To my readers, my apologies for not blogging much as of late. My schedule has been insane. I've been working 50 hours a week at my day job plus whatever I've been putting in at the liquor store. I requested and will soon get less hours at the liquor store. I've been doing two jobs for a long time and I needed a break. So hopefully in a few weeks, my schedule will calm down and I can blog more often.
Politicians Behaving Badly
So a U.S. Congressman named Mr. Weiner gets in trouble when he gets caught sending lewd emails and pictures over the internet. No, this isn't a Saturday Night Live skit or a plot to a B-grade porno flick. This is real. After repeated denials, Rep. Anthony Weiner admitted to inappropriate relationships with women he met over the internet, none of who were his wife. he then apologized for lying about the "Weinergate" allegations. Even when it looked liked he got caught with his pants down, Weiner continued his denials to the bitter end, even claiming that his twitter account got hacked. Now he's just the latest in a long line of politicians who let their reputations get tarnished by sheer stupidity.
Of course no politician in recent memory has had a more dramatic fall from grace than John Edwards. Not long ago, he was a U.S. Senator and came close to being elected Vice-President. But as we know, Edwards got himself involved in scandals involving his extramarital affairs. Now he could be facing prison time over allegations that he used campaign funds to cover up his extramarital affairs. It's just not Democrats who are getting in trouble. The list of Republican sex scandals is big and growing all the time.
Lessons of the Weiner and Edwards messes: (1) never put anything over the internet you wouldn't want the public or your wife to see and (2) if you want a career in politics, it's not a good idea to take part in extramarital affairs. You would think highly educated men would be smarter. But as long as they are politicians, they will be plenty of writing material for blogs.
Stanley Cup Finals
It's not too often in New England that the Red Sox and the Yankees are in the back seat. But our attention there days are focused toward hockey as the Boston Bruins continue to play the Vancouver Canucks in the Stanley Cup Finals. After a pair of tough losses on the first two games, the Bruins came out firing in game three in a 8 - 1 thrashing of the Canucks. Much of it came after the Bruins lost Nathan Horton due to a cheap shot by Aaron Rome.
So Boston Bruin fever is pretty much gripping New England these days. Also, with their biting and cheap shots, the Canucks are playing a good role as hockey villains. Either way, come 8 PM tonight, a lot of us will be glued to out TVs watching game four of the Stanley Cup Finals. I will be one of them. Go Bruins!
Showing posts with label politics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label politics. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Friday, March 25, 2011
"I focus on the pain, the only thing that's real."
Hurt by Johnny Cash and Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails are a industrial rock group that was most popular in the early to mid 1990's. The only official member of the group is Trent Reznor who writes and composes all of the material. A somewhat unique sound, Nine Inch Nails are one of my favorite groups from that era. One of their biggest hits is called "Hurt". Slower and more accessible that most of NIN material, "Hurt" received a lot of airplay on radio and on MTV. Perhaps the thing that most stand out about the song are it's haunting lyrics, which can be interpreted as being about drug addiction, depression or both. The title of this post is a line from the song.
A decade later, Johnny Cash was recording music and his producer suggested that he cover "Hurt". The result that came out was possibly the best cover tune ever. Recorded just after the death of his wife June, Cash himself was ailing and was a few months away from dying himself. What came out is the hurt and sorrow that Cash was feeling at the time. The video itself was also haunting, showing an aging Johnny Cash but also showing a younger Johnny and June Cash. One person who was moved by the Cash version of "Hurt" was Reznor himself who said "I pop the video in, and wow... Tears welling, silence, goose-bumps... Wow. [I felt like] I just lost my girlfriend, because that song isn't mine anymore... It really made me think about how powerful music is as a medium and art form. I wrote some words and music in my bedroom as a way of staying sane, about a bleak and desperate place I was in, totally isolated and alone. [Somehow] that winds up reinterpreted by a music legend from a radically different era/genre and still retains sincerity and meaning — different, but every bit as pure". (Alternative Press#194, September 2004.) I couldn't agree more. Those who want to see the Johnny Cash version of the song can click here.
