Very Greasy

The title is a reference to David Lindley and his one time band, El Rayo X. They were fun. Lindley's played with thousands of people over the years- perhaps best known was his stint with Jackson Browne. His songs make me smile.

So for today's hum/whistle (should I change it to whum or humstle?) please give a listen to Tiki Torches At Twilight, or Quarter Of A Man. And think of David Lindley.

Sitting, having coffee this morning and I was reminded of Billy Joel's mortal fear- that he would be remembered as having made some great elevator music.The month of December is rife with songs that we hear in stores and coffee shops and then immediately tune out. One of my favorite things is making endless musical mixes and sharing them with people. Most of them look at me like I'm DIY's Josh Temple. He hosts a show called House Crash and he runs around home improvement stores looking for people that will take him home and let him renovate a room in their house. But a lot of people want no part of this. I like Josh. He is a little amped, but that's his character ( A Little Amped????) I may approach you and ask you if you want some music. I haven't resorted to tossing them into unlocked cars, but as William Shakespeare said in Twelfth Night, "If music be the food of Life, play on." I will.

Thank you. I'm glad you asked. My eyesight is back to normal today after watching a little of the battle of Oregon last night; Ducks and Beavers. Chartreuse vs Major Honker Orange. If only they could have played at Boise State's Smurfstadium. I'd still be blind.

I'm a big hockey fan. But I really don't care for shootouts. Last night was different, though. Chicago and Dallas went 11 deep before the Hawks, Ben Smith went high glove on +Kari Lehtonen. +Corey Crawford kicked out 10 and the Hawks prevailed.

Profound sympathies to those who lost their lives in Glasgow last night. There are things that happen that cannot be explained.

New poll out. AP-GFK reports that there is a continuing and alarming lack of personal trust in one's fellow people. Trust in institutions, government, church etc. has been abysmal but those leaders have developed thick skin that tends to preclude them from giving a shit what we think. That's awful and that shows. But this 'personal' side of trust drain involves thinking a clerk might memorize your credit card and ruin you- or someone you meet while traveling isn't wishing you well. I work hard to be as good a cook as I can be. With the number of shows on TV that depict a depiction of reality in restaurants, I really don't want to go out as much as I used to.

Having said that, this is the third day in a row that I am posting the praises of +Pope Francis . He is critical of among other things, trickle down economics. Life has changed, inexorably and sadly. I feel it and I suspect you do too. I know some blithe souls who always seem happy and positive. But there is a palpable inequality between people and it really puts a strain on trust and well being. It's world wide. This is my country and this is where I live and see things. But through social media, its possible to see this trend in macro and it's distressing- and world wide. Not everyone wants to just 'hug one out.' So, I'm lamenting trickle down mistrust. Thanks to +Connie Cass for writing about the poll and to +Jennifer Agiesta and +Dennis Junius for disseminating things we already can feel and sense as we go about our lives.

+Arlo Guthrie and +Pete Seeger, two of America's great surviving and traveling troubadors are together for a show in New York City tonight. Wish I could be there.

What I try to do each day is to scat about things that alter the thought process. Whether it be a song that flies in your head and won't leave, or a jab at a entertainment or sports personality who thinks they are the center of the universe, I'm not trying to be ugly or too controversial. I do notice on days when I write about politics and policy, visits to my blog triple. How did you know what I was was going to say? I didn't. I'm going to keep talking about some of these things because the mistrust, with all its manifestations is like congestive heart failure. The bile just builds up and people are real and unintended consequences. Like you're walking down the street and as part of a ritual, somebody comes up beside or behind you and knocks you out with one punch. I won't get into the social or racial aspects of this "game??" I will say it's fucking stupid. And I wish that people wouldn't play it. People have died. For what? This?

Asking people to love each other is nice, but it's also pointless, to a degree. What's going on in your life that makes you feel the way you do? Good and Bad. Just think about it and try to be nice to someone today. Then start a streak. Outdo +Cal Ripken. I sometimes say this on conservative blogging sites and I am usually told to kiss a unicorn or hug a tree. And Waaaaay worse. I don't retort, but I'm thinking, fuck you asshole.

 Small business Saturday. Do your best. That's one of the ways we can encourage owners to do the ultimate act of kindness- increase their bottom line so they can give their employees health insurance coverage. Poll after poll states clearly that worrying about one's health is the number one concern of Americans.

See you soon.

