my interests. The Democrats say they do, the Republicans admit they don't. There is no argument, I'll vote Kerry. Not because of what may or may not have happened thirty-five years ago, but because what I have seen in the past thirty-eight years.

A FITTING TRIBUTE

If the GOP wants to pay tribute to the families of the victims, who indeed are the real victims, of 9/11, then they should all pack up and go home. Oh yeah, and take these crazy demonstrators with you. It is an offense that anybody could be so callous as to use this tragedy in such a transparent attempt at exploiting these unfortuante souls. Mike and especially Rudy should be ashamed of their participation in this. Yes, Mr. Pataki, there is something still missing from the skyline, and there's something missing from the hearts of the GOP, compassion. Any truly compassionate soul would not use this tragedy as a tool for re-election. I have never seen any evidence of compassion coming from the right.

HOW FAR IS TOO FAR: MY BICENTENIAL BLOG

NYC Independent Media Center, who's website, nyc.indymedia.org, has offered up not only names of republican delegates to the convention, but, in some cases, the hotels they are staying at. Nothing good can come from this. This is going too far. Why would you want this information unless you wanted to harass these people. They are just doing what they consider their civic duty, and should be left to it. If you want to harass somebody, do it to somebody who deserves it.

Contacting the White House:

Mailing Address
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

Phone Numbers
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
FAX: 202-456-2461

TTY/TDD
Comments: 202-456-6213
Visitors Office: 202-456-2121

E-Mail

President George W. Bush: president@whitehouse.gov
Vice President Richard Cheney: vice.president@whitehouse.gov

WHAT CONVENTION?

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/30/opinion/30copps.html?ei=5006&en=74d28cbcd2b0f3d9&ex=1094529600&partner=ALTAVISTA1&pagewanted=print&position=

Michael J. Copps of The New York Times offers up my setiments exactly. Why aren't the major networks covering the convention. I don't care what Wolf Blitzer has to say about what the speakers at the convention have to say, I want to hear it from them, not him. This is the most important election of my lifetime, and I want to hear it all, not just what some talking head thinks is the main point. When I was a kid, I had to give up watching Scooby Doo beacause the Watergate hearings pre-empted my TV viewing. I survived, and I think the nation of TV junkies out there can live without their regulary scheduled programming for a few days. The networks' prime time offerings are crap anyway. I guess 'reality' programming doesn't include actual reality.

THE RULES ARE THEIRS TO BREAK

"The RNC convention week is boasting that it has 144 active duty military delegates at the convention. Meanwhile, according to DOD Directive 1344.10 this is a violation of the code of military conduct.� It explicitly says:

A member on active duty shall not participate in partisan political management, campaigns, or conventions (unless attending a convention as a spectator when not in uniform)." --MSNBC

Does anybody in Bush's campaign bother to check this stuff out? Or is this another non-issue. It's a non-issue when the campaign to re-elect the President subverts Acts of Congress and disregards military policy. What would happen if anybody from the left did this?

Who was it that wanted things both ways?

ALL'S QUIET ON THE EASTERN FRONT

August is a notoriously quiet month in New York. Alot of folks head out of town this time of year, but as the convention draws near it's getting downright eerie. I have my bunker all set up. I've made arrangements so I don't have to go above 14th street for the duration. As far as I'm concerned the republicans and the demonstrators can have mid-town. It's a horrible place anyway. I don't think the republicans will have the time or inclination to explore the city, but if one of these anarchist types get's in my face, he or she will have to deal with the consequences of my foot up their ass. I understand why they've come here, and I even understand the neccessity of peaceful demonstration, specially in a media hub like New York, but as I've said before, violent outbursts are what the republicans are hoping for. Don't make a mess people, we don't want to clean up after you.

ON THIS WEEK'S EPISODE

The Associated Press
Updated: 1:40 a.m. ET Aug. 27, 2004
PORTLAND, Ore. - A Swift Boat crewman ( Ret. Cheif Petty Officer Robert E. Lambert) decorated in the 1969 Vietnam incident where John Kerry won a Bronze Star says not only did they come under enemy fire but also that his own boat commander (Thurlow), who has challenged the official account, was too distracted to notice the gunfire.

The swift boat, fresh exciting and new, come aboard, we're expecting you...

What's funny here is that this guy was too distracted. What could be possibly going on that distracts you from being shot at? Can't wait til next week.

PLEASE STAY OFF MY SIDE

"They tortured people in Iraq, they (the Iraqis) have no weapons of mass destruction. Could somebody explain to me whether you think they're idiots or geniuses?"-- Canadian MP Carolyn Parrish

Carolyn, we're somewhere in between ok? Now shut up, go away and leave it to people with some common sense to comment on this subject. For the record, you're the idiot. With a mouth like that, how did you ever get elected? How does the electoral process work in Canada anyway? Do you put a sign on your igloo saying you're running for office? And by the way, how's that ecological disaster in James Bay coming along? Have you destroyed all your wildlife yet?

NO PLACE TO RUN

UFO was one of those great english hard rock bands that just couldn't break america. Like their contemporaries, Thin Lizzy, UFO released quality records throughout the 70's and enjoyed success everywhere but here. In 1979 guitarist Michael Schenker letf the band for the umpteenth and final time. This left some very large shoes to fill. Mike Chapman, who had filled in for Schenker on countless tours when the 'difficult' artist would invariably fail to show up, was the natural choice as replacement. In 1980, armed with a slew of great songs and a new guitar player with alot to prove, UFO went into the studio with none other than Sir George Martin. I love this album. I always come back to it and am never disapointed. The production is the best they ever enjoyed (Thanks George). Songs like "Anyday" and "Take It Or Leave It" show remarkable depth in both the lyric, and the tune. On their cover of the Elvis classic "Mystery Train" Chapman simply 'heads out'. Though I'm a huge Schenker fan, I never miss him for a second on this record. Subsequent releases differ. The second side (Youngblood, No Place To Run, Take It Or Leave It, Money, and Anyday) is one of those perfect album sides. Phil Mogg (vocals) was certainly at his best on this album, both as a writer and as a performer. It's a shame this record never got it's due. As much as UFO rises to the occasion on No Place To Run, the public, it seems, wanted Schenker's leads and didn't much care about songs.

RATS AND SINKING SHIPS

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A legal adviser to the Bush-Cheney campaign resigned Wednesday after revealing that he had also advised the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, the 527 group that has launched a campaign to discredit Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry's military record.

This is where I get to use one of my favorite words, cahoots. As in; I knew they were in cahoots all along. Liars and lawyers have a very special bond.

OLYMPIC COMMITTEE TORCHES BUSH AD

The U.S. Olympic Committee has asked President Bush's re-election campaign to pull a television ad that mentions the Olympics.
"We are on firm legal ground to mention the Olympics and make a factual point in a political advertisement," Campaign spokesman Scott Stanzel said .
An act of Congress, last revised in 1999, grants the USOC exclusive rights to such terms as "Olympic," derivatives such as "Olympiad" and the five interlocking rings. It also specifically says the organization "shall be nonpolitical and may not promote the candidacy of an individual seeking public office."--Associated Press

George has the right to use his successes in his campaign. He believes, along with many others, that he has done a great thing in bringing democracy to Iraq and Afghanistan. Time will tell weather or not democracy actually takes hold and thrives, but that's beside the point. What he has done wrong, which is what has gotten him in such trouble with the rest of us, is that he's acted without thinking through. He can't legally use the Olympics in his ads, and if he had his lawyers check it out, they would have told him so. Then again, that probably wouldn't have stopped him. Ask Colin Powell about that.

