Wednesday, December 23, 2009
A Christmas Carol, of sorts
It was the night before Christmas, and all through the Senate
the right held up our health care bill, no matter what was in it.
The people had voted a mandated reform
but Republicans blew off the gathering storm.
“We’ll clog up the Senate,” they cried with a grin.
“and in the midterm elections, we’ll get voted in.”
they knew regular folks needed help right this second
but fund-raisers lobbyists and politics beckoned.
So try as they might Democrats could not win
because their majority was simply too thin
Then across every state there rose such a clatter,
the whole Senate rushed out to see what was the matter.
All sprang up from their desk and ran from the floor,
straight through the cloakroom and right out the door.
And in what in the world would be quite so raucous,
but a mandate for change from the Democratic caucus.
The president, the speaker, of course leader Reid
had answered the call in our hour of need.
More rapid than eagles, the provisions they came
and they whistled and shouted and called them by name:
better coverage, cost savings, a strong public plan
accountable options, we said “yes, we can.”
No exclusions or changes for preexisting conditions.
let’s pass a bill that restores competition.
The Democrats all came together to fight
for the American people that Christmas eve night.
And then in a twinkle, I heard under the dome
the roll call was closed, and it was time to go home.
Despite the obstructionist tactics of some,
the filibuster had broken, the people had won
And a good bill was ready for President Obama,
ready to sign and end health care drama.
Democrats explained as they drove out of sight,
better coverage for all, even our friends on the right.
And I say to all of my colleagues in this season, merry Christmas and a happy, happy new year.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Freddie King doing Big Legged Woman - Live
Great tune from one THE legends of the blues, Master Freddie King, from the DVD "The Beat" (thanks, Peerhome!)
Amazing Photographs of Earth
Check out these pictures of our Earth from satellites! The images in this compilation are from the Landsat 7 satellite. 60 images released, all stunning. Top, Yukon Delta, Bottom, Lena Delta.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Roxy Perry - "You Cried For Me"
one of the finest blues singers, certainly under-rated, but once you hear Roxy, you'll be smitten. Truly she rocketh! (thanks, NYBQ!)
Friday, December 18, 2009
Otis Redding live in Monterey '67
Includes "Respect" as it was originally written and performed! This guy was the BOMB, yo!
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Charlie Hunter playin If 6 was 9 with 8 strings
well, I call it a "bass-tar" but he's amazing, and could put a bassplayer out of bidness! this ROCKS. I think Jimi would approve. (thanks, gtr67!)
Fishin Blues
Check out this tiny selection of veteran fisherman Bill Dance's classic bloopers. These are F.A.S!! (thanks ratbanjos!)
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Three Group Shows featuring work by TheBassGuy (fine-art photographs)
Three Group Shows!!
1. Surrealism Art Show, Ave A Sushi, Lower East side, Manhattan - opens 12/17 - (reception 12/17) Come for the sushi, stay for the Surrealism!
2. "Art Connections #6" - Montclair (NJ) State University's George Segal Gallery, opens 1/17 (reception 2-5pm), runs through 2/13/09.
3. "Found on Facebook" - Manhattanville College's Arthur Berger Gallery, Purchase, NY. - Opens 1/19, runs through 2/18. (reception 2/3 5-7pm)
1. Surrealism Art Show, Ave A Sushi, Lower East side, Manhattan - opens 12/17 - (reception 12/17) Come for the sushi, stay for the Surrealism!
2. "Art Connections #6" - Montclair (NJ) State University's George Segal Gallery, opens 1/17 (reception 2-5pm), runs through 2/13/09.
3. "Found on Facebook" - Manhattanville College's Arthur Berger Gallery, Purchase, NY. - Opens 1/19, runs through 2/18. (reception 2/3 5-7pm)
NEW Genesis blog - Genesis 4 U
For all you Genesis and 70's prog rock fans, this blog's for YOU - it's HERE!
Genesis in Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Finally!
I KNOW WHAT I LIKE - live, with Peter Gabriel, early 70's.
Today, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation announced ABBA, Genesis, Jimmy Cliff, The Hollies and The Stooges as its 2010 artist inductees. Congratz to all, especially Genesis, Iggy & Jimmy!
