Solomon said that "in much wisdom comes much grief and he that increases knowledge, increases sorrow". I don't know about you, but it makes perfect sense to me. The more we all know and understand, the more we have to worry about. There is another old saying that says, "ignorance is bliss". The less we know, the less we have to concern us. But that isn't rooted in anything as sound as a Solomonic piece of writing.
The same Solomon also said, "Happy is the man that finds wisdom, and the man that gets understanding". And while this sounds like a contradiction of sorts, there is a clear message being communicated in all of this: All things come at a cost.
Today, we see a world in which there are few considerations as to what costs may be incurred, when something is desired and sought after. Someone wants something because it sounds good or it is stylish, and yet they have not taken into account the amount of sacrifice or the very responsibilities that may come with the thing they truly desire.
Power is one of those things. Many seek it, but few know how to manage it once it is acquired.
Power is the ultimate lust. It is intoxicating and can cloud an otherwise wise man's ability to perform in a moral and ethical manner. Even Solomon succumbed to his power as king over Israel and died in quite an unhappy state. As a result of this deceptive seduction, I have always had a proverb of my own - similar to the first Solomon quote in this post: With much power comes much responsibility.
Too bad the people that inhabit Washington cannot grasp this simple concept. Too bad they won't even try. Because if they did, they would behave in a manner that would be better suited to serve the people they represent rather than rule and reign over them, like lords in the days of feudalism.
If they could reach this level of understanding, think of the things we could accomplish in our nation and our communities. Think of the problems we could all solve. But, I am afraid their senses of duty and moral obligation (if they ever existed at all) have left them - once they realized they could implement their will on the people who sent them there, unabated.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Another Blast From The Past
In Mustang's mind, this week's musical post is a return to psychedelic commieland. For the rest of us, it is a feature of one the best Australian acts of all time.
They were once called the Farriss Brothers and at another time, the Vegetables. By the time they were INXS, the lead singer was mentioned in the same breath as Morrison and they were on their way to a string of hits a mile wide. Their versatility was well known in the music world in the 80s and 90s. Ska, dance, rock, jazz, they did it all.
Sadly, their lead singer died in 1997 under strange circumstances. The authorities say it was suicide, others have other theories that I will leave you to research for yourselves.
Because their hits are many and since I cannot post them all, here is a very small collection of a few of my favs. All of them are from live performances.
From the album entitled X, here is the third hit from that 1990 release:
This one comes from the 1987 cut, called Kick:
The title cut from their last album with Michael Hutchence. This one's a little jazzy:
And finally comes this tune also from the Kick CD, probably the only one that will have half a chance of gaining a bravo from Mustang. (Well then again, maybe not)
Enjoy.
They were once called the Farriss Brothers and at another time, the Vegetables. By the time they were INXS, the lead singer was mentioned in the same breath as Morrison and they were on their way to a string of hits a mile wide. Their versatility was well known in the music world in the 80s and 90s. Ska, dance, rock, jazz, they did it all.
Sadly, their lead singer died in 1997 under strange circumstances. The authorities say it was suicide, others have other theories that I will leave you to research for yourselves.
Because their hits are many and since I cannot post them all, here is a very small collection of a few of my favs. All of them are from live performances.
From the album entitled X, here is the third hit from that 1990 release:
This one comes from the 1987 cut, called Kick:
The title cut from their last album with Michael Hutchence. This one's a little jazzy:
And finally comes this tune also from the Kick CD, probably the only one that will have half a chance of gaining a bravo from Mustang. (Well then again, maybe not)
Enjoy.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Friday Funnies
I have it on good authority that there are some plans in the works that are a direct result of the Obama sales force's failure to land the Olympics for Chicago.
Didn't I tell you all that every generation deserves its own Jimmy Carter?
Didn't I tell you all that every generation deserves its own Jimmy Carter?
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Obfuscation 101
What would happen if one of us went into a job interview and didn't know the answer to a question? Better yet, what would happen if we went into a job interview and demonstrated that we knew nothing about the job we had applied for?