CONEY ISLAND

I went out to Coney Island to see the Cyclones play last night. I recomend it highly. The Cyclones themselves are no great shakes, it is after all single 'A' play. You can't get any lower. As the man said, you can't yell "Send 'em down!" The vibe, however, is fantastic. It's very mellow, lot's of families, people hangin' out having a good time. There's none of the negativity and anger you find at big league games. I was also pleased to find a selection of beer available, including the very palatable Brooklyn Lager. This also is a nice break from the big stadiums where if you can get beer at all, it's watered down Bud or Coors or some other crap.
After the game, my fiend took me around the amusements. I, regretfully, had never been to Coney Island. According to my mother, I have ancestral claim to Coney Island, so it was about time I 'went home'. I took my first ride on the Cyclone. Let's just say this; it was an experience. The guys that run it are hilarious. The thing looks as old as it is. The Cyclone does not instill one with great confidence, but I guess that's a big part of it's appeal. We also "shot the freak', which is basically paintball target practice - I was 15 for 15! I wasn't aware of my talents in that department. Then came mini golf. I love mini golf. Mostly because my short game is pretty good, it's that damn fairway that slows me down. We played two rounds and had a great time. Then the long train ride back to 'america'.

GIVE THE PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT

I just bought the SACD (surround sound) reissue of the Kinks 1981 release; Give The People What They Want. I have mentioned this record in at least two past posts, but I haven't ever given it it's due. Though not as chock full of hits as it's predecessor (Low Budget) or as commercial as it's follow-up (State Of Confusion), GTPWTW is easily my favorite all time Kinks record, and I'll give you three reasons: "Destroyer", "Art Lover" and "Better Things". "Destroyer" brings us the continued adventures of Lola as he/she helps her lover deal with the paranoia brought on by modern urban life. It's also a bone crushing riff. "Art Lover" is simply the greatest song about pedaphilia ever written.

"I'm not a flasher in a raincoat
I'm not a dirty old man
I'm not gonna snatch you from your mother
I'm an art lover
come to daddy"

Chilling in it's sincerity, as well as comic in it's delivery, "Art Lover" is a masterpiece. Certainly one of the greatest rock songs ever. In "Better Things" Ray Davies offers us hope after a dismal decade (70's).

"Here's hoping all the days ahead
Won't be as bitter as the ones behind you
Be an optimist instead
And somehow happiness will find you
Forget what happened yesterday
I know better things are on the way"

The whole record is an adjustment period for thr Kinks. Surprised at the sudden success of Low Budget, Ray and the Kinks struggle with their uncomfortable position as elder statesmen of rock thrust into the spotlight after spending the decade prior shunning the record industry and concentrating on small concept records. Their anxiety at this turn of events is a common thread throughout the record.

The 77-81 period of the Kinks is my favorite. Of course I love the early hits, and I even like the middle bit (Muswell, Preservation Act..), but it seems that Ray finally decided in 77 that he wanted to rock, and rock they did. 1977's Misfits, Low Budget, One More For The Road (live), and Give The People What they want are the most consistant Kinks records in their catalog, and if you don't have them in your collection, your missing out.

GOP DIVIDED ON ISSUES

We all know where G.W. stands on the issues, but it seems on some he's standing alone. Dick, it seems, has a different view on gay marriage:

"People ought to be free to enter into any kind of relationship they want to."--Dick Cheney

And we've seen where John McCain stands on Kerry's war record. To be fair, G.W. has gone on record defending Kerry's service as well, after the damage was done. For once, however, it seems the Democrats are more unified than the Republicans. Yay!

COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN

This is the problem we face in Iraq. The people we are fighting are under the wrong impression as to our intent. The following is a quote from one of al-Sadr's miltia positioned at the Imam Ali Mosque:

"We are all here," said one unidentified militiaman. "We are here to stay. We will defend the mosque."--CNN

Defend the mosque from what? We're after you, not the mosque dummy.

FIRST UNITED CHURCH OF FOOTBALL

My mother did her best to raise me in the catholic faith, but it was a different sunday mass that I chose as my adoptive faith. Football. I love football. When I was a kid I loved the Dallas Cowboys (hey, it was the seventies; Staubach, Pearson, Newhouse), but in the mid-eighties when I moved in with my brother and his wife they laid down the law: "Love the Giants or get out". The Giants were easy to love back then. The Tuna wasn't the over publicized dynasty builder that he is today, Phil Simms was the working class hero, short on talent, long on doing whatever it took to get the ball in the end zone, and then there was L.T. Who didn't love L.T.? (Theisman?) And Mark Bavaro, how New York was Mark Bavaro? Well those days sure are gone. I hope Tom Coughlin can make something out of Big Blue, but it's Team Green that get's most of my attention these days. I love Herm. Herm is a man's man. Nothing phony about Herm. This season has promise. Chad is healthy, we got rid of Vinny, and in a wierd sort of synchronistic turn of events we're getting Quincy Carter to back up Chad. I wasn't too sure about Quincy until the Cowboys let him go for failing a drug test, now I love him. I think that recreational drug use is a man's perogative, as is his right to throw his career down the drain. What's the point of being a professional football player if you can't sniff coke of a hooker's tits. Not to mention all the drugs that they are recomended to take by team physicians. Ah digression, my strongsuit, anyway I'm looking forward to a great season of shouting "Break his fuckin' neck" at the tv screen at my local bar, or better yet from the bleachers with a five dollar hot dog and six dollar beer.

END OF THE CENTURY

http://www.endofthecentury.com/

Finally a movie that promises to be educational and entertaining. The Ramones were so much more than a band. Specially to New Yorkers. For us, the Ramones are our Mount Rushmore. I can remember distinctly the first time I heard the Ramones (1979, USMA cadet library with Pat Wilson giggling about the lyrics), the first record of theirs that I bought (Rocket To Russia), the first time I saw them in concert (1984, The Bayou in Washington D.C.), and the last time I saw them in concert (SUNY Albany May Day, 1995). The Ramones are in many ways the soundtrack of my life. They were the first band who's songs I could play on guitar. I've seen them live more times than any other band (5), and for years I was destined to bump into a Ramone (mostly Dee Dee) at random events (Peter Gabriel's 'SO' tour, Capitol Center, Md. 1985). I worked for Dee Dee at The Bank doing lights for a solo gig. I picked up Joey off the floor of Coney Island High once. I'm sure I share that dubious distinction with many. They were our heroes, and they were us. I was never snubbed by a Ramone. Though often incoherant, they were always approachable. Specially if you were holding. Joey and Dee Dee are no longer with us, but they're up there with Stiv and Johnny Thunders trying to cop dope off St. Peter. In heaven every hit is like the first. God bless the Ramones, for they have blessed us.

527 THE NUMBER OF THE BEAST

"These groups (527's) are named for the federal provision that makes such organizations tax exempt and allows them to accept unlimited donations." -- CNN
According to George W. Bush, 527 ads should not be allowed. "That means that ad, every other ad. Absolutely. I don't think we ought to have 527s." -- CNN

It's hard to get around the freedom of speech aspect of this issue. Maybe a disclaimer that says the ad in question does not reflect the opinion of the candidate it is intended to support. Something that tells the viewer that the ad is not funded by, nor solicited by the candidate it supports. Also, I think that these ads should be forced to deal in fact. Unsubstantiated claims should not be allowed. It's hard to stem the flow of slime during an election, but it is a noble effort, and one that should be given more than just serious consideration. We need serious legislation. The day when a man need not be rich to run for president will be the day our country lives up to it's promise and it's potential.

40 ACRES AND A MULE

http://www.suntimes.com/output/elect/cst-nws-sen19.html

I don't really think that anybody's buying what Alan Keyes is selling. It is, however, apparent that the Keyes doesn't care about black people if he is going to dangle this carrot that he know's he will never in a million years be able to come through on. I am, for the record, all for reparations, and don't even get me started on what we should do for the all but extinct American Indian, but this is inciteful politics, and I hope Obama has the intelligence to ignore Keyes.

