No control

We have seen the quote. Especially, when it's told by a sports figure whose name is being shopped around in a trade. But its specifics pertain to many things that confuse us and piss us off. Because there are few things that make us more uncomfortable than not having control.

I understand that this is a business. I can only control what I do on the field (court, ice etc.) Otherwise, I have no control over the business aspect of it.

Powerful  corporate interests are pushing the U.S. Congress to pass the Fast Track portion of the TPP or Trans Pacific Partnership. As with many international agreements we sign, it appears to benefit everybody but US as citizens. After all, why should we pay attention to it? It appears that implementation of this bill will not spur productivity, create more good paying jobs in this country or benefit workers in any tangible way. I believe the North American Free Trade Agreement in the 90's (NAFTA) was promised to be such a boon but clearly, has not met that expectation.

So, when we talk about job creation, job enhancement, increased revenues and strategic partnerships, trust  your gut: where there's a smell, there's bullshit.

New Jersey Governor, Chris Christie's inauguration is going to be covered by the cable news networks, who have chosen sides and are invested in droning on and on about both the GWB story and now, the allegations by Dawn Zimmer, mayor of Hoboken, that she was pressured by two Christie administration officials to approve a commercial project in order to receive promised relief funds to abate the damage done to Hoboken by Hurricane Sandy. What a continuing bore! I think I'm washing my hair at the time of the inauguration so unfortunately, will miss it.

Couldn't sleep last night and found myself practicing the line from The Godfather,  "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer."  Because I love politics, (but I don't really know why), I find it essential to keep my enemies closer. So I found myself watching portions of O'Reilly, The Independents and Hannity. On occasion, when I am truly masochistic, I also watch The Five. That's where my in laws get all their news, so it's important to know what Rush Limbaugh is thinking. The Independents is an unbelievable show in terms of content. 

As a younger man, I had a terrible crush on Martha Quinn when she was hosting her MTV show. I also watched Kennedy (Lisa Kennedy Montgomery). She also had a hip show that catered to the Music TV generation. I think Kennedy had Martha rubbed out or something- not that I watch MTV as much as I used to, but when I see the antics of Kennedy and her panel and the way they cover "news" in their "fair and balanced way", I get a little sick. I was always much more interested in Martha telling me how much damage Rod Stewart did to his hotel room, but I digress. I can only take these people in very short doses. Just let me be the head of the FTC for a short time. I will clean up Dodge. By the way, a note to Kimberly Guilfoyle and Kennedy, the Obamas paid for Michelle's birthday bash out of their own pockets. Just like Nancy Reagan did when she spent $210,000 dollars for a party for 220 people in the 1980's. Adjusted for inflation, the cost would be over $400,000.00 today. OH, wait, she didn't pay for it? NO? The taxpayers did? OOPS.

Richard Sherman is a lion and therefore, a lion has no use for the opinions of lambs. I'm paraphrasing.  

Just add the Cubs' selection of Clark, the new mascot and you can see why it's always the cherry that weighs down the cake. 

And what were we talking about today??? CONTROL???

How about----

No politics today. Hooray!

I have a friend who sent me a disc with 12 versions of Bill Withers' Ain't No Sunshine. 
Might I suggest a couple of listens? Even though everybody knows the Marvin Gaye version of What's Goin' On,  try Quincy Jones' version from Smackwater Jack. A great record- lots of interesting things on it, including the Theme song from Ironside, 

Two Allman Brothers Band news items. First, is that tickets are on sale for the annual March Madness shows at the Beacon, in NYC. Second, is that both Warren Haynes and Derek Trucks have announced that 2014 is their last year to tour with ABB. I'm not surprised but they have brought a tremendous energy to the whole Allmans legacy for quite a long time. Tour details are sketchy at the moment but I suspect they'll fill in. Lot of great guitar players who can step right in. The farm system has been well developed. Hell, they're all major leaguers.

Let me roll you a --- a what? A playlist out of my mind if I were driving around today. I'd roll you something else but you don't need my help.

Bob Wills- Twin Guitar Special
Miles Davis- Freddie Freeloader
Big Joe Turner- Big Legs
Bob Dylan- Black Diamond Bay
Danny O'Keefe- Portrait in Black Velvet
Herbie Mann- Push Push (w/Duane Allman) {Whoa Nelly!}
Frank Sinatra- Luck Be A Lady Tonight
The Nice- Country Pie
Counting Crows- Mr Jones
Billy Paul- Me and MRS. Jones
Temptations- Ball Of Confusion
Stuff - My Sweetness
Steely Dan- Bad Sneakers
Julie London- Dark

Hum, Whistle or do both.
Caution. You are now leaving the No Chris Christie zone.

Have a wonderful weekend. Enjoy football because it really HAS been entertaining.



 

War Weary

Evidently, the United States loves the "war" metaphor. If we don't like something, we declare war on it. Warring and fighting things are in our lexicon. Politicians who want our vote are "fighting" for us. They're one of us. That other guy (or woman) is one of them. On October 7th of 2008, during a "town hall" style debate, one Presidential candidate referred to his opponent as "that one."

Today, a governor, and a probable future presidential candidate is apologizing to a mayor and his city's residents for his staff's taking revenge on that city's mayor for not endorsing that governor. What did they do to him? They closed access lanes to the one of the world's busiest bridges, which caused massive traffic tie ups in that mayor's city.

Yesterday, two prominent politicians gave speeches declaring the War On Poverty failed- that we didn't win. And therefore, we should stop making war on a thing that we cannot defeat. One of those speeches evoked the glories of a previous President who WON the Cold War.  The last war we won, as a nation was won under this same President in a military action where we invaded and vanquished a cruel regime that had undergone a coup, leaving U.S. medical students in danger. This invasion, came two days after a suicide truck bomber pierced the perimeter of a U.S. Marine base in Beirut, Lebanon, killing 241 American Servicemen, 220 of which were Marines. So, we left that country and many things have happened since. But all that is certainly for another day. Wow! This President also is alleged to have said, "we waged a war on poverty and poverty won." He tasked his then Attorney General to convene a task force in order to investigate the social welfare system and reform it. It is my opinion that since that time, class warfare was waged upon government itself and people who work for government. And that has spawned an awful lot as well, but that too, is for another time and place.

Many marched in the streets in the 1960's and 70's and urged our government to "wage peace". It was my hope that by changing the lexicon, hearts and minds could change from seeking conflict to seeking accord. This is not "squishy" or ill advised- although, many would vehemently disagree. And in disagreement, comes the name calling, the race baiting, the class warfare, the casting of blame on those who don't want to wage war- unless waging it is a clear and last resort.

Today's post asks you to take a moment and think about which side of war and peace you think you're on. Has conflict and disagreement become so normal, that it is now almost DNA like, embedded in every breath we take or utterance?

Today's humstle is kind of corny, I'll admit, but it does fit into the whole issue of war versus peace. So remember Jim Messina and Kenny Loggins', Peace Of Mind. And think of the concept of making war and being pissed off in the context of that great saying; "Today is not your day--tomorrow's not looking good either."

I wish you peace to you today. Tomorrow will take care of itself.