Well...here is the Democratic candidate for Attorney General in the state of Virginia, in one of those embarrassing moments:
(Shamelessly lifted from one of my favorite blogs, I Hate The Media.)
Isn't it time we start demanding better choices?
Look at what we were stuck with in 2008 for President? Look at what we ended up with. That's what we will get again, if we, the people, do not demand better service from our elected officials.
If the people of Virginia elect this fool, they have no one to blame but themselves. I don't know how much better the GOP candidate is, but I would be willing to bet that he has to be better equipped than this Bozo.
Electing a clown like this is precisely how a Barney Frank or Charlie Rangel is born. Let them BS their way into a job and next thing you know they are so entrenched and so disconnected to the people they are supposed to serve, you will have a difficult time getting them out.
Think about it America. Think long and hard before you pull levers for con artists, dressed in $1000 suits.
Well...here is the Democratic candidate for Attorney General in the state of Virginia, in one of those embarrassing moments:
(Shamelessly lifted from one of my favorite blogs, I Hate The Media.)
Isn't it time we start demanding better choices?
Look at what we were stuck with in 2008 for President? Look at what we ended up with. That's what we will get again, if we, the people, do not demand better service from our elected officials.
If the people of Virginia elect this fool, they have no one to blame but themselves. I don't know how much better the GOP candidate is, but I would be willing to bet that he has to be better equipped than this Bozo.
Electing a clown like this is precisely how a Barney Frank or Charlie Rangel is born. Let them BS their way into a job and next thing you know they are so entrenched and so disconnected to the people they are supposed to serve, you will have a difficult time getting them out.
Think about it America. Think long and hard before you pull levers for con artists, dressed in $1000 suits.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Picking A Fight You Cannot Win
One of the Obama White House heroes, Saul Alinsky, has educated his sycophant following well. Concerning tactics, the fifth rule is as follows:
Unless you take on a powerful news organization for daring to ask tough questions that millions of hard-working Americans want to ask, but cannot ask for themselves.
You see, Fox News has the audacity to exercise one of the primary staples of democracy. That is, they want to challenge our elected officials and encourage them to explain something, which is, what their true intentions and motives really are. By doing this, they serve as a balancing agent for the many people who are not in agreement with the proposals the White House is getting behind. They are making sense in many of their critiques and the WH is just not happy.
So, they are ridiculing the #1 rated cable news network. They are attempting to demonize the messenger and throw a smoke screen for the purpose of covering their massive failures in persuading the working masses, to buy into their Marxist agenda -- which is cleverly disguised as "hope and change".
The thing that these administration types do not realize is, this will backfire and badly. Thus, it makes no sense for the WH to act in this manner. Well, in one way it does. When you are losing the confidence and support of the mainstream independents who elected you, you must act desperately, you must act irrationally in the hopes that you can divert attention away from the truth.
One of the Obama sycophants, Bill Maher, thinks 60% of us are stupid. But it's the 60% that can and will turn away the progressive system of beliefs next year at the polls. And it scares them.
But while they are terrified, the cause of their fright is not difficult to dispute. In many instances, Fox News merely uses the Administration's own words against them. Try as I might, I find nothing untrue about this video. The words of the White House Communications Director speak for themselves:
How about this?
There it is. No spin, just their words. Nothing else needs to be said, does it?
Nothing is taken out of context, I need say nothing else to make this point.
This is what the Obama machine does not want reported.
5. "Ridicule is man's most potent weapon. It is almost impossible to counteract ridicule. Also it infuriates the opposition, which then reacts to your advantage."
Unless you take on a powerful news organization for daring to ask tough questions that millions of hard-working Americans want to ask, but cannot ask for themselves.
You see, Fox News has the audacity to exercise one of the primary staples of democracy. That is, they want to challenge our elected officials and encourage them to explain something, which is, what their true intentions and motives really are. By doing this, they serve as a balancing agent for the many people who are not in agreement with the proposals the White House is getting behind. They are making sense in many of their critiques and the WH is just not happy.
