What ELIOT STEIN is Thinking Today

Boycott Apple

2012-01-26T09:08:00.001-08:00

Explosions, Suicides, 12-hours a day/6 day work weeks, Exposure to dangerous chemicals, Standing Up the entire day and Deaths--Just an average week for the Chinese employees making your Apple Iphones and Ipads.

Are you going to be the typical American who doesn't care about some Chinese slave laborer working on the other side of the planet as long as you can buy your new toy?

Or are you going to ask Apple to make the necessary changes and enforce decent working conditions?

Read this story in the New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/26/business/ieconomy-apples-ipad-and-the-human-costs-for-workers-in-china.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

Newt Gingrich And The South Carolina Hypocrites

2012-01-21T20:34:00.000-08:00

You would think that the Conservatives and Right-Winged Evangelicals in South Carolina would have had one priority in their selection of a President in today's primary:

The person with the greatest integrity, morals and ethics.

Demonstrating their ultimate hypocrisy, they selected the despicable Newt Gingrich
over Mitt Romney as the man they would like to see as President.

Disregarding the man's marriage record (which one?) and immersion in some
of the most corrupt politics of the last 30 years, these dedicated Christians want
the man most likely to turn America into a theocracy of their choosing.

That's their agenda and it says a great deal about many people in this country.

Showing How Much They Really Care

2012-01-04T19:14:00.000-08:00

The Republican candidates in Iowa spent a total of $12.5 million for TV ads leading up to the state caucus vote.

They spent this money to run ads telling the voters how in tune they were with the American public and how understanding they were of what they were all going through.

What if all of the candidates had decided:
We will all win or lose on our individual merits. None of us will run TV ads.
Instead, we'll donate the money to:

Homeless people in Iowa
Starving people in Iowa
People that cannot afford to see a doctor in Iowa
Education programs in Iowa
Recreation programs for needy children in Iowa
Job creation in Iowa

That would have been just too much to ask.

This chart shows how much it cost to get each vote
for each candidate from the $12.5 million:

KIDS! JOIN THE FOX NEWS/NEWS CORP. JUNIOR HACKER'S CLUB!

2012-01-01T12:32:00.000-08:00

Woody Allen And His Other Hobby

2011-12-29T22:40:00.000-08:00

If you are a fan of Woody Allen films, you are accustomed to the Dixie-style jazz that accompanies many of the soundtracks. And you are also aware that the great film talent has another very serious pursuit--playing clarinet with a group that gets together on a regular basis (you may remember he didn't accept his Best Direct Oscar because he was playing with the band that night in N.Y.).

After years of curiosity, I finally got to hear Woody Allen and His New Orleans Jazz Band as they performed tonight at Royce Hall at UCLA in Los Angeles to a sell-out crowd.

This was a polished, first-rate Dixieland jazz band which happens to have a very famous film actor-director-writer playing the clarinet parts. It was like listening to a live score being prepared for one of his movies.

It was delightful, comprehensive and highly professional.

Other than thanking the audience for coming at the beginning and introducing the
band members at the end, Woody focuses solely on being a member of the band made
up of piano, drums, banjo, trombone, trumpet and his clarinet.

Can he really play that thing? If he hadn't become a filmmaker,
he could be making a living as a top-rate clarinet player who
can handle some pretty dynamic solos.

Should you ever get a chance (I'd been waiting 40 years), you'll want to
see the musical side of Woody Allen.

Kim Jong Il is Not Ill Any More

2011-12-20T19:50:00.000-08:00

It's easy to make fun of Kim Jung Il, the newly dead
dictatorial leader of North Korea. And that's what most
media is doing in the last few days since the announcement
of his death.

It's harder to think about the 25 million people that have
been enslaved in this Orwellian nightmare of a country.
Most can say nothing out of fear and many have been
brainwashed.

When the TV and radio's only programming 24 hours a day
tells you how wonderful the great leader is; when anybody who
even criticized him or his father were thrown into re-education
camps where they were tortured and abused; when millions have
starved to death while he rewards himself with millions of dollars
of imported caviar and cognac every year; when people's lives
are watched by the minute by big brother in a police state with
absolutely no freedom...

it's easier to just ridicule the little dictator and not pressure
your own government into taking action to try and make
changes in that backwards society.

The new leader, his young son, will either be a psychotic maniac
just like his dad, or maybe he will want to make some long overdue
positive changes in this little piece of hell on earth.

What Baby Boomers Didn't See - Little Rascals

2011-11-29T04:56:00.000-08:00

What Baby Boomers Didn't See - Little Rascals

A whole generation of baby boomer kids grew up watching "The Little Rascals"
on TV beginning in 1955 and continuing through the mid-60's.

They watched over and over, a syndicated package of 80 comedy shorts
produced by Hal Roach that were originally produced for movie theaters
and shown in-between movies during 1929 and 1939.

The shows that Baby Boomers saw on TV sent out an important message that
molded the character of that new generation.
White kids play with black kids and everybody is treated equally.

I watched the shows daily on WGN-TV Channel 9 in Chicago as kids
all over America did on their local station.

But apparently, our parents and their parents who were sitting in the
movie theaters in the 1930's saw "The Little Rascals" very differently.

For the first time, all 80 of the shorts have been recently been made
available on DVD in their original and unedited versions.

I have just watched one a night for 80 nights.

Some of them are quite shocking. Many of them have scenes that are
outright racist to the limit.

"I don't remember seeing that scene," I said to myself upon viewing these
for the first time since the early 1960's.

A little research explained everything.

Out of the 80 shorts that were syndicated to TV,
23 of them were heavily edited to remove racist content.
6 of them were so racist that they were removed from the
package in their entirety and never seen by a whole
generation of kids. One was never seen because it dealt with
the subject of divorce.

This means that almost one half of the original versions
were heavily edited or removed completely for racist content.

Before you say, "who cared enough in 1955 to remove racist content?,"
somebody at the syndication company was sensitive and smart enough
to do it. They made a conscious decision that a whole generation of
kids seeing these for the very first time were not going to see this
racist material.

However, the obvious is clear.

The parents of the baby boomers saw the originals in the movie theaters
and it served to reinforce bigoted and prejudice attitudes in that generation.

They probably did not realize that was happening, but it was.

A majority of the edited parts are quite shocking.

And it makes you wonder.

The original intentions were quite noble.

The Little Rascals was popular and still is to this day because it
shows kids just acting as kids.

It showed both white and black kids playing together, scheming together,
having old fashioned fun together and everybody treats each other equally.

At least that's what baby boomers saw.

Why they had to ruin it for the kids of the 30's with such racist material
left in is something to ponder. In that time and place, the studios must
have thought they were being funny and nobody said anything otherwise.

Otherwise, seeing the clothing, houses, cars and related styles of the 1930's
is just wonderful. And so is the fact that kids can play on the streets of a
big city without parents worrying about anything, kids not using profanity
non-stop, and all the rest.

The edited "Little Rascals" is still charming after 80 years.

Users Of The New iphone 4s Have Unknowingly Committed To Allowing Fox News/News Corp. To Hack Into Their Phones

2011-10-29T09:37:00.000-07:00

AP News - Cupertino, CA
Users Of The New iphone 4s Have Unknowingly
Committed To Allowing Fox News/News Corp.
To Hack Into Their Phones At Anytime

By Michael Y. Park

In a recent much publicized meeting between
late Apple founder Steve Jobs and
Fox News/News Corp. CEO
Rupert Murdoch, an agreement was reached
that will allow Fox News and News Corp. to
hack into the phones of anybody that signed up
for the newest version of the popular device.

However, the details were contained in such
tiny print that consumers have failed to even read
or notice the insertion in the newest contract.

AP has obtained a copy of the seven page
contract which consumers sign when purchasing
the newest model of the phone and subsequent cell
service. The paragraph is hidden among other
standard cell phone terms.

"Signee of this agreement will allow both
Fox News/News Corp. to hack into their phone
at anytime, anyplace and anywhere during the
term of this contract. Signee agrees that audio
conversations recorded may be used for any
purpose by any affiliate of Fox News/News Corp."

Upon contacting Rupert Murdoch, AP was
given the following statement.
"I guess you guys found it. You know that phone
hacking scandal that cost us pending business deals and required me to act like I really cared about the
murdered teenage girl whose phone we hacked into,
well that cost us $3.2 million to her family to pretend
we really were sorry, that's a lot of change we could
be using to spread our right-winged propaganda!
My sons and I figured that the only way to continue
to hack into people's phones was to do it legally--
but very quietly. So we worked out this deal and
we can now hack into the phones of millions of people
without them knowing anything about it!
This story won't be covered on Fox News or any
of our other sleazy media outlets, so we have nothing
to worry about."

AP employees were immediately instructed to
get rid of their new iphone 4s and purchase
Android phones instead.

Typecasting In Hollywood - It Does Ruin Movies

2011-10-28T05:18:00.000-07:00

Many performers who had strong characters in hit TV shows find out that no producer will hire them for another TV show and especially not for a movie.

One of the greatest examples is Carroll O'Connor, who played the role of Archie Bunker on "All In the Family." Although he had appeared in dozens of movies and TV shows in character parts for 10 years previous to that show, he became forever associated as Archie Bunker.

No movie producer would hire him as you'd be watching the movie and suddenly you would be thrown out of the film's reality because Archie Bunker walked into the room.
I had this happen a few months ago when I watched for the first time a John Wayne movie from the 60's about Pearl Harbor titled "In Harm's Way." It was an excellent dramatic movie -- until in the middle of a serious discussion out on a navy ship at sea, Archie Bunker walked into the room.

Carroll O'Connor couldn't even get another TV show until he himself proposed to be the producer and head actor for a TV version of "In the Heat of the Night," which allowed him to be a character with some similarities to Archie Bunker.

George Reeves who played TV's "Superman" also had the same experience.
As have hundreds of others. Bob Denver couldn't get anything after "Gilligan."

I had the ultimate TV-character-ruins-movie experience the other night.

I finally obtained a copy of the 1964 light drama/comedy, "Dear Heart," starring Glenn Ford and Geraldine Page. The film has never been out on DVD and was only out for a few months on VHS a short time in the 90's. The VHS copies range from $35.--$300. on Ebay.
The film about two lonely middle-aged people looking for love was a modest hit back in 1964, but is rarely seen anywhere since. I don't know why. The movie about an uncomfortable adult love affair (they actually had those back in the 50's and 60's before "Love Story" set the trend that only young people fall in love) was captivating--until--

Mrs. Kravitz walked into the room.

You remember Mrs. Kravitz. She was the nosy neighbor on "Bewitched" who saw the unexplainable happenings at the Stevens' house and every time she called her husband to come to the window, nothing was happening. Mrs. Kravitz was a very over-the-top character.

In the movie, Geraldine Page's character is being pressured by a group of middle-aged women to join them as they have already have given up on love and do everything together instead.

When Page's character suddenly talks to Gladys Kravitz (actress Alice Pearce), the entire reality of the movie stops. You can't stop thinking "why is she talking to Gladys Kravitz?"

That made it difficult to get back into the movie. Then it got even worse.

Gladys Kravitz turns to a member of her women's gang.
I was stunned at that moment.
The woman she turns to is Gladys Kravitz #2!!!

You may remember that just like the role of Darrin Stevens changed in the
"Bewitched" series, the part of Gladys Kravitz also changed.
Actress Sandra Gould took over the part of Gladys Kravitz when
Alice Pearce suddenly died.

That really destroyed the momentum of the movie.

Gladys Kravitz#1 talking to Gladys Kravitz#2 in the same scene.
It was difficult in trying to focus again on the film.
Which is a great film and I need to watch it again.

That's why producers won't hire these strong TV characters later on.

Sarah, Won't You Reconsider?

2011-10-06T03:53:00.000-07:00

I was so hoping that she would implement a campaign for President.
But she has destroyed the inspiration for millions of us by deciding not to
run for President.
We were all looking forward to hear her attempt to debate any of the others
from her own party who might just have more than a 4th grade knowledge
of politics, history, geography and economics.
America really needed some political amusement and entertainment,
the likes that only she could provide.
Maybe the final GOP candidate can repeat the brilliance of John McCain
and put her on the ticket as Vice President.
And then again, maybe she will finally go back to Alaska and catch some fish
instead of putting on a 4-year charade which has become a long running
cartoon.

1 Year Without TV - Rediscovery of VHS

2011-09-12T01:51:00.000-07:00

1 year ago, I had cable TV disconnected. And rediscovered VHS.

On TV, there were hundreds of channels--and nothing to watch. Except for Turner Classic Movies, American Movie Channel, History channel and the Discovery Channel.

Then I made an interesting discovery.

VHS movies which from 1978--1990 cost between 30 dollars and 130 dollars were now being sold in thrift shops in Los Angeles between $.50 and $2.00--most averaging $1.00 each.
And the selections were incredible. As people dumped their VHS movies and replaced them with DVDs or Blue Ray, they provided a smorgasbord of Hollywood history.

Every night for a year has been a virtual history of motion pictures.

All those films that I always wanted to see but did not feel like putting out
the original VHS price or the more recent ten to thirty dollars for a DVD copy
that would probably be watched one time were now available on VHS.
And many of them printed since the 90's have been done so digitally.
Absolutely bearable to watch even for a VHS.
Some films have never even made it to DVD or Blue Ray.