Donald Trump and Obama Birth Certificate
In a recent blog here on Poets and Madmen, I talked about Donald Trump's plan to run for the Republican nomination for President. I speculated on how much of a sideshow it would be. Especially if God forbid, he'd get elected President. It didn't take me long to prove me right. As of late, Trump has brought up an old conspiracy theory surrounding Obama. He questioned Obama's citizenship.
This conspiracy theory is nothing new. The theory is that Obama was born out of the United States and therefore ineligible to become President of the United States. You expect to here this stuff from someone who broadcasts on shortwave radio. Not from someone who wants to become leader of the free world. Yet, this stuff was been coming out of Trump's mouth. Trump, most notable appeared on a recent episode of The View and demanded to see Obama's birth certificate.
Now I'm not a fan of Obama. But I can say with confidence that he was born in Hawaii. If he was not eligible to be President, he never would have received the Democratic nomination for President because Hillary Clinton or one of his other opponents would have found out about it. I wonder what is Trump thinking. If people think you are crazy, you will not be elected President. Just ask Ross Perot and Howard Dean. In the meantime, Trump looks like he'll provide me with a lot of writing material for my blog if he runs for President.
Nine Inch Nails are a industrial rock group that was most popular in the early to mid 1990's. The only official member of the group is Trent Reznor who writes and composes all of the material. A somewhat unique sound, Nine Inch Nails are one of my favorite groups from that era. One of their biggest hits is called "Hurt". Slower and more accessible that most of NIN material, "Hurt" received a lot of airplay on radio and on MTV. Perhaps the thing that most stand out about the song are it's haunting lyrics, which can be interpreted as being about drug addiction, depression or both. The title of this post is a line from the song.
A decade later, Johnny Cash was recording music and his producer suggested that he cover "Hurt". The result that came out was possibly the best cover tune ever. Recorded just after the death of his wife June, Cash himself was ailing and was a few months away from dying himself. What came out is the hurt and sorrow that Cash was feeling at the time. The video itself was also haunting, showing an aging Johnny Cash but also showing a younger Johnny and June Cash. One person who was moved by the Cash version of "Hurt" was Reznor himself who said "I pop the video in, and wow... Tears welling, silence, goose-bumps... Wow. [I felt like] I just lost my girlfriend, because that song isn't mine anymore... It really made me think about how powerful music is as a medium and art form. I wrote some words and music in my bedroom as a way of staying sane, about a bleak and desperate place I was in, totally isolated and alone. [Somehow] that winds up reinterpreted by a music legend from a radically different era/genre and still retains sincerity and meaning — different, but every bit as pure". (Alternative Press#194, September 2004.) I couldn't agree more. Those who want to see the Johnny Cash version of the song can click here.
Donald Trump and Obama Birth Certificate
In a recent blog here on Poets and Madmen, I talked about Donald Trump's plan to run for the Republican nomination for President. I speculated on how much of a sideshow it would be. Especially if God forbid, he'd get elected President. It didn't take me long to prove me right. As of late, Trump has brought up an old conspiracy theory surrounding Obama. He questioned Obama's citizenship.
This conspiracy theory is nothing new. The theory is that Obama was born out of the United States and therefore ineligible to become President of the United States. You expect to here this stuff from someone who broadcasts on shortwave radio. Not from someone who wants to become leader of the free world. Yet, this stuff was been coming out of Trump's mouth. Trump, most notable appeared on a recent episode of The View and demanded to see Obama's birth certificate.
Now I'm not a fan of Obama. But I can say with confidence that he was born in Hawaii. If he was not eligible to be President, he never would have received the Democratic nomination for President because Hillary Clinton or one of his other opponents would have found out about it. I wonder what is Trump thinking. If people think you are crazy, you will not be elected President. Just ask Ross Perot and Howard Dean. In the meantime, Trump looks like he'll provide me with a lot of writing material for my blog if he runs for President.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Am I Older or Am I Wiser?
