Youth is wasted on the Young, part 27

I've come to enjoy YouTube very much. You can find anything there.

I found a couple of Jackson Browne videos, including a live performance of "Running on Empty" one of my favorite songs. Based on the clothing, band line-up and fashion, the video was from the late 70's. Rosemary Butler (a great singer) and David Lindley (a greater musician) are seen here.

YouTube allows you to comment on each video, and just like reading letters to the editor, you can tell alot about the subscribers by reading them.

The first comment for this video was "Good song.. reminds me of Bruce Hornsby's music", posted by KrisShred. As much as I wanted to respond directly to KrisShred's comment, I decided not to. Everyone is entitled to have an opinion.

I'd like to point out to KrisShred, however, that Bruce Hornsby (who is a very accomplished singer songwriter in his own right) was a mere senior at the University of Miami (according to Wikipedia) when "Running on Empty" was recorded. Perhaps Bruce has been influenced by Jackson Browne's music more than you realize.

This is not a knock on Bruce Hornsby. There is a long list of singer songwriters who have been influenced by Browne's introspective style.

When Jackson Browne's songs became more politically aware, he seemed to lose a lot of his 'popular' following. It's a shame, really, because his politcally-themed songs are very good. It's just a cup of tea that many people do not prefer.

From what I can tell, KrisShred is a singer songwriter, also. Good for you. I hope you become more successful and recognized by the masses. Just be more aware of which chicken came first...or articulate it a little better.

And be sure to look for my upcoming release in 2007. Perhaps I'll figure out how to upload one of my videos to YouTube and be a big success. But probably not.

Miracles do happen

I was riveted to CNN on Saturday as the Missouri kidnapping case unfolded. When police rescued Ben Ownby from a suburban St Louis apartment, they discovered Shawn Hornbeck, who disappeared 4 years ago. My heart was filled with joy for Shawn's parents, who in the aftermath of Shawn's disappearance, became advocates for missing children and their parents.

As the talking heads were talking to the various experts that get called on to fill air time, the anchor kept revisiting the question of why Shawn didn't try to escape after all this time. It is a recurring theme in the media coverage I've been seeing over the last 2 days, and it bothers me very much.

First of all, we don't know if Shawn ever attempted to escape or not. Secondly, and more importantly, we don't know what threats or lies Michael Devlin told Shawn after the kidnapping took place that would prevent Shawn from leaving. As if Shawn preferred to stay with his kidnapper. Thankfully, the experts (child psychologists) would be quick to defend Shawn and try to steer the discussion back to the emotional needs of Shawn no that he was rescued.

My daughter will be 11 (Shawn's age when kidnapped) this year. If she were somehow taken from us, I know that she would be susceptible to just about any threat made by a kidnapper. Threats about harming other family members, and even lies about the family not caring anymore would have a devastating effect on her.

Kids going missing is not new. When Elizabeth Smart was kidnapped, I made it a point to tell my daughter that no matter what any stranger told her, I would make it my life's mission to find her if she was ever taken from me. I told her that I would quit my job and get everyone I knew involved to find her. And that even if it took a long time, she should have every bit of faith that I wouldn't stop looking for her, and no matter what happened to her, that I wouldn't stop loving her.

It's a terrible shame that we would need to prepare our children in this manner, but you can't account for the creeps that inhabit our world. I won't speculate about what Michael Devlin did to these boys, and I won't need to guess that there is a special place in hell for him for whatever he did.

What's another 21,500?

You know, if the President had said, "I'm sending 21,500 additional troops to Baghdad for the express purpose of killing Mugtada al-Sadr." I would be more excited about the escalation.

Nothing personal against al-Sadr. I'm sure he's a nice father and loves dogs. It's just he is the guy who (after being targeted for death by US generals in 2003-2004) promised to disband his militia, which he did, for a brief time. Now he's back and stronger than ever, while US troops are eating IED shrapnel for breakfast.

I'm a devotee of the Michael Corleone School of Diplomacy. Target all the insurgent leaders and kill them. Then move the family from NYC to Vegas and go legit. In other words, identify the loose ends, tie them up, and get the hell out. It might take a couple of years, but at least IT'S DOING SOMETHING!