It's been quite an extensive further film education:

At least a dozen John Wayne films--"The Shootist" is incredible;
Where are the Judy Garlands now? They don't exist;
Where are all the James Cagneys now? They don't exist;
MGM Musicals--How did I ever not see "Kiss Me Kate" ???;
Marlon Brando--all the classic films;
Paul Newman--all the classic films;
I had seen every Elvis film but missed "A Change of Habit" thinking it
was probably lame--it turned out to be his best ever in a unique role;
Had heard about 1937 "Topper" with Cary Grant--it is extraordinary with special effects
20 years ahead of its time;
There is something magical about films from 1955-1960--big sweeping
dramas in Cinemascope with tantalizing Technicolor;
Somehow had missed Frank Sinatra in "Pal Joey" and "The Man With the Golden Arm"--this guy could really act;
I always preferred Charlie Chaplin but Buster Keaton has been much overlooked;
When you see all the stars of 60's TV series popping up in films from the 30's on,
you see a deep acting side of them you never knew existed;

I had already seen 10,000 films easily since as a child, I have now added hundreds more.

Will TV return? Possibly, but most likely for those four channels previously mentioned.

If you think that the best movies only come from the last 5 years, you really have
a lot to become familiar with.

I had one of the very first VHS machines in the late 1970's.
And there was basically nothing available to play on it.

Goodwill and Salvation Army are now extensive libraries of VHS gems.
And they even sell the machines as well.

The Worldwide Symbol For Oppression Is 50 Years Old Today

2011-08-13T19:31:00.000-07:00

50 years ago today, citizens of communist East Berlin in East Germany woke up to find a wall was going up around their city which would prevent them from going over to West Berlin, a haven of Democracy and Capitalism.

They of course were told differently. The Soviet puppet East German government told their citizens that the West was trying to corrupt the East Germans with their decadent lifestyles and corrupt system of government and economics. They were doing all this to help the East Germans.

The truth was that so many East Berliners were simply walking over the border to stay in West Berlin, the city would soon be desolate.

Thus began an almost 30-year experiment with one of the most oppressive regimes in communist history--similar to North Korea today.

As oppression grows around the world today from Syria to the United States, there could not be a greater reminder for those who continue to struggle against governments that systematically are taking away all of their freedoms, of what their fight is all about then the evil monolith that began construction 50 years ago today.

What Would John Wayne Say?

2011-07-26T21:53:00.000-07:00

"Cowboys and Aliens" is an old fashioned Western.
It has all the elements. Good guys. Bad guys. A saloon. Indians.

And an additional one--the town is attacked by really creepy aliens.

The writing is sophisticated enough for ages 10-100
and because of its overall appeal, it should become the
big film of the summer.

It's amazing that nobody thought about this concept when
either Western films or Alien films were popular.

It's like crossing Steven Spielberg (who is involved)
with Sam Peckinpah.

The sound effects were at a new extreme.
They might have to offer a filter on home systems for this one.

The film is too intense for under 9 years old. You've been warned.

You'll feel your money was well spent on this when it opens this weekend.

RUPERT MURDOCH HAS ISSUED AN APOLOGY IN NEWSPAPERS WORLDWIDE:

2011-07-19T04:57:00.001-07:00

RUPERT MURDOCH HAS ISSUED AN APOLOGY IN NEWSPAPERS WORLDWIDE:

We Are Sorry That We Got Caught.

The News Of The World, like the rest of my news organizations including Fox News are in the
business of offering the sleaziest, distorted and
twisted versions of reality that we can possibly create.

We are not at all sorry for the serious wrongdoing
that occurred.

We are not at all deeply sorry for the hurt suffered by

the individuals affected.

We regret not acting faster to sort things out by having all
of our controlled right-winged media zombies
run spins on everything to further cover up everything we have done.

Since we got caught red-handed, I realize that simply apologizing
is not enough. I am personally going to have Sean Hannity
lick all of your shoes while groveling in a fetal position.

Our business was founded on the idea that we can distort and twist
the news enough to spread my right-winged brainwashing agenda
throughout the world. We need to live up to this.

In the coming days, as we take further concrete steps to
distract and cover up these issues and find scapegoats
to blame everything on, you will hear more from us.
Where's Charlie Sheen when you really need him?

MonkeeMania Lives!

2011-07-17T18:26:00.000-07:00

A sold out house of Baby Boomers at the Greek Theater were all smiles on Saturday night as the Monkees--Davy Jones, Mickey Dolenz and Peter Tork reunited for a 45th anniversary performance in Los Angeles.

There's not too many groups who were basically around for only 2 years in the late 1960's that can pull this off. And while still missing the other prominent member, Michael Nesmith.

But those two years of TV shows and hit songs have a lifelong impact on the post-war rebellious teens who went wild worldwide for this manufactured version of The Beatles.

Still making Justin Bieber look like the non-talent that he is, the distinctive voices of Davy Jones and Mickey Dolenz delighted the crowd with "I'm A Believer," "Last Train To Clarksville" and "Daydream Believer" which had all of us standing and singing along. Peter Tork's multi-musical ability had quite a showcase of its own. Davy can still dance like a vaudeville showman and did it simultaneously to that offbeat number in tux and tails from their one movie "Head."

The comedy element which endeared a whole generation to these four performers was present, clear and outstanding. Considering they are all now 65-70, their antics were as delightful as when they were kids themselves.

You'll recall that despite the worldwide phenomenon, the word leaked early on that they did not play the instruments on the first two albums, but only sang. They then went out on a successful concert tour to prove that they really could play as well as sing. Despite that, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is refusing to induct to them to this day.

Commenting on this, Peter made the most ironic statement:

"We were the first "cover band" to exist. Except we were covering our own band!"

SCUM OF THE EARTH - FOX NEWS AND ITS OWNER RUPERT MURDOCH

2011-07-14T23:31:00.001-07:00

THIS IS REAL
SCUM OF THE EARTH -
FOX NEWS AND ITS OWNER
RUPERT MURDOCH

HEADLINE WORLDWIDE TODAY: "FBI Probing Allegation That News Corp. Sought to Hack Into Phones of 9/11 Victims"

YOU CAN READ THE STORY EVERYWHERE--

EXCEPT FOR FOX NEWS.

READ IT HERE AT ABCNEWS .

Glen Campbell

2011-06-26T04:43:00.000-07:00

Unless you are from a certain generation, you probably don't know who Glen Campbell is.

He is one of two 1960's performers that successfully made country music a crossover with pop music. The other was Michael Nesmith.

His first major hit, "Gentle On My Mind," was a thought-provoking and poetic look at a relationship. It was followed with even bigger chart toppers, "Wichita Lineman" and "Rhinestone Cowboy."

Many rock bands have discovered the heart-wrenching elegance of "Wichita Lineman" and have re-recorded it.

Glen Campbell played studio guitar on almost every major Top 40 song recorded in Hollywood between 1959--1967, before he hit it big and became a solo act.

He did an excellent job co-starring with John Wayne in the 1969 "True Grit" in addition to singing the theme song.

I had the most appreciative opportunity to interview Glen Campbell for an hour a few years back.

This week Glen Campbell announced that he has Alzheimer's and will go on a final tour in the fall.

With a soaring range, the seventh son of a seventh son has never needed autotune or pitch correction--he simply picks up a guitar and can mesmerize any audience.

Hopefully his disease will be very slow in coming in his remaining lifetime.

You Aren't Crazy. The System Around You Has Become Wacko.

2011-06-02T00:48:00.000-07:00

It doesn't matter who runs for the Presidency in 2012 for either party.

At this point they are all interchangeable.

It is simply going to come down to one thing.

You vote Democrat. Or you vote Republican.

The Republicans would like to take away your Social Security and your Medicare.

The Democrats would like to increase Social spending.

Both parties want to take away your Freedom of Speech, Freedom of the Press, your Freedom of Religion, your Right To Assemble and your Right to Question Your Government.

In the Fall of 1968, my father suddenly blurted out that the Presidential choice was between Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum (Nixon vs. Humphrey). I had never heard him say one thing about politics before that or after that.

Everyday, America is looking more and more like Wonderland, and you are Alice--in the middle of the insanity trying to figure out what to do next.

What Is The Difference Between The Bible And Thor?

2011-05-22T10:54:00.000-07:00

Q: What Is The Difference Between The Bible, And Thor, the movie I saw the other day?

A: Not Much

They are both filled with fantasy stories, highly exaggerated versions of what really happened, mythology, poetry, spirituality, noble characters, evil characters, good intentions, bad intentions, aspirations and inspiration CREATED AND INTERPRETED BY HUMAN BEINGS.

Human beings are extremely creative and spiritual creatures. They also have been given common sense. But prefer to use their creativity and spirituality over their reason.

When one preacher decided that the world would end this weekend, the media made sure that every person on earth was aware of this fact.

It came from the interpretation by one preacher. There are over 300,000 preachers in America alone. But the creative interpretation of one of them becomes the focal point of everybody's energy for one week in America.

Belief in a higher being, inspiration and spirituality is one thing. But having to listen to the individualized creative interpretation of religious zealots and fanatics who believe they have the only answer (and they can be anybody in your lives) is an unfortunate part of this society.

A TYPICAL DAY IN AMERICA. ANOTHER LYING, CHEATING, HYPOCRITICAL RIGHT WINGER.

2011-05-17T16:55:00.001-07:00

A TYPICAL DAY IN AMERICA.
ANOTHER LYING, CHEATING, HYPOCRITICAL RIGHT WINGER.

Rush Limbaugh Is A Brainwashed Idiot

2011-05-13T20:49:00.000-07:00

The average American continued to be caught up in the pride and
emotion of the moment the day after Osama Bin Laden was
captured by America's military. That even extended to Rush Limbaugh
who spent an hour praising President Obama. We knew it
couldn't last long. Limbaugh must have listened to himself the
day earlier because he spent the next day tearing the President
apart and giving all of the credit for the operation to
George W. Bush. He then spent the next two weeks disparaging
the President--every day, every hour. Limbaugh's sudden turn was
vicious and disgraceful, going so far as to calling the people in the
situation room watching the event "clowns."
Limbaugh realized that as a controlled right-wing maniac,
it was his obligation to parrot the party line and his praise
of Obama and his staff was a moment of weakness--simply
not allowed. Limbaugh is just disgusting and evil.

The "Parent Trap" Turns 50. Haley Mills Turns 65.

2011-05-01T09:53:00.000-07:00

I am a twin. When the "Parent Trap" came out in 1961, my mom took us to see it seven times in one year (movies were .25 cents back then). It got better every time. I saw it another 10 times on network TV from 1965-1978.
Since VHS and DVD came out, I have seen it another 33 times.

This weekend I got to see it for the 51st time, and in the manner it was intended--on a big screen with an audience.

For it's 50th Anniversary and Haley Mills' 65th birthday, a special presentation took place in Hollywood with Haley Mills hosting at the Egyptian Theater.

The packed house of people between 40-70 years of age were also delighted to see the film on the big screen for the first time since the early 1960's. (there was a brief re-release in the late 1960's I didn't go to). I hadn't heard the laughter that accompanied the film in 50 years. It made the giant theater screen viewing so much more meaningful.

"The Parent Trap" was a brilliant piece of writing, directing, music and acting.
Children saw it through their perspective. Adults saw a whole different set of dynamics taking place throughout the film.

The competition between Maureen O'Hara and Brian Keith's fiance is a wonderful scathing part of the film. The response of Haley Mills to the fiance when she attempts to have a woman-to-woman talk with her was daring for its time and just as powerful today.

The scene which had the biggest response, loudest nervous laughter and gasps from the audience is when grandpa tries to subtlely convince his daughter Maureen O'Hara that she might want to modernize her look before she sees her ex-husband again. As a child you perceive it as a direct suggestion. As an adult you experience the scene as an endearing offensive-but-necessary part of the plot. The audience reaction was lengthy and penetrating.

Thunderous applause every time one of the major characters was first introduced on-screen, a standing ovation for Haley Mills when she spoke before the film and other enthusiastic responses made this the most delightful viewing since I saw it in 1961.

Corporations Given Full Control Over Consumers By Supreme Court

2011-04-28T21:16:00.000-07:00

The U.S. Supreme Court has now made it basically impossible for Americans to receive justice as a group for a company's shoddy products and services.

In a 5-4 decision, the right wing justices which are puppets of the major corporations have ruled that arbitration clauses in agreements take precedence over any class action suits.

In other words, when you sign a cell-phone contract with AT&T, and you and hundreds of others receive shabby service, you can no longer put together a class action suit to sue AT&T.
If you have a problem, you as an individual must implement single arbitration action (which will cost you up to $500.) to meet with representatives of the company to try and work things out.

When they don't show up at the arbitration hearing (which is what will happen) you will get no relief and have no other further recourse.

When you signed the contract, you agreed to deal with any problems through an arbitration hearing. That contract now nullifies any attempt for you and others to file a large class action lawsuit against the company.

The champagne bottles are coming out all over America at corporation headquarters.

It wasn't enough that the Supreme Court recently ruled that corporations can make unlimited amounts of contributions to political campaigns, they have just taken away any power consumers have.

Paul Simon Not So Crazy After All These Years

2011-04-20T22:59:00.000-07:00

Bob Dylan was the musical minstrel to a generation of baby boomers.

Paul Simon was the musical poet to them.

Almost 70 (and there are ironic lyrics about that in one of his songs)
and sounding as distinctive as he did almost 50 years ago,
Paul Simon played a show in a much smaller than normal venue in
Los Angeles tonight.

This was a Paul Simon show and not a Simon and Garfunkel show.

Other than "Sounds of Silence," it was a retrospective of many
different aspects of his career. All songs he wrote over almost
50 years with the exception of an Elvis rockabilly number and
George Harrison's "Here Comes the Sun."

He sounds wonderful. And with an 8-piece back-up band, he was able
to recreate the range of his exotic beats which extend from Gospel,
Blues, Cajun, African and now Spiritual.

Yes you heard right. Somebody told me that he has a new album
and its filled with some highly spiritual compositions, similar to
when Bob Zimmerman became a Christian (at least for a while).

