MONK RULES 
WELCOME to the Thelonious Sphere Monk Memorial WebLogWanna listen to Just A Gigolo by Monk. My page on Saatchi Gallery: Go HERE.
1/31/07 Click HERE for the latest totals.More Americans now dead in Iraq & Afghanistan than killed on 9-11. Plus 655,000 Iraqis dead.
Mama's Shrub
ThrillerMichael before he got weird.
And Go HERE for a hetero whiteboy version.
Quote Of The DayOn Obama:
"I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy. I mean, that¹s a storybook, man."
-- Sen. Joeseph Biden (D-DE)
MacDries says, "Biden puts his foot in his mouth on his 1st day. So he's saying Shirley Chisholm, Jesse Jackson, Mosely-Braun (& Sharpton) were dirty, ugly, stupid, inarticulate and out of the mainstream. I give him a month or two before he drops out."
More McMurtry
The Show Goes On
The Libby trial is getting way too much coverage and no one is actually being charged with leaking. And we all know The Shrub is going to pardon him after it all plays out. Just like Reagan did for the IranContra boys and 41 did for Weinberger. Justice for all.
Leonardo's Notebooks
The British Library has great software for examining DaVinci's work. And Blake's & Mozart's. Go HERE. And don't miss Baybar's Qur'an.
Mr. President Drunk
Whuzzup
Another month shot to hell. Rent's due. Still cold. Sparkler's home and still out of school. Need a nap.
1/30/07Work DayBeen editing and My Sparkler is coming home tonight.
Wake Up!St. John McCainBush Gives Himself More PowerWhat is a dictator? Go HERE.
1/29/07Al FrankenWhat can you do for Al Franken? Looks like he's gonna run for Senate in Minnesota. Go HERE.
Billary/Obama-Rama
One good thing is the press is saturating us with Billary such that everyone will get so tired of her they'll start looking for someone to knock her off. Remember Ripley'sBelieve it or not? Go HERE.
Quote Of The Day"Bottom line is that we've had enormous successes and we will continue to have enormous successes."
-- Dick Cheney, on Iraq, January 24, 2007
Rickie Lee JonesPreview a track from her new CD. Go HERE.
Torpor
Writers all have favorite words that they frequently use. Jim Harrison uses the word torpor in every book I've ever read of his. I had an approximate idea what it meant but looked it up anyway. Lethargy is close but, the dormant, inactive state of a hibernating or estivating animal is closer. It's what I feel like doing when winter sets in. Now I have to look up estivating. It means rather like hibernation but in the summer.
Interesting that Harrison also has a thing about bears.
Spineless Congress80 senators oppose escalation yet they will do nothing to stop it.
1/28/07HauntedI saw a ghost this morning. When I woke up, rolled over and opened my eyes, Ann was standing beside the bed smiling. Her hair and make-up was styled like it was in wedding pictures from her first marriage. When I blinked, she was gone. But I was terrified for a few minutes.
QuestionWhy do only idiots run for President. The list this time is even worse than usual. Have of whom I've never heard of; Huckabee, Duncan? Why no Warren Buffets or Bill Bradleys or Robert Reichs. Why not Chuck Schumer instead of Billary Obama. There must already be 2 dozen and few drop outs already and only Edwards or Gore deserve it.
Work DayFinished proofing The Solution and now working on The Island Is Gone.
Have to put in 4-6 hours a day to get it done.
I'm getting irritated with the spell checker in MS Word. It has all these flagged words like color and parlor and wants me to use the English versions like colour and parlour. Don't need that.
Get Well, B.B.Tricky
1/27/07Brother Daryl Kramer
LonelyMy Sparkler is off skiiing in Canada with her BFF Ava and her parents so it's too damn quiet and cold and lonely around here.
PinkTricky
Just For Fun
Austin City LimitsCaught James McMurtry last night and he's awesome. I had one of his LPs 20 years ago but forgot about him; son of Larry, one of my fave writers. Lonesome Dove, etc.
If you catch it and see the interview at the end, you will understand why he is not a star. Self-admitted misanthrope.
You'll wanna YouTube him.
Live in Aught-Three
1/26/07B.B. In BedThe King of the Blues, 81, has the flu but bouncing back. The Beeb has 10,000 performances behind him eager to get back on the road for his 60th anniversary tour.