Black Friday (The Steely Dan Version)

I live 8 miles from a mall, so as I went out this morning, it was very quiet. There was a creepy moment in my local Starbucks where as I read the morning papers. yep, I still do that, I was being stared at by a  man I didn't recognize. The cool, detached way he was masticating his danish only heightened the drama. But I finished the Op Ed pages and shot him a glance as I left. The next stop was at the post office to get my mail and there was a guy sitting in his Mercedes 600, staring at me. I figured home would be a good destination so now my monitor will write that I'm staring at it. All's fair.

I think creating a news event whereby thousands of people sleep outside a store, waiting for it to open-- and then when it does, recreating the running of the bulls in Pamplona, is really lame. I understand that "the business of business is business," but seriously, do you want to get stabbed in the parking lot of a Wal Mart because somebody wants that fucking toaster worse than you? I must be missing something. When it snows, the Weather Channel sends Jim Cantore or Mike Seidel to stand in the street talking to you as it snows. ANd today CNBC and your local news channels have dispatched reporters to malls all across the country to ask people what they're going to buy.

 Pope Francis- it's two days since your exhortation about economic inequality and you're still my hero. When will we get it?

So here starts the month that will point out the selfless nature of ordinary citizens and the acts of kindness they routinely do for a majority of the other 330 days of the year. And it will seem like we really don't hear that much of it for the other eleven months. Some people are dicks. But the vast majority are wonderful. I still read newspapers because they have this curious little thing called a journalistic ethic that requires the reporter to fact check what he's about to write.

We brined the turkey yesterday and it really made a difference. Apparently the dogs thought so as well, because although we put the bird way back on the counter against a wall, they got it. I could only think about the dog scene in A Christmas Story.

Whenever it's on, I watch Mississippi Burning. Just thought I'd mention that.

Ronan Farrow? Just go on TV and say something that riles up all the people who frequent Tucker Carlson's mosh pit. I won't mention the name, because I'd be helping him make more money. Even though the internet is a wonderful thing, and everybody's entitled to their opinion-------------- anyway. Nice going. I know you graduated college at 15, but your intelligence doesn't preclude you from Comiendo Los Zapatos de chocolate.

Another STFU award. Numerous utterances the past two weeks have you moving up the charts with a bullet-- Charles Krauthammer. Please get back on your meds.

RIP- Arik Einstein

Congrats to the Saskatchewan Roughriders- winning the 101st Grey Cup.

Can Aaron Rodgers be that good?

With an average of 320 million hits per day, did it not occur to HHS to get some Google guys to help build the website for the Affordable Care Act?

124 days til "Opening Day".

Woody Johnson? According to the Atlantic's Allen Barra, your table is NOT ready. Interesting read on why the Jets have stunk for so long. Don't worry, Woody, Willard Romney will call you and you two can commiserate.

 I don't think the State Department lists Lyon or Marseille as places not to visit because of criminal behavior. I could be wrong.

Enjoy your day. Please think about rewarding your local merchants tomorrow as Small Business Saturday will be in effect.

Whistle and Hum for today:
Jackson Browne- Before the Deluge

Amidst it all- GIVE THANKS

On the Day Before Thanksgiving:

Turn inward and breathe. Understand and embrace what you can control and what you cannot. After all, there's an awful lot that we cannot. Not easy.

There is the intersection of Chanukah and Thanksgiving. First night is tomorrow. Weird. How did central casting get those two together?

Congratulations to the most sober city in the U.S.  Salt Lake City
And the winner of the drunkest city in the U.S. Bakersfield

Useless information is my life.

Without any IAEA inspectors allowed in Iran, how do we know how many centrifuges they have?

I am still amazed at Pope Francis' apostolic exhortation that was released yesterday. I usually give popes a lot of room to operate, but the document which was 223 pages was pure balls. Love ya Paco.
We will discuss this in more detail after the holidays.

Have you noticed that despite reports of significant absence of traffic in the past few months, yesterday was a day when your trip took twice as long as it usually does?

So today's hum and whistle is the Perry Como version of It's The Most Wonderful Time Of the Year.

I didn't post yesterday. First time in three weeks. Apparently nobody missed me.

125 days until Opening Day. Remember what Yogi said: If people don't want to come out and watch baseball, nobody's gonna stop em'.

Remember, your crazy uncle who lives in the basement and wants to marry Gretchen Carlson from Fox News? Invite him upstairs tomorrow and tell him you love him.

Seriously?? Pray for Peace and Civility.

See you soon.

Hey Iran! Come to Philadelphia

Don't worry, I'm not making Terducken this week.

Remember This?  Let me give props to a website called America 1979. I remember an awful lot of these bumper stickers

OK, so maybe the world is not telling America its table is ready. Maybe they're asking if we still want a table. Do we?