They were right. It's new uncharted territory for Simon and one
can only imagine what he's going through personally in his life.

He's one of the most famous performers in the history of the world and
apparently he has decided to pay thanks to a higher power.

As usual, his poetic lyrics are penetrating and visual.

Just as long as he doesn't team up with Billy Graham.

You Can Thank A WWII Vet Anytime While You Still Have the Chance

2011-04-17T19:36:00.000-07:00

I was in a store this weekend when I saw a man who I figured had to be in his late 80's or early 90's. I noticed he was wearing a WWII Veteran's hat with medals and other decorations.

I went up to talk to him. I asked him where he served.

He was delighted and said, "I was 18 years old in Okinawa with the Kamikazes coming down on me."

I told him that I couldn't even begin to comprehend what he went through and that my generation (and we're all near or over 60) have great appreciation for what he and his generation accomplished for us during World War 2.

If you don't know what a Kamikaze is--look it up. You'll be quite shocked.
Tens of thousands of Americans died and were injured because of them.
The photo above is seconds after a Kamikaze attack which also destroyed dozens
of U.S. vessels.

If I'm so against America's involvement in Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, how can I pay tribute to a WWII veteran? Iraq and Afghanistan are about oil, and access to gas and oil lines. We're in this situation because the oil companies made sure there has never been any successful alternatives to oil on the market place. Vietnam was for the enrichment of major corporations that supply military hardware. Vietnam was not winnable because of the constant flow of materials and support from Communist China--our delightful number one trading partner.

WWII was different. A psychopathic madman wanted to be King Of The World. Had the United States not entered the war, you would all now be Sig-Heiling every minute to pictures of the Great Leader.

Something I noticed about the fathers, grandfathers, uncles and others who went through WWII as I was growing up--was they never talked about it. They went, they served, and they came back to start their lives over again.

Gramps and Great Gramps won't be around much longer.
This is the time for you to stop watching "American Idol" and go talk to the people who should be the real idols in your life.

Geraldine Ferrarro - First Woman VP Candidate

2011-03-27T21:34:00.000-07:00

Before John McCain ruined all of our lives by plucking that cartoon character out of obscurity, Geraldine Ferraro ran as the first woman VP candidate of a major party. In 1984, the Democrats decided to try something very visionary and they nominated a woman for the first time. And they selected somebody who had accomplished major things with civil rights legislation for women in addition to numerous other achievements.

One Geraldine Ferraro is worth 1,000 Sarah Palins.
There is no comparison.

Of course, we had just come out of four years of Jimmy Carter who appeared weak in his foreign policy. The then vice-president who was running as the Democratic president nominee,
Walter Mondale, was not known well by the public and was overshadowed by the Carter antics (Willie Nelson smoking weed at the White House, Jimmy's embarrassing brother)
The Democrats had no chance with Ronald Reagan running.
Reagan appeared strong. It was a landslide with many Democrats making the switch as well.

Sometime in 1984, I was coming out of the once famous Magic Shop on Hollywood Blvd.
Which was on the South side of the street. I saw a small motorcade coming from the
west. I looked into the car and there was Geraldine Ferraro! It was a real surprise as I didn't know they were in town campaigning.

It was really cool because back then all you had was a few TV channels that dominated and newspapers. And Geraldine Ferraro was the main topic of the year.

The oldest living person in America is 119

2011-03-23T18:30:00.000-07:00

The oldest living person in America is 119 and she is amazing.

With a fully functioning mind and still getting around with just a bit of help,
Rebecca Laniere of Cleveland was born in 1892 in Mississippi, her parents had been slaves and she currently lives with her 61 year old grandson, having outlived her own children.

Just thinking about what she has seen in her lifetime is incredulous:

She was 6 during the Spanish-American War and lived through 2 different
President Roosevelts.

She was 22 when World War I broke out. She was 49 when the U.S. entered World War II.

She was 64 when Elvis became the first real rock 'n' roll star and she was 72 when the Beatles came to America. She was 77 when man landed on the moon and 88 when computers first became a household item.

She saw the second modern day attack ever on American soil in 2001 at age 109 and lived through 22 Presidents.

Hopefully they are making video tapes of her talking about what she's seen.
And the wisdom she has experienced.

http://news.yahoo.com/video/cleveland-wews-20910953/cleveland-woman-turns-119-24619593

AT&T Should Just Buy Every Other Existing Company

2011-03-20T21:15:00.000-07:00

I did everything I could to stay far away from AT&T.
For Internet and Cell I went with different companies.
AT&T soon bought the Internet and Cell company
I had and I once again was involuntarily a customer with AT&T.

The reasons to get away from them were justified. Just some examples.
When I changed locations, I clearly stated that AT&T should move my services
from location A to location B. I asked the representative to read back the order.
Everything was verified. A few days later, AT&T disconnected the services at
location A, however, proceeded to also disconnect neighboring folks near location B of their
services, and then proceeded to reinstall the services to location A.

How incompetent can you get? After it took weeks to undo all of that,
I finally had the Internet working at location B. A few days later the
Internet disappeared. I called AT&T. They informed me that I had never
been a customer of AT&T Internet. I assured them that I was.

This began a 3-hour series of telephone calls which connected me to
various Bell systems around the U.S. and to India.

I finally got a supervisor in Denver who informed me that I was not an Internet customer
of AT&T and there was nothing she could do. When I insisted that I was a customer
she said "I can't do anything else and I'm hanging up."

I got hold of a supervisor's supervisor in Los Angeles. I pleaded with the
reasonable man who listened very carefully that I had Internet the day before
and it had disappeared. Fortunately, he suspected the incompetency of AT&T,
put me on hold and came back with an incredible revelation. Apparently,
my order and another new customer's order had identical numbers except for
the last digit and they were switched. AT&T had taken down my Internet and given
it to somebody else. He started the process to regain my access.

That's just one story. I have at least 5 similar stories with equally incredible tales.
Did you ever try to get through AT&T's menus for customer assistance? You can
spend hours between going through the menus and being put on hold and then they
hang up on you and you have to start the process all over again.

The bigger AT&T gets, the more incompetent they become.
Showing up a week after they are scheduled to come out, giving you services
you never asked for, giving out inaccurate information and it goes on from there.

Every time they buy another company, they make more and more mistakes and
there is nothing you can do about it.

I recently again dumped AT&T services. In order to switch you need some kind of code
number to give to the new company. When I finally got through to AT&T and directly
said "I want the code number connected to my account," their reply was, "Usually when
somebody asks for that, they are planning to go to another service. What can we do
to have you remain a customer of AT&T?" "You can give me the code number right now."

You might remember that AT&T was broken up by the U.S. Justice Department
in the 1970's because they had become a monopoly. The nationwide phone system
was split up into different Bell systems across the country.

It was supposed to stay that way.

That was until AT&T spent millions to convince your Congressional representatives that
they should be allowed to buy other companies again. And they have never
stopped since.

The news today is that AT&T now wants to buy T-Mobile for $39 billion.

Here's what is going to happen. The FCC, FTC and the Justice Department will
put on a dog and pony show for up to a year demonstrating to all of us Americans
that this new merger may not be in the best interest of consumers. They will
hold pretend meetings and get the controlled media to report that they are
really looking out for us.

And the minute there is another Charlie Sheen, Lindsay Lohan or Mel Gibson
extravaganza dominating the news, they will approve the merger.

All you T-Mobile customers that have been safe from the AT&T Blob,
welcome to your new home--you're going to become an involuntary
member of the AT&T family.

Why not have one company in America running the consumer
telecommunications business--just like we did up until the mid-1970's?
It would be so much easier having only one choice.

It's headed that way again.

My Shocking Perspective on Abraham Lincoln Turns Out To Be Verified By AP

2011-03-06T09:39:00.000-08:00

2 months ago, I posted a shocking perspective on Abraham Lincoln in which I stated that he was more interested in saving the union then freeing the slaves AND that he clearly had what we would consider today racist attitudes which came out in his words and actions.

I based this on decades on my own research and studies with most people thinking that those ideas had to be insane--after all, you were taught that Abraham Lincoln was the Great Emancipator--end of story. I had said for years that Lincoln was a politician above everything and would go the way the wind was blowing--just like every other politician.

This weekend, the Associated Press has come out with an equally shocking story--the first ever of its kind--which says exactly the same thing.

Here is the link:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_lincoln_colonization

I will be discussing this in more detail over the next month.

Nutcracker Performer Quits Job In Hilarious Manner

2011-02-27T17:05:00.000-08:00

This is one of the funniest things I have ever seen.

Apparently, the lion on the left in this scene from the "Nutcracker"

decided that he/she no longer wanted to be part of the production anymore.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpKINd8NPwo&feature=related

RUSH LIMBAUGH--THE OXYCONTIN BABY HYPOCRITE!

2011-02-10T17:08:00.000-08:00

On today's show, Rush Limbaugh was focusing on his belief that the Egyptian President
Mubarak was getting no support from the Obama Administration. He claimed that Obama's lack
of action was making the pressured Egyptian leader fail.

Then out came this gem:
"Isn't that the worst thing you can do? Hope a leader will fail?"

We only need to look a few years back on President Obama's first day
in office. Limbuagh stated the following that day: "I Hope Obama Fails!"

Too much Oxycontin still stored in Limbaugh's body baby fat is making him an outright HYPOCRITE!

Guitar Hero - A Testimony To Today's Mediocrity

2011-02-09T22:30:00.000-08:00

Guitar Hero announced today that it is going to stop making Guitar Hero.

Apparently, everybody who already wanted it or its competitor, Rock Band, already has it and there is no market left.

The video game in which you hold a toy plastic electric guitar is a testimony to just how mediocre things have become.

You would think that the game would teach you how to play guitar. It doesn't.

While a familiar song is playing, color icons come racing by you on the screen and you have to push the corresponding colored buttons on the guitar. That's it. The faster you are, the more points you get.

It does not teach you how to play a guitar, form chords, play notes or anything musical.

Which is why I have been saying it is ridiculous for the last 5 years.

Having played guitar for almost 50 years, it's almost like comparing driving to riding a tricycle.

Even when The Beatles version came out with stunning graphics, all I could do is question how much closer anybody was to learning how to play one of their songs when they finished.

I had to do it the hard way. I had to pick up a guitar and try different chords until they matched the song.

Of course, that involved putting in some effort. That's apparently asking too much these days.

A Haunting Melody Returns From Childhood

2011-01-31T20:35:00.001-08:00

I heard a classical piece the other day. And it was just as haunting as when I heard it the first time--as a child. I only caught part of the name announced on the radio,
"Masquerade" and a Russian sounding composer's name.

That was enough to track it down.

I discovered that the name of the piece is "Masquerade Suite (Waltz)"
which is one of the movements from the entire suite.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLENHBw48DA&feature=related

And that the composer's name is Aram Khachaturian, an Armenian Russian. He is a household name in Russia. Yet, you are probably hearing his name for the first time.

But I guarantee that you have heard something he has written. Many times in your life.

He is also the composer of "The Sabre Dance."
Without knowing the title or composer, you have heard it used dozens
of times in movies and cartoons--especially in scenes where comic mischief takes place.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqg3l3r_DRI

Topping off this discovery came the real surprise.
I've seen "2001: A Space Odyssey" over 50 times.
The legendary film primarily features classical music from Strauss.

However, there has always been one piece that stands out, again
extremely haunting. The only thing I ever knew is that it was from
an Armenian composer and no other information.

Once again, it comes from this musical genius.
From his larger work, "Gayane: Adagio"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRD43FAiHPY

Once you play "Masquerade Suite (Waltz)" you will listen to it over and over again.

True Grit 1969 vs. True Grit 2010

2011-01-23T18:44:00.000-08:00

The current release of "True Grit" to most people is a new experience. They were probably not aware of an obscure movie of the same name from 1969 starring John Wayne.

In the late 60's, the release of "True Grit" was the "B" movie, the second movie you got in addition to the one you were really coming to see. However, that extra attraction instantly became one of my all-time favorites. The story was compelling, the characters were fascinating--especially Kim Darby as the headstrong girl seeking justice.

John Wayne finally won for Best Actor in the film--but it was more of a lifetime achievement award than anything else.

When the VHS became available in the early 1980's and the DVD in the late 1990's, I have watched the film over 20 times.

I believe I am quite qualified to tell you that the original is quite superior to the new version.

Elements of the story are in greater depth, the characters are better defined and the performance of the original "Mattie Ross" will blow you away.

Now that westerns have become chic again thanks to the Coen brothers, do yourself a favor and pick up the original "True Grit" and make your own decision.

The Coen brothers saw the magnificence of the original and this will fortunately encourage many of you to get hold of the original film.

The last 10 seconds of the original had people in the audience cheering.
I have never forgotten. It's worth it for the very, very ending alone.

Sarah Palin - Phony, Phony, Phony

2011-01-14T13:55:00.001-08:00

EDITORIAL

Sarah Palin's Tuscon Tragedy Speech says more about her shortcomings than all of her publicity stunts put together.

Sarah Palin's speech the other day in which she talks about what happened in Tuscon tells you a great deal about her. It's bad enough that she was using a teleprompter when she was supposedly trying to appear heartfelt and spontaneous.

We've all heard her non-stop for the last three years and as a result, we are quite familiar with her lack of vocabulary, lack of knowledge of history and an inability to formulate an intellectual argument or concept.

From the moment she began talking, it was clear that these were not her words. They were written by somebody else, a professional speechwriter. The red flags were college level vocabulary words that she simply does not use, the sudden ability on-the-spot to quote a rather obscure statement from Ronald Reagan and the formulation of intellectual concepts beyond her grasp.

Now, everybody uses professional speechwriters including every President of the modern era.