Happy to hear that my fellow diabetic can live so long. Play Beeb, play.
Back In The Day
photo: Schon Schurect- 1975
Midnight Mango just sent me proof that I once was young and beardless. There are few such pix since I was able to grow hairs on my face.
Sonny Rollins
Lots of good stuff here. Podcast and videos etc. Go HERE.Or Go HERE for a Google video.
And another with Billy Taylor. Go HERE.
Madam SpeakerPELOSI: He's tried this two times, it's failed twice. I asked him at the White House, 'Mr. President, why do you think this time it's going to work?'
BUSH: Because I told them it had to.
PELOSI: Why didn't you tell them that the other two times?
In & Out My Window
Teddy Gives 'em HellTodayBelow 20 degrees and windy. Think I'll hibernate.
1/25/07Work DaySecond proof read of The Solution in process and I've gotta say it's pretty boring; the proofing, that is. Writing is much more tedious than painting but I know when I sign off on this there will still be typos. And I hate typos.
Next I have to do the same thing with another novel called The Island Is Gone. Then I can go back to work on The Baker's Dozen which is collection of memoirs. Also got a Novella and a collection of short stories called He/She ready to go.
Run Al, RunWhy Gore can win. Go HERE.
MacDries says, "You could do Gore/Clinton but I'd prefer Gore/Edwards. Imagine how the world would be if Gore had been annointed 6 years ago."
Spacey Does His Peers
Quote Of The Day
"I have never been in the Presidential limousine before so I was a little unsure what to do when the limousine stopped at the custard stand. I wasn't sure if I should exit with the President or get out of my side of the car. Karl Rove told me I would exit out the door on my side after The President steps out and someone would open the door for me. I could not believe I was discussing what flavor of custard to order with the President of the United States! "
-- Michele Bachman R-MN (GOP Presidential groper/groupie)
Jim Harrison
Video interview with the master writer-chef on NYT website. Go HERE.
The Raw and the Cooked: Adventures of a Roving Gourmand
Elvis 1978
Vintage Costello. Great concert. Go HERE.
New Stevie Ray Vaughn as well.
The Possum Speaks
Go HERE.
New Orleans
1/24/07Artist Of The DayGo HERE.
Need Some New Insults?Go HERE.
Andy Griffith '08You Heard It Here FirstJon Stewart of The Daily Show took issue with the Vows videos on the NYTimes web site. See Toss Up below.
Always ahead of the cultural curve.
Go HERE.
One Less CandidateKerry wisely decides no. He must have read the polls.
Dee Grupp & Stevie
Carl's sis.
Bug-eyed BenitoCheck out how Guiliani comes across on TV.
Plumb ForgotSlipped my mind that The Shrub was telling us what is The State of Our Union. I was caught up in Seinfeld re-runs.
Now I'll have to figure it out for myself.
1/23/07Howard Hunt?Go HERE for a wrap-up in case you don't remember him. His pal Liddy is still alive. May they all soon rot in hell.
Kevin WelchMy bro Dennis turned me on to this guy.
Will Smith's Home
This is the one he had here last time. This year it is similar but larger. He has a two story trailer complete with exercise room. And all the streets in a 4 square block area are filled with his minions and paraphrenalia. You begin to understand how they spend 100 million making a movie. Dozens of PAs standing around; doing something 1 minute out of 60. Like ConEd crews.
We've had endless movies shot outside our windows in the last 27 years. There is Dustin Hoffman running down Front Street in Marathon Man. Years before there was Hatfull Of Rain down the street. Kate got Goldie Hawn's autograph when they were shooting a re-make of some Neil Simon movie. Steve martin was also there and said, "Don't you want my autograph too?" And Kate said, "Sure." Even though she wasn't sure who he was. They shot that last Zodzilla disaster in front of our loft. And a Samuel Jackson/Ben Affleck movie on the FDR outside our window. Tons of commercials and TV crapolla as well.
Quote Of The Day"Every single person out there that is of any consequence knows the vice president doesn't know what he's talking about. I can't be more blunt than that. He is yet to be right one single time on Iraq."
-- Sen. Joe Biden
Lennie TristanoRight up there with Monk.
And Go HERE.