So, they are ridiculing the #1 rated cable news network. They are attempting to demonize the messenger and throw a smoke screen for the purpose of covering their massive failures in persuading the working masses, to buy into their Marxist agenda -- which is cleverly disguised as "hope and change".
The thing that these administration types do not realize is, this will backfire and badly. Thus, it makes no sense for the WH to act in this manner. Well, in one way it does. When you are losing the confidence and support of the mainstream independents who elected you, you must act desperately, you must act irrationally in the hopes that you can divert attention away from the truth.
One of the Obama sycophants, Bill Maher, thinks 60% of us are stupid. But it's the 60% that can and will turn away the progressive system of beliefs next year at the polls. And it scares them.
But while they are terrified, the cause of their fright is not difficult to dispute. In many instances, Fox News merely uses the Administration's own words against them. Try as I might, I find nothing untrue about this video. The words of the White House Communications Director speak for themselves:
How about this?
There it is. No spin, just their words. Nothing else needs to be said, does it?
Nothing is taken out of context, I need say nothing else to make this point.
This is what the Obama machine does not want reported.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Monday AM QB
Had my grandson this weekend, so much of my attention was directed towards him. But I did get to see a little here and there.
Pats 59 - Titans 0
If this were any other team, any other coach, I would say it's time to fire the entire coaching staff. All I can say is Jeff Fisher is as good as any, but what the problem is this year is not exactly clear to this writer. I mean, the Patriots are as dangerous as any in the league and are capable of taking any team to the cleaners. But to get blown out this bad in a winless season, after a great year last year, is certainly an unsolvable mystery to me.
Chiefs 14 - Skins 6
I cannot see Zorn coaching much longer. Washington is not necessarily a good team. But to lose to Detroit, KC, and barely beat St. Louis is not what the upper levels of management want to see. Call Washington another team that has severely underperformed and needs to look toward next season. If Zorn gets to coach another week and if I were him (and Jeff Fisher too, for that matter), I'd start the entire second string next week just to see if I could find a spark somewhere. I doubt there would be one, but what can you lose when your season is over anyway?
Saints 48 - Giants 27
Not that the Saints are any kind of a slouch on offense, but where was the NY defense? I saw some of this game and watched Brees pretty much have his way, from my perspective.
NO may be one of the elite teams this year, mixing good defense with a very powerful offense. It certainly elevates Brees into the elite QB corps and makes me wonder what ever possessed the Chargers to pick the overrated punk Philip Rivers to be the QB of THEIR future?
Oh well. Not MY problem.
Vikings 33 - Ravens 31
The old man continues to do his part. The rest of his teammates are doing theirs. I have never been much of a Minnesota fan. But I am loving the fact that Favre is leading them to an undefeated record so far, while Green Bay struggles to stay above .500.
Is it too soon to predict Minnesota and New Orleans in the NFC title game?
Bills 16 - Jets 13
It's a surprise that anyone won this one.
Someone needs to calm the Jets offense down. Their defense is playing fairly well, but the offense has imploded.
Falcons 21 - Bears 14
The Falcons are for real. If it were not for that bad game against NE, they would be the talk of the NFC right now.
Pats 59 - Titans 0
If this were any other team, any other coach, I would say it's time to fire the entire coaching staff. All I can say is Jeff Fisher is as good as any, but what the problem is this year is not exactly clear to this writer. I mean, the Patriots are as dangerous as any in the league and are capable of taking any team to the cleaners. But to get blown out this bad in a winless season, after a great year last year, is certainly an unsolvable mystery to me.
Chiefs 14 - Skins 6
I cannot see Zorn coaching much longer. Washington is not necessarily a good team. But to lose to Detroit, KC, and barely beat St. Louis is not what the upper levels of management want to see. Call Washington another team that has severely underperformed and needs to look toward next season. If Zorn gets to coach another week and if I were him (and Jeff Fisher too, for that matter), I'd start the entire second string next week just to see if I could find a spark somewhere. I doubt there would be one, but what can you lose when your season is over anyway?