But she has always tried to demonstrate a grass roots understanding of the common people.
And when she has used her normal shortcomings, the average people can relate to what she's saying.

If she had known what a "blood libel" even was, she probably would not have said anything about it.

But she decided to use somebody else's words to make her appear to be something she is not.

The greatest thing the Republican party can do for the Democrats is to nominate her for President.

Civil War and the Perception of Time

2011-01-02T15:52:00.000-08:00

This year marks the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War.

When you are young, 5 years ago seems like a hundred years ago and
the Civil War seems like 1000 years ago.

In 1964, the British again invaded America--this time a musical invasion.
At the time, the Civil War seemed like 1000 years earlier.

But when you get into your 50's, the fact that The Beatles appeared only
100 years after the Civil War gets a bit frightening. 100 years earlier becomes
a very short period of time.

And now that the Beatles are almost 50 years old, it is even scarier.

The Civil War did not happen all that long ago.

And it still reverberates in the attitudes and perceptions of many Americans.

I just finished watching the 10-hour Ken Burns series on The Civil War.

It is very enlightening.

I've known many things about Abraham Lincoln for many years which are
covered up in most history books, especially textbooks. Some of the things are quite shocking.

He was a politician above everything else. And would go the way the wind was blowing.

Just before the Civil War broke out, a proposed 13th amendment to the Constitution would have made it illegal to create any subsequent amendment that interfered with slavery. The amendment essentially made slavery legal in the United States. This would have prevented a Civil War.

Before you start thinking, "I never heard of any such thing. You have to be making it up!," you need to do some research. It's called the Corwin Amendment.

Not only did both houses of Congress pass the amendment, it was ratified by two states.

The new politician President, Abraham Lincoln, publicly made it clear that he supported the Amendment.

The Civil War began, the amendment became irrelevant and forgotten about.

Strangely enough, it still is on the books and legally could be ratified. There have
been recent efforts to have it officially rescinded.

Hate to shock you with things like that, but there's more coming.

I Get AP To Change An Incorrect National Story

2010-12-27T05:40:00.000-08:00

The front page headline on every major news web site last night was "Teena Marie - First White Act Ever On Motown Records Dies At 54."

The problem? That is incorrect and I knew the details.

I immediately called Associated Press and gave them intricate details as to why they were wrong.

You see, 1960's teen idol, Paul Petersen, the young star of "The Donna Reed Show" was the first white act to ever sign with Motown in 1967.

You'll remember that Paul had a number of national hits during the TV show including "My Dad" which charted in the Top Ten but these were on Colpix Records.

When "Donna Reed" was cancelled, Motown realized that this guy could really sing with great soul (he originally was a young singer and not an actor) and signed him as the very first white artist on Motown Records.

Although he did not have the same success at Motown that he had during the Colpix years, he was the first white artist on their label.

AP wrote down all the details I gave them, said that they would immediately send it up the chain of command and the whole story was re-written, excluding the incorrect information and instead focusing on a different angle. It has been corrected at every major news web site.

Folks, how about doing some research before putting out an incorrect major story that appears everywhere?

Christmas 2010

2010-12-24T13:09:00.000-08:00

44 years ago, folk-rock sensation Simon & Garfunkel took the religious Christmas song "Silent Night" and sang it mixed in with the current news of the week. Nothing like this had ever been recorded before.

As you listen to the song here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Q_zLiwyfXE

read the words of the news broadcast below.
Looks like not a whole lot has changed.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, Jubilant Kwanzaa and Wonderful Winter Solstice
to those who strive for peace in the world.

"This is the early evening edition of the news.
The recent fight in the House of Representatives was over the open housing section of the Civil Rights Bill.
Brought traditional enemies together but left the defenders of the measure without the votes of their strongest supporters.
President Johnson originally proposed an outright ban covering discrimination by everyone for every type of housing but it had no chance from the start and everyone in Congress knew it.
A compromise was painfully worked out in the House Judiciary Committee.
In Los Angeles today comedian Lenny Bruce died of what was believed to be an overdose of narcotics.
Bruce was 42 years old.
Dr. Martin Luther King says he does not intend to cancel plans for an open housing march Sunday in the Chicago suburb of Cicero.
Cook County Sheriff Richard Ogleby asked King to call off the march and the police in Cicero said they would ask the National Guard to be called out if it is held.
King, now in Atlanta, Georgia, plans to return to Chicago Tuesday.
In Chicago, Richard Speck, accused murderer of nine student nurses, was brought before a grand jury today for indictment.
The nurses were found stabbed and strangled in their Chicago apartment.
In Washington the atmosphere was tense today as a special subcommittee of the House Committee on Un-American Activities continued its probe into anti-Viet Nam war protests.
Demonstrators were forcibly evicted from the hearings when they began chanting anti-war slogans.
Former Vice-President Richard Nixon says that unless there is a substantial increase in the present war effort in Viet Nam, the U.S. should look forward to five more years of war.
In a speech before the Convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in New York, Nixon also said opposition to the war in this country is the greatest single weapon working against the U.S.
That's the 7 o'clock edition of the news, good night."

John Lennon Memorial Tonight In Los Angeles

2010-12-08T22:20:00.000-08:00

Millions of people around the world paid tribute today on the 30th Anniversary of the death of John Lennon.

In Los Angeles, the memorial service took place tonight in front of the Capitol Records building near Hollywood and Vine.

The small but dedicated crowd of about 100 people gathered to hear speakers, musicians and the music of John Lennon.

The highlight of the event was an artist who painted a mural of Lennon completely from scratch from his imagination while the audience watched. The mural was an incredible likeness of the Beatle from the 1968 era. (top picture of artist and his creation)

The joyful atmosphere of primarily people in their 50's and 60's told stories of where they were 30 years ago tonight when they heard the world shattering news.

Telemundo network was present and focused on the artist creating his mural. In a personal humorous note, when the announcer was done taping his part he came over to me. I figured he just wanted a typical person in the crowd reaction. No--he wanted to film my special Beatles jacket which is filled with legendary Beatles logos, Yellow Submarines and Blue Meanies. You can see some of it in the lower picture. Somebody who speaks Spanish should tell me if my jacket got in the final report.

Paul Gets Another National Award

2010-12-05T22:05:00.000-08:00

Paul McCartney received the prestigious Kennedy Center Award tonight for Lifetime achievement in Entertainment in Washington, D.C.

Earlier this year Paul received the Gershwin award from the Library of Congress.

Paul, who is 68, is three years away from 50 years of entertaining Americans.

For those who have followed the group from their early days in Liverpool and Hamburg,
Paul has already been entertaining for 50 years straight.

Quite an achievement. Considering so many musical entertainers have a 1-3 year career span.

Rush Limbaugh Goes Through Airport Scanner!

2010-11-17T17:35:00.001-08:00

Rush Limbaugh Goes Through Airport Scanner.
Results Reveal Unusual Anatomical Structure!

by Michael Y. Park

Rush Limbaugh joined hundreds of other Americans this weekend as he
was scrutinized by a full-body X-Ray Machine on his way to a golf
tournament from the Miami Airport. However, security was quickly called as the
result of Limbaugh's scan. Never having dealt with a situation as was revealed
by Limbaugh's presence, the TSA quickly rushed their chief medical officer
to the scene for an analysis.

"It's really quite simple," said the TSA head doctor.
"Rush Limbaugh's head is a giant empty space and his
brain resides instead in his Gluteus Maximus. Quite unusual, but we
saw the same thing with George W. Bush when he was undergoing his
Presidential physical. Nothing to be concerned about."

The TSA says that they were still concerned that Limbaugh could
place a weapon of mass destruction in his empty head cavity but
they were soon relieved when it was explained to them that it was
already completely filled with a lot of hot air.

The Crazy People Are Starting To Be Right

2010-11-14T20:04:00.000-08:00

It used to be easy to call people crazy that insisted that the U.S. Government allowed known and dangerous Nazis to enter the USA after World War II and in many cases, made all the arrangements for them, and even worked with them afterwards.

After all, these were "conspiracy nuts" who told you those stories and it was ridiculous to listen to anything they had to say.

This week, the New York Times has published a full investigation that reveals, as you have probably guessed by now, that that is exactly what did happen.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/14/us/14nazis.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=nazi&st=cse

We can only imagine what our own government is hiding from us regarding the Kennedy assassination and other conspiracy stories that the crazy people have been telling us for years.

Go Ahead And Buy That Shirt or Dress

2010-11-02T20:22:00.000-07:00

If you are an average American, you work really hard these days.

And you've probably put off buying that new shirt or dress, because you can't justify purchasing it.

Look at it this way.

A woman spent $160 MILLION of her own money in the last few months to try and buy the office of the Governor of California. And it didn't work.

What does she have to show for it?

All she has is this lousy T-shirt.

You owe it to yourself to buy that shirt or dress.

She Was The Quintessential 1950's Mom

2010-10-16T19:36:00.000-07:00

Barbara Billingsley, who lived to 94 years old, was the quintessential 1950's mom.

As the star on "Leave It To Beaver" from 1957 through 1963, she was everything that you would expect from this incredible dream period of American life.

She was always at home during the day cleaning and cooking for Wally and The Beaver.

She was always there when her husband Ward came home and she had to refer the discipline of the boys to his strong but loving wisdom.

She never had an opinion of her own and certainly did not dare discuss politics.

The amazing thing is that the show which began airing in 1957, was a true reflection of American life at the time.

I know because I was lucky enough to be 4 (when you really start observing and remembering things) when the show came on the air.

When you're in the 1950's, you don't realize it at the time.

Jeepers. It was a swell time in America. It seems like a dream now.

A black and white dream of the coolest fashions, cars, music, TV and hula hoops.

Everybody loved their government, big corporations and we all had a real blast.

Going to Larry Mondello's house now.

John Lennon - 70

2010-10-08T22:15:00.001-07:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOHN - 70
You SHoOK the World!

This Was Weird

2010-10-07T17:50:00.000-07:00

On Monday, I was in Hollywood and ran into Larry Wilcox, the former co-star of the 70's hit tv show "CHIPS." I had interviewed him sometime between 10-15 years ago, so I reintroduced myself. Amazingly, not only did he remember the interview (he must have done hundreds of them), he told me things that I specifically said during our chat back then. I was amazed. He looked great and was just as freindly and down-to-earth as he always has been.

When I was listening to the news radio station late this afternoon, the announcer gave a teaser. She said, "A member of the TV show CHIPS gets busted by the SEC (Security and Exchange Commission), story coming up." I immediately thought, "I wonder what Erik Estrada (Larry's co-star) has done now!

When she came back with the story, it wasn't Erik. It was Larry Wilcox and the story said that he is in big trouble with the SEC for stock fraud and irregularities for a company he started with some other people.

I thought it was so weird. I hadn't thought about Larry in a very long time and now twice in a week!

New Species Discovered In New Guinea

2010-10-06T17:00:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, photos were released worldwide of a number of new species that have been discovered in New Guinea.

This morning, the man who yesterday called the President of the United States a "jackass," took it upon himself to twist and distort that discovery and use it to denigrate the environmentalists.

Rush Limbaugh said that since new species have been found, it proves that the environmentalists are a bunch of wackos. After all, if new species of living things have been found, it directly proves that everything is fine with the environment and their complaints are ridiculous.

Anybody with a 5th grade education can tell you that just because scientists have found new species of insects, animals and wildlife--does not mean that existing species have not been harmed by the pollution and chemicals which man puts into the air, earth and water. Scientists have overwhelming evidence on species which have disappeared and are disappearing.

This kind of simplistic logic is exactly the thing that Fox News fans thrive upon.

One of the new species which was discovered somehow missed the photo exhibits online.

It is a newly discovered rat called the Rushmoronis Limbrat. Pictured here for you.

The scary thing is that half of America would be ignorant enough to vote for them.

2010-09-25T15:26:00.000-07:00

The scary thing is that half of America would be ignorant enough to vote for them.

The Majority Now Wants An Accounting - A Good Start

2010-09-22T01:15:00.000-07:00

There was a time when almost everybody trusted their government--no questions asked.

It didn't matter if it was your local city, township, state or federal government.

They always were going to do what was best for you.

The few people who regularly showed up at city council meetings and wrote letters to the editor or stood outside city hall with signs were considered kooks.

Something has happened in just the last two years.

People have realized that all governments run on money--from their pockets and hard work.

The minority who were vocal have become the majority.

When the citizens of Bell, California in the Los Angeles area found out that their part-time (a few hours a week) councilmen were paying themselves $100,000. a year, they became outraged. Those few hours a week would have also entitled them to a pension forever at the same rate.

This scandal is the tip of the iceberg.

Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are costing you up to $500 million per DAY.

If only there was a national uprising with the same passion that has resulted in the city officials in Bell, California to be scrutinized, we might get back on track as a nation.

WIZARD OF OZ/DARK SIDE OF THE MOON COINCIDENCES ARE UNBELIEVABLE

2010-08-26T21:04:00.000-07:00

WIZARD OF OZ/DARK SIDE OF THE MOON COINCIDENCES ARE UNBELIEVABLE

In the 1990's we all started hearing a strange rumor.

The mystical story was that if you play the movie "Wizard of Oz," turn the sound down and instead, play Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon," (beginning it when the MGM lion roars the third time) a series of incredible coincidences will happen:

*Words that are being sung on the album will directly match actions on the screen
*Songs will start and end in synchronization with different scenes
*Conceptual and abstract themes will clearly be associated between the film and record

The response from most of us hearing this was simply,
"What stoner was watching 'Wizard of Oz' and happened to turn down the sound and played 'Dark Side of the Moon' and came up with some far-fetched ideas?"

After all, we were part of the "Paul is Dead" experiment when amazing coincidences in Beatles songs, pictures and albums all revealed that Paul McCartney was dead and had been replaced by a substitute. And this was the way for The Beatles to reveal the truth to us.