THE KIDS ARE NOT ALRIGHT

Occasionally, when I'm in between books, I'll buy a music magazine to read on my commute home. Last week I bought the recent issue of SPIN because of the article on the HIVES, whom I like. It was the article that followed the one on the HIVES that I'm about to take issue with. I have already blogged about how stupid lists are, and true to style I follwed up with an imperfect list of my own. This particular insult to my intelligence was called "Top Fifty Frontmen". First of all, get your terminology right. A 'frontman' is a member of the band, like David Lee Roth or Mick Jaggar. Prince (number one on the list) is not a front man, he's an artist who employs musicians to back him. So with that goes Elvis (#3), James Brown (#4), and even my hero David Bowie (#7). The second offense was the points system employed to rate these musicians. A one thru ten for 'prescence', 'fashion sense', and 'musical ability'. This sounds okay until you see Freddy Mercury gets a 7 for musical ability, and Axl Rose gets a 9. Freddy Mercury, who wrote 'A Bohemian Rhapsody' is less musically talented than Axl Rose? David Bowie get's a fashion sense of 7 ? Do they know who he's married to? Have they ever seen Zoolander? David Bowie is fashion. That's just wrong. Thirdly there are no points given for innovation. Karen-O of the Yeah Yeah Yeah's ranked higher than Iggy Pop who's act she completely ripped off. How can Prince rank higher than James Brown? There would be no Prince without James Brown. Does Spin not have an editor? Is Spin's editor seventeen years old?
Here's my list of magazines I no longer read:
1) SPIN

DETERENTS ARE NOT ENOUGH

Talk is cheap. Promises of swift and severe punishment is not enough. In France we see an escalation of anti-semetic attacks. Mostly property damage at this point, but for how long. I suggest to Jacques Chirac not only a 'crack-down' on these offenses, but to try to adress the root of the problem. Ignorance. Prejudice, bias, bigottry; they all thrive on ignorance. Educate your populace Jacques. You can start with manditory programs for immigrants; 'you wanna live here, this is how it is: we love Jews.' If there's one thing I won't tolerate it's intolerance.

POPE NOT INTO CLONING

Cloning is kinda scary. I'm ambivalent about it really. I'm sure it has scientific, and by proxy medical implications that are certainly something to be looked into. But clones are scary. Hollywood tells us so. My problem with the Pope here is a comment where he likened clone reraserch to Nazi war atrocities. Does John Paul forget that the Catholic Church turned a blind eye to said atrocities? Watch your references JP.

BOB DOLE'S OUT CRITICISM

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5771731/

I like Bob Dole. I wouldn't have voted for him because he's a member of that dirty rotten party of scumbags, but I like him. He's shown a sense of humor about himself, and I appreciate that, and he also seems to be a fairly reasonable fellow. I guess times like these bring out the worst in people. I can understand why Kerry's criticism of the Vietnam war pissed of a great many veterans back in the early seventies. He was a young man then, and he had something he needed to say. It wasn't pretty, but it was the truth. To accuse the man of recieving undeserved Purple Hearts is an idicitmnet of the military Bob is so keen to protect the image of. It's clearly an attempt to keep Kerry on the defensive, when it's Bush, Cheney, and Ashcroft who are the draft dodgers. Let's not forget who actually served Bob.

BLOGSPOT IS PC BIASED

I may have to move my blog. I thought that when I upgraded to OS X I'd get all the capabilities that Blogspot offers but that I do not get to use because I'm a Mac user. I was wrong. I still get no 'word' type editing tools, such as spellcheck. I still get no link editing, no nothin' really, and I have to say that it sucks. Is there hope for a Mac user? Are there Mac friendly blog platforms? I like my Mac, and my blog. Can I have both?

EMPIRES FALL

This is one axiom that you can't get around. Another is that as things fall apart, the center does not hold. Rome lasted about 700 years. Things move a bit faster today. The Brittish lasted about 400 depending on where you put your start date, I use the founding of North American colonies, but you could argue that it began in 1066 with William the Conquereor, which would add another 500 hundred years, but since the English held French counties kept trading hands for 400 of that 500, I put it in the 1500's. Anyway, in both cases, as with the Hapsburgs, the empires couldn't stand thier own weight in the end. As I said, things move faster today. The American Empire began with the expansion into the former Spanish colonies, and hit the ground running after the second world war. Since then we have used our position as a super power to expand into foriegn markets via economic imperialism. We don't hold the citizens of these countries bound to us by any alegiance other than that of the almighty dollar. We use economic blackmail to influence policy in foreign markets. American companies commonly exploit foreign workforces, which in turn devalues the american labor force. Jobs move overseas, unemployment rises, and our economy suffers. Meanwhile world opinion, and with that comes our credibility, suffers from both sides of this equation. Contempt over our abuses, followed by a crippling of our ability to influence creates an unstable international position. Couple that with the insanity of an overly bureaucratic society and you have a recipe for the decline of an empire.

IRAQI SOCCER OLYMIANS FOR TRUTH

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2004/olympics/2004/writers/08/19/iraq/index.html?cnn=yes

Salih Sadir isn't too happy about being used by G.W. in election adverts. His view is that he is able to compete despite G.W., not because of him. I have no doubt what the response from the opposition will be on this one. But before you go calling this man an ingrate, take a look at some photos of the bodies of his countrymen. G.W. doesn't put that stuff in his ads.

SWIFT BOAT LIARS FOR BUSH

Not many people know this about me, but I served on a swift boat in Vietnam as well, sure I was three years old, but I was big for my age. Anyway, I didn't serve with John Kerry, but I did serve with these guys (Swift Boat Veterans For Truth), and I can tell you this:
George Elliott likes little boys. Al French wore a corset under his uniform. Louis Letson smoked crack on duty. Van Odell smells real bad. Jack Chenowerth has an eating disorder. Bob Elder's mom works Hunt's Point. Joe Ponder is a big fat queer. Roy Hoffman works for Al Queda. Adrian Lonsdale wets his bed. Grant Hibbard throws like a girl. Shelton White has a stupid nerdy name, and Bob Hildreth can't get it up.

I love truth, it's alot of fun.

I BLOG NEW YORK

Yesterday after work (6:00 PM) I met some associates at Park Bar to say farewell to a coleague. I ordered a Stella and chatted with a friend who had at one time sent her kids to the Little Red Schoolhouse. We talked about the famous people who's children go there. I finished my always refreshing Stella, and left. It was 6:30, and I wanted to catch the 7:20 commuter bus, but I had to stop at Duggal on 23rd to drop off some film, so I decided to walk to the 41st street bus terminal. After I left Duggal, I proceeded west down 23rd and I bumped into my sister-in-law's sister who was in the middle of a conference call on her cell (damn clients always find you), she signaled for the Stop and Chat so while she finished up I bought a Gatorade and a pack of Parliament at the newspaper stand. "How was the beach", "Lot's of naps", "Naps rule", "Gotta run". Total encounter time; 3 minutes. Very New York. I'm off up 7th avenue. I passed Madison Square Garden, the site of this years Republican National Convention, where the transformation is almost complete, I think the Death Star will be ready before The Rebels attack. Then I bumped into Justin from WWIX , we briefly caught up, phone calls were promised. Justin was in the middle of a common New York dilema. He had a party to go to in Manhattan later, but he lives in Brooklyn. "Should I go home, or to a movie?" I suggested "Maria Full Of Grace" which is playing at Lanmark Sunshine Cinema, and told Justin that I had to run. It was now 7:07. I had roughly fifteen minutes, time to fast walk. It's all about pedestrian management. You have to look a half block ahead and see the feild, watch for the holes. As I made my way up the escalator at the bus terminal I could hear a song I recognised. The guy at the coffee stand on the second floor was blasting "Starbreaker" by Judas Priest, a good omen. I looked up at the clock, 7:14, I'm going to make it. As I got to the platform, the Red And Tan was just pulling up.