Saints 48 - Giants 27
Not that the Saints are any kind of a slouch on offense, but where was the NY defense? I saw some of this game and watched Brees pretty much have his way, from my perspective.
NO may be one of the elite teams this year, mixing good defense with a very powerful offense. It certainly elevates Brees into the elite QB corps and makes me wonder what ever possessed the Chargers to pick the overrated punk Philip Rivers to be the QB of THEIR future?
Oh well. Not MY problem.
Vikings 33 - Ravens 31
The old man continues to do his part. The rest of his teammates are doing theirs. I have never been much of a Minnesota fan. But I am loving the fact that Favre is leading them to an undefeated record so far, while Green Bay struggles to stay above .500.
Is it too soon to predict Minnesota and New Orleans in the NFC title game?
Bills 16 - Jets 13
It's a surprise that anyone won this one.
Someone needs to calm the Jets offense down. Their defense is playing fairly well, but the offense has imploded.
Falcons 21 - Bears 14
The Falcons are for real. If it were not for that bad game against NE, they would be the talk of the NFC right now.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Another Blast From The Past
I had music already picked out earlier this week. But that was before I read that two musical artists, from two different worlds, passed away. One was a legend, the other relatively unknown; but there was no shortage of talent in either - - and both are worthy to be honored for their contributions.
The lesser known of the two was Steve Ferguson, the co-founder of what was once known as the New Rhythm and Blues Quintet (better known as NRBQ). Here is a little" project band" he put together, called Brother Stephen and the Humanitarians. The introduction is a little goofy, but the music is pure rock and roll with Chuck berry's influence written all over it:
I think this NRBQ single was released after Ferguson's departure from the band. But it still has his style deeply soaked into the material. This is a good song, the video has some good shots too:
What can we possibly say about the great Al Martino that hasn't already been said, by someone? My mom and dad loved him, which means he had to be a favorite of that damned career Marine officer, who shall remain nameless. This one is one of his best known:
Another Martino classic that many my age (and older) will remember:
They will both be missed.
So, enjoy them at their best.
The lesser known of the two was Steve Ferguson, the co-founder of what was once known as the New Rhythm and Blues Quintet (better known as NRBQ). Here is a little" project band" he put together, called Brother Stephen and the Humanitarians. The introduction is a little goofy, but the music is pure rock and roll with Chuck berry's influence written all over it:
I think this NRBQ single was released after Ferguson's departure from the band. But it still has his style deeply soaked into the material. This is a good song, the video has some good shots too:
What can we possibly say about the great Al Martino that hasn't already been said, by someone? My mom and dad loved him, which means he had to be a favorite of that damned career Marine officer, who shall remain nameless. This one is one of his best known:
Another Martino classic that many my age (and older) will remember:
They will both be missed.
So, enjoy them at their best.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Friday Funnies
If you ask me, there are very few comedians today who know and understand the real art of comedy. Please understand that I am not a prude by any stretch of the imagination. But much of today's comedy is merely a collection of four-letter words, without which, the material depends heavily on and would not be the least but funny without them.
In my day, the four-letter word was used on occasion to stress a point. But it was not the crux of the joke, nor did it have to be used to make the material funnier than it already was. The material had comedic value purely on its own.
Today, we look at such a comedy troupe from my era that was not dependent on profanity. Who can forget the zany satirical sketches from Monte Python's Flying Circus?
Enjoy.
In my day, the four-letter word was used on occasion to stress a point. But it was not the crux of the joke, nor did it have to be used to make the material funnier than it already was. The material had comedic value purely on its own.
Today, we look at such a comedy troupe from my era that was not dependent on profanity. Who can forget the zany satirical sketches from Monte Python's Flying Circus?
Enjoy.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
FBN Sneaking Up On CNBC?