Since the 1990's, the rumors of the "Wizard of Oz" and "Dark Side of the Moon" have resurfaced and been dismissed because when the album was recorded in the early 1970's, there was no VHS or DVD, and it would have been impossible for the group to have even obtained a copy of the film, (studios locked their films in vaults and nobody had access to them) let alone been able to construct such an intricate venture without the use of digital technology.

Since it's 2010 and we now have YouTube and other videos and recordings available to us instantly, I decided to revisit this magical story and see for myself.

In a startling surprise, everything that has been said about the coincidences is true.

It is mystical, perplexing and verrrrrry creepy.

These are just some of the things I observed, having viewed it with no expectations:

1. Dorothy is balancing herself on the fence for a few seconds exactly when the words "balanced on the biggest wave" is sung.

2. When Miss Gulch (the Wicked Witch) enters the picture on her bicycle, bicycle/alarm bells sound instantaneously.

3. When Toto escapes from the bicycle basket and hits the ground, the line "Kicking around on a piece of ground in your home town" is sung.

4. In Oz, when the wicked witch wearing black appears, the word "Black" is sung in perfect timing.

5. When we see the two witches together (the good witch and bad witch), the words sung are: "And who knows which is which." A different usage of the word, but a shocking coincidence.

6. The album begins and ends with a long sustained heartbeat. On the ending heartbeat, Dorothy knocks on the Tin Man's chest, exactly where his heart should be.

There are many more. These are the ones that had me stunned.

I can only explain this through logic and then mysticism.

These are the possibilities:

1. Pink Floyd actually did obtain a print of the film and pulled off one of the greatest technical media masterpieces of all time.

2. It is a series of coincidences that defies probability and logic.

3. The universe is playing the ultimate cosmic joke on all of us.

This phenomenon which is now called either "The Dark Side of the Rainbow" or "The Wizard of Floyd" is currently available for you to experience yourself.

Take note that Warner Bros., the owner of the great MGM musical, continues to have the clips removed from YouTube but people keep putting them back up again.

The best is the full synchronized 45 minutes, available at:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7667000257414927973#

Watch it for yourself in its entirety and see if you are not also mesmerized.

I Feel Fine Followed Watch Your Step

2010-08-17T18:50:00.000-07:00

All musicians have influences.

Even John Lennon.

When he wrote the #1 hit "I Feel Fine" in 1964, an older song existing from 1961 would have been easily forgotten and very outdated.

"I Feel Fine" is my favorite Beatles song. I play it a minimum of 100 times a year.
That's probably close to hearing it 5,000 times when all things are considered.

Its hypnotic riff and infectious harmonies together with its upbeat cheery theme
make it one of their ultimate classics.

I know a lot about The Beatles. And it's always great to add to that knowledge base.

I learned today that John Lennon had a favorite record that was released in 1961 called "Watch Your Step" by Bobby Parker that the Beatles even performed in their early UK/Hamburg shows.

You only need to listen to the first 30 seconds or so to understand:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvtabNAb_wE

Why Is This Progress Back Page News?

2010-07-31T19:42:00.000-07:00

As most of the news these days is concerned with Lindsay Lohan, things that are important to humanity are thrown on the back pages of newspapers or buried deep in news websites.

Major advances in cancer, AIDS and blindness that have recently been discovered should have been the top stories.

If you were lucky enough to have read these short blurbs over the last two months you would have been excited for the future of mankind.

You would have realized that human beings have been given brilliant creative genius to solve these problems and they have the ability to see it through.

The only thing lacking is money. Scientists, resources, processes and experimentation costs money. That is the only thing preventing the cures.

When your government which is spending YOUR MONEY THAT YOU WORK FOR would rather invest 500 MILLION a day in death--you get exactly what you are paying for-- destruction, annihilation, massacre and human carnage.

If this 500 MILLION a day was spent on life--you would get growth, vitality, longevity and cures for everything that ails mankind.

When I also said these things when I was 14 and America was wasting its taxpayer's money on Vietnam, I would get looks from all kinds of adults like, "isn't that cute," "the naive child is dreaming," "go back and listen to the Beatles," and other condescending looks and remarks.

At 57, I say the same thing. Human beings have incredible creative abilities to find cures for all of this. They don't have the money. It is being wasted instead on death instead of life.

In this month alone from Afghanistan, 63 American families are getting back a pine box with a souvenir flag and what is left of their son, father, husband, brother or uncle.

It's not a dream. Go look for stories about the recent medical advances. Instead of being concerned with Lindsay Lohan, why don't you speak up and tell your government that their priorities are mixed up and you won't stand for it anymore.

Let me leave you with a nice thought for your day.

Every time that an American missile drone kills innocent men, women and children in a foreign nation--you have blood on your hands. And when you stand before Jesus, Buddha, Allah, Jehovah, Moses or whoever your God of the month is on Judgment Day, you will be personally held responsible and asked why you didn't try and stop the madness.

My Favorite Painting - Up Close

2010-07-22T22:49:00.000-07:00

My Favorite Painting - Up Close

I have always loved this painting more than any other.

"Nighthawks" by Edward Hopper.

I've seen thousands of copies of it in reproductions, books, postcards, souvenirs and even parodies like the Simpsons.

It was enchanting to be able to stand next to the original at the Art Institute in Chicago.

Although this was the first time as an adult, I saw it as a small child and always thought it was a cartoon.

A few interesting facts:

1. Where's the door?

2. Fluorescent light just had come into existence around the time he painted the picture.
Hopper dramatically recreates fluorescent light in the cafe.

3. Most Hopper's paintings have a sense of isolation and loneliness to them. There may be people, but they are rarely communicating with each other.

4. The man is holding a cigarette. I recall that when blown up, the woman is holding a book of matches.

The Greatest Moment of My Trip To Chicago

2010-07-21T15:33:00.000-07:00

The Greatest Moment of My Trip To Chicago

From 1959-1967, age 5-14, my twin brother and I lived on the bottom floor of this two flat on the North side called Rogers Park in Chicago.

During my trip this week, the very nice people who live there now, let us in and showed us the entire place and property. We had not been in there since 1967.

It was the most moving event of my return to my childhood.

In this modest apartment, I experienced the things that most children do during those formative years. Development of lifelong friends, happy times, sad times, family and relatives, riding a bicycle, school, first important girlfriend, trust, betrayal, life and death.

It was here that although we lived in poverty, I played my Beatles albums over and over again which I still do today. And I filled the atmosphere with my cheap guitar and old broken down piano. My brother and I would fill ourselves with laughter as we invented creative things to make up for the things we didn't have. I got to experience the very unique late 1950's and the innocence of the early 1960's. I watched the great sitcoms of the 1960's as they aired for the first time.

And it is here we came on November 22, 1963 when we were called into the auditorium at school, briefly told that President Kennedy was dead and to go home right now.

And it was here that my other brother, 5 years older, suddenly got sick, went into the hospital, and just as sudden--never came back to this home.

So much of my life was influenced in this residence.

It was a powerful experience to walk in there one last time.

HOW TO SOLVE THE OIL PROBLEM QUICKLY

2010-07-06T21:38:00.000-07:00

I have figured out a way to get rid of the oil quickly.

1. U.S. PASSES A LAW THAT REQUIRES ALL BOYS AND MEN LIVING IN THE COUNTRY TO CHANGE THEIR HAIR STYLES TO MATCH THOSE OF ELVIS IN THE 50's.

2. EACH MALE CITIZEN MUST GO DOWN TO THE GULF AND FILL A COOLER-SIZE WATER BOTTLE WITH OIL AND TAKE IT HOME WITH HIM.

3. HE MUST USE THE OIL ON HIS HAIR DAILY.

FOURTH OF JULY -- WHERE ARE THE PROTESTS?

2010-07-04T13:24:00.000-07:00

There is a whole generation of young Americans who have grown up knowing one thing--America is always involved in some kind of war. Not official of course, Congress hasn't declared an official war since World War II.

$500 MILLION A DAY minimum is the cost of Iraq and Afghanistan.
Money that could go into education, starting new industries with loans, health care and creating new jobs. And the cost of American lives.

Where are the protesters on this Fourth of July?

The younger crowd is busy with their video games and music videos.
The college crowd is out partying and driving their new cars to which they were automatically entitled.
Young adults are busy texting and on their cell phones.
Adults are watching 500 channels of TV, recuperating from overwork or looking for any work.

Nobody is available to protest anymore.

The patriots that declared American independence against England would be ashamed at the new American character.

Which Is a Priority Here?

2010-06-24T23:36:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you, but I think this just released report:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100624/ap_on_sc/whaling

that clearly shows that dangerous chemicals are being found in exorbitant amounts in sea life is just a bit more important

than the continual daily media obsession with Lady Gaga...what she said, where she went, what she did...

it's just absurd.

One billion people who live on fish will eventually not be able to eat it anymore.
Fish are dying off in record amounts as well.

But, apparently what Lady Gaga did today is so much more important.

ALL AMERICANS RESPONSIBLE FOR RECESSION

2010-06-19T22:47:00.000-07:00

You can blame President Obama or you can continue to blame George W. Bush or Bill Clinton about the recession, but the blame falls on all Americans.

In the 90's, when Americans stood idly by while NAFTA and GATT were passed, and said nothing when hundreds of U.S. corporations moved their manufacturing to China, Southeast Asia, the Orient, Mexico and Central America, the future was being sealed.

When only one man on the radio, Chuck Harder, presented a daily summary of corporations moving their operations out of the U.S. and urged you to Buy American, he was called a "patriot nut" and ignored. Everything he said was going to happen has happened.

The economics is so simple, that even Sarah Palin would understand it:

The U.S. once manufactured everything for ourselves and the rest of the world.
Those American workers would in turn buy other American products at the stores, further employing millions of our countrymen. It was a circle of manufacturing American and buying American.

The USA is turning into a service industry. With very little being manufactured and produced here, we're becoming nothing but a tourist destination.

I was hoping to buy an all-American pair of Levis. They no longer have one factory in America.

China will never have to fire a shot to takeover America.
All they have to do is cash in their one trillion dollars worth of U.S. treasury securities.

The Three Stooges Still Rule

2010-06-13T16:49:00.000-07:00

Over the last two years, Sony has released the 190 Columbia shorts starring The Three Stooges in chronological order in eight volumes. They have all been completely remastered looking like they were appearing at movie theaters for the very first time and the sound has been completely restored to perfection.

Those of you who originally grew up watching The Three Stooges on TV starting in 1959, know that you were watching prints that circulated to TV stations all over the country. You were just a little kid so the wear, scratches, editing, pops, clicks, distortion and holes punched for commercial insertion, did not bother you.

By the time VHS came along, the same horrible prints had been hastily thrown onto the new medium. There was slight improvement for DVD, but still nothing worthy of the funniest comedy team in world history.

Sony, which owns Columbia studios and all their film and TV content, heard the pleas of Stoogephiles worldwide. And finally responded beginning in late 2007.

Having watched all 190 over the last couple years, I can now make the following bold statement:

"Shemp's work is on par with Curly's and even surpasses it in many ways."

Like millions of baby boomers, we all disliked the Shemp episodes.

When Shemp episodes came on WGN in Chicago, there must have been a surge of electric power as refrigerators opened during this "break" while we waited for Curly to return.

How could Shemp even compare to Curly? Curly was physically funny, unpredictable, hilarious and made all those funny noises. Shemp seemed dull, average and a poor substitute for his zany brother.

I as many of you have probably retained that perspective for many years, only catching an episode of the group from time to time.

Baby Boomers are all grown up now and through the miracle of film restoration, I ask you to pick up at least two of the restored volumes, one with Curly and one with Shemp, and reconsider.

Shemp brings something to his Stooge role that was not obvious to you as a kid--a whole layer of sophistication and occasional dignity. Shemp is inventive, has an outstanding range and does also give you everything that Curly gave you including slapstick when called for.

I hope you will give Shemp a chance at being idolized like Moe, Larry and Curly.

Economic Nonsense & Corruption

2010-06-08T20:50:00.000-07:00

Would you spend $10 million to try and obtain a $25,000 a year job?

In proportion, that's what Meg Whitman just did.

Months and months of perpetual radio and TV commercials cost Meg Whitman
running for Governor of California, $80 million for the chance at a $200,000 job.

Does that make economic sense to you?

This should clearly show you just how corrupt our political system is.

FOX NEWS ATTACKS PAUL McCARTNEY

2010-06-04T21:56:00.001-07:00

FOX NEWS, the slanted propaganda service which on a daily basis attacks, smears and slanders anybody that doesn't subscribe to their right wing babble, has attacked legendary Beatle Paul McCartney.

As Paul received his Gershwin Award from the President the other day, he noted:
"It's a fantastic honor (for) the Gershwin family to give me this incredible award and for me to be awarded it by the Library of Congress. And in fact, after the last eight years, it's great to have a president who knows what a library is."

Apparently, a man like Paul McCartney is not allowed to express a political opinion about George Bush--the cocaine sniffing, military service evading, alcoholic President who destroyed America and walked (actually stumbled) all over the Constitution in eight horrible years.

However, Fox News can attack and smear President Obama on a daily basis and that is acceptable.

Fox News even has allowed its brainwashed sheep to attack McCartney with some of the most deplorable statements which it is allowing online.

"Mark David Chapman shot the wrong Beatle" says a Fox News fan in a comment which the company has allowed to be posted online.

On a scale of 1 to 10, how much pleasure, enjoyment and good feelings has Paul McCartney given to you over the years?

On a scale of 1 to 10, how much pleasure, enjoyment and good feelings has George W. Bush given to you over the years?