ALAS POOR CABLE BOX, I KNEW YE WELL

For the past year I had the ultimate cable package with all the premium movie channels and three hundred other channels to mindlessly search. Recently, I decided to stream-line my life, and I started by cancelling my cable. This means that I now have no TV whatsoever. Gone are the days of airwave TV. When I was a kid, growing up in the metro New York area, we had seven channels that we tuned into with our antennas; ABC, NBC, CBS, WNET, WPIX, WOR, and WNYW (FOX5), now I get nothing but snow. I am pleased to report, however, that there is life after cable. Remeber books? Remember records? Remember (eeek!) conversation? God forbid we talk to eachother. I no longer have to worry about 'reality programming' or Fox television insulting my inteligence. I think about how much of my life I have given to the idiot box. What has it given back? I know the lyrics to "Welcome Back Kotter" and "Gilligan's Island". I can play the ever popular "did you ever see the Simpsons episode when..." game. And there are the images that are permanently fused in my psyche; 9/11, the Columbia shuttle, Jonestown...all horrible. I can live without TV. Fortunately my girlfriend is taping "Six Feet Under" for me.

THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT

My roomate, Andy Rock (Andrejev Jovanovic) has been diving in to my vast collection of seventies vinyl. He's in his mid twenties, and he was raised on Guns And Roses and Motley Crue. Andy happens to be an exceptional guitar player, and he has found my record collection to be a great place to expand his influences. Enter Steeley Dan and Jeff Beck. Last night we hung out drinking Jack Daniels and passing the pipe. I turned him onto "The Secret Policeman's Other Ball", a live recording of an Amnesty Interrnational concert in 1982. The record features Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton dueling it out on "Further On Up The Road" and "Crossroads", a duel Jeff dominates, and the classic Beck tune "Cause We'Ve Ended As Lovers" which Clapton wisely leaves to Beck. Andy, already a "Blow By Blow" convert, was blown away by Jeff's live performance, as well he should be. Later in the evening as the Jack and weed took it's toll we sat engulfed by Steley Dan's "Aja". Eyes closed, in love with saxophones and electric pianos, we drifted along with the songs. At one point, our friend Wacky Jacky, uncomfortable in the lack of conversation, said; "Somebody say something". There was a pause, I looked at Andy, I turned to Jacky; "How about -'shut up'."

ALMA MATER-PIPE

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5730476/

Ah the glory days. It looks like I left a legacy. It was at SUNY Albany that I came up with the two dictums that would help me bring to a close my ten year career as an undergrad.

1) Either go to class, or read the book, you must do at least one.
2) You are much more likely to do either if the subject holds some interest for you.

I started my illustrious journey into acedemia at the University of Maryland, College Park. I seem to remember that institution topping the same list a number of years ago. I guess I leave a trail or something. Maybe they should put up a plaque; "Ted passed out here". By the time I got to Albany I was six to eight years older than my fellow students; I did some teaching of my own. So many students explode in a fury of sex and drugs (remember, alcohol is a drug) when they escape their suburban prisons, and the more of them you put together, the bigger the party. So hey, go ahead college students, roll another one, you are part of a great tradition.

THE END OF AN ERA

http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/europe/08/17/germany.troops.ap/index.html

Forst off, this blog is in no way an indictment of the proposed restructuring of our military posture. I am simply waxing nostalgic for a time and a place that is fast disapearing.

I often tell people that I was born in a country that no longer exists - West Germany. My father was a career military officer and he did tours in Germany, like so many did. In 1965, when he was stationed in Pirmasens, I came into the world. By '68 he was off to Vietnam, and we (his family) took up residence outside Washington D.C., however in 1979, he took his sabbaticle in Heidelberg, and I got to live in Germany for a year at a very impressionable age. I loved it. I loved exploring the history and culture, and am happy I got a chance to reconcile my German heritage with my disgust of the holocaust by visiting Dachau. I was fortunate enough to be able to travel throughout Europe, visiting Italy, France, Austria, and Switzerland. The experience has shaped me, and I am a better man for it. It has helped me understand our nation's place in the world, how our ploicies affect the lives of average people around the world. It may indeed be time to pull most of our forces out of Europe, but in doing so, again, we affect the lives of decent hard working people who's lives and livelihood are/is tied with our prescence there. Never, in my time spent in Germany, was I treated with anything other than respect by the citizens of that nation. It is only right that we should at least consider what this pullout will do to them, and work with the German government on ways to ease the transition. Many will say "Fuck them, they blew us off in Iraq", and that may be, but for the past fifty years they have been a willing host to our forces and I don't see how screwing them over is going to profit us any.

WHAT HAPPENED?
The following is excerpted from the official GOP website:
http://www.gop.com/About/GOPHistory/Default.aspx

"The Republican Party was born in the early 1850's by anti-slavery activists and individuals who believed that government should grant western lands to settlers free of charge. Abraham Lincoln became the first Republican to win the White House, against the advice of his cabinet, Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation that freed the slaves. The Republicans of their day worked to pass the Thirteenth Amendment, which outlawed slavery, the Fourteenth, which guaranteed equal protection under the laws, and the Fifteenth, which helped secure voting rights for African-Americans. The Republican Party also played a leading role in securing women the right to vote. In 1896, Republicans were the first major party to favor women's suffrage."

Well it sounds like they got off to a good start. On the side of civil liberties...hmmmm, that can't be.....Republicans hate civil liberties don't they? I've often wondered where they get their ideology, so I did some research. The basic tenet of the Republican Party is that 'big government' is bad. In other words they want to limit the ability of government to meddle in the affairs of it's populace. Wrong. That may have been how it was, but not since before the first world war. What they want is to limit the governments ability to limit the ways they make money, they love it when government tells us how to live our private lives. They stand on what they call family values, values as they define them, or as defined in a very old book that's been translated a thousand times over.
It's also strange that the second major tenet of the GOP is fiscal conservatism. The three Presidents prior to the market crash of 1929 were republicans (Harding, Coolidge, Hoover), and a Democrat (Roosevelt) got us out of that mess. Reagan/Bush left us with a huge debt and Clinton fixed it and what happened to the surplus? Rhetorical, I know we all know the answer.
It started off auspiciously enough...but something happened...something went wrong, something called religion coupled with something called greed, which is a sin last I looked, and a deadly one.

HARKIN'S BOILIN' BLOOD

DES MOINES -- Sen. Tom Harkin called Vice President Dick Cheney a "coward" for avoiding service in Vietnam and called on President Bush to end the "backdoor draft."
Harkin shot back at Cheney, who said in a visit to Iowa on Tuesday that presidential candidate John Kerry lacks a basic understanding of the war on terrorism and cannot make America safer.
"When I hear this coming from Dick Cheney, who was a coward, who would not serve during the Vietnam War, it makes my blood boil," Harkin said. "Those of us who served and those of us who went in the military don't like it when someone like a Dick Cheney comes out and he wants to be tough. Yeah, he'll be tough. He'll be tough with somebody else's blood, somebody else's kids. But not when it was his turn to go." -- Associated Press

I love this 'safer' stuff. Safer than what? How about plain old 'safe'? Imperialists like Cheney brought this situation on us, what makes anybody think they can get us out of it? And what is the Bush/Cheney plan? Kill every arab? Their war on terror is working as well as their war on drugs; it's not working, in fact it's making things worse.