Yes, it would be nice to 'win'. But the definition of 'winning' is changing too often. Choose one goal, attain it, and move on. Really.

Music to my ears

Santa Claus brought my 6-year old son a student-sized guitar for Christmas. By New Year's Eve, he composed, produced, and directed his own New Year's Revue... five 'original' songs and two poems.

I attempted to show him one chord (a G played with on 4 strings), but he preferred the open Emdim7Maj5 you get by strumming the open strings. His rehearsals were driving me crazy (no, absolutely effing insane), so I grabbed the guitar and tuned it to an open D tuning.

Harmony ensued.

My goal is to give him some space with his guitar. His hands are not big or strong enough to play yet, and I'm letting him get the feel for how it works before I turn him into some sort of prodigee. Afterall, our house could use ONE good guitarist.

Either I'm a Genius, or just darn lucky

Honest, I had no idea they were going to hang Saddam so soon.

I think this completes the death trilogy with Ford and Brown.

Good thing I finished my bunker this fall...looks like we might need to hide out for awhile.

Happy New Year

I'm going to take Friday, Tuesday, and Wednesday off. I expect the office to burn to the ground because I'm not there.

Note to Bears fans who are upset that the game has been moved to Sunday night, thereby upsetting your New Year's Eve plans: Get over it for gosh sakes..it's just a football game. I live and breathe by the NFL, but it's not the end of the world if I don't see a game. Even if it is Favre's last game (which it won't be).

With all that being said.....Guess where I'll be on New Year's Eve? Yep, right in front of the TV watching the game. Why? Because with all the running around we did for the holidays, we are too tired to do anything else but sit and watch a game.

Gerald Ford, James Brown, who's next? Or did I miss the third one?

Merry Christmas

I doubt that I'll be doing much 'personal computing' over the next several days, so I'll take this time to wish the 26-34 weekly visitors (James accounts for 15-20, I'm sure) a Merry Christmas.

We were over at the rectory last night for a Christmas Party hosted by our Priest. Truthfully, it was hosted by my wife, because she appears to be the First Lady of the parish. She decorated, dealt with the caterer, set the table and did the dishes.

As long as the priest keeps his mitts off her, I'm okay with that.

Gotta cut out the OTC meds before bedtime...

I dreamed last night it was Christmas Day, and the ladies in my kitchen preparing the meal were singing Little Steven's "Men Without Women".

A new opiate

If you haven't done so, please sign up at YouTube so you can watch all the videos.

I realize I'm 12 months late on this, but for my age-group, I'm ahead of the curve.

I wish I had more time in my day to waste creating and watching this stuff. Slightly better than looking at porn. At least you can stand up afterward and not be embarrassed.

The Weird World in Which We Live - part 1

There are times that I think we've made our world such a cesspool.

Last Friday (December 8) I got home a little early from work, so the family and I decided to do a little shopping and have dinner. We went to Target to do some Xmas shopping, and my daugher and I walked through the Record Department (for all you kids out there, that's where old farts like me buy CDs).

On an endcap there was a display of John Lennon CDs. I stopped my daughter and told her that this man was a great artist, and was sadly killed 26 years ago today. He was shot by a man just outside his apartment building in New York City.

My daughter sort of nodded, and we moved on.

A lot of my cultural reference points involve someone who has died or been killed. I'll tell my kids about the Kennedys, King, Lennon, Elvis, and other people who have influenced my life, and find myself having to explain why and how they died. Can't I have living heroes?

I see Walter Payton on an NFL Films show and have to explain to my son that even though he was a great athlete, he became ill and died. I don't explain how his liver disease and subsequent cancer was probably caused by gulping down handfuls of NSAIDS after games because Payton didn't want to take anything 'stronger'.

My son knows who Muhammed Ali is. He recognizes Ali on TV, and knows why he doesn't talk so much.

I don't know if my kids are getting some type of warped message about fame and accomplishment...that the price for success is illness or death. That when you are famous and want to do good things, other people want to kill you.

I need to ask them about that, I guess.

How Texas Am I?

How Texas are you? Your Result: You should be the freaking governor Obviously you have lived in Texas a long time. You know all there is to know about the Lonestar State and bleed red, white and blue. You are a true Texan.
Not bad, couple more Lonestars and you'll be ok.
Go back to California
How Texas are you? Make a Quiz

She Loves you

Am I the only guy that thinks that all Courtney Love needs is the love and support of a stable man?