Paul Sings "Michelle" to Michelle

2010-06-02T21:27:00.001-07:00

President Obama presented Paul McCartney with the prestigious American Gershwin Award tonight at the White House. Paul was his usual witty self and of course, performed "Michelle." Even during the Beatles biggest years, President Johnson and Nixon were too narrow minded to invite the group, love by millions, to the White House. Instead, Nixon was busy trying to deport John Lennon from the U.S. This award comes from all Americans and it's about time there was some official recognition to at least one of only two surviving Beatles.

Baseball Cheated Out Of A Third Perfect Game

2010-06-02T18:50:00.000-07:00

Football added instant replay to clarify controversial calls a few years ago, and today's outright baseball injustice proves that Major League Baseball needs to do the same.

Had it been an ordinary game, it would have been glossed over, but it was not.

Armando Galarraga of the Detroit Tigers was one out away from having a perfect game.

A perfect game is when no player from the opposite team is awarded any base.

There have only been 20 perfect games in baseball history, oddly enough with two of them happening over the last few weeks. This would have set all new records.

With one out away from this accomplishment, the batter hit a typical ground ball which was picked up and thrown to first base. The batter was out. Well, he should have been. The umpire said he was safe.

This replay (it probably will be removed, the MLB takes down all baseball video) clearly shows that the batter was out, and it should have been a perfect game.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hskaICmUgY

In an era of technology, it's time that baseball does away with its "the umpire is always right" tradition, awards the perfect game to the pitcher and starts using instant replay.

Why We Are In This Oil Mess.

2010-05-29T19:47:00.000-07:00

I've said it before. Here is why we are in the mess we are in.

Americans love cars. Cars need oil and gas in order to operate.

Americans have had a love affair with not only their cars, but with their favorite brand of service station since the 1920's. Americans use more oil and gas for their automobiles than any other country in the world--and more than most put together.

When the first Earth Day came around in 1970, if you even suggested that the oil companies were greedy bastards and polluting the planet, you were called a Communist. If you suggested that we need to find an alternative energy source, you were considered Un-American.

The government never seriously encouraged any alternatives to oil. The oil companies laughed at such a scenario and suppressed any development of alternative forms of energy.

They brainwashed existing Americans and future generations that oil was the only answer.

So they kept on drilling to keep up with the demand.

Looks like they've sprung a leak.

There's only one answer.

A government bailout in the billions to BP should cover any expenses they've encountered in trying to stop the destruction from 200,000 or more gallons of oil per day. And the cleanup, restoration and other costs--just send a bill to American taxpayers--they're accustomed to picking up the tab.

Art Linkletter

2010-05-26T19:56:00.001-07:00

Even as a small child I watched Art Linkletter on both "House Party" and "People are Funny."

It was like watching your grandfather talk to both adults and children, except he would always do a come back with funny deadpan facial responses.

Imitating those facial responses always worked in getting a laugh when talking with other kids. He was a great teacher.

I interviewed Art Linkletter when he was in his 80's and his mind was still so quick it was like talking to somebody in their 20's. Watching him on Larry King when he was in his 90's was no different. He still had complete youthful enthusiasm, energy and outlook.

Maybe that's the key to almost making it to 100.

How To Blow Up A Pacman Arcade Game

2010-05-21T21:15:00.000-07:00

Today is the 30th anniversary of Pacman. I had played pinball from the time I was a small child, growing up in Chicago, the machines were everywhere as they were all manufactured there as well. When "Space Invaders" came out, the first commercial video game, I found it quite enthralling. "Pacman" in 1980 was even more enticing. I spent hundreds of dollars in quarters trying to top myself scorewise.

The following story is true.

I played Pacman wherever I could find a machine. One day while driving I saw an arcade and immediately stopped in to get my Pacman fix for the day. As I was playing with great flair and energy, a group of kids came over and said, "you know about the hiding place don't you?" I said, "what???" The group told me that there was one place in the maze that if you hold Pacman there, the ghosts can't find him. I found this ridiculous, having played it so many times before.

I asked them to show me. They pointed to one dot on the maze next to a wall and said just hold him there.

Hmmmm. The ghosts started moving a little faster. And even more faster. They started searching the entire playing field. A few times they would even pass right over where I had Pacman standing.

Then Inky, Binky, Pinky and Clyde became psychotic. They were furious and wanted to know where Pacman was. Twice the normal speed. Five times the normal speed. Ten times the normal speed and all of us were laughing hysterically. Twenty times the normal speed as they came rushing in and out of the exits determined to find their yellow nemesis. Then they started moving so fast, you couldn't keep track of them.

BOOM!!!! You could hear the explosion throughout the arcade.

The monitor turned into lightning, it split in half and black smoke was pouring out of it.

Those kids went running out the door as fast as the ghosts had become and I was the only one standing there.

The manager came over, "what happened?"

"Uh....Pacman blew up." What can you say when you've just terminally decimated Pacman and all the ghosts?

Realizing that this information could become a national security threat, I kept it to myself.

I understand that the original machines were given software upgrades to take care of various issues.

James Taylor and Carole King

2010-05-13T22:55:00.000-07:00

They have two of the most unique voices in pop music history.

And tonight at the Hollywood Bowl, they performed solo and together to a sold out crowd.

The amazing thing is they sound exactly like they did 40 years ago.
Their voices are the same.

Their combination of folk, rock, pop, blues and jazz was heavenly.

If you don't know who they are, check out James Taylor and "Fire and Rain" and Carole King and "It's Too Late" on Youtube.

When they performed, you'd swear you were listening to the "Sweet Baby James" and "Tapestry" albums in your living room. It was that close.

Carole King can still belt out her composition "You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman" and James Taylor can shout the blues on his own "Steamroller."

Of course basically everybody there was 40-70, but their response was like they were still 20.

Lena Horne

2010-05-10T19:01:00.000-07:00

It's so hard to believe that MGM intentionally arranged the films she was in so Southern theater owners could edit her parts out and nobody watching knew the difference. They missed "Stormy Weather" and they were the losers as a result.

You Think It's Kent State, Right?

2010-05-03T03:10:00.000-07:00

If I asked you to name the event where a group of American student protesters were massacred by law enforcement authorities in the turbulent 60's, you would say "Kent State," right?

Kent State, where four students were mowed down and nine injured by the Ohio National Guard is the one you know about. It was national and world news and lays heavy upon the conscience of America to this day. But that was 1970.

Even try and ask every baby boomer you know who lived through the time and they will answer "Kent State." They don't know about it.

The one that you should know about--you've never even heard of.

In February 1968, a group of students at South Carolina State University in Orangeburg decided to protest at a local bowling alley that would not let black people use the facilities. The local police shooting into the crowd outside the bowling alley, killed 3 of them and injured 28 others including a pregnant woman who had a miscarriage as a result.

There was no national media coverage. There were no songs from Crosby, Stills and Nash. There were no made for TV movies. You won't find it in history texbooks.

And here's the reason:

These victims were using their first amendment rights, but under the growing fascism and police state instituted by Richard M. Nixon in this country at the time, nobody ever knew about this event.

Now you do.

Please Think of the Kittens

2010-04-27T18:50:00.000-07:00

What My Lai?

2010-04-26T22:36:00.000-07:00

"American Experience" on PBS tonight ran a documentary on the My Lai massacre of 1968. Seldom discussed in American media, education or in small talk, the Nazi-style murder of 500 unarmed Vietnamese men, women, children and babies in a village by an American squadron was covered up by the highest ranking military personnel. The men were "just following orders" of their superior officers, something we heard at another infamous military trial from another war.

The program was probably shocking to those hearing about this for the very first time.

Those of us who watched this circus as it originally unfolded during the Vietnam War and the subsequent pardon of the main perpetrator by President Richard Nixon, need only look at today's version of the Vietnam War--Iraq--for something that continues America's tradition of getting involved in places it has no business.

This is the main difference. Because of the development of mobile film equipment, satellites and a TV in every U.S. house, the Vietnam war became a novelty, the first war that could be updated quickly, just in time every evening for the nightly network news.

It would be boring now watching the aftermath of 60 people being blown up that day in Iraq. Instead we are fed a constant stream of dancing couples, American idols, Paris, Lindsay, Britney and Whitney.

American corporations know just how to keep Americans fat, lazy and unconcerned about anybody but themselves.

$300 million a day for Iraq. $100 million a day for Afghanistan.

Then you wonder why states are going bankrupt, cities are laying off thousands of workers, why schools and universities are closing early, why social programs are out of funds.

Sarah Palin Rewrites The Constitution

2010-04-24T10:03:00.000-07:00

"Lest anyone try to convince you that God should be separated from the state, our founding fathers, they were believers," said the always historically accurate Sarah Palin in a speech the other day.

Once again, Sarah Palin needs a history lesson.

"no man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever"

The Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, written in 1779 by Thomas Jefferson , enacted by the Virginia General Assembly in 1786.

This will become the foundation for the First Amendment of the Constitution.

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."

The Founding Fathers were very clear. They knew what they were doing. State and Religion were separate entities.

Sarah, try reading these carefully sometimes.

FOX NEWS PURCHASES THE BILL OF RIGHTS! MAKES MODIFICATIONS FOR THE GOOD OF ALL AMERICANS.

2010-04-18T12:44:00.000-07:00

FOX NEWS PURCHASES THE BILL OF RIGHTS!
MAKES MODIFICATIONS FOR THE GOOD OF ALL
AMERICANS.

by Michael Y. Park

Unhappy with the fact that they could not get the other 50% of the U.S. to agree with them, Fox News has come up with the ultimate solution.

"Through our bullying and intimidation we were unable to convince half of the country to follow us, and we figured the only way is to make it required by law, so we bought the Bill of Rights," said an excited Roger Ailes.

"We've made some small revisions to the First Amendment and we know all Americans will be much happier and productive this way. To demonstrate our patriotism, the new Fox News Bill of Rights will be implemented on December 30th, Sean Hannity's birthday."

"I am pleased that this new stage of American freedom will be celebrated every year on my birthday and America's new birthday," said the patriot Hannity.

Fox News New Bill of Rights First Amendment Text:
"Fox News will establish the religion of their choice as the official religion of the United States. Only Fox News will be allowed Freedom of Speech. Only Fox News will be allowed Freedom of the Press. Only Fox News will be allowed to Assemble as desired. Only Fox News will be allowed to Question the Government. All Citizens will pay a yearly Fox News tax to keep it going forever."

Fox News Announces New Game Show: "Are You Smarter Than Sarah Palin?"

2010-04-17T15:51:00.001-07:00

Fox News Announces New Game Show!

Fox News will debut their new game show, "Are You Smarter Than Sarah Palin?" next week.

Every week, a group of children will see if they are smarter than Sarah Palin through a series of questions on history, geography and economics.

"Each week will feature a different school age grade challenging Sarah Palin's vast knowledge. We'll start with 5th graders and work our way down to Kindergarten and nursery school children. To make things fair for her we might even have a show with Sarah Palin vs. newborns," says the show's producer.

2010-04-16T20:40:00.000-07:00

THE JOKERESS

Vatican Says Beatles Are Groovy! Now You Can All Ignore Those Priest Sex Abuse Stories!

2010-04-12T19:23:00.000-07:00

The most printed piece of worldwide news today was that the Vatican has forgiven The Beatles for their 60's lifestyle and even John Lennon for his famous "bigger than Jesus" statement. So everything's OK now! All you baby boomers who were sexually abused by Catholic priests should be overjoyed and delirious that the Vatican now also loves your number one lifelong obsession and you can all just stop complaining about those trivial perversion matters.

Since John Lennon's statement was just a little misunderstanding, so were those naughty priests. If the Vatican can forgive the Fab Four for leading the world's children down a path of free love, drugs and rebellion, than you can certainly forgive a bunch of hormonally overactive clergy.

If the Pope loves The Beatles now, so does Jesus! And Mary just can't get enough of "Let It Be."

Here is the story:

VATICAN CITY — The Vatican has finally made peace with the Beatles, saying their drug use, "dissolute" lives and even the claim that the band was bigger than Jesus are all in the past - while their music lives on.

Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano paid tribute to the Fab Four in its weekend editions, with two articles and a front-page cartoon reproducing the crosswalk immortalized on the cover of the band's album "Abbey Road."

The tribute marked the 40th anniversary of the band's breakup.

"It's true, they took drugs; swept up by their success, they lived dissolute and uninhibited lives," said the paper. "They even said they were more famous than Jesus," it said, recalling John Lennon's 1966 comment that outraged many Catholics and others. [Note: in the U.S. it was Southern Baptists in the deep South who held Beatle record burning bonfires]

"But, listening to their songs, all of this seems distant and meaningless," L'Osservatore said. "Their beautiful melodies, which changed forever pop music and still give us emotions, live on like precious jewels."

It is not the first time the Vatican has praised the legendary band from Liverpool.

Two years ago, Vatican media hailed the Beatles' musical legacy on the 40th anniversary of the "White Album." And last month the Vatican paper included "Revolver" in its semiserious list of top-10 albums.

BEATLES 3 Most Underrated Songs

2010-04-10T16:39:00.000-07:00

The Beatles have a number of songs which never are part of sing-a-longs, never have been discussed in detail and are generally ignored--yet they are as brilliant and creative as their regular output.
This is of course very subjective, but here is my list:

1. The Word - This upbeat "Rubber Soul" track was never performed live by the group as a band or as individuals. With an infectious utilization of the words "say the word," complex harmonies, a delicious organ involvement and the ultimate - a creative McCartney bass line especially at the end when the song changes direction, "The Word" is the ultimate lost gem in Beatleology. What baby boomer cannot hear the beginning of "Michelle" starting in their heads at the conclusion of the song?