Doonesbury Trumps Donald
Spineless Dems44 Dems in House refuse to call for a pullout of troops. That now makes it their war
1/22/07Bi-Partisanship*FINALLY, someone has come out with a 100% bipartisan political bumper sticker.
The hottest selling bumper sticker comes from New York State.
"Run Hillary, Run"
Democrats put it on the rear bumper.
Republicans put it on the front bumper.
MacDries says, "If I drove a car I'd put mine on the front bumper."
*via WlfSng
Meanwhile
For some reason a second Will Smith movie is being filmed in our neighborhood. This one is called I Am Legend but then I never saw the last one. Emma is excited because she took some pix last time. At the moment a blimp sized set of spot lights is shining down on the Seaport and into our loft.
PETA
For Emma.
Watch more PETA videos at PETATV.com.
Work Day
Did my first proof read of The Solution: today and found many typos to correct. Now I need a proof read for content and dated references since I first "finished" it in about 1982. It's very hard to finish a novel because unlike a painting, one cannot see it all at once. Norman Mailer once said that writing a novel is like juggling 500,000 words at once.
My Sparkler is at swim team so she will be hungry when she gets home. Time to put on my apron. I think chicken tarragon and pasta is in order.
Sundance
Films and trailers available to view. Go HERE.
On Language
Every so often I notice a certain word being used by many writers. Last year the word was "snarky" and all jounalists, reviewers etc. had to use it in a certain sentence as a certain rite of passage. The year before it was "eponymous". Lately I've begun to notice the word "twee" and have seen 3 examples in the last week in the NYTimes alone. I'm sure it will spread to The New Yorker and New York Magazine as well since they all log-roll. I notice such things because I have to go to the dictionary to find out what they mean. Interestingly snarky and twee mean almost the opposite of one another. Keep your eyes open.
Carmina Burana
Back in the day we fledgling art students tries to convince ourselves that we liked "classical" music but listening to things like this. Or worse, perhaps, Ravel's Bolero which both had an obvious sort of narrative. Haven't listened to either in 40 years.
How Do They Do it?
The Brits are both ridiculous and amazing. On the one hand they are still a monarchy and they are smart enough to know better. On the other hand they can call for elections and have a new Prime Minister in a matter of weeks.
Americans have a campaign for over a year and still come up with lousy candidates and hair-splitting results.
I'm sick of it already.
1/21/07Doh! Of The DayHeadline: NYTimes.com, Clinton Success In Presidential Race No Sure Thing.
Toss UpI can't decide which video features are more obnoxious: Amanda Congdon on ABCNews.com or the Vows feature on NewYorkTimes.com. You can choose.
Congdon has a severe case of cuteness and a "nice rack" with terminal affectation. The Vows series is empty and shallow since everyone knows that romance aside, most marriages end in broken vows and often infidelity.
Betcha can't watch more than one episode of either. Or even finish watching the first.
Subconcious-LeeKonitz with Warne Marsh.
Bring 'em HomeBillieJust wonderful. No body better and quite a line-up. Lester Young, Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster, Gerry Mulligan, Roy Eldridge, Doc Cheatham, Vic Dickenson, Danny Barker, Milt Hinton, Mal Waldron. Watch especially for the love light in Billie's eye when Prez takes a solo. Fine & Mellow
And Go HERE for an 18 year old Billie with Duke Ellington.
Bill Richardson, HispanicHalf hispanic, like Barak is half black. Sharpton, all black, is half serious The field is getting crowded and poor Kucinich doesn't get a mention when the lists are compiled.
1/20/07Work DayFinished converting and now proofing The Solution: so on it goes. Time for Top Chef and Sopranos re-runs.
My bro Spike's first wife has breast cancer and her son has spinal disk problems. Another old friend has a daughter in deep psycological hell and he says he's drowning. What's new with you?
Quote Of The Day"...distortion in dreams is the washing action, the water-back, the censor of the wish, the disguise. And just as one awake to the causes, pauses before inventing a dogma (preferring to pull the wool over weak eyes to veil the truth) a man constantly at war will talk of peace."
-- Miller Lyon
MacDries says, "Miller Lyon is the narrator of The Solution:, soon to be published along with a second novel called The Island Is Gone.
