Jon Stewart: Equal Opportunity Offender

I thought this was one of the funniest pieces they've
put together in a long time.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/29/jon-stewart-herman-cain-fox-news_n_886701.html

Hey, Wear Your Greed Proudly!

Thanks to Snave for sending me this article.

Gee, if there's nothing wrong with a very few people controlling
most of the wealth in this country why are some of the corporate
titans starting to get a wee bit nervous?

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2015420611_execpay25.html

All Aboard the Crazy Train

Generally candidates don't start making up stuff and
sounding unhinged until the campaigning and debating
get hot and heavy. Michelle Bachmann seems to be
an overachiever in this area.

By the way, I've always kind of liked Chris Wallace.
He seems like a real journalist and proved that again
yesterday.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=137457238

They Play, We Pay

Children and Leaders

Here's a story problem...let's say my family has a lot of debts.
We have a family meeting and agree to cut some things out of the
budget, like cable and a health club membership and the lawn
service and the daily paper. Those sacrifices take care of
two thirds of the debt problem.

Now lets's say we have some bags of money hidden out in our shed
and if we used them we could pay off the rest of the debt.
If we don't, we have to ask Grandma to stop taking her heart
medicine.

Dad says there's no way we can take any of the money out of
the shed.

Is that a good decision?

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/24/opinion/24fri1.html?_r=1&ref=opinion

Trading in Fear

Since this guy is so worried China will eventually take over
our country, I wonder if he'd be willing to discuss modifying
our insane free trade policies?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/22/mark-amodei-nevada-election_n_882197.html

Armageddon Tired of It

So I was watching the first episode of "Falling Skies" last
night. It's a new series on TNT about humans fighting for
survival after the world is invaded by extraterrestrials.

About fifteen minutes in I realized I was getting
kind of bored. Couldn't really blame it on the show...I like
the people who star in it, it's exciting and the special
effects are good.

I think I've finally hit the old apocalyptic wall. I've
always loved this end-of-the-world business but after
a few decades any subject can get a little routine.

It's kind of funny when you stop and think how much of our
entertainment (especially this time of year) is based on
the possibility humanity might be wiped out. Aliens and
Terminators and flu epidemics and nuclear explosions...
man, that's a lot of imaginary misery to experience
over the years.

So, maybe I'll try some more cheerful entertainment for a while.
Of course, I am little paranoid that if I stop watching and
reading about the end of the world it might actually happen.

P.S. Dear Free- I fully anticipate you will mock this post
because you've spent a lot of time in the middle of real
world violence. Please humor me this one time...

Let's Make a Deal

Maybe it's time to tell companies that if they want a break
on the taxes they pay on overseas profits maybe they should
have to do something radical. Like create some jobs here in
the USA.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/20/business/20tax.html?_r=1

The Small Show Season

It always drives me a little crazy how when summer comes
along it seems like everybody in the world shows up to
play live music. I mean there's only so much time and
money and I really love going to concerts.

But this has been a fun year because my friends and I have
been just taking in a bunch of shows in small venues.
There's a lot less hassle, a lot less expense and it's
a nice initimate experience.

I saw Tame Impala back in May. It was an excellent show
and I was blown away by how good they sounded live. Last
week we saw Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit. He used to
be in the Drive-by Truckers. He's a fine songwriter
and they do a nice blend of soft songs and rockers.

We have John Doe (formerly of X) and Jill Sobule coming
up in mid-July. They've just done a new album together.
And in August we're going to see Wye Oak. I've linked
to one of their videos at the bottom of this post.







http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBOU0dafnlA&feature=fvwrel

Big Man With a Big Horn

We'll miss you, Clarence. Your solo on "Jungleland" is
probably my all-time favorite piece of saxophone magic.

http://www.salon.com/life/bruce_springsteen/index.html?story=/mwt/feature/2011/06/19/clarence_clemons

Job Creator or Corporate Vulture?

I'm looking forward to hearing Mitt explain in a debate
how he made most of him money.


http://motherjones.com/politics/2011/06/could-romneys-attack-obamas-jobs-record-backfire

Maybe I Need to Visit Utah...

It's weird, I have never talked to a Republican (even online)
who's excited about the prospect of Mitt Romney becoming
president.

If he wins the nomination, can we expect a third party
challenge from the Tea Party folks? And if so, who do
you think is the most likely candidate?


http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0611/57085.html

Rootin' Tootin' Rick

I heard tonight that only four percent of Texas citizens want
to see Governor Rick Perry run for president.

What are they trying to tell the rest of us?

http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2011/06/13/234883/rick-perry-gods-plan/

Magical Thinking

Things to Come

I just finished a very interesting book. It was written by
comedian/film director Albert Brooks.

I've always enjoyed his work and figured this would probably
be kind of a funny look at the future, like the movies
"Idiocracy" or "Sleeper". It actually turned out to be serious
novel about life in America 19 years from now. Cancer has been
cured, you can get thin with a pill and there are lots of
new amazing gadgets. But on the other hand, the struggle over
entitlements has turned violent and LA has just been wiped out
by a massive earthquake.

All in all, this is a great read. The characters are interesting
and the ideas discussed have everything in the world to do with
what's happening in the America of 2011.

The Ultimate Endorsement

Oh, boy. Here we go again...politicians running for president
who claim the Big Guy has their back.


http://www.salon.com/news/2012_elections/?story=/politics/war_room/2011/06/10/god_backs_mulitiple_gop_candidates

Altruism Inc.

You ever notice how different some companies become when they
go public? Here's a new way they can do good and avoid becoming
just another ruthless profit pump.

http://www.thenation.com/article/161261/rise-benefit-corporations

The Old Man and the Sea (of alcohol)

Here's an entertaining dissertation on a manly man, his robust life and the liver that betrayed him.

http://www.salon.com/books/writing/index.html?story=/mwt/feature/2011/06/05/hemingway_excerpt

As the Weiner Turns

I don't really have anything to say about this silly
scandal. I just really wanted to post a piece with
that title.

Ups and Downs of Oil

I thought this was interesting...today Ed Schultz pointed out
that in July 2008 the private sector only created 9,000
net new jobs. That was the month during the Bush administration
when gas reached it's highest price levels.

So, I would say that the 83,000 produced in May 2011 certainly
doesn't look so bad in comparison.

Profiles in Profit

That darn lamestream media just won't leave Sarah alone!

All she wants to do is travel around the country in her
giant bus and pretend she might run for public office.

It is SO unfair!!!!


http://www.salon.com/news/politics/sarah_palin/index.html?story=/politics/war_room/2011/06/05/palin_president

Characters in Our Story

It's weird how when you get to a certain stage of your life,
all of a sudden Death becomes more than an occasional visitor.
Now he's moved into the house next door and seems anxious
to take down the whole neighborhood.

I think I have this perspective now because I'm 54. People
I've known are starting pass away and there are lots and
lots of celebrities and public figures dying due to old
age or hard living.

When you're young, famous people die but you don't care
much because you've never heard of them.

Just this past week an old friend of mine (Dave Perkins)
died. He was actually two years younger than me.

James Arness of Gunsmoke fame just died. He was a big
part of my childhood.

Jeff Conaway from Taxi died.

Lawrence Eagleburger died.

Life goes on. I guess I'm just realizing how fast it goes.