2. Ask Me Why - From their original early "Please Please Me" era, this Lennon-McCartney composition was only performed live before they became famous worldwide. A love song featuring a wonderful emotional Lennon performance, the song was considered strong enough to be released as the B side to the single "Please Please Me." Of course that is everywhere but America where Capitol Records refused to release the single believing the group had no potential in the U.S. It was instead released on tiny Vee Jay Records where the single only got some airplay in Chicago on WLS in late February 1963 and quickly died. American would not hear about this incredible band again until January 1964.

3. What You're Doing - Recorded for "Beatles For Sale" and released later on the made up Capitol Records LP "Beatles VI," the song starts out with a catchy drum solo. The Paul-written lyrics clearly show a guy pleading with a girl to explain her behavior towards him. A pleasing guitar ditty that appears throughout are accentuated by the voice of Paul's believable misery as he makes his pleas.

Paul McCartney At Hollywood Bowl

2010-04-01T10:23:00.000-07:00

The only way I can describe the magical event is like you got together with a group of friends to sing Beatles songs, except that it is thousands of friends and Paul McCartney is leading the sing-a-long.

Paul's show at the Hollywood Bowl was as much a phenomenal event as when he played with his group there in 1964.

Almost 68, Paul's enthusiasm and dynamic presence is no different than when he was 21.

It does make you aware that in 2014, he will be playing a "50th Anniversary Tour" and all those original screaming fans will be in their 60s and early 70s.

His rendition of "Let It Be" was soulful and emotional. His first ever live performance of "Oh Blah Di Oh Blah Da" was whimsical. "Daytripper" made the place go crazy.

I did notice that instead of using his original Epiphone that he recorded "Yesterday" on, he's gone to a Martin acoustic.

You can never get enough of Paul.

SEAN HANNITY'S "FREEDOM CONCERTS" ARE A SCAM!

2010-03-25T20:11:00.001-07:00

A few times a year, Sean Hannity, through his organization Freedom Alliance, puts on a series of concerts that have one goal--to raise full and complete college tuition for the sons and daughters of U.S. service personnel who are killed in action. Other funds go to assist military members who have been badly injured in combat zones.

During the promotion of the events, Sean Hannity talks non-stop about the charitable activities and even those who disagree with his politics, have respected his efforts for such a noble cause.

But now, a well documented report (Read The Entire Report Here) has exposed the organization as a huge scam and ripoff.

According to Freedom Alliance's own tax returns, only a tiny amount of the millions raised annually actually goes to the supposed intended recipients--children of those whose parent perished in the line of duty and severely injured vets.

The tiny amount that goes to them is shocking and reprehensible:

According to its 2006 tax returns, Freedom Alliance reported revenue of $10, 822, 785, but only $397,900–or a beyond-measly 3.68%–of that was given to the children of fallen troops as scholarships or as aid to severely injured soldiers.

Freedom Alliance’s 2007 tax returns aren’t much better. Out of $12,459,317 it raised that year, only $895,347–or just 7%–went to seriously wounded troops and scholarships for fallen troops

And then, there are the 2008 Freedom Alliance tax forms, which were signed in November 2009 and filed only recently. That year, Freedom Alliance took in $8,781,431 in revenue and gave $1,060,275.57 total–or just 12%–to seriously wounded soldiers and for scholarships to kids of the fallen.

To make matters worse, Hannity and his entourage fly in ultimate luxury private planes, rent motorcades of the most expensive automobiles and stay in the finest hotels in connection with these events.

I only hated Sean Hannity 90% and gave him 10% credit because of his efforts in raising money for these veterans and their families.

He now joins the rest of them at 100% because of this deplorable scam.

Obama Health Care is HISTORIC

2010-03-21T20:12:00.000-07:00

A President of the United States FINALLY stood up to the corporations in America that have decided over the last 100 years that you must be wealthy to have the right not to be sick in America. Barack Obama did not let this dream fade away as many others have in the past and will be remembered 100 years from now as one of the greatest Presidents ever for seeing that all Americans have equal access to health care.

Dan Rather Reports

2010-03-18T00:17:00.000-07:00

I went to hear Dan Rather speak tonight in Los Angeles. The veteran newsman had some very compelling things to say. I had heard Dan Rather from the time I was a little boy through his taking over the coveted CBS Evening News anchorman spot. He is certainly qualified to make these observations:

He believes that it is unfortunate that the news has become sensationalized entertainment. "It's much less expensive to throw a bunch of people in a room and let them scream at each other instead of covering wars in other countries." Gee, I wonder which alleged news network he is referring to.

"Five companies own 80% of the broadcasting." He believes that the internet will become the major method people will get their news, surpassing (but not completely replacing) TV, radio and newspapers.

"If you knew just how close the relationship between big business and the government really was, you'd understand how the news gets reported."

He believes that all Americans have an obligation to loudly voice their opinions on what is going on in this country. "Speak Up, Speak Out. Take a Stand. Express Yourself. Don't Let Anybody Intimidate You."

That's what I'm doing Dan.

LIARS AT LIFELOCK

2010-03-10T20:47:00.000-08:00

How many times last year did you have to listen to radio and TV ads from a company named Lifelock--in which the CEO of the company gave out his own Social Security number and said that he doesn't worry at all--because LIFELOCK will protect him from ANY fraudulent attempts made at using his number?

Just like a million other people who signed up for $120. a year service, you were distinctly given the impression that this company was using state of the art technology that would automatically thwart any and all attempts by an impostor trying to use your SSN.

Unfortunately for you, the company was hoping you would get that impression and sign up.

And now the Federal Trade Commission and 35 state attorney generals are making Lifelock offer a full refund to anybody that signed up and are requiring the company to pay a $12 million fine for false, deceptive and misleading advertising.

It turns out that Lifelock was doing nothing more than you could do yourself. They placed a fraud watch on your file at the credit rating companies (which you can do yourself every 90 days). They gave you your credit report which you can get once a year for free. And none of these things can completely stop somebody from fraudulently trying to use your identity.

Last year a man in the south used the CEO's much published SSN to obtain a $500. loan.

The amazing thing is as of yesterday on their website, Todd Davis, the CEO of Lifelock, has taped a quick video in which he makes no mention of the fact that his company has to give anybody who signed up and requests it--a full refund, and that they have to pay $12 million for false and deceptive advertising.

Instead he talks about how being a pioneer in the Identity Fraud business comes with many challenges and how incredible his service is.

You'll notice that most TV networks, radio networks and other major media don't have much to say about this. After all, they perpetuated the whole scam by accepting millions of dollars in ad revenues from the company and are looking forward to more once the new ads are ready.

Corporations in America regularly break state and federal laws and have to pay fines in the millions. They quickly cover this up with shiny new ad campaigns and the public quickly forgets. [NOTE: Lifelock started an extensive new ad campaign the day after I wrote this] In America, you are not to question the nobility of corporations lest you be labeled a Communist.

Lost In Translation

2010-03-08T18:52:00.000-08:00

Whenever the Academy Awards come around every year, I think of Bill Murray.

And how he was cheated out of the 2003 Best Actor award for "Lost In Translation" because it was politically correct that year to vote for Sean Penn instead.

You may even remember that after Sean Penn's name was called, Bill Murray got up to walk out of the place (he wasn't joking around) and the host at the time had to remind him that we all love him and he should stay.

He had good reason to want to leave. A role like that and a performance like that only comes along once in a lifetime for a man who is normally a comedy actor.

He has tried to duplicate the situation in later years, but there is nothing like Bill Murray in "Lost in Translation."

This low budget film made entirely in Japan was written and directed by Sofia Coppola. She won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for the film which was also up for Best Picture and Best Director.

Bill Murray did win the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Comedy in addition to Best Actor from 20 other leading film societies, but he should have won Best Actor for the Oscars as well.

A relationship film that is very slow moving and subtle as possible tends to have those who adore it and those who loathe it. If you are a man over 45 you will be able to fully understand and appreciate it. Unfortunately, if you are a man 40 or younger it will mean nothing to you and you will be saying "when does this movie start?" all the way until the end. Women of any age immediately become part of the film and its characters.

If you are looking for crazy Bill Murray, you are not going to find it here.
Instead you'll see a sophisticated man contemplating the circumstances of his life and one who never has to directly say what he is thinking as his silence says it loud and clear.

This is one of those films that just gets lost among the blockbusters with wide commercial appeal.

I think you will find it a rewarding experience.

Academy Awards 2010

2010-03-07T21:28:00.000-08:00

The best part of the Academy Awards tonight was the short glimpses of the documentaries. They were much more interesting than many of the commercialized movies. It's too bad that unless you really make extreme efforts, you're most likely never to see any of them in your lifetime.

The most fascinating preview tonight was for the animated short "Logorama" which won the award in that category. It is the story of an earthquake hitting Los Angeles which has now become a city made completely of corporate brands and logos. Which is actually what parts of Hollywood now look like.

If you go to it quickly, you can watch both parts of this hilarious social satire at You Tube.
However, it keeps getting taken down by the producers and other people put it back up.

Jay Leno is Back

2010-03-03T18:05:00.000-08:00

I just got back from a taping of the "Tonight Show" again with host Jay Leno at NBC in Burbank. It went on smoothly as if Jay had never left the first time. Since I will have seen it hours before any of you will be able to, I have some observations.

Jay's first guest was Chelsea Handler who apparently has to let out a predictable 8th grade level sexually suggestive retort every other thing she says. I thought we were past that kind of thing years ago.

When Jay and Chelsea leave the studio and go up in a helicopter, it is actually live! Usually, highly technical comedy bits like that are taped in advance and then played after the person is out of view. This is because things can go wrong with audio and video or other technical problems. In this case, they actually are doing it live.

The audience went crazy every time Jay mentioned that Olympic skater Apollo Ohno would be on. When he finally came on, the place erupted in chaos. Its about time that somebody with an actual skill is given superstar status as a celebrity.

Unlike the cast of "Jersey Shore" which appeared at the beginning of the show in a game show skit.

At least one thing about America is back to normal. Jay Leno hosting the "Tonight Show."

GOLDFINGER

2010-02-25T19:51:00.000-08:00

"Goldfinger" is my favorite James Bond movie. I've seen it over 50 times and look forward to another 50. I recently purchased some special DVD edition that had the director and others talking about making the film as you watched it. If you are a baby boomer, this is probably one of your favorite 007 films as well.

I wanted to share some things that I had never known and learned from this edition.

1. Gert Frobe who played Goldfinger was a German character actor who spoke no English. They had him just mimic his lines in the best English he could imitate and then his voice was dubbed in later in its entirety by another actor. I never suspected that. The dubbing was impeccable.

2. The opening scene in Miami Beach was filmed without Sean Connery, Gert Frobe or other major characters. They were later matted into the poolside scenery and other closeups were matched by recreating the scene in a studio. Again, 45 years later, this was news because it all looks so seamless making you believe they all filmed at the Miami hotel poolside.

3. Even when the blonde girl is giving cheating instructions to Goldfinger from her hotel balcony, that was done in a studio. It was matted against real footage taken at the hotel from the same angles.

4. The actor who played OddJob, Harold Sakata, was exactly the opposite of what he portrayed on the screen. Everybody called him the sweetest and kindest man they had ever met.

5. 007's Aston Martin had some other tricks which got edited out or were never used at all.

6. Pussy Galore was a lesbian in the original book. Various censors did not approve of her name for filming and only because it was appealed by the producers did it become ok to use. In a bubble gum trading card set for kids about the film, the name is completely left out.

7. The government would not allow the producers into Fort Knox. There were not even any photos available to study. The set designer just created his own vision on the inside of a studio set. Only the front existed in the building copy they made for the film. Complete shots were taken flying over the real thing.

8. The author Ian Fleming died just a few weeks before the film's premiere.

I will add anything else that stood out.

GEORGE BUSH APOLOGIZED TO AMERICANS TODAY FOR HIS EIGHT YEARS IN OFFICE

2010-02-19T18:36:00.001-08:00

GEORGE BUSH APOLOGIZED TODAY TO AMERICANS FOR HIS EIGHT YEARS IN OFFICE

Good morning, and thank you for joining me. Now every one of you has good reason to be critical of me. I want to say to each of you, simply and directly, I am deeply sorry for my irresponsible and selfish behavior I engaged in. I know people want to find out how I could be so selfish and so foolish.

I am also aware of the pain my behavior has caused to those of you in this room. I have let you down, and I have let down my fans. For many of you, especially my friends, my behavior has been a personal disappointment. To those of you who work for me, I have let you down personally and professionally. My behavior has caused considerable worry to my business partners.

But still, I know I have bitterly disappointed all of you. I have made you question who I am and how I could have done the things I did. I am embarrassed that I have put you in this position. For all that I have done, I am so sorry.

I have a lot to atone for, but there is one issue I really want to discuss. What I did is not acceptable, and I am the only person to blame. I stopped living by the core values that I was taught to believe in. I knew my actions were wrong, but I convinced myself that normal rules didn't apply. I never thought about who I was hurting. Instead, I thought only about myself. I thought I could get away with whatever I wanted to. I felt that I had worked hard my entire life and deserved to enjoy all the temptations around me. I felt I was entitled. Thanks to money and fame, I didn't have to go far to find them.

I was wrong. I was foolish. I don't get to play by different rules. The same boundaries that apply to everyone apply to me. I brought this shame on myself.

I've had a lot of time to think about what I've done. My failures have made me look at myself in a way I never wanted to before. It's now up to me to make amends and that starts by never repeating the mistakes I've made. It's up to me to start living a life of integrity.

Parents used to point to me as a role model for their kids. I owe all those families a special apology. I want to say to them that I am truly sorry.

It's hard to admit that I need help, but I do. For 45 days from the end of December to early February, I was in inpatient therapy receiving guidance for the issues I'm facing. I have a long way to go. But I've taken my first steps in the right direction.