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Lance Ong - a Musician's Musician - RIP
Julius Dilligard, Lance Ong and Nicole Hart
Lance & Nicole onstage
Lance and Rion Ong
Lance Ong has left the building. Lance, who passed away Dec.7th after a fight against cancer, was an amazingly talented and hardworking musician, and will be missed by friends and fans in the NY/NJ area. I had the priviledge of playing in Lance's band a couple years back. Great guy, great keyboardist, composer, and music director. Condolences go out to his wife, singer Nicole Hart and his son Rion. Hope folks will show support for the family during this tough time by downloading tracks by NRG & Nicole Hart.
Read his Music Bio page
Monday, December 14, 2009
Those Crazy Creationists - still crazy after all these years!
Dr. Eugenie Scott's presentation at the AAI 2009 Convention in Burbank, California. (thanks Sensuous Curmudgeon and National Center for Science Education)
Friday, December 11, 2009
RIP "Flight of the Conchords" - Brett & Jermaine will be missed
one of my fave FOC tunes! HBO has decided to cancel FOC after 2 seasons. This is a shame, as the show was as unique as their act is.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Health Insurance is a big Scam
OK, I said it. The middleman/gatekeeper/deathpanel/monopoly gang that keeps a stranglehold on doctors, hospitals and clinics has gotten out of control.
And since we can't actually REGULATE or apply ANTI-TRUST laws, looks like a huge problem that only spending billion$ can address, right? WRONG, and here's why.
IF we could only have the 'big bad' Government control some of the activities and profitability of the industry, to the benefit of consumers and providers, we might have a inexpensive fix. But NO. Because of the hundreds of million$ given to congressfolk and senators to run their campaigns and to shill for the healthcare industry.
Most folks have no problems paying for 'coverage,' but that has proved to be a joke, especially for those who get really sick or injured, and therefore cannot work. I'd rather pay into a fund that pays caregivers directly, be it public or non-profit, or even small-profit. Why not just give a couple hundred a month to the local hospital, so when I must go there, I'll be covered, instead of giving to Aetna Blue Cross United Oxford so they can reward shareholders and public officials.
Maybe I'm just un-American, but this debate has gone on too long and all 3 parties (Dem, Repub & Tea)
are afraid to upset their paymasters. Sorry, just had to vent! Now tell me why I'm wrong.
And since we can't actually REGULATE or apply ANTI-TRUST laws, looks like a huge problem that only spending billion$ can address, right? WRONG, and here's why.
IF we could only have the 'big bad' Government control some of the activities and profitability of the industry, to the benefit of consumers and providers, we might have a inexpensive fix. But NO. Because of the hundreds of million$ given to congressfolk and senators to run their campaigns and to shill for the healthcare industry.
Most folks have no problems paying for 'coverage,' but that has proved to be a joke, especially for those who get really sick or injured, and therefore cannot work. I'd rather pay into a fund that pays caregivers directly, be it public or non-profit, or even small-profit. Why not just give a couple hundred a month to the local hospital, so when I must go there, I'll be covered, instead of giving to Aetna Blue Cross United Oxford so they can reward shareholders and public officials.
Maybe I'm just un-American, but this debate has gone on too long and all 3 parties (Dem, Repub & Tea)
are afraid to upset their paymasters. Sorry, just had to vent! Now tell me why I'm wrong.
The climate denial industry is out to dupe the public. And it's working
by George Monbiot from The Guardian
"When I use the term denial industry, I'm referring to those who are paid to say that man-made global warming isn't happening. The great majority of people who believe this have not been paid: they have been duped." READ THE REST
"When I use the term denial industry, I'm referring to those who are paid to say that man-made global warming isn't happening. The great majority of people who believe this have not been paid: they have been duped." READ THE REST
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Thursday, December 3, 2009
The SUN Song!
We all know that the sun is a mass of incandescent gas, but this song--performed by The Chromatics, an acapella group that includes three astrophysicists from the Goddard Space Flight Center--gets a little more in-depth.
(thanks Goddard Space Flight Ctr, Mark Day & boingboing.net)
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Global Heating and What the Science Says
Still think global warming's a crock....then please read THIS!
Skeptics insist that:
It's the sun
Climate's changed before
There is no consensus
It's cooling
Models are unreliable
Temp record is unreliable
Ice age predicted in the 70s
It hasn't warmed since 1998
We're heading into an ice age
Antarctica is gaining ice
Skeptic Argument vs What the Science Says
1 "It's the sun" Solar activity has shown little to no long term trend since the 1950's. Consequently, any correlation between sun and climate ended in the 1970's when the modern global warming trend began READ EACH POINT AND COUNTERPOINT HERE.