THE MARSHALL PLAN

I always wanted a Marshall stack. So many of my favorite guitar players used them, and I felt incomplete without one. last year I was fortunate enough to be able to purchase a Marshall head. A friend sold me his Slash model, a limited edition combo 50/100 watt. It's everything I ever dreamed of and more. I can get the classic seventies Marshall 50 watt sound a la Michael Schenker and the classic Angus Young 100 watt feel as well. My argument to myself was that it would be a hit with clients, and I was right. It makes guitar players drool upon sight. This weekend we had a session, and Bob Riverdinera of Formula One (www.formulaonemusic.com) asked if we could get him that "Iron Maiden" tone. I was pleased as punch to be able to say; "Why, yes Bob, we most certainly can." And we did. I don't much care for the recent Marshalls. You need to push them all the way to get that tone, and that's just too loud for our little studio. Our Slash model enables you to get that 'breaking up' tone at a lesser volume, and that's clutch. What's more, is that it's very user friendly in that it doesn't have eight thousand knobs to get lost in. Our studio is also outfitted with a number of Fender amps, among others, which give our clients a full range of options. My Marshall, however, makes the package complete, and me along with it.

WAR PIGS

The title says it all. Thirty-four years ago, Black Sabbath released their second Lp, "Paranoid", which includes, among other classics, the penultimate anti-war song - "War Pigs". I was on my way to my studio on saturday and happened upon a local anti-war demonstration in Williamsburg. I loved the two women performing "War Pigs" with an accordion, it was funny, and the song fits the occasion. There were posters, buttons, bumper-stickers, and all kinds of anti-Bush paraphanelia, but I didn't see any pro-Kerry swag. Now, I'm all for getting the people out in the streets voicing thier rage, but we have to put a kinder face on all the hate. I hate Bush, no doubt, but the way to win this election is by getting people to vote for somebody, not against. Next time try "Power To The People", it's more positive, and I'm sure Mr. Kerry would agree.

BLINDED BY SCIENCE

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5722898/

I bet G.W.'s attitude toward the scientific community would change if he realized that science could help him with his golf swing.

O'REILLY BRIEFLY LAPSES LUCID

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/story/222652p-191113c.html

I don't know who gave Bill the happy pills, but keep 'em comin'. When even the staunchest anti-liberal goes on record condeming the slanted negative tactics of the rabid right even E.F. Hutton listens, and he's dead.

TED'S TOP TWENTY-FIVE
I hate lists. When I read "High Fidelity" I could relate to it, but VH1, Rolling Stone, and Spin have ruined my taste for lists, mostly because they are invariably created by morons. My list of the twenty-five most influential records (upon myself, not you!) is in chronological order (my chronology - the order in which they came to me), mostly because the order of importance is constantly being revised. I am a liberal democrat, and therefore it's in my nature to flip flop on important issues such as this one. It was supposed to be ten, I couldn't do it. I'm sure Tony Alva will fill me in on what I forgot.

The Carpenters - Greatest Hits
Elton John - Don't Shoot Me, I'm Only The Piano Player
The Beatles - Abbey Road
Kiss - Desroyer
UFO - Strangers In The Night
Nazareth - Greatest Hits
Cheap Trick - At Budokan
The Beatles - Revolver
Ramones - Rocket To Russia
Judas Priest - Brittish Steel
Motorhead - Ace Of Spades
AC/DC - Let There Be Rock
The Kinks - Give The People What They Want
Black Sabbath - Sabotage
Frank Zappa - Zoot Allures
Rolling Stones - Sticky Fingers
T. Rex - The Slider
Pink Floyd - Animals
David Bowie - The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars
U2 - Unforgetable Fire
The Sex Pistols - Never Mind The Bollocks
REM - Life's Rich Pageant
Neil Young - After The Gold Rush
Thin Lizzy - Jaibreak
The Clash - The Clash

GOD BLESS CHARLIE

It's come to my attention that Charlie Watts is recovering from throat cancer surgery. I would like to take a moment here to wish him a speedy recovery. If we lose Charlie, we lose Keith. Keith has said many times over that he will only continue with the Stones for as long as Charlie does. Charlie has long been the terra firma of the band. His temperment and his solid time-keeping have kept the band going for over thirty years.
"I think he raises sheep dogs in Wales" -- M. Jagger

WHOOPS

It seems Haliburton has mismanaged it's Iraq contracts to the tune of $1.8 billion. Maybe Ken Lay knows where it is.

OUT FOR ALL THE WRONG REASONS

Normally I would applaud the coming out of a gay politician. In the case of Governor McGreevey however, it seems to be a case of damage control. I suspect he would have kept up his charade as long as he could have. An honest politician is tantamount to an oxymoron, and we as a culture half expect to be lied to. Unfortunately Mr. McGreevey has hurt the gay community more than he ever could have helped it by being openly gay from the start.

HOW THE NET WAS WON

The internet has always reminded me of the wild west. In '93 I wrote a song called "Computer Cowboy" in which I remarked upon the frontier like aspect of the web. The lawless atmosphere of the old west created an enviroment in which extra-legal business could thrive, much like we have on the web with pornography. Eventually, as in the old west, this period will come to a close, and then it will be romaticized. So remember you media moguls, you are creating the legends of tomorrow.

LUCINDA WILLIAMS

Last Tuesday I went to see Lucinda Williams at Summer Stage with my girlfriend, my brother, his wife, and (eeek!) my parents. It was a great show. Lucinda provided her special brand of country infused rock that even my folks could appreciate, even if it was a bit loud for them. When my mother asked me why does it have to be so loud, I replied "that's how we like it". Of course it wasn't that loud, and obviously my mother has never been to see AC/DC. Lucinda's guitar player was excelent, providing Stevie Ray Vaughn inspired leads to her legacy of truly american compositions. The only downer on the evening was when a woman asked me to move my conversation elsewhere, apparently Lucinda was there to perform solely for this woman's benefit. I'm sorry, I thought I was at a rock concert.

ANONYMOUS

Since you don't have balls to identify yourself, I can only conclude that you are full of shit.

UNFIT FOR CONSUMPTION

Co-author of "Unfit For Command", Jerome Corsi is quite a piece of work. Check out some of his views:

http://mediamatters.org/items/200408060010

This anti-Kerry diatribe (the book) lacks credibility simply because it's authors are so extremely biased. If you want to convince me of your sincerety, don't use words like "raghead" and "boy-bumper". These bigots are as fanatical as any member of Al Queda. I doubt that even the President believes this tripe, and he's a big believer in tripe.

LUNATIC AT LARGE, RUNNING FOR OFFICE

I was going to leave the Alan Keyes - Barak Obama race alone, at least until Mr. Keyes said something so outrageous that I couldn't hold back. Well, guess what?

Republican Alan Keyes ripped into Democratic rival Barack Obama's views on abortion Monday, calling them "the slaveholder's position," as the U.S. Senate race roared back to life in Illinois. "I would still be picking cotton if the country's moral principles had not been shaped by the Declaration of Independence," Keyes said. He said Obama "has broken and rejected those principles-- he has taken the slaveholder's position."-- Associated Press

This guy is looney tunes. This comment doesn't even make sense. It is a blatant and transparent attempt to stir up trouble. I guess Mr. Keyes was hired to do a job, and those that led him to it are getting the results they want. Of course it will backfire on the GOP miserably, I mean the guy is obviously off his rocker. If Barak can refrain from playing ball in thier court, i.e. negative campaigning, he will do well. If he succumbs to Mr. Keyes low road approach and engages in slanderous behavior, then the republicans will have accomplished their goal of dividing the black vote. I hope black voters in Illinois were paying attention when Al Sharpton responded to the President at the DNC last month. It is apparent that the GOP was.