Billary/Obama-Rama
Surprise! Billary is running. Who woulda thunk it? Meanwhile, Billary's team has issued word that "Barry" Hussein Obama went to a muslim school (madrasa) as a chilld and FOX is calling it a "terrorist" camp.
MacDries says, "C'mon Gore. Get off your walrus ass. You can't leave us such meager choices."
1/19/07Perfect (for Kate)JT & DC.
Also check out At Last by DC & Mary Blige.
Then Go HERE for Chicks Rock Chicks Rule.
Party ShuffleThings To Do In Denver When You're Dead by Warren Zevon just came up on iTunes. Whenever I hear it it reminds me of my younger brother David who died in Denver and I'm sure he knew the song. Sweet Old World also makes me think of him.
None The LeastI had a productive day today. One more and I'll have my MSS ready for proofing.
Hot FlashWord is out that Jenna Shrub is pitching a book proposal about "her experiences". Gimme odds on whose book will get a contract first: Mine or Jenna's.
It's gotta be a hoot. Meanwhile, FOX says Cheney is now more popular than The Schub.
Work Day
But first, a nappy.
1/18/07President McGovernGeorge talks to The Shrub. Go HERE.
More Lack Of BlogGot one novel converted to a pdf and have to redo a second one as a Word document so I can convert it to a pdf. Then I can submit them to Lulu for publication. At which time I hope you will all buy them. Ha!
At least they will be finished
Then I can finish a memoir I've been drafting. Betcha can't wait.
TodayThink I'll do some more work today. It's freezing in New York.
1/17/07Happy Birthday
©2004 Danny Dries
Still younger than me.
Lack Of BlogIf you noticed I haven't had much to say today, it's cuz I've actually been doing something creative. I've been trying to convert a couple novels to pdf files so I can self-publish them. I Think I've been sucessful with one but now have to proof-read it. The earlier one is more troublesome and don't know if I'll be able to do it. It has a lot of illustrations and is difficult to do.
It's actually rather nice not knowing what is going on in the world. It's also getting on to dinner time and My Sparkler will be getting hungry.
St. John McCain Express"If you get involved in a major ground war in the Saudi desert, I think support will erode significantly. Nor should it be supported. We cannot even contemplate, in my view, trading American blood for Iraqi blood."
Sen. John McCain [New York Times Aug 19, 1990]
1/16/07FUBARPentagon sells obsolete spare parts. Iran is the buyer. So much for the axis of evil. We have seen the enemy and he is us. Go HERE.
MacDries says, "Not for the first time. We once sold scrap metal to Japan and it came back in the form of bombs."
God Loves A Drunk
Recognize genius when it comes to you.
I once took Ann to see RT at St. Ann's and she said she loved him; she later admitted she didn't like him much. That's her loss. Last year I took Kate to see him and we had to stand through the whole concert. Kate said it was the best concert she's ever been to. (Better than John Mayer? I'm not sure.) Both concerts are on my list of best and I've been to a lot of great ones.
Go HERE for one of his best: I Misunderstood.
And here are links to a few of Richard & Linda's best. Together and solo. All are excellent:
Brutal and bitter.
Daring Adventures
Their last together.
Shoot Out the Lights
I played this everyday for a year.
One Clear Moment
Linda's latest.
Fashionably Late
Singapore Justice
A teenager tapped into his neighbors Wireless connection and gets 18 months probation and community servie. He could have gone to jail with a huge fine. In NYC where buildings and apartments are close, it is easy to do since many users are Luddites and don't know how to establish a password or don't care. At some positions in my loft I can find 5-6 avaialble connections but I don't need one.
MacDries says, "That poor kid should feel very lucky. He could have had a hand chopped off. Singapore must be getting liberal."
Pink Floyd
St. John McCain Express
"Nearly 24 years after voting against creating a holiday honoring Martin Luther King, John McCain is spending today at the inauguration of Alabama Governor Bob Riley who is a member of an organization that has been criticized for excluding African Americans."
-- DNC press release.
Billary/Obama-Rama
Surprise! Obama is running. Who woulda thunk it?
MacDries says, "Edwards/Obama '08? I'm just short of predicting it. I'd prefer Edwards/Richardson or Gore/Obama."
White Merde
The weather is coming and now we must pay. The smell of mothballs is in the air.
11/05/06California Girls
Dogfight.