I want to think that she is really smart/pretty/desirable, but I'm afraid of the psycho factor.

The Curse of July 29

My wife and I were married on July 29, 1989. There was no real significance to selecting that date, we just looked at the calendar and decided that July 29 would be the day.

Prince Charles and Lady Diana were married on a July 29.

Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston were married on a July 29.

Kid Rock and Pamela Anderson were married on a July 29.

With the exception of Brad Pitt, the rest of those grooms (including me) were pretty dorky looking. All the brides are famously gorgeous (including my wife).

As the last July 29 couple standing, we'd just like to say "Thanks" to all our fans.

Oh to be single again

Just got the news that Pamela Anderson and Kid Rock are splitsville. More on that later.

When Ignorance is bliss...

...tis folly to be wise.

This week, six Muslim imams were taken off a flight from Minneapolis after a number of them were witnessed to have participated in their usual evening prayers.

(Remind me to pray the rosary the next time I'm waiting for a flight).

The knuckleheads who allowed this to happen should be either disciplined or fired. This is America, darn it, and Muslims are allowed to prayer as they see fit.

I'm really sorry that this happened. It points to ignorance and intolerance, two things that I wish I knew more about, but don't want to bother to learn. (The last sentence was a joke).

But here's where I take issue with the imams:

From the Chicago Tribune:

MINNEAPOLIS -- Six Muslim clerics removed from a US Airways flight said Tuesday they were victims of discrimination and called for a boycott of the airline.

The imams were removed from the flight to Phoenix on Monday night after three of them said their normal evening prayers in the terminal in Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport before boarding, said Omar Shahin, president of the North American Imams Federation. They were among the 150 imams who attended a federation meeting in Minneapolis.

"The police came and take us off the plane in front of all the passengers in a very [humiliating] way," said Shahin. "I never felt bad in my life like yesterday. It was the worst moment in my life when I see six imams, six leaders in this community, humiliated."

Yes, Mr. Shahin, you were discriminated against. Yes, Mr. Shahin, you were humiliated. As I wrote above, the people responsible for this should be in big trouble.

Where I have a problem with you, Mr Shahin, is where you state "I never felt bad in my life like yesterday. It was the worst moment in my life when I see six imams, six leaders in this community, humiliated."

I can think of a worse day for you Mr Shahin. How about September 11, 2001, when 19 of your fellow Muslims killed over 3500 innocent people in the name of your religion? Were you humiliated by their actions? Did you feel bad? Probably not, because TO THIS VERY DAY your organization has done NOTHING to condemn or prevent continued violence against Israel or the US because of the intolerance your faith has of our culture.

You were wronged, and that angers me. But don't whine about that the worst moment of your life. Islam and Western Culture seem to be similar in that it's always "me, me, me!"

Happy Thanksgiving.

The Cat's out of the bag...

I've always had a weird intellectual crush on her.

I dislike her politics, I loathe her husband, and she's not exactly babe-ilicious.

I like smart women. I like women with a sense of humor. I like women who like football.

You have to admit she's pretty darn smart, and must have a sense of humor (considering who she's married to). If she was wearing a Bears sweatshirt, I'd leave my family.

If you want babe-ilicious, here you go:

I don't know if she's smart, and if she gave me the time of day, I'd call that a sense of humor.

I'd give up football for her. College football, anyway.

T-t-t-talkin' 'bout Draft Registration*

As much as I've lost faith in the current administration, I haven't gone completely lefty.

Back in 2004, one of the Democratic drumbeats was that the Republicans would reinstate the draft to shore up weakening Reserve and Active Duty numbers. This was viewed as a scare tactic (and believe me, as a Republican, I know a scare tactic when I see one) by the left to attract not only young voters, but also the parent of young voters and solidify the anti-war vote.
As we all now (even the Democrats), this was empty campaign rhetoric. Not even we Republicans thought reinstating the draft would be a good idea. If President Bush would have campaigned to reinstate the draft, I would have voted for Nader (sorry, never Kerry...we all know why, right?).

Yesterday, Representative Charles B Rangel (Dem-NY) reiterated his desire to reinstate the draft, if even for the 'back into it' logic that it would lead public sentiment against the war.