ZUMA

My brother and I both blogged Neil Young's "On The Beach" last week, and as I prepare to venture out to the beach today, I'm listening to Neil's 1975 release "Zuma". Despite being named for a famous beach, "Zuma" has little in common with "On The Beach" other than they are both under-appreciated fan favorites. Where "On The Beach" is introspective, thoughtful, quiet, and sparse; "Zuma" is loud, abrasive, thrown together, and much more dense. Where there seems to be thread of commonality on "On The Beach", "Zuma" is all over the map. But that's okay, in fact it's very okay. On Zuma we have the first recordings of a reformed Crazy Horse, with the appearance of Frank Sampedro replacing the departed Danny Whitten. On this record the Crazy Horse that we know and love today was born. Neil has often touted his band as being the world's second greatest garage band, and it's that ethos that is presented here on "Zuma". The fidelity is low, the musicianship is less than note perfect, but the over all feel is glorious, as are the songs. "Barstool Blues" is one of my all time favorites, as is the sprawling "Danger Bird", and there's the classic "Cortez The Killer".
"Zuma" at times feels peiced together, as if the record company was calling, and Neil gave them what he had on hand, odds and ends from other sessions. While this is not the case entirely, the inclusion of a discarded CSN&Y tune, "Through My Sails", and the randomness of the track's offered gives the listener the feeling that the album was made during a time of great change for Neil. I liken it to Frank Zappa's "Zoot Allures" in the sense that it was the end of something or the beginning of another, and a great album for reasons that usually don't provide such results.

BUYING YOUR KID A GUITAR?

I'm constantly being asked for advice about buying a 'first' guitar. The concern is always the same; nobody wants to drop a sizable chunk of change on something that will just collect dust if the child becomes disinterested. How true. I believe that any musical interest a child may have should be given a chance. So here's some advice along those lines.

An acoustic guitar would be ideal. They are portable (can you take that thing outside!) and need no peripherals/incidentals/accessories (other than a tuner! a must!). Acoustic guitar is a great tool for developing 'an ear' for notes and chords, and for developing the muscles needed to play. Acoustics generally have higher action (the space between the string and the neck) and more pressure is needed to 'fret' the note. Generally speaking, if you learn first on acoustic you will develop into a better player. Decent acoustic guitars can be had for a reasonable sum; $100-$200. You get what you pay for, and a quality guitar will cost more, but it will also last longer, and sound sweeter. Yamaha and Ibanez make affordable guitars of reasonable qulaity. If you feel like your child is worth the extra investment - go with a Martin. In my opinion, stay away from Ovation (they sound like crap) and nylon string/classical guitars (kid's hate them, the necks are too wide, and they don't have that big sound).

"I want an ELECTRIC guitar" Who doesn't ? If your child is adamant about being a rock god, this can be done as well. In fact most of my peers, including myself, began on electric. Again, you need to ask yourself how much you want to spend and how serious is your child. Electric guitars need amplifiers and straps (gonads must be supplied by the player), so already you will probably end up paying a little more for the electric 'package'. Most retailers (Sam Ash, guitar Center) offer package deals where you can get all you need at one low price; a starter kit if you will. These packages invariably consist of the lowest end models available, and I suggest strongly to stay away from them. My advice is to get your kid a Fender Stratocaster, and a small Fender combo amp (12 watts should be sufficient). Fender guitars are still reasonably priced despite thier popularity, and have a habit of staying nicely in tune. I own Two Fenders, a Stratocaster, and a Telecaster. American made Fenders are supposed to be superior, and they run about 700 dollars, a mexican strat costs about 300 (my strat is mexican and I love it), and a Squire (Fender's low end subsiduary) costs about 100. If, however, your child wants a Gibson, and who doesn't, have no fear...Epiphone is here. A Gibson Les Paul lists for an easy $2,400. Epiphone - Gibson's low end subsiduary - offers Les Pauls for $300-500. I bought my two Epiphone Les Paul Jr.s for $169 each, and I love them. So don't despair, your child's first guitar need not break your bank. Unfortunately, ear plugs are extra.

THEY LOVE TO TELL THIER LITTLE LIES

"It reopens all the old wounds of the Vietnam War, which I spent the last 35 years trying to heal. I deplore this kind of politics. I think the ad is dishonest and dishonorable. As it is, none of these individuals served on the boat (Kerry) commanded. Many of his crew have testified to his courage under fire. I think John Kerry served honorably in Vietnam. I think George Bush served honorably in the Texas Air National Guard during the Vietnam War.'' -- Sen. John McCain

Tell it like it is John. I'm writing a book, tentatively called: "Here's A Bunch Of Lies About George Bush". I think it will sell well, of course if I try to publish it during G.W.'s administration I'll be branded an un-american treasonous traitor commie Al Queda loving drug infested queer lover. Okay, so the last bit's not far off.....

THE GRAND PARADE OF LIFELESS PACKAGING

Tony Alva's comment on my blog about mp3's (Why Do You Listen) is a very good point. Gone are the days of a "complete package". Pink Floyd's "Dark Side Of The Moon" is case and point. We will never see anything like that again. Not sonically or visually. I was attempting to read the liner notes for Rush's new "Feedback" record (all covers, highlight - Neil Young's "Mr. Soul"), and I failed. The print was so small I couldn't read it. Maybe I'm an old foggie, but I do long for those days of vinyl, when cover art meant something, and liner notes were legible, if incoherent. There was a time when I would browse the bins in record shops and often buy records based on the cover art alone. Sometimes I'd regret it, sometimes I'd be pleasantly surprised, but it was an adventure. Now I never buy anything new unless I've already heard it and like it, which is rare. Mostly I buy records made years ago when making records was an artform.

COMMON GROUND

It took some time, but George W. Bush finally said something I completely agree with.

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush said Friday he opposes the use of a family history at colleges or universities as a factor in determining admission. Bush stated his position to what's known as "legacy" in response to a question during a Washington forum for minority journalists called Unity 2004. He was asked, "Colleges should get rid of legacy?" Bush responded, "Well I think so, yes. I think it ought to be based upon merit.

Well said George, there's hope for you after all. I still want you fired, but I hate you less.

IGNORANCE IS NEXT TO GODLINESS

"Texas educators are debating what will be taught in new sexual education textbooks for its high school students. The 15-member Texas Board of Education is considering and will likely approve four books, all of which extol the virtues of abstinence. Three make no mention of contraceptives at all while one makes passing reference to condoms." -- Reuters

You can preach abstinance, but you can't teach it. Teens will fuck. I did. You did. They will. It's a good thing Trojan and other condom companies advertise in magazines popular with youth culture.

WHY DO YOU LISTEN

For Christmas, in 1976, my brother Rod (age 16) gave me (age 11) my first full length record, the Beatles "Abbey Road". That nearly thirty year old slab of vinyl still sounds better than any mp3. Technology has changed where and when we listen, and I have benefitted. I remember the winter of 1982 when the Walkman was new, and I could listen to the Kinks "Give The People What They Want" while barreling down the ski slope at West Point. That was brilliant. But I'm worried that as a culture we prize convienience over quality. I often hear people say that the difference between a quality mp3 and an aiff file (16 bit cd standard) is negligable, well that negligable difference is audible to me. I hear it in the high and low end, or lack thereof, and this is why I have not made the great leap to ipod, and will not until I can get the quality that I deserve.

GITMO GULAG

NEW YORK - Three Britons freed from Guantanamo Bay claim they suffered systematic brutality and sexual humiliation during their detention at the U.S. military base. A report released by their lawyers Wednesday claims prisoners at Guantanamo were stripped naked and forced to watch videotapes of other prisoners who had been ordered to sodomize each other. It also says one of the men was questioned with a gun to his head. Asif Iqbal, Ruhal Ahmed and Shafiq Rasul, friends from Tipton in central England, were released without charge from Guantanamo in March after being held for more than two years. --Associated Press

How much more of this are we suppose to accept? Don't we oppose these type of actions? I thought we were supposed to be the good guys.