Medicare Rx Drugs BillRobert Reich explains how the Dems are screwing up the whole deal. Go HERE.
From WlfSngAll of these are legitimate companies that didn't spend quite enough time considering how their online names might appear ... and be misread. These are not made up. Check them out yourself!
1. Who Represents is where you can find the name of the agent that represents any celebrity. Their Web site is www.whorepresents.com
2. Experts Exchange is a knowledge base where programmers can exchange advice and views at www.expertsexchange.com
3. Looking for a pen? Look no further than Pen Island at www.penisland.net
4. Need a therapist? Try Therapist Finder at www.therapistfinder.com
5. There's the Italian Power Generator company, www.powergenitalia.com
6. And don't forget the Mole Station Native Nursery in New South Wales, www.molestationnursery.com
7. If you're looking for IP computer software, there's always www.ipanywhere.com
8. The First Cumming Methodist Church Web site is www.cummingfirst.com
9. And the designers at Speed of Art await you at their wacky Web site, www.speedofart.com
Elton & EminemJack JohnsonAnother Pitbull Murder
A 10 year old girl from San Antonio, TX was killed by her neighbor's pitbull. I don't understand why those creatures are not outlawed. Or at least make their owners go to jail for murder.Martin Luther King Day40 years later but another war.
School's out.
Go HERE for many pertinent links to MLK.
1/14/07Coming Up!Bush is going to extend his war into Iran and don't tell me it's in revenge of Carter's failure to trounce them for the hostages.
This guy is a rogue. Like Nixon, he's losing his politcal base in congress. But! Who's gonna stop him?
Gun ControlI'm not talking about registering guns. I'm saying stop selling them and burn the factories to the ground. All those who have guns can keep them until they get convicted of illegal usage and then melt that weapon down. Go HERE for a listing of school shootings.
Heavy RotationStadium Arcadium
Red Hot Chili PeppersWhatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
Arctic MonkeysAll The Stars And Boulevards
AugustanaThe Harry Smith Project: The Anthology Of American Folk Music Revisited
All Jacked Up
Gretchen WilsonThe Little Willies
EponymousHappy BirthdayGretchen & Aaron's mother and Carl & Dorothy's mother were both born on this day in different years. Have a happy one Linda and R.I.P. Solveig.
Heroes©2004 Danny Dries
Word is The Greatest is slipping fast. He'll be 65 on Wednesday.
Psycho KillerLuckily there are tons of links to RT on YouTube. See especially the 7 part documentary Solitary Life.
1/13/07Other Wars
But they're just black people with no oil to speak of. Go HERE.The Hell With iPhoneZune is a comin'. Go HERE.
Pile Up
©2005 Danny Dries
Quote Of The Day"No society that feeds its children on tales of successful violence can expect them not to believe that violence in the end is rewarded."
-- Margaret Mead, anthropologist (1901-1978)
Ford Rates The PresidentsThe Ford who by his own estimation was no Lincoln; the man who pardoned Tricky Dick, letting the world know that equal justice does not apply to Presidents. The appointed temp Prez calls Nobel Peace Prize winner Carter a disaster. On a par with Hoover. Carter who brokered peace between Eqypt & Israel and has become the best ex-prex ever instead of retiring to a golf course in Palm Springs. Ford did get it right about Reagan however. And Clinton, who instituted many of Reagan's policies "was average". And best of all he didn't know The Shrub well enough to rank him.
What a mind.
For the record. When Reagan came into office preaching balanced budget and welfare cheats there was a $990 billion nat'l debt. When he left it was $4.8 trillion.
Poppy "Read My Lips" (41) ran it up to $5.7 trillion.
After Clinton managed to run surpluses and enact welfare reform for a couple years at the end of his second term The Shrub (43) has managed to balloon it up to almost $9 trillion. That's without counting $400 billion for Iraq which is off budget.
So much for GOP fiscal restraint.
Repeat
Just cuz I love the picture and I'm a momma's boy. Birds In Flight
Go HERE for more pix.
It's Tomorrow Already
.
1/12/07The Great Upper PlainsComing from Iowa, lived in South Dakota, schooled in Minnesota, taught in St.Louis, I've always thought it a misnomer to call it the mid-west. Anyhow, Carl's friend Ron Robinson is a writer/publisher of art and writing from that area and has a web site you should check out. Ex Machina Books & Art. Go HERE.