As I proceed, I understand people have questions. Some have written things about my family. Despite the damage I have done, I still believe it is right to shield my family from the public spotlight. They did not do these things; I did.

I recognize I have brought this on myself, and I know above all I am the one who needs to change. I owe it to my family to become a better person. I owe it to those closest to me to become a better man. That's where my focus will be.

I have a lot of work to do, and I intend to dedicate myself to doing it. Part of following this path for me is Buddhism, which my mother taught me at a young age. People probably don't realize it, but I was raised a Buddhist, and I actively practiced my faith from childhood until I drifted away from it in recent years. Buddhism teaches that a craving for things outside ourselves causes an unhappy and pointless search for security. It teaches me to stop following every impulse and to learn restraint. Obviously, I lost track of what I was taught.

As I move forward, I will continue to receive help because I've learned that's how people really do change. Starting tomorrow, I will leave for more treatment and more therapy.

Finally, there are many people in this room, and there are many people at home who believed in me. Today, I want to ask for your help. I ask you to find room in your heart to one day believe in me again.

Thank you.

SOUNDS LIKE IT'S MADE UP--BUT IT'S NOT

2010-02-18T20:56:00.000-08:00

An affluent high school in suburban Philadelphia has prided itself on the fact that it is technologically advanced and gives all of its students an expensive lap top to borrow as part of the curriculum.

What they didn't tell students was that they could remotely turn the camera on, and view and record them. Apparently when an administrator told a student that the school didn't approve of something he was doing at home, this whole story just opened up.

It sounds like a made up story, but it is not. Harriton High School is now being sued by a number of families who also believe they were spied on by the school.

The students are now placing tape over the camera and microphone on the computer.

The school district will only say that it uses the remote technology when a computer is lost and stolen and they want to see who is using it.

Ironically, the book "1984" by George Orwell is required reading at the school.

An Education - Worthy Of Best Picture

2010-02-16T20:31:00.001-08:00

The British film industry is most prolific at making films about life in England. They accomplish this royally once again with "An Education," a low budget comedy-drama that takes place north of London in 1961. This extraordinary film works on numerous levels and despite a lack of big name star power is charming one moment, challenging another and is absolutely worth seeing if you are tired of blockbuster 3-D science fiction extravaganzas. If you love reading novels, were captivated by films like "34 Charing Cross Road" and find the very early 1960's to be special, you really need to see this. It's up for our own Best Picture, but those 3-D science fiction extravaganzas tend to be chosen first.

Happy Valentine's Day From America

2010-02-14T18:08:00.001-08:00

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY FROM AMERICA!

February 14, 2010

1. ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Two missiles fired from an American drone aircraft killed at least six.

2. MARJAH, Afghanistan ---12 Afghan civilians were killed when two stray rockets hit a house near the town of Marjah.

OOPS, SORRY ABOUT THAT!

Ringo Starr Gets His Star

2010-02-09T18:32:00.001-08:00

It was great fun last night watching Ringo Starr get his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Hollywood in front of Capitol Records. Ringo was his usual witty Liverpool self and gave a wonderful off-the-cuff speech. What was really funny was when the Mayor of Los Angeles (who recently said he was firing 1000 workers to balance his budget) was unanimously booed when he introduced Ringo. The most surprising part came when Ringo introduced his "brother-in-law," Joe Walsh of The Eagles. Everybody thought he was joking until he revealed that just a while back, Walsh married the younger sister of his wife, Barbara Bach, actually making Joe Walsh his real brother-in-law.
I personally was surprised and here's why. The last time I saw Joe Walsh is when he was hanging around Amoeba Records in Hollywood when Paul McCartney was in town and at the store. At that time, I was standing talking to Joe Walsh when a limo pulled up and Ringo stepped out. I was yelling "Ringo," and Joe Walsh said nothing and didn't seem very interested.
So when I heard that Walsh was now his brother-in-law, I realized that it obviously happened after I ran into him on Sunset Blvd. Sometimes its fun living 5 minutes from Hollywood.

Hope You Are Celebrating Life

2010-02-07T15:53:00.000-08:00

Tim Tebow and his mother were the stars of a series of commercials during the Superbowl which "Celebrate Family, Celebrate Life" and were paid for by the right-winged Christian organization Focus on the Family.

When your government continues to send flying drones into Pakistan that arbitrarily kill innocent men, women and children...that's not celebrating life and family, is it?

When your government's presence in Iraq results weekly in the slaughter of dozens of innocent men, women and children...that's not celebrating life and family, is it?

When your government's lack of action results in the death of dozens of Americans weekly due to lack of access to medical care and food, that's not celebrating life and family, is it?

Will you ever see Focus on the Family and the Tebows address these issues? Highly unlikely.

I hope you enjoyed the priority of most Americans--the Super Bowl.

You BETTER Be For The Saints

2010-02-05T16:29:00.000-08:00

Fascism is alive and thriving in American high schools! With Superbowl fever at its peak, especially in New Orleans and Indiana, the students at a New Orleans high school were told they can wear Saints' jerseys to school to show their support. One student, who had moved from Indianapolis to New Orleans, decided to show his support for the Colts instead by wearing their jersey.

Called in to the principal's office, suspended and sent home for his outlandish discretion, the ACLU has, with good reason, gotten involved and has told the school to remove the suspension.

Trivial you think? Fascism has been creeping into our society since George W. Bush SENIOR came into office in the 1980's. Each little incident like this moves us closer and closer to a society as seen by George Orwell.

AIG STILL SUCKS

2010-02-03T17:10:00.001-08:00

THEY ARE DOING IT FOR A SECOND TIME.

THE INSURANCE COMPANY WHICH YOU SAVED BY GIVING IT ALMOST 200 BILLION OF YOUR HARD EARNED WORK TAXES, MUST SIMPLY GIVE OUT ANOTHER $100 MILLION IN BONUSES THIS WEEK. THE AVERAGE EMPLOYEE WILL RECEIVE A BONUS OF $400,000 AND DOZENS WILL RECEIVE $1 MILLION EACH.

WHAT DID YOU GET FOR YOUR CHRISTMAS BONUS IN DECEMBER IF YOU ARE LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE A JOB?

AND THE AMAZING THING IS THAT AIG CONTINUES TO JUSTIFY THIS BY SAYING THAT THESE EXTRAORDINARY EMPLOYEES WILL SIMPLY LEAVE IF THEY DON'T GET THEIR BONUSES. AFTER ALL, THERE IS NOBODY TO REPLACE THEM.
YES, NOBODY COULD POSSIBLY SCREW UP LIKE THEY DID.

THERE WAS AN OUTRAGE THE FIRST TIME THEY DID THIS AND THEY KNEW IT WOULD ALL DIE DOWN. AND THEY KNOW BY DOING IT THIS WEEK, IT WILL ALL DIE DOWN AGAIN BY SUPERBOWL WEEKEND. IT WAS TIMED THAT WAY.

YOU CAN PROTEST BY TAKING YOUR INSURANCE NEEDS TO ANY OTHER COMPANY THAT DID NOT RECEIVE BAILOUT FUNDS.

Holden Caulfield Still Frightens The Establishment

2010-01-31T19:22:00.000-08:00

Almost 60 years after it was published, "Catcher In The Rye" continues to be banned by a number of school districts across America.

And why not? Holden Caulfield challenges the establishment, he questions authority, he laughs at social norms, he smokes, he swears, solicits prostitutes and thinks for himself.

This is apparently dangerous to some adults, many of whom were required to read J.D. Salinger's precedent setting book in the 50's, 60's and 70's.

In the 1950's it was banned in almost every high school in America. After all, The Hardy Boys were enough fun and adventure for America's conformist students. Those with a daring side could try Ernest Hemingway, at least those of his books which were approved.

Maybe it was Holden Caulfield that ignited the rebellious spark in that generation which refused to trust their government and protested America's involvement in other countries' civil wars.

Book banning still goes on in America. Strangely enough, "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" used to be banned because its main character was a smart-ass, rebellious child character who didn't care what adults told him to do. Today, the same book is banned for a different reason. It is now politically incorrect. Because the book uses a dialect and concepts which we now consider racist, it is considered insensitive and unreadable.

Of course, when it was written, it actually was satirizing racist people of its time.

You can find a reason to ban any piece of literature if you try hard enough.

2010-01-30T18:56:00.001-08:00

I thought I would share with you a typical recent half-a-month in Iraq that continues on due to U.S. military presence costing $300 MILLION PER DAY courtesy of your taxes. Do you even care?
	Car driver by bomb attached to car, Al-Zab, southwest of Kirkuk	16 Jan 2010
	Trade Ministry employee shot dead in car in east Baghdad	16 Jan 2010
	Twenty-five by bombs in Jumla market, Najaf	14 Jan 2010
	Sunni high school student shot dead in Khalis	14 Jan 2010
	One by bomb in market, Mu'lemeen, Baquba	14 Jan 2010
	Man by bomb attached to car in Khalidiya	14 Jan 2010
	Man and woman shot dead in Al-Arabi, west Mosul	14 Jan 2010
	One by roadside bomb, Tesaa Bayar, Abu Ghraib	13 Jan 2010
	Seven by suicide truck bomb in Saqlawiyah, near Falluja	13 Jan 2010
	Awakening Council member shot dead in Edhaim	13 Jan 2010
	One shot dead in Ameen, Baquba	13 Jan 2010
	Four police by car bomb in Sadiyah	12 Jan 2010
	One by hand grenade in house in al-Qebla, Basra	12 Jan 2010
	Taxi driver shot dead in al-Mussayab	11 Jan 2010
	Christian vegetable seller shot dead, al-Sanaa al-Qadeema, west Mosul	11 Jan 2010
	Body found shot dead in Rouna Ki, south Kirkuk	11 Jan 2010
	Man shot in crossfire between insurgents and police in Mosul	10 Jan 2010
	Body of young man found shot dead, Dorra, al-Dabas, west of Kirkuk	9 Jan 2010- 10 Jan 2010
	15- or 16-year-old boy by roadside bomb, Sinaat al-Karama, east Mosul	9 Jan 2010
	Brother of Accountability and Justice Committee member shot dead in east Baghdad	9 Jan 2010
	Newly married couple found dead in home in Souran, northeast of Arbil	9 Jan 2010
	Two police by roadside bomb, Ras Al-Jadeh , west Mosul	8 Jan 2010
	Policeman by roadside bomb in Khanaqin	7 Jan 2010
	6-7 by bombs in Hit	7 Jan 2010
	One by roadside bomb, Imam Wees road, south al-Saadiya	6 Jan 2010
	Two children by bomb in flat in Wadi Hajar, south Mosul	6 Jan 2010
	Ten-year-old child by roadside bomb, Yenkeje, near Tuz Khormato	6 Jan 2010
	Five women in traffic collision with US vehicle, Al-Nil, north of Hilla	6 Jan 2010
	Three police by roadside bombs in Wahed Athar, south Kirkuk	4 Jan 2010
	Three by roadside bomb in central Mosul	4 Jan 2010
	Bodies of 2 brothers kidnapped in 2005 found in Talafar	4 Jan 2010
	Three security guards shot dead in Tal Abta, west of Mosul	3 Jan 2010
	Body of man found strangled in Tal al-Riman, west Mosul	3 Jan 2010
	Body of kidnapped young man found stabbed in Abrahim al-Khalil , south of Hilla	2 Jan 2010- 4 Jan 2010
	Man by car bombs, Eshreen Street, Bayaa, Baghdad	2 Jan 2010
	Body of man found in car on Kanan-Baladruz road	2 Jan 2010
	Two police shot dead on outskirts of Mosul	2 Jan 2010
	Policeman by bomb attached to car in Falluja	1 Jan 2010

Supreme Court Decision Good For NBC

2010-01-24T18:49:00.000-08:00

Burbank, CA - AP

The Supreme Court's decision this week that corporations can spend as much money as they like on political campaigns will benefit all the major broadcasters and especially NBC. The network which has only one show in the top 30, a football game, announced that they will become a full-time network that will air only political commercials sponsored by corporations.

Jeff Zucker, head of NBC says, "we don't care who they're for or who they're against. We will become the 24-hour 'all political commercials paid for by corporations' network! We'll be swimming in the money shortly!"

NBC said, "we'll have all 30-60 second spots running all day. To break up the monotony, we'll have only two shows, one will be 'Jay Leno hosts the funniest political commercials sponsored by corporations' and 'Conan has his roster of characters acting out political commercials sponsored by corporations.' We're already booked up for a year!"

No difference between 1953 and 2010

2010-01-21T18:28:00.000-08:00

When I was born 57 years ago today, a man named Joe McCarthy was running around accusing everybody of being Communists.

Today, 4 different Joe McCarthy's continue the tradition:

Sarah Palin - Blame It All On God.

2010-01-17T16:57:00.000-08:00

Sarah Palin - Blame It All On God.

Sarah Palin has an answer for why everything happens. "It's All God's Plan."

That has been her answer to numerous questions including the explanation of why there is an Iraq War and why she was thrown into the spotlight of politics.

She needs to realize that using her same inspirational logic, it was "God's Plan" for her underage unmarried daughter to have a baby, for her and John McCain to lose the 2008 Presidential Election, for Jay Leno to lose and regain 'The Tonight Show,' and thankfully for both Simon and Paula Abdul to leave 'Idol'."

Considering she not only called the Iraq War part of "God's Plan" AND "a task that is from God," hopefully she doesn't see large scale human tragedies such as earthquakes, also part of "God's Plan."

You never know what these right-winged maniacs are really thinking (as proven so far by Rush Limbaugh and Pat Robertson).

3 Last Presidents Join Forces

2010-01-16T10:02:00.000-08:00