I HATE TO SAY I TOLD YOU SO

At least 85 percent of the total $2.26 billion in Iraqi funds used for reconstruction went to Halliburton Co. and other U.S. contractors, according to a review of documents.-- Washington Post

I really wish somebody could convince me otherwise, I really do, but it's just become all to clear that the only reason we invaded Iraq was to line some pockets. The worst part is that these guys will get away with it.

CASH IS NOT COURAGE

Most of the fence sitters I come across say they don't much care for Bush, but they fear that Kerry lacks the fortitude to see this thing through. George and Dick never spent a second of their lives in defense of this country, but yet they have no compulsion sending our kids to do something they never did. That is cowardice, not courage. The only thing they have is money, and most of it came from Saudi Arabia. Certainly John Kerry has money, but he has balls too. Balls enough to volunteer for service when he could easily have avoided it as Bush did. Balls enough to not engage in the negative campaigning that Bush and Cheney have resorted to. John Kerry not only served as a soldier, but as a Senator. Our military, while technologically superior, is overwhelmingly in need of strong leadership. In recent years two things have happened to weaken our nations military; recruitment based on economic need, and the weeding out of intelligent officers who don't kowtow and toe the party line. I have watched these things happen with my own eyes, and have had my views corroberated by West Point graduates. The incident at Abu Ghraib is just the tip of the iceberg folks. We need an educated military with a conscience, not goons. We need John Kerry as our Commander In Cheif. If nothing else, he knows what it's like to be shot at.

ACCOUNTABILITY? NO THANKS.

Washington -- "Two members of the Sept. 11 commission criticized President Bush's proposal to create a national intelligence director, telling Congress on Tuesday that the White House plan fails to give the new spy chief the executive powers needed to revamp the nation's intelligence agencies." --San Francisco Chronicle

Clearly it's not in the current administrations best interest to clean up this mess. They like the mess. It creates an enviroment that helps them sell the fear that they need to get re-elected.

STIPE GOES SWINGING

http://www.remhq.com/flash/news/news.html?news_id=799

REM will tour swingstates and battleground states on the Vote For Change Tour in October. Never one to keep his political views to himself, Michael Stipe is currently on the road campaigning for change via radio interviews and speaking engagements. Also on the bill will be the Boss, and Bright Eyes. Running from the first of October through the 8th, concurrently in 24 cities in 9 states a host of other acts will barrage those states with a message for change. Dave Mathews, Jackson Browne, and Death Cab For Cutie, are just a few of the many acts to participate in this tour.

THE STRAIGHT STATE OF MISSOURI

Missouri voted in an amendment to the state constitution banning gay marrige. No big surprise. At least eleven states are expected to follow. Soon the country will be divided along these lines, straight states and queer states. One thing is for certain, the queer states will be cleaner, well maintained, and a hell of alot more fun to hang out in. I have never been to Missouri, but I know somebody from there, and he came here to get away from there.

Meanwhile in Washington state:

SEATTLE - Gay couples can be married under Washington state law, because denying their right to do so is a violation of their constitutional rights, a judge ruled Wednesday.--Associated Press

I hear Washington is a lovely state.

THE MONEY WENT THAT A WAY

How our dollars are getting spent in Iraq:

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=540&ncid=736&e=2&u=/ap/20040729/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_audit

Haliburton's disgraceful bookeeping:

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/special/iraq/2705513

And here I am stupidly saving reciepts for my taxes. I guess if your going to throw away money it's best to throw away alot of it.

BRAIN GETTING WORSE

RIO RANCHO, N.M. (AP) -- "Some Democrats who signed up to hear Vice President Dick Cheney speak here Saturday were refused tickets unless they signed a pledge to endorse President Bush." -- Casper Star Tribune

I don't see how this policy would help in getting swing votes. Note to George and Dick: the choir you are currently preaching to won't get you over the hump, but thanks again for doing dumb shit, you make my job easy.

THIS HURT MY BRAIN

http://www.azstarnet.com/dailystar/dailystar/32301.php

Thanks to BlogPulse, my light in the dark world of Google searching.

Racial profiling along the campaign trail. Can they really be that stupid? Who's running the campaign, David Duke?

NANCY; NOT INTO BUSH

"The widow of former President, and Republican icon, Ronald Reagan has told the GOP she wants nothing to do with their upcoming national convention or the re-election campaign of President George W. Bush. Nancy Reagan turned down numerous invitations to appear at the Republican National Convention and has warned the Bush campaign she will not tolerate any use of her or her late husbands words or images in the President's re-election effort."-- Capitol Hill Blue

What it boils down to here is stem-cell research. Research that could provide hope for the countless millions who have or will develop Alzheimer's. Research opposed by Bush and his fundamentalist friends. Faith in God is admirable, faith in science is bankable.

BOUNCE BACK

The Bush campaign was very happy to show Kerry's lack of "Bounce" in the polls after the convention. The latest Washington Post-ABC News survey showed Kerry had received a modest gain. The poll indicated Kerry now claims the support of 50 percent of registered voters, compared with 44 percent for Bush and two percent for independent Ralph Nader. Bush led Kerry 48 percent to 46 percent before the convention among registered voters, according to the same poll. In my various Google searches for poll results I came up with every possible permutation from 40 to 50 percent for each candidate. The only real knowledge one can gain from this is that it's a close one, and depending on who you ask, you will get the answer you're looking for; much like the way George Bush runs his foriegn policy.

VOTING TECHNOLOGY

There's alot of distrust in this country concerning the electronic voting machines. People like myself would like accountability in the voting system. A double-checking feature, namely human beings. There's a concern about employment in this country, is there not? Well here's a way to create thousands of jobs. Some things should not be convienient for convienience sake. Certainly when it's convienient that the people who make the machines have financial ties to the GOP. Is it me, or am I seeing conflict of interest all over the Bush administration?
Jeb, get the machines ready....

IT'S MY PARTY, I'LL MAKE WAR IF I WANT TO


WASHINGTON --- President Bush declared Monday that "knowing what I know today, we still would have gone on into Iraq."
"I don't think the president is helping himself when he says things like this. It's a real stretch to think that a majority of Americans would have been supportive of attacking Iraq in the absence of either a clear connection to Sept. 11 or an imminent WMD threat," said political analyst Charlie Cook. "Statements like this by the president only lend credence to the charges that he was determined to attack, no matter what," Cook said. --Los Angeles Times

Determination can be a virtue, but a leader must have the confidence of the people, not work confidence schemes upon them.

WHY TV SUCKS

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2004/0407.turner.html

Ted Turner tells it like it is in this article. The FCC (Full Complete Control) needs to be reigned in a great deal. Fair competition in the marketplace is what we base our economic ideals upon. The future of media in this country is at risk of fulfilling Orwellian prophecy.
"Mr. programmer, I got my hammer, gonna smash my, smash my radio-oh"--Joey Ramone (We Want The Airwaves)

HERE'S A FUNNY SITE

http://www.georgewbush.com/blog/

It's worth noting how many times the word "Kerry" shows up just on his home page. Kerry slips, Kerry stumbles, Kerry nearly done...all about Sen. John Kerry. Nothing about issues.

http://www.johnkerry.com/index.html

On John's site it's all about John too, and the issues. John wants to do this, this is John's plan, read about John. In fact the only Bush reference is this:

"The Bush-Cheney campaign is running one of the most negative and misleading campaigns ever. They don't know how to attack the problems working people face, so they attack John Kerry and John Edwards."

That's it. No smears. No attacks on Bush's character. I guess George can handle that on his own, he doesn't need Kerry to make him look stupid, but he does need staffers to make him look smart, alot of staffers, many many staffers, you could say it takes a host of staffers to make him look smart, and even then...well....they're not really doing a good job of it are they?