Ron is the guy with the world class flat-top I posted a while back.
©Carl Grupp
A Tale Of Two CitiesDestroy Baghdad actively and New Orleans passively. Spend hundreds of billions to destroy Iraq and a few millions to rebuild New Orleans.
What is this national insanity? And why can no one STOP this little weasel in the White House? Impeachment must be considered even if it gives us President Cheney.
I ♥ Kate The GreatEverytime I hear or read the word Chicago, I feel a heartache from missing my Kate. I feel she's happy but still I miss her daily presence.
Quote Of The Day"I would confess I'm no expert on Iraq."
-- Robert Gates- Sec. Of Defense
MacDries says, "That's why you were picked dewd."
Piazza Nivona
©2003 Danny Dries
Friday The 13th
Sorry, it comes on a Saturday this month.
1/11/074 My SparklerDarryl Hannah is not only a beautiful and talented actress, she also has a mind. Go HERE.
Blowin' In The WindThis is why I love the internet and why it must remain free. This is pure democracy.
Not Being A TrekkieI have no idea what this guys is saying or if his metaphors hold up. None the less it is a hoot.
That's Poker*Dolly Parton and Queen Elizabeth die on the same day and they both go before an Angel to find out if they'll be admitted to Heaven. Unfortunately, there's only one space left that day, so the Angel must decide which of them gets in. The Angel asks Dolly if there's some particular reason why she should go to Heaven.
Dolly takes off her top and says,"Look at these, they're the most perfect breasts God ever created, and I'm sure it will please God to be able to see them every day, for eternity."
The Angel thanks Dolly, and asks Her Majesty the same question.
The Queen takes a bottle of Perrier out of her purse, shakes it up, and gargles. Then, she spits into a toilet and pulls the lever.
The Angel says, "OK, your Majesty, you may go in."
Dolly is outraged and asks, "What was that all about? I show you two of God's own perfect creations and you turn me down. She spits into a commode and she gets in! Would you explain that to me?"
"Sorry, Dolly," says the Angel, "but even in Heaven, a royal flush beats a pair - no matter how big they are.
*via Grupp The Jokester.
GWB & LBJ
40 years ago last night LBJ, Stuck iIn Big Muddy gave a speech. Check it out for comparison if you were not around at that time. Go HERE.
Puerto Rico
©2003 Danny Dries
New From Apple*
The iPad is here. NSFW and not in good taste. Go HERE.
*Kontraband is a "dirty" site via WlfSng.
p.s. The blonde chick in this video looks a lot like ABCNews' new media bimbo AC (Amanda Congdon). No?
Top Chef
Emma and I have become addicted to Top Chef, a "Reality Show" for up and coming chefs. I've TiVoed the show, new ones and re-runs and it's very satisfying because the characters are so real. We love the egotist Marcel and Sam who was our favorite also won the 2nd season's finale.
I've never watched any other reality shows but Emma also likes Next Top Model.
Stop The Escalation?
Huh? It's already begun and the new Dem Majority is playing pocket pool.
I Wish It Was
Letter To The Shrub
From Michael Moore. Go HERE.
Log-Rolling
It's awards season; the time of year when all the swells in the entertainment biz and public media get to together and bloviate about how wonderful they all are and nominate some of themselves as even better than all of them. This all seems to culminate next month with the Academy Awards. Before that you've got your NY Film critics, your Foreign Press awards, the journalists have their DuPonts to give out. I see there is a Tribute to the wonderfulness of Will Smith coming up. TIME Mag awarded me Person Of The Year and I didn't even campaign. I will, however humbly accept since artists don't have an organization. Even if they did it would go to Jeff Koons. You've got your Obies and Grammys and Emmys, your Guggenhiems, Rockefellers & Pulitzers (Pull, not Pewl) and best of all The MacArthur Genius Awards. And the logs keep rolling until it all starts over again.
All of this is about as significant as the Democrats winning a majority of congress.
1/10/07General GeorgeWords of wisdom.
Artist For Today
Lauren Greenfield will be doing a signing for her latest book Thin on Saturday evening 6p-9p @ Photographic Gallery in the nabe. 252 Front Street.
Go HERE for Lauren's website.
Go HERE for Photographic Gallery.