I'm thinking Philadelphia is a metaphor for policy acceptance.

I forget who it was, but they once referred to Philadelphia sports fans thus. "They'd boo a cure for cancer." So, 85% of Americans approve of the initial U.S./Iranian agreement over the weekend. But once the dumbpundits (If Merriman Webster can add new words every year, maybe they'll like this one) got their hands on the story, one would think the number was the opposite.

It's almost like Healthcare, Immigration, Economic Equality. We try to do things with the best of intentions, rarely succeeding to nearly anyone's satisfaction. So, as we examine the verities (or otherwise) of the weekend's events, let's try to focus on a really important question.

What happened to defense in the NFL?

We saw Bombino, the band founded by Omara Moctar on Saturday night. He is a guitarist, born in Niger who fled during the uprisings in 1990. His music reflects the travails of the Toureg culture and people. His family fled to Algeria and he was a devotee of Jimi Hendrix among others. The band plays acoustic and electric. My initial reaction was that it was powerful. I liked the acoustic very much. When he picked up the electric guitar, it was different. The vocals, in the Taureg language are difficult to discern and get a little drowned out by the rise in decibels Their current record, Nomad  is worth a listen. The band like many once obscure acts came to the attention of American musicians with some juice and influence; in this case Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys.

Hums and Whistles:
Jethro Tull- The Whistler
Cat Stevens- Peace Train
Big Joe Turner- Big Legs
Alvin Lee- Let's Boogie

RIP: BRIAN
The Griffins, as well as all devotees of Family Guy mourn the loss of Brian. Wouldn't it be great that anybody who is dying could have that moment with their family to thank them and to tell they love them.

Margot Bingham AKA "Daughter Maitland" in Boardwalk Empire? You sing very sweetly. Your table is ready. Your song ending season 4 at the juke was something else. Not a bad Ship of Zion either.

On that beautiful note, I take my leave for today. But I'll be back.

It's Friday! Remembering Kennedy and trying for some perspective

RIP, JFK

I'm thinking of the tributes and stories today as we mark the 50th anniversary of John Kennedy's assassination. I'm also thinking of the vast differences in the way the world was then.

Kennedy's approval rating averaged 62% during his all to brief administration. It was not without some absolute policy disasters, The Bay of Pigs, the contentious relationship with the Steel Industry, trying to navigate the proper course in Southeast Asia, the beginnings of a sea change brought on by the Civil Rights movement. At the same time, it was not without triumphs; The Berlin Speech, Cuban missile crisis, the breakthrough of being a President who came to office as being the "first (Roman Catholic), the spectre of being "Camelot." Marilyn Monroe?? Just sayin'.

Inflation was troubling, unemployment was in mid ranges but what John Kennedy brought was youthful optimism. He proposed lofty policy initiatives (The Peace Corps) the NASA space program. I remember reading Theodore White's chronicle* of the 3 1/2 years and what was striking was Kennedy's comment to House Speaker John McCormack, whereby Kennedy supposedly said. 'what a lousy, fucked up job this turned out to be." On top of the world? He apparently didn't think so.

So think back my friends to landslides which turned good fortune into a shit show. Every President has basked in the moment and had it wrenched away by many different circumstances. So on the 50th anniversary of a pretty sad day, let's try to remember that no one is immune from an even handed fate- even when the hand is not evenly dealt.

What I do know is that today is a vastly different climate in terms of the flow of information, the 24/7 news cycle what is news and what is not, what is truth and what is not and what our personal circumstances are within the age we live in. I sat in my 9th grade math class as the Principal of my school announced that the 35th President of the United had been shot and killed in Dallas, Texas. What we went through trying to wrap our heads around that.

So have a great weekend. Short work week, next week and Thanksgiving to boot. It'll all be OK. I think.

*The Making Of The President, 1964.

Special Edition Post. Twofer Thursday

In the ENTIRE history of the United States, there have been 168 Filibusters of Presidential Judicial nominees. 82 during the administration of Barack Obama.

http://www.politico.com/story/2013/11/Harry-Reid-nuclear-option-100199.html?hp=t1

It's a risk. But it is worth doing in order to stop the obstructionism that has been the habit of the opposition since the election of Barack Obama. To put it in layman's terms, think of the movie Hoosiers. The new coach, Norman Dale is not popular in the town of Hickory and this catches the attention of Opal Fleener, the mother of Myra, who is Dale's colleague. Opal tells Dale, (as somebody must have told Barack Obama at some point) "the sun don't shine on a dog's ass every day. But Mister, you ain't seen a ray of light since you got here." This vote is a giant laxative for a very constipated group of people, preening about in a prearranged strategy of opposition to a twice elected President. Democracy at it's finest? We'll see.