JERKING JERKIE JERKS

"Most of the al Qaeda surveillance of five financial institutions that led to a new terrorism alert Sunday was conducted before the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. More than half a dozen government officials interviewed yesterday, who declined to be identified because classified information is involved, said that most, if not all, of the information about the buildings seized by authorities in a raid in Pakistan last week was about three years old, and possibly older."--Wahington Post

I think I just saw Ashcroft and Rumsfeld getting out of a Delorean driven by Michael J. Fox. They had some papers with them. Stay tuned.....

DAVE'S GETTING PAID

Dave Chapelle is looking at a 50 million dollar deal with Comedy Central.
"Chappelle, who is vacationing in Paris, was not available for comment."--CNN
Meanwhile somewhere in Paris, a man was overheard saying:
"I'M RICH BITCH!"

WHY DO YOU THINK THEY CALL IT DOPE

"President George W. Bush is taking powerful anti-depressant drugs to control his erratic behavior, depression and paranoia, Capitol Hill Blue has learned.
The prescription drugs, administered by Col. Richard J. Tubb, the White House physician, can impair the President�s mental faculties and decrease both his physical capabilities and his ability to respond to a crisis, administration aides admit privately. Tubb prescribed the anti-depressants after a clearly upset Bush stormed off stage on July 8, refusing to answer reporters' questions about his relationship with indicted Enron executive Kenneth J. Lay."
"Keep those motherfuckers away from me," he screamed at an aide backstage. "If you can't, I'll find someone who can."
--Capitol Hill Blue

I can't confirm the facts here, but I know when Kenny Boy and I broke it off I was screwed up for a long time. God speed your recovery George, there's other fish in the sea.

ON THE BEACH

Fred blogged the song (avc.blogs.com), but I want to talk about the record. I listened to it on the way to the beach this weekend, and was yet again humbled by the experience. Released in 1974 after a long period of depression and doubt fuelled by the deaths of two close friends (I hit the city and I lost my band...), Neil emerged with a record of stark vision. Only one song, the lead off "Walk On" could be in any way referred to as upbeat, the album treads murky water, but with bright reflective brilliance. "See The Sky About To Rain" may be the musical equivalent to the cup being half empty, but it is simply one of his best songs from any period. The production value has no equal among peers, and still stands up in today's "in your face" digital production era. Throughout the record one feels as if they are in the room with Neil and friends as they imperfectly pluck and strum their way through Neil's tapestry of self doubt and self pity. No, it's not a happy record. It's a real record, and "sooner or later, it all get's real...Walk On..."

THE EISENHOWER DOCTRINE

In 1823 US President James Monroe unveiled a policy put forth by John Quincy Adams (Secretary of State) in which it was stated that the US would not tolerate European influence (colonization) in the western hemisphere. This move was defensive in nature, having fought two wars in twenty years to insure independance from europe, and the advent of new republics being founded in the former spanish colonies, it was decided that a clear message to europe was needed. Stay out!
Sometime after the second world war, or maybe during it, the powers that be (which became the Eisenhower administration) decided to extend this policy globally. Now, whenever any administration decides to go to war they need only claim that it is in the interest of national security, weather or not there is any threat of invasion. Korea, Vietnam, Lebanon, Iraq (2x); none of these countries posed any significant threat to our borders, but we went. We sent troops, killed folks, burned villages, ruined crops, and we wonder why we're not so popular anymore. I suppose it's too late to vote for Adelaide Stevenson.

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

It's that time again folks.

"This is a public service announcement,
With guitar.
Know your rights, all three of them.

Number 1)
You have the right not to be killed.
Murder is a CRIME!
Unless it was done by a
Policeman or aristocrat.
Know your rights.

And Number 2)
You have the right to food money.
Providing of course you
Don't mind a little
Investigation, humiliation
And if you cross your fingers
Rehabilitation.

Know your rights.
These are your rights.

Number 3)
You have the right to free
Speech, as long as you're not
Dumb enough to actually try it.

Know your rights.
These are your rights.
All three of 'em.
It has been suggested
In some quarters that this is not enough!

Finally then I will read you your rights

You have the right to remain silent.
You are warned that anything you say
Can and will be taken down
And used as evidence against you"

--The Clash (Combat Rock)

PBS CONVENTION COVERAGE

PBS - Provides less Bull Shit. FOX - For Obnoxious Xenophobes. How about airing the entire speech, then rip it to shreds. Apperantly Wolf Blitzer's views on Al Sharpton are more important than Al's words. Bill O'Rielly (I need a bath after just typing his name) needs more coverage time than the people he is supposed to be covering. I always get my TV news from PBS. I started watching BBC World News because I hate commercials, I stayed for Daljit Dhaliwal, but now (Currently Daljit can be found working for CNN International) I watch because I just don't trust the american news media anymore, at all. (Not in the least bit)

VOTING RECORD

As we approach November, americans need to understand how republican negative rhetoric works. Bush and friends will spend a bizzillion dollars to show you how John Kerry can't make up his mind on the "issues". They'll call him a flip flopper, and point to his voting record. When it comes to congressional voting one needs to understant that it's not the title of the bill they are voting for, but the content. Bad bills for good causes are constantly being introduced, and if you've been in Congress as long as Sen. John Kerry, and you actually read the bills, there's no way you're going to vote consistantly along any theme. Things like constitutionality, accountablity for monies given, and line item add on's often prevent a man of conscience from always voting "for the military" or "against crime". Congress-persons have a way of sneaking in "pet" schemes into larger issue bills causing it to get voted down, not because nobody wants to help unwed mothers but because nobody in Nebraska wants to pay for an overpass in Tennessee. If only it could be as cut and dry as the GOP wants you to believe. Being that George W. has no voting record in congress, take a look at Cheney's. Kerry won't ask you to, because he's operating above those lowly politics, but not me. I urge people to look into Dick's voting record as well as G.W.'s record as Gov. of Texas. See what horrible anti-ecological bills he introduced. See how many people he (pro-life) sentenced to death. Remember, pro-choice is not pro-abortion as the GOP would lead you to believe. Look through the spin america and see what's really what.

SHOT NOT HEARD ROUND THE WORLD

"DALLAS, Texas (AP) -- Archivists are trying to preserve and copy the only known sound recording of the gunshots that killed President John F. Kennedy -- a recording that has fueled conspiracy theories. The recording became a focus of a 1979 report by the House Select Committee on Assassinations. Committee members said it indicated four shots were fired at the president's Dallas motorcade on November 22, 1963, including one from a separate location from where Lee Harvey Oswald fired shots, suggesting more than one shooter. The committee concluded that Oswald probably did not act alone."

The Lone Gunman Theory, in time, will take it's place with Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster, and the Warren Commision will take it's place in the fiction section of The Library of Congress. If anyone, at this point, would like my recipe for crow.....

(PAT)RIOT ACT

NEW YORK (CNN) -- The American Civil Liberties Union has withdrawn from a federal donation program, refusing to follow U.S. Patriot Act rules requiring use of a government anti-terrorism watch list to check employees' names, a spokeswoman said.

The ACLU puts its money where its mouth is. Websters defines patriot as: "One who loves, supports, and defends one's country." It says nothing about one who violates another's civil rights, or one who allows his/her civil rights to be violated. Bad nomenclature. I suppose The Un-american Act wouldn't go over, but it is more fitting.

EFFEXOR

http://www.petitiononline.com/effexor/petition.html

Help stop pharmecutical companies from turning us into a nation of junkies. I urge everybody to read about Effexor and other anti-depressants that are being thrown at depression as a fix all. Children are being set up for lifetimes of chemical dependancy. How can that be good?