My Early St Patrick's Day
I couldn't help but wonder last week if I'm officially old. On St. Patrick's Day, I was home by 9:30. Normally in the past, I would live up to my 49% Irish blood. I would go to a local bar, either St. James, Belmont or Mickey Doyle's and consume my fair share of adult beverages. I just didn't feel like it this year. I'm sure a good time was had in all three establishments. I just chose to go home that day after leaving work. I felt much better on the morning March 18th than I had in previous years. I'm I getting older? Or wiser? Or both?
March Madness
It's that time of year again. March Madness, the NCAA Basketball Championships. Every year in which people fill out their brackets and hope for the best. Last year, my bracket was ripped up early when my pick Kansas fell in round 2. This year is looking a little better. While I lost some Elite 8's and lost a few Sweet 16's, all of my Final Four teams are still alive. My pick to win it all, Ohio State looked great as they bombed the usually respectable George Mason.
Commuter Rail in Fall River?
The people have waited for commuter rail in Fall River much like Linus in the Peanuts cartoons waiting for the Great Pumpkin. Both waiting in anticipation for it to come. Only for it once again not to show. Now the Patrick administration once again brought up commuter rail again for the South Coast. I'll believe it when it happens.
Japan
The news from Japan is absolutely heartbreaking. The most recent death toll I heard is 8,000. Stories of people searching for missing loved ones. Stories on entire villages getting wiped out. In addition they also have to deal with the nuclear crisis. While the nuclear crisis seems to be easing, a meltdown (or a potential meltdown) is the last thing the people of Japan needed.
Donald Trump for President?
Why not? Jesse Ventura got elected Governor of Minnesota. Arnold Schwarzenegger got elected Governor of California. Minnesotans were not done elected celebrities to office as they elected Al Frankin to the U.S. Senate. Linda McMahon almost got elected to the U.S. Senate in Connecticut. Of course leader of the free world is a totally different slice of pie. The thought of him getting elected is scary. There's not doubt he's a highly intelligent businessman. Still, if he's elected President, the White House will be a sideshow. It'll make the Bill Clinton years, and all of his bimbo eruptions, seem tame by comparison.
I couldn't help but wonder last week if I'm officially old. On St. Patrick's Day, I was home by 9:30. Normally in the past, I would live up to my 49% Irish blood. I would go to a local bar, either St. James, Belmont or Mickey Doyle's and consume my fair share of adult beverages. I just didn't feel like it this year. I'm sure a good time was had in all three establishments. I just chose to go home that day after leaving work. I felt much better on the morning March 18th than I had in previous years. I'm I getting older? Or wiser? Or both?
March Madness
It's that time of year again. March Madness, the NCAA Basketball Championships. Every year in which people fill out their brackets and hope for the best. Last year, my bracket was ripped up early when my pick Kansas fell in round 2. This year is looking a little better. While I lost some Elite 8's and lost a few Sweet 16's, all of my Final Four teams are still alive. My pick to win it all, Ohio State looked great as they bombed the usually respectable George Mason.
Commuter Rail in Fall River?
The people have waited for commuter rail in Fall River much like Linus in the Peanuts cartoons waiting for the Great Pumpkin. Both waiting in anticipation for it to come. Only for it once again not to show. Now the Patrick administration once again brought up commuter rail again for the South Coast. I'll believe it when it happens.
Japan
The news from Japan is absolutely heartbreaking. The most recent death toll I heard is 8,000. Stories of people searching for missing loved ones. Stories on entire villages getting wiped out. In addition they also have to deal with the nuclear crisis. While the nuclear crisis seems to be easing, a meltdown (or a potential meltdown) is the last thing the people of Japan needed.
Donald Trump for President?
Why not? Jesse Ventura got elected Governor of Minnesota. Arnold Schwarzenegger got elected Governor of California. Minnesotans were not done elected celebrities to office as they elected Al Frankin to the U.S. Senate. Linda McMahon almost got elected to the U.S. Senate in Connecticut. Of course leader of the free world is a totally different slice of pie. The thought of him getting elected is scary. There's not doubt he's a highly intelligent businessman. Still, if he's elected President, the White House will be a sideshow. It'll make the Bill Clinton years, and all of his bimbo eruptions, seem tame by comparison.
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