How effin' dumb do you think we are, anyway?


YOUTH IS WASTED ON THE YOUNG

Speaking of young voters, the two precincts that serve the Northern Illinois University campus (in the heart of Flyover IL) had approximately 11 percent registered voter turnout. This is laughable if only because these kids are the first ones to skip class to to attend a peace rally, especially if it involves a keg.

Don't get me wrong, I skipped a lot of classes and drank a LOT of beer. But I voted.

*When I was a senior in high school, registration for Selective Service started back up (thanks, Jimmy Carter) and I penned a little ditty sung to the tune of "My Generation" by The Who. This was before I became a Who fan. Through a small loophole in the law, I wasn't actually required to register, but I did anyway, because all my friends had to and it was only fair that I joined them in Iran to free the hostages.

Which reminds me, if we had only paved Iran back in 1979-80 like we should have, we wouldn't be mired in this shit now.

No, really, I prefer peace to war. Sadly, life is a lot like hockey, and sometimes you just have to drop the gloves.

Judgement Day?

According to a headline at ESPN.com, we're counting down to Judgement Day.

While that may be true (every day draws us closer, sadly) I was surprised that ESPN would be reporting on it. I'm not afraid of the rapture, but I was hoping I'd get the chance to learn the mandolin before the end of the world.

Fortunately, ESPN was talking about the Michigan vs. Ohio State game. Whew!!

When I was 11, that game was played to a 10-10 tie, which also created a tie for the Big 10 championship and Ohio State was magically awarded the right to play in the Rose Bowl. I was living in Indiana at the time and while I didn't have bragging rights for either team, I always liked Michigan better than Ohio State. I thought wolverines were cooler than buckeyes, or something like that.

So tomorrow, the two teams face each other again, both undefeated, in what will be a wonderful college football game. As much as I love the NFL, I love college football more.

Judgement Day comes at different times for those of different faiths. For many, it is tomorrow. For me, it's next Friday, when my beloved Aggies take on the Longhorns. At least we have a shot this year. My pathologic devotion to Texas A&M may be discussed later.


2:43 PM Out of respect for Chris over at Dangerous Logic (a much better blog than this one will ever be), I am not going to make any comments about it being judgement day for Bo. In spite of his ill-fated turn with the Detroit Tigers, I always thought that Bo Schembechler was a hell of a leader, and in the team photo of great football coaches. Woody Hayes is not in that photo.

Coach Schembechler is not really gone, he just got better seats for the game tomorrow.

Where's the turkey?

It's a good thing we're not hosting Thanksgiving dinner this year.

I don't know if it is because it falls early this year or what, but I am not in the holiday mood. Oh sure, I have lots to be thankful for. But the holiday is just not in the air yet.

We've been so darn busy (a product of our own design, sadly) that it's hard to catch one's breath and see what's going on. Work, city council, choir, Lions Club. My wife has work, various church councils that she watches over, bible study, library work, ladies' nights, bunco. She gave notice last night to the librarian, and the librarian asked if she could find her own replacement. It's not like my wife is an employee, she is an independent contractor doing the finances.

Anyway, something has to give. I'm not sure what needs to go. I can trim back my choir practice commitment and just show up on Sunday mornings. I don't want to quit the Lions, although I've scaled back on my involvement to the point that I go to every other meeting and don't take part in most of the projects. I'm sticking with City Council, although if I lose re-election next Spring, I won't shed any tears.

I barely have enough to time to sit around and be lazy. How I long for those days!

If it can get any worse...

I don't know what kind of people enlist in today's Armed Forces.

I do know, however, that if 4 Iraqi soldiers raped and killed a 14 year old American girl and killed her family to cover up the crime, Americans would go ape-shit if even one of them got a reduced sentence for pleading guilty.

Specialist James P Barker pleaded guilty today and will testify against his co-rapist buddies in order to avoid the death penalty. Brave soul, James. Asshole.

I support our troops. I don't support rapists. I especially don't support child rapists. All four of these guys deserve to swing from a rope. There is absolutely no such thing as a mitigating circumstance in this issue. They planned it, they executed it, and they tried to cover it up.

How is it that we keep on being the bad guys here?