 The Italians say it very nicely. BASTA.

So in tribute to the fictitious Opal, my whistlehum for the day comes from my guy, Taj Mahal who sang it- You ain't no street walker, mama, but I love the way you strut your stuff.

Hey, We're BUSY

Another day, another Midwestern Governor is in the process of attaining the beltway status of flavor du jour. He took on the unions. He railed against the pensions that he said were endangering the fiscal rectitude of his state. He claims his family was threatened as he stood for what was right. With a little help ( and a lot of money) from his "friends" he survived a recall election. He wrote a book. He will now sell that book on America's choice for fair and balanced news. And now, the fickle finger of fate is whispering in his ear.**

After Watergate, a bipartisan bill was passed to give citizens the option of donating $3.00 to a system that would publicly fund elections. Recently, a bill sponsored by Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma sought to do away with this system because in his words, it was another wasteful unnecessary government expenditure. With 10 Democrats joining the "just say no" gang, the bill was passed to do away with the feature of donating $3.00 and the notion of publicly funded elections probably forever. The vote was 235-190. 10 lawmakers had no opinion or chose to abstain. This bill, as with most other bills passed by this group with a 9% approval rating is "dead on arrival" in the Senate. The "pissing match" between our two parties continues and this is a perfect example of that.

It occurs to me that something is really wrong with the way we elect people-- and that includes the run up as well as the dreary process which yields us peers that earn $174,000.00 per year, will work 226 days this year, will have passed the fewest legislative initiatives in 60 years. And unlike the working stiffs who our aforementioned hero took on because their previously negotiated pensions were deemed a drag on the local economy, our current legislators can participate in two different pension programs by which they are fully vested after 5 year participation. The new war being waged by Governors is to challenge and negate the benefits people were promised. They are now called the 47% or the "takers".

In addition, try this on for size. In 1974, 3% of "near retirement" legislators became lobbyists. Today, that number has swelled to 50% (Senators) and 43% (Congresspeeps). If you don't turn your political cloth inside out to lobby the very group that you once belonged to, you become a member of a "think tank", you write books, you get a job as a "pundit" on either the cable or traditional news networks. This might morph into a "talk radio" show and if you reach the "right" audience (Good one, eh?), you can urge millions of devoted listeners to march to things that outrage you. And you can make a ton of money doing it. And to make that money, a large percentage of what you say to earn (?) may be too fuzzy to be fact checked, or in the opinion of some, it may be a gross prevarication. But even when you're fact checked, you can ignore it because in the politics game, what is the truth anyway? I think somebody wrote a book about the inconvenience of truths and you see what happened to him. Does this sound right to you

The subject line says "hey, we're busy." We're all busy working- those of us who have jobs. We don't have a deal like our Senators so our future income depends on what we do every day to make a living. Most of our kids are grown, but economic conditions and the job market leave many of them in a non viable circumstance and many end up boomeranging back home to us, possibly needing some sort of subsidization. We all try to set aside what we used to call "rainy day funds" so God forbid if something terrible were to happen; job loss, catastrophic illness, we have a safety net.

Learning and staying up to date on politics and policy is boring (because laws are written by lawyers and we like our lawyers as much as we like having our teeth cleaned) {and Congress is heavily made up of lawyers}  but we're busy. We're bowling, cooking, watching our sports teams, drinking too much, trying to learn the violin, staying up to date on Dancing with The Stars, sailing, saving money for a rainy day, tweeting (while driving) trying to get laid, coaching soccer, you get what I mean. And while we work, someone is whistling straight to the bank. And even though we're busy, it's partially our fault because our busy lives don't allow us the time to be as informed as we need to be. And we need to be informed. We cannot be low information people and get our truths from Huntley and Brinkley-- because they're dead. POTUS 44 said, "Don't Boo--VOTE!

Whatever your views, you are entitled to them. But we need to wake up and be as informed as time will allow us to be. Don't put your eggs in your elected official's basket. Those eggs don't have a chance of staying unbroken.

Special hums and whistles that segues with today's rant:
"Who'll make the promise that you don't have to keep? Don't look now, It ain't you or me."

"It ain't me, it ain't me. I ain't no Senator's Son."- Creedence Clearwater Revival.

John Fogerty, No one will ever take your table away.

**Scott Walker, you're table ain't ready.

Another saying comes to mind.
"If you do what you always did, you'll get what you always got."

See you tomorrow. Tell somebody you love them.