Skeptics insist that:
It's the sun
Climate's changed before
There is no consensus
It's cooling
Models are unreliable
Temp record is unreliable
Ice age predicted in the 70s
It hasn't warmed since 1998
We're heading into an ice age
Antarctica is gaining ice
Skeptic Argument vs What the Science Says
1 "It's the sun" Solar activity has shown little to no long term trend since the 1950's. Consequently, any correlation between sun and climate ended in the 1970's when the modern global warming trend began READ EACH POINT AND COUNTERPOINT HERE.
Charles Johnson of LGF Takes a Stand!!
Why I Parted Ways With The Right| Mon, Nov 30, 2009 at 6:49:45 pm PST
1. Support for fascists, both in America (see: Pat Buchanan, Robert Stacy McCain, etc.) and in Europe (see: Vlaams Belang, BNP, SIOE, Pat Buchanan, etc.)
2. Support for bigotry, hatred, and white supremacism (see: Pat Buchanan, Ann Coulter, Robert Stacy McCain, Lew Rockwell, etc.)
3. Support for throwing women back into the Dark Ages, and general religious fanaticism (see: Operation Rescue, anti-abortion groups, James Dobson, Pat Robertson, Tony Perkins, the entire religious right, etc.)
4. Support for anti-science bad craziness (see: creationism, climate change denialism, Sarah Palin, Michele Bachmann, James Inhofe, etc.)
5. Support for homophobic bigotry (see: Sarah Palin, Dobson, the entire religious right, etc.)
6. Support for anti-government lunacy (see: tea parties, militias, Fox News, Glenn Beck, etc.)
7. Support for conspiracy theories and hate speech (see: Alex Jones, Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Birthers, creationists, climate deniers, etc.)
8. A right-wing blogosphere that is almost universally dominated by raging hate speech (see: Hot Air, Free Republic, Ace of Spades, etc.)
9. Anti-Islamic bigotry that goes far beyond simply criticizing radical Islam, into support for fascism, violence, and genocide (see: Pamela Geller, Robert Spencer, etc.)
10. Hatred for President Obama that goes far beyond simply criticizing his policies, into racism, hate speech, and bizarre conspiracy theories (see: witch doctor pictures, tea parties, Birthers, Michelle Malkin, Fox News, World Net Daily, Newsmax, and every other right wing source)
And much, much more. The American right wing has gone off the rails, into the bushes, and off the cliff.
I won’t be going over the cliff with them.
BRAVO, John! (and Thanks LGF.)
1. Support for fascists, both in America (see: Pat Buchanan, Robert Stacy McCain, etc.) and in Europe (see: Vlaams Belang, BNP, SIOE, Pat Buchanan, etc.)
2. Support for bigotry, hatred, and white supremacism (see: Pat Buchanan, Ann Coulter, Robert Stacy McCain, Lew Rockwell, etc.)
3. Support for throwing women back into the Dark Ages, and general religious fanaticism (see: Operation Rescue, anti-abortion groups, James Dobson, Pat Robertson, Tony Perkins, the entire religious right, etc.)
4. Support for anti-science bad craziness (see: creationism, climate change denialism, Sarah Palin, Michele Bachmann, James Inhofe, etc.)
5. Support for homophobic bigotry (see: Sarah Palin, Dobson, the entire religious right, etc.)
6. Support for anti-government lunacy (see: tea parties, militias, Fox News, Glenn Beck, etc.)
7. Support for conspiracy theories and hate speech (see: Alex Jones, Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Birthers, creationists, climate deniers, etc.)
8. A right-wing blogosphere that is almost universally dominated by raging hate speech (see: Hot Air, Free Republic, Ace of Spades, etc.)
9. Anti-Islamic bigotry that goes far beyond simply criticizing radical Islam, into support for fascism, violence, and genocide (see: Pamela Geller, Robert Spencer, etc.)
10. Hatred for President Obama that goes far beyond simply criticizing his policies, into racism, hate speech, and bizarre conspiracy theories (see: witch doctor pictures, tea parties, Birthers, Michelle Malkin, Fox News, World Net Daily, Newsmax, and every other right wing source)
And much, much more. The American right wing has gone off the rails, into the bushes, and off the cliff.
I won’t be going over the cliff with them.
BRAVO, John! (and Thanks LGF.)
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