Greenfield's subject is often young girls and what they are about.
2006 Darwin AwardsGo HERE.
Ground ControlSpace Oddity by David Bowie.
When Aaron was 2-3, he used to sit on the floor with a head set on, sucking his thumb and listen to this song. He also loved Rocket Man by Elton John.
Holy GOP
Go HERE for more.*via CodeFred.
1/9/07Monty Python RulesLiberal/Moderate/Libertarian/Conservative/Fascist?Wanna test where you stand? Go HERE.
You might be surprised that I came up as: (drum roll) Left Liberal.
Do I Need This?
Don't think so. I have all those things (and too much more) at home but when I leave home I like to leave all those things behind. None the less a couple hundred shares of Apple, Inc just rose $1450 today. So play on Steve. Many people do need well designed multi-tasking instruments. For business or pleasure or just because it's kewl. And it's a whole lot kewler than Vista.Kate's & Emma's FavesKate's current fave, John Mayer's latest CD Continuum is his best to date.
Continuum
Emma's current fave Augustana's CD All The Stars & Boulevards is also pretty good.
All The Stars And Boulevards
Augustana's members are from the mid-west and I'm thinking they are named after the college where Carl taught for decades.
Also got a 2CD live album from Wilco called Kicking Television which is pretty good too.
Kicking Television: Live in Chicago
Teddy Speaks OutAt least one Dem is not behind "The Surge". Go HERE.
Return Of The Grievous AngelRyan Adams channeling Gram Parsons with Emmykou. Go HERE.
And FBB do Devil In Disguise.
Echo StressOff to hit the treadmill. This one only takes about 20 minutes instead of 3 1/2 hours like the last one. Also get the results of last weeks test and get a flu shot. What with insulin and blood sugar tests and occasional shots I get pricked with needles almost as much as a drug addict but unlike a junkie I get no pleasure from it.
1/8/07The ReasonSome people call Democrats spineless and there is plenty of evidence to support that opinion. The most recent being: Democrats say they are against The Shrub's ideas for escalation (code word "surge"). Escalation is what the various adminstrations did in Vietnam. New words are needed for the samo samo. However, none of them are actually going to do so. Reason? The longer this war drags on, the more likely it is that USA will elect a Dem in '08. If they refuse to fund "The Surge" they can be blamed for the inevitable failure and thus St. McCain will be elected.
Chicken-shit is what they stand for and not for saving lives and letting Iraqis settle their own disputes.
RepeatAffirmation
To grow old is to lose everything.
Aging, everybody knows it.
Even when we are young,
we glimpse it sometimes, and nod our heads
when a grandfather dies.
Then we row for years on the midsummer
pond, ignorant and content. But a marriage,
that began without harm, scatters
into debris on the shore,
and a friend from school drops
cold on a rocky strand.
If a new love carries us
past middle age, our wife will die
at her strongest and most beautiful.
New women come and go. All go.
The pretty lover who announces
that she is temporary
is temporary. The bold woman,
middle-aged against our old age,
sinks under an anxiety she cannot withstand.
Another friend of decades estranges himself
in words that pollute thirty years.
Let us stifle under mud at the pond's edge
and affirm that it is fitting
and delicious to lose everything.
-- Donald Hall - Poet Laureate U.S.A
Go HERE for more.
The Sandbox
Garry Trudeau has a blog with postings from troops on active duty. Check it out. Go HERE.
KickAss Defined
Ray, Jerry Lee & Fats all at once, (with Ron Wood too) do Jerry Lee Lewis Boogie and Jambalaya.
People Are Pigs
On the #2 to Atlantic Avenue there was a man, in a rumpled black suit & tie and porkpie blue demim hat, swigging grape Snapple. He then rummaged in his bag and removed a styrofoam package containing two ears of corn. He proceeded to devour one ear and when he was finished, looked around for a place to dispose of it. Finding none he went between cars and dropped it onto the track. He got off at the next stop where there are trash receptacles every 20 yards.
Lousy Day
Rainy but warm and I'm up early (for me these days). I'm off to Brooklyn to visit our "mediator" @ ReSolutions to sign our separation agreement. That makes it officially one of the lousiest days of my life.
Then I'm coming home and going back to bed. Here's Sammi Smith. With Pen In Hand