Two and a half years ago, I don't think anyone would/could have predicted this.
This is probably true. This is just another apples and oranges kind of thing.
But who would have guessed it? Imus makes a comeback after being branded a racist by fine upstanding citizen activists like Rev. Alfred Charles Sharpton Jr. LLC ..... and other loosely affiliated race-baiting organizations.
Was his comment insensitive? Was it offensive? Probably both.
Imus offends everyone. He pisses everyone off because his ratings have always been about provocative talk and being a jerk. In the midst of it all, it has paid his bills.
But because Bro. Sharpton made it about being racist, the man should be ruined if you ask some people. And yet....it hasn't.
But the point I want to make here is much larger than Imus. Imus may only be the forerunner to bigger things. FBN will soon be ready to exert some real pressure on CNBC, when John Stossel comes over from ABC.
Over the years, Mr. Stossel has experienced an epiphany of sorts by embracing and advocating free market answers, as viable solutions to the economic ills the nation is currently facing. Whereas he once thought bigger government to be a viable solution, he began to see that when the government put forth its hand to heal something, they just made it sicker.
I am quite sure that Stossel will feel more artistic and editorial freedom with his new employers and would think he'll make an immediate impact--if they market him well. After the initial curiosity period, it will be up to him to be intriguing enough to bring in more viewers along the way and the hold the ones he has. Knowing how well he has done on past projects for ABC, I am persuaded to think he will up to the task.
I wonder.
When is Santelli's contract up?
Don Imus gave the Fox Business Network the boost it wanted in his first week on the air.
The Imus show, a simulcast of the radio program heard on WABC (770 AM), averaged 148,000 viewers a day for the first week, which began Oct. 5.
That put Fox Business a few thousand viewers ahead of CNBC for the first time since FBN went on the air two years ago. People in the industry, however, cautioned that Imus and CNBC's morning "Squawk Box" tap different audiences and are not really in direct competition.
This is probably true. This is just another apples and oranges kind of thing.
But who would have guessed it? Imus makes a comeback after being branded a racist by fine upstanding citizen activists like Rev. Alfred Charles Sharpton Jr. LLC ..... and other loosely affiliated race-baiting organizations.
Was his comment insensitive? Was it offensive? Probably both.
Imus offends everyone. He pisses everyone off because his ratings have always been about provocative talk and being a jerk. In the midst of it all, it has paid his bills.
But because Bro. Sharpton made it about being racist, the man should be ruined if you ask some people. And yet....it hasn't.
But the point I want to make here is much larger than Imus. Imus may only be the forerunner to bigger things. FBN will soon be ready to exert some real pressure on CNBC, when John Stossel comes over from ABC.
Over the years, Mr. Stossel has experienced an epiphany of sorts by embracing and advocating free market answers, as viable solutions to the economic ills the nation is currently facing. Whereas he once thought bigger government to be a viable solution, he began to see that when the government put forth its hand to heal something, they just made it sicker.
I am quite sure that Stossel will feel more artistic and editorial freedom with his new employers and would think he'll make an immediate impact--if they market him well. After the initial curiosity period, it will be up to him to be intriguing enough to bring in more viewers along the way and the hold the ones he has. Knowing how well he has done on past projects for ABC, I am persuaded to think he will up to the task.
I wonder.
When is Santelli's contract up?
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Capitalizing On A Shifting Tide
Sometimes, to do one's homework doesn't require much effort at all. Many times, it just takes a calculator and a very short moment in time.
From Drudge comes this little story problem:
The Al Gore, Barack Obama, and the other NBC loving sycophants will no doubt see it as a victory. If you really stretch it, I guess it makes sense. The National Barack Channel has overtaken ABC (Always Barack Channel) and increased its lead over the hapless Central Barack Station.
This much is undeniable.
But if we add up the numbers from this week and a year ago, we can properly compare them. If we do, we will we see another trend that the Obama Central Committee does not want to acknowledge.
One year ago the numbers showed a viewership of 21,680,000 and this week it totals up to 20,690,000. That's a difference of 990,000. This means almost one million less viewers are watching the network news.
Where are they going? And why?
I think the answers provide us all with information leading us to why the White House fears FOX News so much, and has spent valuable time demonizing it. They are the only ones not in lockstep with Obama and the other Democrats who seek to radicalize the nation. And they are the ones continually gaining viewers in large percentages.
Try as you may, you cannot compare network news broadcasts and those on cable. Doing this is the classic apples and oranges fallacy, because they are very different animals altogether. Even so, you can look at the decreases of one and increases of another, and certainly draw some reasonable, educated conclusions.
By looking at the latest cable ratings, we can see the huge disparity between FOX and the others combined and the disparity is growing. But I doubt all of FOX's gains are from other competing cable news shows. It very well could be that an exodus from the traditional network newscasts has begun, and will continue if they do not cease and desist from airing overtly (and covertly) partisan broadcasting.
This makes me wonder why someone hasn't already thought of something.
Why hasn't the FOX Network put up a traditional nightly newscast on its network affiliates, to compete with the other three outlets? It may be just what is needed to shake up the MSM, and the leftist elite who control it. Take the objective reporting aspect of the news, pair it with a sharp anchor, and I bet they could do some major damage to all three networks real soon.
If someone who works at FOX could see this post, they may feel free to use this idea and sell it as their own. If their conscience really got to bothering them, they could simply pay the school loans off for my son, and give him a job when he graduates with his degree in journalism. We''ll call it even, and I will not have to post bad things about them on this second-rate blog.
From Drudge comes this little story problem:
EVENING NEWS RACE:
THIS WEEK: NBC: 8,110,000 / ABC: 7,330,000 / CBS: 5,250,000
A YEAR AGO: ABC: 7,890,000 / NBC: 7,850,000 / CBS: 5,940,000
The Al Gore, Barack Obama, and the other NBC loving sycophants will no doubt see it as a victory. If you really stretch it, I guess it makes sense. The National Barack Channel has overtaken ABC (Always Barack Channel) and increased its lead over the hapless Central Barack Station.
This much is undeniable.
But if we add up the numbers from this week and a year ago, we can properly compare them. If we do, we will we see another trend that the Obama Central Committee does not want to acknowledge.
One year ago the numbers showed a viewership of 21,680,000 and this week it totals up to 20,690,000. That's a difference of 990,000. This means almost one million less viewers are watching the network news.
Where are they going? And why?
I think the answers provide us all with information leading us to why the White House fears FOX News so much, and has spent valuable time demonizing it. They are the only ones not in lockstep with Obama and the other Democrats who seek to radicalize the nation. And they are the ones continually gaining viewers in large percentages.
Try as you may, you cannot compare network news broadcasts and those on cable. Doing this is the classic apples and oranges fallacy, because they are very different animals altogether. Even so, you can look at the decreases of one and increases of another, and certainly draw some reasonable, educated conclusions.
By looking at the latest cable ratings, we can see the huge disparity between FOX and the others combined and the disparity is growing. But I doubt all of FOX's gains are from other competing cable news shows. It very well could be that an exodus from the traditional network newscasts has begun, and will continue if they do not cease and desist from airing overtly (and covertly) partisan broadcasting.
This makes me wonder why someone hasn't already thought of something.
Why hasn't the FOX Network put up a traditional nightly newscast on its network affiliates, to compete with the other three outlets? It may be just what is needed to shake up the MSM, and the leftist elite who control it. Take the objective reporting aspect of the news, pair it with a sharp anchor, and I bet they could do some major damage to all three networks real soon.
If someone who works at FOX could see this post, they may feel free to use this idea and sell it as their own. If their conscience really got to bothering them, they could simply pay the school loans off for my son, and give him a job when he graduates with his degree in journalism. We''ll call it even, and I will not have to post bad things about them on this second-rate blog.
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